New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-07-12
MISREPRESENTATION.

The most gloomy accountscome
to us through our exchanges of
the condition of the rice crop
throughout the parishes of AGA
dia. Calcasieu. Lafayette and Yer
million. The trouble is the salt
water that has invaded the
streams owing to the extended
droughth, and the crop is scri-
ously mcnaccd as it is suicidal to
apply the salt water to the crop
and without fresh water it will be
failure. \ long soaking general
rain is the only salvation for the
crops in the section mentioned.
Our esteemed contemporary
the Rice Journal 4 Coast Farm
or" while givingpublicity to these
unwclcomc truths seems to be
actuatcd by a desire To include
the entire rice crop as beng
threatened by the salt water.
We reproduce special from
its columns purporting to give the
condition of the crop in this par
ish, and we most cmphatlcally
state that no such conditions are
known here. nor is the crop at all
threatened by the Scourgc which
seems to be destroying the fair
prospects of the sections men
toned. Indeed we are SingularlN
free from anything of the kind
and not a single plant has shut
down for the reason given. a
recent inspection. rigid and thor
ough. by an experienced planter.
and another tour of observation
by one of New Orleans best rice
brokers state that the rice crop
of Bayou Tethe is the best in the
State and will give its average
yield of from T. to 20 sacks per
acre.
Why such damaging state
ments can be made is mystery
to us. unless misery loves com
pany, or is jealous and desires to
place all in the same category.
We desire to emphasize the state
ment here and now. that Bayou
Teche water has not damaged a
stalk of rice. but on the contrary
has fortified and irrigated one of
the finest crops in the State, not
a single acre (which will not pro
duce twice or more than the low
estimate placed upon it by the
special above quoted. This
fact, our immunity from salt
water should especially challenge
the attention of all intending set
tiers. Let them examine well
our advantages before going else
where. We append the special"
"The continued drouth through
out this and other sections of the
rice belt will cut off at least one
third of the rice crop, as great
many of the pumping plants had to
shut down on account of salt water.
Out of total of Al pumping plants
on Bayou Teche, more than half of
them are shut down three days in
the week on account Of the salt wa
ter which rises when the bayou is
low, and unless it rains within the
next few days the rice crop in that
section will not average more than
four sacks per acre"
Since the above was written the
Crowley Signal disapproves any
responsibility, stating that the
Rice Journal copied the damag-
ing special from the Galveston
News. and that the representa-
tive of that paper is the one to
whom should be attached the
blame. In as much as the special
was not credited to any paper
when reproduced by the Rice
Journal, the natural inference
was that its representative had
furnished the information from
this point, hence our criticism,
and the action of President Nc
of the Progressive League
denouncing as false in every par
ticular the libellious special.
w