New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-17
LOUISIANA'S LARGEST RICE CROP.
CHINESE WILL NOT TOUCH IT. But A NEW
MARKET IS OPENING IN PORTO RICO

If weather conditions favorable the harvesting
Of the Louisiana rice crop prevail during the next
three months the crop will bring nearly 5000 900
more than It did last year. This increase will
be due 10 higher prices and a larger production,
but neither is consequence of the war in China
has been said. Rice prices would remain about
the same were it not for the market which
has opened in Porto Rico. Under present tariff
regulations American rice be sold there more
than A cent pound less than foreign rice, and
when the promised free trade laws go into effect
there VIII he a dlTerencs Of two cents a pound in
favor OF the American product.
America does not do a large rice importing trade
when there is anything like a crop in the Southern
states. The rice which comes from China Is i'm
ported by the Chinese for their own consumption.
and the trade is confined chiefly 10 San Francisco
and other Pacific Coast ports which have large
Chinese settlements. Chinese rice comes in hun
Gred pound mats. and the grains small that
an American grocer would not handle #. The
Chinese who live in the East have learned to use
Carolina rice. and very little Of the Chinese article
!s-scen- IN the markets OF this city Japan and
Java MI In the gap when the American rice crop
Is short Last year nearly hundred thousand
bags were imported from Japan.
1 no Louisiana crop is chiefly handled through
Nf"-oreans. and nearly all of the jobbers OF this
city have connections there. They say that this
years crop promises 10 he larger than ever and
that prices viii he better II the crop can be
safely harvested. its value Will be nearly 10000
New-Orlcans statistics valued last years crop a.
St'"oVp', 1919 < AZ &.lli,tH, lNglS S226i
1865 AT $2oo7 600 The material increase last year
was due 10 the trade with Porto Rico. The poorer
grades Of rice, If sold in this country bring from
one and one-half TO two cents pound The same
stock IS worth from three TO four cents in Porto
Rico The duty on American rice is now 30 cents a
hundred pounds, but importers OF foreign rice into
forto Ric9 have TO pay the original duty. II there
Is a q, Dig demand Tor Japanese rice in the Orient.
as there doubtless will be II prevails in China
me HlportaIons VIII cease and n slight effect will
~. IloIlleu on the higher grades Of American
Inc Louisiana crop Is not yet harvested and
a general movement In that direction will not be
possible Tor thirty forty days. IL tho mean time
until II Is IN sacks. Several years past when
crop prospects were most glowing, q few severe
storms swept over the fields and ruined tvvo-third,
OF the crop. In case this should happen this sea
local consumption, instead Of sending them 10 Porto
fflco Expectations from Java would also Increase
me ioHo"lng report was received by a local firm
from lis NeW-Orleans agency yesterday:
Continued rains have caused the harvesting of our
new crop TO cease entirely. There Is no prospect
or the weather clearing. one OF our coast packets
came IN to-day without sack OF rough rice She
would nave had a full load Of several thousand
sacks were It not for the weather. The market is
bare and very firm. Southwest Louisiana reporfs
crop maturing finely. but there will be no general
movement in the way Of harvesting for the next
thirty or forty days.
To most people it makes but very little dirererca
from what country their rice comes. To the chi
IeSe ana ether practised rice eaters the difference
Is very great. The Chinese viii touch Louisiana
rice They say that 1t cooks hard and prefer IN
rice grown IN the Carolina marshes which seems
to have more substance. The .apan rice conrs
In round grains, and is similar the Java article