Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-20
Our + xports Now No, Larger
Than Imports.
Gain OF Fifty Per Cant 0yar
Previous Years. ..
Texas and Louisiana Are Now Iupor.
tant Fields.

<piil Inc Rice liz
oustry Of the United States" is dis
cussed by Mr.. f. Seymore Bell, British
commercial agent at Chicago, in a re-
port TO the British foreign Office, a
copy OF which has Just been received
ny the Department of Commerce and
Lapof through its Bureau of Statistics.
ne report is of especial Importance in
view OF the fact that the United States
In lSO4 became rice exporting instead
OF rice importing nation, increasing
her exports fifty per cent and decreas-
ing her imports twenty per cent. as
compared with the transactions of the
preceding year. In the calendar wear
1874 the imDortations of rice into the
United States amounted to 1877 million
pounds as against 178 millions in 1903.
a decrease of Al millions; while the ex-
ports of rice Including the shipments
to Hawaii and Porto Rico) were 13S
millions as against 80 millions in 1903.
In 1903 the purchases of foreign-grown
rice by the United States exceeded its
sales of that staple abroad by Sc mil
lion pounds. whereas in 1904 the sales
abroad slightly exceeded the importa-
tions of rice.
following abridgment Of Mr.. Bells re-
port will be of interest:
Rice cultivation in the United States
has become an important industry.
During the fiscal year 1899 the produc-
ton was 250.2s0, 221 pounds, the land
under rice cultivation was 342,21S acres.
This year it is calculated that the yield
will be about 100000 pounds, the
land planted with rice being 643,400
acres. Notwithstanding this large in
crease it is still sufficient to meet the
home demand.
Before 1860 the rice production in the
United States was practically limited
to the alluvial lands of the Carolinas,
Georgia. Florida, and Louisiana. When
labor conditions were altered after the
Civil War, the production in the East
ern States decreased considerably.
When machinery was adapted to rice
production and it was discovered that
the prairie lands, or southwestern Lou
isiana and southern Texas, with their
impervious subsoils, would dry before
the rice harvest sufficiently to support
machinery, there was a revolution in
the rice industry.
Fifteen years ago there was hardly a
barrel of commercial rice produced in
what is now known as the prairie rice
section of Texas. which extends 400
miles along the Gulf coast. and con-
tains some Of the most fertile lands on
this continent. These lands were then
valued at twenty-five cents to S1.50 per
acre. Today improved lands are worth
on an average $3.50 per acre. With
in the territory there are about thirty
rice mills with a daily capacity of over
10000 barrels of rice.
BY 1898 the canal and the deep-wel
system of irrigation had been satisfac-
torily tested. and the rice industry
was rapidly extending along safe lines.
At this date it was found that too
large a percentage of the machine
handled rice was liable to breakage in
milling. The attention of the United
States Department of Agriculture was
called to this fact. and measures were
Immediately taken to remedy the de-
feet and to overcome the difficulty by
the Introduction of new varieties. The
departments work resulted in the in
PRODUCTION of a variety from Japan
known as Kiushu, which has given
very satisfactorily results.
The kiushu variety is known for it's
short. thick kernels and thin hull. 1t
takes on but little polish. and the per-
centage Of bran is small.
Japanese growers consider the. following
points important for the successful I'll grow
ing of rice:
l. The seed should be pure bred, of
even quality and size of grain.
l;,rI,N nittc ct,<
be removed. This is done in Japan By
soaking the seed rice in water several
days, till it is about ready to sprout.
when it is thrown into salt water of Is
specific gravity. and allowed to remain
two minutes. being gently stirred mean
while. The light grains will float. the
others are removed. washed in cold wa
ter and planted. When seed drill is to
being rolled in the ashes of rice straw.
3. Even SprOuting of the grains is very
essential to even ripening of the crop. |
This is accomplished by previously soak
ing the seed as above stated.
The seed is sOwn in March and April. A
later crop is sometimes sown in June. For |
this the white seed is used on account Of
early maturity.
reau, June %. 1902. and covering eighty |
it is shown that since |
1880 the number Of rice mills in the United |
States Increased 264 per cent, capital 1853
per cent, ana Vdiue OF pTOOuClS Ito per
cent. This report noted that the increase |
in Louisiana and Texas was very marked. |
their production having advanced from |
Is, 753S56 pounds in 1880 to 174919,2O3 |
pounds in 1900. The statistics Indicated |
that the industry is being transferred |
from the South Atlantic States to Texas |
and Louisiana, and later reliable stats |
tics have pointed out a continued change |
In this respect.
The effect of successful irrigation on |
the prairie lands was rise In value OF |
such lands. In 1858 these lands could be |
obtained at from 81 to $3.50 per acre, ac- |
cording to their facility for cultivation. |
Some Of these same lands are now held at |
an average price of so. and a few choice |
locations bring as much as $50 per acre.
Before the Civil War the planter real |
ICED four or five per cent. on his invest- |
ments in the rice business. valuing his |
slaves employed at from $500 to $500 per
head and reckoning them as part OF HIS
The following is a comparison Of the
value of rice lands with wheat lands IN
various states:
AVERAGE VALUE PER ACRE.
Rice. coast country ...................sSsaW
-
Indiana ..............'''''''' a %
IillnOlS ................... ..'.''''''''''' 100
iowa - |