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HARVARD UNIVERSITY 

GRADUATE SCHOOL 

OF BUSINESS 
ADMINISTRATION 

BAKER LIBRARY 



FLORENCE T. BAKER 
MEMORIAL FUND 



I. 




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HE LOUISIANA PLANT 



AND 



S"CrC3-.iLK. J^.AJlSTTJ-FJ^CDIOTJTl'^ 



DI 



Vol. XX] 




I n C Ij\j\j i>jir\i^ 



n 11-// 111 1 1-/*\ 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 
Ascension Branch Sugar Planters' Association, 
Louisiana Sugar Chemists* Association, 
Kansas Sugar Growers' Association, 
Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publishea at New Orleans, La., eveiy Saturday Morniiig 

BY THE 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted tQ Louisiana A^culture in general, and to 
the Su^ar Industry' in particular, and in all itj 
brauclu-s. Agricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical. Political and CotumerciaL 

EDITORIAL CORP8. 

w. c. STui:r.s, r>.. d. vr. j. Thompson. 

Y7. Vr. PUGII. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Postofflce at New Orleans as sccor.d-class 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Pcrannurr 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) $ii (0 

Furolgn Sul«f.crlption 4 Ou 

ADVEKTISING RATES. 



Space 


1 nonth 


3 month 


6 month! 12 month 


I Inch 


9 6 00 


$ 12 60 


$ 13 75 


$ 25 00 


2 Inch 


OCO 


24 00 


86 0) 


410) 


S Inch 


14 6 1 


86 20 


51 40 


72 50 


1 i.ich 


10 00 
23 M 
2?3f.O 
32 51 
86 00 
88 00 
40 0) 
60 00 
100 00 


47 60 
58 76 
70 00 
81 15 
00 0) 
C6 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 


71 25 
8S 15 
105 0) 
121 75 
185 00 
142 50 
15)00 
225 00 
400 00 


to 00 


6 Inch 


117 60 


6 lech 


140 0) 


7 luch 


ICiLO 


8 Inch 


18')00 


9 Inch 


190 00 


10 Inch 


200 00 


Half Page 


SOOCO 


Fdll Page 


60 00 


All communlcat 


ions should be addressed 


15 T::z 


Louisiana Planter 
La. 


839Carondelet street, New 


OrleanF. 


LIST i 


)F STOCKHOLDERS. 




McCall Brothers. 


R. Beltran. 




AlcCall a Legeodre. 


Luclen Sonlat, 




Leon Uodchaux, 


D. R. Calder. 




Jame^ Teller. 


L. A. Ellis. 




U. Le-nann & Bro., 


Hero d Malhlot. 




Leone ) 5oalat, 


W. J. Bohan. 




i.ouis Bu5h» 


J. T. Moore, Jr., 




W. E. Brickell. 


Edwards & Haubtn 


:an, 


\V. C Stubbs. 


John A. Morris. 




John Dvmond, 


E. H Cunningham. 




R. Viterbo. 




Poo5 it Bak-nett. 


H. C. ninor. 




H. C. Wannoth, 


C. M. Sorla. 




Luclu;» Forsyth. Jr. 
Q J ward J. Gay. 


J. L. Harris. 




J. H. Murphy, 




Sbattuck & Hoffmai 


1. Andrew Prica. 




BiaUe Rost. 


E.&J. Kock. 




Thomis D Miller. 


Wm. Oarig. 




Schnidt & Zlegler. 


Adolph Meyer, 




T. a. nclaury. 


A. A Woods, 




L. 5. Clark. 


Bra^lsh Joh'^son. 




J. B. Uvert. 


George P. Anderton 


. 


SI npson Hornor. 
W. g. Bloomneld. 


A. L. nonnot. 




Richard Mllllkea, 




W. W. Sutcllffe. 


W. P. n*es. 




John S. noorc. 


Lezin A. Becnel. 




James C. Murphy. 


J. N. Pharr. 




J03.Webre. 


oi 


lies J. Ja 


cob. 





EXECJTTVE COMMITTBE. 

tl-nry ncCa!l, 
Luclen 5onlat, W. B. Schmidt. 

D. R. Calder. Louis Bash. 

John Dyuiood. President. 



Captain McAdie of the I'. S. Weath- 
er Bureau has just issued his review of 
January weatlier in Xew Orleans for 
the last twenty-seven years, as compiled 
from the Weather Bureau records. Tlic 
normal temperature for January is 
placed at 54 deg*. F., and the warmest 
month was that of 1890, averaging 65 
deg. F., while the coldest was 1886, with 
an average of 46 deg. F. 1890 will be 
reineml ered as one of the most produc- 
tive sugar c^ne years in our annals. 
Doubtless this warm Jianuary was one of 
the causes, although we have always 
held that the chief cause of the excep- 
tionally high yi( Id that year was the dis- 
tribution of the rainfall throughout the 
year just ns the cro]>s needed it. The 
c fhh'rt J^inuary, that of 1S96, recalls the 
f'Mit that ice, some two inches thick, was 
then formed on tolerably deep canals 
an the lower coast, and the minimum 
temperature of 15 degrees in New Or- 
leans was surpassed by some of the 
records further up the river where, if 
ue remember correctly, 10 (hg. F. was 
reached. The highest temperature rr^ 
crj'defl was that of 82 F., January 7, 
1890. 

The average rainfall for the month 
has been 4.8;3 inches, and the greatest 
irrnthly precipitation was 11.15 inches 
In 1881. ifany of our readers w'ill re- 
iiKirber January, 1881, as exceptionally 
rainy and thousands of acres of cane 
were left standing in the fields, and 
Xew Orleans was overflowed by back 
water al>out the same time. 



Porto Rico Weather. 

Capt. Arthur (\ Hansard, manager of 
tlie Hacienda Ferla, Trovince of Hu- 
macao, Porto Rico, has favored the Lou- 
isiana Planter with a meteorological 
record there for a niiml>er of years. The 
Hacienda is on the northeastern shore 
of the island, 460 feet above the sea. 
The average rainfall dpring the last two 



twice as much as falls at San Juan, at 
tlie j^ea level, and about twice as much 
as the ordinary Louisiana rainfall. 

Fohruaiy and March are the driest 
uKnths. Heavy rains begin in May, a 
month earlier than in Western (iiba, 
continuing, with a slight weakening in 
Jure iiid Octcbcr, until the end of the 
year. 

The highest point reached by the 
thermometer at Hacienda Perla was 95 
deg. F. in May, 1898; the lowest 61 
deg. F. in January, 1897, and Febru- 
ary, 1S98. Capt. Han^-urd remarks that 
the highest, 95 deg. during May, 1898, 
was j>henomenal, and occurred on only 
(wo days, and further, that he had only 
noted 92 deg. on two days and 93 on 
one day. 

We are under obligations to Capt. 
Han-ard for his interesting data, and 
presume thiat the coming years will 
bring. Txuisiana and Porto Rico into 
mr.ch closer relations. 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

The January meeting of this associa- 
tion will be held at its rooms, Xo. 712 
Union St., X"ew Orleans, next Thurs- 
day evening at 8 o'clock. 

Doctor Stubbs will doubtless be on 
hand to explain the merits and demerits 
of the one hundred or more different 
vari( ties of sugar cane with which the 
meeting rcom is now decorated, and 
there having IxH^n no quorum present 
«t the I)ecem1)er meeting, the sul)je<a 
schedided for discussion at that tiirn*, 
viz, **The Probable Fffect of the An- 
nexation of Spanish Colonies on the Su- 
gar Indu-try of the United States,'' may 
be taken up. A numbe^r of other mat- 
tei-s will probably be toucheil upon, 
among them, perhaps, the im|>ortant 
question of purchasing cane according 
to its saccharine contents, which one of 

DigTt&tJy CiOOQIC 



^^n^^ 



vi\ 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTUimL 



rVol. XXII, No. 1. 



our leading planters stated some few 
days ago he desired to see discussed by 
the associiarion. This is certainly one 
of the most important questions con- 
fronting the sugar planting interests, 
and a full discussion of it by the Louisi- 
ana' Sugar Plantei's' Association would 
be timely and appropriate, -^rv.^,. 

The Indian Rice Crop. 

The English government reports on 
the rice crop prospects in fourteen of 
the chief rice producing districts of 
Lower Bunnah have been made up to 
October 31. The total area under cul- 
ture is now estimated at nearly six mil- 
lions of acres, slightly over that of last 
year. 

The crop prospects are said to be fa- 
vorable, but the reports indicate that un- 
less^ more rain falls soon serious injury^ 
may follow. The reports come from' 
the Kangoon under date of November 
11, and refer to that kind of for- 
eign rice which constitutes* the chief sup- 
ply, for the imports of foreign rice into 
the American market. 



The Louisiana Sus^ar Crop. 

The weather during the past week has 
been sufficiently dry to pennit the fag 
end of the campaign to be <K>nducted 
with a fair degree of smoothness. The 
majority of the planters have finished, 
and are contemplating the output of 
their factories a trifle ruefully, for 
which, in view of the small yields ob- 
tained, they can scarcely be blamed. 
The cane yet to be gi-ound is reported 
to be showing deterioration, in some lo- 
calities to a greater extent than in others, 
and some of it will be abandoned and 
left in the field, though it does not ap- 
pear that this will be very generally the 
case, the factories even now working a 
large amount of cane of which the su- 
gar contents is too small to justify its 
manufacture. The situation at present 
seems to indicate a shortage in the Louis- 
iana sugar crop of about 25% as com- 
pared with la!«t year. 



anticipated yield on all of those planta- 
tions where accurate records have been 
kept for years and where it is now pos- 
sible to make very accurate estimates. 
We believe that the average deficit so 
far as the expected crop was concerned, 
will be fully 33^ per cent. 

It has been suggested in some quar- 
M:ers that there had been such a material 
increase in the acreage in sugar cane in 
Louisiana that ev^ the reduced yield, 
the result of the exceptional weather 
that we have had during the past year, 
would not in the end materially reduce 
the crop. This expectation, we believe, 
is ill-founded. During the careful rec- 
ords that were kept of our acreage un- 
der the provisions of the bounty law it 
was found that the acreage in sugar cane 
was slow to increase. The preparation 
of »ew lan^ for cane culture is so esr, 
pensive that an annual increase of 10 
per cent, in the area plianted can hardly 
be expected.^ We, therefore, have no 
idea that the increased acreage will In 
any manner compensate for the loss in 
the expected yield from the crop grown. 
We believe thiat an average loss from the 
expected yield of say 33 per cent., will 
result in a diminution of our total crop 
to the extent of at least 25 per cent, as 
compared with the results of the previ- 
ous year. The sugar buyers who are 
expecting the Louisiana crop because of 
its magnitude to depress the markets cf 
the world, will almost surely find them- 
selves disappointed in the end, as the 
moderate crop now being produced is 
beingj rapidly hurried to market to pay 
the expenses of its production, and ther? 
will not be th« usual reserves held in 
the country as during previous years. 



The Shortage in the Louisiana Su^ar 
Crop. 

The season is now so far advanced, 
in fai't so nearly completed, that it has 
become thoroughly manifest that the 
Louisiana sugar crop this season will 
fall from 25 to 40 per cent, below the 



The Value of Sugar Cane. 

The low value of all sugar cane this 
year from a sugar house point of view, 
and the practical worthlessness to sugar 
houses of blown down, rooted and green 
canes, are rapidly opening the eyes of all 
sugar house managers to the 'necessity of 
some more equitable means of determin- 
ing the true \'^lue of sugar cane so that 
equal justice can be done to the factory 
and to the producer. In another col- 
umn in this issue will be found a com- 
munication from a correspondent of the 
Planter, in which this issue is taken up 
and a method of purchase described and 



criticism thereon invited. In a multi- 
tude of coimsel there is wisdom, and we 
shall hope that this subject matter, now 
of such vital importance to cane grow- 
ers, as well as to the sugar manufactur- 
ers of Louisiana, will be thoroughly can- 
vassed at an early date and some fairly 
equitable plan of sale and purchase for- 
mulated. 

It is manifest that if factory owners 
cannot buy canes on an equitable basis 
they will prefer to grow them for' their 
own account rather than to take the 
chances of paying a high price for a low 
grade of cane, as has been generally the 
case this year. The separation of the 
factory from the farm has been urged 
as a distinct element of progress in the 
sugar industry, and we should much re- 
gret to now see any retrograde move- 
ment. Certainly, however, our large 
factory owners will tie unwilling to buy 
sugar cane on the somewhat haphazard 
plan hitherto adopted. . There must be 
some assurance of a fair value in the 
cane, or its purchase will not be justi- 
fied. 

As we have repeatedly written in 
these columns, the natural line of divi; 
sion of the product of sugar cane in the 
past seems to have been that of half to 
the cane producer and half to the man- 
ufacturer. We believe that any definite 
plan must be founded upon some such 
division as this and that when either 
party gets more than his share discon- 
tent will surely result and the business 
be seriously injured, if not destroyed. 
We shall hope to hear from various cor- 
respondents upon this important subject. 



Trade Notes. 



PlanUtlon by Auction. 

•We learn that the Repose sugar plantation, 
situated on the Mississippi river, in the Par- 
ish of St. Bernard, some nine miles below the 
city ai New Orleans, 'will be crold by auction 
on Jan. ISth by that well-known auctioneer 
and real estate man, Mr. W. C. H. Robinson. 
This plantation contains allxmt 709 acres oC 
land, of whfch 230 acres are under cultiva- 
tion, 440 a<cres are trwamp land, and 39 acres 
(are marsh. It has a frontage on the river of 
twelve arpents and adjoins that fine water- 
way, the 9htp Island Canal. The Shell Beacfh 
Road runs through the property and a large 
frame duelling 'house, stable and laborers' 
cabins are erected on the place, which in- 
cludes, by the way,a strip of land two arpents 
wide extending from the Misc^issippi river 
to Lake Borgne. Tb^ t^™« we unusually 



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-Jan. 7, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAlt BCANUPAOTURBIL 



liberal being one fourth or more cash, bal- 
.ance In one, two, three, four and five years 
' at six per cent, interest per annum, payable 
annually. Purchaser is to assume taxes -fpr 
1899. Those of our readers who contemplate 
the purchase of plantation property fiftiould 
see Mr. Robinson at his ofiElce in the Hennen 
building, and he will be greatTf pAeased to 
give them full informatton regarding 
whole matter. 



Additional Duties on Su^ar Imported 
fromt or the Product of» Countries 
Paying Bounties on the Export 
Thereof. 

Treasury Department, December 12, 1898. 
To officers of the customs and others con- 
cerned: 

Section 5 of the act of July 24, 1897, pro- 
vides as follows: 

Sec. 5. That whenever any country, de- 
pendency, or colony shall pay or, bestow, di- 
rectly or indirectly, any bounty or grant 
upon the exportation of aaiy article or mer- 
chandise from such country, dependency, or 
colony, and such article or merdhandise is 
dutiable under the provisions of this Act, 
then upon the importation of any such arti- 
cle^ or merchandise into the United States, 
whether the same shall be imported directly 
from the country of production or otherwise, 
and whether such article or mercihandise is 
imported in the same condition as when ex- 
ported from the country of production or hai 
been changed in condition by remanufacture 
or otherwise, there shall be levied and paid, 
in all such cases, in addition to the duties 
otherwise Imposed by this Aet, an additional 
duty equal to the net amount of sudh bounty 
or grant, however the dame be paid or be- 
stowed. The net amount of all such bounties 
or grants shall be from time to time ascer- 
tained, determined, and declared by the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury, wlio shall make all 
needful regulations for the Identification of 
such articles and merchandise and for the 
assessment and collection of such additional 
iliities. 

In pursuance of these provisions, the fol- 
lowing amounts of bounties respectively 
paid, "or bestowed directly or indirectly, on 
l!ae export of sugars, by the cou!i tries here- 
inafter named, are her€fl)y declared for the 
assessment of additional duties on sugars 
imported from, or the product of, such coun- 
tries or their dependencies, viz: 
Argentine Republic. 

On sugars produced In the country since 
January 20, 1897, and exported with 'benefit of 
drawback, 6 centavos per kilogram. 
A ustrla-'Hungary . 

1. On sugar under 93 per cent and at least 
88 per cent polarization, 1.37 fiorins per 100 
kilograms. 

2. On sugar under S^YgP^r cent and at 
least 93 per cent polarizat|op, 1.46 florins per 
JOO kllogram^t 



3. On sugar at least 99 Vi per cent polari- 
zation, 2.10 florins per 100 kilograms. 
Denmark. 

On reflned sugar produced wholly from 
beets grown In Denmark, 1.12 crowns per 
100 kilograms. 

France. 

Raw sugars of the standard of 65 to 98 per 
cent for beet-root sugars, or of 65 to 97 per 
cent for French colonial sugar, per 10^ kilo- 
grams of reflned sugar, 100 per cenJt, francs 
10.82. 

Sugar candles calculated at their legal 
equivalent, per 100 kilograms, effective 
weight, francs 11.51. ' 

Reflned sugars In loaf or crushed, clear, 
hard, and dry per 100 kilograms, effective 
weight, francs 11.51. 

Raw and redned sugars in grains or crys- 
tals of a minimum standard of 98 per cent, 
francs 11.17. 

The output of refined sugar from raw Is 
calculated iby deducting from the polarization 
of the raw sugar twitee the giucose, four 
times the ashes, and ly, per cent for loss 
In refining. 

Germany. 

1. On raw sugar at leaA 90 per cent 
polarization and 6n' refined sugar under 98 
per cent and at least 90 per cent, 2.50 marks 
per 100 kilograms. 

2. On candy and sugrar in white, hard 
loaves, blocks, crystals, etc., at least 99 1.^ per 
cent, 3.55 marks per 100 kilograms. 

3. On all other sugar at least 98 per cent, 
3 marks per 100 kilograms. 

The Netherlands. 

On raw sugar produced in the country from 
beets and testing less than 98 per cent, 2.2354 
florins per 100 kilograms of hard reflned (100 
per cent). 

On raw beet sugars testing 98 per cent or 
above, three-fourths of said bounty, via, 
1.7655 florins per 100 kilograms of hard re- 
flned. 

On reflned beet root sugars, .2946 florins 
per 100 kilograms of hard reflned (100 per 
cent) In addition to ^he above bounties. 

On reflned sugar from other i materials than 
beet root raw sugar produiced In the country, 
.2946 florins per 100 kiloframs of hard re- 
flned. 

The output of refined sugar from raw is 
computed by deducting from the polanizatlon 
of the raw sugar twice the glucose, four times 
the ashes, and l^i per cent for loss In re- 
flnlng. 

Russia. 

On sugar testing not less than 99 per cent 
per pood (36.113 pounds avoirdupois), .50 
rouble. 

On sugar testing not less tihan 88 per cent 
per pood, .44 rouble. 

On sugar testing not less than 75 per cent 
per pood, .38 rouble. 

Every invoice of sugar must be accom- 
panied by a certificate of the United States 
consular officer at the port of £flilipment to 
the United States, naming place and country 
where the merchandise wm produced, and» 



In the case of refined sugar, naming also 
the country of production of the raw sugar, 
molasses, or sirup used in refining. . 

The liquidation of entries of sugar not 
accompanied iby such certificates shall be sus- 
pended, and the estimated duties shall in- 
clude an amount sufficient to cover the addi- 
tional duty to which such sugar may be ap- 
parently liable. 

The conversion of the several foreign cur- 
rencies mentioned above into United States 
money 'will be governed by the provision ot 
section 25 of the act of August 28, 1894. 

The question as to the net amounts of the 
bounties Indirectly bestowed by the Govern- 
ment of Belgium on exported sugars Is un- 
der consideration. Pending the ascertain- 
ment and determination of said amounts, 
entries of sugars Imported from, or the 
product of, that country will be subject to 
the provisions of Circular No. 174, of Octo- 
ber 19, 1897 (SyDopsls 18481). 

L. J. Gaoe, Secretary. 



The Purchase Price of Su^ar Cane. 

Editor Louigiaua Plani^: 

In making contracts for the purchase of 
cane for 1899, all factories will be forced to 
safeguard themselves against tbe possibility 
of making the heiavy losses that they incurred 
this season, adhering to tJhe contraidts made 
under the prices which have been currently 
paid for cane tiuring past years. Could we 
follow the rules governing purchases of cane 
In all other cane-growing countries, the so- 
lution would be easy. So much could then 
be paid for each per cent, of sucrose con- 
tained in the cane, tout in uoulslana such- a 
thing Is impossible owing to the many diffi- 
culties with which any one who has had ex- 
perience with la/boratory figures In this state 
Is afmlllar. Assuming, even, that a correct 
basis for de?terminin« the ralue of cane, 
based on sucrose, couW be' obtained, the 
great question and the hardest one to solve 
would be a fair basis for the sampling of 
cane for sudh analysis. Different parts of a 
cut produlce cane of different degrees of ripe- 
ness. Canes on the headlands and dltth rows, 
according to our experience, Show different 
sucrose than cane In the middle of the cut 
The case Is similar, also, where there Is the 
slightest variation of soil or level of same. 

The time is opportune to Invite discussion 
on the subject, and we are willing to lead off 
and offer for criticism, our cane contr^act 
which In years past worked very well and 
met with unlyeritel satisfaction, but not 
yielding as much to the cane seller this sea- 
son, has not been as pot>ular. 

The following is the basis upon which 
we have purchased cane for me last flve or 
six years. The yield of factory and price of 
sugar are both consridered, the former being 
determined by careful estimate made every 
week and sufbject to correction at end of 
season, when an sugjars are worked over, and 
later, by weekly average price of prime yel- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 1. 



low clarified sugars furnished us by the New 
Orleans Sugar Exdhange. 

When yield of dry sugar per ton is l^o lbs. 
we give the value of 75rb. ^rlme yellow. 
For cane yieMing more than 125 lbs. per 
ton, the foll-owing schedule of prices forms 
basis of settlement: 

126 pounds per *ton 75.25 poundis 

127 pounds per ton 75.50 pounds 

128 pounds per ton 75.75 pounds 

129 pounds per ton 76.00 pounds 

130 pounds per ton < 76.25 pounds 

131 pounds per ton .76.50 pounds 

132 pounds per ton). 76.75 pounds 

133 poundts per ton. 77.00 pounds 

134 pounds per ton. . . v 77.25 pounds 

135 pounds per ton. 7 77.50 pounds 

136 pounds per ton. 77.75 pounds 

137 pounds per ton 78.00 pounds 

138 pounds per ton. . . , 78.25 pounds 

139 pounds per ton. 78.50 pounds 

140 pounds per ton) 78.75 pounds 

141 pounds per ton 79.00 pounds 

142 pounds !per ton 79.25 pounds 

143 pounds per ton 79.50 pounds 

144 pounds per ton 79.75 pounds 

145 pounds per ton 80.00 pounds 

146 pounds per ton 80.25 pounds 

147 poundii per ton 80.50 pounds 

148 pounds per ton 80.75 pounds 

149 pounds per ton 81.00 pounds 

150 pound's per ton 81.25 pounds 

151 pounds per ton* 81.50 pounds 

152 pounds per ton 81.75 pounds 

153 pounds per ton 82.00 pounds 

154 pounds per ton 82.50 pounds 

155 pounds per ton 83.00 pounds 

156 pounds per ton 83.50 pounds 

15/ pounds per ton 84.00 p^ounds 

158 pounds per ton 84.50 pounds 

159 pounds per ton 85.00 pounds 

160 pounds per ton 85.50 pounds 

161 pound'3 per ton 86.00 pounds 

162 pounds per ton S6:50 pounds 

163 pounds per ton 87.00 pounds 

164 pooinds per ton 8/. 50 pounds 

165 pounds per ton 88.00 pounds 

166 pounds per ton 88.50 pounds 

167 pounds per ton 89.00 pounds 

168 pounds per ton. 89.50 pounds 

169 pounds per ton 90.00 pounds 

170 pounds per ton 90.50 pounds 

171 pounds per ton 91.29 pounds 

172 pounds per tDn. 91.oU pounds 

Aibove thife, the value of on-e-half of one 
pound is allowed for every pound of sugar 
made by factory. 

To enaljle^be-ldes some of our larger cane 
sellers to avail themselves of any rise in 
prices, we offer to store sugar for their ac- 
count, instead of paying them for value of 
sa*me at time of delivery; storage and other 
expenses are, of oourcC, to be assumed by 
cane haulers. 

We would like to hear from others on the 
subject, and we hope that by opening dis- 
cussion, a ba-is can be reached upon which 
all contracts for purchase 6f cane can be 
made in the state and which will be equally 
fair to both buyer anid seller. 

We are yours truly, 
Belle Alliance, La., Dec. 29, 1898. E. and J. K'. 

Magazine Notes. 

The Political Science quarterly, edited by 
the Faculty of Political Science, Columbia 
University, Vol. 13, No. 4, Decem/ber, 1898, 
has come to l^'ancl iwith a most interesting 



and v.tli.ibi* abI-» of contcnls^ particularly 
appli'ca'ble to the Issues now before the coun- 
try. Among th<e papers we find: Imper- 
iallsim, by Prof. F. H. Giddings; The Federal 
Bankruptcy Law, by S. W. Dunscomb, Jr.; 
Railroad Control in Nebraska, by Prof. F. H. 
Dixon; Slavery in Early Texas II, by L. G. 
Bugbee; Land Tenure in Ancient India, by 
Prof. Washburn Hopkins; France of To-day, 
by Prof. J. H. Roibinson; A study of Trade 
Unionism, iby J. H. Hollander. 

Among the reviews we note: Busch's Bis- 
mark, Maitland's Township and . Borough, 
Mcrfinari'^s Grandeau et Decadence de la 
Guerre, Lord's Industrial Experiments in the 
British Colonies, Ratzel's History of Man- 
kind, Vol. II, Mallockls Aristocracy and Evo- 
lution, Massachusetts Rei>ort on Relations 
between Ciities and Street Railways, Wil- 
lougih'by's Workingmeni* Insurance, and 
others. 

The Political Science Quarterly is pub- 
lished by Ginn & Co.. Boston. 



Seedling Canes in Louisiana. 

Something more than passing inter- 
eit aittaches to the report of the 
Director of ja^e New Orleans Sugar 
Experiment Station on the seedling cane 
experiments which he has recently been 
conducting. The report, which we reproduce 
e/lsewhere from the Louisiana Planter, sup- 
plies the most tangible evidences to the 
wisdom of the experiments which Dr. Morris 
propoies to cfonJduct under the auspices of 
<Ohe new Imiperial AgricuHural Deprtment of 
the Wesrt Indies, Dr. W. C Stubbs, the Su- 
perintendent of the New Orleans Station, 
states that after a series of experiments ex- 
pending over five year^ he has at last suc- 
ceeded in developing from seedlings a cane 
of such pre-eminent merit that he enthusi- 
astically recofmmends it to the plant'ers of 
the State. The analytical table he gives quite 
justifies his comimendation. The seedling 
has stood the te^t of a four years' trial, in 
each instance ind\icati»g a saccharin'e con- 
tent superior to any ordinary cane grown un- 
der the same conditions. Taking the mosrt 
favorable return yielded by a cane cultivated 
in the customary manner, there remains a 
fsubstiantial margin in. favor of the seedling 
variety. It is tru-e that the results are not 
quite so satisfactory as those obtained in 
this Colony by Prafessor Harriion. Dr. 
Stubbs's seedling gave a sucrose yield of 
13.3 percent., whiht Professor Harrisoai has 
obtained a cane wi'dh a saiodl^arlne richness 
of 16 per cent. But there are several cir- 
cumistances which discount the importance 
of this difference. In the flrdlt place, it is 
'generally recoglnized that the soils of this 
Colony are mucli better adapted ..to cane 
cultivation tCmn those of Louisiana and the 
Southern States of America generally, actual 
experience having proved that the same spe- 
cies of cane y'lelds in Demerara higher per- 
centage of sugar than in Louisiana. The mar- 
gin of difference in favor of P^merftr^ is fre- 



quently more than two per cent. We may 
not unreasonably expect, therefore, that the 
seedling varioiy which the director of the 
New Orleans Station has experimented with 
would give a mucih higher saccliarlne return 
if Introduced and acclimatised to this Colony. 
The New Orleans seedling has also this addi- 
tional point .in ics favor— that it has sus- 
tained its superiority under the ordinary 
conditions of cultivation. It would seem 
therefore that the cane has its -diaracterlstlce 
fixed and that it wtill not undergo deteriora- 
tion when transplanted in diverge soils and 
in varying climates any more than such well- 
known species as,for example, the Bourbon 
cane. Dr. Morris's speculations on this sub- 
ject, in his address to liae Trinidad Agricul- 
tural Society recently, would have acquired a 
far greater practical interest if he had point- 
ed to the.e results of the scientific efforts of 
Mr. Stubbs towards -the improvement of the 
sugar cane. It is hardly possible that he 
could Qiave been una^cquainted with the de- 
tails of these experiments, as he is known to 
be in*close touch with the sugar experimen- 
talists of the Southern States. Dr. Moriis 
(Will no doubt fully avail himself of Dr. 
S'iubbs's offer to supply specimens of his 
seedling, and will test its qualities in West 
Indian soili. Whatever is the result, it is 
evident that close scientific application to 
the propagation of seedling canes will event- 
ually work an impontant improvement in the 
sugar-yielding capacity of the cane in these 
countries. — ^Demerara Chronicle Dec. 7. 



Setdling Sugar Cane. 

In his fin'al address to the Royal Agricul- 
tural and Commercial Society, President 
Duncan took the timely opportunity to re- 
fer to the experimental cane cultivation 
which ii being carried on in the Botanic 
Gardens by Messrs. Jenman and Harrison, 
and to express his confidence that success 
will eventually crown the efforts that are 
being made to find and cultivate a cane 
superior to the Bourt>on. Already some of 
the seedlings have shown themselves to be 
hardier and to ratoon better than the old 
Bourbon, but conclusions must be arrived at 
cautiously and slowly. Some months ago 
when Mr. Jenman was diiitributing seedlings 
to estates, a well-known planter, of the pro- 
gressive school, In writing to us, observed 
incidentally regarding the Invaluable ex- 
periments that have been conducted In the 
garden for more than ten years piast: — 
"Some of the seedlings have, In the experi- 
" mental tcale, taken on an average over 4 
"or 5 years, yielded 40 per cent more sugar 
"than the Bourbon, and If this be confirmed 
"in pracftlcal working on sugar estates, we 
"shall soon be in a positron to grow sugar 
"at a cent per pound. The same writer, 
as an Instance of the numerous difficulties 
Messrs. Jenman and Harrison had to con- 
tend with in raising the seedlings, mentioned 
the fact that out of al>out 20,000 seedling 
plants collected la^t autumn, not more than 
al)out 40 survived the euects of constant 
rain, and bliight, and Insect pesTts. When 
Dr. Morris, who, it Is said, Is about to. un- 
dertake experiments in raising cane seed- 
lings, vi'Mts this colony he will have the 
opportunity of acquiring about the best and 
mofft complete information on tills subject 
that the Wo^ld at present possesses: and we 
are sure he will be grateful, to the learned 
experts wlio, by long, weary years of wait- 
ing and watching, liave amassed the Informa- 
tion.— Pemerara Argosy, Dec. 10, 



l> » t^ 



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Jan. 7, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA^ PtAiJTERAOT) SUGAR MANt*ACTtJRER. 



LOCAL LBTIBBB. 



Ascension. 

(IPKaAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louiaiana Planter: 

A couple of little ralnsfalls have occurred 
during the past week, but ©either were of 
sufficient magnitulde to interfere seriously 
with the prosecution of the hairvest work on 
the plantations where the campaign is still 
in progress. Every -day brings news of a 
wind-up at some factory in this section, and 
by the close of the current week probably 
not more than five houses in Ascension will 
still be in operation. Belle Helene, Hermit- 
aige and Houonas c3entral, on the left bank 
of the river, Gormania and Palo Alto 911 
the rigrOit bank will be the last to get 
-through, and at least two of these— Palo Alto 
and Houimas Central— 'are booked to ~ quit 
during the coming week. 

New Hope finished grinding Monday night, 
cane from Col. J. E. St Martin's places be- ^ 
ing the last to go through the big mill. 
The crushing of New Hope's cane was com- 
pleted Friday, that of Ascension's oane Sat- 
urday, and then Manager Tucker combined 
forces with Col. St. Martin and gathered 
in the remnant of (he latter's crop in short 
order. 

Another re<turn plate was fractured Mon- 
day morning, just for luck, but a new one 
was substituted promptly, frequent practice 
having enatoled Engineer Stafford and his as- 
sistants to perform this parti-cular Job in 
record time. 

The tonnage of cane ground* by the New 
Hope mill this se-ason was Just about the 
same as that crushed a year ago, approxi- 
mately 26,000 tons, but the sugar product 
is, of course, very much sma/ller— how much 
so is as yet a naatter of surmise with your 
news-gatherer. 

As before explained in this correspond- 
ence, the falling off In Ascension and New 
Hope's tonnage was compen-ated -for by Col. 
St. Martin's Increase, due to the preservation 
of his "expropriated" Bar Harher tract from 
overflow. This piece of reclaimed batture 
gave him 2,360 tons of cane, and he has good 
rea-on to feel that the $4,000 he expended 
in enlarging and strengthening his levee 
aSter the high water of 1897, was not a 
'bad Investment by any means; 

iMcManor concluded a very unsatisfactory 
campaign on Sunday, but the Extent of her 
calamity must be relegated for the present 
to the realm of conjecture, as authentic 
figures are not o'btainable. 

Evan Hall is very near the stopping point 
and is in the same boat with McManor so 
far as generafl results are concerneJd. An 
approximate estimate of the output will 
doubtless be available for next week's As- 
cension leftter. 

•Mr. Ernesrt: H. Barton's St. Emma factory 
flniihed grinding 17,021 tons^of cane Mon- 
day morning, and the sugar output, made 
and estimated was 2,007,13/ pounds^ an arer- 



•age of not qut:e 118 pounds per ton. The 
weight of cane ground exceeded that of the 
1897 crop by 1,000 tonfl, bvrt the sugar prod- 
uct was 800,000 pounds less. This Is a fair 
illustration of the general outcome In this 
section of the sugar district. 

Mi*.- Walter J. Bartor/s Riverside fac- 
' Jiy <rcL2!iided the work of the grinding 
season last Friday, and some account of the 
results reached there will be given next 
week. 

Hanmas Central will get through on or 
about the ICth Inst., if no unusual occurrence 
prolongs their agony. The aggregate out- 
put of the Mfiles OompaAy's factories — Hou- 
mas Central, New Hope, St. James and 
Armant-Hwill fail sometihing like 4,000.000 
poundii short of tthe 18,000,000 product of 
Che^ir 18ft7 crop. 

Hermitage will ibe going until the end of Jan- 
uary, if the cane continues to give sugar 
that long, and if reports he true, the average 
sugar per ton of cane for the crop will r-each 
that of Messrs. Lebemuth & Israel's fine 
Salsburg place In St. James, 

Salsburg finished her work at 7:05 A. M. 
Tuesday, according to Accountant Alfred 
Schiller's oflSdal record, and the aggregate 
sugar output, eBtlmatlng ithe residue In the 
- hot room at the usual proportion, reached 
8,693,750 pounds, the product of 25,570 tons 
of cane. The average per ton was therefore 
144.4 pounds. 

No -meeting of the local Sugar Planters* 
AssociaCfon was held Tuesday, owing primar- 
ily to threatening weather and the fact that 
some 0f the most prominent mem'bers were 
s^till engrossed with grindin'g afflictions. 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 

. (iPEClAl. CORRB8ROKDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been very fair for the 
past week, ena/bling the few who are in the 
toils to work along smoothly. Not more 
than a half dozen sugar houses are going 
now and these will probably have flniffhed 
ere the week -cloies. The planters and ten- 
ants have been balancing accounts and the 
latter have no reasons for <iom plaint, for 
we believe they have received full price 
for their cane some of which w.e know to 
rave been worked up at a loss. The plant- 
ers who have made a profit on this crop are 
few in number, but they are all full of hope 
for the future, trusting, that It will be many 
aeaaons before another '98 puts In an ap- 
pearance. 

Mr. Al'cide Daigle,a prosperous planter of 
Dorcey villa, was at Piaqjiemine, this week, 
and reports a heavy, falling off in their 
crop. (Trahan & Daigle's Aloysi'a planta- 
tion) when conapared with 1897. Then It was 
approximately 1,200,000 Ibs.^and now 750,000 
from a^bout the same acreage. Twxj reasons 
are assigned for the -diecrepancy, a thin 
stand in plant cane and an rmmature crop. 
Mr. p^l^le says .they wlndrowed some cane 



before It was frozen and it kept excellently, 
and the quality of tsugair w&s superior to 
that made last year. 

Mr. Thomas B. Matthews, of Rosedale, 
who In the sale of bis magnificent Trinity 
plantation last Spr'lng to widow Joseph 
WeJbre, of St. James parish, reserved the 
crop of 1898, completed Its harvest In a -most 
successful manner and delivered possession 
of Trinity to her owner on the 31st ul to. 
Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have gone to New 
Orteans, and in a few days expect to leave 
for porto RJco. 

Mr. S. V. Fonarls, Jr., oif Reglna, has 
secured a lot of seed cane from the Trinity 
plantation and will plant It on the Corlnne 
plantation, formerly the did Lyle place, on 
Bayou Grosse Tete. There is no finer cane 
section in the state than the Grosse Tete 
lands and a certain fortune awaits the party 
who will build a central -factory thfere. 

Mr. C. Luoas Comeaux of cane planting 
<cart fame, was -at Flaquemine this week 
looking after Inf rinigemenits on his patent. 
Mr. Comeaux first worked his carts In this 
parish and they are used by a large number 
cf our most successful planters. 

Mr. Chris Devall, who managed Mr. E. M. 
Lefevre's Eliza plantation last year, has ac- 
cepted a similar position on the St. Louis 
planta;tlon of the Edward J. Gay P. & M. 
Co., Ltd., Plaquemlne. As a planter and 
man'ager Mr. Devall has few equals In the 
state. 

The Centennial plantation belonging to the 
late Ch'as. H. Dupuy and situate on Bayou 
Plaquemine, three miles firom Plaquemlne 
has been ordered to be sjid In order to 
effect a settlement of hiS estate. Cenitennlal 
contains a superficial area of 300 acres and 
wrlU no dotrbt fetdh a good price, as it Is a 
fine tract of land with splendid facilities 
for ^selling the oane. 

Mr. J. B. Prootor, of St. Mary parish, has 
sold his Grossfe Tete land to Mr. Tilden E. 
Bookih of Reg!na. Mr. Booksh comes from 
a family who. know how to make cane grow 
and this little ptajce may be heard from in 
the future. 

Iberville, 



West Baton Rouge. 

(SPECIAL CORRESrONDENCE I 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

After more than a week of good weather, 
the rains which have characterized the past 
six months resumed business Monday night 
as heretofore. This last bad spell Is particu- 
larly untimely, as the public and planta- 
tion roads had just begun to dry up suffi- 
ciently to permit travel and traffic. All of 
the planters in this parish with the ex- 
ception of four have finished anki are. there- 
fore, out of their troubles for the time be- 
ing. These four are Levert*s, Cinclare, 
Orange Grove and Smithfield. The first- 
named, I understand, will be grinding until 
the 15th or 20th while Cinclare will prob- 
ably be busy much longer. Orange Grove 



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nni tdtnsuKA PtAumtk aks bvqaa UAHtHfjLdftik&k. 



I Vol XXtt, Mo. 1. 



will finish in a week or eo, but it te under- 
stood thftt Smithfleld has con«ideraible cane 
to be handled. 

A'3 to the general results of 1898 little or 
n!othing can be added to what has l)een 
iterateid and reiterated in this correspond- 
emce since the rolling season bee^an. There 
is very IPttle sugar in the cane. This has 
been t<he complaint from first to last The 
Improvement that was hoped for and ex- 
pected in the middle of November never 
materialized. It goes without saying, there- 
fore,- that the cane now beinlg handled lis 
not in the pink of condition. One factory, I 
am informed, has not lately been getting 
over 100 pounds of sugar per ton. Another 
planter will lose about 100 acres of cane, 
whfeh is in such a bad condition that It is 
thought best to abandon it This, I believe, 
is the worst loss suffered by any planter in 
West Baton Rouge since 1877. The crop of 
1898 was probably one of the most deceptiye 
crops ever 'harvested. On the Ist of October 
the cane was large and gave every promise of 
giving an abundant yield both In tonnage 
and In migar per ton. Never was a crop 
more disappointing. Aifter the grinding 
season was wcfll under way it was realized on 
all sides that the cane was deficient in ton- 
nage and in saccharine content. This 
opitomilzes the hiistory of the crop of 1898. 

Managerial changes on the various planta- 
tions are not very numerous so far. In 
this matter our planters are very conserva- 
tive. 

Mr. W. W. Welcton, who has been one of 
Poplar Grove's efficient field staff for several 
years, has removed to Plaquemine. 

M. W. W. J. Pecquet, who has managed 
Homestead durtng the past two years, has 
accepted a similar position on Westover, and 
will be suloceeded by Mr. Coolley, formerly 
of Smitlrfield. Thin<gs generally are very 
quiet Just now in 

West Baton Rouok. 

Terrebonne. 

(8PBCIAL CORRBSPONDKlfCl.) 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

The new year was ushered in with Ice and 
a tenvperature of about 27 degrees Farenlieit, 
and dry weather, such that the public roads 
were dusty in places— something very un- 
usual at this season of the year. 

The absence of ralnftdl has been most for- 
tunate for UtioBe having cane to grind. At 
one time in Deceniber it looked as if quanti- 
ties of cane on some places would never 
reach the factory; but now there is every 
prospect that all will be delivered at the 
factories, although deterhorated in sucrose 
content, even where windrowed prior to the 
severe freeze. Some of the factories are still 
making sugar of good quality; but the 
quantity of firsts per ton of cane Is gradually 
diminishing. 

At times the weiathe has been too warm 
and spring like, even for well windrowed 
cane. The buds of the fig tree began to 
swell previous to the freeze of Sunday. The 



weather of late has been favoralble for cane 
pflanting; but those who 'have ended the 
campaign have not as yet mad,e any attempt 
to begin field' work for the new year, as the 
lal>orers and anikn'al^s were fagged and need- 
ed rest to recuperate. Some seed cane seen 
was in fine condition, with only the top 
eyes slightly el<)ngated. Without very ad- 
verse cTlmatKc conditions midh canes will 
be in good condttlon to lAant one or two 
months hence. 

This week the campaign may end at EUen- 
dale of Mr. E. McConiam, Cresceiit farm of 
the Shaffer estate, Arygle of the Messrs. 
Bon villain Bros., Honduras c€ Mr. Thos. 
Shaffer, Bresqu'lle oC the Messrs. Gueno 
Bros., Live Oak oi Mr. Engman, and Grand 
OaUlou of Messrs Cambon Bros. At the 
Lower Terrebonne refinery tlie.campaign may 
continue for over ten day^, also ait Myrtle 
Grove of Messrs Barrow & Duplantis, and 
at Orange Grove of Mrs. Dupont & Jollet 
At Belle faa*m of Mr. C. W. Bocage the grind- 
ing Will likely end aibout the beginning of . 
next week; antt w^uld have xslosed niuch • 
isooner but the fine new mill could not be 
kept supplied with cane. It is impossible 
to arrive at correct figures as to the short- 
age otf the crop as cfompared with last year, 
in some instances it will be quite marked 
and in others the output win be about equal 
wthen there was €ui Increase acreage ground. 
In many instances the stalk elongation was 
below expectations and the tonnage short 
in consequence. That with the low sucrose 
xx)ntent of the oane with an excess of im- 
purities caused the small yield, as compared 
to average years. 

'Wednesday of last week frost, with bright 
sunshine later; Thursday fine but too warm; 
Friday cloudy and wann; Saturday, fog 
in thfe early morning and cooler in the after- 
noon, wit^ evidences of a c«old wiave com- 
ing; Sunday, ice ]vith a stormy, cold wind; 
Monday, fee again with bright day; Tues- 
diay, cloudy and warmer; and Wednesd^ay, 
spring like in the morning. 

The official weekly weather report from 
Schr lever is as follows: 

Temperature. Sunshine. Rainfall 



Dec. 26 


-57 


28 


100 




Dec. 27 


..60 


2S 


100 




Dee. 28 


..67 


29 


100 




Dec. 29 


..78 


33 


25 




Dec. 30 


..78 


53 


25 




Dec. 31 


..78 


52 


25 


.01 


Jian. 1 . 


..64 


27 


100 


... 




66 


86 


68 


.01 








TCRREBONNB. 



St. Mary. 

(•PSCIAL OORBISrOirDBNCS.) 

EdUor Louitiana Ptanier: 

The planters of this partsh have had no 
cause to complain aibout the weather condi- 
tions ^ the past two weeKS. The weather 
11*83 been splendid and aill suisar making 
operations iiave been going on smoothly. A 
great number of the mills have finii^ed the 
season, and by the lalit of next week there 



will be very few mills in operation. 

The Anna plantation finished the season 
last week; the tonnage of this place was 
excellent 'but the extractton was poor. Mr. 
Shaffer, of the Anna, says that he made 
1,050,000 pounds this season. The extraction 
on this place was up to the average of places 
on the Teche. 

Mr. J. B. Todd, of the Bllersly, closed the 
season on the first of January. The extrac- 
tion was as usual for the parish. Ellersly 
made a million pounds. The tonnage of this 
place was greater than was expected. 

The Johnson place on Bayou bale made 
in the neighborihood of 700,000 pounds. 

The Alice C. amd Oak L<awn plantations 
will cK)se the season next week. Mr. Geo. 
Marshall, the manager of the Alice C. planta- 
tion, was stricken with paralysis last Sunday 
morning, but is miich improve?! at this writ- 
infi". 

The Steamer Teche fire, which caused the 
loss of 781 barrels of 'su®ar claimed a big 
loss from this parish; all the sugar lost 
was from tffe Tecflne planters of fhis parish. 
We understand that the sugar was fully 
covered by insuran<ce. Senator Caffery and 
H. C. Rose were among the heaviest losers, 
but tKey were pro:tected by insurance. 

This parish made over 120,000,000 pounds 
of sugar last year, but the crops of this year 
will fall considerably below this amount; 
but sugar brought a better price this year 
which will go a long ways in cheering up 
the planters. 

Mose Alexander, a colored sugar planter 
of Cypremont, has bought the Alice Prevost 
place. St. Mary. 



St. nary. . 

Nearly aU of the planters will wind up 
the season about the middle of January. 
The greatest amount of sugar made by any 
mill last yoar was 11,000,000 pounds; this 
was made cm the Soadyside Plantation. The 
greatest amount for this year will not ex- 
ceed 8,000,000 pounds. 

The Caffery refinery will finish the season 
about the 15th of January. This mill will 
make .in the neighborhood of 8,000,000 
pounds this year. Under better conditions, 
the Oaffery would have made a much larger 
amount of sugar; the management of this 
place has been excellent, but the crop con- 
ditions will cause a great fall in the expecta- 
tion of the majiagers. 

We understand <tht Mr. H. C. Rose lost 
some sugar in the burning of the Teche. 
We have not been able to ascertain what in- 
surance there was on tnis sugar. 

The Bethla pQantatlon. is among the losers 
from the Teche fire. Mr. Caffery had 128 
barrels of sugar on board.— VimWcator-News, 
Dec. 30. 

Vermilion. 

(SrCCIAL CORREiPONDENCK.) 

Editor jA}uisiaiut Planter: 

There has been a iparked improvement in 
the weather conditions for ihe past we%k 



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J\an. 7, im.] 



THIS LOUISLAJWA l^tAM** AND StJOAR MANWACWMSL 



and the first day of the year, though very 
cold, was a beautiful, i).rl:^t day. The fffst 
part of last week -was warm and clear, which 
continued up to Saturday morning about 2 
o'clock, when the thermometer dropped 
aboqt 16*" in an hour and continued to fall 
until Saturday nlgbt or bunday morning. 
Saturday was a cloudy day, but no rain; 
Sunday. Jan. 1st, 1899 was a clear ijright day 
with the thermometer standing at from 32 
to 34** throughout the day. From 12 o clock 
Friday to 12 o'clock Sunday fiftwywed at least 
60^ difference in the temperature. To-day 
CMonday 2nd,) is a oool. cloudy day, with 
some appearance of snow. This cool spell 
favored the cane shipped to some extent, for 
If the weather had reniained as warm ^for 
three or four days as It was Friday, all the 
cane that was wlndrowed * after the freeze 
would have been lost and much of it that 
was windrowed before the freeze would have 
met a like fate. Farmers are getting along 
very nicely now sihtpping cane and with a 
few more cars daily than they have been 
having they will get tiirough by the 10th of 
January. Windrowed <cane kept splendidly, 
the best results having been experienced 
from windrowing this season that has ever 
been known in tlhis section. The time of 
windrow ing doe^ not seem to have made 
any differei^ce at all; some of our farmers 
wiiidrowed cane before any freeze at all, 
some after tlie fiirst little freeze, some af- 
ter the second freeze which was heavy 
enough to kiU the bud, and some after tbe 
third or X&sft freeze that froze the cane 
through and through* and it all kept re- 
markably well. The cane windrowed after 
the hard freeze seems to be as sound now 
as thtft windrowed before any freeze at all. 
The weather has been favorable to, wind- 
rowed cane lor the past three weeks. There 
has been but a few warm days since the 
hard freeze and those toave not been ex- 
tremely warm, then there would invariably 
follow these warm days, cOol, cloudy days, 
that seemed to counteract the effect of the 
warm weather on cane. The Planter cor- 
respondent was at the Oaffery refinery last 
Fri(3ay and Saturday and was pleased to see 
that the cane freshly cut from the root, was 
fresh and sound in many in^rtances; in some 
instances, however. It £fiiowed signs of de- 
composition at tlhe top but none to hurt. 
The manager Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., is watching 
results very closely and if possfble will wind 
up the season without ei^tlher grinding or 
being foivjed to reject sour cane. There is 
•still about 3,000 tons of good, sound cane to 
be shipped out over the railroad, which will 
finish the delivery of 1898-99. In addition 
to this, 'iJiiere is in the neighbortiood of 10,- 
000 tons along the I. V. railroad, in the Del- 
cambre and Petit Anse sections in Iberia 
parish that will be lost in the field. The 
extreme Eastern part of vermilion will lose 
<K>nsMerable oane also, out the other sec- 
tions of Vermiiion will mlarket the entire 
crop, though late and at a considierable ex- 
pense. The Rose Hill wUl finl^ah up her 



season about the 15th in^t, and tfhe Ramsey 
will wind up on or about the 10th. These 
mills have had a very successful year as far 
as grinding 'their full capacity goes, and they 
have also escaped any dehiys from break- 
downs. The cane crop Wdil all be harvested 
by the 15th Inst, and redoubled efforts will 
be beguti for another crop. 

The New Year opened up with jTromi^lng 
prospects and everybody In this section has 
turned over a new leaf and taken hold of the 
wheels of determination wHh a set purpose 
to turn them to fortuiie or fame. Wisftilng 
the Planfter and Its readers a Joyous and 
prosperous year, we are. P, C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRBSPCNDfiNCE.) 

Editor LouiBuiiut PUitUer: 

The year dawned upon us ^old and chilly, 
di*i(Vflng the -mepcury down to 26 degrees at 
isun up. The first day of the year was clear 
and co)d. The morning of the 2nd was 
.^lear with the tem^rati^e a^ ..^ de^ees , 
at sunrise. The day gradually grew warm- 
er towards sund^nwn, then clouding irp. 
The morning of the 3rd was cloudy with the 
temperature at, ^50 degrees and indications 
of rain. On the morning of the 4 th at 
six o'clock the mercury reafted at 68 de- 
grees. It was warm and cloudy, with pros- 
pects for rain. Information reaiched the 
Planter's scrUbe on the morning of the 1st 
inst that the Chetwood sugar fafcftory was 
^rning and would be destroyed. It seems 
that Mr. B. V. Weems, proprietor of the 
Che t wood factory, Lecompte, Rapides parish, 
•had taken the South bound train at Elola on 
the morning of the 1st for his factory on the 
Teche. He was overtaken by a telegram 
stating that Chetwood was "burning , and 
would be destroyed. I have not so far 
>been Unformed how the factory caught on 
fire, nor the full extent of damages ^sus- 
tained, but as the wind was hlowlng Ijeavy 
from the North at the time It is more than 
probaible that the fine Chetwood factory 
ibuilding was totally destroyed. 

If I have been correctly informed, the 
Chetwood factory ait the time wlien it was 
burned, wtais being conducted 'by Mr. Weems 
ifi conjunction with the cane growers — some- 
what on the co-operative plant of shareing 
whatever profit there mlg^t 'be Obtained from 
the oane wlilch the planters were furnish- 
ing the faotory. However much of, or little 
X3f, this may (be true, I h*ave given It as It 
has been eiated. 

The Powhoatats , sugar factory, McCracken 
Bros, proprietors, Ek>la, Is todiay pli^lng for- 
ward grinding cane and mak4nsg sugar. 

I learn that the LcUndter faictory Is still 
running and ddlng its best to speedily reacti 
tlie last ton of cane and terminate the sea- 
son's work. 

Wom all accounts the cane which is now 
godng throu«^ the Inllls situated In the 
upper tier of sugar partehee, has so deterior- 
ated, that It now has to be cut at both 



ends to miake It any way profitable to Work 
at all. 

It Is with pleasure I can say, however, that 
the cane growers throughout this upper 
country. Including the sugar manufacturers, 
have not by any means lost heart and hope. 
The will power Is here to plant and grow 
an Increased acreage to cane this year. In 
the firm belief that the future Will bless ell 
who plant cane with prosperity. It Is a 
good omen wlien the pQanters and farmers 
set to work clearing their fields so early In 
the year, and starting pQows to breaking the 
soil preparatory to growing this season's 
crops. 

Want of space foiibade mentioning last 
week^ the alacrity with wlilch the farmers 
In the Prairie country of Marksrllle were 
preparing to go Into ctane. From all I 
could learn, when there. It seems that about 
everyone who could get a stalk of plant cane 
to plant has done so, tSius Intending to work 
gradually as their means permiit of so doing, 
into profita'ble cane growing. Mind the 
prediction, Marksvllle will In the 6ext two 
years be oaUlng for a sugaf factory. 

• Erik, 



5us:ar Trust Chanset . 

(Spedial to the Plcayui^e.) 

New York, Dec. 18. — Some changes, It was 
said today, are to be made in the directorate 
of the sugar trust chiefs, among which will 
be the retirement of John B. Searles, for 
many years secretary and treasurer of the 
combination. 

Mr. Searles— a fact which has not been 
generally known — Is 111 at the Hotel Man- 
hattan, where he has been for two weeks. 
When I went to the hotel last evening to 
ask Mr. Searles dbout the proposed changes 
In t9ie trust directorate, he sent down word 
that he was too 111 to see any one. He Is 
said to be suffering from the grip. 

Announcements of the coming meeting of 
directors were sent out Saturday. They In- 
dicated that three directors are to be chosen, 
two to fill vacancies caused by the expiration 
of the terms of John E. Parsons and John E. 
Searles, and one to succeed William Dick. 

The Havemeyer ticket Is said to be as fol- 
lows: : 

John E. Parsons, to succeed himself; 
Lowell A. Palmer, to succeed Mr. Searles, 
and William Meyer, to take B(fr. Dyars* 
place. 

Mention of the retirement of Mr. Searles 
naturally will cause comment. It Is said he 
has found the heavy duties of secretary and 
treasurer of the trust to be too great for 
him to fulfill longer, particularly as he Is 
a?i:o president of the Western National Bank. 
Mr. Searles has been forced to rest during 
several months this year, and It Is thought 
that his physician's advice, following a severe 
<x>ld, which he contracted recently, has led 
him to notify his aisoclates In tne sugar 
trust that he wHl not be a candidate for re- 
election. He returned from Europe only' two 
weeks ago, having been abroad for several 
months. 



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TBE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 1. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Barbados. 

The weather has been on Uhe whole favor- 
able to the planting operations which are 
now engaging the planters' attentton. At 
our central s-tatlon we have had for the 9 
dayi of the month 1.5 Ins., for the fortnight 
1.55 indjes. The light rains serve to main- 
tain moisture, and to promote growtii, but 
a gcod soaking rain before the plants are put 
in would be very beneficial. Some estates 
have already pdanted off a field or two, and 
aU are busily entgaged in completing prepara- 
tions,— forking, ploughing, and throwing out 
manure; while plaat cutters are busy on 
every hand ao that there might be no de- 
lay in taking advantage of tue showers and 
getting the plants into tUb earth. A good 
and uniform sipring for Ohristmas is a 
boon to planters. Only those wHm) have to 
deal with such matters can appreciate the 
feeling of disappointment and almost vexa- 
tion which comes over the planter when 
January opena on more dead holes than liv- 
ing ones, and endless and wearisome sup- 
plying has to be weekly repeated through 
the dry and windy crop season, sometimes 
even into June. But this year, so far, indica- 
tions are very favoral)le, and there is every 
likelihood that the young and old crops will 
together greet the new year. 

We -were first or among the first in 
these columns to call puoiic attention to the 
budding honors of the new seedling, No. 147, 
the one apparently fittest to survive among 
its 146 brethren. No. 147 is a lusty, vigor- 
ous, hard-rind cane, just the kind of rind 
to give toothache to moth-jorers*, and to 
afford an impregnable tortress to Fungus. 
It is a cane, as the cane plant cutters say, 
Mke a hoe-stick and indeed one woman em- 
ployed to cut these plants aDsolutely struck 
work, saying that they had not employed 
her to cut hoe-sticks. But this cane so ex- 
teriorly toug^, is within filled when rl^e with 
a soft Juicy pulp, which is said to be ex- 
traordinarily rich in crystals. It is evidently 
the cane of the future, and every body is 
trying to get plants, whidh are now selling 
at 30 cents per hundred. In a year or two 
its propagation ought to be complete. 

It makes the West Indian's mouth water to 
read of the prosperous condition of Hawaiian 
sugar plantations since annexation to the 
United States, for while our plantation stack 
4s ever sinking in value lower and lower 
below par, theirs soars majestically above 
to the tune of millions of dollars, and while 
our profit on sugar Is nil their net profits on 
a single estate are said to reach six figures. 
"The Ewa Plamtatlon with a capitalization 
"of $1,000,000 *ls said to have made this sea- 
"son net profits of between $700,000, and 
"$800,000.** No wonder that the capital stock 
of this plantation has been increased to 
$2,000,000, and that the stock-holders are 
considering the advisability of Increasing 
it still farther to $3,000,000. 

What a striking conk-ast between flourish- 



ing anc* happy Hawaii under United S^tates 
governance, and unhappy, decaying, dis- 
mayed West India under British rule. The 
contrast is all the more striking because the 
United States herself is a sugar producer 
and Great Britain is not. fet in the United 
Statea markets the Hawaiian foundling 
grows fat and lusty, wnne we the first- 
born of the Empire are for the advantage 
of the foreigner practically ex-cluded from 
the markets of our own Mother Country! 
It is an object-lesson which we recommend 
for the consideration of British Statesmen: 
it is for them to explain why a cane sugar 
producing colony of the United States is 
richly thriving, while their own languish. 
The old lack of thrift will no longer suffice. 
It was splendidly answered when Grenada 
turned to cocoa and Jam*aJ>ca to fruit; and 
now that the whole British cane producing 
world cries out for a free British market, 
and unanimously and correctly diagnoses 
the disease, will English Statesmen con- 
tinue objfcinate, or will they acknowledge 
their jerror, and give to their colonies that 
freedom of 'trade which the United States 
so cheerfully give to theirs? After all, It Is 
a question of right or wrong. No doubt 
the right will in the end prevail, but the 
wrong has been so long to the front, that 
British West Indian sugar growers now re- 
semble Pharaoh's lean kine. some of them 
long paat recovery. Like Gallh) of old, the 
sD-called free- trade party oares for none of 
ij^iase things, not even when British capi- 
talists publicly declare that lae present fiscal 
policy prevents them from investing capital 
in the Britiih West Indies. The case Is 
clearly proven. A rotten free- trade policy 
has ruined West Indian industry: a real 
fpee trade policy would resJtore It. — Agricul- 
tural Reporter, Dec. 10. 



Austria. 

The following is translated from the 
Wochenschrift, dated Vienna, 7th December: 
"During last week the weather has been mild, 
foggy and damp. In Vienna the average 
temperature has risen to as much as 4.9** C. 
against a normal average of 1.5° C. Up to 
tihe end of November there were 167 fac- 
tories working against 137 last year. Up f 
now the production in raw sugar is 1,214,- 
000 q. Mild and damp weather is reported 
from Germany this week, which must be 
injurious to the roots. In France also rainy 
and mild weather has prevailed this week, 
which affects the yield less, as a greater 
number of factories have either ended work 
or are at the point of dojng so.'* 



Demerara. 

The name of Plantation Clonbrook which 
has been prominently before the public this 
week, brings to mind a story of the insur- 
rection of 1824, the truth of whidh is besrond 
diispute. The proprietor of the estate was a 
very kind man to his slaves, but when he 
had to punish them his metfhod was peculiar. 



He put them in the stocks and gave them 
a dose of Glauber salts. When the slaves 
rose, in rebellion, Clonbrook was in the 
heart of the diiaftected district, and it had 
to be considered what they should do with 
tilieir proprietor. They admitted he had been 
a kind maarter, so they could not kill hlin or 
injure him; but something must be done. 
In due time it was decided, that Massa must 
have "punish;" and with the most admir- 
able humor, sentence was pased upon him 
that he should sit in the stocks and get 
Glauber salts. The sentence was duly car- 
ried into effect.— Argus. Dec. 10. 



Some Haphazard Notes of a Forty- 
Two Years' Residence In British 
Quiana. 

Mon Repos was a pleasant estate to man- 
age; the land was grateful for any attention 
bestowed on it; the attorney was a practical 
business man, not given to letter writing or 
requiring letters to be written; and the fort- 
nightly and monthly reports were plain, full 
and requiring no after explanations. Once 
the Beterverwagting people left me In the 
lurch with a lot of grass on hand, and, when 
the work got light and they wanted to come 
back I refused to give t'lem work. A depu^- 
tation waited on Clementson to complain of 
thii Iniquity on my part, and he told them: 
*'I am not the manager of Mon Repos, have 
never been the manager of Mon Repos, and 
never Intend to be the manager of Mon Re- 
pos, and I wish you a very good morning.*' 
After about three months I gave them work 
again. I don't remember if it was 1865 or 
1866, but it was a very heavy season and all 
the estates on the coast were more or less 
under grass. Clemenston was seedy at this 
time and did not like going back in the rain 
and mud, but one morning I askeji him. to do 
so and the fallowing conversation took 
place: 

"Anything very particular?" 

*'Yes, sir, very particular, I wish you to see 
the estate before it Is completely abandoned.*' 

"Can I help it?" 

"No, sir; You have nothing to do with-it." 

"Can you help it?" 

"No, sir, if I could it would not be so." 

"Well, I have been writing to Mr. Hamer 
for many years to tell him if he wouid not 
put sufficient immigrants on his estate it 
would be abandoned, and as I am not feeling 
very well this morning I will say good day;" 
and he left. 

For a great many years it had been the 
custom on the estate to provide a large sup- 
ply of firewood, such as bamboos and cour- 
ida, for the use of the copperwall as the^e 
was always a short supply of megass, and, 
of course, I followed the rule. When we 
started grinding in August, 1868, Mr. C, look- 
ing at the great heap of wood in the yard 
and the small quantity of megass, said to 
me: "Cannot this thing be remedied?" I 
replied, "Certainly; we want to re-hang the 



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Jan. 7, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



four sugar latches, put another large cop- 
per to the short copperwall and remove the 
multitubular boiler to suit." The answer 
came promptly, "I was never told of it 
before; have it done." And done it was, 
with the result that at the tlnish of the crop 
in December there were five hundred feet 
of megass logie full of megass; we had lost 
by fire one hundred and eighty feet of logie 
partially full; and the fire wood was still on 
Bacd. Nine hundred shipping hhds. of sugar 
were made at that grinding of three months. 
F. C. Thorpe, late of Pin. Hague, was over- 
seer at the time. 

The year 1868 was a very ^ry year, and 
water for the navigation tren*ches got very 
short, and many estates had to take In salt 
water, with disastrous results to boilers and 
machinery. 

The East Coast Rifle A-sociatlon used to 
shoot at Le Resouvenlr front across the pub- 
lic road. One day Gather, from Vryheld's 
Lust, was late, and we kept firing for him to 
come up, but instead of pid'jng up to the fir- 
ing point he dismounted a long way down 
the road and ran up to us; some one as'ked 
why he had not done so and he replied, "Oh, 
I forgot." He began to lOad very hurriedly 
and we said, *'Take time. Gather, and recover 
yourself; there's plenty of time for you to 
fire." He replied, "I shan't fire till I am 
loaded." Gather was Irish. On two occa- 
sions the overseers and myself were driven 
from the dinner table by hard-backs, and 
another fclme the overseers by mosquitoes. I 
had been to Georgetown, and, driving home, 
found the mosquitoes very bad all the way 
from the public road. I got out of the wagon 
at the stable and had myself thoroughly 
brushed before going up into the house 
where the overseers were at dinner, but, 
alas! the mosquitoes went up tpo; there were 
millions of them, and to see those five or 
six overseers, probably i^ungry, disappear 
down the front steps was a cautjon. I found 
out afterwards at Pin. Port Mourant, wliere 
Dalgety was manager, that by. putting the 
lights round the sides of the room instead of 
over or on the dining table, dinner can be 
eaten in comfort no matter how many hard- 
backs are about. 

I had once to attend the Magistrate's 
Court in Georgetown about some rum that 
was stolen at the railway depot, and whilst I 
was in Leon's Gourt, a black boy was put up 
by the police for some trifilng offence. Leon 
turned to me and said: "Are you a manager, 
sir?" I said, *'Yes, at Mon Repos." Seon 
said, You want a nigger, ^ir?" I said, "Yes." 
Then to the boy he ^ald, "You see that gen- 
tleman there, you go with him this after- 
noon and he will take care of you, and if 
you come back here I will put you in jail." 
The boy did not meet me at the train, but, 
strange to relate, he walked up the coast, 
and about mddnight krorked at the gate 
at the side-line and told his story to the 
Coolie watchman who would not believe him 



and would not admit him. And I never 
saw him again. 

Glementaon was always anxious that the 
buildings should be in charge of a com- 
petent sugar holler, a sort of a buildings 
manager, and we tried the experiment by 
employing a man from Barbados and giving 
him a. salary of a thousand dollars a year 
and a comfortable house, but the result 
was most dlsatrous. 

*Eobt. Walth, at La Bonne Intention, was a 
great shcoter, I cannot ^ay sportsman, as I 
have seen hfion do many unsportsmanlike 
acts. There used to be on lihe mud fiats 
quantities of birds known as "Duck-legs," 
which could only be distinguished from Eng- 
11 Jh snipe by a naturalist or a sportsman; 
they flew in large flocks, and Walth used to 
send out one of his men with an 8-gauge 
gun loaded with No. 10 shot and shoot quan- 
tities of them, which he would send to 
friends In Georgetown In bunches of six or 
a dozen, and he was put down as a good 
and successful "snilpe" shot. He really was a 
good shot, however, but very selfish in a 
shooting field. 

The sugar store at Mon Repos was infested 
with bats that used to make a mess every 
night with fruit and crab shells and such 
like; and after repeatedly asking the over- 
seer to shoot them, he Informed me one 
morning that he had shot three. I sent to 
the house for my gun and fired two shots 
Into the cluster and went back. When I 
came home to breakfast the porter. Baas 
Informed me that they had collected seven 
dozen dead ones. It is a curious fact that 
although all the bats were not killed, yet 
none ever hived, If 1 may use the word. In 
the store again. Speaking of bats reminds 
me chat In the manager's house at La Belle 
Alliance I killed one of the large frult-eat- 
Ing sort that measured 28 Inches from tip 
to tip. The head and claws were in the 
museum for some time. 

One night there was a cry of "thief, thief," 
and on looking out of my bedroom window 
I saw two men pursuing a Ghinaman at full 
speed. John doubled round the comer of 
lihe house and disappeared, vanished, as 
surely as if he had never been; the watch- 
man had not seen him, and the thing was 
a mystery, but I felt convinced after examin- 
ing the place next morning, that friend 
John had simply run up the kitchen steps 
and remained Inside till the hui . was 
over. 

Frazer was the Magistrate of the district, 
and after the court was" over at Vigilance, 
we used to adjourn to James Inniss's house 
and from what Innlss called "The Bast 
Coast Prevaricating Glub." Man, at Non- 
pareil, and Harding, at Annandale, were con- 
sidered the champions. 

In the mango season the girls from Buxton 
and Friendfllhip, when they came to "look for 
lir wo'k," used to hrlng a basket of the 
fruit for sale, but, of course, there were no 
buyers, as everyttody had mangoes of his 



own, and the girls would sit under the trees 
on ithe middle-walk dam, and eat mangoes 
till all were finished, and then contentedly 
return home with their empty baskets. The 
days that they came really intending to work, 
they brought a pair of trousers and an old 
coat, but no mangoes. It was rather a funny 
sight, that of a gang of women and girls in 
working costume In wet weather. 

Dr. McAulay was the doctor of the district 
for a time, and he was succeeded by Dr. 
ThomaB. Each In term lived in the house in 
front of Brothers or Montrose, but It dis- 
appeared some years ago, and the last time I 
saw the site It was a courida swamp. 

On Mon Repos was one of Fletcher's first- 
class engines and mills which did splendid 
crushing, but about 25 years later I had the 
opportunity of seeing that "splendid crush- 
ing" passing through a second mill, from 
which was. coming a stream of Juice equal 
to that from one of the old mills with broken 
headstocks away back In the fifties. Fancy 
the millions of dollars that were lost before 
proper machinery was erected! — Demerara 
Argosy. 



Beaumont Irrigation Company Buy 
a Pumping Plant. 

Directors of the ijeaumonit Irrigation com- 
pany held a meetin-g last night and placed 
an order with John T. Wilkin, mechanical 
engineer of the Gonnersville Blower com- 
pany, Connersville, Ind., for the pumping 
plants which will supply tae water for the 
Irrigation company's hdg canal. The plant 
purc'nased Is one of the largest in the &outh 
and will cost in the nelghbornood of $40,- 
000. It has a guaranteed capacity of 60,- 
000 gallons of water per minute or 92,000- 
000 gallons per day, the manufacturing com- 
pany giving a bond of $20,000 that the pump 
will maintain the capacity represented. 

The plants will consist of two separate 
pumps. One station equipped with two 
pumps operated with Gor^iss engines will 
be located on the banks of Pine Island bayou 
from which the water will be lifted Into an 
immense flume. From this point it will flow 
five miles Into the prairie where another 
pump will again lift It'several feet, giving a 
suflicient height to flood between 15,000 and 
20,000 acres of adjacent rice land. 

The plant was purchased by the Beaumont 
Irrigation company after a technical Investi- 
gation of the pumps offered, and in purchas- 
ing It they are of the opinion that the best 
kind of machinery of the kind manufactured 
at present has been secured. 

Mr. Wilkin wired the order bo his house 
and It Is expected that the pumps and other 
machinery will begin arriving In a very few 
days. It is the intention to have the plant 
ready for operation In ample time to fill the 
canal by spring. If water is needed to plant 
the 1899 crop.— Beaumont Texas Journal. 



Among the recent arrivals at the Royal 
was Mr. J. A. Norman of Maui, H. I. 



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THB LOUIfitANA PLAkTEft A>0 StiOAR iiANUt'AO^uilBR. 



IVol. XXII. No. 1. 



BEBT BUGAB. 



Lehi, Utah. 

Last night at a'bout 8 o'clock the last beets 
were cut at the sugrar factory making a total 
of 43,110 tons of beets cut this season. The 
factory ran* slicing^ 107 days averaging 465 
tons of beets sliced per day during the run—' 
fhe modt successful record yet made at the 
factory. The beets were in fine condition 
this year being remarkably free from dirt 
and those piled in the yards not being affect- 
ed by the weather on account of the protec- 
tion of the bullrush crates. The factory will 
run on yellow sugar till next Wednesday and 
the cleaning up will be finished by January 
2nd when the falctory will be closed entirely 
no men being employed there exceipt a day 
and night wa/tchman. Most of the men were 
laid off last night but about 35 will be kept 
on for some days yet. 

This has been one of the most successful 
seasons in Utah, especially !for the farmers 
among whom about $200,000 has been dis- 
tributed. 

The management and employees are- just- 
ly proud of the work done this season. 
Previous to this year the most beets worked 
up in a day was 455 ions; while this year 
tlhait refcord has been broken so many times 
that the contrary was the exception, not the 
rule. Supt. Vallez.is to be complimented' on 
his work. When he took charge he made 
a number of changes which are now proven 
to be valuable improvements. The results 
show that he has a superior way in man- 
aging the factory. The factory has far ex- 
ceeded its capacity and with better work. 
All through the season the machinery has 
been kept In excellent trim by Engineer In- 
galls and the men under him and to this 
fact is due the possibility of making such 
records as this season shows. 

The handling of the beet's has been under 
the supervision of Field Superintendent 
Austin and in this department great progress 
has been made in 4^pidity and convenience 
for handling and in the care taken to pro- 
tect the beets from stress of weather. 

Field - SuperinJtendent Austin^ returned 
Thursday night frqp\ the South, where he 
bias been contracting ^eet average. In Sprlng- 
ville the farmers contracted 706 acres, in 
Maiplefcon 240 and at Pleasattt Grove, where 
the farmers have not all as yet signed con- 
tracts, there will be at least 250 acres. Mr. 
Austin goes South again next Wednesday 
morning. He has to make contracts yet 
with the farmers of Payson, Spanish Fork 
and Benjamin. He thinks the entire acre- 
age fbr next season will be 4,000 acres.— 
Banner, Dec. 24. 



Eddy, New Mexico. 

The unfavoraible weather prevented the 
harvesting of beets, and, as a result, the last 
beet in the sheds at the factory was sliced 
Wednesday evening. The run was made on 
the juice from tihose beets and then the 
machinery skywed down. Harvesting com- 



menced in the Otis district yesterday, and ff 
the weather continues favorable a sufflcleni 
supply will be on hand to permit the resump- 
tion of operations the early part of the Week. 
It is to be regretted that the delay wis dc- 
casioned, but the recefit ttorm was One of 
special severity tot thds section, and being so 
extraordinary, of course, could not be pro- 
vided again^ 

Quite a numlber of farmers and home-seek- 
ers from the east are wintering in Eddy 
and the valley with blie idea of renting or 
purchasing farms jn this section. This 
would seem natural enough when they can 
sell their farms at $50 to $75 per acre and 
buy a good one here for half the money, 
provided with a perfect system of irrigation. 
With the opening of the Pecos Valley ft 
Northeastern to Amarlllo, a low rate will 
be established on stock to Kansas City, and 
farmers have learn-ed that the best way 
to make money off their farms is to feed 
their grain to stock and sell the finfi'shed pro- 
duct. 

Then, too, the eastern farmers do not have 
the advantage of the beet sugar factory, 
which Is proving Itself a great thing to the 
farmer here, as, If he lives near EMdy, or 
n€'ar any railway point up or down the val- 
ley, he can put in a few acres of beets as 
an Incidental crop, which brings him several 
hundred dollars In cash as soon as harvested. 
—Pecos Valley Argus, Dec. 26, 



The Pecos Valley Beet Su8:ar Com- 
pany. 

While at EMdy, N. M.. the editor was In- 
vited to go and see the beet sugar fac^tory, 
which 'has a capacity of using 200 tons of su- 
gar beefts each day and turning them in^o 
40,000 pounds of granulated sugar. The total 
cafpaclty of the mill Is 6,000 'tons per month 
on a four imoobhs* run. We learned at the 
mill thait they -paid |4 per tx)n for beets at 
the depots along the Pecos Valley railroad, 
and tha't tbe total ninnber they could use 
this year was 24,000 ton's. By figudng a 
little, we see thalt |96,ov^ is paid by the com- 
pany for beets alone. The amount of sugar 
If estim'ated at 10 per cent. and. sold at 4 
cents per pound, will realize $192,000; so we 
see that -the raw material coslts just oi;ie-half 
of the total sum realized. We learned that 
10 tons to the acre was an average crop and 
that R took between five and six tons to the 
acre to pay water rent, rent of land (If no't 
owned by the fanner), and lalbor, and that all 
over thfat amount Was clear profit. The beet 
sugar company cannto't gc^t farmers to plant 
enough for the use of the factory, and they 
have this year planted 500 acres, and found 
out -that four tons to tlhe acre will pay all 
expenses of the croip. We also learned Chat 
•there are 1,500 acres of sugar beets being 
raised by farmers around Eddy. 

When we entered the factory we found ex- 
pert mechanics putting In |20,000 worth of 
new and improved machinery t!o keep up 
wHh the increasing demand tor the sugar 



m'anufactnte'd by this company. And here 
we take occasion to state that there Is no 
fear of putting the market, as it will take 
800 fa<^ories just as large as this one to 
supply the sugar demand of this country 
alone. 

We were very greatly Interested in the 
enitlre process of mr.nufaeturlng su^r, from 
the Immense sheds where the beets are 
stored and from thence carried by automatic 
machinery to the washing i)ool, and from 
thence elevated to the slicing machines, and 
from thence to the cooking vais. After all 
the juice has (been extracted from the 
cooked beets, 4here Is a pulpy siTbstance of 
refuse vegetable matter remaining, and this 
Is a morft excellent feed when mixed with 
roughness, such as alfalfa or sorghum hay, 
for feeding cabtle' or sheep, of wlilch men- 
tion is made in the article on feeding lambs. 
If a low freight rate could be obtained 
for the ti-anspori.atlon of the pulp, we be- 
lieve that It would play to ship ft Into the 
Panhandle, as a winter feed for cattle, and 
especially for domestic slock, mixing with it 
bran, chops, or cotton seed meal. It is sold 
at the factory by the car load at 50c. per ton. 
In Germany the dry pulp Is mlzed with 
refuse molasses and fed to cattle for fat- 
tening purpfoses. 

The new machinery placed In the factory- 
enables them 'to manufaioture In three or 
four days, Instead of storing the syrup In Im- 
mense tanks and then working it over 
during the spring and sumuper months. 

The factory makes the lime used in clari- 
fying "the syrup. The llttie stone is found 
in at)undanice about four miles from the 
factory, and the company pays $1.30 per ton 
for hauling it. 

To run this immense busbiess takes sir 
boilers, each of 100 horse power capacity to 
furnish the steam for the engines, and when 
we consider all the expenses connected wkb 
this vast enterprise, to us the mystery is, 
h'ow can 'the company afford to pay 50 per 
cent of the gross receipts for manufactured 
sugar to 'the farmers who raise the beets? 
And while we heard one man "fcotaiplaln at 
the low price of toeets, viz., $4 per ton, he 
said that his crop would be at teast eleven 
tons to the atore, and that he could attend 
to thirty acres, we want to know where in 
this country, or any where, can a man real- 
ize $44 per acre from a field crop of any 
kind, or dear $1,320 from a 30-acre crop 
tttat takes less labor than raising cotton? 

If farmers can do better, or as well, with 
any crop, we should like to know whiat it la; 
and when we consider, also, that there is a 
constant demand, with an unchanging cash 
market at their doors, we cian realize the 
certainty of profit In the cultivation of the 
sugar beet in this region. It Is a sure thing 
for the firmer. 

The beetsugar manufactury Is a grand en- 
terprise ,and a blessing to the Pecos Valley, 
—Amarlllo Champion. 



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11 



The Sugar Beet in New Mexico. 

The cuHtivation of the migar beet in the 
Pecos Valley is deservting of more extended 
men'tlon than can t>e given wilthin the limits 
of this write-up. It is safe to say (said an 
expert In sugar 'oeet cultivation) tliat no- 
where else in the United iStaltes, if Indeed 
In t'he world, does the sugar beet attain 
the perfection it reaches in the Pecos Val- 
ley. The percentage of saccharine matter 
and purely runs astonishingly Qiiigh, while 
the yield almost surpasses .beli€»f. Fifteen to 
eighteen per cent, of saccharine matter and 
a purity of 85 per cent are by no means 
uncommon results, While as h'^ as 59 tons 
of beet'i of proper size for sugar manufacture 
have been grown on a single acre. This was 
of course exceptional, but an average yield 
of 25 to 30 tons per acre can be counited on 
wlfth confidence. The meaning of these fig- 
ures will be appreciated when it is known 
thait tbe average yield in California is 
about 13 tons in Utafti 10 tons. ,and in Ne- 
braska 8 tons per acre. M. Alfred Musy, a 
French sugar beett exipert of wide experi- 
ence both in Europe and America, visfted 
the Pecos Valley, and gave ithis subject a 
thorough Invefstigation. He was astonished 
a.'l whait he diiw, and stated without hesiita- 
tion that in his opinion beeit sugar can be 
manufaoftured in the Pecos Valley with 
bilker success than in any other part of 
the United States.-=-Amarillo Champion. 



The Manufacturers of Fertilizers Try- 

Ing to Qet a National 

Insp^lon Law. 

The manufacture of fertilizers has becwne 
one of the large Hbm of business in this 
country and its increased growth is attract- 
ing attention. 

V'M fertilizers manufactured are cpnsumed 
almost entirely in the United States, because 
of the fact that the manufacturers have not 
sought foreign trade to any great extent. 

The consumers are the farmers of the 
country. They are easily preyed upon by 
designing law-makers. *^ey have held to 
the belief that it was necessary for each 
State to place certain restrictions, assays and 
injpections upon fertilizers •Drought into 
IQose States. 

The different opinions expressed by the 
different Legislatures in the form of laws 
have grown so various that it is next to im- 
possible for the manufacturers of fertilizers 
to comply with the different laws of the 
different States. 

These laws naturally interfere with Inter- 
state commerce and the satisfactory distribu- 
tion of fertilizer products, because of tlie 
variety of requirements placed u];K>n the 
manufacturers 

The manufacturers of fertilizers do not ob- 
ject to inspection, even the most rigid. Those 
who are honest feel that a rigid inspec- 
tion woiHd soon eliminate diehonest manu- 
facturers and drive from the markets spuri- 
ous articles, thus giving to the legitimate 



trade protection against an injurious compe- 
tition and also place fertilizers at a fair 
:N*ofit. 

Believing In the justice of their cause and 
the Injustice of the laws that have been 
passed against them to their detriment, 
many of the fertilizer manufacturers are now 
seeking relief from Congre-sional Legisla- 
tion. 

They will most probajbly ask that Congress, 
during Its next session, pass a just and rigid 
Inspection law on all fertilizers, to take the 
place of State laws now in existence. The 
question will probably come up early In the 
session, and It Is certainly relief that Is 
needed by an Important and growing Indus- 
try.— St. Louis Blanufacturer. 



5us:ar Crop a Failure. 

The Louisiana sugar planters are puzzling 
over a mystery of great Importance to them. 
It is, wliy has the sugar crop failed so badly 
this year? It Is one of the most extraor- 
dinary failures in the history of agriculture 
in Louisiana, and is probably due to some 
secret of nature that man has not yet dis- 
covered. 

It should be said, parenthetically, that 
tliere is no dispute as to the failure of the 
crop and that the reports concerning it are 
not inspired by a desire to advance prices. 
The cane grower in this State realizes that 
the Louisiana production of sugar Is so small 
as compared With <the total consumption of 
this country, that It cuts no figure In fixing 
the price. There is. It Is true, usually a 
slight decline to the price of sugar— a frac- 
tion of a cent — wlien the Louisiana crop Is 
being marketed; but this Is a mere trick of 
the trade, and the decline occurs however 
large or small the t:rop may be. There Is no 
incentive, therefore, for the cane grower to 
misrepresent facts and underestimate the 
yield in the belief that It may tend to send 
up the price of sugar. And even If there 
were the inclination, it would be difficult to 
carry out any conspiracy of this kind.* The 
statistics of no crop In the world are more 
fully, carefully and accurately Kept than 
those of the sugar product of Louisiana. It 
is a triumph of mathematics. Covering, as 
the crop- does, a limited area, and the manu- 
facture and refining of the sugar being con- 
trolled by a comparatively few persons, the 
utmost accuracy Is Insisted on in the preser- 
vation of all the statistics bearing on the 
yield. Every acre planted Is recorded, as Is 
every ton of cane ground and every ];K>und 
of sugar and gallon of molasses. At the end 
of the season It Is possible to tell, within a 
pound and a gall<Hi, what has been the yield 
to the acre and for the entire State, nence, 
when It Is announced by the sugar planters 
that the crop is a failure. It can be accepted 
as a fact, and this announcement has been 
made and the figares given for It. The crop, 
in proportion to the acreage planted, will see 
the smallest yield in sugar known since the 
Civil War, unless there should be some radi- 



cal and unhoped-for change between now 
and the end of the grinding season. To find 
anything like the present condition the 
planters have had to go back twenty-one 
years to 1877, when the cane crop failed In 
a mysterious manner.— New Orleans Letter, 
In Trade. 



Sugar Patents. 

The following Is a Mst of patents of inter- 
est to the sugar Industry Issued December 
27, 1898, reported specially for The Louisiana 
Planter by R. W. Bishop, Patent Attorney, 
Wa'zliington, D. C. 

616,821. Process of and apparatus for ob- 
taining -crystals. Johann<es Bock, RadebeSl, 
Germany. - ^ , ; 



Personal. 

Mr. Charles Gelsmar, of Gelsmar, La., was 
a guest of the Cosmopolitan hotel during the 
past week. 

Mr. W. W. Ventreas, of Iberville, accom- 
panied by his son, was a guest of the Royal 
Wednesday night v 

Mr. F. C. Marsh, a pcH>uf)ar resident of St. 
Mary parish was a guest of the Commercial 
hotel a few days ago. 

Mr J. B. Babblngton, of the Lower Coast, 
erne up to the -city on Wednesday and 
stopped at the Hotel Royal. 

Mr. Albert O. Fk)lse, of Assumi;>tlon parish, 
cfame up to the city on a vl'slt TuescJay last. 
He stopped at the Hotel Denechaud while 
In town. 

Col. John A. Krles, of Cincinnati, who 
is a familiar figure on the sugar levee every 
winter, was registered at the St. Charles 
hotel last Wedneilday. 

Colonel Lewis S. Clarke, of the t/agonda 
place on Bayou Teohe, paid one of his cus- 
tomary viilts to the city on Tuesday, regis- 
tering at the St. Charles. 

Mr. J. Henry Putniam, * of the fine Rose 
Hill place In Vermilion parish,^ wlas in the 
city on a visit a few days ago. Col. Putnam 
stopped at the Commercial hotel. 

Hon. Walter A. O'Neill, of the splendid 
Llnwood plantation in St. Mary parifirti, was 
among the Tuesday arrivals at the Royal. 
Mr. O'Neill is a good sugar planter and an 
accompHsOied gentleman. 

Mr. Agricol Armand wiil be the manager 
on Terre Haute plantation the present year. 
A fine manaiger and >clever gentleman— he 
ran this fine place several years In the past 
with marked ability. 

Mr. J. B. Brown, of Ivanhoe plantation, 
was a visitor to New Orleanis for a short 
while during the past week. Mr. Brown 
registered at tbe Commercial and was ac- 
companied by his young eon whom he ex- 
pected to place at sch<ool. 

Mr. George M. Boote, wno has been In the 
Hawaiian Itflands for quite a while, but who 
learned the sugar planting business, and 
learned It well, In Louisiana, was in New 
Orleans last Wednesday. Mr. Boote was ac- 
companied by his wifa 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 1. 



RICE. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

It was clear «nd cold during the most of the 
week, wiith the exception of one day which 
was warm and a aort of oad weather breeder. 
Some very cold ni^ts were in order, and 
the coldest temperature noticed by the writ- 
er was 27 degrees, at 9:00 o'clock one morn- 
ing. The cold weather is not so objeotion- 
alble now since the cane hais been disposed of 
and other tender crops have been cared for. 
Our sweet potato crop was almost a failure, 
as the farmers lost the greater part of the 
crop by wet weather, and the Rogs were 
turned into the fields to do the diggin'g. 
There stiU remains a little lureshing to do 
but another week <will close up this work 
and very good satisfaction is expressed now 
over the condition of the late threshed rice, 
and the loas will not be as heavy as &t first 
supposed. 

Farmers are beginning to move about and 
get settled so as to begin the new year early 
and all present indications point to <a great 
effort on the part of the farmers to grow a 
large -crop. One farm 1*3 now being opened 
for the first time, containing three thousand 
acres, and every foot of it nas been let on the 
tenant system, and as much more could have 
been let if it had been ready. 

There is a large force of carpenters now 
at work on the many ^buildings to be erect- 
ed to accomimodate the renters and there is 
much work to do on the buildings for the 
pumping plant. A large pump will be placed 
in position in early spring to be ready to 
supply the water for this farm^ and when 
everything is completed, this will be one of 
the moded farms of this section. Some ex- 
ten'iive Improvetnents fire to be made on 
some of the large farms whiich were opened 
liSLBt season, and on some of them, the wate/ 
capacity will be dbubled. There is a great 
demand for rice land under pump, and the 
demand can not be supplied in cruant.\ies to 
suit. Many new parties are coming in this 
winter anid locating and securing land for 
rice, and the developmen-ts along this line, 
seem only Just begun. 

There are various statements out as to the 
acreage which will be sown to rice this sea- 
son, and some give it as douible the acreage 
of last season, bu!t if it reaches 50 per cent 
of that of l-ast season, it will do well. We 
are certain of at leaist two large rice mills 
for this year If the crop does well, and we 
know it will not lack for water unless it 
be Providence rice, which is fast going out 
of date, as it ie only the amall farmers back 
from the canals Who are trying to get rich 
in that way. I see there is a big demand 
for the Japan rice this season and it is be- 
lieved by a good many, that half of our 
crop of this year, w'ill be of this variety. 
One farmer grew three hundred acree of this 



variety in '98, amd obtained a yield of 17 
bbls. per acre on the average. 

But it is hard to get at the average yield 
of the rice for '98, owing to so much loss. 
It ranged all the way from three to twelve 
bbls. per acre, but if the weather had been 
good through the liarvest and threshing 
time, the yield would have tieen good and 
more easily gotten at. Some of our rice 
mills closed for the holidays but are all in 
operation at this writing as near as I can 
learn, and are working up a good quality of 
rice; they are not attemipting to work up 
the poorer grades. 

Cau AsiKiT Rke Bird, 



Talma8:e on the Rice Market. 

Not since ""before the war" can there be 
found any parallel to the prevailing condi- 
tions in the rice market. At this time there 
should be a moderating tendency but the 
record of the past week was quite up to Its 
predecessor. The demand continues fairly 
divided (between the domestic and foreign 
sorts; the chief run in the former being 
on the ordinary to fair grades, while In the 
latter the ibest selections are attracting most 
attention. Not a little uuslness is being 
booked for delivery and billing after Janu- 
ary 1st, this course accomiodating those 
who dislike to take on stock Just prior 
to squaring up accounts for the year. Ad- 
vices from the South note steady marketing 
of the crop with further substantial gains as 
compared with the final figures of last week. 
In spite of the fact that there is an unusual 
quantity of low grade domestic, present val- 
ues thereon are so reasonable, far below any 
possible forward prices in Forel^, that mil- 
lers, dealers and speculators are buying 
freely of these styles and laying them aside 
against Vae higher plane of values which 
surely must be established between now and 
Spring. "Rice at any sudh figures," says an 
old dealer, "is good, not for a day, but for all 
time." 

Cables and correspondence from abroad 
note that the situation is perplexing. Or- 
dinarily at this period large business is 
transacted on forward account, but owing to 
late reports from Burmah, skyey prices are 
asked by sellers and there Is evident fear 
to make any modification which might lead 
to bu?lness. Most recent informatibn from 
the East has enlarged estimates of probable 
shortage to 40,000 tons. It would appear 
rat'her early to put matters in such clear 
figures, but prevailing contrary conditions 
surely indicate a large falling away from 
the amount exported last year. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough, 517,855 sacks; la^t year (Inclusive of 
amount carried over) 383,5i/u sacks. Sales, 
cleaned ( est) 125,875 barrels; last year 60,- 
750 barrels. Steady movement; prices ad- 
vanced, strong with upward tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned 
24,250 barreas. Sales 18,395 barrels. Steady 
demand at former range. 



Red and Liii^ht Rice. 

With apoUgies to the planters and scien- 
tists in general, as I do not profess to be 
either, I beg to submit the following; my 
excu-e for so doing is because it is about 
time to consider next year's planting, and 
while not being a planter myself, my busi- 
ness in confined strictly to the handling of 
rice, and I fully realize my prosperity Is 
Identical with that of the farmer. I do 
claim, however, 'to have a general knowledge 
of rice farming throughout the world, and It 
aippears to me that such glaring errors as 
continue here yearly are suicidal to the in- 
dustry, and will surely result in an over 
production of a low «rade class of goods 
that canno't be marketed at prices sufficient 
to pay the ca-t of production, such as the 
season 1895-96. 

I have read •with much interest many ar- 
tidies concerning the origin and cause of 
red rice, and while I admit that it would 
be some satisfaction to have more know- 
ledge on this iuuject, I cannot see wherein 
a planter would profit unless he were also 
told how to prevent the evil. This article 
will be 'confined to facts, and not theories, 
so I will waste no tiime dhcussing this 
point. 

We know red rice exists, and llhe para- 
mount question Is how to cultivate a field 
of red rice, and product an article with 
such a small proportion in saime as not to 
affect its milling properties, also how to 
handle a field that is now entirely red, and 
work that field yearly, and reduce the per 
cent, of red at the same time; this can be 
done easily, as I shall demonstrate beyond 
questl'on, and simply appeal to your com- 
mon Intelligence on the subject. The same 
cultivation that eradicates red rice will 
also cure the llg^t rice evil, so I shall treat 
both questions together. 

Until I came to Louisiana in 1890, I had 
never seen a field of red or -oiit rice, such 
as is now so common . to this section, for 
such fields do not exist in California or 
Greorgi'a. I will give some details regard- 
ing their planting. 

The planters In th«at section sow from 
2*4 to 2% bushels per acre, or from 100 to 
120 pounds of seed, this rice is all drilled 
in rows sixteen inches apart, for they are 
greatly troubled with small grasses, and the 
rows have to 'be sufll'clently wide to allow 
a man to use a hoe between same, or for a 
mule to drag a light sweep plow. 

As the planters here 'who drill hardly use 
over fifty pounds of seed to an acre, with 
rows eight inches, It will be noticed the 
drilling per row in Carolina, being twice 
as wide, with twice the seed, is sown four 
times as thick per row. When the rice Is 
planted, sufficient water Is turned on to 
tlhoroughly soak the soil ,and sprout the 
seed, and the youn^ rl>ce and grass usually 
start for a race together; soon as the grass 
is sufficient to endanger the rice. It is hoed 



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13 



out. and by this time the plant should be 
hi«rh enough for sufficient depth of water 
to be turned on that will prevent the grasses 
from coming throug?h, ercept the water 
grasses. 

Rice is also given a period of dry culture, 
just prior to heading, as too much water 
makes the planit sappy and weak, the stem 
would not support the head well, and the 
plant is altogether made hai^er. Rice is 
usually hoed from three ta four times, ac- 
cording to the season. 

We will take fbr illustratton a fleW en- 
tirely red, to be planted with pufe seed, as 
above described, with rows sixteen inches. 
As the drill goes along, the only red rice to 
be cultivated is such a field will be that 
which is in diredt line of the drill and as 
{•t will not be allowed to stand the propor- 
tion of red will be small. 

As the rice sprouts, tne rice between the 
rcws will no doubt do the saane, and when 
at a reasonable height, it should be hoed 
ouit,and treated juBt the same as -the grass 
in Carolina, and this wiil destroy the red 
grains between the rows. By -the time this 
rice appears again the drilled rice should 
be sufficiently high to turn on enough 
water to drown out the red between the 
rows. If one hoeing should not be suffi- 
cient, surely two would, and most likely if 
it requires a second treatment, a Pight plow 
would fully answer the purpose, so the only 
red rice to mature would be that in line of 
the drill, as stated. 

Turning up the sod between the rows 
greatly benefits the plant, and in cases of 
providence plan/ting, such culture would 
save a crop that would otherwise be lost, 
as the ioft earth would hold the moisture. 

Another advantage would be in cases 
w^here seed appeared, for this hoeing would 
destroy them.. Now, the reason that plant- 
ing is zo heavy per acre in Carolina, is be- 
cause rice thus treated does not fftool; it 
comes up so thick that there is no room for 
it, and about the time it ^ould 9tool the 
water is so high on the plant .- cannot 
make out from th& root on the side where 
spa-ce is allowed between the rows, and 
therefore every head as it shoots out has 
direct connection with the root, and that 
root is not called upon to supply half a 
dozen heads with milk, but only one, and 
every cell thalt shoots out will he fully filled, 
even to the tery last one on tflie stem. 

I ask through the line of agrriculture 
to be shown one instance where a plaint is 
allowed to grow wild that will produce a 
superior ai^ticle than if cultivated, and yet 
this is the theory about rice in this section. 
Are not ' the succors pulled off corn be- 
cause they weaken the main stem, and 
^w<hy? because the root has not sufficient ca- 
pacity to furnish both. If one wishes to 
produce fine oranges, is it not necessary 
to confine the tree to one trunk, and fur- 
ther yet, if the tree b^ too heavily fruited 



it is necessary to cut £Ome off, if it is desired 
to produce large ones, for then the sap is 
concentrated to half the numher, and the 
capacity of the root is limited. To pro- 
duce these very large chrysanthemums it Is 
necessary to cut all the buda off but one to 
each stem, and confine the flow to one 
flower, instead of a dozen; what more evi- 
dence is necessary? 

Now, in broadcasting rice, let us look at 
the conditions as they exist. The rice is 
sowed thin, scattered over the entire fleld, 
and the planter depends upon its stooling 
for his yield. To start out with, this means 
his stand is uncertain, when a full stand is 
almost assured the other way. 

I am willing to admit that if the season be 
particularly favorable, large yieMs can be 
made In this manner, but the planter can- 
not afford to take such chances; for this se- 
curity he rents water so as to have some 
certainty about his crop. As a matter of 
fact, the seasons are untfavora/ble far oftener 
tshan otherwise. 

If the crop stools well to look at same, he 
feels sure of sixteen sacks to the acre, but 
when the thresher comes out, he may get 
six, and why is this? The flrst ^nd original 
head filled fairly well, but the sucker's were 
not ripe at such time. When the cutting is 
done this best stem is over-ripe, and whips 
off easily; besides, over- ripe riice loses its 
lustre; the other heads all had enough sap 
in the top grains to turn the head down, 
but owing to north wind or other causes, 
only chaff or aome with dried milk, which 
makes when cleaned, wh£te specks in the 
clean state, and greatly deteriorates its 
value. 

Again, the product of this light yield only 
weighs thirty-six or thirty-seven pounds to 
the bushel, and when milled only producej 
eighty-five pounds of clean riice to 162 
pounds of rough, but were it heavy erhould 
produce 100 pounds, a loss of fifteen per 
cent, alone, to say nothing of the difference 
In quality. 

Now, it costs this farmer as much to 
cut out and water thI5 ligtot yield as it 
would if h had yielded io sacks; It requires 
under such cultivation two acres to pro- 
duce what one can, he has to pay. four safcks 
water rent, instead of two, besides his lands 
deteriorate yearly, and the quality of one, 
after a few years planted on the same 
ground, will sure ly be worth double in 
value; where is the economy? 

It is beyond dispute that light rice is 
caused by taxing one root too heavily, and 
In India, Japan or any obher country wherfe 
it is not allowed to grow wild, light 
rice is something unknown; If each head 
has direct connection with the root it Is 
sure to fill, the rice may not even look. so 
pleasing to the eye as the other, but it is 
all rice, and the yield will surely be there, 
from 12 to 18 saicks as a certainty. Again, 
cultivated rice ripens at the same time, and 



should be cut as the bolttom cell becomes 
flinty, 'but -the inner cuticle should be green 
In color, and It will ndt whip off then, and 
the quality will ibe perfect for milling pur- 
poses. 

A perfectly red field, drilled as above, 
would have little red in the field the fol- 
lowing year for the drill to strike it sowing 
again, as the red could not stool and if 
planted with pure seed again, the third 
year should produce rice not containing more 
than one red grain to the handful. 

Carolina planters do not object to a small 
per cent, of red In seed planted for milling, 
for tWs planting will produce rice no redder 
than the original seed planted, the produce 
showing nearly the same proportions. 

I mentioned the contents of this letter 
to a planter some two weeks ago. He re- 
plied that he could not get the labor. If the 
cotton, cane or any other producer in the 
south can get lalbor, surely the rice farmer 
had better take lessons from them on the 
suhject; rtce is ahout he only thing south 
that I know of that produces a crop of 
such value, where the farmer expects only to 
sow, then to reap; if the crop is not worth 
hoeing, and perhaips one very light plowing, 
it is hardly worth planting; where one man 
really undertakes to cultivaite 150 acres, if he 
will reduce that to 50, with very little more 
cultivation he can make two dollars where 
he is now making one, and plant the land 
as long as it will produce, and will market 
neither red nOr light rtce, but strictly a 
choice quality. A farm of any size eAiould 
have planting a month apart; this would 
allow ample time ibefore maturity for har- 
vesting each pla>n>tlng, besides the crop would 
not all be exposed to the same weather con- 
ditions if storms eAiould occur, and the risks 
from such causes greatly reduced. 

On the river the crop matures so early 
the planters do not suffer so much from 
light rice, as the cuttintg is done in Au- 
gust before the north winds arrive, but a 
large portion of this product is over-ripe, 
waiting on Hhe suckers to develop; they 
also find fit necessary to drill if the same 
lands are cultlvaited yearly, and their yield 
would also average greater. 

If the above cultivation is adhered to 
from a standpoint of dollars and cents, the 
red rice question will not interest planters, 
and the scientist can figure It out at his 
leisure; neither will it be necessary to ad- 
vertise, "Creole red rice is the sweetest." 
—-Gordon S. Orme, in Crowley Signal. 



Personal. 

Mr. A. A. Bonvlllain, of Glencoe, came up 
to town on Tuesday and stopped at the 
Commerc'iall hot#L 

Hon. James A. Ware, of Iberville parish, 
one of the leading planters of the state and 
proprietor of the mangificent Belle Grove 
plantation near Whiteca^le, was In the city 
on a visit a few days ag?o. Mr. Ware put 
up at the St Charles hotel. 



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r:i4 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 1. 



Jan. 6. 

SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

rullTFair 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Oranul'ed 
Off Granulated.. 
Choioe White.... 

0« White 

Orey White 

Ghoioe Yellow... 
Prime Yellow ... 

Off Yellow 

Seeondfl 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faney 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 
Good Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Oommon 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fanoy 

Ohoioe 

Strict Prime.... 
Good Prime — 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

0ood Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



WEEKLY MABKET REPORT. 



1899. 



Dec. 31. 



Jan. 2. 



5? 

o 



I 
I 



■■i 
a 



I 



4fT(34% 
- (i - 

4Jt@4i| 
4A@4K 
4 ®4A 
2%(833^ 



23 @ 27 

— @ 32 
28 (9 29 

- (a 27 

- @ 26 

— a 25 

— ® 24 

- O 23 

— 22 

- (8 21 

— @ 20 

18 (9 19 
16 17 

- 14 
12 S 13 

— @ 10 

- @ 9 
-@ 
-0 



8 
7 
6 
6 
23@ 25 



Jan. 3. 



Jan. 4. 



3?i@4 



23 (g 27 

— « 32 
28 (g 29 

— « 27 
~(8 26 

— <i 25 

— (8 24 
-e 23 

— a 22 

— ® 21 
-@ 20 




22 a 26 

— a 32 

28 a 29 

-.a 27 
-a 26 
-a 25 
-a 24 

- a 23 

— a 22 
-a 21 

— @ 20 

18 a 19 
16 a 17 

- a 14 
12 a 13 



-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 

20 a 24 



10 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



Jan. 5. 



Jan. 6. 



22 a 26 

-a 32 

28 a 29 

' 27 



25 
24 
tf 23 
i 22 
-a 21 
- a 20 



18 a 19 

16 a 17 
~ a 14 
12 a 13 
- a 10 
-a ^ 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 



9 

8 
7 
6 
6 
20 a 24 



22 a M 

-a82 

28 a 29 

-a 27 
-a 26 
-a 26 

— a 24 
-a 23 

— a 22 
-a 21 

— a 20 



18 a 
16 a 

12a 

-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 



19 

17 

14 

13 

10 

9 

8 

7 

6 

6 

20 a 24 



Same Day 
Laat Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Cloaing of Week. 



-@ - 



4^a4i} 
- a - 

4he - 

4 a4,^ 



k^ 



« 



8ka4h 
2^a5|* 



— a — 
-a 27 

25 a 26 
22 a 23 
19 a 20 

-a 18 

- a 17 
-a 16 
-a 16 
-a 14 
-a 12 



-a 12 
-a 10 

— a 9 

— as 



- a 
-a 
-a 
-a 



18 a 22 



Quiet. 



Steady. 



OTHER MABKBT8. 



Niw York: 

SUGAR. 

Fair Refining. 89^ 
Cehtrifugals,96''.. 

Granulated 

Standard A 

Dutch Granulated 
German Granul'td. 

MOLASSES. 

N.O. Choice 

N. O.Fair 

London: 

Jaya, No. 15 D. S. 

A. & G. Beet 



I 



•3 

o 



-a - 

- a - 

- @4.77 

— @4.60 

— a4.98 

- @4 85 

-a - 

- @ - 

lis 9d. 
98. 5>4d. 



-a - 

- a — 

- a4.72 

— a4.6o 

- a4 96 

- a4 84 



- a - 

ll8.9d 
9s. 4>^d. 



-a - 

- a - 

— a4.72 
-a4.6o 

-a4 96 

-a4 83 

-a - 
-a- 

li8.9d. 
9s. 4>^d. 



-a- 

- a - 

— a4 72 

- a4.6o 

-a4 96 
-a4 83 

-a - 
-a- 

ll8.9d. 
9s. 6iid. 



-a- 
-a - 

4.96a - 
4.84a - 

-a - 
-@ - 

-a - 
-a - 

Us. 4>^d. 
98.4>^d. 



Steady. 



NET^ ORLEANS REFINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

8tan'd Granula'd. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



— @5>i 

— @5>4 

— @5 

-@4H 

-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 



- @5>i 

— @5 
-@4H 

-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 



@6Ji 
@5>i 

a5 

@4H 

a - 
@ - 
a - 
a - 



@5Ji 

(§)5>i 

ae 

@4rt 

@ - 
a - 
a - 
a - 



a5>i 
a6j^ 
a5 
a4tf 
a - 
a - 
a- 
a - 



-aeji 

- a6>^ 

— ae 
-a4H 
-a- 
-a- 
-a -- 
-a - 



@5X 

ae^ 
aeji 
a - 

a - 
a - 
a - 



steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Dec. 28 Tone 106,520 

At four ports of Great Britain to Dee. 24 " 76,500 

At Hayana and Matanzas to Dec. 67 " 5,700 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
Jan. 6, 1899. 

' Sugar ; — » Moiass«a 

Hhds. Barrels. Barrels, 
548 102,069 18,57fi| 

Pfwj 541 m,7« xim 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September 1, 1898, 
to Jan. 6, 1899. 

-Sugar > mpl^Mmm 

Barrels. uarreiSt 

Reoeiyed 4,823 985,966 159,854 

Sold — 



Hhds. 

4,823 

r,823 924,783 158,351 

l?.QU 1,026,721 ^^ii&M, 

Digitized by VjOOQIC 



Jan. 7, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA FLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFAOTUREIL 



15 



Dec. 30. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT, 



1899. 



RICE. 

RouGSy p«r bbl..T 
Olban, Fancy — 



.fancy. 
Ckoico... 
Prime.... 
Gk>od ... 

Pair 

Ordinary 
Common. 
Inferior . . 
No. 2 



J, per Ion. 

P«LniHy per Ion 



Deo. 31. 



I 

X 



Jan. 2. 



S 
o 



Jan. 8. 



1 8 
6 
63 
53 
if 
43 
4 
33 
13 

15 6 



Jul. 4. 



2 00<i4 35 
6 @6)i 

2X@3 

BOba 860 
16 60018 00 



Jan. 5. 



2 00(14 16 

6 @0H 
6><a6Ji 
6X@5^ 
4^@6 

2Kd8 

ijy(<8i7i 

8 00® 8 60 
16 60018 00 



Jan. 6. 



8 25@4 36 
8 @8^ 

6J<a6>g 
4^05 

« 9^H 
»H9ih 

lljCdlTi 

8009 860 

16 60018 00 



Same Day Last 
Ymr. 



2 0004 00 
6H96h 

'A 

S^|4 
Nominal 



) loSlO IK) 
15 004 — 



9 



Ton« of Kark«t et 
QoM of WMk. 



Steady. 



Steady. 



Jan. 6, iSee* 



ReceiTed . 
Sold 



.*t3!774 
11,479 



3.398 



A«f. I. iSfS, ta Jan. 6, ie#9i 



JbiM yeai. 
Laelyeai}. 



481,284 
302,943 



127^611 
62,918 



Sugar. . 

The sugar market was quiet at the 
end of the week. Keeeipts from plan- 
tations were somewhat restricte<l and 
the movement was hght in consequence. 



Molasses. 

Open kettle malaises was steady at the 
end of the week, and centrifugals dull. 



Rice. 

The rough rice market was steady at 
the close of the week and prices were 
well inaintained. A fair business was 
rcportcil. Clean was strong. 



Personal. 



Gov. H. C. Warmoth came up from 
Magnolia a few days ago and stopped at the 
St. Charles. 

Mr. Ben H. Pring, of Oneida plantation 
on the Upper Coast, was in the city on a 
visit last M^onday. 

Mr. M. L. Randolph, of IhervlUe parish, 
was one of the sugar planting contingent 
at the Cosm'opolltan on Thursday. 

R. W. Cocke, Esq., the prominent Terre- 
bonne pariBh sugar planter and manufactur- 
er, was a recent arrival at the Commercial. 

Mr. W. E. Hayidel, of St. Chfaries parish, 
La., was in New Orleans on a visit a few 
days ago. Mr. Haydel re^stered at the 
Hotel Royal. 

Mr. H. Chapman, man'ager of some of the 
finest plantation property in this state was 
among those Who registered at the Cosmo- 
politan hotel on New dear's 4^j, 

Dr. Ch(arles E. Coates, of Baton Rouge, 
who has favored the sugar planters with 
some valuable contriibutlons to the literfa-r 
ture of their industry, was in New Orlean-s 
Iftst week for a short stiay. 



Caqe Varieties in Queensland. 

In the annual report of the overseer of 
the Kamerunga (CairnB) State Nursery we 
^Qd the su|)Joined notes o^ vftri^ties of su- 



gar cane planted for experimental pur- 
poses: 

New Guinea Canes. — Several plants of 
each variety have been sent to the Colonial 
Sugar Refining Company, from which it is 
presumed an analysis will be obtained of the 
-values of the different Ti^arietles. There Is 
no reason to believe that any single variety 
may not prove a good milling cane, but some 
are certainly not estimable from a farmer's 
point of view; as Mr. Tryon Justly remarks, 
what cane may be good in one district may 
prove to be bad in another. Chenoma, a 
cane somewhat resembling the China cane, 
cupports this argument This cane was in- 
troduced by the writer some years ago from 
New Guinea. From Port Douglas a report 
has been sent from a planter of this variety 
that excellent results have been obtained 
both in field and mill, and the manager of 
onial Sugar Kenning Company at 
Goondl has classed ft. as being one of the 
"allowed" canes on that plantation under 
the namethe name of New Guinea "Green or 
Yellow." By others this cane Is condemned. 
The question of nomenclature of canes has 
long had my serious attention, and nothing, 
in my opinion, but numbers Is practicable; 
as, for instance, No. 1 Rapoe, No. 2 Meera, 
and so on according to the established value. 
This would make the beet varieties apparent 
and comparison easy. It is necessary, too. 
to obtain results from different soils and 
localities, though this would be tedious and 
difficult. 

Kew Seedling. — This cane is a slow grower 
and will perhaps be discarded on that ac- 
count. 

New South Wales Canes.— Varieties re- 
ceived from New South Wales, mostly of the 
bamboo varieties, seem to have done well, 
and are appreciated by some growers. They 
resemble the Rappoe in many particulars, 
but have not the vigor of that variety. 

Moore's purple is, without doubt, a strong, 
rapid growing cane, and in some local- 
ities would probably prove a useful cane. It 
has, however, the habit of growing from the 
nodes persistently, even before the cane may 
be said to be ripe. 

Malabar and Tanna have been excluded 
from the nursery. They are uselesSi except 
f^ pbQW canee. 



The overseer at the Mackay nursery re- 
ports: 

The cane here last^ear was so much bet- 
ter than the general crop that the farmers 
came for It In preference to planting their 
own; this season, however, tne general crop 
being so much better than during^ the two 
years past, they have planted their own 
cane, therefore there is a large quantity to 
go to the mill. One of the original impor- 
tations from British New Guinear-Batoe — 
which has done so well since its introduc- 
tion, succumbed to the' cyclone and to the 
43 inches of rain that fell in February, and 
has shown something like rust. There is a 
crop on the ground, but the foliage is brown. 
I have made Inquiries and find that in many 
places (for it is largely grown) it has shown 
little or no signs of the browning. The 
largest portion of It and lu several others 
of the older canes will be ploughed out as 
soon as cut. to make more room for the last 
importation from New Guinea, for among 
these there are a splendid lot of canes, and 
those that have been proved to be InditTerent 
can be well spared, for there are too many 
varieties. If the analysis of the eighteen 
that have already been tested holds good in 
future seasons, they will be a good acqui- 
sition, although I know there is an evil re- 
port anent them. When the second replant 
was made there was room only for one row 
of each, and for the thira planting only 
those that have been analyzed and found 
good were put in. Of the New Guinea varie- 
ties I have noticed Nos. 26. 29 42 and 43 
produce good cane on the land outside where 
no other canes have done any good; they 
were evidently canes that will do well on 
poor land. Yeppoon has been objected to at 
the Marian mill as being deficient in sugar, 
but at Yeppoon both farmers and the mill 
consider it an excellent cane. Here it pro- 
duced a very heavy crop. Kenwensis still 
exhibits all its good characteristics— good 
health and great crop— the farmers, how- 
ever, object to It, as it takes too long to 
mature, but If planted at the end of August 
It will come on well at the end of the crush- 
ing, and, being cut in the warm weather, 
the racons would rush up so quickly that 
it would be ready again for the next sea- 
son.- Even if the ratoons could not be made 
available It would pay well to plant it every 
year. The original row which was planted 
here from plants raised from single eyes 
is still throwing a heavy crop of ratoons. 
Louzier, or what some call White Bamboo, 
one of the canes introduced from Mauritius 
still retains its good character, and was all 
cleared off early this season.— Th; Qu^n|- 
lapder. 



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1(5 



THE LOUISIAJ^A PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 1. 



WANTS. 



We will pub'lth In this column, free of charge until 
further notice, the applications of all managers, over- 
aeera, engineers and sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions In the country, and also the 
wa«ts of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

"WANTED— A young, unmarriod man desires to se- 
cure apoBition on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is willing to work for a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, Tallulah, La. 12-31-98 

"WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation In Cuba or Porto Klco. 
Sqeaks English only. Address W., care •Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-98 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
fumtehed. Call on or address F. F. Merwin, 621 Du- 
malne street, New Orleans. 12-31-93 

"WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 30 years of age, well versed in the rou* 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 

"WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, If 
owner Is not pleased, no |salar>' will be expected. Ad- 
dress "Walter Scott, care «iOul8iana Planter. 12-31-93 

"WANTED— A position as Assist mt Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
married. Twenty years experience in handling labor. 
Several years experience in cultivation of Care. Pf j t 
of references given. Address, M. E. "W., Care Varan- 
dat Hotel, Baton Rouge, I^. J2-2S-e8. 

"WANTED— Position by a mechanical engmeer and 
practical machinist who nas passed all the branches of 
the technical high school In Gennany, has had 14 years 
experience In sugar house work, Is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 

Eerlntendent for consturction or repairing of sugar 
oases. Can give best of references. Address. Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

W NTED— Position as Overaeer or Manager on some 
plantation. "Well experienced. Can funilsh best of 
references. J. A. Larkin, 622 Joseph St., New Or- 
leans, La. L2-25-98_ 

"WA NTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar lx)lllng desires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who Is engaged for coming Mexican or Cuban crop. 
State terms for Instruction. Address, A. "W. B., 63*4 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-23-98 

"WANTED— A young married man of small family, 
desires a position In Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience in 
sugSr houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rouge, La. 

"WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant In 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

"WANTED— Position In Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plontatlon manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish flrst- 
dass references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 
. 12-21-98 

"WANTED— By a young mai of 24, a position In the 
"West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Hare 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and Frenoh. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texap. 

12-21-98 

"WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one who has 
had similar experience In the "West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Aadress B. A. "W., care this office. 
12-20-98 

"WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act aa assistant 
boiler In refiiiery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
bdling win apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-96 

"WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensation $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation , Centenrllle , La . 12-20 -98 

"WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Good refer- 
ences. "Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumslde, Louisiana. 12-21-96 

"WANTED— Position as manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A. Blouin, "whitecastle. La. 

"WANTED— Position as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation f er 1893, by a young man who has had 
several vears' experience and Is prepared to furnish 
the most tu exceptional references. Address M., care 
The Chief, DonaldsonTlUe, La. 



"WANTEI)— Position as assistant manager on sugar 
plantation, by a younir unmarried man of strictly ab- 
stemious habits. Particularly successful In the man- 
agement of labor. Best references furnished. Ad- 
dress L. B., care of TMe Chief, Donald sonville. La. 

"WANTED— Positton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plan tatiok for the con- ing year. Long experience 
and first-class referencen^ Address A. G-, care of 
The Chief, Donaldsonville, La. 

WANTED— Posit ©n ns clerk in plantation or tcrwn 
store, by a y ung man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Addrels G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, Donaldsonville, La. 

"WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years* experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. Rochelle, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-98 

WANTEE>— Position for ooming^ year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 83 years 
of age, sober, energetic and fully competent, nave 
had long experience In cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R.,Box 256, New Iberia. La. 12-5-W 

"WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement SLSsured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words." Address Drainage, Room 22, 
City Hall. 12-8-98 

"WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemioil work of the factory. Address W. J. 
Dover, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
Rome, N. Y. 12-6-06 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 10 '5 N. Derblgny street. New Orl*»ans. 
12-7-96 

WANTED— Position ly a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References flrst-clase. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plrn- 
tation. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations. .(Address Mrs. I'roctor, 
Alexandria, Ia. 12-7-98 



WANTED— Position as manager for 1899, ty a first- 
class man of experience and fine references. Will 
take an asslstancy and work very reasonable. A ddress 
E. \y. Creighton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position a» second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantatlbn, for 1899. Address Theo. 
Baudotn, Jr., Hahnville, La. 12-7-98 

"WANTED— V sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar houses In Loulsland, Is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central Nmerica. Will accept a position on any terms 
consistent with first-class work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present employers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduated. Address Leda, this 
office. 12-8-96 

"WANTED— By a young chemist with university edu- 
cation and one year's experience In large Louisiana 
factory, a position for Mexicm or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. 11-80-96 

"WANTED— By a fiiwt-class sugar boiler, to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. "Will 
furnish the best of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 886 Bartholomew street. New Orleans, La. 
11-29-98 

"WANTED— Positton for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largest 
places In the State. "Would have no objection to living 
on the place and making himself generally useful. Is a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, Belle Grove Plan- 
atlon, Whitecastle, La. 11-26-96 

"WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan. Have had practical experience 
in the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 years of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
go to the "West Indies. Reference from former employer 
given. Address X, this office. U-aB-fc 

"WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utility man 
jn the country. Good references. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-98 



"WANTED— Position in this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sugar boiler who has references of the veiy first 
class. Address Boiler, 507 Chartres street. New Or- 
leans. 11-9-08 
# 

WANTED— A position as book-keeper or manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. "Would also open 
up and run a drug store In interest of employer. Can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B.. Donald- 
sonviUe,La. 11 -21-98 

"WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent, is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop In Mexico or Cuba. Has had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations in Lou- 
isiana. Owi bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stubbf . Those 
desiring the services of a thorough sugar house man, 
address Oscar, box 674, Baton Rouge. 11-10-98 

"WANTED— Position as chemist in Mexleo or Cuba for 
coming crop. Have had eight years experience and can 
furnish good references as to ability. Am at present 
employed at one of the leading sugar houses in Lou- 
isiana. Address Chemist, this office. 11-22-98 

"WANTED— An assistant sugar boiler at once. Ad- 
dress L. A. Ellis, Sartartia, Tex. 11-17-98 



"WANTED— Position as assistant or head sugar maker. 
Can furnish flrst-clase references. Address J. L. 
"Wirth, 1916 Toulouse street. New Orleans, I^. 

11-11-G8 



"WANTED— Position as assistant overseer or time- 
keeper on a sugar plantation, for 1899. Married man 
88 years of age. Address E. "V. "W., care S. C Bro- 
dowskl, COd Sixth street. New Orleans. 11-15-08 

"WANTED— Position as butler by an experienced man. 
Good references. Will try to make himself useful In 
every way. Address Emile Terrie, 613 Chartres st., 
New Orleans. 11-15-98 



"WANTED— Experienced chemisl, at present Instruc- 
tor In a large university In tlie Northwest, desires [O- 
sition in a warm climate. Best references. Address 
P. O. Box I'm, Iowa City, Iowa. 11-14-98 

"WANTED— By experienced man, situation as chemist 
In sugar house, in Mexico or Central America, for 
coming campaign. Good reference, sober, competent. 
Address Chemist, care of Glenw lid, Berwick, La. 

11-11-96 



WANTED— Position as engineer, water tender or 
electrician in a sugar plant. Address G. G. Von Sick, 
Sanduskj', O. 11-11-08 

"WANTED-Posltlon as hustler by a German married 
man. Understand the care of stock. Good references. 
Philup Brown, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Planta- 
tion. 11-7 98 



"WANTED— An American engineer, as assistant in 
sugar factory, Dutch Guiana. Must have had several 
year** experience In a Louisiana factory. Address with 
full particulars. Carter, Hawlky & Co., No. 40 Ex- 
change Place, New York City. 11-7-98 

"WANTED— Position as sugar-maker; 20 years expe- 
rience ; best reference Klren. Can refer to half a dozen 
planters. Address J. C. BouRO, St. Bernard P. O^La. 



Anchorage and Kelson 

PLANTATIONS, 

III PARISH OF WEST BATOH ROIGE, 

BY mmn jahuary 12. 1899. 

IN NEW ORLEANS. 

By HARRY H. HODdSO^l Andioncer, 

732 Common Street. 




^Tudor 

team 



B Boiler 
oiler 



TMfg. ■ ■ Comp'y, 
anK |||akers 



omoe: 248 Pwr\ 8t., CINCINNATI, Q. 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



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H MeeW? Bewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS, JANUARY 14. 1800. 



No. 2. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 

AND 

SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Lout's/ana Sugar Planters' Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters* Association, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Jfpnsas Sugar Growers' Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publisheo at New Orleans, La., evety Saturday M oming 

BY TBB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Deroted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all ito 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerciaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 

W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at thePostoffloe at New Orleans as sccond-daae 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Perannair 

Terms of Subsorlptlon (Including postage) 13 00 

Foreign Subscription 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



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All communications should be addressed to Thi 
Louisiana Planter, 838 Cftrondelet street, New OrlMns. 
La. 

ust op STOCKHOLDBRS. 



McCall Brothers, 
McCall & Legendre, 
Leon Oodchaux, 
James Teller. 
B. Lemann St Bro., 
Leooc^ Soolat, 
I outs Bush, 
W. e. Brickell, 
W. C Stubbs. 
John Dymond, 
Daniel Thompson, 
Poos St Barnett. 
H. C. Warmoth, 
Lucius Porsvth, Jr.* 
Edward J. Uay. 
Sbattuck St Hoffman, 
Bmlie Rost, 
Thomas D. Miller, 
Schmidt St Zl^ler, 
T. O. ncLaury, 
L. 5. aark. 
J. B. Lcvert, 
Simpson Homor, 
W. B. Bloomfleld, 
W. W. Sutdlffe. 
John S. rioore, 
James C. Murphy. 
Jos. Webre, 



R. Beltran, 
Luclen Sonlat, 

D. R. Colder, 
L. A. BIIU, 
Hero St Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan, 

J. T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards St Haubtn:ai 
John A. Morris, 

B. H. Cunningham. 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor, 

C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Pries, 

E. & J. Kock, 
Wm. Qarig, 
Adolph Meyer, 
A.A.Woods. 
Brailsh Johnson, 
Oeorge P. Anderton, 
A. L. rionnot, 
Rtohard Milllken, 
W. P. HKes. 
Lezin A. Becnel» 

J. N. Pharr, 
jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEB. 

ll-^ry ncCafI, 
Luclen Sonlat, W. B. Schmldl, 

p. R. CaMer. LouU Basil. 

John Dyaimd. PrMfdsnt* 



Th« Louisiana State Ajrriculturai 
Society. 

This well known organization will bold 
its next annual meeting at Shreveport, 
January 2*5, 26 and 27. A large num- 
ber of our leading agriculturists have 
been invited to attend and address the 
meetings. Shreveport, now recognized 
as perhaps the most enterprising town in 
the state has opened her doors to the 
planters And farmers of the state inviting 
them all to come within her gates and 
see what can be done for agriculture in 
the grand valley of the Red river of 
which Shreveport is the Queen City. 

'JTie Louisiana Stockbreeders' Associa- 
tion, organize^! some years ago at the 
annual session of the State Agricultural 
Society which was held in Baton Rouge, 
will also hold its annual meeting within 
the same dates at Shreveport and a 
number of valuable contributions on 
stock breeding in Louisiana have been 
promised for the occasion. 

Every farmer, every planter, every 
agricultural organization in the state is 
invited to attend and delegates appoint- 
ed by the police juries of the various 
parishes are expected to attend. 

Every one who has at heart the pro- 
motion of the agricultural interests of 
this state should lend his aid to the 
cause and be present at Shreveport dur- 
ing these meetings and do all practic- 
able to promote their success. 



Tlie Louisiana Sugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

The regular monthly meeting of this 
association was held last Thursday even- 
ing at it« meeting hall. No. 712 Union 
street, New Orleans. 

President Emile Rost was in the 
chair. Secretary Dykers at the desk, and 
there was a very good attendance, among 
those present being Messrs. Henry Mc- 
Call, W. J. Rehan, 0. G. Zenor, W. C. 
Stubbs, Richard McCall, H. S. Crozier, 
C. R. OhwcbiU, R E, Elouin, E, W. 



Deming, J. W. Bodley, J. S. Webster 
and others. 

On motion, the reading of the min- 
utes of the previous meeting was dis- 
pensed with. 

There being no candidates for mem- 
bership, and no communications on the 
secretary's desk. President Rost stated 
that it was in order to take up the sub- 
ject of the ^Trobable Effect of the 
Annexation of Spanish Colonies on the 
Sugar Industry of the United States," 
which bad been carried over from the 
last two meetings. He said that papers 
on this topic had l)een prepared by Dr. 
H. W. Wiley and Mr. Henry A. Brown, 
and that b<3th papers had been published 
in the Louisiana Planter. He stated 
that if it was desired to have the papers 
read to the meeting it could be done, 
but the sentiment of the assembly was 
that this was uifnecessary as their in- 
sertion in the Planter had made them 
familiar to all. There was, however, 
quite an extended discussion of the topic 
participated in by Messrs. Richard Mc- 
Call, .Henry MoCall, Gen. Behan, Col. 
Zenor, Dr. Stubbs, Mr. Bodley, Mr. 
Miller, of the Lidgerwood Co., New 
York, who was present, and a number 
of others, a full stenographic report of 
wliich will appear in our next issue. 
At the termination of the discussion the 
following resolutions were unanimously 
adopted: 

Be it re=olved: Thait it is the sense of this 
association that the annexation of the erst- 
while Spanish colonies would be injurious to 
this state, and should be opposed. 

Be it further Resolved: That the execu- 
tive committee of this association act in con- 
cert with the executive committee of the 
American Cane Growers* Association in or- 
der to take such steps as they may see fit 
looking to the defeat of the annexation 
policy, and that the secretary of thi« asso- 
ciation be instructed to send a copy of these 
resolutions to the president of the American 
Cane Growers' Association, and request him 
to assist in bringing about a conference^, of 
the two committees and to select a time and 
place for the meeting. 

After the adoption of the resolutions 
PresidentI Rost announced that he bad 



Digitized by V^OOQLC 



15? 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 2. 



been requested to appoint delegates from 
the Louisiana Sugar Planter?' Associ- 
ation to attend the annual meeting of 
the ?tate Agricultural Society and the 
Loui^inna Stock Breeders' Association, 
to be held at Shreveport, Januarv 25th 
to 27th, inclusive. He made the follow- 
ing -nnointmenta: John Dymond, W. 
C. Stubby 0. C5. Zenor, G. A. Breaux, 
P. F. 15ourgeois, J. A. Perthelot, L. 
Forsyth, Jr., Henry McCall, Geo. E. 
Mann, H. G. Morgan, Jr., F. W. 
Xicholls, Walter A. O'Neill, K. Roger, 
L. M. Soniat and W. J. Thompson. 
The president of the association. Judge 
Kost, is an ex-officio member of the dele- 
gation. 

P;. Slubb: then addre??el the meet- 
ing relative to the seedling canes which 
had been raised at the Experiment 
Statior, pnd of whi-h nearly 100 varie- 
ties were arranged around the walls of 
the meeting room. Two of the seed- 
lings, ard particularly one of them, No. 
74, had been found to possess valuable 
chai^cteristics. Dr. Stubbs spoke at 
some length and very entertainingly, 
and was pKevl with numerous questions 
by those present. The stenographic 
report of his remarks to be published 
in our next issue will be exceedingly 
interesting to those who were so unfor- 
tunato as to be absent from the meet- 
ing. The selection of a topic for dis- 
cussion at the February meeting being 
next in order, lion. Henry McCall sug- 
gested that "The Manner and Method 
of Purchasing Cane, Whether by Test or 
Otherwise" be selected, and that Secre- 
tary Dykers communicate with a num- 
ber of the principal purchasers of canes 
and &sk them to favor the association 
with their views ani vv'th data bearing on 
the matter. President Host suggested 
that the cane sellers be also commun- 
icated with in order that both sides of 
the (juestion might have consideration, 
and this was readily agreed to. 

Adjournment was then had, the chair 
first stating that Mr. Le Blanc, the in- 
ventor of an injgenious device for cut- 
ting cane, was present and would like to 
sliow it to the members of the association 
after the meeting. Quite a number 
of the gentlemen present availed them- 
eelvr« of this privilege and inspected Mr. 
L« Blanc's model with great interest. 



Th« Louisiana Suic<ir Crop. 

The campaign is now practically over. 
True, there are factories here and there 
striving to save the remnants of cane 
still to be delivered to theme, and work- 
ing same with an apparent disregard of 
the fact that the f^ame doesn't pay for 
the candle. In the final round up it 
will be found that very little cane has 
been actually abandV>ned, certaiply less 
than the prospect early in December in- 
dicated. The revolving eeasons have 
now brought us to the time when pre 
parations must be made for another crop, 
and those who are thus engaged find 
some solace in the reflection that next 
year can scarcely be as bad as this. 

The weather during the week has 
been somewhat fickle and not in all re- 
spects suited to field work, ye^ con- 
siderable of it is being dope. It is 
expected that an increased acreage of 
cane will be planted, this feature of the 
industry having been necessarily settled 
in October and November when the seed 
cane question was determined. If the 
seed cane in windrows lx» f /vind to have 
kept well we shall probably have an in- 
creased acreage planted, notwithstand- 
ing the adverse results of this season. 

Dr. Joseph Albrcclit. 

The death of this distinguished gen- 
tleman on last Sunday evening, which 
was duly reported in the daily press, 
removes from our midst one of the 
most advan'ced 'thinkers in, ^nd pro- 
moters of, our modem sugar industry. 
Directly after the civil war, Dr. Al- 
brecht and the late Mr. M. S. Brin- 
gier were collaborators in devising 
methods for meeting the economic ne- 
cessities of the sugar industry, the de- 
cline in prices from the war levels hav- 
ing wrecked many of our sug«r plant- 
er within a few years. 

The Robert diffusion apparatus, 
which was becoming a feature of the 
Austrian sugar industry in 1870, met 
with but little favor in Ijouisiana, al- 
thoug'h several pronroteits of the ap- 
paratus were sent here. The te^s that 
were finally made by Messrs. Morris, 
Tasker & Co., of Philadelphia, on the 
Louisa plantation in this State, and the 
final failure of the venture, confirmed 
Dr. Albrecht in his early conceived 
oppositipn to diffusion «a^ applied tp 



sugar cane. He was an earnest student 
in all matters pertaining /o the sugar 
industry and w^i a great believer in the 
eflficiency of mill extraction, he having 
secured over 82 ,[>er cent, extraction 
by actual test in a hand mill. 

Dr. Albrecht's thorough chemical 
education and long experience as a chem- 
ist made him thoroughly aware of the 
diflficulties that attached to the success- 
ful extraction of cane juice by the dif- 
fusion process and as our readers will 
now recall diffusion never did become 
a success until the expenses for ihe in- 
auguration of a complete diffusion plant 
and for carrying on the work, were 
assumed by the general government and 
thorough and complete tests made of 
the process at Gov. Warmoth's Mag- 
nolia plantation imder the direction of 
Dr. n. H. AViley, chemist of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, and his as- 
sistants, Drs. C. A. Crampton and G. 
L. Spencer. This was some ten years' 
after thd final failure of the experi- 
ments of Morris Tas»ker & Co., and 
verified the difficulties in the process 
apprehended by Dr. Albrecht in his 
early studies of it. 

Mr. Bringier and Dr. Albrecht con- 
ceived an apparatus for the successful 
crushing and saturation of sugar cane 
through some three or four mills, each 
made with two rollers. We believe 
that an apparatus of this kind was 
erected on Mr. F. B. Fleitas' Corinne 
plantation in St. Bernard, but its suc- 
cess was not suificjlent Ito bring this 
plan ofi juice extraction into general 
use. 

Dr. Albrecht retained his great in- 
terest in the sugar industry. to the last, 
and these early studies of his which 
we have herein referred to certainly 
did much to prepare the way for the 
present advanced methods of prelimin- 
ary crushing and successive pressures 
with repeated saturation that are now 
employed in our best factories. 

While Dr. Albrecht was a learned 
chemist and a highly educated gentle- 
man, he was one of the most unassum- 
ing of men: he was always cordial in 
his greeting to everyone making any 
inquiry concerning the sugar industry, 
and was always glad to lend what aid 
he could in solving any of the difficult 
problems incident thereto. Some twen- 



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Jantiary 14, 1899.] 



TCT i-OUWiAi^A PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



19 



ty years ago, at the suggestion of the 
writer, he made a careful investigation 
of the merits of a patented pi"ocess for 
making paper stock out of bagasse. It 
was claimed that the sucrate of an al- 
kali had a greater pK)wer in dissolving 
bagasse and ,bri(nging it 5nto (propef* 
condition for paper stock than plain 
alkalies as ordinarily used. It was 
claimed that the sugar contained in 
fresh bagasse coinbining with introduced 
alkali, ordinarily lime, would cheaply 
and effectively bring bagasse into good 
condition for paper- stock. Samples of 
fresh bagasse, containing some sugar 
and of old bagasse, free from sugar, 
or of bagasse rendered free of sugar by 
diffusion, were thoroughly tried^ and 
(he claims of the inventor, of the pro- 
cess that the sucrate of an alkali was 
more effective then an alkali alone in 
reducing the fibrous mass to the proper 
condition for paper stock was proven 
to Ik? true. The process, however, was 
never ,taken up and since that time 
bagasse has become our most valuable 
fuel. ^ "4 

Dr. Albrecht, at the time of his (bath, 
was nearly eighty years of age. lie 
was a Swiss by birth and graduate<l as 
a druggist and botanist in Paris and as 
a doctor of medicine in this city, and 
for many years had the reputation of 
being the best chemist in the city. Be-^ 
fore the civil war he had actual ex- 
perience in the sugar indui^try as the 
manager of the Camille Sarang plan- 
tation. Thus his great learning and 
wide experience, although utilized by 
him for years as assayer in the United 
States mint and as chemist for our 
chief fertilizing factory, always turned 
to the problems of the sugar industry 
with »great earnestness and with much 
success in solving difficulties that con- 
fronted us twenty years ago, before our 
more recent scientific researches had re- 
moved many of the mysteries that then 
confused us. 

Dr. Joseph Albrecht will always be 
remembered with pleasure and appre- 
ciation by the older sugar planters of 
this State, who are familiar with the 
pood work done by him for them 



Mr. A. J. Bonvinain, a leading sugar plant- 
er of Houma, accompanied by Miss Bon- 
▼illain, wad a guest of th^ Gr^n^w^ld last 
Sunday, 



ci 

i 



January Weather. 

(From Old Plantation Diaries.) 
Mr. ValccNir AIom smy3 : 

1827. 
January, Weather rainy from 1st to 15th. 

1828. 
January. On 7th cane standing are yet 
good enough for seed, though Ice has formed 
several times. 

1829. 
January. Rain on 6th and 7th. Through 
preparing land for planting on 8th. Thin 
ice from 9th to 10th, once ice a quarter of 
an inch thick on 10th. Begun planting cane 
on l2th. Rain on 12th, Tieavy rain on 14th. 
Ice on 17th. Rain on 2^h, 30th and 31st. 
1830. 
January, £2ighty-eight arpents of cane 
already planted. Rain on 9th. White frost 
on 12th. Rain on 13th and 15th. Througih 
planting cane on 20th; 200 arpents. Rain on 
22nd. 

1881. 
January. Begun iilowing pn 2nd; heavy 
rain in afternoon. Begun plantine on 11th. 
Thick ice on ll^h. Icfe again on 12th. T.^ght 
rain on 13th and ice on 14th. Ice half inch 
thick on batture on 17tli. Ice morning of 
18th and asrain on 19th aird ZOth. Ital'ii on 
2t8t and 28th. Ice and strong wind on 30th. 
Plowing In plant jcane on 31st. 

1832. 
January. 20 arpents already planted on 
l«t Through plowing for plant-'cane (in 6th. 
Light rain on 7th. Ifee on 25t'h. Ice one 
inch thick on 26th: cane frozen in mats, 
e^ecially the crooked ones. Oane planted 
in rous^ land? are haVf froien. Rain on 27th. 

1833. 
.T|inu«ry. One hundred and twenTy nrnents 
planted. Rain on 13th. Begun plowinsr in 
plant cane on 22nd. Rain on 27th and 28th. 

1834. 
.Tanuary. Heavy rain with thunder on Ist. 
Weather clondy and cold on 2nd. Very heavy 
sleet on 3rd aT>d 4th, falling all day on 4th. 
and the sle*^. h«lf melted, froze aeain. from 
2 to 2Vo inches thick over the ice during the 
nieht from the 4th to the 5th. On the 5th 
At 7 n. m., the thermometer was 17 V* deg. 
F.: skatin«r over the batture without ever 
brjaking the ice. Skating asrain good on 
7tn. Sleet did not entirely melt nntil «ve- 
nfnfir of 9th. Litrht rain nn 9th. 10th. 11th. 
nth and 14th. Bain on 18th 19th and 20th. 
21 Rt and 24th. 2«th and 29th. Through 
planting cane on 31st. 

1835. 
January. Fine weather on Ist. 63 arpents 
nf icane planted. Rain on 6th. 7th. 8th and 
1»th. Rain night of 14th. White frost on 
Ifith. Through T>lantln« cane. Plowtn^r for 
corn on 17th. TJght rain and much thunder 
on 21st. Weather warm on 25th. 26th and 
27th. Rain, wind and thunder on 29th. Ice 
on 31st. 

1836. 
January. Weather very fine on Ist 
Cloudy on 11th and 12th and very warm on 
13th. Rain on 18th and ^ord. Ice on 26lh, 
27th and 28th. Rain on 3l8t. 

1837. 
January. Fog and rainy on 1st. Begun 
planting on 2nd. Ice on 3rd. Heavy rain 
all night of 8th and all of 9th. Planting 
cane on 11th. Heavy rain from 11th to 12lh. 
Sleet on 14th. Thick ice on IRth. Ice on 
16th. Rain on 21st and 25th. Rain during 
Inight of 29th. 

1838. 
January. Weather warm. Rain on 4th, 
th, 7th, 10th. Ice on 11th, 12th and 13th. 

IUii» Qo im m^ 17th. !<?« on SOth, «ua, 



23rd. Rain on 24th and 25th. Rain on Slat 
1839. 
January. Weather cloudy on 1st White 
frost on 2nd. Seed cane good. Through 
preparing land for plant cane. Clover Jn 
pastures luxuriant Rain on 24th and 25th. 
Rain on 30th and 31st 
1840. 
January. Ice on 1st Ice on 2nd and 3rd. 
On 4th weather mild as in spring. Rain 
on 10th. Ice on 16th, 17tli, 18th and 19tfti. 
Rain on 21st and 22nd. White frost on 24th. 
1841. 

January. Weather fair on 1st Lifi^t rain 
on 4th and all day of 5th and 6th. Rain 
on 8th, 9th and 10th. Heavy rain on 12tAi. 
Rain again on 13th. 14th. 15th and 17th. 
Rain on 19th, 20th, 24th, 26tn, 27th. 29th and 
30th and a heavy rain on Slst 
1842. 

January. Weather cloudy on the 1st with 
rain. 120 arpents of cane already planted. 
Rain on 11th and all day on 14tli. Ice and 
white fn«t on 17th. White frost on 18th. 
Rain on 19th. Rain on 20th, 21st and 22nd. 
Rain on 25th and 28th. Throi^h planting 
cane on 29th. Rain on 30th and 31st 
1843: 

January. Fair on Ist Rain on 2nd. Be- 
gun planting on 2nd. White frost on 4th. 
Rain on Tth and ice on 8th. Heavy rain 
on 9th. White frost on 10th and 11th. Ice 
on 12th and IZtAi, 14th and 15th. Rain on 
29th. 

1844 

January. Rain on 1st. clearing at noon and 
as mild as spring. White frost on 3rd and 
4th. Rain on 6th. not interfering with 
planting. Rain from 7th to 12th. inclusive. 
Rain on 14th, 15th and 16th. Molasses 
liauled -out to river banks in sleighs on the 
16th. Plantation roads so muddy that haul- 
ing is almost imppracticable. Light white 
frost on 31st Stuiliibles in new land marking 
the ows since the 15th, being stubbles in 
ground where the cane has been matlayed; 
all those stubbles yielded two hogsiheads to 
the appent when ground. The year 1828. was 
splendid for canes, although di^ught pre- 
vailed from the 27th of March to 2nd of 
April (thirty-five days;) from the 2nd of 
May to the 19th of June (forty-nine days;) 
from the 19th of June to the 28th of July 
(thirty-nine days.) but canes were so for- 
ward that drought did not injure their 
growth. 

1845. 

January, topped grinding on 1st with 
1023 hogsheads of sugar made in sixty-five 
days, less the time taken to clean machinery, 
to repair roads and to windrow cane, ftc. 
the sugar house having been in operation 
only 57 days thus, during that whole period, 
18 hogsheads of sugar were daily made on 
one set of kettles at a time. The plant cane, 
tbough cut two joints below the adherent 
leaves, still measured six feet to the mill 
and yielded ly, hogsheads or fine sugar to 
the arpent twenty days after the killing 
frost; in 1840 the same thing occurred 22 
days after the killing frost. Resumed 
grinding on the 2nd and nnished on the 10th, 
making a crop of 1152 bogheads of sugar. 
(Notwithstanding the drought of 65 days in 
the spring of 1844, and the later drought of 
58 days from August 19th to Octoiber 17th, 
1844. the canes yielded nearly two hogs- 
headis to the arpent on an average.) On 
the 15th and 16th hauled dirt with four carts 
into "English Park." Rain on 17th; on the 
18th heaviest rain firtnce Nov. 11th. Left tor 
the Island of Cuba on the 26th. Half crop 
made ou tlie Islfind QWing? to excessive 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 2. 



droog'ht ot last year and the hurricane of 
October 4th. 

1846. 
January. Cloudy on Ist and heavy rain. 
Rain on 5th. White frost on 6th. Begun to 
open furrows on 8th and co plant canes on 
lOth. Weather cold on 11th. Planting canes 
on 14th. Rain on 19th in the momimg and so 
heavily in the evening that the public road 
was covered with water six inches to one 
foot deep, and even on the next day water 
still covered the ground in front of the 
dwelling house. The rain was probably 
heavier than that of 1823. Fair and cold on 
22nd. Rain on 29th and fair on Slst 

1847. 
January. Rain on 1st. Cold on 3rd. 
Rain on 4th. 110 arpents of cane planted. 
WOiite frost and ice on the 5th. Slight rain 
on 6th. Thermormeter 2ii deg. F. on 7th. 
Added dirt to canto planted day before, 
which had been lightly covered, owing to 
their eyes sprouting. On the 8th, the severefst 
cold since 1835, thermometer 22 deg. F.; ice 
nearly, two inches thick. Weather mild 
enough to plant on the 13th. Rain on 23rd 
and 24th, 26>th and 26th. 

1848. 
January. Rain on 1st. 9th; grinding 
canes wind rowed on November 21st, which 
are making red :Ugar in open kettles, whilst 
in steam apparatus the sugar made was 
better forty-nine days after being wind- 
rowed and worth .two cents more per pound. 
Ice on the 10th. White frost on 11th. 
Through grinding on 16th. making l,lo4,000, 
losing about 154,000 pounds. River very high 
on 17th. White frost on 20th and 21rt. Be- 
gun planting on 21st. White frost on 22nd. 
River so hig*h th^t an overflow is threatened 
if it does not fall before spring. Rain all 
night 24th and all 25th. 

1849. 
January. White frost on 1st and 2nd. 
Rain on 7th. About 100 arpents of cane 
planted. White froH on 8th. Thin ice on 
11th. Planting cane on 11th and 12th. 
Light Vain on 12th and 15th. Begun to bury 
cane trash on the 18 th. 

1850. 
January. Through grinding on the 6th; 
1.000,000 pounds of sugar made. Rain on 
6th and 7th. Resumed plantation work on 
10th. Commenced opening furrows on the 
12th. Rain on 13th. Begun planting on 14th. 
Seed cane very good. Rain on 18th. 19th, 
20th and 21st. Heavy rain on 27th, rain on 
28th. Cutting new ditches wherever needed. 

1851. 
January. Cloudy and rainy on Ist. Ice 
with white frost on 3rd. Begun to open 
furrows on 3rd. Ice on 4th. Begun planting 
on 5th. Canes much spoiled. 24 arpents of 
matlayed cane planted only 12 arpents. 
Rain on 9th. One arpent cane tops plant 
only one-lialf arpent, and sometimes only 
one-quarter. Forty arpents cane tops planted 
only 12 arpents; no positive advantage in 
saving cane crops for seed, as ice or a 
temperature of 23 deg. to 24 deg. F., always 
c'poils them besides the process of planting 
thein is too slow. White frost on 13th and 
14th. Ice on 30th. 

1852. 
January. Cloudy on 1st. Heavy wftite 
frost on 2nd and heavy white froit and thin 
ice on 3rd. More or less white frost on 4th, 
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th.. Light frost on 11th. 
105 arpents of cane planted. Very cold 
northeast wind on the 12th in the afternoon; 
snow fallen in large flakes. On the 13th the 
thermometer 24 deg. F. The ground covered 



over with flve to twelve inches of 5now in 
thickness, which did not melt in the shade 
until the 17th. On the 4th of January, 1834, 
sleet fell 2V2 inches thick and lasted four 
days in the shade. On the 14th, thermometer 
under the gallery was 20 deg. F., and out- 
siae the gallery 18 deg. F. The cold is as 
severe as that of 1835. On the 15th and 16th 
the thermometer was 24 deg. F. Heavy white 
frost on 17th. Ice on 19th, with thermom- 
eter 23 deg. F. under gallery and 21 deg. 
outside gallery. On 20th thermometer was 
91/2 F., with ice fully half an inch thick 
on the pond of the garden, and much thicker 
where the water was not so deep. Resumed 
planting on 23rd. Although canes in mats 
had a sheath of ice enveloping them, how- 
ever they grew, eventually, as thi'ck as the 
others, having been planted thicker and cov- 
ered wrth more dirt. River fell two feet 
from the 22nd to 24th. Floating blocks of 
4<?e In the river at Vicksrt)urg and Natchez 
on the 23rd and 24th. The same thing was 
witnes ed at Bayou Sara and Baton Rouge. 
1853. 

January. Weather fair on 1st and 2nd. 
Ice on 4th and heavy white frost on 5th 
and 6th. Through cutting cane on 6th. 
Through grinding on 7th. Rain on 8th. 
Finished boiling water-sugar, making crop 
of 1,131,000 pounds sugar from 460 arpents 
of 'cane. Resumed plantation work on the 
11th, plowing, opening furrows, &c. Begun 
planting on 12th. Rained on 14th, 15th and 
16th. Rained on 21_-t which stopped plant- 
ing. 22nd cold. Ground In bad condition, 
and cleaned furrows with -hoes, the ground 
being too wet to use the flukes. Ice on the 
24th and 25th. White frost on 27th, 28th, 
29th and 30th. White frost on Slst. There 
were at least eight white frosts without rain. 
Burnt the grass over the straw'berry ground. 
1854. 

January. Fine weart;her on 1st. Juice of 
plant cane weighs 9 deg. Baume; ribbon 
stubble cane 10 deg. Baume. Otahlty stub- 
bles 91/2 Baume. .Rain on 3rd. Rain on 11th. 
Stopped grinding on 15th. Rain on 17th 
and 18th. One-half of the stalks of cane 
left standing, are yet good for seed on the 
18t'h. Cane wlndrowed on the 8th of Decem- 
ber last, is not as good as the cane left 
standing. Heavy rain on 27th. White frost 
on 30 and 31st. 

Dr. H. O. Colomb says: 

1851. 

January 1 ,Rain all day. River rising fast, 
and within six feet of last year's high water 
mark. All hands in new ground, cleaning 
and chopping. Planted some in the after- 
noon of 3rd. Sugar sells well, 5% for fair; 
molasses 24 '/g cents in city. Rain on 8th. 
Plant cane very much spoiled all over the 
state. Weather very unfavorable for plant- 
ing. Plant cane here very good. White 
frost on 13th. 20th, fine weather for season, 
no rain in twelve days. Ratoons coming up. 
Ice on 30th. 

1852. 

January 3, fro-t. All hands planting cane. 
Plant 12 arpents per day. Molasses selling 
at 20 cents in city. Fair sugar ^■/2 cents. 
Pork $14, corn 60 cents per bushel. Ice on 
6th. Fro:t on 7th and heavy frost on 8th. 
13th, we had a snow storm on Monday 
evening which lasted till midnight. In the 
morning the earth was covered with four 
inches of snow, which remained there two 
days. Weather extremely cold for four or 
five days, bein'g as low as 16 deg. F. at 8 a. 
m. In the air. Ice' on 13th, 14th and 15th. 
Planted cane on 16th. Ice, and very cold on 
19th. Pee ftil day on 20th, thennometer 18 



deg. at a. m. Ice on 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 
24 th. Coldest weather experienced in Lou- 
isiana for many years. River very low for 
season. Mess pork worth $15. Flour $4.50, 
molasses 21 cents in city and 20 on planta- 
tion. Frost on 26th. Planting cane, plows 
in new ground for corn. 
1853. 

January 10, all hands working on levee. 
Ground in good condition for planting, i3th, 
all hand^ planting. Rain on 15th and 21st. 
1854. 

January 1st and 2nd, ice. Finished stand- 
ing cane, 75 arpents to grind. Making good 
sugar. Heavy rain on 11th. Some cane in 
mattresses very much spoiled. 19th, very 
warm weather. Finished hauling cane, fin- 
ished boiling on 20th. 21st, clear and cold. 
Pork $12.50 to $13 per barrel. Corn 85 cents. 
Coal $2 per barrel. Cotton 10 cents. Sugar 
3 VI. for fair. 

1855. 

January 1, cloudy, warm. No work done. 
Gave $200 in silver to negroes. Fair sugar 
3% to 4 cents. Molasses 16 cents in city. 
Land in very fine order. Opening rows in 
pea land for corn. Seed cane very much 
spoiled. Will hardly have enough. 5th, 
seed cane better than expected. Fifty ar- 
pents planted. 9th, seed cane bad again. 
Scone mattresses entirely spoiled, will not 
plant near as much as 1 expected. Very dry 
weather for the time of year, no rain of 
any account for three months. 22nd, Ice. 
Weak hands and women cleaning up new 
ground for corn. Finished planting on 29th, 
135 arpents. Negroes very healthy, not one 
in hospital. 

1856. 

January 1, clear. Ice on 9th and 10th. 
16th, ice two inches thick, temperature 24 
deg. F. at sunrise. Ice till noon in ditch. 
Much game in fields. Woods full of ducks. 
Frost on 18th. Seed cane good. Plant 12 
arpents a day. Ice on 21st. Temperature 
23 deg. F. on 22nd. Ice on 23rd and 24th. 
Fair sugar worth 7 cents, molasses 35*4 
cents; 33 cents on plantation. 
1857. 

January 1, clear, cool. No work done. 
Gave $200 to negroes and half an ox. 3rd, 
weather mild, but damtp. 6th, planted tops. 
12th, ice. 13th, temperature 25 deg. F., cold- 
est day of winter so far. 14th, ice. Planted 
cane. Temperature 24 deg. F. on 18th, freez- 
ing all day. Temperature at 18 deg. F. at 
sun rise on 19th, freezing all day. Rain on 
0th; 24th warm. Planting tops. Pork $22 
in New Orleans, corn gone up to $1.10 per 
bushel on account of ice in the Ohio. Hard 
rain on 30th. Sugar 9% for fair. Molasses 
61 to 62 cents in city. Sugar crop in Cuba 
not as large as expected. 

1858. 

January 2, cloudy wood at river. 

Weather very warm for season. No work 
done in field on account of bad weather. 
Seed cane spoiling in mats. Ratoons all 
coming up. Sugar 4% cents. Molasses 19 
cents. Cotton 9y2 cents. Rain on 3rd, 12th, 
14th, 16th, 24th. 25th, 26th and 31. 
1859. 

January 3, cloudy. Sugar 5Va to 6 cents. 
MolasFes 28 cents. Most horrible weather. 
Almost constant rain since forty days. 
Some cane in mats injured. In windrows 
the cane is good. Planting cane now. Ice 
all day on 23rd. Rain on 27th, 2Sth and 29th. 
1860. 

January 1, cold, cloudy. No work done. 
Sugar 7 to llA cents. Molasses 40 cents. 
160 arpents cane planted. Ice on 2nd and 3rd. 
Rain on 7th. flanting c^ne, 



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21 



LOCAL LJdTTBRS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE J 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The Miles Company's Houmas Central 
facLory finish'ed the labors of a long and 
ledlous grinding season Tuesday evening 
at 6 o'clock, and thanks to the railway sys- 
tem extending through all but one of the 
plantations forming the note^ "Burnslde 
group," only eight acres of the big cane 
crop were left in the fleld. These were on 
the Bruly place, really the rear portion of 
Monroe plantation, and seven acres belonged 
to Mr. Joseph Belle, ane of the most in- 
dustrious and successful of the Miles Com- 
pany's tenants. Carts from all the places 
were concentrated in the effort to save all 
the Bruly crop, but the road became so 
boggy that the best of mules could no longer 
pull light loads through the mud holes, and 
it was found more economical to leave the 
remnant of the cane in the field than to 
keep the big factory waiting for it. Definite 
figures are not yet available but it is safe 
to say the sugar output of the Houmas 
Central will fpU fully two million pounds 
short of the result achieved a year ago 

The McCall Bro.s. Planting Company's 
Evan Hall factory concluded the season's 
campaign on Thursday of last week, the 
two mills having crushed approximately 48,- 
090 tons of cane which yielded an average 
of only 120 pounds of sugar per ton. The 
hou-e did excellent work during the last 
ihree weeks of grinding, handling 18,000 
tons of cane, 800 of which came from Cora 
plantr.tion in Jborville. Three factories have 
been employee in grinding Cora's cane, 
viz.: Messrs B. Lemann & Brother's Pey- 
town, McCall Bro^'. Evan Hall and Gen. 
W. J. Behan's Alhambra. In common with 
nearly all the manufacturing planters, 
Messrs. McCall Bros, are no doubt badly 
in the lurch on the season's operations, 
b'lt their tenants nearly all did well, thanks 
to fair tonnage, good prices af sugar, on 
^.l:)ch the selling price of their tiane was 
based, and the railway facilities provided 
for getting the crops to the factory. But 
for the last named adjunct, the farmers in 
the bruly back of Evan Hall, must inevit- 
ably have lost a considerable portion of the 
product of their year's labors. 

Col. Dick McCall saved his "world of cane" 
at MoManor, but made a "world of sugar" 
less than It ought to have yielded. How 
much his little world means is still an un- 
known quantity to "Ascension." 

New Hope's aggregate cane tonnage was 
only 24,600— not 26,000 as estimated in last 
week's Ascension letter — and the sugar out- 
put was something like 3,200,000 pounds. 
Although 1,000 more tons of cane were 
ground than last .season, the sugar product 
is over 1,000,000 pounds less. 

Col. J. Bmile St. Martin contributed about 
7,300 tons to New Hope's feed, exceeding his 



crop of 1897 by 1,700 tons, thanks to the 
escape of Bar Harbor from inundation. 

The results of the season's work at Mr. 
Walter I. Barton's Riverside factory are 
thus epitomized, 12,000 tons of cane ground, 
1,300,000 pounds of sugar made and esti- 
mated. The tonnage exceeded that of the 
last preceding year by 1691, but the sugar 
product was 240,000 pounds short. 

Messrs Lemann & Bro.'s Belle Terre and 
Palo Alto factories are both done with their 
grinding troubles, the former having ground 
Its last cane Sunday afternoon and the lat- 
ter getting through Wednesday. Belle Terre 
manipulated about 32,860 tons of cane, 
which gave only 3,660,000 pounds of sugar. 
Palo Alto's sugar yield Is estimated In 
round figures at 3,750,000 pounds. 

The Donaldsonvllle Chief, of Saturday last, 
furnishes the following summary of the 
work of Messrs E. & J. Kock's fine Belle 
Alliance factory, one of the best equipped 
and most Intelligently conducted establish- 
ments of its kind In the Louisiana sugar 
district: 

Belle Alliance finished, or rather stopped 
grinding Tuesday afternoon, having ground 
practically the same tonnage in exactly the 
same time as last season. The house worked 
very smoothly from the start to finish, the 
only lost time having been due to lack of 
cane. The average yield per ton was about 
120 pounds, against about 160 pounds the 
last sea-on, a difference of 40 pounds of dry 
sugar per ton less for 1898-99. This Is the 
lowest average In the records of Belle Al- 
liance, while the cost of harvesting the cane 
acd manufacturing It Into sugar is the high- 
est of which the owners of the place have 
any record. About 2B0 tons of cane were left 
In new ground on the Scattery and Front 
places. The sucrose of this cane testing only 
between five and six per cent , and the haul- 
ing being delayed by heavy roads. It was 
deemed unprofitable to keep the factory 
open any longer, hence the house was shut 
down as stated and the employees all paid 
ofl^ the next day. The quality of sugar made 
was good, but owing to the fight between the 
refiners granulated sugar could not be sold 
to advantage, therefore only yellow clarified 
was made. 

Germanla, Belle Helene and Hermitage are 
the only factories still steaming in 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 



(SPECIAL CORRESPGNDENCKJ 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Th<3 weather has not been as good during 
the past week as our planters would like to 
have had it, fortunately however, all, with 
perhaps one exception, are throu^ rolling. 

Those who made a start on the coming 
crop have had to suspend operations owing 
to the rains and from the outlook it Is im- 
possible to say when they can resume work. 



We have positive figures from very few and 
while some have lost money, we think tbe 
mapority have come out a little ahead, and 
believing that for .some years to come sugar 
care will be a paying crop, all are preparing 
to Increase their planting. They are ex- 
pansionists at home, if not abroad.. Rumor 
hs it that several large plantations in this 
parish are for sale 

The fine Allemania plantation of the John 
Reuss Planting and Manufacturing Company, 
Limited, finished Its rolling last night and 
while grinding something like 2,000 tons 
more of cane than last year,* the output is 
something like 400,000 pounds le3s. 

Messrs. A. S. and J. H. Ourso, of Soulouque 
made and delivered 3,372 tons of cane on 
their Ella plantation. Their cane was sold 
to Allemania at an average price of |3.65 per 
ton. Allemania has paid a better price this 
year than any other factory in the parish, we 
flDelieve, and the planters in that neighbor- 
hood speak very highly of their treatment 
has it that several large pltn tat ions in this 
courteous manager Mr. J. Achille Lorio. . 

While not as many properties are changing 
hands as last year, those sales lately made 
show that values of sugar lands ha^ve kept 
up, and all lands convenient for selling cane 
by the ton are in great demand. 

Mr. Charles E. Grace sold the Belfort and 
Holly Farm plantations last Saturday to Mr. 
Edwin Marrionneaut, for $20,000.00 and Mr. 
Marlonneaux has resold the Holly farm to 
his mother; putting the ownership of these 
places as it was prior to last June. 

Mr. Frank Falcon, of Ascension parish, 
has purchased the Rescue plantation of Mr. 
John B. Humphreys for $9,600.00. Rescue 
is on the Mississippi river and also on the 
line of the Mississippi Valley R. R., and is 
noted as being the scene of the disastrous 
crevasse of 1893. 

Mr. Louis S. Webre, a prominent planter 
of St. James parish, was in the parish this 
week. 

A new bank, to be known as the "Peoples* 
Bank," was organized at Plaquemine last 
Tuesday. Mr. James E. Dunlap, the trst 
cashier of Bank of Plaquemine, was elected 
president and Mr. Louis' Biuestein, vice- 
president; the following board of directors: 
B. C. LeBlanc, Henry Nadler, Henry J. Levy. 
Fred Baist, Dr. S. Hiriart, U B. Hart, C. N. 
Roth and C. C. Neubig. The capital stock 
was fixed at $25,000.00, and the bank will 
open for business on the 10th promimo. 

Iberville. 



Mr. B. W. Cook, who has for many years 
been the manager of the Anchorage and Kel- 
son plantations in West aBtou Rouge parish, 
telonging to the estate of the late Captain 
J. J. Brown, was an arrival at the Grunewald 
Tuesday afternoon. 

Mr. George J. Gueno, of Terrebonne parish, 
where he is prominently Identified with 
the sugar planting operations of that sec- 
tion, was a guest of one of our leading 
hotels last Wednesday. 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 2. 



Terrebonne. 

iPPEClAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor LouxMianm Planter: 

The favorable change in meterological 
conditions has been most fortunate, and the 
campaign is rapidly drawing to a close even 
with those who were retarded in harvesting 
the crop from breakages, etc. The spring 
like weather is favor&ble for field work, 
and many are plowing and preparing for 
planting, should climatic conditions continue 
propetious. 

The heavy jains of last year packed the 
tenacious soils, and they are waxy in conse- 
quence, and it will be some time before they 
will -become friable. All are anxious to 
hasten planting as fears are entertained as 
owing to its immature condition when put 
in windrow. 

It is too early to form any correct opin- 
ion as to the stubble, yet wnere careluliy 
examined an inch of recent growth can be 
seen here and there where the stumps are 
free of trash, and cane tops and the land 
well drained. 

to the soundness of the ^eed cane later On 
tent of the Juice in the i^tumps of bubble 
the risks of fermentation are greater than 
usual, and it may ibe found expedient to 
shave them as early as possible to sever the 
acid from the sound portions under ground. 
The stubible chouid be carefully examined be- 
fore concluding how deep the shaver should 
cut the stumps. 

This year provender will <be an expensive 
item on plantations, and profbably more hay 
will be purchabed than ever before in the 
hlctory of the industry. Some have already 
bought hay and will have to continue to do 
so for several months. It will be found that 
the best hay is the cheapest as quantities of 
iaferior forage is put on the market. 

The 'best timothy hay is cut when the 
heads are in blossom and not when the seeds 
are nearly matured; and readily fall out 
tffter being baled. So to at once thoroughly 
prepare and heavily manure a limited acre- 
age for early drilled corn and sorghum, 
will be to materially curtail the outlay for 
forage. The mules in the sugar parishes 
have during the Fast campaign been severely 
taxed, and many are still feclble from over- 
work, and the ration should be a generous 
one of healthy food to enable them to re- 
gain strength, as the work before them is of 
an arduous nature. 

The weather having proved much more 
favorable than hoped for, some have fin- 
ished earlier than -was expected, notably at 
the Lower Terrebonne refinery; Mr. C. W. 
Bocage of Belle Farm with one or two days 
grinding; Messrs Barrow ft Duplantis who 
expect to finish "by the end of the week, and 
possibly Orange Grove of Messrs. Dupont and 
Jollet. 

iWhen planting >begins, should the seed 
cane prove defective to some extent, it will 
prove infinitely (better to carefully prepare 



the seed 'bed, fertilize in the drill with cot- 
ton seed meal or tankage or better still a 
mixture oif the two than crowd the canes 
in the row expecting to remedy the evil. 
Cover rather shallow than otherwise, and 
roll immediately aifter, as early rooting Is 
essential where seed cane 4s not sound. Heat 
mu t be had to expedite germination. 

Wednesday of last week was variable; 
Thursday, warm and cloudy; Friday, show- 
ers and colder in the evening; Saturday, 
froit, clear and cool; Sunday, cloudy and 
threatening; Monday, partially cloudy; 
Tuesday, fog in the morning with spring-like 
weather during the day; and Wednesday 
morning partially cloudy. 

Terrebonne. 



Vermilion. 

(SPBCIAL COREBSPONDCNCI.) 

EdUor lAJuiHiana P*anter: 

The weather has drifted back into its old 
groove this past week. * The week previous 
it improved to some extent and the outlook 
was fafr'fbr a ^ea.-ant and successful wind 
up of the grinding season of 1898-99. but 
when it was app'arently at its best there 
catme a sudden change and the temperature 
rose to 60 degrees and it began to rain as 
usual. Then suddenly the temperature fell 
to about 30 degrees and it cleared up for two 
days. Those two days, Friday and Saturday 
were magnificent for out door work and the 
farmer was hoping against fate that it would 
continue throughout January and February 
— 4)ut Sunday brought another change and 
the thermometer wended its way upward 
again, and, at this writing, Monday the 
9th, the weather is very warm and the rain 
is pouring in torrents and promises to con- 
tinue through the nigh't. There has been 
an immensfty of rain during the fall and 
winter but this present one is lia/ble to do 
more harm than any previous one to the 
planters in the neighborhood of Abbeville. 
They are now on the ragged edge of finish- 
ing up their cane delivery for the season of 
1898-99 and the Caffery refinery, to which 
they ship their cane, is dragging along 
to finish them up and it is all they can do 
when the weather is good to keep the mill 
going. If the rain continues for a day or 
two the cane in the field now will be lost 
for the mill will be compelled to shut down 
for want of cane, but if it holds up for the 
.'ame length of time all the cane will be 
phipped out excepic that which was not wind- 
rowed before the hard freeze in November. 
Several shipping stations along the I and V. 
finished up last week, two or three will finish 
tomorrow, Tuesdiay, and there will be a clean 
sweep by Thursday the 12th if the weS^ither 
permits. 

Cane kep^t much better in windrow after 
the freeze than was expected. It is safe to 
my that 90 per cent of the cane placed In 
windrow before the severe cold weather has 
already been or will be taken out and 



shipped to the mill. Much more of the cane 
has been saved than was expected 30 davs 
at:o. On December the Ist, '98, there was 
not a cane planter in the parish of Vermilion 
who expected to f^ave one-half of his crop 
an(* everybody wa£. down hearted, but today, 
at the winding up of the delivering and 
grinding season, they figure from 85 to 95 
per cent savf^d. Had it been po-sible for 
them to get cars in abundance they would 
have saved their entire crop in a seasonable 
( ime. 

Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., manager of the Caf- 
fery refinery, is to be complimented for his 
management of this cane when we take into 
consideration the difficulties he had to con- 
tend with in the shape of quarantines, etc. 
The town of Fi'anklin was tied up by quar- 
antine until l^(e in the season .and it was 
impossible to put the mill in trim for grind- 
ing, get their switch in shape to receive cane 
over, or even get cars to be crated for ship- 
ping cane in. When the quarantine was 
raised and he applied to the railroad com- 
pany fpr cars they had nothing left for him 
but odds and ends after the other mills along 
the line had gotton their supply. 

There has been but little preparation made 
op to date for a cane crop this year. No 
ploughing to speak of at all for either 'cane 
or corn. Rice farmers are sh'owlng more 
^ifgns of push in that direction, many of 
them have prepared their lands and some 
expedt to plant early next month. The 
^ice acreage will be greatly increased this 
year and the crop will doubtless be large. 

P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRKSPCKDENCE.) 

Editor LouitUiiut PUmter: 

So far the indications are such that those 
who are in the habit of noting the varying 
ph'ases of the weather seeim to think that 
this is going to be a very wet month. Of 
one thing I am sure, and that is that on the 
4th and 5th inst it rained incessantly for at 
lea*t forty hours, flooding fields, ditches and 
the lyayous with more water than has been 
witnessed on any one date during the past 
six months. Today, as I write it is thunder- 
ing off to the South, with the clouds grow- 
ing dark, indicating onore rain to fall be- 
fore the day shall end. The farmers are now 
resting and patiently waiting for the weather 
to become dry and agreeable for them to 
get out into their fields to plow and pre- 
pair the soil for planting purposes. 

In my last week's correspondence I was led 
to state, by not one, but by a number of 
persons, wlio had been, it seems, misin- 
formed, that the Che t wood sugar factory had 
been burned on the morning of the 1st 
inst. 

Anxious to obtain something of a more 
definite nature, as well as all the facts, I 
addressed a special on the 7th inst. to Mr. 
C. A. Taylor, editor of the Lecomi;^te Mes- 



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January 14, 1899.] 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAIt MANUFACTUBm 



2S 



lenger, asklns for informfation relative to 
liie fire at Chetwood, etc. 

OCr. Taylor repljins on the 9tli inst. says 
it was the Lecompte Shin^rle Oo.'s mill that 
was des^oyed by fire there on the morning 
Q< the lii^ 

With erspect to Mr. Weemrs' Chetwood fac- 
tory, Mr. Taylor, states that Chetwood pl^ce 
will proQ>albly finish tomorrow week, if not 
today week, the 15th o rl^h. On account 
of the bad condition of cane Mr. R. H. Car- 
nal hauled part of his crop out to the bank 
of the bayou and threw It away. 

I am very sorry that reports which upon 
their face had every evidence of being the 
most, reliable statements caused me to write 
in my last week's correspondence In regard 
to the destruction of the Chetwood sugar 
factory by fir^. 'It has been at all times and 
is yet my every aim to be careful when writ- 
ing to repbrt as near as possible only the 
facts. But when a statement has been made 
lik^ the one fn question, by those who are 
reaponsSble, or thought to be so, and the 
matter proves the contrary, it is not at all 
agreeable to the writer. 

The editor of the Messenger writes me 
that the Meeker sugar factory is getting 
a\ong nicely. They will finish by, probably, 
the 2lBt 

I see that it is reported that Mr. F. 
Regard has chfemged the name of his Dora 
pbntatlon, on Bayou Houge, to that of 
''Martha plantation." 

Loaded cars of cane are seen passing 
South every day or so from Rapides parish, 
over the Alexandria branch of the S. P. 
railroad, to some one or other factory, may- 
be to Lafayette, or possibly south of thtit 
place. 

From the moving which seems to be go- 
ing on among those who rent lands it ap- 
pears it will be some time before all are 
permanently located and ready for work. 

Under the law, as H is now fixed, there will 
no doubt be many who will find it to be a 
difllcuTt matter to secure supplies with which 
to make this year's crop. 

From the sound of the sTteam whfiB^le which 
can be heard dally, it would appear that 
the Powhontas sugar factory is still push- 
ing the work of crushing cane and manu- 
tacturing sugar. 

BlUK. 



Si. jJames— Left Bank. 

impcuh ooumpoifDaifca.l 

Bdiior Louitianfi PtarUer: 

The termination of the old year was 
characterized by the lapse of two weeks of 
most favorable weather. January has since 
its advent been very copiously showered 
upon and altbough we had grown to adopt 
fair weather as our possession for some 
time, it has already been displaced and we 
are again undergoing the mos^ foggy, damp 
and whimaical sort of weather. 

The days are of a very diversified nature. 
The mornings are damp and cold, at noon 



•bright sunshine, and before the sun sets the 
etrong wind has made the round and is 
in the east indicating the approach of rain. 

Saturday last the thermometer registered 
29 degfees and everything was frozen hard, 
the following day the temperature had 
grown already much warmer, and on Mon- 
day rain fell continuing until Tuesday morn- 
ing. We are since enjoying fairer weather 
(but a remarkaibly warm temperature prevails 
and is regarded as an omen of approaching 
rain. 

The majority oif the planters of the parish 
have finished their grinding operations. 

The Union factory was the first one to 
finish, having concluded almost a fortnight 
before the new year. There having been no 
breakdowns nor stoppages for anything, 
they were enalbled to conclude earlier than 
nuiny others, reaching an output of about 
1,250,000' pounds. 

The tielvetia sugar house finished Monday 
with somewhat unsatictfactory results, the 
crop not having quite answered as elsewhere, 
to the figures computed spme monthji ago. 

Wilson, of Pugh and Himel, was also 
among the early ones to terminate, having 
extinguished their fires a few days after 
Christmas. 

Tlapldan finished on the 27th uh. with 
rather satisfactory results, but as elsewhere 
the crop fell short of what was expected — 
1,020,00 pouuds were obtained where 1,500,000 
was expected. 

Uncle Sam and Oneida are both grinding 
still. The former factory has work for a 
number of days yet Almost all the factories 
of the right bank have closed down by this 
time. Sport pltntation, of Mr. F. Wagues- 
pack, lost a few acres of cane which had 
grown totally worthless. 

'None "of the planters have so far begun 
their crop work oif '^» and if such weather 
is to continue much longer there is no tell- 
ing as to when they will be able to start 
ploughing. Rumors circulate everywhere of 
the number of changes that are occurring 
in managerial positions, but few of St. 
James' overseers are moving, which speaks 
favorably tor them. 

JA new postoffice at Oolomfb Par^ has been 
establisfhed under the name of Colomb P. O., 
and Mr. A. B. Hickson has been appointed 
as impossible. Convent. 



How to Hold the Molasses flarket. 

An arti*cle in the last Issue of the Barbados 
Agricultural Gazette and Planters' Journal, 
on "The Failure of Our Molasses," states 
that some five or six years ago very little 
molasses found its way from Porto Rico to 
either of the United States, Canada, or Nova 
Scotian markets, and It certainly at that 
time could not compete with the Barbados 
product, but shippers from that place have 
gradually got a footing and now command a 
preference for Porto Rico molasses in the 
United States and Nova Scotian markets, 



and it is to be feared that 'ere long they may 
also command the Moijitreal and Quebec 
markets as well. The Reason is that the 
Porto Rican planters adapted themselves to 
the needs of the markets. They abandoned 
the large puncheons, and put their molasses 
up in neat .packages of the very best 
material, the very appearance of the packa- 
ges assisting in the sale of the gods. Then 
again the Porto Kico molasses was divided 
into various grades, according to quality, so 
that the buyer, on specifying any grade, 
knows exactly the quality of the article he 
will obtain. On the other hand (says the 
writer of the article), the Barbados planters 
seem only anxious to get the cheapest pack- 
age * avaHable. It may, perhaps, be said 
that the price obtainejd for the molasses 
does not warrant a higfu price for packages, 
but the answer to this is obvious, the quality 
of the goods should relate the demand, 
and, consequently, the ^ice; not the price 
regulate the quality of the goods. 

As to the grading of molasses, the writer 
asks if it is absolutely impossible to. follow 
the example of Porto Rico? "If yes, then 
we must be content to lose our markets, but 
ft is the opinion of many competent to Judge 
that it can be done; that there are no insup- 
erable obstacles which planters and mer- 
chants, hand in hand, may not overcome; 
that it is a vital point in holding our present 
markets, and ultimately regaining those we 
have lost, is beyond question; the subject 
has already been broached by purchasers on 
the other side, and it is being repeatedly 
urged on shippers that it Is becoming abso- 
lutely necessary if we are to continue to hoM 
the Canadian markets. The writer urges 
one other i^lnt, which, he says, cannot be 
overlooked; the competition of adulterated 
or mixed molasses cries out for needed 
legislation, and the House of Assembly 
should endeavor to press the matter home 
to k conclusion. Canada has passed a tariff 
that admits our produce at a 25 per cent, 
lower duty, but it would, probably, be of 
greater benefit to us if mixed or adulterated 
molasses had been prohibited from importa- 
tion, or else the duty on such goods had 
been so raised as to make it unprofitable to 
import it into that market 



Trmdm Notos. 



Th« Biibcock ft Wilcox Boilers. 

: The Babcock ft Wilcox oompany have 
taken from Westinghouse, Church, Kerr ft 
Company the largest stationary boiler order 
thtft has ever been placed. The boilers are 
tor the power plant which the Westinghouse 
vlectric Company have contrac?ted to build 
for the Third Avenue Ra/ilroad Company, 
at^ 218th street and Harlem river, and which 
is* to be conatruoted by Westinghouse, 
Cnurch, Kerr ft Company. 

The order covers sixty Babcock ft Wil- 
cok forged steel type boilers of 620 horse 
ppwer each, or an aggregate of 31,200 horse 
power. The boilers are to be capable of 
carrying 200 pounds steaim pressure. They 
will supply steam for convpound condenering 
engines of 64,000 nominal horse power in tbe 
aggregate. 



