The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-12-10
A GOOD WiY TO PROMOTE
THE RICE NDUNTRI.

The great depression in the prices
of rice has set our rice growers serious
ly to thinking as to the future of that
industry For . long period past, the
pricesof rice, though ~1ueiuating ct
times. yet averaged fairly, aud left the
growers a good living margin But at
the prices obtaining during the pre-
sent season. there is little, if any, mar
gin.
The depression is attributed to the
excessive production. Vast areas of
hitherto idle lands have been opened
up to the culture of rice in tlle Attak-
apas and Calcasieu prairies. and it is
fair To presume that the owners there
of win continue the culture of this de-
licioas and wholesome cerea, as Icing
as there il a prospect of realizing
some profits. These lands hitherto
unopened to cultivation, are singular
~ well adapted to that culture, and it
would be a serious loss to the State TO
allow them to NJ TO their pristine
state Of sterlliry.
But If over production il the cause
OF the present depression, tile remedy
is EASY to point ont, aud, it would
seem. as easy to find. A wider field
Of consumption and an increased de-
mand present the only i immediate sol
ution.
How 10 secure this desideratam liz
admirably indicated By Col. T. e.
Wright, of Nashville, one of the dele
| gates who ATTENDED the recent Sicara-
qua Canal Convention in New Orleans,
in the following suggestions
.Sinee coming to New OrleansI have
made the rice problem a study. Not
so very long ago the United States
sent q man by the name of Murphy,
an sh-AmericaB. to Germany 10
teach the German people how to use
American N Though that was on
ly a very short time ago, the export
of American corn to the Fatherland
has increased oEer a million bushels.
Yoa see the German people did not
know anything about the use of corr.
Murphy vas a good practical man.
He taught the Germans not only the
different uses TO which the great ce-
real could be put, but also instructed
them in the different methods of cook
ing i. He won them completely over,
and among the most enthusiastic is
the emperor himself. Corn neal has
been adopted by the army as the stan
dard ration, and is now used along
with the German rye.
snow the people of the North know
just as little, if not less, about rice.
than the Germans knew about corr
In fact, not only the people of the
North are ignorant, but also those of
the South and West As the French
man has his 100 soups, there are Just
a. many ways of preparing rice. SO as
to make it paiatable. / would suggest
that the rice growers of the State of
Louisiana call aco~nvention to meet in
New Orleans at the earliest possible
date and discuss the matter. If they
were to send half a dozen good prac-
teal men int the North and West, /
would stake my life that they can Gre
ate q demand for rice that will use up
every grain IN years to come, let the
crop be yer 20 large
The hint is valuable one which
the rice growers of Louisiana should
lose no time to adopt and put into OPP
Grafton. We must create . demand
for our favorite cereal, and the best
method Of achieving this end is to ini-
tiate our brethren of this vast Union
into the mysteries of the many and
varied dishes into which rice may be
served. Few people outside of GER
tain sections of Louisiana know how
to prepare this DELICIOUS edible for the
table. To increase the demand, it
must be appreciated ; to make it ap-
preciated, our people must be taught
how to have it prepared for the table,
and the idea of sending emissaries to
instruct Northern and Western cooks
into our culinary art relating to it is a
splendid one.
The plan of calling a convention to
devise ways and means for that pur-
pooo ir adr;~ahfo and no hattor a.a