Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-09-17
OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS.
A Hard Time COminc-Our Hope
of Relief.

A Hard Time (Omine-Our Hope
of Relief.
Just as we thought We could begin
to see q silver lining in the cloud that
had so long hing over our section Of
the Union, made by the promise Of
progress in the development Of the
resources Of our country by the in
vestment Of capital in manufacturing
and railroad enterprises, our prospects
have had pail Of gloom cast over
them BY the drought, short crops and
threatened privation Of our people.
This will not necessarily stop these
enterprises, while if they are contin-
ued our people will be relieved Of o
great deal of distress and perhaps
absolute want, but they make US ap-
prehensive.
We are No alarmist, and are dis
posed to always look OIL the bright
side of the picture; but it is wise aud
manly to look any threatened calamity
or iminent danger sqqarely iu the face
ond try to prepare to meet it before
it comes. 1t is useless to try to con-
ceal the fact from ourselves that We
ore upon the eve of o long season Of
distress and absolute priva.ion in
many families we fear.
We have o very extensive and fer
tile country, 90 diversified in climate
and soil that we have come to believe
famine in our land IN impossibility /;
have On immense granary and meat
market from which to draw supplies,
and if the drought were confined to
our State or to the South, we might
hope to escape-not hard times, but
dangers of starvation but it is not ;
the West, from which we draw our
supplies, has also suffered from the
drought, and crops are very short.
The prices Of supplies will conse.
quently be very high, while our peo-
pie will have no money to buy with.
Many of them will not make enough
cotton to pay for this years supplies,
but will come out in debt to their mer-
chants. who, if they are able to do so,
will not be willing to carry them
through another year-ouly the very
best Of customers may hope for such
assistance, while those who have here.
tofore failed to pay them will be left
in . most pitisble condition, with nei'
Their money nor credit.
We have no idea that there has
been more than half enough produced
in this State to feed our population
until the crop of 1882 can be made
and gathered. We mean grain. meat,
cane, rice and cotton all combined.
Then, what are those who have not
made corn and meat to live on and
have no money With which to buy
their supplies going - do? How are
they to escape privation if not actual
starvation? They cannot go where
they can procure supplies With their
labor because they have not the means
to take them to some o:her country.
We, however, see no reason why
the drought and short crops should
stop work on the railroad and manu-.
featuring enterprises that have already
been started 10 this country. nor why
they should prevent new ones being
placed on foot. But we do realize the
fact that their continuance will prove
. blessing to our country and great
relief to many Of our people. who are
willing to work upon them. by giving
them employment and enabling them
to provide for themselves and families
The railroad which paeses through
our parish has already been source
of considerable relief to quite q nun
Der of our laboring people. who, on
account of the shortness Of their crops
have found time to get out timber fol
bridges. oross.ties. etc. And we ash
the railroad authorities to give as
much of this kind of work to the la
borers living along the limo Of the
road As possible; and we suggest to
our people to accept such e~ploy
whenever offered and they have The
time to do the work Let US all use
economy aud be prudent in our ex
penditures and the use Of such sup
plies % we have or can procure and