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TOE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER 



[Vol. XXII, No. 2. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(■PECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, Dec. 17, 1898. 
Editor LouiaiaTia Planter: 
'The weather although changeafble, as in 
Aipril, has not materially changed as com- 
pared wi'th the preceding weeks, so that it 
continued unfavorable for the pre-ervation 
of the beets in silos, but fairly acceptable 
with respect to field operations, which, as 
the moisture of the soil is moderate, could 
be con'tinued almost everywhere. But if 
this continual tilling of the ground is a 
signal advantage with regard to the sow- 
ings of next spring, there is also some 
natural preparation required, consisting of 
a* good hard frost, making the soil loose and 
friable whilst the moisture makes it cloddy 
and more or less impenetrable. As it can- 
not be surmised that the winter will remain 
as aibnormaMy mild as it has been so far, 
it must be feared that it will set in rather 
laite and that it will extend into the months 
of spring, the consequence of which would 
be late sowings, wMch last year proved 
quite detrimental to the result of the crop, 
at least in point of quantity. The figures 
DOW published ofBcialiy and from private 
sources confirm plainly my views, expressed 
in theie letters, that this year's crop will 
be small, but rich. The quantity harvested 
and partly worked in the factories is esti- 
mated to amount to 28.1 tons to the hectare, 
whilst last year, the yield turned out to 
reacfh 31.3 tons. On the o/ther hand the 
quality of this year is ahead of last year by 
0.49 pet. But it is near an axiom with 
beet growers that the shortage of quantity 
is rarely or never compensated for by a bet- 
ter quality. For the German crop the sow- 
ings this year have been reduced by about 
3 per cent, but the beet crop has fallen off by 
13 per cent and the production shows a de- 
crease of 8.7 pet. all this of course, in case 
the present figures, which are still estimates, 
be realized. The new estimates, by the way, 
have caused throughout the sugar world a 
great surprise, as they are not only in gener- 
al higher, but particularly so with regard 
to certain countries, than those puhlished in 
October. In Germany about 47.000 tons more 
is expected than formerly, but this surplus 
is much exceeded by that of Austria and 
France, of which the former shows a sur- 
plus of about 100,000 tons and the latter of 
albout 75,000. Anyway the total estimate of 
the beet crop of Europe has been raised to 
the extent of nearly 250,000 tons, and it is 
now expected to amount to 4,675,000 tons as 
against 4,677,000, so that, practically, the de. 
ficit so far figured out has disappeared. I 
have not omitted to mention in my letters 
that the situation in France and Austria 
was improving, but nobody believed that 
such a thing could happen in this surpris- 
ing degree. In commerciad circles the first 
estimates, particularly of Austria, are much 



attacked, as it is thought impossible that 
In two months an increase of over 100,000 
tons could take place, but the worst of it 
is that other es'timates of the Austria crop 
were even lower than that of the fabricants, 
in consequence of which the difference is 
more appalling. The movement of the mar- 
kets, which I wish this time to mention in 
connection with this fatal deception, has 
been a downright panic, speculative sellers 
crowding in the sugar exchanges, whilst 
buyers were only very few and far between. 
No doubt the universal market must turn 
over a new leaf. The basis of calculation 
and speculation is henceforth a supply about 
like that of last year (not counting the 
stocks) but the demand will be larger, the 
consumption, in some of the principal coun- 
tries, showing a marked increase ; for 
instance in Germany, in England and Rus- 
sia. The United States will also need much 
more sugar than last year, when the stocks 
had accumulated in consequence of the tariff 
movement. Taking this into account, the 
situation is by no means so desperate a^ to 
Justify the anxiety, of speculative holders to 
get their contracts di'^solved at any price, 
demoralizing the market to the last degree. 
At times like those experienced last week 
it is put in evidence, that speculation is by 
no means an unmixed ooon for an article 
of commerce. The majority of holders of 
actual goods did not Join the run the 
frightened speculators atarted and by which 
the latter caused great harm to legitimate 
business. Towards the end of the week, 
however, the market rallied visibly, the 
panic movement abated and prices increased 
a «mall part of their losses. They close in 
Germany for actual sugar at Magde'burg at 
M. 10.40—10.60 as againc^t M. 10.90—11.10 a 
week ago and delivery December is quoted 
at Hamburg at M. 9.77 against M. 10.^^ last 
week. Refined suffered also and some marks 
could not be sold except at a diticount 

On the sixth inst the German Reichstag 
was opened and from the utterances of the 
secretary of the imperial treasury it can be 
concluded that no change of sugar legisla- 
tion is in prospect for this session of the 
parliament. The minister expressed his re- 
gret that the sugar bounty conference has 
not led to the desired results, or rather to 
no result ait all. but he said that on the part 
of the allied government of Germany the 
effort would be continued to solve the boun- 
ty question by negotiations with the other 
powers. By the national liberal party the 
motion has been submitted that the govern- 
ment be requested to grant greater facili- 
ties for the legal treatment of sugar to be 
used for the feeding of cattle, the mode of 
denaturalizing the sugar now prescn>oed by 
the legal regulations being too circumstantial 
and too vexatious to encourage the using 
of 43ugar for that purpose, the utility of 
which, however. Is demonstrated beyond the 
least doubt. 
A^ ttftually at this time, I give you a brief 



abstract of the offlclal review of the Ger- 
man starch sugar industry. There have been 
20 factories in activity in the campaign 
of 1897-98, whose production of solid starch 
^gar amounted to 7,527 tons, whilst in the 
preceding year 6,814 tons had been produced 
in 27 factories, of starch syrup 85.413 tons 
as against 34,875 tons have been turned out 
and there were, besides. 4,207 tons of sugar 
color manufactured as against 4,183 tons in 
1896-97. The latter article, as Is known. Is 
used for coloring beverages and liquors of 
all kinds. There is. as wiir be seen In all 
these articles which are more or less com- 
petitors of sugar, a marked increase, and 
they are. in Germany, free of Inland taxes, 
whilst sugar Is heavily taxed. 

ROBT. Bbxiiic. 



Porto Wco. 

Fajardo. Porto Rico, December, 27, 1898. 
Sdikor LouiHaua Planter: 

I have the pleasure to send you an order 
on Messrs. L. W. and P. JU-mstrong for |4 for 
subscription bill, July 3rd, 1899. Please send 
the receiipt to them. I am well pleased with 
your publication, which Is very interesting 
for those who grow or have anything to 
do with sugars. 

In No. 24 of December 10th, I find the 
article "The Probable Effect of the Annex- 
ation of Spanish Colonies on the Sugar In- 
dustry of the U. S." very Interesting and 
accurate, 'but owning to self confession of its 
author , I must say something about Porto 
Rico In regard to her available lands for 
sugar cane, her climate, conditions of labor 
and attitude of the natives towards their 
new rulers, points he is not well posted on. 
Owing to low prices and heavy taxation 
under the Spanish domdnltlon, the sugar In- 
dustry of Porto Rico had gradually gone 
down, and many plantations were turned 
into cattle farms. Those who could endure 
the Situation had to reduce their crops to 
% or %, and presenting Fajardo as an exam- 
ple you may well Judge by the following 
data: 

'Numl>er of plantations In 18^8, 30; produc- 
ing yearly, 6,000 tons. Number of planta- 
tions in 1898, 16; producing yearly, 4, WO 
tons. 

I think the production of this island can 
be- 'douibled in five years at a rate of 20% 
annually If Ameriean capital would come to 
develop * the industry. The sugar exports 
in 1896 were as follows: For the United 
States. 71,875,614 i>ounds; for 'Spain, 43,- 
600,064 pounds; other nations, 7,470,657 
pounds; total pounds, 122, 946,335. 

The climate is quite the same all the year 
around, the extremes of temperature 'between 
70** and 90° F. Dry weather prevails, and 
heavy rains begin in May and continue 
with slight diminution in June, sometimes 
till the middle of July. February and 
March are the driest months and are the ones 
selected by planters to push on their sUgar 



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January 14, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



25 



crops. A system of irrigation is badly needed 
all over the Island. 

Labor has been 50 to 60 cents a day In 
our provinciaj silver, egual to about 35 or 40 
cent-, amount according to rate of exchange, 
cents, according to rate of exchange. 
It is yery low Indeed ,but the distressed sit- 
uation of the planters would not allow any 
more to be done, and some were compelled 
to pay their laibprers in provisions, the only 
thing they could get on 4 months, time 
enough to grind their crops. The past years 
have been years of agony for these planters, 
and if the war had not determined new hopes 
for them, Porto Hico would, in a very short 
period, have ceased to be a sugar producing 
.country. Money could only be obtained at 
1 to ?% per month, and I know of transac- 
tions at 1 and 1V4% with flrsft class mortgage 
security. 

As to the attitude of the natives towards 
their new rulers, it may be said that an 
American in Porto Rico finds himself as at 
home, and the natives anticipating the reso- 
lutions of Congress are already hearty 
Americans. This country oppressed during 
400 years by Spanish militarism, had no love 
for Spain, and never dreamed of indepen- 
dence which was considered unfit and incon- 
venient lor such a *nall Island. All our 
sympathy was laid in the U. S., where many 
natives were resident and familiar with the 
language and had learned to love liberty. 
In fact, there is no example in history where 
a conquered territory was found so well 
disposed toward the conqurers as Porto 
Rico is, and if things are properly handled 
with this island, it will not require half the 
time that ever was needed by any other 
territory to become a state of the Union. 
We have the best elements for it, which are 
love, intelligence and good will. The Island 
being small our sugar production will never 
.injure yours, and on the other hand, the 
chances for American capital are great and 
will earn a good compensation. 

lExportaticn from the U. S. to Porto Rico 
will also increase coniiderably, as we had to 
import from Spain owing to differential 
tariff in favor of Spanish goods that were 
nearly free if compared with the heavy 
duties on foreign goods. In 1896, the U. S. 
exported to Porto Rico |3,973,855, while 
Spain's exports amounted to 15,971,445. 
Under American control figures will stand 
8 to 1 in favor of the U. S. and this again 
1-3 something worth considering by the Amer- 
ican people. 

My conclusions ,are these: That Porto 
Rico is a convenient Island for the U. S.; 
that her natives will be good American citi- 
zens in the near future, and that her expor- 
tations will not injure in the least American 
producers, even if admitted free of duty. 

The weatJher ha^ been favorable, and the 
new crop which will be started up by the 
6th of next month promises to be good. I 
shall be very happy if my indications should 
prove of any value to you, and at your dis- 
posal, I remain sincerely yours, 

Jorge Bird y Leon. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Eddy, New Mexico. 

The sujgar factory commenced dicing 
beets early this morning, after a stop of one 
week. When the unprecedented spell of bad 
weat/her struck this section recently there 
were 1,400 tons of beeti in the sheds, but 
the factory, ran them out before the far- 
mers could get into their fields and there was 
nothing to be done but to shut down and 
wait for a moderation of the weather that 
would permit harvesting. Beets are now 
coming in and there should be no further 
lnterrui>tion of operations. 

While it ii a safe proposition that the 
beets have not been benefited by the incle- 
ment weather, It is thoug^nt they have not 
been ma*terially injured, 'mere will be a 
greater loss in shrinkage of weight than in 
the per cent of sugar. They are averag'ing 
exceedingly well. 

The half way point of the campaign has 
about been reached. Almost half of the acre- 
age has been harvested and the total will 
fall but little short of the original estimate 
at the commencement of tne season. 

Auditor Driggs went up to Hagerman, 
Tuesday, to look after affairs for the com- 
pany. T'he beets there and at Roiwell have 
all been harvested and he went up to in- 
spedt the fields and check accounts with 
the weig'hmasfter. H« win return to-day. — 
Argus, Dec. 30. 



A Visit to a Beet 5usar Factory. 

[By John W. lAXiYD.] 

I have recently vlsrited the beet sugar 
factory at Binghamton, New York, and send 
you tile following account: 

I assume that you know no more about 
making beet sugar than I did two months 
ago. I will start with the beets in the field 
ready for harves't— but will not guarantee 
to get 'to the sugar -bowl to-night. A sub- 
sdil plow is run along on one side and under 
the row of beets to loosen tJhem. Then they 
are pulled out and topped by hand. In top- 
ping, t'he crown musrt be cut off at just a 
certain point. The beets are then loaded on 
wagons and hauled to the railroad, where 
they are loaded into box cars. (The grow- 
ers here receive $5 per ton f. o. b. this sea- 
son. The average yield on the CJornell farm 
was ov>er twenty tons per acre.) 

Upon their arrival at the Binghamton 
factory, a sample of beets is taken from 
eajcfh car, and exa<?tly ten pounds -weighed 
out. The dirt is then scraped off of this 
ten poundi, and if any uee*ts were topped 
too high, they are re topped. The ten-pound 
sample is then wefighed, owing to the differ- 
ence in the amount of mud on the beets, 
and the difference in the topping, though, in 
general, the beets received at the factory 
were very well topped. The crown of the 
beet contains a low per cent of sugar, and 
a high per cent of impurities; hence the 



great importance attached to proper top- 
ping. 

The beets are pitched, with seven-tlned 
forks, from the cars to the storage sheds, 
through a window 'In the roof of the lat- 
ter. There are four sheds, each 400 feet 
long. A trough of running water at the 
bottom of each sbed extends the whole 
length. This trough Is covered so that the 
beets ftre piled righj. over It, but any part 
of the cover can be removed at will. The 
slanting sides of the shed make it easy to 
poke the beets Into the trough. The water 
carries them along to the corner of the 
main building where a screw elevator takes 
them up and deposits them In a tank of 
water containing a big churn dasher which 
souses them around and finally boosts them 
over Into another screw elevator whidi 
shoves them Into a. "grain" elevator that 
carries them clear to the top of the building. 
Here a big' machine slices them at the rate 
of 200 tons a day. A chute carries the 
sliced beets (cossetts) down into an upright 
Iron cylinder. There are twelve of these 
cylinders in a circle, and the cfhute can be 
moved around so as to fill any of them, 
they each hold about three tons. Here the 
cossetts are digested with ^ater to remove 
the sugar. The same water Is pumped 
around from one cylln*der to another, and 
Is drawn off Into a tank as a saturated solu- 
tion of sugar. This solution Is treated with 
milk of lime and cart)onlc acid gas twice 
to remove impurities, being filtered after 
each treatment. Then it is boiled to syrup. 
The syrup is bleacftied by treatment with 
sulphur fumes; then filtered to take out the 
sulphur. Then dt Is boiled down to the 
"sugar off" point, and put into the "cen- 
trifugals" which throw otft the molasses 
and retain the sugar. After this, the sugar 
is dried and sifted. When it Is ready to be 
sacked for shipment. The molasses con- 
tain? some sugar, which is gotten out by 
working over again. 

The "sugar" is not lifted, poured or car- 
ried from the time the man pokes the beets • 
into the trough of water until the granu- 
lated ?ugar Is turned out. All the "juice" 
is pumped from tank to filter, filter to tank, 
etc. One ton of beets makes 200 lbs. of 
sugar the first run, and forty lbs. more 
can be extracted from tne molasses.— Na- 
tional Rural. 



Best Pulp Reserved for Beet Raisers. 

A few years ago, pulp from beets, after ex- 
traction of 5Ugar, was a waste product that 
Oalifornia farmers would not use. Now it 
is highly prized and every ton of it la util- 
ized. On thi& point Supt. Morse writes us: 

"The demand for beet pulp, which has al- 
ready riicn to the capacity of our \^atson- 
vllle (Cal.) mill, was Intensified this yelar by 
the scarcity of feed and a fancy price could 
have been obtained for this product, If we 
had taken advantage of the situation. This 
was not done, but pulp was supplied at 10c 



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TH» LOUlSLUf A MJLNTKR A , 1 SUOAR MAKUFAOTnunL 



[Vol. xxn. No. 2. 



per 2,000 lbs. t o. b. wagons or cars at mill, 
and parceled out among beet raisers. The 
value of beet pulp for fodder is well appre- 
ciated here and far exceeds the nominal 
price we charge. We furnish the pulp to 
beet raisers in proportion to the number of 
acres of beets planted, and this privilege 
to buy pulp at a nominal price is sought 
aifter, and is a factor in obtaining beet 
contracts. We are content with the greater 
common interest promoted between mill and 
farmer and a eons^tantly i^preclating mar- 
ket for the pulp."— Agriculturist. 



Of Interest to Michijj^an Beet Raisers. 

The success of the first beet sugar in- 
dustry to be estatilicftied in Michigan has 
been so pronounced that several other fac- 
tories are projected, one of them at Bay 
City, where the Michigan Sugar Company 
is already operating. The projectors of these 
companies have made contracts with far- 
mers which call for the raising of thousands 
of acres of beets, and these contracts form 
the basis of the entire project. 

Land Commlissloner Fren<^ has Just writ- 
ten a letter that will doubtless be a dis- 
turi)in«; element in the suoces&tful carrying 
out of the contracts or in uringing tlie profit 
to the farmer that has been figured on. 

Following is CommlGTsioner French's let- 
ter: 

"Letters have been received at this office 
from farmers, who make inquiries concern- 
ing the contracts which parties are making 
with the farmers of Monroe and Oakland 
and ad^ining counties, for the growing of 
sugar beefts. I have examined the contracts, 
and, though the one being made by the 
Monroe parties ^ys 'The intent of this con- 
tract is to conform with the law of Mich- 
igan, offering a bounty for the manufac- 
ture of beet sugar,' I find that It does not 
do so. 

"The law enaicted by the last legislature 
offering a bounty of 1 cent a pound upon all 
sugar manufturtured in Michigan from 
beets grown In Michigan, provides that the 
manufa'cturer shaM produce gGk>d and suf- 
ficient receipts and vouchers to show that 
at least %4 a. ton of 2,000 pounds has actu- 
ally been paid for all beefts purchased, con- 
taining 12 per cent of sugar, and a sum pro- 
portionate to that amount for all beets con- 
taining a greater or less per cent of sugar. 

"There is not an instance to my knowl- 
edge in which the compa&y agrees to pay 
the stipulated price for beets, and the State 
will not pay any bqunty upon sugar man- 
ufactured from beets secured under such a 
contracts—National Rural. 



The Sugar War. 

New York, Jan. 9.— The World says: The 
sugar war Is still goinig on and the losses 
to the American Svgar Refining Company 
and its rivals, the Arbuckle's, Mollenhauer & 
Doscfher's are growing into many millions. 



Dealers throughout the country, who have 
suffered from the trust's actions for so many 
years, are throwing all their business to the 
anti-trust concern. At present time the Ar- 
buckles and Doscher's are underselling the 
American Sugar Refining Company 1^16 cent 
per pound in granulated and 1-8 cent per 
pound on soft sugars. The sugar Jobbers 
here are up in arms against all the refining 
concerns, because they have been selling 
direct to retailers. The "middle men" fear 
that the war may result in their being forced 
out of business, and they have entered to 
prevent such a contingency. 

A report was current in Wall street today 
that Ex-Oovemor Roawell P. Flower would 
enter the directory of the American Sugar 
Refining Company as a successor to John 
E. Searles. When a World reporter asked 
Mr. Flower If there was any truth in the 
story, his answer was "no," emphatically 
"no." 



RICE. 



Personal. 



Mr. T. A. Womack, of Manchac, La., was a 
guest of the Grunewald hotel last Saturday. 

We received a pleasant visit last Thursday 
from Mr. John Meyer, a leading cane raiser 
of the Lower Coast. 

Mr. T. H. Casey, of Gibson, La., a leading 
sugar planter of the Terrebonne country, was 
a guest of the Hotel Royal lait Friday. 

Mr. Frank J. WeWb, manager of the Baton 
Rouge Sugar Co., one of the finest sugar 
factories in Louisiana, was registered at 
the St. Charles on Sunday last. 

Mr. C. E. Gillis, of St Mary parish, where 
he is a prominent factor in the matter or 
developing sugar production, was in the city 
on a visit a few days ago. Mr. Gillis stopped 
at the Hotel Royal. 

Mr. John B. Foley, of Napoleomiville, one 
of the best sugar planters in Assumption 
parish, wheich is saying a great deal, came 
up to town a few days ago and put up at 
the Commercial. 

Mr. J. H. Kahoa, one of the leading sugar 
planters of the state, was a guest of the 
St Charles hotel on Friday last Mr. Kahoa 
registered frgm West Baton Rouge parish, 
where his extensive sugar holdings are situ- 
ated. 

(Mr. R. H. Carnal, of Lecompte, La., a 
gentleman prominently identified with the 
sugar planting interests of the more north- 
erly section of the sugar belt came up to the 
city a few days ago on a short visit Mr. 
Carnal was a guest of the St Charles hotel. 

Mr. French T. Maxwell, one of the best 
sugar house experts that Louisiana has had 
the honor of turning out was in the city 
last Monday and put up at the St. Charles 
hotel. Mr. Maxwell has Just taken off the 
immense crop of Col. James A. Ward's Belle 
Grove place in Iberville parish, and he 
expects to leave shortly for Mexico, where 
he will have charge of one of the largest 
sugar houses in that country. 



Calcasieu. 

(tPICIAL CORRBtPOKDCKCI. ) 

Editor Louisiana Haitier: 

The pac^ week has been a very changeable 
one and it has been very cold and rainy, as 
well as warm and clear. All kinds of 
weather seem to be with us this winter, 
and if it continues this way through this 
and next month, then the farmers will be 
behind with their spring work the same 
as last season, and that will necessitate more 
late planting which our farmers are trying to 
avoid as far s possible. On some of the 
dry farms the plow has been started, but 
it rains so much and so often that this work 
drags along and there has not been very 
much done as yet On some of the irrigated 
rice farms the threshing is not half complet- 
ed, owing to the frequent rains and the late- 
ness of the crop, but the shocked rice is 
standing the weather well where it is well 
set up. The irrigating companies are now 
trying to contract with the farmers for the 
water, but the companies refuse to supply 
water whenever the farmer wants it, and this 
fact is forcing some farmers to try the provi- 
dence farming again, for they say they will 
not obligate themselves to give two sacks of 
rice per acre, unless they can have the water 
when thier rice wants water, and the farm- 
ers wants their say about this, and we think 
the farmers are correct in wanting to use 
their own Judgment as to when their rice 
wants water. Some farmers who took water 
from the canals last season, did not grow 
half a crop, for the water was not given to 
them in ttane, and, in some cases, the farm- 
ers did not have enough rice to pay the 
water ren;t. If the irrigating companies 
would accept of a share of the crop then 
they would see to it that plenty of water 
was furnished the rice at all times, and both 
^ides would then be obliged to share the 
loss, a§ it is, the farmer has all the risk 
to run. Our late rice is not milling out very 
well, with a few exceptions, as the rice is 
not as hard and fiinty as the rice which 
had abundance of water, but it seems that 
we must have our late rice every year, al- 
though farmers try to avoid it in the begin- 
ning of the season. The well system of ir- 
rigating rice is not losing any friends, and 
quite a few wells are now being put down, 
and the work is much more easily accom- 
plished now, since a way has been found to 
handle the quicksand which has caused so 
much troulble in the pa^t, in putting down 
the tubing. 

Several car loads of mules have been ship- 
ed into the parish from the North, during the 
past ten days, and more are now on the road 
to arrive in a day or so. 

Very few horses are now shipped in as it 
is found the mule is better fitted for the 
rice farm than the horse, and the horse 
does not stand the climate as well. 



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27 



No early planting is looked for this spring, 
for the land remains so wet that teams can- 
not travel on it, except where there is new 
land, but there will be a large acreage of 
new land planted this season, and the total 
acreage in rice, will far exceed that of last 
season, unless the weather should prove to be 
so bad that the crop cannot be put in; a 
larger acreage would have been planted last 
season, had.it not been for the continued 
w^t weather in the spring. 

Calcasieu Rice Bird. 



More AlKHit Texas Rice Qrowins:. 

The favorable reception given my recent 
letter from Beaumont, on "The Rice Coun- 
try," has tempted me to go further into the 
subject, with your kind permisoion for the 
space occupied. The soil on which the rice 
crop is grown in Jefferson county, wherever 
I have been, Is what here on the coast is 
called crawA^h land ,hog wallow and black 
buckshot clay. It is both yellow and black 
stiff land, such as I have found, extends from 
the Sabine river to the Brazos, interspersed 
with ridges of chocolate loam when back a 
few miles from the Gulf shore and the in- 
fluence of the beach sand. 

It is always level, and often so flat as 
to be considered marshy, but Ls always sus- 
ceptrble of being drained if levels are run 
to 'find its dip, and proper ditches cut. Every 
such fiat that I have ever seen has a natural 
drain when examined, through some prairls 
draw, overgrown with the skunk weeds and 
grass that retards the natural fiow of water 
and retains it for days upon the land. It is 
as W. G. Sterrett, of the Galveston News, 
says, '*80ur lands." But drainage conquers 
this and I have seen as fine corn, cotton, oats 
and cane raised upon it as any farm land the 
state can produce when tamed and drained. 
And this is as mucu a necessity for the rice 
crop as for corn, for that crop must be plant- 
ed in May and June, and you know that wet 
lands cannot be successfully plowed or disc 
harrowed during the early spring months 
without good drainage. "Swamp rice" is 
really a misnomer in this state, for though 
ti.iS crop requires more water than moct 
irrigated crops, still it must have moderate- 
ly well drained fields for the young seed to 
sprout and grow in, or else, like other grains, 
it will sicken and die when the land is wet 
and sour. The fields in early stages of 
growth resemble an oat or wheat field; it 
is only in the later stages that the water is 
put on to a depth of six or eight inches, and 
by that time the plants have attained a 
height of a couple of feet and completely 
conceal the fiooded condition of its roots. 
It then resembles a well grown wheat field 
or one of timothy. And when the harvest 
is on this resem'blance is much greater, as 
the same type of machinery and "modus 
operandi" is necessary to separate the grain 
from the straw. 

The rough grain, as it is called, is then 
Bold to the mill men, who work it up into 



the marketable article. The industry is quite 
a large one in that part of the state, though 
but little is generally known of it, as the 
planters had a good thing and were not de- 
sirous of pushing it along. Having taken 
possession of all the natural reservoirs cap- 
able of holding surface water that could be 
Uied to fiood their fields without a pumping 
system, they thus fomned a water trust that 
most years paid handsome dividends. But 
old "Jupiter Pluvius" for several years back 
has looked with dissatisfaction upon such 
an enterprise, consequently the rainfall has 
been deficient and many of the farmers made 
total failure of crops. In consequence, the 
mill men who have carried these farmers 
for several seasons had to look for some 
method to improve their condition and in- 
sure thcun crops, so that their mills might 
have material to run on and that they might 
recover the capital advanced the planters 
that was now taklnig on the appearance of 
dobt. So they began talking irrigation by 
canal, having seen that system practiced suc- 
cessfully in Louisiana, and in a small way on 
one or tWo plantations ln'E3ast Texas. At 
this, the property holders who had Jarge 
tract's of land In the country, pricked up 
their ears and offered to take a hand. As 
a result, the injcorporati'on o^ big irrigation 
canal companies, the pushing forward of this 
work and the opening of thousand of acres 
of virgin land to cultivation and the adver- 
tliing of the business to attract farmers and 
thereby transmitting information to the gen- 
eral pul}!!^ and opening up on a large scale 
of it new industry that, like that of the mak- 
ing of sugar, offers for a long time to come, 
handsome dividends upon the capital invest- 
ed. 

We have now here id £>outh Texas and 
Louisiana what we call a "sweeftened aris- 
tocracy" — the sugar planters and mill men, 
who have made fortunes in cane growing and 
sugar refining Then the "sawdust aris- 
toracy," who have made fortunes and are 
Btill doing so out of the production of lum- 
ber from our long leaif pine forests. And 
now comes the "rice aristocracy," who are 
making much wealth from the malarious 
waters of our swamps and bayous. 

Pefople who. perceiving opportunity as na- 
ture has offered it, are prospering thereby, 
and what in years past was held up against 
our state as a bugbear and db£^a'cle to the 
settlement of it, has now by nature's al- 
chemy, been turned into a source of wealth 
and profit to her citizens, the very alluvium 
held in suspense by the waters of our slug- 
gllih streams and marshes is absorbed and 
taken up through the roots and leaves of 
the rice plant and after a time delivered 
into the hands of man as a source of wealth, 
health and nutriment, the rice plantations 
being as he^althy a place to live in as any- 
where else in Texas. 

Hoping this will be worth printing, and 
that you may desire further articles on this 
new industry which I shall be pleased to 
furnish, I am. respectfully.— P. C. T., in 
Farm and Ranch, 



Tmlmagres' Annual Review of the Rice 
Marlcet. 

New York. January 3rd, 1899. 
While the year just closed can hardly be 
called a more eventful one than its predeces- 
sor it was far from monotonous, having had 
its full measure of complex causes which 
in due time bore their sequential effecti=. 
With the passage of the holidays there was 
im»mediate resumption of former activity 
which with but slight interruptions con- 
tinued on enlarging scale until late August; 
the sales of that month being the heaviest 
of the year, as the cessation of hostilities 
in Cu^a caused a large demand from that 
quarter for all food products, prominently 
rice. 

At the opening there was a shortened sup- 
ply in both domestic and foreign; the form- 
er early exhausted and while being placed, 
so highly valued that foreign commanded 
most of the trade; later all of the demand 
was supplied by the imported styles, chiefly 
Java; next in order, Patna; third, Japan, 
which fell below the standard of several 
previous years; deteriorated quality and ad- 
vancing values promptly putting it out of 
range with other sorts which were of ex- 
cepiionally high order and more reasonable 
coit. Starting with holdings of most limited 
character, both here and abroad and the re- 
Luppiy barely keeping pace with current de- 
mands, stocks were continually light; condi- 
tions therefore favorable to the hardened 
values which shortly ensued and maintain- 
ed. 

In August there was the usual setting of 
commercial houses in order preparatory to 
the incoming of domestic new crop which 
promised to largely exceed that of any 
previous year. Almost coincidentally, how- 
ever, began a series of harvest storms which 
have prevailed to greater or lesser extent 
ever since in more than one locality. The 
Mississippi river crop being early, generally 
escaped but otherwise all sections suffered 
severely in diminished quantity and deterior- 
ation of quality. The losses in yield based 
on acrefage expectations, are estimated: 
Georgia 80 per cent, Carolinas 30 per cent, 
Loui*-iana 40 per cent. Stormy conditions 
were the more prolonged in Louisiana but 
at intervals considerable crop has been taken 
off and marketed. Everything has found 
ready sale, high style at full values and 
lower grades — ordinary to fair — have been 
kept in motion by pricing them far below 
relative worth. This fact has been more 
recently appreciated and as a result better 
prices secured. The storms were of service 
to thii extent, that they prevented the usual 
rush of rough to market and in consequence 
higher prices have^ been secured than would 
otherwise have been the case. 

As to the immediate situation it may be 
said that the new year opens aun)iciously. 
No Tittle business was done toward the close 
of Decem^ber for billinig and delivery after 



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tME LOUISIANA l^LANTEft AND SUGAR MANUf^ACtUftEtl. 



fVol. XXII, No. 2. 



1st inst., and this give- to the market an 
unusual air of activity. The forward sup- 
ply in Domestic is more liberal than at equal 
date for the past three years. This, however, 
need not be regarded as depressing as the 
amount is far short of requirements and will 
be practically closed out by, if not long be- 
fore spring. Present prices are reasonable; 
markedly so, in ordinary to fair Louisiana 
which offers opportunity for long margins 
and the slame is also true, though in lesser 
degree, of prime to choi-ce Carolina. We es- 
pecially commend the latter as better selec- 
tions are now obtainable; again, the mill- 
ings of this period carry more safely than 
those turned out at later dates. 

With an insuflacient supply of Domestic, 
Foreign is of continuing interest. All Eng- 
lish and Continental -m'arkets are Arm with 
upward tendency; the latter due to the unto- 
ward reports concerning the Burmah new 
crop; reductions in tliat crop variously esti- 
mated from 250,000 tons to 400,000 tons, an 
amount many time- greater than the annual 
product of the United States. That the 
shor'tage will be large and is generally cred- 
ited, is shown by liberal eng'agements for 
shipment until June and it can hardly be ex- 
pected that there will be any modification of 
prices until after the period stated. 



Sus^ar Cane in Texas. 

M-arion Hunting, of Gulf Prairie, sold a 
part of his cane crop for fifty dollars an acre 
in the field. 

B. T. Masterson is arranging to plant 
twenty-five acres of cane on his Eureka 
place, near Brazoria. 

Taylor Bros., of the Caney, will plant 1200 
acres oC cane during the coming year. They 
expect to soon have a central factory in thai 
section. 

Mr. Ad'aims, of the old Wharton plantation, 
planted several acres of cane laat fall, which 
he sold recently in the field for $40 per acre. 

Victor LaTulle, of the Caney, this year 
had 20 acres in cane, and next year will have 
200 acres, or more. He will plant all the 
cane he can get hold'of. 

Chas. Hansen, of Gulf Prairie, sold his «ane 
this year for fifty doll'ars an acre in the 
field. It was bought by Mr. Olliver. of Lake 
Jackson, and will be used for plantlmg. 

Mr. Stanger, who owas a beautiful planta- 
tion between Brazori-a and Angleton, is now 
planting cane. Many other planters around 
Brazoria are also planting cane. 

John Burnett, ot Oyster sreek, planted six 
acres of cane last fall which he recently sold 
in the field for $33 an acre. He will increase 
his acreage quite materaHy this year. 

H. Hurshner is now planting an acre of 
cane on his place near Angleton, from which 
he will next year have seed enough to plant 
several acres more. He proposes to try cane 
on the prairie land. 

Capt. Porter, of the Darrington plantation, 
Sandy Poinpt, this week sold 50 acres of cane 



to Capt. Chas. Reddick, Sartartia, for $2,750 
cash. Mr. Reddick will ship the cane to his 
plantation in Fort Bend counity, where seed 
cane was damaged recently by frost. 

Steve Harris, Tom Brown, Dan Field, 
Welse Ward and severaJ other colored farm- 
ers on this side of the river and near the 
•factory, have nice little patches of cane 
which will bring them good money. They 
will all more than double their acreage dur- 
ing the present year, and will be in shape 
to make good money next year. 

The Patton place, an the Brazos river, just 
above Columbia, has been leased for five 
years, with the privilege of buying at the 
expiration of that time, to wealthy sugar 
planters of Louisana, who will soon have it 
all in cane. They will grind their cane and 
pump the juice to the factory on this side 
of the river, about two miles from the plan- 
tation. 

The Lake Jackson plantation, one of the 
best old-time plantations in this cournty, 
located on Oyster creek, has been sold by 
Mr. Oliver to N. P. Smith, of Galveston, who 
will plant the whole plantation in cane. 
There are now between four and five hundred 
acres of land at Lake Jackson under cultiva- 
tion, which will be put into cane as speedily 
as possible. 

Quite a numher of colored men near 
Columibia, have made little fortunes this year 
on cane. Levi Wa^ington had 16 acres of 
cane, v.-hich he sold for $3.50 per ton. His 
cane will average about 25 tons per acre, 
hence he will have a very comfortalble stake. 
Ho will increase his acreage next year and 
will probably clear two or three thousand 
dollars above all expenses on the next crop. 

J. C. McNeil, president of the Tax-payers' 
Union, was in town Monday last, and while 
here get to talking about cane. In early days 
he made sugar on a pretty extensive scale, 
and he is thoroughly satisfied this is the fin- 
est sugar country In the United States. One 
year he made thirty-seven hosrsheads of 
sug^r, weighing from 1,600 to 1,700 pounds 
each, besides any amount of syrup, from 
eleven acres of cane. The sugar was made 
by the old open kettle process, in which 
there was a considerable loss over the mun- 
ner In which It Is now manufactured. He 
sold his last crop at 6 7-8 certts per pound, 
but quit because he could not secure the right 
class of labor. He always made money at the 
business, and says there is still big money in 
it. He thinks the Bernard river hard to 
beat as a cane country, and he knows for 
he has had the experience. 

The average cane crop this year will be 
about 25 tons to the acre, and is selling at 
about $3.50 laid down at the factory In 
Columbia, which ought to be profit enough 
to suit any farmer. It Is just about as sure 
a crop as can be grown In any agricultural 
country. Occasionally a drouth will cut It 
short, and It Is sometimes slightly damaged 



by frost, but it always makes a fair average 
and brings three times mora per acre than 
cotton and can be grown and handled at 
less expense. All cane growers of Louisiana 
are getting rich rapidly. In mahy instances 
'a plantation and all improvements have been 
paid for out of the first crop, yet all admit 
that Brazoria county is the best cane county 
In the United States. Larger crops can be 
grown and at much less expense per acre. 
Fertilization Is not necessary, and the matter 
of drainage Is a small affair us compared to 
Louisiana. The day of King Cotton Is past. 
Plant cane. 

The Times learns from Sergeant Lewis, 
manager of the Darrington plantation, that 
the place will this year make about 500 
hales of cotton, and 8,000 barrels of corn. 
There are 400 acres in cane on the place, but 
the crop is light, as the summer showers 
seemed to avoid the plantation. The plan- 
tation will ship 4,000 tons of cane to Colum- 
bia, and save enough to Increase the acre- 
age to 550 acres. Their cane has been sold 
for $4 per ton gross. The freight amounts 
to 60 cents per ton, leaving the price for 
the cane delivered on the cars, $3.40 per ton. 
$10,000 worth of cotton and cotton seed has 
already been sold, and about $4,000 more will 
be shipped before tfie season Is over. The 
place will produce in cotton and cane this 
year, which has been a moift unfavorable 
season, about $30,000 worth of cotton and 
cane, besides corn, vegetables, etc. The 
entire work haa been done by a force of 60 
convicts, and besides making the crop they 
have cleared 150 acres of land which will 
be planted in cane next year. The entire 
expense of running the place, including land 
rent will amount to about $20,000, leaving a 
net Income of $10,000. Darrington Is now 
owned by Captain Porter, who is taking a 
lively intereit In building the proposed rail- 
road from Areola to Columbia, which will 
give all the sugar farms of Oy&ter creek an 
opportunity to ship their cane to either Cun- 
ningham's or the Columbia factory. 

There was a time when Brazoria county 
was known as the "sugar bowl" of Texas, 
but for different reasons the business was al- 
lowed to languish until the present time only 
a few thousand acres of cane are grown In 
the county. But since the establishment of 
a central factory at Columbia, the prospect 
now seems to be that many planters will 
again turn their attention to cane. The pre- 
vailing low price of cotton doubtless has 
something to do with this change In senti- 
ment, for there is absolutely no money In 
cotton. Cane Is considered as safe and sure 
a crop as cane be grown in this country, 
and on 'the whole it is not an expensive 
crop when one considers the returns per acre. 
It requires both time and money to engage 
In the cane business on an extensive scale, 
but every planter can put in a few acres, 
and grow his own seed, thus work into the 



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business by degrees and witliout a h^kvy 
outlay at any on« time. Bi:azoria county Is 
unquestionaibly the be»t cane country in 
Texas, and in fact It is considered far super- 
ior to any part of Louisiana. Land is cheap, 
fertilizing is not necessary and neither is 
drainage expensive, wliile transportation, 
either by rail or water, is not excessive. 
There is no reasoa why every farmer in 
the county, who is situated either on a rail- 
road or a navigable stream, should not now 
have a few aoreff of cane, which will bring 
him -a sure and steady income. Plant cane. 
— Creighton, Texas, Times. 



Reasons for Caution With Central 
Sugar Factories. 

Having more t'han thirty years ago, and on 
very many occasions since— indeed, almost 
ad nausetam— aidvocated what is shortly 
called tihe "Central F^actory" system for the 
West Indiew, we think it well, now that 
everyone is converted, to point out reasons 
for caution, and to express a doubt whether 
the cure wi'll not come too late for the pa- 
tient. We wefll rememl>er the indlgnana ridi- 
cule with whicli the statement was received, 
wlien it was first made, that In favorable 
al'tuations in the West Indies, good V. P. 
fiU'^ar -could be produced at 8s. per cwt., or 
equal to 10s per cwL laaded Jn London and 
withont profit,- or with 10 per cent, profit, 
say, at lis per cwLTOiis etatemenit is now, 
nevertheless, accepted as a truism. The 
sugar meant was yellow grocery crystals, 
such as are generally made in Demerara. 
Allowing 6d for carriage and profits, such 
sugar would cost the grocers lis 6d in 
London, and aay 13s in the country. One 
farthing per lb. profit would bring this up to 
138 10 d In London, and 15s 4d in the country, 
and as 14s is l%d per lb., such sugar could 
not be retailed at ttot price, and this, it is 
to be remem'bered is for yellow sugar, with 
only, perhaps, 95 per cent, of sacchariine, and 
not avallaible for tea — one of the main 
vehicles for sugar (to use a French phrase.) 
Owlag to the cheaper carriage from the 
Continent, it is well known that, even if the 
bounties were entirely abolished, German 
granulated will continue to be retailed here 
at V/^ per lb. Tihi^ sugar is pure white, 
contains close on 100 per cent of saccharine, 
and is avallaWe for all purposes including 
tea. Owing to the greater ease with which 
tts small crystal melts, it iis also for many 
purposes, more economical In use. The 
white «ugar is also available for many manu- 
facturing purposes where the yellow is not. 
In order for the latter to compete with any 
suece-s, and on a large scale ( that is if, as 
might be tlie case with central factories, the 
production were quadrupled), it would have 
to be retailed at quite Vid Per lb. below t(he 
price of wliite granulated. ATlowlng y^d 
only (or 2s 4d per cw't.) for the necessary 
difference, this me^na that the West Indian 
planter V9\?W W^ to p^du?? yellow sugar 



at, say 7s per cwt. f.o.b. It is quite true 
that a certalin quantity does and can find 
a sale here in our shops at prices equal to 
or above those of granulated, but inquiry 
will show that this Is what may be called a 
fan'cy demand," Which must be relatively 
smaill In any case. 

The question next arise?, wftiether our 
planters wifh central factories could not 
produce white sugar equal to German gran- 
ulated. No doubt they can get near it If 
they try, but It Is questionable whether pure 
sugar can be produced as white as good 
continental makes, without remeltlng raw 
sugar. Even granulated, when made direct 
from the beet juice, Is not nearly equal to the 
refined produce. Supposing this to be suc- 
cessfully done with cane sugar, and the ob- 
noxious bounties to be removed, German 
sugar would still have an immense advan- 
tage in cheaper freigihit and landing charges, 
&c., especially to the midland and northern 
districts of this island. This would amount 
to quite Is to Is 6d per cwt. Unless cane 
sugar can -be produced to that extent cheaper 
than beet it could not drive out the latter. 

Further, there is Still a considerable mar- 
gin for reduction in beet sugar, which is 
really a by-product, the real profit being in 
agriculture generally. The root gives the 
Gorman!5 a rotation of crops—it gives a 
third crop, instead of tihe land lying fal- 
low; it Improves cultivation and increases 
the production of the subsequent yield of 
wheat wJien sown after beet. It also im- 
mensely increases the yield of meat and 
m'lk, because cattle are fed on the beet 
refuse. Further, it gives employmeTit to 
great numbers ol workpeople in winter in 
Northern Europe who would otherwise have 
uotliing to do, with the fields under snow. 
For all these reasons, any real pressure 
might very easily bring down tflie price of 
beetroot sugar— while no corresponding de- 
trea:e seems possible in the price of cane 
sugar. On the other hand, even approxi- 
mately white cane crystals, if of small size, 
would undoubtedly lead to a considerably 
Jarger manufacturing demand, as the pleas- 
"anter flavor of the cane would recommend 
it to wholesale coniectioners. 

The problem of whether cane or beet Is 
ultimately to conquer, depends largely upon 
whether an acre in the tropics or in the 
noith of Europe will produce the greatest 
weight of sugar. This is one important ques- 
tion whidi was not solved by our commis- 
sioners. No one seems to know the acreage 
under sugar In the West Indies, or the aver- 
.ige yield per acre. We believe, as a matter 
of fact, that althuu^i the Germans get nearly 
14 per cent, of sugnr from the beet, while 
fjnly the very best West Indian estates ap- 
proach this, yet that the latter per acre still 
obtain a good deal more sugar than the 
Germans. Before embarking large sums In 
central factories In the West Indies this 
point should be carefully studied and cleared 
up. Tliere seems, \u 6Qme quarters, ^n Id^a, 



not of starting factorle-? where the raw cane 
should be used, but of putting up refineries 
where raw sugar should be melted. This 
would be a disastrous error;, Sugar refining 
barely pays in this country with dieap coal 
and the best raw material in beet sugar. 
How then would it be likely to pay in the 
West Indies with dear coal and Muscovados 
to work from? In old times, when it paid 
refiners to work from West Indian sugar, 
there was a wide range of values (owing 
to protective duties), and the white sugar 
which formed the first runnings fetched 
relatively so high a price, that the secondary 
runnings could be sold much below the origi- 
nal cost of the raw materials. When this 
state of things came to an end, on the aboli- 
tion of our sugar duties In 1884, the British 
refiners were drawn by degrees to give up 
the use of such inferior products as Mus- 
covados. Besides, It Is fhe production of the 
latter which Is the chief reason for the de- 
cay of the West Indies, because such sugars 
really utilize about one-third of the sac- 
charine value that ought to be in the canes. 
If the West IndJes are ever to be resusci- 
tated, the first essential Is the abolition of 
such wasteful old processes— not their per- 
petuation by placing refineries on the Islands. 
The next essential is for the Muscovado 
planters to make sugar for direct consump- 
tion, and that it should not undergo a need- 
less cost of some 2s per cwt., in order to 
refine it. We trust, therefore, that no more 
will be heard on the subject of West Indian 
refineries. 

As to central factories, given sufllcient 
data, we have, under the circumstances, no 
objection even to government credit being 
invoked to start the system in the West 
Indies. But there is a lot of loose and mis- 
ehevous talk in the papers on the subject 
just now which may Ijpad to serious mis- 
chief, unless the colonial ofllce keeps busi- 
ness objects strictly in view, and refuses to 
be led away by vague philanthropy. We are 
all very sorry for the West Indies, but it 
would be no real help to throw good money 
after bad. We feel the more free to make 
these cautionary remarks as the original pro- 
posers of central factories, and their sole sup- 
porters for a great many years. The circum- 
stances of * the case have very materially 
altered of late, and although the system is 
still the only one that can save the West 
Indian sugar industry, the question to be 
considered by our statesmen is, whether it is 
not now too late to apply the remedy, at the 
cost of the Britl^ taxpayer, to patleats who 
may be beyond the reach of medicine. It 
must also be remembered that unhappily the 
Amerloan demand, whidh has been so use- 
ful of late to the West Indies, is hardly 
likely to he retained under recent develop- 
ments.— P. M. ReviefW. 



General W. J. Behan, of Alhambra planta- 
tion in Iberville parish, was a guest of the 
St Charles hotel last Tuesday night 



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80 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 2. 



Jan. 13 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. " 

. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

filrlot Prime.... 

Prime 

Fully Pair .... 

Oood Fair 

Pair 

Oood Common. 

Common 

ferior 



Centrifugal. 

Plant'n Granul'ed 
Off Qranulatod.. 
Choiee White.... 

Olt White 

Orey White 

ClioioeYeUow... 
Prime Yellow . . . 

Off Yellow 

8 eeondi 

MOLAttEt. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Paney 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 
Geod Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Oood Pair.... 

Fair 

f iid Common. 

f 'ommon 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Okoioe 

Strict Prime.... 
Good Prime .... 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Geod Common. 

Clommoo 

Inferior 



SYRUP- 



Niw York: 

SUGAR. 

Fair Refining. S&^ 
Centrifugals, OS'' 

Oranulated 

Standard A 

Dutch Granulated 
German Granul'td 

MOLASSES. 

N.O. Choice 

N. O.Fair 



London: 

Jaya, No. 16 D. 8 

A. & G. Beet 



Gut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
RosetU Extra C 

Candy ▲ 

CrytUl Extra C. 
Royal Ex C 

SYRUP. 



Jan. 7. 



- (• - 
2>4(83% 



22 @ 26 

— @ 32 
28 @ 29 

— @ 27 

— @ 26 

— (8 25 

— (3 24 

— (S 23 
-« 22 

— (i 21 

— 9 20 

18 9 19 

16 9 17 

-« 14 

12 a 13 

-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 



10 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



20 @ 24 



-9 - 

— 9 - 

— 94.70 

— 94.60 

— 94.96 

— 94.88 



-9 - 

ll8.9d. 
98.5}^d. 



- 95>i 

- @6»4 

- 95 
-94tt 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 
-9 - 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



Jan. 9. 



Jan. 10. 



Jan. II. 



Jan. 12. 



Jan. 13. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



3, 
I 
2 



22 9 26 

— 9 32 
28 9 29 
-9 27 

- 9 26 

- 9 25 

- 9 24 

- 9 23 

— 9 22 

- 9 21 

— 9 20 

18 9 19 
16 9 17 

- 9 14 
12 9 13 

- 9 10 

— 9 9 

— 9 8 
-9 7 

— 9 • 

— 9 6 

209 24 



22 9 26 

— 9 32 
28 9 29 
-9 27 

— 9 26 

— 9 25 

— 9 24 

— 9 23 

— 9 22 

— 9 21 

— 9 20 



19 



119 

16 9 17 

- 9 14 
12 9 -^ 

-9 

-9 

-9 
.. @ 

.. @ 

- 9 



13 
10 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



>20 9 24 



22 9 26 

— 9 32 
28 9 29 

- 9 27' 

- 9 26 

— 9 26 
-9 24 
-9 23 

— 9 22 

- 9 21 

— @ 20 

18 9 19 
16 9 17 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

- 9 10 

-<, J 

7 
6 
6 



-9 
-9 
- 9 
20 9 24 



3A94 
- 9 — 
3A93>^ 
3X93^ 

3?i93[T 
3A(a3^ 

3H93A 
2Ji93T^«r. 



22 9 26 

- 9 32 
28 9 29 
-.9 27 
-9 26 

- 9 25 

- 9 24 

- (3^23 

- 9 22 

- 9 21 

- 9 20 



18 9 19 
16 9 17 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

— 9 10 

- 9 ^ 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 



t 

8 
7 
6 
6 
20 9 24 



3?y94 



20 9 24 

- 9 31 
27 9 28 

— 9 26 

— 9 25 
23 9 24 

— 9 22 
-9 21 

- 9 20 
18 9 19 

- 9 17 



- 9 18 

- 9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 
-9 10 
-9 9 
-9 8 
-9 7 
-9 5 
-9 6 

- 9 - 



— 9 — 
3f,@|A 
Jiy@3A 
3K93A 
3,^9% 

3 93>6 

3 93>^ 

2Ji9aif 

4it@4% 
7-9 - 
4%9 - 
4A94A 

4 94k 

4^9- 
3%(a4 

2H@3h 



— 9 — 
-9 27 
25 9 26 
22 9 23 

— 9 20 

— 9 18 

— 9 17 

— 9 16 

— 9 15 
-9 14 

— 9 12 

— 9 — 
12 9 13 
10 9 11 

— 9 9 
-9 

— 9 

— 9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
18 9 



8 
7 
7 
6 
5 
5 
22 



Quiet. 



Quiet. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



-9 - 

— 9 - 

— 94.70 

— 94. 60 

— 94.96 

— 94 88 



lls.9d. 
98.6Kd. 



9 



— 94.70 

— 94. 60 

— 94.96 

— @4 83 



- 9 - 

- 9 - 

lis 9d. 

9s. 5>4d. 



9 



— 94.72 

— 94.6O 

— 94 96 

— @4 86 



- 9 - 

- 9 - 

lls.9d 
98. 6d. 



-9 - 

- 9 - 

— 94.72 

- 94.6O 

— 94 96 
-94 83 



-9 - 
- 9 - 

lls.9d. 
9s. 5>id. 



9 - 
9 - 
94.72 
94.60 
94 96 
94 83 

9- 



lls.7Kd. 
98. 4 j^d. 



-9 

— 9 

4.969 

4.849 



@ - 



-9 - 
-9 - 

ll8.4Hd. 
9s. 3d. 



Eirm. 



NEW ORLEANS REPINED. 



- 95>i 

- 96)i 

- 96 
-94H 
-9 - 
-9 - 

- 9 - 
-9 - 



- @5>i 

— 95 
-94|f 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 -^ 



-@5H 



- 95 

- 9 - 
-9 - 

- 9 - 
-9 - 



- 96^4 

- @5>4 

- 95^ 

- @5 

- @ - 

- 9 - 
-9 - 

- 9 - 



— ®5!4 

- @5l'6 

— @5 
-9 - 

- 9 - 
-9 - 

-9 - 



- 95>^' 

- (B^U 

- 9 - 
-95>< 
-9 - 

- 9 - 

- 9 - 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

▲t four ports of the United States to Jan. 4 

▲t four ports of Great Britain to Dec. 31 

At Hayana and Matanzas to Jan. 8 



.Tons 



116,093 

76.500 

4,7(X) 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
Jan. 13, 1899. 

. Sugar Nlolas««n 

Hhds. Barrels. Barrels. 

Recetfed 711 75,603 15,669 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i, iSoSt 
to Jan. 13, 1899- 

---- — Sunt: T^ Wlpla#n»« 

Hhds. ^ Barrels. Barrels, 

ReoelYed 6,534 1,016,809 175.523| 

Sold 6,534 1,000,211 • 173,570 



January 14, 1899.] 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



SI 



Jan. 13. 



WEEKLY MARBIET REPORT, 



1899. 



RICE. 

Rouoi, Mr bbl... 
OuuM, FanoT 

r%olM. . . 

Prim* 

Good ... 

Fsir .... 

Ordinary 

Ombidob. 

Inferior . . 

No.a 

Bkah, per ton.... 
PMjn, par ton... 



Jan. 7. 



2 50($4 26 
6 @6)i 

Sttid 800 
15 60918 00 



Jan. 9. 



2 00@4 60 
6 @6)^ 

4«@4« 
4 @4)i 

i*r«i% 

8 00® 8 50 

16 eo@ie 00 



Jan. 10. 



3 00@4 10 

8 @(iH 
5X@BJii 

4 @*H 
i^di^ 

8Ca% 860 
15 50318 00 



Jan. It. 



1 7504 26 
6 3«>i 

45f«6 
4><S(i4« 
4 @4H 

2h9B 

8 00<i 8 00 
16 60918 00 



Jan. 12. 



1 70(13 to 

6xe6ji 

4Ji®6 
4>i(S4?< 
4 94K 

8009 860 
16 60918 00 



Jan. 13. 



1 2694 00 
8 96^ 

40®6^ 
4)$94« 
4 9iH 

2X98 

8009 860 
16 6O9I8 00 



Sam* Day UmI 
Year. 



1 6094 00 

8Md3K 
Nominal 

OkO^lOSO 
16 009 ~ 



Toii« of Market i 
CaoM«f WMk. 



Steady. 



Steady. 



MM MH9A M rW'W OflMHItf Mf wM WMK 



Jan. 13, iB^. ' 



l#6€flVM . 






. 20,046 
18,360 



182 
3.149 




Sugar. 

The sugar market was steady at the 
end of the week. Receipts from the 
country were fair, and a demand suf- 
ficient to absorb most of the oifcrings 
prevailed. 



Molasses. 

Both open kettle and centrifugal 
goods were steady at the end of the 
week. 



Rice. 

Eough riee wa« steady at the close of 
the week and a fair amount of business 
was reported. Receipts were fair. Clean 
rice was steady. 



An Error. 

Editor LouitUma PtanUr:. 

I see that "Erin" reports the lose of Chet- 
wood factory by fire, in your issue of the 7th 
inst, and he also state the factory was con-, 
ducted on the co-operative plan and shareing 
the profits of the cane with the growers. No 
douht the insurance companies will be 
pleased, as well as the writer, to be able to 
inform you that "Erin" was misinformed as 
I am JuH now concluding my year's opera- 
tions at Chetwood. "Erin" was also wrong 
hi stating that I was shareing the profits ot 
the cane with the growers. After running 
for two weeks at a heavy loss, owing to the 
sour condition of the cane, and as the cane 
seemed to be gradually deteriorating. I 
finally refused to accept cane any longer at 
the old rate. I then agreed to handle the 
balance at cost, paying them all over and 
above the manufacturing expenses. I wish 
to state that the shingle mill on Chetwood 
plantation, belonging to Leconrpte Lumber 
Company, was destroyed by fire. Yours 
truly. E. V. Weems. 

Sugar in Rorida. 

For our tobacco we must seek a foreign 
market; our fruit has been struck hard by 
Jack Frost. But our sugar asks only recog- 
nition in the home market; our cane has no 
jlTftl 95 tbf W^ptiP^nt, ftR4 pqr bee^ canf 



lands are yet virgin to the plow. In Florida 
we have been trying to make syrup for a 
generation, and find that we cannot keep it 
because it will crystallize. From henceforth 
we accept the les:on — let it crystallize and 
make profit thereby! 

What is the difference between syrup and 
sugar? The one has glucose and water, 
while the other has not. 

Water we can remove at our pleasure with 
little cost; what is glucose? That which in 
ripe cane is sugar, in the unripe cane is 
glucose. But wlien glucose is present it must 
be gotten rid of, and the only way to do so 
is to force by heat a com/b'ination between 
particles of sugar and glucose that will pass 
away. Glucose prevents crystallization, which 
cannot occur in its presence, but to get rid 
of glucose we moist sacrifice the per cent of 
sugar which becomes ruinous where the 
cane must be ground in the unripe state— in 
Louisiana the Sugar Planter estimates this 
at 184,000 for one plantation. We tlius see 
that when Florida makes syrup and Louisi- 
ana makes sugar each is losing. Ignorance 
of chemistry has reversed the legitimate 
places in our industrial e»conomy that should 
be occupied by the two States. The fact 
that Louisiana "had the sugar-producing 
machinery and Florida had not, has de-r 
volved upon the nation a loss nearly equal 
to the interest upon the national dM)t. In 
conversation with Captain Rose, the owner 
of a canemfU in west Florida, lately, he said 
that to prevent crystallization he was care- 
ful to cut off the unripe portions of the 
cane. He should have ground the unripe 
Joints, or even cut his cane early if he 
wished to make syrup only Nothing could 
better iUustrate the necessity of that scien- 
tific education of the farmer which the 
Times-Union and Citizen has advocated. 

(Now, in Louisiana the cane must be 
ground in the unripe state to escape the 
danger of early frost; the difference of two 
weeks means the loss of |84,000 to one plan- 
tation. In south Florida no cane need be 
ground till it has ripened, and this means 
not only that more sugar has been produced 
by nature's process, but that much glucose 
Jias been changed Iz^tQ sugar. Every a^om of 



glucose in the juice wlien run into the evap- 
orating pan is not only a deleterious body 
like water, but when we g€?t rid of it by 
heat, it takes sugar with it. Florida syrup 
is not popular on the market because it soon 
crystallizes; let Louisiana make syrup and 
let us make sugar, or let us grind the unripe 
cane. 

All our small farmers grow cane, or would 
do it if they had a market for their product. 
Give them one in Jacksonville. The estab- 
lishment of a sugar plant by Ohio people in 
Baton Rouge is thus spoken of by the Ad- 
vocate of that city: 

"Many old cane growers advised against 
the erection of the plant outside the cane 
belt, but Manager Wetyb claimed that cane 
could be grown here as well as on the low- 
lands across the river, and his contention has 
been more than justified by the result-s that 
have followed. 

"Since its establlshiment in the center of 
a cotton field, the small farmers in every 
direction have turned attention to cane as a 
principal money crop, and this season, with- 
in a radius at two miles of the factory, 12,- 
000 tons of cane have been harvested and 
sold to the Baton Rouge company at a mar- 
ket value of $40,000. This has worked a 
marvelous improvement in the condition of 
the ^mall planters north of the city, and has 
brought them prosperity as against the old 
system of raising 4y2-cent cotton and buy- 
ing the necessaries of life on a credit basi^." 
—Times-Union and Citizen. 



Personal. 

Mr. W. E. Howell, of Lafourche parish, a 
cultivated gentleman and a prominent sugar 
planter, was in the city on a visit a few 
days ago. Mr. Howell made his headquarters 
at the St. Charles. 

Gov. H. C. Warmoth, of Magnolia, was 
in town durimg the week. The governor 
stopped at' Col. Blakely's hospitable es- 
tablishment on St. Charles street. 

Dr. R W. Boland, president of the Birm- 
ingham Machine & Foundry Co., of Birming- 
ham, came down to New Orleans during the 
past week and made himself at home for a 
day or two, as he doe» quite frequently 

now-a-days. 



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32 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol.. XXII.. No. 2, 



WANTS. 



We will publish In this column, free of charge until 
further notice, the applications of all managers, over- 
seers, engineers and sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions in the country, and alsotlie 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of thcffe. 

WAs^TED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 320 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
qurate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
csre Louisiana planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can famish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office^ 1-9 

WANTED— A young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a position on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is willing to work for a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, TaUulah, La. 12-31-96 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation In Cuba or Porto Klco. 
Sqeaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-98 



WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
fumfshed. Gallon or address F. F. AIerwin, 621 Du- 
malne street, New Orleans. 12-31-jj 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 80 years of age, well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
liouislana Planter. 12-31-T8 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
owner Is not pleased, no|salar>' will be expected. Ad- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-81-08 



WANTED— A position as Assistmt Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
married. Twenty years experience in handling labor. 
Several years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
of references given. Address, M. E. W., Care Varan- 
datlTotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-2S-98. 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school In Germany, has had II years 
experience in sugar house work, is In position mmy 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for consturction or repairing of sugar 
houses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
Hou.«?E Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-28-98. 



W * NTED— Position as Overaeer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can funiish best of 
references. J. A. Lardn, 622 Joseph St., New Or- 
leans, La. 12-25-98 

WANTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who Is engaged for coming Mexican or Cuban crop. 
State terms for instruction. Address, A. W. B., 6xU 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-2:3-98 

WANTED— A young married man of small family, 
desires a position in Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience In 
sug8r houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rouge, La. 



WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. STRUT3ERS, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

WANTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 

by an all around up-to-date plontation manager. Am 

now managing a large plantation and can furnish flrst- 

closs references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 

12-21-98 

WANTED— By a roung man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Spe«k German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 
12-21-18 

WANTED— A situation on a LoulBlaoa sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one who has 
hsd similar experience In the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
1220-96 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boAllng will apply to C. R., oare Loulslaaa Planter. 

12-20-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January Ist. Compensation $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shedyslde Plantation, Centervllle, La. 12-20-98 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostlemn a sugar plantation for 1899. Gooa refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumside, Louisiana. 12-21-98 

WANTED— Position as manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A. Blouin, Whltecastle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation for 1S99, by a young man who has had 
several years' experience and Is prepared to furnish 
the most unexceptional references. Address M., care 
The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 



WANTED— Position as assistant manager on sugar 
plantation, by a young unmarried man of strictly ab- 
stemious habits. Particularly successful In the man- 
agement of labor. Best references furnished. Ad- 
dress L. B. , care of The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

W-\NTED— Position as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantatiok for the coming year. Ix)ng experience 
and first-class references. Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 



WANTED—Poslton ns clerk in plantation or tdwn 
store, by a y ung man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Aadre48 G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. RocHBLLE, Honen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-96 

WANTED— Position for oomlng year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 33 years 
of age, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience In cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R., Box 258, New Iberia, La. 12-6-96 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
DoTER, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
Rome, N. Y. 12-6-98 



WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, ard 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, "Actions spealc 
louder than words." Address Drainage, Room 22, 
CltyHaU. 12-8-98 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced m4n 
who can come well recommende*', a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1036 N. Derbigny street. New Orleans. 
12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a good double- effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Pkn- 
tatlon. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations, .i&ddress Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position as manager for 1899, by a first- 
class man of experience and fine references. Will 
take an asslstancy and work very reasonable. A ddress 
E. W. Creiohton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-9S 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1899. Address Theo. 
Baudoin, Jr., HahnvlUe, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— .A sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar houses in Loulsland, Is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central America. Will accept a position on any terms 
consistent with first-class work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present emplovers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduated. Address Led a, this 
office. 12-8-98 

WANTED— By a young chemist with university edu- 
cation and one year's experience In large Louisiana 
factory, a position for Mexicm or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. 11-90-98 



WANTED— By a first-class sugar boiler, to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Will 
furnish the best of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 888 Bartholomew street, New Orleans. La. 

ll-2r-08 

WANTED— Position for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largest 
places In the State. Would have no objection to living 
on the place and making himself generally useful. Is a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, Belle Grove Plan- 
atlon, mitecasUe, La. 11-25-98 

WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan. Have had practical experience 
in the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 years of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
go to the West Indies. Reference from former employer 
given. Address X, this office. 11-26-W 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utility man 
in the country. Good references. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-98 



WANTED— Position in this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sngar boiler who has references of the very first 
class. Address Boiler, 507 Chartres street, New Or- 
leans. 11-9-98 



WANTED— A position as book-keeper or manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with U years' experience.. Would also open 
up and run a drug store In Interest of employer. Can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B., Donald- 
sonvllle, La. 11-21-98 



THE LANE & BODLEY CO., 

CINCINNATI, OHIO. 

Corliss Engines 

For SUGAR MILLS and DRAINAGE PUMPS 

UnequAled for 

Simplicity and Regulation ; 
Reliability and Performance* 

Slide Valve Engines, 
Air Compressors, Shafting, Hang- 
ers, Pulleys, etCii 



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H TKIleeWi? IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XIII. 



NEW ORLEANS, JANUARY 21, 1899. 



No. 3. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

iMtfsiana Sugar P/anfers' Asaoefat/M, 
Ascension Branch Sugar , PkmHr9* AMSociaP'on, 
Louis/ana Sugar Cham/sH' A$8oe/at/on, 
iCanaas Sugar Grow9r%' AoBOCiatton, 
ToMOM Sugar PhmHrs* JitaocIaHoa. 

Publiihea at New Orleans, Lfu, crery Saturday If omlng 

BY TH« 

LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURBR CO. 

Devoted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry In particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STU3DS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. Tf . PUGII. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at tho Poetoffloe at New Orleans as socond-dass 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Perannuir 

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All communications should be aJJressed to Tas 
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La. 

UST OP STOCKHOUMBRS. 



McCall Drethers, 
McCail 4k Legeodrs. 
Leoo (lodchaux, 
Jame6 Teller, 
B. Lemoon St Bro., 
Leeoc; 5oaUt, 
I ouls hush, 
W. E. BrtckeO. 
W. C Stnbbs, 
John Dynond, 
DaoM Ihompson, 
Poos & EUmett. 
H. C. Warmoth, 
iMdus Persy til. Jr., 
Edward J. day, 
Sbattuck iL Hofteiaii, 
emlle Rost. 
Tbom IS D MUler, 
Schoildt d Zlegter, 
r. O He aury, 
L. 5. aark. 
J. B. Levert. 
Si.npson Homor. 
W. B. Bloomfield. 
W. W Sutcllffe, 
John S. rioore. 
James C. Murphy. 
Joe. Webre, 



R. Beltran, 
Lucfen Soalat. 
U. R. Calder, 
L. A. eiHs. 
Hero d Malhiot, 
W.J. Behao. 
J. T. Moore, Jr., 
Edwards d Haubtira 
Jolm A. Morris. 
E. H. CuBAiflgbaai, 
R. Vlterbo. 
H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy. 
Andrew Price, 
B. d J. Keck. 
Wm. Uarig. 
Adolph M&er. 
A. A Woods. 
BraHsh .*oh'«soii, 
Oeorga P. Andertoa, 
A. L. notinot, 
Richard MUltkeii. 
W. P. n¥ts, 
Lezln A. Becoel, 
J. N. Pharr, 
. ules J. Jacob. 



EXECTTT'VE COMMITTEE. 
I*nry ncCaSI, 
_ __ 5oaicC, W. B. 

R. Calder. Loals Bush. 

John Dy^^ood. PrssMeat. 



Nelson Dingley. 

Long before this issue of the Planter 
will reach our readers the daily press 
will have carried to them the. news of 
the death, in Washington, of that dis- 
tinguished statesman, the Honorable 
Nelson Dingley, of Maine, chairman of 
the Ways and Means Committee of the 
lower house of Congress. The funeral 
services held in the hall of the House 
of Representatives over the remains of 
Mr. Dingley last Monday vveit? perhaps 
the most impressive ever held there. 
The president, his cabinet, distin^^uished 
members of the diplomatic corps, mem- 
bers of the Supreme Court, Senate and 
House, and distinguished men in mili- 
tary and civil life, were assembled about 
his bier on the floor of the House while 
the galleries were crowded to their ut- 
most capacity with anxious and appre- 
ciative participants in the ceremonial 
honors to the distinguished dead. 

The sugar planters of Louisiana, and, 
in fact, all the sugar producers of the 
L^nion have especial cause to lament the 
unexpected death of Mr. Dingley and 
in his death the loss of a friend who 
came to their rescue in their hours of 
greatest distress. The year of the repeal 
of the bounty law (18'94) and the en- 
actment of the Wilson hill will long be 
recalled in the annals of the sugar in- 
dustry as a black letter year in the su- 
gar producers' calendar. The slow re- 
covery from the shock of 1894 is shown 
in the reduced production of the subse- 
quent years.. 

When Mr. Dingley was made chair- 
man of the Ways and Means Commit- 
tee under the McKinley administration 
it became evident that the sugar pro- 
ducers of the United States could hope 
for better legislation so far as their in- 
terests were concerned, and in this they 
were not disappointed. The Dingley 
hill, as finallly passed, placed the sugar 
industry of this country on firmer foun- 
dfttioiw that it bad had for many yeaw 



and its rapid progress during the last two 
seasons demonstrates the truth of this 
proposition. 

. One peculiar feature of the Dingley 
bill, introduced largely through the ef- 
forts of the Louisiana Cane Growers' 
Association, was the recognition of the 
legislation affecting the value of import- 
ed sugars at the place of their produc- 
tion. The sugar bounty laws of IVance, 
Germany and Austria were considered, 
and to whatever extent those govern- 
ments paid a bounty on exported sugars, 
additional duties, equal in amount, were 
levied on those sugars when imported 
into this country. 'This feature of the 
Dingley bill was of vast importance to 
Louisiana, concentrating as it did the de- 
mand of the Amjerican sugar refiners 
almost exclusively -on cane sugars and 
thus relatively enhancing or maintain- 
ing their values. 

Mr. Dingley was a quiet, unobtrusive, 
modest gentleman, a man of a large abil- 
ity of great industry and persistence in 
the line of duty and thus able to ac- 
complish an immense amount of work. 
His friends and admirers in Louisiana 
will long cherish his memory and sym- 
pathize deeply with his family in the 
irreparable loss they have sustained in 
his death. 



The Louisiana Sugar Crop. 

The chief interest has now been trans- 
ferred from the crop of 1898-99, which 
has proved itself a sore disappointment, 
to that of 1899-1900, to which our 
planters, with commendable optimism, 
look for a restitution of the losses suf- 
fered by them during the campaign of 
the present winter. Hitherto the wea- 
ther conditions have not been particu- 
larly favorable either for the prosecu- 
tion of plowing, and other field work, 
or for the preservation of the seed cane. 
With regard to the latter it is a little 
early to prognosticate with any certain- 
ty, reports from those who haxe exam- 



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[Vol. xxn. No. 3. 



ined it being a little bit conflicting, 
although generally agreeing that the con- 
ditions have not been favorable for its 
perfect preservation. In a short while 
now more light will be thrown on this 
question and in the interim it would be 
unwiire to borrow trouble. 



Trade Notes. 

The Wn. PoweU Co., of ClDdnnatl. 

The Planter has received from the W'm. 
Powell Co .of Cincinnati, the well-known 
brass founders and manufacturers of all 
kinds of lubricating devices, their Ariadne 
1899 calendar. This is a beautiful calendar 
and a very handsome ornament for any 
office. The Wm. Powell Co. promise to mall 
duplicates of it to our subscribers upon re- 
ceipt of a postal request of the same, and 
we advise them all to get it. 

Personal. 

Messrs. Henry McCall and Richard McCall, 
of the Upper Coast, have been spending a 
few days in town during the past week. 

Mr. C. W. Bocage, of Houma, put up at 
the Royal on one of his customary visits 
during the week. 

Mr. Thomas Supple, a leading sugar plant- 
er, of Bayou Goula La, was among the ar- 
rivals at the Hotel Grunerwald during the 
past few days. 

Of one well-known in New Orleans, the 
"Tlp-of-the-Tongue" man o' the New York 
Press says: "Another member of the board 
of general appraisers, the wft of the satis- 
fied nine, usually has his name spelled wrong 
in the papers. He is not Joseph B. Wllker- 
son, but Joseph B. Wilkinson, Jr., one of 
the salt of the old Louisiana earth. He has 
the politeness of a Frenchman, the bon- 
hommie of an Arcadian, the warm heart of 
the Sheik Ul islam, ';rand mufti of Con- 
stantinople. I'd as soon hear Wilkinson af- 
ter dinner as to bask in the allegories of 
Depew or Choate, Ford or Taylor. He Is 
tall as a sycamore, thin and easily bent as 
a reed, and in a beauty sale would fetch 
about 3 cents on the dollar. He served 
through the war on the confederate side, 
ending his military career as colonel of the 
Twenty-first Louisiana Inikntry. I take him 
to be 60 years of age." 

Mr. A. W. Norman, a well-known sugar 
planter, was registered at the Hotel Royal 
Wednesday night. 

Mr. Ernest Roger, one of the foremost su- 
gar planters of Lafourche parish, was in 
the city during the past week on a visit and 
put up at the Commercial. 

Mr. A. M. Underwood, of the fine Belle 
View plantation near Franklin. La., was in 
the city on Wednesday last. Mr. Underwood 
stopped at the Hotel Royal and found there 
two of his confreres in the persons of Mr. 
Thomas J. Shaffer, of St. Mary, and Dr. H. 
J. Sanders, of the same fertile sectioti. 

Senpr JuUo Herr^ra, a prominent capitaliat 



and sugar planter of Guatemala, C. A., was 
registered at the <St. Charles hotel la£^ Wed- 
nesday. Mr. Herrera was in the city last 
summer, enroute for Europe, frotn whence 
he has now returned, and is on the way to 
his home in the tropics. 

At the Voiron place of Messrs Kessler 
Bros, were to be found this season again 
those sterling overseers, Messrs Edw. Oue- 
dry and his son Ekigene Guedry, who are 
among the best posted men in Louisiana 
regarding all kinds of sugar plantation work. 

Mr. O. M. Nilson, of Covington, La., and 
many other places was in the city during 
the past week and stopped at the Hotel 
Grunewald. Mr. Nilson was accompanied by 
his wife. He is extensively interested in 
sugar manufacturing operation's. 



The Probable Effect of the Annexation 
of Spanish Colonies on the Su^ar 
Industry of the United States. 

(Discussion At the meeting of The Louisiana Sugar 
Planters' Association, Thursday evening, January 
12tn, 1868. Judge Emile Rost m the ohalr, and Mr. 
Reginald Dykers at the desk.) 

Chair: The chair -will state that the last 
meeting of the association, on account of 
bad weather, and for want of a quorum, was 
adjourned without any proceedings whatever. 
At that meeting, the subject which had been 
continued from the previous" meeting was to 
have been discu-sed; i. e. The Probable Ef- 
fect of the Annexation of Spanish Colonies 
on the Sugar Industry of the United States. 
In connection with that subject, there were 
two papers sent to the association; and these 
papers although not read at the meeting, 
were published in the "Planter," and I pre- 
sume most of you gentlemen have read them. 
Mr. Secretary, what is the title of those 
papers? 

Secretary: "The Probable Effect of the 
Annexation of Spanisli Colonies on the Sugar 
Industry of the United States." One of the 
papers was by Prof. Wiley and the other by 
Mr. H. A. Brown. 

Chair: Gentlemen, is it your pleasure that 
these papers be read? 

Oen*l. W. J. Behan: As the papers have 
already been printed, I would move that 
they not be read. 

Motion seconded and carried. 

Chair: No other topic was selected at th^ 
last meefting, and if there is anything further 
to be said on the subject which had been 
continued, as to the effect of annexation, 
we would Ibe glad to take It up, as the 
same su'bject is still open for discussion. 
If there is nothing to be said on It, the chair 
will close the discussion and proceed to other 
matters. 

Hon. Henry McCall: Before closing the 
difiteussion of the sufbject, I would state that 
from time to time in the last two or three 
months the Cane Growers' Association have 
been discussing this same subject. It was 
to have held a meeting to-day, but did not 
for want of a quorum; etiU there was an 
interchange of views expressed by members 
of the executive committee, and I think that 
there seemed to be a disposition— in fact, 
I heard one gentleman say that it was under- 
stood that they were not to have a quorum 
to-day because they expected this subject 
to be taken up by this association; and it oc- 
curred to me this evening that perhaps it 
mtg^t be wise and proper to discuss it. I 
merely throw this out as a suggestion. I 

bATO not fiven tb« matter a i^eat in\ of 



thought. If it meets wkh the views of the 
members of this association, it might be well 
to talk this over, and adopt some resolution 
to the effect that the executive committee 
of this' association meet the executive com- 
mittee of the Oane Orowers' Association. 
Whilst, of course, the executive committee 
of this association is authorized to act for 
this association, it occurs to me that perhaps 
it might be well for it to express its views 
and discuss the matter, and then let the ex- | 
utive committee take it up— let the exec 
utive committee be authorized and instructed, | 
if you please, to confer at any time that they 
think proper, with the executive committee 
of the Cane Growers* Association, with the 
view of harmonizing plans and views, in 
case of possible legislation, on the question 
of expansion and annexation, etc., and take 
any other steps that may be necessary; to 
look into the matter of legislation at Wash- 
ington—all this and kindred subjects which 
may come up from time to time. T throw 
this out as a suggestion, Mr. President, and 
if you think anything of it, have the views 
of the members on the subject I would be 
glad to have you submit it, if you think 
there is any point in it A good many mem- 
bers of our association, of the executive 
committee of our association, are members 
of the Cane Growers' Association, and some 
of them are also members of the executive 
committee of the latter. 

Chair: The chair approves Mr. McCall's 
suggestion entirely. As this subject was 
brought up at the November meeting, and 
was very fully discussed at that meeting, no 
definite conclusions were reached. There 
was no expression of opinion in the form 
of a concensus of opinion, or resolution defl- 
nately expressing the sense of the associa- 
tion. The association could do one of two 
things— either express its opinion as posi- 
tively and strongly against the annexation 
of the colonies, or the association could de- 
plore the probable effects of such annexa- 
tion, and instruct the executive committee, 
as Mr. Henry MoCall suggests, to confer with 
the executive committee of the Cane Grow- 
ers* Association, so as to see what legislation 
would be necessary; or what could be done to 
prevent the annexation; would you put that 
in the form of a resolution? 

Prof. W. C. Stubbs: I would suggest, as 
a member of the executive committee, that 
we take the sense, or the essence of opinion, 
so to speak, of this audience, so that the 
executive committee will know how to act- 
so that it will know exactly what the sense 
of the association is. Put it in just as- strong 
language as you please, or leave anything 
out. Let anything be put into the resolution 
so that we will have some opinion to guide 
us when we get there. I am a mem1>er of 
that committee, and I am quite sure I will 
put it in as strong as any one here. I think 
the whole question of anpexation is one of, 
I might say, fraud, to use a common sort of 
expression, and I am willing to go into print, 
as severely as any one, but I should like to 
have the sense of the meeting. We have 
a good many planters present to-night, as 
many as ever, so let us have the^sense of 
the meeting, and express ourselves, not only 
to this conference, but also to the people of 
this state and surroundings. 

Hon. Hy. McCall: I would like to have a 
resolution. 

Chair: Do you desire that this should be 
the opinion of the association with regard 
to this question? 

Hon. Hy. McCall: With regard to this 
question, and then leave it to the executive 
committee to take such steps as it sees fit 
to carry this resolution into effect, through 
the influence of our senators, congressmen, 
etc., etc IQ atber words, let the ezecmiya 



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January 21, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



85 



committee be the channel through which this 
resolution should reach the public or con- 
gress. 

€halr: The chair will state tliat the way 
the question was brought up for discussion 
— it was merely a statement of the probable 
effect of annexation ; and any resolution that 
might be paissed would have to be either 
strongly against annexation, or strongly de- 
nouncing the damaging effects that annexa- 
tion would produce; it would want to be re- 
sponsive to the question which was discussed, 
and then the moment that expression has 
been obtained— an expression of opinion, — 
why then the executive committee could be 
instructed to co-operate with the other com- 
mittee. 

Hon. Hy. McCall: The secretary might 
read, perhaps, the resolution passed at the 
last meeting. It perhaps does not cover the 
ground entirely, but has some bearing upon 
it, because the question of annexation — ^that 
is a vague ques^tion. Annexation may mean 
a good deal, and it may meEn a little. If 
annexation means that Cuba, and Porto Rico 
and the Fh'illppilSes are to become parts of 
the United States— territories and states- 
why then it means absolute free trade, be- 
cause we have among ourselves— we have 
absolute free trade 'between the states. That 
Is one proposition. But if annexation mea^is 
colonies, we may, from the standpoint of con- 
stitutional lawyers, deplore having them. 
We may think they will have a very dis- 
astrous effect upon the institutions of this 
country, but not upon the sugar industry. 
So there are two ways to look at it. I sug- 
. gest these two ideas. Now I think the trea'y 
is going to be ratified. That is my belief. 
I think there is no more doubt about that 
than I am standing here to-night. But it 
does not follow, because the treaty is ratifi3d, 
that Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines 
are going to become integral parts of the 
United States— territories or states. It dee 3 
not follow. Some think it will follow, na- 
turally, but I don t think so; and of course 
it makes a difterence whether we aive a 
colonial policy, or whether we will take them 
in as territories or states. The secretary 
might read that resolution. 

Chair: Please read the resolution of the 
November meeting. 

(Resoluton which appeared in our issue cf 
December 10th was here read.) 

Chair: There are present here this €V n- 
Ing several members whom we did not have 
the pleaeure of hearing at the Novemo^r 
meeting. Co. Richard McCall was not at ihi 
November meeting. We would like to have 
an expression of views from him. 

Col. Richard McCall: Both as an Ameri- 
can citizen and as a sugar planter, I am op- 
posed to annexation; I don't think there is a 
planter in the State of Louisiana who is no.. 
I 'believe that so far the planters have not 
understood this subject I believe that when 
once their eyes are opened to the danger that 
appears to be imminent, that we will be 
able to get a larger body than is present at 
the meeting to-night, a acre is one thing 
that I think ought to be done; and I agree 
with Mr. McCall thoroughly. This associa- 
tion should draw closer in this fight to the 
Cane Growers' Association. So far, Jn the 
last fight, the Cane Growers' Association 
made most of t^ fight in congress for us; 
and I think that this association should get 
closer to It. I think that the two executive 
committees ought to come together, and see 
if they cannot bring the press of this state, 
to bear on our senators and representatives, 
to take a more active interest in protecting 
us from that which may eventually become 
the ruin of our industry. So far, outside of 
Senator Caffrey, I have heard very little siid 
as to wli4t these gentlemen tl^ink on this 



subject. Both parties seem divided as to 
what is best. Senator Foraker has given us 
the most cheering news so far, because he 
comes from the president's ^tate; he has the 
president's ear, and he has said (and it 
almost sounded as if he spoke by the card) 
that the President of the United States has 
been warned that the people or this coun- 
try didn''t want annexation; and "he said that 
cur occupation of the Philippines was only 
temporary; until they were given a good 
government. If that has been the effect of 
•the Anti Imperialist League up' to the pres- 
ent moment( which league is very strong 
in the North) then any backing that we can 
possibly give to it, ought to be given, either 
by means of a suitable resolution, or through 
our members, or, as in the North, by enor- 
mous po-itions. Up there enormous peti- 
tions are being signed— they are having pe- 
titions signed even in the little cross-road 
towns. Boston is the center of the Anti 
Imperialist League. And down here, where 
we are more directly affected by the annex- 
ation of these colonies, or the introduction 
of their products, with a reduced duty, into 
this country, for some Reason or other, we 
seem to be asleep. We are the people in this 
country who are going to be most affected 
by the introduction of the products of the 
West Indies, and so far ,we have said very 
little. I sometimes wonder what is the mat- 
ter with the sugar planters. Occasionally you 
can stir them up, but a danger like this does 
not seem to be able to bring them to their 
feet. I want to reiterate what I said a 
moment ago. I agree with Mr. McCall 
thoroughly. We ought to get close to the 
Cane Growers' Association, and try to evolve 
some policy, or come means, of bringing pres- 
sure to bear, either through our governor 
(and I believe he will conae to our assistance 
all he can), representatives and senators, 
as well as the press, so as to advertise this 
state as opposed to this imperial movement; 
and finally so express it. 

Gen'l. W. J. liehan: Mr. President, I am 
decidedly opposed to expansion and to an- 
nexation of the Islands of Porto Rico, Cuba 
pnd the Philippines. I did not expect to have 
the pleasure of being at your meeting to- 
right, and therefore did not prepare myself 
to make any response to the question you 
have before you. I am here to-night acci- 
d en tally. While on a visit to the Pacific 
slope last summer, I found that a very de- 
cided opinion prevailed amongst the people 
of the Pacific states and cities of the far 
West — a very strong and emphatic want or 
desire for the annexation of the Philippines 
and the West Indies. I didn't think that 
portended much to the benefit of my section 
of the country or the people of Louisiana. 
Annexation would mean a very serious 
menace to our interests. 

Cbair: You mean. General, that they 
were very strongly in favor of annexation? 

General Behan: Strongly in favor of an- 
nexing all the sugar islands; Cuba, Porto 
Rico and the Philippine Islands. I saw tliat 
feeling was strong. It created quite an im- 
pression on me. I feel that there is need for 
action on our part — very serious necessity, 
indeed. I have nothing much to suggest as 
to how we should prepare ourselves, and 
what we should do. Of course, the first thing 
to do is to organize some method by which 
we can approach congress, and impress our 
senators and congressmen with the serious- 
ness of the occasion. We will have to show 
them what a serious effect this annexation 
would have on our interests, and we would 
have to call upon them to do everything 
in their power to have congress not accept 
the annexation of those islands, because, 
were they to come In as territories or states, 
as bas beeu stated previously, that would 



bring about a system that would be equal 
to free trade; because we have a free inter- 
course of trade with our states, and of course 
if those islands became states or territories. 
It would mean free trade in sugar, and that 
would mean also a total destruction of 
the sugar Interests of Louisiana and the beet 
interests of the Western and Northern states. 

Chairman: You mean that these colonies 
would be placed exactly on the same foot- 
ing that the Hawaiian Islands now occupy? 

General Behan: Exactly. The interests 
of the beet growers of California, Nebraska, 
Utah— the beet growing industry is spread- 
ing as far eait as New York. New York 
grew quite a stock of beets last year, and 
a good quantity of it was manufactured into 
sugar. Nearly all of the Western and M d- 
dle States are now contemplating going into 
the beet sugar culture very extensively, so 
their interest becomes identical with ours, 
and we will have to . unite their infiuence 
with ours to try to combat this feeling and 
desire for annexation, and the sooner we do 
it the better. 

Col. G. G. Zenor: I don't feet tha:t I can 
add anything, sir, to what has already been 
said. I fully concur in the views expressed 
by Col. Hicliaiid McCall; bat htB question 
that presents itself now to the American 
people, I look upon as one of the most mo- 
mentous that -has evep been brought up 
since the organization of our government, 
and it requires the most j)rofoupd considera- 
tion of oiir ablest statesmen, it seems to 
me, to settle it in a manner that will redound 
to the best interests of the country. This 
enormous stride that we are taking deter- 
mines largely what the future may evolve. 
We are trampling on rather dangerous 
ground; and if we recur to the history of the 
past nations, we will find that we should 
move with a great deal of caution and con- 
sideration. The views we are now ex- 
pressing here are only a small portion of 
the views that are entertained by the peo- 
ple of the country; at the same time, they 
may have their effect and influence, and may 
serve, to a great extent, in moderating the 
views and opinions of whai might be called 
the "extremists on this question. As 
stated, I concur in the sentiments previously 
expressed by the gentlemen, and I do not 
feel that I can add anything to what has 
already been said. 

Chair: The subject has been discussed a 
good deal, and there Is one other expres- 
sion of opinion which I know the associa- 
tion would listen to with a great deal of in- 
terest, and would be glad to have as full as 
possible, and as extensively as possible; 
and that is the views of Prof. Stubbs on this 
question. 

Prof. Stubbs: This subject is one that 
appertains to a certain extent, to politics, 
which is something that I do not generally 
discuss, but I may say in this particular 
instance that -there is no division In the 
ranks of the Southern people so far.. Last 
year I travelled from the State of Virginia 
to this point, and iiave yet to meet the first 
Southern man who is in favor of annexa- 
tion or imperialism. I therefore think we 
can, without any hesitancy, express our opin- 
ions without being called pai^isanis, in tliis 
particular case, and we will condemn every- 
thing like annexation. I don't see to-day, 
with the lessons before us here in the South, 
particularly over the question of our sugar 
and rice industry, and particularly over the 
question of tobacco, and perhaps cotton, but 
certainly tobacco, rice and sugar, all south- 
ern interests that will be affected by this 
annexation, why we should not. There Is 
another consideration which I think can be 
taken up by all the Southern people to- 
gether; and that is tbls question at home 



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[Vol. xxn. No. 3. 



that we have to contend with — of mixed 
races, and solving the rights ,of citizenship. 
1 don't cee why we should want to absorb 
nine or ten millions of Malays, wliich would 
certainly complicate the problem of citizen- 
ship. Therefore I think every Southern 
man is diametrically opposed, and unalter- 
ably opposed, to anything liKe annexation 
of either Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philip- 
pines; but I will say that my convictions 
are that the imferialists, annexationists and 
Jingoes in this country are going to annex 
whether we want or not. I feel that an- 
nexation is Just as certain as it was with 
Hawaii twelve or eighteen months ago. How 
many of us were consulted about Hawaii. 
That^iuestion was almost railroaded through 
in a hurry. Who favored It? Monopolists, 
imperialists, annexationists, and, I may say, 
capitalists, all over the country, wlio ex- 
pected to get a great deal of good from It. 
rnfortunately, Just at that time, war took 
place, and a clincher was h£^d Immediately 
for the purpose of "war measures" In the fact 
that "we wanted a place for our ships on 
the Pacific." Now, to continue the trade 
with Ghin^, for all the world to-day is after 
China — Russia, England, France and Ger- 
many— ^the United States wants a hand in the 
trade that is ultimately to come from China, 
and therefore, to continue oiir course across 
the Pacific, we want, not dnly the Hawaiian 
1. 'lands, which we have acquired, but we also 
want the Philippines, and therefore that is 
going to be the argument used by politicians 
for the purpose of carrying on trade with 
China. But I believe, as I said before, all 
the Philippines, Cuba and ^orto Rico are 
going to be annexed to the UnVted 9tates. We 
may probably Btave it oft by an expression * 
of opinion from every individual citizen in 
the Eastern, Central and Southern states; 
but the West is emphatically in favor of 
annexation. Everybody who has anything to 
export wants to enlarge the dominion of ter- 
ritory in which they can eell their goods, and 
eVery one who has a bushel of wheat to 
ship, a bushel of corn to ship, or wlio has 
anything to export, wants of course annexa- 
tion, because they believe that with the 
prohibition removed on the tariff that they 
can compete in those markets with the home 
products and with the manufacturers of 
other countries, therefore they are after 
annexation. I don't think that, looking at 
it from any standpoint you want, from that 
of politfcal economy, from the standpoint of 
a citizen who desires the future welfare of 
his country, from the standpoint of a South- 
ern man who desires to see the Anglo Saxon 
supreme all over this country, from the 
.standpoint of a juouisianian, wliere nearly 
every interest in Louisiana is Jeopardized by 
annexation, I think all these cry out against 
annexation, and we should let our voices be 
^eard as far as possible in the councils at 
Washington. We may stop it, probably we 
may; but it looks today as though the thing 
is inetvitable. I am willing, as a member of 
your executive committee, as a member of 
your association, as an humble citizen of 
Louisiana, to stop it if possible. 

Mr. Bodley: Mr. President, I don't know 
that I have anytliing of interest to say to 
the asrociation. I have observed that for 
the last thirty years in my busl'ness with the 
sugar planter, I can not remember the time 
when they have not been climbing a moun- 
tain. I remember when the Freeman's bur- 
eau fell down on the sugar planting industry, 
I remember when the levees fell down and 
the water w«it all over the country; I re- 
mem'ber the time we had here during re- 
construction days; and today we have a 
mountain Just ahead of us— that H annex- 
ation of these islands, and possibly lower 
price sugp^r PPi^s^qu^i^t upon no tftrtff. Now 



R seems to me that it Is possible that the 
annexation of these i$lands-r-what we may 
call "expansion," which carries with it a 
great navy and large army, and fortifications 
on our coast— is going to create a great na- 
tional debt. To my mind, a national debt 
is a sugar planter's ^blessing and it means a 
high tariff. There Is nothing on earth that 
we can raise a tariff out of as easily as we 
can out of sugar. And why should we feel 
disposed to worry about something that is 
in the dim distant future. I don't think that 
we ought to worry aoout this possible an- 
nexation. We might, as Prof. Stubbs and 
other gentlemen have suggested, raise our 
voices against it, and bring our infiuence to 
bear, possibly We might; but the right thing 
for us to do is to go on and make sugar. 
Sugar planters today are worrying over this 
short crop — have to expect that occasionally; 
but we are not in a bad condition. There is 
nothing in the country tuat is better security 
than sugar property. No sugar planters have 
been sold out by the sheriff for a number 
of years. Sugar property Is sold Just as 
other property that Is in the marnet, and 
there Is a great ^demand for it. The coun- 
try is full of money — the planter can get all 
the money he wants — money is going beg- 
ging; there is no security tbat Is better than 
-ugar* property; feel encouraged; and, as 
I said, make our Infiuence felt along the 
lines suggested here tonight, <but don't sit 
down and worry over this matter. 

Mr. Chiirchill: I don't believe I can add 
anything to the remarks that have been 
made here by the gentlemen this evening. 
I naturally feel a great interest in what 
they have said. There is one gentleman here, 
a stranger, who I think couM add a little to 
the subject, whose headquarters, I believe, 
Is New York. I refer to Mr. Spencer Miller, 
of the Lidgerwood Company. 

Chair: Mr. Spencer Miller, the associa- 
tion would be glad to hear from you. 

Mr. Miller: I agree with the views ex- 
pressed by Prof. Stubbs that the annexation 
of these islands is inevitable. I believe al- 
so that the sugar planters should express 
themselves freely. Wd have in America a 
large and varied number of Interests, we cer- 
tainly have a great number of interests 
whose toes are tread upon, who should ex- 
press themselves, and let it be known that 
their toes are being tread upon. It is there- 
fore Just and proper that this association 
should express itself, because, if it does not 
express itself, it will be taken for granted 
that it does not care. I don't think, however, 
that the sugar planters are going to be ruin- 
ed by annexation, but .possibly I am speak- 
ing from ignorance on that score. There Is 
one thing that I have noticed in a great 
many years in the march of progress in this 
country; that when It is necessary to make 
advances to economize that nothing gives 
rise to that quite so quick as necessity, 
which is the mother of invention. Tou see 
here tonight that one inventor is at .work, 
and has a model here — a device that will 
cut cane. I believe that there are a vast 
number of improvements that can be made, 
and a great many ways can be saved In the 
handling, and in the manufacture of sugar; 
and It Is certain, as long as each planter 
Is satisfied with his profit, that there will 
be no advance. If this association feels satis- 
fied that its profits are going to go, then 
they are going to hustle themselves to find 
some way of reducing the cost of their 
manufacture. Necessity is going to be the 
mother again of some important inventions 
that is going to keep the plantation a going 
Just as well as today. Now, I want to say 
Just one word to thank you for the recep- 
tion I have received, not only on this occa- 
sicro, but several otl^erfi an^ | want to Par- 



ticularly mention my visit to General Be- 
han's house last week. The question of 
handling sugar cane in the field was brought 
up, and General Behan told me of the a;l- 
vantages that could be derived from some- 
thing that would take the cane from the 
field, and do away with the mules, and the 
labor and the wagons. He gave me so much 
encouragement that I believe today that the 
problem can be solved, and I hope before 
many months are over and past to be able 
to demonstrate where a saving of ten to fif- 
teen cents per ton can be effected, and you 
are going to be saved the use of mules and 
wagons; you are going to put your mules 
to work plowing to get an early plant. I 
also hope to keep your cane steadily sup- 
plied to the mill irrespective of labor con- 
ditions and weather. All of these things 
were given to me by one of youiumembers, 
Mr. John Dymond— he Has given me a great 
deal of encouragement; aaked me to take 
this matter up. You understand that If I 
did not receive any encouragement, met on- 
ly with a oold reception, why I should simply 
go home and n<}t bother my brains; but the 
encouragement that has <been given me is 
sufficient to warrant a start being made; 
whether I will be able to do anything for 
you remains to be seen. I have certainly suc- 
ceeded pretty well in helping solve this ques- 
tion of taking cypress logs out of the 
swamps. Where cypress formerly cost $8.00 
per thousand, It has now been reduced to 
$4.00 and a good steady suprply has been oT>. 
talned. In consequence of this, you have 
large mills, and the cypress mill owners have 
become rich. They became rich beci^use the 
problem was solved. I have not been alone 
in this, but. I had a great deal to do witli 
the machinery developed in that line; and 
if it is possible to do anything today for the 
planters, you can rest assured that I shall 
work hard and industriously to do it; and 
I want to thank every mem'ber of this as- 
sociation for the great encouragement given 
me; and I believe that this is only one of 
a number of tbe' things that will be develooed 
which, when the annexation of Cuba takes 
place, and which I .l)elleve is inevitable, will 
enable tbe planters to so cheapen the cost 
as to permit them to stay in the business. 

Prof. W. C. Stubbs: How about using the 
Improvements In -Cufba? 

Mr. Miller: I don't know the condition of 
their ground, but I understand their cane 
is not raised as it is here. 

Chair: I know I am expressing the opin- 
ion of all the members of the association 
in thanking Mr. Miller for his interesting 
remarks which have been listened to with 
mu€h pleasure. There is no doubt that in 
the line of work in which the Lidgerwood 
Company is engaged they have brought 
albout great improvement— we know they 
have facilitated the moving and transporta- 
tion of rock, timbers, and things of that 
kind; and if we are assisted with their ap- 
pliances and their brains In the transporta- 
tion — in the moving of cane from the field. 
I am sure, and feel convinced, that it will 
be of great help to us. 

The matter that comes up for final dis- 
position Is, in what shape shall the resolu- 
tloii suggested 'by Mr. Henry McCall be 
brought out The Chair will state its views 
in the premises: The first step towards an- 
nexation would be the ratification of the 
treaty of peace, but the ratification of the 
treaty of peace by the senate of the United 
States would simply mean the acceptance of 
the results of the war; it would simply mean 
the divesture of Spanish soverlgnty over the 
colonies, and would not fix the possession of 
these <;olonie3 with regard to the United 
States. In order to do that, legislation would 
be commeppei}. Acts would be presented (i^ 



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s? 



congress for the adoption or the establish- 
ment of territories in these colonies, and it 
is then, when the matter comes up befoie 
congress for legislation, that the fight will 
come off, will take place, 'between the expan- 
sionist party and tne a,nti expansionist party. 
I don't believe this question can possibly 
arise in the discussion in the senate about 
the treaty of peace. iMy own opinion makes 
me believe "both our senators are opposed to 
annexation, and I believe that all of our con- 
gressmen are likewise opposed to annex- 
ation; and if any concert of action is to 
be recommended between the executive com- 
mittee of this association and the executive 
committee of the cane growers association, 
it would be for action to oppose legislation 
by congress which would favor annexation. 
That is the way (the matter presents Itself 
to me, and ajay suggestion made by Mr. 
Henry McCall ' to that effect would then 
secure the co-operatton of the two com- 
mittees with regard to future legislation. 
Mr. McCall, did you put that in the shape of 
a resolution. 

Hon. Henry McCall: I did not; it was 
simply an idea tliat occurred to me that I 
threw out as a suggesttlon. 

Prof. Stubbs: That it is the sen-se of this 
association that amiexation would be in- 
jurious; and that it is furthermore the 
sense of this association that the executive 
committee should co-operate with the other 
executive committee of the Cane Growers* 
Association to take such steps as would be 
necessary to oppose any legislation looking 
towards annexation, and use every effort in 
their power to prevent it 

Col. Richard MoCall: There is one thing 
that ought to be 'borne in mind by the com- 
mittee having this in charge. The danger 
confronting us seems to be great, and it 
seems to be Imminent, when three^of the 
most prominent senators of the United 
States senate, men who are bitterly opposed 
to annexation, "have thought it necessary 
and wise, "before the treaty has been rati- 
fied, to make speeches in opposition to this 
expansion policy. What they know, we do 
not. One of them said yesterday (Mr. Por- 
aker) in the United States senate that these 
questions would be answered in the executive 
committee, showing that this question is 
under discussion in the executive commit- 
tee— proba'bly of both parties, but more 
probahly by the dominant part of the sen- 
ate. Therefore it ibeh'ooves us no% to lose 
any time. I believe that every blow that you 
can strike towards this end, towards check- 
ing it, will. help. I believe every exporter of 
the United States is an expa'Dsionist, and 
it shows that we have a big fight on our 
hands. I believe every man who has corn 
to sell, who has grain to sell, who has agri- 
cultural implements to sell, who has any- 
thing to sell that anybody else wants, Is 
an expansionist — every one of them. There 
may be some few men who are not on princi- 
ple. 

Chair: How about cotton? 

CoJ. Richard McCall: I believe they are 
expansionists if they can ge^ free trade; but 
Southern men do not want it on that plane. 

Chair: Col. MeCall's suggestion amends 
the proposition as made so as to cover tfie 
point that he makes— to call for prompt 
action, and strong action. 

The first question before the house would 
be a motion or resolution to that effect; 
that it Is the sense of this association that 
annexation would be injurious to the in- 
terests of this state, and should be opposed. 
Mr. MoCall, would you allow it to be placed 
in that shape. 

iProf. Stubbs: How would it do to add 
that annexation is antagonistic to the inter- 
ests of the entire Southern people, particu- 



larly to the sugar planters, rice planters and 
tobacco growers o' the South. This could 
then be taken up by the State Agricultural 
Association. 

Chair: The resolution as offered, Profes- 
sor, takes the ground that annexation would 
be injurious to this state, and should be 
opposed. It would perhaps be better to con- 
fine it to an expression of the views of this 
association, and the matter could be expand- 
ed. Although we are not expansionists, that 
question could be susceptible of expansion 
before the state society so «is to take in more 
territory. As it now stands with us, it would 
be an expression of the views of tbe Louis- 
iana Sugar Planters' Association; that is the 
way It reads, that it is the sense of tills as- 
sociation that the annexation of the Span- 
ish colonies would be injurious to this state 
and should be opposed. 

The secretary will please read the resolu- 
tion. 

Be it resolved: That it is the sense of this 
association that the annexation of the erst- 
while Spanish colonies would l>e injurious to 
this state, and should be opposed. 

Duly second by General Behan, and unani- 
mously carried. 

Chair: The second resolution would be that 
the executive committee of this association 
be instructed to act in concert wth the execu- 
tive committee of the Cane Growers' Asso- 
ciation in order to take such steps as they 
see fit looking to the defeat of the annexa- 
tion policy or annexation legislation. Now, 
if any member thinks !this should be modified 
in any way, the Ohair -will be glad to enter- 
tain the same. Does, the resolution co^er 
your idea Mr. McCall? 

Hon. Henry McCall: We might add to 
that that the secretary of this association be 
instructed to send a copy of 'tWs resolu- 
tion to the president off the American Cane 
Growers' Association in this city, and to le- 
quest them to inform us at what time and 
at what place we can meet them. We are 
ready to meet them at any time. I think 
I would put it in that shape. 

Chair: That. the secretary of this associa- 
tion be Instructed to send a copy of these 
resolutions — 

Hon. Henry MoCall: That the secretary 
of this association be instructed to send a 
copy of these resolutions to the president of 
the American Cane Growers' Association, 
and to request him to state the time when 
this executiv.e committee can meet uis ex- 
ecutive committee. 

Chair: And to request his assistance in 
carrying this resolution out. 

Hon. Henry MoCall: There is one point 
in connection with this question Oi. expan- 
sion, or annexation. I had the pleasure of 
meeting the other day a gentlemen who Bas 
been in the Sandwich Islands— Mr. George 
Boote. He has just returned from that 
country and gives some interesting accounts 
of the labor system in that coumtry; and 
certainly the people of this country, and es- 
pecially our labor organizations, will have 
a right to complain of the systems that are 
in vogue in that country. All the labor rhere 
is contract labor, mostly Japanese, Chinese 
and some Portuguese, imported under con- 
tract. They work for twelve dollars per 
month, winter and sutnmer, harvest season 
or any other time. They have skilled men 
there — they .become skilled sufficiently to run 
centrifugal machines, at $12. OG per month 
and they work tvfclve hours per day. Now, 
certainly, we cannot compete against that 
kind of labor and under thalt system. It 
seemis to me we will have powerful allies in 
the labor organizations of this country, and 
even without their assistance, why we, our- 
selves, are particularly interested in pre- 



venting the <carrylnig out of that system 
of contract labor in this ooumtry. I can re- 
collect an Instance, some two or three years 
ago when a member of thid association 
had very serious trouble with the govern- 
ment because 'he brought out a German 
chemist under a system of contract. 

Chair: The second resolution now reads: 
'That the executive committee of this as- 
sociation act in concert with the executive 
committee of the Cane Growers Association 
to take such steps as they see fit looking 
to the defeat of the annexation policy, and 
that the secretary send a copy of hese resolu- 
tions to the president of the Cane (xrowers 
A^ociation, requesting him to select the 
time and place for the meeting of the t^o 
committees and ask ihis assistance in bring- 
ing about the conference. 

Hon. Henry McCall: Perhaps it might be 
well to add that "this association asks the 
press of this city to take this matter up." 
We have representatives of the press with 
us, are always glad to have them, and we 
might perhaps ask the press of this city to 
take this matter up; it might be of some 
benefit to us. They have had some articles 
in their papers, but perhaps they ma^ say 
more on the subject. 

Chair: The suggestion is very good. The 
trouble is, in what shape, in what form, to 
voke this; whether you would call upon 
the assistance of the press by resolution as 
we are doing on t^e president of the C&ne 
Growers' Association; you think the matter 
could be put in the form o^ a resolution, and 
a copy sent to the various papers of this 
city? 

Mr. Wefbster: The press Is here; it will 
take care of the resolution. You need never 
fear about resolutions; they will do us a 
fair job; they will get your resolution 
printed, and you will see it in the papers to- 
morrow morning. f 

Chair: There is no doubt the s^pathy 
of the press Is with the people of the state; 
not only with this association, but with a 1 
the best interests of the state; . our local 
press, In that respect, especially represents 
all the best interests of the state and is 
unanimously against annexation. The press 
might bring the subject forward more 
prominently; but it is a matter which is 
before tlie entire country now, and the ques- 
tion being such a prominent one, I don't 
know that this association could very well 
ask the press Xo give it any more prlmi- 
nence — it is the one ques-clon now before 
the country— in all sections of the country— 
and is one of the live issues of the day. The 
press, without any urging on the part of this 
a.sociation, or our recommendations, will 
take it up as one of the principal and promi- 
nent questons of the day. 

Hon. Henry McCall withdrawing his sug- 
gestion as to the press taking the subject 
up, the following resolution was unanimous- 
ly adopted. 

■"^That the executive committee of this 
as aosociation act in concert with the 
executive committee of the American Cane 
Growers' -Association in order to take such 
steps as they may see fit looking to the de- 
feat of the annexation policy, and that the 
secretary of this association be instructed 
to send a copy df these "resolutions to the 
president of the American Cane Growers' 
Association, and request him to assist in 
bringing about a conference of the two com- 
mittees and to select a time and glace for 
the meeting." 

(To be Continued.) 

Mr. J. W. Barnett, of the Teche country, 
was at the St. Charles on Monday. 



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[Vol. xxn, No. 3. 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL COBRB8PONDENCE.) 

Editor LouiHatia Planter: 

Mr. George B. Reuss* Germama lactory 
terminated the laljors of a very unsatisfac- 
tory grinding season last week, but no par- 
ticulars as to the results are yet available. 
It is known, of course, that the place is 
no exception to the general rule in the mat- 
ter having fallen far short of expectations 
in tho sugar output, but Germania, McManor, 
and Belle Helene are on a par with refer- 
ence to the drying up of their sources of 
information as to the outcome of their work, 
hence it cannot be definitely determined 
just what the discrepancy between anticipa- 
tion and accompiisnment really is. 

Hermitage and Belle Helene are still un- 
der way, but are rapidly nearing the end of 
their troubles. A rumor comes from the 
latter place to the effect that as soon as the 
grinding of Mr. Joseph Haydel's cane has 
been finished, work wlil be stopped, leaving 
more or lesB other caue in the fields be- 
cause of the small and unprofitable percent- 
age of sucrose which it contains. Hermitage 
has been running with apparent smoothness 
and absence of mishaps, and up to two weeks 
ago was getting an average of sugar per ton 
that promised to put the place in the lead of 
all others in tills parish and section in that 
particular. 

'Meisrs. B. Lemann & Bro.'s Palo Alto fac- 
tory finished grinding on Tuesday of last 
week, and the drying up of first sugars was 
concluded the following day. The sugar out- 
put was sonl^uilhg over three and a quarter 
millions. An error of the pencil or the types 
in sulDstituting a figure 7 for a 2 added a 
half million to the estimate in last week's 
Ascension letter. 

IMessrs.Marchand & Beltran sent 1,911 tons 
of cane from their Willow Grove place to 
Belle Helene factory, and Mr. Simon Landry 
furnished 855 tons to the same eertablishment 
from his little St Mary place. 

The Iberville Planting and Manufacturing 
Comipahy Ic^t week stopped grinding cane 
from their Cora plantation in Qie Peytavin 
factory, leased from Messrs B. Lemann & 
Bro.. and are manipulating the remainder 
' of tlieir crop at Gen. W. J. Behan's Alham- 
bra factory. As Alhambra plantation ad- 
joins Cora a considerable saving is effected 
in the transportation of cane to the mill. 
It is reported that no troul)le is being ex- 
perienced in making good sugar at Alham- 
bra, and that wliile the yield per ton Is 
of course, much smaller than usual, there 
is a considera'ble increase over the quantity 
obtained at Peytavin. 

Mr. Leon Godchaux's big Elm Hall factory, 
near Napoleonvllle finished grinding last 
Sunday, and the output of dry sugars is re- 
ported at 8,000,000 pound-. The shortage at 
Elm Hall, comparing results with expecta- 
tions, is variously estimated by common re- 
port between two and four millions. 



Messrs Gaskins & Rolling finished taking 
off the crop of their Pike's Peak place, In 
St. James, two weeks ago, getting about 1,- 
350,000 pounds of sugar, which was 350,000 
pounds short of their expectations. 

Mr. John Vegas' Rlchbend factory, in the 
same vicinity, completed Its work on the 
8th Inst., getting 1,300,000 pounds of sugar 
approximately. The weight of cane crushed 
was 2,000 tons greater than that of the 
previous season, .but the sugar product was 
300,000 pounds less. 

It is of. course two early to form any re- 
liable estimate or Judgment as to the condir 
tion of seed cane, and there will be much 
uneaslne.s on this point for the next few 
weeks. The continued wet weatlier Is re- 
tarding field work for the new crop greatly, 
and as a like condition In the early fall 
prevented the usual amount of fall plow- 
ing and planting, the anxiety of our sugar 
people for good and settled weather that 
will enable them to start their plows a 
going can be readily understood. 

Our police Jury wastto have met Wednes- 
day to adopt the new good roads ordinance, 
but only four meml)ers appeared, or one 
short of a quorum, hence adjournment was 
voted until next Wednesday, the 25th inst. 
The condition of seed cane and pu<blic roads 
are the two burning questions confronting 
the people of Ascension. 

Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRBSPONDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been ansrthlng but favor- 
able during the past week and the rainy 
season has not yet passed, nor the cold 
either Judging from present Indications. On 
Sunday night there was a rainfall of 2.6 
Inches. No plowing or planting was done, 
only a little scattering work su'ch as pulling 
cane shucks out of drains and helping the 
water to get off of low places. The past 
year's experience has shown all the neces- 
sity of thorough drainage and preparations 
are making on all sides for extensfive work 
on this line during the year. Contracts for 
advances on cane crops and even for the 
purchase of cane are going on. In the latter 
a few more precautions are being taken 
and terms closer defined, but they will be 
silbstantially .what they were before. 

We visited the lower section of the parish 
recently, going by land notwithsftandlng the 
roads, which however, barring a few local- 
ities were not as bad as we expected to find 
them, for the planters generally have open- 
ed thetr ditches to the road, giving them 
better drainage. At Mr. Joseph D. Berret's, 
we saw preparations for putting his lower 
place, Last Hope, In rice. There are on 
this place 150 acres availaljle, whl-ch Mr. 
Berret thinks should yield 3,000 barrels for 
the place has done it before, and having 
rested two years, is in good shape now. Ar- 
cadia, the upper place, will rest now, not 
even the tempting prices paid by Allemania 
for cane the past season being sufficient 



temptation to Induce Mj*. Berret to give up 
rice. 

On account of effecting a partition among 
the co-owners, the Nottoway plantation, of 
Messrs Landry & Dugas, situate on the 
Mlssisiippi river, two miles below Bayou 
Goula was sold last Wednesday by Mr. An- 
drew A. Browne, sheriff, and fetclied $100,- 
000, and the purchaser was Mrs. Marie B. 
Landry, widow of the Tate Mr. Desire P. 
Landry. Nottoway contains In the nelgh- 
borliood of 1,200 acres, has a modern sugar 
house, a magnificent dwelling and l^ well 
equipped, yet it sold well. This sale is an- 
other evidence that sugar plantations in 
Iberville have not depreodated, and a num- 
ber of transfers of lots both Improved and 
unimproved, lately filed with the Clerk and 
Recorder Indicate a healthy tone In real 
eitate values. 

The Olivia plantation belonging to the 
estate of the late Mr. Raphael Beltran, of 
New Orleans, and located four miles below 
Plaquemlne "Gn the river was bought this 
wfiefc by Mr. Orvllle Thibodaux, of Ascen- 
sion, who will shortly take up his abode 
there. The consideration paid was $10;;B50. 
The St. AHx plantation in 9L James parish, 
another one of the Beltran places, was sold 
to Mt. Frederick J. Grace, of Plaquemlne. 

Mr. Joseph B. Woo! folk, of Kosedale, will 
put a pait of his plantation in cane this 
year. 

Mrs. Ellen Barton, widow of the late 
John K. oeymour, who was well-known in 
the sugar parishes, died thib week at the 
residence of her son-ln-lai^ Mr. James F. 
Ferrell, of Plaqu i niine. The deceased was 
85 years of age and besides two daughters, 
Mr3. Ferrell and Mrs. Dr. R. N. Nuckles, 
she leaves two sons, Messrs. Frank M. and 
Robert W. Seymour, both of this parish. 

Iberville* 



West Baton Rousre. 

(IPBCIAL CORllESPONDKNCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

One of the weather prophets, who Is said 
to have forecasted last year's meteorological 
conditions with remarkable accuracy, now 
comes forward with the lugubrious predic- 
tion that the weather of 1899 will be equal- 
ly as bad as that of 1898. If the weather 
that has prevailed since January set in is 
a forerunner of what is yet to come during 
the remainder of the year, thefn Indeed are 
the planters to be pitied. For the tains 
that characterized the last six months of 
1898 continue with a persistency that Is 
simply appalling. One day of sunshine is 
followed by three or four days of rain. Last 
Saturday and Sunday were fairly good days, 
but Sunday nlglit a violent hurricane came 
up, lasting about twenty minutes, accom- 
panied and followed by a torrential down- 
pour. Warm, foggy weather has prevailed 
until this (Wednesday) morning, when a 
strong Northwest wind, leaden-colored skies 
and falling temperature, combine to glvA 



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89 



promise of almost anything, in<;luding sleet 
and snow. 

The all-absorbing Topic just now is the 
condition of the seed cane. As to this, how- 
ever, statements differ widely. Reports 
from tW5 l>lanter8 are to the effect that the 
seed is badly spoiled. Two other promi- 
nent planterb living in another portion of 
the parish, 9tate that their seed cane is 
good— almost perfect. Another planter, in- 
terviewed on the same subject, said th at In 
advance of planting operations he did not 
propose to borrow trouble by examining the 
seed on his place. On one point, however, 
hll are agreed, and that is that the weather 
now prevailing is ideal weather for spoiling 
sjeed cane, and that with a continuation of 
existing conditions more or less injury is 
inevitable. Very little planting is being 
done as yet 

The grinding season is a thing of the past 
for all of the factories here except two— 
St. Delphine and Smithfield. So far as can 
be learned, the cane now being handled and 
which was windrowed prior to the last heavy 
freeze in Oecember is still in good condi- 
tion. Cinclare flnisned last Tuesday after 
a run that has not been altogether satis- 
factory. From this magnificent factory the 
same complaint came during the operating 
season— "no sugar in the cane.'' Poplar 
Grove finished working up seconds last Sun- 
day morning. 

Anchorage plantation, the property of the 
Anchorage Planting and Manufacturing 
Company, was sold at pufbUc auction in New 
Orleans last Thursday and was bought in 
by Mr. Ernest Vicknair, of Qt James, for 
134,000— one- third cash and the balance in 
one and two years. Mr. B, W. Cook having 
moved his family to Baton Rouge. Some 
days ago, the new proprietor at once took 
charge of Anchorage, which it is under' 
stood he will cultivate with the assistance 
of his two sons as overseers. Kelson planta- 
tion, belonging to the same company, was to 
have been offered for sale, but Mr. Cook 
withdrew it at the last moment, and will 
himself cultivate it. The sale of Anchorage 
brings about several other changes. Mr. 
D. C. Smith, for many years the efficient 
book-keeper of the company, with head- 
quarters at Kelson, will move to Baton 
Rouge. 

Mr. Taylor Bernard, who for twelve years 
or more has managed Anchorage, is now 
seeking another position. 

Mr. H. C. Laws, after spending a week at 
Cinclare, left for Cincinnati last Monday. 

The police jury of this parish holds an 
Important meeting today. 

Our public roads are in an appalling condi- 
tion. 

The rapid rise of the river at this point 
is causing some apprehension among the 
planters of West Baton Rouge. 



Mr. A. F. Tete, of Terrcibonne parish, was 
in the city on a visit a ferw days ago and 
registered at the Hotel Onmewald. 



Terrebonne. 

(FPKCIAL C0RRB8P0NDKNCE ) 

Editor LouiMiantt Planter: 

The absence of wintry weather and but 
light precipitations combined have enabled 
some to advance field work and a consider- 
able acreage was ploughed last week pre- 
paring the lands for planting both cane and 
corn. 

The weather has been much like what is 
usually had in the month of February and in 
consequence planting begai^ on Monday with 
some and on Tuesday it became more gener- 
al. The sandy lands which have been re- 
ploughed are working well, and a friable 
seed bed is secured, particularly where the 
lands were ploughed in the fall. A larger 
tonnage of seed cane was put in windrow 
than uiual and should it prove sound un- 
til the end of the planting season the area 
in plant cane should be large. 

The campaign is virtually at an end— at 
Myrtle Grove of Messrs Barrow & Duplantis, 
the last canes went to the mill Saturday 
morning, and at Orange Grove of Messrs. 
Dupont & Jollet, it is expected that opera- 
tions will end about Thursday. Not only 
was the tonnage per acre in many instances 
below expectations, but the yield of sugar 
per ton disastrously low even where the 
canes were unm'anured. 

Factory owners from the experience of last 
year realize ^more forcibly than ever the im- 
portance of securing canes relatively rich 
in saccharine, and to attain the end in view 
canes should be so treated as to promote 
early germination and rapid rooting. That 
early laying by is a factor of importance is 
beyond a peradvenuture. 

Too deep tplouging during the entire cul- 
tivating season tends to augment the ton- 
nage yield at the cost of sucrose in the canes. 
More frequent and shallower cultivation will 
insure larger acreage yields of sucrose where 
the extracting plant is such as to leave but 
little juice in the canes. Fertilizers con- 
taining vegetable and animal nitrogen 
should be applied early, very particularly 
coarsely ground, to hasten decomposition; 
otherwise the elements become solu'ble too 
late for the canes to make very rapid 
growth in June, July and August when stalk 
development should be at its maximum. 
Ratoons to be ground in October are fre- 
quently treated manurially Just like plant 
canes destined for the mill some time in 
December and consequently are often im- 
mature, with' a very low co-efflcient of 
purity. 

Wednesday of last week was variable; 
Thursday warm and partially cloudy; Fri- 
day cloudy with wind from the South; Sat- 
urday bright sunshine; Sunday favorable; 
Monday light showers very early in the 
morning and fine and cooler later; Tuesday 
dense fog in the morning, fine and cool 
later and on Wednesday morning before 
sunrise clear, cloudy later and rapidly grow- 
ing cold. 



The official weekly weather report from 
Schriever is as follows: 



Jan. 9.. 


..80 


40 


25 





Jan. 10 . 


..70 


56 




.18 


Jan. 11 . 


..77 


46 


25 


.05 


Jan. 12 . 


..64 


46 


25 




Jan. 13 . 


..82 


57 


25 


.01 


Jan. 14 . 


..«0 


54 


100 


.09 


Jan. 15 . 


..81 


52 


100 


... 




7G 


50 


43 
Terre^ 


.53 
ONNS. 




Vermilion. 





(tPBClAL C0RRB8P0NDEWCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
very ugly for the farmers. It has rained day 
and night, almost, for the entire week, and 
to end the week successfully as a rainy week 
there was a deluge la&t night (Sunday) that 
lasted from 10 to 2 o'clock and which flooded 
the entire country, to that extent that travel 
on the public roads has been almost suspend- 
ed to-day, and farm work will be at a stand- 
still for the next week to come. Cane farm- 
ers were in readiness to begin preparing 
their grounds for planting cane this morn- 
ing (Monday) but the flood last night wiil 
put them back ten days later. The cane de- 
livering season is over on the I. & V. road 
this season, and the shippers along the line 
are wearing brighter faces than they have 
been for the past six weeKs. The season 
was a very eventful one, and will long be re- 
membered as the most expensive grinding 
season that has ever been experienced in this 
parish. The tonnage was very heavy, but 
as a whole, the results were unsatisfactory 
to the manufacturer as well as the producer. 
The season was finished up here last Friday 
and the cane train that has been running 
between Abbeville and the Caffery Refinery 
at Franklin was discontinued on Saturday. 
The service during the entire season, though 
not as satisfactory as might have been, 
could have been worse, and the tonnage 
shipped over the railroad this year more than 
doubled that of last year, notwithstanding 
the loss caused by the freeze which was 
on a whole, at least, one-third of the entire 
crop. The loss in windrowed cane was very 
heavy ,as it was necessary to cut the cane 
back from one-fourth to one-third, as it was 
taken out of the windrow, and in Iberia 
parish, along the I. & V. road there are now 
several hundred acres of cane standing in 
the field sour. The acreage of cane will be 
Increased in some sections this year and in 
others it will be diminished. The loss of 
seed in many places will oause the decrease 
in acreage. Much complaint has been heard 
among our cane planters lately a/bout bad 
seed, and in many Instances the seed had to 
be taken up and sold to the mill. This is 
thought to be caused by the cane being put 
down while green and before any cold 
weather struck it at all. 

A grand reception and christening was 
participated in and enjoyed by a number of 
our cane planters and others at the old 



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40 



tSB tOmsUiXJL PtAitTEk Aitt> StClAK UAitJOtXtWiOLtL 



tVoL XXII, No. 1 



Perry house on the old Perry plantation, 
one mile south of Abbevllie on the Vermilion 
River, on Friday evening, January 13lh. 
The reception was given in honor of Mr. and 
Mrs. O. M. Nilson, Covington, La., who have 
been married only a short time, and who 
came over on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. W. 
S. NilBon, of Perry; but the main purpose 
was the christening of the old Perry farm 
under a new and more appropriate name, 
Lillywood. Mr. Nilson purchased this farm 
about twelve months ago from R. S. Perry, 
of New Ilberia, for the Vermilion Sugar Com- 
pany, Ltd., of which he is president, for the 
purpose of erecting a central sugar refinery 
thereon, and with that end in view, this com- 
pany did advance during the early part of 
this fall several thousands of dollars to buy 
seed cane for this mill, and they are under 
contract with the small farmer who ob- 
tained this money, to take care of his cane 
during the grinding season of 1899, and the 
small farmer Is ijinder contract to deliver 
his cane to -the sugar factory near Perry at 
the next cane harvest season. It Is the pur- 
post of the company to put up a 1,000 ton 
mill, daily capacity, and the initiatory steps 
have already "been taken to push the plant 
to completion early this year. Mr. Nilson 
chose the name ''Lillywood" for this place 
in honor of his wife who was a Miss Wood 
and whose chriitian name is Lilly. 

The Rose Hill and Ramsey refinery will 
finish grinding this week. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8PCKDENCE./ 

Editor Louvtuina PUitUer: 

Owing to the frequent, heavy rains which 
have been falling since the new year opened, 
there has been little or no attempt made 
towards planting this year's crops. The 
ground is now full of water and It will re- 
quire some length of time for it to t)ecome 
sufficiently dry to work to any advantage. 

The ^yous and leading drains are now 
bank full of water, therefore the drainage 
Is not nearly so good as It Is when the 
streams are lower. The beat that can be 
done at the present time Is to see that all 
drains are kept open, to permit the water 
to drain from the surface as much as possi- 
ble, In particular from the land on which 
seed cane has been laid down In reserve for 
planting this season's crop with. 

While there Is not much lieing said by the 
cane growers with regard to the soundness of 
seed cane, there is nevertheless a feeling of 
apprehension somehow, that when the day 
does open fair enough to begin the work of 
preparing the soil and planting, seed cane 
will be foimd in a somewhat deteriorated 
condition* 

Why this apprehension, unless from the 
poor condition of the cane which has been 
manufactured into sugar? The extremes in 
the conditions of the weather up to the time 
seed cane was put down and since, or all 
conib4n€|], perhaps cause the doubt to be 
entertained relative to the soundness of seed. 



From what can be learned, It ^eems that 
about all of the sugar factories situated In 
this upper tier of parishes, have now about 
finished the season's grinding. The results 
in most, if not all instances are varying and 
unsatisfactory. 

The Lelnster factory was oj;>eratlng up to 
the evening of the 14th, and may run to the 
end of this month, with the cane so deficient 
In sugar, that the factory was working at a 
loss to the proprietor. 

It seems from what Information can be 
obtained, that the sugar factories situated 
In the Red River parishes, which have here- 
tofore been so fortunate In having a rich 
sugar producing quality of cane to manufac- 
ture Into sugars, have had fate, to turn the 
scales upon them In manufacturing the 1898 
crop. From all accounts the profits, If any, 
will not call for any great amount of fig- 
uring. But all things considered, there Is a 
marked and cheerful disposition to take af- 
fairs a^ they are presented, and to make the 
best possible disposition of them, hoping for 
the returning tide to bring with It prosperity 
add happiness. Mr. C. F. Knoll expects to 
work some 400 acres of cane this year. His 
brothers, Charles and David, will plant cane, 
corn and peas on Mr. Knoll's Shirley plan- 
tation. 

Arrangements will be made during the 
coming months by which the T. & P. rail- 
road will build a half mile or more of track 
from their main line through the Shirley 
plantation, to a point on the Bayou Beouf, 
opposite Mr. Knoll's Ellen Kay plantation, 
mainly to facilitate the transfer of freights 
loading cane, etc. 

A heavy rain, during the night of the 15th 
Inst, covered the earth with a flood of water 
delaying 'both plantation work and business. 
Erin. 

East Baton Rous:e. 

From per-ons who have personally visit- 
ed different points In the sugar belt for 
business purposes, we learn that the crop 
Is about gathered. In tonnage this season 
has produced a full crop, but In yield of 
sugar the crop has fallen short one- third. 
Very few plantations are still grinding 
throughout the State, and the sugar re- 
fineries are on the eve of completing their 
labors for this season. Our local plant has 
about consumed all Its material and In a 
few days will shut down. Taken as a 
whole the sugar crop was not a success, 
but In comparison with the cotton crop 
It can be clas-ed as a verltaoie bonanza. 

Saturday at noon the big refinery of the 
Baton Rouge Sugar Company shut down for 
the season having exhausted Its cane sup- 
ply. Reviewing the past season at this 
plant it is found that they have ground over 
twenty thousand tons of cane. A new cut- 
ter w'»*' u ed this season, the patented de*'*'*'* 
of J. W. Hyatt of New Jersey, by which the 
cane was decorticated and so shredded that 
it resembled excelsior when it entered the 
rollers, thus facilitating the extraction of 
the Juice to a percentage as high as 98 and 
99 per cent. Throughout the spring and 
Piimmpr the drying of sugar will be con- 
t'nued but the regular grinding season at 
this plant Is at an end. At this like pH 
sugar plants throughout the State the yield 
was far below that of preceding seasons 
owing to the rainy weather which prevailed 



unceasingly wlUle the crop was growing.— 
Truth, Jan. 13. 



Calcasieu. 

(spbcial' gorrbwondbkcb.) 
Editor Louisiaiui PlarUBr: 

During the forepart of the week we had 
a heavy rain which flooded all the fields, 
but near the middle of the week weather 
took on a more favorable aspect and at the 
close of the week the weather Is very fine 
and has every appearance of behl^ settled, 
and everybody, and everybody else, hopes 
it will remain so for a good spell so as to 
give the farmers a chance to do some 
ploughing, as there has been very little of 
that work done as yet, aS^ farmers are get- 
ting anxious about this work, for late 
plou^lng threw them <behlnd last season, 
and It looks like It might do it again this 
spring. Every body seems to be prepair- 
Ing for the next' crop, and quite a good 
business is being done In plows and har- 
rows, and nrules are celling fast at good 
prices, but the most of this trade Is done on 
paper. 

The demand for new rice land seems to 
be very large, and exceeds the supply, but 
the acreage of new land will be Increased 
from fifty to seventy-five per cent over that 
of last season, still much olu land will not 
be cropi^fr owing to foul matter and a lack 
of waiter privileges. Farmers are laying in 
a good supply of seed rice, and It can be 
had at fair prl-ces, and many calls are made 
for the Japan seed. Some veTy heavy yields 
were secured from thbs rice In '^, but the 
storms ruined mucli of the landing crop, so 
it Is difficult to say what the average yield 
for the (parish would have been, but it 
would have exceeded the other varieties. 

Parties from the north are conertantly com- 
ing In and . securing rice land for future 
use, but very few aie bnjlug lo speculate 
on the land. Sonie large tracts of rice land 
have been secured In southeast Texas for 
rice culture, and the rice crop In that section 
will be Increased three 'hundred per cent over 
last season, so I am given to understand, and 
much talk about rice mills In that section, Is 
going the rounds, for the mills now running, 
cannot handle the crop of this season If it 
Ls Increased to that extent. The rice mill 
at Galveston Is doing a large business, and 
has been getting rice from the Calcasieu 
country this fall and winter, and the rice is 
found to be very fine, and that market would 
be of great benefit to this section if good 
water transportation facilities were first 
clas3, and the large vessels could make safe 
landings. There has been so much rain this 
winter that very little work has been done 
On the canals, and ft Is feared that some of 
the canals will not be built, or at least, 
finished as was Intended In the fall. But 
there Is yet time to do a large amount of 
work on them If the rain holds up for a 
few weeks. Rice is beginning to move brisk- 
ly, In spite of the bad roads, but there Is 
not very much being shipped by the origfnal 
owners, for they can get the cash at home. 
There Is still some threshing going on this 
week, but it Is fast being wound up, and 
about another week of fine weather will 
close it out, if the straw in the shock is dry 
enough to begin work at once. Judging by 
the way many farmers talk, there will be 
more Providence rice planted than there was 
last season, for some of the canal com- 
panies did not gfTve'tbe farmers water enough 
to make a full crop, and after the canal 
companies took out their share of the rice, 
there wasn ot much left, and this does not 
give the farmers very much encouragement 
and some of them think that Providence will 
do better than tliat. 

Calcasieu Rice Bird. 



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January 21, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAlt MANUPAOTUBHft. 



41 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(•FECIAL CORRB8PONDENC1.) 

Berlin, Dec. 24, 1898. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Our weather and crop reports continue very 
much the same as heretofore; the climatic 
conditions have been again moist and com- 
paratively warm, although with the begin- 
ning of the astronomical winter we had a 
colder day and light frost, which, however, 
has not lasted to the end of the week so 
that no improvement with regard to the 
pit.ed beets has taken place, and thus the 
only consolation is that the quantity of raw 
material still to be worked is insignificant. 
But the loBies caused by the adverse kind 
of weather still prevailing are the more re- 
grettable as the aspect of the markets caused 
by the late enhancing of estimates has 
grown in some degree less favorable to 
producers. On account of these estimates 
the commercial press is very harsh on the 
statistical union, not only because of the 
unexpected raising of the figures, which, by 
the way. is intimated to have been not 
qu te unforeseen by certain faljricants, but 
with regard to indi-acretions said to have 
taT^en place in the publication of the figures. 
It has been believed that these figures had 
been known on the sugar exchange of Paris, 
where selling orders had been given at once 
in a great volume. These latter, however, 
turn out to have b^en only maneuvers of 
bears at Paris, who even previous to the 
publication of the statistical figures spread 
exaggerated estimates of the importance of 
the French and Austrian crops. No blame, 
therefore, can be laid at the door of the 
statistical bureau o^ the fa'brixiants, who, in 
the best faith, gave the figures as resulting 
from the returns made by the individual 
factories. If these hbd entertained the in- 
tention to give misleading figures they cer- 
tainly could have held back with their high- 
er estimates which necessarily must pro- 
duce an adverse influence on the markets. 
Besides the statistical figures of France and 
Austria with regard to the production of 
this campaign, published since October, 
foreshadowed the necessity of a large cor- 
rection of the first estimates as, for instance, 
in Austria the official statements of t^at 
country showed that at the end of Novem- 
ber the production of 1898-1899 exceeded 
that of the preceding year already to the 
extent of 128,000 tons, whilst the October 
returns of the factories pointed only to a 
difference of about 75,000 in' favor of this 
campaigTi. I feel obliged to dwell on Ms sub- 
ject at some length, as this estimating busi- 
ness ha? routed the sugar markets all over 
the world and as the suspicion of the figures 
of the fabricants is apt to deprive them of 
the confidence In the sugar world they so far 
Justly enjoyed. 

The American Treasury has recently pub- 
lished the rates of the countervailing duties 
to 5e levied on foreign subsidized sugar. For 



Germany the bounty is set down at fifty 
pfennigs, which, indeed, represents the gross 
bounty for 100 kilogrammes of raw sugar 
But in taking this amount for the basis of 
calculating the discriminating duty no re- 
gard is taken ot the working tax the Ger- 
man factories are bound to pay, which re- 
duces the bounty the more, the larger the 
production of a factory is. Besides, in case 
the factories have a production in excess of 
tiieir contingent, the bounty received for the 
quantity not included in the contingent 
must be reimbursed to the imperial treasu- 
ry by which means the bounty per 100 kilo- 
grammes is materially reduced. Let me ex- 
emplify this by the figures of the sugar fac- 
tory Gulmsee, of which I some time ago 
furnished you an abstract of the annual re- 
port. Said factory has produced in the cam- 
paign 1897-98, 222,709 metrical centners (at 
100 kilogrammes) and the bounty received 
thereon amounts to 456,762.50 marks, but as 
the factory had exceeded its contingent by 
37,383 metrical centners, 93,900.45 marks 
had to be returned to the treasury and as 
the working tax amounted to 66,399.70 marks 
an aggregate sum of 160,300.15 marks must 
be deducted from the gross amount of the 
bounty, which leaves only 396,462.35 marks, 
or per metrical centner of 100 kilogrammes. 
1.82 marks instead of 2.50 marks. It must 
be admitted, however, that a large factory 
like that of Gulmsee does not represent the 
average, which, in such cases, should be 
taken as a basis of calculation, "but if we 
do so, we find that the German bounty 
amounts to no more than 2.20 . marks and 
this figure and not 2 50 marks should be the 
rate of the countervailing duty for Gepman 
raw sugar. In Austria the gross bounty for 
sugar testing between ©8 and 98 per cent is 
1.50 guldens and^for sugar testing between 
93 and 99 Vg per cent. 1.60 gulden, but the 
rates of disrlminating duty are fixed by 
your treasury at 1.37 and 1.48 guldens, in 
' whikh case due regard is taken of some re- 
ductions, resulting from the circumstance, 
that the Austrian fa^bricants receive a fixed 
amount of bounties, which must not be ex- 
ceeded, but if this be the case, the sums 
paid out in excess of the legal amount must 
be restituted at the end of the campaign. 
The case is not very different from that of 
Germany, but why, then, this different kind 
of treatment? I do not doubt that the im- 
perial government will undertake the neces- 
sary steps to remedy this injustice against 
our sugar exporters. 

One of the sugar factories combined with 
a farming interest is the factory Benning- 
sen, from whose annual report I extract the 
following figures. The agricultural section 
sitstalned a loss of 3598 marfcs, whloh Is 
principally due to the beeU being furnished 
to the sugar factory at a cheaper rate than 
formerly. The run comprised 74 days, dur- 
ing which period about 26,000 tons "of beeU 
were worked and 34^ tons of sugar pro- 
duced, so that to one ton of sugar 7.63 tons 
of beeU were required. The factory 



snowed a surplus of 72.316 marks, and, the 
above loss deducted, the profit of the whole 
establishment amounted to 68,718 marks, 
out of which a dividend of 4 pet was paid 
to the shareholders. 

There is scanty news from the markets. 
On the Qpening they wore a pretty cheer- 
full aspect^ and a continuous rallying from 
the late panic seemed probal)le. But be it on 
account of the approaching Christmas holi- 
days or be it for other causes, in the second 
half of he week a da l tone set in and busi- 
ness came nearly to a standstill. No doubt, 
the confidence so vlolen'sly shaken last week 
is not fully restored yet and owners ot all 
countries will do well to offer as sparingly as 
possible In order to place the market again 
on a sound basis, which sftatistlcally certain- 
ly Is not unsound. The prices though not clos- 
ing at the point reached, are a little dearer 
than last week and actual 88 pet sugars 
are quoted at Madgeburg at M. 10.45-10.60 
and delivery December fetches at Hamburg 
M. 9.75 f.o.b. Refined continued quiet without 
any change in prices. 

ROBT. Hennio. 



Berlin. 

(SPICIAL CORRCSPONDBltCI.) 

Berlin. December 31. 1898. 
Editor LouiHana Planter: 

There has been this week a faint touch 
of winter, but on the whole the damp and 
mild weather has continued, and the sugar 
factories go on working under the most un- 
favora/ble conditions. The number of these 
establishmentfr—lt Is true— has dwindled 
down to a very low figure—about 60 of them 
still In activity— and of those the greater 
half Is supposed to finish In the first fort- 
night of January— but at any rate there are 
losses and those afflicted with them will feel 
them the more, as the markets are in a very 
despondent mood. On the other hand, the 
quality has in general turned out to 'be much 
better than anticipated, and It compares also 
quite favorably with last year's, so that it 
Is safe to assume that In spite of the harm 
done by the weather to the beets in general, 
the yield in the factory is superior to that 
of the preceding campaign. This Is no doubt 
a noteworthy fact, which Is not re- 
stricted to Germany, but extends to all Eu- 
ropean beet countries, and it must be con- 
cluded therefrom that fall rains, as lon« as 
the root Is in tne ground, are not so very 
injurious as has been believed, so far. There 
has been Indeed improvement and not de- 
terioration, and this In quite a remarkable 
degree In France and Austria. Besides, not 
only the quality has exceeded expectations, 
but also the quan-tlty, whTch has largely 
profited by the rains. Under these circum- 
stances, 4t is not to .be wondered at that the 
estimates of December are so much higher 
than those of October, and that many spec- 
ulative castles in the air, have been woe- 
fully swept to the ground. The change of 
estimates and Its consequences are still the 



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42 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER A\0 SUOAR MANUFAOTUBBR. 



[Vol. XXlf. No. 8. 



topic of discussion in all sugar commercial 
circles. The fabricants are openly ac- 
cused of having not furnished true state- 
ments in October, which insinuation i^ par- 
ticularly aimed at the Austrians. But it 
must be borne in mind that many sugar au- 
thorities held that their first estimate was 
too high, end now came the mild and damp 
aptumn of which everybody believed it 
would prove disastrous to the quality, whilst 
quite the contrary came true. All this is 
going to demonstrate that it is too early to 
make up reliable estimates in October, when 
the weather can exercise so much influence 
on the final crop result. It must be admitted, 
the trade want figures as a basis of opera- 
tions, but the example of this year shows 
that they had better have a~ little more 
patience in that respect. To this advice, 
however, it is replied that if the factories* 
estimates were postponed to some later date, 
private estimates, which generally have no 
real basis at all and muit be considered as 
mere guesses, would take the place of the 
factories' inquiries, which would mean to 
get from the frying pan into the fire. On 
this occasion it may be noted that the con- 
tingent of the German sugar factories for 
1899 and 1900, that is the production on 
which the bounty must be paid, amounts to 
1,889,319 tons, as against 1,803,252 tons in 
1898-99. 

Interesting details are furnished by an offi- 
cial report on the results of the Swedish su- 
gar industry In 1897-98. There have been 19 
sugar producing establishments in activity, 
of which three are only Juice extracting sta- 
tions. The quantity of beets worked is 
stated to have been 716,141 tons, which is 
considerably less than in the preceeding cam- 
paign when 890,240 tons of beets had been 
converted into sugar. The largest factory 
In Sweden to judge, from its working of 
beets, is Kopinge, which Uacd in 1897-98, 79,- 
310 tons of beet, whilst the smallest, judged 
from the same standpoint, is Karlsharrum, 
with 22,376 tons of beet worked. The yield 
in the factory of ail the products of sugar 
was in the aggregate 88,93o ton^, or 12.42 per 
cent, which for a comparatively new beet 
country, is certainly a pretty good showing. 
The drainings In form of molasses amounted 
to 20,408 tons, or 2.88 per cent of the weight 
of the beets, which is likewise a good result 
and especially a proof of careful worK in the 
factory. There are beet countries of old 
standing, where, be it in consequence of an 
inferior raw material or less careful work, 
the drainings reach a much higher per- 
centage. The area planted with beets for 
1898-99 was 22,917 hectares. At a meeting 
of the sugar manufacturers held on the 20th 
inst., it was proposed to generally raise the 
surface sown to the extent of 20 pet., so 
that it, for 1899 and 1900 would have reached 
> 27,505 hectares. But some of the larger con- 
cerns aspired for a larger increase in con- 
sequence of which the assembly failed to 
come to a general understanding, the effect 
of which will be that all will make efforts to 



add to their former surface as much as pos- 
sible. 

The importation of sugar into Switzerland 
is steadily increasing. In the first three 
quarters of this year, 47,067 tons of refined 
have been imported into that country, as 
against 45,358 tons during the same period 
in 1897. By far the largest importer is Aus- 
tria; then follows France, and in the third 
place Germany. The import from Prance, 
had for some time, in consequence of tariff 
difficulties, greatly fallen off, but she has now 
nearly reached her former rank, although 
in the present year, the progress is compara- 
tively leis important than that achieved by 
Germany. In Switzerland, as is well known, 
more sugar is consumed than in any other 
continental country of Europe, which is due 
to the ever increasing infiux of strangers, es- 
pecially of English and American extrac- 
tion, who are originally gi-eat sugar eaters. 

The statistics of the three principal beet 
countries of Europe, Germany, Austria and 
France, have in consequence of the larger 
production, taken an unfavorable turn. The 
figures up to November 30 are: Production, 
2,383,635 tons; (1897-98, 2,292,785 tons); im- 
portations, 35,619 tons, (49,524 tons); ex- 
portajtion, 608,736 tons, (615,316 tons) con- 
sumption, 738.703 tons, (742,438 tons). 
Stocks, end pf November, 1,818,721 tons, (1,- 
737,249 tons); increase of stocks since Octo- 
ber 31st, 833,220 tons, (748,273 tons). The 
stocks are now larger than a year ago, and 
their increase is also in excess of that of 
last year, which Is much against expecta- 
tions entertained so far. 

The markets are, as a rule, between Christ- 
mas and New Year quiet, without any busi- 
ness of importance, but this year they have 
been particularly dull and prices, which in 
other years during that peripd used to be 
maintained on their antefcstive level, have 
again given way. This new weakening of 
the tendency must needs be attributed to 
the recent shock the markets have sus- 
tained by the late disappointing estimates, 
of which it seems they will recover only 
slowly. That they should recover, is my 
heartfelt wish for all sugar men, but espe- 
cially for your kind readers, to whom I 
hope to send in the course of the new year, 
better news then at the end of the one just 

ended. 

llovr. HKfinc. 



Barbados. 



The beginning of the fortnight was some- 
what dry, and planters were anxiously pray- 
ing for rain needed so regularly at this cru- 
cial period. On Monday the 19th Inst, there 
was a gentle downpour, lasting some hours— 
not very regularly distributed, some places 
only getting about 60 parts, whle others 
more favored were thoroughly soaked with 
two inches and more, but a very welcome 
and valuable contribution from Heaven's 
Mansion Hou<e fund to the struggling plant- 
er. Since these, genial showers have pre- 
vailed much to the benefit of the old crop. 



and the salvation of the plants just put 
in which were in great danger of being stew- 
ed in the soil by the hot suns. The rain- 
fall for the fortnight at our central point 
is 1 inch 70 parts, for the previous two 
weeks 1.05. The chief work on hand is that 
of planting, much facilitated by the showers. 
Planters have become wiser In their gener- 
ation, and instead of buying plants from 
ill-grown plots, iand sending their carts miles 
and miles over macadamised roads to fetch 
them, they wisely save their stock, and 
select plants from their best grown fields of 
plant canes. This custom is becoming more 
and more general, and cannot fail to signal- 
ly improve the health of the fields. Selection 
has done wonders for the beet, and by the 
same process we must endeavor to improve 
the sugar cane; indeed it may be said that 
the Bourbon disease was in large measure 
due to want of care in selection, half-starved 
plants gathered anywhere and everywhere, 
carted for miles under hot suns, and worst 
of all mixed up with inferior plants of the 
hug-me-close variety — a cane characterized 
'by a thick trashy covering well-suited to 
harbor insect pests. No wonder is it that 
the true Bourbon was gradually shouldered 
out, became degenerate, and the prey of in- 
sects! Fungus awakened us from that sleepy 
laisiez-faire style, and forced on us the 
value of selection. No. 147 seems to be 
holding its place as prime favorite, and every 
one is trying to establish, if only but a few 
acres. So that 1900 will probably find us 
in possession of a variety that £0 far has 
come through the ordeal of testing with 
high honors. But it must be remembered 
that the value of a sugar cane does not de- 
pend on its individual saccharine richness, 
but on the yield per acre. There is a variety 
of singular oweetness whose growth is so 
small and sparse as to render it useless as 
a crop cane. 

'Work in the fields is plentiful, and willing 
hands need never be idle. On the contrary, 
there is frequent complaint by planters that 
they cannot always obtain sufficient labor, 
when work is being pushed; for straiige to 
say the supply very seldom surpasses the de- 
mand. Recently some forking work was re- 
quired on an estate, but as hands could not 
be got, a team of oxen, a plough, and three 
men very satisfactorily and quickly accom- 
plished the task, so that the field was thor- 
oughly tilled and prepared in time to re- 
ceive its plants. Instead of using the old 
fashoned mass of iron at which a long team 
of oxen strain and tug, why do not planters 
patronize ploughs of light American manu- 
facture. They are equally efficient, if not 
more so than those in general use, and' re- 
quire only half the numbe/ of cattle to pull 
them. There is great economy in the an- 
cient plough, but there is no reason why its 
make should be clumsily antiquated. Cane 
fires have been all too prevalent; Jordans, 
Thorpes, and Walkers', Locust Hall, all in 



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January 21, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



48 



a Ting, in St. Georges' parish have suffered, 
—the two last severely. This circle of simul- 
taneous fires must certanly have been pre- 
meditated and properly planned, and dis- 
satisfaction witn something or somebody the 
cause, nor is the cause far to ^eek. A planter 
once, warmed into philanthropy by some 
local distress among his people, endeavored 
to afford relief by distributing provisions at 
his own expense. In the sharing some in- 
evitably got the gill of rice too much; 
grumbling ensued, and the planter received 
the reward of his philanthropy in the big 
bon-fire of his best field of canes. So runs 
the story, and some such cause we are well 
assured lies at the .bottom of the recent and 
costly illumination. Seven fires altogether 
(two at Locust Hall, three at Walker.^) with- 
in a radius of Itbout two miles; and in- 
cendiaries as usual scot free; for these 
criminals are seldom caught and brought to 
punishment. Indeed it seems that certain 
crimes — eTen that of murder — can be com- 
mitted in this island with impunity; and 
yet there are people amongst us who can 
smile complacently in the face of these facts, 
preferring: to cloak the naked truth, and to 
believe th.at, because crime is not detected, 
it does not exist. Pity it is to destroy the 
growing fields at this season, and so burn 
the children's bread. Although the canes 
have made a wonderful recovery and present 
now a very different appearance to that of 
the 11th of September yet it must be re- 
mem-bered that the fields were on that mem- 
orable morning fiattened out, and this means 
that the causes of depreciation at work in 
sprouting from roots and eyes' is going on 
in the interior of fields, perhaps to a great-, 
er extent than many imagine, and will cer- 
tainly tend to shorten the crop of *99, and 
to lessen that >shortage will require very 
careful handling and watchful care during 
the reaping season. To further accentuate 
shortage by incendiarism is a senseless 
crime against the community. The burnt 
canes are too unnpe for manufacture into 
sugar, and are being converted into syrup 
which is now sold at 16 cents per gallon 
from the boiling-house — a dead loss, as the 
unripe juice of only 6 degrees density is boil- 
ing away. The top plants may probably 
be utilized, but scorched plants grow with 
diflaculty, and may not ue worth the ex- 
pense of putting in. Altogether this cane- 
burning is a sorry and senseless business, a 
crime worse than man-slaughter, a stealthy 
bleeding to death of a paralysed industry, 
a wanton robbery of existence itself from 
both man and beast.— Agricultural Report, 
Dec. 24. 



A Picture of Sugar Estates in CuIni 
Half a Century Ago. 

OofPee plantations, though so beautiful, 
have not increased in numl^ers of late years; 
in fact, many of them have been changed 
into sugar estates, which are more profit- 
able, and render the owner socially more 



important, says a writer in the Century. 
The owner usually resides in Havana, where 
his family may enjoy the pleasures of cul- 
tivated society and have the luxuries of a 
city; he, therefore, employs a sort of middle- 
man, called a major-domo, to manage his 
estate. The owner wants all the money he 
can get to maintain his establishment in 
Havana, and the major-domo seeks to in- 
crease his percentage, and thus the poor 
slaves are ground to the dust, and at times 
the cruelties practiced are barbarous. The 
mayorals are usually Canary islanders, a 
hot-tempered- and cruel race, and, being 
without the restraint of the presence of the 
owner, are vindictively oppressive, and in 
their inhuman punishments often take life. 
The horrors which have been perpetrated in 
Cuba by the lash would disgrace barbari- 
ans. 

One striking fact, attesting the hardships 
,e < n a sugar estate, is that chil- 
dren are very rarely seen there. Slave 
men in their vigor are more profitable, and 
hence in a large force of several hundred 
men only a few women are allowed. The 
labors and hardships which these women 
endure tend to prevent increase, and the 
few children born usually die in infancy 
from neglect. There is no care taken to 
prevent this result, as they say it is cheap- 
er to supply the losses on the plantations 
by new importations than by the rearing of 
children. The climate, fortunately. Is so 
mild that the slaves need but little clothing, 
and a wide palm hat and a cloth about the 
loins are their costume in the fields, the sun 
seeming to have but little effect upon their 
black skins. 

Every week there is a ration day, in 
which they are drawn up in long lines, and 
a few pounds of black-looking beef, brought 
from Buenos Ayres, are thrown at the feet 
of each, which at night each cooks to suit 
himself. In addition, a course meal or small 
hominy (bran and all) is boiled and put 
in a trough, from which they eat it every 
morning with a spoon, a paddle or their 
hands, as they choose. 

The Africans brought up in Cuba are gen- 
erally from the coast of Mozambique, and 
are large, stout men, of dogged will, and 
at times are very obstinate. 

All these creatures believe implicitely in 
the transmigration of souls, and that if they 
commit suicide, they go immediately back 
to Africa. To check this evil, when a stii- 
cide occurs, the mayoral makes each of the 
slaves bring a bundle of wood and build a 
funeral pyre, on which the body is burned. 
The ashes are then scattered in the air by 
the survivors, in whose opinion the dead 
negro's soul is thus prevented from return- 
ing to Africa. In scattering the ashes they 
sigh audibly "Aha, aha," as if expressing 
grief that the soul of their companion can 
no longer go home. 

The appearance of the sugar estates is the 
very opposite of the 'beautiful coffee planta^ 
tions. Wide fieldis of monotonous green 
stretch themselTes to the (horizon on every 



side, while here and there the royal palm 
lifts its tufted head al)ove the verdant level. 
The mayoral'd house, the sugar works and 
the dingy barracoons for the slaves are the 
only objects to break the monotony of the 
desolate scene. Wlhen (first planted, the cane 
is laid lengthwise in trenches, or furrows, 
about five or six feet apart, and then cov- 
ered. From each eye (there is an eye to each 
sound joint) a shoot springs up, and sends 
out others, forming a bunch of canes, and 
thus the fieldis are covered with the most 
luxuriant green. 

Every year the crop is cut at the ground, 
and the next season another crop springs 
up from the roots, which are called ratoons. 
These ratoons will yield crops in this way 
for several years, the length of time depend- 
ing on the mildness of the climate. In 
Louisiana only three or four crops are gath- 
ered from one planting, while in the tropics 
eighteen or twenty are thus obtained. The 
grinding of the cane begins about the last 
of October, and continues until the begin- 
ning of the rainy season, a period of nearly 
six months. This is the time of greatest 
labor on the estate, and, without intermis- 
sion of Sundays or holidays, wltfi but few 
exceptions, the slaves work incessantly, and 
men and teams are worn out before work 
is over. The slaves are given a few trifiing 
presents, and are allowed some extra privi- 
leges to entourage them in undergoing tlbe 
increased labor. 



Trade Notes. 

Fertllizen. 

The sufbject of proper fertillzatfon 
4s one of such vest range, and of such 
vital importance to the agriculturist, that it 
has very reasonably engaged the attention 
of the best informed minds, and it would 
therefore be impossible to treat at length of 
this all important subject in the present 
notice — we make the bare statement, how- 
ever, that, if you will feed mother earth 
properly, she will respond with a bounteous 
return for your outlay. Apropos of tho 
above, we would refer all of our readers, who 
are interested on this subject to the adver- 
tisement of that well-known and prosperous 
concern— The Standard Guano and Chemical 
Manufacturing Co. They can be found in 
their spacious offices, at 714 Union street. 
With ample means, a corps of efficient and 
courteous bookkeepers and clerks and an 
army of competent and willing workers, 
they are well prepared to answer ail de- 
mands made on them for fertilizers. The 
officers, Mr. C. M. Soria, President; Mr. 
John S. Rainey, Vice-president and Mr. 
Chas. Rainey, Secretary and Treasurer, 
are all men of high integrity, and are ever 
ready to give information on this important 
subject Call on them, or send for their 
handsome illustrated almanac, sent free. 



Hon. Walter A. O'Neill, of the Llnwood 
place in St. Mary, was in the city on a visit 
a few days agp and put up at Colonel Rivers' 
fine hotel 



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THE I^OUISUN A 1*LANTER^ AND SUGA& MAKUPACTUBBIL 



fVol. XXH, Ko. 3. 



BBBT SUGAR 

Lehi^ Vtah. 

The closing scene of this season's cam- 
paign at the factory was enacted at the 
Opera House on Wednesday night when the 
employees and their partners were entertain- 
ed by the Salt Lake Opera Co. who present- 
ed **The Chimes of Normandy" in a very 
creditable manner. Besides the employees 
a number of our citizens and the choir had 
been given complimentary tickets and when 
the curtain rose the house was filled. It was 
a musical treat to the people of Lehi which 
was duly appreciated. We should be p:eased 
to see the company visit us more often. 

On Wednesday the beet agents and their 
wives were invited to Lehi as the giie^ts of 
the sugar company. Upon their arrival they 
were taken to the Union Hotel and in the 
evening were given a banquet After the 
feast was over Field Supt Austin expressed 
his satisfaction with the labors of the agents 
and the way the beets had come to the fac- 
tory. Manager Cutler thanked them for the 
uniformity of their labors. The agents then 
spoke of their labors and expressed the high 
esteem in wn.^a the company was held In 
their various towns. Later in the evening 
they attended the opera and left for their 
homes next morning. Those present were: 
Alex. Robertson, Springville; W. T. Tew, 
Mapleton, whose wives were not present on 
account of sickness at home. R. P. Snell 
and wife, Spanish Fork; John Johnson and 
wife, Lake View; Samuel Green and wife, 
Pleasant Grove; S. L. Howard and wife, 
Rlverton; B. B. Hawkins and wife, Benja- 
min; Hans Hansen and wife, West Jordan; 
John Lant and wife, Payson; R. B. Gardner 
and wife, West Jordan; james Gardner and 
wife, Lehi. 

The figures for the last campaign show 
some interesting facts. The factory was cut- 
ting beets 104 days averaging 414.5 tons per 
day which is the best average ever made by 
a mill of the same capacity. Some of the 
other figures are as follows: 

Paid for labor $100,000 

Amount paid for beets 200,000 

Coal, tons $^300 

Coke (eastern) tons 200 

Limestone, tons . . 2,000 

Slicing knives 600 

Sulphur, pounds 11,000 

Duck cloth, in yards 5,000 

Burlap, yards 3,600 

Filter bags 600 

Burlap sugar bags i..t 95,000 

Cotton sugar bags 95.000 

Twine, pounds 1,200 

Lubricant oils, gallons 1,000 

Tallov. pounds 15,000 

Carbonate of soda, pounds 23,000 

Caustic soda, pounds 7,000 

The factory people are now busy arrang- 
ing plans for next season's campaign and 
will soon have a definite plan arranged for 
their coming work. There will be some 
changes but just what they will be has not 
yet been decided upon. — Banner, Jan. 7. 



Norfolk, Nebraska. 

The average yield of the 1898 crop has 
been from ten to twelve tons, giving the 
farmer a gross revenue of from $45 to $54 
to the acre. As tue cost of raising beets, 
through a better understanding of the crop 
learned by experience, is never more than 
$25 per acre, and more, frequently less, it will 
be seen that there is no other crop that can 
compare to beets for profit. While the 
average yield has been ten to twelve tons 
per acre, there are exceptional cases where 
the yield far exceeded that, the largest on 
record being one field of five acres from 
which were harvested 120 tons of beets.— 
News. 



Lo5 Alamitos, California. 

(SPBaAL CORRBSPOlfDENCB.) 

Eklitor Louisuitui Planter: 

The recent rains gave us a precipitation of 
2.78 inchee^the record now being 4.60 for the 
season. Every farmer now fails heir to his 
share of the "million dollar" rain, while the 
laborer, mechanic and artisan comes in for 
his portion in the due course of business. A 
good crop la assured to the beert raisers in 
this vicinity and, with good reason, they are 
jubilant. The management of the Los 
Alamitos sugar factory has contracts out 
and arrangements made to seed upwards of 
8,000 acres of land to beets on the Los 
Alamitos and Los Cerritos ranches' contigu- 
ous to the factory. In addition to the acre- 
age above stated, a large area will pro- 
duce crops of alfalfa, barley, corn, potatoes, 
etc. On the Los Cerritos ranch of which 
Mr. T. F. Miller is agent, there is s,ill a 
couple hundred acres of good beet land to 
be had. Then beneficial effects of the storm 
to the stock interests in this section of the 
country can hardly be overestimated. 

At preient a herd of cattle is being fat- 
tened for the Los Angeles market, on beet 
pulp at the factory. Shepherd. 



The Fame of Salinas. 

The Index of August 7th contained a 
three-column article (one of many it has 
had) descriptive of the great beet sugar 
factory in course of construction here. In 
it mention was made of the fact that 
Charles Jones, the official time keeper at 
the factory, had Just been appointed post- 
master at Spreckels. The article in ques- 
tion was reproduced in the Louisiana (New 
Orleans) Planter ©f August 27th, the official 
organ of the sugar planters of the South, 
circulating all over the world wherever the 
sugo.r industry is carried on. The following 
letter is another proof that the Index is 
spreading the fame of Salinas, not only all 
over the United States, but in distant por- 
tions of the globe, including British 
Guiana: 

Diamond Estate, Demarara, British Guiana, 
3d October, 1898. 
Chas. Jones, Esq., Salinas, (3al.-~Dear 
Sir: Seeing your name in an article on 



the great Salinas sugar factory ( reprod\iced 
from the Salinas Index) in the Louisiana 
Planter of 27th August, and being much 
interested in modern sugar machinery, I 
take the liberty of writing you on a point 
connected therewith. Wno are the con- 
structors of the evaporating plant (qua- 
druple effect) and the vacuum pans, which 
are being installed in the Salinas factory, 
and where are their works situated? If 
you happen to know the sugar capacity of 
the vacuum pans I would be glad of the in- 
formation. Apologizing for troubling you, 
I am yours faithfully, Wm. Douglas. 

— Salinas Index. 



Some Haphazard Notes of a Forty- 
Two Years' Residence in British 
Quiana. 

Towards the end of 1868 i received from 
Mr. James Stuart, at the request of the Dan- 
iels, the offer of the management of Pin. La 
Belle Alliance; It 'was a larger salary than 
I Was getting and a larger employ, and I 
accepted. Later on I got a warning from a 
friend in Essequebo that L. B. A. was in a 
state of albatidon<ment, but it came too late, 
as my su^essor, rtarry Wol^eley, was al- 
ready appointed, and, in fact, was residing 
with* me at Mon Repos, at the request of Mr. 
(?lementson, who wished the management 
to be conducted on the €ame lines. So I 
gave over t^e estate to Wolseley at the end 
of the year and took over L. B. A." on Ist 
January, 1869. I may here state that, un- 
solicited, Mr. Olementson sent me, on leav- 
ing, a very handsome letter -which I showed 
to Mr. Stuart who sent it on to the Daniels. 
I found L. B. A. truly abandoned, lock, stock 
and barrel; no cultivation, no ennall drains, 
no side-line trenches, the n&wly erected mill 
and engine not usafUe, and the whole of 
the buildings tumbling down. Tbere was a 
mud band In front of the estate several 
miles in extent, so there was no natural 
drainage. Mr. Stuart had told me that the 
drainage engine erected ten years previously 
was of no use as it would not clear the 
estate of "water. The engine was by Baston 
and Amos with an Appolds fan, and it 
struck me* that ft was queer that it should 
be so useless as described; so I had it 
cleared up and started, and lo! it would not 
reduce the water in the trenches although 
throwin(g out large volumes. Inrestigation 
soon showed me that for the want of a 
stop-off in a certain trench, the water was 
being pumped round and round. I had a 
stop-off put in at once and by night all the 
water was off the estate and the enifine con- 
tinued to drain the estate all the time a was 
on it, and would dry the side-line trenches 
even after they had been twice deepened, 
—very much to the astonishment of the 
Revd. Brett and Dr. Coring, (iboth of whom 
lived in front) and the neighboring man- 
agers. Mr. Downer of Hanvpton Cowtt used 
to declare he could hardly beMeve his own 
eyes when he sarw the side-line trenches dry. 
The manager's house was all that could be 
desired, and there was a beautiful flower 



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Janoary 21, 1899.] 



tHfe LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MAlrtJFACTORER, 



45 



garden and orchard with a large grape vine. 
The oyerseers' quarters were simply a dog- 
hole, and I had the overseers in my house 
tni theirs could he made ha/bitahle. Mr. 
Stuart visirted the estate twice and was very 
much pleased with the improvement I had 
effected and then it fell to the lot of "Pitman 
and Stephena" Later on i was saddled by 
the Daniels with a drunken engineer and, as 
many annoytances sprang up, I applied to the 
government for emiployment in the Public 
Service, naming the police force as my pref- 
erence, and my application was granted; so 
on the 1st January ,1871, i handed over the 
estate to HaDlday and so ended my 16 years 
of planter life. My tplanlter friends thought 
I had done very wrong to give up planting, 
but I fear many of them lived to regret not 
having done so also; and my friend Henry 
Clementson was very wrath. 

The draining engine boiler was not a very 
safe article, It having been once burnt out 
and patdhed, but with 10 pound pressure, the 
en^ne did all that' was required of it. One 
morning from my house I noticed the engine 
working very slowly and irregularly, and 
having seen the engineer go into the engine 
house shortly before, I would not go back, 
and awaited developments. Very soon the 
engine driver came with a ve];4>al message 
from the engineer that he liad altered the 
slide valve of the engine, and that the 
wei£^t on the safety valve of the boiler 
must be put to 40Ib. I ordered him to send 
up to me the three indentured Coolies that 
were working afbout the engine, and after 
that to put the weight at 40Ib. The negro 
scratiched hia head and seemed to think 
that it was very hard that he should be 
blown ufp alone; he went back, but did not 
send up the Coolies, nor did the engine do 
any better, but some hours later the engineer 
returned from down the coast; he and the 
engine driver had some serloua talk, the 
slide valve was again altered and the engine 
went on her way rejoiming. Once the en- 
gineer took the cane engine to pieces, why, 
I could never understand, and after it was 
put together we found that it would not 
work. We could not get the engineer as 
he was "laid up*' and after great persuasion 
I got Leslie of Hampton Court to come to 
my asaietance, and he found tliat the slide 
valve "had been put in upside down. 

I was appointed to the police and sent to 
the West Coast, Demerara to relieve Man- 
thorp, Who was going on furlough. The 
police at that time had commissaries' duties 
to perfoitm and there was plenty to do. My 
old friend 6. 6. Trotman was at DeKinderen 
and he always kindly welcomed me to a 
meal or a /bed. Dampier was the magistrate 
of the district One day I was prosecuting 
a Mack man for having had a sUbscriplIon 
dance without obtaining a licence; lie pleaded 
that it was & private birthday party, and 
called a witness to prove it; and hia question 
to the witnesB was **Wha I "bin tell you when 
I Invite 70U to the party ?*» fhe answw wm: 



"You bin tell me money must pay befo'hand; 
money musn't pay at de door." Thi« witness 
was of course not cross-examined. We lived 
at Fellowship over the top of a Portuguese 
cloth store, but £Oon had notice to leave 
under the pretext that one of the servants, 
a coolie lad, had quarrelled with the daugh- 
ter of the owner of the place; the real reason 
being that I had prosecuted several Portu- 
guese for breaches of the Revenue Laws. 
This d'hows the necessity of the government 
providing residences for its officers, especi- 
ally those connected with the execution and 
adtaiinistration of the laws, and not leaving 
them to the spite and caprice of private 
owners. 

We next got housed with Wodehouse, the 
Curate, at Met-en-Meerzorg, but life there 
was well nigh intolerable, owing to fright- 
ful noises at ni«^t; it was impossible to get 
a night's rest, and equally impossible to find 
out the cause of the various noises, although 
Wodehouse and myself made strenuous ef- 
forts to do so. In common parlance, the 
bouse was haunted. Dampier then took us 
in at Nouvelle Flandres House, and we had 
a pleasant time until I was ordered off to 
the East Coast, Demarara ,Where I was to 
do, and did do, what had baffled several 
other functionaries and departments, viz., 
stop the encroaches of the sea and make new 
dams and public roads at Friend^ip, Bladen 
, Hall and Strathspey. Before this, there had 
been no communication by road in this dis- 
trict for flfteen months. The magistrate 
went to Vigilance Court from the railway 
by batteau, and of course others had to do 
the same. The roads on either side had 
been allowed to get out of order, and I 
met with great opposition in having th^m 
made .safe and usable. Two managers sum- 
moned me before Magistrate Maxwell, and 
another went so far as to swamp, by means 
of his draining engine, a large quantity 
of burnt earth that I had prepared for his 
road. I at once prepared another lot in a 
different place, and the estate had ultimately 
to pay for both quantities. The roads were, 
however, ready for use in three months. 
Mrs. Fred. Gordon, through the ill-advice 
of so-called friends, persisted in her opposi- 
tion to the making of these roads and dams, 
and there(by lost her ei^tate, Strathspey. 
Bladen Hall was also lost to its proprietor. 
These two and Vigilance are now part of 
Pin. Nonpareil. 

Soon after all this worry, the commis- 
saries' work was taken from the police, and 
Horace Joseph taken from the police and 
made head of the commissary's department; 
and I was sent to act for a year as sub-im- 
migration agent, pending the arrival from 
India of Wal-pole and Dui^am. At the ex- 
piration of this acting appointment, I went 
back to the police and was stationed in 
Georgetown, with charge of certain out-dis- 
tricts, also the mail service and the printing 
office. Whilst I was in the immigration de- 
partment, I vi9lted ever7 eeUte In the CQlon7 



then in cultivation, and my knowledge of 
estate's work enabled me to settle on the 
^ot many vexed questions to the satisfac- 
tion of hoth immigrants and managers. In 
fact the managers would often say: "Tou 
know all about it, so and so are t^e facts, 
take the Coolies' version ou. it, and I am 
satisfied with your decision without wasting 
any more time." The Coolies that did not 
know me before very soon found out that I 
knew what I was talking about and was not 
to be fooled by their exaggerated statements 
Veerasammy, the present chief interpreter, 
was then a lad and was my clerk both in the 
office and on the visiting. He and John 
Sutherland Gordon and myself came jaear 
being murdered in a field at Pin. Greenfield 
once, by a gang of new Coolies who had put 
themselves in the wrong; and It resulted 
in Nioholos Cox, the inspector general, hav- 
ing to go to the estate wun a strong body 
of men and arrest the malcontents, all of 
whom were subsequently removed to other 
estates. It was a smart Ibit of work done in 
Cox's usual thorous^ style. After I returned 
to the police I was once sent to the West 
Coast with some armed men to stop a Bar- 
badian fight, but when we got there, the 
Barbadians were non sunt, and I cooled out 
with D. C. Cameron at Blankenburg. Inspec- 
tor Wedlake went with me at his request 
as lie wanted to see some real war. We 
played whist that night, although I told the 
others that I knew very little ,ot the game, 
and it turned out that when one round was 
played out I had two cards left in my hand, 
and as neittier of the others had found his 
hand short, I claimed not to be a greater 
novice than themselves. 

On another occasion, Mordle, a farmer, re- 
ported to the government that things were 
very bad In Canal No. 1; the people ifi a 
sUte of rebellion, and his life in danger. 
I was sent with some men, and got up to 
the "head of tjhe canal a/bout 8 o*«lock at 
night and found Mordle fiound asleep in his 
bed and not a sound to be heard, nor a 
person to be seen along the whole length of 
the canal. Luckily, we Just saved the tide 
and got back to America Btelling as the 
water was beginning to wash.— Demarara 
Argosy. 



Personal. 

Mr. C. B. LeBlanc, of Thibodaux, La., was 
a recent guest of the Commercial hotel. 

Mr. James A. Ware, of the splendid Belle 
Grove place in Iberville parish, was in the 
city on a visR a few days ago and registered 
St the St. Charles. 

Dr. H. J. Sanders, well-known thrdughbut 
the state as a fine sugar planter and a 
genial gentleman, was at the "Hotel Royal 
with his wife last Sunday. 

Mr. Miller, the cableway expert of the 
Lidgerwood Manufacturing Company, has 
been In Louisiana recently InvestigaUng 
some of the possibilities of handling cane 
by met^ns o( cables. 



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46 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. o. 



Jan. 20 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



•UCAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

8«rlot Prime.... 

Prime 

PullTPair .... 

OoodFAir 

Pair 

Good Common 

Common 

inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plaat'n Granul'ed 
Off Granulated. 
Ohoiee White... 

Off White 

Orey White .... 
Choiee Yellow.. 
Prime Yellow . . 

Off Yellow 

Seeonde 



MOLAMEt. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faaey 

Choiee 

S«riet Prime.... 
Oeod Prime.. .. 

Prime 

OoodFair 

Fair 

Coed Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Faaoy 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 
Oood Prime .... 

Prime 

OoodFair 

Fair 

•ood Common. 

Oounon , 

Inferior 



•YRUP, 



Jan. 14. 



Jan. 16. 



aO (9 23 

- ® 81 
27 3 28 

- 9 26 

- 9 26 
23 @ 24 

- 922 

- ® 21 

- ® 19 
-« 18 

- 9 17 

-9 18 
-9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 
-9 10 
~9 9 
-9 8 
-9 I 

- 9 6 

-9 5 



20 9 23 

— 9 31 
27 9 28 

— 9 26 
-9 26 
23 9 24 
-9 22 
-9 21 
18 9 19 

— 9 18 

— 9 17 

— 9 18 

— 9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

— 9 10 
-9 9 
-9 S 
-9 7 

— 96 

— 9 5 



Jan. 17. 



Jan. 18. 



Jan. 19. 



Jan. 20. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Market a 
Closing of Week. 



-9 - 
-9 - 
- 9 - 
4A94^ 

3k94A 
2h(Bm 



20 9 23 

- 9 31 
27 9 28 
-9 26 

- 9 26 
23 9 24 

— 9 22 

— 9 21 
18 9 19 

- 9 18 
-9 17 

- 9 18 
-9 16 

— 9 14 
12 9 13 
-9 10 

— 9 9 

— 9 8 
"9 7 

- 9 6 
-9 5 



-9 - 



4fT94H 
4|ir94>^ 
3%94A 

mi 



2)i9d 



20 9 23 

— 9 31 
27 9 28 
-9 26 
-9 85 
23 9 24 

— 9 22 
-9 21 
18 9 19 
-9 18 
-9 17 

-9 18 

- 9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

- 9 10 

- 9 9 

— 9 8 
—9 7 

— 9 6 
-9 5 

- 9 ~ 



-9 - 
-9 - 

-9 - 

- 9 - 

- 9 - 
4fT94H 

4f\94>^ 

3Ji@4f 

2>i(g3: 



20 9 23 
-9 30 
26 9 26 
23 9 24 

— 9 22 
-9 21 
19 9 20 

— 9 18 
-9 17 
-9 16 

— 9 15 



-9 18 
-9 16 

- 9 14 
12 9 13 

- 9 10 

-® 5 

-9 8 

-® I 

- 9 6 

-9 6 
-9 - 



3fT@3H 
^-9- 



- 9 - 



— 9 — 
4A94H 
4fir@4>i 

2h@2U 



20 9 23 

-9 30 

26 9 26 

23 9 24 

— 9 22 
-9 21 
19 9 20 
-9 18 
-9 17 

— 9 16 

— 9 15 



- 9 18 

- 9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 
-9 10 

- 9 " 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 



4ii9- 
- 94% 
4>^94A 
4«@4A 
3%@4A 
4^9 - 
4 9 — 
33i(a3H 
2H@Sk 



— 9 27 
26 9 26 
22 9 23 

— 9 20. 

- 9 18 
-9 17 

- 9 16 

— 9 15 

- 9 14 
-9 12 



12 9 13 
10 9 11 
— a 9 
8 
7 
7 
6 
6 

-9 6 
18 9 22 



-9 
-9 
-9 



Steady. 



Dull. 



OTHER MARE:ET8. 



Niw York: 






• 












•UCAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89® 
Centrifugals, M''.. 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


- 9 - 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 




— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


-9 - 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 




Oranulated 


- 94.72 


- @4.72 


— 94.72 


— 94.72 


- 94.72 


— 94 72 


4.96® - 


Quiet. 


Standard A 


— 94.60 


— @4.60 


— 94.6O 


-94.6O 


— 94.6O 


-94.6O 


4.84@ - 




Dutch Granulated 


— 9^-96 


— @4.96 


-94.96 


— 94 96 


— 95 02 


-94 96 


— @ — 




German Granul'td. 


— 94.84 


-@4 82 


-94 82 


— 94 82 


— 94 82 


-94 84 


-@- 




MOLAMEt. 


















N.O. Choice 


— 9 — 


-@- 


-9- 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


-0 - 




N.O.Pair 


— 9 — 


-@ - 


-9- 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


— 9 — 


-d - 




London: 


















Jaya, No. 15 D. 8. 


ll8.6d. 


ll8.6d. 


lis 6d. 


ll8.6d 


ll8.6d. 


lis. 3d. 


ll8. 3d. 




A. & G. Beet 


98.8^d. 


98. 8d. 


98. 2Kd. 


98. 2>^d. 


98.1>^d. 


98.1>^d. 


98.2>id. 











NBW ORLEANS REPINED. 








Cut Loaf 


-95>i 


-@6H 


-@6H 


-@6Ji 


- @6>4 


-®6H 


- @6H 




Powdered 


-95>i 


-@6H 


-@Wa 


- ®m 


— @5^4 


— @6>4 


-@6>i 




Stan'd Granula'd. 


- 95A 


-@6A 


-@6A 


■ - @5,'. 


— @8,', 


— @5A 


- @6>4' 




RoaetU Extra C 






— @6 




-@5 


-@5 


— @ — 


Stoady. 


Candy A 


— 9 — 


-0- 


— @ — 


. ^ 


-@ - 


-@ - 


-&H 






-@ - 


-@- 


-@- 


— 9 — 


— @ - 


— @ — 


— @ — 




Royal BxC 


-0- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


_@_ 




•YRUP. 


-(8- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


-@- 


-®- 





STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Jan. 11 Tons 113,303 

At fo ports of Great Britain to Jan. 7 " 82,000 

AtF /ana and Matanzas to Jan. 10 " 5,000 



.receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
Jan. ao, i8$h>* 

' Sugar-^ * Mola8«»8 

Hhds. Barrels. Barrele» 

Ited 864 68.084 10,260 

864 e9t4W 1U408 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September 1, 1898, 
to Jan. ao, 1899. 

Hhds. Barrels. 

ReoeiTCd 6,398 1,068,803 

Sold 6,398 1,069,601 

RmMtM mm limt lafl ytir 16,103 l,196«2ia 



MolaMei 
Barreb. 
186,783 
184,996 
100|iaO 



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Sugar. 

The local sugar market was steady at 
the end of the week. The recipts, which 
were fair, were promptly absorbed. 



Molasses. 

Open kettle molasses was quiet at the 
end of the week, and centrifugals steady. 



Rice. 

Rough rice, especially the higher 
grades, was steady at the end of the 
week, with a fair volume of business 
reported. The lower grades of rough 
were, to some extent, neglected and 
easy. Cleaned rice was quiet and steady. 

Talmage on the Rice Market. 

December anticipations and predictions re- 
garding the present month are beginning to 
materialize; the resumption of business 
prompt and vigorous; the outlook favor- 
able for its continuance. The demand at 
this point is mainly foreign; widespread 
and extends through all Northern States to 
the Rockies and nearly every Southern State, 
including localities contiguous to the rice 
fields. In the presence of a fair forward 
supply of Domestic this may seem anomalous 
but it must be borne in mind that there is 
an almost utter a/bsence of the Intermedi- 
ate or grocery grades which, therefore can 
only be met with Imported sorts. These 
styles are of high character, well known 
and easily command renewal of patronage 
from every quarter. Advices from the South 
note general reopening of mills and that the 
offerings of cleaned are quite li'beral; some- 
what in excess of immediate requirements. 
There is, however, no appearent anxiety as 
prices of the respective sections for their 
particular grades are considerably below im- 
porting cost of equal quality. The demand is 
of good volume and the large request for 
samples thought to indicate "more to fol- 
low." Regarding the unmarketed crop a 
large per cent ot It (especially Louisiana) 
{a still stacked in tl)C fields and some Bt|^l^^ 



ing in the water. As can be realized all of 
it has more or less deteriorated in quality 
and the bottom of the shock damaged be- 
yond recovery. Caibles and correspondence 
from abroad note active interest and many 
evidences that the present position is favor- 
able to speculation. This, is but the natural 
outcome of abnormally low reserves and the 
belief that the Burmese crop will fall far 
short of early estimates. 

Talmage, New Orleans telegraphs Louis- 
iana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough 557,605 sacks; last year 411,785 sacks. 
Sales cleaned (est) 133,155 barrels; last 
year 64,300 barrels. Go.\i demand; principal 
offerings ordinary to fair; market strong 
with upward tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
26,225 barrels. Sales 20,215 barrels. Steady 
demand at former range. 



Programme of the Annual fleeting of 
the State Agricultural Society and 
Louisiana Stock Breeders' Associ- 
ation. 

First Day, Wednesday, January 25, 1899. 

10 a. m.. Call to Order by .the President- 
Invocation, Rev. Dr. Matthew Vanhear, 
Shreveport; Address of Welcome, Hon. John 
C. Moncure; Response, Wl'bray J. Thompson 
Esq., St. Mary; Aoinual Address by the 
President. Hon. John Dymond, Plaquemines; 
Appointment of Committees. Recess. 

Afternoon Session — 2 p. m. — Proper Policy 
of the North Louisianar Hill Farmer, Mr. 
J. A. Brewer, Bienville; Practical Road 
Making in the State, Mr. E. G. Harrison, 
Offline of Road Inquiry, Department of Agri- 
culture, Washington, D. C; The Objects of 
a Geological Survey of the State, Dr. G. D. 
Harris, Cornell Unlverel'ty, Ithaca, N. Y. 

Night Session— 7:30 p. m.— The Marketing 
of Fruit, Mr. A. K. Clingman, Claiborne; 
Fruit-Culture for Pleasure and Profit, Mr. L. 
T. Sanders, Bossier; Raising and Handling 
of Truck for Market, Mr. D. E. King, Mo. 
Pacific Railroad Co. 

Second Day, Thursday, January 26. 

10 a. m.— Invocation, Rev. Dr. J. S. Felix, 
Shreveport; Diversi'fled Agriculture and its 
impera/tlve necessity for the Cotton Belt, 
Capt. J. Burriis M'Gehee, West Feliciana; 
The Growing of Tobacco in Louls^oa, Major 



J. G. Lee, State Commissioner of Agriculture 
and Immigration; Central Factories, their 
need for the buying of canei from small farm- 
ers, Col. William Polk, Rapides. 

Afternoon Session — 2 p. m.— Cotton Manu- 
facturing in the South, Mr. H. H. Hargrove, 
Caddo; Aims and Purples of Cotton-Grow- 
ers' Union, Messrs. Strlngfellow, Maxwell 
and Schuler; Improved Metihods of Baling 
Coitton, Dr. A. V. Roberts, DeSoto. 

Nighft Session— 7:30 p. m. — Education Es- 
sential to the Successful Agricultural De- 
velopment of the State; The Effect of An- 
nexation of newly-acquired territory upon 
our Southern Products, Mr. John Dymond, 
Plaquemines. 

Third Day, Friday. January 27. 
LOUISIANA STOCKBRBBDERS ASSOCIA- 
TION. 

10 a. m,. Call to Order by the President- 
Invocation, Rev. Dr. W. T. Boliln'g, Shreve- 
port; President's Annual Address, Mr. W. L. 
Foster, Caddo; The Berksliire Hog as a 
Money Maker to the Southern Cotton Pro- 
ducer, Mr. S. Q. Hollingeworth, Red River; 
The Fattening of Cattle for Market, a Profit- 
able Induitry for the Louisiana Farmer, Dr. 
Tait Butler, Mississippi. 

Afternoon Session — 2 p. m. — Growing Hay 
and Raising "Stock in the Hills, Judge J. T. 
Boone, Bienville; Dairying in North Louis- 
iana, Mr. Joseph Miller, Wefbster; Dairying 
and Stockralsing in North Louisiana. Capt. 
E. T. Sellers, Union; Report of Commit- 
tees; Election of Officers; Selection of Next 
Place of Meeting; Unfinished Business; 
New Business. 

