Year: 1875

We have already referred to some of the


major obstacles encountered by the sugar
planter under the existing system, and
explained, OF endeavored to explain, the


means by which those obstacles may be
safely and permanently removed. A


separation Of the agricultural and manu-.


featuring branches of the sugar industry


has long been recognized as the only
practical solution of the difficulty, and it
is to this end that inquiry and experiment


have been persistently tending for some
years past. An arrangement by which the
farmer may be left free to prosecute the
cultivation OF his fields, and the manu-
facturer relieved of all duties save that of
running his mill and apparatus, contains
the elements most necessary and desirable
in placing the sugar business in its best
and most practicable shape. And in de-
scribing the enterprise about to be set on
foot by Mr.. Charles H. Walker, of St.
Mary parish, we shall lay before our read
ers one of the latest-perhaps the most
promising and intelligent-efforts in the
new departure which all now concede to
be indispensable to the perpetuation of
Louisiana's greatest interest.


Mr.. Walkers Bellevue place, about
eight miles above Franklin, on Bayou
Teche, is among the largest and best ap-
pointed plantations in the State. His
sugarhouse, we are inclined to think, is
the finest of its kind. 1t was only finished
last year at total cost of near one hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, and has
a present capacity of some twelve or
fifteen hundred hogsheads to the season.
MIR. Walker, who is clear headed, saga
cious Western man, has devoted himself,
during an eight or nine years residence
in st. Mary, to the problem of sugar cul-
ture in its most scientific form, and the
system which he has now adopted and is
preparing to put in operation is the result
OF profound study, earnest thought and
we'll digested experience. He has recog-
nized the embarrassments which the
farmer encounters in incumbering himself
with the business Of a manufacturer, and
has found that the manufacturer also is
fatally hampered by adding to his cares
the responsibilities and b;lrdens of
farmer. To separate the two pursuits has
been his idea for very long time, and
to do this to the benefit of both parties
is the consummation contemplated in his
present plan. Mr.. Walker is now offer
ing to persons desirous of farming and
competent to carry out their purpose, a
very great advantage and inducement.
His method is to furnish satisfactory
tenants with comfortable dwellings, with
such an area of land as they are able to
work properly and with seed cane suffi-
cient to do their planting. The tenants
supply their own teams, implements, etc.,
and for such additional land as they re-
quire to raise corn, food, etc., they pay
small rental. Mr.. Walker charges nothing
for the dwelling, the sugar land or the
seed cane, and he furthermore contracts
to purchase all the cane grown by the
tenants at the rate of four dollars per ton.


The agreement is very simple and in
telligible, and to those acquainted with
the details of sugar culture its advan-
tages to the tenant are obvious. The Or
dinary yield of good sugar land-and Mr..
Walkers is particularly goods about
fifteen tons to the acre, and it will be
seen, therefore, that gross sum of $50
per acre is within the reach of Mr..
Walkers tenantry under average circum-
stances. For the privilege of making this
the tenant is only required to furnish the
teams and tools. Mr. Walker has been
experimenting on this system. He has
approached the problem with intelligence
and energy, and his conclusions are enti-
tied to respect and confidence. If it
prove successful next year under the test
of actual usage and on the great scale at
present contemplated, we may regard the
question of profitable sugar farming with
its attendant blessings of immigration,
and improvement Of the condition
of the laboring classes generally, as
finally disposed of. We have reason to
believe that Mr.. Walker will be enabled to
institute such test, and we think we can
predict that every favorable condition
judgment, sagacity, fair dealing, good
faith-will be brought to bear on its de-
velopment. The small farmers of the
North and West, as well as the industrious
thousands Of the South should regard this
experiment with interest. Upon its result
depends not. only the promotion of mon
eyed concerns, but the dignity and recon-
pense of labor, and the prospects of those
who live thereby.