The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-03-13
LUUSIANA'S OPPORTUNITY.


address full of inspiration to the State
on the rich possibilities of this state:
Have you read the report of the De.
partment of Agriculture just issued ?
If not you should do so at once, and see
how much we have to be thankful for.
Our state products for the year 1918
were worth two hundred and forty.nine
million, two hundred and forty.SiX
thousand dollars. The agricultural
products alone were worth one hundred
and sixty.six million, two hundred and
forty.one thousand dollars. This was
produced on only five million, five hund.
red thousand acres of land. What
other State in the Union can show such
a yield? And this was made in spite of
the most unfavorable seasons yet eX.
perienced by us. Our cotton crop ex.
Ceeded the previous year by fifty.four
thousand, four hundred and Sixty.nine
bales. Our corn crop exceeded the pre-
vious year by eight million, SIX hundred
and thirty.one thousand, nine hundred
and seventy.Six bushels. Total valua.
ton Of 1913 crop over 1912 was twenty.
five million, nine hundred and twenty.
six thousand, nine hundred and seventy.
two dollars.
The health of the state has been ex
cellent. We have suffered no great
disasters. Our people have known
only health, happiness and prosperity.
Yet, like all states, but with absolutely
no reason, we have some knockers,
GROWERS and calamity howlers. We
must get together and whip out these
pests as we have the threatened invas.
ion of the boil Weevil. This should not
be a difficult matter for we have the
greatest country in the world. Our
natural advantages are superior to
those of any other state. Our landsare
most fertile, our climate is bothdelight.
full and healthful. Our pastures are
perenially green. Our water supply is
inexhauStible. The output of our oil
and gas wells, sulphur and salt mines
is unequslled anywhere in the world
Our soil will produce and our farmers
are raising nearly everything that
grows. Read our reports and see how
the receipts from vegetables and straw
berries, etc. have increased by leaps
and bounds. We were unable to furnish
a report on the receipts from poulty and
eggs but it is safe to say that these two
items alone increase the farmers rev.
enue qy several hundred thousand dol.
lars.
Our immigration department has
been crowded with mountaineering
inquiries about our State. (the result of
our constant boosting and advertiSing,)
locating settlers, and assisting them in
every way possible. The result is that
thousands of desirable immigrants have
made Louisiana their home. Thousands
and thousands OF acres of lands. not
previously under cultivation, have been
made to yield abundantly bringing
wealth to the farmer and greater pros.
perity to the State. TIL S, together with
our persistent boosting andadvertiSing,
is going to bring still greater results
as time goes on: My department has
left, and will leave, no stone unturned
in its efforts to induce desirable immi.
grafton. We need it. We must have
it. Louisiana must be a bigger, better,
weather. State. Let's get together
and make it such. Bury that hammer.
Throw off those old. dark garments of
pessimlSm; clothe yourself in bright
suit of optimism, Buckle on the arm.
our of unbounded faith in Louisianas
Boosters. Follow the flag of progress
and advancement. Fight ignorance,
prejudice, and sel6shness. Stay 1.-The
Glooms". Destroy 1.-The Knockers"
Then when the victory is won, as it will
be, PLAINTIFF battle flag on the banks of
the mighty Mississippi as notice to the
world that you have captured the State
in the name of advancement. progress
and prosperity.
We have in the last few months or
ganized two very important associa.
tons. One was organized at Fort
Worth. Texas, by the Commissioners of
Agriculture of the Southern States,
called the Market Association-the OBJ.
ject being to assist the farmer in mar.
Keting his products, assist him in gett.
ing good market and in getting good
railroad and express rates. The second
was organized at Baton Rouge-called
the Parish Fair Association, the object
being to fix the dates in order that one
will not conflict with apo4ha,,. fra aim;