Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-01-20

VALLEY LANDS. X
ALONG RIVER BED
Reclamation of Thousands of Acre
Of Ground Adapted to
Work.
Victorto, Texas. = With the 70.
opening OF the Guadalupe river tc
navigation has resulted in the re.
ciamat1on OF thousands of acres OF
valley lands adapted to the cultiya-
tion OF sugar cane, and afforded many
OF these land their first outlet to mar
ket.
Inc erection of a modern sugar
mill OF large capacity here, providing
cash market for cane, and the es-
adjustment of a barge line on the
river, afording transportation facili-
Ties, nave placed cane growing on q
safe footing in this country, and the
industry will eventually become one
OF the most important in this section.
1t Is conservatively estimated thet
there are $4,000 acres along the river
that could be converted into cane
fields. This year there are 700 acres
IN the county planted to the staple
and next year the acreage will be in
creased to thousands, as, under the
changed conditions, many bottom
land farmers who heretofore have
Desn raising cotton and corn will
plant cane. Three dollars a ton will
De paid for cane at the mill this sea-
son. and the cost of river transporta-
ton will be 40 cents a ton. Cane
produces on an average of 80 tons
10 the acre in this section and ranges
from 20 to 40 tons. 1t requires only
three tons to plant an acre of cane
ana It ID unnecessary to replant IL
mere but once in five years, as COM
pared with three years in Louisiana
Inc cost of production is very low.
ranging from $12 to $14 an acre. and
little labor is required. The planting
season begins in the fall, and the har-
Vest1ng season extends from October
70 January, 1t requiring about eight
months to grow q crop. Cane has mn
snemy except frost, and frost comes
90 late in this section to hurt it. II
the safest and most profitable crop
nan can be grown in tkss country
IN lands adapted to its cultivation.
Ihe sugar mill was removed here
rom st. Mary's, La, and cost when
lew over one hundred thousand dol
ars. 1t was purchased by the Vic.
oria Manufacturing company and
ost the company. including the OK.
ense OF removing and rebuilding.
bout $4,000. It is a modern nine
oller hill, with a capacity of 500
ons of cane q day. 1t will make
lther white or yellow clarified sugar.
9th OF SO test. The daily capacity +,
the n.ill for making sugar IL 22e
arrels OF $50 pounds each, and for
laking strip three hundred barrels
30 gallons each. The mill. build :
g, including machinery towers. in
'ur stories high, and constructed out
galvanized iron. 1t covers about =
quarter OF an acre, and is located o
I the river few blocks below the
sht and ice factories, also owned
the Victoria Manufacturing COM
my.
mo river 10 now in perfect condi- Z
IN for navigation from its mouth to I
BROWNSVILLE railroad bridge, and
very fair state Of navigation from
Drkxe to Victoria The main "
oable With the river at this time n =
unprecedented low water, result 4
from the continued dry spell up- a
FeAm. However, the boats will sx-
s4shce Nttle difficulty navigating
stream in even It's present condi-
q, according to Capt. Charles
huster, Of Galveston, the engineer
10 Is at present in charge of the ::
vernment work here. He says the all
OR Is steadily rising, and will be =
It's normal condition in a few n
eks. Il
me sugar cane plantations are To-
'ed along the river for a distance y
IL miles downstream from Victor
Next year the plantations will ex- A
d almost continuously from this
Mt to both Mariana in this county
l T1voi in Refugio county. The On.
I'm interests at Tivoli have a fair
p OF cane this season, and will
gely increase It next. Cant. 1
1chey says the tug will make the D.,
mile run three timA day, sail re-, ,
on given schedule and maxine
systematic distribution Of the
ges, picking up the loaded ones n
leaving the empties. The I'M
ling process at the mill will be "
e by steam crane capable OF
ng three tons Of cane at a single
Ike and relieving a. barge/of its
30 in a few minutes. The Weldon
Riverside plantations are equip
with similar apps ratus for load