Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-06
RAINS RUIN THE CROPS.
RICE FIELDS FLOODED AND
THE LOSSES HEAVY.

The year 1885 will be a memorable one
20 the rice growers Of Georgia and Caro-
lima. Two weeks ago to-day the outlook
was very encouraging. The first planting
was ripening nicely, rather sooner than
usual. and the planters were congratulate
Ing themselves on the prospect of getting
the crop Of the ground and out OF DANCE
early. Some cutting had been done nea r
ly week before and new grain was eX-
pected in market 10y Sept. IS BY Monday
night, Aug. %, several hundred acres
were cut on different plantations.
Tuesday morning the whole Georgia
and south Carolina coast was swept by a
hurricane. The planters, as one Of them
expressed 10 Yesterday, were demoraiZed.
After the storm was over they visited
their farms and were agreeably surprised
10 find the grain standing. The crop
Looked so well at first sight that too
fiattering reports were circulated. The
growers said tnat they had escaped with
very little loss. II was not until
close inspection was made that they
discovered that the damage had been
underestimated.
There had been no tide and the rain had
not flooded or beat down the grain nor
had the wind tangled the straw hut as has
since been discovered the gale which
blew sixty miles an hour whipped the
ripe grain and caused no trlhing loss in
that way.
WHIPPED BY THE WINDS.
An examination OF the heads OF the rice
showed that from one 20 five grains had
been whipped out of the point of the head.
The loss per acre reached from two
to four bushels. Since then rain
has fallen nearly every day and
1t has been impossible 10 save what was
cut. During the last ten days the rain
fall has been over II inches, reaching In
one day 4.35 inches. The continuous
showers have damaged the crops much
more than the hurricane. 1t is estimated
that there are 10, 900 acres planted along
the Ogeechee and Savannah rivers. The
loss o date is put by various planters at
from 20 to $685. per cent. OF the entire crop.
Mr.. Paul I. Haskell, one OF the largest
planters on the Ogeechee, has suffered very
heavily. He had 200 acres down when the
rainy spell began. Usually his plantation
is secure from food, being protected from
the tides by the plantation of sir. A. +.
Moynelo aud the Grove plantation. The
heavy rains, however, caused a large
volume Of water to how down from the
back country, and the river being high
the canal could not carry the water of.
The entire crop on the 200 acres Is
almost a total loss, and its equivalent In
monev would not be less than s., 900 cash.
Mr.. Haskell considers that his crop has
already been
DAMAGED oEE-FIFTH.
Mr.. MOynelo and Mr.. w. c. Carmichael, !
who plant near the river, have not yet
been damaged so much. They had less
cut when the rains began, and besides the
water did not stand on their stubble SO
long as that of Mr.. Haskelps. mich Of
the later planting was completely sub
merged for several days, and 1t is feared
that it will suffer from blight. The other
planters along the Ogeechee have not
been damaged so much, but trouble is
anticipated this week. The moon is in
perigee to-day, and fulls on Tuesday, and
II accompanied by much Of an east wind
will be followed by a high spring tide.
The Savannah river district includes
10000 acres, and is the large rice produo.
ing country.
On the south side below the city lie the
Brewton ana Deptford plantations, Guilt
waited by Mr.. Carmichael. His loss on
these plantations was chiefly from the
whipping OF the ripe grain by the gale.
Like all OF the other planters who have
grain cut the rice that has been lying on
the stubble is sprOuting.
The crops on the plantation of Mr.. G..
BOurquin are almost total loss. This Is
Ogeecbee canal, and the backwater OF the
latter, Mr.. BOurquin states. inundated his
place. He estimates his loss at So, 600.
Mr.. W. r. Pritchard, Jr., reports that
but little damage was done TO his planta-
tiOn in the Montgomery district In Chat
ham county. The water overlooked the
banks Of the Casey canal, and the whole
place was inundated, but as the rice WAS
not cut there was but little injury to the
crop. Ar. Pritchard states that he has
never known such aquantity Of water
In the county before.
Considerable damage is reported on
Maj. Gibbons place.
ALONG THE SAVANNAH.
DR.. J. b. Reads crop, u or Il miles up
the river, was badly damaged. He had
e. acres Of very heavy grain cut when the
water flowed over his field and covered il
i've or six feet deep. The crop was good
Tor fully 1000 bushels, but IS now almost
q total loss. AS much more which Is stand
ing has not been injured much vet. The
plantations adjoining DR.. Reeds have
suffered less because their rice was not
cut so early, but there are few crops that
are not damaged at least 10 per cent.
Col. George ;. Owens crop Is one Of the
least damaged that has been reported.
In South Carolina the loss in quite as
serious as on the Georgia side OF the river.
some OF the planters estimate the damage
at % per cent. They have been
cutting every day that opportunity offered.
but the weather has been so uufavOrable
that great deal Of sprouting is reported.
The New river district is all flooded over
with water. II has rained there about
every day since Aug o. The freshet is
the heaviest for years. Some OF the fields
have been under water for three days and
the young rice is covered.
Mr.. II. Nj. Conner has one OF the largest
plantations, and IL is said TO be ''sea Of
water" not even the banks being visible.
New river bridge was under water but the
river Is falling.
The swamps and rivers are all over
flowed. In tbs Button district the
country from Red Hin church, on the
Button road, to Guerrard's store, on the
Vaudeville road, is one vast sea. Yes
terday the water was falling slowly, and
n there are no more heavy rains four
ffths Of the crop may yet be saved. The
only consolation left the planter ia that a
short crop will raise the price.
ON THE TURPENTINE YARNS.
Reports from the surrounding counties
gay that the low lands along the rivers
are all flooded. The rains have done con-
siderable damage In the naval stores ter
ritory. The hands in the turpentine coun-
ties below Wayeross are reported 10 have
been working waist-deep in water, In