The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-12-29
Crop Notes from Ascension and
Other Parishes

The following interesting crop notes
are quoted from this week s Ascension
letter to the Louisiana Planter:
1.-THE grinding season OF 1905 in
Ascension has been as tale that Is
told since the wheels OF Belle Helene
factory ceased to revolVe on the 18th
instant, and the tale is one that our
planters will never find much pleasure
in recalling, for it pertains to short
crop and a poor market, and offers
few gratifying features to be remem-
bered. The redeeming element OF the
disappointing campaign was the good
weather that prevailed from opening
to close, thus sparing our cane ralsers
and sugar manufacturers the addi-
tional burden Of an expensive har-
vesbing Of their deficient crops. Mo-
body has lost heart, though, and with
characteristic courage and optimism
the sugar people are looking forward
hopefully to big output and a good
market in the coming year.
'sThe Godchaux Company's big Elm
Hall factory in Assumption parish
finished grinding on the 22nd instant,
having handled $1,000 tons of cane
and turned out about $4,000 pounds
of sugar. Elm Hall has two mills,
both supplied with crushers, and the
work moved along smoothly through
out the season. A normal crop would
have given the factory 10000 tons of
cane, and it is expected that at least
that quantity will be ground next
season.
"The Godchaux Company's other
MISUNDERSTANDING in St. John and
Raceland H. Lafourche- still peg
ging away, and will probably be going
until the advent Of the new year.
'sChas. S. Mathews Georgia factory
in Lafourche parish finished grinding
about A, 500 tons of cane on the 24th
instant, just in time to give all hands
a chance to celebrate Christmas with
out the restraining influence OF an
obligation to report for work next
morning. Just how much sugar was
produced at Georgia this scribe is not
informed, but it is reported that the
average reached lao pounds to the ton
of cane, which would indicate total
sugar output Of about $3.50, 900
pounds. The trouble experienced by
some of the lower Lafourche factories
in getting a supply of fresh water for
the boilers-owing to the fact that
Bayou Lafourche has been trans
formed into halfway salt water
canal by the damming Of the stream
at Donaldsonville- avoided at
Georgia by system Of using the con-
densation from the double effects as a
boiler supply. The force of sugar
driers or centrifugal men consisted OF
sixteen Filipinos, who proved reliable,
steady and satisfactory workers. The
head sugar drier, q Filipino named
Glorio, was hurt three weeks ago by
being caught in a centrifugal shaft
belt. He had both feet broken and
was otherwise badly bruised, but he
was taken to the New Orleans Charity
Hospital by General Manager E. F.
Dickinson, and is rapidly recovering.
All the employees at Georgia attest
the kindness and justice which charac-
terize their treatment at the hands Of
Mr.. Mathews and NJ anager Dickinson.
SAT Barker g. Lepine's Clotilda fac
tory, also in the lower Lafourehe
region, grinding is being delayed and
long drawn out because of salt water
in the bayou and the difficulty of
getting sweet water for the boilers.
The tedious campaign is likely to be
continued several weeks longer at
Clotilda. -
The battleship Louisiana left New
Orleans Sunday morning for Havana
with every member of her gallant crew
present and in good shape. No
stronger evidence of their sturdiness
and endurance need be asked for than
the fact that they left the Delightful
City in prime condition after thirteen
days and nights of strenuous enter
tainment aship and ashore. A finer Or
better behaved set OF men cannot be
found anywhere, and our state is
doubly honored in having such crew
to handle the peerless vessel that bears
the name of Louisiana. Capt. Albert
,1,, L. No. T.