Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-27
BETTER RICE OUTLOOK.
nam Has Greatly improved the Con
ditions.

nam 1as Greatly Improved the Con.
ditions.
Crowley, La, July 26-The rains OF
the past two or three weeks have made
very marked difference in the APP
pearhiIce Of the rice crop. About the
rrst of July the prOtracted dry spell
mad pni the growing crop in bad way
Under most favorable conditions until
harvest, and with good harvest wealth
er, the crop has been materially re-
duced. both as to acreage and yield per
acre. Estimates az to the reduction Of
acreage run from ten to thirty per cent,
with about twenty as the average.
Reports received from Texas cor
respondents Of the Rice Journal and
Gulf Coast Farmer show that the acre
age is about the same as last year, and
the crop prospects at this time are
good. The dry spell did not last quite
SO long in Texas as it did in Louisiana.
ana the crop was not hurt So badly.
The Texas Wellmen attempted to water
too much rice, however, and i'm conse-
qrence they have, in some instances,
suffered. 1t is safe to say, however,
that the Texas outlook is favorable for
nearly, if not quite, as large a crop as
that of 1903, assuming that the harvest
will be favorable. Altogether it seems
that the present outlook is favorable
for total reduction from last years
figures of anywhere from fifteen TO
twenty-five per cent. on the Gulf coast.
Preparations for next seasons mill
ing and marketing are now under dis
cncSinn and &c ho<
ers will get together on some sub
stantial and practical plan that will
work out to the advantage Of the in
dustry generally. The plan of sending
representatives to the northern and
eastern rice centres and distributing
points to dispose of the crop direct to
the wholesaler seems to be working to
the satisfaction of the mills that have
adopted it, and may become generally
adopted another year if some more
practical plan is not decided upon.
The new mills at Lake Arthur. La.
Ncderiand and Markham, Tex, are
rapidly being completed. The plan of
the Gulf Milling Company, at Welsh
La, will also handle it's share of the
crop this season. Many new ware
houses are being built throughout the
rice belt. the majority of them in
Texas. In the vicinity Of Eagle Lake
and Ell Campo, Tex, no less than one
dozen warehouses and storage sheds
are being built.
The American Brokerage Company
Limited, has been organized here The
new company is capitalized at $500, 600
Almost all of the rice milling interests
n r.cl~
of the Peoples Independent Rice Mill
ing Company and the National Rice
Milling Company of New Orleans
which operates one mill in Crowley, are
interested in the new company. The
following named officers have been
elected: President. Marion Abbott first
vice-president, John Green; secretary
]. f. Christman: treasurer, w. E.
Ellis. 1t is the intention of the COM
pany to establish selling agencies in all
sections of the United States where
any great amount of rice is consumed.
1t is stated that within six months
there will be new rice mill in New
Orleans. the capacity of which will
equal the largest now in that city. The
company has already been formed
Taken in connection with the recently
chronicled formation Of the Empire
Rice Mill Company. both of these new
matters form part Of rapid move
ment toward making New Orleans the
rice centre Of the world.
Representative rice planters and
others interested in the South Carolina
rice industry, have taken initial steps
toward the organization of a state rice
planters association. They will in
stitute a thorough investigation into
the causes Of the present unsatisfactory
condition Of the Carolina rice industry,
and send special representative to
Texas and Louisiana to investigate and
report upon the present and prospective
conditions of the rice industry in those
states and the machinery and methods
employed in the milling and marketing
OF the product. The establishment of
an experiment station in the heart of
the rice-grOwing district Of South
Carolina for the purpose Of demonstrate
Ing what agricultural products other
than rice may be grown on the rice
lands OF the state Is also favored.