Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-09-21

SonH - Oh the
great statesman Il IL sane mama. has
been tsstifying rscsntly before the
United States Ssnats Coumittes ON ia.
ucation and Labor IN New York City,
and has given soms vsry interesting data
concerning the colored people in the
South. Mr.. Calhoun w horn in Ala.
bama, lived : good many ysars in South
Carolina. and i now farming on . very
large scale in Arkansas, employing ne.
groes only. He = : highly cultivated
sentle1si, clear headed and ! man of
very practical views On agriculture. He
says it was only within The past few
years that the negroes had really gone to
york with . view 70 supporting them.
selves and families. and the idea that
thsy were to BE- supported by their
former masters wa dying out with the
increase Of self-relianes. There were
three methods Of employing laborers,
for wages. working On shares, and -
tenants. Unskilled 6eld hands when
Hired BY the month recsived from $40 to
go . month. or BY the day from IS cents
to 81; tsamsten 81 . day. artisans from
81 to s . day. In addition to their
wages laborers received : house, fuel and
garden spot. and pasturage for cattle and
hogs which they owned.
In regard to the share Of labor and
capital in their joint product, Mr.. Cal
houn said that there was NO country in
the world where greater hberality was
shown to the laborer. The large farmer,
besides furnishing the laborers with
shelter. fuel and other advantages, d.
vides the gross proceeds Of the crops
among his employees Under this system
thrifty and industrious laborers ought
soon to become land owners, but the me-
groes were o indolsnt that they failed
to take advantage Of the opportunities
offered them. They would only devote
20 much of their time 70 work q en-.
abled them to procure the necessities Of
life. Under the renting system the best
lands in the country could be attained
for s. or $40 an acre, and with the
rental 20 many privileges which have
been enumerated.
The working hours were generally
from sunrise to sunset, with : rest for
dinner of from one and . half to three
hours, according to the season of the
year. Under the share Of rental system
there was much time lost There was
seldom any work done ON Saturday. II
was safe to say that one-third of the
time which could be utilized by an intel.
ligent laborcr was wasted in fishing,
hunting nj idleness.
On his own farm he employed all three
methods Of engaging labor. but preferred
the tenant system. II wa his object to
raise the standard Of the colored laborer
to that of the small white farmers. This
could only be done gradually on account
Of the extreme poverty Of the negroes.
It was usual to begin by making . con-
tract with the negro to work on the half
share system. and require him to plant q
portion Of the land he cultivates in corn,
hay and potatoes. For this portion he
was charged . reasonable rent. to be paid
out Of his part Of the cotton raised on the
remainder. In this way al the supplies
raised belonged TO him, and ct the end Of
the first year he would. if industrious.
find himself possessed Of enough supplies
to support and feed . mule. He was
then sold . mule and implements, liens
being reserved. At the end Of the
second year. il he should Be unfortunate
and not quite pay out. the balance wa
carried over TO the next year. and in this
way he was gradually made . tenant.
He was encouraged in every way to take
an interest in the soil. was recognised ~
. citizen. and every efcrt was made to
Ct him for the duties Of ~citisenship.
A large portion Of the cotton : WA
now raised BY the small farmers, and the
number Of these VA increasing every
year. The relation bstwsen plantsrs and
their employees Wa friendly and har'
monious, and there was little danger o.
strikes. There was much greater ten
dsncy 70 . conflict bstwssn races than
between labor and capital. Mr.. Calhoun
thought that the bsst interest of laborer'
In the South would b subssrvsd BY the
establishment By he States Of industrial
schools. BY the total elimination from
Fsdsral politics Of the so-callsd Negro
question. leaving it. solution 70 time. and
BY . reduction Of taxation. both direct
and incidental.