The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-05-28


the fields at the side OF every rice
farm. and the owners not infre-
quently arouse the ire of the levee
boards by their perssteney in keep
ing these channels for the flow of
water open. But rice can be Guilt
Fated In no other way and the fiumc
Is a misfortune that has to be borne.
In New Orleans are loeated num-
per OF rice mills for hulling and pol
lshing the grain. The rice is sent
mere from the farms in the rough
state and gees to the mills. where IL
IS shehed. cleaned and polished. 1t
Is then placed in barrels and is ready
.lr the dealers. There is a great deal
OF capital invested in these mills. and
nuhdreds are given employment by
TIE owners. The mills constitute an
important portion of the manufac-
turing interests of the city and the
proprietors are men of progress and
advancement.
THE MAKING OF SUGAR AND
MOLASSES
Is perhaps Louisiana's most import
ant Industry. The Mississippi valley
Is honeycom bed with sugar planta-
lions on both sides of the river and
there are great many along the
!tne OF the southern pa iflc railroad
IN South Louisiana. Millions of dol
lars or capital are invested in these
sugar manufactures. and conse-
quentIy when some years ago the
democratic party removed the boun-
" without substituting a satisfac-
Tory DUTY. there was much suffer
ing and misery among the people of
the state. The outlook since the in
auguratiOn of President Mckinley
mas been murh brighter. for the Re-
publican platform upon which that
gentleman won makes ample provi-
sion Tor Louisianas greatest indus
try.
Thousands Of men and women are
EMPLOYED ANNUALLY ON THE
SUGAR PLANTATIONS OF
THE STATE.
they are for the most part negroes
aud New Orleans is the native place
~of large majority of the working
men and women. The cane Is cut late
in the fall and the grinding begins
shortly afterwards. The pro ess of
sugdr-making is highly interesting,
Dut there is not sufficient space to
give ii in detail in a narrow news
paper article. The machinery in the
mammoth sugar-h3uses of Louisiana
IS OF the finest make and the facih-
ties for barreiing and shipping the
sugar and molasses are as great as
II is possible to make them.
Naturally New Orleans is the mart
of tae sugar and molass. makers.
The products of the plantations are
sent to the Crescent City, where they
are disposed Of by the merchants.
The sugar wharves are bsrvC On Ca
nal and Cont streets. Some years ago
there were constructed three large
and airy sheds on the river front,
each running the length Of a square.
These are known as the sugar sheds,
and molasses and sugar is stored
there during the business season.
They serve as warehouses and are
of great assistance to the dealers
The Sugar and Rec Exchange is sit
uated on Benvllle street opposite
the sugar sheds As nas been stated,
THERE ARE NUMEROUS RE
FINERIES IN NEW ORLEANS
where sugar is refined and mo.asses
purified.
AS grain exporting port. New
Orleans stands second to none It's
superior ia ilities for the handling of
wheat and corn make it an attract
i've point for the shippers of the
West. Along the river front are nu-
mer0us elevators with a capacity Of
thousands of pounds. Just above New
Orleans Is a place called Southport,
where there are magnificent grain
elevators, and the same condition of
things prevails at WestWego, a sub
urban village on the right bank of
the river. In January OF last year
the Illinois Central railroad clos d
q contract with a large Western firm
to send here for shipment to
Furopeann ports not less than $4,000
carloads of grain.
This is simply enormous, but It
gives but a faint conception Of the
Importance of New Orleans from a
grain exporting point Of view. New
Orleans would have had an in sed
trade II it were not for the terrible
blow given 1t by the Supreme Court
decision. TIE opening Of the Stuy-
vesant docks was A great event for
this city AMI the numerous elevators
at that place were open to receive
grain. Put the decision put a stop to
everything and the matter is still In
allegiance
COMMISSION BUSINESS.
Among the chief industries of New
Orleans is counted the commission
husiret,s. The country contributory
10 New Orleans is possessed of the
richest soil in the Ameri can continent.
ana is the most wonderful in its pro-
auctions. Fruits and vegetables
INV more rapidly here than else
where but it is the genera charac-
fer and diversity OF the products that
Sorh the chief feature of the SOL
Sew orleans has heretofore be ONE a
nerfact III Dorado for co.nmissi5n ard
nrndnre merchants. Every railroad
entering the city has -Ound It neces-
sary to run local ireights 1ch day
in order that tho products OF the
truck and fruit farms may be
brought to the city in time to b.
placed upon the market.
The rade is particularly lively at
this season Of the year. Fruits end
vegetabiets are IN season, and there
is lively competition between the sell
ers in consequence. The productive
soil OF Louisiana nourishcs lnore
fruits and truck garden stuff than
there is space to enum crate here. Its
reputation in this r. z ri is by n
means lGc3i II extends far AMI wide
and the vegets BILE productions %
Louisi2na soil are much s1ugAt after.
TIE FOREIGN FRUIT TRADE
= New Orleans is one Of its chief
in,p,rts. The fruit is brought here
On chips fronls c ntral American
ports. Is pl-ced aboard box cars the
moment the snip reaches the wharf.
IS unloaded end Is dnally whisked
away to the West ana Northeast t.
be sofa in the market7 0 these sec
tions. Ta.rc are about thirty fru.t
carving steamers in. TIE New o.
h. ms traGe. Thousands of buncnes OF
bananas and hundreds Of c3caanuIs
are borne in these steamers very
trlp that IS made to tn C'r scent Clty.
al the wha-ves open box ears are
waiting. ana the work o. nGlo ding
III vessel ana loading the traits is
quickly performed.
The cargoes Of fruit have to te
handled VITA the greatest expedition.
Tne bananas are still in the green
ctAte rnan they re ch New Orleans