The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-15
A SAD STORY.
Distressing Condition Of the People in
CatahOula Parish.
Something Must Be Done to Keep Them
from Starving.
Editors New Orleans Bulletin.

G0ltOrS New Orleans Bulletin:
1nclosed I send You the proceedings of a
meeting held on the 9Th inst, in the Thir-
teenth Ward of Catahoula parish, which shows
the present and prospective restitution Of the
Black River country. In addition to the facts
therein mentioned, will say that within the
last few days have travelled from the mouth
OF III OK River to Harr .sonbur,, having an
opportunity of seeing all or nearly all the
crops in th't scope Of country, and my candid
opinion is that there will not be 100 bales of
cotton and 500 bushels Of corn produced
The planters and farmers planted and re-
planted as long as there was any use in it, the
nvaRes Of the cut warm either destroy d the
stands or m de them very imperfect and the
Long Continued dry weather has prevented
what little corn and peas were left by the cut
worms from making anything. The people
have worked hard to make something to live
on when rations are discontinued, but without
avail; the crops are q miserable failure. 1t is
stated that ritions will be sent here only once
or twice more; if so our people will be worse
of than yor can imagine. No money, no
credit, and nothing to do that will bring in a
dollar. how are they to live till another crop
can be made.
To make matters worse the memorable tax
collectors trying the unnatural experiment
OF getting blood out of turnips. We occupy
angular position. While the good people of
the North and elsewhere have been literally
contributing to keep life and hope in us, the
rapacious carpet-bag, scalawag, II ,urpng,
grand fraud, called the State Government, is
trying to- drain our | st drop Of blood. Is
there any way to stay the hand OF the tax col
'lector in the overao vel district ? Ii 80, let it
be done. or tho people of this unfortunate
country will be utterly ruined an homeless.
Respectfully, A. F. MARDrs.
Black River, La, Ang. II, 1874.
At q called meeting held at the Office of the
Justice Of the Peace in the Thirteenth Ward,
parish Of tahoula the meeting Was organ
lied and Noah Reddick, Esq, called to
chair, and Wade Il. Young on motion made
secretary. The chair called the meeting to
order.
The following Sc, les of resolutions were
moved and adopted
l. That III consequence of the destruction
ana unprecedented Overflow the people dwell
hing along the bank of Black River, in the
parish OF Catahoua, have been entirely ruin
and are LETT dependent w charity, without |
money, credit, bread or meat.
z That il despite Of energetic and continu-
ous labor. they have been unable to provide
subsistence for themselves, all their crops OF
corn peas aud potatoes having been destroyed
by the insects, an the crop of cotton being
too late to afford a reliable yield.
5. That it is the delioer .te sentiment Of this
meeting that without aid from some source,
there must be much suffering and even actual
starvation in this section Of country. /
4 That A. F. Ma rdis Esq. he deputed to
lay our condition before the m-moe OF the
Relief Committee, and urge tn m to make
some provision to procure supplies after The
ces sation of the Govern ent appropriation, in
order that our people III y be enabled to live
and work. Noah REDDIcK, Chairman. =
Approved by the Undersigned, agents Of
on Black kiv +, La:
A. F. Mardls, +. H. Wharton, j. B. Wig
CLINTON. agents at Marli's Landing;
n. keduick, agent ut Boards Landing;
w. F.. Miller, :. Nicola .
s " CImpbell, agentat N lgnola Landing;
T. J. Jackson, . Calnouns
Henry Frissler, . Frissler.
Sol. Harris, -. Davis