The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-30
THE RICE CROP RUINED.
The Damage Estimated at Nearly
Quarter of a Million.

Quarter of Million.
The rice planters are the heaviest suf-
ferers from Sundays storm in this vicin-
ity. The loss to the planters of the Sa-
vannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha and Satilla
rivers by the storm is not less
than 5000, 900 and in all probability will
greatly exceed that amount. This is
based upon an estimate that the damage
to the crops is fully 50 per cent.
Nobody was found yesterday ac-
quainted with the subject
who placed lower estimate
upon the loss than so per cent, and
the majority of those interested place the
loss at IS per cent. and above
Some declare the crop to be a total loss,
and this is undoubtedly the case on some
plantations.
INFORMATION MEAGER.
While it is absolutely certain that the
loss is very great, very little information
in detail could be obtained Most of the
planters were out at their plantations
yesterday endeavoring to get an idea of
their losses. The waters had only par
TALLY subsidized and it was impossible to
make an accurate estimate of the damage.
Most of the estimates are based upon the
conditions which are known.
All the rice which was cut and stacked
in the fields was swept away. The
planters had been cutting about week
and there was considerable quantity Of
grain stacked in the fields.
DaU+Fn,I MA INo1
the city there were eighty
acres cut and stacked The whole amount
was swept away, and there is hardly a
blade left to tell the tale. On every plan
tation where rice had been cut the story
is the same
A large quantity of rice in stack was
lost on the plantations of Mr.. Pau
Haskell and Mr.. Arthur Elliott on
the Ogeechee river. A small amount was
lost on Mr. Ralph Elliott's plantation on
the same river
THE ENTIRE CROP DAMAGED.
The uncut rice is little better off than
that which was in stacks and washed
away. The late or June rice, which
constitutes considerable por-
ton of the crop, is totally
ruined by the salt water upon it. As all
the plantations in this section are near
the coast and within reach of the tides,
all have suffered alike from salt water.
The ripe standing rice is the only por-
ton of the crop from which the planters
may expect to get any return.
Opinions differ greatly as to the damage
it is likely to have suffered. Some judges
say that the heavy winds and waves
together have beaten the ripe rice out of
the heads, and that now there is nothing
left but the stalks. Others believe,
however, that the water, which covered
the rice, protected it from the
wind, and that there is very little loss
from this cause On the amount of this
rice remaining in the fields depends the
output in Georgia and South Carolina
this year.
sAvANNAH's RECEIPTS.
Savannah received about $50, 600 bushels
of rough rice last season. The present
market quotation for rough rice is about
60 cents bushel, but the average of the
past several seasons is over 81 bushel
The price this season will probably reach
nearer the latter than the former figure.
The crop, up to the time of the storm,
was reported to be very fine one, and the
planters were well satisfied with the
prospects for the yield.
Besides the receipts of rice in Savan
nah, a large quantity always goes from
this neighborhood to Charleston. The
total crop of Georgia and the plantations
on the South Carolina side of the Savan-
nah river might be fairly placed
at 100000 bushels. Estimating the
loss at 50 per cent, or 100000
bushels and the loss by the storm will
amount to over 5000, 900, which is practi-
cally so much money taken from the
pockets of the planters, the crop having
been already made and only waiting to be
marketed.
HARD BLOW ON THE PLANTERS.
This is a hard blow to the
planters They made large crop
last year which sold at the lowest price
since the war. On account of the short
crop in Louisiana this year, they were in
hopes of obtaining better prices for
this crop. Their losses have already
helped to raise the price. Rice
went up half cent a pound
yesterday, and is expected to advance
fully a cent more.
There is a considerable quantity of old
rice on hand, which the brokers have
been unable to sell on account Of low
prices The owners OF thls
rice may now bless their fortune
in being compelled to hold II,
Is they will now obtain good prices Tor IT,
THE TRUCK GROWERS LOSSES.
slIlInr II