The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-01-15
COMMUNICATION.

sum greater than the amount annu-
ally collected for the State or Paro-
chial government, was paid by the
producers and shippers of this Par
ish, in The way of excessive and I'M
necessary charges collected upon
products IN trda,sit1 and in New Or
leans. 1t would be Interesting to ex-
tend this estimate and ascertain the
total amount paid in this way by the
people of the whole Stale. The alb
sence of exact data prevents me from
now doing so--bnt it would not be
an extravagant estimate, if it was
asserted that sum exceeding $780,
| 600 was annually paid out for exces.
sive charges, which, under a more
equitable system would be saved TO
the producers. In other words, a
sum nearly as great as the tax annu-
ally assessed upon the property of
the people of Louisiana for the pay
ment of It's entire bonded indebted
ness is, without necessity and JUS
tice, paid by q portion of the people
to a few hundred men who have the
privilege of handling products, the
burden of production OF which falls
upon other shoulders. Now, this
may be very interesting condition
of affairs to those fortunate few hun.
dred, but it is not 50 sure That it is
equally interesting to that larger
class Of the State, upon whom in
season and out OF season, in the face
of calamitous seasons, the devasta-
ton of iosects and the evils of q de.
moraljzed labor, the cost and burden
|of production falls. Now, if these
things are so, and their truthfulness
can hardly be controyerted, Is it sur
Iprising That tie condition OF the
producers, the State over, should be
as unfortunate as it ISL With the
exception Of a small class Of sugar
growers, operating with large means,
the condition of the plantfhg class
in Louisiana to-day is to the last de-
gree gloomy and unsatisfactory, aud
| hazard nothing in asserting that
1.-THE name Of one commission house
in New Ofleans certainly two, can
be given, whose profits during The
past year, exceeded those of all OF
Fthe cotton planters Of the State
Extraordinary as this assertion is,
lit can be substantiated, if the state
ments of merchants themselves IA
miiar with these matters, can be re-
lied on. Now, we have no objection
TO urge against the accumulation of
large fortunes by any one, or by any
ella s, effected by just means, but in
all fairness VIC ask can a system be
all equitable one which brings about
SO astonishing disparity of results1
!! And if it is not equitable should it
stand or be permiltedto continue its
gfruinous Determinations? ;s.as
4 Iu the discussion of this subject
some things may be asserted without
the fear Of contradiction, /. The
4 cultivation OF the soil and the grow
ling of'cottoa, sugar, ETC., must con.
tiaoe. as 1t has aeea in the past, the
occspatioa OF the largest class Of our
/ population. 2. The fruits of their
ilabofs will coaliape, as they have in
1.-THE past, to be the principal source
of The prosperity thar may be enjoy
Ell Wy. the people of this State; and
nils being so, IL fullows that the In
terests of tie whole people will be
best subservcl BY the Introduction
OF system which, by rewartling the
labors ofthe producer, will stimulate
and increase production. 3. The
experience of the past, extending
over q period of twelve years, con
clusively shows that the agricultu-
raj class, and especially those en-.
gagged in the growing OF cotton, have
been lau,entably unfortunate, to such
a degree. that the question Of future
production is seriously threatened;
and further, with existing condi-
Itions, there is no reason to believe
that the results of future lskors will
be more favorable. Now the out.
look is certainly q gloomy one, and
the subject is worthy the consitlera-
ton of every man engaged in tue
cultivation OF the Soil. 70 lire we
must work; shall we continue to
work without making a living? The
supreme question then IS: How shall
we improve our condition. In an
swer to this, Of course, much can be
said; but one thing is certain, we
can make no progress, except by the
introduction of a thorough system OF
economy; system which demands
not only the practice of economy in
the growing Of the crops, but goes
further, and insists that the same
economy shall be practiced In the
disposition of The crops, when made.
Necessity compels us to practice the
first; self interest should make as
demand the latter. In former
communication, it was shown that
it takes one in every seven and a
half bales of cotton to pay expenses,
nearly one third Of which, it was
further shown, were unnecessary and
excessive. II we desire to improve
our condition, let as begin RICH.
here, and not cease our efforts until
every reasonable demand is complied
with.
But how, it is asked, can a custom,
consecrated by the practice Of years,
and defended by powerful and in.