The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-09-22
LOUISIANA RICE.

|
"The prospects of the present rice
,rop are generally considered good. q
Il is also Believed the yield win be
argBf than last year, owing to the
favorable weather thus far this sea-
son. The future of prices depends
in great measure on the amount OF
from foreign rice. Pre-
vious to the war our rice crop came
chiefly from the Caroinas. During
the last decade, however, this staple
has become considerable industry |
in Louisiana. Great improvements
have not only recently been made in
its cultivation, but also in it's milling |
There are now eleven mills in New |
Orleans, with a capacity of cleaning |
fully quarter of a million of barrels
per annuln." f
Unfortunately there is not a feeling
OF harmony, or community of inter-
,ests between these mills, which rep
resent the capital and commerce of
the business, and the small planters
whose labor produces the rough
product. The mills of New Orleans,
instead of protecting and encourag
ing the deserving and laborious
farmers, are a serious detriment5tO
the prosperity OF the latter. Instead
of keeping up the price of rice when
the crop comes in, and thus aid the
farmer in getting a fair return for
the product, they generally combine
to keep down the price, SO as to
compel the sale of the rough rice to
themselves at u very low figure, or
what they prefer, compel the planter
to have his rice milled at their estab
lishments before selling. Almost
every planter complains that i'll
sending his rough rice to be milled,
besides the exOrbitaut expenses
regularly charged, there is always il
serious discrepancy as to weight
quality, quantity, &c. We write
thus unwillingly and regretfully; b1t
we feel it a duty we owe theplanter'
to make these complaints. o
course, there are some exceptit ms t.
this system; some mills do all tia
Can be expected to harmonize tn,
two interests. If they would al
act thus, the rice interests here, lik
those in South Carolina. would shoV
more vigOr and prosperity.
"There are abont 900 rice farms i
+ this State, half of W hich produce les
e than 200 barrels. The averag
# annual production Of rice in tli
State alone Is valued at over So, 00t
900, making the production of roug
n rice to the acre at twelve barrels, @
If 1000 pounds, with a basis of foU
,fldollarS per barrel. The average COS
j of production is about thiT ty dollar
Y for planting, cultivating and harves
u ing. The amount now invested
l. this industry is hearty 100000
~ and it is estimated that fully 5000
people are, directly or indlrectl
10 concerned in the rice industry of tn
al State. While the production
Is. Louisiana shows wonderful ncrea
10 the Carolinas and Georgia are st
Z far behind the amount produc,
~ prior 10 1861. 81
+ 1t is estimated that in eight Sout
to ern States there are from 70,000,0
re- to 90,000.O00 acres suitable for ri
- culture and otherwise of little valU
~ called waste lands. Louisiana CO
IT. tains more acreage of lands partic
ell. larly suitable for the cultivation
nv rice than any other State. At a Il
or average of yield, in q fair season s
ur 1000 lbs of clean rice per acre,
N these waste lands were broug
es under tillage, the United States COZ
j. rival the East, and produce from z
~ 900, 900 to 90, 0O0, 900 lbs yearly.