New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-01

Notwithstanding all the improvements in
su yar-making, and those now advocated
one of the chief efforts of which is their
eifecting by machinery that was formerly
done by the hands, there can be 10
doubt that the labor question will continue
to D>one of the most important that conc
Germs the planter. In fact, improvements
in making the manufactured article only
increase the demand for the raw material,
and consequently require an augmented
supply Of labor. But it is manifest that tor
this purpose we can not rely exclusively on
the negro race, drawn off from sugar as
they constantly will be by rice and cotton,
unless they are retained on sugar estates by
ruinous rates Of wages, In this particular
there has been great improvement N the
past year. while the laborers have been
paid tolerably for their services, more so
than white laborers at the North and the
West, they have no longer been able to
exact the extravagant wages given last
year, which in many cases sprung from
the iDjudicious competition among plane
tiers, each attempting to outlead the
other The result was ruinous both
to the planter and his factor, and seriously
| involved many others indirectly interested
| in the culture. This year many planters
| determined to abandon the culture unless
| they could engage hands for the year at a
| reduction of 1915 per cent on wages, and
| were Indifferent about continuing 1t even at
| this course they soon found an ample supply
| of good hands, and the latter, having peeI5
| taught the necessity of thrift and economJs
| have really saved more from their 9wcp
thirds than they formerly did from tulI pay
while the relation between them and .heiS
| employers has been more satisfactory than
4 az any time since the ware But in additio&
to negro labor there is a necessity for az
additional supply Of white labor. in cone
| nection with this matter we reproduce the
views of Mr.. Bouchereau, whose opportun5s
ties for observation entitle his opinion to
| the highest consideration. Is ie il bis sep
ports Mr.. Bouchereau claimed for the XoEp
| isiana sugar region advantages for white
] yaborers not offered in either the cotton Of
| rice districts, to both Of which negro iabo3
is better adapted. In the sugar culture as
planting and digging out of stubble is come
pleted IN April, and the taking OF Of Gag
| crop does not commence until the 5a.teE
part of October, there is little or TO helG
work to be done in the interim except worFo
ing the crop in May and June. In TAGS
many among the Creole population coms
mence at daylight, etOp at eight CLOCK. %
water mules and for breakfast, stop again
at halfpast ten and remain IN the ASuss5
until three O'Clock and then s~ogE 1ntA
dark, thus obtaining ten hours tabor urdep
the most favorable circumstances Tor map
and horse and reet during the heat of the
day. This is not general but is mentioned
to show what can be done to avoid expos
| ure to the extreme heat of the day if it be
desired The success of white labor on
sugar plantations Is no mere theory. It has
been fully tried and proved satisfactory ia
both the employer and the employed.
"The greater the product, the cheaper ito
cost. A crop of 100000 hhds in Louisiana,
will cost the plantation interest proporo
tiOnateiy less than one of 100000. The
same sugar house and the same managers
Eo~
suffice for large one, and even with regard
70 wages, less l.bOr in proportion 70 tho
yield is required. But to make large cropss
so0!ti0nal labOrers are essential, not only
ior the sugar lands already in cultivation
put the wide expanse, of remarkable fer
.idty, now lying idle, as well az for those
plantations now abandoned. To make
those wildernesses and deserts blossom like
the rose more labor is needed and white
LABOR becomes q necessity. Divided ana
sub-divided into small farms, the deserted
plantations may yield more than it did
even in our palmy state Of production and
prosperity before the war. Small farmers
can Drottably engage in the cane culture.
provided they are furnished ready market
at some central mill, and can have their
cane ground 1T reasonable toll. The exe
pertinent OF central sugar factories has been
successfully made in the West Indies and
is even more applicable to Louisiana, and
We confidently hope that the time ia not
tar distant when large portion of a sugar
: crop VIII be made by thrifty white men.
; and their crops be ground for then at such
1oae 9 Tolls at the neighboring mill that
: other CROP" 'A'"N any
Win the reduced supplies already re-
, aslreo 70 our shipments BY sea and raj,
show heavy falling off from last rea u tha
shipments BY sea embracing oniy Io.I7S
, ned 's ana 6427 bbls, against 81 .Ol5 Tbds and
, eo;n Dois last year, and 22,5l5 hhds ard
. S5is Dds the year before. Tie distribnt;ou ,
mas oeen =, = follows: S27 hhds to New YORK
Bslt;mo 40 r,aaelphia against easl; % to
! Sp1s 70 Mobile, against 6264 bids ard 1Go1
0''s last year; and 1851 hhds and is $50