Evening Session — 7 p. m. — Experience 
Meeting; Discu-'sion of Questions from Ques- 
tion Box. 

(Adjourntnent.) 



Personal. 



Hon. Andrew H. Gay, of the Union and 
St. Louis plantations in Iberville parish, 
was a visitor to New Orleans during the 
past week. . Mr. Gay topped at his usual 
abiding place, the St. Charles. 

Hon. J. B. Watkins, of Lawrence, Kan., 
who is interested in sugar planting in thd* 
Southwestern part of Louisiana, was in the 
city during the past few days and put up 
at the St. Charles hotel. 

We received a pleasant visit a few days 
ago from Mr. Thomas A. Badeanx, of Norah, 
La. 

Mr. C. L. Bougere and Mrs. Bougere, o' 
Lions, St. John parish, were guests of the 
JJotel Royal on T^esaay laet. 



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48 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFAOTUltML 



[VoT. XXII, No. 3. 



WANTS. 



W« win poMlsh to this ooluoui, free of dkmrw until 
the aepHcetloiu of irfl ■ uuMg ere. ever^ 
eaglBfiiri and MirerHnakere, 9ad etkers wko 
■uiy be eeeklnt poeltlona In the coantry. and aleo the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A position for the 1890 crop as yacaum 
pan sugar maker, l^ an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te glre entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
Address J. J. Landry, Conrent, La. 



be expected. 



16-90 



WANTED— A position as orerseer ona sugar plsnta- 
tlon by a flrst-olass man; address J. F. Letsff, Nes- 
ser, La. 14-00 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
po8ltlon~ln the South. Address I, S20 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Toung man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, thnekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this ofllce. 1-0 

WANTED— A young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a position on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, oTerseer and other general work. Hon- 
estf.sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is wUUng to work for a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, Tallulah, La. 12-31-96 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Spells English only. Address W., care Louisiana 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
temiuied. Call on or address F. F. Mbrwin. 621 Du- 
malne street, New Orleans. 12-81-08 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan* 
tatlon by a man 00 years of age, well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-96 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
owner is not ideased, no|Balary will be expected. Ad- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-81-96 

WANTED-A position as Asaistant Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
married. Twenty years experience in handling labor. 
Several years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
of references given. Address, M. E. W., Care Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-26-06. 

WANTED— Position br a meohanioal engineer and 
practloal machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 y^ars 
expertenoe in sugar house work, is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Eni^eer or Su- 

Eerintendent for oonsturction or repairing of sugar 
onses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-29-M. 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can fumlah best of 
referenoes. J. A. Larxxn, Benton P. O., La. 
^^_____ 12-25-06 

WANTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correnwnd with a sugar maker 
who is engaged for oomlng Mexloan or Cuban crop. 
State terms for Instruotlon. Address, A. W. B., mi 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-2d-06 

WANTED— A young married man of small family, 
desires a position in Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience in 
sugar houses; 9)mo a veiy good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge €ugar Co., Baton Rouge, La . 

WANTBD-Sltuadon as chemist or asaistant in 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
expertenoe and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Strutbbrs, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-06 

WANTED-^Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish flrst- 
dass references. Addreis Farmer, Baldwin P. C, La. 
. 12-11-06 

^WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can funiish good referenoes. Am 
a uairersity graduate. Speak German and French. 
Uninarrted. AAdress E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land. Texas. 
li-21-08 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assUtant 
boiler in reflnenr. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
bOlUng will app^ to C. R., oare LonliiiBina Planter. 



WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one who hss 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 

-' 12'2a-06 

Wanted— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensation $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation, CentervUle, Ls. 12-20-06 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1890. Good refer- 
ences.. Write at once to Bmplotee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumslde, Louisiana. 12-21-96 

WANTED—Posltion as manager of sugar planUtlon 
for the coming year. Am|4e experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A. Blouin, whitecastte, La. 

WANTED— Posltton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar pit n tatlon for the coming year. Long experience 
and first-class references. Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, Donaldson vllle, La. 

WANTED— Po«»ltlon as clerk in plantation or txfwn 
store, by a young.man of good habits, weU qualified and 
with best references. Address G. J. A., care of The 
Chief ,DoQald8onvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence atid can give good recommendations. Address 
Yf. P. Rochblle, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-00 

WANTED— Position for coming year aa manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, >8 years 
of eve, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R., Box 260, New Iberia, La. 12-6-tt 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
Doter, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
ROjjne, N. Y. 12-<-5e 

_W ANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married maa. with 20 years experience, acd 
up •to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words.'* Address Drainage, Room 22, 
City Hall. ^ 12-8-08 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1065 N. Derblgny street, New Orleans. 
■ 12-7-06 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-06 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations. Address Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-06 

WANTED— Position as manager for 1800, by a first- 
dass man of experience and fine references. Will 
take an asslstancy and work very reasonable. A ddress 
E. W. Crbiobton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-06 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1800. Address Theo. 
Baudoin, Jr., Hahnville, La. 12-7-08 



and 
for 



WANTED— A sugar house expert, who is now, 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist _.. 
one of the largest sugar houses In Louisiand, is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central a merica. Will accept a position on any terms 
con8istent with flrst-olass work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present emplovers and from the Unl- 
Tersit^ from which he graduated. Address Leda, this 
office. 12-8-06 

WANTED— By a young chemist with university edu- 
cation find one rear's experience in large Louisiana 
factoiy, a position for Mexicni or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. 11-80-01 

WANTED— Bv a first-class sugar boiler to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Will 
famish the best of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 610 Bartholomew street. New Orleans, La. 
11-20-06 

WANTED— Position for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largest 
places in the State. Would have no objection to living 
on the place and making himself generally useful. Is a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, Belle Grove Plan- 
•tton, WMtecastle, La. 11-25-06 

WANTED— Position in this SUte or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 stigar boiler who has references of the very first 
class. Addreet Bon,ER, 607 Ch»rtr99 street. New Or- 



WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan. Have had practical experience 
in the anaijrsis of sugars and syrups. Am 26 y«*ars of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
go to the West Indies. Reference from former employer 
given. Address X, this office. 11-^6-08 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utility man 
in the country. Good references. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-06 

WANTED— A position as book-keeperor manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. Would also open 
up and run a drug store in interest of employer. Can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B., Donald- 
sonvllle,La. . 11-21-06 

WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent, is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop in Mexico or Cuba. Has had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations In Lou- 
Ifiiana. Can bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stubbs. Those 
desiring the senriees of a thorough sugar house man, 
address Oscar, box 574, Baton Rouge. 11-11^06 

WANTED— Position as chemist in Mexiee or Cuba for 
coming crop. Have had eight years experience and can 
furnish good references as to ability. Am at present 
employed at one of the leading sugar houses in Lou- 
isiana. Address Chemist, this office. 11-22-06 



dress L. A. Ellis, Sartartia, 



sugar 1 
, Tex. 



11-17-06 



WANTED— Position as assistant or head sugar maker. 
Can furnish first-class references. Address J. L. 
WiRTH, 1016 Toulouse street. New Orleans, La. 

11-14-08 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer or time- 
keeper on a sugar plantation, for 1890. Married man 
08 years of age. Address E. V. W., care S. C Bro- 
dowskl, 609 S&th street. New Orleans. 11-15-06 

WANTED— Position as butler by an experienced man. 
Good references. Will try to make himaielf useful in 
every way. Address Emile Terrib, 610 Chartres at., 
New Orleans. 11-15-06 

WANTED— Experienced chemlsl, at present instruc- 
tor in a large university in the Northwest, desires po- 
sition in a warm climate. Best references. Address 
P. O. Box 178S, Iowa City, Iowa. 11-14-06 

WANTED— By experienced man, situation as chemist 
in sugar house, in Mexico or Central America, for 
coming campaign. Good reference, sober, competent. 
Address Chemist, care of Glennlld, Berwick, La. * 

11-11-06 

WANTED— Position as engineer, water tender or 
electrician in a sugar plant. Address G. G. Von Sick, 
Sandusky, O. 11-11-06 

WANTED— Position as hostler by a German married 
man. Understand the care of stock. Good referenoes. 
Phillip Brown, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Planta- 
tion. 11-7-06 

WANTED— An American engineer, aa assistant in 
sugar factory, Dutch Guiana. Must nave had several 
years' experience In a Louisiana factory. Address with 
full particulars. Carter, Hawlet A Co., No. 40 Ex- 
change Place, New York City. U-7-06 

WANTBD— Position as sugar-maker; 20 vears expe- 
rience; best reference fflven. Can refer to half a dozen 
planters. Address J. C. BouRO, St. Bernard P. O., La. 

lO-V-06 

WANTED— Position as locomotive engineer for com- 
ing season. Can furnish best of references. Address 
BuORNi Heno, 444 Customhouse street, city. 
11-1-0 6 

WANTED— A good, experienced sugar boiler, with 
good referenoes. Address Zakant Sucbsorrs, Flor- 
ida. SlnftJoa , Mexico . lO-Cl-06 

WANTED— Position by a first-class sugar boiler, a 
man who has much experience, and also understands 
clarification and liming. Had the misfortune to lose his 
place by sugar house being destroyed by fire Oct. 10th. 
Dui furnish first-class references frony>lanters of Lou- 
isiana. Address Numa Jacob, Union P. 0., La. 

■ 11-2-06 

WANTED— Position as sugar boiler for this crop. - 
Have been boiling for over 20 years for Capt. Brown's 
Anchorage plantation, and can give very best refer- 
ences. Address Rene Vicknair, Bonnet Carre, La. 
20-10-06 

WANTED— A first-(dass sugar house engineer can get 
a permanent situation, with good wages, on Oak Bluff 
plantation. None but a sober and oompetant man need 
apply. AddressH.C. Rose, Franklin, La. 1-4-06 

WANTED— Position as fireman^n a sugar plantation. 
Address Albbrt Racbid, (10 ^raitio^ street. New 
Oiieans, U« 10-12-06 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



AND 



H MeeW? newspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIA^NA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS. JANUARY 28, 1899. 



No. 4. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 
Ascension Brcmch Sugar Planters* Association, 
Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 
Kansas Sugar Growers* Association, 
Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publishea atNewOrleanB, La., every Saturday lloming 

BY TBB 

LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

DcToted to Louisiana Agriculture io general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerdaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 

W. C. STUDDS, rh. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

V/. W. PUGII. * JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at tho Postoffloe at New Orleans as socond-class 
maU matter, Jtdy 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Tv n.is of Subscription (Including postage) $3 00 

For.'lj^n Sui'SCriptlon .^ 4 00 

AD'v'ERTISlNG RATES. 



Space 



1 months month month 12 month 



llnch 

a inch 

3 Inch 

4 Inch 

6 Inch 

• Inch.... 

7 1acli 

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«0 1 ich 

lial^ Page. 
Pull Page. 



$600 
060 
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$12 60 
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47 60 
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$ 18 76 

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All communications should be addreosed to The 
Louisiana Planter, 839 Carondelet street, New Orleaniv 
La. 

LIST OP STOCKHOLDeRS. 



McCall Brothers, 
McCali 6k Legendre. 
Leon Oodchaux, 
Janes Teller. 
B. Lemann ft Bro., 
Leone i Sonlat, 
i outs Bash, 
W. e. Brkken, 
W.C Stubba, 
John Dymond. 
Danl^ Ihompson, 
Peea ft baroett. 
H. C. WarmoUi, 
LoclaA Forsyth, Jr., 
Bdward J. Oay, 
SbatttKk ft r ^ 
BoiBe Rfltft, 
TbonisO- Miller, 
Scbnidt ft Zlegler, 
r. 0. ncLaury, 
L. 5. Clark, 
I. B. Levert, 
Simpson Homor, 
W. BTMoomfllekl. 
W. W. SMtcllfle, 
John S. noore, 
James C, Murphy, 



R. Beltran. 

Laden Sonlat, 

D. R. Calder. 

L. A. eius. 

Hero ft Malhim. 

W. J. Behan, 

J. T. Moors, Jr.. 

Edwards ft Haubtmaa, 

John A. Morris, 

e. H. Cunning luuB, 

R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 

C. M. Soria. 

J. L. " 



J. tt. Marn(y« 
Andrew Price, 
fi.fti.Kock. 
Wai. Garig, 
Adolph Meyer, 
A. A. Woods, 
BraJUh Johnson, 
George P. Anderton, 
A. L. nonnot. 
Richard MUllken. 
W. P. nit%s, 
Leiln A. Becael, 
J. N. Pharr. 
uules J. 



D. R. CiMer. 



EZECUTTVS CQMMITTBB. 

Ll^ry ncCidl, 

W.B. 



Joka Dyoieod. Pr MWt 1 > 



Leguminous Crops to Redeem Our 
Southern Soils. 

A careful investigation of the uplands 
of the Souther States will &liow that the 
costant culture of cotton and other hoed 
crops has almost depleted the store of hu- 
mus originally present in tliese soils, and 
with it has disappeared the original sup- 
ply of nitrogen. Without an abundance 
of nitrogen no soils will grow grasse.s suc- 
cessfully, and without a supply of hu- 
mus in a soil all crops, especially the 
gras.-es, will be more or less affected by 
a drouth even of short duration. Since 
the entire South is turning its attention 
to the growing of stock, the raising of 
beef, mutton, pork,*etc., for the markets, 
the ohl adage, *\\Iore grass, more cattle; 
more cattle, more manure, and more 
manure more grass," seems to be an ap- 
propriate shibboleth of every Southern 
farmer at this particular crisis in our ag- 
ricultural history, when our staple crops 
have fallen in value below the actual 
cost of producing them, even upon our 
best soils. 

It is impossible to make successful 
pasturages or grow large grass crops upon 
our poor uplands, until their fertility 
diall have been restored. Nitrogen, the 
-!hief ingredient re<iuire^i' by all grass 
^rops, is the costly constituent of all 
commercial fertilizers, and is the valua- 
ble element in stable and home made 
manures, including our cotton seed and 
cotton seed meal, and, as before recited, 
is wanting generally in all of the uplands 
of this state. It is worth, according to 
the tariff of prices now adopted in this 
state fif tee ccmts per pound in commercial 
fertilizers. At this price it is almost 
prohibitory to mo.«t of our farmers. But 
fortunately nature has provided) for us a 
way by which we can store up this ele- 
ment in our soils in large quantities at a 
mere nominal cost. Leguminous crops 
have been used from timd immemorial 
as renovators of soils and for furnishing 
valuable food material for civilized man 



and domestic animals. Even the wild 
deer of our forest finds tne larger part 
of his support in the wild legumes of our 
woods and swamps; beggar lice, wild pea 
etc. 

This family of plants is a very large 
one and every civilized country has 
adopte<l one or more of them for 
feed and fertilizing purposes. They all 
have nodulee on their roots, filled with 
microbes, which, while they draw much 
of their support from the plants upon 
which they live, yet supply themselves 
in a manner not yet clearly understood, 
with nitrogen drawn directly from the 
air. Having only an ephemeral exist- 
ence they are rapidly absorbe<l at death 
by the host plant, which utilizes not only 
the plant food which these microbes 
have taken from the plant during their 
short existence, but also the nitrogen 
which they have directly appropriated 
from the air. In this way a leguminous 
crop, through the microbes on their roots, 
will gather during the season of its 
growth an almost incredible amount of 
nitrogen per acre. The microbes are 
simply purveyors for their hosts, of nitro- 
gen, taking it from the great reservoir 
of nature, the air, (which contains four- 
fifths of its volume of free nitrogen) and 
ultimately transferring it to the plant 
with which it lives in symbiotic union. 
The agriculturist of to-day, even the most 
davanced in theorv' and practice, fails to 
appreciate in its fullest measure this won- 
derful providence of nature and a clear 
discrimination of its use, as is demon- 
strated daily by the investigations of sci- 
ence, in the selection of plants best adapt- 
ed to his environments. 

Only by the practice of planting legu- 
minous crop i can we hope to economical- 
ly and profitably restore the nitrogenous 
matter to our soils, and only by the study 
of the composition, individuality and 
adaptability to our surroundings of the 
various leguminous crops can we select 
one or more which will accomplish the 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



50 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 4. 



above results in the shortest time. For- 
tunately, we have at the South several 
excellent crops of the leguminous family 
to select from, and to show the compara- 
tive merits of a few of our best is the ob- 
pect of this article. 

It should be remembered, however, in 
the cultivation of these crops that only 
nitrogen is gathered from sources exteri- 
or to the soil. Whatever of phosphoric 
acid, potash, or lime, is needed by these 
pknts must be obtained from the soil. If 
the latter be deficient in any of these 
ingredients they must be supplied before 
large crops can be produced. It is tnie 
that the usually lang t^p roots of this 
family of plants, penetmting to deeper 
depths, will draw upon the subsoil for 
supplies unavailable to ordinary crops 
with fibrous surface roots, and these 
apparently, at first, show no want of min- 
eral fertilizers; but the safest and best 
proc»edure, demonstrated by abundant 
experience* is to apply, liberally, mineral 
manures (e.-pecially acid phosphate in 
this state) to the leguminous crop before 
planting. By so doing you place within 
eai*y reach of the mowing planti every 
element in abundance, save nitrogen, 
and thus, under such fa\^rable condi- 
tions, it will get in largest possible quan- 
tities from the air. 

Leguminous crops must be the foun- 
dation stones upon which the future pros- 
perous agriculture of the uplands of the 
South must bo built 
. Alfalfa, Crimson and Red clover, Les- 
pcdeza. Hairy Vetch, Spanish peanuts. 
Cow-peas, Velvet boans, etc., all are 
valuable crops, adaptable to different 
portions of the South. 

Other things being equal, that crop 
which will produce the largest amount 
of nitrogen, obtained* from the air in a 
given time, is the best crop to grow for 
fertilizing purposes. Usually, too, that 
crop containing the largest amount of 
nitrogen is best for feeding purposes, and 
it is always advisable, wherever there 
are stock to bo fed, to utilize the crop 
as stock-fee<l, rather than to turn it un- 
der as green manura But when fed, 
the manure from the animals should be 
carefully preserved, and scrupulously 
ad intelligently returned to the soil. By 
intelligently growing the proper crops, 
and feeding them in proper combinations 
to live stock, it is possible to improve, 



gradually, a farm, and, at the same time, 
profitably grow a large number of stock. 
Only by such action can the worn lands 
of the South be restored and made 
adaptable to profitable stock raising. 

The prince of leguminous crops, wher- 
ever it can be grown, is Alfalfa. Unfor- 
tunately, it will not grow well in all soils, 
but, where proper conditions exist, it 
should, by all means, be grown, i,s it is, 
perhaps, taken singly, the most valuable 
plant for stock known. It seems to 
thrive upon all the bottom lands of Louis- 
iana and Mississippi, especially along tlie 
Red and Mississippi rivers. In our up- 
lands, or bluff lands, some nursing may 
be necessary to start the plants off. By 
proper inoculation and persistent plant- 
ing upon the dame soil with heavy appli- 
cations of stable manure,it is believed 
that it can be made to grow on any soil. 
Whcm once established, it will last for 
many years without re-.seeiling. It 
should be sown broadcast in the fall of 
the year — September in Xorth Louisi- 
ana and October in South Louisiana. The 
ground should be weH ad deeply plow- 
ed, thoroughly pulverized, and seed sown 
at the rate of fifteen pounds to the acre 
and lightly covered. After sowing, it 
requires no cultivation, making a rapid 
growth and giving several cuttings dur- 
ing the year. Obtain a bushel or two 
of dirt and roots where the alfalfa is al- 
nready growing successfully, put the dirt 
in a barrel, fill the barrel with water, 
mash up the roots and thoroughly mix 
dirt and roots in the water. Pour the 
mixture on a pile of manure, and sprinkle 
the manure on the land just before sow- 
ing the seed. The dirt and roots from the 
alfalfa field contain the organisms which 
form the root nodules, which seem to be 
neccissary to the full development of the 
plant. The manure seems to furnish 
these organisms with necessary food ma- 
terial till they become symbiotic on the 
roots of the alfalfa. 

In Louisiana, upon the alluvial lands 
of the ilississippi and Red rivers, it is a 
great success, affording six to eight cut- 
tings per year, \vith yields at each cut- 
ting of one and a half to two and a half 
tons of cure<l hay. The Sugar Experi- 
ment Station has growni it witli uj>ara- 
lelled succe.-* for nearly eight years, and 
by the^ successful experimentvS many 
fanners and planters have been induce<l 



to cultivate it on a large scale. It is 
estimated that over 5,000 acres in this 
State were seeded with this plant last 
fall, and the market of Xew Orleans is 
now supplied, in limited quantities, with 
alfalfa hay grown upon Louisiana soils. 
It fetches easily $15 to $16 per ton. 

It has only partially succeeded upon 
the bluff lands of the State, but this par- 
tial success has demonstrated that, by in- 
oculation and persistemt effort, a good 
crop can ultimately bo secured. At Cal- 
houn, upon the yellow, sandy clays, by 
the heavy application of stable nvanure, 
aided by inoculation, a permanent catch 
has been obtained, and the area devoted 
to the plant is being annually increas- 
ed. There are now growing on tuis sta- 
tion three distinct crops, one nearly 
three years old (having passed success- 
fully through the unprecedented drouth 
of 189()), which lias yielded seven cut- 
tings; another, nearly two years old, 
which gave five cuttings last year, and 
the thiixi one, planted during the 
winter, from which several crops 
have already been taken. It 

is believed by the heavy ap- 
plication of stable or other organic man- 
ures and persistent efforts to inoculate 
the soil with the needed bacteria, any 
soil in the*s'ate may be induced to grow 
it. The yields in this State vary largely, 
according to the character of the soils 
upon which grown — ^from three to fif- 
teen tons per acre annually of cured hay. 
Limited experiments indicate its better 
adaptability to the stiff clay lands of 
the alluvial bottoms — ^a fortunate coinci- 
dence, since this character of soils is 
deemed unprofitable for sugar cane or 
cotton culture. 

Alfalfa hay is one of the richest foods 
for stock, substituting in the farm dietr 
ary wheat, bran, cotton seed meal, etc. 
It is exceedinglv rich in proteids, and, 
to be properly used, shoidd be mixed 
with coarser hays, as of straw, prairie 
hay, corn shucks, etc. It is suitable 
alone for young, gro>^nng animals and 
horses at heavy work. For milch cows, 
fattening amimals and horses at very 
moderate work, mixtures of alfalfa and 
sorghum, or com stover, have been 
found exceedingly profitable. It is bet- 
ter adapted to soiling than to pasturing, 
though hogs can most profitably graze 
it. ^r. W, L. Foster, of Shreveportj 



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51 



has had extensive experience in growing 
hogs upon this plant, «d estimates that 
each acre has given him 3,000 pounds 
of pork. 

It can easily be cured into hay. The 
following plan, adopted by the station, 
has been uniformly successful : The al- 
falfa is cut in the morning, turned over 
at noon by a tedder and raked into mows 
or put into small shocks at night. It is 
permitted to remain thus for one or two 
days (determined by the prevailing heat 
and sunshine), and then taken to an 
open bam, where it is permitted to ve- 
main for a few days longer, when it is 
baled, ready for the market. In this 
way it is cured into a beautiful green 
hay, with scarcely the loss of a leaf. Al- 
falfa, like all leguminou^s crops, must 
not be too long in the sun, else the leaves 
will scorch, turn white and drop off. It 
must be turned over, either by hand or 
machine, while curing, to prevent 
scorching of upper side and to cure out 
the under side. Alfalfa should be cut 
for hay just as soon as the purple blooms 
appear. 

Alfalfa seed are sometimes impregnat- 
ed with the seed of a most obnoxious par- 
asite — the dodder or lovevine (euscuta), 
which germinates simultaeously with the 
alfalfa iirfnd afterwards lives upon it, 
soon destroying it. As these seed are 
much smaller than the alfalfa seei, they 
may be separated by a sieve, which will 
permit the former to pass through, while 
retaining the latter. A common fl^ur 
sifter, to be found in ev^rv^ household, 
will acoomplish this purpo e. Every 
fanner should sift his seed before ;OW- 
ing. 

In gubsequent issues we shall discu s 
our other desirable leguminous crops. 



The Louisiana Sugar Crop. 

Our reports this week indicate that the 
work in the fields is being actively push- 
ed, although many localities have had t )o 
much wet weather to admit of any exten- 
sive progress in this direction. Rela- 
tive to the condition of the seed cane, 
advices are somewhat conflicting, but the 
more prevalent opinion seems to be that 
it has suffered some degree of injury, 
particularly in the upper portion of the 
sugar district, the reports from the lower 
fier ol parishes being more hopeful, and 
indicatiu^ no serious apprehensions as 



yet. As January wanas a few factories 
are still grinding, trying witli commenda- 
ble tenacity to save the last stalk of can(3 
from the now bare and close-shorn fields. 



Tiie Calcasieu Diffusion Sugar House. 

This sugar house, erected by some en- 
terprising Englishmen in connection 
with other investments in real estate in 
and about Lake Charles, unfortunately 
did not prove the succe-s that was anti- 
cipated. The limited supplies of sugar 
cane in that immediate section of coun- 
try and the high freight on sugar cane 
brought in from remoter points, were 
serious obstacles to the success of the 
institution from the beginning. The 
.Commercial Tribune of Lake Charles 
now reports the establishment as sold to 
Mr. J. C. Morris, of New Orleans, for 
the sum of $25,100; that the property 
consists of about thirty acres of ground, 
on which stand a complete sugar refin- 
ery, boarding house, ov^seer's residence, 
sugar cars, and everything needed for 
the successful operation of the plant. It 
is understood that the establishment will 
not be removed from Lake Charles. We 
sincerely tru?t that under its new owner- 
ship it will develop into a strong est^ib- 
lishment and bring about a largely in- 
creased interest in the growth of sugar 
cjane in that section of our State. 



Tiie International Sugatr Journal. 

The sugar magazine published monthly 
since 1869 at Manchester, England, under 
the title of The Sugar Cane, has now 
changed its name to the International Sugar 
Journal, with a view of taking up a wider 
field of sugar work, in which we wish it the 
largest success, 

Sufar Bounties. 

Department's circular, No.^199, of Decem- 
ber 12, 1898, relative to sugar bounties, ap- 
plicable only to sugars shipped to the United 
States on or after that date. — Instructions 
as to refined sugars from Holland. 

Treasury Department, Jan. 3, 1899. 

Gentlemen: In reply to your letter of the 
19th ultimo, I have to inform you that the 
provisions of Department Circular No. 199, 
of December 12. 1898, relative to sugar boun- 
ties, are applicable onl^ to sugars shipped 
to the United States on'' or after that date, 
previous shipments remaining subject to the 
provisions of similar circulars in force at 
the time of such shipments. 

Of the two clashes of raw sugars pro- 
duced in Holland, specified in said circular 
No. 199, the class receiving the lowest boun- 
ty, viz., sugars testing 98 per cent or above, 
is not at present produced in any consider- 
able quantity, and, so far as the department 
is Informed, is not used.in refining. Should 



the importers of any sugar from Holland 
claim that it was refined from raw sugar 
testing 98 per cent or above, such claim will 
be scrutinized with the utmost care, in view 
of the strong presumption to the contrary 
created by the existing conditions of the 
•ugar industry in that country. 
Respectfully yours, W. B. Howell, 

^ssi«tant Secretary. 
Messrs. Comstock & Brown, New York, N. Y. 



Sus^ar as Food. 

Experiments in athletic tests have demon- 
strated that a considerable proportion of 
sugar in food g^ives staying qualities to men. 
The offi<cial surgeons of the European powers 
have recommended to their governments al- 
lowantjes of liberal sugfer rations, the claim 
being made that sugar in food and drink 
gives vigor and vitality to the men. The 
United States commissary at Santiago, re- 
ported that the troops who had their allow- 
ance of coffee and sujgar were more vigor- 
ous than those who were comfttelled to go 
without it; this condition, however, was 
proib'a'bly due more to the effect of the coffee 
than the sugar. The coast natives of Cen- 
tral America frequently choose to make a 
•full meal of a pounfd of brown sugar dis- 
solved in Water. Upon sutili diet they will 
do bar work. — Journal of Agriculture. 



Rice in French Ciiina. 

The commercial movement of Cochin- 
china comprises about $18,000,000 of ex- 
ports and $14,000,000 of imports. Rice is the 
main article of export, and its importance 
can be seen from the fact that no loss than 
538,500 tons were exported in 1896. and this 
was 74,000 tons less than the preceding year. 
Of this total 487,000 tons were white rice, . 
cargo rice, or paddy, and 51,500 tons were 
broken rice and rice flour. The value of the 
rice exported was $10,580,000. Other exports 
during the year were as follows: Coprah, 
2002 tons; cotton, 3100 tons; fish, 60,000 tons; 
hides, 588 tona; horns. 325 tons; lard, 680 
tons; pepper, 1192 tons; silk, 322 tons; salt, 
6043 tons; wood, 182 tons; the whole valued 
at $7,500,000. The imports comprise mostly 
wearing apparel which was brought Into 
Saigon alone last year to the amoimt of 
$1,000,000; goods of Iron to the amount of 
$1,000,000 and over; chemicals and medicines, 
paints and colors, etc. Indo-China contains 
an area of over 200,000 square miles and a 
population of 20,000,000. It consists of the 
direct possessions of Cochin-China and Tong- 
king and the klngdomis of Annam and Cam- 
bodia, over which the French republic exer- 
cises a protectorate.— ^Times-Democrat. 



At 'the splendid Glenwood plantation Mr. 
Munson still holds on to his fine sugar house 
crew, and the work of Glenwood during the 
past campaign, in spite of the adverse con- 
ditions, speaks for their efficiency. Mr. 
Robert Sparks was manager, Mr. E. Poise, 
engineer, ar.d Mr. Alcee h. Aucoln sugar 
boUer, 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



[Vol. xxn. No. 4. 



Down Into the Sugar Bowl of Texas. 

The transition from the mountainous, arid, 
western portions of the state, where rocks 
and stunted growth of trees and bush 
a'bound, save along the sftreams, to ilia Gulf 
coast country, through whose low alluvial 
prairie lands the great Brazos sweeps lazily 
along, beneath forests of immense water 
oak, pecan, cottonwood, and other Indigen- 
ous trees, from whose wide-spreading 
branches droops the long, gray moss of the 
extreme South, was one most marked and 
astonishing. 

In this immediate section before the war 
there were large sugar plantations, and the 
sugar planter realized vast fortunes from 
cane growing and the production of syrup 
and low grades of ^ugar, which were sent 
away from home to be refined. After the 
war this industry was for a number of years 
almost paralyzed, because of the demoral- 
ized condition of labor, and many of the 
largest and richest sugar plantations were 
allowed to lapse into waste lands, overgrown 
with weeds and gra-s, or only cultivated 
in small patches of cane, corn and cotton. 
Recent years there has been a revival of 
interest in sugar growing and the acreage 
in cane has rapidly increased, until today 
in that immediate section it bids fair to 
supercede all other farm products. As a 
crop it i3 far more remunerative than cotton 
or corn, requires less labor to grow it and 
is more readily and quickly harveated. It 
is rapidly assuming enormous proportions 
and the lands in the sugar growing sec- 
tions are steadily increasing in value. Much 
of that not now in cultivation is equally as 
well adapted to cane, and only awaits the 
hand of the cultivator. 

Accustomed in childhood and youth to 
sugar cane, grown in small quantities (for 
almost every planter, in sections where cane 
could be grown, grew sufficient cane to fur- 
nish his family with syrup), to the pleasures 
and fun of "sugar boiling time," and to the 
delights of chewing cane, the visit to the 
sugar growing section of the state, and es- 
pecially the visit to Sugarland. was both a 
surprise and a revelation. The machinery 
for grinding cane on the old plantations was 
quite simple and primitive. An old-fash- 
ioned wooden mill, propelled by a mule, per- 
haps two mules, two or three metal sugar 
kettles, mounted upon rude rock or brick 
furnaces, a few barrels of water, and a gang 
of negro laborers, made up the machinery 
and accessories for producing syrup or a 
coarse grade of brown sugar. The mule fur- 
nished the motive power, urged on In his 
monotonous tramp around the mill, over 
waste cane and corn fodder, by a little 
darkey, often armed with a long stalk of 
cane, which served the two-fold purpose of 
goad and sugar stick, as he alternately chew- 
ed one end and lashed old Beck with the 
other. 

Around Sugarland hundreds o^ acres of 
cane are grown and the acreage increases 
yearly. At the plant of Mr. Cunningham tlie 



cane is taken in In .the stalk and turned ouL 
In all grades of marketable sugar to the 
finest granulated and cube sugars. 

As a rule, the sugar planters of this sec- 
tion do not grind their own cane; they sell 
It to Mr. Cunningham, at Sugarland, a small 
town on the Southern Pacific railroad, own- 
ed by this gentleman and inhabited almost 
exclusively, if not entirely, by the sugar 
refinery and paper mill. One thousand la- 
borers of all classes are employed In the two 
mills. Sugarland is distant from Houston 
twenty-five miles, and It Is here, many years 
ago, Mr. Cunningham settled and engaged 
In sugar cane growing. Through his per- 
severance and ability, whlch'^ls of the high- 
est order, he has wrought In this locality, 
distant from other 'busy marts of manufac- 
ture and trade, a wonder and built up an 
Industry which is the largest of Its kind 
in the United States. He owns a railroad, 
extending some thirty miles from Sugar- 
land to Areola Junction, through the great 
sugar plantations of Brazoria country, upon 
each of which from 100 to 1000 acres of cane 
are planted annually. Two trains a day pass 
through the plantations, gathering up the 
cane, which has been previously cut and 
hauled to the railroad by the planters, 
bringing It to the refinery free of charge to 
them. 

A visit to this mammoth esta'bllshment 
awakens the wonder of the visitor. Here In 
the country, so to speak, Is- a busy, hustling 
little town, the citizens of which have but 
one business; all thought centers upon one 
thing—sugar cane and Its products. Labor 
never ceases; day and night forces keep 
the machinery in motion Incessantly, only 
when It Is necessary to shut down for half 
a day to clean up and clear out the chim- 
neys. 

The process of making the sugar Is so in- 
tricate that we cannot undertake to descrl'be 
it, as with out limited knowledge of machin- 
ery and chemistry we could jiot follow the 
explanations very fluently and lucidly given 
us by Mr. E. Cunningham, Jr., who kindly 
and patiently explained many things to us. 
The young gentleman who controls and 
manages this big business Is a son of Mr.' 
E. Cunningham. He was educated In chem- 
istry and practical engineering for this es- 
pecial business and he holds it well in hand, 
personally supervising, directing and visit- 
ing every part of the farm and refinery each 
day. 

The sugar from this refinery Is sold all 
over* the West. The sugar trust cannot 
touch this Texas enterprise; it Is too great 
and too powerful for even that great com- 
hlnatlon to affect It In any way. The ca- 
pacity of the plant Is about 250,000 pounds 
daily. Eighteen hundred tons of cane are 
consumed each day, one ton yielding about 
187 pounds of sugar. The probable output 
of sugar this season will be 800,000 tons. 
The Increase of acreage over previous years 
on the Cunningham farm at Sugarland Is 
500 acres. 



On the plantation are cooper shops, where 
the barrels for transporting the sugar are 
made; blacksmith and carpenter shops for 
repairing and building; in fact, all kinds 
of skilled workmen necessary to carry on the 
large and varied work at Sugarland are 
constantly employed there. The cube sugar, 
so convenient for table use, is made by 
machinery, thus moulded into regular, uni- 
form cubes. 

Across the creek from the refinery la the 
paper mill, the only mill in this country 
where paper is made from the pulp of sugar 
cane. The process, like that of sugar mak- 
ing, is elaborate and intricate, even when 
one follows it, from the mill which grinds 
the pulp Into the macerator, through the 
numerous baths, along a dirty looking 
stream flowing through the house, of fifty 
feet, over a number of hot.rollers, emerging 
at the end a sheet of thick, smooth brown 
paper, ready lo be weighed, cut, packed and 
shipped to the consumers, excellent qualities 
of butchers' and express papers. 

After visiting Sugarland, we visited a 
number o^ sugar farms. The planters were 
everywhere busy, cutting and hauling the 
cane to be shipped to the refineries. 

Leaving Houston over the International, 
we visited plantations along that road. We 
had hoped to find grinding done in the old- 
fashioned style on some of the numerous 
farms, but were disappointed, until, on oar 
way home, we found Mr. Scruggs, near 
Alvin, making syrup, using an old-time 
mill. Unfortunately, he was almost through 
grinding when our snap was made, and the 
scene is not a very busy one. 

The planters generally In Brazoria and 
Fort Bend counties, sold their cane to the 
Cunningham plant, or to a new plant, the 
Lone Star Refining Company, which was 
being built and equipped at Columbia, with 
a capacity of about 400 tons per day. 

Considerable Interest Is being shown in a 
projected railroad of some twenty-eight 
miles to be built tlirough this sugar growing 
region. Much of the land now in woodlands 
would be cleared and planted to cane should 
this railroad be built, and such lands would 
pay handsomely In cane, but would not pay 
If planted In corn or cotton. Sugar cane is 
considered the best paying crop in these 
lands, so well adapted to cane growing, one 
acre in cane being equal in value to three of 
corn or cotton. It costs about $26 per acre 
to plant the cane. This includes cost of seed, 
and when it is once planted, on high lands, 
It comes up from the stubble for from four 
to six years, saving the labor of planting 
annually. 

An estimate of the acreage grown In sugar 
cane by the larger planters in Brazoria and 
Fort Bend counties, as given by a reliable 
planter. Is as follows: Retrieve plantation, 
owned by Ball, Hutchlns & Co., Galveston, 
500 acres; Darrlngton farm, Capt. Porter, 
500 acres; T. W. House, Houston. 1000 acres; 
L. A. Ellis, 1000 acres; Mrs. Larkln, 150 
acres; E. Wicks. 300 acres; Ed. Williams, 
3350 acres; Dr. Dew, 150 acres; John Lang, 
150 acres; E. H. Cunningham, 3000 acres; 
Mrs. Bettle Bingham, 175 acred; John Juleff. 
175 acres. Besides these, there are a great 
number of farmers who plant from 50 to 100 
acres, or less. 

The sugar planters are hopeful of greater 
activity In this Industry, and they do not 
fear any competition from Cuba or the Ha- 
waiian Islands, at least for many years. We 
were told that before the late war the sugar 
was brought from Cuba to the Cunningham 
plant to be reflned.— Mrs. S. K Buchanan, in 
Farm end Ranch. 



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63 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL C011RE8P0NDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Only one of Ascension's su-gar factories is 
still sul>merged in grinding afflictions— the 
Belle Helene Co/s house, where the rollers 
will be rolling and the auxiliary mechanism 
performing its respective functions in the 
sugar-making process until the end of the 
week. There is still available sugar in the 
cane and none of the crop will be left un- 
ground, but the least said soonest mended 
as to the quan'tity of the product coming 
under that specification of "available sugar." 
The Donaldsonville Chief pays the following 
compliment to the owners of this factory: 

"The Belle Helene company has probably 
suffered greater financial loss proportionate- 
ly than any other sugar manufacturing con- 
cern in this parish as a result of the past 
season's operations, due not only to the ex- 
tremely low percentage of available sugar 
in their cane, but also to the fact that they 
paid a better price for bought cane than 
other Ascension factories did. It is to the 
sociates that the agreements with their ten- 
ants and others from whom the Belle Hel- 
ene factory obtained supplies of cane were 
carried out to the letter, and that no attempt 
was made either to in-duce or compel the 
'parties of the second part' to share the 
losses which unfavorable natural conditions 
1)eyond the control of either entailed upon 
the 'parties of the firat part.' " • 

The Hermitage factory finished grinding 
on Thursday of last week and the pan work 
was concluded the following day. The 
total weight of cane crushed was 17,800 tons 
and the sugar product, made and estimated, 
was 2,500,785 pounds, an average of 140 
pounds per ton. This is much better than 
any other place in this parish has done, 
and the only one in this end of the sugar 
district that has made a higher average, so 
far as your correspondent is informed was 
Salsburg in St. James, where the estimated 
ratio was 144.4 pounds per ton. 

The sugar output of Messrs. B. Lemann & 
Bro.'s Palo Alto factory was 3,224,251 
pounds, the product of 29,255 tons of cane; 
average, 110% pounds "scant." 

The work of the grinding seiason was ter- 
minated at Mr. Leon Godchaux's Raceland 
factory, in Lafourche parish, on the 10th 
Inst, and the sugar output is reported at 
8,000,000 pounds. 

The big Meeker Hoire refinery at Meeker, 
Rapides parish, has concluded a very unsat- 
isfactory season's work, the sugar product of 
53,000 tons of cane having fallen short of 
5,000.000 pounds, an average of less than 100 
pounds per ton. As Superintendent Robert 
Storm cogently says: 

"Unfavorable weather during the summer 
caused the cane at the beginning of the 
grinding season to be utterly unfit for sugar 
making purposes, and it never improved. 
An early freeze compelled general windi % w- 



ing, and during the balance of the season 
hot weather, rains and freezes alternated 
with a cussed regularity and most disas- 
trous results." 

Home is one of the best equipped houses 
in the State and an invaluable adjunct or 
prefix of its fine nine-roller mill is the new 
crusher invented by Mr. Storm and con- 
structed for him toy the Fulton Iron Works. 

Mr. George M. Boote, whose recent return 
from Hawaii has been a source of gratifica- 
tion to his legion of 'Louisiana friends, will 
take up his residence on Evan Hall planta- 
tion, and cultivate 400 acres of land as a 
tenant. He has for several years past con- 
trolled the cultivation of 216 acres on this 
place, and the enlargement of his "field" of 
operations there is indicative of the satis- 
factory relations he has maintained with the 
McCall Bros. Company. 

Very few managerial changes will tak? 
place on Ascension plantation this year. 
Mr. J. S. Collins, heretofore in charge of 
South wood, has gone to Sartartia, Texas, to 
manage all of the Ellis places. Mr. Lee 
Barman, his assistant, has taken a clerical 
position in the store on the North Bend 
plantation, St. Mary parish. Mr. GeQ. H. 
Morrison who temporarily filled an assist- 
ant's position at MoManor after Manager J. 
W. Gleason's retirement, is now employed 
in a like capacity on the Gramercy Co.'s 
Mount Houmas place. 

Mr. Gleason's health is steadily improv- 
ing under the influence of rest and good 
treatment in New Orleans, and his early re- 
turn to Ascension is hoped for by his friends 
here. 

Very little plowing and planting has yet 
been attempted, owing to the damp condi- 
tion of the soil. A general slart would have 
been made toy the middle of this week but 
for a copious rainfall on Monday. 

All reports so far heard relative to the 
condition of seed cane are favorable. 

Our police jury on Wednesday adopted the 
new road ordinance and it is to be hoped 
this is the last season when the public 
thoroughfares will become so deplorably and 
disgracefully bad as they now are in many 
parts of Ascension. 



West Baton Rouge. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Hon. Aug. Levert, having finished grind- 
ing last Saturday or .Sunday, the rolling sea- 
son of 1898-99 has passed into history so 
far as West Baton Rouge is concerned. It 
were unprofitable here to recount the numer- 
ous and remarkable freaks of weather that 
characterized 1898, and particularly the la t 
three months of the year. In looking back 
over the grinding season Just closed one 
cannot but fee impressed with the predomi- 
nant peculiarity of the season, and that was 
the universal geeeness of the cane from 
first to last. Despite the unusually cold 
weather that sCt in after the middle of Octo- 
i>er, the cane seems to have undergone lit- 



tle or no change so far as ripening was con- 
cerned. The disappointing results of the 
crop just h-arvested are matters of history. 

As to the present it must be confessed that 
the situation Is by no means encouraging. 
While it is somewhat too early to form a 
correct estimate of the condition of the plant 
and stubble, the reports from several planta- 
tions are to the effect that considerable 
defective seed cane is being found. To the 
writer the sinister feature of these reports 
lies in the fact that some of them emanate 
from a plantation where, up to two weeks 
ago, the seed cane seemed perfect. While 
there has been a slight-Improvement in the 
weather, we are still having too much rain, 
a heavy down pour having occurred last 
Monday night. Very little field work has 
been done as yet 

It is understood that Mr. Ernest Vick- 
nair, of Anchorage, inten-ds building a horse- 
power railroad with which to transport his 
cane to the mill. 

Mr. W. H. Esque, a veteran overseer who 
has for some years been In retirement as 
a cotton planter, has again joined the ranks 
of the fraternity by accepting a position on 
Belmont plantation. 

Mr. Taylor Bernard, for many years on 
Anchorage, left here last Saturday to take 
up his duties on Adler's Ben Hur planta- 
tion, East Baton Rouge. 

Following in the wake of Monday night's 
rain came a decided change for the bet- 
ter, Tuesday being a beautiful day, while 
a heavy frost was seen this (Wednesday) 
morning in 

West Baton Rouof. 



Terrebonne. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. } 

Udilor Louisiana Planter: 

The absence of heavy precipitations in 
this parish thus far during the month has 
'been most fortunate for the cane growers, 
and in consequence on some places where the 
campaign ended before the new year, field 
work is farther advanced than usual thus 
early in the season. 

But for the heavy froat and thin ice on 
Friday morning, last week was propitious 
for planting and the work was rapidly ad- 
vanced on some places, notably Woodlawn 
of Mr. €. B. Maginnis, and Southdown, the 
estate of the late Hon. H. C. Minor, where 
from eighty to one hundred acres were 
planted. On many other places fields were 
being prepared for planting and on Monday 
planting became more general. All are 
anxious to hasten operations as the seed 
cane has been found defective in places, and 
in one or two instances sorting has been re- 
sorted to — a very questionable proceeding 
which one can easily prove by personally 
making the attempt, afiter which carefully 
inspect the resultant piles of cane. Very 
careful preparation of the seed bed and 
covering and rolling the land after planting 
(possl-bly twice) will generally Insure bet- 
ter results, as more ithan one-third of the 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. L 



eyes never germinate when tbe canes are 
sound. The writer has seen some indiffer- 
ent seed and some in excellent condition 
with some of the eyes just beginning to 
point, in the former instance the tonnage 
was somewhait heavy, the canes were crook- 
ed and the eyes had elongated after the 
September storm of last year, and the latter 
the tonnage lighter (the field having been 
but modera:ely fertilized) bu«t little crook 
to the canes and the eyes in a normal condi- 
tion when the canes were windrowed. Lat- 
terly the lands have dried rapidly and a 
maoderately warm rain at the end of the week 
will prove of benefit to the canes planted, 
and will render friaA)le the fields already 
prepared; as some are plowing all their 
cane lands prior to making a beginning, as 
they rely on favorable weather in February 
— deemed by some the best month in the 
year to plant. 

Recently Mr. Chas. B. Maginnis pur- 
chased the Cedar Grove place below Ashland 
from Messrs. Blum & Prevost at private 
sale. The canes grown on the place for 
several years have been sold to the Ash- 
l<and factory. Regardless of the short crop 
last year, some at least have faith in the 
future of the cane sugar industry of the 
state. 

Wednesday of last week the weather was 
variable; Thursday, cloudy and cold; Fri- 
day, a heavy frost and thin ice with sun- 
shine later in the day; Saturday and Sun- 
day, cloudy; Monday, fair and balmy in the 
morning and cloudy later; Tuesday, cloudy 
and colder ^nd the pn.dicted cold wave 
made Itself felt In the evening and on 
Wednesday morning there .was a heavy frost 
with thin Ice, which soon disappeared un- 
der the Influence of the bright sunshine. 

Terrebonne. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRMPONDEKCB.) 

Editor LouisUina Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
behaving Itself t)etter than heretofore. Since 
the flood last Monday night we have not had 
any rain until this afternoon, just one week, 
when this section was visited by a very 
heavy rain. The weather has "been w.irm all 
the week and it has tried very hard to rain 
but failed until to-day. The lands were dry- 
ing out very nicely and farmers had just 
begun to plow a little and the general ap- 
pearance of things looked like starting a 
crop when the rain this afternoon put a 
stop to any further progress for - several 
days. Preparations for a crop this year are 
away behind and prospects are anything but 
flattering at this writing. There has been 
but little land plowed for cane and none at 
all for corn and cotton. Cane farmers are 
very blue over the outlook for suitable 
weather to put in their crop. They are very 
anxious to plant their cane before February 
to avoid the usual disastrous weather to seed 
cane in the mat or windrow during that 
month. The Rose Hill and Ramsey Refiner- 



ies have wound up their season's grinding 
and the machinery has been laid by In good 
shape. The season was a very satisfactory 
one for the cane grower but not so profitable 
for the mills. They were successful in sav- 
ing all the cane that they contracted to grind 
notwithstanding the early cold weather and 
the apprehensions of the grower that he 
would lose his crop. All In all the season 
just finished was a very profitable one for 
the cane grower If we take Into consideration 
the disadvantage the mill man was put to 
to manufacture sugar from the cane and the 
tremendous loss that he sustained in carry- 
ing out his contract with the producer. 
Some of the mills did not only run at a loss 
during the entire season, but some of them 
ran for ten days after the bulk of the cane 
had been cleaned up at a heavy loss to save 
the remnant. This was the case with the 
Caffery Refinery and they are to be com- 
mended for this action. The management of 
this mill kept the mill running until the last 
stalk of cane that remained on the line of 
the I. & V. railroad under contract to them 
to grind had been delivered. Part of tbls 
time they did not have over a third of a run. 
The cane growers on the West end of the 
Iberia and Verunillon railroad appreciate 
this favor and will remember the Caffery 
Refinery for staying with them to the end. 

The Planter correspondent made a fiying 
trip to Gueydan this past week and while 
there was surprised to see that at least one- 
half of the 1898 rice crop still remains in the 
field to be threshed. Threshers are busy 
every day in all parts of the prairie thresh- 
ing out the crop and with a week's good 
weather the entire crop will be housed. There 
have been no preparations as yet for a crop 
this year but arrangements are being made 
to that end. There has been quite a change 
In the management of the Vermilion De- 
velopment Co. Canal at Gueydan. J. P. 
Gueydan was formerly president and E. H. 
Gueydan, secretary, but, a few days ago, J. P. 
Gueydan disposed of his interest in the com- 
pany to the remaining members, Messrs. 
Lltchensteln, Messenger, Kaplan and others, 
and will devote his entirf time to the devel- 
opment of the town of Gueydan, which be- 
longs to him in toto save r.he lots that have 
already been sold. This !« one of the best 
11 tele towns in the State of Louisiana and 
has a bright future before It. The Ver- 
milion Development Company will continue 
to operate their mammoth canals In the 
neighborhood of Gueydan and It is needless 
to say that success awaits the manaj^ement. 

P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. ) 

Editor Loviniana Planter: 

No rain to amount to anything has fallen 
since writing last week, but the weather 
continues to be very damp and changeable, 
so that the ground Is drying out slowly, 
which Is very unsatisfactory to the farmers 
and planters who are now anxious to get to 



plowing and preparing lands for planting 
purposes. 

•Particularly is this the case with those 
who have cane to plant this spring. Upon in- 
quiring I find that the best drained fields are 
so saturated and full of water that it will 
require several days of warm sunshine be- 
fore the soil will be properly fitted for the 
plow. I have no means by jwhlch to obtain 
the actual rainfall during a given time, but 
I think I am safe In saying that more inches 
of rain has fallen over the greater part of 
the Red river parishes of Rapides, Avoyelles 
and St. Landry, since the first of this month, 
than has ever been noted during the many 
years which have fiown past. 

The sugar making season just closing in 
this and our neighboring parishes, has 
proved to be the worst and least profitable 
known since the Introduction of Improved 
machinery and methods Into the country for 
the manufacture of sugar. 

Xiosses were unavoidably sustained by 
those wlio were growing cane, In having to. 
In not a few Instances, cut their cane at 
both ends to fit It for the mill, so to make it 
to some extent profitable to the manufac- 
turer to take, crush and convert into sugar. 

With truth It may be said that some man- 
ufacturers were generous enough to pur- 
chase cane at top prices, knowing at the time 
that they were losing money by so doing 
It showed a principle of fairness and honor 
which Is not met with every day In the busy 
business world. 

^he Planter's correspondent has not, to 
date, learned what amount of sugar has been 
made from the 1898 crop of cano In our 
home factories. 

The tonnage of cane shipped from Avoy- 
elles, Rapides and St. Landry was very con- 
siderable considering the season which has 
prevailed. Were it possible for the sugar 
which has been manufactured from these 
canes to be credited to the above mentioned 
parishes. It would make a very fine show- 
ing for our home industry In cane and sugar 
production. 

1 have been informed that Mr. Geo. W. 
Bennett, of Bennettville, has in contempla- 
tion the building, this year, of a molasses 
plant. Mr: Bennett Is a stirring citizen 
planter and merchant of Rapides, who is 
progressive in the strictest sense of the 
word. 

There seems to be a disposition with some 
of the prominent cane growers to return to 
the Idea o^ each plantation having its own 
factory. If I am not very much mistaken, 
the next few years will find a number of 
small first-class factories in this upper 
sugar belt In active operation. 

The cost of shipping cane to distant mar- 
kets, taken yearly, amounts to quite a large 
sum of monei;, which, If applied to building 
home factories, would soon enhance the 
value of real estate, as well as being highly 
beneficial to the people of all classes, trades 
and callings. 

Since the above was written a heavy rain 
has fallen. 



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55 



5t. James — Left Bank. 

(BPBOtAL OORRBSPONDENCI.) 

Editor Ijouiniaiui Planter: 

The weather seems to have been totally 
metamorphosed from its unruly nature of 
the past four months, for within the past 
two weeks we have had hut a slight shower 
hardly worth mentioning. The atmosphere 
has been also of a most pleasant nature, not 
much of a January type but more of a 
spring-like description; outside of the oc- 
casional east wind no pleasanter atmosphere 
could t>e. desired. Monday afternoon a reac- 
tion in the elements set in, but no rain of 
any consequence fell and since then a heavy 
northwest wind has been steadily blowing 
and a very chilly sensation is felt with the 
prospect of a heavy fall in the thermometer 
with the arrival of to-morrow. With this 
sort of weather the^ planters seem gratified 
and have evidently overcame the disap- 
pointments caused by the unsatisfactory re- 
sults of the past year's crop, and have readi- 
ly started anew their occupation, entertain- 
ing the hope of making a more successful., 
result with this year's crop than the past 
season's. 

■Plowing has 'been resumed and all are 
actively at woric. The plant cane is report- 
ed as <beinig sati'sfactory almost everywhere. 

Speaking of grinding seems ahnost out of 
season, but the Uncle Sam factory which was 
very backw;ard in starting last year could 
not possibly grind the entire crop in tfte 
usual time and it was only Tuesday last 
that all its operations were l)rought to a 
close. Nothing so far has been heard as to 
its results but notwithstanding their loss of 
time no <;anes whatever were lost. 

The large Gramercy factory closed about 
a week ago, having crushed 16500 t^uis of 
cane of its own. The St. Alice plantation on 
the right bank, the neat little property of 
the late Raphael Beltrao, has been sold to 
Mr. Fred. Grace, of Plaquemines. This 
plantation is well known as consisting of 
good rice lands where several rice planters 
have previously been successful in their 
understandings. The price paid by Mr. Graca 
was $12,000. 

(Mr. Ernest Vicknair, one of the lucky 
planters of our parish, has purchased the 
Anchorage plantation, of Capt. Brown, in 
West Baton Kouge parish, for the sum of 
$34,000. 

The rapidly rising river is causing quite 
a flurry among our people and active prepa- 
rations are being made to combat any dan- 
ger. The Pontchartrain Board meets 
Thursday in order to complete arrange- 
ments for anything that may require atten- 
tion in their district. 

Our roads are at present receiving the 
contractor's attention and with the help of 
fair weather and good road machinery are 
ibeing transformed from their impassable 
condition into good order. 

iThe St James Court House Ferry Co. 
have sold out their "Dewey" ferry boat to 



Mr. S. J. Perret, and it will continue its 
trips under its new owner. 

Convent. 



Trade Notes. 

. J. B. ft J. M. Cornell Iron Works. 

The J. B. & J. M. Cornell Iron Works, the 
advertisement of which appears elsewhere 
in this issue, is at present one of the largest 
manufacturing concerns of sugar machinery 
in this country. 

About two years ago, Messrs. J. B. & J. M. 
Cornell became proprietors of the well 
known West Point Foundry at Cold Spring, 
N. Y., which has for years paaft supplied 
large quantities of machinery to sugar re- 
fineries and sugar houses in this country, 
the West Indies and all jjarts of the world. 
Under their ownership, the works at Cold 
Spring have been entirely remodeled and 
enlarged. A new foundry 400 feet long has 
been added, fitted with elecidc cranes aud all 
modern improvements, and the machine 
shops have been enlarged and provided with 
special machinery for coping any k'.nd of 
machine work. 

In addition to the facilities at West Point, 
Messrs. J. B. 6c J. M. Cornell have a large 
machine shop, and foundry in New York 
City, where all kinds of light and ornamental 
castings of iron and bronze are made, anJ 
in connection with this is their large rivet- 
ing shop, occupying property about 200x500 
feet. Here the steel structural work for 
some of the largest buildings ex^r erected 
in New York have beeh built, among which 
may be mentioned vhe Astoria Hotel and an- 
nex, the St. Paul building and the Park Row 
building, the latter the tallest mercantile 
building ever erected, its towers being some 
30 stories above the sidewalk. 

'Messrs. J. B. & J. M. Cornell also built the 
structural work of the Arbuckle Refinery, 
and supplied this concern and the Doscher 
Refinery in Brooklyn with a great part of 
their machinery. 

During the past season they also built a 
large quantity of machinery for the beet fac- 
tories in the West and supplied to Louisiana 
many thousand dollars worth of sugar ma- 
chinery in the way of vacuum pans, multi- 
ple effects, contrifugals, crystallizers, bag 
filters, etc., besides machinery for other 
manrufaciurers. 

The facilities of the J. B. & J. M. Cornell 
Iron Works for doing work rapidly and 
cheaply are many and they are prepared to 
contract for entire cane and beet sugar 
houses and sugar refineries and to under- 
take the complete installations of such fac- 
tories designing and furnishing the plans 
for building and machinery. They employ 
expert engineers In 'this particular line, as 
well as civil engineers for the purpose of de- 
signing any size or sliaped structure which 
may be required. 

Owning their own lighters with their own 
dock in New York, as well as at Cold 
Spring, and in addition having direct com- 



munication with the New York Central & 
Hudson River R. R., which runs its cars 
Jirect into their shops, they are able to 
handle freight and material with great 
facility and economy. 

The main office of J. B. & J. M. Cornell is 
in New York City, 26th Street and 11th 
Avenue, and their southern office is in 807 
Common Street, New Orleans. They have 
also a Cuban office in Havana, No. 32 Obra- 
pia. 

Graphite Paints. 

The Joseph Dixon Cruci'ble Co with a 
laudable enterprise are pressing upon the 
attention of the country the value of graph- 
ite in the many directions of its present 
Industrial application. Of course it is a mat- 
ter of large interest to all sugar planters 
whether the graphite be used as a lu'bricator 
or as a paint, all sugar planters being much 
concerned in both directions. 

They now call attention to an old sign 
in the possession ot the Western Society of 
Engineers at Chicago. The words "Harper's 
Ferry*' painted in black stand out as bright- 
ly as when they were first formed by th€ 
painters brush, while the wood around the 
letter*, which was painted with white paint, 
has worn away about a sixteenth of an inch. 
It is claimed that no paint now made is equal 
'in durability to that applied on the old sign. 

As against this Mr. Hooper, of Tlcon- 
deroga, N. Y., sees nothing remarkable and 
holds that just as good paint is made nowa- 
day?. He assumes that the paint for the 
Harper's Ferry lettering was made of lin- 
seed oil and lamp black and states that he 
believes that finely ground graphite mixed 
with pure linseed oil will last as long or 
longer than any other pftlnt ever known or 
used. He had a large Iron casting in his 
mill yard for thirty years which was paint- 
ed with but one coat, and when broken up 
and iold for old iron last month the paint 
on the pieces looked quite fresh. There 
would seem to be no question as to the 
great value of graphite paints. 



Personal. 



Mr. R. R. Barrow, the Terrebonne parish 
sugar planter and financier, came up to the 
city on Sunday and stopped at his usual 
abiding place, the Hotel Grunewald. 

Hon. J. Henry Putnam, of Abbeville, La., 
one of the most progressive sugar planters 
we have, was a guest of the Cosmopolitan 
on^ Sunday last. Mr. Putnam came to the 
cHy for a brief stay. 

Hon. Andrew Price, of the Arcadia planta- 
tion in Lafourche parish, was at the St. 
Charles hotel a few days ago. Mr. Price 
spent some time mingling pleasantly with 
his host of friends. 

Mr. Jos. Birg, of Franklin, who has the 
reputation of 'being a very skillful man in all 
that pertains to sugar planting, was in the 
city on a visit a few days ago. He stopped 
at the St Charles. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



[Vol. xxn, No. 4. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, Jan. 7th, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

There is almost every week a day or 
two when the weather seems to assume a 
winter-like aspect, but the hopes called 
forth, that finally reasonaole climatic con- 
ditions would set in, have heen always 
frustrated and such has been also the case 
in the course of the week under review. 
Beginning mild and damp, the weather in 
the midst of the week grew clear and cold 
with even some severe night frosts and 
some snowfalls, ibut at the end of the week 
a rise of the temperature denotes that win- 
ter in reality is still as far distant as it ever 
has been. Quite apart from the unfavorable 
effect of this weather as to the preserva- 
tion of the pitted beet roots; the mlldnesa 
of the temperature is an abnormity, a faul- 
ty distribution of warm and cold, which, it 
must >be feared, will be counterbalanced by 
* a late and eold spring, and this in further 
consequence leads to a delay of the sow- 
ings and short crops as the experience of 
last year has brought out with sufficient 
clearness, at least in Germany, whilst in 
some of the other countries, especially in 
Austria and France, heavy rains in the 
month of October liave caused an almost un- 
expected Improvement. 

The year 1898, just ended, if you permit 
me to make some retrospective considera- 
tions, 'began under rather favora/ble auspices 
for the sugar trade of the world. It had been 
taken for gran^ted that the beet sowings 
would not undergo a serious increase and 
esrtimates of the cane crops led also to the 
belief that the production from that quar- 
ter would, especially with regard to the 
situation In Cuba, not be notably changed 
as compared wiilh last year. On t^he other 
hand, there were unmistakably signs of a 
growing increase, the economical conditions 
almost all over the world awakening from 
the state of depression they had labored 
under in late years. These hopeful feelings 
were strengthened by the delay the beet sow- 
ings experienced and later on by the fact 
that indeed no ndleworthy increase of the 
'beet sowings Qiad taken place. The only 
dark point of the picture was the large visi- 
ble supplies which, since some years had 
accumulated in consequence of continued 
overproduction, which had taken place In 
spite of the almost entire absence of 6uba 
from the market This question of supplies 
has been of particular importance for the 
Aflnerlcan market where, as a consequence 
of the tariff changes effected in 1897, stocks 
not only in first, but in all hands, had ac- 
cumulated to such a point that the supply 
for a long time was far ahead of the de- 
mand and that meltings in Che refineries 
ifhowed a serious falling off as compared 
with other years. Then came the war with 



Cu/ba, that is with Spain on account of 
Cuba, which threatened to shut up the 
Cuban sugars for a longer period. In this 
respect, however, that trade had been some- 
wha'. disappointed, the American arms 
being much sooner and in a mueh more de- 
cisive degree victorious than it was gen- 
erally expected. On the whole, however, 
the prospects remained favorable, the 
more so as the weather continued not 
quite favorable for the development of 
i he beet crop. As an event of moment 
should ibe mentioned the meeting of the In- 
ternational conference at Brussels con- 
voked to consider and. If possible, to solve 
the bounty question, which they, however, 
failed to do on account of the declining at- 
titude of France, whidh country called it 
an Interference to their Interior affairs, when 
the other powers touched the subject of their 
Indirect bounties. The result of the con- 
ference being null there could be no Infiu- 
ence on tthe general condition of the trade, 
which indeed proceeded without any great 
regret to the order of the day. Meantime, 
the repoi-ts of the condition of the beet ■ 
crops became more unfavorable and when 
in October last first estimates were made a 
large falling off as against last year was 
prognosticated. At this time and up to 
November the values, though still compara- 
tively low, moved in an upward direction 
and prices, which In London at the com- 
mencement of the campaign 1897-98, were 
quoted at 8,6 per cwt., reached a level of 
upwards of 10/ per cwt. But then a declining 
'tendency set In, for it was slowly leaking 
out that the crops might show higher figures 
than hitherto admitted and the next month, 
in Decemlaer, the collapse came, new esti- 
mates showing that the deficit as against 
t»he last crop had almost disappeared. 
Therefore prices fell again and In London 
they closed at 9 614 per cwt., about the 
price at which they had opened In January, 
1898. The prospects for the future, though 
a little less bright than some time ago, are 
now by no means discouraging as far as the 
course of the market is concerned. The 
latter has to deal with about the same pro- 
duction as last year, but there Is an evident 
Increase of consumption, and If this con- 
tinues, the visible suixplles will by and by 
diminish and lose their threatening aspect. 
Much depends, of course, on the magnitude 
of this year's beet sowings. These, it Is 
true, show at presenit a tendency to fur- 
ther develop, but on the other hand It 
seems possible that the late unfavorable 
turn the prices have taken may exercise In 
this respect a restrictive Infiuence. As a 
desire particularly addressed to your coun- 
try, I mlghit suggest that America should 
not be too busy In developing the produc- 
tive capacities of her newly acquired colo- 
nial possessions, this would be equally detri- 
mental to the interest of America and Euro- > 
pean sugar growers. 
The markets have not been roused yet 



from the kind of stupor Into which they fell 
shortly before Christmas. Speculation, as 
the burnt child who shuns the fire, keeps 
aloof from the markets and bona fide buy- 
ers do not feel sure yet as to the level of 
prices now established and operate, there- 
fore, also very cautiously. This condition, 
however, cannot last any longer and It must 
be hoped that business will soon be stimu- 
lated by the exigencies of consumption. 
Prices on almost all European markets have 
receded, in Germany they remained, at 
least for actual goods, about unchanged. 

ROBT. HEN'NIG. 



Havana. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8P0.VDENCE.) 

(Havana, Jan. 12th, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The demand for sugar remaining quiet 
In the Uni'ted States, iiothing hardly has 
been done in this market and sales have 
been limited to small parcels to local re- 
tailers, at from 5% at 5y< cts. per arrobe of 
25 lbs. equal to 2% at 2 11/16 cts. lb, 96 basis, 
for new sugars and 2% at 2-/; for old 
produce, basis 94 test. 

The first sale for exportation, comprising 
5,000 bags, centrifugals, was closed at Car- 
denas, at 2.35 cts. lb., basis 96 test. 

Market closes quiet and nominal at above 
figures. 

Molasses: None left of the t»est classes, 
the last parcels of the past crop having been 
disposed of at from $10@11 per hhd. of 175 
gallons. Second class produce Is rather 
scarce as yet and Is being disposed of at from 
41/^ to 4V<{ cts. gal., to local rum distillers. 

Prospect for this year's crop: It would 
now seem that the crop will result smaller 
than generally anticipated. Owing chlefiy 
to the lack of funds the majority of planters 
are laboring under the scarcity of hands to 
labor, both in the fields and at the sugar 
houses, and the poor yield of the cane, the 
resuh of the invasion of the fields by weeds 
and grass that have absorbed the greater 
part of the nourishing elements contained 
in the soil, thus coaslderably interfering 
with the growth of the cane and the density 
In Its juice. 

Besides, spring plantings, with few ex- 
ceptions^ were made on quite a limited 
scale and only part of this cane will be 
ground, the balance being kept fi.T seedlings. 
Several of the plantations that ground last 
year will remain Inactive, owing to the 
small quantity of available cane they can 
dispose of this year and it will be ground in 
neighboring factories. 

Though no reliable information has as yet 
been received from St Yago and Porto 
Principe, it is to be supposed that there will 
also be a decrease in their respective pro- 
duction, as compared to last year's, owing to 
the lack of requisite attendance upon the 
fields. According to appearances, crop oper- 
ations will not be fairly under way un- 
til next month. 

ToMAS Delorm'b. 



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57 



Antigua, B. W. I. 

The crop of 1897-1898 was a poor one, and 
as prices ruled- low, very little money cir- 
culated. Our products in Antigua were al- 
most exclusively confined to the sugar cane. 
The pine-apple crop was a good one In point 
of number of fruit; but the quality did not 
compare favorably with our best yields, and 
In no department of agriculture are scien- 
tific methods more needed than in the fruit 
cultivation. With our favoring soil and 
climate, we should- Jbe able to produce a 
much finer fruit than we do, and we can but 
trust that Dr. Morris will give to the An- 
tigua pine-apple the full benefit of his knowl- 
edge of its proper culture. The 1898-1899 
crop promises to toe exceptionally good. 
Rain has been continuous and the total 
acreage ufider canes is larger than it was 
last year. Besides this, the indications so 
far encourage the hope of good prices, and 
so we think the people's suffering will be 
less general and intense. In this connec- 
tion we must express our approval of the 
•bill passed by the last Federal Council, lim- 
iting the free importation of paupers. 
Whether so designed or not, this bill will 
have the result of preventing the importa- 
tion of laborers to take oft next year's crop. 
We maintain that there is ample labor on 
the island for doing so, and that all that 
is necessary is to treat the lat>orers fairly. 
— ^Times, Dec. 31. 

Demerara. 

The December rainy season has appar- 
ently set in and the heavy and penetrating 
showers which have fallen for several days 
past have imparted considerable vigor to 
the young cultivation. Grinding on most 
of the principal estates is gradually ap- 
proaching completion, and within the next 
ten days or fortnight, operations will have 
ceased on nearly all the plantations. The 
yield of sugar continues to be much below 
the average in Demerara and Essequebo, bu: 
in Berbice the returns are more favorable. 

The arrangement with Messrs. Thorne and 
Bascom to act as Emigration Agents in 
Barbados terminated at the end of last 
month, and for the present no further West 
Indian laborers will be brought here under 
indenture. It is too early yet to form an 
opinion with regard to the value as labor- 
ers of the immigrants who have arrived 
from the neighboring islands, but should 
the experiment eventually prove a success, 
the Planters' Association, wlidch took an 
important part in the recent negotiations, 
will probably consider the advisability of 
re-opening this branch of immigration. 

According to advices from the Islands, it 
appears that the weather has lately been 
favorable for cultivation. In Barbados it is 
believed that the cane crop next year, de- 
spite the hurricane, will not fall far below 
the average. From Jamaica similar encour- 
aging news with regard t^ the fruit crops 
has been received. Trinidad has lately been 
iulfering from an ezeeptionallr wet seasoiL 



The effect has been very damaging to the 
cocoa crops, and has retarded the picking 
and other operations connected with the 
beans. The prospects of the sugar indus- 
try in that islan-d are not. however, con- 
sidered so unfavorable.— Chronicle. 



prices which show a decline of fully 3d per 
cwt on previous rates. The imports of 
crystallized raws to London for the week 
ending 5th inst. amounted to 167 tons, as 
against 1,496 tons in 1898.— P. M. Review, 
Jan. 1. 



Austria. 

The following is translated from the 
Wochenschrift, dated Vienna, January 4th: 
"During this week the weather has toeen very 
changeable, and a thaw followed last week's 
frodt. The average temperature this week in 
Vienna is 1.8 C, against a normal average 
of 1.7 C. Similar weather has been reported 
from France and Germany. The contracts 
made for beets have, as we mentioned in our 
report of last week, t)hrough the late decrease 
in price, undergone an interruption. In Ger- 
many and France contracts are already being 
taken singly. In Belgium the beet workers 
have made a kind of an agreeonent in order 
to demand higher prices from Ithe manufac- 
turers, but this will scarcely contribute to an 
increase of contracts. From Russia it is re- 
ported that during the season 1899 and 1900, 
twenty-two new factories will start the in- 
dustry. 



Susrar in London. 

Although tliere is an absence of improve- 
ment in the general tone of the market, rath- 
er more business has been done, and no fur- 
ther decline has occurred in the value of 
beet. The prospect of larger supplies of 
Continental sugar and the absence of any in- 
terruption to river and canal navigation 
abroad combine to produce a cautious feeling 
on Lhe part of buyers, although prices have 
now fallen to a very low point, and so far as 
white sugar is concerned are at their proper 
level compared with the value of 88 per cent 
ibeet. The question of sowings of the next 
beet crop has hardly been seriously consid- 
ered yet, though the tendency to increase 
them still continues, and new couni::ries enter 
the field year by year. The recent fall in 
values may, however, produce some curtail- 
ment this time, and with the distinct prefer- 
ence shown for cane sugar by America, and 
the opportunities which will "be hencefor-th 
enjoyed by that country for supplying her- 
self, the disposal of a crop of 5,000,000 tons 
of beet will, in the future, present a serious 
problem to the continental fabricants. The 
position which sugar occupies now is, how- 
ever, by no means a bad one, and is 
much stronger than in recent seasons. The 
present dullness here has been refiected in 
the American markets, Che landings at the 
principal ports of America being in excess of 
the meltings l)y refiners, and the stocks have 
risen by 10,000 tons, which, however, still 
shows a very large deficit compared with 
previous years. Cane kinds, so far as re- 
gards refining and manufacturing sugar, 
have met with little inquiry, but prices are 
maintained, while grocery crystallized, in 
which 'business "by public sale <ha8 been i^ 
inmed, has met with a fli^ady demand, at 



5usar In London. 

There has been a continuance of pressure 
to sell by Continental holders, and prices 
have fallen still further till they have 
reached last year's level, and indeed, in 
some cases, have gone below it. This a few 
weeks ago would have seemed entirely un- 
warranted, but occurring just now, when 
business in sugar is almost at a standstill, 
and there is consequently a lack of support 
from the trade, 'the position is left to the 
tender mercies of foreign speculators, who 
from their present action seem considerably 
belter informed than tlieir rivals in the 
London market It is evident that in future 
years the speculator in the latter must not 
only pay strict attention to the "weight of 
the root," but must also give serious con- 
sideration, to abnormal meteorological con- 
ditions in the autumn if he wishee to make 
successful "chots" at the mark^. The 
genuine dealer has for some little time 
given up buying forward sugar, and in the 
present instance has been restrained by the 
fact tliat next year's deliveries stood at a 
substantial premium, which, (however, has 
now partly disappeared. At the close there 
are rumors of fresh purchases of beet by the 
Americans, and this has imparted a steadier 
tone, prices showing a slight recovery. In 
the absence of business it is difficult to say 
what effect the recent fall in value of beet 
will have on cane kinds, wliich are now 
relatively dearer than ever. No public sales 
have been held since December 16th, owing 
to the a'bsence of supplies of crystallized 
Demerara, but fresh arrivals have since 
taken place, and will be offered for sale on 
January 3rd. Tliere were 2,438 tons of 
crystallized raw3 imported to London for 
riie I'ortnight ending 29th instant, the total 
for this year amounting, to 26,078 toils 
against 32,250 tons in 1897.— P. M. Review, 
Dec. 31. 



Personal. 

Mr. W. G. Pearce, of New Iberia, was in 
the city on a visit a few days ago. 

Mr. W. I. Barton, of Ascension parish, 
was a guest of the St. Charles hotel on Mon- 
day. 

Mr. R. H. Sprague, of the splendid Adeline 
factory, and Mrs. Sprague, were guests of 
the St Charles hotel during the week. 

Mr. H. C. Boas, one of the best known 
planters in the state came down to the city 
during the past week and put up at the 
Royal. 

At the Cosmopolitan hotel last Monday 
were Messrs W. C. Burrowes and H. S. Bur- 
rowes, two enterprising St. Mary parish 
planters, who are flnm believers in the 
Louisiana sugar industry. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER A . ^ SUGAR MANUFAOTURBIL 



[Vol. XXn, No. t 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Oxnard, California. 

Wednesday morning a party of gentlemen 
consisting of Hon. T. R. Bard and D. T. Per- 
kins of Hueneme; E. P. Foster, president of 
the Bank of Ventura, Attorney L. W. An- 
drews and G. W. Chriaman o* Ventura; C. 
Lenardt and J. R. Chalmers of Los Angeles, 
and T. E. Walker and a reipresentative of 
the Courier of Oxnard, were shown through 
the beet sugar factory 'by Col. J. A. Drifflll. 
The occasion was the testing of some of 
the new madhinery now in place, and it 
gave an opportunity to witness the practical 
operation of the plant and form a better 
idea of <the intricate process by which sugar 
is extracted from the raw beet and the vast 
and complicated machinery required. 

Fifteen tons of beet were used and partial 
tests were made of the beet screw washer, 
beet elevator, automatic «cales, slicer, 
cosettte conveyor, fusion batteries, pulp ele- 
vators and pulp presses. 

The machinery responded to the powerful 
appeal made to it by the ponderous engine, 
in spite of the friction incident to bearings 
in use for the first time. 

It will be a great day for Oxnard wthen 
this plant is put in mcttion to begin a regu- 
lar campaign. 

With the rain everything points to rapid 
and increased construction work at the fac- 
tory, bringing it up to its maximum capacity, 
through nothing authenTtic can be learned 
as yet as to the plans of the company. 
Should that be the case it will necessitate the 
employment of several hundre'd additional 
men and large expenditure for labor. Be- 
sides it will call for the putlting in of a 
greatly increased acreage. In any event t?he 
completion of the factory to the capacity of 
the present machinery in place, to get it 
ready for the opening of the next campaign 
means the employment of a large force.— 
Courier, Jan. 14. 



Notes From tlic Btet Fields. 

The State of New York offers a bounty of 
l*c per lb. on sugar manufactured within the 
State from beets grown therein. The appro- 
priation for 1897 was $25,000, of which only 
$8,944 was expended. In 1898, |50,000 was 
appropriated, making a balance available for 
this purpose of a little over $66,000. The 
Binghamton beet sugar factory was • paid 
$10,851 for all sugar it made from Oct 26 *o 
Dec. 17, 1898. G. L. Flanders, assistant com- 
missioner of agriculture, informfl Orange 
Judd Farmer that the department's con- 
tracts for experiments for raising sugar beets 
this year will aggregate about $800. The 
appropriation that will be asked for to car- 
ry out the bounty for the campaign of 1899 
has not yet been determined upon, but the 
legislature will probalbly grant whatever is 
thought to be necessary, and probably $100,- 
000 will be mentioned. 

Wesfcbury, Cayuga Co., N. Y., has 1500 



acres of beets pledged and can furnish as 
many more If necessary for the sugar fac- 
tory. The farmers there are ready to take 
pay in capital stock for ithree-fourths of the 
amount of their first year's crop. 

I am very much interested in the manu- 
facture of -beet sugar. Our farmere in this 
locality were much disappointed in not be- 
ing able to secure a sugar factory here, as 
beets do well. In 1897 I raised a few beets 
which contained 30 per cent of sugar wifh 
a purky coefficient of 96. This year the 
sugar content was not nearly so high, but 
the yield was about 25 tons per acre. Sev- 
eral other farmers in this locality , raised 
beets the present season and sent them to 
the Rome factory for manufacture. The 
cost of transpontation, however, absorbed 
most of the profits.— W. J. Strickland, Or- 
ange Co., N. Y. 

"A fair prospect for the future is all that 
the beet sugar industry in New York State 
now lacks." The Rural New Yorker Is right 
in this statement. We wish it would help 
us in the fig^t to insure a fair prospect 
Howr By inducing Congress to maintain the 
present tariff against sugar from the tropics, 
as well as from other countries. 

Special correspondents in Porto Rico and 
Cuba are pointing out to American capi- 
talists the enormous profits to be gained in 
the sugar industry in the West Indies, pro- 
vided the islands are annexed or tfheir pro- 
duct given free admission to the United 
States market. This is merely confirmation 
of whatl has often been pointed out in these 
columns. Under such a policy the sugar In- 
dustry would vastly prosper in the tropics 
and sugar lands there would double and 
quadruple In value, but it would be at the 
expense of the American grower of sugar 
cane and sugar beets. We believe the Amer- 
ican farmers ought to have this business in- 
stead of the tropical speculator. 

The Maryland station sent out seed to 
about 50 different farmers in the State the 
past spring, and so far has received reports 
from only 27. These reports have not been 
very fiabtering, either as to the quality of the 
beet or the yield. The range in sugar con- 
tent has been from 6% to 14 per cent, with 
most of them In the neighborhood of 10 per 
cent of sugar. There has been no uniform 
Indication as to any particular section of 
our State being well adapted ito sugar beets. 
There Is no pla<;e In the State where there 
has been an organized effort for the estab- 
lishing of sugar factories, and I do not be- 
lieve that it is probaible t!hat any section will 
take up i:hls Industry. — H. J. Patterson, Di- 
rector. — ^American Agriculturalist 



State Bounties on Beet Sugar. 

The system of direct bounties paid by the 
respective States has been tried In this 
country. The present encouraging condi- 
tion of the industry in Utah was brought 
about in the first place by the State bounty 
of Ic per lb., which helped the Lehi factory 



over its first season or Two. Nebraska would 
have had no beet sugar factories to-day 
probably but for the bounty equal to $1 per 
ton on beets grown in the State, which was 
paid for the first few yearis. The law pro- 
vided a bounty equal to about Ic per IB. on 
sugar, con'^ltional upon the farmers being 
paid at least $5 per ton for beets. 

In New Tork. the bounty paid by the State 
also helped to insure a speedy beginning of 
the industry. It became a law May 18, 1897. 
and appropriated $25,000, to be apportioned 
to sugar manufacturers pro rata, provided 
that none received more than Ic per lb., and 
provided that not less than |5 per ton was 
paid for beets grown In the State by others 
than the manufacturer of the sugar. The law 
also authorized the State Commissioner of 
Agriculture to spend 10 per cent' of the ap- 
propriation in practical and scientific experi- 
ments In growing sugar <beets. It provides 
for the. inspection and sampling of beets. In 
1898 $50,000 was appropriated for this boon. 
ty, and probably $30,000 will be paid out 

In New Jersey, the legislature of 1898 
passed a similar law, but it Was vetoed. by 
th«> governor on the ground that experiments 
did not indicatp sufficient grounds for be- 
lieving that thf Industry could be made a 
practical success in that State. 

In Wa.^hington, the legislature of 1897 
passed a law cfff.rlng a bounty of Ic per lb. 
on gugar male within the State containing 
90 per cent of crystallized sugar produced 
from beets for which not less than $4 per ton 
had been paid. This bounty goes to any fac- 
tory that Is completed prior to Nov. 1, 1899, 
and shall continue for three years. 

Michigan, by act of March 26, 1897, offers 
a bounty of Ic per lb. for 90 per cent crys- 
stalllzed sugar made from beets for which 
at least $4 per ton of 2000 lbs. has been paid 
for all beets containing 12 per cent of sugar, 
and a proportionate amount shall be paid 
for beets containing a greater or less per 
cent of sugar. The law carefully provides 
for inspection, weighing, etc., and appropri- 
ates $10,000 for paying the bounty, with the 
proviso that any deficit be paid from the gen- 
eral fund not otherwise approprfated, to 
which Is added a final section as follows : 

Section 8. Every person, firm of corpora- 
tion that shall erect and have In operation 
In this State a factory for the manufacture 
of sugar from beets with a capacity of 2000 
lbs. of sugar or upward per day while this 
act Is In force, shall be entitled to receive* 
from the State the sum of Ic per M). for all 
sugar manufactured from beets at such fac- 
tory for a period of at least seven years from 
the taking effect of this act 

Under the latter clause there Is no limit 
to the amount the State may be called upon 
to pay, and as the Bay City factory during 
iU first campaign of 1898 made some 7.500.- 
000 lbs. of sugar It draws $75,000 bounty 
from the SUte. This law has led to the 
placing of contracts for the erection of at 
least two other factories in Michigan as we 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAA MANUrAOTmODL 



59 



write, 60 that 1899 will see at leatft three fac- 
tories operating in that State that will pay 
for heets upward of $500,000 a year. Two 
or three other projects are now on for fac- 
tories in Michfgan. 

Exemption froTSa taxation for all proper- 
ty invested in the beet sugar industry (ex- 
cept special assessments for local improve- 
ments in cities and villages) is offered by 
Wisconsin for five years from 1897. Wyo- 
ming exempts from all taxation for 10 years. 
Minnesota's bounty of Ic per lb., practically 
a dead letter now, may be revived this win- 
ter 

A number ot State legislatures will now 
be asked to furnish a bounty of some form 
for a few years. In most cases they will 
probably accede to this fequest It will do 
much to insure a supply of beets the first 
year or two, or until farmers generally have 
learned to grow the crop to advantage. In 
all such cases the law should be so worded 
that a bounty of Ic per lb. should in effect 
^o to the producer, so that Jnaftead of $4 per 
ton he may get $5 per ton j^or beets. States 
may well afford this encouragem^t to theii* 
farmers for a few years, because one or two 
successful factories in a State will mean the 
establishment of others. Moreover, such a 
State bounty will be some offset to the un- 
certainties of congressional action. It will 
not l)e necessary for any state to offer a 
bounty for a long term of years, nor do we 
approve of such, "but under present circum- 
stances some special local encouragement for 
a few years, under proper safeguards, will 
prove to be good policy for all concerned. 
The 'brilliant and rapid development of this 
industry in Michigan is an instance in 
point— American Agriculturist. 



Beet Sugar Items. 

In New York the State pays a bounty of 
$1 per ton of beets grown within the State 
and made into sugar at a factory w4thin the 
State. The rules are so strict Lhat Penn- 
sylvania farmers who bave wished to grow 
beets for the factory at Binghamton, N. Y., 
cannot be accommodated. They should 
get several factories in Pennsylvania— a 
State that could produce beets enough to 
supply the United States with sugar neces- 
sary. 

The first bounty under the Michigan beet 
sugar law of *97 has been claimed by the 
Michigan Sugar Co., of Bay City. The rate 
is Ic per rb. Since it commenced operations, 
Oct. 20, the company has manufactured 1,- 
432,500 lbs. sugar and claims it is entitled 
to $14,325 from L^he State treasury. It ex- 
pects to manufacture 7,000,000 lbs. this sea- 
son, and to claim a total (bounty of $70,000. 

The area under beet cultivation in Euro- 
pean Russia the past season amounted to 
1,084,000 acres, against 996,000 acres in '97, 
874.000 acres in '96. 

The beelt sugar factory at Bay City, Mich., 
is now slicing from 350 to 425 tons of beets 
every 24 hours, and is turning out a very 
fine quality of fine granulated sugar, the 



beets averaging very high in saccharine 
matter, also very high purity. The enter- 
prise is so highly satisfactory that it is said 
that auoUher facilory of twice the size is to 
be built in Bay City. 

With a fair season California will produce 
the largest crop of sugar in her history next 
year. The Spreckles factory at Salinas will 
consume 3000 tons of beets daily, the Los 
Alamitos factory in Orange county will use 
700 tons; the CrockeUt factory 500 tons; the 
Union Sugar Company at Santa Maria, 1000 
tons and the Hueneme factory, lOOO tons. 
Besides these the Chino, Alvarado and 
Watsonville factories will (be worked to their 
full capacity. Preparations are being made 
for an extraordinary large acreage of beets 
in the StaI.e this coming season, and as it is 
not probable that two dry seasons will come 
togetiiier, a fair crop of beets, at least, may be 
counted on, and if so the output of Califor- 
nia sugar next year will be enormous. — Am. 
Agriculturist 



Magazine Notes. 

Several features of striking interest will 
be found in the opening nuniber of The 
Living Age for the new year. T!he number 
for January 7 <K)ntains, among dlher things, 
a pungent and wholesome lecture on Art 
and Morality, by M. Ferdinand Brunetiere, 
which is translated for the magazine and 
copyrighted l)y it; the first instalment of 
The Etchingham Letters, which are attract- 
ing wide ndtice in The Cornhill by their 
cleverness; and tJhe beginning of a short 
serial. The numiber for January 14, gives 
the full text of Lord Rosefberry's recent ad- 
dress on Literary Statesmen, which has 
been the subject of general comment; an 
article from Blackwood's on The Ethics of 
Conquest, which relates to the Philippines; 
and a bright paper on The Madness of Mr. 
Kipling. 



Sui^ar Patents. 

The following is a list of patents of in- 
terest to the sugar industry, issued Janu- 
ary 24, 1899, reported specially for the 
Louisiana Planter by R. W. Bishop, patent 
attorney, Washington, D. C. 

618,196. Centrifugal bowl. W. J. Ash- 
worth, Dursley, and Thomas Stevinson, 
Gloucester, England. 

618,322. Filter apparatus. L. J. amd A. L. 
Barthelemy, New Orleans, La. 

The following Is a list of patents of Inter- 
est to the sujgar industry, issued January 
3. 1899, reported specially for tlie Louisiana 
Planter by R. T^ Bishop, Patent Attorney, 
Wa^ngton, D. C. 

617,198. Sugar cane wa^on. M. R. Spel- 
man. New Orleans, La. 

617,489. Sugar or salt shaker. Cecilia 
Lawton, Charleston, S. C. 

Design 29,975. Weed cutter. Marcillien 
Bourgeois, Thiljodaux. 

Sugar-Eating Nations. 

The sugar crop of the world amounts in a 
normal year to about 8,000,000 tons, of which 
the larger part, about 4.600,000 tons, comes 
from beets and the balance, 8,500,000 tons 



from sugar cane. Of the latter the largest 
proportion come from the West Indies and 
a large amount from the Island of Java. 
Among the countries producing beet sugar, 
Germany comes first with about one-third 
of the world's crop; then Austria, with al- 
most as much; and then France, Russia, and 
Belgium and Holland together, with sub- 
stantially the fame quantity. In respect of 
the production of beet sugar in the United 
States, there has been a vast increase since 
the establishment of the McKinley tariff in 
1890. The year previous the American pro- 
duct was 2,800 tons. Two years later it was 
12,000 tons. Four years it was 20,000 tons. 
Last year it was 43,000 tons and the product 
is on the increa-e. The McKinley tariff estab- 
lished between July 1, ai, and July 1, '95, a 
bounty to be paid "by the United States Gov- 
ernment to sugar producers, with a view of 
stimulating the industry and compensating 
those engaged in it for the changes made in 
the duty upon imported sugar. Among 
scientist the opinion has been general that 
a moderate amount of sugar, like a moder- 
ate amount of salt, should enter in the diet- 
ary of the people of each nation; but it is 
only when the figures of the consumption of 
;cugar are examined that it is seen that the 
quantity consumed varies radically, and it is 
a curious fact that in those countries in 
which the marine spirit — the spirit of navi- 
gation, commerce, travel and colonization — 
is strong there is a very considerable con- 
sumption of sugar per capita; whereas in 
those countries in which these qualities are 
not predominant among the inhabitants the 
consumption is smaller. In England, first 
among the maritime nations of the world, ^ 
the consumption of sugar is 86 lbs. a year 
for each inhabitant. In Denmark it is 45. 
in Holland 31, In France 30, and in Norway 
and S'weden 25 whereas in Russia only 10, 
in Italy 7, in Turkey 7, in Greece 6, and in 
Servia 4. The consumption of sugar seems 
to have very little connection with or rela- 
tion to the production of sugar; for In Aus- 
tria, the sugar product of wliich is large, the 
average consumption is only 19 lbs.— The 
Tidends. .^; "^1]! 

Tlie Floods in China. 

Consul Fowler, ol Chefoo, under date of 
Nov. 29, 1898, writes in regard to the floods 
of Yellow river. One million people, lit is 
stated, are in distress, and Li Hung Chang 
has been deputed to devise some method to 
repair the damage to the emibankments. It 
is understood that he has sent abroad for 
experts. Consul Fowler thinks that engineers 
in the UnHled (States could, no doubt, build 
a system of jetties that would prevent a re- 
currence of tJhese disasters. — Picayune. 



Mr. S. Mills Mailhot. of Assumption par- 
ish, where he looks after the fine planta- 
tion of the OaJkley Planting Co., was among 
the recent arrivals at the Denechaud. Ml\ 
Mailhot was accompanied by several mem- 
bers of hlB family. 



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THE LdUISIANJL PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. xxn, No. 4. 



Seedlins: and Other Sugar Canes. 

(Discosilon at the meetiiur of the Louisiana Sugar 
Planters' Association, Thursday evening, January 
12th, 1899. Judge Emlle Rost In Ihe chair and Mr. 
Refinald Dykers at the desk.) 

Chair: Now that the resolutions are dis- 
posed o^ the chair will call attention to the 
fact that 'the annual meeting of the State 
Agricultural Society is to he hold at Shreve- 
port on the 25th of this present month, and 
that it has been the custom heretofore for 
the Sugar Planters Association to send a 
number of delegates, or, rather, to appoint a 
number of delegates to attend the annual 
meeting of the Agricultural Society. It has 
been the rule, as far as I can recollect, to ap- 
point ten delegates. We have seldom had 
ten members present at the Agricultural 
Society^s meeting, but by appointing a large 
number of delegates, there are always out 
of that number some whose business will 
allow them to attend the conven-tion. The 
chair will state that from all information re- 
ceived in reference to this convention it 
will he more interesting than any previous 
convention. Quite a number of prominent 
men have promised to be on hand and a 
number of new suhjects will be discussed, 
and papers "Will be presented on a variety of 
subjects; and there is no doutot that it will 
be a meeting of great importance and very 
successful; and a motion is now in order 
that the chair should appoint the usual num- 
ber of delegates to attend the meeting of 
the State Agricultural Society. 

The motion was duly offered, seconded 
and carried. 

Chair: The chair having been requested 
a number of days ago to make a list of these 
delegates will state -that the list is already 
prepared so nobody will be taken by sur- 
prise. The following is a list: Messrs. 
John Dymond, W. C. Stubbs, Q. G. Zenor, 
Q. A. Breaux, P. P. Bourgeois, J. A. Berthe- 
lot. L. Forsyth, Jr., Henry McCall, Geo. E. 
Mann. H. G. Morgan, Jr., Walter A. O'Neill, 
n E. Roger, L. M. Soniat, Wibray J. Thomp- 
son, G. G. Zenor and F. W. Nicholls. 

At the December meeting, Prof. Stubhs 
sent down a very complete collection of 
sample sugar canes from the sugar experi- 
ment station. The samples have been here 
all this time; they are not as fresh in ap- 
pearance as they were when first sent here; 
but Prof Stublbs is here this evening, and 
the association will be glad to have him 
speak about them and tell us which repre- 
sents the best cane— which represents the 
present and especially wnich represents the 
future. 

Prof. Stubbs: I sent these canes down a 
little over a month ago, with no intention, 
however, of making a speech on the sub- 
ject. I sent one hundred different varieties 
more to attract the attention of the plant- 
ers to the varieties of canes that are grown 
ir different parts of the country than any- 
thing else. They have been collected from 
nea'-ly every suga- country on the g'ohe. 
We have about eighty varieties herj that 
represent the old canes that have been 
grown for years in these places. Some come 
from the Pacific islands, some from the At- 
lantic islands which we have been discussing 
•tonight, some from the Philippines, an»i one 
or two directly from, or near, Manila. How- 
ever, I may dismiss this subject by saying 
that none of the foreign catfes have be- 
come sufficiently acclimated for our pur- 
poses; they are all, to a certain extent, in- 
ferior to our locally grown purple and 
striped cane; and In this connection I might 
sav that our purple cane is nothing more 
or less than an off-shoot from our striped; 
that has been demonstrated at the sugar 



experiment station. We have the greatest 
trouble to keep striped cane as striped cane 
—the stripes disappear, even <o' the point of 
obliteration. 

Col. Zenor: I am glad to hear you ex- 
press that. 

Prof. Siubbs: 1 have lived long enough 
to controvert a great many things I former- 
ly believed, and I am modest enough to 
acknowledge my wrong when I find it out. 
We have no permanent striped canes. For 
instance. I have four canes here to which 
I would call your attention; they are all 
originally from the same stalk but are now 
four distinct varieties from the standpoint of 
color. One is perfectly green, which I named 
"Soniat" because I got the cane originally 
from Mr. Soniat. It was a bastard stalk; 
one half red, and the other half white. I 
took 'that stalk and pllChted ft efght or nine 
years ago, and have ^ince made four dis- 
tinct kinds from it; one is green, one is 
light striped, one is dark striped and the 
other is a deep purple. These permanent 
canes come from what is called the bud 
variation. Now, I want to dismiss all these 
foreign canes as being of no value in this 
state — they will not compare with out home 
canes, but before going further, I want to 
call your attention to the manner in which 
the beet has been brought up to its present 
high state as a sugar producing plant. 

Chair: Let me ask you one question, pro- 
fessor, before you pass to that. You s^oke 
just now about ^bud variation; ihe chair 
would like to ask you whether the different 
varieties that have been produced from one 
stalk are not due to hybridization. 

Prof, etubhs: Not without seed, it is ut- 
terly impossible. The seminal organs of the 
canes are always in the flower, around the 
flower, and it is only by mixing the bristles 
of one flower with the bristles of the other 
that hybridization takes place. As the canes 
are planted apart, there is no disposition to 
mix. If these canes should all change, if 
they should all turn purple, or striped, or 
white, that would not be hybridization — it 
would be simply a change in color due to the 
climate or soil— something of that kind. 
The -striped cane Is not a constant one and 
has a tendency to grow to a hardy variety 
here. We have unquestiona/ble evidence 
which was published some time ago. 

Mr. Coiron, who first introduced striped 
cane into this state, ge^tting it from Savan- 
nah by schooner loads, planted it at St 
Sophie in 1825. He brought no' purple canes 
that he knew of— they were all striped— and 
from those striped canes we have today the 
entire purple cane flelds of Louisiana, and 
it is a question of the surviVal of the flttest 
This striped cane has generated two kinds- 
one white, the other purple. The purple be- 
came the hardiest of the two, as is seen In 
the stubble and in the plan>t; and today 
nearly the entire cane flelds of Louisiana are 
purple, notwithstanding they were flrst 
striped when introduced. 

Dismissing that part Mr. President, which 
you alluded to just now, and going into the 
question of the future, which as our friend 
Mr. Miller said just now looms up as possi- 
bly in the future enalbling us to make sugar 
a little cheaper than at present, I want to 
go back and take up the history of the beet 
for a few moments. "During the days of 
Napoleon the beet was an Insignificant sugar 
plant containing only 3 per eent sugar. But 
the beet has a power of reproducing and of 
making seed. We have a patch at the sta- 
tion which was put down in the last few 
months — they are winter beets which came 
from France; -they were planted in October, 
and will be ready for the mill in January and 



February. They are of good size. If we are 
successful and find that tley are rich in 
sugar we will simplj let that beet stand. 
The beet has been brought up from the in- 
significant 3 per cenit ^just mentioned to 
somewhere about 19 per cent of sugar; but 
we have gone to 22.8 on samples, and by 
constant efforts the growers have got the 
sugar in the beet up to a liigh percentage. 
If you do not do this, the beet will soon 
degenerate and go back to the original beet 

Six, eight or ten years ago, Profs. Bovell 
and Harrison, chemists In Bartados found 
some canes, twenty-five or thirty growing 
together, that were blooming, and they 
thought they would see whether or not 
•they could get some fertile seed from the lot 
In order that they might not lose the op- 
portunity, they swept the ground carefully 
on the leeward side of the cane so that all 
seed hlown out by the vind would find a 
suitable soil in which to lodge. In a short 
while, to their very great surprise, they 
found the whole soil springing up with grasi 
like fibres— very small and diminutive: it 
reminds you more of spring, or June, grass. 
They placed these plants into little pots, and 
in that way they soon got fifty or more lit- 
tle pots of these canes. They nursed them 
until they became full grown canes. As you 
afl know^ in the West Indies the cane stools 
very enormously— as high as twenty-five or 
thirty stalks from one stooling. They took 
these stalks, nursed all that had an in- 
creased content of sugar over the normal 
canes of that country, and in that way they 
reserved 500— giving them numbers from 1 
to 100 and began to grow them systematical- 
ly; at the same time they began to send this 
seed and these cuttings all over the world — 
to all the sugar countries. I in the mean 
while received, I reckon, thirty or forty of 
these new seedlings, and we have been 
propagating them for the last year. We 
found three of them that possessed a great 
merit— one of prominent merit. No. 74 it 
is styled by them, and by us retained. This 
number 74 averaged, for the last four years, 
IV2 per cent ahove. every cane we had. This 
year I distrihuted five or six tons of this to 
the planters in this state. This year, by a 
stalk analysis, we did not have any cane 
equal to it. 

If I recollect correctly, there was I6V2 per 
cent sucrose for that cane, while our purple 
and striped and Lapice, grown side by side, 
only averaged between 9 and 12. This one. 
No. 74, this year, by stalk analysis gave us 
13>/2 per cent 

Chair: Let me ask you professor; you 
spoke of a series of 500. I have seen here 
numbers 100. 128; •has No. 74 appeared in 
that same series? 

Prof. Stubbs: Yes, sir; we have retained 
61, 69. 74, 95. 100—2, 3, 300 and so on. An- 
other fact about No. 74. During the lasrt 
two years our tonnage went over 40, with 
14 or 15 per cent in a field where the rows 
were 105 feet long and 6 feet wide— that was 
last year. This year I have distributed five 
or six tons all over the state, with the hope 
that it will prove with the planter as it has 
with us during the past four years; and if 
it does, it will prove a valuable acquisition. 
I want to caution every planter to go slowly 
and to see whether or not it is adapted to his 
particular environment We did not have 
enough for a strike but it gave a large ton- 
nage. In addition to this fact, there was a 
very small amount of impurities in it The 
great trouble has (been the large amount of 
impurities; but in this cane the amount of 
impurities was small. The solids not sugar 
and glucose were small. 

Hon. Henry JtfoCall: ^Will tt stand cold. 



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THB LOUIUJLNJL PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



61 



Prof. Stubbs: Our atubble tbis year was 
as good as any we bad. 

Col. Zenor: My experience is tbat cane 
stands cold in proportion to tbe sucrose 

Hon. Henry McOall: That is true to a 
certain extent; and I have come to the 
conclusion that these canes that stand cold 
are not generally as rich as the other canes. 
Prof. Stubbs: Now another point I want 
to illustrate is this. We are experimenting 
every day with seedlings. Just as soon as 
we find a cane that is prominently rich, we 
plant it. I can give you some seedlings, and 
let you plant them; but out o^ Ave hundred 
plants you will hardly get more than one 
good one. It will take about six or eight 
montbs ^o sprout — they grow very slowly 
and look like grass. In fact you would cut 
them out, or plow them up, for spring grass. 
I want to say this, gentlemen, that the best 
thins for the sugar cane industry now rests 
almost exclusively upon our home cane by 
means of selection from seedlings. Now, I 
have gone so far as to prove No. 74 and 95 — 
I have planted from these canes and they 
are now tested. We have gotten three 
generations from the first, and for each suc- 
cessive year we believe they will become 
richer. I also believe the time is not far 
distant when we will have new varieties of 
cane that will contain a considerable quanti- 
ty of richness over the present cane — ^^thls 
is the last hope of Iniproviug sugar cane. 
We have tried fertilizer of various kinds to 
increase the tonnage but I doubt if any man 
has yet found a fertilizer that can put sugar 
in the cane and at the same time maintain 
the tonnage. Now we have tried different 
varieties o* cane— we have even gone to the 
expense of tile draining — which is very cost- 
ly — we have gone from early spring plant- 
ing to early fall; yet we have not succeeded 
in gettiofi: what is called maximum sugar 
with maximum tonnage; but we liave ap- 
proximately, done ibetter with these seed- 
lings than with anything else; we believe it 
possible that tthese seedlings, under proper 
selection and propogation after a while will 
give canes sufficiently rich, without dimin- 
ishing the tonnage, that will answer our . 
purposes, and assist in re-establishing the 
cane out of which sugar shall be made. Now 
we have means by which we can continue to 
select for fifty or seventy-five years hence; 
it has taken seventy-five years for the beet 
to get where it is. In fifty or sevenly-five 
years we can hope to have sugar cane con- 
taining as much richness, or more, than the 
best beet af today. 

<Hon. Henry McCall: None of us will be 
living here at Uiat time. 

Prof. Stubbs: No, not in our time; but 
it will enable our successors to take it up 
where we leave it off and carry it on. 

Chair: (Picking up a sample of No. 74.) 
I would ask Prof, stubbs if that is tbe color 
of this cane? 

Prof. Stubbs: The cane which you have 
must be a discarded one; in loading, I sup- 
pose -that one was discarded. The cane is 
very much heavier than the one you have 
in ycur hand. 

Chair: The cane I got was as large as any 
of the samples over there. 

Prof. Stubbs: That was discarded in ship- 
ping. 

Col. Zenor: There is one thing that we 
have thought of a great deal; we have been 
very seriously impressed with the phenome- 
nal or abnormal condition of sugar cane this 
year. I believe the whole association would 
like to hear your views on this — either the 
phenomenal or abnormal condition of the 
cane this year — It was something extraordin- 
ary. 

Pfof. 6tUl>lW^ J <2lop't tliink V^av^ w-f" 



anything abnormal about IL Take the his- 
tory of sugar cane in various countries — 
in British Guiana, in Demerara they very 
rarely grow cane with over 12 per cent — it 
runs from 12 to 15 per cent. Again, in other 
Islands, where it is dry, or where they have 
a cessation of rain-fall, you will find they 
get 18, 17, 16 and some times as high as zO 
per cenL Demerara suffers through heavy 
rain fall and •the canes are gorged with 
moisture. Where this takes place they are 
always low in sugaf, in ripeness. In other 
words, the cane has two cells; the vascular 
and the sugar cell — the vascular cell that 
contains only sap — water on Its passage 
from the roots through the cane to the 
leaves. Whenever these vascular tissues be- 
come gorged with water, it dilutes the sugar 
in the cane. When this takes place, you will 
always find the sugar content low — your 
juices low and watery, just as though you 
had grown the cane in Demerara. This year 
we had Demerara weather. After the drouth 
was broken in July, it rained incessantly, 
almost in torrents — we had some twenty 
inches of rainfall. We went into the season 
with the ground saturated with moisture, 
and from that rain-fall, without any period 
of dryness, we had a severe cold which 
checked the growth and killed the cane. 
This excessive amount o^ moisture just 
gorged the cane. We always pray "fo^ dry 
weather during September and cool nights 
in October which is always beneficial to the 
cane. 

Col. Zenor: I would like to ask the pro- 
fessor what was the result of his yield this 
year. 

Prof. Stubbs: A small fraction under last 
year— 70 per cent of last year; I made a 
calculation the other day. lAst year our 
cane ran from 11 to 13; this year most ot it 
only reached 9 and 10 per cent sucrose in the 
juice. 

Col. Zenor: Another thing that seemed 
to be the experience of a large numiber of 
planters — ^I don't know whether it was uni- 
versal — and that was this; they found the 
bagasse did not make fuel as it usually does. 
It did not give the heat 

Prof. Stubbs: I will explain that in a 
moment Increased sugar content carries 
with it always increased fibre content, and 
Increased fibre content and increased sugar 
content are parallel. Just as soon as you 
give me your sugar content. I can predict 
the fibre content When your sugar is low, 
your fibre is low; and when your fibre is 
low you get less extraction relatively with 
this diluted juice, and when it goes into the 
furnace, you have this extra amount of wat- 
er to evaporate. 

Hon. Henry MdCall: You have not as 
much carbon. 

Prof. Stubbs: Where cane gives 20 per 
cent sugar, you will find 14 per cent of 
fibre. 

Chair: What is normal? 

Prof. Stubbs: Prom 8 to 10. 

Wherever you find the sugar content high, 
you will find the fibre high. 

Chair: If I understand you rightly, the 
cause of the failure of the cane this year was 
due to the distribution of moisture and no 
cessation of the i^&in ^&H up to the time of 
the freeze. 

Prof. Stubbs: In other words, the cane 
has not ripened a particle. Cane this year, 
in November and December, resembled our 
usual analysis made in August and Septem- 
ber. We have gotten jubt as good results 
in the field in August and September as in 
December this year. We are not dry yet. 
Our cane was killed with the ground thor- 
oughly saturated with water. When you 
remember that the roots of the cane were 
buried in soil bolding fifty per cent of wat- 



er, and little sunshine, and you simply 
pumped that water out from the soil through 
the cane, you can readily see why the re- 
sults were so poor. We went from mid- 
summer's drenching showers to winter's 
freeze, and cut our canes in the midst of the 
freeze with all that water. 

Chair: I would like to ask whether this 
condition of things will likely effect the 
stubble or seed cane. 

Prof. Stubbs: I think it will likely effect 
the growth in this way, I don't think the 
stubble is hurt yet It has not been cold 
enough. While we have had very heavy 
rains, with no dry weather (our mornings 
are almost rainy), and the cane in the 
ground— if we had a favorable opportunity 
to windrow our seed, so that we could put 
it away in good condition, draining and 
covering well, everything is propitious for 
keeping it. The trouble has been with the 
weather— we can not get the dirt dry 
enough. I want to say this, I don't know 
whether it has been the experience of all, 
planters or not; but I have not had enough 
dry weather to burn the trash on the ground. 

Ool. Richard McCall: Have these seed- 
lings a tendency to fall down? 

Prof. Stubbs: Not at all sir; on the con- 
trary. Last year we had quite a blow; our 
home canes went down and those stood up as 
^raight as fhey could stand. All of these 
foreign canes have a tendency to stand up 
and resist the blows. The roots are Ijlrger, 
and penetrate the ground deeper, hence re- 
sist the winds with a great deal more ease 
than our home canes. Our home canes go 
down of their own weight; and if you will 
notice ft, you will find that most of these 
canes are unusually straight 

Col. Richard McCall: I got from you some 
years ago a cane that was tremendous. I 
took it home and planted it carefully in my 
garden; and this year I planted five acres 
of it— I thought with five acres I would 
have a test The cane gave me thirty-five 
tons to the acre; the sucrose was very low— 
5.20, I think it was, solids not sugar with 
half sucrose. These canes stood up through 
the blows as straight as an arrow; you 
could see them two miles away. There was 
not a bend in it. 

Prof. Stubbs: I had some of that cane 
growing in the hot house; it was only two 
years old. At the time I gave Mr. McCall 
the sample he admired it very much— it was 
an enormous cane, the joints were larger 
than my arm and some of the rftalks weighed 
twenty pounds. 

(Nothing further coming before the meet- 
ing for discussion, on suggestion of Hon. 
Henry MoCall, "The Manner and Method of 
Purchasing Cane, Whether by Test or Other- 
wise," was selected as the topic for dis- 
cussion at the February meeting. 

The meeting then adjourned. 



Personal. 



Mr. M. J. Kahoa, the well-known sugar 
planter of West Baton Rouge parish, was at 
the Grunewald Tuesday. 

Mr. Thomas B. Matthews, an accomplished 
gentleman and skillful sugar planter, paid 
us an appreciated visit last Tuesday. 

Mr. Benj. H. Pring, of the Oneida 
place in St James parish, was in town dur- 
ing the week on one his customary business 
trips. 

Mr. F. W. Nicholls, of the well-known 
firm of Nicholls and Henderson, proprietors 
of the Ridgefield plantation near Thlbodaux, 
was in the city last Saturday, 



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62 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 4. 



Jan. 27 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 

Prime 

PullyFair .... 

Oood Pair 

Fair 

Oood Common. 

Common 

inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Oraoul'ed 
Of! Granulated.. 
Ohoiee White.... 

0« White 

Ohrey White 

Choiee Yellow... 
Prime Yellow — 

Off Yellow 

Second! 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

dood Prime 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Oood Prime 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Sood Common.. 

Cemmon 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



Jan. 21. 



Jan. 23. 



Jan. 24. 



-@ - 

-a - 

- @ _ 

4A^4H 
4?,@4i^ 
3K(feJA 
2>i@8% 



20 3 22 

— a 30 
25 3 26 

- (i 24 

— (S 22 

— @ 21 
19 (i 20 

- a 18 
-@ 17 
-a 16 

- a 15 



-a 


18 


-a 


16 


— a 


14 


IS a 13 


-a 


10 


-a 


9 


-a 


8 


-a 


7 


-a 


6 


-a 


6 



— (a — 

— (g — 

— (g — 

— « — 

3;^^4A 
2>4(ft3Ji 



20 (ce 22 

- ® 30 
25 U4 :l6 

- ® 24 

- a 22 

- a 21 
19 a ^ 

- a 18 

- a 17 

- a 16 

- a 15 

- a 18 
-a 16 

- a 14 
12 a 13 

- a 10 

- a 9 

- a 8 
-a 7 

- a • 
-a 6 



3Aa3rt 



^ a - 

- a — 

- a — 

- a ~ 

iAa4^ 
4ha4A 
3^a4A 



— a - 

— a 30 

25 a 26 

23 a 24 

- b 22 

-all 

49 a 20 

— a 18 
-^ a 17 

— a 16 

— a 15 



-« 

- a 
12 a 

-a 

-® 

- a 

- a 

-9 



16 

14 

13 

10 

9 

8 

7 

6 

5 



Jan. 25. 



3ija3U 

— a - 

- a - 



- a - 

- a — 

- a — 

- a - 

4Ha4^ 
JAa^tr 
3^a4A 

2>4a3A 



- a 30 

25 a 26 
23 a 24 

- a 22 

- a 21 

19 a 20 

-a 18 
-a 17 

- a 16 

- a 15 



— a 16 
a u 



12 a 
-« 



-a 
-a 



13 
10 
9 
8 
7 
6 
5 



Jan. 26. 



Jan. 27.' 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Cloting of Week. 



8A®3tt 

— a - 
2, *5A 



-« - 
-a - 

— (8 — 

— (8 — 

4^a- 

%«4A 



-a 30 

26 a 26 
23a 24 

— a 22 
-a 31 

19 a 20 
- tf 18 

— a 17 

— a 16 

— a 15 

-•- 

— a i« 
a 14 



12 



a 13 
a 10 



a 
a 
a 
a 
a 



8fT&4 

— « — 

Pi 

2;i@3 

-a - 
-a - 

- a - 

Pi 

2^<s3% 



- a - 
-a 30 

25 a 26 
23 a 24 

- a 22 
-a 21 

19 a 20 

-a 18 
-a 17 

- a 16 

- a 16 

- a - 

- a 16 

- a 14 
12 a 13 
10 a H 
-« 9 
-a 8 
-a 7 

- a 6 

- a 6 

-a - 



- a — 

%<g3^ 
8>4@3fs 

.3A@3A 

18 a3A 

3 @3A 

2Ji(^3 

2Ji@3 

2>ia2H 

4?ia4it 

- a - 

4>ia4A 

3Jia4A 
4iFa - 

- a4 
3iia3ti 

2>i@3>i 



- a - 
-a 27 

25 a 26 
22 a 23 

- a 20 
-a 18 
-a 17 

- a 16 

- a 16 

- a 14 

- a 12 



- a - 
12 a 13 
10 a 11 

- a 9 

- a 8 

- a " 

- a 

-a 
-a 
a 



18 a 22 



steady. 



Steady. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



Nbw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fftir Refining. SO' 
Centrifugals, 96''.. 

Qnnulated 

SUndardA 

Dutch Granulated 
Oerman Granul'td. 


— a*-72 

-a*«o 

— @4.96 

— @4.80 


-a*-72 

— a4 .60 

-a*M 
-a4 84 


-a- 
— a — 

- 1*72 

-a*«) 
-a4»8 


-a- 

— a*-72 

— a*-6o 
-a«M 

— ®i 91 


-a- 

— a — 

— a* -72 

— @4.60 

-a4»8 

— a* 87 


-a- 

— 14.72 

— @4.60 

-a^M 

— @4go 


-a- 

4.84a - 
4.72a - 

-a- 


Eirm. 


MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 

N.O.Fair 


z|z 


-a- 
-a - 


-a- 
-a- 


-a- 
-a- 


-a- 
-a- 


-a- 
-a- 


z|z 




London: 


















Java, No. 16 D. S. 
A. te G. Beet 


lls.8d. 
98. IKd. 


118.34. 
98. 8d. 


lls 3d. 

98. 4>^d. 


ll8.3d 
98. 6d. 


ll8.3d. 

98. 6d. 


ll8.3d. 
98.7>id. 


108. 10>id. 
98. Od. 


J 



NEW ORLEANS BBFINBD. 



Out Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Roaetta Extra C 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



@5 



a- 
a- 



-@6Ji 

- ®6i\ 

— @b 

-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a- 



— @6Ji 

-a6,\ 
— a8 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a- 



-@6)i 

— ®6>i 

- ®w* 

— ®6 

-a- 
-a - 
-a - 



-asM 

— @6)i 
-®6H 

- as,', 
-a- 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 



as)^ 
aB>i 
a6)< 
ae.s 
a - 
a - 
a - 
a- 



a6>g 

@6^ 

® - 
a- 
a - 
a.- 
a - 



strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Jan. 18 Tons 99,333 

Atfoi- ports of Great Britain to Jan. IS " 77,000 

AtH /ana and Matanzas to Jan. 18 " . 8,000 



Receipts and Soles at New Orleans for the week ending 
Jan. 37, 1899. 

' Sugar . MoISM*** 

Hhda. Bamls. Barrala. 

Reoelnd 366 32^19 6,604 

Sold 3B6 18,091 5,881 



Receipts and Sal«s at New Orleans from S^ember i, i89S> 
to Jan. 37, 1899. 

Hhds. " BarPBlsT 

lUtMnA 6,763 1,101,122 

Sold 6,763 1,002,082 

ttmUmjmt 17,268 1,154,771 



MolftMCI 

ftffVels. 
101.887 
190,579 

;e8,8M 



Digitized by VjOOQlC 



January 28, 1899.] 



tHB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



M 



Jan. 27. 



T^TBBKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



Sugar. 

The local market for bath open kettle 
and centriJugal was steady at the end of 
the week, and prices were well main- 
tained. The receipts were moderate, 
the larger portion of them being prompt- 
ly absorbed. 



Molasses. 

Open kettle molases was steady at the 
eind of the week, as was also centrifu- 
gal. 



Rice. 

Receipts of rough rice were only mod- 
erate at the end of the week, and the 
market ruled steady for the better 
grades. Low grade goods were easy 
with little doing. The market for clean 
rice was somewhat irr^ular, with low 
grades off. 



Calcasieu. 

CflPBCIAL COItRBBPONDINCe.) 

EdUor Louinamt Planter: 

It has been hot and cold for the past week 
with some rain, but it did not materially 
hinder farm work. There is not very much 
going on about the farm, however, for the 
. soil is too wet to plough except the new 
lanid, and thtit is being turned over as the 
weather will permit. Most farmers are now 
engaged in getting their rice to market to 
close up old accounts and notes, and the 
roads are very bad in places and it is no 
time to work them now wliile there is so 
much wet weather. Rice is selling for all 
sorts of prices, but good rice demands a 
good praise in our home market. Still, if a 
farmer is Obliged to sell, he does not always 
get what his rice is worth. 

Gradually the work of constructing canals, 
goes on, and a good deal is being accom- 
plished in this line, noftwlthstandlng the 
bad weather, and the levees and canals 
which are built during this wet spell, will 
give the best of service as the soil is well 
packed. Many of our canals were built dur- 
ing tbQ dry spell HM»t season, and tbe7 414 



not hold water eood, and this made much 
extra pumping, and, on some fields, the 
water would go out as fast as it was pumped 
in, so that some rice suffered and did not 
make half a crop as a consequence of this. 
People in general, have learned much from 
last season experience and they, no doubt, 
will profit by it this season in more ways 
than one. Levees built with the patent 
wheel graders, were not considered worth 
half value the first season, as the soil was 
not packed at all, and they are not being 
- used as much this season, where the levees 
are to be used soon. We were sorry to 
learn of the burning of the Eagle Rice mill, 
at Crowley, for that mill was badly needeB 
at this time, and was a credit to this part 
of the state, and we hope it will be rebuilt 
at an early date. But if it is not, other 
mills will take its place, for this is to be a 
country of rice mills in the near future. 
There is the increasing rice crop to Justify 
it, and the burning of a mill once in a while, 
only serves to stimulate the industry, and 
it will continue to expand. 

The Increased interest now being mani- 
fested in southeastern Texas will demand a 
good many rice mills before many years, at 
the rate the rice industry is creeping along 
of late, and the mills will come as easily 
as they did for us, although we found it a 
little hard to start the wheel of progress to 
rolling. Since we got it in motion, it runs 
itself. The wells will, eventually, give the 
smaller farmers in our section, the best re- 
sults, for that is the cheapest way to ob- 
tain wMer for rice, and the well water kills 
many of the insects which seem to work in 
the soft water and do the rice much damage, 
and all these small things are worth con- 
sidering, for there is big money in them 
sometimes. Large qu'antities of wood is 
being cut along the "bayous for the various 
pumping plants, and there is a big demand 
for lumber for .the many buildings to be 
erected at the new pumping station and 
labor is in good demand just now. There 
is not the demand for labor on the rice 
farms, however, that there was two or 
three seasons ago, from the fact that the 
farms are now mostly rented out and the 
owners 49 ?*ot hire any help. 

Calcaiiisu Ricc Bmp. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The demand for Domestic and Foreign con- 
tinues at enlarging volume and prices are 
firm with upward tendency on the better 
grades. There has been a reversal of former 
attitude by the more conservative and the 
change on their part from listless indiffer^ 
ence to one of lively interest, has in turn 
emboldened those who were already favor- 
ably incllDed toward liberal operations. As 
a result any who are possessed of financial 
ability are anticipating all possible demands 
between now and Spring. 6o far the busi- 
ness has been of legitimate character and 
simply against well ascertained require- 
ments of the coming months. Advices from 
the South note good inquiry at all points. 
The weather in Southwest Louisiana is 
epitomized in the word "abomina'ble," roads 
being in such condition that hauling is well 
nigh impossiible. In consequence, stocks of 
rough at all local centres are growing light 
and by inverse ratio ideas of holders grow- 
ing strong. Another feature which should 
not be overlooked is the accruing damage to 
the crop by reason of present contrary condl- 
tions. Much of that left in the hands of 
(Louisiana) planters is still in the fields and 
when threshed many will find themselves 
worse off than they anticipated. Cables and 
correspondence from abroad note firm ten- 
dency on account of light stocks and contin- 
uation of unpromising reports from Burmah. 
Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisiana 
crop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
580,150 sacks; last year, inclusive of amount 
carried over, 425,010 sacks. 3ales cleaned 
(est.) 137,180 barrels; last year, 68,735 bar- 
rels. Good inquiry and under light receipts 
market strong with upward tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
27,925 barrels. Sales, 20,730 barrels. Steady 
demand within former range. 



Judge Taylor Beattie, of Lafourche, was in 
ithe city on a visit a few days ago. He 
stopped at the Grunewald. 

Mr. Doville Aucoin was at the proofstick 
again this season at the Westfleld place. 
Mr. Auooin is, and has been for a long 
time, at the top of his profession. 

Mr. Robert Com*bs, the well-known sugar 
chemist, who has been taking in hand the 
laboratory work at one of the places of gen- 
eral Wm. Porcher Miles during the past cam- 
paign was in the city during the past week. 
Mr. Combs was accompanied by his sister. 

The Ruth refinery, at Breaux Bridge, be- 
longing to the Robert Martin Sugar Co.. 
Lim., a comparatively new but strong and 
well conducted corporation, was under the 
skillful management, this season, of Mr. 
Alex Mouton, 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 4. 



WANTS. 



We will publish In this coluoin, free of cberge antll 
fnrtiier BOtiGe, the eppHcatlons of all nanegers, over- 
jeer«, eoffineere and eugar-nakers, and othere who 
■My be seeking poeltione In the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 aio 
street, New Grleana, La. 25-00 

WANTED— By a graduate of a flrst-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take ohar^ of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
La- 2690 



WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
**w,,!!i?^® *"«*^ plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 

24-00 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 

Sears* experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W.. 
lis office. 21-00 

WANTED-A position for the 1800 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landry, Convent, La. 
.^ 16-00 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar plsnta- 
tlonby a flrst-class man; address J. F. Letepf. Nes- 
«^r, La. 14-W 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 820 N. Main street. 
Louisiana, Mo. l_g * 



WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc.^at may be required. Address E. T.. 
care LOUISIANA Planter. wx:.. x., 

WANTED-Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tton. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this offlce. 1.9 



WANTEI>-A young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a posIUon on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reUable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is wllUng to work tor a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, TaUulah, La. 12-31-08 

WANTED-An experienced and practical sugar house 
chenUst would Uke situaUon in Cuba or Porto Rioo^ 
Spe^s English only. Address W., care LouSiSa 
P"^^''- 1-4-06 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 

JnSSKL/^*^?^" ^y ^.™*" o' ^^^7- References 
furnished. Call on or address F. F. l&i^wiN, 621 Du- 
malne street. New Orleans. i2-31-08 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man » years of age. well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-08 

a WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
SatlsfacUon guaranteed. After two months* trial, tf 
owner is not pleased, no fcalary will be expected. Xd- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planfe?: 12-31-06 

WANTED-A position as Assistant Mansger or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old 
oiT" ,' Twenty years experience In handling labor.* 
Several years experience in cultivation of Cane . Best 
Slh w!J!?^?*^®S- Addre«» M. E. W., Care Venm- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-28-06/ 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical enffineer anil 

R;2?2s^„s;»!°&^jf ' \^^ ??» p^sSd Si thf b^ssSeJ^f 

the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience In sugar house work, is in position manv 
Jf S*; ^^} ^^J^ ^ change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for oonsturctlon or repairing of suirar 
houses. Can give best of references. Address. Svoar 
House Spectal, care Louisiana Plante r. iS-^oe. 

m]J^^il[?^^^i?*"°" *i Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish best of 
references. J. A. LaSdn, Benton P. oITLs. 
^ 12-2S-fle 

«.Zt K^JE^^^ ^^° ^'^^^^ ^ ^^^ profession of 
sugar boiling dMires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who is engaged for coming Mexican or Cuban crop. 
State terms for instruction. Address, A. W. B., mi 
Patten St., New Orleans. La. 12-23-96 

WANTED— A young married man of smaU family, 
desires a position in Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' expejkmce in 

fSfif^^^"*^^ * ^^'^ good ^book-keeper. Can 
ftinilsh beat of references. AddreM C. b; S.. oare 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rouge, La. 



WANTED— Situation as chemist or aasistant In 
sugar bouse, bv a young man who has had four years' 
experience snd can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D . H . Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-96 

WANTED— Position in Cuba. Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish flrst- 
clasa references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 
. 5 12-21-08 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speek German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 
12-21-f8 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler In reflneiT. Those thoroughly versed In tefliery 
boiling will apply to C. R., oare Loulsiaaa Planter. 
12-20-06 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who hss 
had fiimilar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A- W., care thU offlce. 
^ 12-20-06 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensstion 280. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation , CentervUle , La . 12-20-08 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1800. Good refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumslde, Louisiana. 12-21-96 

WANTED— Position ss manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, hlghei^t re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability I0 
handle labor . Address D . A . Blouin, whltecastle. La . 

WANTED— Positton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation for the coming year. Long experience 
and flrst-class references. Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as clerk in plantation or town 
store, by a young man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Address G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have haid many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. Rochelle, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-08 

WANTED— Position for coming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 83 years 
of ace, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cultivation of cane and handling 
Ubpr. Address R.,Box 266, Ne w Iberia, La. 12-6-08 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. j. 
Dover, care First New York Beet Sugar Company. 
Rome, N. Y. 12-6-08 

WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, ard 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, ''Actions speak 
louder than words." Address Drainage, Rooni 22, 
CityHaU. 12-3-08 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1066 N. Derblgny street, New Orleans. 
, 12-7-06 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References flrst-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-08 

WANTED— Poaltlon to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fltting of plantation out-door Nothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations, address Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-08 

WANTED— Position as manager for 1800, by a flrst- 
dass man of experience and fine references. Will 
take an assistancy and work veiy reasonable. A ddress 
E. W. Crbiobton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-08 



WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1800. Address Thco. 
Baudoin, Jr., Hahnville, La. 12-7-06 

WANTED— \ sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar houses in Louisiand, la open 
for an engagement for coming crop In Mexico. Cuba or 
Central ' merica. Will accept a position on any terms 
consistent with first-class work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present employers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduated. Address Led A, this 
offlce. 12-8-0& 

WANTED— By a young chemist with university edu- 
cation and one year's experience In large Louislajia 
factory, a position for Mexlcm or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. 11-80-08 

WANTED— By a first-class sugar boiler, to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Will 
furnish the best of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 836 Bartholomew street. New Orleans, La. 
ll-2i>-08 

WANTED— Position for next crop by an A No. I au- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largeat 
places in the State. Would have no objection to living 
on the place and making himself generally usefuL la a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, Belle Grove Plan- 
ation, mitecasUe, La. 11-25-OB 

WANTED— Position In this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sugar boiler who has references of .the very flrst 
class. Address Boiler, 607 Chartres street. New Oi^ 
leans. ll-0-i» 

WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan. Have had practical experience 
in the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 yf«rs of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
go to the West Indies. Rsference from former emolcnrer 
given. Address X, this offlce. 11-26-06 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utility man 
in the country. Good referoices. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-98 

WANTED— A position as book-keeper or n^anager of 
a countiy store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. Would also open 
up and run a drug store In interest of employer. Can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B., Donald- 
sonvllle, La. 11-21-06 

WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent. Is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop In Mexico or Cuba. Has had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations in Lou- 
isiana. Can bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stubbs. Those 
desiring the services of a thorough sugar honsn man, 
address Oscar, box 574, Baton Rouge. 11-10-08 

WANTED— Position as chemist In Mexieo or Cuba for 
coming crop. Have had eight years experience and can 
furnish ffood references as to ability. Am at present 
employed at one of the leading sugar houses In Loo- 
isiana. Address Chemist, this offlce. 11-22-06 

WANTED— An assistant sugar boiler at once. Ad- 
dress L. A. Ellis, Sartartia, Tex. 11-17-08 

WANTED— Position as assistant or head sugar maker. 
Can furnish first-claas references. Address J. L. 
WiRTH, 1016 Toulouse street, New Orleans, La. 
11-14-08 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer or time- 
keeper on a sugar plantation, for 1800. Married man 
88 years of age. Address E. V. W., care 8. C Bit>- 
dowskl, 600 Sucth street, New Orleans. 11-1^06 

WANTED— Position as butler by an experienced man. 
Good references. Will try to make himself useful In 
every way. Address Emile Terrie, 618 Chartres at.. 
New Orieans. 11-15-06 

WANTED— Experienced ohemisl, at present instruc- 
tor in a large university in the Northwest, desire's po- 
sition in a wirm cllmotn. Best references. Address 
P. O. Box 1788, Iowa City, Iowa. 11-14-06 

WANTED— By experienced man, situation aa chemist 
in sugar house, in Mexico or Central America, for 
coming campaign. Good reference, sober, competent. 
Address Chemist, care of Glenwild, Berwick, La. 

U-11-06 



MARSHALL J. SMITH. 



JULIAN D. PAYNE. 



F. MORENO. 



W. J. FERGUSON. 



MARSHAUU J. SMITH & CO., 

General Insurance As^ent^, 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



AND 



H MeeMie IWewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORI/BANS. FEBRUARY 4, 1890. 



No. 5. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

LouiBtana Sygar P/antera' Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters' AssociaVon, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists* Association, 

Kansas Sugar Growers' Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publisheo at New Orleans, La., every Saturday Morning 

BY THE 

LOUISIANA PLANTBft AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
brauches, Af^ricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical. Political and Commercial. 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. V. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Postofflce at New Orleans as second-class 

mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

PerannuTT 

Terms of SubecrJptlon (Including postage) $3 (« 

Foreign Subscription ^^ 

ADVEPvTISINO RATES. 



Spac^ 



1 months month « month 12 month 



llnch 

21ncb 

8 Inch 

41nch 

5 Inch 

Olnch — 

Tluch 

8 Inch 

«lnch 

10 Inch 

Halt Page. 
Pull Page. 



$600 
960 
14 6(i 
19 00 
23 60 
28 00 
82 61 
86 00 
88 00 
40 0) 
60 00 
100 00 



9 12 60 
24 00 
86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
90 0) 
96 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 



% 18 76 

86 00 
61 40 
71 25 
88 16 
106 00 
121 76 
136 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
400 00 



9 26 00 
43 03 
72 50 
(^09 
117 60 
140 03 
IGiLO 
180 00 
190 00 
20O0O 
800 CO 
6(000 



All commnnlcatlona should bo addr^ed to The 
L0U18IAKA Planter, 839 Carondelet street, New Orieaw\ 
La. 

LIST OP STOCKHOLDBRS. 



McCall Brothers, 
McCall ek Legendre. 
Leon GodclMux, 
James Teller, 
B. Lenami ^k Bro., 
Leoac? Sonbit, 
i ouls Bush, 
W. B. Brtckeii. 
W. C. Stubbs. 
John Dynond, 
Daniel ihompson. 
Poos &. Bamett, 
H. C. Warmoth, 
Ladus Forsyth, Jr., 
Bdward J. oay. 
Shattack A Hoffmaa. 
Bmile Rost, 
Thomas Q. Miller, 
Scbtnldt ft Zlegler, 
T. 0, ncLaury, 
L. 5. aark, 
I. B. Uyert, 
Simpson Homor, 
W. B. Bloomfleld, 
W. W. Sutdlfle. 
John S. rioore, 
James Ct Murphy, 
Jos. Webre, 



R. Beltran, 
Luclen SonUit, 
D. R. Calder. 

L. A. euu. 

Hero & Malhlot, 
W. J. Behan, 
J. T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards & Haubtirai 
John A. Morris, 
e. H. CunnlnfluuB, 
R. Vlterbo. 
H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Sorta, 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
A«idrew Prici. 
E.&J. Kock. 
Wn. Oarig, 
Adolph Meyer, 
A. A. Woods. 
Brailsh Johf«soa, 
Qeorge P. Anderton, 
A. L. nonnot. 
Richard MUllken, 
W. P. riKes. 
Lezin A. Becaol. 
J. N. Pharr, 
..ules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

ll^ry JlcCail. 

W. B. Schmidt. 



D. 



Joho DyuMiid, PrMWtat. 



Thirteenth Annual Session of the 

Louisiana State Agricultural 

Society. 

This well known organization, whidi 
began its existence in Eaton Rouge in 
1887, held its thirteenth annual session 
in Shreveport last week with President 
John Dyn lond in the chair, and the sec- 
retary, Dr. W. H. Dalrymple, at the 
desk. The session began We<l'ne9day, 
Jan. 25th, and continued through three 
days adjourning Friday evening. The 
last day was devoted to the Louisiana 
Stock Breeders' Association, Hon. W. 
L. Foster, president, who temporarily 
left his duties as railroad commissioner 
at Baton Kouge to return to the Queen 
City of the Red River Valley to as- 
sume his presidential duties in connec- 
tion with the Sftoclk Breed^ers' Asso- 
ciation. 

All of the various sessions during the 
three days were of extreme interest. A 
large number of leading agriculturists of 
the State were gathere<l together and 
(juite a number of valuable papers per- 
tiiining to our various agricultural in- 
dustries were first read and then thor- 
oughly discussed by those present. In 
no previous session of the State Agri- 
cultural Society has there been any 
greater earnestness displayed in the pur- 
suit of advanced agricultural knowledge, 
nor any session in which there was a 
greater assemblage of agricultural au- 
thoritie\s, who could substantiate their 
assertions by giving convincing reasons 
to establish them. 

The addro-s of welcome to the Society 
was delivered on Wednesday by Judge 
John C. Moncure, of Shreveport. Judge 
Moncure was extremely eloquent in his 
description of the ideal agricultural life 
and the position that the agricultual in- 
dustries of the State sustained to the 
whole body politic and of the great ad- 
vantages that would come to us all from 
a thorough investigation of all of our un- 
solved problemB, and the utili^tion of all 



discoveries of modern science in connec- 
tion with agriculture. 

Judge Emile Rost of St. Charles, re- 
sponded to Judge Moncure on behalf of 
the State Agricultural Society, thanking 
him, the city of Shreveport and' the par- 
ish of Caddo for their invitation to hold 
this session in Shreveport, recounting 
the good work- done by the society in the 
past and its hopes for still more effective 
work in the future. Judge Roet's re^ 
marks were delivered in his usual effectr 
ive style, and were extremely apropos 
and highly applauded. 

Dr. W. C. Stubbs, of the several State 
experiment stations, was in attendance 
arid lent his usual valuable aid to main- 
taining the interest of the exercises from 
the beginning to the end, answering 
every kind of a question propounded by 
•his hundreds of eager listeners, and al- 
though endeavoring to take no direct part 
in the proceedings of the meeting, he 
was involuntarily led to discuss almost • 
every agricultural topic that was brought 
under consideration. 

A marked feature of the occasion was 
the wonderful effect brought about by 
the North Louisiana Experiment Station, 
located at Calhoun, standing there on a 
worn-out hill farm, now an object les- 
son to every visitor, teaching what can 
be done, even with the worn-out lands in 
the hills of North Louisiana. Some 
striking instances were cited as the di- 
rect result of the work of the experimient 
station. One ante-bellum farmer, form- 
erly in comfortable circumstances, who 
was brought to poverty by the civil w^r, 
and whose maximum crop came to be five 
bales of cotton, and very little else, was 
finally inducted to visit the experiment 
station with a friend who is enthusiastic 
in his admiration of the good work there 
doing. This one-horse farmer, with his 
five bales of cotton, the only support of 
a large family, now produces fifty bales 
of cotton, a large amount of the supplies 
necessary for ceu-rying on the farm, and 



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Tn LOUISIANA PULNTBR AND SUOAlt MANUFACTDBmL 



[Vol. XXII, No. 5. 



in fact has revolutionized his whole es- 
tablishment, the result of a few visits at 
Calhoun. 

It is often stated that the various ex- 
perimumt stations did not reach the farm- 
er, their experiments being of a scientific 
nature and their determinations being 
adapted ordinarily only to scientific con- 
sideration. It is asserted Uiat tlie Farm- 
ers' Institutes, .bringing actual farmers 
in contact with each other, where ques- 
tions may be given and answered, are 
far more effective. The Xorth Louisi- 
ana Experiment Station at Calhoun com- 
bines these advantages, all of the scien- 
tific investiga'ions being effected as thor- 
oughly as anywhere in the United States, 
and at the same time the North Louisi- 
ana Agricultural Society, meeting at the 
station monthly and enjoying all of the 
advantaged presented by the station, 
bringing together thousands of farmers, 
becomes in fact a series of Farmers' In- 
stitutes with the station's work around 
them as an exhibition all the timje, of 
what can be done. In this way tliese 
farmers in all the hill parishes from 
which Oalhoun is accei^ible, have reaj)- 
ed wonderful advantages and they are 
all loud in the praises of the good work 
there done. 

In this article we can hardly give 
consideration to much of the valuable 
matter discussed, and will only say that 
every agricultural industry of our State, 
cotton, cane com and rice all came in for 
consideration and discussion. The great 
advantage to the State of more devotion 
to the production of hogs was brought 
out repeatedly and effectively. Dr. 
Tait Butler of Mississippi, recently con- 
nected with the Mississippi Agricultural 
College at Starkville, was an invited visi- 
tor and did great service by a valuable 
paper that he read upon cattle-feeding 
and also by the extremely intelligent 
manner an which he discussed all topics 
under consideration. 

At the conclusion of the session Mr. 
John Dymond was re-elected President, 
Dr. W. H. Dalryraole Secretary, and Mr. 
W. M. Barrow assistant secretary. The 
resolutions adopted included a special 
resolution of condolence to the family of 
Mr. T. Wood Lee, the deceased assist- 
ant secretary, who was elected last year, 
and whose devotion to his country and 
enlistment in the First Louisiana Kcgi- 
ment with the rank of Captain, led to 



his death, notwithstanding every effort 
made to save him. Col. T. E. S€ller8 
delivered a most touching address in 
memory of the young captain, which 
will long be remembered by everyone 
there present 

Hon. W. L. Foster was re-elected 
President of the Stock Breeders' Asso- 
ciation and Dr. W. H. Dalrymple Sec- 
retary. 



Louisiana Industrial Institute. 

This very successful industrial school, 
located at Ruston, which although young 
in its corporate existence, has already 
displayed a great deal of virility in its 
development of industrial education un- 
der the direction of that able scholar and 
excellent disciplinarian. Col. A. T. Pres- 
cott, has now completed a series of new 
buildings and placed in pyosition the nec- 
essary new equipments for the enlarged 
work in which the institute is engaged. 
On Febniary 11th, the new buildings 
will be dedicated and the enuioments will 
be put in operation, to which ceremonies 
the public is invited. This journal is es- 
pecially invic€<l, and we trust that the 
good work of the school will go on, ever 
enlarging and ever advancing . 



BIrtli of Beet Sugar Industry. 

A London journal refers to January 
11th as the 100th anniversary of the 
creation of the beet sugar industry. On 
January 11th, 1799, Frans Karl Acharl 
laid a memorandum Ibefore Frederick 
William III., showing how sugar might 
be made from beet roots, hitherto used 
only as foilder. It was said that Achard 
refused a bribe of 200,000 fhalers of 
fered him by the cane sugar interests 
if he would publish a statement that he 
had made a mistake. 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

The February meeting of this Associa- 
tion will be held on Thun^day, the 9th 
instant, at 8 p. m. at No. 712 Union 
street. New Orleans. 

One of the burning questions of the 
hour, ^^The Manner and Method of Pur- 
chasing Cane — Whether by Test or Oth- 
erwise/' will be discussed, and from pres- 
ent indications, it will be a largely at- 
tended and exceedingly interesting meet- 
ing. The importance of the topic S0- 



leel,ed for discussion is already too deep- 
ly impressed u]>on both cane buyers and 
cane-^ellers for us to dilate upon it at 
this time. It is a matter which seems 
to demand a solution of some sort and in 
selecting it for discussion the Louisiana 
Sugar Planters' Association has done a 
wise and timely thing. 

We wish to call the attention of our 
readers to the fact that everyone inter- 
este<l, whether a member of the Asso- 
ciation or not^ is cordially invited to 
be present. 



Tlie Coming Cane Crop. 

Our reporta this week indicate too 
much wet w^eather in the sugar parishes 
to permit much field work to be done, 
nor have the conditions been such as to 
favor the preservation of the seed cane- 
The statcjnents made r^arding the 
condition of the seed cane are too con- 
flicting for any definite conclusion to 
be drawn from them, but as planting is 
being pushed as actively as the climatic 
conditions will permit, we shall not be 
long in the dark on this important ques- 
tion. It seems reasonable to t>uppose 
that we shall shortly experience weather 
better adapted for the present purposes 
of the sugar plantetrs, and that the 
ground will become dry enough to be 
properly worked. 



Senator Clarlc. 



On Saturday last Hon. Won. A. Clark, 
of Montana was elected United States 
Senator from that State, after a hot con- 
test involving 17 ballots. Senator Clark 
succeeds Hon. Lee Mantle. The sugar 
producers of the country will be inter- 
ested to know that Mr. Clark is the chief 
owner of the large beet sugar house at 
Los Alamitos, Cal., the capacity of which 
is now being largely increased for the 
coming season. Mr. Clark is a wealthy 
gentleman and his income for '1898 is 
popularly estimated at ten millions of 
dollars. 



The Demerara Sugar Crop. 

The Argosy report-s the exports of su- 
gar from Demerara for the year 1898 at 
106,788 tons, against 99,789 tons for the 
previous year. The sugar was practical- 
ly all sent forward in bags, the exports 
exhibiting no hogsheads and only 241 
tierces and 3,635 barrels. 



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67 



India Rice. 

The Louisiana Planter has received 
aUviees from Eangoon to Deceml>er 9th, 
and from Calcutta to December 20th, 
concerning the rice crop in Lower Bur- 
ma h and Bengal. In Lower Burmah the 
area planted in rice is. slightly larger 
than the previous jear, amounting to 
nearly six million's of acres. Some in- 
jury had resulted from drought, but it 
was estimated that cargo rice w/>uld be 
available for export equivalent to over 
1,400,000 ton^ of cleaned rice. This 
would be about 90 per cent, of a full 
crop. 

In Madras the crop i^ reported flour- 
ishing with the area planted ab< :ut 2 per 
cent, le^s than the previous year. In 
Bengal about 8 millions of acres .are 
planted in autumn rice, the statistics 
showing an increase of 3 per cent, over 
the acreage of 1897, and 5 per cent, 
above the average. The condition of 
the crop is reported at 99 per cent, of the 
averag^e. 

The winter rice crop covers 82 nul- 
lions of aeres, 5 per cent, above the aver- 
age area, the result of seasonable wra'h- 
er and the substitution of ri?e culture for 
that of jute. 

From the.-e enormous figures we cati 
perceive the practically unlimited sup- 
ply of rice in Tr.-Jia. At the same time, 
as it is a staple crop, upjn which the 
whole population live, the demand for 
it is relatively as great as the supply, 
and the general inclination to in?rea^e 
the area planted in rice would suggest 
expectation of higher prices on the part 
of the rice-grower. 



Tlie Effect of Annexation of Newly 

Acquired Territory Upon Our 

Soutliern Products. 

(Address dellyered before tbe Louisiana State Agrl- 
caltural Society, at Shreveport, by Hon. John 
DymoNd, President.) 

Ladies and Gentlemea and Fellow-Mem- 
bers of 'the Louisiania State Agricultural 
Society: 

This subject, 'Allotted to me by the commi't- 
tee on program, is on<e that I appj^ach with 
considera'ble diffidence and shall certainly 
be able to discuss only in a very general sort 
of way. The serious side of our annexation 
of tropical countries is largely a polfcJtal 
one, which feature of the ea3« it is hardly 
proper for us to debate at tftls time. It is 



our province to look at the subject from an 
Indus. rial point of view, and, as stated in 
the title, the direct effect of the annexation 
of these countries upon the future of those 
agricultural products of our lands which are 
dig inctively clasived as southern. The ques- 
tion of an imperial policy on the part of our 
nation, of the building of an empire upon 
which the sun shall never set, we will leave 
to others, and endeavor to consider the in- 
dustrial results only. 

In order to do this we musit consider the 
effect in the past of the aoquiidL'on of such 
territory as has been added to the Union 
since its formation with the original •thir- 
teen States. The Louiaiana purchase, which 
included the State of Louisiana and all of the 
lands north of Mexico and west of thte Mis- 
sissippi river to sthe Pacific, was considered 
largely a political and military question. 
While the grain fields of the great Northwest 
have even within our days destroyed the 
monopoly of high grade wheat, that fifily 
years ago was held in the valley of th« 
Genesee in ceatral New York, tJhe change 
has been so gradual and the diversion of the 
attention of the New York farmers into 
otner cultures has been so successful that no 
very loud complaint has resulted from this 
competition by the farmers of the great 
Northwest with the farmers who remained in 
their old home? In the Middle States. 

The acquisition of Florida was again a 
matter of political settlement and seemed 
tio have no very stroDtg industrial features 
that suggested any opposition to it. Florida 
was part of the mainland and its ce^ion by 
Spain to the .United States worked no par- 
ticular industrial change in the country. In 
a like manner, the acquisition of Texas aome 
fifty years ago was considered at the time 
almost entirely from a political point of 
view. Cotton culture in Texas at that time 
gave no (suggestion of the fa6t that within 
half a century the State of Texas alone would 
produce more cotton than the whole of the 
Southern States combined produced in any 
one year before the war. it required nearly 
half a century in Texas to produce this ex- 
traordinary change, this great industrial de- 
velopment, the evil effects of which upon 
the entire South are now felt. 

The acquiieltion of California after the war 
with Mexico came as ithe result of that war 
and the remoteness of California from the 
rest of the states retiarded its industrial de- 
velopment greatly, and only since the civil 
war and the easy access to California ren- 
dered by the building of our several traas- 
continental railways has it come to the front 
as one of our most active and aggressive 
states. 

Surveying, then, the effects of these vari- 
ous territorial acquisitions in the pai-t upon 
our Southern products ,we can see that 
while we . accept without a murmur the 
enormous developmenit of Texas, that if that 
great state remf^ined ^ unimproved as it 



was fifty years agro, if it had remained under 
the less stable govemmenlt of Mexico, or in 
a revolutionary condition a5 when it was am^ 
nexed to the United States, th^t cotton 
culture there would never have attained any- 
thing like the enormous proportions that 
it now has and that ithe cotton planters of 
the South would not be deploring the im- 
mense crops that they are raising and the 
ruinously low prices that are now destroy- 
ing them. 

It would seem to be somewhat difficult 
to apply this review of our past experience 
in annexation to the problems that have just 
now presented themselves to us. At the 
same time ithey throw some light upon the 
liubject, and if our country is going to pro- 
gress under a stable government we may yet 
find that the cotton planters and the sugar 
plan'ters of the Southern States will be forced 
into other cultures, just as the Wheat farm- 
ers of the valley of Genessee w6re forced to 
abandon their favorite crop of a half a centu- 
ry ago by the competition from fthe newer 
states in the West. The Southern States of 
the Union have ihad a practical monopoly 
of the culture of cotitom, sugar cane and rice. 
These ueml-tropical crops could not be raised 
in the Northern States and as long as their 
prices remained sufficiently high and the 
monopoly of their production was retained 
by ithe Southern States these cultures re- 
mained profitable. If the Southern States 
could organize an immense trust, if they 
could control and restrict the production 
of their favorite cropis and exclude or se- 
verely tax competing crops, then the wide 
margins of profit that have prevailed for a 
century could be mainjtained. However, as 
such a course as this would be unwise, if not 
impossible, we shall not consider It, but 
shall take up our several recent territorial 
acquisitions, or proposed acquisitions, and 
consider them one by one and see wherein 
they may seriously affect our Soutiiem pro- 
ducts. 

Hawaii has already been annexed and is 
presumed now to be one of the territories 
of the United States. Some rather otrange 
conditions prevail there, conditions very 
much at variance with those that prevail 
in the other territories and in the states of 
our Union. The sugar industry is the domi- 
nant industry in Hawaii, and it is based al- 
most entirely upom a system of contract 
or forced labor. iWhen some 23 years ago 
the reciprocity treaty with Hawaii was 
adopted the production of sugar there was 
but on^flfth of wJiat it is now. The free 
importation of this sugar into ithe markets 
of the United States, the fertile soils and 
tropical climate of the islands, and the op- 
portunliiies possessed by the planters there 
of contracting for labor and thu» producing 
their sugars with a forced, or semi-^lave 
labor, gave rise to the enormous develop- 
ment of the sugar industry there which has 
so seriously disconcerted us in Louisiana and 



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THIS LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[VoL XXII. No. 5. 



led to ever recurring remonstrances on our 
par: to the national legislature against the 
continuance of this unjust reciprocity treaty. 
With Hawaii finally acquired by the United 
States and the American flag boating from 
all of its public buildings, it remainis now 
to be seen whether or not the geniius of the 
free institutions of the United States will 
prevail in Hawaii, whefther or not forced la- 
bor laws will be abrogated and the natives 
there, under their tropical skies, be left to 
work or play as their own will suggests. Any- 
way, we i:ihould say that we have felt in 
the past the severe competirtion of these 
Hawaiian sugars brought into Louisiana and 
In oompe:itlon with Louisiana sugars pro- 
duced under laws which deny the forced 
labor contracts. 

Our next acquisition is that of Porto Rico. 
The acquisition of Porto Rico may be looked 
upon largely from a military point of view. 
The island is a mountainous one and while 
it produces a considerable amount of sugar 
and a considerable amount of coffee, yet, as 
compared with the total consumption of the 
United States these quantities are but in- 
signi fleam and their competition with sim- 
ilar products within the limits of the old 
Union cannot nave any very injurious effect. 

When we come to consider the Island of 
Cuba, however, the situation is very differ- 
ent. A large part of the Island of Cuba is 
a va£tf: plain, underlain with coral rock, a 
land of great fertilHy and of extraordinary 
resources in many directdons. Cuba lies so 
near to the United State? that even under 
Spanish domination, American enterprise 
largely affected mo^t of her industrial under- 
takings. Thousands of Cubans made their 
summer homes in the Northern States, and 
thousands of Americans their winter homes 
In Cuba, and the Intimate relations thus es- 
itablished have added largely to the popu- 
lar dcmaand for the termination of Spanish 
arbitrary rule In Cuba. If Cuba be treated 
as an Independent state, or if the govern- 
ment there be carried on as a protectorate, 
or in some manner separate and apart from 
the methods that prevail witti the istates of 
our Union, then perhaps Cuba may develop 
enormously and at the same time not se- 
riously Injbre the Southern Qtates of the 
Union. If, however, Cuba becomes as 
thoroughly merged into the Union as Hawaii, 
if It should be granted all the territorial 
rights such as have been granted to the 
other 'territorie? of the Uniion, then it would 
seem to be but a question of time as to 
when the sugar planters of Louisiana, Texas 
and Florida would Iook back to their lost 
industry, ^st as the wheat farmers of the 
vulley of the Genesee look backward now 
to their famed production of fifty years ago. 
We know that Cuba ^itands pre-eminent as 
a possible producer of sugar from sugar 
cane; that Cuban itobacco commands the 
markets of the world, owing to the excel- 
lence of its quality, and thaft cotton can be 



produced in Cuba as readily as in Florida, 
while the whole list of early vegetables 
wi'.h which the Southern States now flood 
the Northern markets during their off sea^n, 
can be produced even more successfully in 
Cuba and reach 'the markets of the North 
with equal rapidity and equal cheapness. 

The final factor intihe problem that has been 
presented for our consideration at present 
is that of the Philippines. We have here a 
vast territory that even under Spanish mis- 
rule has produced more sugar than Louisi- 
ana has until within the last few years, and 
a country capable of enormous development, 
provided that it became to the interests of 
the American people to foster such devel- 
opment. Scarcely any comparison, how- 
ever, can be made between the Philippines 
and Cuba. Cuba i3 at our doors, but a 
few hours* sail from the southern liimits of 
Florida, quickly accessible from every port 
on the Atlantic coast, an island partly Amer- 
icanized at present, wherein millions of dol- 
lars of American capital are already at work 
and have been working for years; where 
the advantages of modern machinery are 
thoroughly understood and where only a 
good and •• table government is necessary 
for the doubling or tripling of the crops of 
the country. If we omit the consideration 
of Hai¥aii from the question that is presented 
to us because we have already had a recip- 
rocity treaty with that country for over 
twenty years, if we omit Porto Rico from 
consideration because of its oomparaJtlve 
smallness and the military features of its 
occupation, if we omit the Philippines be- 
cause of the magnitude of the problem there 
presented, the greait distance of these islands 
from the United States, the uncertainty of 
the ratification of the treaty covering their 
cession, we shall then have only Cuba ai the 
difiicult problem before us for a solution, 
and based upQn the data herelnibefore re- 
ferred to and the argument advanced, I be- 
lieve 'iliat every thinking man who is iden- 
tified wi'th the industrial development of 
the Southern States will admit that the 
transfer of thait Island to the United States 
will seriously injure all of the competing 
products of the Southern States, owing to 
the greater climatic advantages possessed 
by Cuba for such product ion, to the great 
fertility of the soils and to their adaptation 
for the production of every crop that Is now 
produced In the Southern States of our 
Union. 

There li one feature of this subject that 
has not yet been much discussed, and yet 
It may be a very Important one in the final 
development of these tropical countries. 
Nature is so prodigal In the tropics, 'there 
Is sudh a luxurious growth of all vegetable 
matter, that the natives find that they can 
live with almost no effort. A few bananas 
will supply their daily want?, clothing is 
almost unnecessary, and hence there is 
nothing to compel efforts for self preser- 



vation as in the countries at the North. 
Af.er the termination of slavery in the Bri- 
tish West Indie-, It was found tlhat the lead- 
ing Industries were practically .destroyed, 
the freemen had no particular necessity for 
working, while their wants were small and 
so readily supplied without effort The 
landed proprietors had severe lawu against 
vagrancy, aginst petty thieving, &c., but still 
life was so easy there that one or two days' 
work In the week would keep the negroes 
fairly well supplied wii:h all actual necessi- 
ties. The liugar industry of Jamaica was 
almost d^troyed. It so happened that Bar- 
bados, a very small island, was very thickly 
populated, being In fact one of the most 
thickly populated countries In itJie globe. 
Here the negroes had but little chance of 
living, as there were no wild or unoccupied 
lands to go to. Barbadoi^, therefore, re- 
tained Its consplculty as a sugar producing 
island up to recenit years. In the Island of 
Trlcidad and In British Guiana, the impos- 
sibility of maintaining the £Ugar .industry 
without ome control of the labor, led even 
Lae British Government to permit the im- 
portation of coolies under long contracts, 
which they were forced to maintain by law, 
thus constituting a forced, semi-slave sys- 
tem. There are even now in British Guiana 
atnd In Trinidad constant efforts making 
to secure increatod Importations of Immi- 
grants from the East Indies. A like system 
of contract labor prevails in Australia, the 
Islands of the Sou;:h Seas being carefully 
canvassed for Kanaka laborens who are car- 
ried to Queensland and New South Wales 
under long contracts, where they are utilized 
in the leading industries. 

It is not very probable that the American 
people, after having freed ithemselves from 
the system of slavery that prevailed before 
•the Civil War, will now at the beginning of 
the twentieth century inaugurate any tsystem 
of conj.raot, or semi-slave labor. The revolt 
of the laborers of this country against the 
free Importation of the Chinese was an In- 
dication of the popular feeling in tflils direc- 
tion. The American people do not seem tp 
want 'io Introduce any large amount of for^ 
elgn or cheap labor and to this desire on their 
part, we must look largely for the prevention 
of such injury to the products of the 
Southern States as would otherwise resuU 
from the annexation to the Federal Union 
of these various countries. If the Island of 
Cuba could secure a sufficient amount of la- 
bor, its productions could be Increa-ed five- 
fold within a few years. Labor, however, 
has always been difficult to secure there, 
and we are inclined to believe that while the 
competition of Cuba with 'the Southern 
States of the Union may In the end be very 
severe, yet such competlitlon at present Is 
somewhat remote, and that our safe-t course 
is to go right along, and to do the best that 
we can to meet the difficulties of the hour 
when they come. 



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«9 



LOCAL LETTERS. 
Ascension. 

rSPBClAL C0RRS8P0NDENCK.) 

Editor Louisiatui Planter: 

Belle Helene'ij chimneys have stopped 
smoking and 'th« extraordinary grinding sea- 
son of 1898-9 is at an end in this parish and 
section. It was remarkable in several re- 
spects and its memories will linger diiagree- 
ably with a large proportion of Louisiana 
sugar planters for many a long day. The 
early promise of the year and up to the 
commen<;ement of grinding was very favor- 
able, the cane having grown luxuriantly and 
seeming to portend even better results than 
the satlifactory outcome of the preceding 
campaign; b«t Dame Nature "kept the word 
of promise to the eye but broke it to the 
hope. It seems as if the weather has 
determined not to get settled and clear. 
A prominent Ascension manager re- 
marked today. "There is absolutely no 
work of any kind being done on the sugar 
plantations, with the bingle exception that 
Joe Cafiero and his colleagues are painting 
the smokestacks." 

Dally conjectures are heard respecting the 
condrtion of seed cane, but views are so 
dissimilar and premature that it is scarcely 
worth while to consume space attempting to 
quote them. So much depends upon future 
as well as past and presem conditions, that 
any general opinion expressed at this time 
can poisess but little value. 

The size of Belle Helene's out put has 
not been made public. But that it was far 
below what it should have been, goes without 
spying. 

The will of the late Major I. G. Handle, of 
Dallas, Texas, bequeathing his half interest 
in the iSouthwood and Riverside, or Mound 
plantations in this parish, has been pro'ba'^ed, 
and the property is inventoried at $40,000. 
Jt all goes to the testator's widow, Mrs. 
,Eliza C. Handle, who is appointed executrix 
without bond. The other half of the places 
is owned by Mr. Charles H. Alexander, also 
of Dallas. Major Handle, it will be remem- 
bered, was shot to death on the street at 
Dallas about two months ago as the result of 
a personal difficulty. 

The store on the Grammercy Sugar CJom- 
pany's Mount Houmas plantation was de- 
stroyed the night of January 22 by a flre be- 
lieved to have been started by an incendiary. 
The contents belonged to Mr. Philip L. 
Brand, who carried insurance to the amount 
of $1,500 on merchandise valued at $2,750. 
The building was owned by the Gremmercy 
Company, worth about $1,000 and not in- 
sured. 

Next Tuesday will be sugar planters* day 
and the Ascension Branch Association ought 
to ge^t a quoreum together, just for a change. 
To be sure, the awful condition of the pub- 
lic roads makes it difficult tor country folks 



to come to town, but the membeiu of the 
"Abspa" ought 'to make the effort 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRfiSPONDlMCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Last week the weather would have been 
reported favorable but this week only the 
contrary can be said, and the spurt in field 
work was no sooner started than stopped by 
flooding rains. January is umially a wet 
month with us, but we have had so much 
rain, our people had hoped for a larger share 
than usual of bright day«. Here and there 
you find some one who has plowed out 
stubble or planted some cane. Heports as 
to the condition of the seed vary, the general 
opinion leaning to the dark side, and for this 
reason we presume very little more stubble 
land will be broken up, for it may be 
necessary to keep second year's stubble this 
season. Another reason for holding second 
year's stubble is its fine and promising condi- 
tion. We have been told by several that at 
this time it never was better, and while there 
is plenty of chance for it to be destroyed our 
planters hope for the best. 

A tornado visited the Gold point section 
of the parish Monday night of la^ week de- 
stroying the large stable and barn and board- 
ing house, blacksmith shop and boiler shed 
of the Evergreen plantiation of Mrs. Henry 
H. Baker, a cabin on Mr. Joseph Oointment's 
place, the dwelling of Mr. Daniel Hurley and 
the store of Messrs. Pope and Ooin'tment, and 
the houses of several negroes, at He vl He- 
town. The loss to Evergreen will probably 
exceed $4,000.00. 

From Mr. Billon, of Bayou Goula, manager 
of Upper Elmer plantation, we learn that 
several days planting demon-trated that the 
seed cane was in excellent condition, and 
that the acreage reserved for rice at this 
place would be considerably diminished this 
year. 

Messrs. J. and A. Berthelot, lower end of 
the parish, examined their seed cane In dif- 
ferent parts of the field iseveral times and 
found it to be in very good shape and im 
consequence are preparing a large planting. 

Mr. Louis Lozano, of Plaquemine. has 
planted a few acres of cane on his Heliance 
plantation and says the seed Is inclined to 
be poor. Fortunately he kept plenty and is 
putting enough in the rows to get a good 
ttand. The cane Itself looks splendidly and 
Inside is white and sweet but most of the 
bottom eyes from some cause or another are 
bad. 

At the Callfornila plantation Mr. Charles E. 
Booksh, who examined some of the seed in a 
place where he thought it might be bad, 
found It pretty and bright and as good as 
any he ever \5aw. 

Mr. Harley Matthews has sold his Belle 
View plantation on Bayou Grossetete to Mr. 
Louis S. Webre, of St. James parish. Unless 
the Cuban wkr ruins our sugar proispects. 



Mr. Webre will put Belle View in cane, other- 
wise he may make a cattle farm of it. The 
consideration paid was |8,000.00. 

•Mr. Ulysse B. Dugas, of Assumption parish, 
will retain his interest In the Nottoway 
plantation with Mt3, Marie E. Landry and 
the new firm will be Dugas & Landry, in- 
stead of Landry & Dugas as formerly. 

Two of Iberville's moaft promising young 
men were married last week; Mr. George 
Hoss Murrell, of Bayou Goula, the president 
of the George M. Murrell P. & M. Co., Ltd., 
and one of the most progressive planters in 
the state to one of Miseliseippiilt fairest 
daughters, and Mr. James D. Hanlon. a son 
of Mr. Maurice Hanlon, of Bayou Goula, to 
Miss Matilda L. Meeker, a daughter of Dr. 
S. F. Meeker, one of the owners and man- 
agers of the fine Meeker estate at Lecompte. 

Mr. Lucien Grass, Bayou Plaquemine, was 
burled a few days since. He was the oldest 
son of the late AdolpOie Grass and was In his 
50th year. He leaves a widow, a daughter of 
the late John A. Dardenne, and five children. 

IsetlVILLB. 



West Baton Rous^e. 

(feraCIAL OOERESPOKDmfCil.) 

Editor LouisUina Planter: 

The persistency with which the bad 
weat'iier hangs on is indeed remarkable, and 
the hnpres-ion Is deepening Into conviction 
that there is something radically wrong with 
the big waler works above. For it seems ut- 
terly impossible that three days should pass 
without more or leas rain falling. For In- 
:.tance: Hain fell all day last Friday, turn- 
ing into sleet that night; Saturday dawned 
dark and murky, but during the afternoon 
clearing weather set in and the sun came 
out nicely. Sunday was an ideal day— clear, 
crisp and bright, wi-tfh a heavy frost in the 
morning. By night the wind had shifted to 
the East, and Monday noon came the in- 
evitable raln> which though not particularly 
heAvy, continued off and on all the evening 
and Monday night. gradufUly closing Tues- 
day, the wind having veered around to the 
North, ushering in decidedly colder weather. 
My apology for this prolix statement of pre- 
vailing meteorological conditions lies In the 
fact tha» the planters are regarding the 
weather with as much solicitude as they did 
during the Leat and burden of the grinding 
season. 

That the seed cane is more or less injured 
here there can be no manner of doubt. 
Even if no material damage had not as yet 
been done, a conltinuation of the wretched 
weather of the past few months would in- 
evitably work some injury in the course of 
time. In a majority of cases the cane was 
put down last fall with extra care because 
of the unfavorable weather conditions then 
prevailing, but despite the precautions taken, 
a great deal of s^ed is reported rotten and 
utterly unfit to plant. In tills connection 
and as an illustration of the extent to which 
the rains have injured the seed, on one place. 



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[Vol XXII, No. 5. 



at least, it is generally understood here that 
Mr. John Hill, of Homestead iTlantation, la 
preparing to dig up and grind about 100 
acres of cane which had been put down for 
seed last fall. As this cane is unfit to plant, 
and as hauling it out and dumping it in the 
river would entail considerable expense, 
Mr. Hill believes that while handling the 
cane he had juit as well grind it If under- 
taken, the outcome of the experiment will be 
watched with interest. So far as can be 
learned, this is the first time such a thing 
thas occurred in West Baton Rouge. A 
peculiarity of the seed cane, as reported by 
several planters, is tha:t in many cases cane 
that was badly put down, in low. badly- 
drained places and poorly covered— in other 
words, cane that was generally expected to 
be bad — is good, while in other cases, where 
all of these conditions were reversed, the 
eane its spoiled. 

What with a rapidly rising river and de- 
fective seed cane, it must be confessed that 
the situation Juat now is anything but en- 
couraging in 

"WuT Baton Rouor. 



Assumption. 

OlPSCIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

' Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The present season is what is known as 
'••between grass and hay, and the news from 
an agricultural standpoint is scarce and for 
the mo©t part unintereUing. 

The weather conitinuea dry long enough to 
make each planter rejoice in the fact that 
to-morrow he will 1>e able to commence 
planting cane, and to his disgust to-morrow 
brings rain. Very li»ttle cane has been 
planted In Assumpi^ion, and the reports of 
its condition are generally excellent, al- 
though in one locality I hear that some of 
it is deficient in quality. Any examination 
of iieed cane except where it is taken ou'l of 
the row in considerable quantities to plant 
is necessarily unreliable and misleading. 
If a man strikes a bad spot he thinks thai 
all of it is bad and if he finds in a particu- 
lar localii.y that the cane is good he Jumps to 
th'e opposite conclusion. 

Most planjters I have talked to think with 
January as rainy and unfavorahle as it has 
l>een for cane planting that we stand an ex- 
cellent chance for an exceptionally gond 
February. Many prefer planl.ing in* the lat- 
ter month. With the advent of better weath- 
er there will be tall hustling in Assumption 
to get the cane planted. 

Some recent sales of property in Assump- 
tion show thlat confidence in the future of 
the i^gar district is still high, and not seri- 
ously impaired by ithe bad season of 1898. 
Live Oak, the Claiborne Bourg tract, and 
Sweet Home in (this parish, and Nottaway in 
Iberville, brought excellent prices. The 
popularity of Mr. Ulysse uugas and the de- 
sire of his friends (embracing the whole 
community) that he should retain his home 
probably prevented that place from bring- 
ing the amount (that it would under otflier 



circumitances, and yet the price paid waB by 
no means small. 

There seems no be a good deal of unani- 
mity among purchasers of cane that a differ- 
ent system should be substituted for the 
presen«t haphazard one in vogue. In other 
words thlat the price paid should be in pro- 
portion :o the luugar contents rather than 
sionply so much per ton whether ripe or 
green, new ground cane or second year's 
stubble. The present way works some 
years (and probably a majority of them) to 
the detriment of the seller of ripe cane, and 
in a year like 1898 to the decided injury of 
the buyer. On ,the whole, we are ditsposed 
to believe thiat the greatest sufferer year in 
and year out hi the cane seller. 

As a result of the moving back of the 
bayou l>anks, I am told Chat the coal dealers 
will demand a half cent per barrel more for 
unloading, nor can this be reasonably ob- 
jected to by the planters, for there can be no 
question that the expense of unloading coal 
has been greatly augmented by the in- 
creased di:i:ance that the coal has to be 
wheeled. The steaml>oats also complain that 
they are forced for the same reason to pay 
exorliltant wages to their roustabouts. An- 
other great inconvenience, and sometimes 
the cause of serious lots results from the in- 
ability to ship where new levees haye been 
recently constructed. The direct produce 
tax and acreage tax are high enough, but 
when to 'chis will be added the ini^rease on 
coal and freight that will inevitably come as 
a result of pushing the levees back every 
ytar. the time will surely come when for 
self-pre.ervation the land owners will be 
forced to combine and make the direct issue 
against i.he useless confiscation of their 
property. One would suppose that the La- 
fourche caved more than the Mississippi 
*rom the diitance back that the new levees 
(or al least some of them) are being moved 
in '.he Lafourche District. The above is 
w.rliten not with a view of carping, for there 
is no one more willing to give the Levee 
Boards full credit for the immense amount of 
work thit they have done, and for their tire- 
less energy and fore:hought when high 
water threatens. 

The present stage of water in the La- 
fourche is high enough to give excellent na- 
vigation and the boats are making regular 
trip-. Capt. Constanicin has increased the 
debt owed him for traveling facilities by 
adding the Pelican to the trade, so that we 
now have a passenger boat up and down 
nearly every day. 

Wc hear that Live Oak will be plan'.'ed aS 
together in rice this year. The roads are 
still missing in< Assumption, awaiting the 
incomparable road Inspector— good weather. 

More Anon. 

Terrebonne. 

(JiPBClAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor Louisianm, Planter: 

Although there were some days with heavy 
f roeta and thin ice in the month of January, 



yet the absence of heavy rainfall proved very 
fortunate; and in consequence field work 
is well advanced on most places. The tem- 
pera: ure has been such that the willow trees 
are coming out in leaf and the peach tree« 
in blossom. Last week considerable progress 
was made in cane planting until the latter 
part of the week, when a much needed rain 
fell and put an end to field operations. The 
precipitation was an excellent one for the 
canes planted, and of benefit to the fields 
previously ploughed. Some resumed plant- 
ing on Monday; yet the majority deemed 
the land too wet to iniiiire good work. The 
quality of the seed cane varies; in places on 
'.he same plantation it is found sound and 
others it is defective, and in most instances 
where such is the case, but bu'tts more than 
the tops exhibit unsoundness — due probably 
to the excessive rains in the winter. As a 
rule it is found the heavy canes are more 
defective than where the tonnage is lighter. 
The fate of the . i^^tubble will depend very 
much on the character of 'the weather in 
the next six weeks; where they have been 
examined it was found that the bottom eyes 
had in many instances germinated after the 
September storm of last year, and present 
an unhealthy appearanca The stumps where 
the canes were prostrated are more affected 
than where the stalks retained a more up- 
right position. To shave the stubble near taie 
surface may become imperative to conserve 
as many sound eyes as possible. Should 
the temperature in February prove above the 
normal, with a small amount of rainfall ^e 
stand of cane may be up to the average; 
but cold wet weather will prove very un- 
fortunate not only to the litubble but plant 
cane; as neither seem to have their usual 
vitality, and are not in a condition to resist 
climatic extremes. 

Doubtless ere another compaign, an effort 
will be made to change the prevailing sys- 
tem of buying and selling cane; owing to 
the exceedingly low t^ucrose content of the 
canes last year. It is a problem r.eplete with 
perplexities; but as it is one of Tital Impoct^ 
ance it is worthy of serious ccHiBidenktloa on 
the part of ihe cane growers of the state; 
and as it is the saccharine, not woody fibre 
and water which is bought and t£old. It should 
be sold according to its value — it depending 
much on the quantity and quality of the 
accompanying solids not sucrose. 

When acreage tonnage yields exceed say 
twenty-five tons per acre, with average years 
the sucrose output decreai-es as the excessive 
development is detrimental to the produc- 
tion of saccharine of high quality. 

Wednesday, of last week frost, thin ice 
and sunshine later; Thursday partially 
cloudy; Friday, steady rain all day; Satur- 
day, cold and cloudy; Sunday, heavy frost, 
thin Ice and partially cloudy; Monday, vari- 
able; Tuesday, cloudy and colder, and 
Wednesday, cold and cloudy with indications 
of very wintry weather. 

Tbrrbbonnb. 



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71 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDBKCE.) 

Editor Louifiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week, as usual, 
has been behaving Itself very badly. It 
has been warm and rainy all the week. It 
turned a little oold for one or two days and 
some of the people from the country report- 
ed a litJe sleet, 'hut the change was of such 
short duration that the genei^al tenor of the 
weatber was not changed meteorologically. 
The first part of the week was good 
weather and some of our most thrifty cane 
farmers started planting cane, but on- Thurs- 
day evening we were visited by a regular 
flood and a short stop was put to all farm 
work. There lias' been but little work done 
on the farm up to date and the outlook is 
getting to be a serious matter and is attract- 
ing the attention of the cane planner who 
realizes that it \& high time for his cane to 
be planted. There has nK>t been exceeding 
five daya good plowing done in this entire 
section of country for the 1899 crop. If the 
weather was to clear up now, which it does 
not appear to be willing to do, the fa^rmers 
would be thrown back at least twenty days 
in their farmimg and it would 'take extra 
exertion to ca'tch up. They are all ready to 
work, juj-t waiting for the rain to stop and 
the land dry sufi&cient for them to turn it 
over. The cane farmer was building high 
hopes from the present year's cane crop but 
those hopes have been nipped in the bud in 
some locations by the poor quality of the 
seed cane. The immense increased acreage 
that was provided and prepared for will fall 
short to a oonuiderable extent on account of 
damaged seed cane. Considerable complaint 
has been made for the past day or two about 
bad seed and there is a possibility of fur- 
ther damage before they are able to plant. 
The general experience throughout the cane 
belt here is jhat cane in mat lay is dam- 
aged more than that in windrow, in fact the 
windpowed cane is, on a whole^ very good. 
This damage to seed cane ii-i attributed to the 
seed being put in mats or windrow before the 
cane was ripe, much of It being put up. be- 
fore any oold weather fell on it at all, and as 
the heat was much greaiter in mats than in 
windrow the imatted cane suffered the most 
injury. Had the seed preserved well the 
acreage would ihave heen more than doubled 
but as it is, it will be increaiced about 50% 
over last year. There is but little talk of a 
cotton crop as yet and it is believed that but 
little will be planted. All farmers who have 
been planting cotton heretofore are making 
preparations to put in a small rice crop. 
Tiiere is still a great deal of last year's cot- 
ton in the field throughout the parish. The 
rice acreage will be increased several hun- 
dred per cent over last year from the pres- 
ent ouvlook. Every farmer who has a place 
that will grow rice is preparing to put it 
to rice. The western part of the parish is 
quite active now in making preparations for 



a crop, but they are handicapped 'bhe same 
as the cane planter, hy too much rain. There 
is some talk of a large irrigating canal being 
built from Vermilion river west for a dis- 
tance of tlen or twelve miles. The survey 
was made last week and the prospects are 
fair for ;Lhe "building o* the canal during the 
summer of 1*899. Shreveport and Arkansas 
parties are at the back of the scheme and 
they mean business. A canal through the' 
country where this one is ppopased would 
open up one of the finest rice sections in the 
Uni.ed States, and wou*v» be a money mak- 
ing investment. 

Mr. Martin Bagley, of the Ramsey planta- 
tion, has been very sick for several days 
with pneumonia, but is reported better to- 
day. 

Mr. J. Henry Putnam, of the Rose Hill, la 
transacting business in New Orleans this 
week. 

P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8PCNDENCE. ) 

Editor LouisUtmi Planter: 

The first month of the year which h^ 
Just passed, left in its wake a record not 
often met with, in its storms of rain, fro^t, 
ice and sleet, witih so few fair days; that, 
too, in a land proverbially smiling .he year 
round under a uemi-tropical sun. 

Inquiring in relation to seed cane of its 
sound or unsound qualities, I find that re- 
ports are somewhat conflicting. The sub- 
stance of the matter is, that a full authen- 
tic report cannot be got at until the ti^me for 
planting arrives and the mats of seed cane 
are opened out to be inspected for planting. 

The i?lanter'3 scribe is indebted to Mr. 
Bobt. Storm, superintendent of the big 
Meeker sugar factory, for late and much 
valued information relative to cane and the 
manufacture of sugar from vhe 1898 cane 
crop during the season ending there on the 
morning of the 22nd inst. With the single 
exception of one break-down which occur: ed 
soon after the manufacturing season opened, 
the machinery in all of its several parts 
worked to the entire satiiiifaction of the 
management and to those intimately con- 
cerned therewith. 

He says that the storm occurring in 
September, 1898, left the cane very crooked. 
The consequence was that wind rowing was 
practically in vain, as the cane was, even in 
the windrow, unprotected from the weather 
and its green condition rendered it further- 
more especially susceptible to injury from 
the adver.e weather prevailing the whole 
•season. The consequence was that the cane,' 
while at its best, had been practically unfit 
for making sugar and caatinued to get 
worse, and at one time it looked as if a large 
I>ortion would have to be left in the field, but 
they succeeded In grinding practically every 
stalk for which they had contracted, al- 
though there was probably not one ton of 



the 52874 tons ground which paid expense?, 
and especially so during the latter part of 
the season. The factory's loss was enormous. 
Oni the other hand, the cane growers in this 
section all netted coocddera'ble profit, far in 
excess of their eairnlngs in any previous 
year. They have still the hot room full of 
seconds and when they are dried out this 
and next week, the sugar output (including 
thirds) Will be a^bout five million pounds, or 
about an average of 97 Ihs., all sugar^i, to the 
lOn. The past season has forcible im- 
pressed upon- them, as no doubt on all cane 
buyers, that cane in the future must be 
bought and paid for according to value in 
its sugar contents, insdtead of on the present 
system, which virtually puts a premium on 
quantity regardless of the quality of the 
cane for the production of sugars. 

A number of prominent visitors called at 
Meeker during the grinding season. They 
were favorably impressed with everything 
connected with the big Meeker sugar manu- 
facturing plant 

The Planter's scribe ihas been informed 
that Oheneyville will no doubt have a 
large barrel and liitave factory built there 
this year. Great quantities of fine ash tim- 
ber abounds in :;ihe Red River swamps in 
easy reach of Cheney vllle. I learni it is the 
intention to cut this tim'ber and convert it 
into barrel staves, but more and complete 
details will be given in la^r correspondence. 
At this point I wli ih to ask why is it that 
experts have not long since found a way or 
method by which ba«;asse could be con- 
verted into pulp and fashioned into bar- 
rels, buckets, tubs and other useful arti- 
cles. 

The Planter's scribe has aliso been in- 
formed that Mr. R. L. Jackson, Cheneyvllle, 
has in contemplation, the building of a 
round bale cotton press in his large Munger 
gin, which, if he does so, will be the first 
round press in Louisiana. 

January departed cold, wet and cheerle:s. 
Erik. 

5t. James — Left Bank« 

(8PBC1AL CORRBaPOlfDENCB.) 

Editor Louuiuiiui A*ianter: 

Since the laat communication to your paper 
w« have been visited by an unbroken spell 
of the most distressing and disagreeable 
weather. Torrents of rain have fallen at 
intervals, a cold temperature prevailing for 
a couple of days with fog, dampness and an 
unhealthy atmoiiphere. 

The roads which had heretofore dried up 
considerably, with che contractor's help, were 
becoming more practicable 'but have since 
been again abandoned and are in an in- 
describably bad condition. 

From a short interview with one of our 
local planters, I heard that the plant cane 
was beginning to rot and if planting was not 
done very shortly a good many plantations 
would fall short of the neceissary seed for 
this year's crop. 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 5. 



Mr. Louis S. Webre, of the lower part of 
the parish, has lately purchased the Belle- 
yl6w plantation in Iberville for the sum of 
18,000. The Gramercy Company managed by 
Mr. Spellman has leased to Mr. Christopher 
RouBsel a larger part of the Hester planta- 
tion. This section has always been rented 
to Grand Point residents who devoted them- 
selves to Perique (tobacco cultivation but 
under its new tenant it will be planted en- 
tirely in cane. 

