New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-02

From this 1t appears that after general
increase, it reached, in 1853, no less than
4i9,324 hhds. During the ensuing eight
years it exhibited great viccissitudes, sink
ing in 1856 to 1896 hhds, which was the
smallest since 1888. During the following
four years it averaged 273, l40 hhds, but in
the fifth year. 1861, it was swelled to 49,
4l0 hhds, which is the largest on record.
Up to this time tue yield was mainly con-
trolled by the weather, the amount of
available labor, and the destruction from
overflow. Setting aside the exceptional
causes of overt1ows and cholera, it is
manifest from the above that even in
the ante-bellum period the culture was at
tended by great vicissitudes. 1t was, never
theless, extremely attractive, and a very
large amount of capital was invested in it,
in sugar-houses, machinery, etc,, most of
which was destroyed during the war.
Cndeterred by the former garden of
Louisiana having been transformed into
"a land of ruins" the sugar planters, after
the restoration of peace, returned to their
devastated plantations, and without cap
ital, nor presuming to ask for credit, which
was, nevertheless, extended to them with
noble spirit by the New Oeans merchants
who were able to aid them, they commenced
the labor of recuperation with a courage
and energy deserving of honor, and the pro-
duction steadily increased until in 1870 it
reached l4i,SSl hhds In the next year it
receded to lbs, 46l, and in the past year to
l9S,520. Mr.. BOuchereau accounts for the
unfavorable results of the latter as follows:
The intensely cold and very wet winter
of lS71-12 caused the seed cane to rot in
the winrows and mats. This reduced the
acreage planted in cane.
In the next place much of the cane which
was planted in the fall of 1871 and spring
of 1872 rotted in the ground, and the result
was wretched stand in many places. The
above causes led US to look for a small
crop, but the spring months proved favor
able to the growth of the cane, and in the
beginning of June the crop looked promis-
ing. During this month we were blessed
with too much rain, and planters were I'M
able to lay by their cane as soon as they
would have wished to. After the rain came
an unusually long and severe drouth,
which greatly retarded the growth
of the cane. When the time had
come to commence grinding the ponds
were dry, and the task of hauling water
for steam purpose deferred the majority of
planters from commencing. A few, how
ever, did begin to grind under the great
disadvantages of hauling water. and the
yield was so satisfactory that anticipa.ions
of an average crop began to be entertained.
Unfortunately for the realization of these
anticipations, on the twenty eighth or
twenty ninth day of October we were visit
ed with a severe storm of wind and rain,
which shook the cane to its roots. and this
being followed by warm weather, the cane
began again to vegetate, causing such
marked falling Oft in the yield that many
quit grinding, awaiting for cooler weather
to check vegetation and mature the cane
To cap the climax of our misfortunes. we
had freezing weather On the fourteenth, fit
tenth and sixteenth of November which
proved a death blow to the crop, and al
most ruined many planter. Hence the
small crop of 1923.
The unfortunate results here noted have
been more than usually disastrous. They
have been ruinOus to many planters. and
have caused such embarrassments in the
New Orleans factorage business that capital
lists have Stunned sugar paper with even
more repugnance than has been justified by
the facts. Individual cases could be cited
in which not only large cash investments
were lost but the planter and his factor
left with a weight OF debt, incurred in the |
cultivation, from which they were forced |
into bankruptcy. Capital, credit, intelli- |
gence. skill, industry and prudence were !
employed in vain Our indomtable plan
tiers, however, have not been utterly |
crushed, and have engaged in the produc- |
ton of another crop with an earnestness |
and courage which can not be too highly |
pidlseu Inc prospect lew weeks ago ID |
thus stated by Mr.. Bouchereau:
with respect to the growing crop we ,
have to observe that the seed cane kept |
better through the last winter than it ever
did even before the war. More land has
been planted in cane than last year, and as
the lands were in pretty good condition,
the cane came up early and the stand i
for this time Of the year. The stubble, how
ever, is quite backward, owing to a very
late spring, and the stands are yet very
poor; but many planters tell US that the
roots are still good, and they have strong
hopes that the stubble will yet come out