The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1896-12-05
Letters From The People.
st. Martinville, La, Dec. 8, 1885.

Editor Messenger
The need of sugar refinery in the immediate
vicinity of St. Martinville, is being more ielt
every year, and that such an institution should
be in the hands of citizens interested in the
welfare of the parish. has become, of late, more
patent than ever. 1t has always been concesd-
ed that the amount paid for cane, per ton, in
this parish. is lower than any part of the state.
but, the figures now reached ere 80 ridicnlously
low, as to attract the serious attention of all
business men concerned with the future of the
cane industry, upon which the prosperity of the
parish almost entirely depends.
A gentleman very friendly to the proprietor of
the st. John refinery made the remark that,
could be carry his cane to the st. Martinville
switch, his crop of 900 tons of cane. would
yield him $500 more than what he is getting for
it at the st. John refinery Basing figures upon
the prices paid by Oxnard q Sprasue and the
other rehneries now purchasing cane at the st.
Martinville switch, and the price paid by Mr.. j.
B. Levert, an estimate is reached which, how
ever startling. gives figures which cannot be
contradicted, and cannot fail TO show the greed
Of this great moneyed institution.
The Oxnard & Sprague refinery last week paid
81, So net per ton. for cane and allowed besides,
seventy i've cents extra per ton, for freight and
handling, thus, making the actual purchase
price OF cane at 1851 per ton. The st. John re-
inery is paying S2.2S. difference of 81 SS, which
the Oxnard Sprague refinery pays more for it's
cane than Mr.. Levert. As the capacity of the
81. John plant Is 800 tons a day, it will be
seen that Mr.. Levert is making Sl.O6i.Oo a day
more than the Oxnsrd d Sprague refinery. In
other words, during ninety days grinding
Mr. Levert makes ss5, 10000 more than the other
| rehneries. 1t can be realized from the above,
the great loss to which the lack Of competition
| compels Us to submit to. win not attempt to
| show that thsre is profit in the manufacture of
sugar. with improved machinery. as such figures
I IRE never allowed to get ont by the manufactur.
ers. but parallel which will bear me out can
easily be established by asserting that the Key
| stone refinery, which. besides having old ma
chinery. has not the labor or fuel saving devices
| of the modern plants, is paying more money
than ths ST. John and from the fact that it still
remains in the hands of its able manager, for
the last eighteen years, must be paying divi-
dends.
| The erection of switch here has only empha.
sized the fact that we are getting too little for
our cane, and that means must he devised to
have q refinery here. The lands are there, the
capital has often been offered. provided sum-
Gent capital could be raised to assure local in
terest in the enterprise. The matter lies entire
ly with the business men of this place.
BY bringing the matter up for discussion al
the next meeting Of the Board of Trade. nc
doubt some plan of action will be suggested
which will speedily interest those of our bust.
mesa men able to subscribe to the stock, in or.
der that the organization may be effected in time
to encourage the planting of cane for the mex
! crop.
1t lie nov folly for the planters to expect any
j better treatment from the St. John plantation
Mr. Levert has created position for himself
which makes him entirely Independent OF tn,
people of st. Martir, he has secured the owner
ship Of sufficient lands TO enable him to run hi,
sugar house with the cane of his own tenants.
He is not even dependent upon American Ia
Dor, he imports Dago labor which cost him les
money. To these. living is cheap, they need n,
luxuries, their children do not require the ex
pense of education, and unlike the American
unaccustomed to the freedom enjoyed in a FIRE,
country. they are more submissive. and readil,
adapt themselves to the life Of serfs, which h,
expects them to live by reason of the extortion
ate part of the profits which Mr.. Lebert keep
for himself
Mr.. Levert has waged war and showed hi
in nifty to the people of st. Martin. by boycott
ting labor and the business firms Of st. Martin
vile. Since he is the aggressor and has all [ h
power that money and large ownership of land
can give, it were better that we should realiz
the fact, and be on the defensive. II we camp
rely upon Mr. Levert to buy our cane. it be
hooves us to look for a market for them: and il
the event that one is not available. create on
erect refinery. and this can only be done b
the employment of our own brains and our owl
money. \.