We learned from the local Gazette that the 
Joseph Webre Company, Limited, and 
Webre-Steib Company, are newly organized 
aasociations, for the purpose of cultivating 
cane and manufacturing sugar from lands 
located in the Vacherie settlement, ihitherto 
owned by Messr& Joseph Webre & Com- 
pany. 

Mr. A. Schexnaydre, of SL John the Bap- 
tist, has obtained the posiiion s^ manager 
on Sydney plantation, the property of 
Messrs. Graugnard Brothers. 

Mrs. Clo tilde Bourgeois, of Rapidan, 
spent laet week in New Orleans, registering 
at the Hotel de la -Louisiane. 

Convent. 



Sugar Possibitities in Florida. 

Our analyses of cane during the growing 
season of 1898 have repeatedly shown saon- 
ples running from 28 to 29 per cent of su- 
crose. The average of our entire crop when 
it was harvested, Dec. 5 and 6, waiJ approx- 
imately 25 per cent of sucrose. This is real- 
ly an astonishing fact and one worthy of 
careful consideration, as it unquestionably 
has an important bearing upon the future 
of the sugar indu.try in this country. When 
we bear in mind that the average content of 
Cuban and Hawaiian cane is about 19 per 
cent, and that the German manufacturer is 
content to secure 12 per cent of sugar from 
his beebs, while the average sugar content 
of Louisiana cane is scarcely more than 
12 per cent, the fact that there are methods 
of cultlvaLlon "by which hundreds of thou- 
tsaiHls of acres in Florida may be made to 
produce heavy yields of cane containing 25 
per cent or more of sucrose, it must be ap- 
parent that this fact is destined to have an 
important bearing upon any future develop- 
ment of the American sugar industry. 

Thousands of acres of cane are being 
grown in Florida at present, mo-tly of 
course for domestic sugar and for syrup. 
TJti&t sugar is, however, to be an Important 
phoductioh in the near future is certain and 
niy experimental work is at present devot- 
ed almost entirely to this phase of the &ub- 
j4ct We have Just completed the erection 
of an experimental sugar plant and began 
running our mill yesterday. I am constant- 
ly in receipt of enicouraging reports from 
different parts of the etate, one of which 
bear^ directly upon this poinL The letter 
is dated Hastings, Fla., Jan. 4, and the 
point of interest is as follows: **It now 
looks as thougn the cultivation of sugar 
bane will soon be one of the leading crops 
In the vicinity of Hastinga. There are now 
within a radius of one mile of me, six cane 
mills and we have the assurance of the 
erection of a plant for refining the best 
grades of sugar below granulated, to be 
ready for next yeor'e crop. The builder of 
the mill will himself plant 60 acres of cane 
and others from 10 acres up." 

I have numerous letters froon many parts 



of the state from individuals who assert 
that next year they will individually grow 
from 10 to 100 acres and at least two large 
concerns are now contemplating the erec- 
tion of plants and the cultivation of thou- 
sands of acre-) of cane for sugar produc- 
tion. 

Editor LouUUina PUinter: 

Referring to the foregoing slatement 
copied from the American Agriculturist, one 
stands amazed. It does seem that with a 
sucrose content of 25% at least 18.66% ex- 
traction or 373 pounds should be made; this 
would give at the rate of 25 tons cane per 
acre, 9325 pounds sugar per acre. 

Now we know that some plantations in 
Hawaii produce the modest output of 12 
tons of sugar per acre, and when the state- 
ment goes so far as to L-ay Florida on the 
30t'h parallel can exceed Hawaii it staggers 
one^s imagination, especially one who has 
a knowledge of sugar. The great wonder is 
that sugar capital seeking Investment has 
not been aware of Florida's possibilities. 

The Disston Company drained a large 
body of land at St. Cloud, Osceola Co., Fla. 
They erected there a modem sugar factory, 
equipped with a powerful double mill, with 
a large steam, evaporating train, double ef- 
fects, a 9-foot vacuum pan, granulator, and 
Hepworth machines and a splendid boiler 
and bagasse burner L-ystem. The highest 
extraction in sugar was 170 pounds per ton. 
This does not come up quite to Mr. Thomp- 
son's 204 per ton in Louisiana. 

When tht'.e celebrated muck lands were 
drained, the sugar producing world were 
told that they would sooa produce all the 
sugar needed for the II. S., and what has 
been the result A company fortified with 
abundant capital has been unaoie to make a 
success of sugar growing on these much 
vanned muck lands. 

iSugar is no new thing in Florida. Sen- 
ator Yulee of Florida, owned a plantaaion at 
Hornaeassa before the war. Chief Justice 
Taylor's father had a sugar plantation in 
Marlon Co., on some of the finest hammock 
land in the 8ta':e, and if I do not mistake, 
Mr. Cofieid, late owner of Point Houmas, In 
Ascension had a plantation in what is now 
Manatee county, Fla., and he abandoned the 
lands and moved the negroes to Louisiana. 
Now \hese are results. All these enterprises 
have been abandoned; not for want of ability 
or capital surely. The writer was on SL Cloud 
In Sept., 1895, and there was about an ag- 
gregate of 75 acres of cane scattered over 
an Imanense area of land, and Mr. Smith, 
the vice-president of the Disston Company 
wa'5| then there and offered the writer the 
munlflcent salary of |30.00 a month to man- 
age the place. He then had a flexible 
schedule of prices per tonnage based on the 
price of sugar in Philadelphia and also on 
the iugar content of the cane, and was trying 
to tenant the plantation, aoid sell the mules 
to the tenant -1. This action recalled forci- 
bly to the mind of tlie writer the refrain of 
the darkey who worked on shares— "aught 



is aught and five is a flgger; all for de 
white man, none for de nigger." The com- 
pany were hedging in so as not to sustain 
further loss — why? 

Now when one who has a knowledge of 
sugar operations, t£ees such remarkable 
statements as to possibilities for sugar In 
Florida, It alarms him. I have been told on 
what I consider reliable authority, that cane 
grows 90 feet lomg in the Everglades (now 
that staggers me.) I have been largely over 
tropical America, and have never seen any- 
thing like it. From 61/2 to 7 feet is about 
the leng.h of cane In the tropic ,and once 
in the valley of Bom Success, in the Organ 
Mountains, the writer saw a field of 250 
acres of cane, worked by gentlemen from 
Louisiana, that would average 9 feet for 
mill. But if cane in Louisiana grows about 
eVa feet for mill and gives 150 pounds per 
ton (more or leis) Florida cane in the Ever- 
glades, wirh a sucrose content of 28% ought 
to make 15x20=800x150=45,000x2 V2=112.500 
pounds of sugar per acre. 

Now that will stagger most men who 
know something about sugar. 

It would seem that cane so rich in sugar, 
would be tolid sticks of candy, and one 
would need no apparatus to granulate it; 
all that would be necessary would be to 
pack it in barrels amd Just cut off a piece 
and stir it around. 

It also strikes one that a Polarlscope that 
gets up 28% must be a double action re- 
fractor. Especially on the 3(^th Parallel of 
Noth latitude. Lake Buddy. 

San Antonio. Fla. 



Personal. 



Mr. L. F. Suthon, of Houma, La., was a 
guest of the Royal one day lasrt week. 

Mr. E. R. Munson, of Assumption park^h, 
came up to town last Sunday and stopped at 
the Grunewald. 

Hon. Andrew H. Gay, owner of the Union 
and St. Louis plantations, was at the St 
Charles on Wednesday. Mrs Gay was with 
him. 

Hon. R. R. Barrow, of Terrebonne parish, 
and Mrs. Barrow spent several dayu in the 
city during the past week, residing at the 
Hotel Grunewald while here. 

Judge Taylor Beattle, of Lafourche, Jurist 
and sugar planter and skillful at both pro- 
fession's, was in New Orleans on a visit a 
few dayj ago. He registered at the Grune- 
wald. 

Mr. John Shaffer, one of the most widely 
known sugar planters in Louisiana, was en- 
Joying a little recreation at the St Charles 
this week, after the arduous labors of the 
grinding campaign. Mro. Shaffer accom- 
panied him. 

Mr. O. M. Nilson, proprietor of the Lilly- 
wood place, down Vermilion way, whidh was 
formerly known as the Perry plantation, was 
at the Grunewald last Monday. Mr. I^ilson 
is about to make some extensive improve- 
ments on his place. 



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73 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPtCIAL CORRESPO.'fDINCE.) 

Berlin, January 14, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

In the We.-tern and South^n part of the 
German empire the monotony of 'the weather 
prevailing for a long space of time has been 
interrupted finally, but the change has been 
by no means for che better, rain and snow- 
storms with subsequent inundations caus- 
ing much damage in different places. 
Bu: the sectioms which were the scenes of 
these disastrous phenomena are not the beet 
districts, properly called so. There are 
some beet sugar factories distributed over 
the province in question, but the tracts 
dotted with factories extend more from the 
central to the eastern part of the country 
and those quarters did not experience any 
change. The abiK>rmal meteorological condi- 
tions are prejudicial to the physical condi- 
tion of the soil, which is getting cloddy in- 
stead of being cleared by a good frost. Be- 
sides this strange kind of winter, or no-win- 
ter at: all, involves the possibility of, or 
rather probability of, late sowings, partly 
because of the cold weather pos-lbly get- 
ting in .oo late and thus delaying field work; 
partly because the preisent moist period tak- 
ing the place of the winter and causing also 
an undesirable delay in effecting sowings. 
Any way the agriculturist is little L^atisfied 
with the climatic vicissitudes of this fall, 
and such is not onJy the case in Germany 
but in all central Europe wOiich embraces 
\he bulk of the beet growing districts of the 
continent. 

Crop estimates seem this year to be sub- 
ject to more or less important corrections, 
no matter from whom they have originated. 
The last fact in this line is the raising of 
tihe official figure of the esUnnted beet crop 
by 28,750 tons, so that it now amounts to 
12,025.339 tons as against 11.996,589 tons as 
estimated at first The addibion. I under- 
stand, is due to one factory having started 
only in December, whilst the inquiries have 
taken place in the month of November. 
Other items of ;he late statistical review go 
to show that German exportation and con- 
sumption continued latisfactory. 

Let me also say a few words with regard 
to the importation of sugar into England 
during the year 1898. the more so as the 
figures compare quite favorably with those 
of 1897. There have been imported 821.000 
tons of refined. 259.266 of cane and 
475,379 tons of raw beet sugar, the 
whole, in raw value, equal to 1,- 
646,833 tons; whilst tue corresponding 
figures of last year were 791.605 tons, and 
251.595 and 426.076 ton\3 respectively and the 
amount in raw value has been 1.557.172 tons; 
so tha: last year's Import was larger by 
89.660 tons as against that of 1897. It must 
be borne in mind, however, that last years* 



1897 are not the (highest, inasmuch as in 1895 
1.655.724 cons, raw value, have been im- 
ported. But notwithstanding last year has 
been eszentlally more favorable than any of 
the preceding years and this on the ground 
that it developed the highest consumption 
Great Britain has ever had. viz. 1.590.720 tons 
as against 1.529,942 tons In 1897 and 1.522.- 
987 tofls— all raw value— in 1895. In this 
connection the remarkable fact may be noted 
Vhat the importation of refined amounted to 
94,095 tons of a total import of 160.915 tons 
raw value, which leadii to the conclusion that 
the exporting nations of the continent are 
making efforts to replace the export of raw 
sugar by that of refined, basing themselves 
thereby on the quite correct theory that It 
Is economically nonsensical to export or Im- 
port Impure goods and pay the freiglits for 
valueless substance, which are contained In 
raw sugar prior to itii being refined. It 
seems, however, that the market is glutted 
with refined goods at present wTiich partly 
may account for the dullness of trade, the 
refiners being overstocked, both with ready 
and raw material, so that the refiners can 
afford to keep aloof from the raw sugar 
market. 

The tenacity of the English in pursuing 
certain aims, Is, it must oe admitted, some- 
thing startling. Law abiding on one side, 
but unflinching on the ot/her side, they 
never rest until they have reached their ob- 
ject or until the absolute Impossibility and 
abortiveness of their efforts is demonstrated 
beyond the least doubt. Evidently the aboli- 
tion of the sugar bounties Is far from be- 
ing classed by the Engllsfh public, having 
an interest in :he que-tion. among the Im- 
possi'bilitles. After the sugar bounty con- 
^rence at Brussels had turned out to be a 
total failure, one should have thought that 
for some time at least the agitations for the 
suppre-sion of the bounties would rest until 
there were palpable reasons to believe, that 
t.he attitude of fhe two powers— ^France and 
Russia— who. by their non-concurrence, 
created an obstacle to the success of the con- 
ference, had changed. Buit with Englishmen 
agination against bounties has become cus- 
tomary and they have little care as to 
whe her the meetings or resolutions "held 
and taken for the purpose are opportune or 
not. If I speak of Englishmen. I mean of 
course, only those interested in the sugar 
trade. The public at large Is very little con- 
cerned la the question and this accounts 
also for the so called Inactivity of the Eng- 
lish government, reproached by the late 
meeting on the 9tb inst. Besides the meeting 
demanded that the government should en- 
deavor to bring about a convention of the 
Etlropean beet root countries except In 
France and England, to pledge themtselves 
to pay no bountle*. which proposition is just 
as hopeless as any other scheme brought 
forward in this now almost thirty years war 
of the bounties. 



happened. The busineics is dull and prices 
pursue a declining tendency although there 
are no material differences between the 
quotations of this and the preceding week. 
In Madgeburg actual 88 per cent sugar lost 
5 pffennigs and Is now worth M. 10.25 — 
10.40, and delivery January fetched M. 9.425 
f. o. b. Refined was Inactive, but holders 
offer only sparingly. 

ROBT. Hennio. 



Porto Rico. 

Fajardo. Porto Rico. January 5th, 1899. 
Editor Louiftiiuui Planter: 

The weather for the closing month of the 
year has been very Irregular and unsettled, 
much unusual rain falling at the end of (the 
month and continuing up to date, when we 
look for bright days and sunsfliine. 

The fall for the montn wai5 9.27 inches, 
and for the year. 122.03 inches; .the latter 
considerable below the average for the pa£^t 
three years. The mean temperature for the 
year. 76.3. equal to nearly 20 Centigrade. 

Canes planted during the early part of last 
year suffered very considerably from the ex- 
treme dry weather of last April, and never 
properly recovered, but in this district 
younger canes are looking particularly well, 
and It Is only occasionally that one meets 
a field of poor canes. Some activity is now 
being displayed at nearly all the estates, 
preparing for i.he coming crop, but no one 
Is expected to start actual operations till 
the first week In February. There seems an 
opinion in the states that there Is an un- 
limited amount of cane land in the I -land, 
only waiting for some one to come and take 
it up. This is far from being the case. All 
land suitable for cane is in the hands of 
people who are fully aware of its value, 
but are unable to work It only from lack 
of sufficient funds and for this reason they 
^re willing to sell ouitrlght. lease on long 
terms, or plant canes for any one who will 
erect central factories. 

There are plenty of good lands to be got 
on thee terms, but persons coming down 
should come prepared to establish their 
identity because there are many people here 
simply looking for "specs." and we do not 
care to put our lands In the hand of 
adventurers who are going Siome to see if 
they can get anything out of a deal, leav- 
ing us tied up for a period with "first re- 
fusals." 

Mo>t excellent coffee lands in !the new 
district at the N. E. of the island are to be 
had at moderate prices, and most of the 
presenit owners are willing to sell, as they 
are unable ito put in enough money to do 
the necessary work, and money cannot be 
raised In the Island now. 

Many reforms are being carried out by 
General Guy V. Henry, who. for this reason 
Is popular with t!hose who are not yet ac- 
quainted with him. w<hllst those who know 
him never tire ot lauding him for his many 



figures, although much In excess of those of On the markets noChing of inierest hBB good quail ties. We have every reason to 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 5. 



be quiiLe satisfied so far as things hav« gone. 
We are very unsettled aas yet over the finan- 
cial question, for we do not know how much 
our peso will be worth to-moryow; neither 
do we yet know on what grounds trade with 
the United Sites will be conducted. Are we 
goinig to pay duty on our sugars and other 
products? And how long is the Military 
Government going to last. We have little 
to say against lihe latter, but we know that 
we may expect little American capital in 
whilst this laits. Why? We do not know. 
We have many things to complain about 
yet ,and whilst willing 'to believe that all 
things come to those that wait, we do not 
consider ourselves treated well by the U. S. 
Postal authorities, who, ]it appears to us, al- 
low too many s teamen 5 to oome down with- 
out forwarding our mail: For example, 14th 
of Dec. to 5th of January, is a long while 
to be travelling from N. Y. to Porto Rico, 
and so is from 8;:h Dec. to 1st. of Jan. from 
New Orleans, especially when we consider 
that the paper that took so long was the Lou- 
isiana Planter. Ubique. 

British Honduras. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Toledo, B. H., Jan. 23, 1899. 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

This colony is in such a state of depres- 
sion at present that most every industry 
seems parallzed. The consumption of sugar 
has fallen off to a noticeable degree, and 
several sugar plantations have been com- 
pelled to abandon operations, and others who 
are trying to survive are iseeking a market 
on the Spanish Central American coast. But 
it is rather a discouraging outlook as it is 
barely possible to realize as much as 3 
cents net per pound, and anything under 3 
cents hardly pays with our pre -en t process 
of making sugar, and the hope for an im- 
proved process is slim as there Is not enougfl 
sugar consumed in the colony to support 
what would be considered a small modern 
improved plantation. At the present time 
I don't thinic the consumption of the whole 
colony of British Honduras can possibly 
exceed :two million pounds per annum, and 
will probably fall considerably short of that 
amount, and while this amount would 
scarcely be considered a decent crop for a 
modern improved plantation, still It is di- 
vided up between ik> leas than twenty small 
ranches. So if consumption does not in- 
crease or prices improve it will be practi- 
cally impossible for them all to continue 
working. 

The crops this season are tolerably good 
and if the season is fairly good so that it 
will all be worked up the yield will be about 
as usual. There are no improvements in 
machinery being made this year. Neither 
are any planters increasing thteir acreage; 
they seem to think If they can hold their 
own they will do well. Laborers are plenti- 
ful, as mahogany cutting has almost ceased. 
Wageis are about as usual, but advances are 



smaller than usual, consequently there was 
less drinking than usual. Up to the present 
time the season is unfavorable for finding 
operations, the weather being very rainy. 
Planters are, ihowever, hoping for good 
weather by the first of next month. 

Tropic. 

Prospect in Porto Rico. 

The people of Pon:o Rico are looking 
forward to prosperous times. They have 
unlimited confidence in American capital, 
and expect to see many new enterprises 
developed as tJhe political situation becomes 
settled. The first development will natur- 
ally be in transportation facilities. The 
thriving appearance of Lhe Pan-American 
Express Co. is a sign of what may be ex- 
pected. Steaming facilities by water be- 
tween the different ports are needed, and the 
neglected railroads can "be developed into 
valuable properties. 

Porto Rico is the most productive and 
most densely populated of all the Spanish 
We^; Indies. In addition to the staple pro- 
ducts of coffee and sugar, all the tropical 
fruits grow in abuhdance, and the large 
variety of hardwoods will no doubt prove 
valuable attractions for investment in the 
island. , The climate is tropical, but healthy; 
the average temperature is about 80 degrees, 
bvi: the trade winds temper the hottest days. 

"Essentially the island is agricultural," 
says the New York World. "It produces 
more than enough (food for its own people, 
and vast crops of sugar and coffee for ex- 
portation besides. By the iast census it 
contained sixty-six tobacco farms, 240 cat- 
tle farms, 361 large coffee estates, 433 sugar 
estaites, 4184 small coffee farms, 4376 farms 
devoted to miscellaneous cultivation, 16,988 
small fruit farms and eig^t plants f«r 
grinding sugar cane. It has a large stock 
of small but hardy horses. Domestic poultry 
is plentiful. In 1896 it exported 54,000 tons 
of sugar, 26,000 tons of coffee, 3178 head of 
cattle, 14,700 tons of molasses and 1000 tons 
of tobacco. 

"The island has 137 miles of railroads in 
operation, and 119 more miles built, but not 
in use — part of a road designed to complete- 
ly encircle it. The latest Spanish figures of 
Porto Rico's commerce state Its annual im- 
poiks at 116,000,000 and its exports at |14,- 
600,000. 

"The industries of Porto Rico are limited 
to the preparation of the sugar and coffee for 
market, the manufacture of tobacco, wax, 
soap, matches, rum and straw hats, and three 
foundries for the manufacture of iron ma- 
chiDery. 

"The total population, by the ladt census, 
was 806,708, of whom all 'but 5745 were na- 
tive-horn. The whites num-bered 480,267, 
the colored people 248,690, and the blacks 
77,751. The whites heavily preponderate 
over the comhined black and colored peop!e. 
Of the whole population, less than 100,000 
are able to read and write. Seven-eighths 
of them are illiterates. 



"The nrfMve people are divided into four 
classes: The better class of Creoles, wlio 
call themselves Spaniards; the lower class 
of peasantry, called Gi>baros; tlie colored 
people, or Mestizos, and the blacks. 

"Porto Rico's chief cities are San Juan, 
Ponce and Mayaguez, and it has over, fifty 
smaller towns' which are the centers of such 
business and social life as the interior of 
the island has. 

"All the towns are built on Lhe same plan, 
with ornately-colored, stuccoed ^houses, with 
led-tlled roofs, usually narrow streets, and 
always a central park or plaza, with gardens, 
benches and promenades facing tlie Cathe- 
dral." 

The seaport city of Mayaguez gives prom- 
ise of being the future metropolis of the 
island. It is already a very progressive ci>:y, 
and being located on western end of the 
island is somewhat nearer the United 
States than is San Juan or Ponce. The hot 
and cold springs near by will make It de- 
sirable as a winter resort for Americans. 
The iron landing pier already built could be 
readily made into very valuable property 
and a short railroad could be built from it 
into Khe country back of Mayaguez, thereby 
making an outlet for the many plantations 
there. At present the coffee and other pro- 
ducts are hauled by ox teams. The harbor 
is large and commodious, but Is protected 
principally by reefs, so a breakwater would 
be necessary to make It a perfectly quiet 
harbor. 

San Juan is iLhe banking center, and. being 
the seat of government, will, at least, hold 
Its own. The harbor is quiet and safe, but 
not large, and on the few occasions of strong 
north winds is hard to enter on account of 
the heavy sea on the bar. 

Ponce is a commercial center, but the 
harbor is open to soui.herly winds, and the 
city is three miles back from the port. At 
present it would seem as if Mayaguez were 
destined to be the most progressive of the 
three cities* Porto Rico will be a good mar- 
ket for manufactures from the States.— Man- 
ufad.urers' Record. 

Barbados. 

The lait week In December was decidedly 
Juicy, every scudding cloud as it swept past 
emptying itself on the land; the old year as 
it were swept Itself out In useful atonement 
for Its many mishaps. Planting operations 
have been actively pushed on under the fa- 
voring lohowers, and already in many fields 
the 'tender bladelets are pushing themselves 
up several inches above the soil, while some 
of the earlier planted begin to make a brave 
and uniform Show. With a little more sun- 
shine perhaps the spring would have been 
regular, while in the bottoms and low-lying 
land- there has been some loss from excess 
of moisture, the plantls becoming sodden and 
water-logged. This loss is, however, trifling, 
and as the soil Is thoroughly moist supply- 
ing can rapidly follow on, central rainfall 
for December being 1898. 6.39 inches; for 



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75 



six day.i in. January, 1899, 52 parts. The bulk 
of our crop for the new century will be 
derived from White Transparent, and num- 
ber 147; the spread of the la'cter favorite 
being only limited by the supply of plants; 
but two other seedlings seem to be rapidly* 
coming into favor, a Demerara seedling rais- 
ed by Professor Harrisoa and introduced 
here, we believe, by Mr. Thorpe of Lowland 
Estate, Chrl t Church. It came up from 
Demerara wl\h a reputation of 16 Vg per cent 
sucrose, which, under our conditions of soil, 
has increased to 17 per cent a promising 
youngster of whose performances- we shall 
probably hear more anon. The other is 
number 109,^ a Dod.d's i:-eedling, which, as 
often happens to promising ypungsters, was 
little thought of at first; however, in the fat 
St. Philip lands of Bushy Park it yielded 
last crop 2y2 tons per acre, and its growth 
on the same estaite thits. year is said to be 
prodigious; this St. Philip seedling seems to 
be well suited to the soil of Its native parish, 
beyond which i>ts reputation has not yet 
spread, I'ji trial on the highlands, so far, not 
being very satisfactory. *ae conditions of 
soil vary so much in our island that we now 
a:mo£t require a cane of special habit for 
every district, the variety that doe> treii in 
'.he highlands fails in the lowlands, and vice 
versa, black soil suits one, the red soil an- 
o:her, and we look in vain for an all round 
cane which, like the Bourbon, can disregard 
minor differences of soil and altitude, and 
produce siugar with equal facdlity wherever 
grown; in thiit rare adaptaoility lay the 
value of the Bourbon. 

The old crop could not btfl Improve under 
the genial influenoe of the Demerara show- 
er , and we may happily record that the 
old canes are still growing, still adding a 
few joints more, never one too many, to the 
sum total of the year. 

We have much to be thankful for in the 
marked recovery cf the canes from the effacts 
cf the storm, for on that memorable morn- 
ing it looked as if we should have no crop 
at all, but it is probably true as many plant- 
ers estimate '.hat not les than 20 per C2nt 
of our crop has been cut off. The remark- 
able growth of new foliage has tended con- 
siderably to mask the damage. Looking 
over the fields the eye fails to detect any 
break in the green continuity; yeU we feel 
quite sure, that within the solidarity of 
those broad squares of green, many a goodly 
cane lies low, rotting on the ground, or 
vainly wa ting its saccharine vigor in use- 
less, sappy shoo.s from every eye. Until 
we cut into the fields it will be impossible 
to estimate tihe real size of the hole which 
the storm winds iave made in our year's 
loaf. But there has been on the whole cuch 
steady improvement, such recuperative pow- 
er—proof that our planters understand their 
busin€^, and have dealt wisely and gener- 
ously with the soil— that there is every 
reason to hope the old century will leave us 
wiftlL an average number of toms aa our con- 



tribution to a crop which ought to be, next 
wheat, the most valuable of earth's food 
stuffs, in general use, and constant demand 
both for man and beast. — Agricui'tXiral Re- 
porter, Jan. 7. 



Demerara. 

Our advices to January 5th indicate a dull 
market at the close of the year \Ath a sale 
as low a- 12.35. The crop of 1898 now snows 
a total of about 127,000 long tons again^ 
122,000 tons in 1897. 



'^Expansion" and Sugar. 

'Mr. R. tS. Dare, publisher. Swarthmore, 
Pa., sends us a pamiphlet <by Mr. Freeman 
Stewart, eti.itled "Shall we grow the sugar 
that we consume?" The gist of the matter, 
so far as sugar production is concerned — for 
Mr. Stewart takes up the question of free- 
trade or protection in general — is given in 
the following extract: 

**IL certainly behooves Secretary Wilson, as 
fhe official representative of agriculture In 
the present administration, to explain how 
it Is that the protection of the home manu- 
facture of beet sugar being (as he alleged) 
80 essential to ithe welfare of our agricul- 
turists in the winter of 1898, the complete 
nullification of that protection by the annex- 
ation of all the chief cane sugar producing 
coun.ries of the world (except Cuba, per- 
haps) as now proposed and in part accom- 
plished in ic!he autumn of the same year, is 
not injurious to agriculture. Of course it is 
quite possible that he has persistently and 
consistently opposed in cabinet councils 
this new policy, which, unless he has 
changed his convictions, it would seem im- 
possible for him to regard other than as a 
complete betrayal of our agrlcuXurists. But 
if he, with the other members of the admin- 
istration, have changed their convictions in 
regard to the beneficence of the excluslve- 
ness on which the successful working of the 
protective system necessarily depends, it is 
clearly very Important, that the puibllc should 
<be informed definitely to that effect. "—Coun- 
try Gentleman. 



Trade Notes. 

The Hohmann a rUiurcr Mfg. Co. and Trade Marks. 

Many manufacturers devi-e one or more 
trade marks, brands or labels, which by 
their continuous use in connection wHth their 
products become distinguishing marks to the 
purchasers thereof, and acquire a certain 
value proportioned to the demand for the 
article so marked or branded, and Cheir rela- 
tive standing with competitive goods in the 
market. The more fortunate manufacturer 
in any special line who has succeeded in 
reaching a high plane of reputation for hts 
product, is the one most likely to suffer 
through having his patterns, labels or trade 
marks copied or imltaiied. We have been* 
advlied that tlie Hohmann & Maurer Manu- 
facturing Company, of Rochester, N. Y., and 
No. 86 Chambers St., New York City, haa ob- 



tained a perpetual injunction against Charles 
J. Tagliabue, of No. 53 Fulton St., New York, 
and others, for the use of any designating 
mark or brand upon thermometers or kin- 
dred goods, upon which the letters "H. & 
M." are conspicuously displayed. Thii5 com- 
pany's goods have been on the market and 
known for years as the H. & M. thermom- 
eters. This designating term, so readily ap- 
plied by the trade was some years ago incor- 
porailBd into a trade mark, and ha^ ever 
since been the distinguishing mark for their 
goods. With the Increased consumption of 
high grade thermometers for manufactur- 
ing purposes, It acquired in the estimation 
of the H. & M. Co., a considerable value, 
and being so simple and commonplace in de- 
sign, was a temptation for o:hers to make 
use of In a slightly modified form. In the 
above mentioned suDi, we are told that a 
perpetual injunction is granted witJhi damages 
and costs. The H. & M. goods are adver- 
tised in this Journal. 

Oalvanlzed Corrugated Roofing. 

Regarding the desirability of galvanized 
corrugated Iron roofing, the Cincinnati Cor- 
rugating Company of Plqua, Ohio, in one 
of their pamphlets, state thait galvanized 
corrugated Iron is sold to-day at lower prices 
than painted ironi sold for five or six years 
ago ,and in consequence ihey have experi- 
enced an unusually large demand for the 
galvanized iron. The company are making 
a specialty of galvanized corrugated roofing 
and will cheerfully quote prices upon appli- 
cation. 



Personal. 

Col. John R. Gheenii, of Lafourche parish, 
was in town Wednesday. He stopped at the 
St. Charles hotel. 

Mr. J. B. Ba'teman, of Franklin, La., was 
among the recent visitors to 'the City. He 
stopped at the Hotel Royal. 

Mr. H. Shelby Sanders, of Bayou Teche, a 
well posted sugar man who knows his busi- 
ness from end to end, was In town Sunday. 

Mr. eorge Dionne, of Thibodaux, was 
registered at one of our leading hotels dur- 
ing the past week. Several members of his 
family accompanied him. 

Mr. Arthur Tarby, of Pattersonvllle, where 
he handles the proof stick at Mr. Daniel 
Thompson's Calumet place, was a gue^ of 
the Royal on Tuesday last. 

At the Lafayette refinery of Measrs S. 
Gumbel & Company, the manager this year 
was that well postedsugar house Supt, 
Prof. L. Von Tresckow, who has managed 
some of the largest and best equipped places 
In this state. Mr. A. B. Denbo, another valu- 
able man, was the book-keeper. 

Mr. F. A. Lepine, of the large sugar plant- 
ing firm of Barker an^l Lepine, whose fine 
plantation near Raceland is one of the best 
in the state, was an arrival during the past 
few days at the Hotel Royal. He was ac- 
companied by Mrs. Lepine, and has well 
earned a few day« of recreation in town. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUOAE MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXil, No. 5. 



BEST SUGAR. 



Chino, California. 

Farming operaLlans are now occupying 
the attention of the farmers, who have every 
reason to look forward to a prosperous, 
growing season. The past week h'as given 
ideal farming amd growing conditions, and 
everybody is busy and happy. 

Mr. Hache, agricultural superintendent of 
the sugar factory, tells ui that he will con- 
tract for 10,000 acres of beets for the sup- 
ply of the factory this year. Of this, from 
4,000 to 4,500 will be planted on the Chino 
ranch and including some 300 acres to be 
con'Iracted by the Chino Estate Co., near 
Bas«tt. The balance will be planted be- 
tween Floreoice and Santa Ana. 

Planting will not commence until about 
the mid-die of February — ^the usual time. 
The sugar company will, however, in a day 
or two plant some exi>eri mental patches of 
beets on alkali land, to determine whether a 
better stand cannot be secured on this land 
before the close of the rainy reason. Mr. 
H ache's theory is that when the seed is 
planted late thie evaporation brings the alkali 
to the surface, Injuring the young plants. 
Whereas If planted early, fhe rains keep 
the surface of the soil free froon alkali until 
t.he beets get past danger from this source. 
These experiments will be carried forward 
until a definite conclusion is reached as to 
the advisability of planting: quite early on 
alkali lands.— Champion, Jany. 20. 

Lehi, Utoh. 

When the factory starts up next season it 
will look almost like a new mill. Messrs. 
Cutler, Vallez, Ingalls and Austin have about 
d<eclded on what Is neceaiary before the next 
campaign starts and will have the work 
done as soon as possible. The boiler house 
will be repaired. The brick work will be 
torn down and the boilers Inspected. The 
furnaces will be rellned and new grate bars 
put in. The slicer will be raised and re- 
paired. The battery will be made as good 
as new. A new exhaust line will be put in, 
new steam coils will be put. In the heaters, 
new screens, new air cocks and thermom- 
eters. The fir^t and second carbonatatlon 
tanks will be enlarged so as to hold three 
tanks of Juice and new exhaust line and 
valves will be put in. The gas pipes will 
be repaired and remodeled. There will be 
considerable change made on the presses. 
New tubes will be put In No. 1 evaporator. 
Steam colls will be put In three of the thick 
I'quor tanks. The coils will be repaired in 
the vacuum pan and a pump and receiver 
put in place of the traps now used. The 
centrifugals will be repaired and some neces- 
sary work done on the granulator. 

Besides all this several new improvementis 
will be made. Two new horizontal boilers 
will be put in just west of the other boilers. 
There will be a new beet wheel, a beet con- 
veyor and a compleie new elevator. Baftery 
pump, lime mixer, receiving tank for wash 



syrup and two or three new beet sheds 
similar to the one built las.t year. These 
will be east of the present sheds and will 
be built at right angles to the old sheds 
so that water from the pond can be used 
In them. An entire new roof will be put 
on the main building. The osmose presses 
will be put on the ground floor. These 
will be enlarged and four new ones put in. 
The bone black filters will be turned Into 
evaporators for the osmose. There will also 
be four tanks, one vacuum pump and two 
liyrup pumps for the osmose. A laundry 
machine will be put in for washing filter 
cloths. A new electric plant will ue put In 
or light secured from some other source. 
This mat.er Is not decided yet 

All this means work for somebody and 
the factory will be a busy place next sum- 
mer.— Banner, Jany. 21. 



Wild Over Beet Sugar. 

This truly expresses conditions In south- 
ern and central Michigan. Our farmers 
who raise sugar beets for the factory at 
Bay City, last season have done very 
handjiomely from a financial stand- 
point and thousands of farmers all over the 
state are anxious to grow this new and profit- 
able crop for 1899. 

In addition to the two new factories In 
or near Bay Olty that are likely to be 
ready for the '99 crop, contracts have just 
been made with the Oxford Construction 
Co. to build and equip a magnificent 500- 
ton plant for the Detroit Sugar Co. at 
Rochester, Oakland Co. This plant is ex- 
pected to consume from 50,000 to 75,000 tons 
of beets of the 1899 crop, and will contract 
for between 5,000 and 10,000 acres of beets. 
The factory is to have an ideal location 
for the delivery of raw material and for 
the 'marketing of its finished product. It is 
backed by the strongest and wealthiest capl- 
talL'ts In Detroit and promises to be a money 
maker from the start 

Numerous other factories are In contem- 
plation. Besides the one at Caro another is 
pretty certain to be In operation this fail 
at Benton Harbor, probably also at Grand 
Haven. Several other places In this state 
are making strong efforts to get factories 
In time to work up the 1899 crop. Quite 
a number of additional factories will doubt- 
less be established In time for the campaign 
of 1900. 

Farmers throughout the state are con- 
vinced that the sugar beet Is the new crop 
they have so long needed. In most of our 
enterprising cities and 'towns the value to 
*he community of a beet sugar factory is 
thoroughly appreciated. Our capitalists 
who look Into the Industry are disposed to 
regard It favorably, especially as the state 
bounty Is such as to Insure each factory an 
ample supply of beets at a fair price both 
for the farmers and the factory. With such 
a supply of beets of the quality that Mich- 
igan can raise, it is merely a question of 



proper management to make a beet sugar 
factory profitable to the capital Invested. A 
good deal of money that (has recently been 
made In copper mining and copper specula- 
tions win probably fiow Into this beet sugar 
Industry, especially If congress provides for 
a continuance of the present tariff against 
Imported tropical sugars. 

There Is a very grateful feeling toward 
American Agriculturist among Michigan 
farmers and others Interested In the new 
business. We realize that the Industry would 
not now be In anything like its present 
shape but for the remarkable work of this 
journal for the past few years. Our people 
are practically united against tropical an- 
nexation and desire to see the largest possi- 
ble development of this Industry (here in 
Michigan Instead of fostering the sugar 
trust's Interests In the tropics. — American 
Agriculturist. 

American Beet Sugar Pactortes. 

We note that the German press rather 
ridicules the Idea of Amerlcaiil seeking 
capital in their midst to build beet sugar 
factories which In the end will become their 
serious rivals. Whether the idea meets with 
the approbation of a limited number of 
critics or not in no way prevents the con^ 
tinned fiow of foreign capital to those centres 
of the United States where the sugar beet 
has been cultivated on areas of sufficient 
Importance to assure investors a reasonable 
certainty as to results. The German im- 
pression appears to.be that the Yankee has 
over-exaggera'ted the situation, and the few 
factories now working depend upon a Gov- 
ernment bounty which will be withdrawn 
after the existing administration expires. It 
Is Important to call our readers' attenUon 
to the fact that there does not exist a bounty 
of the kind mentioned; It was withdrawn 
some years since. Several states do offer 
special encouragement for a limited number 
of yeani; the advantages, however, thus 
gained are not always appropriated. If 
they were the money realized by enterprising 
capitalists during its existence would bridge 
over difficulties arising after Its possible 
withdrawal. If the beet sugar industry has 
not made the rapid istrldes expected, the 
blame should not be put on the unsuccessful 
efforts made, but to a serlet> of setbacks, such 
as variable fiscal laws, wars, and now, worst 
of all, the extended colonial aggrandizement. 
—The Sugar Beet. 



Sugar Patents. 

The following Is a list of all patents of In- 
terest to the sugar Industry Issued January 
31, 1899, reported specially for the Iioulslana 
Planter by R. W. Bishop, patent attorney, 
Washington, D. C. 

618,428. Candy-machine. W. J. IforrLon 
and J. C. Wharton, Nashville, Tenn. 

618,482. Confectionery-ornamenting ma- 
chine. ThoB. Robertson, Toronto, Canada. 

618.814. Centrifugal machine. J. H. 
Darby, Brymbo, England. 



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THE LOXHSIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTXJRBR. 



77 



RICE. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louitiana Planter: 

Changeable weather has been characteris- 
tic of the past week, and while there has 
not been the usual fall of rain, we have had 
more wet weather than we ever bargained 
for all the same, and it keeps the soil so wet 
that lit is uphill biisinese doing the plough- 
ing, although considerable ploughing has 
been done between showers, and on some of 
the irrigated farms there is all the way from 
one to three hundred acres ploughed. Most 
of it has been done under difficulties, but 
farmers gat tired of waiting for good weather 
to dry off the fields, so they started in as it 
was and so it goes, and will go for the next 
month. 

While i-t is very unpleasant work, and hard 
for th« teams, to plougQi when it is so wet, 
yet the land does not receive any injurious 
effects by this treatment, where the work 
is done iso early, for the heavy rains dlsolve 
the soil and it will not become hard when 
drw weather comes, ais many suppose. But 
if it came off dry shortly after it was 
ploughed, then it would get hard and be very 
difficult to work up, btft no one Is looking 
for dry weather now, and some of the old 
settlers seem to think that we will "have a 
wet season all through, and they predict a 
good rice crop for this season. The weather 
indicates rain at this writing, and a few 
of the farmers on the Irrigated places will 
hardly like to see any more rain until they 
get throug*h threshing; there is some thresh- 
ing to be done on some of the irrigated 
farm?, for it has been delayed to give the 
grain a chance to dry, but there is no dry 
weather for it this season. Canal work was 
resumed this week, but this work will not be 
carried on as extensively this season in isome 
localities, as it was thought, so they will 
get through In good time. Well drilling ihas 
been hindered to a considerable extent, by 
the rain, but it is again going on and con- 
siderable will be done along this line during 
the winter and spring. In some localities 
new wells have been put down near the old 
ones put down last season, and water will 
be pumped from both wells this season with 
one pump, thlj will give double the quantity 
of water at no additional expense, and other 
farmers will follow this plan as soon as they 
can see a way clear to do so. Our well sys- 
tem is coming to the front faster than many 
looked for. The most convenient power uised 
thus far, for raising the water from these 
wells, is the threshing engines, although 
gasoline engines give good satisf action, but 
people often make a mistake by buying an 
engine with too Ismail a capacity for the 
wells. They think if a ten horse power 
steam engine will run a pump satisfactorily, 
that a ten horse power gasoline engine will 
do the same, but it does not, from the fact, 
that a ten horse power steam engine will 
develop mpre power than it is rated and 



this extra power Is generally used when 
pumping, and a gasoline engine does not 
develope any more power than it is rated 
at, so there is a little loss in power when 
getting a gasoline engine of the same indi- 
cated power, and this should be taken into 
consideration when buying a gasoline en- 
gine. Rice has been moving briskly the past 
week, and considerable has gone into store- 
house for a 8^ort time, but the mills are all 
running on full time, and the mills only buy 
about as fast ai5 they work up the goods, 
with a few exceptions. This plan tends to 
keep a little rice moving all the time. The 
sugar refinery, at Lake Charles, will not be 
turned Into a rice mill, as some one report- 
ed, but will be overhauled some and con- 
tinue its work another season at the same 
old place. It has changed hands, and will 
be somewhat remodelled, and this may have 
given some one the impression that It would 
soon be a rice mill. 

Calcasiru Rice Bird. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The demand of the past week was i?carce- 
ly BO active as hitherto; the falling away was 
fractional yet record is mad« thereof as pos- 
sl'bly symptomatic of the long expected halt 
and desired reaction in prices. Holders -say 
the lull I J but temporary; t!hat the trade is 
sinripfy "taking a rest" after a season of 
prolonged activity. Another reason given 
for probable dullness, the next few weeks, 
ift tha'l many buyers are getting supplies 
under contracts closed during the la-t and 
early the current month. Prices are un- 
changed as stocks are light and nearly all 
arrlv'rg parcels going forward to destina- 
tion as above stated. Advices from the 
South note steady demand at all points with 
prices firmly maintained. Reports from 
Louisiana are more encouraging; under 
clearing skies It is now believed that a con- 
siderable per cent of '^he crop still stacked in 
the fields may be saved and In good shape. 
If so, the forward supply will prove much 
larger than figured a few weeks ago, when 
practically total destruction was threatened. 
Even If the hopes of the most optiimlartic be 
fully realized the following are still patent 
facts: (1) The quantity is inadequate to 
meet known requirements; (2) prevailing 
prices are far below importing cost of equal 
grades in foreign. Under such circumstances 
It Is not i-'urprlslng tJiat there should be a 
strong undertone to the market, especially 
in ordinary to fair grades. Cables and cor- 
respondence from England and the Contin- 
ent no^e a lively current of business in both 
cleaned and uncleaned. The trade have 
seemingly dropped expectations of lower 
prices, and are now purchasing freely against 
probable need? of the next few months. The 
straitened condition of stocks in every direc- 
tion is readily accounted for by the fact that 
the north of Europe received during 1898 
about 640,000 bags (2 cwt each) less than 
1897 (when the supply was by no means up 



to requirements). Now on the top of this 
comes the serious redudiion of crop estimates 
in Biirmah and Slam. These may be in a 
measure offset by the enlarged crops of 
Bengal and Japan but it is said that export- 
able grades in both of the latter countries 
are limited and high average range of values 
likely to prevail at least through the current 
year. 

Tahnage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough, 600,305 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over) 438,840 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (est.) 140,205 barrels; last year 72,- 
320 barrels. Good inquiry; market strong 
with upward tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
29,045 barrels. Sales, 22,650 barrels. Fair 
inquiry at former range. 



A Big Rice Irrigating: Plant. 

Last September S. L. Johnson, of Jennings 
and Riverside, N. L. and S. L. Blkins, of 
Mayville, North Dakota, and others pur- 
chased about 4,000 acres of rice land for the 
North American Land and Timber Com- 
pany, near the southeastern comer of the 
pari':h. 

The purchasers incorporated themselves 
into an association known as the Mayville 
Canal Company, Ltd., and began Immediate- 
ly to make preparations vo put out a large 
acreage of rice this season. Captain Thomas 
Lamont was given a contract to dredge a 
canal one and a half miles long from the 
stream the water l-. to be taken from. This 
work has been done satisfactorily. The 
actual work of building tibe overland canals 
is going on now. The work Is being rapidly 
carried on. with the latest machinery. 

The North American Land and Timber 
Company is now engaged in delivering by 
barge a consignment of 50,000 feet of lum- 
ber which will be used in building pump- 
house, barns, warehouses and other needed 
buildings. 

The gen»tlemen who own the plant have 
plenty of means and are pitting in every- 
tihlng to insure a first-class irrigating plant 

Th^e new project means much to Lake 
Charles and Calcasieu parish. — Commercial 
Tribune, Jan. 21. 

mil Farm Rice. 

We are informed that Messrs. J. T. Ham- 
mock and D. C. Grout have contracted to 
put in 300 acres of rice on the Drew Canal 
at Choupique the coming season. There will 
be several thousand acres tributary to that 
canal in cultivation this season, for the first 
ul me.— West Lake Herald, Jan. 26. 



E. J. Engman, E^., a well-known and 
popular planter of Terrebonnie parish, was 
an arrival at the Denechaud on Sunday. 

Mr. George Kramer, of St. Mary parish, 
was a guest of the Commercial hotel during 
the week. Mr. OLouis Kramer also registered 
at that hotel. 



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78 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No 5. 



Feb. S. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Cantrifiiifal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

PullT Fair 

Qood Fair 

Pair 

Qood Common.. 

Common 

inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Oranul'ed 
OK Granulated. 
Choice White. . . 

Of White 

drey White .... 
Ohoiee Yellow.. 
Prime YeUow . . 

Off Yellow 

8eeond8 



MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faaej 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Geod Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

C-^od Common.. 

Oomraon 

Inferior 



Centrifugal. 

Faaoy 

Okoice ,. 

Strict Prime 

Qood Prime 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Oood Common.. 

Pcra^raon 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



Jan. 28. 



Jan. 90. 



Jan. 31. 



Feb. 1. 



Feb. 2. 



Feb. 3. 



Same Day 
Laat Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



- e - 



- (g - 
2>4@3^i 



- @ 30 
25 S 26 
23 @ 24 

- (g 22 

- @ 21 
19 3 20 

- 8 18 

- ® 17 

- (8 16 

- @ 15 



- 16 

- a 14 
12 9 13 

-a 11 

-a 

-a 

- a 

-a 

-a 

-a 



- ® — 

- a - 

- a — 

45?^4A 
2>4(«3% 



- a - 

— (» 30 
25 (B 26 
23 a 24 

— a 22 

- a 21 

19 a 20 

- a 18 

- a 17 

- a 16 

- a 15 

- « - 

- a 16 
-a 14 
12 a 13 

- a 11 

- a 9 
-a 8 
-a 7 

-« 5 

- a 6 

-a - 



-a - 

- a - 

- a - 

- a — 
4Ha4A 

4 343"^ 

2>^(a3% 



- a - 
-a 30 

25 a 26 
23 a 24 

— a 22 
-a 21 

19 a 20 

- a 18 
-n- a 17 

- a 16 
-a 15 

- a - 

— a 16 

— a 14 
12 a 13 

-a 11 

- a 9 

— a 8 
-a 7 
-a • 

— a 6 



3ha4^^ 



- • - 

- a - 

- a - 
4>^a4^ 

- a - 
4>^a - 
4^a4h 
4 a4A 
2)ia4 



- a - 

- a 30 

25 a 26 
23 a 24 

- a 22 

- a 21 

19 a 20 

- a 18 
-a 17 
-a 16 

— @ 16 



- a - 

- a 16 

- a 14 
12 a 13 

- a 11 
-a " 

- a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 



3Aa4A 



- • - 
-• - 

- a - 
4Ka4>i 

- a - 
4Ka'- 
4^a4A 
4 a4A 
2>ia4 



- a - 
-a 30 

25 a 26 
23 a 24 

-a 22 

-a 21 

19 a 20 

-a 18 

- a 17 
-a 16 
-a 15 

• 

- « - 

-9 16 
-9 14 
12 @ 13 
- ® II 

-« ! 

-98 
-9 
-« 
-9 



7 
6 
6 

-9- 



3fj(!»4A 



-« - 
-9 - 

- 9 - 

*A9*A 
4 (54>i 
2^94 



-9 - 
-9 30 
25 @ 26 
23 9 24 

- 9 23 

- 9 21 
19 9 20 

- 9 18 
-@ 17 

- 9 16 

- 9 15 

-9 - 
-9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

-911 
-99 
-98 

-9 7 
-9 « 

-9 6 
-9 - 



- @ - 



3ii(|3% 

- fe3^ 
3K(93A 

- 9 - 

3fir9 — 

3,'.<fe3)4 
2>i@3X 



-9 - 

— 9 - 

- 9 18 
16 9 17 
14 9 15 

- 9 13 
-9 12 

- 9 11 

— 9 10 

— 9 10 



— 


a 


10 


— 


a 


9 


— 


a 


8 


— 




7 


z 


1 


6 
6 


— 


a 


5 


— 


a 


5 


— 


a 


4 



15 a 16 



Steady. 



Steady. 









OTHER MARKETS. 








New York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89« 
Centrifugals, 96''.. 


- a ~ 


- a - 


- a - 


- a - 


— a — 


-9 - 


— a — 




— a - 


- a - 


- a - 


— a - 


— a — 


— 9 — 


— a — 




Granulated 


- a4.72 


- a4.72 


— a4.72 


- a4.72 


- 94.72 


-9472 


3.98a - 


Strong. 


StondardA 


- a4.60 


- a4.6o 


- a4.6o 


— a4.60 


-94.60 


- 94.fi0 


3 86a — 




Dutch Granulated 


- a4.96 


- a4.96 


— a4.96 


- a4 96 


- 94 86 


-94 96 


— a - 




German Granul'td. 


- a4.90 


- a4.9i 


- a4 9i 


- @4 93 


— 9491 


-94 96 


-@ - 




MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


- a - 


_@ 


— a — 


- a - 


-9- 


— 9 — 


- a - 




N. O.Fair 


-a - 


-a - 


— a — 


-a- 


-9 - 


-@ - 


~a - 




London: 


















Jara, No. 15 D. 8. 


lis. 3d. 


lls.Sd. 


Us 3d. 


lls.3d 


lis. 3d. 


11a. 6d. 


lis. Od. 




A. AG. Beet..... 


98.7>id. 


98.7>i^d. 


98. 8)id. 


9s. 9^d. 


9a.9^d. 


9s. llKd. 


9s. Od. 





NEW ORLEANS REFINED. 



rut Loaf 

Powdored 

Stan'd Oranula'd. 
RoaetU Extra C 

Caady ▲ 

rryiUl Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

«YRUI>. 



-@6H 

- @h}4 

- 96.^ 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 



@6H 
@6H 
96X 
96,^, 
9 - 
9 - 
9 - 
9 - 



- 95Ji 
-®6H 

-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 



-@5^ 
-®5Ji 
-96>6 
— @6i'. 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-@- 

-9 - 



-96K 


-9B>i 


- 9B>4 


-®(>H 


-96X 


-96X 


- 96,', 


- 96.^, 


-9- 


-9- 




-9 - 


— 9 — 


-.9 - 


-9- 


-9- 



a4 40 
34 40 
@S 97 

a - • 

a3 85 

a- 
a - 



strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Jan. .25 

At for ports of Great Britain to Jan. 20 

At F /ana and Matanzas to Jan. 25 



.Tons 



121,731 
71,000 
13,540 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
Feb. 3, 1899. 

' Sugar * Molaes^i 

Hhda. Bamle. Barrels. 

Recelred 329 U,139 4,476 

Sold 329 18,180 4,184 



Receipts and Saics at New Orleans from September i, 189S, 
to Feb. 3, 1899. 



Reoeired. 
Sold 



ittaMlMPlfNur 



Hhds. 
7,082 
7,082 

17,863 



-Sugar: 7-^ Molaeees 

Barrels. 3arrels. 



1,115,261 
1,108,153 



195,7«3 
194,978 



'S.izedb,'<S?)Ogie' 



February 4. 1899.] 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



79 



Feb. S. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1809. 



RICE. 

R*u<m, p«r bbl... 

Extra Fancy 

Ouuw, Faiioy.... 

Prime 

Good ... 

Fmir 

Ordinary 

OomBMm. 

Inferior . . 

No.a 

Bkan, per Ion.... 
Ptun, porlon... 



Jan. as. 



1 80^^4 36 

... 



8 
18 



800 
800 



Jan. JO. 



1 75^3 50 

3 93H 
2X@3 

8K@ 8i» 
15 00916 00 



Jan. 81. 



-84 60 



8 

16 



B60 
800 



Feb. 1. 



Feb. 2. 



IS 



" 60 



1^60 
600 



Feb. 8. 



1 0084 25 

I 



^60 
600 



Ran* D^ Last 
Taar. 



2 00^4 26 

- @ — 
6^«6 

« 

-9 - 

Nominml 

a (BVi 

9 00«10 00 

16 00^17 00 



T«B« of AUrtec { 



Steacy. 



Steady. 



JalM at N9«r OriiMi tor tk* 



Feb. 3. ■••♦. 



AHf. I. itft, to Feb. 3, ■•#9* 



RfoelTed 



7,85S 
6.604 



432 

2.577 



LMt 



SacbiIImpotu 

619,308 
396.526 



1J78 
8,047 



Sugar. 

The local sugar market was strong 
at the end of the week and the offer- 
iiig?=, which were somtewhat limited, met 
with a ready sale. 

Molasses. 

Both open kettle and centrifugal 
goods were steady at the close of the 
week. 



Rice. 

The market was firm for the higher 
grades of rough rice at the end of the 
week, with offerings somewhat restrict- 
ed. Low grades were easy and in plen- 
tiful irupply. Clean rice was steady with 
a moderate business reported. 



5ugar In London. 

A public meeting of the anti-Bounty League 
was held at^ the Canoion Street Hotel, on 
January 10th, with Lord Stanmore in the 
chair. The proceedings resolved themselves 
into an expression of regret at the failure 
of the Conference held in Brussels last year, 
and a declaration of the line of policy to he 
followed in the coming Parliamentary ses- 
sion. No new features were presented, and, 
indeed, it would be difficult to make any ad- 
dition to the well-worn aspects of the case. 
With ao praiseworthy an object in view, 
however, as the abolition of sugar boun- 
ties, it would be out of place to quarrel with 
the means proposed by the various speak- 
ers, which again included the imposition 
of coirotervalling duties, but one would have 
thought that the small measures of moment- 
ary relief granted by the government last 
year must have opened the eyei of those 
were prepared to do something more than 
threaten tlie infliction of penaLies on bounty- 
giving nations. Countervailing duties in 
this country are, however, impossible, and 
whpre they have been imposed, as 4n Amer- 
ica, for the express purpose of fostering a 
home industry, they have only had a par- 
tial effect in. cbeckinip the importation of 



bounty-fed sugar. The extraordinary dis- 
proportion nowadays of the production of 
beet sugar to that of came was also com- 
mented on at the meeting referred to, and 
while this is undoubtedly the ^fii^se, it is also 
probable that the difference is now at its 
widest .as .although there are no signs of 
any falling off in the production qf, beet 
sugar, there are strong symptoms of a large 
increase in cane growth, not witlistan ding 
that prices have fallen to a point "Which 
would have been regarded as absolutely ruin- 
ous a few years back. Is not the reason 
of the comparative smallness of the cane 
production partly due to the fact that the 
planters throughout the world were slow to 
follow the close attention and scientific 
methods of the European beet grower? Now, 
when the real pinch of competition lifw made 
itself seriously felt, there is a commenda- 
ble anxiety shown by cane growers to set 
their houses in order, and given fair crops, 
and with the distinct preference ^own by all 
foreign countries, apart from Europe, for 
cane sugar, there appears no reason why it 
':hould not hold its own. At the present 
time, and for some months past, the value 
of the latter has been firmly maintained at 
relatively a much higher price that that of 
raw beet, and not only has the produce of 
the West Indies, I>emerara, &c., been largely 
diverted from this country, owing to the 
better rates obtainable in America, but the 
demand for Eastern sugar*, such ais. Penang 
and other kinds ,has largely increased in the 
far East, with the result that prices have 
substantially improved. The West Indies 
must, therefore, be regarded as distinctly 
unfortunate, notwithstanding that their two 
natural markets, 'England and America, re- 
present the largest sugar-consuming nations 
of the world. Admitting that they have had 
to accept at tim«3 in common with other 
counti'ies, very low prices, it is noteworthy 
that large cane-producers like Java and 
Egypt should not only be able to weather 
thte storm and stress of extremely keen com- 
petition, but should attract capital year by 
year for the extension of an industry which, 
in the West Indiei-, is with much regret re- 
garded by some as being in its Iftst throes, 



but which, it is hoped by all, whether directly 
interested or/iot, will long live and flourish. 
The raw market tjhis week has been mostly 
in a dull state, temporary firmness being 
given to it by a small purchase of sugar 
for shipment to America. It is evident, 
however, from the steady demand from the 
retailers tbat they are not overdone with 
stocks, and the present cheapness of most 
kinds of sugar cannot fail to attract a cer- 
tain amount of extra business. Cane kinds 
have been dull of sale ,and a large cargo of 
low brown refining sugar hajs been sold 
within the la-t few days at a moderate price. 
Grocery crystallized ihaa also been in small 
demand, owing to the relatively high price 
at which this sugar still stands and, although 
a sharp decline in value has taken place, a 
further fall must occur before dealers in 
these kinds will have any confidence. The 
imports of crystallized raws rh L6ndon for 
the week ending 12l\ inst. ,amounted to 1,- 
776 tons, and for this year 1,943 tons against 
1,496 tons in 1898. 



Cube Sugar. 

A French engineer, Mr. Robin Langlois, 
says the Paris correspondent of the London 
Time?, has just invented a process, described 
by the French scientific review La Nature as 
very simple and Inexpensive, for transform- 
ing rapidly into cubes or square blocks pos- 
sessing absolutely the extemial appearance 
and properties of refined ii.ugar all raw sugar 
made from cane or beets, hi'therto whitened 
and purified by the methods at present in 
use in fche factories of the world. Under the 
new process the transformation of raw sugar 
into refined sugar takes only a few hours 
while in the reflneries to-day it requires 
from 15 to 16 days.— Demerara Chronicle. 



Mr. Bradish Johnson, of New York, regis- 
tered at the St, Charles on Tuesday. 

Mr. Wibray J. Thompson, of Calumet 
plantation, Bayou Teche, was in the city on 
Tuesday. 

Gov. H. C. Warmoth and family were in 
town during the past week, and stopped at 
the St. Charles liotel. 



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96 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUQAR MANUPAOTOBBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 6. 



WANTS. 



W« will pabllth In this colamn, free off charge until 
further notice, the applications of all manager*, over* 
neers, engineer* and sugar-makers, and others who 
mmj be seeking positions In the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a youQg man 26 years old, slntrle and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. NE80M, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 108, this office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Addrass H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTED— A second-hand stsaro boiler, i-b^nt 20 
H. P., and a second-hand engine, about 8 H. P. Both 
in flrst-class condition. Address, giving price, C. A., 
care Lonislana Planter. 2-1-96 

WANTED— A young man of good, stendy bablt?. re- 
finement and education, one cocustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"all around*' faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Ci:o 
street, New Grleans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will taxe charyre of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Addrecs Box 217, New Iberia, 
La^ 25 t9 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 
24-S9 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 
years' experience In cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
this ofilce. 24-89 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 
18-99 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man; address J. F. Letepf, Ncs- 
ser, La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I^ 820 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiawa Planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can famish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office. 1-9 

WANTED— A young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a position on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is willing to work for a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, Tallulah, La. 12-31-96 

WANTED— An experienced aiid practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rloo. 
Speaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-98 



WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
furnished. Gallon or address F. F. Merwin. 621 Du- 
maine street, New Orleans. 12-81-98 

WANTED— A position as Assistant Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
m«»n1«d. Twenty years experience in handling labor, 
veral years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
rf references given. Address, M. E. W., Care Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-28-96. 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish best of 
references. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 
12-25-98 

W * NTED— Man who wist^ea to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who is engaged for coming Mexican or Cuban crop. 
State terms for instniotion. Address, A. W. B., fi^ 
Patten St . , New Orleans , La . 12-23-98 

WANTED— A young married man of small famll^' 
desires a position in Puerto Rloo as time-keeper o«t 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience iu 
sugar houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rou^, La, 



WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience in sugar house work, is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 

Eerintendent for consturction or repairing of sugar 
ouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. l2-2fl-w. 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 30 years of age, well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-81-06 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
•»wner is not pleased, no [salary win be expected. Ad- 
•iress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-96 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, ly a young man who has had four years' 
experience una can furnish best of references. Ad- 
drees D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

W-\NTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. 0.,La. 
12-21-98 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
Wf^st Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a ur.iveraliy graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Tex«s. 
12-21-98 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boiling ^lU apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-98 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one who has 
had fiimilar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-20-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work* for two or three weeks, beginning 
January Ist. Compensation $8a Address F. E. C, 
Shadyside Plantation, Centerville, La. 12-20-98 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Good refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumside, Louisiana. 12-21-96 

. WANTED— Position ss manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D . A . Blouin, Whitecastle, La. 

WANTED— Posltton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation for the coming year. Long experience 
and first-class references. . Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as clerk in plantation or tdwn 
store, by a young man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Address G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. Rochblle, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-98 

WANTEI>— Position for ooming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 88 years 
of age, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R., Box 266, New Iberia, La. 12-5-96 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland Grerman, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
Dover, care First New York Beet Sugar Company. 
Rome, N. Y. 12-6-W 

WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words." Address Drainage, Room 22, 
City Ha ll. 12-3-96 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1036 N. Derbigny street. New Orleans. 
, ^ 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
drees Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door nothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations, A^dree^ MRS. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La, 12-7-^ 



WANTED— Position as manager tor 1899, by a first- 
<dass man of experience and fine references, will 
take an assistancy and work very reasonable. Address 
E. W. Creiohton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1S&9. Address Theo. 
Baudoin, Jr., Hahnvllle, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— A sugar houss expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar bouses in Louibiand, Is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central *merlca. Will accept a position on any terms 
con8istent with flrst-class work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present employers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduatea. Address Led a, this 
office. 12-S-98 

WANTED— By a young chemist with university edu- 
cation and one year's eraerlence in large Louisiana 
factory, a position for Mexicm or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. 11-90-98 

WANTED— By a first-class sugar boiler to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Will 
furnish the bfs^ of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 836 Bartholomew street. New Orleans, La. 
ll-2"-9e 

WANTED— Position for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largest 
places in the State. Would have no otj«»ctlcn to living 
on the place and making himself generally U8efu\ Is a 
good copper. Address Geo. Code, Belle Grove PUn- 
adon, Whitecastle, La. 11-26-98 

WANTED— Position in this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sugar boiler who has references of the very ftrbc 
class. Address Boiler, 507 Chartres street. New Or- 
leans. 11-9-08 

WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan . Have had practical experience 
In the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 y^ars of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be wiUlng 1o 
go to the West Indies. R3f erence from former employer 
given. Address X, this office. ll-26-9iB 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utiliUr man 
In the country. Good references. Address CTompe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-96 

WANTED— A position as book-keeperor manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. Would also open 
up and run a drug store in interest of employer, can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B., Donald- 
sonvllle, La. 11-21-98 

WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent, is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop in Mexico or Cuba. Has had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations in Lou- 
isiana. Can bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stubbs. Those 
desiring the services of a thorough sugar house man, 
address Oscar, box 574, Baton Rouge. 11-19-96 

WANTED— Position as chemist In Mexlao or Cuba for 
coming crop. Have had eight years experience and can 
furnish good references as to ability. Am at present 
employed at one of the leading sugar houses In Lou- 
isiana. Address Chemist, this office. 11-22-96 

WANTED— An assistant sugar boiler at once. Ad- 
dress L. A. Ellis, Sartartia, Tex. 11-17-98 

WANTED— Position AS assistant or head sugar maker. 
Can furnish first-class references. Address J. L. 
Wirth, 1916 Toulouse street, New Orleans, La. 

11-14-96 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer or time- 
keeper on a sugar plantation, for 1899. Married man 
38 years of age. Address E. v. W., care S. C. Bro- 
dowskl, 609 Sixth street, Now Orleans. 11-15-98 

WANTED— Position as butler by an experienced man. 
Good references. Will try to make himself useful in 
everyway. Address Emile Terrie, 613 Chartres st., 
New Orleans. 11-15-98 

WANTED— Experienced chemisl, at present instruc- 
tor in a large university in the Northwest, desires po- 
sition in a warm climate. Best references. Address 
P. O. Box 1788, Iowa City, Iowa. 11-14-98 

WANTED— By experienced man, situation as chemist 
in sugar house, in Mexico or Central America, for 
coming campaign. Good reference, sober, competent. 
Address Chemist, care of Glenwild, Berwick, La. 

11-11-98 



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DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



||>^BW ORLBANS. FEBRUARY 25, 1899. 



No. 8. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 
Ascension Branch Sugar Planters* AssociaVon, 
Louisiana Sugar Chemists* Association, 
Kansas Sugar Growers* Association^ 
ToMOS Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publitheo at New Orleans, La., eveiy Saturday Morning 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Deroted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 

EDITORIAL CX)RPS. 

W. C. 8TUBB8, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGII. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Poetoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annuir 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) $3 00 

Foreign Subecriptlon 4 OC 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



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All communications should be addressed to Tee 
LouxsxAMA rLAM7BR,839 Carond^et street, New Orleann, 
La. 

UST OP 8T0CKH0LDBR5. 



McCall Brothers. 
McCall & Legeodre, 
Leoa Oodchanz. 
Janes Teller, 
B. Lemaon&Bro., 
teobc) Sontet, 
Louto Bush, 
W. e. Brkkdl, 
W. C Stabba, 
John Dymond, 
DaaM Thompson. 
Poos * Barnett. 
H. C. Warmoth. 
Ludua Porsvth, Jr., 
Bdward J. day, 
Sbattiick & HoftaMB. 
emlle Rest, 
Thomis D. Mitter. 
Schmidt * ZkSler, 
T. Q. flctaury. 
L. 5. dark. 
J. B. Levert, 
Simpson Homor* 
W. K. Bloomfleld. 
W. W. StttclMlb. 
John S. rioore, 
James C. Murphy, 
Jos.Webrt. 



R. Bettran, 
Luclen Sonlat, 

D. R. Calder. 
L. A. Ellis, 
Hero & Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan, 

J. T. Moore, Jr., 
Edwards & tlaubtn:an. 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. Cunntngham. 
R. Viterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Soria. 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy. 
Andrew Prica. 
B. & J. Keck. 
Wm. Qarlg, 
Adolph Meyer. 
A.A.Woods, 
Bradlah Johnson, 
George P. Anderton, 
A. L. nonnot, 
Rk:hard Mllllken. 
W. P. nii€3, 
Lezin A. Becnel. 
J. N. Pharr, 
julea J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE committee; 

Lk-nry rUML 
Lttden Sonlat. W. B. Schmidt. 

^otai Dy»9«4. Prtil^eirt, 



The Effects of the Freeze. 

Tlie paralyzing effect of the great 
freeze of kst week i-^ gradually pa^eing 
away as the weather grows warmer and 
the sunshine brings the cane fields in- 
10 better condition. While the cold 
\V(ii,ther has In^en severer than any pre- 
vious record its duration was very ?hort 
and it is ]>ossi'l)le that becaii-e of this 
tl'*- general disa-ter appr«.'h.ended lest 
wc" *k has not materialized. 

A careful examination of cane stulv 
blc-' in i^andy landb-* re\^eaN the fact 
rli;it th(\v are now in good condition. 
Siiti land ^i^tubbles are still ?on\eAvhat 
difficult of examination but we may h^i>e 
that even they will be found to show 
up better than from tlie casual exam- 
ination 'of them thus fpr m.H<le. 

The re sports concerning sectl cane in 
wimlrow 'are generally satisfactory. The 
frequent disasters with seed cane paved in 
-nnttre^^c- lead to the practical abandon- 
ment of that plan of seed cane saving 
many year^; ago. Those who saved their 
•ee<l f-an^^ in that way now are fully 
aware of the incidlemtal djangers -and 
wo have learned from ^me, even of 
these, that their cane in mattres??o3 prom- 
ii es to turn out at lea^st 1/2 of the ex- 
pected quantity and pa-^ibly more. The 
eod cane in \vindrow , however, which 
is generally well covered with earth by 
plowing and hoeing, has been reported in 
good condition nearly everywhere that 
it hais been carefully examined. 

We do not wish to be understood, how- 
ever, as arguing that the great freeze 
through which we have just passed has 
done but little injury to the T^uisiana 
cane crop. The record of all great freezes 
in the past ha» shown a material dimin- 
ution of the crop the following year. 
Tlie most hopeful feature of the situa- 
tion, we believe, waa the abort duration 
of the extremely cold weather and hence 
the low tenvperature may liave done us 
less injury \hm tho prolonged low tem- 



perature ^t a higher level of previews sea- 
tons. A week ago it looked like a gen- 
eral disaster but now, with the sun shin- 
ing and the fields drying and field work 
generally begun, it is manifest that while 
considerable injury has been- done to the 
cane crop of Louisiana it is not nearly 
so scrioujd as was then thought 



The Crop Situation. 

The paramount question on the eugar 
plantations just now is, of conrse, the ex- 
tent of damage wrought by the recent 
unprecedented freeze. After <i careful 
consideration of the reports handed in 
by our correspondents we are drawn to 
the conclusion that considerable harm 
has been done, although there are num- 
erous instances cited where the examin- 
ations made disclosed no apparent in- 
jury. The seed cane is generally con- 
ceded to have been in a poor state of 
preservation aside from any ill effects 
had on it by tlhe cold, as the past few 
months have been eo wet, and the cane 
itself being green and immature when 
put down in wdndrow. It is very likely 
that more seed cane will be lost through 
conditions other than those atte«i<lant up- 
on the recent cold wave than was de- 
stroyed by the freeze itself. 

The second year stubble has unques- 
tionably suffered severely, and in many 
localities is regarded as practically worth- 
less, w^hile the first year stubble is, like 
a remote election precinct, "yet to be 
heard from." While there is every like- 
lihood of its having been; injured, 
many of our correspondents mention 
caries where it appears to have taken no 
hurt, GocaI weather is now the great 
desideration, and on the atmospherical 
conditions of the next few weeks much 
will depend — too much, indeed, for any- 
one to hazard positive predictions how 
relative to a plant like sugar cane Avhich 
^ome'time^ cleofivea tho m&e^. 



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Tml LOUliSIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTUBBR. 



[Vol. xxn. No. 8. 



Adulterated Cotton Seed Heal. 

The agricultural f>age of a Maine 
nv^w^paper re<?ently contained a note of 
^V'arning regarding the quality of the 
cotton ^eed meal offered in that state. 
The Mmne Agricultural Experiment 
Station has taken up the matter and 
Prof. Charles D. Woods, director, states 
that the official Fall inspection of cotton 
aeed meal offered had not given* occas- 
ion for apprehensik)n. His January in- 
spection confirms the result of tihe Fall 
inspection and indicates that the state is 
remarkably free from low grade meal 
ai J that e\'en the low grad-e meal is for 
the most part profperly guaraufteed. 

Xinety-four samples of cotton seed 
meal have recently been analyzed at the 
Maine Experiment Station, most of 
which were drawn by the station in- 
spectors, comfing chiefly from the dairy 
s^tioni3 of the state. From investiga- 
tion it was found that, practically air of 
the cotton seed meal soW ia tihe state is 
up to the guarantee and the conclusion 
is that there is^ little likelihood of be- 
ing decfeived in quality. 

From this we see how our agricultural' 
confreres fifteen hundred miles away 
a|>prcciate the merits of cotton seed meal 
as a fertilizer and are anxious to \ise it 
as their chief source of nitrogen. We 
should oertainly appreciate the fact that 
we in the Gulf States bave 'a considera- 
ble advantage in ^having this most excel- 
lent fertilizer in lai>i;e supply at home 
without the large oo-t of transportation. 



Sugar Beets and 5orf hum in Ohio. 

The Ohio Agricultural Experiment 
Station at Wooster has just issued a 
small bulletin concerning the recent ex- 
perience of the station in the production 
of sugar beets and sorghum in* Ohio dur- 
ing the year 1898. 

It eecms that tte relatively high tem- 
perature of summier and the excessive 
rainfall at the cloee of the season forced 
the developnuent of the leaf fipot fungus 
of the 'beet, diminishing the sucrose in 
the beet The sugar content for 18^98 
averaged but 11.4 as against 13.3 for 
1897, and the purity for 1898 was 77.9 
as ae-^imt 78.7 for the year 'before. 

The Ohio Station is staill giving con- 
siderable attention to improved varieties 
gf soi^hum and has obtained from the 
J^atioinal Departmejrt of Ajjp^icwlfcure the 



seed of several improved varieties grown 
last year at Medicine Lodge, Kaiisas, un- 
der the control of the Departmeot. The 
station is endeavoring to secure experi- 
menta with this sorghum seed in the 
.southern counties of Ohio where the $u- 
gar beet thus far has not succeeded sat- 
isfactorily. 



Sui^r Beets in New York. 

The number of analyses of su^ar beets 
made by the New York Agricultural Ex- 
periment Station during the seasop of 
1898 is 343.' This numiber includes 
beets grown under the direction of the 
Station and from seed* which it furnish- 
ed; also samples sent from the ConKmis- 
sioner of Agriculture, representing beets 
grown under the special care of his De- 
partment. Through some error the 
Station also received and analyzed a few 
sample of beets from the fiounties ii^ 
which'^ Cornell University is doing simi- 
lar work. 'Fhe results of this year's ob- 
servations appear to be fairly satisfac- 
tory. The average percentage of sugar 
in the beets as determined. from 343 sam- 
ples is 14.2 with a coefficient of purity 
of 85. In general the yield of beets 
has ranged, in the experiments conducted 
by the Station, between nine tons and 
twenty tons per acre. A bulletin is now 
in preparation which will give a detailed 
account of all the experiments. Some 
int^^ing observations have been m!ad^ 
concerning the influence of commercial 
fertilizers and also of farm manures upon 
the composition and growth of the beets. 

Oerman^ Colonial School. 

A recent publication by the U. S. Depart- 
ment of AgricuKure. refers to the dermaa 
Colonial 'School at Witzenhausen, where 
Germany is endeavoring to educate men who 
intend to engage in industrial enterprid^es in 
her colonies. They are taught to become 
practical superin'tendeats of estates and 
plantations, planters, agriculturists, stock 
raisers, and merchants for the German colo- 
nial possessions. 

The course of study covers two years, and 
includes plant culture in general, the study 
of aolls, climate and fertilizers, farm man- 
agement, book keeping, mechanics, engineer- 
ing, including bridge and road building, 
drainage and irrigation. Special plant cul- 
ture, animal husbandry, dairying, and the 
culture and use of tropical plaiits, with much 
dther incidental ntatter. 

From all this we can see the earnest ef^>rt 
thai Ofrmany is iQakinf to gl^e her younf 



men a good, technical education in the in- 
dustries in which they contemplate engaging. 
Similar schools are maintained in Belgioin 
and Holland. 

As Americans we are apt to pride our- 
selves upon our splendid tedinieal sdiooh, 
but froni this we can see that the same dis- 
position towards advanced educati<Hi is pre- 
.vailing in all the great nations of the eartli, 
and no matter how earnestly we may en- 
deavor tOj attain high industrial iKiBiUoii, 
others are striving with equal earneftnesi 
and unless we do the be^t we can and per- 
sist in it, we may be outstripped in the race 
for industrial supremacy. 



The Manner and Method of Purchas- 
ing 5ufar Cane. 

iHohen iSohns, P. O., La., Feb. 22, '99. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

iWe have read, with much interest the 
several articl^ in^ th^ Planter on the sab- 
Jecit, *'The Manner and Method of Purdtas- 
ing Cane, ' and believing thai the solution 
of this prolblem is vital to a very great ma- 
jority 9f the,i>eaple of this seotion of Louis- 
iana> we think a iu^ discussion of the same 
slioiild be urged. It is a matter of regret 
to note that so little is said or being done 
by the cane seller. He is certainly mutual- 
ly interested with the buyer. Some equit- 
able conclusion must be arrived a^ wherein 
both classes can exiat foi* neither .^an dp 
without the other. 

For the sake of argument, and as a mat- 
ter of proof, that the time has arrived for 
some concert of actft>n« we will admit that 
in years gone by ohe buyers may bave had 
<the best of existing arrangements, but who 
can deny nhat in the last season the seller 
had it all his own way. Should an arrange- 
ment be continued, that gives efttlier an un- 
due advantiige of the other, contingent upon 
the weather or climatic influences? There 
is no denying the faon thttt the advisability 
and popularity of the central taotory Is 
growing in favor. But to sustain them tbe 
cane grower must be encouraged. iWhatever 
profits there may be in raising cane and 
manufacturing sugar must in a mmmer l>e 
blended together, so ([hat each may share 
therein. We are really in copartnership. 
Can any firm exist and prosper wfiePb one 
member makes money and the 'other loses. 
Now it is to the end of an equitable di^i- 
islon of the profits that we liave given our 
attention in formulating the plan we here- 
with submit for discussion. 

We propose Arst to take the Sugar Bx- 
change's weekly certificate of die price of 
yeliow clarified sugar testing 96 degrees 
and second sugar ta»ting 89 degrees as a 
basis to start upon; we then propose to 
pay to the cane seller per ton for his cane 
one-half the value of ail flrvi sugar produced, 
and the entire valne of all the second sugar 
produced, at the price certified by the Ex- 
change ai3 above. This leaves us one^^alf 
of th^ tlr9t sugar and ih^ molasies or (he 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTUipaL 



115 



third sugar should 'there be any. The gener- 
al yield of the week's run to be used as the 
output of all cane; an advance t]^ two dol- 
lars per ton ito be made on each week's de- 
livery, until ooncluision of •delivery, when 
final settlement will be made. 

Wkh a yield of 150 pounds per ton, 80 per 
cent of which is first and 20 per cent Is sec- 
ond with yellow clarified su^r 96 degreeii 
worth iy^ cts., and second sagkr 89 degrees 
worth 3% cts., the cane seller wouM receive 
three dollars and sixty cents pei^ ton for 
his cane, and faou>ry have-leift two dollars 
an^ fif ty-^ve cents and whatever value there 
mdight be to the molasses or third sugar. 
Now under the old way we pre&ume that 
prime Y. C. sugar would be worth 4^^^ cto, 
which at 80"^ cent^ ' ^or each one cent value, 
would give the seller three dollars and fifty 
cents per ton, and so it would remain should 
the yield go to 175 pounds per ton, while 
with our plan with in increase of yield he 
would share in the prosperity, and with a 
decrease in* yield he would* carry his propor- 
tion of the burden.- Ai ttie factory's profit 
depends upon the yield, so by this method, 
would the seller's profit depetod upon the 
yield. He would thus be induced ijo proper* 
ly fertilize his can^/ ' endeavor to i*iben It 
and see that it is properly cut. Now we 
do not claim that this system wouia reach 
any beker results than by buyinjg upon a 
sucrose test, but we do ihink it would meet 
more with popular favor, as there is a halo 
o^ mystery about a chemist, that the general 
average 'Cane raiser does not understand. 
They now stand in dread of the cane weigh- 
er; how would they feel if thrown upon the 
mercy of the chemist? Whatever is done 
let It be -nmbual between buyer and seller 
and agreed to by all under compact of honor. 
Respectfully, 

Belle Helenne Plt'o Co., Ltd. 

(A ^atement of prices of cane at differ en 
yields per ton and various prices for sugar 
wiU be published In a later issue.— IBM i tor 
Louisiana Planter.) * 



Havana. 

(SPECIAL COMUISPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planler: 

Owing to the continuance of unfavorable 
advices from Ehirope and the United States, 
this market hais ruled quiet and weak, the 
only sales made known during the week 
under rev'iew being ot a few smaU parcels of 
special class centrifugal sugar, acquired by 
local dealera, at Xrom 2 7-16 to 2 1-2 cts. lb., 
basis 95-96 test, and deliverable at the rail- 
way station, equivalent to 2 9-16^2 5-8 cts. 
lb. at shipping ports. 

(At lUhe close prices may be nominally 
quoted at from 2 5-8@2 7-16 cts., basis 96 
test 

According to latest advices from the coun- 
•try, most of the plantations in fit condi'tion 
to grind this year, are now fairly under way 
and stocks are faat accusnilating at our 
ifhlpiping ports; on this account, as soon aia 
^ s^tuatioa Qt tb# W^^^ Improyesi 'buTeri 



will be able <to select i^arcels at th^r con- 
veni^ence. 

At Matanzas receipts oif new sugars add 
up about 125,000 (bags, mostly from factories 
"Conchita," "Feliz," "Plara," "Hcartta," 
"•Mercedes," **San Oayetans," "Santa Filo- 
mena," "San Ignacio," . **Sooorro," "Vail 
ente," "Union," and few others, whose pro- 
prietors have succeeded in organizing crop 
labor in satisfactory manner and are for- 
warding to Matanzas at>ou»t 5,000 bags daily. 

•Grinding Is also being vigorously pu&ned 
In the district of Cienfuegus, and xhe grand 
central factory "OonBtancia," 1$ terminating 
iti3 last preparations, -t^estin^ its.ne^ ma- 
dhinery and receiving ^'everal hundred yoke 
of oxen, <io start grinding. 

"Ailtamlra" and "Nareisa'' at Taguajay, in 
the district of Remedlos, arejalready grind- 
ing and I specially mention ^ese plantations 
because notwitihatanding their being three of 
the largest on the Island ana their being 
situated in the very fo6ui3 of th"5 insurrec- 
tion, they suffered little or no'lilng from 
the war, owing to the guard their own- 
ers kept on them, at their own expense, dur- 
ing three and a half consecutive years, to 
protect them against both, the Ouban ih^ 
siirgents and the Sipaniish' bol^ens; 'for*;ii^ 
purpose, (Messrs. Apezteguia Brothers, .sur- 
rounded itjhe "Constancia" .buildings and ma- 
chinery houses with a belt of forts, garrison- 
ed by a force of 850 men, paid by them. 

American capitalists are strongly inte 
es.ed in the sugar manufacturing business 
on this Island and to them belong the great- 
er part of plantations in (the Santa Clara 
province, which comprises the important 
sugar djitricts of Cienfuegos, Sagiua la 
Grande, Calbarien, Remedios, Yaguajay.and 
Trinidad. 

In the Cienfuegos district are located fac- 
tories "Caracas" and "Constan«la" the larg- 
est in the world, since each of €hem can pro- 
duce 35,000 to 36,000 hhds. of 1,500 4bs. 
sugar; both belong ito Cubans; the first 
one to Messrs. Terry Brothers and the. stec- 
and to Messrs. Apezleguia Brothers. About 
one year before ttfe war broke out an 
American syndicate was In* treaty_ to pur- 
chase "Constancia;" but on account of tihe 
insurreoJon the Gale could not be affected at 
that time and it is likely that negotiations 
.o that effect will soon be resumed. 

Amongst plantations owned by American 
citizens, the following are mentioned: 

"Soledad," at 'Cienfuegos, owned iby Mr. 
Atkins of Boston; "Hermiguero," Clen/uegos 
owned by Pouvet Bro3., N. Y.; "OonatJancla," 
at >Sagua, owned by Perkins A Welsh of 
New York; "San Agustln," at Cienfuegos, 
owned by an American syndicate; "Ley- 
queitis," at Cienfuegos, owned by an Ameri- 
can S3mdlcate, of which the manager is Col. 
Murray. The value of these five plantations 
hi calculated at seven million dollars. 

The Havemeyers, of New York, Bdward 
Aikins and others own large properties In 
the district of Trinidad; , at Sagua Is the 
plantation of Mr. Thorndlike and Mr. Hem- 
TOliigway, ot-Bo«WUu"8wt» A»t*VMd fiff. 



Goopge;" "Victoria," In the flame locality, 
also belongs to an American. The vailue of 
American property at Sagua Is estimated at 
over $2,500,000. 

At Porto Prlnolpe, American citizens hold 
sugar estates ao the value of about ;^i,500,- 
000, and In the provinces of Matanzas and 
Santiago de Cuba,, the value of property be- 
longing to Americans (was estimated over 
$10,000,000. 

Mr. Jullois Hidalgo, senior partner of the 
firm of Hidalgo & Co. that formerly existed 
at this place together with the wealthy New 
York sugar refiner, Mr. Havemeyer, Vers 
establishing at ManzaniUo a large factory 
wh«n the Insurrection commenced; the land 
had already been distriibuted amongst ten- 
anti^, cah6 planted, materials for ths build- 
ings and part of the mac^nery T<eo«lvsd» 
when they were compelled to postSKine till 
better times the execution of their project, 
and it is likely they will now carry It out. 

lit Is a pity that American capitalists se^n 
now to direct the best part of their attention 
toVirards tobacco In preference ito sugar. Tha 
plantations named above have been for some 
time back the property of American clti- 
^ens,; and I am utterly unaware of their hay- 
ing purchased 6r started any others of late 
or of tlidr Intending to do so In the near 
fuf.ure, whereas several large syndicate* 
have been recently organized in the United 
States, to purchaise and run for their own 
account, as many cigarette and cigar factor- 
ies, and acquire the largest amount of tobac- 
co; ^nd, they possibly can. 

ilt^ would seem th«t sudh parties are con- 
vinced tl^at sugar manufacture is no more a 
paying business, owing to the sharp cocn- 
petition from all parts of the world. T. D. 



U. 5. Wholesale Grocers and Canners' 

Directory, With Brokers' List.. 

The Louisiana Planter has received the 
1899 edition of this valuable compilation, 
which ai3 its title indicates, gives a list of the 
wholesale grocers and oanners of the United 
States with a list of all the brokers (f^ng a 
similar (business. It Is quite a valuable 
directory to any one Interested in reaching 
these merchants, or the brokers who ai:e 
dealing wl>th them. Copies can he obtained 
by addressing Mr. Aoistin Q. Mllllar, Mini^e- 
apgrliis, price 12.00. 

The Calcasieu Sugar House. 

Mr. J. B. Watklns, of Lawrence, Kan., 
promoter of many of Southwest Louisiana's 
Industries, says that the Calcasieu sugar re- 
fl,nery at Lake Charles, which waa sold at 
sheriff's sale recently will be operated by ths 
purchaser in its present . locaiiAon. .Mr. 
Watklns says: **The sugar cane Industry In 
southwest Louidaha will be revived and with 
the investment of new capital, the Installa* 
tlon of new machinery In th» refinery as 
will be done, new life will be Infused In the 
sugar Industry out there. Cane will be 
pujpchased this winter and -fields will be 
started at once. It will 1 be Impossible to get 
a crop next < reason, but It Is the full inten- 
tion to grow SL big crop of cane in Calcasieu 
and Acadia parishes the season following attd 
the refinery In LsH^ Charles wlU be In full 
OFWfttlOtt."--W^t l^S^ HWkld, Jan. «fi. 



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116 



THE tibuiSlANA PLANTER AND SU(3AR MAkuFACTXJBER. 



tVoL XXn, No. 8, 



The 5mell of Earth. 

Th« smell of iresh earth Is so character- 
istic that when anything is pungently rural 
we say that it "smacks of iihe soil." In an 
artiole in Knowledge, G. Clarke NuttaU tells 
us t'hiat this odor is due to one of thie mcwy 
dpeciee of bacteria wi>.h which .the soil 
Bwarms, though the agency of this organism 
in producing the smell is a recent discovery. 
Says Mr. N.uttall: 

"What do we ^now a'bout this character- 
istic smell of 'the soil? Can we iiegard it as 
the mere attrihute of the soil as a simple 
substance, such an attribute as is, tor in- 
stance, the peculiar £rmell of leather, or the 
odor of India rubber; or can we go deeper 
and fitid that it is really an expre^ion of 
'Compl^ity below? 

"Strangely enough this is the case, for the 
sme.. oi damp earth is one of the la). est 
signposts we have found wliicih lead us In- 
to a world which, until recently, was alto- 
getAier beyond our ken; It points us to the 
presence, in the ground benecDth us, of large 
numbers of tiniest orgainismSi and not mere- 
ly to their presence only, but to their activi- 
ty and Hie, and reveals quite a new phase 
of this ao.ivlty. A handful of loose earth 
picked up in a field by the liedgerow, or 
from a garden, no longer represents to us 
a mere conglomeration of particles of inor- 
^nic mineral matter, 'simply that and noth- 
ing more*; we realize noiv^ that ht, is the 
kingdom of plants, who are, in particular, 
members of the fungus family in th^t king- 
dom, plants so excessively minute that their 
v6ry existence was undream^t of until a few 
y^rs ago." 

In a grain's weight of ordinary agricul- 
tural soil, Mr. NuttaU tells us, th^e are 
nearly a million of these little germs. A 
shovelful of eairth contains eleven thoi^oand 
•millions— an almost Inconceivable number. 
These germs are of various species and per- 
form 'tasks of great diversity, such as rot- 
ting . seed^husks that the seeds may grow, 
and assisting in the decay of waste matter. 
To Quoie further: 

"But up to the present the fresh smell of 
the et'rth, »he smell peculiar to it, has not 
been in any way associated with these ener- 
getic organisms, and it is quite a new reve- 
lation to find that it is a direct outcome of 
their activity. Among the many bacteria 
w<hich inhabit the soil, a new one, hitherto 
unknown, has been just recently isolated 
and watched. It lives, as is usual with them, 
massed into colonies. Which have a chalky- 
white appearance, and as it develops €uid in- 
* creases in numbers it manifests Itself by the 
familiar gmell of damp earth, hence the 
name that has been given it— Cladol'hpix 
odorifera. Taken singly it is a colorless, 
thread-like body. Which increases numeri- 
cally by continuous subdivisions Into two 
in the direction of its length. It derives its 
nutriment from substances in the soil, whic^ 
^ther are. or have been, toudied by the sub- 
tle inftuenoe of life, and in die processes of 
growtb' and development H evolves from 



these materials a compound whose volatiliz- 
ing gives the odor in question. This com- 
pound has not yet been fully examined^ it 
it do: named, nor ibave all its properties been 
satisfactorily elucidated, but two facts con- 
cerning it stand out clearly. One is that it 
is 'Jhe true origin of the smell that we ha/ve 
"hitherto attributed to earth simply; and the 
other, that it changes into vapor under ^e 
same conditions as water does. Therefore, 
when the sun, shining after the rain, draws 
up the water from the earch in vapoi^ form, 
it draws up, too, the odorous atoms of this 
newly found compound, and these atoms, 
floating in the air, strike on our olfactory 
nerves, and it is then we exclaim so often. 
•How fresh the eartJh smells after the rain.' 

"Though moisture, to a certain exjteni. 
is a necessary condition of the active work 
of tiiese bacteria, yet the chief reason why 
the earthy smell should be specially notice- 
able af.er the rain is probably because this 
compound nas been accumlatlng in tihe soil 
during the wet period. We only smell sub- 
stances when they are in vapor form, and 
since the compound under consideration 'has 
precisely the same properties in this respect 
as water, iL will only assume gaseous form 
when the rain ceases. The bacteria ,have. 
however, been hard at work all the time, and 
when the sun shines and 'drying* begins, 
then the accumlated stores commence their 
trans formai: ion into vapor, and the strong 
smell strikes upon our senses. For the same 
reason we notice a similar sort of smell, 
though in a lesser degree, from freshly 
turned earth. This is more moibt than the 
earth at Ihe surface, and hence, on exposing 
it, evapoi'ation immediately begins, whic*^ 
quickly makes itself known to us through 
our olfactory nerves. 

"It may also have been remarked that this 
,parUcular odor is always stronger a/fter a 
warm day than after a cold day, and is much 
more noticeable in summer than in win- 
ter. This is because moderate warmth is 
highly conducive to the greater increase of 
these organisms, and, in fact, in the summer 
i.'^ey are present in far larger numbers and 
exhibit greater vitality than in the winter, 
when they are often more or leais quiescent. 

"Two other characteristios of Cladothrix 
odorifera are worthy of notice as showing 
the tenacity "with which it clings o life. It 
Is capable of withsi^anding extremely long 
periods of drought without injxiry; its de- 
velopment may be completely arrested (for 
water In some degree Is a necessity with 
all living things, from highest ito lowest) bur 
ils vitality remains latent, and wdtb the ad- 
vent of water comes back renewed activity. 
Bui: oesides drought it is pretty well proof 
against poisons. It can even withstand a 
fairly large dose of that most harmful poison 
to the vegetable world, con^slve sublimate. 
Hence any noxious matter initroduced into 
the soil would harm It little ultimately; the 
utmost it could do would be to re.ard It 
for a lime. 



of earth as scientists have declared it unlto 
us, and its recital serves to furtlher point 
the moral that the moat obvious, the most 
commonplace thinga of everyday life— things 
that we have always taken simply for f^^nt- 
ed without question or Initerest-^may yet 
iiave a SwOry hidden beneath them, ' Like 
signposts 'in a foreign land, they may be 
speaking, tliough in a language not' always 
comprcbended by us, of most fascinatini; re- 
gions, regions we may altogeftiher miss to 
our great loss. If we neglect Ignorantly tt 
directions instead of learning to co^ipre- 
head them."— Literary Digest 



Trade Notes. 

Baldwin Locomotives. 

If the campaign recently ended has demon- 
strated one thing more tihan another it has 
shown beyond all queyjtion that plantation 
railroads are a paramount necessity on our 
large estates, and as the employment of 
small locomotives on these roads will .go 
hand in hand with the construction of the 
tracks, the indications are that this will be 
a good season in the sugar diatrldt for the 
locomotive people. Mr. A. F. Slangerup, in 
the - <3odchaux Building, represembing Kra- 
Jewski, Pesant & Co., is prepared to sell the 
far famed Baldwin locomotives singly or by 
the dozen, and we trust he will be kept busy 
'nillng orders. 

Th« Lane A Bodley Engines. 

We take pleasure In directing the atten- 
tion of all our readers to the advertisement 
of the Lane & Bradley Co., on page III, of the 
Planter. This well known concern, whoee 
^rllss engines are now in use so universally 
•anac any comment on them is supurfluous, 
are prepared to supply the su^air planters 
with everything they need in that line, bb 
well as with slide valve en(glnes, air com- 
pressors, Bhaftlng, hangers, pulleys, etc. 
Possessing every fadliity for handling orders 
they feel confident of adding largely «iis 
season to the already immense business 
done by them with the sugar people. Ad- 
dress the Lane & Bodley Co., ClndnDati, 
Ohio. 



Personal. 



•Tbi«, tlieu. Is the bl^torj^ otf the smell -in its. varied -career. 



Ool. Lewis S. Clarke, of Lagonda planta- 
tlOQ, on Bayou Teche, was in the city last 
Wednesday. 

Mr. Frederick A. "Sobral, of Bt James par- 
ish, was registered at the Cosmopolttan botel 
on Monday last. 

Mr. W. E. Leake, a prominent ooal mine 
man of Bilrmingham, Ala., was in the cHy 
during the past week. 

Mr. E. H. Barton, of Ascenelon pariiCh, was 
one of tb-; prominent sugar planters who 
registered at the St. Ohtoles during the 
week. 

Hon. Walter A O'Neill, projuricltor of the 
Linwood plamtatlon In Qt. Mary pafteh, •was 
In the city on a visit last Sunday. Mr. 
O'Neill fct.opped as usual at the Hotel Royal, 
which now seems about to <^qse ^n epocl^ 



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Febrmu-y 26. 18fl*.] THE LOUlSIAJfA PLANTER AKD SUGAR MANITPACT^U^EE, . 117 



LOCAL L&TTBBS. 



Ascension. 

(•raOIAL CORBBflPONDBlfCE.) 

Editor Louitiaua Planter: 

Last week'fl unprecedented blizzaird has 
been followed by mild weather, an<l there is 
reaaoB io believe tiial; the winter is virtually . 
over insofar as low temperatures are opn- 
cerned. But for the pereistent trequedcy 
with which the clouds exude moisture upon 
UB there would be a decided revival of hope, 
and ooQfldence among the devotees of the 
su^ar industry, since it is now generally 
known that the great freeze has not of it- 
self materially injured ine cane, either stub- 
ble, planted or ifchat yet in windrow. What 
is now most to be feared is that the wet 
spell will be prolonged to such an extent as 
to delay scubble shaving and planting until 
\be crop has suffered irremediable damage 
from excess of moisture. 

Probably no more intelligent or accurate 
summary of the situation could be com- 
pressed in equally brief space than is pre- 
sented by the subjoined extract ftrom a note 
addressed t.o the editor of The Donaldson- 
ville ohief on Monday, the 20th in^» by 
Mr. J. A.- Meiaiicon, manager of the MdCall 
Eros'. Pltg. & Mfg^ Oo.*fe model Evan Hall 
platftation: 

"In compliance with" my promise that I 
would le( you know my opinion of ih^ oon?. ^ 
diMon ot the seed cane And . stubble crop ^n 
ter an examination, I herewith send you by . 
Mr. Geo .M. Boote samples of fftubble dug 
this day, in his presence^ . whl^h- •speak for 
themselves. No doubt there will be some 
damage, but how. much no. one can yet safe- 
ly venture tto say. Have ^always believed 
and still believe 'that whatever damage the 
oane crop has su-stained .or will sustain 1^ 
not due to the recent freeze,. bu>; mpre^ tp thet 
continued wet wetfther. Waa always, more 
h(>pe(ul of stubble than . qjaed. cane* The. 
former is better proted.edv weU surrounded. 
with earth, stationary, awaiUng^ warm 
weather to produce growth, where^ the la»«- 
ter (this season espedally) was .put down . 
crooked and green» with continued wet.^from 
the day it weni: 4 own, makins It difficult to 
keep without some wet rot. It is bow neces- 
sary to have good weather to enable plant- 
ers to proceed to plant rapidlyrae a continu? 
anoe Ok presenlc oonditiKms will not i^lp 
seed any. However, it is to be hoped that 
we may soon see the ex^ of . this terrible 
spell and thaU our seed will prove nearly. If, 
not quite as good ais the stubble prospeots . 
80 tto for the crop, of 1M9" 

The samples of stubble accompanying Mr. 
Melancon's note are white, pre^tty and. freslu . 
covered with sound, firm buds and appc^^nt- 
ly in as fine condition as could be de^red.. 

Ojher samples of both stubble cmd wind- 
lowed ease have been sent to the Chief 
from Point Houmas, Belle :Teri:e and 9t, 
E^Bima plantations, and all are secmnlngly in 
prime condition. 

Mr. B. .H. Bavtoa and Miavager; A^ |C 



Aucoin, on Saturday, made a careful ex- 
amination of cane in various portions of Mr. 
Barlon's St. Emma plantation, and found 
nothing to iffdicate that any material dam- 
age has yet been inflicted. Managers J. 
Etphege LeBlanc, of Belle Terref W. C. 
i.amson, of Peytavin; H. C. Wiilson, of Palo 
Alto; Jno. W. Tucker, of New Hope; S. L. 
Davis of Souvenir and John F. Landry of 
Riverside are all virtually of one opinion as 
to the situation, and that is found in Man- 
ager Melancon's note above quoted. Mr. 
Wilson receives a paper from his boyhood's 
home at Towson, Maryland, which reports' 
that the ground was frozen to a depth of 
only three inches in that locality by last 
week's blizzard, and /the contrast presented 
by Prof. Stubbs* report of eight and five 
inches of congealed earth at the Louisiana 
experimental sugar farm suggests the idea 
that the management of the latter institu- 
tion may have been conducting a highly 
successful experiment in super indiuclng 
abnormally deep freezes. The crusft of 
frozen earth was only about an indh and a 
half thick in 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCK.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

ate bad wea;ther is stii'l with us notwith- 
stanaing -tihe predio:ion of knowing ones 
that t^e severe freeze of last week was Its 
brciakic-s up. We have endeavored to learn 
^•rom experiencjEd plamters what was the 
probable damage to the cane crop by the un- 
preoeJeD cd coM spell, but very seldom did 
we find two of the same opinion. From 
what hia!3 been told however we are led to 
jAe conelasijn that most reports of the ex 
\.enL cl ,:he damage have been greatly ex- 
agerated. tStubbles, where the cane was pro- 
i^^uy laid by, have suffered little or no dam 
a»ge. Where the canes were not sufficiently 

.uvd, s^me ojoiage has resulted, as much 
as 50 per ceDt in places. Seed cane was most 
proljably not hurt by the cold. Its condi- 
tioQ was baid in numerous places befpre, and 
as a matter of course the cold did not help 
it. The greatest sufferer seems to have been 
the f<all pliant, more from the continued rains 
'Chan from the cold and we have not found 
a plani-er who expected anything like a fair 
stand. On account of the wet spell the 
(all planting was less than usual, and tho 
winter, and spring plantings are being so 
much delayed that the chances for a good 
sta94 are not bright. 

A novel sight was witnessed by those on 
v-e river last week. Great quantities of ice 
covered ^th snow floated down, sometimes 
almost entirely covering the surface of the 
water. The flow continued for five div>3 
during which communilcation with t!he op- 
posite side was exceeding difficult and a';eam- 
botat navigation suspended. 

Mr. Ignace Babin of St Gabriel, a prom- 
inent planter of the hfth ward, says that he 
and his brothers have succeeded in breaking 



up 250 out of 400 acres, whicfh :they expect to 
F'Ut in rice. He says, too, that their plant- 
ing will be backward this year, owing to 
the cold. . * ¥ ^ 

The mule men have found it necessary to 
put a sop to the free and easy way they 
have had of selling mules to every^y on 
time and unless a maoi has considerable 
property unencumbered, he is invaribly re- 
quired to furnish "collateral." ■ 

Mr. W. R. Barrow, formerly of Seymour- 
ville, will work the Centennial plantation, 
the last addition of dhe Eldward J. Gay P.* ft 
M. Co., Ltd., to their St. Louis plantation, 
on the tenant system. 

Mr. James C. Gallagher, formerly a ten- 
ant on the Homestead plantation of Mr. P. D. 
Roberison, has leased the plantation of 
Judge Talbot on Bayou Jacob and will sell 
the cane he raises. 

iMr. Jean Lasaerre, of Vaoherie. ^t James 
parish, has purchased the upper pai^t of Mr. 
Joseph Charleville's place on Bajrou Grosse 
Tete, and one of his sons will shortly move 
there. 

Di'strict court adjourned last Monday after 
a four weeks' session, and Hon. Judge Tal-" 
hot and District Attorney Alexander Hebert 
left on Tuesday for Point Coupee parish. 

A party who has just come from the 
Homestead plantation of Mr. Frederick D. 
ivobertson, brought several stalks Of fall 
cane amd also several stubbles. The stub- 
bies from new ground with only a light cov- 
ering of earth were fn good shape, two and 
three good eyes on each. The fall plant 
showed a fair number of good swollen eyes 
and several who saw it think a fair stand 
may be expected. The stubble from old 
l£jnd did not show up so well. Mr. Robert- 
son says to-day, Wednesday, is the firfr't day 
he has examined his cane since the co^ 
spell and he is now more hopeful. 

Iberville, 



West Baton Rouge. 

(SPSCUL CORaBSPONDBNCB.) 

JSdOor Louisiana Planter: 

Never before w«b the weather such a 
fruiitful topic of discu-ssion as it has been 
dniring the pta&t week or ten days. Indeed, 
;.!he subject is being discussed from almost 
every conceivable standpoint, and is being 
torn to tatters. Those who had thermom- 
eters during the late arotlc speil could prove 
by their -in»:rumenJt8 tbflit it was cold, while 
parties who had none were compelled to 
rely upon their phyeloal senses to realize 
(the fiaot that the mercury was hovering 
around the zero mark. The thermometer ait 
Poplar Grove and that of the writer botJh 
registered a minimum of 2 degrees aboTS 
zero, while the self-regiiStering insitrimi^nt 
ai Cinclare marked 2 below. At all events, 
it was > cold for cane and everything edse. 

Opinions as to the effects of this severe 
freeze differ almost as widely as the in- 
dividxials from whom they emanate.. These 
opinions range all the way from the pessi- 
mist Jc statement of an old planter to the" 



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[Vol. xxn. No. 8. 



effeot thatt Che oane stubble and plant ie 
Fuiniod, to tbe opthnietic view en*tei1)ain«d 
by others that llittle or no dama^pe hats been 
done. Lt is probalile tihai the truth ranges 
about mJidway between these two est^mea. 
During the pas:, week careful •inveatiCTtions 
have been made on mo^t of the pltemt^tiona 
here to learn as far as an examination at 
this time will reveal it, the nature and ex- 
LeDt of tne injury done. It is genienally con- 
ceded thalt second year's stubble is pnaotical- 
ly l<^t. Jbt is as to the plant oane and first 
y€dr> stubble that Lhe greater diversity 
exi-atts. The examinations referred to aibove 
revealed the fact thiat the damiage is greater 
cm some places than oilhers, due, no doubt, 
to tihe difference in soil cultivation and the 
manner in wiiich the seed oanie was puft 
down. 

Dn one point a large majority of the 
plant^^ agree and thait is that the bad con- 
dition of the oane is due more to the in- 
cessant rains oi the past winter than to the 
severe freeze Jl.self. On at leaat two planita- 
tions all the cane seems to be totally lost. 
One of these planters, so I unde>rsband is 
hauling his seed cane out of the field and> 
dumping ft in the horse kS; and the otbet 
is thinking of cultivating hda "plantatloli in 
cotton this year. Another old planter says 
he win be «aiti«fled if he can save enough 
seed:jhis year for next year's planting. The 
more conservative plantew'^. however, ex- 
press i!he opinion that it is yet too early 
to determine the extenit of ihe dajnage done, 
and that a great deail -will depend upon the 
weather during the next iew weeks. 

Never before in the hisl.ory of this par- 
isli has so little field work been done as up 
to the present time. Two planters report 
having plowed a to»jal of eight days this 
year, and sjhat was done in tihe nwid. On 
other places practically not a stroke of work 
ha3 been dohie since Jan. 1. Tliere is a great 
deal of destitution among the negro iabcor- 
era on the various plantationB, and many 
would feel the pamgs of hunger, if fi: were 
not tor the fcind-liearted planters who see 
to - tnat woric or no work, their hands 
are fed and provided wit h fuel. Many plant- 
era fhad hoped to get a start in the field this 
we€*. but a rain Friday night, followed by 
another Monday evening, put a quietus on 
their efforts. La£t. year at this time half 
the crop was planted/ With a short crop last 
year and serious injury already don^ plant 
and stubble H goes withoot say4ng thafc the 
outOook just now is decidedly gloomy in 
Wwn Baton Rouoe. 



Assumption. 

(8P1CTAL CORBSSPONDBNCB.) 

Bditar Louitiana Planter: 

The wea;ther of last week and the results 
therefrom, will be about the extent of mat- 
ter in this letter, as otfherwise but little is 
left to ^e said. The concensus of opinion 
among imtelligent planters with whom I 
have discussed the results of the cold spell 
may be summed up about as follows: No 
damage lias been done ko the cane in wind* 



row, and Lf defective <lt is not as the result 
of the cold. There is damage to stubble, 
but the extent will in a large measure de- 
pend on the weal:her to come. Most of them 
contend that there is enough left to give a 
stand, if we have favorable weather from 
now on. On the other hand they agree thaii 
the vi.ality of tbe good eyes haa been im- 
paired, and that with a late spring alternat:- 
AUg warm and cold, particularly with much 
rain the cnances of a good stubble crop 
would be slim. The above is I believe a fair 
ooncendus of opinion, there being extremists 
both ways, some coEi.ending tliat no dam- 
age has been done io the stubble, others 
more pessimistic stating that the condition 
of the 6l.ubble crop is so serious that ihere 
will not be enough to make seed-cane. 

The temperature in Assumption was not 
lower than five degrees as a general thing. 
The ofBciail inslurument of Mr. Jas. E. Le- 
Blanc registered six, and a majority of the 
other instruments were about five. On 
Belle Alliance the mercury, we are told, 
registered 1 degree. Several remarkable 
facts stand out as di£<:ingulshing this snap 
from its predecessors. One of course was 
tftf» ftiet that it Was colder than any othei* 
sn<ap, another thai: the cold was greater in 
Donaldsonville and vioiniky than further 
down the Lafourche, the conti^ary being 
usually the case. The difference in tempera- 
ture here and in New Orleans was also much 
lees than usual. Tliese seem from all I can 
learn to be fad s, their causes I cannot state, 
-4»t ifhey are worthy of being recorded. Ice 
fioaited down the liafourohe from Wednesday 
night, and this imoming a Ifttle was still to 
be seen, i am told i^hat Lake Verret was 
frozen all the way across, and that the Ice 
was strong enough to support a man's 
weight two arpents tvom shore. Some are 
hopeful tJat ilie water hyacinths will be 
greatly decreased from the cold. The marais 
WB»' frozen solid, and supported the weight 
of men and horses. In January '86 the low- 
est temperafture recorded (then a supposed 
record' bi'eaker) was eight degrees above 
zero. The cold • <hat year as well as in '95 
the year of the snow was much longer in 
duration than the freezing weather of last 
week. Some planters contend that as long 
as the stubble is dormcml; there cannot be 
much Injury done by the cold. There has 
been no field work done in Assumption for 
several weeks. Very tittle cane has been 
planted and the managers are glad of it as 
.aey say 'the cane will be the bet:er for be- 
^ 7 n the warm windrow, rather than plant- 
ed. One planter told me that he had ex- 
amined some fall plant and found ail the 
depth of not more than three inches sound 
canes, with sprouts uninjured. Tiie roads 
have never been as bad as they are now in 
Assumption for as 1on«r a tkme, the little 
passenger boais are reaping a rich liarveat 
as no one begrudges Cat>t OoniE^^ntin the 
profits frbm an enN«rprise as beneflchil to 
the public as h'i>s has been. Court opened 
on Monday and botli lawyens and Chrand 
Juronr came by boat 



I learn that Mr. Clarence Barton has 
rented for a term of six years the Wild- 
wood plantation. He spoke at one time oC 
building a train to his Little Texas factory, 
but he will probably do it another year. Oak- 
ley has contmcted tor new miUs, and will 
probably put^a^trson tapping the Alitakapas 
canal country,, a rich section that wHti pro- 
per inducements will raise annually a large 
amount of cana The recent sales of land in 
Assumpi.icp maintain tihe high value that 
sugar property has always commanded here, 
and sAiow that the confidence in sugar is 
still unaijated. 

There has been a good dea) .of la Grippe 
in .assumption. Mr. L. U. Folse.is at pres- 
ent con-ned to his bed, and Judge Guion \m 
just out after a severe aSttack. Mr. W. D. 
Ste&a, of Chicago, was a recent visiitor to 
relatives here« coming up in the midvit of 
the snow. 

Among recent visitors to Assumption we 
note Messns. Beaittie, Fus^, Howeir, Martin, 
Sims, and MoCul'lah. DUist Atty. Oondran is 
also here in attendance on court Incident- 
ally we mi^: include a sfhort visit from 
Zero Weather; the la)tter was by no means 
a W^ldo'me guest 

Mori Anon. 



Terrebonne. 

iFPECUL CORRtSPONDKNCC. ) 

BdUor LouiBianm Planimr: 

Owing to the too moist condition of tbe 
soil no field work of any consequence was 
accomplished last weefk, and the showers 
on Monday af^ternoon and during the early 
part of the nignt may delay ploughing unUl 
next week. The rains were such as to thor- 
ou«^ly saturate the soil, and warmth and 
sunshine are wanted not only to dry the 
ground but start vege^tation in the canes 
planted and the eyes of the stubble unin- 
jured by the detrimental climatic extremes, 
which have latterly been so complex in their 
character, and fortunately such as are rarely 
encountered in a lifetime. 

On some places the major portion of tbe 
seed cane has been planted and on o.bers 
but a limited acreage has been seededi 

Some report the seed cane ip the windrow 
bJt little aftec.ed by the recent freeze, and 
if sucb proves tbe case, plantings should pro- 
ceed rapidly when the weatber wlil permit. 

iWhere plaiOlngs have about terminated 
preparatitMis are being made to shave tbe 
stubble fields as rapidly as circumstances 
will permit, and the cane acreage will be 
seeded at an early da:e. All are anxiously 
hoping for dry, warm wei^ther— the former 
especially as work is now backward on 
many places. 

It may be some Ifttle time before really 
just conclusions may be arrived at as lo 
the outlook for a crop this Season; it may 
be below or above expec^tions; it will cer- 
tainly not be the latter if the fields are 
rf^'j^lected, and the chances of a crop an- 
other year greatly reduced. 

Partial failures have been experienced in 
tbe past, without extremely low tempera- 



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TBB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAA MANUPACTURBIt 



119 



tures, brooght about by other deftrimen/tal 
meterokogical influencee. 

The dredge boat in the Bayou Terrebonne 
has made rapid mrogreae and is now not far 
from Schriever, where tihe work will prob- 
ably terminate lor the time being at lelast 
rhe boei: in lower Bayou Blaick 1qb» re- 
sumed wiork fiince the beginnisng of itihe new 
year. 

Wednesday morning raine, and cloudy 
during the day; Thursday, cloudy and cool; 
Friday and baturday, warmer anrf^ partially 
ckMM^; Sunday, bright sune^lne; Monday, 
cloudy In the morning, with showers dur- 
ing the day and at night; Tuesday, balmy 
and cloudy and Wednesday morning, waim 
and overoaat;' ■ ^ 

'' Terrebonne. 



St* Mary. 

iWrmOAL OOSaBSPONDBNCB*) 

Editor Louinana Planter: 

The coudition o^ the parish roads of Sit. 
Mary a:t th^ present time, is by far, the most 
remarkable that Ims been seen at any period 
since tihe Civil War; this is ^e universal 
belief of the oldest of our weather observing 
dtizenB. The radns of the last three jnfionths 
came hi a measure, in their regular term; 
but titoae preceding them, belonging, as ihey 
did. In Jane of 1898, were so heavy and con- 
tinuous that the winter rsAnj season grafted 
Mself immediately upon that of the sum- 
mer, and, at the same time, upon an almost 
inipeasabie road system. 

And' though it 1b asserted that good 
weather is now near at hand, the unfavor- 
able growing and harvesting season of 1898, 
Hill 4iave a deep seated recolleodon allotted 
to it by the sugar planters; as dt prohibited 
the cane from readhing a profitable stage 
of maturity at any time during the harvest, 
and besides entailed upon the planter a tre- 
meodoius extra expense In moving the raw 
materlaJ from the field to the place of man- 
ofaoiure. ' 

Your correspondent hcis been informed 
that tlie new method of cane purchaeing— 
on the sucrose test plan — so ably discussed 
before the Sugar Planters' Association in 
New Orleans, on the 9th of j!9,nuary, by sev- 
eral of t^iB members and others— 'WUl meet 
with the approval of the sugar producer 
of tioia parish, for two reas<ms: First, he 
does not expect to see Just such another 
season as the one which, owing to the 
weakness of saonharine propeities, has 
forced the planter to protect himself by the 
test purchasing plan; and, seoond, because 
he is confident that, even had the test sys- 
tem been in general operation, throughout 
the parish during last season, bis goods 
vottld have reached so mucfh above his 
oelghoors in the other parishes /nto which 
z'ye St Mary manufacturer readies every 
year for surplus cane, that the balance 
would have been struck decidedly in his 
favor, owing to the great superiority of our 
soil for the production of sugar cane over 
lbe!r own. 
The spacious and palatial home of Mr. 



T. J. Shaffer, on his Anna plantation, Is 
now nearing completion, having been begun 
ne&rly a year ago ; and Mr. Shaffer says his 
improvements for ithis year are not com- 
menced— that he will pass right on into the 
present year with his large force ot build- 
ensj in the making of other extensive im- 
provements. 

The sleet storm and freezes following it, 
of the 13th, 14:th and l&th, it is feared, will 
do -some damage to the stubble and seed 
cane in low places, however covered, and 
upon the higher lands wfhere tihe covering 
is thin and drainage imperfect But it is 
the general impression that the cane yet 
in the mats is undisturbed. 

Untler the clear sunishine of Saturday .and 
Sunday, the ground had begun to dry out 
nicely, but the downpour, beginning Monday 
morning, wiU set farming operations back 
another period. . St, Mart. 



Vermilion. 

(8PBC1AL C0RRB8P0NDENCB.) 

Editor Louiiiana Planter: 

There has been but little if any improve- 
ment in the weath^* since my y^c^t. letter. 
In fact at the present time the rain ^-j^our^ 
ing cow:, in torrents and has been for die 
paat three nours. The last days of last we^, 
including Sunday of ihis week, were bright, 
beautiful days, and it was hoped by all that 
the weather had changed and that now,: and 
from now on, we would have some good 
weather; but to-day's happenings have 
proved -otherwise. The first days of l&sn. week, 
anJ immediately after the snow had dis- 
appeared, we had several day^ of rain which 
was thought to be beneficial to the stubble 
and seed can€(, and on Friday nig^t a 
good old fashioned thunder storm came up 
and a very heavy rainfall was experienced. 
The weather prognosticators or prevarir 
cators, we can't say which, told us Saturday 
xhat a permanent change had taken place 
in the weather coDditions and that we would 
LOW have a spell of good farming weather. 

They based ; their opinion on the thunder 
accompaning this rain— ^n^ their itrophesies 
have proved to l>e all thunder. The whole 
situation in this parish, as far as cane farm- 
ing is concerned, is very gloomy and most 
critical. If the weather does not clear up 
in a few days and give the cane men a 
chance to plant the cane that the cold 
weather was merciful enough to leave 
him there, will not be enough of cane 
made in Vermilion Parish this year to run 
a one-horse syrup mill ten days. It is im- 
possible to determine yet Just the extent of 
damage caused by the recent freeze, but it U 
thought by the more conservative planters 
that at least one-fourth of the seed cane is 
deiiiroyed, and that the first year s;ubb'^ 
is damaged oonsiderably though a fair stand 
may be obtained If the weather would clear 
up and give the farmers an opportunity to 
bar oK their stubble and shave it before 
the effects of the sour stalk could kill the 
eyes still living. The seoond year stub 
is almost all killed. Tour correspondent 



carefully examined first year's stubble last 
Saturday, lath ,and out of a dozen^xK>ts we 
found from one to five perfect eyes on eaL j 
root, these eyes were low down nea^ the bot- 
tom d the root— the eyes near the top were 
all killed, then we examined as mlmy roots 
of seoond year stubble and failed Ho find a 
good eye in the entire lot. Several planters 
throughout the parish report both stubble 
and seed good. (From the present outlook 
and with favora'ble weather we may expect 
about a half a crop, rrhere had been- but 
very little cane planted and the general ;ce^ 
port from that that was plimted* is very dis- 
couraging. Mr. Christian dtauffer, one of 
the most successful cane planters In the par- 
ish, planted nine acres of cane during the 
month of December. A lew days before the 
cold and snow ^he had the cane examined and 
found it to be perfectly sound and spitHiting, 
a few days after the snow he again examin- 
ed it and found it to be almost if not en-: 
tirely dead. Others who planted report the 
same results. 

The rice farmer is being thrown back by 
the excessive wet weather but instead of the 
fre^se hurting him it did him good in as 
much as it will snilverize his ^oili ajnid,kill 
out tihe numerous insects thcut have been ac- 
cumulating for years.. The cane man, t^e 
rice man, the : oorn man, the cotton man 
and in fact all men of every vocation or call- 
ing have been damiaged by this abundance 
of rainfall. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(tPICIAL C0RKK8PCKDKKCB. ) 

Editor Louinutui Planter: 

Will lie the days have grown warmer than 
they were a week past the ground has 
dried out but very litile. It is now too wet 
to plow; the ground is soggy and unfit to 
work, with the prospects at present writing 
for more rain during the next twenty-four 
hours. 

The question of planting is now beginning 
to be seriously considered, but what is to 
be done? We can only rest, until a time 
does come for the rains andi bad weather. 
to clear off and then get out with a heavy 
force of men and teame to plowing and 
planting as fast as the land can be pre? 
pared to receive the grain or seed. To be 
sure inch methods are never satisfactory 
to i.he planter. However, this is a case 
of necessity and it is out of the question to 
avoid it Conditions are presented and that 
is all there is of it. In regard to the stubble 
and the effect the freeze had on it, I have 
heard various opinions expressed. There 
are some wtho seem to think that the stubble 
is all dead. Instances where the stubble 
was cut into while the treeze was at its 
worst, showed the ground frozen down to 
the mother cane in a solid block. 

To be sure, this would ito all appearances 
indicate that all life in the stubble had been 
destroyed. 

Buit take this statement as it is and I still 
think, as I expressed It iast week; that by 
sihaving the stubble as early as possible, 



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[VpL.XXn,Jilo. 8. 



(there is a hope that some of it may be saved. 
Conditions are not always the same; if they 
were every cane fifrower in the state would 
to-day approximately know the extent of 
damase,. if any at all brought e^ut by 
the. freeze and the varied weather conditions. 

The freeze not only penetrated the stub- 
ble, it went down into ithe seed cane in the 
windrows. A cane grower living near by, 
dug down into his seed cane In w^row, 
as ,£Oon as the ground thawed so he could 
dig, and when he reached his canie, which 
had been covered, dug and rolled when 
laid down, he reported to me that he found 
an, abundance oif frost in the canes from top 
to bottom and that too, with good drainage. . 

But strange to relate, the samples of cane^, 
taken out did not show any deterioration.. 
They were sound and sweet to thi^ taste, 
and the eyes aj;>peared to be perfectly sound. 
This is one instance. Others seem to think 
thart seed cane has been injured. There ds 
one sure test, and that is when the seed 
cane has to be pulled out to the ligh^t of 
day >for planting. Until then it is all sur- 
mising. It will 'be remembered that ^he 
planters' scribe has in past years ^inted 
more than once of the advisability of in 
all years putting down an abundance of seeu 
cane. It is better far to have toe much than 
not enougih; very few years pass by that 
there is not a demand for seed cane: tinere- 
fore I contend that the planter having a 
surplus of seed— -some to spare— Is in the 
very best shape possible for making a crop; 
while (n the other hAT^d. if he Is from some 
one or more causes short In seed, tt will 
likely be turned bad luck. Properly, it is . 
wanit of sound Judgment more than aught 
else and should be charged to that account 

I understand that Mr. F. Regard, of Cotton 
Port, after much delay finally got the 
"MiJPtha" sugar factory sftarted lip. It was 
stated to me that the factory had not fln- 
l^ed grinding last week. What success 
tihe place was meeting with, I was ,unable 
to learn. 

Ilapides has 16st cL good man in the death 
on the l^fch in^., of Dr. S. P. Meeker at his 
home on Bayou Boeuf, Home Place plan- 
tation; may he rest in peace. 

Erik. 



5t. James— Left Bank. 

(8PB0IAL CORRESPONDElffCB.) 

Editor IjOuUiatui PUinter: 

Afthou^h the general opinion was that the 
terrible freeze which visited the entire 
coun'try during 'the past ten days, would be 
productive of a material change in the me- 
teorologica»l record, which has been one of 
the most destressing experienced sincQ a 
long 'time, yet such has not been the case to 
a very great extemt Still the temperature 
has been greatly moderated, compared to 
what we have had previously. Owing to 
absence, I was unable to send In any com- 
munication for the parft week and thus did 
not give any account of the blizzard, but 
as everywhere else, the results are not so 
atarmingly harmful as was at first general- 



ly supposed. The plan^iers of our section 
wrre rather worried and some thought that 
the cane crop was entirely lost, bu!: upon 
investigation on some places, 'they found 
that the bottom eyes of the 8i:ubbles were 
not injured and well alive. The plant .cane is 
a lidtle damaged. The thermometer in St. 
Jam€s on Monday morning regisi.ered 6 deg. 
above zero, though many report having seen 
three deg. - and IL is to the coatings of snow, 
sleti. anu ice that the crops owe their protec- 
tion. Tjis week so far, we have had Mon- 
day with rain and fog '.he entire day; Tues- 
day .morniiiig, a heavy fog; lasted until al- 
mos*t ten o'clock, but from then we had a 
nice sunny afternoon. So little dry weather 
bad, been experienced 'that no planting or 
work of any consequence has been done so 
far. 

Some of the different properties of our 
parish have changed hands lately. . Mr. 
George Schepp, of Colomb Park, has sold his 
propel'. y to Dr. B. A. Caloonb, of Tippecanoe 
p.aa'tat.on, anti Mr.. Schepp has purchased in 
his 'turn the tract of land belonging to Mr. 
Ernest V icknair for '.he sum of |8,000, on the 
right bank. This property consists of a 
number of acres of very good lands, well 
situated for rice cultivation and besidies a 
palJ :al residence was built about two years 
ago surrounded by a fine orchard and beauti- 
fur flower garden. Mr. bchepp was formerly 
a plan'ter, but for the past few years had 
given It up and was interested in Khe real 
estate business, but he now thinks it pre- 
ferable '.o engage in his former occupation. 

General regret is felt by all who are ac- 
quainted with Mr. J. M. Breaux, to hear of 
his removal from the Monroe plantation in 
Ascension, '.o Terrebonne pairis-h, where he 
has purchased an interest in a large sugar 
eata'ce. Mr. Bieaux and family are highly 
esteemed by all in St. James and their re- 
moval Will be greatly fe?:. 

Convent. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDRNCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Since our blizzard an^d complete freeze-up 
we have found out that we live in L#ouisIana 
instead of the frozen North, but the mild 
weather has brought rain and windy weath- 
er, and conditions upon the farm are so un- 
favorable tha: nothing can be done as yet, 
except to open ditches to drain the fields. 
We look for the present week to end the 
cold and rain, but we have been ctoing this 
all winter and we have found ouit that we 
do not know anything about the future 
weather. I note that one weather prophet 
predicted that we would have no more ice 
in the South after Jan. 1st and we don't be- 
lieve he was right. 

The weather is very changeable and it is 
hard to tell what is in store for us, but all 
Xarm work is lagging and farmers very un- 
easy, and it will either have to stop rain- 
ing or we will have to stop farming, and 
it is hard to tell which will win. 

Some of our more progressive farmers feel 



a live in:erest in the Japan rice which Prof. 
Stubbs is offering to distribute among the 
farmers, and if those who try it will piU 4t 
on nehv soil away from any other rice, and 
give it the a:tentlon it should have, there Is 
no reason why the farmers can not keep ft 
pure for many seasons, and while they are 
caring for this rice in this way, let them go 
over ;he old rice fields and kill out the red 
rice and grass and get the soil in shape for 
pure seed ,instead of continually cropping 
the old lands regardiless of all loul matter 
and preventing any advancement alone: tSiis 
line of farming. A «ood quantity of Japoi 
seed has been secured by many of our fann- 
ers, which seed, it is claimed, was Imported 
last season, and it looks very much like 
this variety will become the leading variety 
of rice in our section before many seasons 
have gone by. A few yeats ago the Caro- 
lina rice attrdcfted considerable attention, 
buii after it was well tested, it was found 
to lack some impoptan't qualities — various 
complaints were made of It-^and ft was 
abandoned and siivce then the Japan, rloe has 
been growing In favor, and I do not hear 
of any serious objections to ft, only what 
came from one or two rice millers, but their 
statements were found to be selfieh iSAtead 
of substantial, as has since beea proven. 
Some think It is a little m(H*e liable to lodge 
on new land owing to its yielding so iieavily, 
but it la most decidedly preferable on (rfd 
soil for it will yield more than otSier. lEarle- 
ties on such soil and will not blow down as 
easily.' Of la'te years we seem to be getting 
all our rains in the winter and we would be 
thankful to somebody if they woirid find a 
winter variety of rice so we can grofw two 
crops a year, and then if the summer crop 
faHs, tthe winter crop may pay the loss. If 
famers raise any corn -this season It will be 
a very late crop for no one has thought ot 
preparing tue soil as yet, and H lootes like 
the weather did not Intend to let any bo^ 
start a plow for the next Ihree weeks. 

Nearly all he sweet potato ckh) was ruined 
las't fall by the rainy weaiher and the por- 

. tion which was dug did not keep any time, 
so the country is almost without a potato 
to plant, and very few farmers have any 
to eat. No effort has been made as ye* to 
plant any oats, and it is likely to be an oif 
year lor that crop^ No one knows^ as yet, 

, in wha: condition the seed cane is since the 
freeze, but most farmers <think h is gone, 
and the ertubble as well, for it only hadi slight 
protection, and 'the ground froze four inches 
deep where there was no grass for protec- 
tion. Orange, peach and pear trees now 
show the effects of the cold. 

Calcasibu Rice Birb. 



Mr. R. R. Cocke was a visitor to New 
Orelans a few days ago. Mr. Cocke is one 
of the leading cane growers of -the state. 

Prof. L. A. Becnel, who Is widely known 
as a prominent sugar hou-e superintendent 
and Cx^emical expert, was -in the city last 
Thursday for the purpose of attending the 
meeting of the Louisiana Sugar Planters' As- 
sociation. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLA.NTER AND SUGAR MAKUFAOTUREftc 



lil 



FOREIGN LBTTBR& 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Bwlin. Jan. 28th. 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

In the ever varying weather we have this 
time to note only one change, but it must be 
admRted a rather radical one. From spring- 
like warm}:h it changed suddenly to serious 
cold, so that for once we had quite season- 
able weather. The temperature sank as low 
as 6 degrees below zero, and as fortunately 
the freezing days had been dry, in general 
the fields, whose condition is so far prettj 
sa.dsfaotory, were not exposed to the forma- 
tion of Ice. It is only a pi.ty that the frost 
has not arrived accompanied by copious fall 
of snow, which anyway is necessary to fur- 
nish the win*.«r moisture and some protec- 
tion against the inclemencies of the weather 
which may «et In In the next few weeks to 
come. About >bhe same Is the situation in 
the other beet growing countries of Eu- 
rope, at least in the central parL From 
Russia no later advices are to hand. 

In many papers, German and foreign. It 
has been noted that on January 11th, 1899, 
the beet sugar Industry celebrated its hun- 
dredth anniversary, as on that date a hun- 
dred years ago Achard submitted to the 
King Frederick Wilhelm III of Prussia a 
report of certain successful experiments 
made in the production of sugar from beets, 
which was accompanied by samples of the 
new kind of sweet, and it is alleged that with 
vhis report the feasibility of beet sugar 
production was for JtJhe first time practically 
demonstrated. 

Th4s, however, is not correct It is a well 
known fact that Marggraf in 1747 discovered 
the sugar In ^Jie beet and that this discovery 
was laid before the Academy of Science in 
Berlin In that year, so that the jubilee of the 
beet sugar industry sfhould have been oele- 
braited in. 1847. It is true, (however, tha'i 
about 40 years elapsed before the discovery 
of Marggraf was developed Into practical re- 
sults. A scholar of the latter scientisit, 
Achard, undertook in 1786 experiments In 
growing beets rich In saccharine matters, 
and he not only succeeded in this respect, 
bu: he also extracted sugar from the roots; 
of course, only on a small scale. Achard 
begged the king to grant him a privilege for 
the manufaoture of beet sugar for ten years 
and at the same time wiished to have given 
him an estate on which he mighi: continue 
his experiments and eventually build a fac- 
tory, but these wishes were not complied 
with. A royal commission was appointed 
to examine the experiments of Achard, and 
consequentj to the report of this commission 
it was intended to aulld a small factory; 
but this plan never was executed. In 1801, 
when King Frederick Wilhelm condescended 
to support Achard's aspirations by a loan, 
the latter was enabled tto buy an estate in 
Silesia ahd to construct a factory, which. 



in the month of Mardh, 1802, started work. 
It was, no doubt, a memorable momenit In 
the history of the sugar industry, when Ach- 
ard presented in 1797 his report to the 
king, but for jubilees, either the year 1747 
or vhe year 1802 should be taken as depar- 
tures, the latter because the Industry was 
really started in 1802. 

■The imiK)rtance of sugar as a muscle- 
strengthening substance is more and more 
recognized, and particularly lihe movement 
started in Germany, to introduce sugar into 
the diet of the military is attracting a'tten- 
tion also in 'Oi;her countries. The Fren'oh pap- 
ers are lively discussing 'che subject and in 
favor of the theory in question many ex- 
amples are quoted. But there are also pa- 
pens which are seOting forth adverse opin- 
ions, and one of them believes that the 
use of sugar appears to have the same ef- 
fedw as alcohol, which excites the nervous 
system and also causes a greater activity 
of muscular power, which excitement, how- 
ever, abates very soon, leaving a depression 
in the brain as well as in the muscles. To 
thiis, however. It Is justly replied thalc the 
action of sugar in the human body is quite 
different, and that it consists principally In 
an addiition of Strength which the healthy 
body is able to retain. Whilst alcohol Is ex- 
clang, ncL increasing the human faculties, 
either mental or phyisical. Unfortunately 
the quad. ion makes very slow headway in 
Gc'.jiany, and this must be regretted the 
more, as in France the soldiers' diet com- 
prises already sugar, not in large rations, it 
is true, whilst Lhe English soldiers get a 
much larger portion. The minister of 
agriculture in the Prussian lower chamber 
questioned on the point, remarked that the 
government had nci: lost sight of It, and that 
with a view of increasing the consumption 
of sugar measures should be .taken to 
reach as soon as possible th« desired ob- 
jeci-. That the German sugar manufactur- 
ers do not see the use of iche measure In 
the direct increase of sugar consumption In 
propagating the taste for sugar in classes of 
the population, who so far have almost done 
wXhouiw sugar, I wrote you already. 

The late discussions in the French cham- 
Chamber of Deputies have sufficiently and 
clearly demonstrated that for the present 
fiscal year no change in the bounty laws is 
intended either by the Government or by 
Parliament. But it seems probable that later 
en the sugar legislation of France will un- 
dergo some revision and this, as may be 
supposed, on account of the extraordinary 
high yield, the French fabricanJts have ob- 
tained this and the last year. In this re- 
spect an increase of the so called legal yield 
must be expected, but the best change would 
be ':o rednce the tax which at present Is 
double tne amount of what the sugar 4s un- 
taxed. A tax of that magnitude (Should be 
borne only by articles whose consumption 
for hygienic or moral reasons is ndt desira- 
ble, or what must absolutely be claaeed 



among^ the articles of luxury. I don't 
ichlnk ithat any legislator of a clVlUeed coun- 
try would be as bold as to keep up such an 
assertion. 

The markets evinced last week ooce again 
a more cheerful feeling, the dullness giving 
wa^' all round to a brisk business and prices 
moving almost without interruption In an 
upward direction. This change, which of 
course jeas Strenuously longed for is due to 
different causes. In the first place. It Is 
due to a revival of the demand on the part 
of the trade. The prices, it was comcluded, 
wore down to a point which hardly could in- 
volve any risk and on Sthls ground specu- 
lation and bonafide buying took place on. a 
larger scale than for a long time since. 
Prices for actual 88 pcL sugars advanced to 
the ex'cent of 30 pffennigs. are now quoted 
at Madgeburg at M. 10. 25-10.47, and delivery 
January closed at M. 9.55 f. o. b. Hamburg. 
12i/^->25 pffenmigs higher. 

ROBT. Hennio. 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL COBRBSPONDENCE.) 

Berlin. Feb. 4tai, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The climatic conditions of the week under 
review formed m general a continuation oi. 
the weather as It set In in the second half 
of last week, inasmuch as moderate frost 
has prevailed. A few days, h is true, it 
seemed that the former muddy weather 
would return, but tJhe sky clearing up the 
temperature went down again and the win- 
ter, which ait least had begun, has so far kept 
on. There have been also some snow falls, 
so that the country outwardly offers the 
aspect of the season. However, with re- 
gard to this point, the weather leaves a lit- 
tle to be desired as the layer ol snow spread 
on the fields la imuch too thdn ^o furnish a 
protecting cover for the cereals sown In ithe 
fall and rather hurriedly grown under the 
infiuence of the mlW temperature prevail- 
ing hidherto. The first warm sunshine 
would thaw off the li.tle bit of snow fallen 
last week and then considerable harm may 
tjnsue. Anyway my apprehension that the 
winter might come late and last long bide 
fair to become a trusih and this, as we have 
seen last year. Is not favorable for beet 
growing. Colder weatiher and light frosts 
are also reported from abroad and for the 
present these metearological conditions are 
ever welcome from an agricultural -point of 
view, whilst on the other hand they will 
put a stop to river navigation and thus In- 
terefere with the exportation of sugar. 

The attention of commercial circles Is now 
principally directed Ko the magnitude of the 
area to be planted with beet this year. As 
to Germany, It Is surmised that In -ihis coun- 
try an Increase Is pret/ty sure to takf place 
on account of tJhe Increased contingent Which 
for the year 1899-1900 Is fixed at 1,889.318 
tons, as aglnst 1,803,225 tons In 1898-1899. 
.his conwlUBlon is, however, unfoRMided, as 
the experience of last year has »hown. for 



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THB L0UI8L1NA PLANTER A. 1 SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



cvoi xxn, No. «. 



which the <JOtttingent was raised from 1,756,- 
4S2 tons to 1.803,226 tx)ns. whilst the area 
sown witn beets aocreased from 437,174 hec- 
tares to 426,641 hectares, as besides the yield 
per acre turned out lo be &hort, the produc- 
tion fell off from 1,844,399 tons to 1,684,000 
tons (estimates). The area of beet sowings 
may or may not be increased; at all events, 
the coniin^ent and its aug^mented figures 
are in no way accountable for it, and it is 
not superfluous to put this in due evidence 
as the bear -speculators endeavor to t^e ad- 
vantage of the argpumen'. in queistion to the 
decriment of the sugar prodttcing fraternity. 
As to other countries it is about certain that 
In Russia, where a great many new factories, 
are said to be constructing, end in Sweden, 
somew'hait more beets will be sown >.han last 
year. 

T'he sugar industry of Italy has been so 
far quite insignificant and the consumption 
of the country, althoug;h not veryj large 
either, was in the bulk covered by topbrta- 
ti on— principally from Austria. This condi- 
wion OL matters, Jiowever, is very likely to 
change in the very near future. Italian 
oapitalists have been Induced to take an in- 
terest in the beet sugar industry so that d'^- 
ferent projeets of new faoiorles have been 
formed and some of '.tnem. it seems, are al- 
ready in ' progress of execution. Thus the 
IScciete iDingures Lombarda at Genoa will 
found 'two factories at Parma and Monte- 
pulciano; Messrs. Sdhiafflno and Rohcallo 
will build another at ' t^ontclagoscurt), * ftnd 
Mr. Bvasilio Piaggio has erected a beet 
sugar mill at Prima Porta, near ^>Qine. All 
these factories, are expected to start in «;he 
course of the present year, 1899, and It is 
believed that afterwards the sugar prodnc- 
•:ion of Italy will be flfufflcient to satisfy the 
requirements of the country, the more so as 
hcime grown sugar is enjoying big fiscal ad- 
vantages. Foreign raw sugar is, in Italy, sub- 
ject to a duty of 88 lire (francs) wliilst the 
hf»me grown product pays only 67.20 lire per 
ki]ogr.. but as no^t all the sugar is taxed the 
difference in favor of Italian 'manufacturer is 
^till large and in consequence the latter is 
able to undersell his foreign competitor, so 
thit the cry "I'raly for Italian sugar" will 
soon become a truth. 

The French wine growers are makiup ^^ 
forts to get rid of the provision of the sugar 
law now in force relating to the tax on such 
srgars as are used for the inaprovement. of 
t'he quality of the wine by adding them to 
t'he juice before fermentation. The wine 
growers, as 'hey say. would have no objec- 
tion to the clause, if sugar with the reduced 
tax was only used in that way, but they com- 
plain of an abuse consisting in the mannfac- 
tiiie of artificial wine which then is mixed 
with the natural product, by wlilch means 
t'he interests of the wine growing Industry 
•may be injured to some extent. Motions 
have been already submitted to the chamber 
of deputies for the purpose of cancelling the 
provision. But it is hardly possible thsDt a 
'leajal prescription, which, in spite of the dis- 
satisfaction evinced by a number of wine 
producing gentlemen, is also very useful *'^ 
that Dran-cfh of agricultural industry, will be 
sf aside without much ceremony, as the 
sugar industry people who are highly inter- 
ested in the question and who psi^ps would 
lose part of their customers, no doubt will 
•do all in their power to 'defeat fheir on- 
sla^ight against the consumption of sugar, 
which, by the way, in France is by far 
more in need of measures appropriate to Its 
increase than to i^'s decrease. On account 
of the small increase of population in 
France, or rather the stagnation of the same, 
the increase of consumotlon in that coun'tTy 
is restricted to the consumption per capita 
af^d if this In anyway is interfered with an 
adverse movemen'^ muet be expected, nay, 
a«> it seems, has taken place already. 
In the discnssions of the special press and 



of the meeting of the German fabrlcante, 
tne processes for working the drawings of 
first runnings absorb a great space at pres- 
ent. Of late there have been especially the 
processes of Mr. Hentzel and Mr. Grosse, 
wiiich attracted general attention, but on 
who£e merits I am unable to enlajige, be- 
cause of the small space allotted ^^o me. 

The markets, although not without some 
fiuctuations followed a firm and rising ten- 
dency. The demand at all commercial cen- 
ters was acf.ive and more particularly early 
deliveries were eagerly sought for, w'hich is 
partly due to purchases for French account. 
From this fact it is concluded that French 
operators intend to establish a corner, but 
it is also possible that the holders In France 
want to keep their sugar up to next cam- 
paign, when the old liiigher bounty re-entem 
into force. The upward movement ■ re- 
sulted this week in a rise of 20 pfennigs, $.0 
pet. readement being, at Madgeburg, r ' ^ 
10.50-10.65. whilst delivery in February rose 
at Hamburg io M. 9.92 f. o. b. Reflaed were 
in the laJ:ter part of the week In better de- 
mand and partly higher. 

ROBT. Hbnnis. 



Havana. 



(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Havana, Feb. lath, 1899. 
JSkiitor louisifi^ijLa Planter:^ 

Recent «dviees of^a decline in pricei^ for 
beet sugar in E>uix>pe, oaused buyers at this 
place to reduce their offers and holders be- 
ing as yet unwilling to accept lower^raites 
for the »mall parcels in hahnl, sales have 
come to an almost complete crtandstill, and 
the few made known during the week just 
elapsed aggregate only as follows: 

5,500 bags centrifugals^ 95-96 test, at from 
4.8 (Va ©) b rs. (equivalent 'bo 2.43V, @ 2% 
dts. per pound) a't nearest outport. 

1,000 do. do. 96. do. deliverable at railway 
jTbation, at 5.28 rs. per arrobe (equivalent to 
2.64 cts. per pound.) 

1,400 do. do. 94. do. of the past crop, at 
4.75 rs. arrobe (equivalent to 2.39Vo efts, lb.) 

Market closes to-day very qniet and 
rather weak, at from 4% @ 5 rs. per arrobe, 
(equivalen't 'o 2 7-16 (g) 214 cts. per pound). 

Grinding in the western and central part 
of tfhe Island eontinues without any notice- 
able interruption, on ail the plantation); that 
have been able to resume sugar manufacture 
and ithe results obtained vary according to 
the special condition under which such are 
placed. 

In the district of Remedlos, factories "Vic- 
toria," "San Padro," "Zaza," "Narclsa." 
"Alava." "Refrrrma," "Adela" and '♦Rosalia," 
are already under way and the balance in 
the isame locality will also commence as soon 
as they secure a sufficient number of field 
haids. 

The proprietors of the "Narclsa" factory, 
ope of tlbe largest and best equipped on the 
Tr land, and which hajd the good fortune to 
be respected by both the Cuban inisurgents 
and the Spani^ soldiers, and has recently 
passed Into the hands of a New York Syn- 
dicate, have already replanted 20 caballerios, 
(equivalent to about 75 acres) and expect 
that within two years, that Is to say for tfhe 
1901 crop, the to'tality of their cane fields 
and tenancies will be sown anew, and In 
grindin-g condition, but few planters can as 
yet make the necessary repairs to thieAr fac- 
tories and at'enid in an ^oacious manner to 
the culture of their fields. 
, Those in the province of St. lago de Cuba, 
besides the difficulties dnheipent to libe lack 
of cash and the small amount of cane as y€*t 
available, liave now to cont^id with diffip 
cuHies of a different character, since ^mall 
bands of outlaws, pretending themselves to 



be discontented Cuban soldiers, swarm in 
said province, especially in the district of 
Guantanamo, and interfere with crop labor, 
compelling all hands to withdraw &om the 
planitalclons, threatening to court niartial and 
shoot tijem were they to continue working 
thereon; in several cases they have burned 
cane nelds, factory "Santa Usabel" ^ losing 
In this way about 100 acrei3 of cane in sood 
grinding condition. 

These bands are composed mo^ly of ne- 
groes, who pretend, that having failed to 
obtain work for themselves, whereas Che ma- 
jority of their whi'ce companions are em- 
ployed, they determine thatt none should 
work on plantatlonis, as long as no occu- 
pation should be provided for them. 

In order to put a stop to such dealings, 
a guard of American soldiers hUfVe been 
placed on the 23 largest factories in the io- 
oality, and a fiying column of l,0b() men, 
commanded by Colonel Valienite, of ttie 
Cuban army has taken to the field to pur- 
sue, disarm and disband all su<^ parties as 
above alluded to. 

According to 'tabular statement, just pub- 
liathed by Guma, Who resumes this y^ar his 
former statistical works, total recelptB, at 
all the shipping ports of this Island, since 
the commencement of the crop, till S'let of 
January, last, add up 27,655 tons, against 
66,114 do. same^daie, last year, and it is 
generaUy anticipated thait this year's produc- 
Uon will scarcely go ov?^^,000 tons. 

Owing to the ddsastrous consequences of 
the last insurrection, ft is as yet utterly im- 
possible to say anything reliable regarding 
prices for same. Most of the growers liave 
either wilfully abandoned their tenancy or 
were violently expelled tiherefrom; ..their 
families dispersed and removed to ^e fbr- 
ti'ied towns, in which they died from istar- 
vation and sickness; their dwellings btmait 
to the ground; the fences that divided each 
property torn down; their caitjtle, either dis- 
posed of for food, by the Spanish soldiers 
and the Cuban insurgents, or scattered In 
Mhe woods. E3ach planter who has been lucky 
enough to keep his factory standing, or able 
to make to it the necessary repairs, is now 
grinding whatever small quantity of avail- 
able cane is to be found on "his own prem- 
ises and does not accordingly pay for ft. 

l-'rom lack of funds no efficient step has as 
yet been taken to reorganize labor in t^ 
coun'iry, and the only signs of reconstruc- 
tion to be seen, are evinced on such plan- 
tations as belong to American and En«:ii8h 
oompa;nies, in the Remedies, Cientue^os, 
Manzanillo and Cienfuegos districts. 

A large number of mendbers of the Plant- 
ers' Board, that formerly assisted Ihere and 
so efficaciously worked in behalf of the agri- 
cultural interests of iihls Island, recently held 
a meeting in which the reorganization of 
the society, on a new base, was discussed and 
agreed upon, in order to place it on a foot- 
ing with the new social and polMcal order 
now prevailing. 

Several important motions were passed 
to the effect of reorganizing labor in the 
country and regulating relations between 
planners and their creditors and formulat- 
ing a plan for tihe gradual sinking of old out- 
standing debts, so that the former mlsht re- 
sume sugar manufacturing operations free of 
the annoyance inherent to ancient compro- 
mises, which they are to-day unable to face. 

Several commissions were appointed to 
draw up the new regulations for the society 
to be ruled by. and •'^he application to the 
Government for settlement's with creditors, 
whinh is .deemed will be sufficient to insure 
at present a steady and useful existence s^o 
the Planters' Board and to restore to the 
Cuban sugar induistry, its former greatness 
and prosperity. p. D. 



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12S 



BBBT SUGAR 



Oxnard, California. 

<Col. J. A. Drifflll iiisforms the Ck>uiier thajt 
the Oxnard OonBtruotiioa Company has de- 
cided to carry out :the original plan ol doubl- 
ing the capacity of the beet eugar tectory 
here, ^e work ol oonsptruction- will be com- 
menced at <M]<ce, and the intention la 1:0 have 
everything ready when the campaign opens, 
to hanxlle 2,000 inotead of 1,000 iLons of beets 
per day. When the work is In full blast, 
which will be by the middle of February, a 
construction force of about 350 men will be 
emt>k)yed. The increased capacity will give 
employment to over 500 men in the factory 
during tihe campaign, and fumjia^ a market 
for an Increased acreage of beets. 

It was generally understood that the fac- 
tory would be finished 'tp its full capaoity 
of 2,000 tons per iday ten days ago, and con- 
tracts were being made for beets on the 
basis of the factory's full capacity imme- 
diateir after the storm of lihe 10th, 11th and 
12th, but formal announcement and active 
work had to wait until the cUrectors melt and 
aoted. This they Iftive done, and the Courier 
is able to assure its readers that their ex- 
peoiations as far as the factory is concerned 
will be fully met. 

This work ik>es mot require the duplica- 
tion of all the buildings, as the main build- 
ing and the sugar house were constructed, 
the one to receive the additional machinery 
and Uhe other to store the product of a 2,000- 
ton fa-etory. However, the work of building 
will he very considerable. Boiler room will 
have to be constructed for double the capa- 
city, addiftional storage provided for oil and 
another mammoth stack builit and possibly 
some other 'bundling done. All the machinery 
now In the factory will be duplicated, with 
the exception of the engine. This work, 
with wihei; was left incomplete when con- 
struction was practically stopped last sum- 
mer, makes the amount to be done nearly 
ats much as has already been done. 

Th'is work is to commence at once, so as 
to have the fadcocry ready ft>r the opening of 
am early compalgn, about the 15th of July. 
It will be pushed as rapidly as possible, and 
work is expected to be in full blast by the 
middle of February. A construction force 
of fully v-J men will be required to compld.e 
the work within tIhe time specified.— Oxnard 
Courier. 



Spreckles, California. 

Articles of agreement were filed in the 
County Recorder's office yesterday in which 
James A. MciMahon agrees to build for the 
Spreckles Sugar Company five wooden beet 
bins. These bins, which have frequently 
been m^ivtioned in the descriptive articles 
of the factory in the Index, will be construct- 
ed of lumber entirely, the material being all 
on the gmund. They will extend from the 
end of :the railway dumps where the beet 



ditches commence, and will be 904 feet long, 
45 feet wide, and 25 feet high eac^. Each 
bin will cover two ditches, and have erected 
in their interior, some 8 feet over each ditch, 
an elevated railway track. 'Dhe work mufft 
be commenced during the present week and 
completed not later than June 15, li899, at 
a cost not to exceed $10,000 for the five bins. 
The FldelL>iy and Detposit Company of Mary- 
land are bondsmen for Contractor McACahoa 
on the contract— Index, Feb. 9. 



Progress of American Beet Sugar. 

The development in this new induiftry la 
astonishing even to those who are in the 
business, and to all others a brief statement 
of lu will jjTove a revelation. One beoV- 
sugar factory at Rome, N. Y., is completing 
its second campaign very successfully. The 
beet-sugar mill at Binghamton, N. T., is 
having a successful first campaign, and 
o^chers are projected in central and wee^.ern 
New York. So remarkable has been the suc- 
cess of the first campaign of the Michigan 
Sugar Company at Bay City, Mich., that 
that mill is to double its oapadily, and th^ 
same people are building anofher factory 
near by. A third company is putting up a 
iarge fiaetory at West i3ay City, Mich.,' and 
other large enterprises are projected at Ben- 
ton Harbor, Grand Haven and other Michi- 
gan polnis. At Rochester, Mich., the Detroit 
Sugiar Company, composed of the most sub- 
stantial capitalists of that city, contracted 
•for a 500-ton mill, which the Oxnards are \o 
make a model of perfection. While Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio and Indiana are not "boom- 
ing" beet sugar <iuite as industriously as is 
Michigan ( with its State bounty, they are 
deeply interested. lUinois has a large beet 
suigar mill now being equipped at Pekln for 
'i!he 1^99 crop, and another will doubtless be 
constructed at Ottawa, 111. 

The pioneer beet sugar factory in Wiscon- 
sin did not run simply because of lack of 
beets sufficient Jy rich in quantity and quality 
of sugar. The Northwestern Beet Sugar 
. ^mpany is now letting contracts for a plant 
at Merrll«kLn, Wis., for which several thou- 
sand acres of beets will be required for the 
1899 crop. In Iowa, QoniJh Dakota and cer- 
tain sections of Kansas the Intereeit Is very 
keen. Ine two weH-established beet sugar 
factories in Nebraska have had a favorable 
season, and tnelr acreage for 1899 will prob- 
ably be double tJhat of any previous season. 
A million dollars of BoStoa's money is going 
inito a model beet sugar factory near Ames, 
Neb., in connection wRh the Standard Cat- 
tle Company. Some of the most prominent 
aDd wealthiest of Boston's financiers are in- 
terested in this proposition, which, because 
of the remarkable favorable locality and ex- 
perienced management, promises to be one 
of the moei: profitable of all the beet sugar 
enterpri<9es. A good deal of New England 
money that has recently been made in cop- 
per stock will be in<v.ested In the beet sugar 
Industry at various Western points. In 
Colorado a sugar onlM of 800 itons daily cap- 



acity has been contracted for, to be located 
at Grand Junction, In the western' part of 
the ^tate, and anofi^her iarge mill Is pretty 
certain to be built at Pueblo, Col. Several 
others are wanted in that State. The beei 
sugar factory at Lehl, Utah, has Just com- 
pleted Its elgih*Ch successive campaign wiiih 
Driiliant success, from both the maniifaGtur- 
Ing and agricultural standpoints. The new 
mill at ugden, Utah, has also wound up its 
fii*^t season. The beet sugar factory at Eddy, 
N. M., in the Pecos valley, is doing jfairiy 
well, and others «u:e contemplated in New 
Mexico and Arizona One or more beet 
sugar* factory enterprises are being agltaced 
for In Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana 
and Idaho. 

On the Pacific ooafifc this industry has ae- 
suimed large proportions. The biggest beet 
sugar fiiotory in the world, located in the 
Salinas valley, California, has a capacity of 
3,000 tons of beets per day, and with the 
neighboring fadcory at WatsonvlUe will con- 
sume the product of nearly 60,000 acres of 
beets eacfh year. In fact, these two mills 
will alone pay the farmers upward of 
^,500,000 every year for this new crop. The 
■historic sugar mill at Alyorado, which has 
been running off and on for twenty-five 
yeara, has of late been so successful ^that Its 
capacity has been doubled, and the same 
management are interested In the new mill 
of the Union Sugar Company, near Santa 
wxarla, whlc!h wlH have a capacity of 1,000 
tons of beets per day. The great beeit sugar 
plant at Chino, San Bernardino county, 
v,^.., has compCeted Its eighth season^ and is 
contracting for thousands of acres of beets 
of Llie 1899 crop, having a capacity of 1,000 
tons daily. Its 1397 campaign was extraor- 
dinarily profitable. The Los Alamitos sugar 
house is to d-cnble Its capacity, from 350 
to 700 tons of beets per day of twenty-four 
hours. Perhaps i.he most model establish- 
ment of Its kind i(n tlie world Is the new 
2,000-ton plant of the Pacific Sugar Company 
at the new town of Oxnard, Ventura .coun- 
ty, Cal. It represents an Investment of 
$2,000,000, and a large town Is building up 
about it. The capacity, now 1,000 tons of 
beets per day, will be Increased to 2,000 tons, 
requiring 20,000 acres of beets each year. 

&o much for a beginning in our domestic 
beet sugar Industry. With a favorable sea- 
son these domestic sugar mills ought to 
produce 200,000 tons of sugar In 1899.%-Her- 
bert Myrlck, In Bradstreets. 



Sugar Beet Farms. 

Oontiaots are being made with the farm- 
ers of -San Jocuiuln county to grow beets 
for the Crockett sugar factory. It Is in- 
tended to secure at leai^t 5000 acres In this 
county and a very large portion of this has 
been contracted for. It Is expected that 120.- 
000 tons <rf beefts will be grown here for the 
Crockett factory. Plowing has already been 
going on for some time and seeding will 
comanence shortly now, as abundant rain 
has fallen to give assurance of a orop. Be- 



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mn^ijdniBij^xHaiiiTKk Am stJOAH: joiftJifAOTtaifift. 



[Voi xxn. No. 8. 



sMeB tne land secured in San JoaQuin, there 
«ha/ve been 2500 aoree In Oontra <3osta, 1000 
in Solano and 1800 eicres at Dixon and Davls- 
viiie pull under contract, and in view of 
t:he late favorable radns, this amount will 
probably 'be doubled. « 

The Southem Pacific has .proposed to car- 
ry up to 30Q tons of beeta free from Frefino 
county to the Crockcttt factory this season, 
in order to demonstrate wheither sugar beets 
can be properly grown there. If the experi- 
ment is successful, a factory will follow a-t 
Fresno. 

Ii>or several years the enterprising people 
of Springvllle, Utah, have been making, ^f- 
foi'ts to secure a "beet sugar fiactory. That 
region already produces some of the richest 
beets grown in America, as demonsJ:rated 
by several years* experience wi'th crops 
grown for the factory at Lehi, Utah. Messrs, 
Cut.ler and Austin of the L^i factory have 
now offered to build a 350-700-ton factory aft 
Springville, to be finished in time to work 
up the crop of WOO, provided they are given 
a lOO-acre site and what water is needed to 
run the facftory during its campaign. There 
Is every hope that the proposition will be 
accepted. 

The Oxnard Construction Company has 
contracted with the Detroilc Sugar Co. to 
build and equip a 500^ton sugar faxstory at 
Rochester, Michiigan. This plant is./ ex- 
pected to consume from 50,000 to 75,000 tons 
of beets of the 1899 crop, and will contract 
for between 5000 and 10,000 acres of beets. 
Tbe factory Is to have an ideal location 
for the delivery of raw ma'terial and for the 
markeiing of its finished product It is 
uacked by the strongest and wealthiest capi- 
talists in Detroit, and promises to be a 
money-maker from the start. 

^Iie building of a beet sugar factory at 
Grand Junction, Colorado, Is now an as- 
sured fact. The Colorado Sugar Manufac- 
tory Company filed papers of incorporation 
on i.he 5th inst., and work will begin imme- 
diately on a 350 to 5o0-ton plant. The com- 
pany is capitalized at $750,000 and expects 
to have its plant running by October 1, 1899. 
The incorporators are reiK>rted ito be anion? 
the wealthiest men of Colorado. A fnll sup- 
ply of beets has been contracted for.— <>hino 
Champion. 



Oil in Road-Building. 

The n^e of crude petroleum in laying dust 
on railroads has already been of service. 
Now it appears that it may be still more use- 
ful on ordinary country roads, especially 
where expense prevents macadamizing, as 
it not only does away with dust, but afloo 
witih mud. In a letter to the Scientific Amer- 
ican (December 24) Mr. Meigs, an engineer 
in the United States government employ, 
writing from Aeokuk, Iowa, says: 

"On a certain clay road In Pennsylvania, 
which lay deep In dust in summer and deep 
in mud in winter and spring, there was an 
oil pipe-line by the side of the road, which 
on a certain occasion £^prang a leak and 
spurted a considerable quantity of oil on to 



the road. An observer noted that for a 
space of several rods, to which the oil was 
triudsported by horses' feet and wagon- 
wheels, this road showed a marked improve- 
ment The duat in summer did not rise, 
the mud in spring and winter did not exi^t. 
The explanation, would seem to be that the 
oil (formed a water-ttight covering to the 
road, and the^ earth beneath being dry no 
ruts or mud could form and the road be- 
came good." 

rrhie led to experiments by Mr. Meigs, 
which are thus descrcoed: 

"The present experiments are heing made 
•through the liberality of tne Standard Oil 
Company, who, by Mr Rockefeller's orders, 
placed a tank of crude oil at the disposal of 
the writer. On November 20, the writer 
coated a newly graded piece of dirt road 
with oil," distributed by means of an im- 
provised sprinkler, over a strip about 12 
feet wide by 200 feet long. 

"A second part of the • road way wa^^ 
sprinkled more lightly about 300 feet farther, 
makfng 500 or 600 feet in all, and eight "bar- 
rels of oil were used in the experiment. 
The day after the sprinkling was done \nd 
before the oil had time co becoi^^ ab^orued, 
for it soaked in very slowly, a heavy rain 
fell. The road was examined during the 
rain, and quite a marked difference was 
seen between the oiled and 'unoiled portions. 
Where oilea it wa> evident that the dirt be- 
neath the surface was still ^ry and retained 
Its supporting power, while on each side 
of the oiled portion it was muddy and rutty. 
A heavy freeze, with the temperature at zero, 
followed the rain, and on the 25th the road . 
was again examined. The oiled part was 
still more different from ilie neighboring 
stretches; the unoiled road was'cut up with 
rufai one to two inches deep, and frozen 
rough and hard; the oiled portion was per- 
fectly smooth, and the wheels made on it 
a muffled sound that showed the dirt be- 
neath the surface was unfrozen and dry." 

The author's conclusions as to the condi- 
tions that should regulate the n-e of oil on 
roads are given by him as follows: 

"1. The road should be smoothly graded 
and rounded well, so as to shed water. < 

"2. Apply the oil to tiie road'bed while 
dry. If the soil is filled with water, the oil 
will penetrate with difficulty, and much of 
it will be carried off on the wheels of pai-s- 
ing wagons. 

"3. It would be well to roW the ground 
after the oil Is put on. It has a tendency 
to collect in ruts and small hollows, and 
the roller would force it into the soil and 
distrihute It evenly. 

"4. Crude oil costs from 60 to 90 cents 
per barrel at the wells. Its odor Is dis- 
agreeable, and oil from which the naphtha 
and kerosene have been extracted would be 
preferaole to apply in warm weather. When 
cold the heavy oil becomes too stiff to be ap- 
plied without heating. This could be over- 
come by some form of spraying apparatus, 
using a Jet of steauL" 



New Sugar Refinifig Process.'QUnCE 
We have "been present at an experiment 
which marks an advance toward the solution 
of the problem of the transforma^on of 
granulated or No. 3 factory sugar into lump 
sugar, for consumption. 

The inventor of this process is Mr. Robin 
Langlois, formerly a refiner, and his studies 
have resulted in t^is method of rapid manu- 
fad^ure of sugw in lumps. Starting from 
the principle that almost all manufacturers 
of sugar now produce four-flf ths .of their 
output in fine and very pure white sugars, 
which may be said to require no. further re- 
fining, he conceived the Idea that it was 
now only necessary Jto invent an ^jpparatus 
w<hich would give these sugars the external 
appearance to which the consumers are ac- 
customed, and after many trials and tenta- 
tive efforts, he has succeeded in obtaining 
the desired result. This is arrived at by 
crushing the grains, which are usually some- 
what large, so as to reduce them to the , 
size of fijie semolina. This semolina is heat- 
ed and stirred at 45 degrees C. for fine grain, 
and at 60 degrees to 70 degree C. for very 
coarse grain, with a very sii;iall quantity of 
water, sufficient to form a pasty mass, viz., 
about 2 per cent. This pasty mass is then 
pressed into forms, where lit is cooled some- 
what suddenly by passing through it, by 
means of a suction pump, and for ten min- 
utes, a continuous current of air. The bars 
formed are stored at a low temperature, 30 
degrees to 40 degrees C, in order to com- 
plete the crystallization of syrup formed, 
and to remove every trace of moisture. This 
final operation, which is the longest, re- 
quires about eighteen hours. The 'bars thus 
obtained only need to be broken in the ma- 
chine and made up In packets to 'be ready tor 
the retailer and consumer.— Orocer's Cri- 
terion. 



Prospects of Qerman Sugar Industry. 

There are not many things in economics 
or In taxation that are humorous, buit the 
struggle of Germany with tts sugar boun- 
ties is food for mirth. That it should im- 
preiss statesmen in uhis period of Che 
world's history li'aat It was a -wise plan to 
tax the people of their ooimtry iieavily on 
sugar and use a part of the proceeds in 
paying a bounity on exports in order to 
supply sugar to foreigners at periiaps- leas 
than cost, and certainiy at much less than 
the price of sugar to the people of the 
bounty-paying country, is no; without its 
diverting features. It adds 'to the bumor 
of the (Situation that Germany, which has 
been pressing this expont bounty system far 
more than other . countries, has been grow- 
ing weary of it and would be glad to abaA^on 
it, but the nations that liave followed her 
example are not yelt tired of giving away 
sugar to foreigners, and if 'ifiiey wiil not 
abandon the bounty system Germany can- 
not without losing all her sugar export tnide. 
Last simmer itiie bounty-paying counltries.. 



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-TOffl LOCISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAGTUKBR. 



125 



had a coDiference to see if they could not 
agr«e on abollahing bounties^ smd Germany 
^UKl Austro^Hangary and soino' ol the small- 
er bounty-paying states were anxious to do 
60, buft France and Russia refused and the 
conference was fuJtlle. 

In the lower branch of the Prussian Diet 
a few days aeio there was manifested a good 
deal of fear of the sugar Inldustry la tftie 
Unied (States. The German etatesm^i are 
prolably notl afraid of our exporting sugar, 
although 'fipome of their remcii-ks look a lit- 
tle that way; they are evidently alarmed 
leat the Uniited Stateo shall soon cease to 
be a good market for German sugar. This 
country is an enormous consumer of sugar, 
and It will take a long time for the beet in- 
dustry in »ibis country ta supply t^e home 
market or even any ronsiderable part of It. 
Probably there are only limited t^rtions of 
this country where the sugar beet can be 
profitably raided. A more Immediate dan- 
ger no tbe Geinian iiclustry was referred to 
In the debate in the Diet, and that is the in- 
creased export of sugar that may be: ex- 
pected from Ciiha with the war over and 
wiiJh American energy and capital going 
into the business. 

German sugar has as good a cfhance to 
come into this country now as any other 
sugar has, but it has no longer the advanl.- 
*age for our tariff offsets that bounty., The re- 
salt has been a heavy decline in the Ameri- 
can importaition of sugar from Germany. In 
eleven mootflis of 1898 it was only 837,000,- 
000 pounds, as compared with 1,059,000,000 
pounds in the same part of 1897 amd 814,- 
000,000 pounds in th« same part 6f 1896. 
Practically .the whole of *die import in Che 
year 1897 was in the first seven, months, be- 
fore the present tariff went into effect. The 
total import of sugars was much less la^t 
year than in either of tlhe two preceding 
years, but the percentage of the total which 
came from Germany was nearly 22. per cent 
in 1896 and little over U per cent in 1898. 
The importation of 1898 was greater than 
iu 1896, in spi^e of a decreased total, from 
the British West Indies, Cuba, South 
Ameiica, the East Indies and Hawaii. Tte 
decreases were from Germany, Wea^ In lies 
other than Cuba and British, the Philip- 
pine? and Africa. 

The mosi interesting thing in the debate 
in Che Prussian Diet was the recognition 
not only that the bounity system was a bur- 
den to the exporting country, but that it 
could not longer be depended on ito main- 
tain the prosperity of tflie sugar industry. 
The only two great importers of su^r are 
the United States and Great Britain, and 
the former 4s expanding its own beet pror 
duction and manufacture, it will presently 
resume Its large importations from Cuba 
and by imeans of its tariff it offsets the 
German bowty. Tiie future of the German . 
sugar industry, therefore, was admitted to 
^depend upon increasims the home consump- 
tTtm, ^^^ t))o i^qi;^! t^z on suaiar makes i( 



very expensive. Unless the tax can be re* 
duced the consumption caainnt be very 
greatly ilicreased, and with a growing army 
and navy, and with increasing demands for 
subsidies for steamships to Asia and Africa, 
the financial branch of the government will 
not look with favor upon reductions of tax- 
ation. 'Yet it was the Minister of Agriculture 
who declared that the only remedy ft>r the 
unsaJbisfaofcory prospect was to increase the 
domestic consumption. Sugar has been 
found to increase the marchinig capacity of 
soLdiens, and it was capital to fatten (hogs. 
But xintil sugar is far cheaper in Germcmy 
than It oiow is it is not likely ito be a promi- 
nent part of the military ration or to be 
used extensively for fattening pigp.— N. Y. 
Journal Commerce. 



The Duty on Moist Sugar. 

New Haven, Conn Jan. 21. — Judge W. 
K. Townsend of the United States District 
Court yesterday handed down an important 
decision in the case of the American Sugar 
Refining Company against the United States, 
in whi«h is involved the legality. of the right 
of customs appraiiers to assess duty on 
moist or green sugar imported from Brazil 
in acc6rdance with their confitruction of the 
laws regulating imports, etc. The decision 
of the court finds for the defendant, the ac- 
tion of the appraisers being affirmed. Fol- 
lowing is the text of the decision: 

Certain moist or grreen ^Migars were brought 
from Brazil into the port of New York while 
the Act of 1894 was in force, upon which 
duty was assessed at 40 per cenit ad valorem 
under the provisions of paragraph 182V^ of 
said act. It appears that there is an under- 
standing, acquiesced in generally by ship- 
pers, importers and appraisers, that as the 
moist sugars from Brazil lost from 14 'to 16 
per cent in weight on the voyage by drain- 
age and evaporation, this percentage of loss 
chall be generally accepted as a basis of set- 
tlement of value at the port of entry. The 
Board of Appraisers, acting upon the basis 
of this so-called settlement, assumed such a 
loss of weigiht and found, not the actual mar- 
ket value of the green sugar as tsliipped from 
Brazil, but the increased marked value of the 
dry sugar when it reached the port of New 
York. 

Thus the appraisers advanced the valua- 
tion of the sugar in the first importation 
from 6s 8d per cwt. 87 per cent, the market 
value when shipped, to 7s 9d per cwt, 87 
per cent, owing to its increase in value from 
drainage on the voyage, and made similar 
advances in the other ImportationB. 

The question presented by these appeals 
is whetlher the appraiser was authorized in 
thus advancing the valuation of the sugar, 
and whether the assessment of duty upon 
such advanced valuation is valid. 

Section 10 of the Customs Administration 
Act of 1890 provides inter alia as follows: 

'That it shall be the duty of the appraisers 
of the United States to ascertain, estimate 
and appraise the acftual market value and 
wholesale price of the merchandise at the 
time of exportation to the United States in 
the principal markets of the country whence 
the same has been imported." 

Counsel -for the importer contends that this 
language refers to that merchandise in its 
condition in the foreign port and its actual 
value at the time of exportation to. the 
Vpited Statem in the priBci|»»I mftrkfU o| 



the country when it Is imported. He claims 
that the phrase "actual market value of the 
merchandise" could not refer to the mer- 
chandise in its condition when a, reaches the 
port of New York, because such valuation 
would be merely speculative, within the 
reasoning in United States vs. Southmayd 
et al., 9 How.. 637, and Merritt vs. Welch, 
104 U. Q., 694. 

Coun»-el for the Government contends that 
the language of section 10 refers to the value 
in the foreign market of said merchandise 
in the condition in. which it arrives at the 
port of New York. He claims that the modfe 
adop:ed by the appraisers results in finding 
the actual market value at its place of ex- 
portation of such sugar as reaches this port. 

Owing to drainage, there are less pounds of 
sugar on arrival here than when> the ship 
left Brazil, but the cargo is actually worth 
as much as when it started. It appears, 
therefore, that if the sugar ih'ad been kept 
for the £ame length of time in Brazil the 
same loss of weight by drainage and increase 
in value per pound would have taken place 
there, and the value of the cargo as a whole 
would not have been affected thereby. If 
this be so, I do not think the importers 
should gain by the decrease In weight coup- 
led with an increase in value per pound. Un- 
less, therefore, the appraij^ers have acted in 
bad faith or have clearly committed a sub- 
stantial error by their mode of ascertaining 
the market value in Brazil of the sugar on 
m arrival hiere, their decision should be 
affirmed. I am unable 'to hnd any such mis- 
take or error( Passavant vs. U. S., 148 U. S., 
214). 

Thiia construction is supported by the state- 
ment of Mr. Justice Curtis, in Austin versus 
Peaslee (2 Fed.. Cas. 235). that 'The mer- 
chant is to pay dn«ties on what Is actually 
imported, not what is put up for export in 
the foreign couatry." and of Judge Colt, in 
Weaver versus Sterry (38 Fed., 493), that the 
true construction of the law is to assess duty 
only upon the quantity which arrives in port 
and not upon the quantity which appears by 
the invoice to have been shipped, and by the 
language of Judge Lacombe in charging the 
Jury in Reiss versus Magone (39 Fed.^ 105), 
that If what reaches this country has be- 
come more valuable by reason of shrinkage 
it should, in faimeaa, be assessed at the 
higher valuel 

The decision of the Board of General Ap- 
praisers is affirmed. 

H. B. Closoon. and A. K. Tingle appeared 
for the importers and Henry C. Piatt for 
the United States.-^N. Y. Journal-Commerce. 



Personal. 



Hon. James A. Ware, of Belle Grove, was 
in the city on Wednesday. 

Mr. L. M. Soniat, of Dorceyville, La., was 
a visitor to the city on Thursday. 

Mr. L. F. Sutton, of Houmia, La., a gentle- 
man deeply intere£rt;ed in all that pertains to 
siigar manufacture, was a guest of the Royal 
a few days ago. 

Col. Wm. Minor, of Terrebonne parish, 
was in the city on Thursday mat and attend- 
ed the regular monthly meeting of the 
Louisiana Sugar Planters Association. 

IMr. F. G. Drouet, manager of the 
splendid properties of the Meeker estate In 
Rapides parish, was at <the regular monthly 
meeting of the Louisiana Sugar Planters' As- 
sociation l^st Tbursda^ nl^t 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



[Voi. XXII, No. 8. 



Feb. t4. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Striot Prime. . . . 

Prime 

PuUyPair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Common 

inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Qraoul'ed 
Off Granulated.. 
Choioe White.... 

Off White 

Orey White 

Cholee Yellow... 
Prime Yellow .... 

Off Yellow 

Seeonds 

MOLASSES. 

Open KetUe. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faney 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 
Oood Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 
OeamoB. .••«.• 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Ohoiee 

Striet Prime.... 
Oood Prime — 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Oood Common. 

Ooamon 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



Feb. 18. 









- ® 30 
25 9 26 
23 a 24 
~ @ 22 
-® 21 
19 9 20 

- a 18 

- ® 17 
-® 16 

- Q 16 

-S 16 

- ® 14 
12 13 
-@ 11 

-a 9 

-® 8 

-« I 
-9 6 

-9 6 



Feb. 20. 



-9- 
- 9 — 
-9 - 



4A9- 
4A94H 
4 94k 
25i93fJ 



I 



a 
o 
Z 



— 9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 
-9 11 

— 99 
-9 8 
-9 I 

-« ! 

— 96 



Feb. 21. 



-«- 



2X9m 




12 



-9 



16 

14 

13 

11 

9 

8 

7 

6 

6 



(8- 



Feb. 22. 



Feb. 23. 



& 



o 



I 



I 



» 



-«- 
-@- 
-e- 
-® - 



-« - 
-390 
25 a 26 
S3 a 24 

-a 22 
-a 21 

19 a 20 

— a-is 

— a 17 
-a 18 

— a IS 



-aw 
-a 1* 
12 a 13 
-ail 
-a » 
-a 8 

-® 2 
-as 

-a « 
-a- 



Feb. 24. 



8am.D»7 
LaatTaw. 



Ton. of4Urk.t m 
Clod]igi-oiWe.lc 



-a - 
-a- 
-a- 
-a - 
4?ia- 
jxajif 

23i|3il 



I 

I 

I 

iz; 



— a — 
-a 18 

- a 14 
12 a 13 
-all 

-« 2 
-a 8 
-a 7 
-a « 
-a « 
-a- 



-a- 



*3ia. 



s 

43 



a 
o 



9 14 
9 13 
9 12 

9 11 
9 10 

® S 
9 7 

9 6 

9 6 



Steady. 



Strong. 









OTHBB MARKBT8. 








New York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89« 
Centrifugals, 96''.. 


— 9 — 


-a- 


— a — 




— 9 — 


-a- 


-a- 




-— 9 ~~ 


-a - 


— a — 




^"9 — 


— (1 — 


-a- 




Granulated 


-@*.n 


— a*-72 


- 94.72 




— 94.72 


- a* 72 




Strong. 


StandardA 


-Ql.tO 


-®fS 


— 94.60 


►: 


-9*.t0 


— ai.to 


4.849 '"' 




Dutch Granulated 


-a4W 


— a^M 


— 94.96 


< 


-ai4 96 


— 9A96 


— 9 "^ 




German Granul'td. 


-®A.n 


-a4 89 


-94 90 


a 


— a4 91 


— < :4 91 


— 9 — 




MOLASSES. 








H 










N.O. Choice 


-a- 


— a — 


-9- 




-a- 


-a - 


=1= 




N.O.Fair 


-a- 


— a — 


-8 - 




-a- 


-a- 




London: 


















Jara, No. 15 D. S. 


lla.6d. 


118.64. 


ll8 6d. 


B. d 


lli.6d. 


lla.6d. 


llB. Od. 




A.& O.Beet 


08.7Kd. 


9B.7><d. 


98. 8)id. 


— B.-d. 


9b. 9d. 


9b. 8^d. 


9B.4>id. 





NBW OBLBANS BBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdared 

SUn'd Qranula'd. 
Roaatta Extra C 

Candr ▲ 

CrTBtal Extra O. 
Royal BxG 

SYRUP. 



-as^ 
- @6A 

-a- 
-a- 
-a- 
-a- 



-a% 
-a% 

- asA 
-a - 
-a- 
-a- 
-a- 



a5^ 

asA 
a- 
a- 
a- 
a - 



n 



-@6H 

— ®6H 
-@6H 

- a6i'. 

-a- 
-a- 
-a- 
-a - 



-a6>i 
-as^i 

- asx 

- Iba 
-a- 
-a- 
-a- 
-a- 



- ajA 
-aBA 

- aB)i 
-a - 
-a6« 
-a - 
-a- 
-a- 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four porta of the United Statea to Feb. 15 Tona 99,698 

At four ports of Great Britain to Feb. II " 63,600 

At Havana and Matantaa to Feb. 14 «• 31,000 



Receipts and Sales at New Orieans tor the week ending 
Feb. 34, 1899. 

• Sugar . Melnni 

BMs. Banals, Banals. 

Reoatrvd 187 8,S1I 2,709 

■old 187 MM ti7e9 



Receiptc and Sales «t New Orleans from : 
to Feb. 34, i899> 

Hbda. HMTria, 

Reoslvad 7^ MStiOiO 

80M 7,487 MB7,010 

19.000 l.»7>0 



1, 1898. 

208.646 
202,040 
109,011 



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February 25. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



127 



Feb. 24. 



RICE. 

RouoHy per bbl.. . 
Extra Fancy — 
Clban, Fancy — 

Choice... 

Prime — 

Good ... 

Fair .... 

Ordinary 

Common. 

Inferior . . 

No.2 

Bran, per ton — 
PeuiH, per ton... 



Feb. 18. 



1 90(a2 50 
6 @6>^ 

3 @S)i 
2X@3 

8^ 8 50 
15 50(il6 00 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



Feb. 20. 



2 90^4 00 
6 @QH 

33i@4>4 

3 @Sh 

2H@d 

8a6(g 8 50 
15 50^16 00 



Feb. 2L 



1 60@3 00 

6 @QH 

53>^@55i 

4^@45i 
33i@4Ji 
3 @33i 
2>i@3 

8 25@ 8 60 
15 50Q16 00 



. Feb. 22. 






Feb. 23. 



8 
15 



Feb. 24. 



5 
4; 
4: 



2 

i; 

1; 

N i 

Nominal 



8«me Day Laat 
Year. 



1 50^4 00 

- @ - 
5M@5Ji 

43i@5 
4><@43i 

3?i@4 
3>4@3K 
Nominal 
2 (i2^ 
9 50310 00 
14 00(3 15 00 



Tone ot Market at 
Close of week. 



Fair demand. 



Fair demand. 



ReoelpU and Satoa at New 
u * Feb. 



Oiiaana 



Received 
ffold .... 



