The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-01-04

CANE STEALING
''Fa rsner" COMPLAINS Uf An
Abuse. Which has Become
Very Serious to the
CAne.XrsswerS

To the Editor of The Lafayette Gazette:
The grinding season for cane i.
now about over. l finished ship
ping to day, and whilst the tonnag.
is satisfactory, il is the reverse q.
to the price received--nearly sixt,
cents per ton less than we received
last wear. Yet, We have paid m ore
for labor than in former wears,
which still brings us TO farther
loss than last year. and as made
| an average Of twenty tons per acre
it means a loss of fifteen dollars Der
acre to myself, and the same in
proportion I" all other cane-growers
The question now is how much more
of this can we stand, and II there is
a remedy, and will the farmers ap-
ply it. In my opinion there is
no success without organization.
Through the cowardice or lneffi
cheney Of the law we are subject to
another heavy loss that comes from
the stealage of cane from the fields
and in transit to market From the
time cane begins 70 ripen until the
season closes there Is continual
loss from this steaIage We, that
control switches are entrusted by
the farmers and refineries to weigh
theft cane CORRECTLY, etc To show
YOU the extent Of this stealage in
reports received from the refinery,
the loss in weight on one car some
times is from one to five thousand
pounds. In your town negroes not
only carry it off by the armfuls. but
have been seen hauling it off in |
wagons 1 write this to ask your |
assistance in helping to break up |
this crime against poor. tired and !
inert set OF farmers, such as we are,
that won't help or protect them
selves. Can we not go in a body
before the Police Jury and ask
hem to pass an ordinance making
t misdemeanor punishable by fine
and imprisonment to take cane from
he fields or cars, and that any one
seeing this steaIagc may report it
and that the justices and cnnstables
Dc asked to enforce t. e ordinance?
# there is no law to cover this case
hen we must ask our representa-
i've to be elected next spring to
work tor legislation to this effect
Then, finally, if there can be no
under the law, we are
brought face to face with a serious
for self preservation is
powerful factor when men realize
hev have no protection save that
which they themselves can enforce.
This is an evil which can and
ught to be remedied by law. ;
With a hearty endorsement for
much that You have said and done .
Turing this closing year, and with
wishes FIR ~opoinry
ear. l am, yours truly,
Zee. 26, 1901.
The Gazette is satisfied that
Farmer" does not exaggerate the :
xtent of the loss caused to the I
ane-growers bv the stealing of cane
ther in the field or in transit. 1t {
q wellknown fact that some PEG !
le do not hesitate to help them =
lives from the fields and cane-cars n
I'D the abuse has grown to such v
roportions that the law applicable
it should be enforced. We un-
that the taking of cane :
ON the cars constitutes the crime >,
larceny and that there is statute .
'vering the other offense-that of
king the cane while in the fields.
these laws are permitted to be =,
olated With IMMUNITY the farmers a
e at the mercy of a large class of il
'ople who seem to think that
gar-cane is not entitled to the (,
election Of the laws which regu-
te the right Of property. We =,
'pe tina, by calling attention to
is evil, "Farmer" will secure for
e cane growers the protection -
,ich they should receive at the
nds Of the authorities.
There are many hats equal to bur p
Star hats. but they cost you
Plonsky Bros N
w. S. Patterson, Of New Or. D
ms, was in Lafayette this week. :
2 came TO spend New Years day
his fathers home. n,
Our assortment of latest books Of W.
ton is all highland we sell them,
}. Moss Pharmacy. 70