ering their condition after emancipation and the evil
influences to which they have been subjected, even the small
advancement they have made seems surprising.

Q. 2. Under what systems are the laborers in your section
employed?
--A. There are three methods: we hire for wages, for a part
of the crop, or we rent.

Q. 3. When hired for wages what is paid?
--A. When hired by the month we pay unskilled field hands
from $10 to $20 per month and board. When hired by the day,
for unskilled laborers, from 75 cents to $1. Teamsters, $1 a
day and board. Artisans, from $2 to $5. In addition to their
wages and board, the laborers are furnished, free of cost, a
house, fuel, and a garden spot varying from half to one
acre; also the use of wagon and team with which to haul
their fuel and supplies, and pasturage, where they have
cattle and hogs, which they are encouraged to raise.

Q. 4. What division is made between labor and capital of
their joint production when you work on shares?
--A. I doubt if there is greater liberality shown to
laborers in any portion of the world than is done under this
system. The proprietor furnishes the land and houses,
including dwelling, stables, and outhouses, pays the taxes,
makes all necessary improvements, keeps up repairs and
insurance, gives free of cost a garden spot, fuel, pasturage
for the stock owned by the laborer, and allows the use of
his teams for hauling fuel and family supplies, provides
mules or horses, wagons, gears, implements, feed for teams,
the necessary machinery for ginning, or, in short, every
expense of making the crop and preparing it for market, and
then divides equally the whole gross proceeds with the
laborers. In addition to all this, the proprietor frequently
mortgages his real estate to obtain means to advance to the
laborers supplies on their portion of the crop yet to be
grown, thus mortgaging what he actually possesses, and
taking a security not yet in existence, and which depends
not only upon the vicissitudes of the seasons, but the
faithfulness of the laborers themselves. Under this system
thrifty, industrious laborers ought soon to become
landowners. But, owing to indolence, the negroes, except
where they are very judiciously managed and encouraged, fail
to