SAesBlloo«a. 
. 3,373 
4,089 



BBLa. OftsaM. 
223 
2,071 



ThiB year. 
LjM«t year 



at Naw OfiaaM fraoi Aaf. 1, it9a» to Feb. 24. 18^, 



Sacks Rouvi. Bbls. . 
634,203 2,S 

424.017 3,255 



Sugar. 

The local .jugar market was firm at 
the close of the week and all offerings 
met \vitli a ready sale. 'Receipts were 
light. 



Molasses."!. 

Xo. open kettle goods In first haad$. 
Centrifugals strong. 



Rice. 

Roug-li rice was in fair demand at the 
end of the week and bunness was more 
exten.-dve than for some time past. There 
were only moderate offerings of clean 
with a fair demand. 

Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The traneactiona of the period covered 
by ine report were 'the emalleBt of the 
year on account of the «harp advances in 
certain grades which have of laite been 
aj:raoting spelcial attenlion from regular 
an<i speculative buyers. The approach and 
interruption of a holiday also furnished the 
convenient opportunity to "itak© a rest" 
Without exciiting the suspicion that there 
was any aoatement of zeal and' confidence. 
The foregoing refers only to the domestic; 
the demand in foreign for home and export 
befcng free and quite up to former volume. 
Advices from the South noite restricted 
movement. Receipts liave fallen off sub- 
stanblally and there seems to be no doubt 
among those familiar with the situation tihat 
the forward supply will prove little, If any 
In excess of last year at equal date. There 
is a large quantity of rice «till in the fields 
but a large per cent of it is known to be 
worthless and most of the balance of stained 
and inferior grades — only flit for mamifactur- 
ing or leediing purposes. This taken into 
consideration, with the further fact that 
prices of ordinary to tsAx grades are still far 
below importing "cost of ©qtialqualKy would 
9eem to warrant oontktued confidence. 
There is no other side to domestic jjlor can 
t^6<e be 80 ]OD$a«t0e protective ^l;o( (wq 



(2) cents per pound guards againsrt^ the in- 
flow of the Imported. Respecting better 
grades they are fractionally high and for 
this reason suffer somewhat from the com- 
petition of tthe best selections in the foreign 
sorts. The total quantity of crop thus far 
marketed. is about 266,500 barrels as against 
210,000 barrels last y«ar and of the amountt 
remaining most, 'if not a^ is in istrffr^gJiiaiulB, ! 
planterts and others who can m«5^^ wlitii 
deltberBution. 

Talmage, Neiw Orleans telegraphs Louis- 
iana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough, 634,635 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over) . 469,200 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (eat.) 151,942 barrels; last year 81,- 
400 barrels. All- mills closed; receipits 
light; demand steady; market very strong. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
31,330 barrels. Sales 26,900 barrels. ¥^r 
■movement, former range of values. Busi- 
ness temporarily suspended account heavy 
snow storm. 



Peclcinpaugli, Harrison & Co. 

Capt. Harrison, of the above named firm, 
tells us that his usual fleet of barges will 
iRoon make Its appearance in front of the 
sugar p!antatioE.3 with its usual large and 
varied assortment of cane cart and wagon 
wood work of every deacripljion. The squad- 
ron this year will consist of three vessels, 
one going down the Mtssissippl, one down 
Bayou Lafourche and one down Bayou 
Teche. An efficient corps of officers will be 
In command, and the middle of March, or 
a liftle IJer, will find them at the doors of 
t!be sugar plantero, ready to supply them 
with everytmng tihey may need in lines In- 
dicated above at rock bottom prices and 
without freig-ut to pay, as the goods are' de- 
livered right at 'the plantation landings. 



Personal. 

Mr. C. ^imelr of Donaldsonville, La., was 
la't the St. Charles on Wednesday last. 

Mr. O. A. Picard is still a': the Mary plant- 
ation, and making new friends ever^ day as 
Uffual . 



Mr. J. N. Caillouet, a higlily esteemed resi- 
dent of Houma, La., was among the recent 
arrivals at the Ho'iel Royal. 

Mr. A. L. Keller, a prominent residen'c of 
Hahnvllle, La., was among the arrivals at 
the Hotel Grunewald during the week. 

Col. J. W. Barnetc, of Shadyside planta- 
tion, in St. Mary parish, was a guest of the 
St. Charles hotel cfuring 'the past week. 

MrJ R. R. B^Drrow, the prominent Teire- 
bonne parish sugar planter and financier, 
was a'i the Grunewald during the past week. 

■Mr. J. W. Foo'ie, a gentleman prominently 
identified with the sugar planting interests 
of St. Mary parisli, was a guest of one of 
our leading liotels during the week. 

Captain John N. Pharr. of Fairvlew and 
Glenwild places near Berwick, came up to 
the city on Wednesday and registered at 
the St. Charles hotel, his usual chopping 
place; 

Gov. H. C. Warmoth, of the Lower Coast, 
was in town "Tuesday to see how the city 
looked after the freeze. He repoi'ted that 
things might be worse than they were in 
his section, and did not regard the destruc- 
tion as botal by any means. 

Mr. B. Sandmann was the superintendent 
of the sugar house this past season at 'the 
fine Belle Auiance place of Messrs. E. & J. 
Kock on the Upper Coast. Mr. Sandman is 
way up at the top in his business, and he 
had to be to superintend Belle Alliance. 

Mr. J. M. Labat was the sugar boiler dur- 
ing the past campaign at tbe splendid Wood- 
lawn place and attended to his duties at 
"the pan in his usual satisfactory manner. 
Mr. J. H. Duncan had charge of the machin- 
ery again as chief engineer and under his 
Willful supervision gilt edged results were 
of course had in the mechanical depart- 
ment. 

Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., the assistant man- 
ager of the immense Caffrey central facftory, 
in St. Mary parish, was in town on Wednes- 
day evening and put up at 'the Hotel Royal. 
Mr. Forsyth is one of the most thoroughly 
competent sugar plantation managers in the 
i^tate of Louisiana. 

Sugar Patents. 

Patents relating to the sugar industry is- 
sued February 7. 1899, reported specially for 
the Louisiana Planter by R. W. Bishop, pat- 
ent attorney, Waslilngton, D. C. 

Trade-mark 32,473. Refined sugars. Henry 
Tate & Soms, Limited, London. England. 

The representation of a diamond-shaped 
outline* 



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128 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTOKHR. 



[Vol. xxn, No. 8. 



WANTS. 



We wHI publish la this colunn, free of charge until 
farther notke, the epplicatloiis of ell manager** over- 
aeere, eatlneera and eagar-niakera, and others who 
«ay be eeeking positions In the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A situation as olarifler on fiome large 
plantatiOD this season of 1890. B»/8t of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hincklet, Charenton, La. 

WANTED— An experienoed young man, single. Is 
open for engagement as time-keei>er or clerk in coun- 
try store. A 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Opp, 3418 Constance street, New Orleans. 

2-22-90 

WANTED—^ position as clerk in store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical knowledge of drugs. Oood references. Address 
ROBKRT, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-28 9i 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mill-wrlgbt 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 

2-18-99 

WANTED-^A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, single and sober. 
Am wlUuig to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. NE80M, Terrell, Tetas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Address H. M. S., Laurel HIU, La. 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorekz, 802 S. Basin, St., City. 2-16-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"aU around'* faithful Aan. Address H. G. I., 1824 Cl\o 
street. New Grleans, La. 25-09 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
La^ 25-99 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 

24-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 
.years' experience In cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
this office. 24-99 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
Be expected. Address J. J. Landry. Convent, La. 
18-99 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a flrst-<dass man; address J. F. Letbpf. Nes- 
ser, La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienoed lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 820 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc^that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office. 1-9 

WANTED— ▲ young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a position on a sugar plantation. Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is wining to work for a nominal salaiy. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, Tallulah, La. 12-81-96 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Speaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-96 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantatkm by a man of family. References 
furnished. Call on or address F. F. Merwin, 621 Du- 
maine street. New Orleans. 12-81-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can fomlsh best of 
refereooe*, J. A. Larxik, Benton P. O.. La. 



WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1036 N. Derblgny street, New Orleans. 
12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a ^ ood double-efCect man with 
nine years' experience. References flrst-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 



12-7-98 



WANTED— Position to take charge of the hooseke^p- 
Ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting ana 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations. *»ddres8 Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience in sugar house work, is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 

Eerintendent for consturction or repairing of sugar 
ouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

WANTED— Position as flrst overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 30 years of age, well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
"«wner is not pleased, no [salary will be expected. Ad- 
AreBS Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 



WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

WANTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. 0.,La. 
1 2-21-98 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position In the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texns. 
12-21-f8 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed In reflnf ry 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 

12-20-98 



WANTED— .A. situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who has 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-20 -96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensation $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation, Centerville, La. 12-20-98 



WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Gooa refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumslde, Louisiana. 12-21-98 



WANTED— Position as manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity , sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A . Blouin, whitecastle, La. 

WANTED— Posltton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation for the coming year. Long experience 
and first-class references. Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, Donaldson vllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as clerk In plantation or town 
store, by a 3roung man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Address G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. Rochblle, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-98 

WANTED— Position for coming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 33 years 
Of a«e, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience In cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R.,Box 258, New Iberia, La. 12-6-W 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
DOTER, care First New York Beet Sugar Company. 
Rome, N. Y. 12-6-98 

WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words," A<^<3re98 Drawaoe, Room 22, 



WANTED— A position aa Asslstaqt Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four vears old, 
married. Twenty years experience m handling labor. 
veral years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
references given. Address, M. E. W., Care Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-28-93. 

W » NTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond >x ith a sugar maker 
who Is engaged for coming Mexican or Cuban crop. 
State terms for Inst ruction. Address, A. W. B., 6S34 
Patten St . , New Orleans, La . 12-23-98 

WANTED— A young married man of small family, 
desires a position In Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience In 
sugar houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rouge, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager for 1889, by a flrst- 
class man of experience and fine references. Will 
tike an asslstancy and work very reasonable. Address 
E. W. Creiohton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1899. Address Thro. 
Baudoin, Jr., Hahnville, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— A sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar houses in Loulsiand, is open 
for an engagement for coming crop In Mexico, Cuba or 
Central ^merica. WIU accept a position on any terms 
consistent with first-class ^ork. Can furnish best of 
testimonials frompresent employers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduated. Address Leda, this 
office. 12-8-98 

WANTEI>— By a young chemist with university eda- 
catlon and one year's eroerience in large Louisiana 
factory, a position for Mexlcm or Cuban campaign. 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. ll-a>-tH 

WANTED— By a first-class sugar boiler to go to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Will 
furnish the brs^^ of references. Address Manuel 
Mello, No. 836 Bartholomew street. New Orteans, La. 
._ 11-29-96 

WANTED— Position for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the largest 
places in the State. Would have no objection to living 
on the place and making himself generally useful. Is a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, 4790 Tchoupitoulaa 
street, city. 11-26-96 

WANTED— Position In this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sugar boiler who has references of the very first 
class. Address Boiler, 607 Chartres street, New Or- 
leans. 11-9-98 

WANTED— Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
University of Michigan. Have had practical experience 
in the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 y^^ars of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
go to the West Indies. Reference from former employer 
given. Address X, this office. 11-26-96 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utility man 
In the country. Good references. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-96 

WANTED— A position as book-keeper or manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. Would also open 
up and run a drug store in interest of employer. Can 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B.. Donald- 
sonvllle, La. 11-21-96 

WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent, is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop In Mexico or Cuba. Has had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations in Lou- 
isiana. Can bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stubbs. Those 
desiring the services of a thorough sugar house man, 
address Oscar, box 574, Baton Rouge. 11-19-96 

WANTED— Position as chemist in MexlMor Cuba for 
coming crop. Have hud eight years experience and can 
furnish good references as to ability. Am at present 
employed at one of the leading sugar houses in Lou- 
isiana. Address Chemibt, this office. 11-22-96 

WANTED— An assistant sugar boiler at once. Ad- 
dress L. A. Ellis, Sartartla, Tex. 11-17-98 

WANTED— Position as assistant or head sugar maker. 
Can furnish first-class references. Address J. L.. 
WiRTH, 1916 Toulouse street. New Orleans, La. 

11-14-96 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer or time- 
keeper on a sugar plantation, for 1890. Married man 
38 years of age. Address E. V. W., care S. C. Bro- 
dowski , 609 Sixth street. New Orleans. 1 1-15-96 

WANTEI>— Experienced chemlsl, at present instruc- 
tor In a large university In the Northwest, desires po- 
sition In a warm climate. Best references. Address 
P. Q, Box 1783, lowft City, Iow«, U-H-W 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



AND 



H MeeW? IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW OBLBANS, MARCH 4, 1899. 



No. 9. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OP THB 

Loui$iana Sugar PhrnHn* M$9oemtiw9, 
M9e§Mion Branch Sugar Pkuk^rt* M$90Ciat'on, 
Louwana Sugar Chmnhtt' Muoeiaihn, 
Kanms Sugar Orowrt* JUsoeiattan, 
T§Ma8 Sugar PhuiHrn' M$soeiaHoti. 

PubUsheflatNcwOrl«ttiit, L«.,cvtry8atttrd«7lforBing 



LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR 
If ANUPACTURBR CO. 

DcTotcd to Ixmishuia Asricttlture in geoenl. And to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all ita 
branches, Agricultttral,*Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, JPolitical and CoinmerdaL 

BOITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

\7. W. PUGII. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at tho PoetofBoe at New Orleans as second-class 
mall matter, Julyl, 1888. 

Per annum 

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UST OP STOCKHOLOeRS. 



McCirfl DroChers* 
McCeH * Ugeadre, 
Uon OeddiMiz, 
James Teller. 
B. Lemanii * Bra., 
Leotto 5ealat, 
ieuls Bmsh, 
W. e. Brtckdl, 
W.C Stabbs. 
iobn Dynoikl, 
Daniel TiMmpsea, 
Pms ABeriMtt. 
H. C. WanBotk. 
Lodos Porsytli. Jr., 

Sbattttdl* fikaum, 

Thenas D. Miller, 
SchoridtftZlegler, 
T. a ncLeury. 
U5.Clarfc. 
J. B. Levcrt. 

w. KTbi^ . 

W. W. SMtdlffo. 
John 8. iloort. 



JaaMsC. Mnrphy, 
Jos.Webre, 



R. Beltraa. 

D. R. Cnlder. 
L. A. eiHs. 
Hero A Malbl«t« 

^r • J. BelMflt 

J. T. JWoore. Jr.. 
Edwards 4t lla«Mnaii, 
JohorA. MorrU. 

B. H. Cwimlngliai. 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ntaMT. 

C. Mi Sorla. 
J. L. HarHs, 
J. IK Murphy. 
Afidrew Price, 
B. 4k J. Keck. 
Wm. Qarlg. 
Addpli Meyer. 
A. A. Woods. 
BradUb Johnsoa, 
Oeorge P. Anderton. 
A. L. nofNioC, 
Richard MNHIcea. 
W.P. ni les._ ^ 
Lezhi A. BecBsl« 

J. N. Pbarr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



B^tTc 



EZBCUTIVB OOmaTTBI. 

lle«ry HcCaU, 

^r • B. 



Velvet Beans. 

This valuable plant has been grown 
extensively in this state during the past 
year. Our afrricultural press has been 
filled "With •ax'counts of it^ superior ex- 
cellence. The plant is still on trial, but 
.ronii-es to become a rival to our best 
varieties of cow-peas, wherever it can be 
grown. Unfortunately it is not yet well 
acclimatecl, so far U-s the ]>roduction of 
seed is concerned, iinco an early frryst last 
year destroyed many imma'ture pods. 
By planting very c-arly and using some 
tree, house bu-h, or arbor upon which 
the vines can climb, the seeds can be 
matured before fra^t. Gradually by ac- 
climation and sehction, it js believed its 
culti\:ation c«n be successfully extended 
even noith of this v<ate. As it rtnjuires 
criin>aratively few seeds per acre, plant- 
ed as ui^ually done, in rows about four 
feet wide and two feet apart in tlie drill, 
it is worthy of extensive cultivation 
even for its enormous vines, which can 
be easily cured' into an excellent quality 
of Lay. It is :an enoniiv us nitrogen 
gatherer, as analysis elsewhere shows. 
The tubercles on its roots are the largest 
of any plant so far ex]>erimented with. 
Coral -like clusters of tubercles, each as 
large as a hen's e^^, huve been gathered 
from its roots, and analysis made of them 
1 y ilr. Clarke, station chemist, at State 
i*]Npeiiment Station, Baton Rouge, La., 
showed six per cent, of nitrogen. The 
vines may be cured into 1 «.iy or turned 
under easily with S disc plow, Tn sum- 
mer old leavcis are replace^l by new oiies 
and the ground, underneath the vines, 
beccmes covered with dead leaves. The 
sect! grow in velvety pods, which are 
coUee'teel into racemes, thus making 
them ciasy to gather. They are difficult 
to shell by hand. The seed are larger 
than a cow-pea, and a bushel will plant 
several acres. 

The only work in the scientific in- 
vestigation of thie bean, th«t we have 



seen, is reported' in Bulletin No. 35, 
of the FloridU Exeriment Station. Prof. 
A, A. Persons, chemist of that station, 
reports the following analysis of the ean, 
bean and then conrpares it with cow pea. 
**An analysis of the beans, not in- 
cluding the shells or pods, made by Pro- 
fessor A. A. Persons, gave the follow- 
ing results: 

•ANALYSIS OF THE VELVET BEAN. 

••Moisture at 100 degrees 1L93 per cent 

"Crude Ash 2.02 per cent 

•'Crude Protein 18.81 per cent 

••Albuminolcl Nitrogen 2.87 per cent 

••Crude fat (ether extract) .. 6.29 per cent 

••Crude Fiber 7.45 per cent 

I'Jitrogen (free extract) 53.50 per cent 

•'Calculated to a water-free basis, and 
compared with an analysis of the cow pea 
under the same conditions, the following 
figures express the relative composition of 
the two: 

* Velvet bean. Cow-pea. 

*'Ash 2.20 10.50 per ceiii 

••Froteln 21.36 14.30 per cent 

"Fat 7.14 2.60 per cent 

"Fiber 8.46 29.00 per cent 

"Nitrogen (free ex- 
tract) 60.76 43.60 per cent 

••The nutritive ratio of the cow-pea is 
about 1.3 It is impossible to assign a 
definite ratio to the velvet bean, for the 
reason that, so far as I am aware, its per- 
centage of digestibility has never been 
determined. The only manner of accom- 
plishing this is by means of practical feed- 
ing experiments with stock. 

••Assuming the digestibility of this vel- 
vet bean to be equal to that of the cow- 
pea, it will be found that it compares quite 
favorably with the latter, and since it grows 
luxuriantly in different sections of the state, 
and since stock are known to feed upon it 
with great relish, it may, perhaps, play a 
prominent part as a forage crop in Florida 
in the future. 

••It is to be classed among the feed stuffs 
which are especially rich in nitrogen 
[protein substances]. A feeding stufE so 
rich in nitrogen should not be fed alone but 
in conjunction with some coarse fodder con- 
taining a much larger proportion of carbohy- 
drates [starch, etc.], such, for example, as 
com fodder." 

This analysis, supplemented by those 
given elsewliere in this bulletin, will fur- 
nish all the informatinii necgssary to 
form a correct estimate of the value of 
this plant as a nitrogen gatherer. There 
are rumors of a poisonous principle in the 
be<ans of this plapt, but judging fpom 

Digitized by VriOOQ IC 



180 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUOAJt MANUFAOTUBUL 



[Vol. XXII. No. S. 



the above remarks, and others made in 
the same bulletin by Dr. Clute and Mr. 
(jreeii, an orange grower, of Orlando, 
Fla., these rumors are nat founded in 
fact. 

The velvet bean:? are largely u.-^eil in 
Florida, and, to ^ome extent, in this 
state, in the orange ji^rnves, both as a 
fertilizer for the trees and as a destroy- 
er of weeds and grasses. It -will com- 
pletely destroy Jiennuda and tempor- 
arily ob^cures coco or nut grass (cyperus 
rotundns). It may, perhaps, success- 
fully cope with Johnson grass. 



Th« Louisiana Sugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

The ilarch meeting of this association 
^vill bo held next Thur^d'ay evening at 
Xo. 712 Union street, at 8« p. m. The 
same topic as was discussed in Febru- 
ary, viz: 'The Manner and Method of 
Puichasing Cane — Whether by Te^t or 
Otheiwise," will be agiain taken up and 
J)r. Stirbbs has promised to be present 
an<l supply the assciation with all the 
facts and data in his posseission l>earing 
upon the topic under consideration. The 
meeting cannot fail to be a very' inter- 
esting one, and doubtless the capacity 
of the meeting room will be again taxed 
to acconunodate the attendance as it \^^s 
lasrt month. The annual election of 
officers to serve during the ensuing year 
will lalso take place. It should be dis- 
tinctly understood that all interested, 
whether members of the association or 
not, are invited to l>e present. 



Demand for Improved Sugar Ma- 
ciiinery. 

There is an increasing demand for 
improved sugar machinery in every su- 
gar country tl ac is making any effort 
to sustain i't^ i industry. Tliere would 
have been a good doniand for such nm- 
chineiy in this state this season but for 
the '^reat freeze of February 13th, and 
now that our planters are finding that 
their fears are not sustained by the facts 
and that a fair cane crop is still to be 
made in this state this season, the in- 
jury fr(jm the freeze Ix'ing far le-s than 
was expecjfd, we may expect the in- 
quiry for sugar nrachinery to rise again. 
What some other countries are doing 
in this direction may be judged froin ^ 



lehter that the Louisiana Planter has 
just received fro»m S. Morris Lillie, E-q., 
president of the Sugar A^^xaiiatus Manu- 
facturing Co., of Philadelphia, in which 
Mr. Lillie says he has now in process 
of construction one quadruple-effect of 
150,000 gallons capacity for the Pioneer 
Sugar Plantatiooi, Hawaii; one triple 
effect, 300,000 gallons capacitv for 
glucose solutions, for t'he Glucose Su- 
gar Refining Co., of Chicago; one 
triple-effect, 180,000 gallons capacity, 
and one triple-effect, 150,000 gallons 
capacity, in course of construction by 
Messrs. McOnie, Iliarvey 6z Co., of 
(Glasgow, for Deonerara esta'tes, this firm 
being licensed to manufacture the Lillie 
multiple effects under Mr. Ullie's Brit- 
ish patents. We can only hope that tUe 
better prospects now developing will soon 
increase the demand here for sugar ma- 
chinery. 

Latest News Prom the Plantations. 

The past 'week has brought about one 
noteworthy improvement, inasmucih as 
the weather l.ui^ been pndominantly dry 
and warm, allowing field work to he done 
on all the plantations. As the excep- 
tionally wet weather we have had ever 
since last Septemiber has doubtless been 
more injurious to our cane crop that the 
recent record-breiaiking freeze itself, and 
as all field work was exceptionally back- 
ward, the change to dryer atJno:?pherieal 
conditions is an event of the very great- 
est importance. So far as the examin- 
ation of stubble and seed cane have 
progressed, they seem to ind'icate better 
and le^ alanning conditions than here- 
tofore, but it will be impossiible to judge 
with any accuracy until the spring ad- 
vances and the development of vegeta- 
tion begins. In the meantime we know 
that the crop situation is fiar l/etter than 
seemed likely two weeks ago and that it 
is not at all likdy that any very serious 
disaster is to be lookeo for. That the 
state will make lat least a three-fourths' 
crop is, from present indications, entire- 
ly probable.. 

Condition of the Cane Crop. 

In sugar circles the absorbing prob- 
lem during the last two weeks has been 
the effect of the great freeze upon the 
coming cane crop. Our review of the 
^ff^t of th^ great freezes of the past, 



published in our issue of two weeks ago, 
we believe still gives a fair foundation 
for reasonubly accurate judgment as to 
the outcome of the crop of 1899. As 
we showed in that article the general 
eff(x*t of the very exceptionally severe 
freezes in the past has been to cut down 
the crop one-third from that which pre- 
ceded it. The reasons for the non-ap- 
plrcation of this rule to 1856 were given. 

We have now had two weeks of time 
during which much careful examination 
of the cane crop has been made and 
consideraWe field work. done. The in- 
auguration of field work, .the planting 
of the cane reserved for seed, aani the 
, barring off of the cane stubbles reveal 
conditions eminently ^laitisfactory under 
all the circumstances. 

The news from the northern limits 
of the sugar belt continues unsatisfac- 
tory, perhaps bad, but the central -and 
southern pbrtions are sending in good 
and gratifying views. First, the fall 
pliant cane is generally reported as all 
right. The September and October 
rains lessened the usual quantity of fall 
plowing and planting, but we are assured 
that what planting was. done is now in 
good condition. 

In all past greiat freezes, as we stated 
two weeks ago, the seed cane was never 
seriously injured, the crops immediately 
following the freezes having been made 
chiefly from pilant cane, and the stubble 
cane crops showing the defici^wy 
brought about by the freezes. The re- 
cent freeze 'having been severe beyond 
precedent, apprehensions were at once ex- 
cited as to the condition of the seed cane. 
Careful examinations have shown that 
in many cases it is not in prime condi- 
tion, but that where carefully windrowed 
the injurj^ to it by the freeze is not 
the chief cause, nor even »a very material 
cause, of the deterioration. The raitiy 
vVinter was harmful to seed cane in 
windrow and considerable injury result- 
ed therefroln, but 'the main cause of de- 
terioration was the green and perishable 
condition of the seed ciane when put 
down. The extraordinary greenness of 
the cane crop that resulted in but two- 
thirds of a normal yield of sugar for the 
season, is felt w'ith equal severity in 
much of the cane saved for seed. The 
deffcfiv^ seed eane wa^ ascribed to the 



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Mftreb 4. 1899.] 



THH LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



131 



freeze until more careTfii'l exJaamnation 
showed no perceptible influence of frost 
but big, spongy, <try, dead eyes, the 
natural outcome of green cane saved for 
deed thas last season. Some seed cane 
in windrow is found in excellent con- 
dition and this k generally the case 
where the canes were the ripest and 
straightest. 

Our reports from first stubble in iiandy 
lands have been good generally. There 
seemed considerable doubt aJbout the 
^tatns of first stubbles in stiflF lands, but 
this doubt is n<>w disappearing and ili 
the southern sugar parishes we hear re- 
ports of its not being seriousS^y injured. 
The chief unsolved problem then seems 
to be the second stubbles. We bciar that 
m stiff land they lare bad, in some sandy 
land they are good. 

On the whole we are led to believe 
that the condition of the cane crop is 
far better than we thought probable two 
weeks ago; that plant cane, seed cane 
and stubble, while suffering some injury 
from the great freeze, are even now 
in better condition than many a crop 
we thought reaiX)nably gooil twenty 
years ago. In arriving at these conclu- 
ti<yns we exclude from consideration the 
northern tier of sugar parishes from 
which the news thus far is indefinite 
and conflicting. 

We are now led to task, why the Louis- 
iana cane crop has so readily and easily 
mrvived the great freeze of 1890? We 
believe that the secret lies in the short 
duration of the freeze. Sunday morning, 
February 12, opened with a fall of elect. 
It grew colder during the day. Monday 
morning gave the lowest; recorded tem- 
perature. Thursday morning revealed 
a change for the /better, the temperature 
rL-ing ten degrees. The low temperature 
prevailed for but part of one night and 
did not exhaust the latent heat of the 
planted cteines, seed canes or stubbles, 
and, while we may have escaped de- 
struction by the skin of our teeth, still 
we escaped. 



Frederic Cook. 

We are called upon to chronicle the 
death of th5s distinguished gentleman 
who has been la prominent figure in the 
sugar industry of Louisiana for nearly 
half fi pentiiry. Mr. CpoH Fa» bor^ 



in England and came to the United 
States in his youth and was employed 
at the Novelty Iron Works, New York, 
the esta:blishment that did much of the 
best engineering Avork for ith^ sugar 
planters of Ix>ui3iana in ante-bellum 
days. Before the civil war he estiab- 
lished the immense Belleville Iron 
Works in Algiers and engaged largely 
in the manufacture of sugar machinery. 
After the civil war he engaged in sugar 
planting in Louisiiama, but a lucky in- 
vention of his, the Arrow cotton tie, be- 
came so successful as to monopolize his 
attention for a numiber of years. 

During recent years he has been en- 
gaged in erecting baga'sse furnaces of his 
own invention and ako in the erection 
of Babcock and Wilcox boilers, for 
which company he has been the agent 
for many years. 

Mr. Cook was an engineer of high or- 
der, and thoroughly comprehended the 
most obscure problems of modem me- 
chanical engineering. He was one of 
the advanced tli inkers and workers in 
our industry and will l>e greiatly mis^ncd. 
Air. Cook was seventy years of age at 
the time of his death and succuniibed t© 
•an attack of the grip, which developed 
into pneumonia, and he died Sunday 
morning, February 26. 

Sugar as a Ration. 

There is probably no respect In which the 
war office of Germany stands further ahead 
of the war department of other nations than 
in the scientific attention Ht pays to the 
iignt, comfortable clothing of the soldiers, 
.o .he portability of their equipment, and to 
the nutritive quality of tiheir ration*. 

We. in the United States, it is true, made 
ain experiment during tiae recent war, ac- 
cording to 'ihe gen-eral commandioc Uncle 
Sam s army, as to whether we could not 
feed our soldiers on "embalmed" be.ef, hav- 
ing Lne not over-pleasant odor of a dead 
boay. it was not, however, an experiment of 
Liie sort which, by any s^iretch of charity or 
even of imagination, could be classed ae 
scieniitic; and it was accordingly discontin- 
ued at the earliest possible moment, as not 
likely to lead to any pleasami or satisfactory 
result. 

'But, in the Fatherland, they do these 
things differently; and, with men of splen- 
did military records In the War Office, em- 
ploying chemi^:s and scientists of recog- 
nized ability to help them in making experi- 
ments looking to the convenience and com- 
fort of the soldiers. t?hey reach conclusions 
whlcfh In many instances enable them to dis- 
!:^c^ tlie Wftr Pepartment^ of Q*tbw nations. 



..n illustraition of this fine progressfveness 
of the War Department of the German em- 
pire is furnished in a recent issue of the 
British Medical Journal, quoted in the Liter- 
ary 'Digest.. While the Frendi genen^l stall 
have been cheifly occupied in defending 
themselves against the charge of liaving il- 
legally convicted an artillery officer of Jew- 
ish blood, and of compelling him to live a 
life worse than death merely to save. them- 
selves from exposure and from being driven 
ignominiously from the office which they 
have disgraced; and while military officlak 
of ihe United States have been blackguard- 
irng each other like Billingsgate fisihwives. 
and uave been effectively demonstrating to 
the people that they not only do not under-* 
sUand i.'he business of handling armies bu: 
that they are not even (wliat is known as) 
gentlemen, the German War Departmeni 
have been scientificallyi iavestisatimg the 
question as to what easily portable food ii 
is tSiat contains most sustenance for ithe 
German soldier. 

The question that has recently been be- 
fore the German War Office is a« to the value 
of sugar as nourishment for ^troops; and 
the practical way in which they have 
sought to ascertain that value is as simple 
as it IS scientJi-fic. "In each of the compan- 
ies directed i.o carry out the experiments," 
says the British Medical Journal, "ten men, 
chosen from among the least vigorous, were 
told off as the subjects for experiment, an- 
otner ten being also selected who were 
ws.rictly confl.ned to the service rations. The 
amount of sugar supplied daily to tlie ^ ' 
during the continuance of the autumn 
maneuvers, was gradually Increased, and 
their weight increased proportlonaely more 
than that of «:hose who were without ir. 
while the men themselves "were in better 
health and more vigorous than th«y had been 
before. When on the march, a piece of 
sugar relieved hunger and appeased thlrsi; 
while, i.lian'ks to it. it was found easier to 
fight the exhaustion produced by heat. Nj 
objection was made by the men to taking 
the sugar." 

After sucli a vaiuable experience as this, 
It would not be astonishing to learn that 
the recom^iendation has been made, and Is 
likely to be adopted, by the German War 
Department, to add sugar to the soldiers' 
rations in one of '.he three following ways: 
•*(a) As to supplementary allowance, with 
the view of improving the men's daily ra- 
tion; (o; as an integral part of the lien's 
reserve store of provisions, and of the sup- 
plies for fortresses, hospi'ials and ships; and 
ic) as a temporary allowance for strengtb- 
ening the men and renewing their vi^or on 
the march. ' 

Instead of wrangling, as the war officials 
are doing in France, or calling names, as 
they are doing In the united Sta'ces, it would 
be vastly more profitable to take a leaf out 
of the German War Department's booK. 
They at. end strictly to military business 
there, and thsy are. In consequence, a mili- 
tary nation with which no other nation 
dares to taKe liberties,— Tlmes-'D^mQcrat. 



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132 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 9. 



CANE BUYING SCHEDULE OF BELLE HELENE PLANTING CO. 






2. 



Ill 



il 



17 3.20,2.21 
Jl 3,26 2.2S 
S53.32 2.32„ 
8,3.38:2.3613 
12:3.44 2.4013 

Mt'o cn 4 dttt 



3li 



2JS. 






p (D^ 

U Sod 



2. 






r6l3.60 
M),3.5'3 
i43.62 
Wl3.e8 
a 3.74 



3.80 
03.86 
4 3.92 
8 3.98 
214.01 
«l4.10 
0,4.16 



2.413 

2.483 

2.62 

2.56 

2.60. 

2.64 13 

2.68|3 

2.724 

2.76'4 

2.8014 

2.814 

2.8814 



.30 2.31 
.36 2.36 
.42 2.39 
.48 2.43 
.64 2.47 
.60 2.513 
672.553 
732.59I3. 
79,2. 64 '3. 
862 6Si3. 
922.724. 
9e'2.76 4. 
04|2.80:4. 
IO2.84I4. 
162.8814 
222. 9214 
28;2.96 4 



S2« 






.40 2.38 
.46 2.42 
6812.46 
5S2.603 
65 2.65 3 



71 2.59 
78|2.63 
W2.f»7 
912.72 
97:2.76 4 



012.60 

10:2.84 

162.88 

222.92 

2!i|2.96|4 

343.004 

4013.0414 



1.50 2.46 
.602.49 
.62 2.54 
.09 2.68 
.762.62 
.83 2.67 
.802.71 
.962.76 
.02 2.80 
.092. Bl 
.162.89 
.222.93 



2.97 
3.Q2 
3.06 
3.10 
3.15 



The Campbell System. 

The Campbell system of soil culture con- 
sists of a complete rearrangement and pul- 
verizing of the top seven or eight inches 
ot soil, turning it as nearly bottom upwards 
as possible. The plant food is found at the 
end of each season very largely concentrated 
in the lop four inches. This plant food must 
be plowed down into iLe bottom of a furrow 
seven or eight inches deep. From this 
depth it will be placed by the action of 
moisture just where the little feeders of the 
plant roots want it. Immediately after plow- 
ing the lower four inches of the furrow 
slice must be packed as firm as possible. 

After the aeep plowing and subsurface 
packing the next step is to keep the upper 
two inches of the surface soil constantly dry. 
This forms a soft mulch or dust blanket, so 
as to cut off the moist earth below from 
the effects of the air. Water cannot pass 
througn loose, dry soil by capillary attrac- 
tion. Therefore the dust blanket protects 
the moisture in cue root bed from evapora- 
tion anu saves all the natural rainfall for 
the use of the plants. Strong capillary at- 
traction is desired in the root beds, and 
therefore the root bed is packed. No capil- 
lary attraction is desired in the surface, and 
therefore the dust blanket is formed. Try 
it. — Rural Home. 



Trade Notes. 



Graphite. 
The Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., of Jersey 
City, are issuing a monthly journal called 
"Graphite" and devoted to the dissemina- 
tion of data concerning the many excellences 
of this mineral in the manufacture of which 
this company and its immediate successors 
have been engaged for nearly a century. 

There is no doubt of the great lack of 
knowledge among machinery users generally 
of the wonderful lubricating properties of 
graphite, or plumbago or black lead as it is 
sometimes called. It may hardly be to the 
interest of the oil manufacturers and deal- 
ers to give information concerning the 
merits of frapbH^ W ^ lubrjcftat, but it 



certainly is to the interest of oil consumers 
to learn of other lubricants that may in- 
crease the efficiency and perhaps cheapen the 
cost of the lubricants they are now using. 
All such will do well to address the Joseph 

Dixon Crucible Co., Jersey City, for data. 

• 

Mr. Oao. P. Anderton. 

There are but few of our readers^ at least 
in Louisiana, who are unacquainted with 
Mr. Anderton, and the object of these few 
lines is not to introduce him in his every day 
character as a flrst-class fellow,, but to intro- 
duce him in his comparatively new role of 
, consulting engineer, with an office in the 
Hennen Building. 

Mr. Anderton, as is well known, is a 
thoroughly expert sugar house engineer, and 
an eminently practical one, operating his 
own sugar uouse and knowing all the ins 
and outs of the business from the fire doors 
to the proof stick, and he now offers his 
services to anyone who contemplates making 
aQu^.ions tP his plant, or constructing a new 
one, or one K*esiring his machinery repair- 
ing to be superintended, and being the rep- 
resentative of no manufacturing concern ex- 
cept the Wm. S. Haines Co., makers of the 
Heintz Steam Trap, he feels that he can 
practice — s profession in a broad, compre- 
hensive, ana unprejudiced way. A consult- 
ing engineer is jcertainly a necessity nowa- 
aays when any extensive mechanical in- 
stallation is intended, and one who will give 
the work intrusted to him a thorough, 
minute and painstaking investigation will 
amply repay those who employ him. A sin- 
gle mist:*.we may cost ten times the fee to 
be paid him. In selecrmg this field of action 
Mr. Anderton has doubtless acted wisely, 
and we trust he will meet with hearty sup- 
port from his sugar planting confreres and 
a constantly increasing patronage. 



Personal. 

Mr. Joseph F. Kramer, a gentleman promi- 
nently identified with the sugar planting in- 
terests of St. Mary parish, was a guest of 
the Commercial hotel last Friday. 

I^r. John R. Sheens, of (Jolden I^anc}^ 



plantation, in the parish of Lafourche, ar- 
rived in the city on Friday last for a brief 
visit and took rooms at the Hotel RoyaL 

Mr. Charles A. p'Neill. a leading resident 
of Franklin, La., was registered at the Hotel 
Grunewald a few days ago. 

Mr. Leonce M. Soniat, of Cedar Grove 
plantation, near Dorceyville, in Iberyille 
parish, was in the city on Saturday last 
He considered it too soon to speak positive- 
ly regarding the effects of the. late freese. 

Mr. C. 1*. Braffett, of Chicago, who is 
prominently connected with that well-known 
concern the Simonds Manufacturing Com- 
pany, was in the city during the past week 
and was a guest of the St Charles hotel. 

Mr. A. A. Fuselier, who is a thoroughly 
well posted man in everything pertaining to 
sugar cane culture aAd sugar manufacture, 
was one of the arrivals of the Cosmopolitan 
hotel last week. 

Mr. A. J. Lasseigne, of Raceland, La., 
registered at the Cosmopolitan hotel a few 
days ago. 

Mr. G. D. Von Phul, of Baton Rouge, 
was registered at the Hotel Royal on Sun- 
day. 

Mr. J. P. Kemper, of Franklin, La., a sugar 
house engineer of high repute and an in- 
ventor of some valuable labor saving appli- 
ances, was in the city during the past week. 
Mr. Kemper stopped at the Royal. 

Mr. Joseph Birg, a prominent St Mary 
parish sugar planter, was a Sunday guest of 
the St. Charles. 

Mr. Wm. Garig, of Baton Rouge, president 
of the First National Bank of that city, 
was in the city on a visit a few days aga 
He stopped at the St Charles hotel. 

Mr. F. J. Webb, of Baton Rouge, general 
manager of the Baton Rouge Sugar Com- 
pany, located near that city, was in the city 
on a visit a few days ago, making his head- 
quarters at the St Charles hotel. 

Mr. John J. Shaffer, a leading St Mary 
parish sugar planter, was temporarily 
domiciled at the St Charles hotel during the 
week, having come down to the ^tjr 05 0119 
9t ftle fre<jue|it lousiness trips^ 



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183 



LOOAL LEITBRS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL CORREBPONDBNCB.) 

Eililor Loutnaria Planter: 

Gentle spring has arrived and at this writ- 
ing there is no indication of the coy maiden 
permitting old winter to linger in her lap. 
We've been blessed with some dry weather 
also, and advantage has been taken of it to 
get the colored and Ualian troops, the mules, 
plows, harrows and such like into the field 
on every hand to open the deferred stubble 
shaving and cane planting campaign. 
There was a sharp rain Sunday morning and 
it looked as if the prospects of resuming 
field work on Monday would be blasted, but 
a favoraole change took place and there 
has been no further percipitation up to the 
time this letter is closed— Wednesday 
night. The indications point to more rain, 
however, a Warm southerly wind prevailing 
that is bringing constantly thickening 
banks of clouds from a gulfward direction. 

The feeling with regard to cane crop pros- 
pects is by no means so hopeful as it was a 
week ago, and many planters and managers 
who were confident of a ^ood stand from 
stubble and that windrowed seed 9/ould be 
found in good average condition, &re now 
apprehensive that both classes of cane have 
suffered to a much greater extent than had 
been previously supposed. There has been 
a general disposition to expect little from 
fall plant, owing to the prevalence of un- 
favorable weather conditions ever since it 
was put down, and so far as heard from, 
examinations tend to show that this esti- 
mate was well founded. 

Col. J. Emile St. Martin, who is always 
prone rather to optimism than pesstfiiism in 
such matters, reports his stubble and seed 
cane in very unsatisfactory condition, and 
there are few places in this section more 
favorably situated than his, either as to 
character or conformation of the soil, for 
the protection and preservation of cane dur- 
ing the winter season; and no one who 
knows the reputation of Manager L. M. St 
Martin, as a cultivator, will doubt that 
every proper and possible precaution was 
used in this direction. Unless meteorologi- 
cal conditions during the next few weeks 
are extremely propitious. Col St. Martin 
thinks that not more than half a crop can 
be made, and with bad weather to contend 
against, the outcome will in all likelihood 
be still more meagre. 

Col Richard McCall is quoted as report- 
ing that of four acres of seed uncovered on 
McManor only about one-fourth was in good 
conoition for planting. The air is full of 
unpleasant rumors to like effect from vari- 
ous directions, and the developments of the 
ensuing month will be awaited with wide- 
spread interest and anxiety. We find food 
for consolation and renewed hope in the 
demonstrated fact expressed Sunday morn- 
ing by Mr. Leonee M. Soniat, of Iberville, 



to a party of gentlemen discussing the crop 
outlook: 

"Sugar cane is a very hardy plant and 
displays degrees of vitality that often sur- 
prise the oldest and most experienced 
planters.'' 

The Donaldsonville Chief printed in its 
issue of last Saturday a portrait of one of 
the leading managers of this parish, Mr. 
Sam J. Boote, together with a sketch of his 
managerial career which may prove of suffi- 
cient interest to the Planter's readers to 
Justify its reproduction: 

"Mr. Samuel John Boote, whose portrait 
is presented above, will on the 1st of March 
relinquish the management of the Miles 
Planting & Mfg. Co.'s Clark plantation and 
assume that of the same company's Mon- 
roe plantation, the lower one of the seven 
places located on the left band of the Mis- 
sissippi river in the parish of Ascension and 
commonly known as "the Miles group." Mr. 
Boote's change of base is to be made at his 
own instance and request, and is due prim- 
arily to the fact that the present Manager, 
Mr. J. Monroe Breaux, has purchase#-a half 
interest in a plantation in the ;;^arish of 
Terrebonne and is about to. assume control 
of the property. Thinking the health of his 
family might be improved by the more eligi- 
ble situation of the Monroe residence, Mr. 
Boote applied for the transfer, and it was 
readily granted, as would have been pre- 
dicted by all who know the high degree of 
confidence and esteem in which he fs held 
by his employers. Monroe is generally re- 
garded as the best place of the Miles group, 
hence Mr. Boote's future success may be 
copsidered assured Insofar as it depends up- 
on competency of management 

The subject of this sketch was bom in the 
parish of Iberville, near Island postoffice, in 
April, 1850, the son of Wm. B. Boote and 
Irma Chiasson. He attended the parochial 
school In that vicinity, and after the war 
worked the home place for awhile. He went 
to Texas thinking to find a better opening 
there, but soon returned to eat shrimps and 
drink Mississippi river water in Louisiana, 
deeming the fare and the country ^'plenty 
good for him." 

In December, 1875, armed with a letter of 
Introduction from Henry 0. Brand, his boy- 
hood companion and life-long friend, Mr. 
Boote applied to the late John Burnside for 
employment and was assigned to duty as 
assistant manager of Donaldson plantation, 
familiarly called "the college," of which Mr. 
James K. 'i'ucker was manager. After serv- 
ing the regular course of four years — two 
under "Jim" Tucker and two under the lat- 
ter's brother John — ^Mr. Boote was promot- 
ed to the post of Donaldson's manager in 
1880 and made a crop of 495 hogsheads of 
sugar on the place that year, a larger num- 
ber by 71 hogsheads than had been pro- 
duced there any previous season since the 
civil war. 

In 1887 Mfr Boote was transferred to the 



adjoining Riverton plantation, which he 
managed for two years, breaking its post 
bellum crop records with an output of 
887,000 pounds of sugar In 1887 and 1,140,000 
pounds In 1888. At the beginning of the en- 
suing year, 1889, he went to Clark planta- 
tion as the successpr of Manager uames K. 
Tucker, and has remained there ever since, 
a term of ten consecutive years. 

Clark has had but three managers jfi the 
last twenty-seven years — the late W. F. J. 
Davis, from 1872 to 1877, Inclusive; then 
his pupil, James K. Tucker, from 1878 to 
1888, Inclusive; then Mr. TucKer's pupil, 
Sam J. Boote, from 1889 to 1899. Although 
it has the reputation among the uninitiated 
of being the best place of the Miles group. 
It Is In reality the hardest one of the lot 
to manage, since It has always been under 
the control of men of the highest capacity, 
and the maintenance of their standard has 
called for the exercise of si^ai and Industry 
of the first calibre. 

Mr. Boote Is the head of an exceptionally 
bright and Interesting family. He was 
married at Napoleonville June 7, 1882, to 
Miss Estelle Johnson, and they have seven 
children, ranging In age from sixteen years 
to one year and named Carroll, Cora, 
Rowena, Clarence, Annie, Wallace and 
Virginia. 

Besides being a first-class manager, a 
model citizen, husband and father, a warm- 
hearted friend and genial associate, Mr. 
Boote Is a tip-top marksman with the fowl- 
ing piece, and has won several medals In 
competition with the crack shots of Ascen- 
sion and adjacent parishes on the clayblrd 
field. He Is a leading member of the Bum- 
side Qun Club and the boon companion of 
that enthusiastic sportsman. Dr. W. P. Miles, 
Jr., the president and chief promotor of the 
organization. The Chief but echoes the 
sentiment of all the many friends of Mr. 
Boote and his family In expressing the hope 
that they will enjoy an unstinted meed of 
health, happiness and prosperity In their 
new home. 

Mr. J. Fumlss Saxon ,now assistant man- 
ager of Clark plantation, will step Into Mr. 
Boote's shoes as manager, and there is every 
reason to believe that he will prove the 
worthy successor of a noble chief. 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE J 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

This week's weather has been quite con- 
trary to what we have been having through 
the winter and our poor worried planters 
have at last begun to plant their cane and 
to ott-bar and shave their stubbles and iJ^ 
a short while the qO^tidlT'of damage from 
the late cold spell will be settled and the 
extravagant guessing of niany sunk till the 
thermometer runs near the zero mark again, 
whic^ we hope will not be soon. From 
many reports we gleam the fact that the 



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THE LOUISIANA MANTBR AND SUGAR MANUF AC T URER . 



[Vol. xxn, No. 9. 



damage, to the cane from the cold was not 
rreat, as the intense cold either did not 
anger sufficiently long to Icill things la the 
ground or the snow immediately preceding 
the cold served to protect the soil from the 
cold. It is certain however, that fruit trees 
that were thought to T>e killed are putting 
out leaves and flowers and stubbles are 
::prouting, and plant cane in some places 
.7ith less than 3 inches of dirt is doiiig as 
aicely as could be expected. The season 
however has been so wet that the i.eed cane 
v.t best is only tolerably good, while some 
i3 exceedingly indifferent and while we are 
satisfied the cold did very little damage, we 
think that the acreagt^ will be shorter than 
usual and that the seed will not be as 
(^ood. 

The best report comes from Messrs Le- 
Qlanc & Danos, of Plaquemine, and is that 
the seed at their Milly plantation is per- 
naps better than last year and a good 
stand is expected from stubble. 

Mr. Simon LeBlanc, of St. Gabiel, has 

Mr. Simon LeBlanc, of St. Gabriel, has 
that part of the Bui;khall place, adjoining 
Monticello which li^ back of the Valley 
riailroad. Besides cultivating Monticello in 
cane and Bvergreen, Mrs. Jules GueymartTs 
large place just below St. Gabriel, in rice. 
Mr. LeBlanc has leased the Gartness planta- 
lion in the parish of East Baton Rouge and 
will put it in rice too. Mr. LeBlanc is an 
:;xcelient planter and always makes good 
crops. 

A number of planters were in Plaquemine 
this week nunting for stubble shavers^ 

Mr. Charles Lobdell, of Bayou Goula, fail- 
ing to get sufficient land to justify him in 
planting rice, has concluded to glYe up rice 
planting and expects to engage in cane 
1 arming. 

A colored man named Johnson Barnes has 
leased all the cane land on the Avery plant- 
ation and will sell the cane ratsed to the 
Baton Rouge refinery. 

Congressman Broussard favored a good 
many with garden seeds last week and they 
came in handy, for the late cold killed off 
everything in the vegetable line and a new 
start had to be made. 

Mrs. Marcellin Martinez, who formerly 
owned the Mespilus plantation in this par- 
ish died last, week at the residence of her 
son, Mr. Didier Martinez, manager of Al- 
hambra plantation. 

Mr. James M. Carville, of the 5th ward, 
who was last year engaged in rice plant- 
ing with Mr. J. B. Humphreys died last 
week at ^.s home at Dreyfous. 

Four ladies whose combined ages exceed 

300 years have recently died in this parish, 

iz.: Mrs. Thomas Cropper, Mrs. Lusignan 

Folse, Mrs. Francois Saurage and Mrs. Mar- 

oUin Martinez. 

Iberville. 



We«t Baton Rouge. 

(BPJCUL C0aiK8.0>:D':NCE.) 

Editor LouisUiua Planter: 

As time rolls away the effects of the late 
severe freeze, while not yet altogether clear, 



are becoming more apparent. There can no 
longer be any doubt as to the condition of 
the secdnd year's stubble— it is ruined. As 
one veteran, planter expresses it: **In three 
months there will be nothing on the land 
where second-year stubble now stands to 
indicate that cane was ever planted on it." 
This, so far as I can learn, is true of the 
parish as a whole. First year's stubble 
seems to oe a shade better, a few good, or 
apparently good, eyes being found here and 
there. Even as to these, however, the out- 
come is more or less doubtful, in view of the 
rapid deterioration of both plant and stub- 
ble during the week following the zero tem- 
perature. In other words, some of the first 
year's stubble may be saved, or it may all be 
lost As to this, time alone can tell. The 
best that any one dares hope for is from one- 
fourth to half a stand. Reports as to the 
condition of seed cane are still confiicting 
and divergent. That a greaf^portion of it 
is lost now seems certain. On several 
plantations it is said that the destruction of 
the seed is complete. In other cases the 
planters are more hopeful, believing that 
they will at least have enough cane this 
year for a full- planting next y^ir. In this 
connection the fact is recalled that on 
Thursday of last week one of our prominent 
planters went to New Orleans to investigate 
the feasibility of importing cane from Cuba 
for this year's planting on his place; It 
was h^d intention to purchase seed at any 
convenient point on the island and have ft 
placed in hogsheads, packed with dirt and 
brought direct to his plantation aboard the 
ship. During the past few days nothing fur- 
ther has been heard of the matter; but if 
the experiment is made, the outcome will 
be watched with the keenest interest by 
planters and everybody else. That the ex- 
pense of such an undertaking would be 
enormous goes without saying; whether the 
game would pay for the candle is another 
question. A majority, if not all, of the 
planters here are puzzled as to what they 
shall do with their places in the event that 
the cane, as now seems probable, is totally 
lost. Most of them are opposed to cultivat- 
ing rice for obvious reasons while cotton or 
com, or both, would scarcely be profitable 
at present prices. 

One feature of the situation seenus to be 
permanently settled, and that is the ques- 
tion of wages. Even before the un- 
precedented freeze of Feb. 11-13, when it 
was known that the seed cane had been in* 
jured by the incessant rains, the question of 
a reduction in wages was being agitated, 
and a cut was deemed inevitable. That im- 
pression deepened into a conviction after the 
freeze, but the extent of the reduction had 
not been agreed upon. Last Monday, how- 
ever, when field work was begun the labor- 
ers were informed that thenceforth they 
would get 60 cents per day. This cut was 
taken very philosophically by the hands, 
who realize the situation, and who, as a 
matter of fact, had expected a cut to 50 



cents per day. It is probain^ that the scale 
of wages as above has been, or will be. 
adopted throughout the parish. 

A light rain fell last Saturday night and 
early Sunday morning, followed by clear- 
ing weather during the day. Monday morn- 
ing dawned clear and bright, and there was 
a general ringing of plantation bells, and 
turning out of hands, who were exceeding' 
ly glad to resume work after their long en- 
forced idleness. Field operations have been 
pushed forward continuously since then, but 
a heavy fog this (Wednesday) inomins 
threatens more rain soon. As to much 0t 
the field work now being done it seems 
to be a case of "love's labor lost" — at least 
such is the case in 

"WtaT Batok Rouoe. 



Assumption. 

(SPSaAL C0RBB8P0NDENCB.) 

Editor Louitiana Platiter: 

Brighter yre&tM^ this Monday morning 
has caused the g^oem for the moment to de- 
part from the brow of the cane planter, 
and to hope that at last an end has come to 
the terrible weather so long continued. 
There 'is one sub^t that cane buyers and 
seller can easily iigree upon and that is the 
thoroughly disgusting 'weatheF'that we have 
been afflicted with for many months. 

As much has been said by both buyer and 
seller on the subject of the correct prin- 
ciple upon which cane shall be bought, per- 
haps the views of the cane sellers who do 
no usually rush into print may be of inter- 
est. I have spoken with a good many of 
them of late, and while I do. not pretend to 
express the views of all, I believe I voice 
the opinion of many; Thej; are, as a rule, 
men averse to giving their ideas, and yet 
they are men who have ven^ decided ideas 
of their own. 

I judge from conversation that for tbe 
present at least tbey are not in favor of 
the sucrose test, and at all times tare shy 
of the test of chemists. They dislike com- 
plicated contracts, the simpler the better, 
and naturally are suspicious of a test made 
by a man employed by the buyer, particula 1/ 
if he selects the cane out of eacn lead for 
the test A contract based somewhat on the 
Belle Helene idea would be more generally 
acceptable, as the output of cane involves 
no intricate figuring. They say with some 
justice that the buyer only saw the neces- 
sity of the sucrose test, after a year of very 
green cane, and that during the seasons 
whep cane was very ripe no one suggested 
the sucrose test. On the other hand they 
are willing to admit that the seller of green 
fane should not be paid as much as the 
grower of ripe cane. How to decide this, 
vexed question in justice to all interested is 
difficult, and the chances are that it will 
require time and patience to attain a satis- 
factory solution. Planters speak more 
cheerfully as to the condition of the stubble, 
but pray for an early, warm spring, so that 
the good eyes will not be destroyed by cold 



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135 



raiiiB, or weather alternating warm and cold. 
The seed cane is not hurt by the cold ac- 
cording to most planters, but there are many 
doubtful as to the fall plant. Time alone 
will satisfactorily answer these question, 
and we will know 

MoRB Anon. 



Terrebonne. 

iPPEClAL CORRBBPONDENCE ) 

Editor Louisianu MaiUer: ; 

Probably never win the history of the 
cane sugar industry in the State have cane 
growers had six months i^ succession any 
one year as unpropitious for the plant as 
has beeur expecisnced from the first of Sep- 
tember until the first of March. But for 
the extreme hardiness of the plant it would 
have ueen exterminated by the continued 
unfavorable meteorological influences. Much 
anxiety is. felt and opinions differ as to 
the probable outcome of the present crop 
season. Fortunately the weather has im- 
proved latterly, the land has dried rapidly, 
and planting has been resumed. Last week 
but little field work was accomplished al- 
though some com was planted- oa places 
where the cane area has been seeded. . Re- 
ports still continue to differ as to the out- 
look from the stubble, but the consensus 
of opinion seems to be that the black lands 
will not compare favorably with the sandy 
soils. 

From present indications it may be found 
later that where fields were heavily dosed 
with nitrogen in a potential form, either 
animal or vegetable, then the seed cane 
and stubble will have been most defective, 
virtually having been impaired by the ex- 
cessive and prolonged stimulant which kept 
the canes green and growing until put in 
windrow or the buds killed by the freeze. 
The stubbie from canes cut after the freeze 
in 1877 were almost valueless the following 
spring although no intense cold followed 
the first cold wave. 

Wishing to examine the canes coming 
from the windrow, the writer went to Con- 
cord on Tuesday n^orning and .found Col. 
Wm. Minor preparing to plant The wind- 
rows had been plowed around and part of 
the earth scraped off T)rror to the freeze. 
I send you a portion of a cane which is a 
conclusive proof that the freeze has not 
killed all the cane in windrow Where the 
soil is sandy and well drained. Had the 
cane been cut for the mill^bout fourteen 
tons per acre would have been harvested. 
The canes were fertilized with about three 
hundred pounds of cotton seed meal per 
acre, which in some measure corroborates 
preconceived and expressed views as to the 
great risk of windrowiti'g heavy canes for 
seed. It was found that some of the butts 
of the canes were defective — a condition 
which existed prior to the freeze — due to 
the excessive saturation of the soil during 
the winter. 

Opposite the windrowed seed was a field 
of stubble of the first year which was ex- 



amined and some of the stumps had three 
or four sound bottom eyes. The soU sandy, 
the field moderately fertilized last spring, 
and lue canes but little prostrated by the 
September storm. The writer has been in- 
formed that some of the small planters on 
the bayou below the lower Terrebonne 
refinery have exa^iined their stubble and 
found enough sound eyes to give a moder- 
ate stand should the weather prove favor- 
able. 

The soil is yet too clammy to do really 
good work; yet on some places cane is being 
planted, the stubble .shavers are in opera- 
tion, followed in some cases by the diggers 
and the hoes. Under the infiuence of the 
recent warm weather the peach trees are 
coming out in leaf and a few blossoms can 
be seen here and there. 

Wednesday of last week, partially cloudy; 
ihursday, fine and colder; Friday, cloudy 
and cool; Saturday, misty with the wind 
blowing nearly a gale; Sunday, sfhowery in 
the morning and in the afternoon in the 
near towns, thunder, hail and a heavy pass- 
ing shower; Monday, bright sunshine and 
cool; Tuesday, frost and a light fog, with 
bright sunshine in the morning and some 
cloudiness in the evening, and Wednesday 
morning, warm and murky. 

Terrebonne. 



St. Mary. 

(■PBCIAL CORliEIPONDINCB.) 

Edilof jA}ui$Utna Planter: 

Spring seems now to be breaking perma- 
nently through the winter, though It has 
met with strong resistance during the last 
three weeks. On February 13tu, the begin- 
ning of the great freeze, vegetation was far 
aayanced in its new verdure — grasses, brush 
and trees had broken out In all directions — 
but the cold spell was a deadener to many 
things exposed to its blasts, while the 
growth of all others was materially im- 
paired. But, under the present high temper- 
ature. Nature is rapidly assuming again her 
suspended labors of production. 

The condition of seed cane has been the 
absorbing topic of the planter for the last 
two weeks; but as your correspondent wrote 
lost week, the plant and stubble in low 
places, and that of either kind where drain- 
age was not good, is found to be unsound, 
while the high and well-drained cane, either 
plant, stubble or matted, is much better 
than was first expected. 

Mrs. S. A. Harding, wife of O. W. Brown, 
died at her home on the old Brick Kiln 
plantation, on Bayou Teche, last iLursday, 
and was buried in the Franklin cemetery the 
following day. Owing to the impassable con- 
dition of the public road, the corpse and 
funeral party had to be brought around on 
the steamer "Ethel," as was the case with 
the burial of Mr. Valentine Schwan a few 
weeks ago. The Brick Kite Seems to be 
diminis -mg with the number of its owners, 
as both were extensive prior to the Civil 
War; but one by one the heirs have c>as8ed 



away, and one by one, plantations have been 
severed from the broad old tract of ante- 
bellum days, until now the owners are only 
two, and the plantation a lew hundred 
acres. 

The Irish Bend portion of St Mary has 
felt the need, for many years of i.etter drain- 
age; and especially since the work of re- 
claiming the rich, black bottoms of Chou- 
plque Bayou has been In operation. Chou- 
pique Is a shallow stream, which marks the 
center of a timber basin, that begins at the 
dense swamp on tne west of Franklin, and 
winds its way through the rear of the fertile 
fields of the Irish Bend. 

Many plans have been laid for the pur- 
pose draining this basin, so that the lands 
djacent to it may be placed under cultiva- 
tion, but your correspondent is now under 
tne impression that the right move is at 
last at hand. All previous efforts have been 
made by one and two, but the whole plant- 
ing eleuieut fU the Irish Bend is now inter- 
ested, and a meeting will be held at the 
i^ourt house in Franklin, Thursday, March 
2i;d, at which it is expected some of the most 
prominent cane, men In St Mary will be 
present, from which definite and effective 
action is bound to result. 

The plan, as presently understood will be 
to formulate the sugar fields of the afore- 
said Irish Bend (embracing the town of 
Franklin), into a drainage district, under 
Act 37 of the Legislature of 1894, which 
empowers me police jury to appoint commis- 
sioners, directors, etc., to operate the system 
and levy taxes upon the immovable property 
within the district so constituted, for the 
payment and maintenance of the same. 

St, Mart. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRISPONDBNCt.) 

l^ilor LouisUtna Planter: 

Today for the first time since the 1st of 
September, 1898, when writing my regular 
weekly letter to the Planter on Monday 
afternoon have I been able to look out of my 
window and see the sun shining, and not 
many days between Monday and Monday 
have we been blest with sunshine since that 
date. Today is a beauty, it is really what 
we call in this part, of the country magnifi- 
cent weather. The sun is shining as bright 
and the weather is as pleasant as a day in 
mid April, and all indications point to a 
continuation of this weather for several 
days. We have had but little rain since my 
letter last week but the weather was gener- 
ally cloudy and damp up to Saturday the 
25th when the sunshine dispersed the clouds 
and now there is not to be seen a sign of a 
cloud fioating in the vast space above; the 
sky is perfectly clear and all signs of rain 
have disappeared. This longed for (Change 
has brightened up everything. The farmer, 
who has had but few opportunities this sea- 
son to get out into his field, hitched up his 
old mule this morning and with a smile of 
satisfaction and relief on his face wended 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND 8UOAR MANUFACTtJSBR. 



[Vol. xxn, N*. f. 



his way to his unbroken fields and broke 
dirt for an 1899 crop. The cane man, the 
cotton man, the rice man and all others who 
delve in the soil for a living start on an 
even footing this year as far as preparing 
lands for a crop is concerned. Lands that 
are not well drainec are too wet to turn up 
to the sun Just yet and as we have quite a 
little of that sort of land in this parish sev- 
eral farmers were not able to take advan- 
tage of this splendid weather to make a 
start for a crop, but two or three days will 
find them moving with their more fortun- 
ate n^*ghbors. Several who have availed 
themselves of the few clear days that we 
have had to prepare their lands for planting 
begun planting cane this morning and by the 
middle of the week three fourths of the cane 
planters in the parish will be putting cane 
in the ground. The full damage from the 
freeze is about determined here now and it 
will not be as heavy as was at first contem- 
plated. Parties who began planting this 
morning find that from one fourth to one 
third of the seed caile is bad, and that not 
over one fifth of the first year stubble is in- 
jured; the second year stubble is damaged 
more than either seed or first year stubble 
• and luckily for this parish there is but little 
second year stuble. At least 75% ot the 
stubble is first year. The cane on the Ver- 
milion river or near it on sandy land or 
sandy loam is in a better condition than 
that on black lands. After a thorough ex- 
amination the cane fai*mei*s generally are 
now counting on three fourths of a crop in 
Mcreage. It has developed that the weather 
that we had immediately after the freeze 
proved beneficial to the seed cane stubble. 
The weather was cloudy and fairly warm 
\/hich seemed to have a tendency to draw 
the frost out of the cane. Immediately after 
tne freeze and for several days following the 
tane that you would take out of windrow 
looked periectly sound but when it was ex- 
posed to the rays of tne sun for a short 
time the eyes would become soft and watery 
but now tne same cane will stand the sun- 
shine for hours and appear sound and firm. 
Several of our cane planters are not going 
to remove their cane from the mattress or 
windrow until the ground is thoroughly 
thawed out P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0IIRB8PCNDENCE.) 

Editor LouiaUiiui Planter: 

Very little planting has been accDmnlished 
*^ date. As a rule the majority of the f 
^rs in this and the adjoining parishes com- 
mence to plant their corn crops from the 
15th to the last days of February. We are 
now in the beginning of March, with lands 
unprepared and even not planted. 

The past week presented a few fair days 
in which some plowing was done, and on 
some places a few acres planted to cane. 
Saturday the 25th ult was a decidedly blus- 
try and stormy day. The wind at times must 
have reached a velocity of thirty miles an 



hour, for instances are known wnere fenc- 
ing and timber was prostrated by the force 
of the wind. 

The fields are wet to a degree not before 
known to the farmers of this section of the 
couktiy. The front lands which are the 
highest and of a sandy, loamy nature, are by 
all odds loo wet to plow and plant profitably, 
but it seems that there is no way out of the 
dilemma. If planting is to be done at all, it 
will have to go on to some extent regardless 
of the conditions as to-day presented, hoping 
that maybe by and by better weather may 
prevail to the great benefit of the agricul- 
tural classes. Rumors and facts are related 
respecting the quality of both the seed cane 
and stubble, until one knows the next thing 
to nothing and begins to wonder, "where he 
is at." The Planter's scribe has been in- 
formed that Mr. C. O. Fuselier, manager of 
the Powhontas plantation claims that his 
seed cane is fairly good. The stubble is also 
much better than it was possibly expected 
it could have been after the heavy freeze of 
the 13th ult, at which date things looked 
so gloomy that it was for the time thought 
that both the seed cane and stubble had been 
destroyed, and in place of a cane crop, cotton 
would have to take its place, but happily con- 
ditions have changed, and I learn cane, corn 
and peas will be the principal crops produced 
on the Powhontas plantation this season. 

Mr. C. F. Knoll and others seem to think, 
so I have been told, that the seed cane and 
stubble has been seriously damaged, and 
they seriously doubt whether they will get 
anything like enough sound seed to plant 
any where near as great an acreage as 
it was their intention to do. Providing seed 
cane had preserved well in the windrow. 

The stubble, it is surmised by many, is 
all dead. Cotton, com and peas will be 
planted on stubble lands. Rapides and St. 
Landry report frosted stubble and a "sorry" 
quality of seed cane. 

Brin. 



St. James— Left Bank. 

(SPBOIAL CORRESPGNDENCB.I 

Editor LouiaUiiui PUinter: 

Since Monday morning we have been en- 
Joying bright sunshine, under the effect of 
which everything seems to have revived. 
The heavy rain of last Sunday has not caused 
much more damage outside of detention 
from work. Its effects have been like a 
strong wash-out which the sun of yesterday 
has fully dried up. Some of the planters 
have already begun working. They see that 
if they wait for the good weather generally 
experienced at this season, they are running 
fair chances of getting left, so they accept 
and use the slightest opportunity presented. 
Notwithstanding the many opinions of the 
difterent planters concerning the extent to 
which the canes have suffered injurietf by 
the blizzard, no definite information has 
yet been obtained. Some still are persuaded 
that the damages are great All vegetable 



and flower gardens, of this section have been 
killed. 

The condition of the public roads has be- 
come so deteriorated as to render them 
totally impassable. The top of the levee has 
been adopted as the sole means of passage, 
and daily, buggies and carts are seen pass- 
ing up and down our embankments. 

The palatial residence hitherto belonging 
to Mr. Chauffe, ^where Mr. L. LeBourgenois, 
sheriff of St James, has been residing far 
the past three years, has ben sold to Mr. 
H. Himel, of Convent 

Mr. Alfred Plaisance, the owner of Model 
Farm, at Convent, has sold his property An 
the Right Bank to Mr. Ludger Ory for the 
neat sum of |8,000. 

Our sympathies are extended to Mr. L. N. 
Folse, in the death of his mother, which sad 
event occurred last week on his Texas plant- 
ation in Iberville parish. Mr. Folse was 
formerly a part owner of the firm of Folse. 
Pugh & Co., of Bonsecour's plantation, and 
is now located in Iberville, where are cen- 
tered all his interests. 

Today, the first of March, spring seems 
well disposed to at last make its appearance 
and all Indications are that we may ^njoy 
fair weather a few days this week. 

CONVBNT. 



Sugar Patanta. 

Patents of interest to the sugar industry 
issued February 14, 1899. Reported specially 
for the Louisiana Planter by R. W. Bishop, 
Patent Attorney, Washington, D. C. 

619,633. Pump for pumping molasses. 
H. F. AsDury and \villiam Peoples, Phila- 
delphia, Pa., assignors to the Enterprise 
Manufacturing Company of Pennsylvania, 
same place. ^ -^ 

Trade Mark 32,493. For molasses candles. 
G. S. Couch, Minn^polis, Minn. 



Rainfall for 1898. 

The radnfall for the year 1898 at Jennings 
was as follows by months: January 8.01 
inches, February 7.66, March 2.87, April 4.23, 
May, trace, June 5.84, July 5.18, August 5.86, 
September 13.85, October 3.88, November 4.83. 
December 1.87; total, 64.09. The average 
annual rainfall for southwest Louisiana is 
60 inches.— Jennings Times, Jan. 19. 



Personal. 



Mr. E. H. Barton, a leading Ascension 
parish sugar planter, arrived at the St 
Charles on Tuesday for a brief sojourn. 

Mr. J. H. Kahoa, of West Baton Rouge 
parish, was in town during the week. He 
stopped at the St Charles hotel. 

Mr. Oscar Zenor, of Bartels, St Mary 
parish, accompanied by Mrs. Zenor, was a 
recent arrival at the Hotel Royal. 

Mr. F. T. Llewellyn, the local manager 
and engineer for the Oillette-Herzog Co.» 
has been quite sick during the past week, 
but his friends are now glad to see him out 
and about once more. 



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137 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, Feb. llth, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The meteorological conditions of last week 
have been once more a striking example 
of how much with regard to the weather, 
"lea extremes se touchent." Opening with 
a dry, solid frost and a temperature of 6 
degrees below zero, the week ends to-day 
with 15 degrees above freezing point The 
cold kept on until Tuesday, and as the tem- 
perature up to this time showed rather a 
declining tendency, it was natural to believe 
in the constancy of the wintry weather, 
which opinion was besides supported by 
some snow falls. But in spite of all those 
appearances, Tuesday night it began to rain, 
the little bit of snow vanished rapidly, and 
at the end of the week we are enjoying 
here the most outspoken kind of spring 
weather, such as is rarely observed at this 
period of the year, and on account of this, it 
is quite useless to conjecture as to the effects 
of the weather, which no doubt will change 
at an early date again. As the warm cur- 
rent came from the western part of the 
continent, it is self-evident that the sud- 
den disappearance of the winter has also 
taken place in France, Belgium and Holland, 
but it Is added also that the change in ques- 
tion is also reported from Austria ,and as far 
as Russia is concerned, we are advised that 
the winter has been uncommonly mild and 
that the fields are at present free from snow. 
As to the importance of the next beet sow- 
ings, it has been pointed out that the fail- 
ure of the winter cereals, if it should take 
place in a larger or minor degree, need not 
be considered any more, as the cause of an 
unintended increase of the beet area, as the 
farmers, by special kinds of wheat seed, now 
have the means to replace the failed crop 
by a similar one, which does not necessitate 
such a heavy outlay of expenses and work, 
as is required by changing the wheat field 
into a beet field. Of course, it would be, 
nevertheless, a loss to the agriculturists, if 
a large surface of wheat or rye must be 
turned over, but it has ceased to Involve a 
larger Increase of beet sowings. Of the in- 
tended extension of beet sowings ,nothing 
aefinite is known yet. In France they be- 
lieve that at least as much beet will be 
grown as last year; in Austria f^bricants 
hesitate to contract for beets, because of the 
unfavorable turn the sugar market has 
taken; in Russia, some increase must be 
ooki 1 for; in the other smaller counUlei 
like Holland, Belgium and Sweden, it seems 
that the price ideas of the fabrleants and 
the farmers are diverging a good deal and 
contracting therefore, is only slowly pro- 
gressing. 

To-day the commercial relations between 
Germany and the United States have been 
the subject of a very interesting discussion, 
in whica also the sugar question has been 



touched on. In this respect our Secretary 
of State of Foreign Affairs, in the course of 
a remarkable speech, in which he expressed 
the confidence that all dissensions now exist- 
ing would be settled in a friendly manner 
between the two countries; remarked that 
with regard to the treatment of Gferman su- 
gar in America, your government had recog- 
nized the justness of the claim that the 
working tax of the factories may be de- 
ducted from the rate of duty now In force In 
America But the German fabrleants de- 
mand also, and our Government supports 
this demand — that the reduction the Ger- 
man bounties are subjected to on account 
of any production In excess of the contin- 
gent, should be also considered as an Item 
In favor of German sugar and the counter- 
vailing duty thereon. But the Government 
of the United States so far declined to make 
any concessions In this respect, holding 
that the exceeding of the contingent was 
only of Importance for a more or less re- 
stricted number of factories. This position, 
however, can oe hardly maintained. The 
United States levy a countervailing duty 
from French and Russian sugar, although 
the bounties between the Individual factories 
are very different according to the i^uality 
of the beets — as far as France is concerned, 
and according to the price of sugar on the 
markets of the world, with regard to Rus- 
sia, but you have nevertheless set down a 
fixed rate of countervailing duty; France, 
0,978 c. pr. pd., for sugar of at least 98° 
pol. test, and for Russia 0,727 c. pr. pd. lor 
sugar of at least 99' pol. test.) These are, 
cf course, average figures, and It Is evident, 
and for tbe sake of equity necessity, that 
deductions of the bounty made In the pro- 
ducing country must be allowed, also by the 
Importing country, which according to Its 
own law, can levy only countervailing duties 
equivalent to the net amount of the bounty, 
which is to be calculated eventual- -^-^ the 
basis of average figures, but charging a 
countervailing duty .regardless of the above 
restrictions of the bounty would be unfair, 
and It must be hoped that further negotia- 
tions between the two Governments will lead 
to a reasonable agreement also on this point 
The Imports of sugar into England are 
generally in January not very farge, as In 
most cases river navigation on the continent 
is shut up in this month. This, however, 
has not been the case in Januai*y last, al- 
though the figures of Importation are not 
at all brilliant for the month of the year. 
Reduced to raw value the total Imports Into 
England amounted in January to 116,300 
tons, as against 136,612 tons In 1898, thus 
showing a decrease of upwards of 20,000 tons. 
There is no apparent reason for that cer- 
tainly undesirable fact, but I think that the 
trade In England has bought during last 
month as little as possible, as the market 
moved In a downward direction, in which 
case buyers keep aloof ,and allow their 
stocks to run down as low as possible. If 
this be true, there must follow a revival of 
business in general and of imports in partic- 



ular during the following months. 

For the week under review, however, this 
favorable tendency cannot be reported. The 
markets at once halted In their rising move- 
ment reported last week, and In the first and 
larger part of the week, the confidence lat- 
terly evinced on all hands seemed to have 
been blown away. The cause oi this dis- 
appointing turn the markets have taken, is 
the French speculators selling suddenly 
large masses they had bought In the hope 
of establishing a corner, but this hope has 
been frustrated by the weather, which grow- 
ing warmer, permitted holders to bring for- 
ward large quantities at Hamburg, whilst the 
operators had believed that the stoppage' of 
navigation would prevent sellers from de- 
livering in due time. Prices also t)f actual 
sugars suffered a sharp drop and 88 pits, are 
quoted at Madgeburg now at M. IO.Sj— 10.45 
and delivery February went down at Ham- 
burg 9.45 f. o. b. Refined without much busi- 
ness are barely maintained. 

RoBT. Hen.nic. 



Havana. 



(SPECIAL COBRBSPONDBNCB.) 

Havana, Feb. 26th, 1899. 
Editor lA>uisiaiKi Planter: 

A better feeling prevailed during the week 
under review, gave scope to a more active 
demand ana prices, In harmony with those 
ruling abroad advanced a fraction and close 
to-day strongly supported at irom 2% to 
2% cts. lb. for good centrifugals, basis 95/96 
test, at which figures about 25,000 bags, 
changed hands. The weather having kept' 
favorable for grinding operations; receipts 
ofg new sligars continue fair at all our 
shipping ports. 

The spell of cold weather of the past week 
has visibly improved the condition of the 
cane, whose yield in sugar is said to be now 
more satisfactorily than heretofore. Accord- 
ing to last advices from Manzanillo, It seems 
that the labor question In the eastern part of 
Cuba, has not, as yet, been satisfactorily 
settled, since It Is reported that It is alto- 
gether Impossible to live in tne country, -in 
the neighborhood of said town, without be- 
ing exposed to being robbed and stfrpped of 
all that one possesses, by gangs oi thieves of 
all classes and colors, who pretend that 
they have a right to live, and as they are 
unable to secure any remunerative occupa- 
tion, they are compelled to ste&l to support 
themselves. 

For this reason, Infiuentlal parties are 
endeavoring to convince the American au- 
thorities or the urgent necessity of recon- 
structing plantations that have been des- 
troyed, to establish new ones, and open 
roads throughout the country in which work 
thousands of idle men might be employed, 
and which might be done without costing 
a cent to the Government, since the money 
that is uselessly applied to pay the large 
army of occupation, for which we have no 
need whatever, might be more advanta- 
geouslyemployed In rebuilding property in 
tnls Island. 



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138 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER A, 1 SUGAR MANUPAOTUIMML 



[Vol. XXII, No. 9. 



It has been recently reported that two 
^4ngs of bandits composed of ancient 
tjpanish guerrllleros (skirmishers) were 
committing all sorts of misdeeds and inter- 
lering with crop operations at Remedios, in 
ine Santa Clara province and at Cartha- 
^ena, in that of Matanzas. 

Cuban forces were sent against them and 
in the first encounter the band was dis- 
persed after they had lost two men killed 
and two taken prisoners — on the Cuban side, 
one dead and one wounded. 

A question that is often asked, is how long 
it will take Cuba to produce as much sugar 
Ls before the war? 

This depends altogether on future circum- 
stances; if planters are enabled to find 
money soon ,on reasonable terms and in suf- 
licient quantity to rebuild the factories that 
have been entirely destroyed and make the 
necessary repairs to those that have been 
more or less damaged by the war; or if large 
syndicates be organized in the United States 
to promote sugar manufacturing, in the 
manner as tobacco and cigars are being dealt 
with, it is likely that within a period of two 
or three years the Cuban production will 
again range at from one million to one mil- 
lion three or four hundred thousand tons. 

The causes for apprehending delay in pro- 
ducing the same quantity of sugar as before 
lue war are chiefly the large number of plan- 
tations that have been entirely destroyed; 
their buildings and machinery blown up with 
cynamite, and all the others that have been 
more or less injured, need either to be to- 
tally rebuilt or to be repaired; the totality 
at plantations have lost all their cattle, 
horses and oxen; their carts aiid narrow 
gauge railway plants have disappeared; 
their cane fields, either burnt to the ground 
or invaded by grass and weeds, must neces- 
sarily be replanted and this can be done only 
with money, which the majority of wuoan 
planters lack. 

The number of plantations that v- ^ 
spared by the war, is not supposed to ex- 
ceed 20 or 25, and those that have already 
been placed in grinding conditions, might 
add up about 100 or 125, wuose total produc- 
tion will hardly amount to 300,000 tons, 
which shows an average production of about 
r.OOv/ tons for each one of the 150 plantations 
that are grinding on the whole Island. 

Another factor that will interfere to a con- 
siderable extent with the reconstruction of 
the Cuban sugar industry is, undoubtedly, 
the scarcity of field hands; before the war, 
laborers were much wanted, especially dur- 
ing crop season, and- as a great many either 
<!ied or left the country, owing to Weyler's 
reconcentration, it is likely also that a 
large number of those who enlisted in the 
Cuban army, will be reluctant to resume 
their former occupations; laborers will 
be therefore scarcer than ever, and it will 
be necessary to bring quite a number of 
them from abroad, but for this also, money 
is wanted. 

Another question, of a candid character, 
that has been asked, is whether the anneza* 



tlon o fCuba, would affect the Louisiana 
sugar industry. 

Owing to the fertility of the soil, the at- 
mospherical conditions, so propitious to 
cane growing, and the low price at which 
sugar could be produced under a more liberal 
system than that which ruled during the 
Spanish domination, the very day Cuban su- 
gar could enter, free of duty, into the United 
States, not only the sugar industry of Lou- 
isiana, but also that of beet sugar of the 
Northwestern regions of the Union, might 
be considered as entirely ruined and done 
away witn. P. D. 



March Weather in Louisiana. 

(From Old Plantation Diaries.) 
Mr. Valcour Aime says : 

1827. 
March. Rain on 1st. Most of plant cane 
and also stubbles of Creole cane mark the 
row. White frost on 18th. 28th and 29th. 
Through hoeing plant and stubble cane for 
first time on 30th. nain on 30th. 

1828. 
On March 1st river overflowed levees. 
Thin ice on 2nd. Through plowing stubbles 
for first time on 8th. Very heavy rain on 
10th. Planting corn on 17th. Through 
hoeing cane first time on 26th. On 28th cre- 
vasse in this parish at Gaignie and Z. Tru- 
deau's. 

1829. 
Weather cold on 1st. Ice on 20th. Rain on 
L4th. Grubbing stubbles on 25th. Finished 
on 29th. 

1830. 
Rain on March 2d and 4th. Through 
plowing stubbles on 10th. Through weed- 
ing plant cane for first time on 13th. Heavy 
rain on 18th, and planted com. Ribbon 
plant cane mark the row. 

183L 
March. 200 cords of wood cut. Burnt 
balance of cane trash on 2d. Begun plowing 
in stubbles on 3d. Rain on 5th. Light rain 
on 6th. Light white frost on 8th and 9th. 
Rain on 12th. Much rain l&th and IGth. 
ihin ice on 17th. Through plowing stub- 
bles on 22d. Plowing for com on 26th, 27th 
and 28th. Rain on 28th. Harrowing and 
hoeing plant cane on 30th. 

1832. 
March. Cleaning land for com on 1st. 
Fair and cool on 6th. Grubbing stubbles on 
8tb. Through plowing stuboles on 10th. 
Ribbon plant cane mark row on 13th. 
Thin ice on 14th and 15th. Light ice on 
loth and 19th ( the same weather as in 
March, 1843). Weather too Cfy. 

1833. 
Rain on March 1st. Ice one-fourth of an 
]T]ch thicK on 2nd. Ice on 3d. Rain on 
5th, 6th and 7th. Began plowing plant cane 
on 15th. Kain on 16th, 17th. 18th, 19th and 
20th. All ribbon plant cane, except 40 ar- 
pents, very nearly mark the row. Otahity 
plant cane coming upt Heavy fain on 23d. 
White frost on 30th. 

1834. 
Pain on March 1st. 4th. 5th and 6th, and 
rain every day until 20th. Tbroufirh d!ow- 
ing stubbles on 22d. Canes backward, es- 



pecially stubbles. Light shower on 28th. 
h'ibbon plant cane beginning to mark the 
r(jw tolerably well. 

1835. 
Light rain on March 1st Weather warm 
on za and 6(i. Cold rain on 4th, 5th, 6th and 
ith. Rain on 13th, 16th, I7th and 22d. 
;dprinkie on 26th. Much of the com planted 
oa or about zbth of February not yet out ut 
the ground. Plant cane not coming up. Be- 
gan homing plant cane for second time on 
the oOtn, a thick and hard crust of dirt over 
the plant cane, caused by the inclemency of 
the weather. 

1836. 
March. Rainy and cold on 1st. Ice on 
3d. Heavy wnite frost ou 4tu. Warm on 
the 6th. Hain on 7th, 9th and ice on 11th. 
liain on 20th and 24th. White frost on 26tli. 
Rain on 29th. 

1837. 
March 1st, very fair, with white froet 
Rain all day 2d. Rain on 3d, 6th and 7th. 
Planted corn in stubbles on 9th. Rain on 
12th and 14th. White "frost and thin ice 
on 15th. White Irost on 16th. Rain on 
20th. White frost on 24th. Through plow- 
ing plant cane on 22d. 

1838. 
March. Through planting on Ist Little 
rain on that day. Shower on 2d. liain on 
3d and 4th. Shower on 6th. Thin ice and 
white frost on 7th. Slight rain on 10th 
and 11th. Rain on 13th. White frost on 
17th. Thin ice and frost on 18th. River 
rising fast. White frost on 19th. 

1»39., 
Rain on March 2d. Ice on 3d; thermometer 
29>s deg. h.; snow, sleet and ice on the 
4th, thermometer 17^ deg. F. On the 9th the 
river was as low as it ever gets to be. Bayou 
Plaquemine is not navigable, an extraordin- 
ary stage of water |or this time. Through 
working plant cane on 11th. Rain on 13th. 
Begun working stubbles on JL4th. Borne 
cane are up on 15th. Rain on 20th and 
2ist. Light white frost on 25th. 28th, cane 
fast coming up. Heavy rain on 29th. White 
iiost on 31st. 

1840. 
March. River rising on Ist. Rain on 2d. 
Plowed and hoed plant cane on 11th. Be- 
gan plowing stubbles on 12th. Weather too 
dry. Orange trees in blossom. Weather 
very warm anu dry since tne 16th of Febru- 
ary, as rain of 2d was altogether insufficient. 
riiclit lain on 20th and 21st Crevasse at 
McCutchon's on 21st. An overfiooding rain 
on 22d. ^il the plant cane mark the row; 
stubbles generally are not up. Rain on 24th. 
White trost on 25th. PlanteiM unable to 
close McCutchon's crevasse, engineer of the 
iMashville railroad achieved the end. Weath- 
er again very warm. White frost on Slat. 

1841. 
March, txii n on 1st. which interrupted 
planting. Rain and hail on 2nd. Finished 
planting cane on 7th. Began plowing plant 
cane on 8tn. Rain on 9th. Heavy rain on 
10th. Very heavy white frost on 13th. All 
plant 6ane plowed and hoed on 20th. Rain 
on 22nd and 24th. Rain again on 27th and 
31st. 

1842. 
March. Cloudy and warm, with light rain 
on 1st and 2d. Rain again on 3rd. Some 
cane mark the rows. A neighbor has a 
full stand of cane in some stiff new land. 
Rain on 13th. Whice frost on 15th. Began 
working plant cane second time on 28th. 
Weather too dry. Rain on SOtA. 

1843. 
March. Began working stubbles with l«»rge 
plows on 1st. Hauling sand for the alleys 
of the park. Through refining last year's 



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crop on 2iid. Little rain on 4Ui, 7th and 15th 
viui Sicei during the night, rhermometer 
26»4 deg. P.. the ice injured stubbles shaved, 
lev again ou 17.th and 18th. Some ice in 
shade not melted from 16th to 18th. The 
present month of March is the coldest known. 
Thermometer registered on 17tu, 29 deg. P.. 
iDe same on 18th. On 20th. 34% deg. P.; on 
24th, 38% deg. P. Rain on 25th and 2§th. 
on 28th thermometer 34% deg. P. White 
i.osi cu ::9tii. 

1844. 

March 1st, some stubble canes mark the 
row. 'I'hrough grayelling the alleys of 
English Park. A good soaking rain on 2nd. 
bome ptant cane mark the row, thougn 
generally i^ackward owing to the drought. 
Heavy rain on 7th. Rain on 14th and 15th. 
»\ hlte frost on 17th. Light rain on 26th. 
On 30th thermometer 41 deg. P. On 31st 
thermometer registered 34% deg. P. 
1845. 

March, i^lum and peach trees in blossom 
on 1st. Kain on 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Stub- 
bles where cane trash was burnt are all 
Lp. Canes not so forward as last year. Rain 
on 23rd and 24th. Light rain on 26th and 
27th. Only about forty arpents of plant 
ca^es mark the row. 

184b. 

March. Began to plow in plant canes on 
Cnd. Rain every ^^^ree or four days, but not 
much water in ditches. Light rain on 13th. 
Heavy rain on 20th. Rain on 22nd and 23rd. 
Light ram on 31st. 

1847. 

Marc^ Began to shave stuboles on 1st. 
K£ine- all uay on 3rd. Light rain on 6th, 
Ith and 10th. On 11th some rows of plant 
rsne are up. Light frost on 14th and on 
^Rth. On 16th white frost, thermometer 
32 deg. P. Light white frost on 17th. Be- 
gan second hoeing plant cane on 22nd. White 
frost on 24th, weather too dry, especially 
!'-"• plan*, cane. Good rain on 25th. All 
plant canes mark the row. White frost 
and thin ice on 27th. White frost on 28th. 
The row of the cane was checked by eight 
white frosts during the month. 
1848. 

March. Rain on 3rd and 4th. Light white 
frost on 8th, 10th l^Id 11th. White frost on 
13th and 14th. Plant canes in new ground 
marking the row. Stubbles not yet up. 
1849. 

March. On 3rd planted com between 
^''^p at six and twelve feet Stubbles which 
had been shaved with ratoon cutter were 
hoed on 9th and 10th. Preparing ground for 
IK as. Weather very drp 
1850. 

lla.ch. Planting on 1st and 2nd, but seed 
cane is so' bad that planting is short. Be- 
ran plowing in plant canes on 7th. White 
frost on 24th. Canes on rear of plantation 
slightly frost bitten. White frost on 28th. 
Stubbles ai^ected by cold. Thermometer fell 
to 32 deg. P. 

1851. 

March. Pinished hoeing plant cane. Stub- 
bles in new grouna fairly out Plant canes 
hardly visible on 3rd. A neighboring planter 
who shaved his stubbles three weeks ago 
has them mark the row well. Heavy frost 
and thin ice on 4th, affecting the canes. 
Rain on 6th from 10 a. m. to 10 p. m., being 
the heaviest ram since August, 1850. 
Through shaving stubble on 10th. Rain on 
13th. River washing over the levee at Gov. 
Roman's. White frost on 19th. Cre- 
vasses at Dr. Oourier's, Gordon's, Doyle's 
and Widow Trudeau's. Rain on 27th. Rain 

on Slst 

1852. 
March. Hoeing plant canes in old ground 
for second time, and hoes shaving stubbles 



In new land, the ratoon shaver to be used 
only in stubbles in old ground. Weather 
continues cloudy. T^ou^h plowing stubbles 
on tfcu. Heavy rain and wind from 12th to 
^.vii. ivain on 17th. All plani canes mark 
cue rows on the 19th. Rain all day on 21st. 
Light rain on ;sutn. ^osi oi tne orange trees 
have been K..led. 

1853. 

Muich. Pastures with some clover for 

stock on Ist. Light rain on 11th. Planting 

tOFL on 12tli. Hain on 14th and white frost 

on 15th. Rain on 17th. Plowing for peas on 

1854. 

March. Planting on 1st and 2nd. Plow- 
i'^'S for corn on 4tn, 6th and 7th. Rain on 
.th. Nearly all stubbles marking the row 
on Ihm, though they have neither been 
siiavea uor gruooea. Light rain on 23rd. 
ioth, rain, very violent wind before day and 
AwS course from Pointe Coupee down was 
oiaiked Dy many sugar houses blown down 
and other buildings, besides large trees up- 
rooted. At. Mr. Sauve's place only eight oak 
trees out of twenty-eight were left stand- 
ing. Heavy rain on 31st. 
1855. 

March 1st, thermometer 23 deg. P. Plow- 
ing and hoeing plant cane. Thermometer 
still 23 deg. P. on 2nd. Little rain on 3rd 
and 4ih. Weatner as mild as the middle of 
spring on ah. Heavy rain on 18th. White 
..ost on 19th; thermometer 32 deg. P., on 
20th. 22nd, thermometer 32 deg. P. 23rd. 
thermometer 29. Corn'planted may not grow. 
Ice on 24tn, thermometer 2;i. Sleet on 28th. 
3l8t thermometer 29 deg. P. 

Dr. I. U. Colomb smys: 

1851. 

March 1, clear, cold, with ice. Cane cut 
down by cold. Plant coming up very well. 
5th, frost; plows in corn land; river near 
last year's high-water mark. 10th. plows in 
ratoon s shaving. 13th, planting com in new 
ground. Weather cold for season. 19th, 
crevasse above v^rretna. 24th, cold; six 2- 
horse plows in plant, five 3-horse plows In 
ratoons. Rained on 8th. 12th, 27th, 28th, 30th 
and 31st 

1852. 

March 1st, cloudy, warm. Plows in ra- 
toons. Planting com. Three cultivators at 
work. 120 arpents corn planted. Weather 
very warm. Plant ca^ia up very well. 10th, 
weather dry. want rain for corn. 12th, pecan 
rees budding. Ratoons backward. Mess 
)Oik $16 per barrel. Fair sugar 4 to 4% 
cents, molasses 18 cents for fermenting, 25 
cents for reboiled. 15th. ratoons begin to 
come out when snaved and hoed. Good 
stand of plant, best for many years. Light 
sprinkle on 6w and 11th. Rain on 13th and 
17th. Ice on xoth, which cut down some 
corn. Prost on 19th. Light rain on 31st 
1853. 

March 1st. cloudy. Ground in fine condi- 
tion. Plows in ratoons and plant Planting 
corn. 8th. Ratoons coming out. Pall plant 
cane begins to mark the rows. 11th, ther- 
mometer 80 deg. F,. in shade. . Planted 
white beans in corn'. River on a stand at 
foot of levee. 18th, corn all up. Ratoons 
coming out very well. Stella had a daugh- 
ter on 19th. Souk a calf the same day. 
Sugar dull, 4 to 4% cents. Mess pork, |15.50. 
Too much rain, field getting grassy. Rain 
^^ 7th 8th, light sprinkle on 10th, 14th, 16th, 
17th. 21st, 22nd and 26th. Thermometer 
76 deg. F. on 10th; 80 deg. on 25th and 66 
(Irs on ^-th and 80 deg. on 29thj • 
1854. 

March 1st. very warm. Planting cane. 
Barring off ratoons. Digging cross drains. 
First cane planted coming up. Ratoons in 
new ground coming out well. River rising 



slowly. 14th, weather very warm for sea- 
son. 15th, molasses 17 cents for choice in 
city. I'air sugar, ;j^. Cotton, 7 to 10 cents, 
corn, 60 cencs per bushel. Pork, |13.50. 19th, 
Ground very hard, want rain. 22nd, enough 
rail* for a while. Molasses, 7 cents on planta- 
tiou ior lermented; 17 cents for choice re- 
boiiea in city. Negroes |1500 in city, 
cholera at Landry's. 31st, Hard. blow last 
night, blew bagasse chimney down on sugar 
hfiiae and one steam chimney carried away. 
All fences blown down. Several sugar houses 
were Diown Qown. Light sprinkle on 8th. 
Light frost on 1 2th and 14th. Light rain on 
Lis I. iiara rain on 22nd. Drizzle on 23rd 
and 25th. Rain on 30th and 31st. 
1855. 

March 1st, thick ice. Plowing new 
ground. Planting corn. 5th, first warm day 
lor two months. Not one cane \^. either 
plant or ratoons. 8th, thermometer 80 deg. 
t\ River rising a little. Pork, |14,50. Great 
excitement in Cuba about Filibusters. 12th, 
corn and cane coming up. Finished planting 
corn. 15th, very warm for season, tempera- 
ture oO deg. P. in shade on lae gallery. 
Want rain. Pair sugar, i^ents. . 19th, frost 
and light ice. Com cut down by it. 24th, 
cold weather for season. Vegetation very 
backward, no canes otit hardly. Rained on 
3rd, 12th and 18th. 

1856. 

March let, rainy, warm. Wind all around 
the compass in 24 hours. Planting com. 
Fall plant cane very grassy. Prospect of 
trouble between the United States and Eng- 
land. River rising fast Pair sugar 7%, 
molasses 36 cents. Com coming up, 150 acres 
planteu. Field grassy, no work done since 
two weeks on account of rain. Very cold 
weather in the North on the 10th, tnermome- 
ter at zero in New York. 25th, cane begin- 
ning to come out well, not one ratoon up. 
Seed cane generally bad in the State. 
Rained on 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 
and 17. 

1857. 

March 1st, clear, cool. Plows in spring 
plant Scraping plant, and ditching. Shav- 
irg stubbles. Want rain. 6th, few ratoons 
coming out River rising, 7th, rained enough 
White frost on 8th. Vegetation checked by 
cold. Pork, $22,50; cotton, 13 cents; sugar, 
10 cents, molasses, 60 cents. Prost on 13th. 
Corn cut down by it Cane yellow. 23rd, 
nian! cane very fine, ratoons coming out 
Crop splendid, some plant too thick. Rained 
on 5th. 7th, 9th. 10th and 11th. Light ice 
nn 12th. frost on 13th, white frost on 16th, 
rain on 18th. ThermoL*eter 82 deg. on 27th. 
1858. 

March 1st, rainy. Plows in ratoons. 
ditching being done also. Ice^on 2nd. Cane 
cut down by it. Ground in good order. 
Sugar, 5 and 6 cents. 7th, rain. Molasses, 
30 cents for choice. Com all planted by 
10th. Light ice on 8th and 9th. Crop prom- 
ising. 21st, want rain. Com all up. River 
rising very fast Flooding rain on 29th, 
first rain since 23 days. 
1859. 

March 1st, clear. Princess biew up and 
burned, 200 lives lost. River rising. Bad 
weather for crops. Cottonwood trees with 
leaves. Cane coming up slowly. Ratoons 
backward. Rained on 6th, light frost on 8th, 
rain on xith, 12th, 16th and 17th, light frost 
on 18th, rain on 23rd. 

1860. 

March 3, warm and clear. Plows in ratoons 
barring off. River on a stand. Cane com- 
ing up well. Ratoons good. Corn nearly all 
up. 10th and 11th, frost Sugar, 7 Scents. 
Molasses. 35 cents. Cane and corn turned 
yell6w by frosts on 10th, 11th and 12th. 
Cane cut back by frost on 29th. 



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[Vol. XXII. No. d. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Sus:ar Beet Experiments in North 
Dakota. 

(Bulletin *6b, North Dakota Agricultural Ex- 
periment Station.) 
In 1891 the station analyzed sugar beets 
received from one hundred and twenty-nine 
different points in the State, and found the 
average of sugar for these samples to be 
11.43 per cent. In closing my report on the 
above experiments I said: "For the present it 
is ihy belief that for the most of North Da- 
i.ota oiner industries' will be found more 
profitable for both manufacturer and farmer 
than the sugar beet industry.'' 

The beets for 1891 were from all parus of 
the State more largely, from the eastern cen- 
tral and nortnei^ parts of the State. Since 
that da.e k^e better knowledge secured re- 
garding the climatic ^nd soil conditions ne- 
cessary for developing the sugar beet indus- 
try, and the further knowledge of the cli- 
matic and soil conditions for North Dakota 
had led us to look with more hope for suc- 
cess in portions of the States. Notably is this 
true for the Southern tier of counties east of 
the Missouri river. In 1891 only ten samples 
of beets were received from this locality, 
and some of those had not been grown upon 
ground suitably prepared, but tor these ten 
eamples the average content was 12.9 per 
cent, the highest being 15.23 pfer cent. In 
1S97 it was decided to make a few further 
experiments In tnis section, but the season 
\ as so unfavorable that ch.j experiment may 
almost be called a failure. To quote the 
v.ords used in connection with the summary 
1 said: "The season in North Dakota has 
been particularly unfavorable for sugar 
beets, a dry spring left the seed in the 
ground 20 or 30 days before germination, 
and tnen tue almost flood rains of July sent 
tlie weeds forward* so rapidly that there 
seemed little chance for beets to thrive, and 
later a disease attacked the leaves, which 
gave us oeeta of low sugar contents. • • • 
In spite of the many obstacles to success a 
few of the samples showed by analysis from 
13 to 16 per cent of sugar in the juice." 

In the spring of 1898 seeds were sent to 
iiiiy farmers in the southern tier of counties 
and of these but sixteen complied with the 
station request, and sent samples of the 
beets harvested for analysis. The variety 
grown was the "Original" Klein Wanzleben 
s: gar beet. 

I ae analysis show an average of 14.38 per 
cent of sugar in the beet Juice and a co- 
efUcient Oi purity 79.4. This makes a good 
siiowlng and as in many instances the beets 
did not receive proper care, nor was the 
ground properly plowed for beet growing it 
is safe to say better results would be se- 
cured under proper conditions. We have one 
instance where the beet juice contained 20.20 
per cent of sugar with a purity of 84.2. 
This is certainly a most excellent showing. 

Prom the results of experiments thus far 
«nAde it is believed that the southern tier of 



counties east of the Missouri river is well 
adapted to sugar beet growing and that the 
industry might be made a profitable one 
with Oakes as a center to supply a factory 
that would be capable of producing all the 
sugar consumed in the State. 

To test properly the possibilities of sugar 
beet growing in the StMe the beets should 
be grown on larger areas under field meth- 
ods, and the crop snipped to a factory to be 
manufactured. In tnis way only can farmers 
determine whether the crop would prove a 
profitable one to grow, and the manufacturers 
whether the beets were of a good quality 
for sugar proauction. 

This would probably be possible as there 
is a beet sugar factory near Minneapolis, 
providing tne railroads could be induced to 
assist tne farmers in the shipment of beets 
for experimental work. The Soo railroad has 
manifestf^d much interest in lines of ex- 
periments along their road and it Is believed 
they might be interested in this work and 
so render the assistance to make this trial 
possible for another year. 



Beet Sus^ar in Austria. 

The beet sugar growers and manufacturers 
of Austro-Hungary have just been celebrat- 
ing the centenary of their industry witn 
some amount of eclat and satisfaction. Herr 
Achard, director of the Royal Prussian 
Academy of Science, was the first to give a 
lead in respect to commercial methods of 
preparation; and his soverign, Frederick 
William III., had the sense to foresee pos- 
sible results of no mean character. Of course 
it was under Napoleon, a dozen years later, 
that the great continental development— 
dictated by hatred o^ England and a wish to 
cripple our trade— took place. He laid a 
heavy tax on imported sugar, established 
schools for technical instruction, and founded 
factories, some of which have lived to this 
day. Well may the continental farmers 
glory in an industry which has been the 
mainstay of those engaged in it during the 
worst period of agricultural depression. Pro- 
tected by duties, stimulated by bounties^ and 
fostered in every way, small wonder that 
they should rejoice in their saccharine pro- 
duction; but - wue other inhabitants of these 
countries would look into it with the merest 
smattering of true economic knowledge, they 
would find that they have to bear the actual 
burden — not England, who opens her ports 
to ail. We have no direct cause to complain 
of the four and a half million tons of this 
article which European countries produce; 
what it means to our West Indian colonies 
your readers very well know. — T. Bowlck. in 
Country Gentleman. 



Sugar in London. 

Mysterious movements by BYench specula- 
tors have demoralized the^beet market for 
the time, and a heavy fall in prices has oc- 
curred. Rather more firmness has been 
shown at ibe close without, however, pro- 
ducing much return of confidence, and the 



market remains unsettled. The recent ad- 
vance was certainly ill-timed, and arose 
from a combination of circumstances which, 
lacked the essential support of an actual im- 
provement in the demand. This will come in 
due course, but meanwhile stocks continue 
ample, an v. the few days' frost on the (Con- 
tinent which threatened some interruption 
to supplies caused only a temporary alarm. 
The American markettf have remained fairly 
steady dur.ng the recent movement, the re- 
finers -eing sufficiently supplied by the ar- 
rivals of Java and other cane sugars, al- 
though their weekly meltings continue fully 
up to the receipts of raw sugar. Rather 
more Cuban sugar is available week by week» 
but it is not coming forward quite as freely 
as it was last year, &az. whether the total 
will reach that of 1898 must remain In doubt 
for some ropsiderable while longer. The 
stock of cane sugar In London continues 
very meagre, a small arrival of Jamaica 
Muscovado realizing good prtces, while gro- 
cery sorts are as scarce as ever and have 
a tendency to rise in value. The imlwrte of 
crystallized raws to London for the week 
ending 9th instant amounted to 426 tons, 
and for this year to 3,894 tons against 3,430 
tons n 1898.— P. M. Review, Feb. H. 



Talmas:e on the Rice flarlcet. 

Ine intense weather and heavy snow- 
falls in every direction paralyzed trade for 
most of the periou covered by this report 
and yet, spite the bad start, the last quarter 
and a good finish, i. e., trtpled acUvlty tlie 
past two days brought the record of the 
week nearly up to the best of the season. 
There is marked enlargement of call for 
the Java and Patna styles in the order 
named; likewise some fair b nginaw In 
Japan. The latter, though reasonable In 
price, has fallen in commercial favor. As a 
large wholesale grocer tersely put it, "When 
everyone handles the "same old thing" of 
identical cost, the outcome is too much like 
refined sugar In the olden days wherein the 
only reward was the pleasure of service. 
Other foreign sorts or domestic are there- 
fore greatly preferred as against the one- 
priced sort, for by variety of grades- ther« 
is a chance for play of skill on the part of 
salesmen and Increased opportunity for pro* 
fit." Advices from the South note restricted 
business in the early week; along the At- 
lantic coast by reason of contrary weather 
conditions and In New Orleans to the same 
cause and the Mardi Oras festivities. Toward 
the close, however, a good demand pet In 
which brought the movement upto nearly 
former volume. The unusual weather and 
unprecedented fall of snow in nearly au 
parts of the South have caused the destruc- 
tion of early vegetables and this is expected 
to redound to the benefit of rice and re- 
sult in a greatly enlarged. demand. The ad- 
verse conditions have also constrained the 
suspension of early plantation worjc and but 
little of the first plantings will enter the 
ground before the last of March. This dOee 



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March 4, 1899.] 



not necessarily inaicate a relatively late 
harvest for experience demonstrates that all 
March rice matures about the same time. 
Cables and correspondence from abroad are 
of former tenor, noting wholesome activity 
and under promise of limited forward sup- 
ply, markets generally strong with upward 
tendency. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
638,915 sacks; last year (inclusive of amount 
carried over) 479,200 sacks. Sales, cleaned, 
(est.) 152,967 barrels; last year, 87,100 bar- 
rels. Demand restricted on account of ex- 
treme weather ana Mardl Qras. Receipts 
steadily falling away; market strong with 
upward tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
32,130 barrels. Sales, 26,980 barrels. Demand 
early week light; closing, liberal. Market 
strong at unchanged quotations. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



141 



Calcasieu. 



(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor LoHViiana Planter: 

Our weatner is beginuiug to shape more 
favorably, but it has been more or less rainy 
and cold since the visit of the blizzard, and 
not much has been done on the farm until 
within a very few days. Now it looks like 
we might do some ploughing, but the roads 
are getting very stiff since the mud is be- 
ginning to dry up, and rice is moving from 
first hands, in rather a slow way, though it 
may prove better after the roads get fn bet- 
ter shape. Sod ground works up all right, 
and is the only branch of farming that can 
go or. with any degree of success, but an- 
other week of good weather will dry off the 
land so that much of the old land can be 
turned over. Canal work will soon be in 
fu!l blast, but some of the work will not be 
done owing to lateness of the season. Farm- 
ers wiP have a better show for water from 
the canals than they did last season, al- 
though they are not pleased with the con- 
tracts given by the canal companies. 

I have before me a letter from one oX your 
San •!• rancisco subscribers^, asking for in- 
formation concerning the well system, or 
rather the mode of putting down the tub- 
ing, and I regret to say that I can not give 
the information asked foHfust now, but will 
try to obtain it from a reliable source as 
Boon as possible. The plan adopted here 
for handling the quick sand, was explained 
to me and I did not give it attention enough 
to remember Just how it was done, but I 
know they use a double tube for drilling and 
force sand and water up through the inner 
tube, and this keeps the hole open and, I 
think, they force the tubing down as they 
drill, but the details of the business are not 
at hand at this writing. All the large rice 
farms about Jennings are putting up tele- 
phone wires and will all soqu be in direct 
communication with the rest of the world, 
and it la proving to be a great convenience. 
There iB iROfe of a demand for laljorers iip^ 



than there has been for some time past, for 
they are wanted on the canal work, and for 
chopping wood for the various pumping 
plants, and the demand will continue 
through the spring. Some of our rice ^lills 
are not running on full-time just now, ow- 
ing to rice being a little slow in coming to 
market, but the market is being fed in a way 
which will insure better prices, so no one 
should complain. Reports show that fruit, 
except orange tre€?; are not injured as bad 
as was first thought shortly after the freeze, 
but it is yet too early to draw conclusions, 
for I remember when the other freeze came 
South, that it ruined all the writer's pear 
trees, nine years old, but they did not show 
the effects of it until after they had got 
through bearing that season, then they be- 
gan to die and kept at it until they died 
to the ground, and this may be the case this 
season; we can tell better about July or 
August. As yet no move has been made to 
prepare any more land, and it looks like 
this work and the rice plantin,g would come 
all at one time and rush the farmers be- 
yond their capacity. The severe cold and 
frost of the past two months has cut the 
feed short for range stock and many native 
farmers depend upon grass for feed for their 
work stock, and many of them are cut short 
and must wait for grass to spring up before 
they can accomplish anything. Our cane is 
reported injured, but to what extent is not 
yet known. It is believed the seed cane suf- 
fered the most. 

Calcasif.u Rice Bird. 



Wattr Ulting for Rice Fields. 

In regard 'bo the pumping systems used to 
elevate the water into the irrigating canals 
for watering the rice fields of Jefferson 
county, I will says that pumps of various 
makes are in use, but 'the most popular are 
the Menge steam pumps. They are what 
are called cenitrifugal pumps and are of 
special make, designed for lifting large vol- 
umes of water to short he-igths; this is lim- 
it-ed, I believe, to twenty feeL At least, this 
is the extreme height at which they are used. 
Canals running on higher levels, using two 
€ts of pumps, as the Beaumont Irrigation 
Company, whose main canal is thirty-nine or 
forty feet above the source of supply, they 
have two lifts, two sets of pumps, boilers, 
etc. This plant is not yet installed, as the 
canal is nOl yet completed, but will be very 
£Oon. 

The Port Arthur Irrigating and Rice Com- 
pany have a lift, I believe, of thirty feet 
from source of supply to canal. They have 
one pump that worked this lift successfully 
all last season, but I have never visited this 
plant and do not know the make of their 
pump. It is not a Menge. At La. Belle, on 
Taylor Bayou, this make of pump (Menge) is 
in general use ooi various plantations and 
short cabals. The eighteen-inch cylinder is 
>i.he size generally used; but on, the new 
panaU now building pumps ot the largest 



size will be employed—thirty-six inches 
cylinder. 

These pumps are in general use through- 
out the rice growing district of Louisiana, 
around Crowley, Jennings and Gueyden, 
where they have given universal satisfaction 
for some years. But few of these pumps 
have been in general use in Texas until the 
season just past, and most growers depended 
on storage reservoirs of surface waiter from 
the annual rainfall. In visiting the rice 
farms it is not of tea practical to see the 
pumping plant, as it Is almost always lo- 
cated some miles away, often ten or twelve 
from the rice fields. These farms are mostly 
in the central part of the county, off the 
railroads, scattered along the cTtreams, a 
drive of half a day being usually requisite 
to vii:lt one of them.— P. C. Tucker, In Texas 
Farm and Ranch. 



Sugar Drainins^s. 

Before the U. S. General Appraiseis at New 
York, January 23, 1899. 

In the matter of the protest, 34425 f-4660, of 
James Burns, against the ifeciision of the 
collector of customs at New York, N. Y., 
as to ^he rate and amount of duties charge- 
able on certain merchandise, imported per 
Hilary, and entered April 4, 1898. 

Opinion by Wilkinson, General Api>ralser. 

The merchandise consit-ts of the draindngs 
of a eargo <it sugar from Brazil, the said 
sugju* having lost about 15 per cent in weight 
on the Voyage because of said drainings. 
These drainings tested 42.40 degrees by the 
polariscope, and were at-sessed for duty as 
molasses at 3 cents a gallon under panagraph 
209 of the act of July, 1897. 

It is claimed that the merchandise, which 
was pumped from the bilge of the vessel, 
contains more or less sea water, and i<s not 
molasses, and that it is dutiable under sec- 
tion 6 at 20 per cent as a nonenumerated 
manufactured article. 

The Board held in Q. A. 164, December 3, 
1890, that pumpings of this character testing 
46.79 degrees were dutiable under the act 
of 1883 ai5 molasses. But whatever doubt 
might have been entertained as to the cor- 
reoiness of that classification, the new pro- 
vision in paragraph 209 of the act of 1897 
would appear to leave no reasonable ground 
for further contention. The new provision 
reads: "Sugar drainings and sugar sweepings 
shall be ts ubject to duty as molasses or sugar, 
as the case maybe, according to polorl- 
scoplc test." We find that the goodis are 
sugar drainings testing 42.40 degrees, and 
we ihold that duty was correctly assessed 
under the provision for molaases testing over 
40 and not above 56 degrees. 
The protest is overruled accordingly. 



Personal. 

Mr. O. M. Nilson, of Covington, Perry, 
and other places, was in the city on a visit 
a few days ago. 

Mr. J. P. Boagni, of Opelousas, La., was 
among the arrivals at the Hotel Qninewi^ld 
last Tuesflfiy, 



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142 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. xxn. No. t. 



Mar. 3. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. E. Centaihigal 

Choice 

Striot Prime 

Prime 

mUvFair 

Good Fair 

P»lr 

Qood Common.. 

Common 

/nferior 

Centrlfusal. 
PlanVn Orenul'ed 
OK Orenulated. . . 

Choiee White 

Of White 

Orwr White 

Choloe Yellow — 
Prime Yellow — 

OS Yellow 

Seeonds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centriiugsl 

Faney 

Choiee 

Striet Prime...... 

Oeod Prime 

Prime 

GtoodFair 

Pair 

rood Common.*.. 

OoBunon 

Interior 

Centrifutal. 

Faney 

Ohoioe 

Striet Prime 

Qood Prime 

Prime 

Oood Fair 

Fair 

Coed Conunon... 

Oenmon 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



Feb. 15. 



Feb. 27. 



Feb. 28. 



-«- 



-9 - 
-®- 
-9 - 

-a - 
- @ - 
-@ - 

- Q - 

-@ - 
_@ _ 

-« - 
-© - 



-9 - 
-9 16 

-9 1* 
12 9 13 

-9 11 

-9 ' 

-9 

-9 

-9 

-9 

-@ 



3A9*A 



-9 - 
- 9 — 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
*%9 - 

4 9*A 

2h@m 



-9- 



-9 - 

- 9 - 

— 9 - 
-9- 



-9 



— 9 1« 
-9 U 
12 9 13 
-9 11 

— 9 9 
-9 « 
-9 7 
-9 • 

— 9 « 

— 9 — 



-9 - 
-9- 
-9 - 

4>g9 - 

4)«9*J? 
4 94{'i> 
2^93t« 



9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 



-9 
-9 
12 9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 



16 

14 

13 

11 

9 

8 

7 

6 

6 



Mar. 1. 



Mar. 2. 



Mar. 3. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Cloainc of Week. 



3i''.@4A 
-9 - 



-9 - 

- 9 - 
-9 - 

- 9 - 
4%9 - 
4X94H 
4 94i^ 

2h®m 



-9 - 

-9 - 

-9 - 

i-9 - 

-9 - 

-9 - 

-9 - 

-@ - 

-9 - 

-9 - 

— • — 

-9 16 

-9 14 

12 9 13 

-9 11 

-9 " 
-9 
"9 



9 



9 - 



4%9 - 
4K94^ 

23ii3|^ 



-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 
-9 



- 9 - 
-9 16 
-9 14 
12 9 13 

- 9 11 

- ® S 
-9 8 

-« 2 

- 9 6 
-9 6 
-9 - 



-9 - 
- 9 - 

-9 - 
-9- 
45i9- 
4>i94ij 

2Sil3k 



-9 - 
-9- 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 

- 9 - 
-9 16 
-9 16 
13 9 14 
11 9 12 

- 9 10 
-9 » 
-9 8 
-9 7 
-9 



— 9 — 



4ti94Ji 
-9 - 
-94X 
4^94A 
-9 - 
-94M 
4A94H 
4k94,», 

8><93lJ 



•9 



S 



a 
o 

!5 



9 14 
9 13 
9 12 
9 11 
9 10 

® S 
9 8 

9 7 

9 6 

9 5 



Firm. 



Strong. 



OTHER IIARKETS. 



NEW York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining, 89^ 
Centrifugals, Oe*^.. 


— ® — 


— @ — 


— 9 — ■ 


-9 - 


-9- 


— @ — 


— 9 — 




— @ — 


— @ — 


— 9 — 


— ®.-=„ 


@ 


— @ — 


— 9 — 




Granulated 


- @4.72 


-94.72 


— 94.72 


— 9472 


- @4.72 


— 94 72 


4.96@ - 


Firm. 


StandardA 


-@4.60 


- 94.60 


-94.60 


-94.60 


~@4.60 


-94.60 


4.84® - 




Dutch Granulated 


— @4.96 


-@4.96 


-94.96 


-94 96 


- @4 96 


— 94 96 


- @ - 




German Granul'td. 


— @4.91 


-94 91 


-94 89 


-94 87 


-@4 87 


-94 91 


- @ - 




MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


@ — 


-9 - 


— 9 — 


-9 - 


- @ - 


-9 - 


-@ - 




N. O.Pair 


-- @ — 


-9 - 


— 9 — 


-9 - 


-(»- 


-9- 


-@ - 


• 


London: 


















Jaya, No. 16 D. S. 


iis.6d. 


Ua. 9d. 


lis 9d. 


ll8.9d 


ll8.9d. 


lU.9d. 


lis.Od. 




A.& G.Beet 


98.8>^d. 


98.8i4d. 


98. 7«d. 


98. 8>^d. 


98. 8>4d. 


98.3Jid. 


98.3^d. 





NEW ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

8tan'd Granula'd. 
Roeetta Bztra C 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal Bz C 

SYRUP. 



- @^H 

- @5i4 

- @^H 

- @5A 

- @ - 
-@ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 



- @b}4 

- @6>^ 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



- @^h 

— @6^4 

— @5,^ 

- @ - 
-(g - 

- @ - 
-@- 



- (§)6^4 

- @5^ 

- @ - 

- C^ - 
-@ - 

- (^ - 



- @6V4 

- @5>^ 

- @5,», 

- @ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



- '@5>4 

- @5V4^ 

- @5^ 

- @ - 
-@ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 



- (a5>^ 

- @6k 

- @5 13 

- @ - 

- @5 01 

- @ - 
~@ - 
-@ - 



Steady, 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Feb. 22 .... 

At four ports of Great Britain to Feb. 18 

At Havana and Matanzas to Feb. 71 



.Tons 



120,359 
68,600 
37.700 



Roceipts and Sales at New Orleans for tbe week ending 
Mar. 3, 1899. 
' Sugar » 

Hbda. Barrels. 

ReoeTftd 364 4,767 

Bold 864 9,698 



MolMi 

Barrsls. 
8,239 
81S89 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i, 1898, 
to Mar. 3, 1899. 

Hhds. ®"**fearr8ls.' 

ReoeiTed 7,861 1,161,767 

Bold 7.861 1,161,767 

ttaeMfHir 19,0iq M^&SM 



Nlplnefes 
Bamls. 

206,686 
206,786 
178,488 



Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



March 4, 1899.] 



TkE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



148 



Mar. 3 






WEEKLY MARKET REPORl 


1 




1899. 


RICE. 


Feb. 25. 


Fv-b. 27 


Feb. 2i. 


Mar. 1. 


Mar. 2 


Mar. 3. 


Same Day Laat 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
Cloae of Week. 


RonoM, per bbl... 


1 6U(s>4 25 


1 50(a!4 IflS 


3 50@4 60 


2 10 


50 


30 


1 50^4 00 


Steady. 


Extra Fancy.... 


«>»(s63i 


(^}4^(^h 


i 


' { 


1 


1 


— @ — 


CLBAN, Fancy.... 


6 fe6>^ 


6 @6>< 




^ I 


1 


2 


5><®5^ 




'^boic*... 


5i4@5JJ 




\ 


' I 




I 


^M(^h^ 




Prima... 


4Ji(»8N; 


i 


^ i 


\ 


\ 


4^@5^ 




Good .... 


4>4<S4^ 


4>4(S!*^ 


\ 


' { 




\ 


44@4^ 




Fair 


3^(g4)i 


3^@4)4 


[ 


« t 


/ 
\ 


\ 


8^@4 




Ordinary 


3 @33^ 


3 ga.v 


I 


« [ 


/ 
\ 


\ 




Ooifainon. 


2i<@3 


2«@3 










3>4@3?i 
Nominal 




Inf «dor . . 


13J@2 


1^@2 












No.l 

DKAif, p«r (on.... 


'ISIS* 


'«« 


I 


^ I 


{ 


\ 


2 (8SH 
60^10 00 


Fair. 


Pwjui, parton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


14 00(1^15 00 




l|0ed|«s « 


■d 3idM at N«w 


OrtoMU for ths WMk Midtag | 




AMd^ at Ntw OrtoMM Itmb Ahs. i. iS^. te Mar. 3. ■••9. 




Mar 


. 3. *^97 








caaparMi with laat year, aaiM tiaa. 






BAOVS ROUVH. BVA OMUJf. 








SAom RonoB. bblc. Olbaw 


iwoonrsu 




5.376 647 


"niia 


tTAnr 




640 618 3 6S2 


fWd 




4.605 2,110 


Laat 


y""" 

yftir 




432,498 3,308 



Sus^ar. 

The local sugar m-arket was quiet and 
steady at the end of the week. The 
receipts from plantations, which were 
light, met with a ready ^ale. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in fir?^t hand^ 
Centrifugals strong. 



Rice. 

Tlie rough rice market was strong at 
the end of the week. The receints were 
rca?.tiicted and there was a limited volume 
of offerings. Clean rice was steady. 



Irrigation of 5ugar Cane in Queens- 
land. 

A report has just been presented to Parlia- 
ment by the Registrar General having refer- 
ence to irrigation in Queensland. 

Returns have been collected on this sub- 
ject since 1891» so that information on this 
bead is now available for seven years, and 
particulars respecting it will be found in the 
following statement: Acres irrigated: 1891, 
3369; 1892. 3.840; 1893, 5.287; x894, 5.846; 
1895. 6.447; 1896. 6.395; 1897. 6,647. 

Thus, within the period under review, the 
area has very nearly doubled; the returns 
for 1897 comprising the largest acreage irri- 
gated recorded in any one year. 

The experiences of the cultivators who 
availed themselves of this aid to their work, 
as returned on their schedules, are well nigh 
^uarlmous as to the fact that the labor and 
outlay incurred was amply repaid in the in- 
iti-eased production of the soil so treated. 

In 43 districts the water was artificially 
imployed. to a greater or less extent, for pur • 
poseif uf agricul' ure. In 7 districts the area 
treated exceeded 100 acres, and in 4 more it 
-unounted to at least 50 acres. 

The premier district in this respect was 
Ayr, where no less than 5,165 acres were irri- 
gated, or 78 per e?Pt P' the whole. The 
sources of supply and the means of elevation 
|in 1 distribution are most varied. - Although 



applied industiy is sometimes einployed for 
securing the water in an artificial reservoir, 
yet for the most part natural sources of sup- 
ply in their primitive state are relied upon, 
rivers, creeks and lagoons being much more 
in evidence in the returns than dams, wells 
and bores. The latter are given as sources 
of supply at Ayr. Barcaldine, Blackall, and 
St. George. As to the first named place, the 
supply is probably drawn from a tube well, 
but can hardly be from a true artesian 
source. Gravitation necessarily cannot often 
be used as the means of conveyance direct 
from the natural source of supply without the 
intervention of power to first raise the 
water, so as to secure a head. A great in- 
crease in the use of steam as the means of 
elevation is at once noticeable on comparing 
the returns for 1897 with those of previous 
years. Nearly every kind of crop grown, in- 
cluding vegetables and fruit, is to be found 
amongst the returns, but, inasmuch as Ayr 
contributes so ISrge a proportion of the ir- 
rigated area the principal object or cultiva- 
tion in the district is sugar cane,* that crop 
inevitably figures largely in the area sub- 
mitted to Irrigation. — Queenslander. 



Sugar Chemistry. 

We quote the following from the Tulane 
College Journal: 

"It is very gratifying to note that the 
new department of Sugar Chemistry, not- 
withstanding the adverse circumstances 
arising from fever scare during the last 
iwo summers, is gradually developing, and 
promises to become one of the most popu- 
lar branches of the College of Technology. 
It woui.., perhaps, be well to enumerate 
some of t*.e facilities for work in this de- 
partment and to point out some of the op- 
portunities that await the earnest and com- 
petent young men who avail themselves of 
tnese facilities. 

The laboratory of Sugar Chemistry now 
occupies one-half the lower floor of the 
well-arranged chemical building, and is 
supplied with a number of work tables, a 
small cane mill, a polariscope, a ''sulphur 
macnine, a "carbonating machine," and all 
other special apparatus for a careful and 
thorough study of the chemistry pertaining 
to the manufacture of sugar. In addition 



to the practical work done in the laboratory, 
the students have access, through the courte- 
sy of i\ir. * rank Ames, to his splendidly 
equipped sugar house, situated just opposite 
the city, on the west side of the river, 
where they practically study the manufac- 
ture of sugar on a large scale. At this fac- 
tory all of the products of the sugar house, 
from the mill juice to the third masse cuite 
and third sugar, together with the ash from 
the bagasse furnace, are collected, brought 
to the laboratory and carefully analyzed by 
the student. To further facilitate the prac- 
tical work, sugar cane is grown on the uni- 
versity ground, near the laboratory, and in 
the fall IxaC cane is windrowed and thus pre- 
served for use by the student at any time. 
It, therefore, will be seen that the Sugar 
Chemistry laboratory has many facilities 
for doing eflicient work. 

That there is a demand for this kind of 
work is proved by the daily presence of stu- 
dents at all the work tables in the Sugar 
Chemistry laboratory, and that there is a de- 
mand for sugar chemists has been clearly 
demonstrated by the fact that all competent 
students in this new work have readily se- 
cured positions and during the past grinding 
season the number of applications for sugar 
chemists far exceeded the number of men 
competent to take charge of the chemical 
control of a sugar factory. Furthermore, in 
addition to the rapid strides made by the 
sugar industry of this country, the recent 
accession of the Hawaiian islands and the 
assurance by the United States of a per- 
manent and stable government in the island 
of Cuba, will open up many positions for 
sugar chemists." 



Wild Over Beet Sugar. 

In your number of Feb. 4th you have an 
article under the title of "Wild Over Beet 
Sugar," in which you state that the Oxnard 
Construction Co. is to build and equip a 
magnificent 500 ton plant at Rochester near 
Detroit. We beg to say that the Fred W. 
Wolf Co.. who put up the Bay City Plant 
last year, has secured the contract JOr the 
Rochester factory. This contract was es- 
pecially secured on account of the great suc- 
cess of the first year's run at Bay City. Be 
kind enough to correct the mistake in your 
next number. Yours truly, 

The Fred W. Wolf Co. 
Per G. C. Dumont 

Our correspondents will notice that the 
article in question was copied from and 
credited to the American Agriculturist. We 
make the correction with pleasure. Bd^pr 
Louisiana Planter, 



Digitized by 



Google 



144 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTORML 



[Vol. XXII, No. ». 



WANTS. 



W« will publish In this column, free of charge until 
furthor notice, the Applications of all nuuuigers, over- 
jeers, engineers end sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions In the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A position for tlie coming crop of 1899 
by a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish tbe best of ref er- 
erioes from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street, New Or- 
leans. 3-1-90 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1899. I am familiar wltli all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. Jddress J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2S-99 

WANTED—The best sugar maker in Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
dose boiler of first and particularly of molasses sugars 
(2nd and ard) . State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C M., this office. 

2-27-99 



WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 

Sair anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
etaila of sugar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as cl^uifler on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. B-st of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charenton, La. 

2-2 I -on 



WANTED— An experienced young man, single, Is 
open for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Opp, 3418 Constance street, New Orleans. 
2-22-99 

WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a youn^ 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a pnw? 
tical knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
ROBBRT, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlll-wriiiFht 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished 
Address 418 N. Johnson street, New Orleans. 
^ 2-18-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
UUon by a you g man 26 years old, slnele and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 100, Uiis office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs In sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Address H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 



, WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 302 S. Basin, St., City. 2-1&-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardshlDs 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"aU around" faithful man. AddresS H. G. l" 1824 Clio 
street, New Grleans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia 
^ 26-99 ' 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 
24-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 
years' experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W. 
this office. 24-90 *' 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar toaker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landry, Convent, La. 
18-99 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man; address J. F. Leteff. Nes- 
ser, La. ^4.99 

WANTED-Experlenced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 320 N. Mahi street. 
Louisiana, Mo. l_g ' 

WANTED— PosIUon as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac? 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T 
pare LOUISIANA PtANTBR. w ^ **. *.., 



WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office. 1-9 

WANTED— A young, unmarried man desires to se- 
cure a position on a sugar plantation . Has had expe- 
rience as clerk, overseer and other general work. Hon- 
est, sober and reliable. Can furnish best of references. 
Is willing to work for a nominal salary. Address at 
once J. L. Slack, Tallulah, La. 12-31-98 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Speaks E^nglish only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-96 



WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a suffar plantation by a man of famlhr. References 
furnished. Call on or address F. F. Merwin, 621 Du- 
malne street. New Orleans. 12-81-98 
■ « . ^ 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish best of 
references. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 
. 12-2S-96 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced roan 
Who can come well recommended, a position as thne 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1035 N. Derblgny street, New Orieans. 
. 12-7-98 

WANTED-Posltlon by a good double- effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation^ 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekepp- 
Ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of ricommendatlons. address Mrs. Proctor. 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience In sugar house work, is In position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 

Eerintendent for consturctlon or repairing of sugar 
ouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man .*» years of age, well versed In the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months* trial. If 

wner is not pleased, no (salary wUl be expected. Xd- 
.Iress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-96 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant In 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebrask a. 12-17-98 

WANTED— Position In Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La 
12-21-98 

WANTED--By a young man of 24, a position In the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can /nmlsh^ood references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and French 
Unmarried. Address E. P. irwin, Sugar Land, Texas 
12-21-g8 ' 

WANTED— Young sugar boUer to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed In refinery 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-96 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who has 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-20-98 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January Ist. Compensation $30. Address F. E C 
Shadyslde Plantation , CentervIUe , La . 12-20-98 ' ' 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Good refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumslde, Louisiana. 12-21-98 

WANTED— Position as manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year. Ample experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A. Blouin, whltecastle, La. 

WANTED— Positton as manager or assistant on su- 
gar plantation for the coming year. Long experience 
and first-class references. Address A. G., care of 
The Chief, DonaldsonviUe, La . . "«^ 

WANTED— Position as clerk in plantation or town 
store, by a young man of good habits, weU qualified and 
with best references. Address G, J, A., care of The 
Chief, t)9iMaaaonvlUe, U. a , wire 01 ine 



WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. Rochblle, H ohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-96 

WANTED— Position for coming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 83 yeara 
of aee, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cnlrivatlon of cane and handling 
Ubor. Address R.,Box 25 fl, New Iberia, La. U-5-iB 

WANTED— Position as chemist for ooming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. CMMble of taking entire ^large 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
Dover, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
Rome, N. Y. 12-4^ 

WANTED— Position as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years ezpertenoe, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical man- 
ageniAnt assured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
^mder than words." Address Drainage, Room 22, 
City Hall. 12-8-96^ 

WANTED— A position as Assistant Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty^fMir year* oM, 
mprrtad. Twenty years experience In handling labor, 
veral years experience In cultivation of Cane. Beet 
references given. Address, M- E. W., Can^ Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-29-9^. 

WANTEI>— Man who wishes to loam profession of 
sugar belling desires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who la engaged for coming Mexican or Cnban crrn>. 
State tprms for Instruction. Address, A. W. B., 6)134 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-23-C8 

WANTED— A young married man of small family, 
desires a position in Puerto Rico as time-keeper or 
sugar weigher. Have had several years' experience in 

aillFAf n/>naaa. aIo^ o vrA«Mv rm^^A U..v^1. 1-^-._. ^^ 



, care 



sugar vciKuer. nave naa several years' experience in 
sugar houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. Address C. B. S., — - 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co.. Baton Rouge, La. 

WANTED-Ppsition as manager for 1899, by a first- 
class man of experience and One references. Wju 
t ike an assistancy and work very reasonable. Address 
E. W . Crbighton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1899. Address Thbo. 
Baudoin, Jr., HahnvUle, La. 12-7-98 



WANTED— A sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the past five years, the head chemist for 
one of the largest sugar houses in Loulsland, is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central a merlca. Will accept a position on any terms 
con8istent with first-class work. Can furnish best of 
testimonials from present employers and from the Uni- 
veralty from which he graduated. Address Lkda. this 
office. 12-8-M 

WANTED— By a young chemist with onlyerslty edu- 
cation and one rear's experience in large Louisiana 
factory, a position for Mexlcm or Cnban campaign 
Address A. M., care Louisiana Planter. ll-aCHB ' 

WANTED— By a first-class sugar boUer, to eo to 
Mexico, Central America or the Hawaiian Islands. Wm 
furnish the best of references. Address Maitukl 
Mello, No. 8S0 Barthtrfomew street, New Orieans, La. 
ll-JT - 



WANTED Position for next crop by an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on one of the lanrest 
places in the 8tote. Would have no objection to llThig 
on the place and making himself generally useful. Isa 
good oooper. Address Geo. Code, 4730 Tchoupitonlas 
street, city. /_ llr2B-66 

WANTED— Position in this State or Mexico by an A 
No. 1 sugar boiler who has references of the very first 
class. Address Boiler, 607 Chartres street. New Or- 
><>M^8- 11-9-96 

WANTED-Chemist wants situation. Graduate of 
Universitv of Michigan . Have had practical experience 
In the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 2& years of 
age and unmarried. If necessary would be willing to 
gotothcW«>RtTndl s. R^^Arence from former emplover 
given. Address X, this office. 11-26-96 



WANTED— Position aa book-ke^ier and utUlty man 
in the country. Good references. Address Compe- 
tent, care Louisiana Planter. 11-21-96 

WANTED— A position as book-keeper or manager of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young mar- 
ried man with 14 years' experience. Would also open 
up and run a drug store in Interest of employer. Qm 
furnish A No. 1 references. Address G. C. B., Donald' 
sonvllle, La. 11-21-96 

WANTED— An expert sugar house man, as chemist 
or superintendent, is desirous of closing an engagement 
for coming crop in Mexico or Cuba. Has -had six years 
experience on some of the largest plantations in Lou- 
isiana. Can bring references from present Central 
Factory, and testimonials from Dr. W. C. Stnbbs. Those 
desiring the services of a thorough sugar house man. 
IMldress Oscar, bo?^ m^ B»ton Roo^ U-19-96 ' 



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AK1D 



a MeeWi? IRewepaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXIL 



NEW ORLEANS. MARCH 11. 1899. 



No. H). 



rHB LOUISIANA PLANTER 

* SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE. 

Louisiana Si^gar PlanUrB' Association, 

A^ceosion Branch Sugar Planters' Association, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Kansas Sugar Growers' Associat/dn, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publithea at New Orleans. Lk. , every Saturtlay Mbming 

LOUISlAIil A. PLANTER AND 8UQAR 
MA^UFACTURfeR CO. 

' Dfcvoted ^o lU>cA8iatilA Agticul^re ili general, and to 
the ^ugar Industry^ in particiilar, and in all its 
• bVHucbes, fligricultural, Mechanidil, Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerciaL 

. •■ EDITORIAJ.; CORPS. 

W. C. STUBDS, Ph^ D. . W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

^ifcntered itt thc(Po8toffloe ftt New Orleans afi 'sooond^dass 

mall matter, JiUy 7, 1888. 
■ '' r- . ' ' Per annum 
. Terms of Subscription (Including postage) $3 00 

Foreign SubfecrtptWn...'..: -v 4 00 



ADVERTISING RATES. 



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6 Inch 

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7 Inch... ^■. 
ainch-..,.. 

••Ihch...'... 

Hal! Page.*. 
. Fn)X j *ag9.. 



9 6 00 
060 

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All communications should be addressed to The 
LDin8iASAPLll9T£B,fi89Carondelet street. New Orleanis 



LIST OP STOCKHOLDBRS. 



^McCan Brotlierj. 

McCall A Legendre. 

teon Oodchaux. 
'James TellerV 

B. UBnann A Bro.. 

t^boce 5ofilat. 

Louis Bash, 

W. B. Brickell. 

W. C. Stubbs. 
John DyoBond. 

DaaM Thompsoo, 

Poos A Barnett, 

H. C. Warmoth. 

L4ichi« Po^svth. Jr., 

Edward J. day. 

.Sbattuck A HofffauM. 

Bmlle Rost. 

Then as D. Miller. 

SdMnldt A Zlegler, 

T. 0. ncLaury, 

L. 5. Oark. 

J. B. Levert, 



Simpson I 

W, B. Bkwnfield. 

W. W. &itcllffe. 

John S. rioora, 

James C. Murphy. 

Jos.Webre. 



R. Beltran. 
Luden Soniat, 

D. R. Caldcr, 
L'. A. Ellis. 
Hero A Malhlot, 
W. J. Behan, 

J. T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards A Haubtlca 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. CunolngluuD, 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Prica. 
B. A J. Kock. 
Wm. Oarig. 
Adolph Mayer, 
A. A. Woods, . 
Bradiah Johnson, 
Qeorge P. Anderton, 
A. L. nonoot, 
Richard MUllkMi, 
W. P. nilas. 
Lezin A. Becnal, 
J. N. Phari". 
Jules J. Jacobs 



teZSCUTIVE CQMklTTBB. 
Llenry floCaU 
Lnden 5oalat, 
D. R. CaMsr 

- ' iDyoMnd^PraiMMt. 



W. B. SchaaMC, 



The Louisiana 5ugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

This association held its annual meet- 
ing last Thursday evening at its rooms 
on Union streets Owing to the illness 
of President Emile Eost, the first vice 
president, Hon. Henry McCall, presid- 
ed.. Secretary Dykers was at his post 
and there was a very largo attendance. 
On motion, the reading of the minutes 
of the previous meeting was dispensed 
with. The secretary read to the meeting 
communications from Stniator S. D. Mc- 
Enery and the family of the late Henry 
A. Brown, acknowledgijig receipt of the 
resolutions adopted at the February 
meeting of the association, after which 
the admission ojE now members being 
in order, MesaiSv F. G. Drouet, Geo. 
P. Anderton, E.. G. Comeaux and F. T. 
Llewellyn were elected to meanbership 
by acclamation. The chair then called 
for the (annual reports of the president 
and treasurer which were read to the 
meeting by Secretary Dykers. Presi- 
dent .Eos:t, in his report, expressed his 
regi-et at his inability to be present, ow- 
ing to ill-heulth, and his gratification at 
the flourishing condition of the associa- 
tion. Treasurer . Schmidt's report dealt 
with the financial status of the organiza- 
tion and showed it to be in an eminently 
prosperous condition. A vote of thanks 
was tendered him for his able adminis- 
tr'ajtion ^ the as/sociatSon's; monetary 
affairs. 

The' next business before the meeting 
was the election of officers to serve dur- 
ing the ensueing year. The old ticket 
w!as unanimously elected with only ono 
slight change, necessitated by the death 
of 2nd. Vice President H. C. Minor, 
the eSrd.Vice President, Mr. L. M.So- 
niat, being dected 2nd. Vice President 
aiid Ool. Geo. C. Zenor being elected 
eSd Vice President to replace Mr. So- 
niat. The officers are therefore as fol- 
lows: 

President, Emile Rest; first vice pres- 



ident, Henry McCall; second vice p^^si. 
dent, L. M. Soniat; third vice presidient, 
G. G. Zenor; treasurer, W. B. Schmidt; 
secretary, Reginald Dykers. 

Executive Cemmittee: Daniel Thomp- 
son, ^y. C. Stubbs, Jno. N.. Pharr, W. 
B. Schmidt, John Dymond. 

There being no further business 
offered, chairman ifcCall announced 
that the to]>ic of the evening, *The 
Manner and Method of Purchasing Oane 
— ^Whether by Test or Otherwise," 
would be taken up. 

Papers on this subject were presented 
by Messrs. Eoibert Storm, E. G. Co- 
meaux, C. Eobert Churchill, Judge 
Henry Meyer and Dc W. G. Stubbs. 

All these papers appear elsewhere in 
this issue w^ith the exception of the one 
by Dr. Stubbs, which, owing to- .its 
length, we are o'bliged to omit^.^Rtil 
next. week. The authors of the various 
papers were tendered a vote <>f tMf?'^^ 
for their contributions, and the papers 
were ordered published, that of Dr. 
Stubbs being esteemed so vtalu'able that 
on motion duly made, it was decided to 
have it printed also in piamphlet form 
for extensive distribution. Considerable 
discussion was then had relative to the 
topic treated of in the papers, of which 
we will give a complete stenographic 
report next week. 

After selecting "The Best Method of 
Planting, Fertilizing and Cultivating 
Cane so as to give Best Eesults in Sugar'' 
as the topic for discussion at the next, 
meeting, adjournment was hadv 



The Value of riolasses for Stocic Feed. 

The very short forage crop secured in 
the sugar parishes last fall is giving 
some trouble to the sugar planters who 
now^ find themselves compelled to buy 
hay, a rather unusual transaction in this 
country. As many of the sugar planters 
are now working out their low grade su- 
gars it would be well for them to keep in 



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146 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTUBDL 



[Vol. XXU. No. It 



mind the fact that their common mdas- 
'ses for whidh they realize at most on the 
, plantations jbut two or three cents per 
'galloi:^ delivered in tank car?, is one of 

the most valuable feed larticles that can 

* i^ had. 

'' "We need hardly refer, to the recent 
jL^aption of sugar as a imrt of the ration 
.of the German soldier; to the fact that 
V th«*large d'emand in Louisifcina for low 
^?Sd^' mokisses comes from the farmers 
of Great Britain and the continenrt, who 
Jong sipce le;arned to appreciate its value 
:M^ a .sJtook feed; to the fact tJiat those 
<^ugar planters in Louisiana who have 
-'been feeditig it continuously during the 
i^tast four years to their mules, hogs and 
J cattle have found the results extremely 
; .satisfactory, to prove the special value 
of BftokHses for stock feeding now that 
our supply of ordiiiary forage is so ex- 
tremely shoi^t. So far as we have Iparnqd, 
'iiW.j'^^JTX' instance in this ^tat», -,»^jhere 
*». inola3»e^,hia» l>een fed.to muies, the re- 
feulta h«v« 'be^n satisfaetioiy. ^ • The mules 

• fife in better •<foiidT*don than under any 
' fbrmier regime, thus confirming the re- 
ports that come to us f rcan other coun- 
tries, where molasses is so jnucn used. 
We do not medn by this that molaeses 
Wane should be fed to mule sti^ck on 
*the plantations, tut we wouW say, from 

actual experiemie', that the average mule 
ppr,diay,pf heavy molasses, and consume 
this quantity week after week, having 
at the same fime^an amtple allowance 
of hay and a faii* allowance of oat^. 
That the mules ' become very fond of 
'molasiie^ is evido.njced tv the fact that 

V f^^fqueAtly. coming in from hard work, 

^'they wili ffy to the moliasses trough in 
•ptef e]?erice to the water trooigh. Tliis is 

'* ordinarily the cfase where the mifteii 
,^tiye been watered in the field within 

. .two. or tb;ree hours of their coming in. 

- ^ • The Louisiana Planter haa done much 
-"in' rtfeettt years to impress upon the 
'■ sugiar platnter^ of the state its views 
' , o^ the excellent feedrng quialities of mo- 
..iM^s^, and there could, hardly, be a bet- 
. ter time" than- the present when ihe 
^•' pdahtii-tion supply of mule forage i^- short, 
'"''ltd again enjoin the planters to always 

'^ol<t in reserve a sufficient supply of 
V;. mj^fe^ses for the niule stock .through- 
out ithe whole yean A fair estimate. 

- of the quantity may >be made by al- 
*' lotting one gallon per inule and horse 



per day, which would be about seven 
ibarrels per yetar per animal, which 
should be held in reserve for their use. 
A's often stated hereiribefore, mo- 
la^es has equally great feeding value 
for cows, hogs, etc., and while we have 
been a little slow to learn it in this 
state, the demand for molasses at the 
large sugar plantations is generally in- 
creasing, smaller local cane growers hav- 
ing found that it was their cheapest o»b- 
tainaible food supply. 



March Weather. 

The synopsis. of the Weather Bureau's 
record of March weather in New Or- 
leans during the last twenty-eight yean 
gives some interesting data. The wann- 
est month wias that of 1897, with an 
average of 69 degreed F.; the coldest 
that of 1885, with an a\^erage of 58 
degrees F. The highest temperature re- 
corded was ^4 degrees F., on,,Mareh 30, 
'18#T, and Oh March 20, 1897,. while 
the lowest temperature, 30 degrees F., 
occurred on Mlarcli 2, 1890. It will be 
remem'bered that the cane crop was well 
ladvanced at that time and that when 
the canes were cut to the ground by the 
freeze of March 2, 1890, seriotis injury 
to the crop was apprehended W many 
persons. On the other hand, it is well 
kriown that the cane crop of 1890 was 
one of the best ever miade, the result 
seemingly of the distribution of the rain- 
•fdll throughout the growing season in 
jxui the proper quiantity for t^he growing 
plants. 

. The average rainMl for March has 
(been 5.11 inelies, Ibut in 1876, 11.32 
in'ches fell. -^As yello\v clarified sugars 
sold in 1876 at 10 cenits, a little more or 
less rainfall at that time was hardly as 
serious as now. A very dry March is 
much feared in Louisiana because of its 
injury to the spring planted cane. Cane 
planting in March, such as is now going 
on, is well known to be hiazardous, be- 
cause of the frequent droughts during 
this month. Yet- the year 1892 will be 
retailed as an extremeily good agriioul- 
tiir&l year for sugar can^, while 1876, 
wnith the imraenj-e March rainfall gave 
but a moderate yield from the field. 



we have been recenjtly so fortunfctto u 
to enjoy, and a wonderful amount of 
progress has been made in field work. 
The condition of the plant and stubfcle 
cane, while necessarily sitill aomewfaat 
doubtful, is unmistakably improving and 
with the proper kind of wither we be- 
lieve far better resufflS wiU be obtained 
than were deemed possible two weeks 
ago. Eyes that looked like they were 
dead are putting forth sprouts and were 
it not for the diefects brought about by 
the wet weather, whioh ^^emled during 
the fall and winter, ^Hfere w^uld i»t)b- 
ably be a full avera]je crop maide this 
year in spite of the z^ino temperatures of 
February. As it is, we belieye tliat our 
prediction w»ie last: week x>f a three- 
fourths crop will be amply verified, bar^ 
ing further misihaps.-- 



Spanish Peanuts. 

'^ '^Irtiis is k spe'dial variety of peamitB, 
gro-wn largely in iNorth Louisiana for 
forage purposes. Its growth is erect, 
and, at maturity, the pods adhere very 
tenaciously to the stalk when die ktitor 
is uprooted. In sandy, or l^htj*%atty 
soils, this operation of uprooting catf gis- 
ily be a)ccomplished wit houi' hardly the 
lors of a pod. By gathering them in this 
way while the leaves are stiR green, and 
curing the entire Y'^Jit ^th adherent 
pods into hay, a large quantity <yf excel- 
lent forage of high feeding value can be 
obtained. This plant, as can be seea 
later on, has an enormous power of gath- 
ering nitrogen. It stores much of it in 
the fruit.' It matures easily, and two 
crops upon the same soil have been made 
in one year at Audnbon Park. This crop 
is frequently planted, and hogs perniitted 
to gather it at maturity. Its feedipg 
value is very great^ and th© k abundftat- 
ly corroborated by numerous ejcperimente 
in feeding by practical fermere* . 

The value to the land of this c*op is 
very great, and the yield of nuts ia suf- 
ficient, if grown in large areas, to jus- 
tify a considerable conMneroe -with profit 
to the farmer iat present pric5e»^-Uiwe 
cents per pound in Norfolk, Virginia. 



Tha News from the Plantations. 

It is gratifying to note that all our 
correspondents are able to report this 
-week a continuation of the good weather 



Mr. J. B. Lyon, of Chicago, 111., a prom- 
inent .capitalist who poBsesses extenaiTe iv- 
gar interests, was in the city on a tidt ft 
few dayd ago. He put up at the 8t Clilurieft. 

Mr. M. J. Kahoa, of Weat BaK» Roofl* 
parish^ was at the Hotel €hWMWiUd«.,0B 
Tharsday;. 



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Mup^h 11^ 1899.] 



rag LOUiattANA PLAJyTEK AND SUOAK MANUFACTURHL 



147 



LiOOAIi LBTTBB8. 



Asctasion. 



AUIor iMuitiana Planter: 

ABother whole week of dry weather has 
been oar welcome portion, and, as'may be 
readily' snppoeedr work on the susar. planta- 
tions has been going al^ead at a 2:40 gait 
Gftthering. clouds yesterday and 1:oday seem- 
ed to portend imminent rain, but the indica- 
tions tonight are more favorable and we 
may miss the threatened Yisitation. The 
thermometer reached within one degree of 
freesing M«tt49ff morning, but the miss was 
as . sood .^ ^i^^® ^^ ^^ harm resulted 
from the belated cold wave. 

This week's crop reports are mostly en- 
eoifraging, and although not a few planters 
and manitgen cling to the apprehension 
that the ^prospects for tjfxfui^e than a half 
crop are not good, a majority in this sec- 
tion are filled with growing confidence 'that 
the outlook is by no means depressing; and 
occasional instances are noted where the 
condition of both stubble and seed cane is 
r^x>rted to be excellent, and the li^ica- 
tions for a stand equal to those ezisUng at 
the same stage of last year's crop work. 
The representative of a Kew Orleans ma- 
chinery conce^, who sojourned at Donald- 
flonville today, after a tour of several days 
/^)urop^^ the adjacent sugar country, reports 
ilu^t ^e encountered very few despondent 
planters, ^d met several who expressed be- 
lief that they would make better crops this 
year _an last Between the pessimistic 
and optimistic extremes there is promise of 
the realization of a golden mean, that will 
save ns from the "slough of despond," even 
thoagh we may hot hope to surmount a 
high pinnacle of prosperity. 

Hon. Henry McCaU writes from Evan 
Hall to-day, (Wednesday,) "Very busy 
planting cane, shaving rattoons, etc. Find 
seed cane pretty bad, till, by thick plant- 
ing, hope to secure a stand. Acreage will, 
of coarse, be reduced; how much, cannot be 
estimated Just now." 

Belle Helene, Palo Alto and St Emma, 
are among the plantations in this parish; 
Magnolia and Belle Terre in Assumption, 
Pike's Peak, Union and Salsburg in St 
James, from which encouraging advices in 
regard to apparent condition of the cane, 
have been received. Less favorable reports 
come from the Miles Go's, places in lower 
Ascension and also those in St James. It 
has been recently rumored that the seed 
juid stubble on Oak Alley in St James, were 
10 bad that the owners would be content 
to raise seed thiii year without attempting 
to ''make a grlndixig,'* but later reports from 
thftt vicinity at^ to the effect that planting 
Is going on "bftakl^, with t|ie hope that 
Knnething of a staiid will be r^eived. 

A f^w' we^kB more of good weather may 
change the aspect of affairs in the sugar 
dtetriet materially and revive the hopes of 



those who have been "down in the dumps." 
Observer W. D. Park's meteorological rec- 
ord for February shows a range of temper- 
ature from 3 degrees on the 13th to 80 de- 
grees on the 3rd; eight rainy days^with a 
total precipitation of 3.85 inches; snow-fall 
of 3 inches; hail on the 11th; killing frosts 
on the 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th and 14th; 
light frosts on the 23rd and 28th, and float- 
ing ice on the river from the 15th to the 
20th. 

Besides being a vigilant weather observer, 
Mr. Pak is a diligent bank cashier and 
keeps a weather eye on the finances of the 
neighboring sugar planters as well as on 
their crops,: and meteorological surround- 
ings. His quarterly statement of the condi- 
tion of the Bank of Donaldson ville. Just 
issued, gives a total volume of business of 
$320,915.92, including capital stock of |25,- 
000, surplus and undivided profits 138,569.18, 
and individual deposits of $257,356.74. The 
institution has enjoyed a steady growth of 
prosperity since its organization in 1892, and 
is a prominent factor in promoting the wel- 
fare of this community. 

The Bank of Ascension will also issue 
A quarteHy statement on the 10th, and the 
aggregate of the two documents will mnke 
a handsome baQking showing for 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 



(iPKIAL OORRISPplfnilfCB.; 

EdUcT Laui9iana Planter: 

The weather since last report has been 
all that could be desired, notwithstanding 
a range inthe thermometer from Summer's 
heat to Winter's cold. Tlie maximum tem- 
perature 86 degrees was reached on the 3rd 
instant, and the mimimuhi 25 degrees on 
the 6th. Everybody and everything is at 
work. It is too early y^t to tell Vhai .the 
area in cane will be, or whether the stand 
will be good or indifferent, but, we think 
the stubble crop will be a fair average, and 
the plant considerably short of expectations. 

Mr. D. H. Walsh of PlaQuemine,Manager 
of the Union Plantation says it took them 
all day Tuesday to plant six acres of cane. 
The seed is very bad and in picking it out 
hardly one-fourth is found to be fit for 
planting. 

Mr. Rudolph G. Ck>meaux of Plaquemine, 
reports that the seed cane is the worst he 
has had to deal with since he lias been 
planting, and news from Mr. Leonce M. 
Soniat of Dorcey ville, is not a bit more en- 
couraging, the seed cane in some cuts being 
entirely rotten, while in others running as 
high as 50% bad. Mr. Whaley, manager for 
Mr. Soniat undertook to pick out the good 
cane but after assorting, the good looked very 
little better than that rejected, so this 
method was stopped. Mr. Soniat hopes to 
find some seed in better condition. 

Mr. Thomas Supple, of Bayolf Goula says 
his seed is good. 

The seed cane at the Milly plantation of 



Messrs. LeBlanc and Danos of Plaquemine, 
is holding up splendidly, and all of their f^ll 
plant, except twelve acres which had been 
off-barred and scraped, is promising. The 
twelve acres mentioned have been replanted 
in cane. 

Dr. Wm. HoUoway, of Rosedale, has 
cleared up some 50 acres on his little plan- 
tation on Bayou Grosse-tete, since he pur- 
chased it from the late C. H. Dickinson, and 
is putting in a few acres .in cane^ so. as to 
have seed, should some, fortunate fellow 
take advantage of the splendwid opportu- 
nity that awaits the inaugurator of a central 
factory in that section. 

Mr. Handle Robertson, son of Mr. James 
M. Robertson, of Plaquemine, and a gradu- 
ate of the Audubon Sugar School, 1^ last 
week for the Hawaian isl^ds where he goes 
to take charge of an experimental statiim. 

Mr. John Terrell, the popular manager of 
Mr. Andrew H. Gay's Au j^ta Plantation On 
Bayou Grossetete, was ta|en to New Orleans 
last Tuesday, for an c^e^tion on the foot 
he accidentally shot several, months since, 
and his numerous fnends hope that he will 
get the desired relief. 

The police Jury held its reguliU^ liibntiUly 
meeting on the 6th inst Nothing watf done 
in the road matter, as it appears that the 
present contract has not. expired^ We vf»re 
under the impression that the contract had 
expired at the end of the year. 

The following Board of Directors for t^e 
Bank of Plaquemine, Charles A* Bnisle, 
Frederic Wilbert, H. N. Sherburne Jr., A. H, 
Gay Sr., J. L. Barker. B. B. Schwing, G. R. 
Murrell, David Altemus and John M. Bur- 
goyne, was elected We<lhesday and among 
the names are several prominent planters. 

^ iBBRVILbl, 



Terrebonne* 



\P9meuL coaautONDBNOE.) 
Editor Louieiana Planter: 

The extremely favorable weather of last 
week was not only of marked benefit to"the 
planted canes and stubble but was highly 
appreciated by thdse who still had seed, in 
the windrow. Field work w:a8. advanced 
rapidly and a considerable acreage wiis 
planted in com, stubble barred, shaved and 
the diggers operated. The majority of the 
planters are more hopeful than ten days 
ago, as ratoons begin to a^iiear hens and 
there in the fields. At Crescent, farm the 
Shaffer estate, early, shaved stubble, . the 
writer is informed, begins to show sprouts 
here and there, and at Southdown, the es- 
tete of the late non. H. C. Minor, the mlan* 
ager, Mr. W, H. Webb, reporte late cut cane, 
shaved early last week, had sprouts v^ble 
on Sunday. The stubble of a tenant on the 
estete of Mr. Babin which was examined 
four days after the freeze, when sound eyes 
were found, was shaved on Thursday of 
last week and on Sunday morning sprouts 
two inches long could be peen here and 
ther^, not only on the t^ of. the row hut 



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'LOUISLAi;rA 'PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPA^TUI^^ 



[V ol. XXH:M 10 . 



• ' on tlie'^ides of the bar. Nearby plant cane 

* of the edtate was examined shortly after the 
' freeze and again this morning/ and the 
' mother canes were found rooting and the 
' eyes were germinating nicely in Response 

to the genial weather of last weeK. 

Later on, the time of harvesting and the 

quality of the cane and texture of the soil 

will be seen to have had a marked influence 

on the vitality of the cane. On the upper 

' Bayou Black it is reported thdt oil some 

' places the stubble from successioh cane is 

- very defective. 

' The recent cold wave, with frost and very 

thin ice in exposed places, with strong 

' ' North winds dried the ground rapidly and 

• retarded vegetation; The fall and wiiiter 

* having been extremelj^ wet, with precipita- 
' tions fat* above the normal, the chances are 

the spring may bie very dry. The vitality 
of the canfes' having been impaired by ad- 

• verSte climatld influences, prudence would 
r prompt that as' soon as possible the stubble 
-should receive a moulding ftrtrrow at least 
■ of soil made friable by hari^bwing after be- 
^tng shaved and the digger' run over the 

stumps. 
' * Canes, both plant and stubble will re- 
' quire more careful nursing until the sprouts 
^ rodt independently, than at any time in the 
^ Ijast thirty years. • Later, if the stand Justi- 
'^ fies" the expense fertilizers can be applied 

with machine or by hand as in fOrmef years 
^ when implements ^Mefe not fn vogue. 
^. i/^' light, • warm rain, with South winds 

would prove of great' befaefit not only' to 
' moisten the clods but hasten vegetatio"*. On . 

- sbme places plantings will tei'minate "ttils 
- Wfeek With favorable weathen and on- others, 

Ti6t iin til after the middle of -the motith. 
Wednesday of last week was partially 
cloudy; Thursday, favorable; Friday, a 
lovely balmy day; Saturday, variable; Sun- . 
day and Monday, clear- and cold with 
strong North wind; Tuesday, 4;hia ice, frost 

^ and clear, and Wednesday, clea^* and Warm- 

. er in 'the morning. . M^ jj 

- ,, * Terrebonne. 



St. Mary. 

(BPKCIAL CORRESPONDif^CB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

As our letter last week had to be written 
prior to the meeting of the Irish Bend plan- 
ters, in conjunction with the people of 
. Franklin, for the purpose of forming them- 
selves conjointly into a drainage district, 
which meeting took place at the parish seat 
last Thursday evening, it is reserved for 
tl^is yveek to ijass upon the success the 
naovement is destined to enjoy. The meet- 
. ing was not largely attended by the plant- 
.ers, owing to the impassable condition of 
tl^e parish roads, but those few- who did ap- 
pear and take a part lii the deliberations, 
"pledged the hearty support and co-operation 
of their respective immediate neighbors, 
when the work had progressed up to the 
de^ee requiring personal activity, such as 
the casting of votes, and the like. 



Committees were appointed and resolu- 
tions drafted and such other work dohe as 
was possible at that time. The petition 
necessary under the law, will 7)e circulated 
right away, for the purpose of obtaining the 
requisite number of signatures to go before 
the Police Jury, to request the formation of 
the territory designated, into a dralnage'dis- 
trict, to appoint the commissioners who will 
manage and control the same, to call the 
election for the purpose of raising the neces- 
sary tax, and to designate the tax to be 
raised. In the mean time others, appoint- 
ed for the purpose will go over the land 
wfthin the proposed district, and determine 
the deepest and most available natural 
basin, through which the canal will course 
its way to the high seas, the depth and 
other dimensions of the canal Itself, and 
the approximate amount of money neces- 
sary to complete the same. The attempt 
will be made to complete all arrangements 
necessary to the levy of the special tax be- 
fore the completion of the regular tax rolls 
for die currrent year, and the running of 
the canal as soon as possible. 

The planters in the Bayou Sale district, 
too, having felt the need of better drainage 
more seriously last year than for any previ- 
ous season on record, are considering the 
plan of creating another drainage district 
tor the benefit of that great range of sugar 
Estates, and carrying their waters out into 
Yellow fiayoii Iribiitary to the ulf, but 
having accomplished nothing practical as 
yet, -it cannot be stated whether the neces- 
sary interest cah be excited among the peo- 
ple to- form a district in time for -the pres- 
ent arrearment. 

The results Of that severest freeze in the ' 
history of Louisiiana, are Indeed, about as 
btrange as they could well be. Some few 
planters "report practically a total iOss of 
seed cane, while for miles on either side of 
them, the seed is alternately ordinary and 
lirst-class. Mr. A. M. Underwood, one of 
the owners of Bellevlew, said the other day 
that he calculated on raising enough cape 
this year for seed in 1900, but that he could 
not cut a ton for the mill; and, in' conse- 
quence, will not turn a Wheel thI6 coming 
harvest time; while his immediate neigh- 
bors, the Rose people and Oak Lawn, have 
sustained losses vet-y unimportant, and Mr. 
Shaffer's Anna place, among the sftme 
cluster, fs rather a heavy loser. Others 
throughout the parish will lose, variously 
a third, a half, and some few as much as 
two-thirds. St. Mart. 

Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Ijilitor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
very fine for farm work, and the farmers - 
have taken advantage of it. The fields fook 
more like spring now than on last Monday 
the 27th of February; six full days work ' 
has changed the general appearance won- 



derfully. "^ Severalxlays dtoiig'the past week 
was cloudy but there was pb ralnlo'^ipeak 
of, not enoughf'fe) fetdM field work. There 
has been a decide change iffiOie temperature 
of the weather fdr the' past tsmlte toMI»- 
at 6:00 o'clock yesterday eyeninc^jCSvnday) 
the thermometer stood 60 degnseBrR, and tt 
6:00 o'elock this morning (MoiidaQ9 ^e 
thermometer stod at 30 degrees R, i^d ice 
was very much in evidence. It immises to 
be some colder to-night than last night but 
no damage is likely to. occur therefronL 
There has been considerable cane planted 
the past week and the general verdict now 
is about on a line with the report from the 
section last week, that aboiit One fourth of 
the seed cane is lost as is about the. same 
percentage, of first years stubble; second 
year stubble Is 'almost a total loss. .There 
is some speculation about flbst stubbles, the 
effect of the freeze soured ihe top of the 
stubble which when the ground thawed out 
effected the entire root more or less and it 
is very nauch feared that this deterioration 
will spoil the entire root and to obviate thte 
as muca as possible farmers are now olf 
baring their first year stubble and shaving 
it as closely as they can. This they Ihhik 
will save the bottom eyes. Muc!h of the 
seed cane that appeared entirely lost ^hen 
removed from the windrow after' beinl; ex- 
posed to the sun for two or three days WUl 
sprout out healthy scions. This can^'on 
careful examination when being first taken 
from windrow presentis the. appe^raxic^ of 
thoroughly frozen cane and the ey^ are 
black and watery, and it is a fny^teiy tb all 
who have examined it to See healthy foot- 
ing sprouts spring out from those black 
damaged sockets: The total datdage to^ 
cane crop cannot be arrived at ttntff the 
c^ne comes up and shows the extent of die 
stand, but it is safe to %gnre on'% of a crop. 
Considerable preparations are being made 
for a large corn sind rice crop, bnt little Is 
being said about cottoh:- The ^coftoff "aere- 
age will be greatly increased, and rice mil 
be double in acreage over last year's 'crop. 
There are some considerable Impcovementi 
being put In for rice la the neighhochcial of 
Abbeville— fuller details later. 

Mr. J. Henry Putnam of the Rose HiU. is 
in New Orleans this week attendiiig to iMisi- 
ness. 

Mr. O. Lacour of New Orleans* an4 * 
prominent sugar planter of Pointe .Coupee, 
was In Abbeville the latter part 6t last 'week 
prospecting. He was very muci> pleased 
with the outlook in Vermilion from a sugar 
standpoint. 

Mr. Isidore Hechlnger, prominent in sv- 
gar and rice circles oi Louisiana, was in 
Abbeville a few daysago. ' His 'head^uair|en 
are InNew Orleans. Mr." Hechlnger may' In- 
vest In sugar lands In Vermilion. '^■" 
. Mr. Horace Gumbel, a feadlng commlidoD 
merchant of New Orleans, spent ai^eW houn 
prospecting around Abbevile a few days aga 
He was accomplahed by Mr. L. Von Tres- 
kow Manager of the Lafayette ^Sugaor *IMn- 
ery of Lafayette, La;- -^ P, C^M. 



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March 11, 1899,] 



TH15 iJOUISJLANA PLANTER AND^ SUGAR Mj^yUEAOTUiRES. 



149: 



Avoyelles. ,^ . 

(SPECIAL COIUlESPCNpE^CE,. i 

EdiM>r ItQuUiami Fltinterj . ' . 

At last -it seems that we are to have fair 
weatiier and freedom from -rain, <^oia and 
frost* The past eight days were in the 
luain^ warm and pleasant for the perform- 
anoe; of field work. With the^ exception of 
a Mffht rain; which fell on ' the evening of 
the ^h inst, at Barbreck aaad south to 
Opeloosas; the weather wad all; that could be 
wished for. Plowing and planting has been 
pushed forward ad rapidly as the land would 
become dry enough to permit. 

In not a few instances the farmers have 
not • hesitated to' do considerable plowing 
in 14nds that were really too wet for break- 
ing^ but the time for planting "ikas come 
to hand when delays are consfidered risky. 
Consequently all who can do so are trying 
to do something or other at planting, while 
the sun shines bright and fair. 

The Planter's correspondent called in at 
Barbfeck last week, and had the pleasure 
to meet and converse with a number of 
prominent planters and cane growers of Bar- 
breclL and vicinity. 

Mr; R. L. Foster, of the firm of J. U. Payne 
& Co., New Orleans, and supervisor of Bar- 
breclr and Cumberland plantations, with W. 
H. Shaw manager on Barbreck, and M/. 
Campbell manager on Cumberland, seem to 
agree,' after a most searching investigation 
of. the stubble, that it is to all practical pur- 
poseiB dead. Now and .then a chance stub- 
ble when dug out and washed, showed evi- 
dence of life, with' maybe one to three sound 
eycaf. 

On a'seYen acre cut where the flag had 
been drawn up on the tqws as an experi- 
ment, it was found on investigation that the 
stubbie was. better and showing less injury 
from .the winter rains and freeze. . 

Mr. Foster informed me that the cane in 
the, windrows was found to be better, where 
from J9ome one or other cause, an abun- 
daope of flag or trash had been left upon it. 

An instance, strange to note, was when 
putting down seed cane last fall from second 
years stubble— in which the rows were five 
feet apart, to get sufllcient soil to cover the 
cane in windrow, a number of the stubble 
wej'jB-.plQwed out and were subjected to the 
full -force of the winter's jCreeze. When ex- 
amined hy Messrs Foster, Shaw and A. Les- 
seps, they found these exposed stubbles in 
a fair state of preservat*;>n, with a number 
of «yes sprouted from one to two inches long. 
Now. the question arises, was it the freeze 
or^the. excessive fall and winter rains which 
destroyed the stubble; will some Solon ex- 
pU^?^ 

Barbreck put down seed cane last fall for 
plaifli^g^on Barbreck and Cumberland, a 
very heavy ac];eage to cane. Mr. Foster in- 
forms, me. that he thinks they will do v-e'l 
nqw to. get seed to plant at the best 175 
scr^ tQ cane, and will finish up with in- 
crtaCfid. ajcreage to corn, peas and something 
like Sqo or more acres to cotton. The con- 
9mm -on -the ' Augnef^' Pl^Utlpf mA Mfg. 



Co's. plantation, Barbreck, are about, the, 
same as those described ftbove. 

Mr. A. Lesseps, President of the Augusta 
Planting and Sugar Mfg. Co., seems to think 
that they will do well to make seed for 
planting another year. Anchorage planta- 
tion, the property of Messrs Young and Hay- 
del, Barbreck, report stubble tp some extent 
dead. Seed cane injured. Mr. Campbell, 
managing Cumberland plantation, planted 
some sixty acres to cane last week. 

Mr. G. G. Fuselier, manager Of the Pow- 
hontas plantation, employed a heavy force at 
cane planting during last and this week. 
His plant cane is about on a par with that 
of others in the same locality; some of It 
fair and some not at all good. 

Reports from Rapides are to the efie-' 
seed cane Is seriously Injured; the stubble 
worthless, etc., and so on to the end. 

I enjoyed a pleasant chat with Mr. 
Prescott, of ^Washington, La., on the 4th Inst. 
Mr. Prescott informed me that he had 
learned of btJt one Instance where stubble 
had kept well In his locality, and that was 
where a negro farmer, having a few acres 
to cane, had, after cutting his cane last fall, 
gathered aTl the flag and trash he could get 
and put It on his stubble, then threw two 
furrows on the same, ' and In that manner 
had preserved It from the destructive freeze. 

The prospects for a cane crop on Lelnster 
are about the same as those reported from 
a number of other places In this or the 
adjoining parishes. As a result of the loss of 
cane, a heavy acreage will go into corn, peas 
and cotton, and I should think it adviseable 
to grow as much grass and sorghum for hay 
making as possible, to tide over the year. 

Erin. 



Calcasieu. 

fSPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planiei-: 

There seems to have been a change made 
in the weather, for it has failed to rain this 
week, and it has been very fine, drying 
weather, and plowing has been pushed at a 
great rate, for farmers seem to feel like a 
long, dry spell is setting in, and if such is 
the case, it will not take long to get so dry 
that It will be Impossible to get a plow In 
the gi-ound, so the work is hastened as much 
as possible, and while some farmers have 
got a good start in this work, the most of 
them are behind and cannot geT ready for 
sowing as soon as they would wish to. 
Many thought the long, cold winter would 
bring an early spring, but it does not look 
that way just now, and if the average 
amount of rice is sown this season,jfarmers 
will have to do considerable late planting. 
If It comes off dry, as many predict, the 
' sod cannot be worked up, and there will 
be considerable new land to prepare this 
spring. Old ground Is drying up fast and 
much of It is in shape for plowing, but most 
of It will get pretty hard before the plow 
gets to it. Farmers are pretty well prepared 
with teams and tools to work with, and with 

a few weeKrof good yr^m^v tUey §ftn dt»' 



patch the work. The mules andcgai^ plows 
are mucn ahead of the ten inch plow,' drawn 
by a slow ox team, the way. we did the work 
a few years a^o, so ..we, can hap (H© a large 
acreage of rice with all the improved meth- 
ods, as easy as we use to handle fL little 
patch of rice with the oXen or ponies.' But' 
we do not seem to have the rain of late 
years that we had some ten years ago/ and 
rice growing Is more of a task n6w,' unless'^ 
It is wher^ canal water can reach it. It ^ 
looks to many observing farmers like some 
of the canal companies are agreeing to fur- 
nish water for much more land than their 
pumps can lift v/atier fbr, but this mistake 
comes from the fact that the wiater com- 
panies demand two sacks per acre, water 
rtnt, and they wadt to spread but the' water 
as much as possible, and that plan' often ' 
maKes about one-haii a crop for the major- 
ity of the farmers. Some farmers have pro- 
tested against his plan- of paying for the" 
water, and they have gained the diay in 
some localities, and wltl force the water 
companies to accept of a share of the crop." 
The well system for Irrigating rice Is with 
us to stay, but it has rather a slow growth 
now, owing to the fact that farmers lack 
the capital to spread out ast hey would 
like to, so they begin In this business in ' 
a small way and then ^ork up as they can 
afford to, and some of them are getting so 
well fixed toh irrigating their rice that they' 
can do so at a small expense* with the wells, 
and the more the system Is tried, the bet- 
ter It Is liked, and some farmers will not 
have a canal on their farms, for they have * 
been found to be expensive things for the 
farmers, as well as a benefit. A numb^' 
of new wells will be In operation this spring, 
but they are no longer an experiment, and 
they will Increase In number as the farm- 
ers can afford to have them, and the time 
is not far ahead when all the prairie sec- 
tion of the country In this part of the state, ' 
win be able to obtain water from either* 
the canals or the wells. Farmers have be-' 
gun to* plow for corn, but some of the soil 
Is yet too wet. By examining the seed cane; ■ 
it is found to be quite badly hurt by the 
freeze, but most of the joints are sproutihgr 
and the loss may not be as heavy as was 
first anticipated. 

Calcasieu Rice Birdi 



,-f' 



Spreckles Sugar Refining Company 
Incorporated. 

Articles of incorporation of the Sprec- 
kles Su^ar Re'finlng Company have 
been filled with the County OJerk^ 
here. The capital stock ' Is said to be 
$5,000,000, divided into 50,000 shares of the • 
par value of $lX)0.each. The pHnclpaa place 

. of business is located at.SaJinas, and therOb^ , 
jects of the company are to raise beets, buy, 
own and rent land for said purpose; maSe, 
refine and sell sugar and all purposes of a 
similar nature. The directors are: J. D.^ 
Spreckles, A. F. Morrison, A. B. Sprekles, 
H. P. Weed, W. D. K. Gl^i,son. Fifty shar^es. ^ 
amounting to $!J,OO0, have been subscribed 

Rnd paW^ f or.-^N; Tt ' J^UtWl ' ConJ*^rc6;' 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANXTFAOTURBL 



[Vol XXII, No. 10: 



FORBKa^N LBTTBRS. 



Beriln. 

CtPCClAL CORRUPOlfDKNCI.) 

Berlin, Feb. 18th, 1899. • 
Editor Lottifiana Planter: 

Tlie springlike weather setting in last 
week and reported in my last letter has 
kept up during the first part of the period 
under review and vegetation has generally 
dereloiped in a measure quite uncommon for 
this time of the year, so that, for the mo- 
ment skt least, it js much ahead of the sea- 
son* But in the Tast few days the nieteoro* 
logical conditions changed again for< the 
worse .and the hope of the farmers to re- 
sumiB field work has not been realized, the 
soil being anew soaked with moisture by 
the rain latterly fallen. The weather de- 
scribed above has been exactly the same as 
prevailed In tne corresponding period of last 
year> for I wrote you then: "Especially; the 
first lew dttjBr of the week were warm, sun- 
ny ^nd dry and the little snow fallen pre- 
viously was soon thawed away by^the bright 
rays <tf the sun * * * but th^ scheme (of 
begin^iiQig jSel4 work) was rudely prevented j 
fiSilHF belUg carried out by another change of 
the wedihchr, Vbtich, although not being a 
rejtum to the i^inter made all field work for 
the time beiog iinpin^cticable because of the 
downpour of rain accompanied by raging 
storins." I do not quote these few lines 
only for the sake of curiosity but more as 
a hin^t that these early springlike symptoms 
catthot at all be relied upon as forerunners 
of an early commencement of the sowings, 
as last year a great delay took place which 
in a certain degree was the cause of the 
shortage of the crop, which by the statistical 
figures 4a now plainly confirmed, up to .the 
end of January the quantity of beets worked 
amounting only to 12,124,251 tons, as against 
13;658,268 tons in 1897-1898. There were a 
couple of factor^s working still in February, 
bi^t in the bulk the result will not be much 
changed and H may be taken for granted 
th&tthe b^et crdp will not exceed 12.15 mil- 
liphs'of tons, as against 13.7 millions last 
cainpaigi^ On the other hand, the quality 
of the beets turns out to be much better than 
laMt year and it amounts so far to 12.75- pet, 
as^ alrain^t 12.14 pet last year. In the beet 
growing sections, joutside of Germany the 
spring has» on the whole, kept on wet with- 
out' permitting the farmers to proceed seri- 
ously with field-work. 

U will be of interest to. you to learn in 
what light the state and prospects of thiifgs 
in puba are considered in our official cir- 
cles. In a recent^ session of the budget com- 
mittee, of the Beichstag <you would say the 
committee, on ways and means), the secre- 
taiyof the Tr^ury said he would not un- 
derrate the danger threatening us from 
Cul^a, but he did -not think it so alaiinihg as 
some: people appiirenUr believe it to be. The 
Island of Cuba is in a large degree fallen 
biu^k to A sWe Qt uncumvution imd yeani ot 



hard work would be required to restore its 
former productive capacity, and there is now 
great want Oa labor. Of the white working 
men 60 per cent have emigrated, disappeared 
in some way or other or are dead, whilst the 
colored population is by the war demor- 
alized to the last degree, and he thinlcs that 
to replace the lost laboring forces would be 
extremely difficult On account of this con- 
dition of the island he holds that a rapid 
revival of production, as is thought likely 
to come to if&sa by some persons, is for 
some years out of the question, which opin- 
ion has been confirmed by different members 
of the Reichstag who are well acquainted 
with the economical, industrial and agri- 
cultural conditions and capacities of Cuba. 
Persons who perhaps haid an interest to^do 
so, estimated this year's crop already as high 
as 500,000 tons, but from present appear- 
ances it is by no means certain that last 
year's iigures will be reached .inasmuch as 
for the time being only 85 centrals are in 
operation as against 99 at the same period 
last year. 

The sugar dealers of this country continue 
complaining of the Increasing us^ of sac- 
charine and similar sweetstuffe, which are/ 
now palmed off to the- general public not 
only as being quite Inoffensive to the human 
health, but as the healthiest sweet and the 
cheapest article in that line imaginable, 
which unfortunately cannot be prevented 
logically. Of course, this is much to the 
discomfiture of the fabricants whose pro- 
duct is subject to a heavy tax whilst the 
competing stuff goes out scot free. The 
use that breweries used to make of saccha- 
rine, sweetening the beer by means of it, is, 
it is true forbidden, but this provision is art- 
fully circumvented by breweries giving a 
certain quantity of Che article to their cart 
drivers who deliver the beer kegs to tibie 
saloon keepers, and if the latter desire to 
aad saccharine to the beer, they are at 
liberjty to do so, as only the industrial use 
of it is prosecuted. 

The new sugar factory at Sofia, (Bulgaria), 
wfilch has been spoken of in these letters al- 
ready on several occasions has finished its 
first campaign. It has worked 6,000 tons of 
beet and has made 600 tons of sugar. It is, 
however, doubtful whether a similar result, 
though not at all brilliant, will He obtained 
next year, the farmers finding that the grow- 
ing of beets has not proved as remunerative 
as they had believed it to be. The board of 
directors of the factories will make, it is 
said efforts to stimulate beet culture by 
granting a premium to those farmers who 
succeeded in obtaining the largest yield from 
a certain surface. The peasants, however, 
seem to prefer cereals to beets, the former 
yielding a bettter profit than the latter. 

