The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-12
TRYING T0SAVE THE RICE
PLANTERS HAULING THEIR CROPS
TO PLACES OF SAFETY.

The Flood on It's Way Down the Sa-
vaunah-The Danger on the Ogee-
chez, and the Satilla and Altamaha
Cotton Exporters Notified to Look
Out for the Flood Here-Effect Of the
Probable Losses on the Rice Market.
There is nothing new to report from the
rice fields except that there was greater
activity on the plantations yesterday than
on the day previous The Savannah river
planters took out strong force of laborers
yesterday morning, and many of the plant
ers dill not return to the city last night, as
is their custom. Those who returned did
so more to keep up with the river news than
to escape malaria by night in the fields.
They were encouraged at the news of fall
at Augusta, and will go back this morning
to push the enforced harvest
The danger now feared the most is the
high tides, which will not be far behind the
freshet, and easterly or northeasterly winds
coming about the time The freShet reaches
hers. Should this latter occur, it would be
disastrous along the wharves if the cotton
is not removed above the bluff, and great
Inconvenience aGd no little expense would
be incurred in moving it from the sheds.
ton of this, has already notified exporters
that they viii not be responsible for losses
by all overflow.
WAITING FOR THE FLOOD.
Rice planters whose attention had been
called to the very full report of the situa-
ton in the MORNING NEWS of yesterday
say that at present nothing more can be
added until the waters of the freshet are
here, and then they can form a closer esti-
mate of the rice saved and the proportion
lost. A west wind would hurry the waters
out, but If an easterly wind and high tide
meet the freshet, all the low lands, inclui-
ing Hutchinson Island and the plantations
on Now river, will be inundated anu the
waters will cross the country and add to
the danger to the rice fields on the Ogee-
chez.
Heavy rains along the Oconee and Oc-
mulgee rivers indicate that the Altanaha
river will overflow it's banks and do great
damage to the rice fields. The crops on the
Altamaha and the Ogeechee rivers are
much earlier than that in the Savannah
valley, and flood in those rivers would not
be so disastrous as it will be here.
THE LOUISIANA CROP.
1t is said that the rice crop In Louisiana,
on account of freshets and rains will be re-
duced about 80 per cent. below what had
been estimated, although the output
will be fully up to that of last
year, that is, about 900 bags.
Here, it is thought, the amount saved
will very closely approximate the amount
harvested last year, not enough domestic
to supply the demand. But by the ruling
on what was called "uncleaned" rice, add
ing IL cents additional duty, it will insure
planters better prices for the domestic rice
The Java rice, which will come to this
country this year, will have to be pounded
as importers cannot afford to bring the So
called uncleaned rice here for brushing and
pay the Is cents additional duty. What
ever Java rice comes in hereafter will have
to be pounded and brushed The shortage
in domestic rice will give the Java article,
already in this country, a ready sale.
EFFECT ON THE MARKET
A rice man said yesterday that we cannot
be accused of bulling the rice market. for
from present indications there will be very
little rice to come into market and that is
likely to be more or less in bad condition.
Rice ought to have some time in the stubble
and in the shock when it is cut. This can
not be remedied under the circumstances,
but it will show it elf when the rice comes
to the mill.
The rice planters say there is no hope of
saving any part of the 'yOung rice" as it is
not to be expected that the waters of three
successive freshets coming down the river
will get Off of the plantations until the
stalks rot and fall on the ground.