New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-24
THE SOUTHERN VIEW.
LOUISIANA AND ALABAMA.

A special correspondent Of Tile TRIBUNE
I'm Louisiana presents, in letter printed be
low, some information about the Perique
District Of Louisiana. Some facts about iron
making, politics and business in Alabama
have been obtained from ex-senator Willard
Warner of that State, who was recently 10
this city His remarks on that subject present
q graphic picture of affairs in that State.
THE PERIQUE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA.
AZ OLD CRTOLR DESCRIBES THE PROCESS WHICH
MADE HIM RICH--A GLIMPSE OF FAMILY LIFE
A PROSPEROUS MICRO sErrLEMENT-THE WAY
10 SECURE TO THE NEGRO FUTURE.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRRUNE.l
81. JAMES. La, Jan. 22.-The Angeles bells were
ringing last evening and tho sunset glow had gwen
20 the muddy waters Of the Mississippi a SHIN
mer of stcel-blue color "a my host and | walked
down the levce to visit a tobacco ehed Doubtless
there are many persons to whom the name Of St.
James suggests 10 particular place on the map of
LOUISIANA and no particular portion of apostolic
Utcr,turc. but il associated with the strong,
black. aromatic tobacco known as Perque'
which is produced only IN tins parish.
My host IS a descendant of the Creole planter who
first developed this peculiar variety of the Ncotah
weed anil gave TO it his name. Monsieur Peuque
hourished in the early part of this century, ana
owned "a plantation on ridge called Grande fohtt'
which lie, abont three miles back from the river
in the midst Of the swamp THIS ridge Is a marked
exception to the rule of upper coast" topography,
that there is no habtable land beyond the line OF
the swamp, aud for l3ng time II was supposed
chat Perque tobacco could be grown nowhere else.
Gradually this superstition was overcome The cu!-
tvaton of the plant spread throughout the parish
aud could doubtless bo carried on in the
met
were a demand for larger supply than
st. jaime, produces; but the market is limited and
tho article is buGdencd with double tax. The first
process, Of preparation is held by the Internal Reve-
nue. authorities to be manufacturing, 50 that the
planter Is obliged to pay ~ cents pound before he
sends h, product TO the manufacturer, Who paws
another cents.
oar source of information was a little grizzly,
yypalcnrl old Creole. who keeps a store IN
Standardization structure, jammod up against the
ieyee, and inhabits. with his numerous family and
retaacrN group of buildings of all sizes ana
1adc, OF dilapidatiOn, close at hand. " HOW
much would you suppose that old 1eIio"
70 D., worth - asked my companion, as
tho Creole led the way with the key OF the
tobacco shed, through a labyrinth Of Enclosures
for cows mules, sheep, hog, and poultry. From
hls appearance | shonld say that 50 woald be
liberal c,timater "IIe has $4,000 at least and
las made it all right here" In the street were
wlndla~s and long row of TIde presses, each com
posed Of a stout plank box, and aleyer made OF the
trunk of a Young tree. secured at one end aud
weighted At the other with STONES. The plant from
which Pcriquc is made Is said not to differ from The
ordinary tobacco plant, and the peculiar quality
OF the tobacco is owing 10 the method OF cu!uN3-
ton aud preparation. Doubtless tho rich soil Of
these Tat lluvial lands and the hot Sunshine of the
long summer, has something t. do with de-
vcoping the extraordinary quantity OF nicotine
Is contains; but the planters do not recognize
these elements as of Importance. While the
plant is growing the smaller leaves and tie upper
part of the stalk are pinchcd oil and as result the
lOwor leaves attain prodicious size. The curing
process is not prolonged until the leaves are en-
tirely dry While still n ltte moist the stems ore
carefully removed and the leaves put into the
presses and kept there for two on three weeks, until
the Juice ceases to trickie out When the tobacco
i, removed il Is in the form Of thin Hat cakes about
Two feet square. Each cake IS then rolled INTO
club wrapped N cotton @lott and sohdihed INTO
what is called q "carOt b. the aid OF - wind
Jas, and rope which is wound tightly around
the club IN two Layers, from end to end.
When coupetely squeezed by this primitive
urocos, the carrot resembles IN size and shape bIg
eoloaua sausage. The country people use it for
and tho manufacturer cuts il up to make cigarettes
and snuff. 4 carrot weighs fOUr pounds. aud the
uroscnt price - about 81 -, without the tax. A
largo share of the crop il purchased every year hv
4 single Now-YOrk firm, foi the manufacture OF
cigarettes.
was awakened this morning by the appearance
At IN, bedside of q very black mSn carrying cup
ofvery black coffee aud bowl Of yellow sugar made
on the estate. The man made no explanations but
deposited his tray on the bed, and proceeded to open
ths close-bound shutters and let IN the sunlight
Hls the custom Of tho country to take te" spoon
fuls of very strong coffee before T1siDg not as III
France, with milk and the accompaniment Of hit
~ bread a, dIennsr, but black and unadultcrated
save with copiOus addition of sugar lhey saY
IT cnunfelscts tho bad influences Of tho Hver fogs
Hisiug and going out to walk on tho levee found
the whole village apparently wrapped in siumber
althouCh II WAS nearly eight o'clock. The shutters
O. the little cottages were all tightly closed
and no smoke from the chimDeys gave sig
mi Of tho morning meal. solitary
bostmau pulled skin laMly against the
current two negroes we're cutting drlitW"od
90 the muddy bank and little mulato boy passed
roo with polite " bon jJUr, Monsieur These were
the only signs Of life encountered IN two miles
walk We took breakfast at hafpast ga bonn
,eous meal Of ham and egg' beefsteak, mutton
Chop. and two preparations of hominy. All the
family drank claret. Even tho Youngest child,
little girl Of about i've cmptied her glass with tho
rest. AT the close OF the repast black coffee was
served.
Nv host i, q remarkable man. He does not de
scend from tho old Creole arstOcrscy, hut comes OF
q poor family and has worked himself up to wealth
and influence by the force Of his own talent and
will. Iii, parents were "Kagians "a corruption OF
the word Aoadian. Originally the term Raglan was
applied only to the descendants OF the baniShed
French colouistsIn Nova Scotia, who sought shelter
under tb, French flag in Louisiana, and whose