The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-11
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SUGAR
ALEXANDRIA. LA. July 7.

ALEXANDRIA, La, JULY z, 1891.
| To the Editor of the Eagle
communicate with you once more
from the land of the magnolia and palm.
After the sad destruction of the splendid
central sugar house that / erected in
Ness City, | returned to Louisiana and
worked up crop of cane that was pro-
duced on the pine woods land of Louis
lana, land that was considered valueless
for cultivation; heretofore the lands that
were cultivated in cane. were the alu-
vial lands on the streams and bavOus,
which had been in cultivation for Sc
ries of years, until the soil had become
impoverished, requiring fertilizers TO pro-
duce good yield. This pine woods land
was purchased for So per acre, the clear
ing of the land of all trees and stumps
cost so per acre. The cane produced
was very rich in sugar, worth s. per ton,
delivered to the sugar house, the land
producing twenty tons per acre. on an
average, consequently bringing 500
per acre, cost of production and deliver
ing. including seed cane was 1927. 50
twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents.
This may seem extravagant to the aver
age Kansas farmer. who is satisfied if he
can obtain s. per acre above
the cost of production; but it is only Dos
sible to raise cane where there is CEN
tral sugar house TO work up the cane
Under our present bounty system it is no
longer profitable for the small planter TO
work up his own cane: therefore the cen
tral sugar house is a necessity and they
are being erected in different parts eff the
state. Wherever they have been erected
and operated by competent management
they have been paying investment.
There Is but a small area of the state
under cultivation, not TO exceed one
tenth of the arabic land. 4 large portion
of the uncultlvated land Is a virgin forest,
untouched by the axe of the woodman.
This parish corresponding to Kansas
county,. in which Alexandra is''situated.
Is in the northern belt of cane produc-
ton and before the war produced more
sugar than any other parish in the state
As Your readers are we'll aware. this was
the battle ground where the tide of war
ebbed and flowed. destruction following
IN its wake: and now today the remnants
of splendid sugar houses attest the re-
suits of that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS time
by those who suffered and lost
The raising of cotton has been the
principal crop since the war, although
few OF the planters have raised cane
10 sell TO central factories
There are but few that are
able TO attempt to raise cane. as it
costs $50 per acre for seed cane In
cotton cultivation, if there is a bale Of
800 pounds produced per acre, dc is about
the aver lgel they are content. which
yields after paying costs Of producing,
So per acre.
In late years, there has never been a |
failure OF crops IL this state. Some
years Is Matter of fact, crops are better |
than others, Yet the planter can be as
sured, If lie does his part, nature will re-
spond 10 It's efforts with Z lavish hand.
To show the change in the people that /
Is taking place in regard 10 their rela- /
tons with the country al large, | Will I
state that the last time the Fourth of 4
July was observed. was in the year 1859: /
since which time the nations birthday /
has been forgotten event.
But IN this year, owing 10 an influx Of .
people who have not lost sight OF the |
natal day, with the co-opera-
uon CT the Younger portion OF the COM
celebrated the glorious Fourth
III an oId-fashioned style. with firing OF
cannon, parade OF children dressed in