Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-10-31
EcHoEs o. slavery DAYs.
Human Assets OF a Gas Company and
Their Changing Values.

Human Assets OF Gas Company and
Their Changing Values.
Many interesting entries are to be found
in the old inventory books and other vol
umes Of record Of the New Orleans Gas
light company which furnish hitherto I'M
published history Of the second Oldest gas
company in America during the cloudy
and tempestuous days of the early sixties
in the south These records tell of the
losses sustained by concerns doing bust
ness in New Orleans duislg the war and,
for that matter. give an alea Of the fnan-
cial vieissiiudes Of Incorporated compa-
mics in the other old slave states.
BaukSou Taylor. manager of the New
Orleans Lighting company. after going
over the books Of the New Orleans Gas
light company. says the money losses sus-
tanned 10y the corporation through the
emancipation proclamation of President
Lincoln were S54.65U This amount rep
resented the value Of 81 slaves owned by
the company az the time Of the occupying
Of New Orleans by the Federal forces.
These slaves had been accumulated by
the company since 1888. or the year OF
the organization Of the New Orleans Cas-
light and Banking company. While the
company maintained q few slaves who
were put TO work about the station in
1866. the sweeping substitution Of such
labor for white labor was not made until
1913. as the following extract from the
minutes Of the monthly meeting. March
& Of that year. testify:
"A report from the superintendent and
engineer Of the company. made at the
suggestion Of the president, upon the
practicahility of substituting slave labor
for white labor at the station and on the
street mains as well as lighting the pub
lie lamps was received and read, and aft
er discussion the apparent economy Of
slave labor, from the estimate Of the engi-
neer. determined the board to authorize
the engineer to make the experiment. and
on motion it was resolved:
"That the engineer OF the company be
authorized TO purchase from time to time
as in bis Judgment he mny deem advis.
able with the sanction Of the president
such slaves as will answer the purpose
contemplated. either as stokers and labor
/ ers as well as the necessary mechanics
ID supply the place Of white labor now OF
necessity employed at so large an expend
iture. and that the treasurer be and BIZ
4 ID hereby authorized to accept the acti
Of sale Of such negroes and pay for thei
cost"
From the time the order was ISSUED
the gas company at various intervals in
creased the number Of its slaves to 81
when all were released by the proclama
ton Of the president in 1868.
The inventory Of these slaves CAV
name Of the slave. the year bought, pres
eilt age. cost price and present value.
is interesting to note how the value Of
slave changed from year to year. For in
stance, young fellow. Nat, was brough
for $1,000, and his price in five years wa
marked down to 5000 on account of som
weakness he had. Crawford and VIII
were bought in 1886 for $500 and i
1862 were valued at $780, Both ha
grown too old to do any appreciate
amount Of labor for the company. bu
their investment was not bad one
Crawford's wife bore six children. VIII
were given an aggregate value Of $1,000
As the slaves advanced in years the
were gradually marked down in value. al
fer instance, Leonard, who cost his owr
ers $1,000 at the age of 43. was reckon
ed as being worth only $500 IA year
after. Then. on the other hand th
young slaves as they matured increase
in value during the years they rendere
good service to the company. Henr
Barnes when 20 years Of age W,
bought for $3.50 and at the date of Pres
= dent Lincoln's proclamation was value
Z at $1,00O.-New Orleans Times-Dem
= s-=@