The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-24

IalT average on the DILL lanGs III su's
section, while ten bales was scarcely
above the average on the alluvial
lanes of Red river. And no one will
venture the assertion that since the
war the average on the bills has been
over two and half bales to the full
grown male hand, and on the river
over four bales. This is'a very liberal
estimate, indeed.
While discussing This question few
days ago with the most observant and
level-headed negro we know, he re-
marked that he was not 80 we'll in
formed as to the river plantations as to
the hills, but he did not believe the
average there would reach two bales.
At the moment gentleman from Bos'
sier Parish, who owns public gin,
pacsed by, and at the colored mans
suggestion We asked his opinion on
the subject. He replied that it was a
difficult question to answer, but be
could say this: 1t was not an unusual
thing for strapping young negro fell
low to bring to the gin, as the result
Of his years labor, cotton that would
not gin out more than single bale
This bale would probably net the pro-
Queer $40. Here we have $40 as
about all the fruits of the labor for an
eutire year-for it is not at all proba-
bic that such a worker would raise
over hundred bushels Of corn. As
suming that he had no family, the pro-
ceeds Of bis cotton "crop" would not
begin to clothe and feed him, nor
would the corn suffice for bis own
wants and those of bis mule. But
without going into details, and taking
a general view of the situation, there
are none so blind but can see that the
farmers of Caddo Parish have been
steadily getting poorer, year by year,
ever since the war. Look at the
Spring Ridge and Greenwood neigh
borhoods-in ante bellum days the
garden spots of the bill portion of the
Parish. Where will you find more
poverty-stricken country than those
neighborhoods are to-dayi They are
almost wholly given up to the negroes,
the whites having gradually abandon
ed the country, after struggling along
for years, and gone in search Of some
more inviting homes. 1t is absolutely
notwithstanding for one who knew
those neighborhoods in former years to
pass through them now. Dilapidated
houses, broken down fences, thousands
Of acres grown up in weeds and bush
es, and those that are under so-called
cultivation giving evidence of the most
slip-slod system-or want of system
of tillage. A white man who is will
ing to work is not willing to keep his
family amid such surroundings, and so
moves of.
Then look at the river bottoms.
How many planters between the Ark
ansas line and Coushatta-the richest
cotton lands in the world-have accu-
mulated anything since the war7 How
many of them could pay their debts
without sacrificing their plantations to
do III And how many could do SO
even at that sacrificed We have heard
the opinion expressed by an observant
and intelligent man that there are
scarcely more than twenty planters
along all that stretch of river who, if
pressed by their creditors, could pay
out and have anything left. Here is
a commentary upon the fruits of negro
labor for you. Will any one venture
to say that the picture is overdrawn'
One is constantly hearing Of or read
ing of the wonderful prosperity of the
South, and yet, if not located in some
mining district, he can look around
and see his neighbors getting poorer
and poorer every year-at least those
of them who depend upon negro labor.
These are facts, and they might as
we'll be looked in the face. The rem
edy for the evil is more difficult to
find, though it would be lessened if
the whites would rely less upon the
labor of the blacks for support, They
are leaning upon a slender reed as
they too often find at the end of the
year, when the startling revelation is
made that the negro has cost them
more than the products of his labor is
worth.-[S Shreveport Caucasian.
The place to buy cheap goods is
at Bauer 4 Wells, Front st., opposite
Ferry landing.
MHEJysasa Mine nf ca,A,,1