New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1911-12-30
CROP CONDITION IN IBERIA

Flooding rains, hirh temnpra-
lures and strong northeast winds
have prevailed during most Of
this week. Field work, for time,
was suspended, as the ground was
too soft to use the roads.a fields
and cane were covered more or
less with water, but at this writ
ing (Thursday) the skies have
cleared and the sun comes and
goes. making it at least promising
for better weather for the balance
Of the week. Reports from the
factories of the parish, as, also,
from the fields. are Of discourag-
ing nature. The canes are so bad
ly impregnated with acid that it
is hard to draw the line without
niuring someone. and prices are
SO uncertain, based on the sugar
content Of the cane, that no one
koows just what he will receive
for his cane. We have heard OF
a price as low as $3.50 per ton,
and as high as $3.50 for good
sound cane. Farmers and pro
ducers are 10th to lose by cutting
in half. and factories are chary
of receiving cane that will prove
to be a dead loss so far as sugar
obtained, so both parties are
"chewing the rag as 1t We're
and considerable examinations and
recriminations ensue, and, IN
many instances, the parties are
fiinging epitaphs' as Mr.. Part
ington says. at each other. That
the loss is terrible no one denies,
falling more heavily on some than
others. That the inadequacy of
transportation has been made evil
dent is recognized on all hands.
That small factories have con-
tracted for more than they could
handle is also evident. especially
when an emergency arises.
At Orange, Grove the work is
progressing. Good sugar is made
without much trouble. Most OF
the home crop remains to be
ground, and considerable of the
lcustomers' crops yet being deliv-
cred. Over thirty thousand tons
have been ground, and it is stated
that three weeks will be required
| to finish the cane for this factory
At Gonsoulin's Maria, Loreau-
vile. the work is progressing
cane coming in from all points, in
all sorts Of conditions. some OF
which is accepted and some, OF
necessity, rejected, with no stated
price for any.
| At "Vida" factory. very opti
imistic feeling prevails. The mills
have continued to run since thu
first Of the season, over 10000
tons having been used, and cane
received every day from 600 tt
1000 tons. "Vida" has paid full
prices from the start, and will pay
for canes, this week, $3.50 pc,
ton.
! At Morbihan everything seem.
to be going on favorably. The
home crop, which had been placed
in windrow is making good sugar
and the outside cane, which hat
been windrowed, is also being re
iceived and paid for at contrac-
prices. The mills are running tt
full capacity and will, from pres
ent outlook, be engaged for three
weeks longer. At all the fac
tories the question Of sour can'
lhaving been settled, there is nov
no longer any trouble. from thi
source, which compelled the shut
ing down of the factories fol
some days, pending the controv
ersy.
| There is considerable talk o:
establishing other factories fo,
next year in order that the croI
can be disposed Of more rapidly
but, of course, these rumors have
not taken any definite shape, ex
cept, perhaps, at St. Martin:ville
Mode in Sugar Planter.