The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-26

People who like to view ruins of ante beilum sugar houses of Louisiana would better make a trip through the sugar district of this state while few of them still endure. Every once in a while the crumbling remains of a sugar house of the olden days are entirely demolished the old bricks of the structure being sold to persons who subject them to various usages. while the rusty machinery of the mills is turned into junk.
 Although these demolitions have been taking place during a number of years just gone by, it is only recently that junk dealers have been making exceed ingly ravenous raids among the old su- gar houses. In making a tour of in- spection in Southern Louisiana few years ago one could have seen these re- mains standing, desolate and sad, in some neglected. obscure and weedy por- tion of the plantation, mysterious bit of decaying machinery surrounded by crumbling walls and dwarfed trees. Passing over the same paths at present the traveller would become conscious of a noticeable decrease in the number of these ruins, and also of the fact that some of the few remaining ones are des- titute of the rusty engines, fiywheels and rollers which were once so conspicuous within the aged portals of the structure. Among these ruins are those of the sugar house on the Pecan Grove" plan- tation, in St. Charles parish. Its mill has recently been demolished; the metal of the machinery which once moved systematically in this sugar house and ground many a cane crop of the Pecan Grove" tract, was some weeks ago broken into countless pieces by dynamite and hurried to the junkshop.
 The Pecan Grove" sugar house was once one of the finest in the south. and it's ruins had for years been most strik- ing, particularly when seen from the Mis- sissippi river, which flows not far from the spot Time and other things have long since worked to decay the sugar house. The roof and walls of the cen- ter, or mill portion, of it had fallen piece meal to the weeds below, and the great rusty cogwheels and rollers had for years been flooded by southern sunshine and explored only by lizards as they crawled out of the caves of bricks to sun themselves. To the right stood the engine, high upon solid brick work, as was the remainder of the machinery, silent, motionless, but telling to the thoughtful mind a tale of bygone days.
 Another interesting plantation whose mill was recently demolished is "Or- mond," also in St. Charles parish This sugar house was built shortly after su- gar was first made in this country, yet at the time of the demolishment of a 4 o. he orrn much of the woodwork was in a good state of preservation. At present there is but a smokestaclx and crumbling bits of walls to mark the site. This sugar house was also a representative one dur ing it's time like many other mills of the olden days, the "Ormond" mill was first operated by horses, as could be seen, some months ago, by some of It's pro- portions Near the juice apartment was the round shed, where the horses trotted round and round. thereby furnishing power to the mill; and adjoining this were other apartments characteristic of sugar houses built for horse power.
 Three apartments composed the sugar house of the time of the earlier days of "Ormond" shed, the juice and su- gar-making room. and the warehouse. This was all.
 
 of cane almost as large as those of the present. The latter fact, by the way, demonstrates that much juice was lost in those days. for surely the cane was not properly ground. The stalks were simply crushed little, just enough for a small amount of juice to flow, and the cane was then hauled away to large bagasse piles.
 A remarkable tale is attached to the ruins of the Orange Grove sugar house in Jefferson parish. The story Is au- thentic and one which tells of $500 hid- den in the sugar house. The money Is stiIl among the old bricks, providing 1t has not meanwhile been stolen. It was hidden there by one Dick Taylor, a negro who gathered together and secreted his money in real Silas Marner style. The negro was an exception, of course for negroes as a rule, are reckless spend- thrifts This Dick Taylor worked hard and saved almost all he made. For years his hoard was known only to him self; but one day. probably realizing that he was getting old. he informed one of the owners of the plantation that he had saved about s2500: that all the money was for the owner in question. and that be- fore he CTaylor) died he would tell him where the money was hidden. Some years afterward this owner was told that Taylor was dying, and that the old negro wanted him to come to his cabin immediately. Reaching the house he found Taylor in a critical condition. The old man was speeches. and appeared to be dying. After awhile he recognized his caller. as the latter stood near the bed in which the old negro lay, and then he rallied somewhat
 "Marse-Marse A" This was all that Taylor could say. Again he became speeches.. But he had something on his mind. and was determined to do all in his power to express his thoughts: this could be seen by the expression of his face. He soon rallied once more. and with his fast ebbing strength he pointed toward the sugar house.
 His caller understood. Taylor had hid- a-- .t-~ ~.e,.xx f~. <hn sucar hot,aa