St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-06-13
Louisiana to the Front.
N. o. City Item.

generally supposed. Average Amer
lean citizens credit Louisiana with
greater sugar-producing capabilities
than those possessed by any other
State of the Union, but they fail to
extend that estimate of superiority
to any other class Of agricultural
products. Some, indeed, make the
mistake of supposing that all of
Louisiana lands which are not
closely akin to swamps, are pine
barrens, capable Of producing moth
ing but watermellons and sweet
potatoes. But the fact is that both
the high and the low lands of Loui-
siana are exceptionally fertile-a
statement which is borne out by
the crop statistics collected by the
officers of the Census Bureau.
In an interesting eight-page pam
phlet entitled Louisiana its Agri-
cultural Wealth, and the Extent to
which it can be increased" ETC., we
find facts and figures touching the
fertility, productiveness and natural
resources of the State, Interestingly
presented.
According to the census of 1860
the per capita wealth of Louisiana
was greater than that of any other
State of the Union it amounted to
$3.50 for each free family, and the
credit of the State stood exception
ally high both at home and abroad.
This was attributable chiefly to the
fertility Of the soil, not to the Ne
groes held in bondage, for the num-
Der Of slaves in Louisiana was less
than in the other Gulf States res
pectively. Such exhaustive crops
as indigo and sugar cane, after more
than century Of continued cultiva-
ton, have failed to seriously dimin-
ish the fertility Of the riparian plan
tations. Louisiana can, indeed,
compete with South Carolina in the
production Of rice, with Florida in
the production of oranges, and she
stands first among the States Of the
cotton belt in the production OF
cotton.
In order. to render the contrast
striking the author of the pamphlet
under review has selected Alabama
"a fair representative of the indus
trial and financial condition pre-
vailing among the older Southern
States in order to emphasize Loni-
siana's superiority. Though the
rural population of Alabama is 70
per cent greater than that of Loui-
siana, and her agricultural laborers
84 per cent greater, yet the pro
ducts of Louisiana exceed in value
those of Alabama. The following
summary, reported by the Depart
ment Of Agriculture for 1883, tells
the story briefly:
Louisiana. Alabama
Acres cultivated. 2158,343 5,68O,741
Hands employed esa as5 s7 AZ fS @
This shows that with less thar
half the number Of acres in cultiva.
ton and with but little more thar
half the number of hands, Louisi
ana, in 1883, raised 81, 423, 1856 more
agricultural products than Alabama
Prof. Hilgard is authority for the
statement that "the centre of maxi
mum cotton production on natura
soils in the United States, and prob
} ably in the world may be found il
Louisiana. For five years thu
average production Of cotton pc.
acre in this State was 81 of a bale
while for the same period th'
! average production in Alabama Wa
81.
In financial matters the contras
is less pronounced. The Louisian'
State debt is now $12,171, $50; tn
assessment for 1885 is expected t.
} reach $225, 600, 900, and the "Loui
siana bonds are now solid fou
per cent security, having thirt.,
) years to run, making them prefera
, BILE to any other State security G
equal class. The Alabama Stat
debt is So, 169, 100, and the assess
; ment $179, 81, 642.
A telegram from Chattanooga
Tenn, says: During the pro
gress Of revival meeting at
) church in Dalton. Ga, Emery Clar