On the markets the tendency— always in 
opposuion so the prevailing kind of weather 
— ^was in the first half of the week unfavor- 
able, and with the above mentioned Change 
of the weather; the tone of the markets 
chmfta fw tfte ^tter, Bui lh?f^ wer^ al«9 



some other reasons f6r an improvement, for 
instance the re-entering of the French spec- 
ulators into the market, rumors of sales to 
America and a revival of actual demand fbr 
the consumption here and abroad. The mar- 
kets generally close firm with slightly im- 
proved prices and a prospect of a further 
rise: The quotations are at Magd^urg fbr 
prompt delivery, 88 pit sugar, M. 10.S6— 
10.50, and at Hamburg M. 9.52 for delivery 
February f. o. b. Refined have been very 
quiet and partly nominaL 



RoBT. Hennio« 



Barbados 

The fortnight's record is i$§% bt cool and 
pleasant weather, light bH^i^^ iLtid sunny 
days. So delightfully bracing are the sea 
breezes that could we keep them all tfie year 
through thus deliciously tempered, there 
would be no need for central factories to 
restore our proHpAlty. Ldfe irf^ bur West 
Indian Sanctariiim is now veritably Ufe on 
the ocean wave with its mal-de*^er and 
other discomforts left out Now IK the tloie 
for the touriflft and health seeker to visit 
us. and inhale new life from the sea breeM 
asiin^'Wikps Charged with oxone fresh and 
briny from tne broasdT AOantia 

The rainfall for the fortnight at our bUl^ 
tion is 2.66 inches. For Uie ttonth; ^IS 
inches. ^ 

PlanUng operations have been puab»d well.^ 
forward, and already the young cro|Mi#'b«*>* 
coming a noticeable quantity, the ^mtt'^ 
plants being on the Whole 'regular' ioii 
healthy. No. 147, the' favorile of tlia ds^ 
continues to be in demalid,'«Bd <ft>ni# vefy 
fine fields of this seedling hire lieQH wfs^ 
cut down, and sold «Dr plants, a- pcactios. 
greaUy in contrast with the eld BouslMa: 
days when inferior rubbish up here and. 
there on poorly grown plotfr waa thoui^t 
good enough for planting. Our planters 
have grown wiser in the school of advenity 
from which, although long since poat-grada- 
ates, they cannot escape, and are thus shaip^ 
ened to a keener edge in matters of seienee 
practically applied. The scientific experi- 
ences from Dodds are always thankfully »e- 
ceived, and let us hope that ttie rich seed- 
lings now being established there may next- 
year, without let or hindrance, be spread 
broadcast throughout the island.' It Is very 
necessary in Ue interests of the entire com- 
munity that the outlay which, undar so aweh 
stress, has been year lUtter year maintained 
for the upkeep of the sugar industry should 
meet with the fullest reward. We cannot 
copimand prices but let us endeavor to 
getall we can of yield Ihat !^ within e«r ' 
control. The report of the rest^lts obtahied 
on the experimental fields at Dodd's Befor- 
matory 1897 has jiist been issued a UtOe 
earlier in the year before the planting sea- 
son begins, a^ a guide in matterii of* practi- 
cal agriculture it would be more ^cceptMe 
and useful, but better late thaa. t^erec 
Planjters will, no doubt, study with latarcat 
the t§hl» r^aUng to seedling, ei^»ip^(n^»^ 



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151 



and' we would urge them to keep, well fo 
mln<^ the XoUowing facts: "Seedlings 156-. 
101, and 147 gave each a favorable increase' 
series. The Juices of S. 166 and S. 106 were 
of good . quality ahd distinctly richer 
and purer than that of S. 147; and 
tne quantity of rotten canes from each of 
these plots was comparatively smalL The 
Juice from the Burl^e cane was comparative-: 
ly low in richness and quality and this plot 
gave a heavy tonnage of rotten cane." 

Everybody knows that those by whom the 
experiments at Dodds are conducted are 
very observant observers, and that their 
field results are unimpeachable, but the ex- 
ceeding gref^ gm^ which has been taken in 
these seedl^.;^9eriments,~ using the well 
known- Burke as a control, doubly enhance 
their value. We feel that these seedUng ex- 
periments are being scientifically . pursue* • 
and they are leading the depressed cane 
sugar industry hopefully ii^q^e right direc- . 
tioB. • We-BliKMigly advise planters and cane 
growers generaUy to keep their eyes on 156 
and 109. Bat, and there is always a but, and 
here we quote Mr.* Bovell himsnJ^ or rather 
re-quote him from Dr. Morris' inaugural ad- 
dress at the recent 4jgri<H^tural Coij^eiv^e^^ 
—"this cane (B. *147> has- been under culti- 
vation -here( presumably at Dodds) for the 
past five years, and it has during that time 
given an average yield of nearly half a ton 
of aYalUMMe sugar per acre over the Cale- 
doaiafti Q^een which comes next, and ^ more 
thsau4hreeHiuarters. of a ton more than the 
Bourbon.-'^ AM ''during that time" five long 
years, B.^ 147 inptead- of being spread broad- 
cast, and > hurried tp-the front as it were, 
with its "three-quarters of a ton more than 
the Bourbon" to. help us in our. struggle for 
existence in which every pound must tell, 
uw been kept pent up at Dodds. Dr. Mor- 
ris promises us jn^eater publicity, four cen- 
tral stations, and eight local stations for the 
pmiKMMS of experiment, or 180 acres in all 
devoted to the improvement of the sugar 
cane. "At the local stations the planters in 
each parish wiH have opportunities of ob- 
senring the growth and habits of the select- 
ed Hnes under normal treatment, and of 
afterwards obtaining- plants or tops for es- 
tablishing their own plantations." This is 
a very important statement, for it is of su- . 
preme consequence that planters should not 
only nave opportunities for personal ob- 
seryatton but that every good seedling, as 
fast as its habits and quality are determined 
should be placed iir their hands for prop- 
agation; the increase of the annual out-, 
put without increase of expenditure on pro- 
dqiUoa.'l^ing Que of the most urgent heeds 
ofr oni;/;n9st|d)le commercial and agricul- 
turil position.' That our plaAters ar^ not 
tMr to fiteize advantages is proved by the ^ 
fact thaA the moment B 147, was placed in 
their hands with 4in established character no 
el^t has been spared to propagate it in 
eymr direction' and when 156 ahd^ 109 aw 
si&ualrly handed <yver the spread- will be- 
eqi])^y rapM^'. However i although five yeiMrs 
is a long t:ime, we do not wish to criticise 
Dodds, there may have been good rea§o^8,-« 
AfTlciinttntt Reporter, Jan, 81, 



Demerara. 

The weather continues dry, no heavy 
shower having fallen during the past three 
weeks, the fall for which time has averaged 
only half an inch a week. This appears to 
indicate that we are experiencing some 
weeks earlier than usual the short, late win- 
ter or early spring dry season, which is of 
so great an advantage to cultivators; in al- 
lowing the forking of both old and new 
canes to be thoroughly done before the usu- 
ally heavy, early summer rains set in. The 
later weeks of December and earlier of Jan- 
uary were unfavorable to planting owing 
to the excessive and cbntinubus rain, and 
planting done during tiiaft time would bene- " 
fit b^ occasional showers during the lieit 
few weeks. These may perhaps be experi- 
enced, for this season of the V^ar is hkrdly 
ever arid, though heavy rains hold up 'till 
well into March. Last year very similar 
weather to the present occui'red from the 
same date (17th) in January to the 3rd of 
March, similar very light showers only fall- 
ing in the interval. The rainfall for Janu- 
ary then was 9M inches, and for this year 
it is over 12 V4 inches, both falling princi- 
pally ih tfi? earlief !ialf oY^ffife' VjSpeCtlW" 
months. Whatever the crop may prove in 
the autumn of the year when reaped, the 
foundation is now^ being laid. The recorded 
duration of brlglit sunshine for the week 
averaged nearly ten hours a day, the lowest 
on every day being over eight hours. The 
temperature day and night was normal for 
the time of year and much the same ks in ' 
previous weeks of late. Breeze has been 
light and consequently not very drying, as it 
often is in fine weather to open land.— Ar- 
gosy, Feo. 4., 



were no imports of crystallized raws in Lon- 
don for the week ending 16th instant, the 
total for this year remaining 3,894 tons, 
against 4.821 tons in 1898.— P. M. Review, 
Feb. 18. 



Sugar in London. 

The effect of a further slight addition to 
the revised estimates of. Uie beet crop 4ias 
been more than counterbalanced by the con- 
siderable purxihases of beet sugar by the . 
Americans. Quotations show a further rise, ' 
and have reached a point which, undet noT'^- 
mal circumstances, would be eonsldered 4 
high, but which, owing tp the comparatively 
small proportion of 88 per cent sugarm|tde ^ 
nowadays, may be justified. From tl% ap- 
pearance of the American refiners In' the 
European markets ,the fears that the Cliban < 
crop will be perhaps 100,000 toQS liess than, 
was once expected may prpve true. . If so, , 
the American competition for beet ' may be 
expected to continue, and still higher ^cA ' 
for this particular form of sugar ^[^ estab* 
lished without affecting the value of foreign... 
white sugar or other kinds to the. same ex- 
tent . At the moment, the French are also 
witfhholding a considerable weight of sugar 
in the expectation of a larger boonty- being: ^ 
paid after September 1st; their actions, how- 
ever, are so unreliable that the. impj;oveiimnt , 
in value which has now be^n establisli^ed in ^ 
these sugars might induce them tb sell atf* 
a^ vlvaMnt^^Ad T^igeLf6Wt!takf4a9mptl» 
cantHf^iBdi scarcity tof suitable Teftniiw Jci«4Si! 
and relatively hi^ prices .^e^ casing con.-'., 
siderabl^ anxiety "to jeflnen} who pnly melt* 
these sugars, %hile tlie' almost Wtki absence 
of grocery descriptions Mflg^^fodtK^ ^^sus«- . 
pension of offerings at puhbe atiction, aad't 
the payment of famine prices by private 
sale. There were no imports of crystallized 
raws to London for the week eiiding 23rd ' 
inst&nt, the totiil for this year remaining ' 
.^.894 tons against. 5,088 ions la 1898.-*-P. M.- 
Review. ;^- * «— . 



Sugar in London. 

After a quiet opening and every app^r-'^' 
ance of lower prices, the market audd^ftly 
improved on Continental buying, and with a 
rapid recovery quotations close higher ttikii 
last week. The comparative scarcity of 'S8 
per cent, beet is supposed to be the explana- 
tion of this sudden improvetfi^nt. which cer- 
tainly does not arise from an increased de- 
mand from the trade. In fact, the conclu- 
sions on which the home trade are forced to 
base their ideas of requirements become 
more unstable every year, and igroduce a 
degree of caution which is at times carried' 
to an extreme degree, and gives an air of 
dullness to the market. The position of 
sugar is, if anything, rather stronger, the 
latest figures of the January production and 
stocks of beets being by no means unfavor- 
able, nor do the stocks of sugar at Hamburg 
show any signs of accumulation. A further 
decline is also shown in the American 
figures, the meltings a^ain exce«»<lini8: the re- 
ceipts. ■ No fresh information has been re- 
ceived from Cul>a this week, but the latest' 
reports do not lead to any hopes of \&tge 
results. Cane kinds have shown more firm- 
ness and cnrstallized raw» o efe ot alty have 
\ieetL in flemitp4 irt wb»noe4 mtti. TBere 



New Beet Sugar Pactory. 

A contract was awarded yesterday by the . 
Colorado Sugar Manufacturing company to * 
ufer & Co., of Cleveland, OhW),^f6r Hcon- ^^ 
struction of buildiiigs and thetr ^eqvl^fiient ^ 
with machinery necessary to. manufactntren 
from beets at Grand Junction. ^It was atip^ ^ 
uJated that the plant shall be ready ipr 
operation by September 15th next ■ ' "^o 

It will cost $400,000. The tmlldfngs' are^^ 
to be of steel and brick with cemeat fioora; ^ 
The capacity of the. :beet sheds wilL.bi^ T^OdQ^'. 
tons. Automatic machinery will . handle 
thorn and th^ir products' throughout the ' 
process, and the estimated*' output of suJRaif 
daily will be 80,-000 pounds. • Prcdlmlnaiy 
estimates show that the factory, will ^ ho ., 
operated 100 days out, of each ; year.. J[t^ will .^ 
occupy a site half a mile southeast of Grand 
Junction, thirty acred' being included fn tiue ^ 
plot. Forty thousand tons of beets hftve-' 
been guaranteed by. the farmers thereabout ^ 
the first year at a stipulated price Qf~$^.. 
per ton. The seed has' been ordered from 
Germany and France to be delivered' at 
Grand Junction by March 10th. The. coiW 
tracting firm for the machinery and. ^e . 
buildings will supply the expert labor t^ th,e ^ 
work during the first year. ... .'^ 

The Colorado Sugar Manufacturing' Coin- "^ 
pany includes John P. Campion, president; 
Geprge W. Trimble, vice-president; Charles - 
Boetcher. secretary: J^ R. McRlnnle, treasur 
rer. J. J. BroW, Byrd Page, Colonel C. C, 
T>odge and >C. 'N. Col are also meml^rs 6t 
the board of directors-* 0. N:, Cor wHl be- 
the active miLnager« He was the promoterr . 
of the concern i which is capitalised at |780,« 
000.— ?ecos Vi^lley Arftiji, J'eb. 24. 



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152 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURE?. 



[Vol. X3CII, Na^lOy 



The ilanner and Method of Purchas- 

tng- Cane Whether by Test or 

Otherwise. 

(A paper by Mr. Robert Storm, Supt. of the Estate of 

\h3 late Joseph H. Meeker, wjilch was to have been 

"read before the Louisiana Sugar planters* Assn., 

Feb., ©th., but through a delay In the mails, did not 

, arrive u^tU after that date.) 

.. I^f erning to the above subject we regret 
that iwvBviou^ enigagements will prevent 
writer from being present at the meeting 
of yiDUT association on the ^h Inst., appre- 
ciating of how vital importance the sub- 
ject itp be discussed is, not only to all cane 
purchasers, but to all interested in th 
sugar indii-stry in this State. We have had 
oonssiderable experien-ce in connection with 
lifee purchase of cane. During the season 
juat en^ed we bought nearly 50,000 tons and 
a year ago the oane purchased by us was 
eomewihat over 40,000 tons. The price paid 
by ua has been on the basis of the value 
of 80 lbs. P. Y. in New Orleans. In other 
words^ we have foHowed the orthodox 
method of paying for cane, paying for li 
simply on the strengtii of its bulk or quan- 
tity a^Mi thereby putting a ;>remium on the 
mpsJtj. worthless oane it was In the power of 
t^^«;cane raiser to produce. It goes without 
saying that we .are not in favor of this meth- 
od, a^d we l^ave in the past made deter- 
mined efforts to inaugurate a different sys- 
tem, equitable to cane raiser and factory. 
We have so fair failed in this, the obstpuc- 
ilionbeijag partly the fact that other factories 
with surplus capacity were willing to grant 
ppices tor cane out •of proportion to its 
aptfial yaliiei partly the fact 'tihat many of 
the -cane raiders with whom we were deal- 
inj^ candidly expressed th^nselves to the 
e^ot that any sysitem for adjusting value 
of. cane, -in which such terms as "polari- 
scope," "sucrose," "purity," etc., wei^ men- 
tioned, was simply and purely a scheme on 
the part,.<tf the factory to defraud and rob 
•t'he-,cane raiser. 

Eegardlnig the subject for discussion at the 
meeting, of "Louisiana (Sugar Planters' As- 
apdation^" .9th Inst, viz: "The Manner 
at^d Method of Purchasing Cane, Whether 
by Test or Otherwise," we wish emphati- 
cally bo state that with our experience as 
o^e of the largest cane buyers in the State 
we. are most decidedly in favor of paying 
for cane according to its sugar contents as 
determined by chemical test. 

We have never seen or heard anything 
w-hieh, with greater lucidity, presents tihe 
divers factors in connection with this ques- 
tion thifta the paper prepared and read by 
Mr: Johm Dy^nand at the -meeting of your 
association, May 9tb, 1895. 

iWe think that paper could very appro- 
pdately. .be made the basis for your discus- 
sion, and that the principle elucidated by 
Mr. Dymond 4s Ihe nearest approach to 
eqiittable adjustment of cane values. We re- 
fer ,ii]L, this connection to his opinion that the 
output from a ton of cane should be equally 
0iyi4«* l?«'cweeii 9e^pt raiser* ana TO^oufao*. 



turers. This, of course, will imply that 
cane from sections averaging 130 pounds 
sugar per ton would not be worth as much 
as cane which yield 175 pounds or more per 
ton. We take for granted that ithe justice of 
this will be conceded by all concerned. 

As for ascertaining the sugar contents In 
the plam'ter's cane where probably oane from 
20 or more sources Is being received, we 
think that while somewhat diflacult, yet It 
is not impossible. Samples from each party's 
cane could t^e obtained direct from the mill, 
one per diem, which we think is sufladent, 
without any such large corps of chemists 
as asserted by Mr. Kock and others. Fur- 
thermore, to obviate any claim of unfair 
play we would propose that the cane raisers 
club together and engage a chemist who 
would make the necessary tests in conjunc- 
tion with our chemist; in other words, this 
chemist engaged by the cane raisers would 
in our laboratory control the correct ascer- 
taining of quality just as the cane weigher 
paid by the cane raisers, and stationed in 
the factory's scale house, controls the 
weight or quantity of cane delivered. 

In regard to determining the basis, that U, 
the value to be placed on cane containing 
a certain sucrose percentage and co-efflcient 
purity, we will refrain from expressing any 
estimate, awaiting the opinions which 
will no doubt be expressed at y5ur meeting. 

One subject we think should be considered 
while cane values are being«discussed, name- 
ly: "What should be the condition of cane, 
to entitle it to be classed as merchamable," 
as regards its ripeness, manner in which It 
is, cut and its state of preservation, if, 
due to prolonged exposure afiter being cut, 
or due to freeze? The cane has deteriorated 
and become partly or wholly unftt for manu- 
facture. We have, as have presumeably all 
cane buyers, dauses referring to this sub- 
ject, but during the grinding we are dally 
In receipt of cane which "by no stretch of 
Imagination is in 'accordance with our con- 
tracts. We then have to resort IBo deduction 
of a certain percentage of the weigfht, but 
this is necessarily arbitrary on our part, and 
always the cause of hard feeling. 

'Would it not be possible to make It a 
rule, ih€bl wherever a large factory and a 
number of cane raisers were doing business 
together, the two parties should agree on 
some man, possessed of mutual confidence 
and the necessary experience, paid for his 
services proportionally by all interrested, to 
whom all disputed questions regarding the 
condition of the cane, its cutting, etc., could 
be referred, the contract between factory and 
cane raisers to form the basis for his rul- 
ings, and (these rulings to be accepted by 
both i«rties as final. Such an arrangement 
would to some extent be necessary if cane 
was bought on Its merits as ascertained by 
test, but would still serve to avoid a great 
amount of friction. 

It may be argued it'hat If the cane deliv- - 
ered does not come up to specifications in 
tli« cotttrft^t tftej? it ^vtfiH not W b^ reo^ired, . 



but this principle has in the j>a^ not heen^ 
half as easy to enforce as it.might^ appear; j"^ 
as Mr. Henry McCall stated ^t a. preyious^l 
meeting of your associatjpn,. there are wj^^* 
some sections to be. found people.jjrho yoild '. 
be apt to take out and shoot any Wi^ with ..^ 
sufllcient audacity to. tell them«. thj^',giepiL.. 
tops, and decompose:^ . cape are jDpt.Hi st%./ 
jects for. apgar making,. and^not entiitibd tq..^ 
the pt^icfi. agreed, upon for sqod^ . di^. a»d ^ 
sound cane. . . . .. , .- r • -. 

It .is no jdoubt a ^act that t^e jt.yeca&.iiu:-. 
tory .has in .the. pafiCL devoted X^cfehi-^ ip... 
25 4>er,cent of its. capacity to gripiiing. .un-, . 
ripe, tops^ etc.i whicM should. nevjar, hay ej>eeu.> 
allowed, to be put on the, carriers;, jxpjt pnly... 
has this worthless 5 tuff- bcejx. paid tor.. httt... 
the fiactory's. capacity. has. been wjsiipsted ,% .. 
gether .with .the consequent . Ja]>ftr an4 lu^i.,^ 
to which must be add^d the. incalculabK . 
damage done ichrou^ .the .Introduction tpto .. 
the . factory , .of . element^ detrimental, to , , 
proper result^ from whatever »?pd material ^ 

was Jn progros^s of manufacture.. . ^ 

' To ^one.. more .item wejihink H prppe^^Jbo 
draw your attention. Where the oane Pficj. . 
is baged on the value of a certaiJi nunaber of 
pounds, of sugar Jn the New Orleans' market, 
why slipuld not the freighic on this sugar be 
paid by the cane raiser, or, in the other 
words, if ,f or instance, he is being paid 80 
ll>s, sugar per ton of cane, why shoAild the^ 
factory be compelled to assume the frelgi^? ^ 
If a cane raiser produces 5,000 tons cane wid 
receives for same 400,000 lbs. sugar, wliy 
should not he, if the price he is* l>eing paid 
for his cane is based on New Orleans' mar- 
ket price, bear his share of the expense ior 
volved in placing the sugar on that market 

It can not be argued that the factcM^es 
often receive for their sugar naore fchan the 
P. Y. basis, because even where the factory 
makes a higher grade sugar, due' to extra 
outlay in machinery and labor, still the un- 
avoidable per centage of low grade sugar ' 
wil make the average price obtained less 
i.han the price of P. Y. 

Much more could be added regarding tins 
subject,. but the combined knowledge aidi' ex- 
perience possessed by the gentlemen, who 
will discuss same at your meeting, 
cannot fail to result in hiitting upon some 
measures tending toward demonslmting, 
that the best initerests of both cane raiser 
and manufacturer require harmony and 
some honest efforts to practice the precept 
of Ithe Golden Rule. 



The Manner and Method of PMrchas; 
ing Cane.— Whether by Test or 
Otherwise. 

(A paper by Mr. C. RoBBRT Churchill, readbeftirv ^ 
the Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association Marel>>? 
9th, 1899.) f. • ;: «• .-' 

Gentlemen: --' 

At the last meeting, pf ^your Associatidii' 
I suggested that .youi? compittee appointed 
to formulate a plan for parcbftsing cane, in- 
quiry }nto the mthods empKyjred 07 the beet 



•.y?" 



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152 



sugar "producers, and see if they could not 
leafn something froDoi them that would be 
applicable to btit owii'Hises in the purchase 
of sugkr'cahe 'as 'a raw product. Someone 
contended that what applied to beets could 
not be applied to cane. I differ from that 
gentiema^, and will now proceed to show 
why and wherein I differ: 

Some two years ago I had the pleasure 
ani good fortune to visit several of the large 
beet sugar factories west, and among other 
things in which I was interested was their 
methods* of purchasing and selecting beets. 
These'' me thbds I will now describe and at 
the satne time point out those portions most 
interesting and mention such modifications 
as I thmk will make them acceptable to cane 
producers and to cane buyers. 

As the carts or wagons loaded with beets 
arrived, each load, or number of loads, was 
carefully weighed. A man then sampled the 
beets as they were being dumped into the 
bins; the sample being taken at a random as 
the beets fell out. Each farmer's beets were 
then tagged and sent to the taresman. These 
tags, or blanks, bor the name of the pro- 
ducer and on them were blank spaces to be 
filled in for weights, for tare to be deducted, 
for per centage oTsucrose, for purity and for 
general remarks. If the beets arrived in 
cars a proportionately large sample was 
taken in a similar manner. 

oil passing from the sampler's hands to 
that of the taresman, the measure of beets 
was carefully weighed on a small pair of 
scalfes. ' Afterwards they were thoroughly 
washed and examined to see if they were 
properly topped, then weighed again, the 
loss' determining- the tare. Incidentally I 
will say that if they needed topping, they 
were topped. The greater the amount of 
dirt and roots and the less properly topped, 
the larger was the loss in weight and tare. 
The" farmer not only has to stand the loss, 
but "he also has to bear the expense and 
trouble of hauling and handling the unneces- 
sary' dirt and trash. The results obtained 
from this weighing and taring were then 
entered upon the accompanying tag or 
blank. 

i^ow how will all of this apply to sugar 
cane? Equally well I think. As each load 
of cane arrives the sampler or taresman will 
remove two or more stalks and set them 
aside in specified crates or bins till the end 
of the day, or until any particular cane 
raiser is through hauling for the day. The 
crates could be rudely and cheaply con- 
structed and should, of course, be located 
near the scale house or near carrier, accord- 
ing to the size of the house and manner of 
sampling. 

At the end of each day, the taresman 
would weigh the piles of cane taken as sam- 
ples irom each man's supply, these weights 
to be entered upon a properly prepared 
blank. He would then trash the "stalk and 
retop them to the proper ripe joint agreed 
upon by^ the previously prepared contract, 
the-|wf ;a8 j5 t;^9 ewe 9f beeta, fletermJnlnj 



the tare to be deducted from the total 
weight of cane hauled that day. One dif- 
ference that would have to be observed in 
the case of cane, that is unnecessary in the 
case of beets, is that the tops would have 
to be returned to the sample of the cane and 
be ground therewith. The reason for this is 
obvious. In beets the tops and the wash- 
ings contain no sugar to speak of, and so 
this waste cuts no figure in the laboratory 
work. In the case of cane, tKe tops con- 
tain sugar, and in order to get the average 
sugar content of the load, they should be 
ground with the balance of the sample. 

The resuU of this section of the process 
would be properly trashed oane and prop- 
erly topped cane. And the tenants would 
soon learn, as the beet growers did, that 
htere was no use of hauling in trash and 
green tops. 

But to return to the thread of my subject. 
Alter the beets are prepared and the blank 
marked as above stated, they are then sent 
to the laboratory where they are subjected 
to the tender mercies of the chemist. An 
analysis for sucrose and purity is carefully 
made by him and the results placed upon 
tue aoove mentioned blank. The beets are 
paid for on this test— high or low as the 
case may be, but if the test is below a cer- 
tain set standard they are rejected alto- 
gether. In case the test is below the stand- 
ard agreed on, Mr. Farmer is not allowed to 
dump any more beets till the same have 
been tested and passed. 

Now, why cannot this be done in Louis- 
iana? It would be only a question of a small 
but strongly equipped mill and a laboratory, 
a certain fixed standard having been agreed 
upon and on this standard the cane will be 
paid for. With a good mill as mentioned 
above, it would be a simple matter to grind 
the stalks and tops as mentioned above, 
while th« chemist and his assistants would 
make short work of the sucrose and purity 
tests. Exactly what the standard should be 
is beyond this paper, but I think that there 
are gentlemen who could easily fix this for 
the different sections of the country and 
the different conditions prevailing. 

That the standard for the various sec- 
tions snould be on a slightly different basis 
seems inevitable on account of the greater 
amount of sucrose in the cane in certain 
sections. It is useless to say thai the cane 
growers would soon be cultivating cane that 
would yield sucrose rather than tons per 
acre, and as soon as they realized the bene- 
fits of increased price to be gained by prop- 
erly topped and properly cleaned cane, they 
would bring in well topped and well cleaned 
cane. 

Now as to the cost of such a system. The 
prime cost would be the equipment. The 
equipment should consist of a number of 
bins or crates as above mentioned, which 
would cost in the neighborhood of say 
$50.00. A good scales for weighing the sam- 
ples of cane would cost about |40.00. A 
pmall cm^ min 'v^ould cost all tlio from 



$100.00 to $700.00, according to the work re- 
quired. A laboratory equipment would not 
cost over $250.00. Adding $50.00 for miscel- 
laneous items and taking the average cost 
of the mill at say $400.00, the total cost of 
equipping the laboratory ought not to ex- 
ceed $750.00. I am of the opinion, however, 
that a much cheaper mill will do for the 
work quite as well, and believe that the 
equipment could be had for s'ometlifng be- 
tween $400.00 and $500.00. Of course, a gr^t 
deal will depend on the amount of wotk to 
be done. 

Now as regards the cost of operatlhg Uie 
same, let me quote an article relating to a 
similar laboratory in a beet factory. "To 
protect their interests at the factory, platLt- 
ers have a strong union, which chooses its 
own chemist, weigher and tareman to keep 
tab on the beets as delivered, to see tliat 
full weight is credited on each lot, ahd fffat 
the deduction for tare is not too large, while 
the chemist's duplicate analysis are a check 
on the factory tests. The average price per 
ton was $3.78 representing a total of about 
$180,000.00 paid for the season's beets— solne 
48,139 tons. The average sugar content was 
14 per cent. At the beginning of the season 
an assessment of 4 cents per ton was levied 
on all Chino beets to defray factory and 
ofi^ce expenses of the union, including tares- 
man and check chemist. The close of the 
season finds a surplus in the treasury, which 
makes it possible to rebate 1^ cents per ton. 
Thus it cost less than three cents per ton 
harvested to carry on the business of the 
union." 

Now let us see what similar work could he 
done for in Louisiana. I should think that 
the following figures would be very liberal 
ones for similar work here, on a three 
months' basis, though most sugar factories 
are not operated over ten weeks, and hands 
are paid accordingly. 

One chemist at $100.00 per month. One 
taresman and weigher at $76.00. Two assis- 
tants at $50.00 per month each. Or a total 
of 825.00 for the three months. Since the 
actual average working time of a large 
house is about ten weeks, I base my figures 
per ton on that time or a total cost of about 
$635.00. For a 20,000 ton house, this would 
mean aoout 3.1 cents per ton; for a 30,0fO 
ton house, ^.1 cents per ton, and for a 40,- 

000 ton house, 1.8 cents per ton, and so on. 
For the advantages to be gained by all par- 
ties, this is a very small flguris anil really 
would not be missed much by any individual 
planter. . 

In the figures that I have given above, 

1 have calculated that in each instance they 
would start out with a fresh outfit. There 
are, however, many instances where t]iey al- 
ready have fairly well equipped laboratories, 
which could be used without many additions 
or additional expenses. 

. Besides the labor figures could be cut 
down considerably where there is an already 
organized crew. And too, I think the other 
items mentioned above could be reduced in 
price. I have in all cases taken outside fig- 
ures so as to be op tti« fff^p side of tl(<i^f9l)9 
trpyersy, 



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THB LOUISIANA PIJLNTER Al^ i> SUQAK MAKUFAXJTOWWf 



rvol. SXU, Sj^ It. 



The Manner and Method of Purchas- 
<. Ins Cane — Whether by Test or 
'Otherwise. 

(A^tnip^ by'ktt. R. G. COMEAUX, read before the 
ALoo^aiiASugar Planton' AssoclrUon March 9tb, 
JBW.) ... 

At the last meeting of this association, 
tl^.abpve subject, which ^^'osorbecjl Uie at- 
te^ition .of the^ evening, , was diseussed. at 
gretfit length. .... 

3f7e):al piapers were read on tne subject, 
ai|(l .while most buyers, '£avored the method 
of..bi^:rjt^g^cane, upon its tes't or sucrose con- 
tent;, still, so naany obstacles arose in the 
way 9f r.e^ching a middle, or equitable basis 
to^^suit both purchaser and producer, that 
no ^eflnite conclusion was reached, and it 
was. taught nejcesi^iry to carry over the 
saine subject to this meeting to be further 
discussed. 

Cbsntlemeii^ I am a cane buyer, not a cane 
seller, 1 pay. a flxe4 price for my cane, and 
wiii try^ to givje my reasons for doing so. 

TJiie time will come, wlien, in. my opinion^ 
all puycchias^d qa^ in Louisiana will be 
bougj^t upon its merits; but it will require a 
gr(p^t.de^ gf ..persuasio^.,pn <.h^-j)a]j^ oi;,.t5ier,^ 

^%Ki^^^«^^K .X .l^n.^' "' -[.jr.. 
In a paye^j^from Mr. Sej^hjurn, which was . 

read ai JlJie^J^J meeting^ Vy th^^, secretary, 

he ^^pre^sed. a ^^^tgpn^ined intention of 

sealing 'his. caSae to th^ highest responsible 

bidder,^ regardless of any action of this as- 

socjatipn. VL^ so expressing himself, Mr. 

Se/lt>um has ei^pres^ed the idea; he has ex- 

pres^ecl the intention pf every sugar cane 

grower in.this st^te^ and if we expect to get 

cape grpwi^i for the n^arket, I. believe it will 

be' well, to me^t tlje caie grower on that 

basjs, for. a 'while at least. . 

Npw,"9hould we conclude to buy cane for 
a fixed pTrice, say $0 cents for each cwt 
that' prime yellpw .fetches on the New Or- 
le^QS 'market, then, in order to protect our- 
setves, il^behopves us tp devise some means 
by. which we can get ca.ne raised, cane that 
wilf contain a sufficient amount of sac- 
charine, so as to permit the factory to real- 
ize "[^it fair inargin or profit 

Softie ten years ' ago, Mr. Crozier, while 
sitting on the cane carrier of my sugar 
house," made the retnark, that there was 
mor^'room fof improvement in the cane 
flel'd'than there was in the factory; the re- 
mark has always been fresh in my mind, 
and today, the field seems to me to be the 
placfe'to work on. If we wish to remedy the 
evtf, we* must start at the bottom. In all 
factories large sums of n^oney have been 
expended In |mbpr6v'6ments; the extrac- 
tion" of'jutce fronrf sin^e mills, or three 
rolfA' pressure, has been advanced by crush- 
er^ and double mills; from 55 to 80 or more 
pef ce'nfr Improved appliances have ob- 
ta&ed'frbm the juices more sugar; but for * 
alf these gains, tell me, what factory can 
tai^cane* wltli' a test of 8 or 9 sucrose and 
work' out a profit fdr Itself? I don't believe 
any can. ' ' * 
^on tb^ otfi^r h^nd, we take caoe wltli 



a test of 11 or 12 or more sucrose, run it; 
through an ordinary house with three roll- 
er mill, and open steam train, we find that 
it yields sugar enough to pay a profit. 

Capt. Pharr said, at the last . meeting, 
that cane which contained but 75 lbs. of 
sugar, was not worth taking as a. gift; we 
will all agree with him on that point. 

J^ow^ oapt. Ph^r expects to b)iy canp this^ 
year. We will suppose that when, the cane 
is brought to his factory, he will have a^ 
chemist to test it (we feel certain of that), 
we will again suppose that according to the 
test of the chemist the ^ane does not con- 
tain but 75 lbs. of available sugtfr. W^iat 
will be fne cons^uence? He will refuse tji 
take it. If he does^ he may possibly have 
to shut down his factory. 

Can the v^apt. afford to shut down his fac« 
tory? Can any factory in Louisisna afford 
to shut down fpr one season? If they did, 
the factory would ^e*a poor investment. 

The testing of sugar cane is a ^ood thing; 
it permits the planter tp 'know what to 
expect from a ton of cane» evipn before he. 
grinds it; but that is all it does; It does 
not change tl^ quality of the cane. 

In this iJoun,t|^Vv^ m4|i likes td'.be his/ 
own master; he likes tp direct his business 
to suit himself; I agree with him. Last year 
as well as in former years, the cieuiie grower 
had his own way, he worked his cane to suit 
himseU, but when last season, he brought 
his cane to the factory, it did fiot come up 
to the test. In many cases he was docked; 
that hurt him badly, and today, when you 
talk to him about selling his cane by the 
test, he simply* tells you that he will get 
out of the business as soon as he can. 

We can't afford to let the cane grower go 
out of the business; we need him. The 
price of cane on the 80 cent basis is 1a 
very good price, and I tell yiu gentlemen 
the cane grower will submit to be dictated 
to, in the way of growing his cane, if you 
will guarajitee that when he fetches 2,000 
lbs. of cane to your scale, that you will pay 
him in dollars and cents, the price you 
agreed to pay for a ton of cane. 

It appears to me, that our Sugar Experi- 
ment Station, with the proper sujgport; and 
under the management of Dr. Stubbs, would 
in a short time teach us how to grow cane; 
not such cane as Mr. D^mond referred to ct 
last meeting, cane, which, was so light, 
that when it fell overboard from the barges, 
would fioat, but good sweet cane, cane that 
would pay any factory to buy. - 

It may be of interest to some one to know 
why I should persist In trylfig to grow Set- 
ter cane, and paying & fixed price for it, 
rather than receive all sorts of cane, and * 
pay for it according to Its merits. 

Necessity is a hard master, buf^t teaches: 
I have been working sugar cane for twenty- 
five years. When I had raised it for others 
for fifteen years, I thought I knew all about, 
it, and concluded to go into business for my- 
self, so, in 1890, I bought a sugar plantatipn 
(bought it po credit). Tjie 9«gar b9U99 wft^ 



sisted of a steam train, with ordinary three^*- 
roller mill. The Ist year cane was ric1|, 
it made plenty of sugar; prices were good» 
and I made some money..; 

The next three years cane varied in ripe- 
ness, yield of spgar was, not always good, 
but as the bounty was fiUowed, I managed 
to" puU through; hut when 18S4 came, lt_ 
was ^ soaker, not ^nly. ^i^ the b<n»ntyv i 
taken from us, but the cane was so. poor. 
in saccharine that I lost heavily. 

The results set me to thinking; my cane 
had all been weighed, I h|id something to 
work upon; and as soon as the total weights 
of my sugars were obtained I came to the 
conclusion that an increajgHB^"^;p1|^^of only , 
10 lbs. more of sugar per tpn^ot.canie wonld 
have turned the balance in my favor. 

The experience of that season taught me 
that there was but one course left to pur- 
sue, and that was, to grow ripe caw^^ 

My energies ha^e'^slnce been applied large- 
ly in that dlrec^Jon; I have partially suc- 
ceeded, but there ls> in my opinlon«j9p much 
room for improvement in that line, that I 
hope this assi^jijjbion will in the near future 
tal^e ^un^^t dis(;p»ion the subject: **What. 
is'theBest"^ Method ciCl ^Ij^ting, Fertilisiiig 
and Cultivating Sugar Cisme, so as to make 
it produce the most saccharine in tSe short 
season we have to grow it. in." ^. * 

In buying cane last season, I placed cier*. 
tain restrictions upon the parties gr^fejjing. 
the cane; I will not here enumerate Jji^piifn 
suffice it to say. the cane was brought t^^. 
my factory; it was good; I paid i^l prices ^_ 
for it on the 80 cent basis, and can say to^. . 
my great relief, that, although a. bad year, . 
it paid me some profit, , . ; .. 

I am much interested in, this discussion, 
in which the association has taken so great 
a part, I hope, some conclusion will be 
reacheu which will be agreeable to both « 
buyers and sellere of cane, but must say, 
that in awaiting this decision, will con.-^ 
tinue to buy my cane as t have been do- 
ing, for a fixed price. The prospect of a 
large crop of cane this year is not at all 
fiattering, ana as the price of all commodi- 
ties are governed generally by the law of 
supply and demand, I believe all cane buy- 
ers will make prices to suit themselves and. 
get cane as best they can. 



The Manner and Method of jPurchas- 

ins Cane -Whether by Test or 

Otherwise. 

(A paper by Judge Hinrt Mbtbe, read before the 
LouieUna Sugar PUntere'. Aood'^O'^ Mardi Otfa, 
19W.) . 

Gentlemen: I have been asked to^ write 
a paper on the manner and method df buy- 
ing cane. I am afraid that I cannot throw 
much light on this subject^ I went in to 
growing cane under the presii^t plan of sel- 
ling, and^ speaking for myself and oth^ 
growers i^i t^iis, neighbourhood the, prenent ' 
wa7,48 the uipst satisfactory to the grower, 
and it seeips that it has been so with the 
ff^c^pqr^ Jwaus^ ^^^jr>tiir^ ^\^n§ e%M a^ / 



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Marcb 11, 1899.] 



THE LOITISUNA PLANTBR AND SUOAlt MANUTACTUSBR. 



165 



76 \^: ot sugar to the ton of cane and have 
run np the price as high as 95 lb to the ton 
to encourage the cane growing Industry. 
Under that system many new and large fact- 
oriel hare gone up, and it is well under- 
Btbod that those factories were not built 
entfrely for the benefit of the grower. It is 
safd that several factories in California 
bought ^be^ts at |4.25 per ton and that taose 
factories hare no trouble in getting a full 
supply of beets. 

Of course last year w;as very unsatisfac- 
tory, for th^ factories, but a similar condi- 
tioiL. .happens often with the grower. I 
doubt wheflier any grower can sell cane at 
a pibflt^'af IfeToo per ton this year. 

the factoiV^man should not go by last 
year; but should take the last ton years and 
se^ what amount of sugar he got out of a 
ton. of cane on the average. I heard borae 
grojfen say, th^ other day, that the factory 
people had made grin^n^ expenses last 
yeiar out of bought cane and that the fac- 
tory pe<^le said that there were 40 lbs. of 
sugar less In the cane than any other year, 
and^e thought that 40 lbs. olfs&gar was too 
much profit on a ton of caii'e, b gridat deiit ' 
more than the gro#(^iJ cbuld make-^lii^ ttfia'' 
is that the'i^ower knd factory people are 
n.»cessary to each other— that one cannot 
do wiaiout the other and that they should 
confide^ in one another. . The impression 
.prevairs"iiow among the growers that the 
maffiSAbtiirer makes all the money. They 
say that the grinding expenses are below 
$l:0<K](>^r ton and that 11.00 prcrflt would be 
fafr.- iut If cane has to be sold by test it 
coiM-be donfe in this way. It is said that it 
costs for grinding |1.00 to 11.50 and I know 
it tOBt/an thfe way from |2.00 to $3.00 to 
deliver a tOh 6f bane at the factory. Now 
let the factory take |1.00 and the grower 
$2;0(h'and then divide the balance equally, 
up to 140 lbs. of sugar, then for every 6 
Ids over 140 let the grower have 2 per ceht 
mdr^. Say. for instance, at 145 Jbs. 52 per 
cent," 160 lbs. 54 per cent, 165 lbs. 56 per 
ceht and so on, and the test should be made 
by sftcchrometer or Beaume; every one can 
utfdert trad that. 

TTie grower looks very suspiciouslpr on the 
chbiiiist with his polarisope and it has l^en 
said by one of your members thai the test 
in cane Juice by the polariscope is not satis- 
factory.' 1 would say stick to the. old plan of 
bt^ng' 6ane for the benefit of the sugar in- 
dustry. 



Th« Cutah Sugmr Cane Industry. 

Olpbe-Democrat Staff Correspondence. 

Prbyident J^Iaintpition, Cuba, February 4, 
via Tapipa/ Fla., Feb. 6,— (Copyright, 1899, ' 
by Charles M^ Pepper.)— Raising sugar canis 
In . Cuba iff a ^ past and future Industry. 
The^ is not m^ch of it in the present tonse, 
as! few plantations passed throjigh the insur- 
rebj^ra^tHthout t^eir mills and machinery 
ha^ng.'lT^dii destroyed. I esme out to the 
iBTfi^ ojke Jn tiie Province of Hitvana for 
the f^^B^fff^^^ pff^tm^on. 



Everybody already knows that growing cane 
and grinding cane have to be done on a large 
scale, 'mat means big plantations and 
heavy capital with which to work them. So 
the sugar industry is not one for the small 
farmer or the man with a little money. Tet 
its function 'in the reconstruction of Cuba 
is a vital one. When the sugar product of 
th^ island mounts toward the old figures of 
1,000,000 tons annually the days of prosperity 
will have returned. The industrial processes 
which must be followed before that pro- 
duction is reached are intricato. 

It is half an hour's gallop on a good horse 
across the country from Guines to the 
Providencia plantation. One other large 
plantation, the Amistad, lies nearer the 
town, and there are two smaller ones In the 
neighborhood. Most of the cane this year 
will be taken from the Providencia. Riding 
across the country a hint of past prosperity 
is given in the great tracts of land over- 
grown with grass which were lormerly be- 
ing turned over by the plow and within an- 
other year the cane will again be seen. I 
have noticed that most of the land turned 
up was of the rich red variety, though tracts 
of black soil stretched alongside of it. "A^ 
mystery of geology," my companion told me. 
"The red and black soil lies together." Olie 
red is better tor cane, but both are good. 
We do not know here what you mean by 
poor soil. Those palm groves mean rich- 
ness. 

At the plantation Mr. Pascual Goicoachea 
and his brother were awaiting us. The 
plantation has been in the family for gener- 
ations. Field of sugar cane have the same 
look whether in Hawaii or Louisiana or 
Cuba. The milfs and machinery are also 
much th^ same. An expert notices a differ- 
ence and can tell where a mill Is behind 
the time in Its machinery. Other phases o( 
the plantation were of more intorest to me. 
I wanted to know all about the recon- 
structive process first The Information was 
given by Mr. Carlos ^gueredo,. one of the . 
residents of Guines, and by Mr. Goicoechea 
himself. 

In former days the normal production of 
the plantation was 16.000 tons. Some 10,- 

000 acres of land were under cfultivation by 
th^ owners, and a dozen "colonas." or far- 
mers, leased land on which they raised cane 
to grind at the central mill. When the in- 
surrection bearing the torch reached this 
part of the province 12.000.000 arrobas of 
cane went up in fiames. An arroba is 28 
pounds. In a short jtime $600,000 was re- 
presented by burned caile. After that Gomes 
with his men threatened the jnill. ^aceo 
and his men threateped the mill, and Weyl^r 
and his troops threatened the destruction of 
the whole plantation. In the xpidst of 
these discouraging circumstances .the ef- 
fort was continued to raise cane, with the 
result of an almost continual bonfire. Fif- 
teen moQths ago I saw the cane on two 
sides of Providencia )>uming. J^ ywr agtt 

1 i^w ^t|i6r fields ill ^M^- I^ spite ot )t 



all the plucky owners kept up the fight far 
their fields. The 'outcome watf that when 
the 'war between the United States an4 
Spain ended they had some tracts of cane 
standing. That cane htm ripened, and by the 
time this lettef is printed it will be going 
through the crushers in the central mill.' 

The oxen all disappeared during the period 
of war. When the insurrection began t^ere ' 
were 800 of them. The insurgents got 8ome» 
the Spanish troops got others. l)urinr the 
blockade Capt Gen. bianco took all the oxeir 
that remained on the island; The-' 'itigmr' 
planters who had any cane' growing this 
winter found that their first need was oxen. ' 
The ^.-rovidencia got 600 from Mexico. These 
Mexican oxen have confirmed habits and are 
stubborn. They are used to the driver 
plodding along beside them and prodding 
them. The Cuban laborer likes better t6 
ride In —e cart and flouHsh a long whip- 
thong. The result was that some of the 
oxen went into the creek and were drowned. 
Since then the laborers have adapted them- 
selves to the habits of the Mexican oxeln.' 

To-day on Providencia 680 hands are em- 
ployed. One-half have their living qtUrtem 
on the plantation and work the year aroiiaiiii 
The other hidf a:re hired in gangi by ttie 
day. Some of them also have their dwellings 
on the plantation. When the mill is griad- 
ing next week there will be 800 who have 
employment That is a pretty fair number* 
but it does not represent the full employ- 
ing capacity of a big plantation. On Provi- 
dencia two-thirdfa of the laborers are blacks. 

Most of them have been there since the 
times of slavery. They have comfortable 
quarters and form a little village In them- 
selves. It Is a reminder of the old South. 
Soihe Chinese h&nds are also employed. 
Most Of these disappeared daring the InBur- ' 
rection. Back in Guines I saw the drafon 
fiying over a comfortable house. I was told 
it was a residence and office of the Chinese 
Consul, who was also a barber and a dentist 
At one time there were enough Chinese in . 
the neighborhood of Guines to requii'e the 
presence of a consular ageni Generally 
the sugar plantations had at least. 10 per 
cent of Chinamen among their hands. Thkt 
proportion has dropped. Where there wet% 
formerly 40,000 Chinese in Cuba the num- 
ber does not now exceed 15,000. 

in going through the great central mill 
I noticed that most of the older machinery 
was from Glasgow or Belgium, but the more 
modem engines were from the United States. 
Providencia has also a refinery, which re- 
fines part of its crude product for local con- 
sumption. There is a refinery at Cardenas* 
and a pmall one at Matansas. with possible 
one or two more on the Island. . Providencia 
had an "alambique" distillery for making,, 
agiiardiento, or cane rum,, but it was not 
kept in operation. Steam plows i^re In qse 
on the plantation. One of them does the 
work of twenty yoke of oxen. NevertheleM 
It is not possible to dtspeiuM entiielr with 
ox^ in n^loi^s; and mulev a{>e alfb "m^ 



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LOmSIANA FLANTBR AND 8UOAB MANUPAOTURER.- 



[Vol. XXII, No,,,J^^ 



"n^iiglit the plantation has tramwaja run- 
nli^;;, timmch it, the jrailw)ij .0x^^11^ ^^^ l^o^ 
he qomi^let^ until it reaches the water on 
th« ^uth coast ^ This is only ten miles 
anA^ The railway project is one of the 
m^igr, tha^t w^e Interrupted hy the insur^ 
rection* 

lyhlle the husiness of a. sugar plantation 
!• .U^. produce sugar, the soil which does 
this, htm other properties. A walk through 
th^.- "little garden" which is maintained 
foe the peopl^ who live on Providencia gave 
a hint of .its pro^uctiTeness. There were 
on}QPfi/ beans« cahbagef, egg plants, poU- 
toedr tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, and I do 
UQt ki^ow how many other varieties of 
hoffiely, everyday vegetables. There is 
money In raising this truck, as is shown in 
Ouines* and 4U!j^er a time it may be that 
the sugar plantaaons will help supply the 
markets. ^Heretofore cane raising has been 
done on such a large scale and garden truck 
pn'so small a scale, that the sugar planters 
thought it beneath their, notice to raise the 
small things for the market Under the 
new conditions they are thinking of util- 
izing^ the full productiveness of their limds. 
1^ ^^h^ may:^ begin growing onions end pop 
tatiole^ as a business, instead of as an inci- 
dent . . 

ifr, Qoicoechea wanted us to see his apple 
tr^. They were real appjie trees but they 
did not bear apples, ihe same was true of 
some peach trees. Sugar-producing coun- 
tries dp not bear apples and peaches. I have 
seen a weakly peach matured with much 
cafC: on one of the plantations in Hawaiir 
bu( it was t^teless, and the mangoes made 
a n^ch better substitute for the Delaware 
penQh* An ^pple orchard had some gnarled 
fruit, which was unpalatable. The same is 
true of peaches and apples in Cuba. But the 
lands, nUiih ,wilL not grow peaches and ap- 
plea. do grow oranges* On the Providencia 
there are prahge trees. Mr. Qoicoechea told 
me that he was thinking of starting some 
orax^^e groves, with a view to marketing the 
product. I have heard other sugar planters 
say the same thing. Their suggestions 
have impressed me that within a few years 
both fruits and vegetables may become a 
side pjroduct on the sugar plantations, and 
thus a^d considerably to their value. Provi- 
dencia also has a large tobacco dnrlng 
house, but I do not understand that the cul- 
tivation is to be continued. in connection 
with tPgar. This drying house was put up 
during a period of the insurrection when ft 
was possible to utllie for tobacco some of 
the cane lands which would otherwise have 
be^n unprodt^ctlve. Th^ common rule is 
that the cultivation of the two staples does, 
not jgo together. The best tobi^o lands 
ari) not gopd for sugar and the good sugar 
landa i^e too valuable to be used for to- 

. A,fter we had gone througti the miU and 
0T3Br. thfr. plantation, and were back in the 
''CMi/d^ yiYi^mbi," or i:esldence, I t^th- 



of sugar in Cuba. None of the big planters 
seem to be discouraged as to the ultimate 
restoration of the industry, thoiigh many of 
them are embarrassed for immediate means 
of restoring their .plantations. Tet they 
are coming back from Burope and from the 
United States. At Providencia a daughter 
of the house had Just returned from Paris, 
and other members of the family were to 
return from England. The sugar planters 
expect to resume in a measure, the old 
social life. This means that they are ex- 
pecting to settle on their plantations . and 
to remain on them. They do not know 
how soon the revival of the sugar industry 
will come, but they are not afraid that beet 
root will ultimately destroy it "It will 
take two years for Providencia to get back 
to its former production," said Mr. Gio- 
coechea. "Other plantations will need a 
longer time because they suffered more 
during the insurrection and have not the 
same resources that we have." As to the 
processes of production he believed they 
would be improved. "Our cane," he said, 
"by chemical analysis should yield 14 per 
cent of sugar. We only get ten. The de- 
ficiency is.' somewheite in the mills. We 
are trying to find out where this loss lies 
and to. correct it" 

Mr. Qiocoechea is a Cuban annexationist 
as are most of the planters. Nevertheless 
he is not proceeding in the belief that an- 
nexation is coming soon. "The United 
SUtes," he remarked, "xsoUects 140,000,000 
of duties on sugar and tobacco from Cuba. 
I can see why that is an obstacle to an- 
nexation." He added that when Americana 
began coming to Cuba to engage in sugar 
raising with their energy and their im- 
proved methods the output of the island 
would be enormously increased. "When 
that hi4>pens," said Mr. Giocoechea, "there 
was possible to utilize for tobacco some of 
Burope. 

"An indnstrial revolution will follow and 
it will be of a character of which. we now 
have little conception." Mr. Goicoechea 
did not speak hopefully of the system of 
colonias, or leased cane lands. Providencia, 
as before stated, had a dozen of these col- 
onies. The system is one by which the 
planter leases or sublets for a period of 
years a tract of cane land. As much is leased 
as the tenant cares to cultivate, either by 
himself: or with the help of others. The 
cane he raises is taken to the central mill 
and ground on shares. It may be that this 
system will ultimately Justify. the hopes. that 
were entertained when, it was inaugurated. 
I have thus far found few planters who were 
satiaAed with the results. One trouble seems 
to. l^ that the planters who at certain sea- 
sons themselves need heavy loans are also 
compelled to advance money to the conolos. 
perhaps when Cuba has country banlu from 
which the colonia can borrow directly the 
syat^em ,i«(ill work better. 

Th9 iargeflit iufar plantflktion in, the poo* 



word about wjbat is ^j'obably th^^^pn/^t^t ^- 

sugar industry^ It is back in QuJ^^4n^,if^(^ 

at once a dwelling Jiouse. a mill.f^fA,ip^ ,. 

finery. The industry is owned. fqiidinanagefl^.^ 

by Mr. and Mrs. Becarra,. JoJ(ntly. Th^^i 

have a small furnace into which ^- oJ|),,|^ 

negro feeds the fuel. Mr.Becar^ pn^tfl^fv^ 

cane through the crusher and Mira. B^fiKtTf^., ^ 

lioils the syrup. Some of this is marked,.; 

as guarapa, and some is made into wax.. 

cakes. It is something like making map^^^ 

sugar in the Woods of Ohio or Vermont Tha 

interesting thing is that thin Becarra sugar^ . 

mill and refinery shows the capiw;ijt7^^pf |i,. .' 

Cuban family to develop an industry. ' The ^'J^ 

Becarras had a small place on one of, th^ 

plantations in the country. 'The.r|Bcpnoen-» 

tration drove them into the town, They.^ . 

got a little cane, crushed it by hand apd ^ 

made some syrup and sugar. After that ^ 

they got a furnace large enough for their... 

growing trade. N6w their dwelling hpmw,!?., ' 

too small and they are going to move the. 

sugar mill away from it That shows what^, 

one family can do. 

Charles M. Pepper. 



Central pJactorlcs for the West Indies; 

The question of central factories whlph 
is now being brought so prominehUy to %h^ ^ 
attenUon of West Indian planters is by no., 
means being regarded with unqualified favor, 
and the capltaltets who have expressed their 
willingness to invest their money in facto- 
ries, granted the pl&nters in the districts ae* ^ 
lected for the enterprise will enter Into con^ ; 
! tracts to supply the factories with canes, are 
being regarded in certain quarters with feel- 
ings akin to suspicion, and not as real bene-^. 
factors of the country, as they certainly 
would be If their capital by means of fac- , 
torles revivified the sugar cane Industry. 
In Barbados where the central iactory ays- ^ 
tem promises to lead to great success, the 
warmest advocates of the proposed innosar 
tlon are not to be loimd amongst the owners 
of small estates, who, notwithstanding the 
obviously Imperfect condition of their small 
mills with very low crushing power, and the 
Inability of their little factories to enter IntP.^ 
the fierce competlUon with highly-equipped 
sugar factbrles throughout the saccharin^ , 
world, cannot bring themselves to accept the 
cruel fact that ti^ step forward In the march 
of improvement must be made. If Jthey wish 
to escape the calamity of falling out of th0 . 
procession. We are not disposed to be hard _j 
upon the owners of small estates for their 
passive opposition to the fundam.enti^ 
change In their status which Is looming be- .^ 
fore them, for It Is but natural for an esr 
tate's owner to accept with reluctance a^ 
change from the dignified and autocratic po- . 
sltion of a little king to that of .a prosi^lc ^^ 
law-encircled contractor. As long as SHgar^. 
fetched a high price, the small estate with 
its wind-mill, its half-squeezed can^e^apd ] 
open tayche. made money, and th.e, o'^er ^' 
w^ a happy man, hin-Qi^n.inaat^i:, ip the,^,^ 



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Mirch 11. 1899.] 



^'^jai^-LOuiiiAii^ 'JiMi^^k&rmaL 



K7- 



sldewd Jthe best. But those days wre gone, 
Ai, wi>lQ«Birer;.jft>'new ox^.:fyai^jLo be aQcepte(i, 

:.:«M<f' tli^ Attmev it Is accepted janu Its^ merits 
recoiifniied, "the sooner wiU^ , thei "small. .j?r<h 
prietor find himself ia oomtortable t}ivBUS|;- 
stances again. To niake tnigar; at a ^lit 
npw, the best |nachlii^^j[^^a^:ne^s8iitf^;.ai|d 
experience has shpwn- JLJ^ablihe, la^ei; f^ 
stronger and better-e^urppe^ the pjktit Of 
machinery, the greater th^' possibility 6f 
profit, not only in th^ 6ayln|f of manual la- 
bor, but by getting the most juice oUt of the 
cane ,and the most sugiMr>oiit of the Juice. 
A small proprietor ccrald,not be expected to 
proTide himself with k mlil of the kind; and 
even if he cou^, his limited number of acres 
would not provide enpugh. w^rk to keep the 
machinery in working order. The truth has 
gradually forced itself to the front that the 
sugar factory and the cane field are distinct 
undertakings. The cane farmer's prime duty 
is to grow the canes, then to sell them to 
the factory, and the factory does all the rest 
The enforced selling of the canes to the fac- 
tory is one of the obstacles which prevent 
the small o^er from welcoming the advent 
of the factory. In his "Outline of ia Scheme, 
for a Central Factory for Barbados," which 
Sir Cuthbert Quilter recently laid before Gov. 
emor Hay, he says that the price of canes, 
delivered to the factory trucks, is not to ex- 
ceed x^/- per ton; and we notice in the Bar- 
bado6^ press, very unfavorable comments on 
thiB proposal. Why— say those who object 
—should we sell our canes to the factory at 
10/- when Mr. Bovell values them at nearly 
3/ more than that. But the opposers of the 
proposed system overlook Jthe very important 
statement in Sir Cuthbert's paper that the 

. factory shall be worked on a co-operative 
system with,the planters, "the profits after 
providing for the cost of the canes, the ex- 
pense of vmanuf acture, and the interest and 
sinking fund on the necessary capitol, be- 
ting divided between thb factory and the 
'planters ln^:the proportion of one half to 
each." This proposal is fair enough, granted 
the interest on the "necessary capiUl" is 
placed at a moderate amount, as no doubt 
it will be. In his "OuUine," Sir Cuthbert 
leaves the rate of interest blank, to be filled 
in when his "OutUne" is elaborated Into a 
deUlled scheme. At 10/ a ton, with rich soil, 
like that of the generality of Barbados es- 
tates, under the control of such skilled agri- 
culturtsU as the Barbados planters are 
known to be, an estate ought to beable to 
clear all its expenses and show a profit, with- 
out reckoning upon the half-profit of the fac- 
tory. We have no data at hand by which 
to make a comparison between estates lu St. 
^seent and estates in Barbados but we un- 
,ljlei»tand the soils in these two Islands are 

•* iistttty much alike. In the St. Vincent 
«;Setttry, a few. weeks ago, we chanCed upon 
'sbnie .flgurea which Mr. Porter, the owner 
of the big half of the sugar property of the 
Islands had published fas a result of Ipfor- 
maUon gathered by his managers (previous 
lo ^the hurrlcaa^) with a vieWjto the estab- 






- " I ]"* ' ' > " * ' ' .\\i'*t"" ' <" ' — - "i ^y ' ' '^ 

' llsliment of a*centi^T taclory. Supposing the 
prlc(^. of^e canes, dellwred to ^le t^tory 
to be 10/8 per ton, It was' calculated that 
the^ rwpuld be a^i^oftt of frc^a dO/- to 
60/r* "pvri sicre, aceo^4hig; to the ^tuation of 
the -estate; The$e ^ filgnres which- tad been 
careiully arrived it» ate worth 'serious con- 
sld<^tk)a by th^'^laxi^ers lia Barbaikw itnd 
elsewhere 'bef6re tbicy reject the offer Which 
En^lsh capital Is now making them, by 
which. the West Indian sugar Industry may 
be saved. The certainty of the bounties be- 
ing abolished, gradually we may- suppose 
seems now to be accepted but the abolition 
of the bounty system will not obviate the 
liecessity of West Indian sugar planters pro- 
viding themselves with the very best and 
most economic machinery, If they hope to 
be able to compete w^th any chance of suc- 
cess In the sugar markets of the world. — 
Demerara Argosy, Feb. 11. , 



A Defense and Eulogy of Sugar. 

"Children all over the world and all the 
keepers of 'sweetstuff' shops ,say8 Kuhlows, 
"ought to join In a testimonial to the learned 
though anonymus scientist who publishes 
smltte, but much more as a 'nahrungsmlt- 
glorlfication of sugar. Not only as a 'genus- 
smlttel. but much more as a 'nahrungsmlt- 
el" sugar Is almost the most valuable thing 
which enters the mouth of man, woman or 
child. There Is scarcely any other equally 
Important feeder of muscle power. The la- 
borer can do nothing better than k^p a few 
lumps of sugar In his pocket. The negroes 
In sugar plantations renew and quicken their 
weary oodles by sucking the sugar canes. 
Sugar Is a fine restorative for soldiers. A 
Dutch army surgeon asserts that during 
an expedition In Sumatra he found that th6 
best means to maintain the soldiers In vir 
and freshness, not only during the march, 
but during the Ught was a generous a 
ance of sugar. Bach man was served with 
a handful at a time. The Swiss chamois 
hunters bear similar evidence to Its marve- 
lous powers of sustenance and of recupera- 
tion after exhausting fatigue. 

"The writer gives an account of success- 
ful experiments made with sugar as food 
for athletes by several of the Dutch rowing 
clubs, by pedestrians, by cyclists, s^d others 
whose bodily powers need a rapid, portable 
and Innocent stimulant. Sugar Is coming 
more and more Into use In Holland In the 
course oT 'training' for contests, and It Is 
as good for beasts as It Is for men. The poor 
hardly realize as yet. or only realise uncon- 
sciously, what a treasure they possess In 
cheap sugar. Ittf value In fever has been 
emphasized by Hupeland and others. That 
which Is supposed to Injure the teeth in the 
consumption of 'goodies* Is not the sugar, 
but the so-called *frult acfds* which are In- 
troduced to fiavor the sugar. Negroes who 
devour sugar In so huge a quantity have the 
best teeth in the world."— American Grocer* 



QetUns Ready Ibr FIo^ of skp. 

Early March finds farmeii .n^t^f ; sugai| 
groves anxiously waiting Uwol^k^l^f tKe 
season for mapl<$ sweets. \-6tiiiidiCldta8 4)i th^ 
different parts 6f tie country SLT^^^/^ti^g, 
^lid Iwith a fev excepUons 'app"(^r^]^.^b 
normal, in Vermont there Is geiif ral%. J0oo4 
promise of a* 'propitious seaiBDnV ■*liA«y 
snows melting rapidly in l^t^ Febi^ftify, 
but farmers aiiUcipating more cbljd bi^pr^ 
March is far advanced. The damage /^xn 
forest worms Is considerable; Wtf tMriormi 
a dark side to the plcturfe, 'arid witllipittir- 
ently serve to restrict the output^ a^thiiugll 
nearly the usual number of treeil wlU'\bli 
tapped. A correspondent In Merrlma^'fSo.; 
N. H. writes, snow deep In the woods, i^ird 
to predict when the season will. open. Pro- 
duct of that section usually lii the fOrfa of 
syrup and taken for home marlteC^ . 

In the maple sugar sections of Ohio, th^' 
prospect Is encouraging ColcT W^eather 
throughout the winter caused the ground to 
freeze to a considerable depth, con^udire to 
a large flow of sap. Farmers will tsip jthe 
usual number of trees and are F^reparing^^pr 
the season's work. This is the sliuaUoi 
reported in such counties as ^Oeauga, ^ttm- 
mlt, Clinton, etc. Northern New Tortc ha» 
had plenty of snow; ope of our Jefferson Co.^ 
correspondents wrote us last week that jthls 
is about 1 ft, deep In the woods. A good 
many trees will be tapped when the seasoii 
opens; no Indications of special del4y. A 
correspondent Susquehanna Co., . J^a.. 

writes, farmers W" ^— '~ ^^-^ "—* 

number of trees, p 
of snow on the gr 
frost deep and goc 
though probably i 

Peddled Sugar Refliiinig: Stock.-; 

The Arbuckle Bros. S^garjlefining Com- 
pany have been rec€ilving cqmplaTnt^ recent 
ly that some person was going about selling, 
shares in their refinery company to retail 
grocers for $10 each, and pretending ^^at W 
could sell them refined sugar fox 4% -Of|tt» % 
pound, or % cent less than the .ibweat stand- 
ard price. As a matter oj fact, the Ar- 
buckles have not consolidated Into a corpor- 
ation. Their buslnesa Is purely ja priyate 
venture and no stock has evet beelT placed 
on the market by them. . 

The complaint led to an Investigation, and 
yesterday Detective Officer Nell Ruddy of 
the Brooklyn H " "^* *"* > 

man who Is said ^ 

described hlmsj ^ 

years, a native , ^ 

9 Pleasant Place » 

represented the 

structlon Compa ^ 

Broadway, this ?. 

had not swindles * 

If there was an; ■ 

because of repriesehtaUoiw tnac naa ooea 
made by his employers *to him. He waa hela 
for arraignment before Magistrate Brenner. 
— N. Y. Journal Commerce, Mch. 4. 



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158 



tHB lOmSIANA I'LANTER AND SUGAR MANnPACTURER. 



[Vol. xxn, Ko. 10. 



Mab. 10. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



i8m: 



, SMCAR. 

6. K. CMtriiuga] 

Aolce 

-SMilPiim^ 

- FfiBM ...... 

tlWFair 

^»*........ 

' *Qood Common . . 

COBBon 

i piierior — 

CMtrifugal. 

FlaaVn Onmul'ed 

Off Qt»nttlftl«d. . 
^ GhoiM White.... 

Oi White 

Omr White 

GhoAM YeUow. . : 

FHme Ytllow ... 
.OtT#Uow 

•Mond^ 

V MOLASSES. 

5p«BK«ttl«. 
. Centrifugal 

Faa«y 

•Choice.. • 

r0tffi«l Prime.... 

, Oeod Prime.. .. 

Prime.. 

F2r. 

. #eed Common. 

Oemmon 

{nl^rior .. 

Centrifugal. 

' Fnney 

Ohoie e^. 

; Striel Prime. . . . 

lOood Prime .... 

Prime 

OoodFiOr 

Feir 

•oo4 Common. 



Inferior. 

SYWUP, 



I' 
» 

-«- 
-«- 
-«- 
-«- 
-«- 

*%a - 

4 • - 



-9 

-« 
-« 
-a 
-« 
-« 
-« 
-« 



-a - 

r-a 16 

-a 15 
IS a u 
iia IS 
— a 10 

-« S 

-« 8 

-« 2 
-a 7 

-@ - 



-a- 

-<8 - 

-a- 
-a - 
-a- 

4 a4,< 
2^asH 



-a- 
—■a - 

-a- 
-a- 

-a- 

-S = 

-a- 
-a- 
-a - 
-%- 

— a 16 

- a IB 
13 a i« 
11 a i> 
-a 10 



-a 
-a 



9 
8 
7 

-a 7 
-•a - 



-a- 
-a - 
-a- 

-a- 
-a - 

jAaj^ 



-a - 



a 
a 
a 
a 
a 
a 
a 



-a 
-a 
IS a 
11 a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-^ 
-a 



16 

15 

14 

12 

10 

9 

8 

7 

7 



-a- 
-a- 
-a- 
-a - 

sjiasti 



a 
a 
a 
a 
a 
a 



a 
a 




-a- 



-a- 
-a - 
— % — 

4Aa4% 

>%a3H 



-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 
-a 



-a 
^a 
-a 



a 16 
a IS 
a 14 
a 12 
a 10 

® S 
a 8 

a 7 
a - 



13 

11 



Mar. 10. I 8MwI>»y 



Tom «<llafMat 

CloiiaC<>fWMk« 



-a- 

^a - 
- a- 
4^a4ii 



-a- 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 



-a - 



— a - 

— a 16 

^ » 15 

13 a M 
11 a 12 
-a 10 

— a 9 

— o 8 

-« Z 
-a 7 



4tia4^ 

4lgS4X 

-41 — 

4^a4A 

4Aa43i 

4 a^i'i 
siiasH 



.3 - 
S- - 

o 

1? 



a 14 
a 13 
i 12 
a 11 
a 10 
a 9 

<» S 
a 7 



a 
a 



-a- 



Firm« 



Strong. 



ivA\ 









OTHBR MABKBTS. 










N«w York: 




















:: sUcAi»-_ 




^ ' 
















Feir Refining. 89^ 
: Centrifugals, 9(r.. 


* -«- 


— @ — 


-9- 


— @ — 


— (3 — 


-a- 


-a- 


.. 




-r- @ — 


■ ^-* d — 




— ® — 


— Q — 


-a - 


-a- 






XIranulated. ....... 


-|4.72 


-(84.84 


— (34.84 


-@4.84 


-a4-84 




4.96® - 


Sbx^ng^Fair 


dt- 


^Standard A 


-|4.96 


- @4.72 


-®fS 


-®fS 


-a*-72 


— - a4-72 


4.84(i - 


mand. 




Dutoh' Granulated 


- @4.96 


— (34.96 


— a4 96 


— a4 96 


— a4 96 


— a - 






^ OermahGranuFtd. 


- @4.01 


- (34 91 


- @4.9l 


- @4 91 


-a4 9i 


— 94 91 


-a- 






MOLASSES. 




















*K.O. Choice 


-a-. 


O T~ 


— % — 


— a — 


— a — 


-a - 


-a- 






M.O.Fair 


-9- 


— 8 — 


— @ — 


— a ^ 


— a — 


-a- 


-a- 






LoNDOV: 
: Jara, No. i5 D. 8* 


il8.9d. 


il8.9d. 


lis 9d. 


ll8.9d 


lU.9d. 


lli.9d. 


lU. 3d. 


Steady. 




A.de q.Beet 


9b. ii>id. 


9B.li>^d. 


9s. iO>tid. 


98. lljid. 


Os. ll>^d. 


9>.ll>id. 


9b. Sd. 







NBW ORLEANS RBFINBD. 



Cut' LKMlf 

Powdaftd. 

Stu'dilnnpAV^- 
RoMtt» jixtt» C 
Cutdr A 

cnrAii flBCi* c> 
'lto7«lJtiC 

•VRUP. 



-a - 
-a- 



@5|< 

a5i^ 
a5>i 

IsA 
a- 
a- 
a - 
a- 



@6|< 

asA 
a - 
a - 
a- 



a»>i 

@5^ 

as^ 

a- 
a- 
a- 
a- 



-@5li 

-®\h 

-@5Ji 

-asA 
-a- 
-a - 
-a- 
-a- 



a»>i 
afii 
a5i^ 
asA 
a- 
a- 
a- 
a- 



a% 
a5^ 
a5^ 
a — 
as 00 



-a 



Strong. 



STOCKS. 

Aifclc«r fiortii of the United States to Mar. 1 , .Tone \UjSU 

Afclwrfflftsof Great Britain to Feb. 26 «• WOO 

AI«OTMa and Matansas to Feb. 28 . . '' 44,700 



RMiei^ and Sales at New Orleans for the week ondlng 
Mar. ijo, 1899. 

' Sugar » Molnsi 

Hhdew Bairels. Barrels. 

ReoeNai... 239 2,864 2,349 

Sold 2^ 8,989 2,849 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from Sep t ember 1, i8o8« 
to Mar. 10, 1899. 

Reoeited 8,090 i,164,ttl mj»l 

Bold 8,090 1,156,918 90^,114 

20,008 1,811,668 n4,i81 



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March 11, 1899.] 



THB LOXJISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



159 



Mar. iO. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



RICE. 

RouoiyDW bbl.. 

EXTRA FANCY.... 

CLiAKp Fancy... 

C^oi<|»... 

Prime. . . 

Gkfed-... 

Fair.... 

Ordinmry 

Common. 
Screenings 

Inferior 

No.lT.: 
BftAH, p«r km., 
Peun, per km . 



Mar. 4. 



Nominal 



Mar. 6. 



Nominal 



Mar. 7. 



Nominal 



Mar. 6. 



i 50(§4 50 

4K@^M 
3%@4K 
3 @33^ 
2>i@3 

13i@2 

12 00 
Nominal 



Mar.O. 



Nominal 



Mar. 10. 



13i@2 

12 00 
Nominal 



Same Day Last 
Year. 



2 00^4 10 
- @ - 

43i@5 

3%(g4 
3M@3?^ 

- @ - 

Nominal 

lJi(^2,^ 

9 50(^10 00 

14 00(il5 00 



Tone of Market *t 
Close of Week. 



Steady— Better 
feeling. . 



Steady. ...' -^ 



New OrleMM far 
Mar. IO, ■•9«* 






5,728 
4.807 



202 
2,465 



t^utip^ at New Orlewik freai Amg, 
ooiBfMreJ with last year, 



I, iftt, te Mar. io» it#9. 



This 
Laat year 



Backs Rooes. 
646,510 
438.054 



3>88i 

3,«qi 



SuD^ar. ^- — 

The local sugar market was firm at the 
end of th^' W€0k, and some improveinent 
was observed' in the receipts from pl-anta- 
tions. Th«re was a steady undertone. 



Molasses. y - 

No open kettH^ goods in first hands. 
Centrifugals strong. 



Rice. 

The rough Ti<oe market showed a good 
demand at the end of the week, but tihe 
receipts were light and the offerings con- 
sequently mioderate. The market was 
stciady at tHe cloee. Clean rice was also 
steady laaad *in fair demand. 



Talmage on the Rice Marlcet. 

The volume of business is steadily ex- 
panding and all Indications point to an ex- 
ceptionally large spring trade. Choice grades 
of Java and new crop Fktna are the leaders; 
by many buyers taken in preference' to 
domestic. Substantial gains have been made 
in ordinary to fair domestic and they are 
said to be still a purchase as even at pres- 
ent advanced values they are from %c to 
Ic ler pound below importing cost of «^ual 
Z^ode in foreign. Advices from the South 
note that all former characteristics main- 

. tain; receipts light; demand free; local 
stocks rapidly diminishing and orders being 
placed abroad to meet future requirenients. 
Cables and correspondence from abroad 
show firm conditions as stocks in primary 
anO secondary marketis are much less than 
at any equal date for many years past and 
the outlook for most of the new crops^^ un- 
promising. Talmage, New Orleans, tele- 
graphs Louisiana crop movement to date: 
Receipts, rough, 646,415 sacks; last year 
(inclusive of amount carried over), 487,760 
sacks.. Sales, cleaned, OSst) 155».692 bar- 
rels; Iftst year, 91,17^ barrels. Jncreased 

^fMllidL.,at hardening yalu^. Chief call in 
erdtttsry to fair grades. 
^,T|^|tiage, Charlesto^L, telegraphs Carolina 



crop movement to date: Receipts' cleaned, 
33.132 barrels. Sales, 28,025 barrels. Steady 
demand; market advanced %-% and tenden- 
cy still upward. 

Per£»onal. 

Mr.^. C. Boas, of St. Mary Parish, a very 
prominent sugar planter and mani^acturer, 
was in; the city on a visit last "^ek and 
stopped at the Hotel Royal. 

Messrs. eorge Dionne and Anatole Dlqnne, 
of Thibodaux, La., welU known gentlemen 
connected with sugar planting in that vici- 
nity, came up to town last Sunday for a 
brief sojourn and registered at the Hotel 
Royal. 

Hon. Andrew H. Gay, of the St. Louis and 
Union plantations in the parish of Iberville, 
came up to the city during the past week 
and took up temporary quarters at the St. 
Charles Hotel, his customary abiding place 
when in town. He was accompanied by 
Miss Gay. 

Mr. T. J. Shaffer of SI. Mary parish, one 
of the pillars of the sugar industry in that 
part of the world, came up to the city on 
Monday last and stopped at the St. Charles 
Hotel. 

Captain John N. Pharr, of Fairview plan- 
tation, was registered at the St. Charles dur- 
ing the week. 

Mr. Wibray J. Thompson, of Calumet, was 
a recent arrival at the St. Charles Hotel, 
registering there on Tuesday. 

Mr. George Hill, of West Baton Rouge 
parish, was in the city on a visit a few 
days ago. Mr. Hill is a skillful sugar planter 
and a leading citizen of his locality. He 
made his headquarters at the St. Charles and 
spent some time mingling with his friends. 

Mr. Joseph Birg ,of St. Mary parish, was 
among those who visted the city during the 
past week. 

Mr. R. R. Barrow, of Terrebonne parish, 
was at his usual stopping place, the Hotel 
Grunewald, during the week. 

Mr. Robert Storm, of Meeker, La., a lead- 
ing sugar house engineer, in fact, one of 
the finest sugar house engineers in the state, 
came down to the city on Monday and put up 
at the Hotel Royal. Mr. Storm is superin- 
tendent of the immense Homd Place Central 



Factory, belonging to the estate of the lata 
Jos. H. Meeker in^Rapldes parish. 

Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., of Franklin, La., where 
he presides as ^istant general manager 
over the destinies of the Caffery Centml 
Refinery, was a guest of the Hotel AqjBl 
a few days ago. 

Mr. 'William B. Howell, the w^^ll krown 
Lalourche parish,, sugar planter,' * waa^]j;^- 
istered at the- St, Charles Hotei on Wednea- 
day. • ■ J: 

Mr. R. R, Cocke, a prominent cane raiser 
of Terrebonne parish, was a visitor 'to the 
city last Thursday. ' \ 

Capt. John N. Pharr was absent during 
the week on a trip to the coal fields o? Ala- 
bama, returning Friday morning. '■,,' 

Sugar Qrlnding in Cufia. .: , 

The first sugar that base come into^ Santi- 
ago since long before the blockade, and the 
first that has been produced since the spring 
of 1897, was marketed last week. It came 
from Santa Ana Plantation, near San* Lou)s, 
the first to begin grinding. There was quite 
a celebration among business men In the 
warehouse district, and Senor Auza; proprie- 
tor of the plantation, was warmly compli- 
mented on his enterprise In starting the' new 
era of prosperity. "' ". . 

Sugar is king in Cuba. On .the bi^ Plan- 
tations and their dependent colonials has 
principally depended the prosperity of the 
island. Many mills have been destroyed ahd 
will require time and new capital to restore, 
but those remaining are resuming, the' work 
of grinding as rapidly as possible. One -of 
the greatest difflculties encoupitered .by 
planters whose mills have escaped destruc- 
tion is lack of oxen to haul the cane. Of the 
hundreds of thousands of work cattle tbr- 
merely employed on the big plantations, 
scarcely any have survived the war*. The 
cattle business Is the most active ot ^7 
here at present. Cargo lots from Jamaica, 
San Domingo, Porto Rico and .Carth'agena 
have been rushed in and even Texas bas 
taken advantage of the excellent market al- 
though West India bred stock is preferred. 
Well broken oxen sell readily at from $175 to 
$200 per yoke, and the demand greatly ex- 
ceeds the supply. One of the largest plant- 
ers, Mr. Rigney,.has Imported a number of 
American traction engines as an experiment, 
and Is using them successfully In hauling 
cane. A number of representatives of Amer- 
ican syndicates are examlng tracts of land 
In the Interior with a view of purchasing — 
N. Y. Journal Commerce. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[VoL XklC'Vi'a. 10. 



WANT8. 



W« will paMlsh In this column, free of cluirfe until 
fnrtkor aotico, tho appllcatlonj of all nuuuigers, ovof 
MOTS, onff— ore narf tugafOMkers. and otbers who 
mmy ka a teldng poaltlona In tha country , and alto the 
wnata of plaatars dealrinf to employ any of theae. 

WANTED— Position aa book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; hare had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the Ins and 
puts of office work for sugar reflnhry. Can furnish 
beet of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orieana, La. 3-8-00 

WANTED— Poaltlon aa engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar banae work a specialty. Address CHrsF Enoi- 
WKBR, Lutoher, La. 8-7-S9 

WANTED— Position by a handv man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and con 
milk cowB and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dreaa Hbnbt Ouyibb. 820 Villere street, New Orleans. 
^ »-9-99 

-WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by A flrat-daaayaouum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of ref er- 
eboes from past employers as to character and ability. 
Addreaa Proop Stick, 4281 N. Peters street. New Or- 
3-1-99 



WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take ofT crop of 1800. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2S-90 

WANTED— The best suga^ maker In Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natnred, a man who understands the 
086 of steam €Uid can prop>erly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
oloee boiler of first and particularly of molasses sugars 
(Sod and Srd). State salary expected. None but the 
moat competent need apply. Address C. M., this office. 
^ 2-27-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair anc take off crop of 1890. Familiar with all the 
details of sugar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as clarifle(> on some large 
plantation thia seasoo of 1800. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charenton, La. 

2-24-00 

WANTED— An experlenoed young man, single, is 
opeo for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Opf, 3418 Constance street, New Orleans. 
2-22-90 

WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
ROBBRT, oare Postmaater, Woodland, La. 2-23-00 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mill-wright 
on a augar plantation. Beat of references furnished. 
Addreaa 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 

• 2-lS-OO 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a yoo g man 20 years old, single and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
. niah raferencea from former employer. Address T. 
R. NBBOi(» Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boUer. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this oftice. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and* electrical en- 
gloaer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can soperiutend railroad construction. Good refer- 
•Dces. Address H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a likaohlnlst with 14 years experience. Address 
Pbank Lorbnz, 802 S. Basin, St., City. 2-15-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
flOement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
woold like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
**tJl around" talthfol man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Qio 
street, New Grleans, La. 26-99 

WANTED— By a gradoate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
•lectrloian, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references famished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
IM, 25-99 

WANTED— PositiOD as clAk or assistant overseer 
on large sug^ plantation. . Best of references as to 
abfllty, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 

. 24-99 

WANT^)— Poaltlon as chief or second engineer; 16 
years' ,experieooe in cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
this office. " 24-00 

WANTED— A position for the 1800 crop as vacuum 
pan augar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
goarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
Be expeoted. Address J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 



WANTED— A position as ovf^rseer on a sutr-^r plnntfi- 
tlon by a first-class man; address J. F. IjEteff, Nes- 
s er, La. 14-99 

WANTED— Exporloncod Indy st *nnu;r.iT)h< r; dosir<»8 
position In tho South. Addn^ss I, ;j20 N. Mala Ktroot, 
Louisiana. Mo. _ _._'"'*_ 

WANTED— Position as b()Okkt"»;io«- orrh^rk hy young 
married man; a thoronjrh a<'(M)mnant, tnii' k and ac- 
curatp at flj^ures, and ran furnish pjiy r<»f>^rMrt's as to 
capabilities, otc.jthal may Ix* rctiiiircd. Adii>*oH E. T., 
care Louis]^ana Plantkk. 

WANTED— Younc man, «!; s:l". w^-ll qualitl^'d; d.\siros 
position as bookkoopor, tim.-'^" -mt. or '-I'Mk on pla- t;i- 
tlon. Can furnish Al rt'ft'iviu\*s. Addiv^s "A. C, ' 
this office. 1-9 

ical siii^'ar honsn 
or Poi'to Ki<-o. 
care lv)ui'iana 
1-1-1*8 



WANTED— An oxp 
chemist would Hko situation i 
Speaks En^jllsa only. Addn 
Planter. 



rionccd and ])rv'* 
n ( iiba 
■ss W.,. 



W-^NTEO— Position as niana^'er or tli-st ovtTM-er oh 
a sugar plantation bv a ii-an of family. RofiMc^noes 
furnished, (all on or addivss F. F. Merwin, 521 Ou* 
malne street, Nrw Oilean^-. 12-:U-1H 

TWAN TED— I'ositi-m a.s ()v.T'»'er or Mina-tTon svm^ 
plantation. W*'!l exp«^rl»'nf'<Ni. « 'an iiirnlsh bt-Kt of 
references. J. A. Larkik, It- nton P. O., La. 

12-25-9S 



WANTED— By a sobor, hor^'^st and f'Xp-riene«^d man 
who can come well r^^eonmn-nd' d, a p'-sltion as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a -u^'ar [>IjiitiUion. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 10J5 N. Dtrl^iKrjy street, Now Oilcans. 

12-7-98 



WANTED— Position by a good d- ijbl*.-( il. rt man with 
nine years' expt^rience. Heferei. -es first-class. Ad- 
drees Paul Parr, Gibson, La., carii Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-«s 
, m _ 

WANTED— Position to take ohar^'^-cf thf housekeep- 
ing department on a plintaiH)n. I'nd r.^t.md the curing 
of meat, preserving: and puklinj,', a.id the (Mittins and 
fitting of plantation- out-door clotliintr. Can furnish 
best of r.^commendatlons. ^ddf^ss Mns. l^nocroR, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 



WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical macninist who has passed vU the branches of 
the technical high school In (Jerir.jiry, has had 11 ye .rs 
experience in sugar bouse wf/rk. is in pos,tion l.iar y . 
years, but wants 10 Chang-' as Chief En^Mneer (,r Su- 
perintendent for consturrtion or repuiniiK of sugar 
houses. Can give best of leivrene^s. Address. Sioar 
House Special,- care Louisiana Plainer. 12-2«5-i>H. 

WANTED— Position as lir^t o'-erseep on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man W y -us of aj/e, well \«'ise(i in the rou- ' 
tine work of a i»la.n.atioi. .-vadre.-^s Elv SinooE, cara 
Louisiana PHnt'er. 12-;il-r8_ 

WANTED — Po^lilo;i as munaicer on a siiixar plantation. 
Satisfaction guarar.ieed. AIt<T two months' trial, If 
'wner Is not yh c^-M, ,.o[.saiar>- wdl be exp.H'ted. Ad- 
.-Iress Walter Scott, caiv Loui.siana Plinter. 12-31-9B 

W-A.NTE1>— Situation as rhetr.ist or as-'istant in 
sugar houde, ty a young n.an who h,i.> had tnir year^' 
experience and can furnish b.-st of rererences. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

WANTED — Position In Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation ai-d con furnish flrst- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. 0.,La. 

12-21-^f* 

WANTED— By a young man of 21, a po.sitior. In the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsfwhcic, as chen.l&t. Have 
had experience and can furnish gccd relerences. x\m 
a university graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 
12-21-18 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
J2-20-98_ 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one who haa • 
had similar experience In the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office, 
12-20-98 

WANTED— .\ competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or thrae weeks, beginning 
January let. Compensation .$">0. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyside Plantation, Centervilie, I^. 12-20-98 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
ashostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Gooa refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Burnslde, Louisiana. 12-21-98 



WANTED— Position as manager of sugar plantation 
for the coming year, .\mple experience, highest re- 
commendations as to capacity, sobriety and ability to 
handle labor. Address D. A. 13louin, Whltecastle, La. 

WANTED— Position as clerk in plantation or town 
store, by a young man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best references. Address G. J. A., care of The 
Chief, DonaldsonviUe, La. 



WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar i^anta- 
tlon for coming year. Have had mamr .SfMs' experi- 
ence ard can give good recommendittdiis:-' Address 
W. P. RocHKLLE, Hoh^ Stolmf P. O.; I4^t «IAt|;^ 

WANTED— Position tof coming year ; 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married 
of age, sober, energetic, and luUy : co^inetent. Have 
had long experience in eultivation of .QUifi^and handling 
labor. Address Rr,'ftax 258, New IberU.La. ia-6-« 

WANTED— Position as chemist for-pQnilng cane crop 
by a man of experience. ^ Best ofjisferevces from past 
and present employers. ;Can s'beAkno^and Gennaa, 
French and English; Capable Of ^taking ^«itlre charge 
of the .chemlcfil work ol[ the factory. Address W. J. 
Dover, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
Home, N.Y. 12-*-« 

WANTED— Position as overseer or .manager t|rn»Id- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experlenoe^aad 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and economical iftsn- 
agement :.ssuced. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words.'*- Address Drainaoe, Room 22, 
City Hall. - 11-3-86 

W.\NTED- .\ position as Assistant ManajgetPCP*'®^ 

fleer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-foar yfeaAjpW, 

rr»p»Tiei. Twenty yeATs /experience in handling *tfbor. 

veral years experienc*-in eultivation of Ca ne^ B est 

ref<*rences given, .\ddre38; M. E. W., CKWTBTaa- 

dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, L^ 12-28-93. 

W VNTED— Man who wishes to learn profesalon of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond witlk.^ aagar maker 
who Is engaged for coming Mexican or Coban crro. 
St ite terms for instruction. Address, A. Wi. &.. 6334 
Patten St., New Orleans, La. 12-23-96 

■ ' : ' — ■ > ■ J. - J i" 

WANTED— A young married man of small faoiily, 
desires a position in Puerta Rico as tlme-lteeper or 
sugar weigner. Have had several years' experience In 
sugar houses; also a very good book-keeper. Can 
furnish best of references. *, Address C. B. S., care 
Baton Rouge Sugar Co., Baton Rouge, La. 

WANTED— Position as manager for 1^, by a flrst- 
closs man of experience and Qne references.^ )V'fll 
tike an asslstancy and work very reaisonable. Address 
E. VV. Creighton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position &a second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar plantation, for 1899. Address Theo. 
^AUDOiN, Jr., Hahnville, La. » : - - - 12-7-96 

• WANTED— A sugar house expert, who Is AOW^and 
has been for the past five years, the head dhemUt for 
one of the largest sugar houses In.LoulslandtJs.opeD 
for an engajrement for coming crop In Mejdco, Cuba or 
Central America., W ill accept a position on, any ^nu 
con>^isteht With first-class Work. Can fuA)&h*6e8t of 
tf-stlmonlalsf rom. present.em plovers and from^he Uni- 
versity frem which he graduated. AddresaLsbx', this 
omce. ,. .. ,,12-8-98 

, _: : : iJ • -'- .*-'••' ' 

WANTED— By a young. chemist with university edu- 
cation and one year's rxperlence in lar^e Louisiana 
factriry, 4;*ositloB for vMexlcfn . or, Cnb^n-.tsampsign. 
Address A.^.; liare Loutsiarta PlaAt€>r. 11-3(H8 



Wanted— By a first-class sugar boUer, to go to 
Mexico, Ceneftil America or the HaWaliAn Islands. Will 
furnish the b(8". of references. Addrees MAiaiL 
Mello, No. 830 liartholomfew street, Ne^ Ot^ean's, La. 
' - ^ rJl-a^ 

WAKTfeD Position for n^xt 6rot> by 4a-«^o. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now employed on pne of .theJanest 
places in the State. Would have no objectlcmtb living 
on the, place and making himaelf g6neraUyi|Mful^:Is a 
good cooper. Address Geo. Code, 4735 T^oqpltoolas 
St reot , city. ' ■«-- ■ • ll-q^g 

WANTED— Position hi this State or :»l*<loo by^to A 
No. X sugar boiler who ^as referenees.o^ the veiy flrrt 
class. Address Boiler, 607 Chartres' st^^t, Net^ Oi^ 
leans^ ..,.••■»* ;U!W8 

WANTED— Ch^mlBt wants situadon. ' tiA^dilite of 
University of Michigan. H^v^had pnieticia e^ppQitence 
in the analysis of sugars and syrups. Am 25 years of 
age and unmarried.. If necessary woitfU^ be^ wHlS to 
go to tho West Indies. Reference from former employer 
given. Address X, this olllce. ' ' '^ il%^ 

■ — .•■•■'■}■. — ■ ^.: , ^;^^ ' — 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper and utUltr man 
in the country. Good referehoea.' Addlresa* doliP^ 
tent, care Louisiana planter, , . ..-_,.. Ifc-^U-W 

WANTED— A position as bOcAy-keep^briMfhaiS^of 
a country store bs a thoroughly competent young' mai^ 
ried man with 14 yearb' exporlehce. Would also bpen 
up and run a drug store In intereat of QxnptojnncCan 
furnish A No. 1 references. Addreen G. ^^^^ ' 



sonville. La. 



bfitS^ 



WANTED— An expert' sugar hoil¥^ maiS; te' okymist 
or superintendent, .is desirous of, closing an cp^ageiDeot 
for coming crop in Mexico or Cuba. Has had ajx years 
experience on some of the • largest -plaiatatioiJ^lri^oa- 
Islana. Can bring referenoes from pi^ent ^C^tral 
Factory, and testimonial^ from Dr. W. C. StUbbs.' tojss 
desiring the services of a thorouglt sagar^iiMiiman, 
address Oscab, box 674, Baton Rouge. f^^HB 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



i^J^D 



H MeeMi? IRewspaper. 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



VoLXXn. 



NEW ORLEANS, MARGH 18, 1809. 



No. IL 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Usiaiana Sugar Planters* Association, 

hcmsion Branch Sugar Planters* Association, 

LsMoifa Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Kansas Sugar Growers' Association, 

7ut0 Sugar Pfanfers' Association. 

PvblMbeo at New Orleans, La., every Saturday Morning 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
' MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to Louiaiana Agiiailture in general, and to 
tlie Sug^r Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical. Political and CommerdaL 

EDITORIAL C0BP8. 
▼. C STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

BBtered at the Postoffioe at New Orleans as second-class 
man matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terma of Subecriptlon (Including postage) f8 00 

Foreign Sabflcriptton 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



epMe 


1 month 


S month 


6 month 


12 month 


1 tlMAl...^ 


$600 
960 
14 60 
19 00 
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26 00 
82 60 
80 00 
88 00 
40 00 
00 00 

100 00 


$ 12 60 
24 00 
86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
90 00 
96 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 


$ 18 76 

86 00 
64 40 
7125 
88 16 
106 00 
12176 
186 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
400 00 


$26 00 


1 teChr .r T 


48 00 


Itft^ 


72 60 




96 00 


Iln^ 


117 60 


ttiiOh...T 


140 00 


T iBCti . r 


162 60 


tlnob 


180 00 


f tnoh 


190 00 


IQtnclL 


aoooo 


H^ pBg^ 


80O0O 


FoU Page 


60OO0 



An commnnicatlons should be addressed to Thi 
LonsiAMAPLAiiTBBySaoCarondelet 8treet|NewOrlaancv 
La. 

UST OP STOCKHOLOeRS. 



HcCeO BfaChera* 
McCtf ALegMMlfe. 



iJkBro.. 



W. B. Bricken. 
W. C. SteMM. 



LadBS Forsyth, Jr.. 
Biwwd J. <%y^_^ 
Skattocfc * Itolfnaa. 
B^te Itoat* 
TktMW D. Miller. 
SckHrtdt * Ziegler. 
T. a. ncLaary, 
L.5.Ctarfc. 
I. B. Lercrt, 



W. W. Satdilfe. 

Jeka8.noore, 

JwiaCWarpiiy. 

Joa* ^raare* 



R. Beltran, 
Laden Soalat, 

D. R. Calder. 

L. A. euu. 

Hero a. Malhiot. 
W. J. Belian. 
J. T.Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards St HauMnun, 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. Cunntngbani, 
R. Viterbo. 

H. C. ninor, 
C. M. Sorla. 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murpby. 
Andrew Price, 
B.ftJ. Kocic, 
Wn. Qerig, 

Bradlah Johnson. 
George P. Anderton, 
A. L. flonoot. 
Richard MIUilMa. 
W. P. niias, 
Lecin A. Becnel. 
J. N. Pharr, 
- I J. ■ ' 



EZBcimvE ooMinrm. 

Henry JloCall. 

W. B. SchflMt, 



The News From the Sugar District. 

Our advices this week are of a decid- 
edly encouraering character, and indicate 
a far more hopeful feeling among the 
majority of the planters than has hither- 
to prevailed. Leaving out the more 
northerly portions of the sugar belt, it 
seems reasonable to exj>ect a fairly good 
stand of both plant and stubble, and as 
time progresses the outlook steadily im- 
proves. It now seemo to be generally 
admitted that the shortage, where it ex- 
ists, must be attributed much more to 
the wet weather and green condition of 
the seed cane than to the freeze in Feb- 
ruary. 



Some L^wer Coast Stubble. 

The Ix)ui?iania Planter has received 
from Captain Geo. E. Mann, the well- 
known lower coast sugar planter, some 
cane stubbles that are rather striking in 
the evidences of vitality that they ex- 
hibit. 

In wrapping middles, the plow cut off 
these outlying stubbles, inverting them 
and now it is found that the top eyes 
have started to grow, the shoots bending 
upward toward the light. We are driven 
to our previouidy stated conclusion that 
the duration of the great freeze of Feb- 
ruary 13 was so short that the damage 
from it is far less than was anticipated. 



The Florida Velvet Bean. 

This new semi-tropical legume has 
attnocted so much attention of late that 
experiments have been made in its cul- 
ture where it could hardly be expected 
to succeed. Prof^sor I. H. Worst, di- 
rector of the North Dakota Aigricultural 
Experiment Station at lago has recently 
published a bulletin No. 35 which in- 
cludes a paper on the Florida Velvet 
bean, which, while showing merit in 
that high fetitude, fell below the leg- 
Professor Woist m^: 
During tlie past y^? • ifnX (M tM been 



said through the agricultural press regard- 
ing the value of the Florida Velvet Bean» 
as a nitrogen gathering plant for renovat- 
ing soils. In order to test its value in this 
capacity for the Northern latitude an ex- 
periment was undertaken and the plants 
were grown on garden soil where they re- 
ceived good cultivation. The beans made a 
growth of about eighteen Inches and wero 
in bloom when harvested just before the 
frosts of early fall. The plants grown in 
rows two feet apart covered the ground at 
time of harvesting about like pea plants 
grown under like conditions in adjoining 
rows. As harvested the plants contained 
76.70 per cent of water. The air dry sub- 
stance was then analyzed with results as 
follows: 

Per cent 

Moisture 7.60 

Ash 8.56 

Crude fat 6.80 

Proteids N X 6.25 16.07 

Crude fiber 20.76 

Nitrogen free extract 4L88 

100.00 

Nitrogen 2.57 

i 
If we compare the above analyses with 
that of the peas in the previous experiment 
we find nothing to recommend this bean 
above peas and as a nitrogen gatherer the 
beans prove to be vastly inferior contain- 
ing as thy do but 2.57 per cent of nitrogen 
in the dry substance, while the pea plants 
grown by the side of the beans and under 
like conditions of culture contained 3.60 per 
cent of nitrogven m the air dry substance. 
A single year's trial at this station does 
not show the Florida . elvet Bean to be 
possessed of sufficient value to warrant their 
receiving attention from the farmers H 
North Dakota. 



Valuable Matter. 

Owing to the fact that we publish this 
week in full the exhauistive paper of Doc- 
tor Stubbs on the cane buying question 
and the stenographic report of the dis- 
cussion had at the last meeting of tho 
Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 
we are obliged to curtail in part our r^- 
ular news and miscellaneous departments. 



Personal. 

Mr. C. L. DeOravelles was the sugar boiler 
during the past campaign at Shadyside place. 
He is the brother of Mr. S. L. DeOravelles, 
who took off the crop at Col G. O. Zenor's 
Riverside place^ and is a fine sugar boiler. 
In fact, both the brotbere are hard to beat 
9X tbe progt frticfc 

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162 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTUBUL 



[Vol. XXII, No. 11. 



The Manner and Method of Purchas- 
inj: Cane — Whether by Test or 
Otherwise. 

(A paper bv DR. W. C. Stubbs, read before the Lou- 
isiana Sugar Planters' Association March 9th 18W.) 

Mr. President and Gentlemen: 

Filled with the deepest emotions of grati- 
tude for the honor conferred and the con- 
fidence bestowed by referring to me the 
question under discussion at your last meet- 
ing, I am yet profoundly impressed with 
the gravity of the task assigned me, and 
would gladly pass the responsibility of a 
decision to another, could it meet with your 
approval. But you, from whom I officially 
liave received so often tangible and sub- 
stantial evidences of interest in our experi- 
mental work, and at all times from each 
and every one of you appreciated person- 
al courtesies, have requested me to reiview 
this subject tonight, and duty, and an af- 
fectionate regard and sympathetic feeling for 
you ana your profession, impel me to com- 
ply. 

The argument which will be made will 
be: 

Isi. To establish a fair and equitable 
division of the output of sugar from a fac- 
tory between the grower and the manufac- 
"burer. 

2nd. To determine a method by which 
such an output may be predicated from an 
analysis of the cane. 

3*rd. How the cane may be fairly sanupled. 

The larger part of our conclusions will be 
based upon results of experiments made at 
the Sugar Experiment Station whose records 
of the field, laboratory and sugar house, ex- 
tending over twelve years, covering in the 
latter both the work of the mill and the 
xHfTusion battery, have been for this paper 
carefully examined and collated. Occasion- 
ally, isolated experiments may serve for 
illustration, but as a rule only condensed 
results can well be given in a short paper. 

The parting of the ways — the' separation of 
the planting from tne manufacturing of cane, 
has been of such recent occurrence that 
neither side of the industry may be consid- 
ered as permanently established independent 
of the other. Central factories of large ca- 
pacity, built with the purpose of buying all 
their cane, are the outgrowth of recent years, 
and are not yet permanently established. In- 
superable obstacles have been encountered 
in (1st) obtaining the desired quantity of 
cane., and (2nd) in hav.ng this quantity well 
distributed through the grinding season. 
Several factories have been forced to buy 
land and cultivate on their own account 
large areas of cane to insure in some in- 
stances a sufficiency, and in others to control 
• a constant supply to the mill when bad 
weather, railroad detention or local obsta- 
cles prevented daily delivery from numerous 
patrons. The result is that there are only 
a few real central factories in the State. 

While hundreds of large sugar houses buy 
cane from outside growers, yet the bulk of 
the cane manufactured U yet grown upon 



the grounds and at the expense of the fac- 
tory. 

Enormous sugar houses with the latest 
improved equipments have been and will, 
we trust, continue to be erected in this 
State. Their aggregate costs run high up 
into millions of dollars. They should be 
fostered and supported by a voluntary con- 
cession of enough profit to Insure both a 
fair Interest upon Investment and a suffi- 
cient sinking fund annually to keep In thor- 
ough repair and of latest improvements, all 
of their machinery. To insure such a profit, 
cane in large quantities must be grown, 
either by the factories on their own account, 
or by individual planters for sale to the 
factories. 

The increasing custom in Louisiana of 
buying cane from the small planters con- 
firms the opinion elsewhere entertained, that 
central factories, supported by numerous 
small planters, contributed more to the 
distribution of wealth in a community than 
-^hen the planting and manufacturing inter- 
ests were concentrated into one vast estate. 
Numerous small planters would therefore 
appear essential to the highest develop- 
ments of our sugar interests, and- every man- 
ufacturer should encourage an increase in 
their numbers by conceding to them such 
profit that neither the vicissitudes of sea- 
sons, occasional fioods nor the unreliability 
of labor, shall drive them from their chosen 
pursuit. The grower of cane, by all means, 
should be encouraged and protected. The 
mutual Interdependence of grower and man- 
ufacturer Is well recognized in all beet su- 
gar countries. You cannot afPliot the one 
without suffering from the other, and the 
destruction of either carries with it the 
life of the other. 

Let us compare values : 

A modern up-to-date sugar house capable . 
of handling from 60,000 to 200,000 tons of oane 
per season, will cost from (100,000 to (500,- 
000. After the actual cost of manufacture 
Is paid, there should remain at least 10 per 
cent upon Investment to cover Insurance, 
taxes and Interest, and 10 to 15 per cent, as 
a sinking fund for repairs, replacements and 
betterments. To supply such sugar houses 
there will be required 2.500 to 10.000 acres 
of cane, yielding 20 tons per acre. Add to 
the above a quantity of land sufficient for 
seed cane, and com and peas for stock, and 
rotation, pastures, gardens, yards, etc., and 
there will be required at least 3,500 to 14- 
000 acres of cleared arable land. The swamp 
land, usually accompanying cleared land 
everywhere in South Louisiana, will bring 
the grand total up to probably 5,000 to 20,- 
000 acres. To the land must be added the 
costs of dwellings, cabins, bams, stables, 
mules, horses, wagons, and Implements. The 
aggregate value of all these are or should 
be equal to that of the factory purchasing 
the cane. It Is fair then to assume that the 
caipltal Invested by growers and manufac- 
turers Is about equal. Establishing this fact, 
tbt coet Of arrowing the cane should 1^ com- 



pared with the cost of manufacturing it into 
sugar, before an equitable division of profits 
can k'e determined. 

The vicissitudes of seasons render the 
average f'.ost of growing a ton of cane 
through a series of years, in my opinion, 
larger than the actual cost ol manufacture. 
But the necessary repairs, together with the 
constant demand for more improved ma- 
chinery, must in tvery sugar house he entered 
as a part of the cost of manufacture. Hence 
a sinking fund musv be annually set aside 
to meet these constaiitly recurring repairs 
and Improvements. The vicissitudes of sea- 
sons are, therefore, offset by the progression 
of improvements, and the cost of growing 
may be assumed without much error to be 
the cost of manufacture. Therefore, the 
profits, after paying, costs of production and 
manufacture, should be equally divided. In 
other words, one-half of the products of the 
sugar house should go to the producer of 
cane, and the other half to the manufacturer- 
It is the opinion of many that this division 
is the only equitable one. Deciding upon 
this basis, the next question is how can we 
determine beforehand what will be the out- 
put of a factory from a ton of cane? Un- 
fortunately , we have not yet reached such 
a degree of refinement In sugar work as to 
foretell to the pound, the amount of sugar 
to be obtained from a ton of cane, when both 
the extraction of the mill and the composi- 
tion of the juices are known. In making 
sugar the rendement depends upon many 
factors other than these. The personal 
equation of the boiler largely qualifies the 
output. The density of the masi^ cuite, 
size of the grain, amount of water used in 
the centrifugal, all modify results, particu- 
larly yields of 1st sugars. Clarification 
largely determines yields. Too great acidity 
or alkalinity destroys sugar and decreases 
the output. In fact, there are yet inde- 
terminate factors In every sugar house 
which sometimes modify results. It is pro- 
posed to buy on sucrose content, as is every- 
where done in beet sugar houses. This is 
a great step in advance of our present 
methods, but does not fully solve the prob- 
lem. 

Beets have only salts (ash) which restrain 
the sucrose from crystallization and these 
are largely removed by their process of 
clarification (carbonatation). 

Accompanying sucrose in the sugar cane 
is an uncrystallizable sugar consisting of a 
mixture of dextrose and levulose, to which 
the name of glucose Is usually given. This 
ingredient Increases in the cane, with a too 
active vegetation, the absence of sunlight, 
superabundance of moisture — on a soil too 
rich (new ground) or too wet 

Sucrose is easily converted into glucose. 
Heat, fermentation, acids, etc., are frequent 
agents in efteoting transformation. There 
is no known way of eliminating it in our 
sugar house and it passes into the molasses, 
restraining therein from crystalU^tion i^ 



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March 18, 1899.] 



TBBB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAR MANUFAOTUlUm. 



:ia3 



quantity of sugar. It is the "bete nolr" of 
the sugar maker and together with gum 
and its allied bodies, oppose themselves by 
their viscosity to the separation of the cry- 
stals of sugar. To determine the amount of 
sugar which glucose can restrain has been 
the subject of repeated patient investiga- 
tions by the Sugar Experiment Station for 
several years. Numerous experiments have 
been made with pure sugars, mixed with 
varying quantities of glucose, to determine 
the restraining influence of the latter. With 
reasonable additions of glucose, the density 
of masse culte can be greatly increased. 
With pure sugar a masse culte containing 
12 per cent of water can be centrifugaled 
with difficulty. With an addition of 15 per 
cent of glucose, the water content of the 
resulting masse culte can be reduced to 8 
per cent or lower and such a masse can 
easily >be centrifugaled. Hence a larger 
percentage of the total sugar present may 
be obtained as a 1st sugar from a syrup 
moderately rich in glucose, than from a 
pure sucrose solution. 

The following results obtained in our 
sugar house as the average of numerous ex- 
periments, may assist us in determining ap- 
proximate yields from juices of different 
composition, wHh good clarification and 
boiling. 

With a Juice of 10 per cent sucrose pure, 
there may be obtained either 10 lbs. C. P. 
sugar, or 6 lbs. IsV sugar at 98 deg., 4.58 lbs. 
2nd sugar al 90 deg. 

With a juice of 10 per cent sucrose and 
5 i)er cent glucose, there may be obtained 
9.5 lbs. C. P. sugar, or 7 lbs. 1st sugar at 98 
deg., and 3 Ybs. 2nd sugar at 90 deg., and 1.1 
lbs. molasses of 80 per cent solids. 

With a juice of 10 per cent sucrose and 1 
per cent glucose, there may be obtained 9 
lbs. C. P. sugar, or 7.47 lbs. 1st sugar at 
98 deg., and 1.87 lbs. 2nd at 90 deg., and 2^40 
lbs. molasses of 80 per cent solids. 

With a juice of 10 per cent sucrose and 
1.5 glucose, there may be obtained 8.5 lbs. 
C. P. sugar or 7.64 lbs. 1st at 98 deg., and 
1.11 lbs. 2nd at 90 deg., and 3 lbs. molasses 
of 80 per cent solids. 

With a juice of 10 per cent sucrose and 
2 per dent glucose, there may be obtained 
8 lbs. C. P. sugar or 7.30 lbs. 1st at 98 deg., 
.90 lbs. 2nd at 90 deg., and 4.95 lbs. molasses 
of 80 per cent solids. 

The above, coupled with numer6us results 
obtained in regular sugar house work, just- 
ify the assertion that the yield from juices 
properly clarified, quickly and intelligently 
bandied, may be approximately estimated 
hy assuming that' glucose restrains from 
crystallization its own weight of sucrose. 
In making high sugars this seems to be par- 
ticularly true. In low grade sugars, it is 
apparently defective; but "when It is re- 
membered that low grade sugars carry with 
them goodly quantities of glucose, thus 
dlwinlBhlng the glucose rat|Q \t^ the mO". 



lasses and enabling a larger percentage of 
the remaining sugar to crystallize, the de- 
fect is apparent rather than real. T'he re- 
moval of low grade sugars frequently leaves 
the final molaases higher In glucose than 
in sucrose, a condition existing in the final 
products of many o*. our sugar houses, and 
observable doubtless by all chermists. 

If therefore the sucrose content of the 
juice be diminished by the amount of glucose 
present, the remainder may, we think, with 
safety be called available sugar and should 
be obtained in sugar polarizing above 96 
deg. 

If lower grades than this be made the 
yield will be greater both in commercial 
and pure sugar. Knowing the extraction 
of our mills, the avallcible sugar per ton 
of cane can easily be calculated. Assuming 
a uniform extraction of 75 per cent and 
the juice (1500 lbs.) thus obtained to each 
ton of cane, has a comi^osition of 12 per 
cent sucrose and 1 per cent glucose, then 
the available sugar per ton of cane will 
be 165 lbs., with a polarization exceeding 
96 deg. 

If an equal division of the sugar be 
made between grower and manufacturer, 
this would give to each 82% lbs. sugar, 
worth say In New Orleans 4% cents per lb., 
or $3.5l per ton to the grower. The manu- 
facturer would receive the same amount be- 
sides the five to eight gallons molassee. If 
the extraction be Increased to 80 per cent, 
the price per ton becomes (3.74. 

A careful examination of the sugar house 
records of the station for the past five years, 
a period covering the use of our nine roller 
mill, has afforded us juices running from 
10 per cent to 14 per cent sXicrose with their 
accompanying glucose contents. These are 
given in the following tables, iwHh actual 
sugar house and laboratory results, all re- 

RESULTS IN SUGAR HQUSE.- 

Rnn. Year. Sue. Glnc. IstSug. 

No. 8, 1898 10.04 1.93 103.0 

No. 6, 1896 10.78 1.73 113.4 

No. 7, 1896 11.45 1.52 126.4 

No. 3, 1896 12.03 1.54 127.3 

No. 5, 1896 .12.38 1.32 124.7 

No. 6, 1897 ; .12.57 1.13 165.5 

No. 7, 1897 13.45 1.03 146.2 

No. 1, 1897 13.98 .98 147.5 

duced to uniform extraction of 75 per cent: 
Only 1st and 2d sugars are given above. 
There were obtained in Nos. 6, 3 and 5 of 
1896, and 7 and 1 of 1897, respectively 2.3, 
4.2, 7.7, 1.6 and 5.6 Ibe. of. 3rd sugars per 
ton, polarizing from 75 to 85 deg. 

These aro selected because of their varia- 
tions In sucrose content, and to further 
show the relation between gluoose and 
sucrose, and their final results. The above 
might be multiplied largely, but suffice to 
Illustrate the principle above enunciated. 
They were taken from sugar house books of 
the station, and the work performed in 1896 
^vas by Mr, T, C. Olyim, m4 thtt Qt 1897t 



c98 by Mr. Geo. Chlquelln, our prceent sugar 
maker and chemist 

An inspection of the above tables will 
show the influence of glucose upon sucrose 
present and emphasize the neces^ty o< car- 
rying our chemical investigations beyond the 
determination of sucrose. Sooner or later 
glucose determinations must be made*- along 
with sucrose, and the sooner we approach 
scientific methods in our sugar house work, 
the 'better will be our results and the sooner 
will we obliterate the dissatisfaction between 
buyer and seller. In some seasons the glu- 
cose ratio is high, and In others \<yw. The 
season of 1888 gave us heavy sugar yields, 
due more to low glucose than an excess of 
sugar in the cane. 

Recognizing the infiuence of glucose upon 
the returns in our sugar house and the prime 
Importance of the determination of sucrose 
in all sugar transactions, the following plan 
Is suggested as equitable and fair to both 
seller and buyer. Assume extraction of 
mill at 75 per cent. Determine both sucrose 
and glucose In the juice, calculate the avail- 
able sugar per ton on this extraotton by as- 
suming (which is approximately accurate) 
that glucose restrains Its own weig^ of 
sucrose, and divide In equal parts the avail- 
able sugar thus determined, between grower 
and manufacturer, or, which* is the same 
thing, pay the grower for his half at prices 
then prevailing in New Orleans. 

An example 'wlll suffice: 75 per cent ex- 
traction win give 1500 lbs. juice to each ton 
of cane. If this juice analyses 13 per cent 
sucrose and 1 ,per cent glucose, then the 
available sugar per ton of cane will be 



(13 - 1) X 1500 



100 



= 180 lbs. 



The seller wlll be entitled to one-lialf of 
this or 90 lbs., and iif sugar be worth 4% 



75 PER CENT. 


EXTRACTION. 










Tot. Com. 


Tot.C.P. 


ATailable 


Pol. : 


ad Sag. 


Pol. 


Sag. 


Sag. 


C.P.Sug. 


99.6** 


31.25 


80'' 


134.25 


127.58 


121.60 


.99.0** 


26.80 


76"' 


140.20 


133.00 


135.76 


98.0° 


43.20 


83' 


169.60 


150.10 


148.95 


97.4^ 


65.40 


83*^ 


192.70 


168.20 


157.35 


98.4^ 


60.10 


81*' 


184.80 


171.38 


165.90 


91.0*' 


44.90 


75** 


211.40 


183.80 


-173.;i0 


95.0^ 


56.40 


83** 


202.60 


185.40 


186.30 


97.1^ 


48.00 


86** 


195.50 


184.50 


195.00 



cents In New Orleans, then his ton of cane 
will fetch (3.82^. The formula for buying 
would be 

1 76 

— (sttcrote-glacote) X2,000x — X price of tagar, 

2 100 100 

or assuming a uniform extraction of 75 per 
cent, it could be very simply written 
(sucrose-glucose) x 7% x price of sugar. 

To Illustrate the Infiuence of glucose par- 
ticularly upon low sucrose canes, the follow- 
ing table Is given. The composition of 
juices with results are taken from our 
records: In this table extraction Is assumed 
»(; 75 per cent w^ price o- eugar fit 4H centi: 



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164 



THM LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTUKBR. 



[Vol XXH, No. 1L 



Price 



Ton 



CompMltion Per Ct. Pound! Sugar 
r-ot jQloe-s Available for each 1 pr. ot. 
Sucrose. Glaoose. Sugar. Sucrose. Ton. 

10% 2% 8.00 12 lbs. 2.55 

10.5% 1.75% 8.75 12.3 2.79 

11% 1.65% 9.38 12.7 2.99 

12% 1.40% 10.60 13.25 3.87 

13% 1.00% 12.00 13.85 3.82 

14% .75% 13.25 14.20 4.22 

From above it will be seen that in a juice 
containing 10 per cent socroBe there is avail- 
able only 12 lbs. sugar lor each 1 per cent, 
while in a 14 per cent juice tbere are avail- 
able 14.20 lbs. Therefore each percentage 
of sucrose in a 14 per cent juice is worth 18 
per cent more than in a 10 per cent juice. 
By this formula both buyer and seller are 
benefited by rich cane. 

But some are ready to exclaim, how are 
we, first, to obtain proper samples of the 
cane; second, how to obtain from thb^ cane 
juices lilce those extracted by our large 
mills. There are many difficulties to be en- 
countered in the solution of these questimis, 
but I believe many of them will vanish when 
'the subject is earnestly approached. Canes 
vary greatly in composition, according to 
soil, season, age of cane and vigor of growth. 
Seasons vary but little on the same phtnta- 
tion. Soils vary in composition but sliglitly 
on the same cut; but in <the same row side 
by side, stalks of cane vary in composition 
according to age and vigor, whetlier the 
original cane or sucker, whether well exposed 
and vigonous, or crowded and emaciated. It 
is well known that nearly one-half of the 
stalks found alt lay by in a field of cane 
with an excellent stand are crowded out and 
killed before harvest 'The survival of the 
fittest" is here emphasized. Of those sur- 
viving there may be canes of all ages trom 
the original sprout started in March fo a 
belated sucker bom in July. An examina- 
tion extending over six years of the com- 
position at harvest of the original canes 
and their suckers in order of birth has been 
made at Audubon Park, and a portion of the 
work published. As a rule the original 
stalks ai:e richer in sugar and heavier in 
weight than the suckers. With few excep- 
tions, there has been a gradual diminution 
of sugar and weigiht of stalk from the orig- 
inal plants'to the youngest sucker. Notable 
exceptions to above sometimes occur. In 
1894 three suckers bom in July had the 
largest sugar content and one of them the 
heaviest stalk in the field. No known reason 
can be assigned for this aberration. 

In 1894 Hie average of the original stalks 
was, sucrose 13.42, glucose .85. Average of 
originals and suckers, sucrose 11.90, glucose 
.96. Lowest sucker, sucrose 10.50, glucose 
1.04. 

In 1895 the average of original stalks was, 
sucrose 12.43, glucose 1.54. Average of all 
originals and suckers, sucrose 11.66, gluoose 
1.83. Lowest matured sucker 10.27, glucose 
2.23. 

It is evident from above that there is a 
great variation in the composition of in- 
dividual oai^esa and no eingle sMk tnalysee 
cfto t^ relied upon. 



From the same tables we learn that many 
of the original stalks perished durfi^ growth 
and that nearly all suckers carried to the 
mill are bora during May and June; that 
the original stalks at harvest constitute 
from one-third to one-fourth of the crop, 
and therefore there are two to four suckers 
for each original. In taking canes for analy- 
ses it is evident 'then th»t at least three to 
five, selected with reference to age, etc., 
would absolutely be necessary to give a 
correct estimate of sugar value of 'the plat 
But these cannot (be so selected from a car 
or cart; hence to obtain a sample which 
would probably be representative of the 
plat from which it came, at least fifty -to 
one hundred stalks would be required^taken 
oft without selection. 

Having taken the samples, how shall we 
get a juice representative of that obtained 
by our large double and triple mills. With 
a hand mill giving only forty to fifty per cent 
extraction, a juice is obtained richer in 
sucrose than that obtained from a large 
mill giving 75 to 80 per cent extraction. 

The following table gives the average 
of a large number of tests made in last five 
years of the analyses of juices from the 
different mills of our nine-roller mill. 

SoUds 
not 
Brix. Sue Oluc. Sugar. 
1st mill, 50%-54% 

extraction . . .15.58 13.09 1.20 1.29 
2nd mill, 22%-26% 

exitraction . . .15.29 12.29 0.99 2.01 
3rd mill, 2%-4% 

extraction . . .15.62 11.86 0.90 2.86 

An examination will show that the juice 
of aeoond mill differs from juice of first 
mill, as follows: 98 per cent Brix., 93.88 per 
cent sucrose, 82.5 per cent glucose and 156 
per bent solids not sugar. 

The third mill varies from first as fol- 
lows: 100.2 Brix., 90.6 per cent sucrose, 75 
per cept glucose, 221 per cent solids not 
sugar, 

The average of all extractions was about 
52 per cent for left mill, 24 per cent for 
2nd mill, and 2 per cent for third mill. A 
simple calculation will then show that the 
combined mills gave an extraction with fol- 
lowing analyses: Solids 

not 
Brix. Sue. Oluc. Sugar. 
78 per cent ex- 
traction . . . .16.49 12.81 1.12 1.56 

Comparing this juice from all these mills 
with that from 1st and we have 99.4 per 
cent Brix, 98 per cent sucrose, 93.3 per cent 
glucose, 120 per cent solids not sugar. To 
compare with these calculated results, the 
following averages of juices taken from each 
mill and the analyses of juice taken from the 
combined mills all from ttte same cane, are 
given: 

Brix. Sue. Oluc. 

Av. 1st mill 10.65 12.7 1.36 

Av. 2nd mill 16.15 12.8 1.82 

Av. 3rd mill 15.10 11.6 Lll 

AMTMi q€ same cane 

^ ' • .. 16.4Q U?Q tti 



Solids 
not 

Sugar. P. C. Q. R. 

Av. 1st mill 1.50 81.67 10.63 

Av. 2nd mill 1.63 81.12 10.74 

Av. 3rd mill 2.49 76.16 9.66 

Average of same cane 
juices oomrbined .. ..1.82 79.87 19.40 

These are actual results and comparing 
the combined juice with that of Ist mill we 
have 99.03 |>er cent Brix, 96.3 per cent 
sucrose, 95 per cent glucose, 1.21 per cent 
solids not sugar. Therefore the juices ob- 
tained from a triple mill of 76 to 80 per 
cent extraction will probably vary from the 
juice extracted once with a laboratory hand 
mill between following limits % to 1 per 
cent Brix, 2 to 5 per cent sucrose, 5 to 8 
per cent glucose, 20 to 22 per cent more of 
solids not sugar. 

To make this perfectly clear, let us sup- 
pose that the juice from a laboratory mill 
has the following composition:' Brix 15.00, 
sucrose 12.00, glucose 2 per cent, soliSs not 
sugar 1 per cent, then the large mills in the 
sugar house would give approximately a 
juice of the following composition: 

Brix 14.92-14.85, sucrose 11.76-11.40, glucose 
1.90-1.84, solids not sugar 1.20-1.22. 

On a mill using 500 tons of cane per day 
and with an 80 per cent extraction the loss 
to the factory by buying on sucrose content 
of juice from a little hand milt will be from 
1920 to 4800 lbs. sugar per day, an Amount 
too large to be ignored' and yet much 
smaller than would be supposed by a simple 
inspection of the analyses of juices from 
difPerent mills. But it must be remembered 
that the juice from 1st mill represents at 
least one-half of the juice contained in the 
cane, while the worst' juice from the last 
mill represents scarcely one-^nth, and 
therefore an analysis of the aggregated 
juices will approximate much nearer to the 
juice from 1st mill than to those from last 
two mills. It may therefore be assumed that 
if a laboratory mill be tightened so as to 
give over 50 per cent extraction and the cane 
whose juices be required for analysis be*put 
through this mill twice, doubling up the 
bagasse from first pressure before putting 
it through the second time and mixing well 
the juices of the two pressures, a juice will 
be obtained which will very nearly repre- 
sent the juice expressed by the large mill 
at the sugar house. Those who want a 
nearer approach to accuracy will be com- 
pelled to buy a miniature six or nine-roller 
mill and have it erected near the large mill 
and mn by power from the sugar hoive.' 
Such mills can be bought cheaply, and by 
means of friction clutches can be thrown in 
and out of work at pleasure. On this mill 
the engineer could adjust the rolls as to 
give similar extraction to large mills, and 
a chemist or his assistant could mn It when- 
ever samples were required, taking stalks 
from the carrier of large milL A discreet, 
observant chemist would here soon leam 
how to select typical stalks (r^si t%f et^^r^^ 
tor (fivinf bliD Mf Joloet. 

Digitized by VriOOQ IC 



March 18, 189d.] 



TEDS L0UI8XAKA PLAimER AND BUOA& MANUFAOTUBSI. 



1«5 



The plan presented then to to take fifty 
to one hundred Btalka from each car load 
or lot of cane, run them through a small 
mill twice, doubling up the bagasse In second 
pressure. Determine in thte Juice sucrose 
and glucose. Calculate available sugar per 
ton of cane upon 75 per cent extraction and 
divide it equally between seller and buyer, 
or pay the former for his half at ruling 
prices in New Orleans. As I have before re- 
marked, thto plan to unquestionably equit- 
able and just, if we concur in the statement 
that the growing; ot cane and the manu- 
facturing of same should be of equal value. 

Let us compare thto plan with others that 
have beei^ pr^ented. The following extracts 
from Capt Pharr's parper will explain his 
plan: 

"The average analysis of my sugar house 
in the season 1897 and 1898, was 12.50 sucrose 
and 81 purity, and it produced 180 lbs. of 
1st fmd 2nd sugars. I took that as a stan- 
dard, and on that standard I purcl^ed cane 
this season. For cane at that s^ndard I 
paid the market price of prime yellow clari- 
fied sugar. When sucrose and purity went 
above the standard I added the value of 5 
lbs. of sugar for each decree in sucrose and 
the value of 2 lbs. of sugar for each degree 
in purity, deducting a like amount for each 
degree in sucrose and each degree in purity 
below that standard. 

"The average sucrose of my house this 
year yrili be In the neighborhood of 10.50 
sucrose and 76 purity. For two degrees of 
sucrose I deduct 10 lbs. of sugar and for six 
degrees in purity I deduct 12 lbs. of sugar, 
making 22 lbs. The price, of these 22 lbs. 
of sugar at 4% (the average price of P. Y. C. 
sugar) makes 93^ cents, and thto I deduct 
from the price of the tons of cane or what 
would have been the price, if it had been 
up to the average of the house last. year. 

"The average of my house last year being 
180 Ihs. of 1st and 2nd sugars and the aver- 
age thto year being 148 pounds, this makes 
a difference of 32 pounds per ton between 
the last and the present year. 

"You will see that by my rule I either 
overpaid for my cane this season, or under- 
paid last year, as my deduction in the price 
can only call for 22 pounds of sugar and the 
results are that I am 32 lbs. short I give 
you these few figures from my own experi- 
ence and from that - ^now that I cannot 
afford to run a sugar factory without a 
chemist." 

I have shown elsewhere in this jpaper that 
the amount of sugar obtained from each one 
per cent of sucrose present, increased as the 
percentage increased, and decreased as the 
percentage decreased. I showed further that 
a 10 per cent sucrose gave only 12 lbs. tor 
each one per cent sucrose present,^ while a 
14 per cent save 14.2 lbs. The Captain's 
sugar house results confirm this statement 
Even with his deductions of 5 Ibp. for each 
one per cent sucrose and 2 lbs for each one 
per cent of purity, hto actual losses on last 
year were 32 lbs. per ton, wmie theoretically 
they should have been 22 lbs. Should the 
luice of the cane next year increase in a 



similar proportion, he will find reversed 
conddtions, actual yields greater than cal- 
culated results. 

Mr. Becnal presents the following for- 
mula: 
10A«+B* 

-=price of 1 ton cane. A price=P. Y. 



100 



C. seUs for and B equals polar- 
ization of mill juice. 

"With good average mill extraction and 
judicious handling of juices after the mill 
it takes 12.60 per cent sugar In the mill 
juice to yield 160 lbs. sugar. We shall there- 
fore assume that for the average of cane 
handled during any one week the value ot 
same. will be based at a price practically 
equal to 80 cents for each cent that prime 
Y. C. selto for, paying propoftionally higher 
(about on the same 'basto as (1.00 per cent) 
xor cane from which manufacturer can 
make 200 lbs. sugar per ton and proportion- 
ately less for cane from which manufacturer 
cannot make an average yield of 160 lbs. 
even with the best equipments^ but, at the 
same time, paying such a price for cane as 
green as it was during the season as would 
yield the seller about $2.60 per ton on the 
basis of 4.25 cents sugar. 

"For further regulation of prices and to 
insure the delivery of properly cut and ma- 
ture cane, when, in the judgment of pur- 
chaser, seller's cane is not up to the average 
good standard or o(her cane beixig ground, 
then that portion of the price of one ton 
which depends on the degree of richness, 
could be determined by special tests. 

As most cane buyers handle cane in cars, 
thto could be accompltohed with compara- 
tively little trouble and expense, due to lost 
time, as a numiber of care containing seller's 
cane could be concentrated so as to cover 
say 60 feet of the carrier and a mill juice 
sample of seller's cane taken While running, 
and where cars are not used, and cane to 
stored in slings the same result could be ac- 
complished by the concentration of a num- 
ber of cart loads of cane. 

"By the present method, the seller who 
produces cane of high tonnage derives undue 
benefits from the superior quality of other 
canes, which results in 'the production of 
tonnage at the expense of sucrose. 

"As against this, a method like the one 
proposed will, by paying the man who pro- 
duces green cane less than to paid to these 
who furnish average good cane, prepare all 
interested in our industry to cope with an 
era of low prices which will have to be 
faced sooner or later. 



This formula seems to be empirical; how 
near it agrees with those based upon actual 
results will be discussed later. 

Some years ago the writer formulated a 
plan of buying cane based upon sucrose con- 
tent, which was used by Messrs. J. U. Payne 
& Ck>., in the sale of thousands of tons of 
cane to the Bart)reck .actory. I am author- 
ized by Messrs. Pajme & Co., to say that it 
gave perfect satisfaction to all parties con- 
cerned. Each party employed a chemtot 
who took samples of cane, and determined 
analyses of juices. At. the end of each we^ 
settlement was made 1>ased upon these an« 
alyses. In case of disagreement between 
chemists, a referee or umpire was named. 
In one year's transactions 'between Barbreck 
factory and Messra P^jjme ft Co., involving 
I think ten to fifteen thousand tons of cane, 
there was not a greater difference than one 
or two hundred dollars between the accounts 
of the seller based upon analyses made by 
his chemtot, and those of the buyer based on 
analyses made by hto chemtot No occa- 
sion at any time occurred in several years 
requiring the services of the umpire. 
' I believe it worked equally as well with 
the Meeker Bros., though the death of both 
of these estimable gentlemen will prevent 
positive testimony. 

The plan is based uiK>n an assumption 
that cane polarizing 10 per cent sucrose was 
worth 70 cents per ton for each cent that 
P. Y. C. were worth in New Orleans. Sev- 
enty cents for 10 per cent sucrose gave 7 
cents for each one per cent sucrose present 
Therefore, 7 cents was assumed as the value 
of each one per cent sucrose in the^ juice, 
and the formula became 7 x sucrose in juice 
X price of sugar. Seven to here the constant, 
and sucrose and the price of sugar the vari- 
ables. If 90 cents per tx>n were assumed 
for 12.50 per cent sucrose, as found by Capt 
Pharr in hto prices for 1897-98, then the con- 
stant factor would become 7.2 and the value 
of a ton of such cane would be 7.2xl2.50x 
4^ equals 3.82^ per ton. 

A similar objection may be made to this 
formula as to C3apt Pharr's, vto., assuming 
that with both increase and decrease of 
sucrose, the rate of increase or decrease in 
sugar yields is similar— <which to not true. 

Belle Helene Planting Co., in the Louisi- 
ana Planter of > eb. 25, 1899, gives the fol- 
lowing plan: 

"We propose first to take the sugar ex- 



CANB SCHEDULE. 



Price 


Present basis 


or price alone. 






According to new formula. 




Prime 




















Per Cent 








Y. C. 


80c. 


85c 


90c 


95c 


♦1. 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


12.5 


13 


14 


15 


2H 


2.00 


2.13 


2.25 


2.38 


250 


1.27 


1.44 


1.63 


1.73 


1.83 


1.88 


2.33 


2.59 


2.88 


2% 


2.20 


2.34 


2.48 


2.61 


2.75 


1.41 


1.57 


1.76 


1.86 


1.96 


2.01 


2.46 


2.73 


3.02 


3< 


2.40 


2.55 


2.70 


2.85 


3.00 


1.54 


1.71 


1.90 


2.11 


2.34 


2.46 


2.59 


2.86 


3.15 


3^ 


2.60 


2.76 


2.93 


3.09 


3.25 


1.70 


1.87 


2.06 


2.27 


2.50 


2.62 


2.75 


3.02 


3.31 


3^ 


2.80 


2.98 


3.15 


3.43 


3.60 


1.87 


2.04 


2.23 


2.44 


2.67 


2.79 


2.92 


3.19 


3.48 


z% 


3.00 


3.19 


3.38 


8.56 


3.75 


2.06 


2.22 


2.41 


2.62 


2.85 


2.97 


3.10 


3.37 


3.60 


4< 


3.20 


3.40 


3.60 


3.80 


4.00 


2.24 


2.41 


2.60 


2,81 


3.04 


3.16 


3.29 


3.56 


3.85 


4^ 


3.40 


3.61 


3.83 


4.04 


4.25 


2.45 


2.62 


2.81 


3.02 


3.225 


3.37 


3.50 


3.77 


4.06 


4H 


8.00 


3.83 


4.05 


4.23 


4.60 


2.67 


2.84 


3.03 


3.24 


3.47 


3.59 


3.62 


3.99 


4.28 


^% 


3.80 


4.04 


4.26 


4.50 


4.75 


2.90 


3.07 


3.26 


3.47 


3.70 


3.82 


3.95 


4.22 


4.51 


^ 


4.00 


4.25 


4.50 


4.75 


6.00 


3.14 


3.31 


3.50 


3.71 


3.94 


4.06 


4.19 


4.46 


4.75 












10 A« plus B^ 


1 


















Based on 
price P* Y. C 


^<^,»Wlfcllla • ^_ 






VM^iM 


k f%4 nnA fnn nf nftnA. 






A equi 


Us the 


.sell for. 


100 *" 

B equato the pol 


arlzatj 

1 1. 


loa ol 


L?^. 


ri^ 


T^ 



166 



THB LOUISIANA IPLAIITBR AND SUGAR MANUFAOTURBR. 



,[VoL XXII, No. 11 



changes weekly certificate of the price of 
yellow clarified sugar testing 96 degrees and 
second sugar testing 89 degrees as a basis 
to start upon; we then propose to pay to the 
cane seller per ton for his cane one-half the 
value of all first sugar produced, and the 
entire value of all the second sugar pro- 
duced, at the price certified by the exchange 
as abovQ. This leaves us one-half of the 
first sugar and the molasses or the third 
sugar should there be any. The general 
yield of the week's run to be used as the 
output of all cane; an advance of two dol- 
lars per jton to be made on each week's 
delivery, until conclusion of delivery, when 
final settlemen;t will be made. 

'•With a yield of 150 lbs. per ton, 80 per 
cent of which is first and 20 per cent is 
second, with yellow clarified sugar 96 de- 
grees worth 4^ cents, and second sugar 89 
degrees worth 3% cents, the cane seller 
would receive three dollars and sixty cents 
per ton for his cane, and the factory have 
left two dollars and fifty-five cents and 
whatever value there might be to the molas- 
ses or third sugar. Now under the old way 
we pr^ume that prime Y. C. sugar would 
be worth 4% cents, which at dO cents for 
each one cent value would give the seller 
three dollars and fifty cents per ton, and 
so it would remain soould the yield go to 
175 Ibe per ton, 'while with our plan with 
an increase in yield he would share in the 
prosperity, and with a decrease in yield 
he would carry his proportion of the bur- 
den. As the factory's profit depends upon 
the yield, so by this method, would the 
seller's profit depend upon the yield. He 
would thus be induced to properly fertilize 
his cane, endeavor to ripen it and see that 
it is properly cut. Now we do not claim 
that this system would reach any better 
results than by buying upon a sucrose test, 
but we do think it would meet more with 
popular favor, as there is a halo of mystery 
atout a chemist that the general average 
cane raiser does not understand. They now 
stand in dread of the cane weigher; how 
would they teel if thrown upon the mercy 
of the chemist? Whatever is done let it 
be mutual between buyer and seller and 
agreed to by all under compact of honor." 

CANE BUYING 



This plan would, as the author suggests, 
meet perhaps with more favor among the 
sellers and to that extent could be more 
easily adopted, but It does not secure the 
ends desired. In the first place it is not re- 
garded as an equitable division, as anything 
less than one-half of total sugar would be 
detrimental to manufacturers* interests. 
Second, amount of first sugars, even with 
same juices, is a variable quantity fluctu- 
ating uetween considerable limits according 
to conditions already discussed in this paper; 
third, in a large factory getting cane from 
numerous sources every planter would re- 
ceive the same amount or sugar, whether 
his cane was rich or poor in sucrose and 
while the manufacturer would not be hurt 
by paying all the planters upon a general 
average of cane received, the great injury 
would be done to those planters who fur- 
nish rich cane. It partakes largely of the 
present plan which is sought to be super- 
seded by, a better one. 

Mr. Jas. Kock submits his plan in the 
Ix)ui8iana Planter of Jan. 7th, 1899. When 
the yield of dry sugar in his factoary reaches 

125 lbs. he gives the value of 75 lbs. of 
prime yellow clarified sugar for each ton 
of cane. With each increase of 1 lb. of 
sugar per ton in yield he allows ^ of it to 
go to the seller up to 152 lbs. When the 
yield reaches above this" he allows V6 lb. to 
seller for every pound made by the factory. 
The following is his table: 

When yield of dry sugar per ton is 125 
lbs. we give the value of 75 lbs. prime 
yellow. For cane yielding more than 125 
lbs. per ton, the following schedule of prices 
forms basis of settlement: 

126 pounds per ton 75.25 pounds 

127 pounds per ton 75.50 pounds 

128 pounds per ton 75.75 pounds 

129 pounds per ton 76.00 pounds 

130 pounds per ton .^ 76^5 pounds 

131 pounds per ton .' 76.50 pounds 

132 pounds per ton 76.75 pounds 

133 pounds per ton 77.00 pounds 

134 pounus per ton 77.25 pounds 

135 pounds per ton 77.50 pounds 

136 pounds per ton ^ 77.75 pounds 

137 pounds per ton 78.00 pounds 

138 pounds per ton 78.25 pounds 

SCHEDULE OF BELLE HELENE 



39 pounds per ton ......78.50 pounds 

40 pounds per ton 78.75 pounds 

41 pounds per ton 79.00 pounds 

42 pounds per ton 79.25 pounds 

43 pounds per ton .79.50 pounds 

44 pounds per ton 79.75 pounds 

45 pounds per ton 80.00 pounds 

46 pounds per ton 80.25 pounds 

47 pounds per ton 80.50 pounds 

48 pounds per ton 80.75 pounds 

.49 pounds per Ion 81.00 pounds 

50 pounds per ton 81.25 pounds 

51 pounds per ton 81.50 poimds 

52 pounds per ton 81.75 pounds 

153 pounds per ton 82.00 pounds 

54 pounds per ton 82.50 pounds 

55 pounds per ton 83.00 pounds 

56 pounds per ton ...83.50 pounds 

57 pounds per ton 84.00 pounds 

58 pounds per ton 84.50 pounds 

59 pounds per ton 85.00 pounds 

pounds per ton 85.50 pounds 

161 pounds per ton 86.00 pounds 

62 pounds per ton 86.50 pounds 

63 pounds per ton 87.00 pounds 

64 pounds per ton. 87.50 pounds 

65 pounds per ton. 88.00 pounds 

pounds per ton 88.50 pounds 

pounds per ton 89.00 pounds 

pounds per ton 89.50 pounds 

pounds per ton 90.00 pounds 

70 pounds per ton 90.50 pounds 

71 pounds per ton 91.00 pounds 

L72 pounds per ton 91.50 pounds 



Above this, the value of one-half of one 
pound is allowed for every pound of sugar 
made by factory. 

To enable besides some of our large cane 
sellers to avail themselves of any rise in 
prices, we offer to store sugar for their ac- 
count, instead of paying them for value of 
same at time of delivery; storage and other 
expenses are, of course, to be assumed by 
cane haulers." 

Mr. Kock's plan is a most liberal one to 
the growers of cane. To those growing low 
sucrose cane he gives three-fifths of the 
sugar produced. Even to those growing very 
rich cane capable of affording a yield of 
200 lbs. to the ton, his table would give 
him over half of the sugar. • 

In order to compare the different plans, 
let us bring them together and see the 
relative cost of a ton of cane bought by 
each. Starting with 10 per cent sucrose in 
cane and going up to 14 per cent and as- 



PLANTINC CO. 



Digitized by 



Google 



March 18, 1899.] 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPACTURiat 



167 



sumlng 4^cent8 as price of sugar, we will 
have the following table: (I will state that 
the analyses given are taken from records of 
the Station.) 



1 

u 


3 

1 


1 


^ 


t 

m 


t 


i 


s 

o 

a 


t 

1 


a 

IP 


£ 


£ 


£ 


£ 


s 


S 


& 


& 


s 


5si 


10. 


2. 


72 


4^ 


2.62 


2.81 


2.97 


2.94* 


3.13* 


2.56 


10.5 


1.76 


75 


4% 


2.89 


2.91 


3.12 


3.20 


3.26 


2.79 


11. 


1.62 


77 


4% 


3.16 


3.02 


3.27 


3.46 


3.35 


2.99 


12 


1.40 


80 


4% 


3.63 


3.25 


3.57 


3.92 


3.61 


3.37 


13 


1.00 


81 


4^ 


3.93 


3.60 


3.87 


4.41 


4.06 


3.82 


14 


.75 


84 


4% 


4.39 


8.77 


4.16 


4.87 


4.46 


4.22 



* In both of tthese columns the available 
sugar in the last column has been assumed 
as yields in sugar house. In Belle Helene 
plan 80 per cent has been assumed as let, 
and 20 per cemt as 2nd sugar. The prices 
assigned are 4^ cents for Ist sugar and 3% 
cents for 2Ad sugars. 

Four of these plans are based upon sucrose 
content, therefore a chemist will be needed 
by the adoption of either one. In one the 
purity co-efflcient is required; In another 
the glucose. With a chemisE already em- 
ployed, I eee no reason why a complete 
analysis of the jnUie should not be made, and 
if made why not utilize the analysis, with 
mill extraction to determine output? Two 
of above plans deal only with output of 
sugar house, and while perhaps, to a factory 
bujring cane from a hundred planters, the 
dally Output of sugar may be a satisfactory 
basis for it to settle upon, sooner or later, 
dissatisfaction w^ill arise among the planters, 
paitticularly those who grow canes with 
large sucrose content. Exaininaition will 
show that those tables based upon sugar 
outiput pay more per ton for cane all 
through. Of the chemical plans Oapt. 
Pharr's pay^ the loweeFt for low sucrose cane 
and highest for high sucrose per ton. 

The Barbreck plan pays the highest for 
low grade cane; while Mr. Becnel pays low- 
est for higfh grade cane. 

Taking 12 per cent sucrose cane as about 
the average of the State in normal seasons, 
we have Mr. Becnel'e plan giving $3.25 per 
ton, followed by the Barbreck at $3.75, with 
the other two $3.61 and $3.63, or a difter- 
ence between extrenot^ of nearly 12 per 
cent 

Any of above plans will be an improve- 
ment over our present plan of a uniform 
price for all kinds of canes. 

An inspection of tables will show avail- 
able sugar per ton varjrlng from 120 to 199 
lbs., and the prices for canes yielding these 
quantities varying per ton from $2.52 to 
M.87H. 

To one, wanting to know exactly what 



he is doing, either in the scientific, techni- 
cal or financial world, the further postpone- 
ment of a consideration of this important 
progressive step, seems to be unadvisable. 



120 
131 
141 
169 
180 
199 



The rianner and Method of Purchas- 
ing: Cane Whether by Test or 

Otherwise. 

(Diacussion l^ the Louisiana Sugar Planters' Associa- 
tion, March 0th, 1800. Hon. Henry McCall, First 
Vice-President, presiding, in the absence of Judge 
Emile Rost; Secretary Reginald Dykers at the 
desk.) 

Chairman: Gentlemen, this is the annual 
meeting and the election of officers. Nomi- 
nation for officers to serve during the year 
are now in order. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: 1 would state, that 
our lamented friend, the Hon. Henry G. 
Minor, Terrebonne, whose decease was re- 
corded here, was the second vlce-^preffident 
of this association, and as some motion may 
be made here to-night concerning the whole 
ticket, some consideration especially will 
have to be given to that, as there is an actual 
vacancy, and I would nominate for that va- 
cancy Mr. Leonce M. Soniat, of Iberville. I 
place his name in nomination. 

The nomination was auly seconded by Mr. 
Becnel and on vote was unanimously car- 
ried. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: I suppose if there be 
no other names, perhaps you might direct the 
secretary to cast the ballot for the nomina- 
tion to be made. That will leave a vacan-cy 
for third vice-president For third vice-pres- 
ident, I would nominate Gol. G. G. Zenor, 
of St Mary. 

The nomination was duly seconded by Mr. 
W. B. Schmidt', and on vote was unanimously 
carried. 

Mr. Lezin Becnel: I would put in nomi- 
nation the entire ticket, with the two names, 
the ticket reading: Judge Emile Rost, Pres- 
ident; Hon. Hy. MoCall, 1st Vice-President; 
Mr. Leonce M. Soniat, 2nd Vice-President; 
Col. G. G. Zenor, 3rd Vice-President; Mr. 
Wm. B. Schmidt, Treasurer; Mr. Reginald 
Dykers, Secretary. 

Executive Committee: Mr. Daniel Thomp- 
son, Dr. W. C. Stubbs, Oapt John N. Pharr, 
Mr. Wm. B. Schmidt and Hon Jno. Djrmond. 

I move that the secretary case the ballot 
for the association. 

This motion was duly adopted and the sec- 
retary then cast the (ballot, and the ticket 
was elected unanimously. 

Chair: The next matter before the meet- 
ing is the reading of papers on the subject of 
"The Manner and Method of Purchasing 
Cane. Whether by Test or Otherwise." The 
chair understands that Mr. Rcrt)ert Stbrm, 
of the Meeker Central Factory, is present 
with a paper. The association would be glad 
to hear from him. 



(Mr. Storm here read Ms paper, which was 
followed by papers read by Mr. R. Q. Co- 
meaux, Mr. C. Robert Churchill, Judge Henry 
Meyer and Dr. W.,C. Stubbs, (Mr. Meyer's 
paper being read by the secretary.) A vote 
of thanks was tendered those who prepared 
the papers, and they were ordered published 
with the proceedings. They appear in our 
last issue, except that of Dr. Stuhibs which 
appear m this Issue. 

Mr. Churchill concluded the reading of his 
paper by. stating: 

"In reference to this question of trash from 
the cane, to which I referred in my paper, . 
there is one fact I noticed. At the factory 
I named . they handled some 53,000 tons of 
cane, all of which was handled in cars. After 
the cars were emptied, the trash was re- 
moved and weighed at the end of the season 
when it was found that the amount reached 
90 tons.' Now I presume it is possible that 
this quantity was only one-third of the timsh, 
cane-leaves and the like (possibly less than 
that — I say one- third) that were left in the 
cars, the sweater amount being undoubtedly 
fed on carrier. Of course^lt is useless to say 
that trash absorbs great moisture, and does . 
away with some good work in the cane. 
Now, in regard to green tops that I suggested 
should be cut off, and deducted from the 
tare, I would like to read a little article 
written by Prof. J. T. Crawley, and pub- 
lished in the Planter on i^ebruary 2, 1895. 
Ftot.. Crawley was then at Barbreck. He 
says: 

"By cutting cane too high, as has been 
often pointed out, great damage may be 
done. Following are analyses of tops cut 
from cane brought to the mill from several 
plantations on different days: 



Number of 


Brix. 


Sucrose. 


Purit 


Joints cut 








2 


12.3 


5.5 


44.7 


3 to 5 


11.1 


5.0 


45.0 


2 


10.9 


5.0 


45.9 


2 


10.0 


4.2 


42.0 


2 


10.8 


4.3 


39.8 



Not only will these juices not grain in the 
pan, but they will act deleteriously on the 
other juices, restraining crystallization. The 
factory, therefore, that ibuys cane that has 
not oeen properly topped loses in two ways; 
By having to pay for a worthless product, 
and by producing a decreased yield because 
of these tops. 

Dr. Stubbs concluded the reading of his 
paper with the following remarks: 

"I was requested by the association at its 
last meeting (I did not have the pleasure of 
attending on account of my absence from the 
city,) to review the different plans that had 
been presented, and it would now seem that 
my paper was called for too soon, as there 
have been other plans presented to-night 
that I will not be able to touch upon. 

Here( pointing to the blackboard,) we have 
the analyses of different juices.' Beginning 
at 10, we have 2.00 glucose, with a purity 
of 72, with the price of sugar 4^ for that 
cane. Captain Pharr would pay fdr that 
(2.52, Mr. Becnel, (2.81, Barbreck, (2.97, 
Belle Helene, <$2.94, under Mr. Kock's plan, 
(3.13, and under the plan I propose, (2.55. 
There would be 120 pounds of available sugar 
in that cane. I will omit the halves and go 
on to 11 per cent 1.62 glucose, 77 purity, 4% 
cents for sugar, as a/bove, for which Captain 
Pharr wouW* pay $3.16; Mr. Becnel, $3.02; 
Barbreck, $3.27; Belle Helene, $3.45; Mr. 
Kock« $3.35 and $2.99 by the one I propose, 
with sugar available 141. Coming now, say 
to 12, which is about the average of the 



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[Vol. XXII, No. U. 



state; 12 per cent sucrose carries with It 
1.40 glucQse, purity 80, for which we would 
pay, according to Captain Pharr's plan, (3.68; 
Mr. Becnel's, $3.25; Baribreck, $3.57; Belle 
Helene, $3.92; Mr. Kock, $3.61 and $3.37 by 
the plan I propose. Available sugar 159. We 
wHl now come to 14 per cent; glucose .75, 
purity 84, which would be paid for under 
the plans ^iven, as follows: By Captain 
Pharr, $4.39; Mr. Becnel, $3.77; Bartweck, 
$4.16; Belle Helene, $4.87; Mr. Kock $4.46, 
and under my plan, $4.22. 

Now you gentlemen can "pay your money 
and take your choice." 

Chair: It is in order to discuss these 
papers, and the Chair would call upon Mr. 
Dymond for any remarks lie might have 
to make on the subject 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Dr. Stubbs has cov- 
ered the ground so thoroughly, so well, that 
it -quite appalls any one else who might at- 
tempt to discuss the subject. He has indeed 
treated it exhaustively, and has brought out 
the merits of the various * methods which 
have been presented. It seems to me, if his 
hsrpotheses is correct, that is, that the re- 
straining influence of glucose is one for one, 
that then the basis through the plan de- 
veloped or proposed would be a very fair 
one, a very proper one. That would still 
leave, however, the difficulty that was dis- 
cussed here at our last meeting of securing 
a proper sample of sugar cane. I have 
thought considerably about that matter since 
our last meeting, and it occurs to me, If we 
arrive at the conclusion that it is necessary 
to sample cane, we should soon learn how 
to sample it; and that th^ difficulties that 
will arise between the seller of cane and 
its buyer will finally suggest the true equi- 
ties. If five canes, or if ten or twenty 
canes were selected, it is always found that 
these are better by far than the average. 
For many years I endeavored to sample 
canes, and found that, unconsciously we se- 
lected canes better than the average. These 
canes were tested In the hand mill, under 
very good pressure, yielding 70 to 75 per 
cent and always gave a result of one degree 
Baume more than the result in the double 
milL Now, it had occurred to me that pos- 
s*bly our hand mill mig^t have some co- 
efflicient calculated establishing its relation 
to the true result. For instance, if we find 
that our sample mill always gave one point 
more by the polariscope than the double mill, 
then that allowance should tie made. If any 
one thought that unfair, then let an experi- 
ment be made, and it would be found that 
that method would be fair. A good many 
years ago we had a hydraulic press, with a 
capacity of some ten tons, and we endeav- 
ored to get juice in that way, just as we do 
to-day with a vice, and either with the 
ordinary vice, hydraulic press, or any kind 
of hand mill, the results were always about 
the same; some one degree Baume greater 
than with our double cane mill. So it seems 
to me, that sampling, if any difficulties arise, 
will settle Itself in some way. The beet 
men in Europe, for the last twenty years 
have been trying to work out the problem 
of how best to sample beets, and are mak- 
ing better progress every years. They have 
a little "corkscrew apliance which pene- 
trates the side of each beet to some con- 
siderable extent, and in that way get what 
they think a fair sample. Perhaps their 
'beets may not vary as our canes do. Dr. 
Stubbs l)rought out a point in his paper 
to-night, which is invariably and uniformly 
correct, and that is the wonderful difference 
that attaches to canes right in the same row 
— in the same clump. We find canes (as all 
those who eat canes are familiar with,) 
that are not very sweet, and others quite 



sweet, growing side by side, in the same 
row, and probably in the same clump of 
canes, the result of the different ages of the 
canes, or of some cause tliat we may not 
know about. Now fhls point, the manner 
of sampling, has been the stumbling block 
thus far, and it would seem to me that no 
matter what plan of purchase we might 
adopt, the natural equities of the case de- 
mand that we should sample the canes. 

In considering the matter from a rather 
personal point of view, it has seemed to me 
that the point brought out by Mr. Storm, 
in his paper just read, is a very desirable 
one, and that is that we should learn to 
know what kind of cane is a (air delivery. 
They have the term, as applied to lumber 
and merchandise, "merchantable." He has 
used that phrase. What would constitute 
good delivery in sugar cane? I fancy that 
in this state t^at a proper delivery of sugar 
oane is of sound canes that are topped no 
higher than the last red joint; that shall be 
free of trash and ddrt, and that shall not 
be sprouted or rotted at the joints. Now 
all the conditions have been made part of 
certain contracts thus far, except the last 
two; but this last season we had canes rooted 
at all joints, and sprouted at nearly every 
eye. It was in '95 I think, that the same 
difficulty was experienced with sprouted 
eyes. We had a freeze early in December, 
and in about two weeks after that the yield 
of the canes in sugar fell off nearly thirty 
pounds per ton. The tops of the cane were 
covered with leaves and the upper joints 
had immense sprouts on them, some 5, 7 
and 8 inches long; and the yield fell from 
160 to 130 pounds. I simply mention that 
with the view of exciting some interest, be- 
cause I think Mr. Storm's reference very 
proper, and ought to exert considerable In- 
fluence as to wSat constitutes a proper de- 
livery of cane. It has never been deflnefi. 
and I suppose never will be deflned until 
some difficulty arises that will compel a le- 
gal decision in regard thereto; but the trans- 
actions in sugar cane are so large, involving 
so many thousands, or even millions of dol- 
lars, that the time has come, or will come, 
when this question must be determined by 
arbitrament of some kind. In some manner 
we will have to reach some conclusion about 
It. Therefore I think what constitutes a 
fair delivery of sugar cane, and the problem 
of sampling, if we can settle these things 
among ourselves, tfien with the information 
brought out at these several meetings, and 
bv the various papers, from these will be 
chosen such a plan by each individual as 
will be best suited to his own locality. 

Col. Zenor: I have nothing to say that 
would enlighten you; but I would like to 
allude to two points brought out here to- 
night I think one was by Mr. Churchill. 
I understand him to say that the trash 
that was left standing in the cars from a 
crop was estimated by him to be proba- 
bly not over one-third of the trash that 
was brought there, and that went into the 
mill. 90 tons is given in his estimate, from 
which it would appear there were 270 tons 
of this dry trash. Now that, is ^a very con- 
siderable item, and I have no doubt it is 
correct. And yet few pe(H)le would think any 
such amount of trash could be accumulated 
in one season from that amount of cane. 

Dr. Stubbs: You keep an account of the 
trash dally brought into your yard? 

Col. Zenor: I have not, sir. 

Dr. Stubbs: Wo have, and I can give you 
the figures. It reaches as much as 3.5%. 

Col. Zenor: Yet, if you attempt to deduct 
that, which is nothing more than fair and 
equitable, the cane seller will raise a howl. 

Mr. Churchill: That item alone would pay 



for the testing of the cane for the entire 
season. 

Col. Zenor: Another thing' Prof. Stubbs 
argued that was unusual, and shows clearly 
and has been often stated. The real and 
only correct plan to purchase cane is by sac- 
charine content; but how to get at it is the 
question to determine. 

Mr. L. W. Soniat: It seems to me that the 
most difficult question, the two most diffi- 
cult questions are, first of all: How to es- 
tablish the quality of the cane, in other 
words, the sample. The next thing is the 
plan on which to buy. The plan that Dr. 
Stubbs has given, tnat is we "pay our money 
and take our choice." As to sampling, I 
think the Doctor has gone rather far. 50 
canes from a load would require an extra 
mill. 

Dr. Stubbs: I said you might take fifty 
canes for a sample. It strll^es me il every 
man who furnishes, say 20 cars a day — ^If 
you take two canes from each wagon, it 
would give 40 for a sample. 

Mr. Soniat: You mean for the whole day? 

Dr. Stubbs: That would Ce about my 
meaning. 

Chair: Do you mean fifty canes for eacb 
man during the day? 

Dr. Stubbs: Fifty canes for each man 
during the day. 

Mr. Soniat: I think if we took out two 
canes from each load, it would come as 
near being an average as any other plan. 

Chair: If you had five hundred cars, you 
would have one thousand canes to analyiEe. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Five hundred cars 
would be very much. 

Chair: Not so much— plantation cars. 

Mr. Churchill: Could not Dr. Stubbs give 
us some idea of what kind of canes to se- 
lect. I know the beet people, as the carta 
with the beets arrive, they are dumped into 
bins — they have a man there who meas- 
ures the beets and catches a sample at ran- 
dom; but with cane, I don't just exactly see 
h.iw CO get a sample. 

Dr. Stubbs: I mentioned in my paper that 
in taking the canes, they must not be select- 
ed. I will say this about beets; every beet 
is of the same age; they are planted at the 
same time, and come up at tne same time. 
We grow cane under peculiar circumstances 
in Louisiana. In nearly all foreign coun- 
tries the first canes that come up are cut 
down. They want cane that will sucker 
abundantly, and the cane that will do the 
largest amount of suckering is the cane most 
desirable. With us, we want a cane that will 
sucker as little as possible, because sucker- 
ing delays the maturity of the crop, and, 
as I told you Just now, we found in '94 or '95, 
two canes born in July that gave us richer 
sugar than any othera, but as a rule July 
canes are of no value. You all doubtless 
rememlber the French name for these great 
big short canes, about that big (Indicating) 
canne-folle, they call it. Sometimes we 
throw them into the pile; they are nothing 
iless than a mass of glucose — ^immature canee, 
and they are probably twice the size of any 
other cane in the field in diameter. They are 
very low in sucrose content Our canes may 
be relied upon doing their suckering from 
March until the middle of June. This 
is vfrom the same cane, and each would be 
selecting his own can«e, and therefore it is 
impossible, if we are going to buy on a sam- 
ple to sample each single stalk, because you 
may get a stalk 25 above or below the aver- 
age Off the field but with beets it is difterent. 
Beets are of the same age and are restricted 
in size. No man wants beefts over two 
pounds; they are restricted in size. They 
don't allow you to go under that or over 
that, or, rather, they dont care if you go 



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March 18, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



led 



under that I would say that for eight or 
ten years we have been counting every cane 
on the sugar experiment station. Three 
days of the year, lot, when they are laid 
by, 2nd about Septemiber Ist and 3rd when 
they are harvested. You will find one-half 
the canes present in July perish before we 
go to harvest; you will find some that are 
emaciated, excluded from the sua, and are 
Eftanding with hardly any growth during the 
year. Some are very low in sugar. When 
they go to the mill, all these are thrown in, 
and tliat is one reason why you cannot get 
the liand mill to give the same extraction; 
not because the hand mill does not give an 
approximate test, but because no man will 
ever select one of these canes as a sample. 
They will always take the best cane. You 
cannot send a man to select canes but that 
he will take the best — higher in sucrose than 
the average. 

Col. Zenor: How do you account for this 
abnormal growth. I have noticed it fre- 
quently. I refer to these enormous canes, 
twenty to thirty inches long, and as large 
in diameter as my arm. 

Dr. Stubbe: That is what is called the 
canne folle — ^"foolish canes" they are called. 
They are notorious all over the sugar cane 
fields, everywhere, an<d they have gone into 
history. They are found in every climate, 
and are Just abnormal productions. These 
canes contain very little sugar. They are 
rapid growers, and mature young. If you 
would send an inexperienced man to the 
fieM, sometimes he would probably take that, 
because it is so large — 2^ inches in diameter* 
Iftr. Soniat: Did you^ever try to plant it. 
Dr. Stutbbs: Not knowingly. I have al- 
ways avoided it I have always ordered 
them in planting these canes should be 
thrown out, because I didn't want to propa- 
gate them. 

Hon. John Dymond: I would like to ask 
Dr. 9tUbbs a question. It seems to me that, 
in the course of time both parties will be 
represented at each central factory; that is, 
the buyers of cane will have a representa- 
tive there, as in all the sugaj* houses of Cali- 
fornia to look after the weights and after 
the analysis. How would it do to let the fac- 
tory representative select, say, ten pounds, 
or a given weight, of the poorest th*»' 
could select, say ten pounds or a given 
weight of the poorest that he oould find, 
ant! the representative of the seller select 
the same weight of the best that he could 
find, making the test in that way. Should 
the question of bad cane come up, the fac- 
tory representative would say, *Now, sir, Mr. 
A. yonv cases are defective.' The sellers 
repreoentative and the factory representa- 
tice would select ten or twenty pounds each 
—the factory representative selecting the 
worst, and the cane seller the best. Tliere 
could be no fairer sample than that. 

Dr. Stubbs: I would like to ask one ques- 
tion; what constitutes the best cane and 
what the worst 

Hon. Jno. Dsnnond: You will determine 
that iby experience. 

Dr. Stuibbs: I have tried my best to learn 
that, and if you were to send me to-mor- 
row to my field to select ten of the worst 
canes, I doss't know that I could do it, from 
a sugar standpoint, for this reason: Fre- 
quently these dark, splendid stalks will con- 
tain a larger quantity of sucrose than some 
of our vigorous good healthy canes. I 
don't see how you could do It 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: As to that, I would 
say that first of all we will avoid, or rather, 
the factory, would select for the worst sam- 
ple those immature white canes that have 
not been exposed to the sun. It would select 
those large, short canes to which you just 
now referred, and select also the very small. 



slender canes; that is, the factory would do 
that selecting; picking out the very worst. 
The representative of the factory could se- 
lect ten or twenty, of what seemed to him 
to be the worst On the other hand, the 
representative of the cane growePB would 
select ripe, straight canes, of full color. If 
they are ribbon, bright ribbon, and the part 
of ribbon that was not red would be yellow 
and not green — it is very easy to select 
what you think or find ripe. 

Chair: If you will send a darkey out, he 
will pick sweet cane. 

Mr. Becnel: He is the best man for the 
seller. 

Dr. Stubbs: When Dr. Maxwell was at the 
station, he carried on a great numfber of ex- 
periments along this line. He got up what 
I called "Maxwell's Constant" His plan was 
this: He started, I reckon 20 or 30.— He 
went to the field, cut down fifty canes; he 
then took these fifty canes, spread them out 
before him, and then selected the best he saw 
from that pile, then the next best, and so on, 
until he exhausted the pile. He then ran 
twenty-five canes through the mill to see 
if the results were constant, and I think he 
abandoned it before he got through, after 
he had made about twenty odd experiments. 
I suggest that thing as the nearest approach 
to sampling cane — let the buyer and seller 
go and ta^e 50 canes from a car, and then 
let each one draw straws, putting one at 
a time on each pile until there are twenty- 
five canes on both; then analyze that 
twenty-five and in that way you can get the 
nearest average, so to speak, that I know 
of. 

Chair: How are you going to handle that 
cane coming from, say forty different men. 

Dr. Stubbs: I mean that much during the 
day. 

Chair: How are you going to handle cane 
coming from forty different men; supposing 
you receive from forty sellers every day. 
Don't you think that would be a considera- 
ble job? 

Dr. Stubbs: I believe, Mr. McCall, as I 
stated to you in my paper, that a great many 
difficulties will vanish' as we approach them. 
The time was, I remember, before the plant- 
ers held these meetings, when you all talked 
about chemists in sugar houses; did not 
know how to go albout it, until to-day you 
won't do without a ehemlst Now, as to 
sampling cane, when we approach the diffi- 
culties, they will flee. It is always the ap- 
parent difficulties — they are more apparent 
than real, and I Relieve with Mr. Dymond, 
that notwithstanding all I have said to you, 
the rhipctio'm that have been brought for- 
ward to-night, I believe, when we all cen- 
tre upon that one trouble in Louisiana, how 
to sample cane, we will all reach a conclu- 
sion satisfactory to us in the end. There is 
no doubt about it to my mind. I believe 
we can get there. I can suggest no better 
way than I have stated to you to-night, but 
I believe we will find it out Remember, up 
to this time, there has been no sampling 
between buyer and seller, so to speak. As 
I stated in my paper, Mr. Payne had a chem- 
ist at Barbreck for three or four years, and 
Mr. Ferris had a chemist Settlements were 
made on sucrose content; and to show how 
close they got together, in all this time 
there was only a little difference of some- 
thins over one hundred dollars. I believe 
it was $142. on ten or fifteen thousand tons 
of cane. Now that shows they got pretty 
close together. This arrangement was satis- 
fy ctorv to both narties. I have the author- 
ity of Mr. Payne to say that the arrangement 
was perfectly satisfactory to him. He em- 
nioved ^nd naid his own chemist, and Mr. 
Ferris did likewise. 



Hon. Jno. Dymond: I would like to ask 
Dr. Stuhbs a question about the method oi 
sampling cane he referred to a moment ago; 
aibovLt selecting canes from a wagon at ran- 
dom. 

Dr. Stubbs: Say you lay fifty canes on the 
floor, you and I are going to divide that 
pile. I say to you, "Mr. Dymond, take first 
choice. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: If I am the buyer, 
am I to look at the worst? 

Dr. Stubbs: If you are the buyer — I mean 
the two chemists representing both parties. 
To-day you start first, to-morrow I start 
first and so on. You select first one day 
and I select first the nett, 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Each man picks his 
beat and then presently we will have twenty- 
five canes on each of the two piles? 

Dr. Stubbs: No sir; the fifty canes are 
taken at random from the cars — in fifty 
cars— it don't make any difference. Just 
rake out of the luty cars. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: You can't take cane, 
you can't put your arms out and take these 
canes without discriminating. 

Mr. Soniat: But then you would' be tak- 
ing from one car. As I stated, if we take 
two or three; if we take two from twenty- 
five cars, we will have fitly canes to make 
the test. 

Hon. Jno. Dsrmond: You will take the 
best oft each car. 

Chair: If you will throw out your canes, 
I don't think 1 will make any mistakes. 

Dr. Stubbs: The canes may taste sweet 
in eating them. I have foreign canes that 
are soft, juicy and tender, yet they won't po- 
larize like our canes. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: No man can make a 
mistake without taking eltiier the best or the 
poorest I have tried it a hundred times, 
and almost invariably get better canes than 
the average. • 

Dr. Stubbs: Of course you can get better 
than the average. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Take right from the 
top of the car. If you hired a blind pan 
for the purpose you might get a fair sam- 
ple. 

Dr. Stubbs: Suppose you did this; sup- 
pose you simply run your hand in a car 
and pull out two stalks, taking two in this 
way from say twenty-five cars; you can 
probably get fifty average stalks. 

Col. Zenor: In connection with this, I 
fail to see any better plan that can be de- 
vised than that pursued by Captain Pharr. 
It is plain, simple and practicable, and he 
certainly gets a fair average per ton. For 
instance, he gets oane from Mr. Cocke. It 
is in a flat boat. He takes it out puts it in 
cars; he sends enough cars with Mr. 
Cocke's oane to load his carrier for one 
hundred feet, all with Mr. Cocke's cane. 
When that cane strikes his mill he takes 
his sample— Just as that cane goes through 
the mill. 

Dr. Stubbs: That is first rate; but how 
many can do that; that solves the problem 
if everybody could do that. 

Mr. Soniat: For instance, Mr. McCall and 
myself get cane from all around. I will get 
cane at a time from perhaps twenty ten- 
ants; hence with us that would be inprac- 
ticable. It Is all right with Captain Pharr, 
with a flat boat, but we are not fixed that 
way. 

Mr. Becnel: How would it do to take the 
average mill juice, and then make a special 
provision for the man that furnishes you 
light cane. 

Chair: That is the understanding, I am 
told, that is pursued in Europe, in the beet 
countries. ThejT don't analsyze their beets, 
but establish a minimum. They say, for in- 



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IVoL XXII, No. IL 



stance, tEat 11 per cent is the minimum. As 
long as it goes along at 11 per cent, they 
go straight on, but 'whenever they find that 
it runs under that, they detect where that 
comes from. If anybody goes belo^ 11, there 
is a special arrangement for that; that is 
subject to a special arrangement. The 
pric^ of cane to test above 1*1 per cent would 
be, say 80, on the half basis. It is the fair- 
est in the world to my mind. There is 
* nothing fairer than that; but when it comes 
to ascertaining that by the polariscopic test, 
there, I think, is where the difiOculty arises. 
But for the life of me I don't see how, in 
our case, without an army oi chemists, we 
can do it at all satisfactorily. If the cane 
sellers leave it to us, we try to be fair and 
do what is riglit. Some say your cane is 
"so and so.'* We might make a test her^ 
and there, but it is simply out of the ques- 
tion where you are getting cane from forty 
men. Why sometimes at night we h^ve 
three hundred plantation cars lying out in 
the yard. Just imagine what a job we would 
have picking samples out of that number. 
My idea is to take the average of your mill 
juice, starting on the presumption all are 
to fumisli fair average cane, and when we . 
find from observation around the yard that 
any man is not furnishing proper cane, or 
cane lower than the average, proceed to 
make a special test for his cane accordingly 
as circumstances might dictate. 

Mr. Soniat: It will take a sharp eye for 
that. 

Chair: Last year we made individual 
tests all the time, but then they were not on 
such a schedule; you could establish a basis 
between buyer and seller, 'but that would 
not do all the time. 

Dr. Stubbs: Is it not possiible to analyze 
thoroughly the cane delivered on one day 
in the week, and settle upon that. Like you 
do with sugar? I believe most settlements 
for sugar are based upon the prevailing 
prices of a certain day in the week. Analyze 
a certain day in the week, and run on that 
analysis until the next week. Could not 
something of that sort be done? 

Mr. Becnel: Take the average mill juice 
for the week? 

Dr. Stubbs: For instance, say a mill has 
forty tenants. Suppose, we will say it has 
36. We would analyze the cane from six to- 
day, six to-morrow, six the next day and so 
on; and whatever the analyses might be on 
that day, they are to paid for at that rate 
during thd week, just like you do now with 
the price of sugar in New Orleans. You 
don't go by the daily price. 

Chair: The secretary makes up each day 
tha average for the week and he has a 
certain day — Saturday — he sends the average 
for the week. 

Mr. Crozier: I understand Mr. Soniat 
takes a sample from most of the canes in 
the field. It (hatf occurred to me it would 
be a good way to get a fair sample— send 
a man out Into the field to take a sample 
of each man's cane. 

Mr. Soniat: There are always four or five 
cars ahead, and in that way we select sam- 
ples on the road out of the carts — I think 
this is the better than taking them from tbe 
car. 

Mr. Crozier: I would like to ask Dr. 
Stubbs About the calculation of iiis, whether 
he substracts the glucose from the sucrose. 

Dr. Stubbs: dubstract the glucose from 
the sucrose, tbus: 

lOx— 2=8% X 1500=120. Then a man 
would get for his sixty pounds of sugar, if 
the price be 4^ cents. 12.55. That is a sim- 
ple plan. I Bubstract the glucose from the 
sucrose. 

Mr. Crozier: Dr. Stubbs spoke about 
suckering, that we ought to cultivate for 



suckers. I wish he would give us some plan 
by which we would cultivate suckers this 
year. I understand him to say that; he said 
it was not advisable to cultivate suckers. 

Dr. Stubbs: No, no; I said this: That 
we don't want an excess of suckers like in 
foreign countries. We have no trouble in 
this respect like they have. There they dig 
a hole 5x4, 6 or8, or 10 inchee deep, and when 
the canes come up they cut them to increase 
the suckering; they get from 50 to 75 stalks. 
With proper cultivation we prevent the 
suckering at right angles and restrict it to 
the row. I did not say we ought to stop 
suckering, because we cannot do that. Cane 
is bound to sucker, but we donU want it to 
continue suckering so we check It 'by pro- 
per cultivation. 

Mr. Churchill: Do you mean to say that 2 
per cent of glucose would retard 2 per cent 
of sucrose from crystallization? 

Dr. Stubbs: I gave you our experiments 
on that; we made 25 or 30. 

Mr. Churchill: It seems to me I have seen 
molasses a number of times where the glu- 
cose exceeded the sucrose fully 10%. In 
my experience with molasses, which has been 
somewhat extensive, I have frequently found 
that the glucoee exceeds the sucrose. I am 
of the opinion that glucose need not be 
considered seriously in the working out of 
the yields in sugar factories. 

Dr. Stubbs: Sugar containing 90% of su- 
crose carries wit it 4 to 5% glucose. If you 
had washed that sugar, free of impurities, 
tlie glucose in your molasses would be about 
the same as the sucrose. 

In my paper read here to-nigiht. I bave 
shown where the calculated available sugar 
was 130 poimds. we Qll>talned 137 pounds, 
but a part of that sugar was 80% sucrose 
and 10% glucose, and in every instance, 
there was glucose in the sugar obtained, 
which if removed, would not have given that 
much sugar. I covered all that. When you 
read my paper, you will see that I brought 
out all that. 

Chair: The paper presented by Dr. 
Stubbs is a very Interesting one, and I would 
suggest that it be printed In pamphlet form, 
in addition, of course to its being printed in 
the "Plaaiter." I would suggest that, if some 
member of the associa'Oion thinks well of it, 
a motion o that effect be made. 

Dr. Stubbs: As to the number that should 
be published, would say that I published 2500 
copies of my '*Sugar Cane,' and I have al- 
ready distriibuted in Louisiana over 2000 
copies, and most of It on application. 

A motion to print 2500 copies was duly 
made and carried. 

Mr. Churchill: With reference to the 
small mills that I mentioned in my paper, I 
understand some have been contracted for 
at $825. Mr. Thoena, of Schwartz's foundry 
is here to-night, I believe, and might give us 
a little information on the subject 6 roller 
mills. 

Chair: 6 roller mills, costing $800. Are 
they applied to steam? 

Mr. Churchill: 6 roller mills, and are 
operated Iby a belt with a return belt, every- 
thing complete, and they are guaranteed to 
give 80% extraction. I understand that Mr. 
Godchaux has ordered four of them, one for 
each of his places, and one for Kenllworth. 
10x15 I think he said was the size. 

Dr. Stubbs: My 9 roller mill is 9x18—9 
rollers. I gave $600 for It; the journals are 
4 Inches, and rolls 18 Inches long. The mill 
Is a duplicate of Cora's, modelled on a 
smaller scale. The only trouble we exper- 
ienced with it. is that it requires enormous 
power; we can only run it half its capa- 
city. 

Col. Zenor: Whlat was the object in hay- 
ing It 80 long— 18 inches, why not 10. 



Chair: You see the doctor makes his crop 
with that. 

Dr. Stulbbs* It was made to grind 4 tons 
an hour, but we have never been able to 
work it to its full capacity on account of de- 
ficient power; but we can get 78% extrac- 
tion with it, and in one or two instances, 
when the cane was very juicy, we went up 
to 80, but the average runs are 76 or 78, 
without any sajturation; with saturation, it 
will go a little over 80%. 

There being no furtber discussion, the 
meeting adjourned after selecting "The Best 
Method of Planting, Fertilizing and Cultivat- 
ing Cane so ais to give the Best Results in 
Sugar," for discussion at the next meeting. 



Personal. 

Mr. Geo. W. Fisher, of the Fulton Iron 
Works paid us a pleasant visit a feiw days 
ago. He is here on one of his usual busi- 
ness trips, and tells us, among other things 
that Mr. Martin L. Flowers, who has been 
connected with them for several years, is no 
longer associated with them. Mr. Fisher lias 
made some short excursions into the sugar 
parishes and says he hopes to see the crop 
prospects brighten as the season advances. 

(Mr. Joseph Blrg, a leading sugar planter 
and a men»ber of the well-known firm of 
Birg and SutclifPe, proprietors of the Camp- 
erdown refinery at Irish Bend, arrived In 
the city during tne week on one of his 
customary flying trips and put up at the 
St. Charles hotel. 

Mr. E. B. L&Pice, of Lauderdale, La., was 
a visitor to the city last Friday. He stopped 
at ihe St. Charles hotel. 

H. C. Boas, E}sq., the prominent St Mary 
parish sugar planter, was at tbe Royal dur- 
ing the week. 

11 on. John Marks, a leading citizen of 
Assumption parish, was in the city dur- 
ing the past week.. He stopped at tha 
Denechaud. 

Mr. Charles B. Maginnis, of the firm of 
Calllouet and Maginnis, leading Terrebonne 
sugar planters and sugar manuflacturers 
was a guest of the St Charles hotel on Mon- 
day. Mr. Maginnis was accompanied by bis 
wile. 

Col. Lewis S. Clarke, of La(gonda planta- 
tion, was in the city during the week. Col. 
Clarke stopped at the St. Charles, his usual 
aibiding place. 

Ool. M. J. Kahoa, of West Baton Rouge, 
was at the Grunewald on Monday last 

Mr. F. E. Coombs was the head chemist 
at the well-known Shadyside place of Capt 
J. W. Barnett this pas^t season. Mr. Coomlw 
has had a wide and instructive experience 
in sugar house work, having made his debut 
at that gilt edge factory Calumet, where, un- 
der the supervision of Mr. Hubert Edson, 
he did some very valuable work. He then 
went to the West Indies and served for a 
season at the immense Esperanza plantation 
in the Island of Trinidad, returning finally 
to Louisiana and locating once again among 
his old friends. Mr. Coombs Is both a skill- 
ful chemist and a cultivated gentleman. 

Mr. J. C. Brand, a leading planter of 
Lafourche parish, registered at the St 
Charles hotel last Tuesday. 



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171 



LOCAL LBTTHRS. 



Ascension. 

(IPICIAL CORRB8PONDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Up to the close of last week the weather 
continued to favor our planters and the work 
of getting seed cane into the ground and 
digging and shaving ratoons was pushed vig- 
orously forward without interruption, with 
the result that on most places the greater 
part of this preliminary preparation for the 
crop campaign of 1899 nad been accomplished 
before the arrival of Sunday, bringing with 
it a heavy rain that was not unwelcome. 
There was "more of the same^' on Monday, 
sunshine and showers alternating in spells of 
brief duration throughout the greater portion 
of the day. The precipitation began with 
occasional light showers Saturday afternoon, 
but the sod-soakers did not set in until 
twenty^our hours later. 

The same state of comparative uncertain- 
ty heretofore commented upon with refer- 
ence to the outlook for the coming crop "by 
and large," still exists,, and another month 
must elapse before anything like a definite 
or reliable estimate can be made of the pros- 
pects for stands of plant and stubble. Many, 
planters and managers are serenely confident 
of securing fair showings in this regard for 
both classes of the crop; others deem the 
prospect for one or the other quite encourag- 
ing, while not a few are feeling decidedly 
blue as to their chances in either direction. 
In the confusion of so many varying and con- 
flicting opinions it is not feasible even to 
strike a general average at this time. We 
can only wait and watch and pray — that is, 
the more saintly of us will do the latter, but 
it is possible that among the unregenerate 
and ungodly there may be more "cussin' " 
than praying. 

Among the more hopeful and cheerful of 
our agriculturists is Mr. George M. Boote, 
who has but two or three days* more plant- 
ing in prospect on the ptortion of Evan Hall 
plantation which he is cultivating as a ten- 
ant He is confident of having a good stand 
and thinks the general outcome in that 
section of the parish will be better than 
many interested parties are XTispbsed to be- 
lieve. 

Mr. E. H. Barton reports that the erst- 
while bright prospects for good stands of 
both stubble and plant on his St. Emma place 
have retrograded considerably, particularly 
as concerns plant cane. This was deemed 
the main reliance a short while since, but 
the situation is now reversed, to all appear- 
ances, and stubble promises to win out bet- 
ter than plant. 

Managers Jno. F. Landry, of Riverside, 
and J. T. Meluncon express similar vierws. 

