The Opelousas courier., 1882-04-01
Diversified Labor.

we take 1FOm tHdb doio duo "h
tial journal, the Memphis Appeal, the
following interesting article III Wnich
it is clearly:shown that no community
which depends entirely upon the pro-
duction of a single commodity a OK
pect to prosper, and in which the ad-
vantages to any people arising from a
diversity of pursuits are most forcibiy
pointed ont
The extraordinary overflow causing
SO much suffering will surely induce
the people who live in the Mississippi
river bottoms to prepare for similar
misfortunes. The farmers all along
the Mississippi agree every year to
plant more food crops and less cotton,
and thus provide against the snfferings
occasioned by the present overflow.
But the same old deception is practiced
and the same snfferings follow. No
community ever prospered which lie
pended entirely on the production of
one commodity. The time of safety
and prosperity is the season for multi
plying the sources of income which
Support and enrich a community. The
country or the village which limits it.
self to a single industry may find that
it's hope, together with its wealth. is
vanishing 10 some sudden change which
makes that form of labor Improbable,
whereas an extension of the methods
and an enlargement of the list of enter
prIses secure a cammunity against fail,
ure. 1t may suffer, but will not be in
dismay when a particular branch OF
trade is cut off.
Two towns in Pen ~nsylvania are at
the present time ~endeavoring to secure
themselves against disaster in the flu
ture by diversifying their industries.
st. Clair has prospered as a mining
town, and is said to be doing even bet
ter than usual, bnt the citizens have
decided that it is best to increase Their
industries and to that end Il committee
has been in Philadelphia offering spe-
cial inducements to manufacturers and
mechanics with the hope that factories
will he built there at an early day
Chambersburg, the chief centre of the
harvests which the Cumberland valley
produces so abundantly. not satisfied
with relying on one principal industry
has paid Il large bonus to secure tin
location of a manufacturing company
The same facts apply with eqna
force to the great agricultural interest
Of this community. Towns canno
prosper without diversifying their in
! dustries and the country people VIII
c~onfine their labors to one product wi
never be independent, bnt always poo
For years the suicidal. cotton mad pol
, icy has been protested against in vain
Planters generally agree that il is fata
! but since every man hoped his neigh
14
Dor would plant corn aud leave hi
cotton, the consequences is that yer
/: little food has been made. The peopl
of Herculanenm did not heed the war;
ing and they were buried beneath I'll
! lava of the volcano. For years Il
0 people along the Mississippi river llav
!. been admonished Of the impendin
!. danger, and it is to be hoped that Il
sufferings which the present overfo
i has entailed will induce them to pr
q vide for q similar recurrence.
Al Coop TAX LAw.-Rhode Islar
has o tax law which seems to ha,
some qualities that recommend it
I the attention of Legislators of 9th
States. IL has increased the asses
ment-roll nearly SO per cent in a Sill