The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-10-21

the sugar firm of Belle Alliance Co.,
Ltd, Informs us that with an extra
large crop OF cane to grind at the
1000-ton Belle Alliance central this
season, it had been the intention to
begin the campaign at that factory
Tues, ,Oct.10. The results of handnaill
tests on cane, however, for a few
days prior tos the 10th, showed too
unsatisfactory q condition of matur-
ity, or immaturity, to justify so early
an opening Of the campaign, and in
accordance the grinding date was re-
set for Tuesday, the 18th.
The Belle Alliance factory is wide
ly known as one of the most eff
cient in the state for it's capacity,
and its advantageous location on the
Texas and Pacific branch, in AS
sumption parish, close to Donaldson
vile, allows Of free supplies of cane
being bought, mainly got from Rap
ides, though considerable is Sc
cured also from Pointe Coupee= par
ish. Even with one of the best crops
ever raised on the very extensive
Belle Alliance estate, more than half
the $4,000 tons of cane in prospect
for the mill is due to be. secured
from outside sources, the largest sin
gle suppier of bought cane being
Divide Lacour, who may produce in
excess of 10000 tons this year on
his fields in Pointe Coupee. Should
the cane tonnage all around come
to the figure expected, a new record
lished by the end of the coming roll
ing by quite a substantial figure,
and the prospective crop, as com
pared with the 1910 tonnage, will
mean the grinding of SO Per cent
more cane than disposed Of last sea-
son.
It is further interesting to observe
that had the capacity Of the Belle
Alliance central been equal to the
receiving of more cane, even heavier
supplies could have been contracted
for this season, since under the adj
ministrative head of Jas. p Kock,
the Belle Alliance Company has for
many years enjoyed the fullest con-
Ifidenea of the cane growers OF the
is ii alae
Of the first sugar producers IL the
southern part of the state to get cane
from the northern tier of parishes
and as such >has the distinction of
being one of the primal movers to-
ward the great expansion in cane
followed in that district Of late
years.
J. T.. Guyton, the managing part
ner in the Old Hickory Planting q
Mfg. Co.'S extensive sugar estates
in Iberyille parish, was a city visi-
tor recently and in speaking of the
crop outlook in his neighborhood
expressed himself as quite well salts
fled with the prospect for the ton
mage, which will keep the 5o0-ton
Old Hickory central busily engaged
for full-lengfh campaign. Extremely
heavy rains during the latter half
Of September, states Mr.. Guyton,
delayed field operations consider
ably, and to the first of this week
+ little or no fall planting had been
possible in his locality, though with
fair weather ruling for the past fort
night planting was due to be under
way on the Old Hickory group by
| this date, and good headWay should
be made before grinding if the pres
ent favorable weather continues, for
sugar making will net start until close
toward the months end.
In speaking Of things agricultural
| in his community, Mr.. Guyton told OF
well organized move for the estab-
lishment of a drainage district in up
per Ascension and lower Iberyille,
that will include his firms planta-
tons. which are located several
miles below Whitecastle. The plan for
the organization OF the drainage dis
trict. which seems virtually assured,
| is for the digging ef a canal to
| the rear of the fields extending from
the upper 1ige of Richard McCalls
| MacManor plantation to the lower
| line of the Wares Belle Grove plan
| tation, and embracing the sugar in
terests of Geo. B. Reuss and the
| Miles. Planting Company. When car
ried TO its elimination, this plan will
improve the drainage OF some Zen
! thousand acres of land now in cuitl
| yation, the greater part of which IS
| given over to the raising OF sugar
cane, though much Of the territory
| that stands to be improved has fo1
years been in rice as the main crop
/ and with the per- e tion OF drarlaet
| to follow the canal dredging con
ducted by drainage d strict procedure
these rice fields are doubtless due e
be converted into productive cans
! producing plantations. With eontinIs
I. Gus rice cropping as long folloWat
along the river front IN this district
the soil on the rice fields has no
been kept in the best Of shape, bu
being naturally very fertile IS ca
oable of producing good, paying can
j, erops, and could be quis kly restore
| to proper sugar land fertility Wit
! adequate drainage such as can q
given through tire purrosed drain q !.
1 district work. An argument for this y
eality changing ever fEoms rice =
cane is furnished in thJ returns g
the last census, which is Hnderstoo
Ito have. shown that in the strete
Iof country below Nh:tecastle give
/ over to rice as the main crop tn
population has decreased SO Pc
s SIcent in the past ten ySars, On af
count of the soils diminished pre-
CONTINUED on page eight