The outlook at Messrs. Lebermuth and 
Israers Salsburg place, St. James parish, has 
not improved by any means — on the contrary 
there is complaint that much of the seed 
there proves to be exceedingly poor and un- 
sound. 



Rearwood reports a dubious prospect and 
Messrs. Ferchaud and Graugnard, in St 
James, are said to have stopped planting on 
account of the bad condition of seed. 
.Manager H. C. Wilson, of Palo Alto, is 
not among the melancholy prophets, since 
the average quality of both plant and stub- 
ble on that place is decidedly good. He finds 
sound eyes on stubble that were less than 
two inches below the surface of the ground 
and will have much more than enough seed 
to plant all the land proposed for that pur- 
pose on Palo Alto. 

Says the Donaldsonville Chief: 

"Mr. Ed. Christiansen, manager of Mr. 
H. G. Morgan's Fairvlew plantation, in St. 
Charles- parish, had an offer to go to Cuba 
this year to take the management of a sugar 
plantation of which he was assistant over- 
seer away back in the seventies, but his 
present employer entered such an effective 
protest against the loss of his competent 
and trusted manager that Mr. Christiansen 
relinquished the idea of making the proffered 
change of base and will remain at Fairvlew, 
where ^e has made an exceedingly creditable 
record." 

Some years ago Mr. Christiansen was man- 
ager of the Gem plantation in 

Ascension. 

Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRBSPONDKMCIJ 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The good dry weathw*"chronlcled last week 
lingered with us till Saturday Evening when 
a gentle rain set in which continued for sev- 
eral days, the precipitation at the lower end 
of the parish being rather too heavy. Many 
had finished planting, and they as well as 
those who had not, wefe delighted to see 
the rain, for wherever life was left in the 
seed cane the action of rain combined with 
warm weather will feCch it out Our plant- 
ers feel much encouraged and are working 
with hearty good will. There was a good pay 
day Saturday and the merchants throughout 
the parish feel better too. Conservative' es- 
timates put the shortage in he acerage of 
plant cane at 30 per cent^ No one can tell 
what the stand will be but all are hopeful. 
The rain fall at Plaquemine was .8 of an 
inch; the maximum temperature for the 
*week was 86 degrees on March 10th and the 
minimum 42 degrees a day or two before 
that Cane planting continues and the work 
of shaving stubbles pro(gresses favorably. 
The demand for shavers and diggers has 
been brisk and the implement men are 
pleased. 

A gentleman juat in from the Coast below 
Plaquemine told us that where fall plant on 
the front of the St Louis and Evergreen 
plantations had been scraped last week, 
plenty of cane sprouts were visible even 
from the road, and that two rows of seed 
on Allemania*s front that had been uncov- 
ered and exposed to the rain looked splendid- 
ly. 

Hon. August Levert, of West Baton Rouge 



parish, was at Plaquemine last week and 
eays the condition of his seed cane was even 
worse than he expected anti he thinks the 
shortage in his crop will be 40 per cent. 

Messrs. V. and J. A. Berthelot expect to 
plant 750 acres at Old Hickory, Claiborne 
and Chatham, and hence feel relieved. 

Mr. Ed<win Marionneaux, of Plaquemine, 
says he will have a larger planting at Bel- 
fort and Holly Farm this year than last, not 
owing to jgood seed but rather to the large 
quantity put down. 

Mr. Marchand, a amaH farmer opposite 
Plaquemine, picked out his seed la£ft week, 
planting that whioh was good and rolling 
that which was not fit to plant He made 
some 16 barrels of syrup for which he was 
offered 35 cents per ^aHon at home. The 
cane ground was rather watery and required 
considerable evaporation. 

The Atchafalaya Basin Levee District 
Board, has taken some action towards open- 
ing up the drainage of the levee's base at 
Point Pleasant, and it is to be hoped will 
not stop until perfect drainage is assured. 
The levees around this point although among 
the smallest in the parish, gave the most 
trouble 'and expense and anxiety in 1897. 

Mr. Michel Hebert, formerly of the Cut- 
Off plantation in this parish, died at New 
Iberia this week, at the age of 81 years. The 
deceased belonged to the oad school and was 
respected and esteemed by everybody. He 
leaves a large family among whom is Mr. M. 
Ellet Hebert, of Plaquemine. 

The directors of the Bank of Plaquemine 
have elected Capt Chas^ A. Brusle, president, 
and Mr. Frederick Wllbert, vice-p(resident 
Both are men of sound financial ability and 
under their direction the continued prosper- 
ity of this institution is assured. 

Iberville, 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRBSPONDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Plantsr: 

Much better weather has materially altered 
the opinion of many planters as to the effect 
of the cold on the stubble and seed cane, 
in the word cold might also be included the 
wet weather of fiall and winter. With the 
ascent of the thermometer, the spirits of the 
planters seem also to have risen, and the 
facts are being looked in the face in the 
light of sunshine rather than the desiwnd- 
ency of the clouds. 

That there has been damage to both seed 
oane and stubble admits of no dispute, as 
well as the fact that the amount of damage 
has b6en greatly exaggerated and overes- 
timated. Some planters complain of poor 
seedcane, while their neighbor separated by 
only a line ditch seems satisfied. On one 
or two places the seed cane Is better than 
last year, though of course this is exception- 
al. One planter although complaining as 
to the quality of his seed admitted that so 
far he ha«i averaged three arpents- planted 
from one put down, surely this is not what 
can be termed spoiled cane. Of course we 



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172 



TBS LOmsIAKA HiAKlVlt AND SUOAlt MANtTFACTUBBIt 



LVol. XXII, No. 11. 



'Will admit that it might have planted more, 
but cane that plants tHree for one is not to 
be sneezed at! The beet seed that we have 
seen (was that on Georgia, and if what we 
saw was a fair specimen it will, compare 
favorably with any year. In the upper part 
of the parish we learn of much complaint, 
and gather that it must be worse than be- 
low Napoleonvl'lle. We hear that Magnolia 
has splendid seed, and perhaps there are 
others. Mr. Munson on Glenwood is satis- 
fied with his cane, and Trinity is not grumb- 
ling. Mr. Harper on Foley pronounces the 
cane fair. And this can he taken as about 
an average summing up of the situation. 

The condition of the fall-cane seems to 
be more serious, and that a poor stand will 
follow seems to "be conceded save on one 
of two exceptionally fortunate places. What 
the stubble will be is still a matter of C9n- 
jecture. With warm weather as we are At 
present having, and not too much rain tuc 
is every prospect of a fair, though not thick 
stand. There are enough good eyes left, with 
suckers to give a satisfactory stand, if they 
are not filled by adverse weather before 
they come out of the ground. 

The rain of Sunday, while nol actually 
needed did no harm, save in retarding the 
work. 

Mr. Henry Munson, on Enola, .is enlarg- 
ing and beautifying his residence, and when 
finished it will be not only commodious but 
thoroughly modern in appearance. 

Judge Walter Guion has recently purchased 
the tract next to him, at one time the resi- 
dence of Judge Nicholls. Mr. Mire Is the 
present lessee. Mr. Edouard Rodrigue has 
purchased the home place of his mother. 
Mrs. L. U. Folse has returned from a visit 
to Nottaway in Iberville. 

The Police Jury today formed ia new drain- 
age district, embracing a large portion of the 
6th ward. The commissioners intend to 
drain the Marais, as well as to cut through 
a ridge in the rear, thus reducing swamp- 
ievel and affording much better drainage to 
the lands in cultivation. If this be success- 
ful, it will be a great stride toward pros- 
perity, as not only the lands will be improved 
apd the cultivata'ble area enlairged but the 
Marais, an eyesore, will be removed, and ex- 
cellent roads secured. 

More Anon. 



Terrebonne. 

iPPBCUL CORRBSPONDBNCB.) 

Editor Louigianti Planter: 

The absence o^ precipitations of any 
magnitude during the first half of the month 
of March has enabled planters to rapidly 
advance field work^ and to date on most 
places the cane has all been planted, and on 
some the stubble has been dug, the major 
portion of the plant cane harrowed and cane 
planting will be brought to a close by the 
end of the week should the weather continue 
fair. With the exception of one or two days 
the weather has lately been warm for the 
season and very favorable to enhance crop 



prospects. A warm rain would now prove of 
benefit not only to the recently planted 
canes; but the physical condition of the soil 
would be materially improved. Until within 
the last few days vegetation has been back- 
ward, even garden plants have made but lit- 
tle progress. Some of the peach trees have a 
medium quantity of olossoms, others again 
are' coming out in leaf without any prospect 
of fruit. The conviction seems to be gradual- 
ly gaining ground that the canes, both plant 
and stubble, were more seriously damaged 
before than by the freeze; as the b'utts of 
the windrowed cane were invariably found 
more defective than the tops, the most ex- 
posed portions of the stalks, heavy cane, 
where the butts were better protected were 
more defective than where the windrows 
were comparatively light. 

In riding through and by the fields, sprouts 
can be seen here and there; but the number 
is still very limited. Even when the stubble 
is sound and the seed good, sprouts very 
often do not appear in profusion until be- 
tween the first and middle of April. On 
Hollywood, part of the estate of the late Hon. 
H. C. Minor, the manager, Mr. V. H. Kyle, 
Informs the writer that the new ground stub- 
ble promises best to date, and on Ellendale 
of Mr. Ed. McCk)llam. Mr. Stratton states 
that the stift land s'tul)ble there is coming 
out better than elsewhere. On the lower 
bayous Terrebonne and Dittle Caillou it very 
generally reported that the seed cane has 
been above average in quality, and the stub- 
ble on sandy soil but little affected. Should 
the season prove favorable the corn crop 
this season will be earlier than last year — 
some of the earliest planted is now marking 
the rows. The acreage will most certainly 
exceed that of last year as but little second 
year stubble will be retained. It is current- 
ly reported that one or two places will 
change ownership in the near future. Green- 
wood on the lower Bayou Black was sold 
on Saturday, but it is not publicly known 
who will cultivate the place the coming sea- 
son. - ^ 

Mr. Breaux, formerly with the Miles Plant- 
ing Company, is now domiciled in the parish 
and is interested in Live Oak, the property 
of Gen. Quitman in anti-l)elium days. 

A telephone line is now in course of con- 
struction from Schriever, which will enable 
the people of Houma to communicate direct 
with those in New Orleans Thibodaux, etc. 
Wednesday of last week, sunshine and 
cloudy; Thursday, partially cloudy; Friday, 
variable with warm south wind; Saturday, 
strong winds and cooler; Sunday, threaten- 
ing in the morning and very light showers 
before sunset; l^onday, fog in the morning 
and favorable later; Tuesday, a splendid 
growing day, and Wednesday, cloudy and 
colder since sunrise. 

Terrebonne. 



Hon. Chas. A. O'Neill, son of that stal- 
wart citizen, Col. JoJhn A. O'Neill of Frank- 
lin, was a recent arrival at the Grunewald 
hotel. 



St. Mary. 

(SPBC1AL COMIBSPONDBNCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The ten or twelve days of weather fav- 
orable to cane planting, allowed the plant- 
ers to get it all in the ground throughout 
the parish, so far as your correspondent' has 
been able to learn; so, the showers falling 
Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night, 
were needed to a great extent, and were 
considered to have come in a most profita- 
ble season. 

Manager Hanem, of Mr. Joseph Biitg's 
Lacy place, says he found his seed cane ex- 
cellent from l}eglnning to end of tHe plant- 
ing period, and does not account his loss 
anything above the ordinary whatever, 
which is the same as to say he sustained 
no loss. His acreage will therefore be what 
he expected from the first He reports the 
conditions in his near neighborhood also 
very encouraging — the loss with some be- 
ing nothing, and others very little. 

Col. John A. O'Neill, of the Anastacia, and 
his son, Hon. Walter O'Neill, of the Linwood, 
report that their plant was found, upon 
second examination, to have been sound and 
much better generally than they expected 
before the work of planting had actually 
begun; the small portion found to be in a 
state of decay was only that situated near 
the cross-drains, some of which was spoiled 
by cutting. 

Mr. Jacob Clausen, manager, and one of 
the owners of the Mary Land plantation, on 
Bayou Sale, has (found that his loss only 
amounted to fifteen acres; and the shortage 
on Mr. Louis Kramer's Francis place, on the 
Teche, is also twelve or fifteen acres, and 
considering the enormous size of these two 
estates, thirty acres are as nothing. 

Mr. C. S. Trimble has regained his courage 
during the last couple of weeks. His first 
impression was that his seed was a total loss, 
but upon a more extensive examination, it 
was found to be unsound only in spots, and 
happened in the end to be the very spots he 
had looked into in the first instance; and 
though his loss will be ueavy as compared 
to some of his neighbors, it is unimportant, 
generally considered. 

Senator Caffery's liethia place sustained 
rather a heavy loss; and so did the Chau- 
worth, owned also by the Cafferys ;and as 
the sugar house is situated on th^ former 
place, the seed cane necessary to put in a f^U 
crop on the Bethia, has been hauled ttonx 
Chatsworth, a distance by the round-about 
way of about three miles, it being cheaper 
to haul the seed in the spring than the 
crop it would produce in the winter. The 
shortage by this means of both plantations 
will fall entirely .upon the one furthest from 
the place of manufacture. 

Some of the planters admit now that their 
early discouragement was founded largely 
upon the opinion of Dr. Stubbs— seeming to 
think that the prophetic eye of the eminent 
agricultural scientist had burrowed into 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTURBR. 



178 



their several cane mats, and. spoke from a 
personal observation of the seed itself. But 
the majority verdict among the St. Mary 
planters, regarding that portion which was 
lost, is that most, if not the whole, damage 
was done prior to the freeze of February 
13th, by the incessant rains, together with 
a system of crop drainage incapable of car- 
rying off the enormous volumes of water. 
Some of them lay the fault to bad drain- 
age and heavy rains combined, while others 
holds that the loss was caused by improper 
drainage alone and in support of their the- 
ory, point to the fact that the rains were 
generally falling upon the fields of all alike; 
and that some were heavy losers, while 
others lost nothing, with adjoining fields. 

St, Mart. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8PONDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

There has been a slight change in the 
weather since my .last report For two weeks 
we had magnificent planting weather, clear, 
for the mo0t part warm with considerable 
wind from the south, which dried out the 
land rapidly, but yesterday the 12th, brought 
a refreshing shower which has been repeat- 
ed to-day. This rain was not much out of 
place, though it was a little premature for 
some who had but little land prepared for 
planting when the wea/ther cleared up. This 
rain will be of considerable benefit to the 
cane that has recently been planted for the 
reason that it will avoid to an extent dry rot 
that it was very much feared woulH take 
place, and especially where the cane was 
planted thick to insure a perfect stand. This 
spell of fine weather that we have just en- 
joyed has helped everything. Before the 
weaither cleared up, the roads were in a fear- 
ful condition, so much so that it was almost 
an impossibility to travel with a team over 
any of the roade in the parish, stock were 
suffering from continual exposure to rain 
and cold, and man wore a long face because 
he was not permitted to do his essential and 
customary work, and business was at a 
standgrtill— but now it is different The 
roads are in fine condition, stock are re- 
covering very much from the set back they 
received from the effect of the weather 
and the farnler and business man are both 
v^ring a smile and with a determined will 
behind that smile, are pushing their resi>ec- 
tive duties to completion. Quite a number 
of our cane planters have finished plant- 
ing cane and the end oi all will be reached 
this week If nothing prevents. The report 
sent In to you for the past two weeks re- 
mains unchanged. We will have % of a 
crofp in acreage. First stubbles will prove 
*f^ sound and good as previously reported, 
but second stubbles are doubtful. All plant- 
ers who have finished are now busily en- 
gagea off barring and shaving their stub- 
ble. It will be but a few days now tilL the 
tal^ wlU be tX>W M Wie ratoo^m are now 



peeping out and marking the row and the 
seed is sprouting out nicely. A fairly good 
stand is anticipated generally. Rice farm- 
ers are rushing now to get their lands in 
shape for planting, and a few of them will 
begin planting this week. The best progress 
for a crop Is along the Hall-Slutz Irrigat- 
ing Go's, canal, south of Abbeville. Mr. R. 
H. Mills is putting in a small canal west of 
Abbeville two miles. His canal will branch 
out from Coulee Klnnlque and will run out 
for about three miles. It will be about 40 
feet wide, and though Mr. Mills Is building 
It solely for his own use, he will irrigate 
several hundred acres of land for those ad- 
jacent to the canal. Mr. Mills has purchased 
several hundred acres of land along this 
canal and will put it all in rice this present 
year. Considerable com has been planted 
this week, and planting will be pushed now 
until completed. Some cotton Is being plant- 
ed and considerable land is being put In 
readiness to plant — the acreage this year 
will be much larger than last. 

Messrs. Wise & Lyons had the misfortune 
of having their rice bam burned a few ndghts 
ago on their plantadon, four miles west of 
Abbeville, together with about 1500 bags of 
rice. The loss is estimated at |5000, Insured 
for (3000. The origin of the fire is unknown. 

P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(fPICIAL C0RRB8PCNDBNCE.) 

Editor Louitiana Planter: 

Preparations for planting are now going 
on In all the districts of this and the ad- 
joining parishes. The past week was very 
favoraible for the performance of farm work. 
Thousands of rich acres have been fitted by 
the plow and cultivator for the reception of 
seed. Corn planting will commence in ear- 
nest this week, and be pushed forward until 
all of it but the late com is planted. The 
planting of cotton will follow next In rota- 
tion after com. 

From present indications and from all that 
can be leamed, the acreage to cotton is going 
to be greatly increased over what It was in 
this parish last year. 

Stubble cane It seems Is so completely 
destroyed, that It Is out of the question to 
attempt tAie cultivation of the same, which 
of itself forces the planters to Increase their 
acreage to com, cotton and peas, or i>er- 
mlt the land to lay out, which is by no means 
desirable nor profitable. Plant cane, which 
Is now being raised out of the windrow and 
mat for planting, presents a decidedly bad 
appearance. Serious doubts are expressed in 
regard to Its coming up, that is, much of It. 

Those who have heretofore placed their 
hopes In the future of cane, have had their 
prospects wrecked, and per force have once 
more turned to cotton hoping thereBy to tide 
over the disaster for the time ibelng at least 

It was my good fortune to call one day 
during the past week on Mr. C. F. Knoll, 
Bunkle P.O., proprietor of the Blleii Kajr (^nd 



Shlrly plantations. I found Mr. Knoll and 
his stirring manager, Mr. R. Wood on the 
Shlrly plantation busy directing a large 
force of plowmen turning the rich soil pre- 
paratory to plalftlng corn, peas and cotton. 
Mr. Knoll, when approached by the Planter's 
scribe on the subject of cane, sai^l that he 
felt somewhat disgusted, after years spent 
trying to fit his place for Ideal cane grow- 
ing and then to see his years of toll and 
study, labor of mind and body, swept away 
In a day. I asked If he Intended to plant any 
cane at all this year. Mr. Knoll answered 
In the negative, stating that he would plow 
out all of hts stuUble. They are rotten, 
he said, and I will plow up and tear up all 
my stubble and plant corn and peas on the 
ground." 

Remarking further, Mr. Knoll Informed me 
that he did not Intend to disturb his plant 
cane In the windrow, except where two rows 
had been thrown Into one middle, in which 
case he would divide It by putting half of 
the cane into next middle to It; cover It, 
bar off and scrape off some of the earth 
on the cane In windrow. Then If enough 
of it should come up to justify working it, 
he would do so and try to get it to reproduce 
itself, and if needs be, would apply cotton 
seed meal. He has no confidence in his 
seed cane at all, and will plant 450 acres to 
cotton, and largely to corn and peas. Judg- 
ing from what I have seen and can learn 
about the soundness of the seed cane in this 
and neighboring parishes, I am bound to 
conclude that Mr. Knoll has chosen a wise 
policy. The expense, trouble, time and la- 
bor laid out In digging out worthless seed 
cane to plant in other soils than that on 
which It rests In the windrow, is too much 
like sinking wealth in' the earth for no 
profit, i will close this subject to-day and 
await developments. 
^ Mr. Chas. Knoll, brother of Mr. C. F. 
Knoll, was planting some acres to cane, 
rather an experiment than otherwise, the 
day I was there. His seed cane was bad. 
I have read the admirable arguments put 
forward in the Planter by the sugar manu- 
facturers relative to the purchase of cane 
on Its quality, etc., and surmise from the 
various views which have so far been put 
forward, that the final outcome of all of 
it will be that each and all sugar manu- 
facturers will, in the end arrange a scale for 
purchasing cane to suit his awn individual 
conveniences, which with all things consid- 
ered, would no doubt meet with the appro- 
bation of the cane raisers. 

A fine, warm rain fell on the afternoon of 
the 11th and 13th Inat, to benefit plowing 
and planting, garden work, etc 

Bimr. 



Dr. W. H. Dalrymple, the distinguished 
veterinary surgeon of Baton Rouge, who is 
connected with the Louisiana State Depart* 
ment of Agriculture, was In the city last 
Wednesday. Dr. Dalrymple registered a( 
the Gr\ine^wald hotels 



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174 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 11. 



Mar. 17. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

PullyFair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Qood Common.. 

Common 

/nferior 

Centrifugal. 
Flant'n Granul'ed 
Ofl Granulated.. 
Choiee White.... 

Ofl White 

Grey White 

Choiee Yellow... 
Prime Yellow ... 

OUYeUow 

Seeondfl 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fanej — 

Choiee 

Striet Prime.... 
Good Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

eood Common 
CemmoB....... 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 
Good Prime — 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

•oed Common 

Common 

Inferior 



Mar. 11. 



Mar. 13. 



Mar. 14. 



Mar. 15. 



Mar. 16. 



Mar. 17. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



SYRUP, 



-® - 

-a - 
-@ - 
- ® - 

4%®4{t 



-a - 

-0 - 
-9 - 

-a - 
-@ - 
-@ - 
-«- 
-0 - 
-a - 
-a- 



-a - 

— a i6 

— a 16 

13 a i« 
11 a 12 

-a 10 

-« t 
-a 8 

-« I 
-a 7 

— @ — 



-a- 
- a — 
-a - 

-a - 
-a - 

i%® - 
m®m 

2h@i 



-a - 



-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a - 



-a - 

— a 16 

— a 16 
13 a u 
11 a i> 

— a 10 

— a 9 

— a 8 

— a 7 
-a 7 



-a - 
-a- 
-a - 

43ia — 
*%a4H 
43'4a*A 

2%@4 



a 



-a- 
-a- 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 

-(8 - 

— a 16 

— a 16 
IS a 14 
11 a 12 
-a 10 

— a » 

— a 8 
-a 7 
-a 7 
-a - 



- a - 
-a - 

*H® — 
iye®m 
4>4a4A 

2%@4A 



a 
a 



a 
a 
a 
a 
a 
a 
a 



— a - 

— a 16 

— a 16 
13 a 14 
11 a 12 
-a 10 

— as 
-as 
-a 7 
-a 7 

— a — 



-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 

4?ia - 
4%a4H 
4>ia4A 

2^®4A 



-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 

-a - 
-a - 
-a - 

-a — 
-a 16 

— a 16 
13 a 14 
11 a 12 
-a 10 

-« S 

-a 8 

— a 7 
-a 7 

-a- 



-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a - 

4?ia - 
4^a4U 

4Ma4A 
2?i@4A 



-a - 
-a - 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 
-a- 
-a - 

-a — 
-a 16 
-a 16 
13 a 14 
11 a 12 

- a 10 
-a 9 
-a 8 

-« 2 
-a 7 

— a - 



-@ - 
- @ - 



4?6a4}i 
-a - 
4<^a4>< 
-a4^ 
-a- 
-a4ji 
4(».a - 

4 @i}i 

2^a3rt 



la 



o 
[25 



® 14 

® 13 

® 12 

@ It 

(3 10 

@ 9 



-® 



Firm. 



Strong. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



Niw York: 




















SUGAR. 




















Fair Refining. 89« 
Centrifugals, 96''.. 


-a- 


— a — « 


-a- 


-a- 


-a - 


-a- 


-a - 






-a - 


— a — 




-a - 


— a - 


-a - 


-a - 






Granulated 


-@4.84 


-@fSi 


— a4.84 


-@4.84 


-@4.84 


— a4.84 


4.84a — 


Strong — Pair 


de 


StondardA 


— @4.7a 


— @4.72 


— a4.72 


— a4.72 


- a4.72 


— a4.72 


4.72a - 


mand. 




Dutch Granulated 


— a4.96 


-@4.96 


-a4.96 


-@4 96 


-a4 9« 


-@4 96 


— a — 






German Oranul'td. 


- @4.91 


- a4 91 


— a4.9i 


- @4 91 


— @4 91 


— @4 91 


-@- 






MOLASSES. 




















N.O. Choice 


— a — 


-a- 


-a- 


-a - 


-a - 


-a - 


— a - 






N.O.Fair 


— a — 


-a- 


-a - 


-a- 


-a- 


-a- 


-a- 






London: 




















Java, No. 16 D. S. 


128. Od. 


12s. M. 


128 Od. 


12s. Od 


128. Od. 


128. Od. 


lls. 3d. 


Steady. 




A.;& G.Beet 


108.?id. 


9s. lli^d. 


98. UMd. 


9s. 9^d. 


98. ll>4d. 


9s. 10><d. 


9b. Od. 


, 





NEW ORLEANS REFINED. 



Cut Loaf 


- @^H 


-@6H 


-@6h 


- @5>8' 


-@6?i 


-a6>ii • 


- a6>i 




Powdered 


- @5>i 


-@6h 


-@6H 


— @6>| 


-@6>i 


-@6^ 


- a6?g 




Stan'd Granula'd. 


-@5>i 


-@6Ji 


-@6K 


-@6i} 


— @6J4 


- @6>4 


— @6j^ 




Ro«etU Extra C 


-@5A 


-@6A 


-a6A 


-@6A 


-@6A 


— a — 


Strong. 


Candy A 




-a- 


-a- 


— @ — 


-a - 


-a - 


— a6oo 




Crjital Extra C. 


— @ — 


_@_ 


-a- 


— @ — 




-a - 


-a — 




Royal BxC 


-a- 


_@_ 


-a - 


-a- 


— a — 


-a - 


-a- 




SYRUP. 


-a- 


-@- 


-a - 


-a- 


-a - 


-a - 


-a- 





STOCKS. 

At four porta of the United States to Mar. 8 Tons 156,379 

At four porta of Great Britain to Mar. 4 " 53,000 

At Havana and Matanzaa to Mar. 7 " 54,900 



Receipts and Sales at New Orieans for the week ending 
Mar. 17, 1899. 

' Sugar » Nlola8«»e 

KhdSb Barrels. Barrels. 

Rece»f«a 876 6,463 8,099 

Sola.... o. 870 e«49S 81O99 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i, 1898, 
to Mar. 17, 1899. 

Hhds. "^fearrels." BjSelT.^ 

... 8,465 1,171,084 212,083' 

... 8,465 1,163,311 211,888 

m a0|44Q t,888^7_ _T»Wt«^ 



Reoetred 
Bold 



aO|44Q 1,888,517 Tl75, 

Digitized by VnOOQ iC 



March 18, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



176 



Mar. 17. 



WEEKLY MARBarr REPORT, 



1890. 



RICE. 

RouoHyper bbl.. 

Extra Fancy... 

Clbak, Fancy... 
Choice.. 
Prime... 
Gk)od ... 

Fair 

Ordinary 
Common 
Screenings 
Inferios 
No. 2... 

BRANy per Ion.. 

PemH^perton. 



Mar. 11. 



Nominal 



Mar. 18. 



1 50@4 75 
6 @6K 

3 ®3^ 
Nominal 



Mar. 14. 



1 60@4 75 



12 00 

Nominal 



Mar. 15. 



1 50O4 75 

... 

Nominal 



Mar. 16. 



2 »2^ 
1X@2 

Nominal 



• of Market at 
lose of Woek. 



Buiy, 



ady. 



ReoeiTed 
Bold 



at N«w OrlMw« for tkm WMk Midliir 
Mar. 17, iSf 9. 

SAfKSROmU BBL1.C1BAII. 

6,958 487 

6,885 1,806 



at N«w Orinii fraai Aaf • 
wMk iMt jmr, > 



iS^t, te Mar. 17, ■•99. 



Saokp 

ers 574 

440,208 



4,871 
3,601 



Sugar. 

• The sugar markot was quiet at the 
end of the week and receipts from plan- 
lations were light. 

Molasses. 

Xo open kettle goods in first haiidt?. 
Centrifugals strong. 



Rice. 

Offerings of rough rice are small ow- 
ing to light receipts. What comes on 
the market is readily absorbed at full 
prices. Clean rice is steady with moder- 
a-te oflFerings. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

Former activity prevails and while there 
is no substantial change in the matter of 
prices there is abundant evidence that the 
market has good underpinning for apparent 
strength, and manifest upward tendency. 
Advices from all prominent trade centers 
show that stocks are generally light; some 
few have provided against probable re- 
quirements ibut in the main operations 
throughout the season have been of con- 
servative character and only as warranted 
by immediate trade. Because of this the 
more optimistic argue that there is a land 
office business just ahead as sooii as the 
weather settles and water routes open. As 
with the latter will come lowered freight 
which may more than offset any possible 
advance of market the demand* from the 
Northern tier and far Western States is re- 
stricted but to other points entirely depend- 
ent upon rail or other "always-open" 
freighting opportunities the call is of liberal 
character. It would appear as though "all 
things work together for good" of rice and 
the demand must naturally be greatly in- 
creased because of the severe weather which 
a fortnight ago destroyed the early vege- 
tables of the South and froze the greater 
bulk of the potatoes stored throughout the 
West Advices from the South note limited 
receipts and that m«ny of the mills are still 
»but down, tl^us curtailing the supply o{ 



THE CUBAN SUGAR CROP OF 1898-99. 

Statement of the Exports and Stocks of Sugar February 28, 1899, and same date last year. 







1898. 


I8QQ. 




Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 


Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 




r HaTana 


26;826 
107,460 
128,615 
176,703 
3,080 

19,289 


:::; 


68345 
80,019 


86,221 
60,763 
67,811 
86,487 
9,449 

6/126 

4,266 

1,566 


•••• 












Cardenas 




CO 


Cieofuegos 




H 


Srgia 




K 


Caibarlen 




Q. 


Guantanazno 




Cuba 




ManzanlllOr , . ,,...,..... 




Nuevltas 




Gibara 






Zaza 






Trinidad 












461,831 


— 


261,406 




86,177 




r Havana « 


59,961 
192,662 
1&1,888 
10e,780 
35,877 
12,666 

8,389 


• ::;: 


89,546 
99,442 
SlfiiS 
68,838 
10,887 
19,180 
28,444 
288 
7,800 
6,421 
4,580 

5,126 


:;:; 












rjopd AiiAfl , •••..•••• 




• 


CienfuecroA 




2 


Sagua ■ 




ltd 


rjoTna rlen 







frtiAntAnftino 







Cuba 




H 


IVf anzanillo , - - - 1 




CO 


Nuevitas 






Gibara 






Zaza t 






Trinidad 










• 


678,202 




880^966 


.... 


49,968 



143,864 
Local oobsomption, 2 months 7,800 

151,664 
Stock of old crop, January 1 l^^ 

Receipts at all ports to February 28 160,149 

Note— Bags, 310 lbs. Hogsheads, 1,550 lbs. Tons, 2,240 lbs. 
Havana, February 23, 1899. 



86,185 
7,660 

98,785 
4,888 

89,449 
JOAQUIN GUMA. 



cleaned. The immediate supply is also fur- 
ther shortened as with easy money no little 
cleaned stock has been withdrawn from mar- 
ket and will not be offered for sale until 
early summer. Cables and correspondence 
from abroad note widening operations gener- 
ally and marked activity especially In the 
lower grades. Unless the near future brings 
forth evidences of radical enlargement of 
crop promises, decidedly higher price levels 
may be expected. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louis- 
iana crop movement to. date: Receipts, 
rough, 653.645 sacks; last year (Inclusive 
of amount carried over) 492,376 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (ets.) 158, 417 barrels; last year 97,- 
008 barrels. Demand restricted on account 
of light offerings; market very strong, 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs parplina 



crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
33.135 ibarrels. Sales 28.755 barrels. Good 
enquiry at firm quotations. 



Personal. 

Mr. E. B. Lapice, of Lauderdale, La., near 
which place he has some very extensive and 
well equipped sugar property, came up to 
the city during the week for a short visit, 
and took rooms at the St. Charles hotel. 

Mr. F. B. Williams, of St. Mary parish, 
accompanied by Mrs. Williams, was one of 
the arrivals at the St. Charles during the 
week. Mr. Williams Is one of the leading 
citizen of this yiclnity. 

Mr. Oscar Zenor, of St Mary parish, was 
a recent arrival at the Hotel Royal, placing 
his name on the re^i^ter there last Wed* 
uwday, 



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17« 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUSAR MANUPACtttJBMl. 



[Vol. xxn. No. 11. 



WANTS. 



We wlU paMifh in this columii, free of charfo nntll 
fnrtlMr notice, the appllartloas off all nuuiecert, over- 
jeers, englneere end eager-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions in the country, and also the 
wants off planters desiring to employ any off these. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent machinist, with 
several years expenence in leading railroad shops, 
wants work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 

{)lantation8. Will work oy the day or by contract. He 
8 a practical locomotive engineer and has had experi- 
ence in repairing and running sugar house machinery. 
Address W. L., No. 1(H6 Magazine street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general helper In machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years In same; 
address J. M. S., Fietel, La. 8-15-99 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references; 
address A., care this otflce. 8-15-99 

WANTED— In flrst-olass sugar house In Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
roan of experience: satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6041 Laulel street. New Orleans. 3-8-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 3-13-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years* experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of offloe work for sugar refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 3-8-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Chfep Engi- 
NEBR, Lutcher, La. 8-7-S9 

WANTED— Position by a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivibr, 820 Vlllere street. New Orleans. 
8-9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler. Stiiotly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ences from past employers as to character and abUity. 
Address Proop Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 3-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. Address J. A. L.. 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— The best sugar maker in Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
close boiler of first and particularly of molasses sugars 
(2nd and «rd) . State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C. M., this office. 
. 2-27-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair ano take ofT crop of 18W. FamlUar with all the 
details of sugar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as clarifler on some lanre 
plantation this season of 1899. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charenton, La. 

2-21-99 



WANTED— An experienced young man, single Is 
open for engagement as Ume-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A I references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Off, 3418 Constance street. New Orleans 

2-22-99 * 



WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a vounff 
man of good habito and experience. Also have a orac- 
tlcal knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or miU-wriirht 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 416 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 
2-18-99 

WANTED-A position as second overseer on plan- 
toUon bv a vou g man 26 years old, single and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur* 
nlsh references from former employer. Address T 
R. NE80M, TerreU, Texas. * 



WANTBD-A position by a good suear boiler. Nine 
years* experience. Addres s H. 106, Uils office. 

WANTBD-Positlon by a steam^and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer* 
•poes, Addrm H. M. 8., Uurel HIU, LaT^ 



WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 302 S. Basin, St., City. 2-15-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The aboye would prove a valuable and 
*'all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 aio 
street. New Orleans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
La^ 25-99 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of referenoes as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 
24-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 
years' experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
this office. 24-99 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J.J. Landry, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man ; address J. F. Leteff, Nes- 
ser. La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 320 N. Main street, 
Loui siana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office. 1-9 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Speaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1-4-98 

WANTED^PosItlon as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
furnished. Gallon or address F. F. Merwin, 521 Du- 
maine street. New Orleans. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish best of 
references. J. A. Larein, Benton P. O., La. 
12-26-98 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1086 N.Derbigny street. New Orleans. 
12-7-98 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recomnfendations. Address Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position bv a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience in sugar house work, is In position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for oonsturctlon or repairing of sugar 
nouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

WANTEE>— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 80 years of age. well versed in the rour 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 



Louisiana Planter. 



12-31-98 



WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
««wner is not pleased, no Isalary will bo expected. Ad- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-96 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, bv a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish tiest of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

WANTEI>— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
l^ an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 
1 2-21-98 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or ^sewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a unlTerslty graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried, Address K P. Ibwdi, Sugv Land, Texas. 

U-21-96 



WANTED— Toung sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-96 

WANTE£>— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or junior overseer, by one wno has 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-20-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensation $80. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyside Plantation, Centervllle, La. 12-20-96 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1889. Good refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumside, Louisiana. * 12-21-96 

WANTED— Position as clerk In plantation or town 



store, by a young man of good habits, well qqalifled and 
1 best references. Aodress G. J. A., care of The 



withL «. „«, 

Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 



WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. RoCHBLLE, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-96 

WANTED— Position for coming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar plantation, by married man, 8t years 
of age, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cultivation of cane and handling 
labor. Address R.,Box 266, N ew Iberia, La. IS-ihW' 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire oharge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
DOYBR, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 



Rome, N. Y. 



WANTED— Position as overseer or manager l^ mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practical and eoonomioal man- 
agement assured. Best reference, ^'Actions speak 
louder than words." Address Drainaob, Room 22, 
CityHaU. 12-8-96 

WANTED— A position as Assistant Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
ipprrlsd. Twenty years experience In handling labor, 
veral years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
references given. Address, M. E. W., Care Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-28-96. 

WANTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond with a susar maker 
who is engaged for coming Mexican or Ciiban crop. 
State terms for Instruction. Address, A. W. B., (w4 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-28-96 



M. rCITEL. Presideiit. 



IKE FEim. 6m. Mt*r. 



"^^^ 



%^m 



8M-8S6 MAGAZINE ST 



Write for Prices. 

Artesian and Shallow Wells Made. 

Water Ouaranteed or no Pay. 

WANTED TO PURCHASE. 

The Foilowisg Secosd-llsiid Sugar Ho«se fttodiiMryi 

A Mill. Steam Train, with or without Vacuum Pan 
and Double Effect; sufQcient capacity to talce oft a crop 
of about 400 acres of cane; must be in first-class con- 
dition. Address 

McCLURE A RIDPATH, 
020 Tch^upitoulM St., Now Orloana. 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



iWND 



B, MeeMs IFlewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NBW OBIiBANS. MABCH 26. 1809. 



No. 12. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Utii9taim Sugar RhtniBn* Association, 

Amtnion Branch Sugar P/antoro' Auociat/on, 

Lmiioiana Sugar Chomion' AooociaHon, 

Kunmo Sugar Oroworo' Association, 

Towas Sugar Planfors" Association. 

PttbUsheo at New Orleaai, La. , every Saturday lloraiaff 

BT THS 

LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

DcTOtcd to Louisiana Affri<^Uiire in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry ift lArticular, and in all ita 
branchea. i^cul^r^ Mechanical, Chem- 
ical. Political ahd CommerdaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 

W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Eaterad at the Poatoffloe at New Orleans as sccond-clasf 

mail matter/July 7, 1888. 

Perannun 



Tenna of Subscription (Including postage) $3 OC 

Foreign Subscription. * m. 



ADVERTHSrt^G RATES. 



Bpsoe 



llneh 

Slnoh 

ttech 

4tnoh 

Slnoh 

Slndtk 

Tin^ 

• Inch 

f iDOh 

lOInc^ 

Half Pice. 
Full Page. 



1 monthla months month 12 month 



$600 
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$18 75 
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$25 00 
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aoooo 
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McCaU ALegeiidre, 



Teller. 

B. LaaiaiMi * Bro., 



AH communications ahould be addrosaed to TaE 
LouiaiAMAPLAifTni,889Carondelet street, New Orleamv 
La. 

UST Of> STOCKHOLDBRS. 

R. Beltran, 
Laden Soniat. 
|>. R. CaMer. 
L. A. Ellla. 
Hero A Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan, 
J.T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards A HauMiran. 
John A. MorrU. 

B. H. CunnlnglNUB. 
R. Vlterbo. 
H. C. ninor. 

C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy. 
Andrew Price. 
e.ftJ. Kock. 
Wm. Qarlg, 
Adolph Meyer. 
A. A. Woods. 
Bradlsh Johfisoa, 
George P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonoot. 
Richard MilHken. 
W. P. niCaa. 
Lesfai A. Becasl. 
J. N. Pharr, 
Jules J. Jacob. 



Laula Bosh. 
W. e. Brickell. 
W. C. Stobbs, 
Jahn Dyaioad. 
Dttoiel Tbonpsea. 
Pms a BameU. 
H. C. Wannotli, 
Lndiia Porsytli, Jr.. 



SiMttucfc Al 

TSSaaiD. Miner. 
MMriSftZlegler. 
r« O. ricLaury. 
L. 5. Clark. 
J. B. Levari, 
SlaiMon Homor. 
W.BTikMMrfleld. 
W. W. Sotclltls, 
JolMS.noore. 
jMwaC. Murphy. 
>a.Wabffa. 



Ladas 

prsc 



EXECUTIVE comrmB, 



The Cane Crop. 

Planting operations have been so suc- 
cessfully pushed during the favorable 
weather which has recently prevailed that 
they are now almost completed through- 
out the sugar district. While here and 
there may be found some unfortunate 
planter whose seed cine seems to have 
been totally destroyi^d, the majority have 
planted a considerable part of their ex- 
pected acreage, and itt some cases all of 
it. The stubble is beginning to do a 
little sprouting and the situation in gen- 
eral now seems to warrant a cessation of 
the gloom and stagnation in which the 
whole sugar section has been shrouded 
for some weeks. Warm and seasonable 
weather for th« next ten days will more 
conclusively show cause for a resumplipn 
of confidence and a renewal of business 
activitv. 



Beet Sugar in New Mexico. 

The western states are certainly deter- 
mined to develop the beet sugar industry 
with all possible rapidity, recognising, 
as many of them do^ its present profitable 
character and the absurdity of buying so 
much sugar away from home when it can 
be produced at home nnd to the advant- 
age of every one concerned. 

The last issue of the Pecos Valley Ar- 
gus states that a bill has been introduced 
into the territorial legislature of New 
Mexico authorizing the payment of a 
small bounty encouraging sugar beet 
growing. It is proposed to appro- 
priate the sum of $16,000 during the 
years 1899, 1900 and 1901, for the pur- 
pose, giving any sugar factory in the 
Territory of New Mexico three-eighths of 
a cent per pound on every pound of sugar 
made, provided, that the factory shall pay 
$5.25 per ton of beets delivered at the 
factory, testing not less than 12 per cent, 
sugar and 80 per cent, purity. A provis- 
ion is made that the expenses of delivery 
of beets to the factory shall not be 
chargeable against the grower to a greater 
extent than 50 cents per net ton. 



Some Variations in Sugar Canes. 

^itor Louisiana PUivt$n 



under the heading, "A Botanical Study/' you 
refer to the instance of Mr. H. Chapman ex- 
hibiting a Joint of cane with "double buds." 
Fqf your information in this matter I have 
to say that "double Tjuds" are not by any 
means rare with me. It is now some seven 
years since I saw the first of them, and at 
the present time within half a mile of where 
I am writing, can be seen a large stool of 
cane raised from a "double bud." The vari- 
ety most given to this^ kind of thing 2ft 
known as "ribbon" In this country. Th4^ 
characteristics of this variety are early 
germination, excessive suckering^ foliage 
heavy ?md tenacious, color yellow to gi^een; 
bud fun ahd pointed, a biennial variety 
somewhat precarious in ripening. It will 
thus be seen it is not deficient in "prolific" 
qualities. 

That there is no necessity for "further 
stooling power" with this variety may be in- 
ferred from the fact that in the early days 
of the industry on this river, rfbbon cane 
was generally grown and was "planted on 
the square," six feet apart each way with 
one plant in a hole, which in two years 
would make a crop of from 80 to 100 tons 
per acre. Although suckering in cane is a 
good thing, generally speaking, under cer- 
tain circumstances it becomes an evil. If 
cane is required to mature in twelve months 
and it persists in "making stool" instead of 
"making cane" it is voted a nuisance. It 
stands to reason that the one function can 
only be done at the expense of the other, 
as with a "given force" as represented by 
conditions of soil and climate, nature can 
only produce a certain amount of "oane 
growth" in a given time. As a rule, there- 
fore, we find that extra good stooling varie- 
ties are not early maturing sorts, and vice 
versa. As in everything else in nature, you 
cannot have an advantage without a corre- 
sponding disadvantage, i. e., a given force 
cannot be in two places at the one time. 

The result of numerous experiments con- 
vinces me that under similar conditions 
some varieties of cane ripen earlier than 
others, just as with varieties of potatoes. I 
have also found that some of the "earliest 
ripeners" are not the "best croppers," while 
it is possible for a "late ripening variety" 
to develop "a higher sugar content" than 
an early sort That is to say varieties of 
cane vary in sugar content when npe," as 
well as in time of ripening, apart from soil 
or climatic conditions. That coaditions of 



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178 



THB LOmSXANA PLANTBB AND 8UOAR MANUFACTUBSR. 



[Vol XXn, No. 12. 



well known, as, for instance, in^ the case of 
cane cut at the beginning of last campaign 
on this river, after an open winter that 
kept the cane growing all the time without 
an opportunity for maturing. 

Essentially the conditions of forced 
growth as represented by *'high cultivation" 
must retard maturity, as evidently you have 
been finding out in Louisiana lately. 
Sacrificing quantity to the advantage of 
quality opens out one way of improvement 
wherever possible, but improving the inher- 
ent saccharine quality of cane is the problem 
we are trying to solve, and owing to the 
peculiarly changeable nature of the condi- 
tions affecting cane growth it* adds to the 
difficulty of solution. 

The result of planting a double ibud does 
not assure a "permanence of the type" as on 
examination of the stool already referred to 
no "double buds'* are visible. 

If worth recording I may mention that I 
have also seen "triple "buds" in rlBbon cane. 
Nature seemed to he making sure this vari- 
ety would not become extinct. I may add 
that the^ conditions of growth were partipu- 
larly unfavorable ^hen double , and. triple 
buda and arrowing appeare4^on the ribhon 
cane. Dr. Stubbs' opinion on the foregoing 
would he very acceptable. Yours> etc. 

G. Pettiorew, 
Tweed River, N. S. W., Australia, 

February 3, 1899. 



The Weather Service Report on the 

Damaf e by the Freeze of 

February 13th. 

The monthly bulletin of the Louisiana 
Weather Service gives a report from nearly 
150 correspondents as to the damage done 
throughout the state by the cold wave of 
February 11 to 13th. Some seven questions 
were asked of the various correspondents, 
the third of which inquired what damage 
was done to sugar. As considerable sugar 
cane is produced in the northern parishes 
of this state, the reports from some of them 
will be of considerable Interest 

Webster reports much seed cane frozen; 
seed cane badly damagefl. Bienville reports 
seed cane badly damaged; cane stubble de- 
stroyed; much seed cane ruined. Union re- 
ports some seed cane damaged. Lincoln re- 
ports seed cane in shock or bank consider- 
ably damaged; seed cane all righL Jackson 
reports cane in most places ^damaged; rib- 
bon cane damaged. Ouachita reports stubble 
cane killed; windrowed cane injured; cane 
damaged considerably. Morehouse reports 
seed cane not injured. DeSoto reports all 
stuAyble dead and banked cane seriously in- 
jured. Red River reports seed cane killed. 
Natchitoches reports seed cane badly dam- 
aged. Winn reports cane crop shortened 
considerably. Caldwell reports cane dam- 
aged. Sabine reports seed cane killed and 
stubble damaged. Grant reports seed cane 
and stubble killed. Catahoula reports stub- 
ble injured; good deal of it frozen. Rapides 
reports stubble killed. Avoyelles reports 
biidly damaged. Calcasieu reporte dam- 
aged slightly. St Landry reports badly dam- 
aged. West Feliciana reports stubble killed. 
Eiast Feliciana reports stubble and seed cano 
Jellied. 8t, H^lOTlft reporti rtttWIe WHed. 



Washington re^rts no damage excepting 
that windrowed cane was ruined. Acadieje- 
ports no damage; cane in mats injured. ' La- 
layette reports seriously damaged; great in- 
jury, especially to stubble cane; not serious- 
ly injured; much damage. St, Martin re- 
ports stubble good in localities; seed cane 
damaged. Iberville reports 7all plant cane 
injured. East Baton Rouge reports plant 
and stubble injured, one eye in one hundred 
left St Tammany reports badly damaged. 
Cameron reports stubble cane dead. Ver- 
milion reports seed and plant cane ruined. 
Assumption reports stubble entirely ruined; 
seed cane half rotten. Ascension reports 
cane very badly damaged, also stubble. St 
James reports cane and stubble in very bad 
condition, ground frozen six to eight inches. 
P^ John repoi*ts badly injured, some stubble 
and nearly all windrowed cane killed., St 
Charles reports fall >plant cane slightly in- 
jured, fully one-half stubble and windrowed 
cane killed. St Bernard reports stubble not 
ihiured in the sandy land, in black soil half 
killed; seed cane not damaged. Plaquemines 
reports cane in windrow slightly damaged, 
mats and stubble fully half damaged; stub> 
ble and seed cane considerably injured. St 
Mary reports seed and stubble considerably 
damaged; stubble and seed cane seriously 
injured. Terrebonne reports fall and spring 
plant cane damaged, some stubble believed 
to l?^e^^un(^ju^ed. 

. It will be obsei^ed in these reports from 
the various parishes that the severest injury 
is reported from the northern tier of parishes, 
in the cotton belt, where sugar cane is only 
raised in a small way, chiefly for the manu- 
facture of syrup for sale at home. The dis- 
cordant reports from the same parish come 
from the different observers reporting their 
own views to the Weather Service. The re- 
ports from the sugar parishes, it will be no- 
ticed, are also somewhat discordant and the 
later data published in this Journal shows a 
very marked improvement in these parishes. 



Talmase on the Rice Market. 

The demand in both domestic and foreign 
shows marked increase; the total movement 
quite an item ahead of any previous week the 
current season. In the enlarged volume, 
foreign was the gainer; due to modified val- 
ues on the high grade Java, enabling it to 
command patronise from the far West and 
other nearer podnts heretofore exclusively 
occupied by Japan. There appears to be a 
growing disposition on the part of the trade 
to diversify holdings, as by variety there is 
a lessening of tfie "deadly parallel" of compe- 
tition incident to uniformity in style and 
price. Advices from the South, note good 
demand at all points with steadily hardening 
values. The ultra conservatives claim that 
there is a very considerable quantity of rice 
lying around the Southwest, on plantations 
and in the hands of local millers and traders. 
There is little doubt that the amount is siz- 
able, but reckoning from a compvative point 
of view, it is really small, being totally inad- 
equate to meet forward requirements. While 
the forward- supply is still an unknown 
quantity, ail evidences betoken the nearing 
of the end and confidence is unbounded; man- 
IfMTted to an eminent degree, especially in 
tome y\iO refuft to p^ace any val^e \^poa 



their holdings, predicting that early summer 
will bring fancy figures, far above those 
now current. Cables and correspondence 
from abroad note free movement; firm prices 
and further advances iijiminent. Wh-ile the 
amount on passage has increased, the stocks 
at all pcrints are light and the two com- 
bined deemed scanty as against the usual 
spring call; the appreciation of this fact be- 
ing evidenced by the general antidpation 
of wants. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement, to date: Recel|)ts, 
rough, 666,365 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over,) 497,425 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned, (est) 161,142 barrels; last year 100,- 
135 barrels. Gk>od demand; market firm and 
^c. advanced on ordinary to fair. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs CaroUna 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
33,805 barrels. Sales 29,980 barrels. Blarket 
active and advanced full ^c. on prime to 
choice grades. 



Magazine Notes. 

The March issue of that valuable period- 
ical, the Political Science Quarterly, edited 
by the faculty of political science of Colum- 
bia University, has come to hand* The var- 
ious essays are of a high order of excellence 
and peculiarly adapted to the issues that 
are now presenting themselves to American 
statesmen. 

Among others we notice the follo^ng: 
vrovemment of Distant Territory by Prof. 
J. W. Burgess; Dependencies and Protector- 
ates, by Prof. Ernest Freiind; England and 
Her Colonies, I, by Prof. John Davidson. 
Defects of the Old Radicalism, by William 
Clarke; The Sugar Situation in Europe, by 
J. F. Crowell; Taxation of Securities, by 
Prof. F. W. Taussig; Adam's Science of 
Finance, by Prof. E. R. A. Seligman. 

The Reviews cover: Jenks' Laws and Pol- 
itics in the Middle A^es; Ramsey's Founda- 
tions of England; Taylor's Origin and 
Growth of the English Constitution, Part 
II; Harris's Life in an Old English Town; 
Moses's Establishment of Spanish Rule in 
America; Green's Provincial Gtovemor in the 
English Colonies of North America; Ford's 
Rise and Growth of American Politics; 
Urdahl's Fee System in the United SUtes; 
Gomme's Principles of Local Government; 
Swain's Economic Aspect of Railroad Re« 
ceiverships, etc. 

The Politician Science Quarterly is pub- 
lished by Ginn & Co., Boston; yearly sub- 
scription, 13.00. 

Col. Lewis S. Clarke, of the Lagonda plan- 
tation, was in the city during the past week. 
Col. Clarke wa^ registered at the St Charles, 
where he usually puts up when in town. 

Mr. Wibray J. Thompson, of the Calumet 
plantation, was a guest of the St Charles 
on Tuesday, having come to the city on one 
of his brief business trips. 

Mr. J. W. McBride, of Bllendale, where 
he has some fine sugar property, wa§ «t \1^^ 
St Charles Hote) ^ few diqa agp.. 



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March 25, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



179 



To Minimize the Risks and Enhance 

the Chances of Profit in Cane 

Culture. 

The tropical cane within the past six 
months has passed through an ordeal prob- 
ably more severe than at any previous peri- 
od since its first introduction into the State, 
and its survival should place it in the front 
rank as one of the hardiest plants grown by 
the agriculturist in temperate climes, as it 
withstands climatic extremes better than 
cotton, com or tobacco, the chief staple 
crops of this latitude. The detrimental me- 
teorological influences in such combination 
may not be -wHnessed again in half a cen- 
tury, and none at present living seem to ad- 
mit having seen the like in the distant past. 
The excessive rains in the fall, the absence 
of sunshine, and too early cold, were deroga- 
tory to the development of saccharine, and 
the canes were in > wretched plight.both for 
seed and the factory. The evil was inten- 
siffed by the prolonged supersaturation of 
the soil not only during the winter; but in 
some sections there was but little improve- 
ment until near the end of February, con- 
sequently the seed in the windrow was de- 
fective and the vilallty of the stubble was 
impaired, very notably in the tenacious, and 
partially drained black soils prior to the ad- 
vent of the lowest temperature ever recorded 
in this latitude. 

The growers of crops of every variety the 
world over sustain serious losses from time 
to time from adverse meteorological and 
other influences, and the cultivator of cane 
must 4>e prepared to sustain similar losses at 
intervals. To minimize risks should be the 
aim of the agriculturist, yet here the pre- 
servation of seed cane being of paramount 
importance, some of the prime essentials are 
either ignored or neglected, from which seri- 
ous losses accrue, particularly when the 
0omewhat unreliable ratoon crop is a par- 
tial failure. Many fields of cane put in wind- 
row last fall were very unsuitable for seed 
after the storm in September, as the. stalks 
were crooked and continued immature, and 
many of the top eyes became elongated — 
conditions extremely unfavorable any year; 
but intensified this last season by adverse 
climatic Infiuences. 

Some who have given the subject much 
consideration are inclined to the opinion that 
the canes are (like some other plsmts sim- 
ilarly treated) being impaired in hardiness 
by the too frequent application of large 
doses of improperly balanced fertilizers — 
where there is a paucity of soluble phosphoric 
acid and potash and a preponderance of ni- 
trogen in a potential form which becomes 
available by a more or less gradual decay or 
transformation — due to the action of mjrriads 
of Diicro-organisins. Nitrogen in certain 
forms, or at times, has, an effect yet unex- 
plained on plants, as is witnessed in the 
elongation of the eye of the canes grown in 
fields seeded with 09W p^as when laying by 
tbe crop, rr^slj y^g^|ab!e or (ifiln^l i^itfp- 



gen applied to newly seeded beet fields will 
develop plants with a low sucrose content. 
The pea plant, after undergoing decomposi- 
tion becomes an admirable manure for cane, 
and such is also the case with animal and 
vegetable nitrogen as found in tankage and 
cotton seed^meal if supplemented with a fer- 
tilizer when the soluble phosphoric acid 
and potash preponderate. 

After having been subjected to many 
vicissitudes rarely or never before encoun- 
tered, the seed cane which has sustained the 
least injury is found on sandy soils, with a 
moderate, uniform covering, the tonnage 
not usually exceeding sixteen per acre; the 
stalks relatively straight, with the eyes in a 
normal condition, and the land, evidently, 
free of extraneous vegetation when the 
windrows were formed. They were generally 
ratoons of the first and second year, and had 
been stimulated with but a limited amount of 
fertilizer. The past season will be an ob- 
ject lesson in the treatment of canes destined 
for seed, and in the future fewer risks will 
be incurred than in the past Sound seed 
cane, being of such vital imi^ortance; and 
very expensive at least, too much care can- 
not be bestowed in its culture and after pre- 
servation; yet in later years one could at 
times see canes that had been heavily fer- 
tilized — green, crooked, with enlarged eyes, 
and of heavy tonnage — severed sometimes 
six Inches above ground by a motley crowd, 
many of whom never before windrowed a 
cane, who tossed the stalks Indiscrlmately 
one over the other In the rows in their ef- 
forts to keep pace with veterans at the work, 
hence seed of varying quality in the same 
field. After the windrows were made,' the 
crooked mass, full of large air spaces, with 
many of the butts not touching the ground 
were covered with thick, tenacious furrow 
slices which retained the heat generated by 
the fermentation of the luxuriant leaves, at 
a temperature sufficient to injure the vitality 
of the swollen or elongated eyes. Nature in 
her efforts to replace the moisture evaporated 
at the eyes and nodes of the upper Joints of 
the canes utilized the liquid near the butts, 
which in consequence became sponge-like, 
and when the windrows became saturated 
later, water was imbibed and the lower ends 
of the stalks became defective from what is 
generally styled wet rot 

Stubble fields, the ratoons of which are des- 
tined for seed, should be specially fertilized 
and cultivated. Chemicals may be more 
costly than other manures, yet the superior 
quality of the can^ for seed will Jqftify the 
extra expense. As a heavy tonnage Is not 
sought, thorough tillage to exterminate noxi- 
ous vegetation and place the soil in fine phy- 
sical condition, should with an application in 
most instances of 300 pounds of high grade 
chemicals, with soluble phosphoric acid as 
the dominant, insure healthy growth in June, 
July and August, after which vegetation 
should be- checked through the exhaustion of 
the stimulating fertilizer. As late cut canes 



stubble of the first year could be left until 
the very end of each campaign, and the stufb- 
ble therefrom the next year retained from 
which to grow canes for seed. Such fields 
would be virtually mamirlally exhausted, and 
the. tonnage output the more easily con- 
trolled. If It pays the beet growers of 
Europe to expend both time and money to 
secure seed of high quality. It will certainly 
pay the cane growers to strive to have sound 
stalks for annual plantings, very particularly 
as the latter are the more expensive, and 
add materially to the cost of production of 
cane sugar as compared to that from beets. 

The unpreoedentedly low sucrose content 
of the canes during the last campaign, and 
the very probable curtailment of the coming 
crop will tend to, in some measure, revolu- 
tionize agricultural methods; because the 
conviction Is becoming more widespread that 
the quality of the canes cannot be sacrificed 
to mere quantity either for seed or the fac- 
tory. Canes of a relatively high saccharine 
strength must be produced or the industry 
must suffer a diminution in the chances of 
profitable production, • ther^ore more atten- 
tion will be bestowed^ on the quality of the 
plant fbdd furnished the growing <9i*ops. 

Every furrow slice cut to form the ridge, 
quarter drains, ditches and canals to free the 
fields of water is work performed to coun- 
t9ract the injury from excessive rains, and 
improve the physical quality of the soil, 
which more than aught else enhances the 
chances of success in special cultures in most 
countries. Much stress Is laid by some on 
the necessity of soil analysis to guide In the 
application of manures to the cane fields of 
the State; when it is in most instances^ of 
very secondary consideration when compared 
with the necessity of thorough drainage and 
tillage. 

The "Sugar Cane," by Prof. Stubbs, page 
64^ contains the following: "An average 
cane crop of 26 tons, including tops and fod- 
der, will contain about the following: Lime, 
20 pounds; potash, 60 pounds; phosphoric 
acid, 35 pounds, and nitrogen, 75 pounds. In 
an acre to the depth of 12 Inches, estimated 
to weigh 5,000,000 pftnds, there would be 
25,000 pounds lime, 20,000 pounds potash, and 
5,000 pounds each of phosphoric acid and 
nitrogen. Hence there is lime enough for 
1250 crops of cane, potash for 333, phosphoric 
acid for 150, and nitrogen for 70." Although 
the cane soils contain such quantities of 
plant food according to chemical analysis; 
yet past experience has proved that the ton- 
nage yield per acre on lands which have been 
under cultivation for fifty years, would. In 
most Instances, prove disastrously low with- 
out a rotation with some leguminous plant 
or the application of extraneous manures. 

At one period in the history of the in- 
dustry progressive planters deemed it the 
practice for excellence to rotate with com 
and peas at least once in four years, and on 
many of the best cultivated estates one- 
third of the plantation was reserved for 
plagt cap9. one fpr rc^togfiq of tfea^ fin^t TWr 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 12. 



and the balance for grain and the pea vine 
crop. During and since the advent of the 
bounty system, growing 6ane after cane be- 
came largely de rigueur, and the application 
of fertilizers has increased from three hun- 
dred pounds per acre to, in some instances, 
over twelve hundred pounds. When it' is 
remembered that these large amounts of 
manure conitaining plant food are not tho- 
roughly incorporated with the soil, but often 
left in a continuous mass in the furrows, 
where decomposition is retarded, and (the 
roots unable to absorb rapidly, little cause 
for wonder that quantities of immature cane 
have been sent to the factories. 

The time has arrived in the history of the 
industry when sentiment, past practices and 
prejudices are being rapidly ignored when 
the chances of profit are curtailed through 
their instrumentality. The tropical cane in 
this latitude is a slow grower until the warm 
weather in May, when the young sprouts be- 
gin to root Independently of the parent 
stalks or stumps, after which, if the fields 
are in a physical condition such as to aid 
in the retention of soil moisture, and the 
land rich in soluble plant food, stalk develop- 
ment> will progress rapidly in the month of 
June (although hidden from view by the 
leaves), on which much depends to produce 
tonnage with a relatively high sucrose con- 
tent, the quantity of sugar to be obtained per 
acre depending very materially not only on 
the friable condition of the soil, but on the 
time of application and quantity and quality 
of the extraneous manures. To apply imme- 
diately available elements in greater variety 
(as the compound manure should contain 
ammonia, nitrates, soda, potash, lime and sul- 
phuric and phosphoric acid) to accelerate 
stalk elongation in June, July and August, 
instead of ingredients upon which the crop 
must anvait decomposition (tardy at times 
and too prolonged) will be to enhance the 
chances of securing canes during the cam- 
paign, relatively rich in saccharine, with a 
high co-efficient of purity, which will increase 
the value of the raw material to the seller 
and also the buyer, as the fuel bill and other 
varied costs in maiftfaeture will be de- 
creased. 

As it is admitted that the nitrogen In sul- 
phate of ammonia and nitrate of soda gives 
better results than that found in either cot- 
ton seed meal or tankage (although more 
expensive), and that bones subjected to the 
action of sulphuric acid are preferable to 
bone meal or tankage, a problem presents 
itself to the cane growers (whether sellers 
or otherwise, as canes in the future will be 
valued according to saccharine richness, and 
the purity of Juice) to be solved by actual 
field triahi and chemical analysis. Select a 
twenty acre field of first ratoons (unmanured 
as plant cane) and on ten acres apply 600 
pounds of chemicals with 7 per cent nitro- 
gen and 7 per cent phosphoric acid, and on 
the other ten acres apply 600 pounds of 
tankage with 7 per cent nitrogen and 7 per 
pent pllOifllWc WJtd, Bach «jfperln|tntol 



area to *be manured, say, on the first of May. 
If the test were repeated for a term of years 
it would be found that the former ten acres 
would make more tonnage in June, July and 
August,and on the first of November would 
have less immature tops, and the increase 
in sugar content per acre would not only pay 
for the extra cost of fertilizer, but give a 
handsome profit on the investment, because 
of the availability of the plant food just when 
the canes should make their most rapid 
growth, and more time given to mature 
wJiere the period is so limited as in this 
latitude. Under existing conditions no 
marked change will be made in the ingredi- 
ents used« but when the canes are bought 
and sold according to chemical analysis, 
showing the available sugar per ton, then 
cane growers will be stimulated to deliver 
raw material of higher quality at the fac- 
tories whose owners will the more fully 
appreciate the value of such as compared 
10 canes with a low sucrose content and 
purity coefficient 

Thos. Mann Cage. 



Trade Notes. 

The FUher-lfogan Bagasae Burner. 

Thanks to modern inventive science and 
energy a problem of great importance to 
sugar m&kers has been fully solved, and what 
was in years past an eyesore and downright 
nuisance to our planters, has become one of 
the most important economic factors In this 
world-wide industry. The easy and rapid 
consumption of bagasse is a veritable God- 
send to the sugar planters. Not only is the 
plantation rid of the stuff, ibut a large amount 
of more expensive fuel is saved. It is a well- 
known fact among engineers tnat green fuel 
that can be made to burn, makes an even and 
constant steam pressure, which Is absolutely 
essential to obtain the greatest ouput from 
steam power plants. 

The great satisfaction given to those who 
have used the Fisher-Hogan furnace war- 
rants the entire confidence of planters who 
may be in need of new burners, and will 
necessarily convince all interested parties of 
the great economy and convenience of their 
improved bagasse burner. Their excellent 
references which appear on page 21, in their 
advertisement, should convince the most 
skeptical of the utility of their device. 

The following well known and popular 
business men are officers of the company: 
President, Mr. Julian M. Swoop, owner of 
the Shakespeare Iron Works; Vice-President, 
Mr. James F. Hogan. well known among 
planters of 'the state, who has for some years 
past given his personal attention to the erec- 
tion and introduction o( these Improved 
bagasse burners, in which he has been very 
successful; Constructing Engineer, Mr. James 
Fisher, who is well known as an expert sugar 
house engineer, and has been for many years 
with some of the most prominent houses in 
the sate. He is the inventor of this peculiar 
method oi feeding the bagasse to the furnace 
irUdi JOWl itUHn f one of tl^e mp^t tmport^Qt 



features of the Fisher-Hogan burner. Their 
office is at the Shakespeare Iron Works, 913 
Qirod Street, New Orleans, and they (will taike 
pleasure in explaining in detail the workings 
of their burner. The Planter wishes the 
Fisher-Hogan Bagasse Furnace Co. w«ll- 
earned and deserved success. 
Onite Bars. 
Notwithstanding the wonderful advance 
made in all kinds of sugar machinery in the 
direction of economy in steam production 
and fuel consumption, many planters are 
slii! using the old-faHhioned grate bars that 
waste a large fraction 0(f the coal placed 
theieon for burning. If any one will con- 
sider why we use grate bars at all, he will 
sec that they are used for the purpose of 
burning the coal, affording the greatest air 
space with the leafft danger of wasting coal 
through these spaces, thus securing the most 
effective combustion of the coal, and at the 
same ti^ie grate bars adapted to tihls pur- 
pose should be durable, of moderate weight 
and hence of low cost The Wood and Evans 
grate bars, .advertised in t^is Journal and 
made by Messrs. Jos. Sutton & Sons, 1U9 
South Peters St., New Orleans, make the 
claim, which seems -well founded, that they 
give the most air space, are the most durable, 
the most effective, and have the least weight, 
and are of the lowest cost of any grate bars 
offered in the market. They solicit corres- 
pondence in regard to these bars. 

Fireproof Steel and Iron Structure. 

The Gillette-Herzog Mfg. Co., represented 
by Mr. F. T. Llewellyn, 1012 Hennen Build- 
ing, New. Orleans, desire attention called 
to the work that they are doing in this state, 
•which has been giving excellent satisfaction 
and is erected at prices that defy competi- 
tion. Some particulars are given in their 
behalf in their half-page advertisement on 
page XV ?.nd estimates will be given wher- 
ever requested. 

In these days of cheap iron and steel, it 
is found that fire proof structures can i)e 
built perhaps as cheaply as the old-fashioned 
houses, and as practically every sugar planter 
needs some such wortc done for covering 
bagasse furnaces, boiler plants, sugar house 
extensions, etc., it will be worth the while 
of any and all of them to consult with Mr. 
Llewellyn concerning such work. 

Artestan Wellt. 

Under the head of advertisements we have 
this week a card from The Feitel Well 
Co., of this city, this company is managed 
by Mr. Ike Feitel, well-known throughout 
the entire South as an expert artesian well 
contractor, having sunk wells for the largest 
corporations in this city, and also on a num- 
ber of sugar and rice plantations, and for 
water work's plants throughout the South. 
Mr. Feitel says he has testimonials showing 
the ability, etc., of this company to full- 
fill their contracts and they are prepared to 
make propositions for artesian water sup- 
plies for any and all purposes. 

Mr. M. Feitel, the well-known contractor, 
is pr^ident of The Feitel Well Company, 
and is e8t^ep)e4 pn^ of our be^t busii^esi) 
men. 



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TRE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTURBR. 



181 



IjOOAL lbttbbs. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL COMIISPONDENCtO 

JHttor Louitiiana Planter: 

With the exception of a couple of light 
showers, the weather of the past week has 
been dry, and the planting campaign has ac- 
cordinfi^ly been prosecuted without let or 
hindrance. A majority of planters have 
either finished planting or are about to do 
so, and in the course of a few days more, 
this branch of the season's work will have 
been concluded. 

There is still a great degree of difference 
noticeable amcmg the opinions and estimates 
emaaatins from equally good authorities In 
▼arious localities, as to the present condi- 
tion and fQture prospects of plant and 'stub- 
ble cane, the range of ideas and beliefs ex- 
toidlhg from total failure to a good average 
crop. 

A report comes from Point Coupee to the 
eireqt that the seed cane on Widow C. C. 
Pitcher's Alm^a plantation, is so nearly all 
spcHled that barely thirty acres will be plant- 
ed, instead of the 460 acres calculated upon. 
Mr. J. B. Churchill, who has the Alma place 
in charge, is Justly regarded as one of the 
best planters in that section, and if he finds 
it necessary to reject so much of the seed 
it may be safely assumed that there is good 
reason for doing sa If the other Point 
Conpee plantations have no better outlook 
than Alma, this year's sugar crop In that 
pariah will indeed be a small one. 

Mr. Robert Storm, superintendent of the 
Home refinery in Rapides Parish, stopped off 
for a day's sojourn among his numerous As- 
cension friends, on the way back to Meeker 
from New Orleans last week, and he reported 
an anything but ^nc6uraging prospect of af- 
fairs in his section. The effects of the Feb- 
ruary blizzard were more severe there than 
in the lower portions of the sugar district 

Mr; Carroll Barton, states that he has 
made a full planting at his fine Magnolia 
plantation in Assumption Parish, and re- 
gards his chances good for a fair crop. The 
seed cane, as a rule, was in excellent condi- 
tion, and his first year ratoon also promise 
well. 

St Emma and Palo Alto have likewise 
made full plantings, and the latter place Is 
said to have a particularly good showing to 
Judge from, the seemingly sound condition 
of most of Its plant and stubble. 

St Philomene, in upper Assumption, and 
Sleepy Hollow^ In lower Ascension on Bayou 
Lafourche, are in about the same average 
condition as their larger neighbors, which is 
nothing to brag of. 

Fa)l plant and stubble sprouts are peeping 
above the ground slowly and modestly, and 
It is hoped that the advent of warmer 
weather will encourage the shoots to do more 
and quicker shooting, to the end that the 
anxiety and gloom prevailing in many quart- 
ers may be to some extent relieved. 
CtoL Richard McCall is quoted as estimat- 



ing McManor good for only half a crop this 
year, provided future conditions are not un- 
favorable. 

Manager J. L. Foxwell, of Pike's Peak, St 
James, made a fiylng trip to Donaldsonvllle 
last Sunday and informed your ccH'respond- 
ent that stubble is coming up finely at Plke*s 
Peak, and there Is every prospect of a good 
crop there. 

An Intelligent young Donaldsonvllle busi- 
ness man« who last week made a trip 
through portions of Lafourche, Terrebonne 
and St. Mary Parishes, learned that Messrs. 
Underwood & Short had stopped planting 
on their Bellevlew place, owing to the worth- 
less condition of seed cane; that the general 
outlook In Terrebonne is good, and in I-a- 
fourche from fair to middling. On Rldgefield 
plantation, adjoining Thlbodaux, Messrs. 
Nlcholls & Henderson planted 225 acres out 
of a possible 250 and were encouraged to 
look for good results— much better than had 
been anticipated a few weeks ago. 

Mr. J. W. Gleason has gladdened the eyes 
of his Ascension friends with the first sight 
of him they have enjoyed since he left here 
several months ago to place himself under 
a courstTof medical treatment in' New Or- 
leans. All were gratified to note his greatly 
Improved appearance, and attribute It more 
to the happy Infiuences attending his en- 
listment in Benedictine ranks than to the re- 
sults of mere physic. Mr. Qleason was 
always looked upon as* an Incorrigible and 
hopeless bachelor, hence his conversion is 
all the more pleasing to his host of well 
wishers in Ascension. 



Iberville. 



(8PBC1AL CORRBSPOlfDElfCI.) 

Editor Louisiana PlaTUer: 

Another week of favorable weather may 
be reported as well as a more hopeful view 
of the situation. The maximum temperature 
was 86 degrees on the 18th Inst, anrt rne 
minimum 35 degrees on the day following. 
There was a good shower on the 18tlv ar i 
white frost on the 20th. Cane planting was 
continued, and there are yet a few who have 
not finished. Stubble shaving and digging 
are in progress, and so is com planting. 
The work In general is well advanced, and 
with a continuance of favorable weather a 
fair crop will yet be made In the parish. 
Commercial men report a better feeling aM 
along the llne< and some of the orders, 
countermanded after the severe cold, are be- 
ing sent out again, and, while there are a 
number who feel that the present capacity 
of their sugar houses is sufficient to take off 
the crop of 1899, there are others who are 
going ahead with Improvements. 

At Mr. Louis liozano's Reliance plantation, 
a row of stubble was plowed out this week 
to make room for a canal, and every stub- 
ble had three or four spurs on It An ex- 
amination of the cane planted three weeks 
ago at the Milly plantation, on Bayou Plaque- 
mine, showed sprouted eyes ever3rwhere, and 
Messrs. LeBlanc & Danos feel that a per- 



fect stand Is assured. They have In plant 
cane, 225 acres. 

Mr. Ulysse B. Dugas, one of the most prom- 
inent planters of Assumption Parish and 
member of the firm of Dugas & Landry, of 
Bayou Goula, was at Plaquemlne last 
Wednesday. Mr. Dugas says that for some 
years at Nottoway 50 acres of seed cane were 
sufficient for planting their usual plant acre- 
age, averaging about 200, but last year the 
cane being rather green, 60 acres were put 
down Instead of 50. This cane planted only 
140 acres. From general reports the condi- 
tion of Nottoway's seed may be taken as the 
average of the cane In the lower section of 
the parish. 

Messrs. Barrow ft LeBlanc, of Plaquemlne 
have contracted ^wlth Mr. Edwin Marion- 
neaux, for the cine he is raising on the 
Holly farm and B^eKort plantations this year 
on a basis of 80 per cent Mr. Marionneaux 
Is to deliver the cane in the back. part of 
Pecan plantation which adjoins Holly farm. 

Mr. F. Guidry, who purchased the Gold 
Mine plantation from Mr. J. Colntment, is 
putting it all In rice and has sold the seed 
cane thereon to his neighbor, Mr. Daniel 
Hurley, who will Increase his planting con- 
siderably this year. 

The O. K. Centrifugal houses are In the 
lead with contracts for buying cane and are 
offering 80 cents per cent on a basis of prime 
yellow clarified, at New Orleans Sugar Ex- 
change quotations, no stipulation as to su- 
crose of sugar per cent being required, only 
sound cane cut In firet red Joint These 
houses made a IHtla money last year at these 
figures and are hopeful of better results tl.i^s 
year. 

Iberville. 



Weat Baton Roust. 

(8PBCIAL CORBBSPONDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

On the principle that "a short horse is 
soon curried" a very brief letter will suffice 
to detail existing conditions In this parish 
with reference to the cane crop. As a mat- 
ter of fact, there Is little or no change to re- 
port In the situation. This, In part, will 
explain the non-appearance duHng the past 
two weeks of my usual contribution to the 
Planter's reports from the several parishes. 

During the first week or ten days foUow- 
the memorable freeze of Feb. 11-13 we were 
as blue as could be, and the conviction was 
general that great damage had been done 
both seed and stubble. Later on, however, 
a reaction seemed to set in, and many 
planters began to hope and believe that the 
Injury was not so great as had been at first 
beared. But as time wore on It began to 
be apparent that the first impressions were 
correct, and that the z^ro temperature had 
dealt the cane a deadly blow. 

With the advent of better weather, w^ 
permitted the beginning of long-delayed field 
work, the actual condition of the cane began 
to be manifest. The approximate extent of 
the injury done is not yet known, but it is 



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[Vol. XXH, Na 11 



heavy enough to fulfill the predictions made 
by the average pessimist If there is any 
conflM>lation in knowing Just exactly what 
caused the disaster, it can ibe said that 
the concensus of opinion among the l>est- 
posted planters is tl^it the incessant rains 
of the past fall and :iirinter, did more to rot 
the cane than the fre^e itsell This impres- 
sion seems to be borne out by the peculiar 
manner in which the cane was affeoted. For 
instance, some cane^. in a windrow will be 
tound quite good, ifhile others a foot or 
two away are thoroughly spoiled. And so it 
is with individual canes. Some will have 
three or four good eyes in the middle or at 
either end of the stalk, the others will be 
hopelessly rotted. All of which would seem 
to indicate that wa^er, and not cold, caused 
the injury. In plaiyting, an effort is made 
to overcome these ^defects and get a good 
stand by "lapping" 'three and four, and in 
many cases, five st^ks to the row. A strik- 
ing peculiarity in Tonnection with the con- 
dkion of the seed'- is that it kept better 
in black land than in sandy soil. This can 
only be accouivted for on the theory that the 
black land formed a sort of blanket over the 
eane and thus afforded it greater protection 
than the more porous sandy loam. As an 
illustration of the extent to which the plant- 
ing has been cut short, may be mentioned 
the case of one plantation which usually 
grinds between 400 and 500 acres, where the 
spring planting was completed a few days 
ago, with a total of 'between 20 and. 80 acres 
put down. On this place there is said to be 
considerable good stubble. The proprietor 
will put down the.)bulk of his land in com 
and peas, and expects to make enough corn 
to last him two years. 

Mr. P. E. Tucker, an old and highly es- 
teemed planter of this parish, died in New 
Orleans last Monday. He was a Mississip- 
pian, but spent many years of his life in 
Terrebonne, ocming to this parish some fif- 
teen years ago and taking charge of Mrs. 
Wm. Von Phul's Belair plantation, which he 
cultivated up to last fall. He leaves many 
friends and acquaintances throughout the 

^ state who will keenly regret to learn of his 

^ death. 

A light frost was seen last Monday morn- 
ing in West Baton Rouge. 

Wvn Batok Rougr. 

Assumption. 

(SPBCIAL COBBBSPONDBlfCB.) 

Editor Louitiana Planter: 

The weather seems to be trying to make 
amends for its late bad .behavier, and could 
scarcely be more favorable for agricultural 
interests. True the frost of Monday was 
not desirable, but the warm weather of last 
week, and the rain that came on Saturday 
evening, late, not interfering with work, all 
will help to dispel the gloomy outlook, so 
much a feature of the cane industry a few 
weeks ago. Some of the earliest cane plant- 
ed is beginning to pop out, and the stubble 
is showing signs of life, and the present 



warmth will soon bring it out of the ground. 
The pecan trees are budding, and the old in- 
habitants say that this is almost an infalli- 
ble sign that the cold weather is a thing 
of the pasL 

Planting is on many places finished, and 
from what I can learn, there has never been 
a season offering greater puzzles as to Iha 
whys and wherefores of poor seed cane. 
This year seems to have been a year of 
contradictions, and many accepted theories 
as to cane seed did not seem to work. Of 
course there must be some explanation for 
the differences, but it is difficult always to 
find with mathematical exactitude the 
causes. For instance, the cane on sandy land 
well drained, (usually considered the ideal 
place for seed cane) is frequently poor, while 
many o^ the black land stretches show per- 
fect seed. Even where the land did not drain 
well, the cane s^ms to have been good. Wj 
suppose that possibly the fact as to tho 
sandy land seed not keeping well may be 
attributed to the cane there being crooked, 
and perhaps green. Yet this year seems to 
dispel the idea that green cane will noc dj 
for planting, for I notice that the top of the 
cane (the greenest, part) is frequently per- 
fect, while the bottom is very defective. A 
gentleman in discussing this point, told me 
the best seed that he ever had was put down 
in early September. 

Perhaps the uniformly cool weather of fall 
and winter helped to keep perfect the seed 
in the land not so well drained. However, 
the freaks of this year, as developed in the 
vicissitudes of seed cane, will furnish a mat- 
ter of careful study for some months. The 
general opinion of planters as to the stubble 
seem^ to grow more optimistic as time 
passes. Cane is a hardy plant and stands 
a great deal of hardships. We believe that 
very few of the bottom eyes were killed, and 
with the present warm days, they will soon 
come to the surface, and there Is an old 
maxim that can now be quoted in connection 
therewith: "There is plenty of room at the 
top." . 

I have been trying in vain to estimate in 
some way the possible shortage in the 
plant cane. It is almost an impossible tas % 
as the condition of the seed differs so greatly 
even in the same neigbl>orhood. There are 
but few that will tall short fifty per cent 
compared with last year, and there are many 
that will make as large a planting as last 
year. As a rule, the amount of seed put 
down was in excess of the usual year, so 
that the shortage will be more in compari- 
son with the amount they expected to plant, 
than in comparison with other years. In 
discussing this matter with one well-informed 
planter, he told me that the actual shortage 
would be but small, but that he feared that 
the stand would not be uniform, and in 
places very thin. I think that I do not err 
when I say that the cane has been planted 
more thickly this ^ear than ever before. 
Even those with fair cane, frightened by the 
complaint of others, were afraid to plant as 



usual, and four canes were put in. Where 
at all bad. the row was pretty well flllad. 
With the ground in its present conditio i. 
and with no flooding rains, there is every 
reason to anticipate that the ^ood eyes will 
quickly come up. Morb Anon. 

Terrebonne. 

iPPBCUL CORRBSPONDENCK ) 

Editor LouiHatm Planter: 

Thus far the month of March has been 
more than usually favorable with no inter- 
ference to the rapid advancement of field 
work. The pear trees are out in blossom 
and the pecan trees coming out in leaf— an 
indication that wintry weather, has become 
a thing of the pasL Although not yet num- 
erous, yet sprouts of , early planted cane and 
ratodns can be seen here and there, indicat- 
ing that the ground isj: becoming warm, and 
the canes are beginning to feel the influence 
of the spring-like wei^er. But little cane 
remains tq be planted— at Rebecca, of Mr. 
R. Cocke, where the pjant cane acreage is 
very large, the last sefgd will be planted this 
week. A seasonable 'rain is now wanted, 
particularly by those Who have been some- 
what tardy in planting. A warm rain will 
tend to hasten the gemination of the eye of 
planted canes and stubble. Canes are show- 
ing soundness where least expected. Seed 
in stiff lands on some places, has kept best- 
also the stubble. Mn T. Casey, of Green- 
wood, on the lower bayou Black, related' to 
the writer an unlooked for instance of good 
stubble on black land, after the wet winter 
and severe freeze. Plant cane was put in 
windrow for seed, and the stubble was left 
virtually on the bar, and it was supposed 
that the severe wet and cold winter had 
killed them; but wheii taking up the seed, 
it was found that the stumps presented as 
much vitality as elsewhere, where the con- 
dictions were deemed more favorable for 
their preservation. 

Cane growers are becoming more anB more 
convinced that they must resort to mules 
and machines peculiarly adapted to the 
plant There is a growing desire to become 
possessed of a machine to shave stubble, 
without having to take the time and in- 
cur the expense of barring the cane rows 
prior to shaving. The neatest work the 
writer ever saw was ecently done with a 
straight knife (made of a piece of circular 
saw) in a long box slide. There was a mov- 
able block Just in front of the knife, w^ich 
prevented the machine from cutting below 
the desired depth, regardless of the irregu- 
larities of the ^ar furrow. If canes can be 
shaved and the digger run prior to plowing, 
it will prove of immense advantage, as it 
will enable the planter to obviate ploiiring 
his cane middles when too wet Connpare 
the condition of the land where the canes 
were barred very early when the soil was 
clammy, and that where the work is now 
in progress. In the one instance hard clods 
are to be seen, and in the other the harrow 



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would put the soil In a very friable condi- 
tion to mould to the stumps and aid in re- 
taining soil moisture. 

Cane is like com, it revels in heat and 
humidity. No one ever dreams of leaving 
com on the bar for days and weeks, yet 
such is the common practice 'with the more 
costly cane. Here and there one can see 
fields of stubble with but little vitality left, 
dry almost to the mother canes, left bare of 
earth, where the land is being baked like a 
brick. If what sound eyes there are survive 
should it continue dry, will simply demon- 
strate the wonderful tenacity to life of the 
plant— scarcely any other would survive such 
treatment, A flooding rain on fields in 1 Ke 
condition, would put the land in a miserable 
plight for after cultivation. 

Miss K. L. Minor has returned to South- 
.down much improved in health, after an 
absence of nearly a year. 

Wednesday, of last week, was wafln and 
cloudy; Thursday fair, with cool East wind; 
Friday, variable; Saturday, threatening dur- 
ing the day and light rain about sunset; 
Sunday, bright and cooler; Monday, light 
frost with ^bright sunshine later; Tuesday, 
splendid growing weather, and Wednesday 
morning, balmy South wind. 

Terrebonne. 



St. Mary. 

(■PBCIAL OORRISrONDENCB.) 

BdUor LouiBiana PUaUer: 

A sudden and rather unexpected change 
took place In the weather last Saturday 
night, to cold and dry, after a right heavy 
shower on Saturday evening. Early risers 
claim that frost fell lightly on Sunday and 
Monday mornings, but not of sufl^lent thick- 
ness to do other than. chill the ground and 
slow up vegetation, which has now regained 
its former self. The Saturday evening show- 
er is said to have come at a most opportune 
and profitable time. 

Owing to the continued cold weather the 
stubble is sprouting very slowly, consequent- 
ly the same, satisfaction cannot be felt for 
it as is the case with plant cane, whose con- 
dition was thoroughly examined during the 
planting process; though, between now and 
the middle of April, with the present or or- 
dinary temperature, calculations can be 
closely made as to its final output 

The parish road ordinance of St Mary, 
which has been in operation here for many 
years, namely, letting out the entire system 
on contract to one individual, was repealed 
at the last meeting of the Police Jury by 
another ordinance which empowers the sev- 
eral members in their respective wards, to let 
out the work to whom they please, with the 
right of personal supervision during its con- 
stmction. It is asserted by some that this 
is the superior plan, in that one road master 
could not oversee the work of the whole 
parish in the proper way. If this was ever 
a fact in former times, it is abundantly so 
at the present time, for the public roads were 
never known to be in such an advanced state 



of dilapidation before; every lineal acre In 
the parish has to be overhauled and the 
drainage almost entirely reconstructed. 

But the system for the distribution of the 
funds may be very seriously questioned. For 
instance, the pro rata to be expended in each 
ward will be determined by "the cost per 
mile for working the roads, calculated from 
the total expenditures of 1898 for that pur- 
pose, applied according to the number of 
miles in each ward." So, if a great deal of 
road work was done in one section during 
1898, it is assumed that a great deal will have 
to be done there every succeeding year for 
all time, whether needed or not, while the 
others which may have remained during last 
year in comparatively fair condition, will 
never grow worse. 

M. L. Harrison, the former road master for 
the parish, was given the road work of the 
town of Franklin and the Third Ward of the 
parish, which will keep him engaged for a 
long time, and upon which he is now working 
daily. Your correspondent is informed that 
th*d road machines are going in all directions 
in the other wards also. 

At the meeting of the Police Jury of this 
parish on March 14th, the drainage district, 
mentioned in one of yoiir correspondent's 
recent letters, was created, embracing all the 
plantations and intermediate lands from the 
Arlington around the curve of the Teche, up 
to and including the Harding estate, oh the 
west bank of the bayou, and coming to a 
common point on the southern boundary line 
of W. W. Rice's Gold Ridge place, which 
takes in the town of Franklin and all' of Its 
suburbs; the district <was named and desig- 
nated "The Franklin Drainage District" 
The commissioners appointed, whose duty it 
will be to call the election, ascertain and pro- 
mulgate the will of the majority in number 
and amount, whether for or against, and if 
In favor, the amount necessary to complete 
the work, are: Messrs. S. T. McCardell, 
owner of the Oak Hill; F. R. Caffery, ohe of 
the owners of the Bethia; E. J. Frostouf) G. 
D. Palfrey; and M. Bell, one of the owners 
of Bellview, the Franklin Refinery, etc. 

St« Mart. 



Vermilion. 



(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Ediior Louiaiana Planter: 

Vermilion is still enjoying the finest of 
breather for any and all purposes. Farm 
■work is being rapidly pushed forward and 
with a few more days favorable weather cane 
planting will be completed and early plant- 
Ini? of corn finished. There have been sever- 
al refreshing showers during this spell of 
good weather which were very acceptable 
to the cane planter at least Plant cane Is 
beginning to come out where it was planted 
shallow and the fall plant will soon be up 
to a good stand. Stubble is still very much 
in doubt in some sections and It is feared that 
the effects from the frozen tops will destroy 
it entirely. The acreage crop will be fairly 
up but the tonnage for the mill will be short 



for the reason that it will require from one- 
third to one-half of the crop for seed to 
plant the 1900 crop. The stand is only 
speculative so far but by the 1st of April 
it can be very closely determined. There 
are a number of our small farmers however 
that will not ship a ton of cane this fall 
but will put up their entire crop for seed. 
The seed did not prove over 50 per cent 
good on an average, but this damage was not 
caused by the freeze of February 11th to 
14th. Tour correspondent has examined the 
seed cane in the different parts of the cane 
belt of Vermilion since the freeie and has 
failed to find a damage of over 5 per cent 
from the cold weather. The damage that 
is responsi'ble for our short cane crop this 
year is directly traceable to the immense 
amount of rain that fell here from the 1st 
of October, 1898, to the 15th of February, 
1899/ The cane in this section is water 
soaked and not 'flK>zen. The fall planting 
of .cane, which is very small In acreage. Is as 
fine as was ever seen in this parish. This 
past winter's experience will doubtless 
teach our cane planters a lesson' that will 
'6ause them to more thoroughly drain' their 
lands. The natural drainage of Vermilion is 
as fine as. any other section of Southern or 
3onthwestem Louisiana, but artificial drain- 
age there is none. The great mistake that 
our farmers have been ipf^kjng is that they 
try to make their crop with as little expense 
as possi<ble and this will teach them ere long, 
if they have not already learned the lesson, 
that such action on their part is ''penny wise 
and pound foolish." Had our lands been 
thoroughly drained the loss to seed cane 
would not have been over 10 per cent as the 
cane on well drained lands kepC splendidly. 
"Experience teaches a dear school, etc," and 
our people will learn before they are much 
older that it does not pay to cultivate lands 
without perfect drainage. There is being 
considerable cotton planted already and 
planting is being rapidly pushed to comple- 
tion. The acreage will be greatly increased 
over last year. Rice planting is now the or- 
der of the day in many sections of the par- 
ish and there are thousands of acres of land 
that is 'being prepared for planting. B<x- 
tensive preparations are being made in the 
western part of the parish in the Queydan 
section for an immense rice crop this year. 
It is estimated that If a full crop is harvested 
that Oueydan*s pasture will produce 250,000 
barrels of rice this year. The Hall-Sluts Ir- 
rigating Company are making preparation 
for a large crop— they are extending their 
canal and will materially increase their acre- 
age. R. H. Mills will push his canal to com- 
pletion in time to water his crop when it 
needs watering. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE, i 

Editor LouitUtwi PlatUer: 

The past week was very unfavorable to 
the planting interest of this part of the coun- 
try. From the 13th to the 18th, with the 



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THB LOUISIANA VLASTER ANI> SUGAR MANUFAOTU^nt 



(Vol. XXII, No. 12. 



exception of one or two days it was damp 
and raining. On tlie afternoon of tlie ITth a 
tieavy downpour of rain fell over this and 
adjoining parisiies; in some places develop- 
ing into a iieavy hail storm, which seems to 
have gathered in th^ west and travelled east 
over the settlement of film Bayou to Avoy- 
elles and Rapides line and north to Cheney- 
ville. Just how far east the hail storm con- 
tinued in its course the Planter's scribe has 
not at the present Writing learned. 

Owing to the faU that corn and other 
crops grown by die fanners living in the 
track of the hail storm were not up, the hail 
failed in its course to injure and to do much 
damage to the country over which it passed. 

As far as at present can be learned cane 
planting is now about over. 

Reports from tire cane growers of and in 
the locality of Cheney ville is to the effect 
that on some places the seed cane when 
taken for planting seemed to be sound, 
while on some otQeV and nearby places it is 
claimed that the s^ed cane was so badly dam- 
aged that it was hardly worth planting, but 
as a rule all who" could, and had seed on 
hand, have done s6me planting in the hope 
to make some canq if only seed. 

As a rule, it is now considered that Utile, 
if anything, can be done with stubble cane, 
except to plow it up and out of the way to 
furnish room 'for planting corn and peas. 
Owing to the destruction of the stubble and 
the poor condition of plant cane for plant- 
ing, the wages of the bread winners have 
been reduced on the greater number of places 
giving employment to the wage earning 
classes throughout the greater part of this 
cane growing dialrict. It is now conceded 
by the more prominent cane raisers of this 
and immediate adjoining parishes that it will 
require some years for them to get advanced 
as well into cane as. they were considered to 
be at the close of the season of 1898. 

The idea of building new factories for the 
manufacture of sugar has been laid to rest 
in the gloomy past 

' Planting is later this year than ever before 
known. 

On Saturday, the 18th, the mercui:y at 
noon rested at 78 degrees in the shade; by 
3 o'clock the wind began to change to the 
north; Sunday morning, the 19th, 6 o'clock, 
the thermometer indicated 88 degrees, with 
frost perceptible. The morning of the 20th 
showed the mercury to have gone down again 
to 38 degrees, developing a light frost, but 
not heavy enough to do any serious harm 
to plant life. Corn planting is not half 
through with yet. The weather has been of 
such a nature that the land has warmed up 
and given up its overcharged supply of 
water so slowly that It has been out of the 
question to plow and plant satisfactorily to 
the farmers. 

Those who plant cotton have experienced 
some trouble in finding sufficient seed sound 
enough for planting to insure a perfect stand 
of plants. Not a few of our progressive farm- 
ers have purchased cotton seed for planting 
from Texas, paying as much as |12 per ton 
freight on seed, not Including first cost 
of the seed. It would have been cheaper to 
the farmers to have purchased their cotton 
seed in Egypt or India. The freight rates 
could not probably have been greater than 
they were from Texas. Where are our rail- 
road commissioners who are supposed to 
regulate freight rates? 

Smk. 

Calcasimi. 

(SFBCIAL CORRBSPOKDIlfCB.) 

Editor Louitiana Planter: 

During the past week it has been rainy, 
but the showers were so light that they did 
not hinder the work in the least, but there 



has been much heavy wind, and it nas dried 
ou: the land consideraoly, and rice farming 
has gone forward this week with a rush 
and a great deal has been accomplished Dy 
way of preparing the soil, and a few have 
begun sowing on new land. As for the acre- 
age being planted this season, we do not 
think it is very much in excess of that of last 
season, although some seem to think mac 
the increase is one-half or more than last 
year. 

1 admit that there is a large amount of 
new land being prepared this spring for 
planting to rice, but there is a large acreage 
of old land turned out for pasturage or other 
use, and that • does not seem to have been 
much considered by some. 

Farmers are trying tp grow a better grade 
of rice, and, in order to do so, tney und 
that they must put aside the old foul land 
and begin on new soil to get the best re- 
sults, and this ambition has lead many to 
abandon the old lands for a few seasons 
at least, imtil the wild rice can be exterm- 
inated. It is all folly to put good seed on old 
land that ha sbeen cropped to rice for years, 
but this has been done by many farmers for 
a long time, and they are now getting out 
of the notion. 

If it remains as dry as at present, the farm- 
ers will get a good start with their plow- 
ing during the next ten days. Some are 
through ivith this work, but they are those 
wlio began early, and they will be the ones 
to have the early rice and rea<ih a good 
market with their produce. Gang piuwA 
have been selling well this season, for any 
one who has the team, prefers a gang plow 
as it saves an extra ha^^-^ ^^nd they have 
given better satisfaction than the new d s». 
Jlow, if we may Judge by the demand f // 
either make of plow. There are a gooi mmy 
contracts being made for levee and canal 
work about the country, but it looks like 
it would be very late before the work would 
all be acconyplished, and too late for use 
this season. Some large pumping plants are 
to be put in this spring on some of the new 
farms, and while they should be in by this 
time and fully tested, still they are not pur- 
chased yet. This late business in this line 
of work, was fully tested last season, and 
many lost by it, but it takes several years 
tb beniedy such simple things, and many of 
the large farmers will not contract with a 
water company for water, unless the com- 
pany is ready for pumping before rice is 
planted, for they do not consider it wise to 
prepare several hundred acres of land only 
to learn after It is too late, that the water 
can£ot be furnist^ed in time. 

Some wells have been finished this week 
and the water comes within a few feet of the 
surface^ and wherever an attempt has been 
made to put down an artesian well, a good 
supply of "water has been secured, a^d this 
style of well is most thought of by the 
farmers. 

Labor is not very plentiful, and all good 
hands are i>icked up by canal companies and 
levee builders. The mule market is rather 
quiet Just now, but there has been a larjre 
quantity of work stock sold i" tb!« oarish 
since Jan. 1st. and some is still being sold. 
Com is not planted yet. and it s^ems late 
when we think of the usual time for nlant- 
ing in past averaf^e seasons, but if the 
weather shapes well for the next ten days, 
much of the com will be planted. 

Calcasieu Rice Bird. 



Calcasieu. 

(8FSCIAL COMllSPONDIKCB 1 

Editor TA>uxninna Planter: 
Regular spring weather has prevailed for 



the past week, with Just rain enough to keep 
the soil moist and make It work easy, but it 
has been windy, and the weather has indi- 
cated rain for several days, yet it does not 
come except in small quantities, and me do 
not object to that The plow teams have 
been kept very busy this meek and a good 
acreage of ground has been turned over, 
and still the work goes on, but there is 
quite a large acreage of low land which 
cannot be turned over yet, owing to the water 
and mud, but it will soon be in shape for the 
plow if it does not rain for the next week. 
The majority of faj*mers have been looking 
for a long dry spell this month, but there is 
no indication of it as yet, but Tarmers are 
cutting their sod abodt as fast as they'^plow 
it, so it will be ready if a dry "spell sets In. 
Some few farmers did a little seeding the 
fore part of this week> and a few planted 
some corn, but we t^ink the soil is a little 
too cold for planting.' Considerable rice will 
be put in next week if the weather is favor- 
able for it. The most of the large farmers 
are behind with their plotcghing and this 
is going to make th^ seeding a little late 
with them, yet, with the team force at hand, 
they can dispatch the seeding in a hurry » 
if the rain holds off. It would make the 
seeding very late if we should have much 
rain from now on to the end of the spring's 
work. It is not the intention of the farm- 
ers to do much late planting this spring, 
for they lost so heavily hf so doing last sea- 
son; still, where they are sure of water, 
they will risk considerable along that line. 
Work on many of the new canals began 
this week, and the work will continue until 
long after seeding, and many of the old 
canals will be lengthened and etren^^ened. 

The well drills are all kept busy and can 
not begin to keep up with the demand, for 
farmers are bound to have the wells, as they 
are proving to be so milch cheaper than the 
canal water, and one fliirmer is going to put 
down eight wells on his farm if he can get 
any one to do the work In time. Some farm- 
ers in easy reach of the canals are going to 
put down wells in preference to using the 
canal water, for the difference in price In 
the water will pay for the welL I notice 
that those who have sown rice this season, 
have put the seed on the raw ploughing 
without any previous preparation of the soil, 
and they are not putting the seed on thick 
enough, but this plan of planting is done 
very largely every season and a heavy loss 
to the farmer is the result, yet tlvey do not 
seem to regard . the extra work as being 
worth much, and this careless sham farm- 
ing seems to get worse every season. If 
some farmers would only plant one-half the 
usual acreage, and then give the soil the pro- 
per attention, before and after the planting, 
they would make more money, and make it 
easier, and produce a better grade of rice 
for the market 

All our rice mills are doing well and some 
of them will run late In the season, for there 
Is considerable rice in first hands, and the 
large mill companies buy up a large supply 
in the spring to run on after the most of 
the smaller mills have shut down. I have 
talked with many farmers who have been 
planting their seed cane and some of them 
tell me that they have lost two-thirds of 
their seed, while others state that fully half 
of the seed Is killed, and some tell me that 
the stubble cane Is more than half gone, 
and I can only account for this in the fact 
that the cold was much more severe on 
the prairie section of the state where there 
was no protection, and the ground troia 
deeper than in the timbered sections. 

Calcasieu Ricb BnoK 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR IjCA^nTPACTURBR. 



185 



FOBQIGN LETTBRS. 



Berlin. 

iSPBClAL CORRESPONDENCE. ) 

BtfUar Louisiana PUmter: 

There has been — as foreshadowed in my 
last letter — a reaction in the meteorological 
cotuUCions. but it must be admitted that it 
arrived sooner than expected. Last week 
closed with mild and damp weather and this 
has kept on until thie middle of the period 
under review, but then sharp northerly 
winds set in and with them the winter, 
although in a mild form, returned, the week 
closing with a light snorw fall. Of course the 
termers would have liked it much better if 
the warm and dry weather we enjoyed a 
fortnight ago, had been of a longer dura- 
tion; on the other hand it may be better 
that the cold weather has returned now in- 
stead of later on, when the vegetation has 
achieved considera'ble progress. Although 
in the face of this change field work could 
not be done on a larger scale, the dry 
weather has been utilized as much as possi- 
ble and f)re|>aratory operations and more es- 
pcicially the hauling and strewing of manure 
has been commenced and continued under 
fairly satisfactory circumstances. Such is 
also the situation in the other beet-gnywing 
conntries of Europe, the temperature having 
everywhere undergone a marked fall except 
—strange to say— in Russia, where the 
weather has continued as mild as it has 
been all the winter through. Besides field 
-work aeems to hav^ Somewhat further ad- 
vanced than in this country, in France, 
Austria and Holland, which, however, at this 
time at the year Is of no account whatever. 
There is every year in the month of Feibru- 
ary a large meeting of German agriculturists 
held at Berlin on the occasion of whtch 
the interests of German agriculture are dis- 
cussed. Of ^particular interest and weight 
are the discussions of the German agricul- 
tural council, whose members are either 
large landowners or agronomists of high 
standing, both in practical and scientific re- 
lations. This council's proceedings general- 
ly take place in the presence of ministers 
or other representatives of the government, 
(a tBw years ago the Bmperor himself conde- 
scended to attend a session) and lit is there- 
fore 8au.e to say that the opinions and wishes 
enunciated, exercise a certain influence on 
the agrarian and economical legislation of 
the country. As usually some space is also 
allotted ito the consideration of the sugar 
question, and without entering into details, 
I think it necessary to give you a short ex- 
tract of the resolutions adopted by said 
counsel: As a measure tending to increase 
consumption, the restriction of the tax is 
recommended. This reduction shall take 
place within five years, so that every year 
four marks are cut off from :the 20 marks 
for 100 kilos, now levied. But the bounty 
is to subsist to its full amount of abt 2.20 
marks (less legal deduotion), until the en- 



tire tax is albolished. The sale of denatural- 
ized sugar must be facilitated and the same 
bounty must be granted to It, as to the 
other kinds of sugar. More stringent meas- 
ures are to be taken against saccharine and 
other artificial sweets. Sugar should be 
definitely added to the rations of the mili- 
tary. The growing of other crops, more par- 
ticularly of cereals should be tovored in 
order to relieve the farmer from the neces- 
sity of growing sweets. In the relations 
with the United States, the most favored na- 
tion clause should be fairly recognized on 
both sides, and any difficulties impeding our 
exports to America should be discarded 
as soon as possible. Cane sugar experts 
should be sent to the colonies where cane 
sugar Is grown with a view to relia/bly re- 
port on the state and condition of that in- 
dustry. This is a pretty lengthy list of 
desiderata, which however, cannot be Hght- 
ly passed over by the governments and by 
legislative bodies. 

The German Sugar Cartel, of which I have 
written to you several times when first 
planned, and efforts were made to call It 
into life, is now practically com]^leted; tlie 
contracts between the raw sugar manufac- 
turers and the refiners being ready and 
agreed upon on both sides. The other steps 
necessary for the consolidation of the in- 
stitution will no doubt be accomplished In 
a very short time. Your esteemed readers 
will, I suppose, rememoer that on account 
of the depressed sugar prices, some energetic 
action appeared necessary, to place again 
the Industry on a sound 'basis, which shall 
be effected by the re^ners fixing the prices 
of refined and keeping them on a' certain 
level, In order to be able to pay more for raw 
sugar. Refiners who decline to adhere to 
the covenants get no raw sugar from the 
fahrlcants. A similar cartel exists already 
in Austria, where it w<>rks quite satisfac- 
torily. 

The saccharine question certainly Is a kind 
of sea serpent, quite unexpectedly it emerges 
from the depths now and then, even in 
countries where it was believed to be set- 
tled long ago. Such is the case with regard 
to Russia. In that country, the gQperal use 
of the stuff is prohtbited by law, and classed 
among the poisonous substances, to be sold 
only in drug stores on medical prescriptions. 
But as it appears now7 these regulations have 
not the desired effect, for, by analysing sev- 
eral articles of food, saccharine has heen 
tound in larger or smaller quantities. Re- 
cently the Petersburg society for the pro- 
tection of public health has considered the 
question, and In order to put a stop to the 
adulterattons, they proipose to levy a heavy 
Import duty on saecharine from foreign 
countries, or a high tax on Inland produc- 
tion. Furthermore higher penalties for 
adulterations are considered necessary, be- 
sides a revision of the regulations for selling 
and buying saccharine. The society was in- 
formed that in 1896 alone, through the 



customhouse of Warsatv^ 7.2 tons" of ~ sac- 
charine has heen imported into Russia. 

The better feeling noted last week In- the 
mark^ has maintained Itself principally on 
account of American purchases. The quan- 
tity the hitter 'country has taken is not 
so very large, (about 25,000 tons) but as a 
rule, the European markets cheer up when 
America, is buying, and accordingly local 
dealers and refiners joined with the Ameri- 
cans and a brisk business ensued, which 
caused a marked advance of prices. In 
Madgebifrg, they closed at M. lO.&O— 10.^0 
Tor actual 88 pet. sugars and at Hamburg at 
M. 9.80 for delivery February f. o. h. Ham- 
burg. Refined were also somewhat more 
active, but the movement subsided when 
sellers asked for higher prices. 

ROBT. Hennio. 



Beriin. 

(SPECIAL CORBBSPONBBNCB.) 

Berlin, March 4. 1899. 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The time of transition from winter to 
spring was characterized last week by a cold 
snap in the first half of the period under 
review a^d by a subsequent rise of tempera- 
ture together with some moist preclpltetlons, 
which latter, from the standpoint of the agri- 
culturist, are considered as the weak point 
of last week's weather, as they, by watering 
the fields afresh i?revented the field work 
on dryer sites from being continued and on 
lower sections with marshy soil from being 
begun altogether. However the latter days 
of the-week the weather was clearing up and 
provided that there Is no early change to the 
reverse, everything will be all right and all 
fears of late sowings may be dispersed. Re- 
ports from foreign beet countries denote 
from r ranee, genuine dry spring weather 
which has been amply taken advantage of 
for accomplishing as much field work as 
possihle; Austria had variable weather, be- 
ing a good deal less favoraJble for agricultural 
operations; In Holland and Belgium the 
weather has been not as fine as in France, 
but fairly satisfactory, and in Russia the 
mild wefither keeps on, opening prospects for 
comparatively early sowings. But In Rus- 
sia the weather Is about as unreliable as In 
America and It would be somewhat hazard- 
ous to trust too much to present prospects. 

The general assemhly of the large German 
society of sugar manufacturers with Its col- 
lateral sections will take place on May 29th 
to 3Xst In Breslau, the capital of the Prus- 
sian province of Silesia, where the first beet 
sugar factory has 'been built and set in 
operation. 

The sugar question was on February ,28th 
the subject of a long and heated dispusslon 
In the German Reichstag. The agrarian 
party think the only hope of salvation is 
when the tax on sugar and at the same time 
the bounty shall be abolished, an idea 
enunciated already by the agricultural coun- 
cil and mentioned in my last letter. For 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER A .^ SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. xxn, No. It. 



thei^e endeavors the agrarians coincide "with 
part of the liberals, of the progressists and 
the socialists. But whilst the former be- 
lieve the measure to be in their particular 
interest, the latter parties represent in the 
first place the one sided interests of the con- 
sumer. The agrarians take it for granted 
that a material lowering of, or an entire 
aholition, of the tax would cause such an in- 
crease of consumption, that the German 
sugar industry would be placed no longer 
under the necessity of exporting about two- 
thirds of the production, and they think be- 
sides that a marked increase of the home de- 
mand would lead to a not less marked Im- 
provement of the price. It is, however, 
obvious at the first glance that such a 
philosophy involves a contradiction, for the 
raised price would militate as much against 
an increase of consumpwon, as tne tax is now 
in the way of it But reducing the taxef or 
abolishing them, means reducing and finally 
abolishing the bounties. There Is the ques- 
tion; can the German sugar growers dis- 
pense with the bounties when the' other 
countries producing beet or cane sugar con- 
tinue to pay them? As has been ajiown by 
the abortive result of the Brussels conference 
last year, it is next to Impossible to arrive 
at an agreement In that respect Those who 
proposed to reduce or abolish the German 
bounties, propose an experiment which tiiey 
will perhaps one day regret having taken the 
responsibility of. Nobody would grudge to 
our people the enjoyment of cheap sugar. 
But It is a well-known fact that cheapness 
alone Is not the only cause of an increasing 
consum>ptlon. In this respect we must dis- 
tinguish temporary and permanent causes. 
The former consist principally in the econ- 
omic condition of the people, lyiillst the lat- 
ter em!brace life and habits of the nations 
and also their sugar legislation, and it is 
obvious that if one of these conditions is 
adverse to a marked progress of sugar con- 
sumption the other two will (be hardly of 
much account In Germany we see that 
sugar among a very large pr(^K>rtion of the 
population, is still far from being considered 
a necessity of life, and this is evident from 
the various measures proposed to wean the 
people to the use of sugar, which you in 
America do not need to do, although even 
there some room is left for an increased 
sugar consumption. As I wrote you. the 
agrarians wish the tax to be abolished with- 
in five years, every year one fifth of it But 
I think this would produce the desired effect 
as this gradual lightening of the tax burden 
would not be felt Every reduction of the 
tax would be too slight to make any im- 
pression. The reduction would amount for 
one hutner (60 kiloa) 2 marks, that Is for one 
German pound, 2 pfennigs or half a cent 
Anyway if the government should be inclined 
to comply with the wishes of the agrarian 
party, only a thorough measure of that kind 
could "be of any avail, and such for the pres- 
ent is out of the Question, the government 



needing the money, say about 100 millions of 
marks or 25 millions of dollars, at present 
squeezed out of sugar. Besides the argu- 
ment of the agrarian party seems in this 
matter sadly at fault The object In view 
is, no doubt, to get a better price for their 
sugar; but suppose the reduction of % cent 
to the pound Is added to the price of the un- 
taxed product, where Is then the cheapening 
of the article and the increase of consump- 
tion expected as a consequence of the de- 
manded reduction or abolition of the tax? It 
is much to be regretted that the production 
and commerce of sugar more than of any 
other article of food, Is^dependent on legis- 
lation, but as It Is, people must try to make 
the best of It, so that .both the producers alid 
the consumers' Interest are sufficiently pro- 
tected. 

The markets opened this week in rather a 
quiet spirit but as the undertone was un- 
mistakably firm the outward appearance 
changed also soon for the 'better, and al- 
though business was less important than last 
week the tendency rallied and prices which 
had slightly declined on different commer- 
cial centers retrieved tlielr losses, bidding 
fair to make a further advance in the near 
future, some statistical items being favorably 
interpreted and larger speculative opera- 
tions being said to 'be planned by Paris bulls. 
In Germany prices were at first barely 
maintained but at the close they are 5 pfen- 
nigs higher, the quotation for 88 pot. 
rendement being M. 10.60 — 10.70 at Magde- 
burg and M. 9.77 at Hamburg, for delivery 
March f. o. b^ Refined became later on more 
active but remained unchanged In price. 

RoBT. Hbnniq* 



Havana. 

(SPECIAL C0BBB8P0NDENCB.) 

Havana, Marcih 4th, 1899. 
Ediior Louisiana Planter: 

Owing to same causes that prevailed last 
week no change has taken place In this 
market, the same disparity being noticed 
between buyers and sellers' views, on which 
account sales have heen restricted to a few 
small parcels, chiefly for local consumption, 
at full prices, 2% cts. for 94 test and 2.52 @ 
2.62i4cente per lb. for 95-96 test at whicfh, 
about 1,500 bags were sodd whereas quota- 
tions for good shipping classes do not go 
over 2% @ 2 7-16 cts. basis 96 test, and about 
10,000 bags for export, on private terms. 

Stocks have now accumulated to a fair 
extent and as soon as the demand improves 
it is likely that a fair bulk of business will 
be closed, since exporters will be able to 
select parcels to their convenience. 

The continuance of good weather allows 
grinding operations to be kept up without 
noticeable interruptions and all the fac- 
tories whose owners could dispose of neces- 
sary funds to cover first expenses and make 
the most Indispensable repairs to their 
machinery are now fairly under way and 
endeavoring to retrieve the lost time. 



Still no sign is as yet visible in the fields 
towards planting for next year. _ 

Of the 15 large factories in the district of 
RemedluB, seven are now grioding their 
own cane and that of the eight others, which 
will not light their fires this year. Owing 
to the agricultural posslbilltleB of this 
country, the establishment of an Agricul- 
tural Bank would certainly be one of the 
best investments for foreign capital, as it 
is an opening about which nothing of posi- 
tive result has as yet been done and 
parties willing to stort business in this 
way, at the 8am.e time as they would render 
a great service to the agricultural com- 
munity, would find It a remunerative invest- 
ment for their money, by advancing deter- 
minate sums on sugar and tobacco crops. 

Owing to the stringent situation the ma- 
jority of planters are laboring under, few 
only are able to run their plantations with- 
out borrowing money and the balance, per- 
haps 90 per cent, have no otiier remedy 
than to succumb to lenders* demands and 
grant rates of Interest varying between 1 
and 2 per cent monthly. One case has been 
lately mentioned of a planter, who In order 
to obtain $10,000 he needed to -start grind- 
ing, was compelled to deliver his whole crop 
to a broker who charged no interest on ad- 
vance money, but exacted a brokerage of 
50 cents for each bag of sugar, worth, on 
an average, $8.00, the interest ibeing 6% per 
cent for three months, equivalent to 2^^^:?^ 
per cent per month. 

About one-third of tl^e population of Cuba 
depending for their living upon a^cultural 
pursuits, it will be easily understood how 
prejudicial is the parallzation of lal)or in 
the country, and the most efficient remedy 
for this deplorable condition of afEairs 
would be, as said above, the establishment 
of a strong Agricultural Bank that would 
lend funds to agriculturists in general, <m 
reasonable terms. This is a vital subject 
that ^ought to be taken into careful consid- 
eration by the American authorities if they 
wish Cuba to produce enough money to 
cover expenses incurred on account of the 
mUltary occupation, besides tM'oviding relief 
to the thousands in need of work and who 
utterly depend on the development of the 
agricultural interests and principally on 
cane culture and sugar manufacture for their 
living. 

Now that Spain has lost her colontad 
dominion, she is endeavoring to grow on her 
own soil some of the products she formerly 
imported from Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philip- 
pine Islands and the United States. Appli- 
cations have been made to the government 
by several agricultural boards, requesting 
the free culture of sugar cane and beet, 
cotton and tobacco. Important prime materi- 
als for several of the national industries, 
and which the applicants assure can be 
grown in divers districts of the peninsula in 
sufficient quantity, not only for the supply 
of the home consumrption, but also for ex- 
port. 



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THB LOUlfiXAKA KJlim AMD tUOiJl lUNOf ▲OTtTllt. 



187 



Snsar cane and tobacco could be cultivated 
in a Itmited sone, but as far as beet is con- 
cerned good sugar qualities are obtained in 
a lar^e number of localities; it is as yet un- 
known tf cotton culture will afford satis- 
factory results and the goyernment is re- 
quested to award prises to the agriculturists 
who. In the expeiiments which will soon be 
made in several of the central and southern 
provinces of the kingdom, obtain the best 
results in quality and quantity. 

Planters' Board: The plan presented by 
the committee appointed to formulate a 
plan to reorganize labor in the country and 
regulate relations betnveen planters and their 
creditors has ^ven scope to numerous dis- 
criminations, eq^ecially on the part of 
pUnteiB' creditors, wao have publUhed in 
local papers violent attacks against the pro- 
posed plan and unanimously declared that 
if the iKiard approve it, they will under no 
drctunstances enter into arguments so pre- 
jodicfal to tiieir interests, although they are 
vUllng: to grant their debtors all D3cessary 
facilities for payment, provided these, in 
their turn, evince th^ desire to fulfill their 
engacremento, since the prevailing crisis is 
as prejudicial to the one as to the others. 

T. D. 



Havana. 



(SPSCUL COHBiarOirDBNCS.) 

Havana, Mardh 10th, 1899. 

The demand, stimulated by better news 
from abroad, has ruled more active, ^ving 
margin to the transaction of a fair bulk 
of business, at steadier prices, say 2% and 
2% efts, per pound,^ for good cen'trifugals, 
basis 9 test, at which the market closes 
nctber quieter, awing to higher pretensions 
on sellers' part. 

ESxports have been larger this week than 
during any of the previous ones Since the 
conamencement of the crop, owing to the 
•Uiinnent at outports of several large parcels 
proceeding from planta:tAt>n8 belonging to 
American companies or syndicates. 

It Is now fully ascertaAned that this crop 
will not only tie much cThorter than the last 
one, but that it will also fall considerably 
below the calculations made at the com- 
mencement, since giinding on a large number 
of plantations will soon come to an end, lit>m 
want of cane. Well-iKMrted parties already 
foretell that next year's crop will even result 
smaller than the present one, owing to the 
fact that oane that had been separated for 
seedlings is being cut and ground In several 
locaKties, from lack of funds for duly pre- 
partmg the fields previous to their re- 
plantings 

Complaints are being formulated regarding 
the small quantity of cane planters can dis- 
pose of. Great difficulties are encountered 
Irom want of oars and oxen in fts transporta- 
tion to the sugar houses, and the quantity 
of sogar manufactured falls considerably be- 
low the average. At Matansas, the larg- 



est plantations, of a capacity of 700 and 800 
bags per day, are turning out only 200 and 
250, and it may be said that better results 
are obtained throughout the Island on few 
plantations only, working under exception- 
ally good conditions. 

Owing to heavy rains, crop operationB In 
the Remedies district have been seriously in- 
terfered with, and a ceitaiin quaiMty of out 
cane that remained in the fields on account 
of the bad condition of the roads, has been 
loiTt, together with that which had been 
burnt either accidentally or purposely to fa- 
dlitate its cuttine;. 

The few parties who have so far deter- 
mined to se'ttle In the country and resume the 
culture of small farms, are the victims of 
numerous gahgs of marauders, who deprive 
them, not only of any small quantity of 
mone^ proini^ons and cloithing, but also of 
whatever scanty cattle they may possess. 

In the Bastem part of the Island, new 
bands of armed men (ure reported as having 
appeared in several localities and are In- 
terfering wdth grinding operations on all 
plaoftatlons that are not strongly garrisoned. 

Mr. Julius Aspeteguia, proprietor of the 
Grand ,Central Factory^, "Constania," at 
Oienfuegos, has lately commissioned Major 
Alfred Lewis, of the Cuban army to organize 
a force of piicked men, for the special object 
of protecting the plantation. This force 
comprises 26 mounted men, under the com- 
mand of a second lieutenant, all proceeding 
from the Cuban army, the lieutenant earning 
150 and the soldiers |26 each per month, 
with food and lodging. 

The determination adopted b^ 6r. Azpe- 
tegla is a practical one, made necessary by 
the present condition of afEairs in the fields 
of the Island, and may become the i^rtlng 
polnft for solving two important problems, 
such as proviiHng Cuban soldiers, as soon as 
mustered out, with wcM'k, either as laborers 
or guards on sugar plantations, and to Insure 
the safety of plantations and their hands 
against the aggresiAve marauders. 

Steps are being taken to establish at Santa 
Clara, an agricultural school on tlhe premises 
formerly occupied by the Agricultural Ex- 
perimental Station. The esta/bUshment will 
be supported by the Santa Clara City Council 
and placed under the direction of the well- 
known agricultural engineer and writer, Sr. 
Juan B. Jimenez. 

The plan formulated by the commission 
nominated by the planters' board to enter 
into arrangements with their credftore has 
been disapproved of, not only by the major- 
ity of creditors, but also by a large number 
of planters, who endorsed a letter publish :d 
in several local papers, the contents of which 
may be condensed in following lines. 

*'We, several planters who claim to be 
honest men, wish to enter protest against the 
project to ask for an injunction against the 
foreclosing of mortgages recently formulated 
by the commission of the planters' board of 
this city. 

"There are remedies which kSll, and such 



is the one proposed by the planters' board 
commission. 

"It Is a well-known fact that the maJoMty 
of planters do not own sufficient means to 
purchase and run a plantation, and all they 
possess Is through credit, and any measure 
to weaken or do away with credit would be 
their ruin; If the project approved by the 
board ever becomes a lafw, it will be a death- 
blow to the Cuban sugar industry. 

"We do not think that the best way to 
in^ire confidence among bankers, merchants 
and money lenders would be the enfof cement^ 
of a law exempting planters from paying 
their legitimate debts; we therefore reject 
the project, - whUch we do not consider the 
act of the whole board, but that of a certain 
number of -Its members, wbo, regardless of 
the f ufture, only wish to be able to live a 
few years longer at the expense of their 
creditors. 

"Far from endorsing the plan, we believe 
that the only efficacipus means of improving 
the present^ condition of affairs, is to frankly 
recognitze .the legitimacy of credits against 
us and -contracts entered upon, and to enter 
with our creditors into arrangements equally 
satisfai^tory to them and to ourselves. 

"Until - this be done, we shall have no 
money, no credit and no way to get it. and it 
will be impossible to raise even $1,000 on a 
1100,000 plantation, as we Should lack means 
to guarantee the lender's rights. 

"We certainly hope that Governor General 
Brooke will study the matter carefully and 
give a decision based on Justice and honesty, 
and not according to the point of view of the 
selfish few, who, for the sake of evading 
legitimate debts, would deliberately ruin the 
thousands dependent on the sugar Industry." 

T. D. 



Personal. 



Mr. George H. Clinton, of St. Joseph, La., 
who is a sugar house chemist of considera- 
ble reputation, was a guest of the Grune- 
wald last Sunday. 

Mr. Henry A. Munson, a leading sugar 
planter of Assumption Parish, was a recent 
guest of the St Charles. He was accom- 
panied by Mrs. Munson. 

Mr. Bd. Godchaux, of the splendid Elm 
Hall plantation in Assumption Parish was 
in the city on Tuesday last 

Mr. T. H. Roger and Mr. B. Roger, two 
of the best posted and most successful sugar 
planters in the state, came up to the city 
on Wednesday and took apartments at the 
Hotel Grunewald. 

Mr. John Hill, the veteran sugar planter 
of Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, and 
also his son, Mr. George Hill, were in the 
city on a visit a few days ago. They regis- 
tered at the St Charles. 

Col. John R. Gheens, of the Golden Ranch 
plantation, in Lafourche Parish, was at the 
St Charles Hotel on Wednesday. This is 
Col. Gheens' first visit to the city for some 
time, and the inference is that things are 
now beginning to thaw out in Lafourche. 



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188 



THE LOUISIAif A PtJiijTEli AND SUGXr MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 12. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Qxnard, California. 

As anoaunced elsewhere, Mr. Baur. the 
executive officer and coasul-ting engineer 
of the Oxnard Construction Co., who hafl 
charge at M the plans and- construcUos 
work of the factories huilt by the Company» 
after spending part of two weeks arrang* 
the plans of the work on the Increased ca- 
pacity, left for New York Thursday. He is 
well pleased with the outlook. 

Col. Drlfflll Informs the Courier that the 
work of completing the factory to its lull 
capacity of 2000 tons of beets per day will 
be pushed as rapidly as the machinery ar- 
rives. The additional machinery has been 
purchased and part of It already shipped and 
en the way here. Mr. Kilby, a member of 
one of the machinery manufacturing firms, 
has been on the ground and in consultation 
with Mr. Baur, 

No new contracts have «been let except for 
additional beet sheds and some Improve- 
ments In those already erected and the 
waste-water canal. The beet shed contract, 
which will require 200,000 feet of lumber In 
its construction, has been let to F. O. Bng- 
ttrum. The additional buildings, etc., which 
the Increase necessitates, were embraced In 
the original contract and will be erected by 
C. Leonardt, and the concrete and other ma- 
terial to be used are arriving dally. 

The canal to tide-water will be open part 
of the way and covered a part of the way 
and a steel pipe will be used on another 
portion of the line. It will be suibstantially 
constructed and so arranged as not to In- 
Jare anyone along the line. 

There is no longer any doubt as to a 
season being full of activity In every line of 
work here dependent upon the factory. The 
construction work will require a large force 
from now until the campaign opens. As 
large an acreage as can be handled to ad- 
vantage the first season of the factory's 
operations have been contracted and the way 
in which the beete are coming up with taie 
Uttle rainfall to date insures an abundant 
crop of high grade beets. . Everything 
promises the complete fullflllment of the 
prediction of Oxnard's prosperity made in 
earlier issue of the Courier.-Courier, March 



11. 



Oxnard, California. 

Mr. A. Hache, the agricultural manager 
for the Oxnard companies for California, 
informs the Courier that the beets first 
planted are coming up and give every pro- 
mise of a good crop. All the conditions 
are much more favora/ble than last year. 
The farmers commenced preparing and 
Irianting earlier and the ground is in good 
condition and the full acreage will be 
planted. The farmers have discovered 
that it takes less moisture to raise beets 
than any other of the customary crc^s. 
The damp atmospihere and the fogs are fav- 



orable to beet growth though too much 
west winds are not Mr. Hache thinks that 
there will be moisture enough for a good crop 
from the above with such showers as we 
may naturally expect during the next three 
months. He says that it was the rain in May 
which made last year's crop.'^aken with the 
fog. It will be remembered that last year's 
beet crop waa larger here than elsewhere 
in the State. Those who raised beets then 
made a profit. The crop would have been 
ample for running the factory then, if the 
farmers had gone ahead as they are doing 
this year and planted early. Instead of 
that they kept putting It off, thinking 
that they could rely upon later rains to 
raise a beet crop. In this they were dis- 
appointed and they only had a short crop 
of inferior quality. The beets raised, how- 
ever, with last year's conditions were M high 
grade and made a profit. The deduction 
to be drawn from last year's experience is 
that a good beet crop can be more safely 
relied upon than any other. While rain Is 
desirable it is chiefly necessary for other 
crops. Should we have but a light rain- 
fall from now on those who have devoted 
a portion of their lands to beet growing will 
have every reason to congratulate them- 
selves. — Courier Mar. 4. 

Leili, Utali. 

Supt. Vallez returned from his eastern trip 
on Sunday and reports having a pleasant 
and profitable trip. He spent some time at 
Bay City, Mich., where they made a grand 
success this year, it being their first year. 
As a resulf of this and the encouragment of 
a State bounty, a number of new factories 
are going up in that State. In the vicinity 
of Bay City 15,000 acres will be planted In 
beets this year. Many eastern capitalists 
are now Investing their money in this indus- 
try and the country Is now having a healthy 
beet sugar boom which means a glorious 
future for our sugar industry. Experts in the 
business are in great demand and can com- 
mand their own price. 

While at Cleveland, Mr. Vallez and Mr. 
Ingalls ordered some of the hew machinery 
to be put In this factory and It will be shipped 
and put in place as soon as possible. A large 
force of men were put to work this week 
tearing out the old char filters to make room 
for the osmose presses and evaporator to be 
put In there. The lime kiln will also be 
torn down and rebuilt so this large force will 
be kept on for some time and from 10 to 15 
mechanics will be kept 6usy until July when 
they expect to start up on the syrup. If the 
present good weather continues the seed 
beets will be tested and planted about the 
first of next month. 

Manager Cutler Is still in the East work- 
ing in the interest of the sugar Industry in 
this State. — Banner, March 11. 

Boet Sugar in tlie United States. 

It Is beyond human comprehension that 
the world produces annually about 8,000,- 



000 tons of sugar,. but even a more startlhig 
statement is the one that the United States 
consumes a third of this immense quantity. 
Still another fact for which many readers 
are not prepared Is the excess of beet sugar 
over cane sugar. The former Is compara- 
tively so recent a product that it is difficult 
to realize that It surpasses the cane product 
The world's production of cane sugar txnr 
1895 was 3,125,000 tons, while that of beet 
sugar was 4,975,000 tons. While the United 
States consumed 2,148,000 tons of beet sugar 
in 1895; it produced but 33,000 tons. TI10 
conditions since have been changing stead- 
ily with the Increased production of beet 
sugar, the principal states in the industry 
being Nebraska and California, the iatter 
navlng come Into the lead In the past few 
years, while the industry is yet In Its In- 
fancy. TLe growth of the sugar beet In- 
dustry In California is shown by the fQl- 
jowlng table of productions in tons of sugar, 
compiled by the state board of trade: 

Watson- 
Year, yille. Alv'rdo. Ctaino. Alamltoa. Totl. 

1888 . . .1425 458 Nil NU 1910 

1889 . . . 1&85 872 Nil Nil 2457 

1890 . . . 1585 1403 Nil Nil 3351 

1891 . . . 2183 891 Nil Nil 3074 

1892 . . . 5634 1253 Nil Nil 6887 

1893 . . . 7645 2243 Nil Nil 9888 

1894 . . .11935 2955 3725 NU 18615 

1895 . . .10786 2700 10341 Nil 23827 

1896 . . .19185 4679 7951 Nil 31815 

1897 . . .14761 5089 12020 3500 35280 

The totals for the year 1898 are not yet 
at hand, though It Is certain that the pro- 
duct will .^how a material decrease from the 
preceedlng year, as a result of the partial 
drought which has prevailed. This is not 
what was expected for the year at the cioee 
of the .preceding season, as it was planned 
to make the year which has Juat closed far 
greater in sugar production than its prede- 
cessor. 

The WatsonvlUe and Alvarado ftictoriea 
are in Northern California, and the Chlno 
and Alamitos factories are in the South, giT- 
ing the heaviest production of sugar thus &r 
to the North. Whether this condition will 
remain is problematical, however. The 
largest sugar factory in the world has inst 
been completed at Salinas, in Northern Cali- 
fornia, but on the other hand, an immense 
factory at Oxnard, Ventura county, would 
have begun operations this year had it not 
been for the partial failure of the crop. 
The Alamitos factory in ite first year did 
but a small portion of the work for wWdi 
it iH equipped. There are plans being made 
for a half dozen other factories to be con- 
structed In the next few years in Southern 
California. While the sugar beet is not 
suitable for all soils, there are large bodies 
of land throughout the State which can 
produce big crops of beets of high sugar 
percentage, and it would appear that the 
southern counties have fully an equal pros- 
pect with the more northern ones. 

The lands adapted to beet growing are tte 



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March 25, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



189 



lower valleys, possessing alluvial deposits 
and freely subirrigated by underground 
streams. Such land is found in abundance 
througfh Orange county, through the south- 
ern portion of Los Angeles county, along the 
coast in general and in certain localities 
along water courses. The Alamitos factory 
draws its supply of beets from farms in Los 
Angeles and Orange counties while the 
Chino factory, in San Bernardino county, 
has a large tract of land well adapted to 
the crop, and also imports beets from 
Orange county, especially In the vicinity of 
Anaheim. During the past two years it has 
also received large supplies from Ventura 
county, where the owners of the Chino fac- 
tory have built the Oxnard factory^ which 
will be ready for a large harvest this year. 

The sugar beet Is white and ranges from 
three to six inches in diameter at the top, 
from which point it tapers gradually, being 
from six inches to two feet in length. The 
average crop is about eleven tons per acre, 
and the average sugar percentage is about 
16. The prevailing price for beets is $3.50 
per ton for 12-per-cent beets, with 26 cent 
per ton added for each per cent of sugar 
above the standard. The richest beets grown 
stand to the credit of Ventura county, where 
the average from all farmers for a full year 
is 18 per cent, valued at |6 per ton.' The re- 
turns to the farmer range from $40 to |76 
per acre for the average year, while with the 
assistance of boys in thinning the beets, one 
man can care for about sixty acres. Under 
these conditions the net profits for the crop 
are large for the average grower with good 
soil. Much of the land on which beets are 
grown is held in large tracts and is rented 
to the farmers for from |8 to |10 per acre 
a year, though many farmers own their own 
land. It thus becomes possible for the man 
of small means to get a foothold in the busi- 
ness. The majority of the owners of land 
at Chino started with very little capital, and 
have succeeded in paying for their land in 
the course of from five to eight years, though 
not without some self-denial. 

The experience at Chino has illustrated 
the fact impressed on farmers in every 
other part of the world, that rotation of 
crops is essential for success. For a series 
of years the same land was used in the grow- 
ing of beets. It became apparent that it 
would be necessary to combine some other 
industry with that of beet growing, and the 
ideal companion industry has been found in 
dairying. The beet pulp, after the extrac- 
tion of the Juice, makes an excellent food 
for cattle, increasing the percentage of but- 
ter fat and keeping the cattle in fine condi- 
tion.* This food is kept by the factory in 
silos, and is sold to the farmers for the al- 
most nominal price of 40 cents per ton. This 
wonderfully cheap feed makes possible large 
profits from the dairy business, while the 
growing of alfalfa for a couple of yeara «nd 
plowing It under adds greatly to the plant 
food. The farmers are very generally enter- 
ing into tl^ia industry in connection with 



beet growing, and .an era of greater pros- 
perity than ever before experienced is 
promised at Chino. 

In Orange county, where the growing of 
beets is a newer industry, no settled policy 
has yet been adopted, though the extensive 
dairy interests of that section -warrant the 
belief that the same course will in time be 
followed there. 

In Ventura county the industry is new 
and is tending to supplement bean growing to 
a degree. The large section of beet land 
about the new sugar factory has been about 
the most important bean center of the 
United States. 

From the standpoint of the factories, it 
would appear from what little is known to 
outsiders that the industry is conducted with 
great profit. It is said that a factory with 
a capacity of 700 tons of beets per day re- 
quires a capital of about 1860,000, and that 
it should turn out in the course of a sea- 
son's "campaign" of 100 days, 8,400 tons of 
white granulated sugar, on which a profit 
of 1 cent per pound would amount to $168,- 
000. It seems, however, that this estimate 
ot tae profits of sugar making is very con- 
servative. Granulated sugar can undoubt- 
edly be produced at a profit of 3 cenTs per 
pound from sugar beets, and as the" world's 
consumption of sugar Is increasing at the 
rate of 243,000 tons per annum, and as the 
United States is producing but a trivial por- 
tion of the sugar it consumes, there is no 
reason to doubt the immense field whidi is 
open for this industry. 

1 nough it may be by accident, the con- 
sumption of sugar is a fair gauge of the civ- 
ilization of any people, at least of their In- 
dustrial activity, and the awakening of the 
Far Bast, through the infiuence of Europe 
in Asia and the Pacific islands is sure to 
create a greater demand for sugar in those 
countries, eliminating, to a degree at least, 
the possibility of the Hawaiian and Philip- 
pine Islands from injurious competition with 
the California beet growers. The soil adapt- 
ed to the beet in California probably does 
not exceed 1,000,000 acres, with a productive 
power of about a ton and a half of sugar to 
the acre, or sufficient to supply about one- 
fifth of the present consumption, and leav- 
ing a larg,e deficiency above the present con- 
sumption beyond the possibilities of this 
State to'im>duce, to be made good by Other 
States or by importation from our colonies 
or foreign countries. 

Confidence is placed in this State increas- 
ing its industry to the maximum limit, prac- 
tically, as tests made in many States have* 
shown that the beets produced In California 
average a much higher percentage of sugar 
than the products of other States, a fact 
which places a heavy handicap on the Indus- 
try in other parts of the country. Though 
the limited land adapted to the beet gives 
to California the power of producing but a 
iAith of the sugar consumed in the country, 
that does not imply that it is a small item, 
a9 the l)eets would be wortji 9^n% |40,000,' 



000 to the farmers, and the sugar would have 
a marketable value at wholesale prices of 
over 1100,000,000 per year. It is thus evident 
that while California is making vast strides 
in the development of the beet sugar Indus- 
try, there is reason to believe that this pro- 
gress will not cease until the maximum of 
production is practically attained, and that 
that maximum is sufficiently great in im- 
portance to place the industry in the very 
fore front of the agricultural activity of the 
State. 

It is true that the beet sugar industry does 
not imply as dense a population as the 
growing of fruits, which requires about a 
family for every five acres, for commercial 
packing, curing, shipping, manufacturiitg 
and horticultural purposes. With the sugar 
beet, the various allied industries require 
the work of one family to twenty acres, 
while the sustaining power of the industry, 
carried to its maximum would appear to be 
about 50,000 families, or 260,000 people. In 
this respect the sugar beet takes precedence 
of grain growing, and is only inferior to 
gardening and fruit growing. As it Is 
hardly to be expected that the entire State 
can be transformed, literally, into gurdeas 
and orchards, the sugar beet industry, al- 
though the youngest of all, is welcomed as 
one of the most promising In permanency 
and steady financial returns yet established 
in California, and while great worlT^Bas 
been accomplished in a short time, there ts 
a field of magnificent proportions open to 
all, either in the growing of the beets or the 
manufacture of sugar. 

Other States besides California and Ne- 
braska have shown excellent results in the 
production of sugar beets. Indiana, Ohio, 
Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and most of 
the Southern States have produced beets 
giving high sugar percentage. 

The growth of the beet sugar Industry all 
over the United States seems most likely. 

Trade Notes. 

Want to Buy Machinery. 

Elsewhere in this issue we publish the 
advertisement of Messrs. MoClure and Rid- 
path, 525 Tchoupitoulas street, who are 
desirous of purchasing some sugar house 
equipment All interested should address 
them at once. 



Personal. 



Mr. R. R. Barrow, of Houma, La., was 
among the Sunday guests of the Grunewald 
city. 

Mr. J. W. Foster, of St Mary Parish, a 
brother of Governor Murphy J. Foster, and 
a gentleman connected more or less inti- 
mately with the sugar planting Interests of 
his parish, was among the visitors to the 
city during the past week. He registered 
at the Hotel Royal. 

Mr. S. Mills Mailhot, of the Oakley planU- 
tion. in Assumption Parish, was in town last 
Sunday, and stopped at the Hotel Denechaud. 
Hotel, his usual stopping place when in the 
Oakley is a fine place and is getting finer all 
the time, under the able management of 
Mr. Mailhot, than whom there is not a ^^U 
tfiv inwi ix^ ft^ business. 



Digitized by. 



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190 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol xxn. No. 12. 



Mab. 24. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



: tUCAR. 

OpenKetUe. 

6. K' Ceatriiugal 

Choice 

S«riotPrim«.... 

Primo 

FuUyPair .... 

Good Pair 

Pair 

Qood Common 

Common 

inferior. < 

Centrifugal. 
Planfa Qraoul'ed 
Ofl OiaauiaAed... 

OhoiedWhita 

OSmila 

Gray White 

Ohclaa Yellow.... 
Prime Yellow .... 

Ofl Yellow 

Seeondi 

MOLAMEt. 

Open Kettle. 

6. K« Centrifugal 

Paney 

Choice 

Itriet Prime 

Oeod Prime.. .. 

Prime . ; 

Oeod Pair.. 

Pair....* 

.^obd Commom. 
0«mmon....5... 
Inferior — 

Centrifugal. 
Paaey 



Mar. 18. 



Mar.aO. 



Mar. 21. 



Mar. 22. 



Mar. 23. 



Mar. 24. 






ilriet Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Pair 

Pair 

.Gped Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

•YRUP. 



43i«- 

4>^«4A 
1^«4,'« 



s 

.a 



I 



^O 16 

ii9 i4 
11 « 12 
-.- (3 10 
9 
8 
7 
7 



» 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 



-«- 

-•- 
-«- 

-e- 
- « — 







I 

.a 



•s 

o 



18 9 
11 « 
-9 



16 

15 

14 

12 

10 

9 

8 

7 

7 



• - 
9 - 



4H4- 

— • - 



I 

.d 



I 



• « 

o 
Z 



— 18 

— A 16 

18 3 i4 
11 9 IS 

— 9 10 

-® S 

.. « 8 
"(8 7 
-« 7 
-g- 



-« - 

-«- 
— (8 - 

-« - 
*}i9- 

4K9«^ 



1 

.d 



1 



• 

iz; 



13 
11 



@ 1« 
a 16 
9 14 
@ IS 



-« 
-9 
-« 
-« 
-9 
-9 - 



10 
9 

8 

7 
7 



-9- 
-9- 

— 9 — 
*tl9- 

— 9 — 
*Ji9- 
4lt9«}i 
i)i9*H 

a^94A 



•s 
§ 

.d 



■l 



§ 

iz; 



-9 1< 
-9 IB 
13 9 1« 
11 9 12 
— 9 10 

-« S 

-9 8 

-« Z 

-9 



— 9 — 



Same Day 
LaM Ymt. 



Ton. of Marim at 
Cloainc of WMk. 



-9- 



-9- 
-9 — 

4A9- 

-9* 

2li93ti 



I 

I 

S 

o 



-j8 



-^ 



14 
13 
12 
11 



#10 

8 
_ 7 
9 9 
9 6 



Firm. 



Firm. 



Strong. 



OTHBR MARKBTS. 



Niw York: 
•UCAR. 

Pair Refining. 89^ 
Centrifugals, 06''.. 

Granulated 

Standard A 

Dutph Granulated 
German Granul'td. 

MOLASSES. 

N.O. Choioe 

N.O.Pair. 

London: 

Jara. No. 15 D. S. 

A.ft G.Beet 



- 9 — 
-94.84 

- 94.72 
-94-96 

- 94.91 

-9- 



128. Od. 
98. lOHd. 



-9- 
-9 — 
— 94.84 
-94.72 
-94.06 
-94 02 

-9- 
-9- 

128. Od. 
08. 10)<d. 



-9- 
- 9 - 
-94.84 
-94.72 
-94.06 
-94 04 

-9- 
-9 - 

128 Od. 
Ob. llj^d. 



-94.84 
-94.72 

— 94 06 
-94 04 

-9- 

- 9- 

128. Od 
108. Od. 



-9- 

— 9 - 
-94.84 
-94.72 
-94 06 

— 94 04 



-9- 

128. Od« 
08. ll>^d. 



-9 - 

— 9 - 

— 94 84 

— 94.72 
-94 96 
-.94 03 



128. Od. 
08. llj^d. 



— 9 — 
4.849 - 

4.729- 
-9 - 
-9 - 

-9- 



ll8. 3d. 
08. O^d. 



Raw firm. 
Refined dull. 



Cane quiet. 
Beet— Buyers at quota- 
tions. 



NHW OBLBAN8 BBIPINaD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdorad 

Btao'd Granula'd. 
BoMtU Extra C 

Candy A 

Crratal Bxtra C. 
RoralBxC 

SYRUP. 



-®6H 

-96A 
-9- 
-9- 
-9- 



— 9 — 
-9- 
-9- 



9Bli 

96<^ 
96A 
9 - 
9- 



-9 



95^ 
95K 
95k 
|6,< 
9- 
9- 
9- 
9- 



-96A 
-9- 
-9- 
-9- 
-9- 



- 9Wi 
-96H 

- 96A 
-9 — 
-94H 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 



Firm. 



STOCKS. 

AtfonrpOTtoof the United StotM to Mar. 16 

At four ports of Onat Britain to Mar. 11 

At Harana and Matanias to Mar. 14 



Ton* 1<7,S16 
. " S3.000 
. " 63.000 



Receipts and Sales at New Ortesns for tke w«e|( 
Mar. 94, i899« 



{vsoelVH. 
6ol4- 



•• •••»»1«tll11Httt?» 





8,886 

OfOyv 



lleceipta aod Salee at New Orleans ffroin Septomber i* iSe8» 
to AUr- a4> 1899. 

llioetfa4...,,.MMMtiMt.i. StSOa 1,177.043 015,368 

M03 1,180,818 214,568 



Digitized by 



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Xarok 25, 1899.] 



TBS WmSIANA PLiLNTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



191 



Mar. 24 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1809. 



RICE. 

Rouoa, per bbl... 

Extra Fancy 

Clsan, Fancy.... 
C'boic«... 

Prime 

Good .... 

Pair 

Ordinary 
Common . 
Screenings 
Inferior 
No.l;.. 

BtLAX, per ton.. 

PtMH, per km. 



Mar. 18. 



1 60(^4 75 



I 

[ 
i 
I 

Nominal 



Mar.ao. 



1 50@4 76 



t 



Nominal 



Mar. 21. 



76 



Nominal 



Mar. 22. 



76 

s 
I 

i 

Nominal 



N«w OrlMU 
Mar. 34, iSi^^. 



ffooeliftil 



Backs Rouea. 
. 11^12 
8«U1 



3S0 
11»68 



Mar. 23. 



Nominal 



Mar. 24. 



I Same Day Last 
I Year. 



2 00^4 25 

- @ - 

— « — 
Kominal 

1K9S 
9 60<il0 00 
14 0Q(il5 00 



Tone of Market a 
CloeeorWeek: 



DuU, 



te Mar. 34. itt^* 



Backs Rovea. 
M6,439 
444^83 



isLs. OUfas 
4.746 

s^eao 



Sugar. 

The sugar market was steady and firm at 
the end of the week, with a fair volume of 
offerings. Receipts from the plantations 
were moderate. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals strong. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

The better qualities of rough rice were in 
active demand at the end of the week with 
oiBerings somewhat restricted. Lower grades 
were in fair supply and showed considerable 
movement Clean rice was quiet and steady. 



Sugar Consumption of the World. 

The general position of sugar and the re- 
lation of supply to demand for several years 
is set forth in a table compiled by WiUett 
& Oray and printed in the Statistical, as 
follows; 

The compilers express the opinion that 



489,212 tons, leaving a surplus for the next 
season of 1,363,856 tons. 

In 1895-96 the total supplies were 8,587,- 
362 tons, and the consumption 7,468,850 tons, 
leaving a surplus of 1,118,512 tons. 

In 1896-97 the total supplies were 8,926,- 
982 tons, and the consumption 7,956,011 tons, 
leaving^a surplus of 732,971 tons. 

In 1897,98 the total " supplies were 8,707,- 
922 tons, and the consumption 7,975,863 tons, 
leaving a surplus of 732,059 tons. 

In the campaign 1898-99 the present esti- 
mates of crops (Licht for beet and Willett & 
Gray for cane), adding surplus from last 
campaign, would give total supplies of 8,- 
684,319 tons, and Willett & Gray's estimate 
of the requirement for consumption is 8,- 
250,000 tons, leaving a surplus of, say, 430,- 
000 tons. 

It is to be noted that the figures of con- 
sumption, by reason of certain unknown in- 
visible stocks, rarely show a steady increase 
year by year, as the actual facts would show, 
if obtainable. 



1897-98. 
Tons. 

Europe (Licht) 52^,130 

United States and Cuba (Willett & Gray). 447,841 

Totel stock, October 1 970,971 

Beet crop, Europe (Licht) 4,825,529 

Cane crop, world (Willett & Gray) 2,911,422 

Total production 7,736,951 

Total supply 8.707,922 

Stock September 30— Europe (Licht) 516,326 

United States and <^ba (Willet & Gray).. 215,733 

Totel stock. Sept 30 732,059 

World's consumption, October 1 to Septem- 

-ber 30 7,975,863 



1896-97. 
Tons. 
749,587 
368,926 


1895-96. 

Tons. 
880,193 
473,663 

1,353,856 

4,285,429 
2,948.077 


1895-95. 

Tons. 
307,947 
211,178 


1,118,512 


519,125 


4,916,496 
2,891,974 


4,792,630 
3,531,413 


7,808,470 


7,233,506 


8,323,943 


8,926,982 


8,587,362 


8,843,068 


523,130 
447,841 


749.587 
368,926 

1,118,512 


880,193 
478,663 


970,971 


1,353,866 



7,956,011 7,468,850 7,489,212 



the above teble shows a movement towards The figures rather show increases by 

a condition of supplies and demand which Jumps in periods of two or more years, 

points conclusively to the culmination of For instence, the years 1895-96 and 1896-97 

the downward course of prices. were nearly alike in figures, and averaged 

In 1894-95 the totel supplies -Of the world 7,479,031 tons. The years 1897-98 and 1898- 

werf 9t843,068 tons, and the con^um^tioii 7,- 99 were again alike i^ 9^^^» ^^ ayera^ 



7,965,937 tons, but show a Jump of 486,906 
tons over the first two years. Very good 
reasons exist for another similar Jump in 
the figures of consumption for the two fol- 
lowing years, and hence the compilers in- 
clude such in their estimate of consump- 
tion. 

Willett & Gray say: "If we are conserva- 
tive in our estimates, and the year 1899- 
1900 requires for consumption with average 
increase, say, 8,450,000 tons, theit, Wkh a 
supply at its beginning of 430,000 tons, the 
production of that campaign ethould reach, 
and promises to reach, at least 8,60();000 
tons, or an increase of, say, 760,000 tons over 
1897-98. The cane Sugar crops Tff the world 
have been steadily held at about "3,OiOO,0^ 
tons for the past four campaigns, while the 
beet crops were subject to large variations 
—from 4,285,438 tons to 4,916,486 tons— but 
have never yet reached the height of the re- 
quiremente for 1899-1900, say a possible 6,- 
500,000 tons; for we question the ability of 
cane sugar countries to produce much in ex- 
cess of their stendard— 3,000,000 tons in 1899- 
1900. The largest beet crop ever produced 
was 4,916.496 tons, and the largtet'beet crop 
was 4,916.496 tons, and the largest cane crop 
3.631,413 tons, of which Cuba made 1,040,000 
tons. This combination of facte and fig- 
ures indicates to us that sugar has sterted 
on an improvement course for the next two 
campaigns."— American Grocer. 



Personal. 

Mr. Charles B. Maginnis, of the well- 
known firm of CaiUouet and Maginnis, propri- 
etors of the Woodlawn estete in Terrebonne 
Parish, was a recent arrival at the St 
Charles. 

Mr. C. C. Barton, a leading sugar planter 
of Assumption Parish, stopped for a short 
Wihile at the Denechaud last week. 

Mr. E. W. Deming returned during the 
week from the Hawaiian Islands, where he 
went on a combined business and pleasure 
trip. 

Mr. T. A. Womack, a skillful i^ugar planter 
from Manchac, La., accompanied by several 
members of his family, arrived at the Gnine- 
wald on Tuesday and took quarters there 
for a brief stey. 

Governor H. C. Warmouth, of the Lower 
Coast, was among the Wednesday arrivals at 
the St Charles. 

Mr. H. G. Bush, of the Lower Terrebonne 
Refinery, at Montegut La., accompanied by 
his wife and daughter, was registered at the 
St Charles during the week. 

Mr. H. C. Bamett and Mrs. Bamett from 
Shadyside plantetion, were in t)i^ city 00 1^ 
YlBlt ft few dayp ago, 



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IM 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAR MANTTFAOttnOHt 



[Vol. XXn, No. 12. 



WANTS. 



W« wm paMMi Ui thto coIiubo, ind off cbmtf natll 
fartlMr aotics, the appliartioiu off tH nanagers. over^ 
m&tBt — gine ri and sttgar-niaken, and otbars who 
■aj bo MoMnf potltloiis In tbo coaiitry, and alto tbo 
wants off plantera detlrinf to employ any off'tbaao. 

WANTED— Thoroughly oompetont and expertenoed 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendatlQns, desiree to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager oC a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other We^t Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
(or the wonc In every particular; addrees Cuba, care 
thisomoe. »-a0-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, In the country; good references; ad- 
dress ALPS0N8B Buck, 2714 Second street, ci^. 

3-16-99 

WANTED- By a temperate and rtUable vacuum pan 
sugar Ix^er, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico: address Sugar Maker, Loclc Box 
488, Eagle Lalte, Texas. 8-22-99 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman. 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 

'ears as assutant engineer in large sugar refinery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1910 8. Lawi^noa street. Phila- 
delphla, Pa. g^23-99 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent machinist, with 
aeveral years expenenoe in leading railroad shops, 



di 



wants work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 

{>lantations. Will work by tbe day or by contract. He 
s a practical locomotive engineer 4nd has had experi- 



ence in repairing and running sugar house machinery. 
Address W. L., No. 1016 Magazine street,. New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general hjMper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. S., Fietel, La. 8-15-90 

WANTED— Position by a youilg married man as 
(demist, book-keeper or general statisticiah oa sugar 
plantation. » Ten years experience; best of References; 
address A., care this oflRce. ' 8-15-99 

WANTED— In flrst-class sugar House in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
roan of experience; satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, OOll Laulei street, New Orleans. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by tf yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 8-18-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of oflRce work for sugar refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Ciibf Enoi- 
NBBR, Lutcher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED— Position by a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable worlc Good references. Ad- 
dress Hbnrt Ouvibr, 820 Vlllere street. New Orleans. 
8-9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by a fir8t-cla«s vacuum pan sugar boiler. Stnctly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ezioes from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4281 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 8-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to talce off crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-28-90 

WANTED— The best sugar maker in Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a v&cuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he^iust be a thorough and 
dose boiler of first and particmlarly of molafcses sugars 
(2nd and 8rd). State salary' expected. None but the 
most competent need apiAy. Address C. M., this ofllce. 
2-27-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation bv a yon g man 26 years old, single' and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. ^ 



Qish references from former empk^er. 
R. NBBOM , Terrell, Texas. 



Can fur^ 
Address T. 



r WANTED— A position hy a sood sugar boiler. Nine - 
years' experience* Address H. 106, this ofllce. 

Wanted— Paaltlon by a steam and electrical en- 
/ glnoer who oan mato repairs in sugar house, and who 
oan superintend railroad oonstniotlon. . Good refer* 
SDOoa, AaOros* n, M. S., Laurel Hill, Ui 



WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
details of suspar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauaerdale, La. , 

WANTED— A situation as clarlfier on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. HmCKLBT, Charenton, La. ' 

2-24-99 

WANTED— An expertenoed young man, single. Is 
open for engagement as tifne-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A 1 references from las( employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Ofp, 8418 Constanoe street. New Orleans. 

2-22-99 

WANTED— A position as derk in 9tore by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical Icnowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robbrt, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mill-wright 
on a sugar plantation. Best, of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 
2-18-99 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 808 S. Basin, St., City. 2-lfr-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one aooustom9d to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. Tbe above would prove a valuaUe and 
"all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Oio 
street, New Grieans, La. 26-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-olass technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or wili take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished* Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
Ls^ 25-99 

WANTED^-Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of refMnoes as to 
ability, etc. Address 108, care Louisiana ranter. 
24-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 

Sears' experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
lis office. 24-99 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 

Earantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary wil 1 
expected. Address J. J. Lanort, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man; address J. F. Letbff, Nes- 
ser. La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 820 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or derk hy young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and oan furnish any. references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as boolckeeper, timekeeper, or derk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this OflRce. 1-9 

WANTED— An experienced andjpraotical sugar house 
ohemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Speaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. 1^-98 

WANTED— Positton as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a nian of family. References 
furmshed. Call on or address F. F. IOerwin, 621 Du- 
malne street. New Orleans. 12-81-96 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furmsh best of 
references. J. A. Larxin, Benton P. O., La. 
12-26-96 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can coma well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar planUtion. Ad- 
'1 C. A. B.i 1006 N.I>erbigny street, New Orleans. 



dress < 



12-7-98 



WANTED— PositloA by agood double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. Reterenoes first-dass. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibion,La.)Oare Greenwood Plan- 
Ution. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the houaekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curing 
of meat, preaervlng and pickling, and the cutitog and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
. . ' .^- Address MRS. Proctor, 



best of recommendatlona. 
Alexandria, La. 



12-7-98 



WANTED— Position by a medianical engineer and 
practical machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school In Germany, has had 14 years 
expertenos in sugar house work, is in position many 
yearf , but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for oonatarotioB or repairing of sugar 
nouses. Can give best of referenoes. Address, Suoar 
H9V0B ^fB^iAi*, cw liO!M»|«m PIw^Ft *8?-^t 



WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 80 years of age, well versed in the rou* 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strodb, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-81-« 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two montlis' trial, if 

wner is not pleased, no (salary will bA exoected. Ad- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-81-98 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience snd can furnish best of referenoes. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-06 

WANTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
dass referenoes. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 
. 12-21-98 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. irwin. Sugar Land, Texas. 
12-21-98 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as aasistant 
boiler in refineir. Those thoroughly versed in roflneiy 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
[ 12-20-98 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who has 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-20-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January let. Compensation $80. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation, CentervUle, Ls. 12-20-98 

WANTED— A fflan of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Good refer- 
enoes. Write at once to Emplotbb, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumside, Louisiana. 12-21-98 

WANTED— Position as derk in planUtlon or town 
store, by a young man of good habits, well qualified and 
with best referenoes. Address G. J. A.» care of The 
Chief, Donaldson viUe, La. 

WANTED— Position as hianager on a sugar planta- 
tion for coming year. Have had many years' experi- 
ence and can give good recommendations. Address 
W. P. RocHBLLB, Hohen Solms P. O., La. 12-10-96 

WANTED— Position for coming year as manager or 
overseer on sugar planUtlon, bv married man, 88 years 
of age, sober, energetic and fully competent. Have 
had long experience in cultivation of cane and handling 
Ubor. Address R.,Box 266, New I beria, La. 12-wl 

WANTED— Position as chemist for coming cane crop 
by a man of experience. Best of references from past 
and present employers. Can speak Holland German, 
French and English. Capable of taking entire charge 
of the chemical work of the factory. Address W. J. 
DOTBR, care First New York Beet Sugar Company, 
Rome,N. Y. 12-6-« 

WANTED— Poaition as overseer or manager by mid- 
dle-aged married man, with 20 years experience, and 
up to date. Intelligent, practicaiand economical man- 
agement assured. Best reference, "Actions speak 
louder than words." Address Drainage, Room 22, 
City Hall. 12-8-96 

WANTED— A position as Assistant Manager or Over- 
seer on a Sugar Plantation. Forty-four years old, 
mpiTlod. Twenty years experience in handling labor, 
veral years experience in cultivation of Cane. Best 
r jferences given. Address, M. E. W., Care Veran- 
dah Hotel, Baton Rouge, La. 12-28-9S. 

WANTED— Man who wishes to learn profession of 
sugar boiling desires to correspond with a sugar maker 
who is engaged for coming Mexican or Coban crop. 
State terms for instruction. Address, A. W. B., mi 
Patten St. , New Orleans, La. 12-28-96 

_ WAN'S!)— Position as manager for 1899, by a first- 
dass man of experience and fine referenoes. will 
take an asslstancy and work very reasonable. Address 
E. W . Crbighton, Baton Rouge, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position as second overseer or time- 
keeper on sugar planUtion, for 1899. Address Thbo. 
Baudoin, Jr., Hahnville, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— A sugar house expert, who is now, and 
has been for the paat five years, the head diemiat for 
one of the largest sugar houses in Louisiand, is open 
for an engagement for coming crop in Mexico, Cuba or 
Central a merica. Will accept a position on any terms 
consistent with first-dass work. Can fumiah best of 
testimonials from present employers and from the Uni- 
versity from which he graduatea. Address Lboa, this 
office. 12-8-96 

WANTED Positioii for next crop tqr an A No. 1 su- 
gar boiler. Is now enq;>loyed on one of the largest 
places in the State. Would have no objection to living 
on the place and makhighlmsdf generally uaeful. Is a 
«g5* o&jper. Ad^resf 950, CpPB, 4T50Toli<mpltouUs 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



AJNJy 



a MeeW? "Wewspapec, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLBANS. APRIIj 1, 1899. 



No. 13. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters' Association, 

Louisiana Sugar Ctiemists' Association, 

Kansas Sugar Growers* Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publishea at New Orleans, La., evety Saturday Morning 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Deroted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Susrar Industry in particular, and in all ita 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 



EDITORIAL CORPS. 



W. C. STUBBS, Ph. 
W. W. PUGH. 



W. J. THOMPSON. 
JOHN DYMOND. 



Entered at the Postofflce at New Orleans as second-class 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) $3 00 

Foreign Subscription « w 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Space 



1 tncfa 

2inch 

ZlnsA 

ilncb 

Slnch 

einch 

Tlnch 

8 Inch 

finch 

10 Inch 

Halt Page. 
Fan Page. 



1 months month 6 month 12 month 



$600 


$12 60 


960 


24 00 


14 60 


86 20 


19 00 


47 60 


23 60 


68 76 


28 00 


70 00 


82 60 


81 16 


seoo 


90 00 


88 00 


96 00 


40 00 


100 00 


eooo 


160 00 


100 00 


250 00 



$ 18 76 
86 00 
64 40 
71 25 
88 16 
106 00 
121 76 
136 00 
142 60 
160 00 
225 001 
400 00 



$25 00 
48 00 
72 60 
96 00 
117 60 
140 00 
162 60 
180 00 
190 00 
20OO0 
800 00 
60OO0 



An oommnnlcations should be addrossed to Thb 
LOUISIANA Plantbb, 838 Carondelet street, New Orleaniv 



LIST OP STOCiCliOLDBR^. 



McCall Brothers, 
McCaU & LegetMlre. 
Leon Oodchaux, 
Janes Teller, 
B. Lemann A Bro.« 
Leooce Soolat, 
Louis Bush. 
W. e. Bricken. 
W. C. Stiibbs. 
ioba Dymofid, 
Oaalel Tbouipsoa. 
Poos St BameU, 
ft. C. Wannoth, 
UkIos Porsvth. Jr.» 
Edward J. day. 
SiMttack ft Hoffman. 
piBn Rost. 
Tiwaias D. Miller. 
Schfliidt ft Ziegler. 
r. (L flcLaury. 
US. dark. 
I. B. Levert. 



W. 6. BkKKiifield. 
W. W. Sutclifie. 
John S. noore. 
joBMsC. Murphy, 
Jos.Webre. 



R. Beltran. 
Laden Sonlat. 

D. R. Calder, 
L. A. eiiu. 
Hero ft Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan, 

J. T. Moore, Jr., 
Edwards ft Haubtn:an. 
John A. Morris, 
e. H. Cunningham. 
R. Viterbo. 
H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Soria. 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy* 
Andrew Price. 

E. ft J. Kock. 
Wm. Oarig. 
Adolph Meyer, 
A.A.Woods, 
Bradish Johnson. 
George P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonnot. 
Richard Milliken, 
W. P. HHes, 
Lezln A. BecnsI, 

J. N. Pharr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE CaMMITTBE, 

Hewry ncCall, 

W.B. 



P.R« 



jolw Dymood. PrMMtat. 



The Condition of tlie Cane Crop. 

A decidedly more hopeful feeling is 
now manifested all over the sugar dis- 
trict and instances are recorded where 
the entire acreage set aside for the pur- 
pose has been planted with sound seed 
cane, while the stubbles are being resus- 
citated by the propitious weather which 
has prevailed. Field work has pro- 
gressed actively and the operation of 
planting has now been practically fin- 
ished everywhere. Every indication 
points to a confirmation of our estimate 
made soon after the freeze, and in the 
face of the alarming reports then cur- 
rent, that a three-fourths crop would 
be made in the State in spite of the re- 
markable temperature of Febniary 
13th. The rain which has just fallen 
and the warm weather which has accom- 
panied it will be of untold value in de- 
veloping the growth of the crop. 



•«Preliistoric Corn." 

Mr. W. J. Warrington, of Bel Vista 
plantation, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, 
writes to the Louisiana Planter, send- 
ing a package of his "prehistoric com." 
This com seems to have been propa- 
gated from seed corn found in the In- 
dian mounds, dating back to the time 
when the memory of man runneth not 
to the contrary, concerning which much 
has been said recently in the newspapers. 

Mr. Warrington, writing of this corn, 
believes that its propagation will do 
much towards encouraging diversified 
crops in Louisiana. He recommends 
that it be planted early in deep plowed 
ground, two grains to a hill, and hills 
four feet apart. At least that has been 
found the most profitable way in Ar- 
kansas. The com bears a great deal 
of rain and resists long droughts that 
bum up all other varieties. It makes 
excellent roasting ears, a fine flavored 
meal, very white, etc. Its yield both of 
fodder and corn is much greater than 
that obtained by Mr, Warrington's 
neighbors, 



Mr. Warrington kindly offers to send 
ee package of the com to any one who 
desires to try it in Louisiana who may 
\vrite him for same. 



A Sugar Factory in Abl>eyille. 

In a recent issue of the Republican 
Idea, of Abbeville it is announced that 
an earnest effort is making to organize 
a 300-ton sugar factory in that town, so 
arranged as to readily admit of an in- 
crease of its capacity to the handling of 
600 tons of cane per day. 

Under the circumstances there pre- 
vailing it is stated that a 300-ton factory 
with the necessary apparatus can be 
constructed for $60,000 and with an ad- 
ditional outlav of $10,000 its capacity 
can be doubled. The citizens are asked 
to subscribe $30,000, of which, how- 
ever, only about $6000 has been secured 
thus far. 

Abbeville is an enterprising town of 
the parish of Vermilion, one of the 
richest in the state. It contains thou- 
sands of acres of fertile and valuable 
sugar lands which can readily be 
brought into cultivation, and now is the 
time for the good people there to make 
their enterprise a success. 



The Rice Industry in Southwest Lou- 
isiana. 

F6w persons have any conception of 
the magnitude of the irrigating works 
now constructing or contemplated in 
southwest Louisiana. One of the recent 
ventures in that direction is on the part 
of the agents of the North American 
Land At Timber Co., who are such im- 
mense land owners in Calcasieu parish. 
The Commercial Tribune of Lake 
Charles says that this company has just 
secured for some other parties a water 
front on English Bayou and the right 
of way for the construction of an im- 
mense irrigating plaut, capable of sup- 
plying water to some 1500 acres of land. 
The wonderfully level character of these 
prairie lands in southwest Louisiana 



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194 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. n. 



and the tight sub-soil, or hard pan lying 
about a foot bolow the surface, retain- 
ing irrigation water with such ease, to- 
gether with the small levees required, 
so diminish the engineering difficulties 
in the wav of irrigation that the cost of 
elevating water as needed, from 15 to 
25 feet, is the only serious problem to 
be considered. With modern and econ- 
omical steam producing apparatus this 
cost is reduced to a minimum and wo 
shall probably soon hear the last of 
^^providence" rice and note the fact that 
every farmer in southwestern Louisiana 
can secure an adequate sunnly of water. 

It is going to take some time to bring 
about -rll thpse great improvements. 
While many large irrigating plants Jiave 
been in operation for several years and 
have -V^'-d in securing the large rice 
crops produced in southwest Louisiana, 
thus far we have hardly yet begun to 
f eel^ the effect of the vast enterprises in- 
augurated within the last year or two 
which promir^o to double or triple the 
rice supply from that part of our state 
within the next two or three years. 

We 'can only wjah these gentlemen 
success in their ventures and believe 
that the market of the United States is 
thoroughly competent to take at fair 
prices all of the rice that they will pro- 
duce for some years to come. It will 
be necessary, however, for the producers 
to arrange to market their rice gradu- 
ally, and not force it upon a glutted 
and unmlling market, thus reducing 
values one-half as has been so frequently 
done in the past. 



Su^ar Beets in South DakoU. 

Prof. James H. Shepard, chemist and 
director of the U. S. Experiment Sta- 
tion in connection with the South Da- 
kota Agricultural College at Brook- 
ings, has just published another bulle- 
tin of the result of the studies in sugar 
beet culture in 1898. 

As has been frequently stated in this 
journal, it seems likely that the great 
states of the West, commonly known 
as the arid and semi-arid regions, where- 
in agriculture is largely dependent upon 
irrigation, will in time become the cen- 
ter of the beet sugar industry of the 
United States. The fact that sugar 
beets can be succe^fuly produced in 
California, with a very small rainfall, 
and that their 8uc<?e?sf ul production with 



irregation has been so thoroughly dem- 
onstrated at Lehi, Utah, stands as ob- 
ject lessons to these states and suggests 
that they should avail of this one agri- 
cultural industry in which every experi- 
ment made thus far exhibits the pros- 
pects of great success for them. 

Director Shepard says that the work 
of the year must be considered as satis- 
factory; that the results obtained are 
reliable and definite; that on a com- 
mercial scale the tonage could be readily 
increased and the cost of production 
decreased. 

The average results for the state as 
summed up by hhn are simply surpris- 
ing and would indicate thai more wealth 
can be secured to the state *by the devel- 
opment of this branch of agriculture 
than is at present possible in any other 
direction. 

The average sucrose content of the 
beets is placed at 18.44% . The aver- 
age purity at 88.91 7o. The average 
yield of beets per acre 16.30 tons and 
the average cost of j)roducing the beets 
per acre $37.64. 



Suj^ar Prom the Philippines.^ 

From a recent government publica- 
tion on the Philippines we learn the 
quantity of sugar exported therefrom 
during the years 1892 and 1893. The 
exports for 1892 reach 228,662 short 
tons, valued at 1.39 cents per pound; 
those for 1893, 238,279 short tons, 
valued at 1.80 cents per pound. 

The neater part of this sugar went to 
Great Britain, while China, Hong Kong 
and Singapore were the next largest 
receivers, the United States getting 
about 50,000 tons in 1892 and but about 
11,000 tons in 1893. 

As the Manila people aggregate mil- 
lions in numbers and are said to be 
comparatively docile and industrious, 
we may readily imagine to what extent 
sugar would be produced there within 
a few years if our expansionists had full 
sway and the islands were received into 
the brotherhood of the states with little 
or no duty to be paid here on their pro- 
duce. 

The low prices made for sugar in 
1892 may be an error , but are so re- 
ported and from them we may judge of 
the effect of an ad valorem tariff oi^ 
&w\i ^oods, 



Sugar From Hawaii. 

The annual report of the Hawaiian 
minister of finance gives the quantity 
of sugar exported for the year 1898 at 
224,484 j^hort tons, against 260,079 
short tons the y^ar before. While there 
was a diminution of 37,595 tons in 
quantity, there was an increase of a 
million and a quarter of dollars in the 
value of the sugar exported in 1898. 

Of the sugar so exported 99.4 per 
cent came to the United States, and, of 
course, free of duty under the condi- 
tions of the reciprocity treaty. Of the 
expoi*ts to the United States, 83.25 per 
cent. Avent to' Pacific ports and 16.19 
ner cent, went to Atlantic ports, a total 
of 38,756 short tons. 

A noticeable feature of the trade con- 
ditions of Hawaii is that the total ipi- 
ports into the islands for 1898 aggre 
gated in value 311,651,000 while the to- 
tal exports for the same year aggregated . 
$l7,a47,000, a balance of trade in fa- 
vor of the islands of $5,696,000 against 
a corresponding balance of trade in their 
favor the year before of $7,184,000. 

It is now too lat<*. to complain of the 
apparent success of our fellow sugar pro- 
ducers in the Hawaiian islands, but if 
the Ix)uisiana sugar industry could have 
written down to its credit during recent 
years an annual balance of trade of six 
or seven millions of dollars it would be 
in a much more prosperous condition 
than now. 



Personal. 

Hon. Andrew H. Gay, of the St. Louis and 
Union plantations in IberviUe parish, came 
up to town the end of last week and took 
rooms at the St Charles for a brief sojourn. 

General William J. Behan, of the Alham- 
•bra plantation, was a recent visitor to New 
Orleans. Gen Behan registered at the St 
Charles Hotel. 

'Mr. Ernest H. Barton, of Ascension par- 
ish, accompanied by several members of his 
family, was a guest of the Cosmopolitan 
last Monday. 

Mr. S. Aoraham, a resident of the famous 
sugar producing section around Raceland, 
was in the city during the past week. He 
registered at the Cosmopolitan. 

Mr. F. B. Williams, of St Mary parish, 
was an arrival at the St Charles Hotel on 
Wednesday. 

Mr. R. R. Barrow, the Terrebonne parish 
sugar planter, was a guest of the Qrune- 
wald Hotel a few days ago, remaining only 
^ brief period, a§ i9 customary with him. 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



April 1, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



195 



Sugar in Florida. 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The Florida papers are full of talk about 
sugar growing in this state, and that great 
quantities of syrup can and will be grown 
for refining purposes, and sold to a refinery 
to be built (prospectively) in Jacksonyille, 
at 15 cts. and Possibly 10 cts. a gallon; and 
it Is claimed there is big money in it at 
these prices for both grower and factory. 

The grower has, however, first to work his 
cane into syrup to contain seven pounds of 
sugar per gallon. Now the cost to grow cane 
and work it into a finished product approxi- 
mates $50.00 per acre; good seasons lower- 
ing it and bad ones raising it. I have heard 
a good deal about 600 and 800 gallons of 
syrup being made per acre in Florida. In 
the course of 24 years residence in this state 
I have not seen it, and I have visited many 
farmers' mills In various sections and noted 
results. In Pasco County, on the 28th par- 
' allel— fresh cleared bammock land, cane 
ground on 1st of January gave 420 gallons, 
at about 33 Baume— and the cane was an 
extra good stand and above the average for 
size and for groiwth and maturing, the fall 
and winter was an ideal cane season. 

Now I wish to ask, that with^an expense 
of $50.00 per acre and 420 gallons syrup at 
10 cts. or even 15 cts., will it be an extrordin- 
are business? It is asserted that Florida 
cane contains 23% sucrose, and that Florida 
is the cradle of sugar growing In the United 
States. I believe Turnbull attempted to 
grow sugar at New Smyrna In 1767. The 
sugar infant seems never to have grown 
lusty enough to get out of tbe cradle. Has 
been weak all these past years. 

So far as climatic Influence Is concerned, I 
have seen cane killed by frost on 1st Dec, 
on the 28th parallel, and In 24 Ihours too sour 
to make sugar. This is below the Louisiana 
sugar district. The warm -weather In Janu- 
ary and February generally starts out the 
growth and frost In March cuts It off. So the 
growth as a rule cannot be said to start un- 
til March; that does not give a longer grow- 
ing season than Louisiana. Quantitative re- 
sults are to be arrived at by the actual aver- 
ages of practical work, not by speculative 
analyses In a chemical laboratory. Mr. 
Stockbridge In his report, page 20, gives the 
sucrose content of Florida cane from sam- 
ples taken from various portions of the 
state, as follows: 

Nov. 20 Nov. 30. Dec. 10. 

ived cane 14.22 15.34 15.60 

Green cane 10.10 11.41 15.15 

rtlbbon cane .. .. 10.34 12.36 

These analyses show a general average of 

18.06, for late In season. This Is only 0.56 

above Dr. Stubbs average for Louisiana cane, 

for the grinding season from Oct to 1st 

' Jan. • 

In all this paper discussion of sugar grow- 
ing In Florida, no reference has been made 
to the actual work at St. Cloud plantation, 
the pnl^ plantation )n the state that ^Q 



furnish data. The only allusion made to 
that plantation was by the Tampa Herald 
calling In question some of the extraordinary 
statements about sugar possibilities in Flori- 
da. In answer to the Herald's query "what 
is the mattter with St. Cloud,'* the Klsslmmec 
Valley Gazette replies: 

"It Is patent to the mo&t casual observer 
that In spite of the vast capital at the com- 
mand of the owners, and their consequent 
ability to employ experts and utilize all 
available resources, and In spite of the 
bounty the enterprise has not been an un- 
qualified success. This Is proved by the cur- 
tailment of the area under cultivation, the 
reduction of the output, and the depreciation 
In the value of the shares of the company." 

In:stead of .showing soone tangible data 
from actual work, an attempt is made to as- 
sert the cane contains 23 per cent sucrose; 
regular sugar sticks. Who Is the authority 
for this statement, as opposed to Mr. Stock- 
oridge's published analyses. 

Florida is sadly in need of a safe staple 
crop that would bring some revenue into the 
state, and anyone would welcome sugar pro- 
duction; or any other crop that would pro- 
duce money. But to bring about sugar cul- 
ture, It may possibly be necessary to pro- 
duce something more tangible than that 
Florida cane contains 23 per cent sucrose, 
or that Florida cane stalks are solid sticks 
of sugar. 

In conclusion I wish to say In regard to 
the "Florida Echo's" assertion that Louis- 
iana has prevented the extension of su^r 
culture in the South and especially in Flori- 
da, that Louisiana has never worried about 
Florida— sugar culture began in Louisiana 
in 1795; siince that time her planters have 
struggled against adverse conditions, against 
climate, floods, storms, labor conditions, high 
rates of Interest and charges. Planter after 
planter has gone down In wreck, but by a 
magnlflcent Indomitable energy and per- 
severance of her sugar planters the indus- 
try survives, and no one who knows them 
can but admire their heroic struggle during 
the past 100 years. Lake Buddy. 

San Antonla, Fla. 



A Short Description of a Lar^e French 
Beet Sugar Factory at Escaud- 
seuvres, near Cambrai, France. 

The central beet sugar factory of Bs- 
caudseuvres, at the head of which is one 
of our most competent su^ar men, Mr. Car- 
mueet, works daily the Juice of about 3,100 
metrical tons of beets. In order to avoid the 
cost of transporting this quantity of beets to 
the central factory, sixteen small houses, 
called raperles, are built in the localities 
where the beets are raised. The most dis- 
tant off these raperles is seventeen miles 
from the central factory, (which receives the 
Juice of all of the raperles through pipes of 
four to six Inches diameter. It is proper 
here to say that each raperie is mounted with 
3, diffusion batterer, Jlme tank and cpm- 



presslon pumps. All of the Juice is collected 
at the central factory into a large tanl hav- 
ing a capacity of 11,000 gallons. 

This Juice so collected Is again limed and 
heated with the vapor of the last pan of the 
multiple effect. First and second saturations 
are made In continuous carbonatatlon tanks 
of the Carmuset system. 

Between each saturation and filtration 
through filter presses and mechanical filters, 
the juice is heated in the heaters of the 
vertical type with six circulations, toy the 
vapors of the quadruple effect Thirty, filter 
presses of forty plates each and mechanical 
surface, are used for this work. Sulphuring 
Is not used on the Juices. 
. The Juice after its complete filtration is 
then taken into the last vessel of the eva- 
porating apparatus so that all ammonlacal 
gases are taken directly out by the condens- 
er. From the 5th vessel Juice is drawn by 
means of a pump and sent to the first one, 
and then from vessel to vessel, until the 
fourth is reached, in which the syrup indi- 
cates a density of 26 to 28 deg. Baume. 

The capacity and dimensions of the quin- 
tuple effects are as follows: 

First vessel, heating surface 4000 square 
feet, diameter 10 feet, 6 inches; second ves- 
sel, heating surface 10914 square feet, diame- 
ter 15 feet, 1 inch; third vessel, heating sur- 
face 14,420 square feet, diameter 16 feet, 9 
inches; fourth vessel, heating surface 6,130 
square feet, diameter 13 feet, 9 inches; 
fifth vessel, heating surface 16,664 square 
feet, diameter 18 feet, 5 inches. 

This last 'pan is heated with the vapor 
coming from the fourth pan and vapor com- 
ing from the vacuum pans. 
* The syrup coming out of the fourth pan 
of the multiple effect is treated with sul- 
phur and heated with the vapor from the 
first pan and filtered through mechanical 
filters. 

The syrup is then treated in the vacuum 
pans, which are seven in number. 

Two are 18 feet in diameter and 15,600 
gallons (masse cuite capacity). Two are 
16 feet, 5 inches in diameter and 13,350 gal- 
lons (masse cuite capacity). One Is 14 feet, 
9 Inches in diameter and 12,250 gallons 
(masse cuite capacity). Two are 10 feet in 
diameter and 8,000 gallons (masse cuite 
capacity). 

