The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-03-05
LOUISIANA RICE
THE UNION COMPANY WITH SIX
MILLION DOLLARS.
Will Assist in the Development of This
ndustry-Irrigatlon on an En-
tensive Scale Promised

New orleans, rep. Z/.-l he Idpldly
increasing demand for louisiana grown
rice is attracting attention to the i'm
mense prairie wastes in this State which
only need irrigation to make them as
productive as any rice lands IN the
world, and this has given a wonderful
impetus to the organization of irrigation
companies on a'iarge scale. The latest
and largest company Of this kind to be
formed is the Union Rice Irrigation
Company, the charter Of which has just
been filed in New Jersey by J. H. Dill,
the attorney who looked after the Or
ganization of the United States Steel
Corporation. The Union Company is to
have a paid-up capital stock of $4,000 900
"a large portion of which has already
been placed among the rice growers of
this State DIR. R. e. Webb of Rayne,
La, one of the wea1thiest rice men in
America, and who owns over $4,000
acres of rice land, is the prime mover in
the concern. He has been in the East for
several weeks completing arrangements
for organization, and has just returned
here. He experienced no difficulty in
raising the capital necessary for carry
ing out the scheme which is by far the
largest of the kind ever launched in the
world. George Bird Castles of Marietta,
Pa, congressman of that State, has
been chosen president. He has large
financial interests in Pennsylvania and
is well known in trust circles in the
East George W..Angle of New York
.city,vo fthe firm of Stewart, Simmons &
Co, brokers, is the vice president. DR..
Webb, who is president of the Rayne
Rice Milling Company, is the treasurer,
and George w. Sears of Crowley, La,
is the secretary. .>. !
The Interstate Trust and Banking
Company, 100000 concern organ
lied here. year ago, is acting as trustee,
and its president, W. P Rogers, is a
large stockfolder and will be one of the
directors of the irrigation company. The
stockholders Of the new company will
hold their first meeting in New Orleans
March IS, when directors and officers
will be elected.
The Unior: Company will dig canal
Fifty miles long, which will take its
wa-er from Bayou Coutableau, which is
a branch of the Atchafalaya river, which
il turn e1npties in the Mississippi river.
The canal will have its source in St
Landry parish between Opelousas and
Washington and will water the great
Hayes and Marmou prairies, bringing
more than 100000 acres into rice culti-
walton. r.. ri. g..
Close freight connections have been
made between the new company and the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, a
tap of which extends through st. Lam
dry parish. Colonel S. F. B. Morse, pas
senger traffic manager of the Atlantic
system of this road, came over from
Houston this morning and spent several
hours in close consultation with Dr.
Webb, when it was announced a clear
working understanding was arrived at.
When it is known that the supply of
Louisiana rice is this year about 100000
pockets short Of the actual demand, ne
cessitating heavy additional imports, and
that the profits on Louisiana-grown rice
are enormous, the importance of the new
company becomes apparent.
1t is not probable any Of the stock
will be placed on the open market for
sale