The masse cuite is then mixed and tri- 
turated in open mixers, then sent to the 
centrifugals, fitted with electric motors. 
The sugar is elevated directly to the pack- 
ing ^room. The molasses from the centri- 
fugals is treated with sulphurus acid and 
then drawn back into the saturation tanks. 

The steam power is supplied by steam 
boilers having a total heating surface of 
56,000 square feet 

All the power necessary for pulverizing 
lime stone, liming the juice, operating the 
saturation pumps, sulphuring, mixing and 
centrifugal work, Is electrical. Three Corliss 
engines, having 1500 horge power, are us^cl 



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for the purpose of giving motion to the 
electrical generators. 

The lighting of the whole building is 
done with three turbo motors of the Laval 
system, having 400 horse power, receiving 
their steam from four special steel boilers 
of the locomotive type with a heating sur- 
face of about 4000 square feet 

The whole establishment was erected 
within one year by the well known firm of 
Call, whose general shops and management 
are now located in the town of Doual 
(Nord) France. 

L. Marc. 



5ugar House Improvements in Ha- 
waii. 

Kukalau, Hawaii, Feb. 20, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Of modern mills in Hawaii, the new style 
mills of the Cora type are being adopted by 
nearly all of the planters, and they are giv- 
ing the best possible satisfaction, and are 
found to be an immense improvement over 
the old style three-roller mill. The design, 
construction and sitting of these mills are 
all changes in the right direction, and are 
calculated to Insure durability and high ex- 
traction. The large size shafts and wide 
bearings, double gears, steel twin-plate and 
Improved scrapers, are all necessary and Im- 
portant improvements, and they are just 
what have been needed for a long time. The 
hydraulic pressure regulation is also a de- 
cided improvement and works like a charm. 
However, I do not think the extraction is any 
better than with the mill set rigid, although 
it is undoubtedly safer where the hydraulics 
are used. 

The following tests well show the relative 
extraction in some of our mills of the old 
style and the new. Old five-roller mill, with 
cane 15% sucrose,— and dry grinding gave 
bagasse containing 7^ to 8^ per cent su- 
crose and 50 per cent moisture; about 85 
per cent extraction of sucrose. With 12% 
maceration bagasse contained 6 to 7 
per cent sucrose, and 52 to 54 per 
cent moisture; extraction 89 per cent 
sucrose. With nine-roller mill, dry grinding 
bagasse contained 4 to 5 per cent sucrose, and 
42 to 44 Der cent moisture. 90 per cent ex- 
traction. With 12 to 15 per cent maceration, 
bagasse contained 3% to 4 per cent sucrose 
and 44 to 45 per cent moisture; extraction 
94 to 95 per cent of sucrose. 7.36 tons of 
cane per ton of sugar. Weight on top roll- 
ers 313.2, 334.0, 344 tons. The above figures 
show a decided gain for the nine-roller mill, 
and Is better work, than was at one time 
done on difflusion. 

Water tube boilers of the Heine type are 
rapidly coming into use here, and are giving 
the best satisfaction. I have not had exper- 
ience enough with them to speak as to 
their economy over the old style, but they 
will undoubtedly steam faster than any 
boiler that I have had any experience with 
before. These boilers are set different from 



most water tube boilers, for in most cases 
the flame passes up through the tubes after 
leaving the fire, while in this boiler the 
flame is carried through a flue to the end of 
the boiler, and then passes along the whole 
length of the tubes and returns along the 
boiler. I don't know if this Is an advantage 
or not. but it develops an immense heat on 
the flue, and the temperature must exceed 
that of the furnace. It Ls this great heat in 
the flue which Is said to be the great Im- 
provement in this style of boiler and which 
results in the perfect combustion of all the 
gases. As the heat surpasses anything 
that I have ever seen before In a bagasse 
furnace, It would seem Impossible that any- 
thing in the way of a gas would pass through 
It and not be cons^imed. 

Superheat clariflcation is still growing in 
favor here, and although it Is admitted that 
it is an improvement on the old methods, 
It still has some drawbacks. For Instance, 
if a mill is ^^rinding but twelve hours a day, 
it is said to take half the night to boil the 
juice down as the clarifying containers are 
said to hold nearly twenty clarifiers of juice. 
But where they work continuously night and 
day, they are admitted to be far ahead of 
the op3n clarifiers. Geo. Osborne. 



Protection Against Puerto Rican and 
Cuban Sugar. 

The oflElclal announcement by Special 
Agent C. F. Say lor of the Agricultural De- 
partment that we cannot afford to admit 
Porto Rican sugar free, but must place a 
duty on it, unless we wish to strike the 
home industry a fatal Slow, is one that Con- 
gress cannot afford to overlook. What Mr. 
Saylor says of Porto Rico applies, of course, 
equally to Cuba and the Philippines should 
the President succeed in carrying through 
his imperialistic policy and annexing these 
islands. 

Mr. Saylor makes the matter very clear. 
Porto Rico, he says, can raise sugar for 
two cents a pound because of the low price 
of labor, the cheapest in the world, and 
cheaper even than slave labor. The price 
of labor in the Island is distressingly low, 
the cost of living being only five cents 
a day — soup, bread and potatoes. In time. 
If Porto Rico continues a part of th" ^^" ' 
States, the wages paid labor will advance 
and come up to the American standard. 
When that occurs the cost of producing sugar 
there and in the United States will be about 
the same, and a protective duty will be un- 
necessary; but in present conditions, with 
labor so degraded and wages so low, we 
will have to keep up a duty, Mr. Saylor 
says, unless we are willing to destroy the 
sugar cane and beet root Industries in tbir 
country or bring down American labor to the 
Porto Rican level. 

As for the proposition that the sugar In- 
dustry should be sacrlflced in order to se- 
cure cheap sugar, we have a startling evl- 
^enc^ Qt Its folly in the'rase of Bixfland^ 



India and the West Indies. The latter 
countries have been bankrupted by the 
British cheap sugar policy, and England may 
lose them in consequence; while India has 
revolted against bounty sugar and protected 
itself by the adoption of the American sys- 
tem of countervailing duties. Moreover, 
even if we sacrificed our farmers under the 
belief that It would give us cheap sugar, the 
chances are that we would completely fail 
and only play Into the hands of the Sugar 
Trust, giving it greater power than ever over 
this important article. 

Congress will undoubtedly be guided by 
Mr. Saylor's advice, and not let our new 
colonies Inflict a serious blow upon our farm- 
ers. — Times-Democrat 



Trade Notes. 

Kracke ft Flanders. 

This Is the time of year when the planters 
naturally examine their roofs to find out 
what repairs and Improvemente are neces- 
sary for the coming season. 

We desire to call the attention of our 
readers to the advertisement of Messrs. 
Kracke & Flanders, of No. 640 Gravier Street, 
New Orleans, La., on our front page. Al- 
though a new advertisement, it is not a new 
firm iby an/ means, they having been fav- 
orably known amongst the planting frater- 
nity for the past ten years, or more. The 
past season proved a record breaker, ther 
having done roofing and steam pipe covering 
work on seventy-five plantations, their 
specialty ibelng the application of composi- 
tion, tarred felt and shell roofing. Its special 
features are that It will withstand add and 
vapor fumes, smoke and dampness without 
corroding, rusting, etc. It can be appUed 
on an almost completely flat surface, there- 
by saving area of surface to be roofed, to 
say nothing of material to be saved In con- 
struction of wooden frame work, labor, etc 

Messrs.^ Kracke & Flanders say it does not 
crack from being jarred, or fronl settling o* 
foundations, nor ls.lt easily torn off of build- 
ings by storms and hnrrleanes. It Is taken 
at the same rate of Insurance as other roof- 
ings, besides possessing the extra feature of 
being accessible and susceptible to usage in 
evemt of necessity. Its cost, as compared 
with any other material, they say. Is one- 
half as cheap as slate, about one-quarter 
tower than galvanized Iron and about as 
dheap as shingles. One more feature to be 
considered Is its lack of condensing quali- 
ties, which Is the main cause of rapid de 
terioration of metal roofs. The user has a 
guarantee for from three to ten years and 
should roof leak through any fault of ma- 
terial or construction, it will be looked af- 
ter by the contractor free of further cost 
The tar paper and sftiell roofing is composed 
of heavy paper saturated with tar. laid on 
the roof and lapped upon itself, with a cover 
of not less than 20 to 26 inches. After the 
first layer is applied, then another layer; 
then a coating of pitch until roof has been 
covered with four or five ply, as the case 
may 'be. The last coating is ^ut on heavily, 
when it is white washed, gummed and shells, 
sand or gravel Is imbedded. 

The result is a homogeneous mass, abso- 
lutely water-propf, acid-proof and pliable. 



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197 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Perhaps the local situation from an agri- 
cultural point of view cannot be better de- 
scribed than in the words of the manager of 
ono of the largest and finest plantations 
in this parish, who responded to the request 
of your correspondent for a few notes on 
existent conditions and prospects with the 
following hastily penned observations: 

"'All's well that ends well!' Under the 
circumstances, crop prospects in this vicinity 
are far better than the most sanguine ex- 
pectations after the freeze, for one already 
hears the voices of pessimists crying, *I 
told you it would ue good. I told you so! 
It's first-class!' 

"Stubble and fall plant are marking the 
rows well. Spring plant (commonly called 
damaged seed) already proclaims promises 
of a good stand, and in some places, especial- 
ly early planting is marking the rows. 

"Cane planting in this section is a thing 
of the past, Brigadier-General John Tucker 
winding up yesterday (Tuesday). Though 
late in getting tnrough, he confesses his 
seed was good, and it is suspected that he 
has joined the church and cannot bring him- 
self to evade the truth by pretending that 
he had bad seed. He must doubtless look 
to the future for the reward of his virtue, 
for if he makes a good crop, it will, of course, 
be attributed to tne good condition of the 
material planted and he will receive no credit 
for it here below. 

"This morning (Wednesday) the thermom- 
eter went to 32 degrees a mile from the river. 
A heavy white frost was visible in front 
and people of the back section of the planta- 
tion claim to have seen ice a sirteenth of 
an inch thick. A temperature of 90, with 
a little weekly warm shower, would be far 
more acceptable than this Klondike atmos- 
phere, at least for sugar cane in lower Louis- 
iana. 

"Field work of all kinds is being actively 
pushed— shaving and digging stubble, scrap- 
ing fall and spring plant, com planting, 
etc. In fact any descrip'tlon of dirt delving 
is in order. After such a prolonged wet 
spell as we endured the lands oecome close- 
ly packed and hence are very hard. A wa^m 
rain would be very acceptable, and the soon- 
er the better." 

Belle Terre reports a shortage of about 
sixteen per cent in the acreage of plant cane, 
210 acres having been covered Instead of 
the 250 expected. The average shortage at 
Evan Hall and in the o^her plantations in 
that vicinity is estimated to range between 
one-quarter and one-third, with even larger 
deficits In a few Instances. 

At Armesllse, In Assumption parish, only 
a half planting has been made, and on West- 
field and Whltwell less than half the antici- 
pated area has been planted owing to the 



defective character of the seed. The total 
shortage on these three places is said to 
reach 500 acres. 

Manager Scott Williams Is quoted as hav- 
ing expressed the belief that Mr. Price's 
Acadia place, near Thibodaux, will not make 
more than a half crop this year. 

A good spell of warm weather with oc- 
casional rains Is needed to harmonize con- 
flicting opinions and let us know how good 
or how bad the crop prospects really will 
be in Ascension. 



Iberville. 

rSPECIAL CORRESPONDENXE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been good during the past 
week, though some of the mornings rather 
cool, and the wind tolerably constant. Warm 
rains are needed to help tu get the crop out 
of the ground. Everybody we think has fin-, 
ished planting. Stubble digging, cane scrap- 
ing and corn planting are the principal 
works under way. In some paces the cane 
is beginning to mark the row. Stubbles, 
however, are not coming out as fast as our 
planters would like to see them and several 
told us that the stubble will not come. There 
was a heavy frost and light Ice on Wednes- 
day morning, but outside of scorching veg- 
etables and retarding the cane a little, no 
damage was done. 

The river has risen steadily for some days 
and Is against the levee all along. Seepage 
water may be seen in numerous places. The 
covering of the batture makes it inconve- 
nient for planters to receive their freight and 
we observed some this week hauling through 
water. 

Mr. P. Didier Martinez of White Castle, 
the popular manager of General W. J. 
Behan's Alhambra Plantation says Alham- 
bra must not be brought in the general aver- 
age this year, for she is way ahead. The 
seed cane was in very good condition and a 
full planting of 350 acres was made. Not 
only that, but the cane promises a fine stand 
and the stubbles also. Plenty of the seed 
cane planted four and a half for one and 
some land had to be successloned to put It 
all away. 

A gentleman who this week rode over the 
Supple properties and the lands lately opened 
up In the rear of White Castle and Dorcey- 
ville, says the cane is coming up very nicely 
and that Mr. Thomas Supple thinks they 
will have as many tons for the mill this 
year as last. We are sorry to say, however, 
that reports from the wards over the river 
are not so encouraging and that some first 
year's stubble examined this week looked 
rather poor. 

We were shown a strange freak this week 
by Mr. B. C. LeBlanc in the nature of a 
stubble with six sprouted eyes, two of which, 
being those two nearest the top Which had 
been covered with less than an inch of dirt 
had grown Into little shoots with green 
leaves. This stubble ^was from second year's 



that was being plowed out for corn. Not 
another stubble for 50 feet on either side 
showed signs of life and as far as could be 
seen, the stubble mentioned had had no 
special protection. The stubble seemed to 
be one of those July suckers, and If all suck- 
ers had as much life in them as this, they 
are not as worthless as some of the sugar 
solons would have them to be. 

District Court convened In regular jury 
session this week. Judge Talbot appointed 
Mr. D. H. Walsh, Manager of Hon. A. H. 
Gay's Union Plantation, foreman of the 
Grand Jury. Besides Mr. Walsh, the follow- 
ing sugar planters are members of that body: 
Ben C. LeBlanc, C. W. Locke, E. Hanlon, 
W. J. Thlry, G. R. Murrell, M. L. Randolph 
and F. D. Robertson, and that it is a fine 
body none will deny. 

Iberville. 

West Baton Rouge. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The tendency of the weather to vary from 
one extreme to t)he other as the seasons 
come and go is being forcibly exemplified 
just now. As has been frequently stated in 
this correspondence, the rainfall from June 
1, 1898, to Feb. 15, 1899, was abnormal. From 
the last-named date, ihowever, the rains be- 
gan to decrease and a drouth now seems to 
be imminent. A shower fell here on March 
18; then came a period of absolutely dry 
weather terminating In a decided change 
yesterday (Tuesday) morning, when the 
wind w<hlch had for days been blowing from 
the east and soutih, suddenly shifted to the 
northwest, bringing a ..ght rain and much 
colder weather. The rain was not heavy 
enough to delay field work, which was con- 
tinued uninterruptedly during the day. This 
(Wednesday) morning dawned clear and 
bright, with a good frost in evidence, while 
several claim to have seen ice. On Satur- 
day several planters remarked that a rain 
would prove benaficlal In several respects. 

While, therefore, a more hopeful spirit 
seems prevalent just now than was the case 
a few weeks ago, that feeling is due more 
to the better weather than to an actual im- 
provement in the condition of the cane. As 
to this, there is distressingly little to re- 
port. Field work is being pushed as rapid- 
ly as possible, and the planters are getting 
to that point where they can realize the 
Injury done by the freeze and estimate with 
a fair degree of accuracy the probable out- 
come of existing conditions. Jhese es- 
timates range all the way from ihalf a crop 
on some places to the saving of enough seed 
for next year's planting on others. This 
difference in estimates represents to a great 
extent the actual condition of both plant and 
stubble on the several plantations. For in- 
stance Hon. V. M. Lefebvre informs me that 
much of his seed cane is good, and that he 
has considerable stubble which promises to 
do well. Smlthfield, too, if reports are to 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 13. 



be relied upon. Is equally "well fixed." 
TLese places, representing almost the ex- 
treme ends of the parish, are among the 
more fortunate plantations. On others, as 
stated at one, the conditions are not so 
faYora;ble, an ahundance of seed cane for 
next year's plantin'g being about all that 
is hoped for. 

A number of planters have finished plant- 
ing, having carefully culled the cane for 
that purpose. Where the stubbles have been 
dug and off-barred, some shoots can be seen 
peeping up here and there. Ck>nsiderable 
stubble has, however, been plowed out en- 
tirely and the land prepared for corn and 
peas. 

Despite last year's disastrous prices, the 
cotton planters are going ahead with their 
preparations for a new crop, but i,t is quite 
safe to say that there will be a material 
reduction in the cotton acreage this year in 
West Baton Rouok, 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Ixmisiana Planter: 

A week of glorious weather has facilitated 
the farmers in their work, and for the most 
part the business of planting cane is over 
for the present season, and the attention of 
the farmer and tenant alike will 'be devoted 
to com planting and stubble digging. The 
weather yesterday. ' (Sunday) and to-day 
has been decidedly warm, and the cane will 
come out quickly under the beneficial influ- 
ences 6t these balmy spring days. In some 
places where shaved early the stubble is 
marking the row, and already the cane first 
planted is putting in an appearance, as if 
pretesting again^ the pessimistic views as to 
its condition. Where the stubble has been 
shaved deep there is a decided improvement 
as compared with that shaved shallow. On 
some places where the corn was planted 
early, there is a good stand, and to show that 
there is warmth in Mother Earth, we may 
state that some planted three days ago is 
now showing up. A good rain would help 
all vegetation, and while nothing is yet suf- 
fering for the lack of moisture .still a warm 
rain would do much towards making the 
crops come out even more speedily. • Rose- 
dale has a hundred arpents of early corn up, 
and will doubtless have roasting ears with 
the earliest planters. 

We hear that Mr. Barton has rented his 
Little Texas plantation to hl^ lower neigh- 
bor, who will take off the crop at Oakley. 
Extensive improvements will be made on 
Oakley, arfd she will be prepared to handle 
the increased acreage with dispatch. The 
lease is only for one year, and we believe 
the rental is based on the tonnage, but not 
knowing definitely, will not aUempt to give 
particulars on hearsay. 

We hear that Mr. Dugas, the managing 
partner on Sweet Home not being daunted 
by the snow will build a railroad tapping 
the section of country near Plattenvllle. We 



suppose that the tram to the canal will be 
put in this year so as to help feed the hungry 
rollers to be erected on Oakley. Mr. Barton 
on Magnolia seems cheerful over a big plant- 
ing and scoffs at those who predict a disas- 
trous year everywhere. The snow did not 
effect the magnolias, and he expects his 
Magnolia to bloom as of yore. 

Mr. Eugene Chauvin, of Trinity, is also one 
not discouraged, and is only two acres short 
after having re-planted seven of defective 
fall-'Plant. Trinity made a full planting, and 
under the skillful management of Mr. A. L. 
Munson wil be heard from at the end of the 
campaign as usual. 

A ride down the Attakapas Canal showed 
that the inhabitants of this fertile section 
are going into cane, and as much of the 
land is virgin soil, large tonnage will doubt- 
less be obtained. The desire of the small 
planter to go into cane has not been damp- 
ened by the bad grinding season of last year, 
and everywhere one hears of new land be- 
put into cane this year. The Simon Abra- 
ham place, for a number of years devoted 
to the culture of rice, has this year gone into 
cane, and the adjoining place of Mr. Roger, 
we are told, will be planted in cane another 
year. 

The present encouraging price that sugar 
commands, and the fact that the production 
in Cuba seems not to be large as expected 
gives renewed hope that the price will be a 
satisfactory one. The present spell of dry 
weather has proved a veritable Godsend to 
the roads, and travel is now resumed after 
a cessation of some months. The rising 
waters in the Lafourche threaten to make 
them bad again, as in many places the trans- 
piration waters are showing alongside the 
roads. 

Next week a jury term of court opens in 
Assumption, and unlike the last term, the 
jurors and witnesses can come by team. At 
a session In February, many were forced to 
take the little passenger boats in order to 
reach their destination. 

Many of the trees that looked completely 
dead after the snow are now coming out. the 
sweet olives although badly bitten are once 
m-ore showing the green, although in some 
instances not early enough to celebrate the 
birthday of Ireland's Saint. The umbrella 
China trees too are recovering from the 
numbing Infiuences of the freeze, and even 
the grand duke jasmines out in the open 
ground are putting out their heads. Judging 
from the signs given above we do not think 
that the damage done was anything like as 
great as believed at the time of the freeze. 
The orange trees are thoroughly killed, 
though some of these may come up from 
the roots. However in a week or two more 
we can definitely gauge the harm done. 

Mori Anon. 



Mr. M. Bagley. a leading sugar planter of 
Ramsey. La., was at the Commercial re- 
cently. 



Terrebonne. 

• IFPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The rainfall during the month has been 
below the normal in this parish, and but for 
a few cold days the temperature above the 
average. The light frosts at intervals and 
the dryness of the soil combined to retard 
vegetation somewhat. There were indica- 
tions of rain on Tuesday with a light 
sprinkle, after which the wind veered to 
the nortn and the temperature fell rapidly 
before night and on the morning of Wednes- 
day ifght frost was to be seen; but not suffi- 
cient to injure hardy plants such as cane. 
The dry north wind rapidly robs the ground 
of soil moisture where the earth is not in a 
friable condition. The public roads are now 
unpleasantly dusty, and the cisterns are in 
many instances without water. With the 
advent oi another month, it is to be hoped 
this section will be favored with the pro- 
verbial April showers to soften the com- 
pacted soil and hasten the germination of the 
eyes of the plant cane and stubble. Canea 
planted before the freeze, and the late cut 
cane begin to mark the rows here and there. 

At Ellendale of Mr. Ed. McOollam on the 
front the ratoons begin to appear nicely, and 
tt is reported they are giving promise on 
the places of Mr. John D. Minor, on the lower 
Bayou Black. Mr. Cambon on the Grand 
Caillou is very sanguine as to the crop out- 
look, the seed cane up to the average, and 
the ratoons on black lands marking the 
rows. Mr. L. LeBlanc on the bayou on the 
lower Terrebonne, reports similar conditions. 
Canes fertilized with tankage in the drill 
are sprouting more rapidly than earlier 
planted fields without manure. Should the 
weather remain dry, probably stubble mid- 
dles will be ploughed out as a precautionary 
measure to guard against the injury which 
would accrue from too heavy precipitations 
which frequently follow droughts of any 
duration. 

It is stated that Greenwood located on the 
lower bayou Black has been purchased by 
a syndicate of citizens of the parish, with 
the intention of having a central factory, 
and purchase the canes grown on the lower 
bayou. 

Within the past year Houma has made 
rapid progress, two hotels have been built; 
th^ Houma Bank building nearing comple- 
tion is an elegant structure, and the Knights 
of Pythias are erecting commodious quart- 
ers. 

Messrs Bonvillain & Bergeron have erect- 
ed extensive brick sheds, and will build a 
patent kiln in which to burn brick, and will 
in the near future be able to more than sup- 
ply the local demand. 

Wednesday of last week, fair in the morn- 
ing and partially cloudy later; Thursday, 
cloudy and fr^h; Friday, variable, also 
Saturday; Sunday, fine and balmy; Mon- 
day, cloudy and warm; Tuesday, a sprinkle 
and colder as the day advanced, and Wednes- 
day morning, frost and fine. 

Tkrrbbonnb. 



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199 



St. Mary. 

Special corrkspondknck.) 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

At this present time the agricultural in- 
dustry of SL Mary is being strained to Its 
fullest tension. The cane being all down 
now, the planters have focussed their at- 
tention upon the soil' to be used for the 
production of their corn crop, which is be- 
ing brolcen up and planted as rapidly as 
possible, and the canals and ditches worked 
over while the weather is so highly favora- 
ble for such pursuits. Your correspondent 
is informed that the usual small corn acre- 
age will be increased on each plantation 
that suffered loss of seed from the freeze 
or' last month, to the extent of the short- 
age in cane acreage created thereby, together 
with a little heavier com seeding among 
the stubble, which also suffered in some 
places more than usual; but taken as a whole, 
the increase will be unimportant. The rule 
has been in St. Mary, as it is in all other 
parishes of the sugar region, to only rest 
up the soil under clover and peas to the ex- 
tent of maintaining a fair acreage for cane, 
together with such fertilization as was pos- 
sible to carry along with the cane crop It- 
self, and which custom would not have been 
invaded this season but from necessity. 

The clear sky, hot sun and strong- and pre- 
vailing South winds Were drying out the 
fields too rapidly for an effective start, and 
when the splendid rain c! Monday night and 
Tuesday arrived, which made the third series 
of showers since the planting season began, 
and which, in tho opinion of your correspond- 
ent was the mosi timely and important this 
season, the fields were almost dusty. To- 
day all Nature looks as clean and fresh 
as a new-biDwn rose, and the crops are re- 
ceiving a beautiful and encouraging start, 
which will largely dispel the ill humor of a 
few weeks ago. 

The parish road mules were sold last Sat- 
urday at public sale, to Messrs. J. D. 
Simms and M. L. Harrison, In conformity 
to the new road ordinance of the police 
jury mentioned in the notes of your corres- 
pondent lasc week. The highest price re- 
ceived was $100 and the lowest $35, which, 
after consderlng the condition and worth of 
the animals, was very low. There were few 
bidders, indicating that the demand at this 
season was at a low ebb. 

The planters and others of observing turns, 
are still theorizing over the condition of 
the seed cane and the causes which creat- 
ed the shortage; and of course, as no two 
are just alike In their opinions, some must, 
of necessity, find themselves beyond tho 
range of possibility, or at least, contrary to 
all former experiences. The only point of 
unanimity seems to be that they all intend 
to drain' deeper and more perfectly here- 
after. 

St. Mart. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

EdUor Louinana Planter: 

The weather continues very favorable for 
farm work, though It Is getting to be a lit- 
tle dry at present. A light shower would do 



a vadt amount of good just now. It would 
assist the cane, com, cotton and rice that 
has been planted to come up. Cane plant- 
ing In this parish Is nearlng completion, by 
the end of this week there will be no more 
of this crop to plant. March planting of 
corn Is about finished up and the ground is 
in readiness for the April and May plant- 
ing. Cotton planting is being rapidly 
pushed to completion. Rice farmers have 
their lands In readiness for, seeding and 
many of them have seeded at least half of 
their proposed acreage. The rice crop will 
be somewhat divided this year; an early 
planting has been put in the ground already 
which represents about one-half of the crop, 
In May the remainder will be seeded. This 
Is rather an experiment. The storm of last 
September that wrought so much damage to 
the rice crop taught our rice planters that it 
was fiot safe to put their entire crop In at 
one seeding. Early rice suffered very much 
by the September, 1898, storm but the late 
planting stood the weather and sustained not 
near so much damage. Th« rice acreage will 
be very large this year. A great many un- 
fortunate cane planters will put in a small 
rice crop to even up if possible, then along 
the irrigating canals every available acre 
will be seeded to rice. There will be from 40 
to 50 thousand acres of land in rice in Ver- 
milion parish this year End the acreage "may 
reach 75 thousand acres. The rice culture 
Is on to stay in Vermilion, not only are the 
present canals making exten^ve improve- 
ments but new canals are being projected 
and put in all over the central and western 
part of the parish. The Vermilion Develop- 
ment Company, of Gueydan, La., are extend- 
ing their already large canal In several direc- 
tions and making num^ous improvements 
in that part already built; the Garland Canal 
Company has decided to dispose of their 
canal on which some improvements will bQ 
made; the Hall and Slutz Irrigating Cq«, 
will extend their canal several miles during 
tne spring; R. H. Mills has contracted for 
a pumping outfit for his canal and work on 
the canal has been In progress for some 
time, the preliminary work is about com- 
pleted and the levee work will be started 
shortly, then last but not least in fact larg- 
est is the S. S. Hunter canal project This 
canal will be built from Vermilion river to 
the Gueydan pasture line, a distance of 20 
miles. The right of way has been secured 
and the preliminary work including the sur- 
vey will be started the 1st of April. Mr. 
Hunter Thatcher, of Shreveport, one of the 
projectors was In Abbeville last week and 
stated while here that the engineers would 
be on the ground not later than the 1st of 
April. This company does not expect to fin- 
ish this canal In time to supply water for 
tnis crop but will be ready for the next. 
It is impossible to predict the benefit tbls 
enterprise will be to Vermilion parish and 
to the town of Abbeville. 

The Rose Hill Planting and Refining Com- 
pany has sold out their plant and planta- 
tion to the Rose Hill bugar Company of New 



Orleans. This plantation is now under the 
management of Isiaore Hechinger, of New 
Orleans, who will make extensive improve- 
ment thereon. Mr. L. VonTreskow will be 
sugar house manager and Mr. A. Lacour will 
be general field manager. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8PCNDENCE.} 

Editor Louiuiiuui Planter: 

Warm and favorable weather for plant- 
ing has been a prevailing feature in the 
season for some days past to the great bene- 
fit of all who are In any way engaged In 
the cultivation of the soil. 

1 here are some of our ^progressive farm- 
ers who seem to think that a warm rain 
would at the present be beneficial to the 
soil as well as to the young plants now 
coming up. Some of the early and first 
planting of corn is now coming up and be- 
ginning to mark the rows from end to end. 

Quite a heavy acreage was planted to com 
during the past week. With the majority of 
the farmers, corn planting will be brought 
to a close during this and next week, after 
which date attention will be given to such 
crops as cotton, cane, sorghum and millet 
as field crops. 

The cane growers are now quietly wait- 
ing and hopefully watching to see how 
much cane is going to come up. 

A few instances are reported of cane com- 
ing up, but not in siich an amount as to 
Indicate anything deflnke about what the 
stand is going to be. 

However, hope has not been lost With 
the weather growing warmer the planters 
will not have long to await results. 

Prom a letter written to the Planter's 
scribe by a friend living at Edgard. St 
John's parish, df late date, it is learned that 
the cane prospects there are not in all re- 
spects as good as the planters would like to 
have them. My correspondent says that he 
finds much damage done to cane in some 
places and on other places comparatively 
little. 

On Glendale plantation, formerly owned 
Dy George Sarpy, but since sold, the cane is 
all practically good. On several other 
places it is fair, but on the greater portion 
of the plantations cane prospects are only 
moderate, and I fear many will not grind 
•this coming season. The first gloomy Im- 
pression is now beginning t-o wear off; our 
people are growing more hopeful and with 
renewed courage they will set to work to 
again forge to the front. 

Very few, if any of the planters in St. 
Landry, Avoyelles and Rapides parishes 
were able to find for planting any consider- 
able amount of real sound seed cane. The 
most of It seems to have been damaged to 
some extent and therefore It Is apprehended 
that whatever cane has been planted will 
in Qoming up develop an uneven stand. 

I find that oats which were planted in 
December and January and were beginning 
to show above the surface just before the 
hard freeze on the l^h and l3th of Febru- 
ary, were completely frozen out and killed, 
which will necessitate, on the part of some, 
the planting of a greater acreage to ^rghum 
and forage corn for early feeding purposes. 

The farmers are now busy with the prepar- 
ation of land for the reception of cotton seed, 
the planting of whieh Is later than as a rule 
It has been In past years. Garden work and 
vegetable growing are very backward this 
spring. I have known early potatoes here 
in past years for Eia»ter, but not this spring. 
We will do well to get new potatoes by the 
first of May. Since the above was written 
a heavy rain has fallen over the country. 

Erin. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 13. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPECUL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, Mar. 13, 1899. 
Editor Ixmisiana Planter: 

Since a couple of weeks the weather has 
changed in such a manner that each period 
under review has been divided in two dis- 
tinctly different parts, of which one belonged 
to the winter whilst the other ushered in 
the spring. But in spite of the latter fact, 
the cold at the beginning of the week has 
been more Intense than even in the winter 
months properly called so, and it seemed 
that a real after winter would set in. How- 
ever, the inconsistency of the weather, so 
characteristic of this season, has kept its own 
also during this week and since Wednesday 
the meteorological conditions have entirely 
changed their aspect. First copious rains 
set In and afterwards pretty dry and moder- 
ately warm weather followed, and such has 
been the spring-like part of the week. Un- 
fortunately, both periods have been rather 
unfavorable for field word as in the former 
the soil was frozen whilst in the latter it 
was again too wet to admit of a. regular 
tilling of the ground. If this operation could 
be pursued hemseforward without any serious 
interruption, this would be about the nor- 
mal and seasonable condition, whilst the 
advance sometimes hoped for must be con- 
sidered as totally Lost, at least in Germany, 
whilst in France, Holland and Belgium they 
seem to be a little ahead of the season. In 
Austria the situation is different according 
to locality, anil in Russia the winter has re- 
appeared, accompanied by snowfalls which 
for the time being prevents a vigorous be- 
ginning of field work. As to the latter coun- 
try a large increase of beet plantings is ex- 
pected on account of the addition of about 
30 factories to the existing number of sugar 
producing establishments. By the way, this 
augmentation of the sugar productive cap- 
acity of the Russian Empire can by no means 
surprise anyone, the financial results of the 
last campaign having been the most bril- 
liant imaginable, and it is said that there 
a dividend of 24 pet. ranks among the lowest. 
Besides rumors are afloat that a chai^ge of 
sugar legislation is contemplated in Russia, 
inasmuch as the quantity of sugar which 
each factory is permitted to bring in the 
home market without being subject to an 
extra duty, shall be raised from 60,000 poods 
to 100,000 poods, or say from 1000 tons to 
1650 tons. This measure. If carried, wotild 
be beneficial both for the Russian and for 
the foreign sugar Industry, as it tends to 
facilitate supplying the home market and 
consequently would diminish the necessity 
of exporting; and as the Russian fabricants 
now prefer to sell to eastern countries where 
they meet with less competition, the sugar 
manufacturers of Western Europe are in 
this way more enabled to hold their posi- 
tion on the Bngliflh market— provided, liow- 



ever, that, the increase of the Russian pro- 
duction is not assuming dimensions which 
may upset such calculations. For the 
present campaign it seems that the estimate 
of the Russian manufactuFers will be notably 
exceeded, which, set down at 742,500 tons, 
bids fair to reach 786,000 tons. Also the 
saccharine question has attracted the atten- 
tion of the sugar trade in Russia. In this 
country, as 1 wrote you once, saccharine is 
classed among the poisonous substances, and 
can only be obtained on medical prescrip- 
tion. One should think that legal provisions 
hive those would settle the matter once for 
all, but it appears that tills is by no means 
the case, as investigations have brought to 
light the fact that many articles of food are 
sweetened with it instead of with sugar. 
The Russian society for public health which 
last month was in session at St Petersburg, 
openly declared that the existing law was of 
no avail and the use of saccharine and the 
adulterations therewith were increasing and 
as a remedy it was proposed to levy a high 
Import duty and a correspondingly high tax 
on the production of the stuffs, to punish 
more severely the adulterations and to en- 
force more stringent regulation! with re- 
gard to purchases in saccharine. The board 
of directors of the society of Russian sugar 
manufacturers applied also to the govern- 
ment for measures restricting the trafllc in 
saccharine, which evidently is in a consider- 
able degree injurious to the intereet of the 
sugar industry. Besides the Russian fabri- 
cants are diverting their attention also to 
the increasing employment of starch and 
grape sugar (glucose), which, without paying 
any duty, is used as a substitute for sugar 
in sweetening cakes, candy, liquors etc. No 
doubt, all these suBstituftes for sugar would 
promptly ^disappear from the surface when 
the taxes on sugar were taken off, as the 
articles in question can compete only with 
sugar in account of this being free of any 
fiscal charges, (at least as a home product) 
but our ministers of finance would stead- 
fastly object to any such measure. On the 
other hand they hesitate to tax an industry 
of which they are sure that it would be forth- 
with annihilated if subject to the cor- 
responding tax like sugar. Things are in 
this respect in Germany about the same as 
in Russia, the only difference is that the 
sugar manufacturers there have already, but 
vainly, petitioned for a just taxation, of 
glucose, whilst in Russia they are only just 
going to try that plan. In Germany the raw 
product of glucose, is, in most instances, the 
potato; in Russia, like in America, it is 
maize, and It is a well known fact that par- 
ticularly in your country glucose is a formid- 
able competitor of sugar and the growth of 
the glucose industry is not the least part 
due to tne taxes levied on sugar, and there 
•is not the least doubt that the rate of in- 
crease of sugar consumption In th« United 
States would be quite' a different one, if it 
were not for the ever increasing ouitput of 



the glucose factories in which now milllonB 
are Invested. 

As to the markets I am glad to say that 
the favorable tendency causing a further 
rising movement of prices has kept on. Im- 
proving statistics, a brisk demand from part 
of the trade, purchases for America and 
some speculative movement Inspired by a 
certain group of Paris bull operators have 
contributed to this desirable result which Is 
put in evidence by a higher range of prices 
all around. In Germany actual 8S pet. sugar 
gained at Magdeburg 20-25 pfennigs, and is 
quoted at the close at M. 10.90-ll.OS, whilst 
delivery, March, at Hamburg fetched M. 10. 00 
f. o. b. Refined :the tone of the market im- 
proved also considerable and prices advanced 
121^-25 pfennigs. 

ROBT. Hennic, 



Havana. 

rSPBCIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Havana, Mar. 17th, 



1899. 



Eilitor :. ::iU:iin.i PlnnU^r: 

The good feeling reported last week has 
continued to prevail and large sales were 
made for export, at well supported prices, 
about 50.000 bags, centrifugals 95^^-96% test, 
having changed hands, at from 5-5.30 rs. per 
arroba, equlvelent to 2.50. 2.65 cts. pound. 
As high &s 268 1-2 cents was paid for a par- 
cel 96 1-2 test, by a speculator 

The certainty regarding a short crop im- 
parts a firmer tone to the market and de- 
sirable classes cannot be obtained to-day 
unless full prices are paid for them. 

Stocks at this place have unexpectedly in- 
creased owing to the strike of railroad work- 
men, at Matanzas. on which account a cer- 
tain number of plantations which generally 
ship their proceeds at said port, were com- 
pelled to send them to this. 

Grinding continues under the same diffi- 
culties previously announced and planters 
generally complain of the small yield in 
cane, owing to the lack of due assistance, 
and it is to be much more deplored that 
spring is almost at Its end, and no prepara- 
tions have as yet been made for the next 
campaign, which is likely to be even smaller 
than the one now under way. 

In several of my previous letters to "The 
Planter,'' I have referred to the pressing 
necessity of attending in the first place to 
material reconstruction of this country's 
industries and more particularly to Its agri- 
cultural Interests, which the totality of the 
public wealth proceeds from, inasmuch as 
it is its principal source of revenue. 

The most serious part is that we are al- 
most at the end of March and the greater 
part of the sugar plantations remain In the 
most deplorable abandonment and It is 
likely that as soon as factories now grinding 
put out their fires, misery will again prevail 
throughout the country. 

The Uttited States government incurred 
a great error when It ordered rations to be 
issued to the needy, instead of having pro- 



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201 



Tided work for them, which is whaA the 
people want, and not rations or any tem- 
porary relief, and if the money spent in 
rations had been applded in furnishing to 
our country people agricultural implements, 
seedlings and oxen or mules, there is no 
doubt chat the situation would have con- 
siderably improved and most of those who 
had 'been favored in this manner would al- 
ready have returned at least half of the 
money advanced them 

It has already been seen that the sugar 
produotlon of the whole Island only amount- 
ed to 93,785 tons, against 150,664 last year, 
at same date, and to fully realize the im- 
portance of these figures it must be borne 
in mind that last year war prevailed during 
grinding season, cane fields were incessantly 
destroyed by fire and it was difficult and 
dangerous to proceed to sugar making on 
account of the prohibition made by the in- 
surgents, and to-day, though the war is 
over and planters have to contend only wtth 
monetary difficulties to take off their crop, 
thte year's is 'by one-third smaller than the 
previous one, and, according to all prob- 
abilities, the next one will he still smaller. 

The cause of this abnormal condition of 
affairs may be altogether accounted for in 
the lack of confidence, and as long as fears 
*^ en>tertained as to the disturbance of 
peace, no one will be willing to risk his 
money in agricultural pursuits. 

The United States has made a laimentable 
mistake in endeavoring to settle the political 
question first. Instead of devoting all its at- 
tention to the material reconstru<;tion of the 
country, since there is no doubt that the 
decline of prices for sugar, below 2 cents in 
1893 and 1894, which prevented planters 
from keeping their engagements and pay- 
ing for the cane their tenants furnished 
them, gave more soldjers to the revolution 
than all the speeches of Marti or any other 
revolutionary leader, or even th^ reprobated 
government and the exactions of the Span- 
iards. 

Had the people been able to continue en- 
Joying their customary welfare it is almost 
certain that half of those who took to the 
field would have remained at home. 

One of the debts that bears most heavily 
on sugar planters is that called "censos," 
and which consists of .the rent the planter 
is to pay to the proprietor of the land his 
plantation is established upon. Those lands 
were formerly given by the kings of Spain 
to their fiavorltes in reward of services ren- 
dered to the crown. Gifts of this sort were 
called mercedes (mercies / and the majority 
of the Cuban sugar and tobacco plantations 
were established on lands subject to censos, 
and as the ownership has been redeemed in 
Thw cases only, the number of planters is 
quite limited, who, besides the buildings and 
machinery also own the land cultivated. 

louring the past few years the rent above 
alluded to has remained unpaid and to-day 
the exi£^ncies of the proprietors are another 
drawback to the development of the sugar 



industry, wuich planters have to contend 
with, inasmuch as in several cases the ertand- 
ing cane has been embargoed and sold for 
payment of the land rent, and as the supply 
is so small, purchasers are easily found. 

The administration has been petitioned to 
Interfere, but the planters do not desire, as 
It would entail an injustice, the revocation 
of this delinquent debt. What they want is 
facility granted them to grind the cane they 
can dispose of, which would allow them to 
enter into arrangements with their creditors 
and thus be able to continue business. 

T. D. 

Naparima, Trinidad, B. W. I. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Oane harvest has begun in earnest now. 
The Usine St. Madeline is in full swing- 
canes are rich In Jniice, the only question 
being apparently whether there is enough 
on the ground to satisfy the capacious ma- 
chinery which has been erected. This ma- 
chinery is probably the finest in the West 
Indies by a long way, is capable of turning 
out daily 150 tons of sugars of all kinds. 
The establishment makes fine crystals sec- 
ond, third and sometimes fourth sugars, and 
the remnant goes into the fermenting vats 
for the manufacture of Rum, which in other 
words equals clean spirit 60% over proof. 
Work is continuous, night and day, except 
Sundays, and even then work commences 
at 12 midnight In the succeeding 30 hours 
as much as 190 tons of sugar have been man- 
ufactured. 

One of the latest additions to the machin- 
ery is the car rake, an invention which 
drops down on the top of a railway truck 
full of canes and empties it into the car- 
rier regularly and in proper quantities for 
the capacity of the mills. By this arrange- 
ment the labor of some 60 people is other- 
wise available. The estates connected wltli 
this establishment are connected and tra- 
versed by some 46 miles of private railway, 
and numerous locomotives are constantly 
employed to transport the numerous car 
loads of canes from the various sections. 
The establishment is connected toy tele- 
phone with the different sections, and each 
section cultivator gets orders somewHat as 
follows: "Supply by 10 a. m. to-morrow — 
12 car loads canes at Bristows Crossing." 
The result is that the manager can arrange 
for a full supply in accordance with his 
factory requirements, which will come in suc- 
cessively at stated times during the day. 

The factory is supplied with the electric 
light are lamps of high power. W. Abel, 
the general superintendent is a genial 
Scotchman and a very a'ble man — "Abel l)y 
nature as well as by name," is the common 
pronouncement when speaking of the estab- 
lishment. 

Mr. Abel speaks highly of the indentured 
Indian immigrant as a laborer — and probab- 
ly gets as much or more work out of them 
than any man in the Ck>k>ny. In fact, from 



highest to lowest, from manager to tall- 
boy, all are fully employed. 

The chemical laboratx>ry attached to the 
place, enables the manager to know the 
average quality of the Juice and the sugar 
he should have at the end of a day— in fact, 
it is a waste detector— which is death on all 
uncleanliness tending to inversion. 'Blr 
Neville Lub1i>ock, speaking of sugar generally 
in a speech at Trinidad, spoke very hope- 
fully for the future and well he mlghit, when 
he is chairman of a company controlling 
such a powerful institution as the Colonial 
Company's Estate and the Usine St Made- 
line. X. 



British Honduras. 

(SPICUL CORltBSPONDBNCI.) 

Toledo, B. H., Mar. 20th, '99. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The grinding season Is well under way. 
The yield is admitted to be short, and as the 
largest plantation in the northern district 
has stopped running, the planters of this sec- 
tion hope there will be no surplus sugar 
produced. That, however, will not likely be 
• the case, as the consumption has steadily 
fallen off, on account of hard times. Stiii 
the probability is that the market will be 
firm and the price will probably hold up to 
3% to 4 cts. Planters Will consider this 
doing very well. 

The sea»uu »u far has been very favora- 
l)le for giiindlng operations, and the differ- 
ent plantations are well under way with 
their crops, except two places where they 
haVe two crops to take off on one mill. It 
has been noticed that the sugar grains un- 
usually well this season, and the proportion 
of molasses is small; this is perhaps on ac- 
count of favorable weather which matured 
the cane better than usual. Dr. Pearce, who 
is making vacuum pan sugar is making an 
unusually nice quality of damp white sugar; 
his sugar is becoming more popular and 
meeting a larger demand. Manufacturers of 
aerated waters complained last season that 
his sugar would not give a good, clear, syrup 
for their purpose, but they are well satis- 
fled with it this season. Dr. Pearce is also 
graining his seconds in this pan. He has 
better arranged blowups. Dr. Pearce start- 
ed a small vessel with a load of sugar (eighty 
barrels) down the Central American Coast, 
expecting to reach Blueflelds, Nicaragua, but 
she was taken in a severe storm and wrecked, 
and not only was the cargo and vessel a 
total loss, but the super-cargo, and two 
passengers and one sailor were drowned, 
and those of the crew and passengers who 
were saved paid dearly for their lives. 

There will be very little cane planted this 
season and no one speaks of any improve- 
ments," except perhaps that Dr. Pearce will 
purchase a new mill. The government and 
the sugar planters together are Improving 
the main road to the seaside by giving out 
contracts every year to have gravel put on 
rt By this means and constant attention. 



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THB liOUISUNA PULNTBlt AoJ) SUGAR MAKUPACTimER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 11 



the road can be kept in fairly good condi- 
tion all the year, after it is once graveled 
all the way. Tropic, 



Barlmdos. 

February ended as it began with frequent 
showers and cool strong winds, as if the sea 
breezes were tipped with frost, and the tem- 
pestuous weather of the north had dropped 
its wintry character only as it crossed the 
threshold of the tropics. Rainfall for two 
weeks, 2 Inches, 15 parts. February four 
inches, 26 parts. Two dajrs, March 32 parts. 

March has opened with characteristic wild- 
ness, its first day showery and bleak. Alto- 
gether the weather has l)een v«ry favorable 
to supplying, which has been very effectually 
carried out. The young crop continues 
. steadily to take possession, and the forward 
fields are already beginning to make a brave 
show; nothing could be more promising than 
the present appearance of the crop which we 
hope to reap in 1900. But it is the crop left 
us by the tempest that now engages attention, 
the last crop of the century, soon to be har- 
vested. The tentative trials have not been 
very promising, about one ton to the acre as 
reported in our last, but trimmings as a rule 
have only half the value of the solid field. 
The question is are fields solid? Twisted 
and broken by storm have they regained their 
normal state? Results so far seem to shofw 
that the canes have not regained that con- 
dition which under ordinary circumstances 
would be normal at th.s season. It must t>e 
remembered that they had to restore their 
foliage before they could re-commence 
growth, and start afresh sugar gath^rin'g; 
it took the canes at least eight weeks to rein- 
state themselves; therefore it is no wonder 
that they are not ripe, and pity it is that 
our imperfect machinery should compel us 
to reap at a loss, for if we do not agree to 
lose at the beginning the loss from rotten 
canes, &c., will .be heavier in the end. 

Cane fires have been all too frequent 
with us. On the night of Saturday the 
ISth February, the Island was alight with 
bonfires, — beacon answering to beacon as 
if by some preconcerted signal. The dried 
foliage or trash of ripening canes makes 
easy the work of the incendiary, while 
the crackling fiames leap and spread as 
if on prairie grass with amazing rapidity. 
Were it not for the intervals of open lands or 
wide roads separating the cane fields the des- 
truction from a single match which a child's 
hand might apply would be something terri- 
ble. As it is, the loss per annum from this 
lamentable cause cannot be less than IOC) 
acres representing a money loss probably of 
£15,000, as canes are as a rule burnt at an 
immature period when they are weak in 
saccharine. On the occasion referred to not 
less than ten estates were ablaze at the same 
time,— Kirton in St. iPhilip suffering to the 
extent of 36 acres. There were alto- 
gether about one hundred acres destroyed 
on this memorable night, and as cane 
fires were all too frequent previously the sum 



total destroyed is quite enough for one 
small island, and quite sufficient to rouse up 
fire insurance companies to inquire as to the 
best means of putting a stop to this senseless 
and wanton destruction. Pilgrim estate in 
Christ Church has been burnt three times 
losing altogether a/bout 20 acres. An eyewit- 
ness reports that passing that way on his 
bicycle on the night of the ISth ulto. he 
found the public road near the yard of this 
estate blocked impassably by a threatening 
mob of not less than 500 men brandishing 
sticks. Turning aside by a cross road to 
avoid the crowd, he saw the manager's house 
surrounded by lawless men and two mounted 
policemen keeping guard at the front door of 
the house; passing further on to the scene of 
the fire he found it solitary and deserted, 
save and except for two donkey carts which 
their owners were diligently piling up with 
canes tugged out of that part of the field not 
yet reached by the fire. When it is re- 
membered that this crop takes 14 months 
to mature and Is, from first to last, 
a very expensive crop to raise, it is no 
wonder that estates so sorely handicapped 
both at home and abroad are unable to pay 
their way. Indeed, were the planter to open 
his eyes to the wanton depredations going on 
he would cease planting canes altogether. It 
is no uncommon sight to see gangs of lawless 
young men parading the public roads at night 
tugging out, and destroying the growing 
canes along the road-sides ,merely for the 
sake of destruction, and with no one to say 
them nay. Perhaps the best way to keep 
such lawlessness in check is by placing the 
rural constabulary on a better and more 
efficient footing. These useful men are not* 
paid for this duty, and they say honestly that 
they cannot do their duty because they can- 
not afford to lost two days work, the time 
each case would absorb, in the public service. 
It is certainly a penny-wise policy to enroll 
these men, and expect them at their own 
own charges to protect property and to keep 
order. It is a well-known fact that rural 
constables try to keep away from scenes of 
disturbance, and, under the circumstances, 
we cannot blame men who live solely by 
their earnings as laborers. 

It may be an interesting puzzle for the . 
factory committee to solve, and we may well 
ask what Is to be done with burnt canes un- 
der the factory system. The fires occur irregu- 
larly and at Intervals all over the country, 
and it would be quite impossible to set big 
factories to work to reap these scattered 
spots or fields; even the 36 acres burnt at 
Kirton would not be enough to start a large 
factory unless the 'balance of the crop was 
fit for reaping. With our small works there 
is no difficulty, the unripe canes are con- 
verted always at a loss into syrup for local 
consumption, and if at all fit into early su- 
gar. But as these fires are usually intended 
to (force the planter to begin prematurely 
the slow grind of his long drawn crop, in the 
interest of persons who only condescend to 
work in the reaping season, there may not 
be the same incentive to start factories capa- 
ble of taking off the entire crop in the brief 
space of a few weeks. — ^Agricultural Report- 
er, ^arch 4. 



Barbados. 

During the past fortnight we have not had 
a single clear day. Rain has regularly fall- 
en and to the present the weather cannot 
be said to be settled. The crops, however, 
have been getting favorable winds to help 
them on. Almost all the mills— both wind 
and steam — are in action, but the usual mur- 
mur goes around that the results are not 
equal to anticipations. Shipments of the 
produce are being made ,but prices do not 
improve. — Globe, Mar. 3. 



Sugar in the Philippines. 

Mr. N. B. Darling, of Manning, sends ue 
a copy, of Freedom, a paper sent to him by 
his son John who is now In Manila. It 
contains an article on the sugar industry in 
the Philippines. It is made from sugar cane 
which is crushed in rude mills of wood, 
stone or iron. In the Province of Pampanga 
where this industry is more advanced the 
juice is placed in the first boiler and a little 
lime is added. The juice is then heated and 
skimmed; it then goes to the second boilers, 
and more lime is added from time to time; 
it is here exposed to a great heat and a scum 
arises continually. The man in charge of 
the cooking of the juice knows when it has 
a sufficient amount of lime because the scum 
takes on a clear yellow color and the pre- 
cipitates and impurities rise, and the scum 
changes in color to a dirty white. When the 
syrup reaches a temperature of 27 degrees 
(Baume) it begins to thicken and becomes 
a clear, coffee color. It is placed next in a 
receptacle which is used to receive the re- 
sults of the day's work. In this receptacle 
the impurities settle and on the next day 
the juice is dipped out and cooked again 
until it thickens to a consistency of syrup 
and it is then placed in a cooler, which is a 
wooden trough two metres wide by three 
metres in length and some twenty centi- 
meters deep; in this the syrup is kept stirred 
by means of a long spatula until the mass 
congeals into a powder formed of small dark 
crystals. This powder- is crude sugar, con- 
taining a large quantity of molasses; It is 
next placed in conical molds made of gravel 
and each of these molds placed on gravel 
beds where the molasses gradually drains 
off. In order to hasten this process of free- 
ing the sugar from molasses the natives 
cover the top of the sugar in the molds with 
the bark of the trunk of the banana plant, 
chopped up to the extent of some two or 
three centimetres. The dampness imparted 
to the sugar by this covering of banana bark 
precipitates the molasses and rapidly bleach- 
es the mass. 

There are to-day many well regulated 
sugar refineries owned by Filipinos and 
Spaniards, provided not only with good 
sugar mills operated with steam power, but 
vacuum pans, centrifugals, and all the latest 
improvements in sugar manufacturing ma- 
chinery.— *Lehi Banner. 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUOAB MANU7A0TUiaDL 



203 



BEET SUGAR. 



Oxnard, California. 

Manager J. A. DrifflU of the Oxnard Sugar 
Company, at the Van Nuys yesterday, said 
his company has already planted several 
hundred acres of sugar beets in Ventura 
County, and is now planting at the rate of 
2000 acres per week. 

"Ventura has had 6.30 inches of rain this 
season," continued Major Drlffill. "We got 
five inches in one storm. We have not yet 
begun planting in Los Angeles county. I 
don't know just what we shall do. Two 
inches of rain would satisfy us. As it is, 
we shall likely plant the less dry portions 
of our land anyway. We are not branching 
out any, but will cover just about the same 
ground as last year. A wet season is per- 
haps just a bit better for sugar beets than 
a dry one or an average one, but these 
things regulate themselves «to a great ex- 
tent That is, in a wet season the beets are 
larger and in a dry season the beets, though 
smaller, have more sugar." 

Major Drlffill denied the rumor that "his 
company intends building a railroad to Hue- 
neme, and that it intends to have anything 
to do with Hawaii's sugar business. He also 
said they would not lay portable tracks 
through the fields for gathering beets. — 
Courier, Mar. 18. 



Watsonville» Cat. 

A great part of the acreage of the Miller 
and Soap Lake ranches, near Gilroy, and 
of "San Juan valley, which was reserved for 
beets early In the winter, was, planted to 
barley a short time ago because of threat- 
ened drouth. The rains of the past two 
weeks have made certain the -prospects for 
a good beet crop In the Gilroy district, and 
In part of the San Juan valley. The out- 
look has never been more favorable for such 
a crop In that district It barley had been 
cneap seed this season much of that land 
would be given over ^o beet cultivation; 
and It Is probable that arrangements will 
be made "by which a large area of that sec- 
tion will be converted Into beet fields. The 
Spreckels Sugar Co. feels much encouraged 
over the present outlook, and is anxious to 
have the largest possible acreage in beets. 
The price of this crop is fixed, the pay cer- 
tain, and the condRlon of land In this vicin- 
ity gives promise of an enormous crop. — 
Pajaronlan, ^arch 27. 



Omalia, Neb. 

Carl Leonardt, the well-known contractor 
of this city, who erected the massive foun- 
dations and walls of the Chlno and Oxnard 
beet sugar factories, has been summoned to 
Nebraska to erect the buildings of a beet 
sugar factory projected near Omaha. He 
left on Saturday for Omaha, to be absent 
about two months. A portion of his con- 
tracting plant win be shipped from Los An- 
geles. The factory is to be completed In 



time for the fall campaign of the current 
year. The Oxnard Construction Company 
has the contract for equipping the factory 
ready for operation, including buildings and 
machinery. Its capacity Is to be 1000 tons 
dally, which is equal to that of the Chino 
plant It is to be erected by a wealthy cattle 
company of Nebraska, which will fatten Us 
caule from the beet pulp.— L. A. Times. 



ilolastes as a Stocic Food. 

You ask my comment on the following 
note from D. T. W., Beaver Creek, CoL, and 
the clipping which he sends: 

*U Inclose cutting from a London paper 
showing how the Scotch cattle-feeder uses 
treacle (molasses) with his grain feed. Per- 
haps some Southern beef-grower who is 
near to cheap molasses might think it 
worth while to experiment with molasses as 
ah addition to cotton seed." 

For years we have 'been making use of the 
refuse molasses of our sugar-houses In. feed- 
ing work animals — mules and horses. It 
has also been used for the purpose of sup- 
plementing graln,cotton-seed meal and bran 
In fattening cattle on a small «cale. Nearly 
all of our plantations add regularly six to 
ten pounds of molasses (containing 80 per 
cent of solids, of which 70 per cent, are car- 
bohydrates, 2.50 per cent albuminoids and 
the remainder mainly ash) to the other foods 
consumed by their work stock. I know of 
several plantations that feed almost ex- 
clusively upon rice, bran and molasses. I 
has further 'been demonstrated that the use 
of molasses has given Increased power to 
the work animal In developing muscular 
energy. 

This station has made a number of expe- 
riments upon feeding molasses to beef cattle 
and I send you a bulletin In regard to two 
series of these experiments. When fed In 
larger quantities than two or three pounds 
per day to milch cows the milk thereof 
seems tainted with its taste, giving an un- 
usual and peculiar sweetness thereto. I 
would say, however, that our experiments, 
while very expensive along the line of feed- 
ing work stock, have not been numerous in 
producing beef cattle, because of the excel- 
lencies and cheapness of cotton-seed meal 
and hulls which nofw constitute almost the 
exclusive diet for fattening cattle In this 
country. 

Articles upon the feeding value of molas- 
ses have at various times appeared In the 
Louisiana Planter, giving the results of ex- 
periments conducted at this station. There 
being as yet no cattle in this country o 
feed, and nearly everybody engaged in the 
sugar, rice or cotton industry, with little 
disposition to diversify, very few experi- 
ments along the line of fattening cattle 
with the use of molasses supplementing 
other foods have been made. There is no 
doubt, however, of the efficacy of molasses 
as an adjunct to concentrated foods in fat- 
tening beef cattle. 

Wm. C. Stubbs. 

Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station, In 
Breeder's Gazette. » 



American Beet Sugar. • 

Incorporation papers of the American 
Beet Sugar Co. have been filed at Trenton, 
N. J., yesterday. The capital is $20,000,000. 
The incorporators are Samuel C. Herriman, 
Loring T. Hildreth, John J. Griffin and P. 
Eugene Crassons The Incorporation of the 
company Is In a way formal, the main facts 
about the company having been given in 
these colums some time ago. The company 
is an amalgamation of four^ 'beet sugar 
plants formerly owneid by the Oxnard and 
Cutting Interests. One of these plants is 
at Grand Island, Neb., another at Norfolk, 
Neb., a third at Chlno Ranch, Southern Cali- 
fornia, and the fourth at Hueneme, South- 
ern California. The consolidation was 
financed by Spencer Trask & Co. and Kuhn, 
Loeb & Co. of this city. 

Of the $20,000,000 capital $5,000,000 Is 6 
per cent non-cumulative preferred stock, of 
which $1,000,000 will be retained In the 
treasury. The remaining $15,000,000 is 
common stock. ^ 

It Is understood on good authority that 
Henry Oxnard will be president of the new 
company when its organization Is comple- 
ted, and that W. Bayard Cutting will be 
chairman of the board of directors. The 
other membens of the board and other, of- 
ficers have not yet «been decided upon. The 
attorneys for the company are Zabrlskle, 
Burrill & JMurray. Ti*w company Is regis- 
tered with .the Corporation Tru^ Company 
of Jersey. City. 

Tt is stated that the neiw company is an 
entirely independent concern; that It has 
nothing whatever to do with the ?^'v -.• 
Trust (American Sugar Refining Company) 
nor is it in any way for the purpose, directly 
or indirectly, of being used as a means for 
harmonizing the conflicting refined sugar 
Interests, but that its business would be ab- 
solutely confined to the manufacture and 
.sale of beet sugars and business incidental 
thereto, independent of any other interests. 
—Journal Commerce. 



Trade Notes. 



Frank Paul Parber. 

Probably nothing in any Industrial plant 
or factory pays a greater interest upon its 
original cost than a properly designed sys- 
tem of elevating and conveying the material 
manufactured. We call our readers* atten- 
tion to the advertisement on the second 
page of Mr. Frank P. Bart)er. He will, 
upon application, submit plans and estimate 
of cost. Including installation, Qf J:he most 
suitable method for handling any material- 
sugars, bagasse, coal, earth, gravel, grain 
etc. As the agent here for the Weller 
Manufacturing Co. he will quote lowest pri- 
ces on machinery for the transmission of 
power by belt or rope drive. 

Mr. Barber is also the representative (for 
Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas) for 
Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co.^than 
which no engineering firm Is more widely 
and favorably known. The Westinghouse 
Compound, Standard and Junior automatic 
Engines have a well-deserved reputation for 
reliability and economy with power users 
all over the country. The Westinghouse 
Machine Co also builds engines in the larger 
sizes — one' of 760 horse-power (the largest 
in the world) having been In successful 
operation for some time 

We trust our readers will get figures from 
Mr. Barber when they are In the market for 
steam or gas power, or elevating, conveying 
and power transmission machinery/ 



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fittC LOUtStiitJL rtAitTEtL AND SUGAH MANUJ-ACTUftEJl. 



tVol. XXII, Ko. 13. 



RIOB. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8P0NDENCI.) 

Editor Louitiami Planter: 

The pafft week has been a very good time 
ia which to do farm work, and it has been 
' hastened along with unusual haffte/ and is 
still going on nicely at this writing. During 
the latter part of the week we had some 
high winds and a good rain at night suffi- 
cient to sprout the rice now in the soil, and 
it has helped the plowing very m\ich. 
Seeding is now in full blasTt, and a good acre- 
age was sown lae^ week, during the latter 
part, and if the weather warms up quickly 
this rice will soon be up. At the close of 
this week the wind turned to the north and 
caused the thermometer to go down to 45, 
but it will not last long, though the chill 
will prevent rice from sprouting for a few 
days. Sawing has begun somewhat earlier 
this spring than wee looked for, but our 
farmers are so well prepared por plowing 
this season that they make short work of it 
when they get at It in earnest, and this 
hastens the seeding, and that is why farmers 
fitted themselves with good teams and tools 
to work with. They are trying to avoid late 
seeding if possible. 

There is a good market for feed for work 
stock, and nearly all of this feed is shipped 
in, as in former seasons, and it seems like 
they could raise more of this produce at 
home if they would only persist in doing so, 
wJien they have ample means for doing it 
Very little rice is being marketed this 
month, and I think, as near as I can find 
out, that the supply is getting low. Our 
rice mills in all parU of the parish are still 
running, and some of them run nights, and 
the most of them have a good supply of 
rice on hand. Some of the smaller country 
mills have done a remarkable business this 
season, and they are still doing fine. Some 
twenty thousand sacks have been worked up 
by some of these small mills, and they have 
a good spell yet to run before the supply 
will give out There is some rumor to the 
effect that a good mill will go up in Jen- 
nings this fall, <but the parties have not yet 
decided on a location. That point seems to 
suit them better than other places, except 
on the river, but that would be off of the 
railroad. 

Some good wells have been contracted for 
during the past week, and they will be put 
down in time to be used this season, and 
more will be contracted for soon, but all 
cannot be supplied in time for flooding this 
season, for the means for putting them down 
is too inadequate. A party has lately come 
into our parish who seems to thoroughly 
understand his business along this line, and 
he puts a well down in less than three 
days, all complete, ready to attach a pump 
to, for he has the necessary machinery for 
forcing the work ahead with dispatdL 

A few gasoline engines have been sold this 



spring for use In these well^, but a great 
many farmers will use the threshing engines, 
as they can get them at moderate figures, 
and wood is often quite handy; some use 
coal. Canal work is on the boom this week, 
and a large forcQ U at work doing a big 
business every day, and the work will con- 
tinue until pumping begins. Corn is being 
planted this week, and quite an acreage was 
planted last week, but the ground was so 
cold that it will not come up ahead of that 
planted this week, and the work will not 
be finished for some little time. A large 
force of men are at work in various places 
along Che bayous, getting out wood for the 
various pumping plants, and there will be a 
large demand for wood this season, owing 
to so many new plants being put in. 

Calcasieu Rice Bird. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The demand holds to former proportions 
and all evidences point to a large spring 
trade. It might be remarked that the chief 
call in domestic is for the ordinary to fair 
grades; while these have hardened a further 
item, they appear to be regarded as cheap, 
being still quite % to % cts. under import- 
ing cost of equal grades in foreign. The 
larger enquiry at the moment in foreign is 
for Java and Patna, but not a little is doing 
in high grade Japan; recent imports of "the 
finest grown" enabling an exhibit such as 
has not been seen here for many a year, thus 
enlarging the assortment of this kind. Ad- 
vices from the South note enlarging activity 
In every quarter. Receipts at all local cen- 
ters are noteworthy, really liberal in compar- 
ison with any week the past two months; 
this is due to better weather and improving 
condition of roads. The bulk of present 
threshings are said to be "a sorry lot," far 
from worthless, however, as the rice, while 
unfit to enter grocery channels, can be profit- 
ably used in feeding stock. Most of the Louis- 
iana mills have started up anew; the closing 
run of the season. It is safe to say that 
this, with the fact that the planters now 
need to realize so as to go on with prepara- 
tions for the current year, will bring forward 
every last bit of the old crop within next 
fortnight or so. Cal)les and correspondence 
from abroad note continuance of former 
features; sharp demand and firm prices in all 
kinds of desirable character. Stocks light; 
receipts scarcely meet present requirements; 
sellers most independent and quite indiffer- 
ent about entering upon any large contracts 
at current figures against future delivery. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
672.015 sacks; last year (inclusive of amount 
carried over,) 502.059 sacks. Sales, cleaned 
(est) 163.467 barrels; last year, 103,677 bar- 
rels. Enlarging inquiry and market firm 
with further hardening tendency on ordinary 
to fair grades. 

Talmage Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,009 barrels. Sales 31.270 barrels. Good 
demand at full former quotations. 



Trade Notes. 

Pecklnpauffh, Harrison A Co. 

We are advised by Capt Harrison that 
his fieet of wagon material is due to arrive 
at Waterloo next Thursday, and he says he 
has got a^fine stock for the planters to make 
their selections from. He desires us to call 
arttention to the fact that his goods will 
probably never be as chea^ again as they 
are this year. The 10 per cent, discount he 
has given for the past five years he will be 
obliged to withdraw after this season and 
he desires all the sugar planters to take ad- 
vantage of this opportunity. 

Doubtless he will handle an immense trade 
during the cruise of the fieet. 

Lillie Multiple Effects. 

In addition to the sale recently chronicled 
by us of a 150,000 gallon Lillie quadruple 
effect to the Pioneer mill in the Hawaiian 
Islands we are now advised that orders have 
been received for a quadruple. effect ol 350,- 
000 gallons daily capacity for the Ewa 
planiation. near Honolulu, and for a quad^* 
ruple effect of 250.000 gallons daily capacity 
for the Waialua plantation. These sales 
indicate the steady progress being made by 
Mr. Lillie's apparatus all over the world. 
Parrel t- liter Press. 

We are advised that the Farrel Foundry 
& Machine Co., have sold through their rep- 
resentative, R. S. Rickey, fifty-four of their 
Filter Presses which have been purchased by 
our most prominent sugar planters and have 
given universal satisfaotion, to whom they 
refer. What is very remarkable is that they 
have never had to furnish any extra plates. 
Some have been in use for seven or eight 
year. The Farrel Foundry & Machine Co. 
are well prepared to build sugar mills, and 
have built many mills for Cuba and San 
Domingo, and have contracts now for five 
sugar milfs to go out of this country. 
M. Zler & Co. 

We publish elsewhere in this Issue the 
advertisement of the above named firm, 
which has placed a large number of boilers 
in the sugar houses of this .State. They 
seem to make a most excellent and satisfac- 
tory boiler, and manufacture many types, 
including high pressure, return tubular and 
Scotch marine boilers. A recent contract 
just made by their Mr. Eury, iwho Is at 
present in Louisiana, was for one battery of 
a)oilers 72" by 18' with 70 4" tubes to be 
erected at the Milly plantation of Messrs. 
LfCBlanc & Danos in Iberville parish. Messrs. 
LeBlanc & Danos are among the most care- 
ful, well posted and successful sugar plant- 
ers in the State, and their judgment in favor 
oi the Zler boilers is a high testimonial. 

Those Qf our planters who contemplate 
any change in their boiler equipment would 
do well to get estimates from M. Zier & Co., 
of New Albany. Indiana. 



O. B. Danjean, of St Charles parish, was 
a guest of one of our leading hotels re- 
cently. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUOAR MANUFAOTUBBK. 



805 



Decision on Sus^ar Duties. 

A decision of importance to refiners, whole- 
sale dealers in sugar, grocers, etc., was 
handed down on Monday by the Board of 
General Appraisers in reference to the pro- 
tests of Bartram Bros., B. H. Howell. Son 
& Co., and the American Sugar Refining 
Company against the tariff rates ^assessed 
upon sugars based upon what is known as 
the polariscope test, under the Tariff Act of 
July 24, 1897. It was claimed by the Im- 
porters that these duties were excessive and 
that the test hy the polariscope should be 
construed as meaning the commercial polari- 
scope test used in general trading. 

The finding of the board, the opinion be- 
mg written by Judge Somerville, is sum- 
marized as follows: 

The regulations of the Secretary of the 
Treasury of October 27, l'o97, prescribing that 
a particular polariscope test made by special 
apparatus shall determine the classifica- 
tion of imported sugars in place of a former 
commercial test are not unreasonable or vio- 
lative of any provision of law. It seems that 
the commercial test was adopted for arriv- 
ing at market value rather than for the 
purpose of classification. The phrases "test- 
ing by the polariscope" and "degrees Shown 
by the polariscope" as used in paragraph 209 
of the Tariff Act of 1897 have no peculiar 
trade meaning, but are used descriptively In 
their ordinary signification as indicating a 
true polariscope test. 
The opinion further says. In part: 
"It is a matter of common knowledge, and 
is corroborated by the testimony in these 
cases, that the polariscope — an Instrument 
for polarizing light and testing its proper- 
ties — .has been used to determine the per- 
centage of pure sugar in any given sample, 
without regard to its color or condition. The 
sugar to be tested is weighed with great 
care and dissolved in an exact volume of 
water, usually contained in a fiask; and a 
ray of polarized light is then passed through 
the solution. In this passage the ray is de- 
flected in proportion to the amount of su- 
crose in the solution, the deviation being 
measured upon a scale of 100 degrees, the 
number of degrees indicating the percentage 
of pure sugar. 

"In reference to the so-called commercial 
test, contended for as correct by the im- 
porter's counsel, the testimony taken at the 
hearing satisfactorily shows the following 
facts: 

"During the time the Tariff Acts of 1883 
and 1894 were in force it was the custom of 
merchants, in 'buying and selling sugar, to 
have two separate polariscoplc tests made, 
each by a trade chemist employed by the 
respective parties to the transaction. Where 
these two tests differed a compromise or 
'settlement' test was adopted, which was the 
average of degrees shown by the two tests. 

"The testimony utterly falls to show any 
peculiar trade meaning attaching to the 
phrases 'testing by the polariscope' or 'de- 
grees shown by the polariscope,' as used in 
paragraph 209, of the Tariff Act of 1897. 
These phrases are, manifestly, used de- 
scrlDtively, in their ordinary signification. 

"The doctrine of commercial designation. 
as settled by the courts, has no bearing on 
the subject and refers merely to the de- 
nomination of imported merchandise subject 
to duty under tariff legislation. The rule is 
fh-'t the subjects or classes of subjects de- 
scribed in the schedules of a tariff act are 
understood to be used by Congress in their 
special commercial or trade meanings if the 
trade Is shown to attach to them a signifi- 
cation different from their meaning In or- 
dinary speech. 

"The importers' contention, then, resolves 
ItseK li^to this: That, \n using tbe phrase 



'testing by the polariscope,' Congress re- 
ferred to a particular system which had pre- 
vailed In the trade for twenty-five years or 
more, used In ascertaining market values of 
sugars dependent on actual sales by mer- 
chants, rather than to a true polariscoplc 
test by improved Instruments and advanced 
scientific methods, designated to determine 
classification rather than market value. 

"'1 hese facta are pertinent, in view of the 
Importers' contention that the system of 
sugar tests under the present regulations is 
not so accurate as the former system, lead- 
ing to erroneous results, prejudicial to their 
interests, and that the Secretary's regula- 
tions authorizing such system are unauthor- 
ized by law. 

"Weighing all the testimony, and viewing 
it in every aspect in which it can be legally 
considered, we see nothing unreasonable in 
the variation allowed by the regulations, 
based on the factor of temperature — certain- 
ly none which, in our judgment, would au- 
thorize this Board or the courts to pro- 
nounce this feature of the regulations illegal 
or violative of any provision of law. 

"In conclusion we must note one fact of 
great importance as showing that under the 
regulations of 1897 results have been reached 
as to sugar tests far more accurate and 
uniform than any attained under previous 
methods. It appears that, under the old regu- 
lations and the commercial method, there 
was an ascertained difference of 0.6 of one 
per cent, on an average, between tests made 
at the port of New York and those made 
at Boston and Philadelphia, the three chief 
sugar ports of the country.- This was de- 
monstrated by an exchange of tests made at 
the different ports, from Identical samples, 
the experiments continuing from day to day 
for over six months. Under the new regu- 
lations this difference is shown to have been 
reduced to about 0.1, or one-sixth of what it 
was under the old system. This is probably 
due, In part, to the fact that all the appa- 
ratus used for testing sugar. Including polar- 
Iscopes, weights, fiasks, tubes and quartz 
plates, are now required to be standardized 
and their accuracy attested hy the Office of 
Standard Weights and Measures, U. S. Coast 
and Geodetic Survey, in conformity to the 
requirements of paragraph 77 of these regu- 
lations. Naturally, this leads to more uni- 
form results, and Is an improvement on the 
former practice. 

"There remains hut one other point to be 
specially considered. It is shown that, un- 
der the new regulations, chemically pure, or 
refined sugars, sometimes test over 100 de- 
grees by the polariscope, reaching as much 
as 100 and two or three- tenths In addition. 
Of course, the' practice of customs officials 
is to reject all such additional readings as 
errors authorized to be disregarded, and this 
fact Is urged as a demonstration of the In- 
accuracy of the new system. Our judgment 
Is that, while this fact may demonstrate the 
want of mathematical accuracy ' in sugar . 
tests, it may be satisfactorily accounted for 
on one or more of the following grounds: 

"First. There may be errors of observa- 
tion in reading the scale, which runs to frac- 
tions of degrees, and which requires great 
accuracy. The present regulations, accord- 
ingly, make an allowance, as stated above, of 
two- tenths of 1 per cent for errors of ob- 
servation, • temperature, etc. The former 
regulations made an allowance of three- 
tenths of 1 per cent 'to eliminate the possible 
errors of observation.' 

"Second. The fiask holding the solution 
may contain too little water and slightly 
too much sugar, thus making the solution 
more concentrated and causing too high a 
polarization. 
**TJilrd. Tlie presence of traces of 'ra|- 



flnose' in the sugar would account for such 
a result. 'Raffinose' is defined as a color- 
less crystalline compound, represented by 
the chemical formula C18 h 320 10 6h 20. 
The scale on the instrument, which Is de- 
signed only to polarize sucrose, the essen- 
tial element of sugar, would thus indicate a 
higher polarization by reason of the presence 
of this 'raffinose.' 

In the light of the evidence taken at the 
hearing these explanations seem not unrea- 
sonable. It is admitted on all sides that 
mathematical accuracy is not attainable by 
any such process. 

"In cases of this kind, moreover, the set- 
tled rule is that the burden of proof Is not 
on the Government to show that the Col- 
lector's classification is correct, but the pre- 
sumption is in favor of its correctness, and 
the burden is upon the importer to show 
that it is not correct. In our opinion this 
burden of proof has not been successfully 
sustained ;by the importers, and their pro- 
tests are accordingly overruled, the Collect- 
or's decision being affirmed in each case." — 
N. Y. Journal Commerce. 



Personal. 

Messrs. Fulton and Clarence Bourdier 
were the sugar boilers during the past cam- 
paign at the Waveland refinery, belonging 
to Messrs. Bourdier and Bellislen. They are 
the sons of one of the proprietors, and are 
skillful and well equipped boilers, capable 
of taking off a crop anywhere. 

At the Lagonda plantation of Col. Lewis 
S. Clarke that reliable old timer, Capt. L. 
A. Roussel, is still officiating as superin- 
tendent and Is doing it well Mr. J.. 
lE. Munson, the true and tried over- 
seer, is manipulating the field work with 
his accustomed energy and adding to his 
already fine reputation as a field marshal. 

(Mr. Hubert Edson, the widely known 
sugar house expert and chemist, still offi- 
ciates as general superintendent at the 
Calumet factory of Mr. Daniel Thompson, 
and he had for his sugar boilers this past 
season the old reliable Arthur Tarby and 
Mr. A. C. Kimball. Mr. Kimball is the 
half brother of Mr. E. W. Deming of super- 
heat clarification fame. 

At the Luckland place of Mr. Saunders on 
Bayou Teche, Mr. C. W. Simmons was the 
manager during the recent grinding season. 
Mr. Sydney Boudreaux was the sugar holler 
and he is reported to be one of the finest 
men In the business. His brother, J. T. 
Boudreaux, Esq., who took off the crop at 
the Honduras plantation. Is also a first-class 
expert. at the vacuum pan. 

On Messrs. Hausman Brothers and Nor- 
man's Victoria plantation the managers are 
the two Normans, Willlain and Henry, and 
they evidently understand how Tft run a 
sugar estate. The sugar boiler during the 
past grinding campaign was that well known 
gentleman, Sydney Bernard, EiSq., who has 
a reputation all over the State as a good and 
careful (boiler. 

Mr. J. A. Pharr, of St. Mary parish, was in 
the city last Friday, and put up at the St. 
Charles. 

'Mr.*T. A. Shaffer, of Terrebonne parish, ' 
was in the city on a visit a few days ago. 
He made his headquarters at the St Charles 
Hotel ^ 



Digitized by 



Google 



206 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTUREIL 



[Vol. xxn, No. 11 



Mar. 24. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Cemtrifugal 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 

Prime 

PullTFair 

0eoa Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Common 

inferior 

Centrifugal. 
PlanVn Granul'ed 
Off Granulated.. 
Ohoiee White.... 

Off White 

aref White 

Ohoiee Yellow... 
Prime Yellow ... 

OflYellow 

Seeonde 

M6LASSB8. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faaey 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 
Geod Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Ok>odFair 

Fair 

6eod Common. 

Oemmon 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Faney 

Ohoioe 

Strict Prime.... 
Good Prime .... 

Prime 

Good Fair. 

Fair 

•eed Common. 

Common 

Inferior. 



SYRUP, 



Mar. 25. 



Hj9^>i 



-« - 

- - 

4|t9- 

- @- 



g 

Id 



§ 



-® 16 

- @ 16 
13 O 14 
11 3 12 

— 8 10 
-« 9 
-8 8 

-® I 

-e 7 



Mar. 27. 



Mar. 28. 



Mar. 29. 



Mar. 30. 



Mar. 31. 



-a - 

- 8 - 

- « — 
4H®- 

- @ - 

43^(g- 
4H®4fi 
4^@4% 
23i®4A 



Id 



d 
o 



-a 16 

- ® 16 
13 3 14 
11 @ IS 

- (8 10 
-@ 9 
-8 8 
-® 7 
-® 7 



4H®- 

4>^®4?^ 
23^®4A 



e 

Id 



d 

o 



-® 

- a 

18® 
11 ® 
-® 
- @ 
-® 
-® 
-® 



16 

15 

14 

12 

10 

9 

8 

7 

7 



3A(^4>i 



- ® - 

- a — 

- « - 

43i® - 
4ii®4|} 
4^-484% 
2^®4A 



1 

.a 



£ 

Id 



§ 

Z 



- « - 

-a 16 
— a i6 
13 a 14 
11 a 12 



-a 

- a 

- a 
-a 



10 
9 
8 

7 
7 



3.^@4^ 



-a - 

- a - 
4[ia- 

- ® - 

4?^® - 
4|i®4fi 
4J^®4% 
23i®4A 



d 

as 

.d 



§ 



-9 — 
-9 i6 

- 9 i6 
13 9 U 
11 @ 12 
-9 10 

-« 2 

-9 8 

-® 2 

-9 7 

- 9 - 



S 

o 



o 



Same Day 
Lajst Year. 



Tone of Market ai 
Cloaing of Week. 



I 

o 



1^ 

a 

o 

K 



- @- 

— @ — 

■3?»(g3H 
3,'\)(i3^ 
3A@3^ 
3,%93A 
3>i@3A 

2^@3k 

-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 



*>i9*A 
« 9«A 
J^@3H 



Firm. 



Firm. 



s 

.d 



d 

o 



a 14 

® 13 

a 12 
@ 11 

® 10 

a 9 

8 
7 
6 
6 



-® 
- « 
-® 



Strong. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



Nnw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89® 
Centrifugals, dd*".. 


-® - 


-a - 


-a - 


— a — 


-a - 


— a — 


~a- 




--® - 




-a - 


— a — 


-"®.'^- 


— a — 


^8 - 




Granulated 


— a4.84 


— 84.84 


-84.84 


-84.84 


- 84.84 


— 84 84 


4.848 - 


Raw firm. 


Standard A 


-r 84.72 


- 84.72 


— 84.72 


- 84.72 


- 84.72 


- 84.72 


4.728 - 


Refined dull. 


Dutch Granulated 


- 84.98 


-84.98 


-84.98 


-84 98 


- 84 98 


- 84 98 


-8- 




German Qranul'td. 


- 84.98 


- 84 93 


- 84.93 


-84 93 


- 84 93 


- 84 93 


-8- 




MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


- a - 


- a - 


-a - 


- 8 - 


- 8 - 


-a - 


— a — 




N.O.Fair 


-a- 


-8- 


-a - 


-8 ~ 


-a - 


-a - 


— a — 




London: 


















Jaya, No. 16 D. 8. 
A.&G.Beet 


128. Od. 
98. lO^d. 


12s. Od. 
98. lOKd. 


12s Od. 
9s. ll>4d. 


12s. Od 

98.11J4d. 


12s. Od. 
9s. ll>^d. 


12s. Od. 
9s.ll>^d. 


lis. 3d. 
9s.03^d. 


Cane quiet. 
Beet— Buyers at qooU. 
tlons. 



NEW OBliBANS REFINED. 



Out Loaf 

Powdered 

Staa'd Granula'd. 
RoMtta Extra C 

Candy A 

CrTBtal Bztra C. 

Royal BzC 

SYRUP. 



— @6% 

— @^H 
-@% 

— @ 

— @5A 

-@- 
-@- 
-<g - 



-@6K 
— @6^ 

-@ 
-@8A 
-@- 
-@ - 
-@ - 



@6« 
®6H 

@ 

@6A 
- 
@ - 
@ - 



@6H 

@ 

@ - 
@- 



— @5?^ 

— @6^ 

— @ 

— @6,i, 
-@- 
-@- 
-@ - 



— @5li 

- @ 

-@- 
-@ - 
-@ - 



- @6K 

- <s6Jg 

- @8^ 
_@ 

- @6 
-@- 
-@ - 
-@- 



Firm. 



STOCKS. 

A* lour porta of ttie United States to Mar. 22 Ton« 190,812 

At four porta of Great Britain to Mar. 28 " 63,600 

At Havana and Matanzaa to Mar. 21 •• 66.600 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
Mar. 30, 1899. 

' Sugar— —> Molaa*** 

Hilda Barrels. Barrels. 

««!•»»•• 279 3,903 2,110 

80W m 3,999 8420 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i, 1898 
to Mar. 30, 1899. 

Hhds. Barrels.^ 

9,082 1,180,906 

9^)82 1,173,221 



ReoeiTed 
Sold 



217,496 
21<,«6 



Digitized by VjOOQLC 



April 1. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



207 



Mar. 24. 






WEEKLY MARKET REPORT 


> 




1899. 


RICE. 


Mar. 26. 


Map. 27. 


Mar. 28. 


Mar. 29. 


Mar.ao. 


Mar. 81. 


Same Day Last 
Y4ar. 


Tona of Market at 
Close of Week. 


Rough, per bbl . . . 
Extra Fancy.... 


1 50(g4 76 


1 50@4 76 


1 6 


1 5 


1 r 




2 00^4 60 


Steady. 


^%(&Wa 












— @ — 




Olkan, Fancy.... 


6 @6>i 












63i@6 




<'^.« .ue... 


5M@53i 












6)<(§6>i 




Prime.... 


4K@5>ii 












4^@6 




Good .... 


4M@4^ 










E? 


4X@43i 




Fair .... 


3?^@4>^ 












4?i«4>g 




Ordinary 


3 %^h 










^ 


8?i@4 




Common. 


2>i@3 










W 


SH®3H 




Screenings 


2 (i2?i 












- a - 




Inferior . . 


1%(»2 












Nominal 




No.2 


ih(^Ah 












l^<i2 




Bran, per ton 


12 00 


— vrw 


.. WW 


— WW 






9 60910 00 


/ r " 


PeuiH. nerion... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 






14 000116 00 




ll«»lpL» ai 


Id 5alM at N«w 


Orlaau far Um waek aadlBC 


l»Mlpli at 


Naw 4MaaM IrMi Ahc i. iI^. to Mar. 30. i8«9» 




Mar. 


30, it99. 




•MBpmtf wMli last y«ar, «MBa tlna. 






BA«K8llOU«B. BH«. CZ4Ulf. 






8ACK8R0IJOT. BBLII.0l.C1iy 

670.183 4.909 


Received 




3,133 163 


Ihli Te«r 




f^nld 




2.49.S 1 111 


iMl 


year 




4 


10.311 103^18 






' -F- 


• 









Sugar. 

The local Sugar market was quiet at the 
close of the week, with light receipts from 
the country. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals strong. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

There was more activity manifested in the 
rough rice market at the end of the week 
and ibusiness was on a 'broader scale. Prices 
ruled steady and arrivals were moderate. 
Clean rice was steady aiTa in fair demand. 
PLANTER. WILKBN. March 30. 



Agricultural Methods in 5iam. 

According to the hand-book recently 
issued by the Philadelphia Commercial 
Museum, cgriculture is the chief industry 
of Slam, and rice the principal product. 
The exports of this product for 1896 were 
valued at $10,500,00. or over seventy per 
cent, of the total exports. Although agri- 
culture is so important an Industry in the 
country it is still carried on in a most prim- 
itive style. The plows are crooked sticks 
with one handle. The body, sole-plate, 
landside and mould board are all combined 
in a natural crotch — the hump at the fork 
of a tree. The shorter branch is made to 
answer for a mouldboard, and the longer 
one is left some two feet long and ten inches 
round, and comes to a point to receive the 
socket of the plowshare, which is little 
larger than a man's hand, made of cast-iron 
in a sort of triangular shape. It bulges out 
into a socket in the under side and receives 
the nose of a runner, and is never perma- 
nently fastened to its place, ihe wood part 
of the plow costs about one dollar and the 
iron share fifteen cents. It cuts a furrow 
two inches deep and five or six wide, and 
there is so little curve to the mouldboard 
that it does not turn over more than half 
the clods broken up. The man or woman 
holds it by the one handle and guides the 
oxen or buffaloes by a rope passed through 
the nose. The yoke is slightly curved to 
fit the neck; but, instead of ox-bows, they 
hi^ve straight sticky \o run tliroUfU t)xe 



yoke on either side of the neck, and tied 
together by ropes or withes at the bottom 
to keep the neck in. If one animal is used, 
there is a short beam and a rude Whipple- 
tree, with long rope traces fastened to the 
outside of the yoke; if two oxen or buffaloes 
are needed, they use a longer beam, and the 
yoke is fastened directly to it, and thus they 
drag the plow along. The end of the beam 
is often eighteen or twenty inches beyond 
the yoke and curves gracefully upward, 
ornamented with flowers and peacock feath- 
ers or red strings, and the heads of the oxen 
bridles. The harrow is simply a large rake 
are kept up by being fastened to it by short 
with wooden teeth, and a bamboo tongue 
long enough to reach to the yoke and allow 
the oxen to hold their heads up. It has 
an oval handle to aid in lifting it up to shake 
off the grass and stubble and to bear down 
on when the clods are hard to break. — 
Manufacturer. 

Magazine Notes. 

In its April issue Frank Leslie's Popular 
Monthly takes up the sugar question, and 
in an article handled with masterly skill, 
shows what sugar planters need in the way 
of care and consideration for this vast in- 
dustry, the keenness of the competition 
with foreign countries and the threatening 
attitude of the political conditions with re- 
gard to our new colonies which overshadows 
the entire industry to-day. 

The fact that one otf the leading maga- 
zines of the North throws the weight of its 
influence and its quarter-of-a-million' cir- 
culation in the scales with the interests of 
all sugar growers and manufacturers, can- 
not but have a beneficial effect upon this 
important question and cannot fail to edu* 
cate the masses into some knowledge of the 
extent of sugar growing in the United States 
and the immense value of the manufactured 
product as compared with other agricul- 
tural products. 

M. H. Mount, in "Our New Colonies and 
Sugar" has shown the loss which the Amer- 
ican producers and the government, alike, 
have sustained through the "open door" 
policy with Hawaii as an ailment against 
§ucU a policy In relation to oi;!* u^w posseS' 



sions in the East and West Indies. Besides 
a complete resume of valuable facts and 
figures shofwing the status of the American 
industry with that ot all other nations, the 
writer gives a glimpse into the conditions 
of cheap labor and tropical growth which 
exist in our colonies which will prove a 
menace if allowed free competition with the 
high-priced labor and less luxuriant fruit- 
age of the American product 

Among the beautiful and interesting pic- 
tures which Illustrate this article are . two 
which the Louisiana Planter loaned to show 
its Northern hrethren the beauty and pic- 
turesqueness of sugar cane fields in flower 
and in process of being harvested. 

Among other interesting and handsome- 
ly illustrated articles in the April Lesllb's 
Monthly are: "Our Flag in the Philippines," 
by Oeneral Wesley Merritt; "Aguinaldo and 
the Filipino Envoys," "Through Mexico in 
a Private Car," "The Romance of Rome," by 
F. Marion Crarwford, "April Bloom," "Thp 
Legend of Miratzalu and Marginalia." 



The Rehabilitation of the Cutmn 
Sugar Plantations. 

The arrival at Santiago de Cuba of the 
first car of sugar sent into that city since 
last spring, was made cne occasion of quite a 
celebration. The sugar came from the Santa 
Ana plantation, near the town of San Luis, 
the first to begin grinding. Many of the 
mills have been totally destroyed, and will 
require both time and new capital for their 
rebuilding, but those which escaped the 
torch of the Cubans are resuming the work 
of grinding as rapidly as possible. One of 
the most serious difficulties encountered 
by the planters whose mills have escaped 
destruction is the lack of oxen to haul the 
cane. Of the hundreds of thousands of work 
cattle formerly employed on the big plan- 
tations scarcely any have survived the war. 
In order to supply the present demand,' car- 
go lots from Jamaica, San Domingo, Porto 
Rico and Carthagena have been rushed in. 
and even Texas has taken advantage of the 
excellent market, although West India bred 
stock is preferred. Well broken oxen sell 
readily at from $175 to $200 per yoke, and 
the demand greatly exceeds the supply. One 
of the largest planters, Mr. Rigney, has im- 
ported a number of American engines as an 
experiment, and is using them successfully 
}p hauling wne,— Tb« Manufacturer. 



Digitized by 



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108 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTORaR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 13. 



WANTS. 



W* wn paMtoh In tbto coNinn, frae of chwf* antll 
fmtlMr aotko, the appllcirtloiis of all numagers. over- 
«Mr«, — g in— rt and sagar^naken, and others who 
■My he eeeklng poeltions In the country, and aleo the 
wante et planters dcelring to em ploy any of these. 

WANTED— By competent man with flrat-clase refer- 
ences a position as Ist. or 2ad orerseer on a bugar plan- 
tfttlon; address 8. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Position by a man 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
mach an object; address J. Bebthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 8-23-99 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
a« yard or stableman; addfrese Phiup Brauk, Gibson, 
La^ 8-27-99 

WANTEDz-Posltlon by a first-class vacunm pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoronghly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crystaUizers. Best of references; 
addreas H., care this office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a grst-dass sugar house en- 

gneer, good machinist, 18 years' experience in some of 
e best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, Thlbodaox, La. 8-2S-99 

WANTED— Situation by a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; Is thoroughly equipped 
for the work In every particular; address Cuba, care 
thlsoflioe. 8-20-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, in the countiy; good references; ad- 



dress ALPH0N8B BUCK, 2714 Second street, cl^. 

»-l 



16-99 



WANTED— By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take oft next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico: address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
488, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-99 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman. 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
-^ears as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery: ad- 

ress Draughtsman, lOlO S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 



di 



WANTED— Thoroughly competent machinist, with 
several years experience in leading railroad shops. 



wants work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 

Elantatlons. Will work oy the day or by contract. He 
I a practical locomotive engineer and has had experi- 



ence in repairing and running sugar house maohinery. 
Address W. L., No. 1016 Magazine street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. 8.,^ Fletel, La. 8-15-99 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general sUtlstiolan on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references; 
address A., care this office. 8-15-99 

WANTED— In first-class sugar house In Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience: satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Mabtik, 6041 Laulel street. New Orleans . 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 8-18-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
ga^ plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office wortc for sugar refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house woric a specialty. Address CnrBF Enoi- 
KEIR, Lutoher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED— Position by a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good re^rences. Ad- 
dress Ubnrt Olivier, 820 Villere street. New Orleans. 
8-9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by a first-dass vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of ref er- 
ebces from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4281 N. Peters street. New Or- 

8-1-99 



WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing ard 
to take ott. crop of 1809. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2S-99 

WANTED— The best sugar maker In Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
close boiler of first and particularly of molasses sagars 
(2nd and 8rd). State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Addross C. M., this office. 
. 2-27-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a you g man 20 years old, sin isle and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, Uiis office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical eh- 
gineer who can make repairs in supar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Addres s H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTEI>— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 

S air anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
etall3 of suear house work; also cart work. Address 
ji. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as olarifler on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charenton, La. 

2-24-99 



WANTED— An experienced young man, single, is 
open for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A' 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Right-Opf, 3418 Constance street, New Orlenns. 
2-22-99 

WANTED— A position as clerk In store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-23-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlll-wright 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 
2-18-99 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 302 S. Basin, St., City. 2-16-90. 



WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardsnips, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Clio 
street, New Orleans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of smaU house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
^ 25-99 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 
24-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 
years' experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W.. 
this office. 24.99 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar mincer, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man; address J. F. Letefp, Nes- 
ser. La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienced lady stonographor; desires 
position in the South. Address 1, 320 N. Main street. 
Louisiana, Mo. i-e 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish &n^ references as to 
capabilities, eto., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Young man, single, well qualified; desires 
position as bookkeeper, timekeeper, or clerk on planta- 
tion. Can furnish Al references. Address "A. C," 
this office. 1-9 



WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
Speaks English only. Address W., care Louisiana 
Planter. . 1-4-98 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
furnished. Call on or address F. F. merwin. 521 Du- 
malne street. New Orleans. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furmsh best of 
references. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 

12-J 



WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1086 N. Derblgny street, New Orleans. 
12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. Referepp^ first-class. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation. 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the curine 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door nothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations, address Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machinist who nas passed all the branches of 
the technical high school in Germany, has had 14 years 
experience In sugar house work, is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for consturctlon or repairing of sugar 
nouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man 30 years of age. well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-81-98 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
'•wner Is not pleased, no [salary wIU be expected. Ad- 
*»res8 Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-96 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sugar house, by a jronng man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish t)e8t of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-08 

WANTEI>— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., I^. 
12-21-98 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a position in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 
12-21-96 

WANTED— Young sugar boiler to act as assistant 
boiler in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boiling will apply to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-96 

WASTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one wno has 
had similar experience in the West Indies. Conuneno- 
Ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this office. 
12-2(V-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compensation $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyside Plantation, CentervlUe, La. 12-20-06 

WANTED— A man of experience desires a position 
as hostler on a sugar plantation for 1899. Gooa refer- 
ences. Write at once to Employee, Houmas Central 
Factory, Bumside, Louisiana. 12-21-98 



For Sale Cheap. 

I 6ft. Vacu**ni Pan, steam cdls, piping ail I flMigs. 
I Va u m Pump (Guild and Oarrlson), fop sane. 
I Sugar Mixer. 
6 Centrifugals. 
All oonplets, In good order. 

Address 527 Contl St., (up stairs) New Orleans. 



Plantation Boilers 

of every 

Description. 

Writ* for Prioes. 



BOILERS 

MANUFACTimtD BY 

M. ZIER & CO., 

New Albany, Ind, 



High Pressure, 

Return Tubular and 

Sootoh Marine 

A Specialty. 



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a MeeW^ "Wewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol xxn. 



NBW OBLBANB. APRIL 8. 1899. 



No. U. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

LBtMana Sugar Pkuiten' Mssocfation, 
MacBosicn Branch Sugar Pkuiters' M990ciatfon, 
iMiwoita Sugar Chem/sta* Association, 
Maasas Sugar Oroworo* Association, 
Togas Sugar Flantors' Association. 

PoMisbeo at New Orleana, La., erery Saturday If oralng 

BTTHB 

LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR 
If ANUPACTURBR CO. 

Devoted to Lonisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
tbe Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerciaL 



EDITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C- 8TUBBS, Ph. D. W. J 



W. W. PUGH. 



THOMPSON. 
JOHN DTMOND. 



Bafcered at the Poatoffloe at New Orleans as scoond-class 
maU matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

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t D. MUler. 

tftZlegler. 

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L. 5. dark. 

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JsImS. noore. 
Jaaws C^Mnrpliy. 



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Lnden Sonlal* 

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L. A. Enu. 
Hero ft Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan. 

J. T. Moors. Jr.. 
Edwards ft Hauranan. 
John A. Morris. 

E. H. Cunolngfaani» 
R. Vlterbo. 
H.Cninor. . 

C. M. Soda, 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy* 
Andrew Price. 
B. ft J. Kock. 
Wn. Qarlg. 
Adolph Meyer, 
A.A.Woods. 
Bradiah Johnson, 
Qeorge P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonnot. 
Richard MlUiken, 
W. P. niles. 
Lesin A. Becasl. 
J. N. Pharr. 
4uies J. Jacob. 



SrRTCtMjr, 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEB. 

ik«ry ncCall. 

W. B. SchaMt. 



DjOMOdt 



April Weather. 

The weather bureau has issued its bul- 
letin with a review of April weather, 
covering the twenty-seven years of the 
service in New Orleans. 

The average or normal temperature of 
April has been 69 deg. The warmest 
month was that of 1895, with an aver- 
age of 72 d^. F., and the coldest that of 
1898, with an average of 65 deg. F. 
The highest temperature was that of 88 
deg. F., April 25, 1889, and the lowest 
that of 38 deg. F., on April 2, 1881. . 



The Cane Crop. 



Our advices from the plantations this 
week indicate some disappointment over 
the slow germination of vegetable life 
occasioned by the remarkably cool 
weather for the season which we have 
experienced. At this WTiting the cli- 
matic conditions resemble January more 
than April, and until more warmth is 
injected into the situation, it is useless 
to look for any material crop develop- 
ment. The one redeeming feature of 
the week has been a more or less copious 
rainfall, which, although too cold, was 
without doubt beneficial, as it has moist- 
ened the soil and put it in better con- 
dition for reaping full benefit from the 
hot sunshine which we should certainly 
receive very shortly. 



The Louisiana 5u%bt PFa titers' Asso- 
ciation. 

This association wnll hold its April 
meeting next Thursday night at No. 712 
Union St., New Orleans. The subject 
scheduled for discussion is: "The Best 
Method of Planting, Fertilizing and Cul- 
tivating Cane so as to Give the Best Re- 
sults in Sugar," and some interesting 
papers have been prepared for the occa- 
sion. All interested, whether members 
of the association or not, are invited to 
be present. 



Weather Data In St. James.. 

Mr. E. Cherbonnier, of Helvetia plan- 
tation in St. James parish, has favored 
the Louisiana Planter with a statement 
of the weather data at Helvetia during 
he month of March. The total rainfall 
for the month was 1^ inches, thus re- 
taining for March its well-known repu- 
tation as a' month of drought. 

The average maximum temperature of 
the month was 74 deg. F., with a record 
of 89 deg. F., on March 27, with twelve 
days at and above 80 deg. F., during the 
month. 

The average minimum temperature 
was 50 d^. F., with 28 dc^. F., on 
March 5. Although the rainfall was 
so slight there were fifteen cloudy days 
during the month. The cloudy weather 
and the low average temperature must 
necessarily have had some effect in re- 
tarding the development of the cane 
crop. 



The Seed Cane Question. 

In another column in this issue will 
be found a letter from a distinguished 
citizen of this state, now retired, but of 
long sugar planting experience. In the 
letter he discusses the seed cane question 
in a very interesting manner. The un- 
fortunate experiences of most of us dur- 
ing this past season make the seed cane 
question a very prominent one at the 
present time. As suggested in our cor- 
respondent's letter, it would be a very 
desirable subject to bring before the 
Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association 
for discussion. We commend our cor- 
respondent's letter to the careful study 
of our readers. 



The East Indian Rice Crop. 

The Louisiana Planter has advices 
from Calcutta dated March 2. The es- 
timates for Bengal, Madras and Lower 
Burmah, indicate a rice crop of 26 mil- 
lions of tons, 5i per cent above the aver- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. li 



ao;e. The total area planted to rice 
amounts to fifty-two and two-thirds niil- 
HoTis of aeres 

in Bnmiah, wln'lo the cro]) is th resil- 
ing cut lighter than was anticipated, it 
ia now e^tiniatcnl that there will be avail- 
able for export the equivalent of about 
a million and a (juarter tons of clean 
rice. 

Tn Bengal, the conditi(ms of the 
season are generally favorable and a 
larger area Avas ])lanted in riee, which is 
due to sea^^onable weather and the sub- 
stitution of rice for jute. 

In Madras, the area planted excecnls 
the average and is slightly greater than 
that of last year, while the yield is es- 
timated at U7 ])er cent of a normal cro]). 

In iladras, the consumption of rice 
at home is so <2reat that tlie ex})orts from 
tlie ])residrn(y will not be very large and 
]m)])ably not abov(^ tlie average, al- 
though the yield will b(» Ix^tter than us- 
ual. 



The Philippine Sugar Industry. 

In Prof. Knap])'s report to the V, S. 
Dfoartment of Agricultu re, g iving the 
rcvsults of his agricultural explorations 
in the far Kast, he gives some interesting 
data in regard to the sugar industry of 
the Philippines. His opportunities for 
investigating in the islands were some- 
what restrictive! by the state of war, but 
as his visit was made in December he 
had some goml opportunities to examine 
into the cane sugar industry. lie says 
the rich clay-'oam soil of San Fernando is 
well ada])ted to sugar cane. In the is- 
land of Luzon the methods of sugar 
farming are (juite different from those 
])racticed in the Tnittd States. The 
cane is allowed to ratoon but is planted 
annually. At the time of cutting the 
eaT]o for tlie nn'll tlie immature ])ortion 
of the steel: is ])!antfd in a field pre- 
viously })rej)ared. Very little cultiva- 
vation is done. T he cane matures in 
twelve months from planting and is 
harvested b(»fore the rainy season com- 
nir^ncrs in yivy. The sugar factories 
ill Luzon are the ^'rudest conceiv^able. 
The mills are not better than farm 
sorghum mills. The kettles are simply 
wooden tubs with cnst-iron bottoms, 
the FUgar is drained u]){)n the open ket- 
tle plan. The proprietor furnishes land 
and factory and the tenant furnishe.i 



seed, d<Ks all the work in the field, de- 
livers the can(» to the mill and suppliet; 
iiu»st of the hands for making the sugar, 
'^rbe proju'ietor receives cme-half the su- 
gar and all the molasses. The tenant, in 
theory, is allow(*<l the remainder, but in 
piactice he usually n^ceiv^e.s about two- 
fifths of the sugar. Dr. Knapp was in- 
fonned that in the islands of Panay, Xe- 
gros and Cebu the sugar farms and fac- 
tories are much more improved than in 
Luzon. Sugar lands j)roduce from 
*5,()()0 If) 8, ()()() pounds per acre, de])end- 
iiig upon the cultivation and the fac- 
torv. 



Velvet Beans. 

This wonderful plant, which in all 
the experim(»nts made with it in Florida, 
L .ni-i;ti!a and the other S(mthern states, 
has >hown as great as (►r greater cnpacity 
for fertilizing the soil than clay peiu*, 
and at the same time reipiires far less 
s(H'd for planting a given area of land, 
is now offered by Mr. (leorgc TL 
Wright, of Orlando, Fla., who has been 
making a specialty of these beans since 
their extraordinary merits were discov- 
ered. Tluise intonated would do well 
to write to ilr. (leorge 11. Wright, Or- 
lando, Fla., for further ))articulars. 



The Claims of Crowley as a Great 
Rice Center. 

For a number of years the rice pro- 
duced in southwestern Louisiana has 
been called Calcasieu rice. This was 
p( rhaj^s due to the fact that the North 
Americ: n Land <t Timber Co. had pur- 
t I'ji^f'd immense tracts of land in Calca- 
Vi(u j.ari^h, had secured a large immi- 
gralion into Calcasieu parish and pro- 
j)o-cd to develop rice culture there on 
a larg(- scale. 

The (^rowley Signal, always zealous 
i]i advocating the interests of the town 
of Crowley and of the parish of Acadia, 
has challenged the propriety of calling 
^outhwe^t Louisiana rice by such a local 
name as that of *'(\alca^ieu," claiming 
that the pirish of Acadia is ecpially, if 
not more, conspicuous than Calcasieu 
as a rice ])roducer. The Signal goes on 
to state that ^^» the year 1898 some 32,- 
500 acn-j of rice land were irrigated by 
six canals owned or C(»ntrolled in Crow- 
h^- thr.t fully IT), 000 acres were irri- 
gated by private pumping plants. To 



this it would add 15,000 acres of prov- 
idt'iKC rice, which depends upon the 
rainfall for its success. In this way an 
aggregat(^ of ()2,500 acres is estimated 
as having been under cultivation in rice 
in Acadia parish last year and with a 
yield of only 7| bags per acre the 
t<)tal would reach nearly a half a mil- 
lion bags, and nearly 50 million pounds 
of clean rice. 

Acadia ])ari^h has now^ some very ag- 
gressive and })ublic spirited citizens and 
editors, all of whom, by their ^ood 
work, have contributed to the wonderful 
success dif-])layed there now on all sides. 
AVe ho])c for its continuance. 



The Levee Problem. 

Under the title of "The Riparian Lands of tue 
Mississippi River; Past, Present,. Prospect- 
ive," Mr. Frank H. Tompkins, a well-known 
writer on levee topics, will treat the whole 
question of levees and kindred matters re- 
lating to the control of the floods of the rivo' 
and the development of the alluvial Missis- 
sippi Valley. A prospectus which has been 
received at this office is a beautiful specimen 
of the printer's art, and is filled with endorse- 
ment and commendation from the most dis- 
tinguished friends of the river and levees ia 
Congress and in the valley. Without a single 
exception they all express the belief that an 
exhaustive treatment of the whole quesUon 
from the standpoint of the latest lnvestig^ 
tions into the proper regimen of the greai 
river, coupled with a full exposition of all ot 
the varied interests at stake behind the le- 
vees, is of the greatest necessity now. The 
general tenor of the letters express confidence 
that this question has only to be thoroughly 
understood by the people of the whole coun- 
try and by Congress to secure adequate ap- 
propriations. 

Mr. Tompkins is well-known to the people 
of the valley and evidently knows them and 
their characteristics, for in concluding his an- 
nouncement in the prospectus he declares 
that he would never have ventured to bring 
out a work costing tens of thousands of dol- 
lars if he had been less acquainted with them. 

It is a happy grasping of, as Mr. Tomp- 
kins expresses it, the spirit of the times" to 
make the book one of pictures. It is un- 
doubtedly a fact that people read largely by 
pictures. The picture catches the eye and 
the description or explanation Is read as a 
natural sequence. The two together cause 
the lasting impression. These pictures trea:- 
ing every phase of life and labor and condi- 
tions in the Mississippi valley will thus add 
strength to the text. Especially happy is Mr. 
Tompkins' idea that a copy of this work 
should be sent to every commercial and in- 
dustrial organization in the country. These 
exist in the form of Boards of Trade, Chamb- 
ers of Commerce, Granges, Patrons ot Has- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



211 



bindry, etc.. in almost every county In the 
I'nited States. 

The recent favoraiale report made to the 
I'nited States senate by the committee on 
cjinmerce (a sub-committee having made the 
:3ur of investigation through the valley) 
shows that congress is ripe for action in this 
direction, and with the pressure of a strong 
I^ublic sentiment may take up this great sub- 
ject and dispose of it for all time. We take 
.: for granted that the people of the valley 
will give this important work support suffi- 
cient to allow its publication on the broad 
plans outlined. 

Seed Cane. 

Editor Louisiami Planter: 

Varying reports from so many planters 
in such different parts of the sugar region 
'A Louisiana, relating to the condition of 
seed cane put up during the past autumn of 
v^^, naturally excites very laudable curios- 
rj to know why such differences in the pre- 
servation of the vitality of this plant should 
ab:ain. From a recent article in the "Louis- 
iiSa Planter/' inference may be drawn, that 
legrees of latitude in which tests have been 
,":t5prved cannot be held to be fthe determin- 
i> in this case since citations are made from 
:!i? most northern parishes of 'this state, 
fhDTing the most opposite conditions of seed 
'•ane put up from small patches of cane 
?Town in those parishes. Credible reports 
■no.from the central sugar region, as well 
as the extreme southern sugar districts have 
shown great differences in 'the condiiions 
■f the cane laid down for seed in thcs-^ local- 
: i.-s. Even on plantations adjoining, the 
most marked difference in the quali^ty of the 
??ed oane has been declared. 

Examination into al^ the facts connected 
=!iih the preservation of seed cane, to the 
end that positive knowledge might be ob- 
tained by which the planter in this rasiror 
vjld have future guidance apparently pre- 
s-^nts itself as -an important subject for fur- 
ther study and discussion, by the experi- 
enced and intelligent body of gentlemen 
»ho consti:u'te The Louisiana Sugar Plant- 
ers* Association. The collective experience 
of this body expressed upon this subject, 
through the medium of the "Louisiana 
Plaffter" would be read with great interest 
by the com^munity of sugar planters, and 
would undoubtedly be of great value to them 
in iheir future efforts to secure the bast re- 
sults in seed cane preservation. It has been 
noticeable that in certain years, seed cane 
has been found sound mostly in all parts 
of this state. In other years the very re- 
Terse has been observed, although the pro- 
cesses of preserving seed oane have been the 
same in -these years. This fact would seem 
to show that atmospheric influence rather 
than the methods pursued in putting up seed 
cane, had determined the condition of its 
preservation. Some agricultural writer has 
estimated the proportionate influence of 
man*a agency in culture of fields as one, that 
of meteorological conditions four— co-opera- 
tive forces Tiecee^ry in all cases, 



The importance of knowing how best to 
preserve seed cane is no new subject of to- 
day, but has occupied'the minds of planters 
in the long past of cane culture, prominent- 
ly so dining the period intervening between 
the ypr.'B 1852 and 1856. when a great deal 
cT dcccl Cine spoiled. The comparative val- 
ues of ^aatlaying and windrowing seed cane 
were :hen widely discussed. Putting the 
seed cane in ditches was tried by a few 
planteis: ethers, few, attached much import- 
ance to lunar inhuence then urged to the 
notice of the writer by a planter of iMelli- 
gence -and education. Amongst -the various 
aiLCKipts then made to secure sound seed, to 
the writer's knowledge, that of digging up the 
so.d cane wixh grubbing hoes and placing 
ii either in matlays or windrows was per- 
fectly successful. The writer attests the en- 
tire success of this method from his personal 
o);serva:iyu on a number of plantations 
where it was practiced, and from his own 
experience in imitation of this practice. 

It is obvious that helds from which the 
seed cane is dug up must be those from 
which the planter does uoi expect an imme- 
diate return of ratoons. It is also patent 
ih.'.L iL requires more labor to dig up a given 
amount of cane than to cut that amount with 
knives. But this difference in labor is more 
than compensated, in the estimation of the 
v'iUer, by the certainty of the preservation 
of 'l\\9. seed and ^;^ry measurably by the 
Lirger number of sound eyes which are at- 
:a'h 1 i ) i-n:' I;>.ver end of the cane dug up, 
but \v iiich \voi:l i be lost to that as usually 
c. c. Any planter feeling interested in ithis 
ii;:.,tef. could trsL this mothod at very little 
expense, by putting up one acre of seed cane 
in the manner indicated. We believe plant- 
ers generally concede that ripe cane keeps 
b.tLt^r than green cane. Should this be Irue 
t.e Ilea siigg3sts itself to await the ripening 
i .'ecL Of November weather upon cane before 
j^.ucii'g duwn seed. The large force of 

;■ ) ki \'; hands then employed in harvesting 

(■ >j6 Ljuld then pu^t down all -the requisite 

.; i: . of cane in a very short time, should 

a fioeze threaten, and the delay in grinding 

;c more than compensated by the greater 
Ec.nirity of good seed. Ex Planter. 

The Indian Sutar Industry. 

ly.il )!' Louisiana Planter: 

In a circular issued by the Director of 
L.cnd Records and Agriculturx}, Bengal, dated 
Calcutta thp 11th Jan. 1899, the Sugar Im- 
ports into British India for 1897-98 are stated 
'to have been: 

From Austria-Hungary 47,287 Tons 

From Germany 60,165 Tons 

Total 107,452 Tons. 

representing a value of Rupees 23,233,092 or 
at ls4d £ 1,548,868. 

A five per cent Import duty on this 
amounting to Rs 1,161,654 or £ 77,443 is a 
direct gain to Government. 

The bounty paid by the two above named 
countries, taken in a round figure at 25 s per 
ton, comes to Rs 2,014,725 or ^ 134,315 which 



is an indirect benefit bestowed by Govern- 
ment on the well to do classes by the admis- 
sion of German sugar. In all the country 
gains Rs 3,176,379 or £ 211,758. 

Forty tons of refined sugar require 100 
tons of raw sugar. 107452 tons of imported 
sugar, if to be manufactured in India, would 
use up 268630 tons of raw sugar and of th'ls 
quantity the Indian cultivator has been de- 
prived of his market in 1897-98. 

»One acre may be taken at one and a fifth 
Behar biggah; the latter gives about 30 
maunds of raw sugar. The area from which 
268630 tons of raw sugar could have been ob- 
tained would be 201473 acres and the profit 
to the cultivator, that is to the poorer class of 
natives, taken at 50 Rs or £ 3 6-8 per biggah 
would have amounted to Rs 12,0&8,380 or £ 
805892. 

If judicious and timely administration had 
prevented the import of beet in 97-98, and if 
Indian refined sugar had been used, the coun- 
try would have lost Rs 3,176,379 or £ 211,758, 
but gained Rs 12,088,380 or £ 805892 and 
would therefore have been Rs 8,912,001 or £ 
594133 to the good. 

On every five seer (10 lbs.) hag of refined 
beet sugar the Indian consumer buys, he 
adds 9 pies (3-4d) to the Government Rev- 
enue and obtains a present from Germany 
of 17 pies (1 l-4d) he deprives however his 
poorer brethren of 74 pies or over six annas 
(6d). 

The total area under cane In 96-97 was 
2651721 acres and on this the 201475 acres 
mentioned above are an increase of 13 per 
cent being 316 square miles or a square 
measuring 17 3-4 miles in length and 17 3-4 
miles in wi€th. It would mean in other 
words, that to have grown the amount of 
cane producing 268630 tons of ^aw sugar, a 
strip of land 8 1-2 feet in width would have 
^nad to be added on one side of each acre. 
Some cynics think India incapable of this. 

Improved machinery is often talked of as 
wanting, by people who are Ignorant of the 
fact, that some of the mocTern refineries in 
India have the very latest English, American 
and German appliances and are therefore 
l;^*i3p^red to meet refined beet on an even 
footing, find it however most difflcult to com- 
pete with it when handicapped as at present. 

Given fair competition, cane sugar has in 
India a better chance than beet and by en- 
couraging Its manufacture Government 

would not only improve the status of the 
.poor, but would revive one of the greateet 
manufactures of tlie country which is now 
fast dying out. 

Fair Play. 



Personal. 

Judge Taylor Beattie, of Liafourche Parish, 
was in the city on a visit a few days figo. 

Mr. J. W. Shelby, of Jeanerette, L#a., was 
an arrival in the city on Tuesday. He reg- 
istered at the St. Charles. 

Mr. A. Lallande, a highly esteemed resi- 
dent of Assumption Parish, and Mrs. Lal- 
lande were guests of the Hotel D^n^chaud 
recently. 



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212 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 14. 



Indian Suffar and Countervailing 

Duties. 

It is announced from Calcutta that a bill 
is to be introduced into the Supreme Indian 
Legislative Council to enable the govern- 
ment to levy countervailing duties, on the 
American model, on bounty-fed sugar sent 
to India. If such a bill be passed, it is to 
be hoped that it will not receive the sanc- 
tion of the home government, for on im- 
perial grounds it would introduce a great 
element of discord and danger into our in- 
ternational trade arrangements, while it 
would do no good to Indian producers. Its 
sole effect would be to raise the price of 
German granulated to the Indian consumer 
to the extent of Is 3d to Is 6d x>er cwt. It 
is doubtful whether this would do any good 
even to Mauritius, which is suffering really 
because its sugar, though always fine in 
qutility, and now better made, has till re- 
cently been poorly prepared, according to 
modem ideas, In large crj^fftals of a greyish 
yellow, while granulated is small and snow 
white. As regards the Indian producer, to 
the best of our belief there is not at pres- 
ent a single modern sugar factory where 
good crystals are made direct from the cane. 
There are, we believe, a few refineries where 
crystals are made from raw sugar, but sec- 
ondary and Inferior processes cannot com- 
pete with German granulated. It is by no 
means probable, therefore, that the proposed 
countervailing duties will shut German 
sugar out of India. On the other hand, the 
effect will no doubt be to encourage to how- 
ever small extent the continuance in India 
itself of the present terribly inefficient meth- 
ods of manufacture. Literally millions — 
probably over three millions — of tons of 
sugar are made in the Indian Empire every 
year, in the form of goor. jaggery, and the 
like, which are more like mud than sugar. 
. India is believed to be the native home of 
the sugar cane, and within its vast limits and 
with the great varieties of climate which the 
peninsula possesses, the cane is said to ripen 
all the year round. Labor is cheaper than 
in any other part of the world, machinery 
and European supervision are easily ob- 
tained, and in Bengal there is plenty of coal. 
Instead of taking alarm at trifling European 
Imports, which have only to some extent 
taken the place of what have been received 
from Mauritius for years, the Indian govern- 
ment would do better to set up a few model 
sugar factories, to show what can be done 
on European methods in India itself. Ger- 
man granulated fetches quite double the 
price of native sugar, and a tax of. say. a 
rupee per cwt. cannot affect it much. It 
is surely more important to try and get a 
better price at home by improving the 3.000,- 
000 tons produced than to vainly attempt to 
shnt out the paltry quantity of some 60.000 
or even 100.000 tons of German granulated, 
and at the same time confuse and very prob- 
ably endanger the international trade of the 
whole Brltlsli Bmptre. The quarrelUof «o4 



ill-feeling between Germany and the Uni^e'i 
States, of which we have not yet seen the 
end, are due to this oeuntervailing idea, and 
it is the more inopportune to introduce it 
when Germany is sincerely desirous of put- 
ting an end to the bounties. The great Eu- 
ropean, offender in this respect is France, 
and her sugar does hot go to India, because 
what she makes is unsuitable. The Indian 
government could probably stop the use of 
granulated to-morrow by simply having the 
fact circulated among the priests and Brah- 
mins that it was refined with animal char- 
coal, probably containing the bones of the 
sacred animal, the cow, and very probably 
those of the unclean animal, the pig, as 
well. No orthodox Hindoo would touch it 
if he knew this. Not that it would be de- 
sirable to .pander to such superstition, but 
from an economical point of view it would 
be less objectionable than countervailing 
duties. 

The **^anti-bounty*' mind has been naturally 
much exercised over the Indian question. 
Relatively trivial imports (such as we have 
named) are treated as threatening the de- 
struction of the Indian industry, and dismal 
predictions are made of the extinction of 
large portions of the land revenue, on which 
the government lives, and of the abandon- 
ment of large quantities of irrigated land, 
to the great loss of the taxpayer, who has 
erected the canals. The irrigated area in 
1896-7 under food crops was 27,500,000 acres. 
Of this, 25,600,000 was under cereals, and 
2,000,000 under other food crops, sugar not 
being separately stated in the statistical 
abstract, but not likely to amount to any 
large total, as the cultivation is spread over 
the whole Empire, of which the irrigated 
land forms a small proportion. The whole 
outcry purports to be based upon the fact 
th-at the Indian sugar area fell off 8% per 
cent in 1896-97; but surely the famine fully 
accounts for this, other foods being more 
profitable. The cat is let out of the bag by 
the assertion that Indian refined sugar, 
which used to sell at Rs. 11 to 16 per maund, 
could not compete with German beet sugar 
at Rs. 8 per maund. In fact, what the In- 
dian sugar refiners want is protection, in 
order to raise the price they get 30 to 100 
per cent. It is understood that for many 
years, and till quite recently, sugar cane was 
the most lucrative of all the Indian crops. 
In the bad sugar year <1896-97) the Indian 
area under sugar was below 20,000 acres less 
than in 1893-94, the only other year we have 
the figures for, so that if it fell off 8% per 
cent as alleged, there must have been a great 
increase in 1894, 1895 and 1896. The Ryots, 
however, cannot escape the effects of the 
^at depreciation in Values all over the 
world, and this may lead to some redistribu- 
tion of crops. But, if so, the land tax being 
on the cultivated area, we cannot see where 
the Indian revenue would lose. Sugar land, 
indeed, sometimes hfie a special rate levied, 
but otherwise it pays the rate of ordinary 
''wot orope." The eubetUuUou of one ^wet 



crop for another could not have much effect 
over a term of years. It ie possible that the 
Indian land revenue might decrease if the 
Ryots on the whole found their total earn- 
ings from land under all crops fall off so 
much, that the land tax had to be reassessed 
on a lower scale. This, however, if it ulti- 
mately took place, would be an effect of a 
general movement in the price of agricul- 
tural produce, and could not be affected by 
the substitution of one crop for another. At 
the present moment jaggery sugar is fetch- 
ing 30 to 40 per cent more in this market 
than it did a few years back, and this does 
not look like the annihilation of the Indl&n 
sugar trade, with its cultivated area of nearly 
2,789,000 acres in the unfavorable year 1896- 
97. It must be remembered that the posi- 
tion in the East Indies is totally different to 
that of our West Indian Islands. India is a 
producing and consuming country, and only 
at intervals an exporter, while most of her 
supplies of fine sugar have for years been 
imported, owing to the inferior Indian meth- 
ods of manufacture. It is to be remembei;^d, 
too, that as the economical condition of the 
Indian peoples improves, as we afe glad to 
believe it does, they will, like ourselves, call 
for better sugar than the sticky black sub- 
stitutes as yet sugplied to them. If so. the 
crystals must be imported, as they are not 
locally produced. Low sea freights and rail- 
ways in India have no doubt enabled for- 
eign sugar to penetrate more deeply into 
the Empire, and. the local government seems 
to have taken fright at what is a purely 
economical change, having nothing or next 
to nothing to do with bounties. It would 
have been better to take steps to put up 
model sugar factories In India itself, to 
teach the natives and Europeans also the 
vast field for profitable industry before 
them, than to attempt to perpetuate, by a 
paltry protection, the present miserable state 
of things. Other countries which can, and 
do, grow cane sugar have of late years 
made, or will shortly make (in the Philip- 
pines, for example) great strides in the im- 
provement of their produce, and we fear, 
that unless India puts her shoulder to the 
wheel that the decay of her sugar Indus try- 
will become still more apparent, while the 
imposition of countervailing duties will only 
tend to promote a sense of false security, 
postponing thereby the improvements in 
manufacture which are the basis of eventu- 
al success in the keen competition of the 
present day. The fact that America im- 
poses countervailing duties on bounty-fed 
sugar to protect her own sugar industry, 
does not prevent her being a large buyer of 
beet sugar. The impending "destruction** of 
the Indian sugar industry appears to be a 
very sudden thing, for only two years ago 
the imports from the Continent fell off im- 
mensely when sugar was temporarily dearer. 
If India, with a costly freight, and enormous 
inland railway distances, cannot compete 
with a fall of Is. or so in German granulated, 
the "native home of the cane'* must indeed 
be in a bad mranufacturing way. The fol- 
lowing are the figures of the Continental 
sugar Imports to India: 1894-%. Aati^c 
1895-96, 14.400; 1896-97, 60,536; 1897-98. 
107,388.— London Profluc^ MftrteUi Review, 



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April 8, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



21t 



LOOAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. ^ 

(SPECIAL CORABSPONDENCKJ 

EdUor Louisiana Planter: 

ThQ weather continues to turn the cold 
shoulder toward the sugar interests of this 
section. What is particularly desirable just 
now is warm itemperature with frequent 
rains -to hasten germination and growth of 
of the feeble and almost quiescent buds of 
our stubble and plant cane; what we are 
getting is unseasonably cold, dry weather, 
ibe already dubious pix>spect is therefore 
growing daily more so, and even the most 
nopeful of our planters and managers are 
beginning to fear that their erstwhile con- 
naeni anticipations of fairly good stands, 
are in danger of disappointment Much cane 
that would doubtless amount to something 
if it could have the fructifying Influence of 
genial temperature and moisture is in dan- 
ger of deach from the inanition produced by 
arouth and oold. 

After several months of innocuous desue- 
tude far as the holding of its formal 
monthly sessions was concerned, the Ascen- 
sion Granch Sugar Planters' Association of 
Louisiana came to the fore last Tuesday 
with the ibest meeting that has taken place 
in the rooms of the oirganization since the 
annual gathering last May. Hon. Henry Mc- 
Oall occupied the presidential chair and Hon. 
Paul Leche officiated as scribe, as usual 
while the attendance of members included 
Dr. W. M. McGallard, Ernest H. Barton, 
B. N. Pugh, R. McCall, J. Lebermuth, W. I. 
Barton, Myer Lemann, Henry C. Brand, Dr. 
J. D. Hanson, F. B. Lemann, C. Kline, Dr. 
E. K. Sims and L. E. Bentley. 

After disposing of the routine business, in- 
cluding reading of minutes and* the secre- 
tary-treasurer's report, the subject of tihe 
next meeting, when the annual election of 
officers is to be held, was taken up for dis- 
cussion. A lengthy and interesting debate 
upon the condition and prospects of the 
community in general and the sugar indus- 
try in particular ensued, and wihile there was 
some doubt expressed as to the propriety of 
indulging in anything that savored of a jol- 
lification at a period of such uncertainty and 
threatening disaster 'as this, Mr. Henry C. 
Grand 's reminder that next month's assemibly 
will take place upon the association's fif- 
teenth anniversary, led to the unanimous con- 
clusion to com^memonate the occasion with 
a dinner. Founded in 1884, the Ascension 
Branch Sugar Planters' Associa^on has been 
Intimately identified not only with (the su- 
gar 'interests, but all other industries, enter- 
prises and movements affecting the progress 
and material welfare of the community. Few 
organizations of its character have exercised 
a wider or more heneficlal influence pro bono 
publico, and all who have had a part in its 
work during the paat fifteen years can point 
to its record with pardonable pride. 

Messrs. Henry C. Brand, Col. A. D. Vega 
and L. B. Bentley were appointed as the 



dinner committee, and if they are fortunate 
enough to provide as satisfactory a "feast 
of reason and flow of soul" as last year's, 
there will be no cause for complaint either 
from a gastronomic or intellectual stand- 
point Mr. Myer Lemann had the honor 
of making the motion that produced the 
happy solution of the dinner problem, and 
he and Mr. Brand were warmly congratu- 
lated for the perspicuity and finesse they 
displayed in (bringing harmonious unanimity 
out of tempocrary chaos and seemingly irre- 
concilable differences on the momentous 
question, "To eat or not to eat?" 

As this letter closes, Wednesday night, a 
oold drizzle has set in, and if the rain will 
keep coming down and the thermometers 
will go up, there will be much thanksgiv- 
ing in Ascension. 

Iberville. 

rSPECIAL CORRBSPONDBNCK.l 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been favorabe enough 
during the past week, only the mornings 
are rather cool, and the cane does not come 
out as rapidly as our people would like to 
see it. The old adage about the watohed 
pot never boiling may be appropriately ap- 
plied, and we hope that the warm and much 
needed rain that is falling at this writing 
wHi bring the crop out and dispel the fears 
of the planter. Everybody finds his work 
well advanced, and there Is a splendid stand 
o! corn up throughout the parish. 

A buggy trip from Plaquemine to White 
Castle shows the roads to be in excellent 
condition and we hope they will be thus 
maJntalned throughout the year. Cane in 
several places is beginning to mark the row 
nicely. Water was running through the 
rice flumes at Last Hope Plantation of Mr. 
J. D. Berrett, and the Duniboyne Plantation 
of Mr. Alonzo Landry, and mechanics were 
putting In order the flume of Mr. Oscar 
D. Billon at Upper Elmer Plantation. 

The rice planters have had fine weather 
for their work and the larger part of their 
planting has already been made. Owing to 
the high stage of the water In the river the 
flooding is accomplished easily and with 
little expense. Messrs. Babin Bros, of St. 
Gabriel had planted up to Tuesday 375 acres 
at Indian Camp. 

The sale of the Margaret Plantation near 
SL dabrlel, from the heirs of the late Se- 
bastian Swoop to Mr. William Joseph O'Nell 
was flled at the clerk's office last week. The 
consideration paid was $8000, and all CLgree 
that Mr. O'Nell got the cheapest plantation 
that has been sold In this parish for some 
time. 

Mr. D. Hickey Walsh of Plaquemine, the 
popular manager of Hon. A. H. Gay's Union 
Plantation, has invented a most excellent 
cane sling, consisting of two lengths of suit- 
able chain, connected together at one end 
and having hopks at the other provided with 
slotted hasps or keys. The ring oonnecting 
the two elfins serves also to connect the 



sling with the hoisting device. These slings 
were used last year on the Union Plantation, 
where some 27,000 tons of cane were trans- 
ferred from cars to carriers at a cost not 
exceeding 3^ cents pe^ ton. 

Mr. John M. Keith, a member of the firm 
of Anderson, Keith & Co., of Memphis, Tenn., 
was mafl*rled on Wednesday to Mrs. Marie 
Eugenie Folse, widow of the lat^a Desire P. 
Landry. Mr. Keith has had* his headquarters 
at White Castle for some time and has been 
a large and active buyer of the sugr and 
molasses made in this parish. Mr. and Mrs. 
Keith win reside at the beautiful home on 
Nottoway Plantation, of which Mrs. Keith 
is half owner. 

Tiie session of the district Court continues. 
The grand jury, unlike Its predecessors, 
carried its sitting Into this week, expecting 
to investigate the infractions of the Sunday 
law, selling liquors to minors, slot machines 
and the like. After due consideration of 
the matter. and a tacit understanding that 
violations of that character would cease, the 
Inquisitors adjourned last Tuesday after re- 
quec^tlng the district judge to instruct the 
parish officers to help enforce these laws; and 
agreeably to this request. Judge Talbot or- 
dered the sheriff to notify all merchants and 
saloon keepers of the wishes and intentions 
of the grand jury, and that that body would 
be assembled in May. June and September 
tt> see if the laws have been enforced. 

Iberville. 



Terrebonne. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Latterly the -weather has been variable, and 
too cool for the rapid growth of plants which 
is witnessed in the gardens and fields where 
progress has been retarded by the absence 
of heat, so necessary to health development 
In some sections of the parish the want of 
adequate moisture is a source of anxiety to 
planters, and fears are entertained for canes 
planted since the freeze in February. Gen- 
erally the first planted corn came up a good 
sUnd, but replanting has been resorted to 
as the ravages of the worms in some parts 
of the parish destroyed the firtft seeding. 
The frost of last week not only retarded 
the growth of the com, hut tinted it yellow. 
The light showers which have Callen In 
some localities were rapidly evaporated by 
the oool north winds. The varied reports 
as to seed cane and stubble seemingly upset 
theories and preconceived opinions. 

It has been generally conceded that tihe 
red cane is the hardiest, yet in some in- 
stances this year it has been so defective 
as to be imfit for seed, yet Creole oane near- 
ly windrowed on the same day and under 
like conditions kept well. In some instances 
seed oane windrowed on low hlack soils has 
kept better than when the soil was sandy 
and better drained. When the cane was 
moderate in quantity there, It has generally 
kept the best As to the stubble» it is very 



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214 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXIT, No. 14. 



perplexing— some fields well worked and laid 
by with -ample earth, show .but indifferently 
and others again begin to mark the row. 
Mr. Breaux, the manager of Belle Farm of 
Mr. C. W. Gocage, Informed the writer that 
the beet stubble on the place is on black 
land which he never could lay by last year 
owing to the incessant rains. The stubble 
was shallow and very much exposed to the 
effects of low temperatures. In this parish 
the rainfall was very light in January until 
the twenty-seventh of the month, and no 
rain of any magnitude fell again until the 
middle of February. The chances of a stub- 
ble crop here are better than when the 
rains were heavy in January and pan of 
February. 

On Thursday, ahove and in town the 
showers were light, t)ut below on Wood- 
lawn and Ashland of Messrs. Cailluet and 
Maginnis' there was a seasonable rain, also 
at Presquille of Messrs. Gueno Bros., Front 
Lawn, the estate of the late Mr. A. Boud- 
reaux, and on part of Myrtle Grove of Messrs. 
Barrow & Duplantis. Mr. Cailluet is very 
hopeful of the crop and anticipates a better 
stand of oane than was hoped for two weeks 
ago. 

The ratoons begin to mark the row well in 
places, and on Woodlawn the writer saw 
the most promising stand of plant cane s^en 
thus far this season. The cane was planted 
before the freeze and covered not very 
heavily. The firs^t planted oane there on 
sandy soil is not so promising — ^^the ground 
being colder. 

Judge Caillueft opened court on Monday, 
fiiut there are no cases of public interest. 
The telephone line is nearing completion, 
and they are now putting the wires in place. 

Terr EBON NK. 



St. Mary. 

The condition of the cane crop around the 
Irish Bend is none of the best. Though the 
germinating season is moving along, the am 
does not seem to move with it very fast. 
Much of the stubble and a larger percentage 
of the plant than most people would like, is 
virtually spoiled. The crop in that locality 
will be short b^^ona a ..oubi and the qaanti- 
ty will be too large lor the l}eneflt of the 
country. In some places corn i& coming up 
and shows a good stajid, but the cane along 
that long stretch of magnificent plantations is 
certainly a sorry looking sight, especially 
is this so with reference to the fall plant. 

The rain of last Tuesday was a blessing t3 
vegetation. With a few weeks of the proper 
kind of weather, we can all tell what the 
prospects .of the comjng season will be. At 
present they are none the best. 

Another streak of phenominal weather 
came forth on Tuesday morning resulting in 
the development of a heavy frost on Wedn^-,- 
day. This is another set back to both garden 
and the cane crops. 

A representative of the Vindicator-News 
went over the route of the proposed uTain- 
age canal last Monday. The canal will have 



one croak of about 30 degrees from I'oscov's 
drainer to the mouth of -Mayer's bayou, thj 
remaining poivion of the line will be straight 
from the tanks to that point. The length of 
the canal will be about two miles— ane-haif 
of its length being throu^;h a marsh which 
at present rcprsseuts no value whatever, but 
will be nia-'le vakiablc when the canal is 
Ilnislied. We do not know what fall thj 
levels of the engineer will show, ;;ut we 
presume it will 1;.^ aoju: Sivm fec-t fum V:s 
&:arting point. If so It will give us a m.'st 
complete system of drainage, and besides a 
commercial aitsi'y to the s.m for such si.i.i'.l 
cratt as will find Franklin the best and 
shortest route, as \vt;ll as the best marke^ 
for the immense fi&h and oyster tiade. Let 
us have the canal. — Vindicator-News. 

Vermilion. 

tSFECUI. COKRLSrONDENCE.) 

Editor Louiiiiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
more favorable for farm work as well as 
more stimulating to the young crop than the 
two weeks preceding. On Tuesday last, a 
nice spring rain visited this section, which 
was followed by another a few da>s later. 
These rains were very much needed, and 
though the rainfall was not sufticient to 
meet all requirements it was very beneficial. 
Cne drawback during this time was a spell 
of very cool weather; ice was very much 
in evidenc3 on Wednosd :y morning, hut 
tliere was no dariage to the young corn or 
tho early vegetables. The cool spell lasted 
for two or th ^^e davs, and it is feared that 
cane will be checke.l in coming up and that 
c:.:-wor:us will destroy considerable corn, 
as this kind of weather is their native ele- 
ment. The wearher. however, has changed, 
and to-day, Mon lay, is very dark and 
cloudy and favors rain very much. Cane 
plaL'.Ing is about < .>.ripleted— 'there is still a 
ragged end to fn.ish up. The cane that 
wjs planted imnif^diati^ly after Jie weather 
cleared up in February, is coming up very 
nicely and stubMcs 'thar were off-oarred and 
shaved two or throe v.-ooks ago. jn^. novv 
marking the rows in some secti.ins. The 
cane plan-tcrs are more hopeful now of a 
fiirly goo:l stand of br>rh plinl and scub- 
r)]p ' hin they have ever been since the 
freeze. With a g)jJ rain now, me ijtand ct 
cane coul;l h? d' idnl on within a week's 
' ime. The weather has been so dry and ':he 
ground so cold since it was planted :hat in 
many places it has hardly commenced to 
sprout. The PIai.r»^r coru^spvindenr drove 
over vhe cane se'"f:on of .tie parish j1;)n.; the 
Jheria and Vermilion Railroad a few days 
ago, and we fou:;d ili :t in the Del cam bre 
country, on the dividing line between Iberia 
and Vorm'lioTi IVuishes the sLuhble canes 
seem to be damag«Mi very badly, as it is also 
r.-ounJ IMulft .1^ r.n.l l.^-'s cv/iuhts in Iberia 
riri.-h. Scubble.s on gre>. s.in.ly h,am, 
where well-drained are much beuer thau 
:hose on •black. stilT lautls. The Caffery 
Central Sugar Refinery and Raijroad Com- 



pany, i^imited, of Franklin, La., has confi- 
d:nce in the coming crop in as much as vhey 
have cdL^icTl the field already to close con- 
1 1 acts for all delivery. The people along 
the I. & V. Ry., have confidence in the Caf- 
fery and are closing contracts with them 
readily. This staunch and upright institu- 
tion has been standing by the people of Ver- 
milion tor several years and the cane grow- 
ers appreciate it, and to show their apprecia- 
tion they are staying with them. The pres- 
ent nianagement of the Caffery has proved 
very satisfactory, and Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., 
tii3 superintendent ^nd assistant general 
n:i,nagcr has completely gained -the confi- 
d;nce of our cane growers and will have 
but little trouble to hold it. 

Early planting of corn is coming up nicely, 
and if the insects will not make an inroad 
into it, the stand will be perfect. The acre- 
age will bo very large this jear. The rapid 
:;/Jvance in the price of corn here for the 
pa.vt 15 days has stimulated farmers to plant 
more corn. The price of corn rose from 50 
cents to 90 cents per barrel in oibout 10 
days, and the price is still on the advance. 

Rice lands are being put in order as rapid- 
ly as possible and .seeding has begun in earn- 
est. Coc.jn planting is nearing a finish; the 
acieage will be nearly double that of 181)8. 

P. C. M. 

Avoyelles. 

ISPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.. 

Editor Lu.nauiiui IHanter: 

Clool days and nights prevailed during the 
p:ist v,'cck and up to the morning of the 3rd 
i:}-:. vvhen it began to grow warmer and 
c iv..'::,\ threatening rain. 

i'iOia vrhat has "been learned, it seems that 
cjrn is coming up to a nice even stand, 
1* : o-';\iVi^ :o the Noi-th winds, which pro- 
ail. ) tor some days past, the young plants 
' ^ jf : look altogether as fresh and vigorous 
a.-i :.noy would had the weather been warmer 
ap(i mjre lefreshing ta plant life. However. 
-'e tinners are not disposed to complain, 
IdTterring to drive all farmwork forward to 
f'V^ l)es: a-lvantage under present conditions 
'■'' t'"" Ihm h^Wv.i -that as the days grow 
! )iigt r. thf sun will warm up the air and the 
season improve -to the bpnetit of all growing 
ci ops. 

v.iae is coming up slowly, br.t it is to be 
'•''p i r")e: ': v.in make something profita- 
.. '. i AQTG is much anxiety ftU in regard -to 
ihe siau'i of cane expected. 

'i'aeie is uul a cane raiser chat I know of 
in tu? paiishes of St. Landry, Avoyelles and 
' I * i' ^. buc who is anxious to make some 
I . .e, be the (onnage ever so light, that it 
nie> b^ feserved for seed for planting next 
S'Mson'b crop. 1^'rom present indicatians I 
i! ril-. very much if 'there will be a factory 
in L e o.ii Ish that will aotempt to manufac- 
ure a pound of sugar this coming grinding 
..•.i;>jn, uiil.ss of course, 'the cane now com- 
>.); ti]) should develop a tonnage much above 
pir-^cnt expectations by the time this naonth 
has come to its close. Providing favorable 



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215 



weather has prevailed, the cane growers will 
then be in a fairly good position to know 
about what their prospects for cane are to 
be for this season. 

Some of my farmer friends who o'b'tained 
samples of seedling cane from Prof. Stubbs 
last fall, met with the misfortune to loose 
It In the IS'th of February freeze. The ten 
stalks which were received by the Planter's 
scribe and carefully planted partly escaped 
the freeze, on examination I found some of 
•the stalks injured and the eyes killed. The 
afTeoted joints were cut off, and the sound 
looking part of cane and eyes planted, and I 
am proud to say it is now coming up through 
the soil to meet and greet the light and air, 
to make growth. 

The farmers are now busily engaged plow- 
ing and preparing the soil for the reception 
of cotton seed. 

Those who could afford to do so, com- 
menced to plant cottcfti last week and will 
continue to plant as the ground is prepared 
during this and next week. 

Two well-known gentlemen, one of them 
a planter and the other a mechanic, Eave 
sf't about perfecting a cotton-picking ma- 
chine on new and entirely different prin- 
ciples from any machine of the sort hereto- 
fore set up. For the present I am not at 
liberty .to mention the details of the ma- 
chine, more than to state the project seems 
to look feasible. 

I find that the farmers are looking forward 
lO planting and growing more of forage 
plants, such as sorghum, millet, peas and 
velvet beans than has heretofore been the 
custom. 

A warm April shower would be quite bene- 
filclal at this time to break the hard crust 
which has Tormed on much of the late seeded 
and plowed lands. During the morning of 
th? 4th, the wind changed around to the 
KDrth. bringing with it cloudy and cool 
weather, not at all agreeable to the farm- 
ers, now so anxious to see their crops up 
above ground and growing. Warmer weather 
and refreshing showers at this date would 
be pleasing and beneficial to all who culti- 
vate the soil. Erin. 



The Manufacture of Sorghum Sugar. 

The manufacture of sorghum sirup has 
changed but little in the past forty years. 
The processes now used are essentially the 
same as then. This lack of progress is in 
striking contrast wiOi the improvements 
which have been made in nearly all other 
manufactures during that period. In 1860 
the production of sorghum sirup amounted 
to 6.749,123 gallons; in 1870, 16,050,089; and 
in 1880, 28,444,202. In 1890 the production 
had fallen to 24,235,218 gallons, and it is be- 
lieved that there has been a still further de- 
cline since then. 

Sorghum is grown to a greater extent in 
this country than any other sirup-producing 
plant, and its juice can be made to produce 
sirup of as good quality as sugar-cane sirup. 
The manufacture of sorghum sirup has de- 



clined because the quality of the sirup is 
such that others sirups are preferred by the 
general pu*blic, since It ranks in the north- 
ern markets mlth the middle grades of 
Louisiana centrifugal molasses. By im- 
proving the value of sorghum sirup the de- 
mand may . be increased, its value raised, 
and its manufacture extended. 

For the purpose of calling attention to the 
condition of this industry and to the difficul- 
ties of sorghum si lUI) manufacture, and with 
the hope of inducing sirup-makers to im- 
prove their processes, the United States De- 
partment of Agriculture has had prepared 
and will soon issue Farmers' Bulletin No. 
90, entitled, "The Manufacture of Sorghum 
Sirup." This bulletin was prepared by A. 
A. Denton, I^Tedicine Lodge, Kans., and dis- 
cusses the entire subject of the manufacture 
of sorghum sirup, from the planting of the 
sorghum seed and cultivation of the plant, 
through the various processes to the finished 
product. * Sorghum sirup and sugar-cane 
sirup are compared, statistics of sorghum 
production are given, and the necessity of 
improving the methods of clarification, es- 
pecially In the semi-arid region, is pointed 
out. 

Other matters which receive attention are 
the preparation of soil; planting and cul- 
ivation of sorghum; grinding cane; clarify- 
ing the juice; settling tanks for hot and 
cold clarification; skimming, settling and 
filtering; claying, evaporating and clarify-* 
Ing by superheating the juice. — Phllad. Man- 
ufacturer. 



Cane Buying in Queensland. 

Amongst other matters referred to by the 
chairman of the Mount Bauple Central Mill 
Company at the annual meeting last Satur- 
day, as reported In the "Maryborough 
Chronicle," was that of the cost of manufac- 
ture. He said. — With regard to the cost of 
manufacture there was a decided Improve*- 
ment, but the quality of the sugar had been 
rather a low one. During the year the direc- 
tors had the advice of their chemist, Mr. 
Steele, on the matter, and one thing that had 
caused a good deal of dissatisfaction among 
the shareholders and the suppliers of cane 
was the decision of the mill manager and 
directors to make certain deductions owing 
to the inferior quality of cane that was de- 
livered for a time. He knew that It had 
caused a good deal of dissatisfaction, and al- 
though the directors understood what was 
the cause of it, he thought it would be advis- 
able in the Interests of the mill that the 
shareholders had a knowledge of it, and he 
r^ad a short extract from the report 
of Mr. Steele . as follows: "The dis- 
graceful state of the bulk of the 
cane, regarding entirely Insufficient 
topping, calls for strong comment. No 
effort whatever seems to be made on the part 
of canegrowers to remedy this state of affairs. 
In spite of notices sent to them, and percent- 
age deductions made on the cane at the 



weighbridge. In the present state of affairs 
the manager would be thoroughly justified in 
absolutely refusing to take delivery of the 
cane which was insufficiently topped, and 
even in closing the mill if no improvement 
takes place in this matter." The report went 
on very much in the same manner all 
through, and in face of this the shareholders 
must be quite satisfied that the directors and 
those In charge did their duty in making the 
reductions. There would always be aji 
amount of dissatisfaction in this respect, and 
the only remedy was by making the deduc- 
tions on the chemical results of the cane. 
Other mills were doing this, but whether it 
was possible for it to be done in that mill 
was a matter for the directors and the share- 
hofders to consider. Mr. A. B. Martin, late 
manager of the Marion Central Mill at Mac- 
kay, who had a long experience In sugar 
manufacture and canegrowing, had. been ap- 
pointed manager of the company, and would 
start upon his duties in a few days. With re- 
gard to the quantity of improvements ef- 
fected, he said that the retiring directors last 
year brought forward a report from Mr, Fid- 
des, intimating that improvements and ex- 
tensions up to £5600 would have to be ex- 
pended on the mill and tramway before they 
would be able to do the work properly, and 
the result was he had waited upon the Hon. 
D. H. Dalrymple for a loan to that extent, 
but unfortuneately when he was down there 
were seven other deputations from central 
mills all on the same errand. The result 
was that instead of getting £5600, which he 
asked for, they only got £3000, of which they 
had received £2999, and had used £2044, in 
addition, out of the earnings of the mill, 
making a total of £5044 expended. The ifai- 
pix)vements to the mill were j)ermanent. If 
they got the balance otf the loan it would be 
placed to their interest account. — Queens- 
lander. 



Trade Notes. 

Wr«tlnghou8e Engines. 

In our trade notes lasjl week concerning 
Mr. Frank Paul Barber, the enterprising 
local agent for Westinghouse, Church, Kerr 
& Co., we made the statement that there was 
a Westinghouse engine of 750 H. P., "the 
largest In the world," which had been in 
operation for some time. This statement 
V as plainly an error and it should have 
specified that the 750 H. P. engine in ques- 
tion, was a gas engine and not a steam en- 
gine. A 750 H. P. steam engine would of 
course be nothing out of the ordinary, 
v/hercas a gas engine of that capacity, is, as 
Mr. Barber says, a record breaker. 



Mr. Earl S. Barnett, of Shadyslde Planta- 
tion, Bayou Teche, was in the city during 
the past week. He stopped at the S. Charles 
Hotel. 

Mr. Edward Scannell,a leading eane raiser 
of St. James Parish, wa^ a guest of the Com- 
mercial Hotel during the week. 



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216 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUl^'ACTURER. 



[Vol XXII. No. 14. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, March 18, 1899. 

(SPECUL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor LowUiana Planter: 

The report on the weather of laat week 
may he briefly summarized by Informing 
your esteemed readers that the first days 
were mild, or, for -the season, rather warm, 
whilst the latter iwirt of the period under re- 
view was very cool. But there have been el- 

' most no moist precipitations, and on ac- 
count of this circumstance the weather can 
be called favorable. Our farmers, as a mat- 
ter of course, took full advantage of this 
condition, so that field work in general 
made a big stride forward. The same can 
be said of the skua^tlon outside of Germany, 
only in Russia, although latterly mild 
weather has set in, the commencement of 
plowing, etc., is expected only to begin in 
a few days, provided, of course, that the 
wfeather will not undergo an unfavorable 
change. The area to be planted with beets 
this year will be, in Western Europe, appar- 
ently not much larger than laspt year, for 
quite apart from economical and commercial 
reasons militating against a larger acreage, 
the labor question begins to exercise some 
infiuence on the possibilities of extending 
the growing of beets. There is indeed no 
lack of laborers, but these prefer -to go to the 
cities and work in factories, which move- 
ment in many sections, places the land 
owners in a really perplexing situation, and 
•2J3 the industries of the country at pres- 
ent are in a flourishing state, it is hard to 
take any measures for keeping the necessary 
number of hands for field work. For this 
reason it is also desirable to have the beet 
planting done as early as possible, for if 
it should l)e interrupted and delayed by. ad- 
verse meteorological conditions, many farm- 
ers might see themselves deprived of the 
possibility of accomplishing it in due order 
and time. 

As I wrote you already, in German agricul- 
tural circles, the question has been raised 
whether it might be advisable to change 
the present sugar law, wlh a view to facili- 
tate the increase of consumption, which 

' means reduction and finally abolition of the 
sugar bounties, which the Empire, of course, 
cannot afford to pay if the tax is taken ofT. 
To discuss this question morp closely, a 
meeting was held the other day by agricul- 
turists and sugar manufacturers, which re- 
sulted in the resolution to let, for the pres- 
ent, sugar legislation alone, more parti cu- 
lary for the reason that the so-caled cartel 
I — an agreement between refiners and raw 
sugar makers — was on the eve of being con- 
cluded. The object of this cartel is to regu- 
late inland prices and until it comes into 
operation and it can be seen how it works, 
no action will be taken with regard to duties 
and bounties. 

In the Belgian Chamber of Deputies the 
other day, a motion purporting to levy a 



tax on imported beets at the rate of three 
francs per ton has been submitted to a special 
committee. The Minister of Finance re- 
served his decision Cor the time being. This 
is also a move of an agrarian character. 
'Many Belgian factories situated along the 
Dutch frontier draw part of their beets from 
across the line, and those will be either de- 
prived of this supply of new material, or it 
will be made more cos-tly. A similar mo- 
tion has, in Belgium, already, at several 
times, occupied the attention of legislative 
bodies, but It has so far never passed, be- 
cause of Its prejudicial bearing on the inter- 
ests of the sugar industry of the country . 

In Switzerland they are going to follow the 
example set by several* states of the Ameri- 
can Union, viz.: In giving ibountles to beet 
growers. The governing council of the Can- 
ion of Bern has on the Instance of the sugar 
factory Aarberg, submitted the motion to 
the federal council, to pay a bounty of 12 
cts. for every 100 Kllogr. of beets burnished 
vo the above factory. 

The product of the Russian sugar fac- 
tories, as is known, is principally so called 
white sand sugar, or white crystals, of which 
the sugar, fit for consumption, is made by 
the refineries. Besides they produce in Rus- 
sia also but in a much srmaller scale, yellow 
sand sugar, which is identical with 88 pt. 
rendement, the quality preferably dealt in 
on the markets on the world. But this yel- 
low sand sugar is, in fiscal relations, placed 
In much more unfavorable conditions than 
the white. Inasmuch as the former must be 
exported — sent directly abroad without re- 
ceiving a drawback, whilst for white sugar, 
the tax paid is restituted on exportation. 
Furthermore the tax on white sand sugar 
is to a certain extent credited; on yellow it 
muat be paid down right away when leaving 
the factory. These conditions virtually pre- 
vent the yellow description from being ex- 
ported and the Russion factories have pe- 
titioned the Government to equalize the fiscal 
position of both sorts so that 88 pct. rende- 
ment may enj^oy the same advantage as 
white crystals, the cause of this movement 
being ^.hat, in consideration that Russia must 
export a certain part of her producion in 
case the quantity destined by the Minister 
of Finance for the home market Is exceed- 
ed, it would «be easier to find a market for 
the yellow description, as the refiners out- 
side of Russia are working the same, and as 
it commands a universal price,, and last, not 
least, as the yellow sugar can be made at a 
lower rate of cost than white. It will be in- 
teresting to know whether the tlusslon Gov- 
ernment will comply with the wishes of the 
fabrlcants. If they do, this will mean in- 
creased competition against Germany and 
Aiifvria, who particularly are selling their 
raw sugar in the form of 88 pct rendement 
at home and abroad. 

The markets opened this week still with 
a firm and ever-rising tendency; but soon 
they weakened and sellers were in a majori- 
ty, so that the prices quickly receded. To- 



wards the close, however, the tone changed 
again for the better, and part of the price 
dropped was recovered. These fiuctuatlons 
were due at the beginning to less eager buy- 
ing on the part of the trade whose demand 
was to some extent satisfied, and to spec- 
ulators realizing profits, while later otn fav- 
ora*ble February sta'tistics of Austria and 
Germany created again more confidence and 
led to more active buying. Prices closed at 
Germany a little lower than a week ago, 
namely at 10.80—11— at Magdeburg for ac- 
'tual 88 pct. and at Hamburg at M. 10, f. o. 
b. delivery March. For refined, the market 
has been quieter than last week, but prices 
are in some instances a fraction higher. 

RoBT. Hennic. 



Havana. 



(SPECIAL CORRB8PONDBNCB.) 

Havana, Mar. 24th, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Owing to the prevailing quietness in for- 
eign consuming centers, the demand here 
ruled rather quiet and sales reported during 
the past few days have been unimportant, 
but stocks being in strong hands, prices were 
generally well supported and all parcels sold 
obtained full prices, say, at from 2.65@2.70 
pounds for 95(3)96 test and for a parcel 
97(i;p97 1-2 test, for local consumption, 2.76 
was paid. 

Sales made add up 16^20 thousand bags, 
chiefly for speculative purposes, exporters 
keeping aloof, quotations received from 
London and New York not allowing them 
to pay prices pretended by holders. 

The fine weather which continues to pre- 
vail allows grinding to be kept up without 
any noticeable interruption and as cane sup- 
plies have by this tlnfe considerably dwin- 
dled down, it is likely that by the end at the 
month most of the factories will suspend 
work. 

Cane fires commence to be reported and 
several large ones have recently occurred in 
the Sagua district; on this account planta- 
tions at Bermejal de Rodrigo and Amaro 
have lost part of the cane intended to be 
ground this year. 

The assaults upon the police and the 
fights which recently took place in the 
streets of this city, are sufficient to impart 
an idea regarding what happens in the coun- 
try; and labor on plantations can be per- 
formed only under the protection of armed 
guards, paid by the owners of the factories. 

Following the example set by Sr. Julio 
Apezteguia, proprietor of the huge planta- 
tion "Constancia," whom I referred to in 
my previous letter, owners of plantations 
••Carolina," "Manuellta," "Deo Hermanses" 
and tenancies •'Ariza" and "Limones," all 
at Cienfuegos, have requested Col. Joaquin 
Rodriguez, of the Cuban army, to organize 
for each of above named estates, a force of 
26 Cuban soldiers, to be cothmanded by a 
lieutenant, who will earn $60 monthly, and 
the soldiers $26, the total force of 126 men 



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April S, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MAKUPACTURER. 



J17 



will be In charge of Col. Rodriguez, to whom 

1100 monthly will be paid. 

Such measures have been made necessary 
fby the numerous gangs of marauders who 
soour the country and attack all unprotected 
places, sack them and have lately murdered 
a certain number of Spanish subjects under 
the pretense that they were enemies of the 
Ouibans and had fought in the last War in 
favor of Spain. 

The Secretary of Agriculture and Com- 
merce has submitted to the approval of 
Governor General Brooke, a project to es- 
tablish on this Island Htxanks of universal 
guarantee, which will issue certificates or 
bonds with the guarantee of real estates or 
other properties which are valuable in the 
market. 

The proprietors of said properties will 
sign a promissory note, whose payment will 
be guaranteed by -a, mortgage on their prop- 
erties and in return the banks will deliver 
them bonds or certificates for half of the 
amount of the mortgaged properties, on 
which they will be able to raise money on 
moderate terms in the market. 

The promissory notes will be issued at one 
year's term, within which the signers will 
have to cover them, and in case they remain 
unpaid ten days after the expiration of the 
term, their property will be sold at auction. 

The interest levied by the bank on certi- 
ficates delivered will 'be only 2 per cent per 
annum, which is considered quite suflScient 
to cover -expenses incurred to run the banks. 

The Central Bank will be established at 
Havana, wi^th branches in all the largest 
towns on the island. T. D. 



Havana. 

(SPKIAL CORRBSPONDENCB.) 

Havana, March 30th, 1899. 
Editor LouiKlaiui Planler: 

Owing to the festivities of the week, this 
laiarket has ruled inactive and prices re- 
tained their former nominal character, on the 
basis of 2V6 & 2% cts. per pound, for good 
centrifugated sugars of 95 and 96 test, the 
E'mallness of disposable stock allowing hold- 
ers to support their views. 

Grinding continues on a very moderate 
scale, and owing to the scarcity of cane, sev- 
eral plantations will soon be compelled to 
put out their fires, after turning out a quan- 
tity of sugar, which in few cases only 
amounts to about one-half of a middling 
crop, the average for the greater part of 
districts falling considerably below; some 
disricts will produce only 2^5 & 25 per cent 
of their customary crop. 

Aware of the difficulties under which 
planters are laboring. Governor General 
Brooke has Just signed a decree extending 
for another year, the effects of that issued 
by Oeneral Weyler and prorogued by Gen- 
eral Blanco, referring to the collection, 
through judicial proceedings of planters' 
mortgaged debts, a measure which has met 
general approval, except on the part of 



planters* creditors, who are thus compelled 
to add to their respective credits another 
year's interests and it is probable that when 
time comes to liquidate accounts in a defi- 
nite manner, the prices at which mortgaged 
plantations will be sold, in few cases only 
will be sufficient to cover the total indebted- 
ness bearing on samie, owing to the enor- 
mous accumulation of interest. 

An undeniable fact to-day is that It is al- 
most Impossible to live in the country, and 
new misdeeds committed by outlaws are 
daily reported from all parts. A gang of 
bandits who interfere with crop operations 
and threaten agriculturists in general. Is said 
to have recently appeared at Guamajay, in 
the vicinity of this city, and though several 
detachments of Cuban soldiers have been 
sent to pursue them, they have as yet been 
unable to meet them. 

At Santiago de Cuba, these gangs of ma- 
rauders that have considerably Increased of 
late, no more satisfied with robbing and 
plundering now submit their victims to the 
most atrocious tortures, to compel them to 
declare where they have hidden their 
money. Several Spaniards have been 
murdered in vengeance of their former alle- 
geance to the Spanish government, and 
others, Cuban country people, who were en- 
deavoring to resume their agricultural pur- 
suits, and who, on being deprived of all they 
possess, opposed resistance to the outlaws. 

In spite of the vigilance exercised by the 
United States troops and the small Rural 
Guard bodies organized by some Municipali- 
ties for self-defense, several new bands 
have appeared at Santiago de Cuba and be- 
sides a certain number of country stores, 
they have also attacked plantations "Santa 
Ana'* and "San Sebastian," which will 
oblige planters of that department to or- 
ganize, as those of Clenfuegos, armed forces 
to protect their sugar estates . 

Several persons have been arrested, under 
the charge of having participated In these 
criminal deeds and amongst those General 
Wood will order to be courtmartialed on this 
account, is an individual called Francisco 
Dleguez, who pretends to be a Cuban 
colonel. 

Several small oane fires were lately re- 
ported; but the quantity of burnt oane Is 
so insignificant that It will not affect the 
production in the least 

Owing to the condition of affaire prevail- 
ing in the country and the recent resolution 
passed by the Cuban Army Assembly, much 
mistrust prevails as yet and no capitalist, 
either native of foreign Is willing to furnish 
planters with a dollar. On this account it 
Is now certain that the next crop, if any 
at all, can be made, whicih is as yet rather 
doubtful, will by all means fall below the 
one that now touches Its end. 

Even if planters were able to secure funds 

to attend their fields during the summer and 

autumn, it would be rather difficult to find 

a sufficient number of hands to properly 

prepare them, since ttie majority of Span- 



lards and Canarlans who fonnerly were en- 
gaged In agricultural pursuits are fast leav- 
ing for their respective conutrles, and as to 
the Cuban soldiers, even in the case tJiey 
were all willing to go and work on sugar 
pantatlons, after they be mustered out, they 
would hardly amount to a fifth nart of the 
200,000 laborers needed to raise tShe cane and 
take off an average crop. T. D. 



Austria. 

During the week the weather has assumed 
a spring-like character. The nights are atlll 
very cool, but In the day the temperature 
rises to 15 degrees C. In Vienna the average 
temperature for the week wsfi 3.5 degrees C, 
against a normal of 2,7 degrees C. The weath- 
er has been favorable for field workers, but 
drought Is generally complained of. Similar 
weather conditions are reported from Ger- 
many, but there are no further particulars to 
hand about the present Beet cultivation. In 
France, field work has made good progress, 
owing to the favorable weather, and most of 
the factories have already made their Beet 
contracts. According to a report of the sit- 
uation from the Kiew exchange, thirty new 
factories will be opened In Russia during the 
next season (1899-1900).— Wochenschift 

Personal. 

Capt. John N. Pharr, of Glenwlld and Pair- 
view Plantations, St Mary Parish, was in 
town on Monday. He stopped at the St 
Charles. 

Col. Lewis S. Clarke, of liagonda PlanU- 

Vlon, Bayou Teche, was In the city on a 
visit during the past week. 

Mr. Wilbray J. Thompson, of Calumet Plan- 
tation, neaT Pattersonville, L«a.. came up to 
the city last Monday an4 registered at he 
St. Charles Hotel. 

Hon. W. E. Howell, sugar planter and 
legislator, from I-afourche Parish, was among 
the arrivals at the St Charles Hotel laat 
Sunc^ay. Mr. Howell seems to be enjoying , 
good :iealth and retains that genial oourtesy 
which has made him deservedly popular. 

Mr. J. M. McBrlde, of Bllendale, Terre- 
bonne Parish, was a Sunday guest of the 
St. Charles. 

Mr. Geo. Hill, of Port Allen, La., son of 
Mr. John Hill, was In the city doping tiie 
early part of the week, ^e came down on 
a business trip. 

Mr. Frank J. Webb, of Baton Rouge, where 
he Is the presiding genius of that large and 
successful enterprise, the Baton Rouge Sugar 
Co., came down to New Orleans last Sun- 
day and took apartments at the St Charles 

Hotel. 

Mr. Walter- I DarLon, of AsoenAloa Parish, 
where he has a fine piece of sugar property, 
was In town recently, mingling with his 
friends. He stopped at Col. Blakely's lios- 
pltable Inn. 

J. Lebermuth, tJsq., of Salsburg Planta- 
tion, Parish of St James, w€ts among thd«*l ' 
who were in town last Monday. He wa«<* 
at the St Charles for a short time. 



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VBB LOOTSUNA PLANTER A.nO SUGAR MANUPACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 14. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Santa Maria, California. 

Hayiln«; arrived here, after a visit to several 
beet sugar factories of the west, I shall send 
you now a synopsis of the country and the^ 
beet sugar factory that is now being com- 
pleted here. 

This section of the country is known as 
the Santa Maria Valley and is bounded on 
the north, east and south by a range of 
mountains, and on the west by the Pacdflc 
' ocean; having an area ten miles in breadth 
by twenty-five miles long. The climate is 
about the same all the year around, cool and 
pleasant; wheat, barley and fruits being the 
principal products at present. 

The establishment here by the Union 
Sugar Company of a beet sugar factory, w411 
now enable the farmers to plant beets, each 
farmer having contracted to plant a certain 
amount of his land in beets, thus giving 
assurance to the manufacturer that they will, 
h the conditions are favorable, have beets 
sufficient to operate their factory for five 
months in the year. The factory here is 
situated about seven miles southwest of the 
town and has a spur track running from 
' thel main track to the place, thereby connect- 
ing the factory and the town. All employees 
/reside in the town, but go out and in every 
morning and evening. 

The factory and out buildings are located 
on 4,000 acres of land belonging to the com- 
pany and they will themselves plant a por- 
tion of it in beetts, the balance being sand 
hills and Indian stone quarries. The fac^ 
•tory is constructed of brick and steel and 
Is a grand bullddng, built in an odd shape, 
being five stories on one end, three in the 
, middle and four on the other. Its dimen- 
sions are 240 feet long and 120 feet wide. 
There is now in posiibion (with the excep- 
tion of pipings and shaftings) machinery for 
a capacity of 450 to 500 tons, with an allow- 
alioe made to double the same when crops 
justify. . 

The machinery at present comprises a 
diffusion battery of 14 cells made of boiler 
iron, 6 batteries of two each tubular boilers; 
quadruple efTects with bottoms made of cast 
iron and the tops, domes and vapor pipes of 
boiler iron; vacuum pan 12 feet in diameter 
with 7 coils, the castings being made in sec- 
tions. Two sets of 40 inch centrifugal ma- 
chines, 4 in each set and a Heroey granu- 
lator with a sweater above. 

Two Corliss engines supply all the power, 
one on each end of the building. All pumps 
in the houae are of the Guild and Garrison 
make. 

. There seems to be an Impression among 
t)ie beet sugar manufacturers and the ma- 
chitiery men In Callfoimia, that'a beet sugar 
factory costs more to build than a sugar cane 
factory and th»t the machinery and methods 
of working beets are dlfTerent from cane. 
This is a great mistake, where the cost of a 
beet sugar factory comes in is the expensive 
building and out buildings erected, which in 



many instances double the cost of the ma- 
chinery that goes into it (appearances cut a 
big figure in a beet factory); and another 
expense that must be something enormous, 
is the cost of ereoting machinery, not having 
experienced men as they do in the cane pro- 
ducing countries. I am not afraid to say that 
in many Instances the cost of erection comes 
not far from the original cost of the machin- 
ery. 

In regard to the differences between the 
process of manufacture of beet and cane 
sugar, I will state that I have had experi- 
ence in both , and that there is no differ- 
ence between the workings of beets or cane, 
only in the different treatment of the juice 
or clarification. In beets they lime and 
pump gas ln>to the juice. In cane they lime 
and pump sulphur Into the juice. Outside of 
the above there Is not a particle of differ- 
ence; a beet superintendent by having a 
clarlfler man could take charge of any cane 
house, so could a cane' superintendent take 
charge of any beet house. 

Summing up the beet Industry of South- 
ern California, I will say that as long as the 
country gets Its supply of rain and no sand 
storms, and the factory the beets, there Is 
a handsome profit In the Industry for the 
manufacturer. But during the past year 
there was no rain, so there was no crop. 
This year came very near being the same 
but last week It rained some 5 Inches which 
saved the country, so, with a few showers, 
nexjt month a beet crop Is assured for the 
coming season which starts in the latter part 
of August when the factory will be com- 
pleited. 

Ihere is a controversy here among the 
beet sugar men as to whom credit should 
be given for the development of the beet 
Industry. I can say from what I have seen 
and heard, and the opinion expressed by 
several prominent foundry men of San Fran- 
cisco, that the credit should be given to the 
Dyer boys, as It was only push, en- 
ergy and sticking qualities after failures 
Chat have brought the Industry up to what 
i/t Is to-day, a success. Take a trip through 
some of the large factories which they built 
In Utah and Oregon and the above ex- 
pressed opinions will be confirmed. 

Beet Sugar. 



Sugar Beet 5eed. 

During the past year the sugar beet In- 
dustry In the United States has made remark- 
able progress. Eighteen large factories 
were in operation and nine are In process of 
construction. The greatest activity Is mani- 
fested in Michigan, where one factory had a 
successful season, and six more factories are 
being built. 

There is no doubt that many parts of In- 
diana are as favorably situated for the in- 
dustry as is Michigan. The large bounty of- 
fered by Michigan is at present drawing a 
large amount of capital to that state. It is 
not likely that the Michigan bounty will re- 



>maln at the present rate for a very long pe- 
riod, and then pro^bably capital will seek the 
most favorable locations In Indiana. Many 
farmers in Indiana are already much inter- 
ested in the matter and the results of many 
tests conducted last year are now published 
and ready for distribution by the Indiana 
Experiment Station. Numerous requests for 
seed have already been received. 

Since the sugar beet is a highly bred plant 
it is of the utmost Importance that only 
seed of the best quality should be used in 
conducting experiments to test the adaptabil- 
ity of a locality for sugar beet raising. Much 
of the commercial seed is of low quality and 
the use of such seed may result in indicat- 
ing that a given locality is not capable of 
producing good beets, when the real trouble 
Is with the seed. 

On account of the vital Importance of 
using seed of known quality the Station has 
secured through the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture a supply of seed of high 
grade, and will distribute this eo long as it 
lasts to such farmers in Indiana as wish to 
try beet raising, and will follow the necessary 
methods as nearly as practicable. Seed will 
be furnished In quantities sufficient to plant 
one-eighth to one-half acre. Those applying 
for seed should state how much land will be 
used for beets and what kind of soil is avail- 
able for the purpose. Full directions will be 
sefit with the seed. Address applications to 
Purdue Agricultural Experiment Station, 
Lafayette, Ind. 



The Beet Sugmr Industry. 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The beet sugar industry in Michigan ap- 
pears to have struck a popular chord, judg- 
ing from the rmanner in which the people 
generally have taken hold of the matter. 
There was bu't one factory in operation laM 
year, the one in Bay City. The re- 
Bul'ts from this factory were truly wonderful 
for a first campaign, with all the attendant 
drawQ>acks of new machinery and new men. 
Something over six millions of pounds of 
sugar were manufactured in less than four 
months, a most creditable showing. There 
are two more factories in process of con- 
struction in Bay City, one adjoining the 
Michigan Sugar Co.*s plant and the other 
across the river in West Bay City. Factor- 
ies at several other points are being con- 
structed to be In readiness for this season's 
crop. 

Upwards of 14,000 acres of beets will be 
raised to supply the Bay City factory. As 
the lumbar Indus'try is on the wane in Mich- 
igan the sugar business comes as a very wel- 
ccane solution to a very vexing problem. 
There is plenty of capital In the state and 
the capitalists, quite naturally, are eager 
to Und some channel in which they may 
place their money so that it will bring the 
best returns. Their experience In Michigan 
and the experience of others In various 
states has taught them that the sugar in- 
dustry is just the thing that they have been 
looking for. X. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



.810 



RICE. 



Calcasieu. 

• SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCF..' 

l':'i*40r Loulsiand Planter: 

U begins to look a little like spring weath- 
er, and we are having just rain enough to 
keep the soil ■mellow, and the ploughing is 
well along now. Light showers and windy 
wcath3r seems to be in order this month, 
but k does not hinder us from work to any 
great extent. A little more rain would ba 
beneficial to the rice, not yet sprouted. A 
Iirge acreage of rice has already been sown, 
but the cold weather prevents it from sprout- 
j ig, and much of it was carelessly put In 
and the black birds picked up a large quan- 
tity of seed which will tend to make the 
stand thin. The black birds have been more 
numerous during the past winter and spring 
than for many seasons previous and they 
picked up large quantities of wild rice from 
ths flelds. They remained long enough to 
work considerable mischief to the fields re- 
cently planted. During the past week they 
have become less plentiful and we do not 
l:>Dk for much more of their destructive 
work, for they are going off to nest. 

Canal work is progressing finely as the 
3oll Is dry enough to work well, and the 
larg3 graders are doing good work this sea- 
son. 

Much canal work was postponed last sea- 
son owing to the soil being too soft to work 
the heavy graders, and this is one reason 
why some rice suffered for water last year, 
canals could not be finished in time. While 
our spring is opening a little later than usual 
this season, still there is a larger acreage 
of rice planted at this date than there was 
last season at the same time, and consider- 
able rice will be planted this season, and 
if we may judge by all present indications 
there will not be as much late ceding done 
as last season. I notice that the press drills 
are beginning to come into popular favor 
with the large farmers and a good number 
are being used this season. 

There was a good stand of rice produced 
last season by the drills, and a good yield 
would have been obtained in every case had 
water been secured in time. The mistakes 
cf last season will be rectified tnis season as 
far as possible; so we look forward to more 
prosperity this season. With a good crop in 
•iight our rice 'mills will be In better shape to 
handle the crop than last season and more 
mills will be built, should the crop prove as 
good as we now think it will. 

Our farmers' institute, recenty held at Jen- 
nings, proved of much Interest to the farm- 
ers, especially that portion concerning rice. 
Some of our rice farmers are securing sam- 
ples of the Japan rice, ofi'ered by our gov- 
ernment, and much care will be given it In 
order to see what it will prove to be, and 
^Tiuch interest is being taken In It by rice 
farmers. All small crops will be backward 
this season, and corn does not bid fair to 
'he much about that. Oats are going to 



know much atK)ut that. Ooats are going to 
be a slim crop this season, and sweet po- 
tatoes are so scarce that there must neces- 
sarily be a small crop. 

<> Al ( Afll.U RUL' IjIPwD. 



Talmage on the kice Market. 

The movement of the week was of larger 
volume than for any similar period the cur- 
rcat season. Fair trade is reported In the 
regular run of Japan; the grades In more 
prominent favor being ordinary to fair 
domestic, good to prime Java, high grade 
Patna and Japan. Advices from the South 
note steady demand at all points. Receipts 
of rough continue free, the natural sequence 
of normal weather conditions which enables 
the movement of crops and the desire of 
'planters to clean out holdings so as to go 
forv/ard with the work of the current year. 
It is quite apparent that "jeceipts are of rem- 
nant characLer" as they are individually con- 
sidered and in the aggregate comparatively 
small. Cables and correspondence from 
abroad note moderate enquiry but firm prices 
as slocks are much less than at^"^qual date 
late year. 

Talmage, New Orleans telegraphs Louisi- 
ana ciop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
682,090 sacks; last year (inclusive'of amount 
can led over) 505,250 sacks. Sales, cleaned 
(est) 1G5.052 barrels; last year 106,272 bar- 
rels. Fair enquiry, principally for local and 
nearby trade. 

Talmago. Charleston telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, clean, 35,- 
409 barrels. Sales 31,570 barrels. Steady de- 
mand at former range. 

Excellent Results. 

Some of our unsuccessful sugar planters, 
or cane growers rather, -are feeling some- 
what disappointed because they come out 
short, or were eaten up by heavy expenses. 
We have all along maintained that theio 
was more money for the small planter who 
iiiade and harvested his own crop, and we 
have two examples which will provs2 this 
fact. Mr. Clebert Hollier, who lives near 
Breaux Bridge cultivated and sold to the 
Ttulh refinery seven acres, of cane that 
b/ought him the handsome return of $530 
which is without doubt very satisfactory, and 
we have Mr. Caleb Green, a young man also 
living near Breaux Bridge, who, out of three 
acres of cane also sold at Ruth, received 
1^291.80 and he came out with more cash 
than many who had gone Inlo large ex- 
penses to make large crop. Small acreage, 
v/ell cultivated without expense, and harvest- 
ed by the cultlvat^^r himself is what will 
m.ike our planFers rich. The idea of small 
crops, with diversification of the crops is 
what this country needs, and it is the only 
hope :'nd salvation of the planter.— St. Mar- 
tinvillc Messenger. 

?Ir. Thomas A. Badeaux, a leading citizen 
of Thibodaux, was a guest of the Commercial 
Hotel a few days ago. 



The Sugar Situation in Cuba. 

It appears ^tolerably certain that, on ac- 
count of the scarcity of cane ,and the lack 
of money to purchase the proper varieties for 
grinding, many "centrales" are making use 
of the seedlings. In this way the available 
supply from which to replant the fields next 
year is rapidly being exhausted. It was said 
here at one time thait the sugar plfuiters of 
Louisiana anticipated sending a vessel to 
Cuba, to procure seed cane wherewith to re- 
plant 'ihe fields in that state which.have been 
destroyed bv the terrible weather of; the past 
winter. There is no question that any sucJh 
an enterprise would be virtually a failure, 
as the supply of seed cane is very small, al- 
together insufficient even for the wamts of 
the island. 

It should be borne in mind always that the 
war in Cuba was waged with grea;test sever- 
ity against the sugar cane fields, nine-tenths 
of which were burned off two or three times 
a year, either by the rebels or by Spanish col- 
umns hunting for their elusive enemy. In 
the fertile province of Havana, there are not 
more than a dozen fields which remain in- 
tact the others have grown up since they 
were burned off, and the stubble is very rank 
and thick. The burning of a cane field did 
in^)t necessarily destroy the plants, which 
here, with ordinary care, continue to yield a 
crop annually for ten, fifteen %nd even twenty 
years. Owing to the disturbed condition of 
affairs, no one replanted when his fields 
ceased to yield, but allowed the fincas to go 
to waste, grow up in bushes and become, to 
all intents, a part of the primeval. Hun- 
dreds of places suffered this fate, so that one 
may ride now for days at a time through the 
sugar district, where formerly existed enor- 
mous fields or waving cane, and see nothing 
but the scrubby trees and tangled bushes 
which constitute the principal elements of 
the luxuriant Cuban vegetation. 

Now that order reigns again in the Island, 
the problem is to remove these wild growths, 
and restore the fields to their former condi- 
tion, it is here that the need of capital be- 
comes immediately apPhrenL And capital 
is the one thing which the Cuban sugar plan- 
ters most conspicuously lack. If they could 
get money easily, the regeneration of their 
fields could be accomplished with measura- 
ble certainty within the next five years. There 
are certain provisions in the laws regarding 
real estate, and certain rights which attach to 
the land, that interfere very materially with 
the mortgaging of property; otherwise mon- 
ey might be ogtained from that source. Of 
these burdens the chief is the *'censo" system 
of ground rents, which I have fully described 
in a previous letter. Many estates are also 
afflicted with charges in favor of the church; 
as, in former times, it was the custom of all 
pious persons to incorporate in their test^ 
ments a provision setting aside a portion of 
the Income from the properties disposed of in 
the will for the benefit of the church, mak- 
ing the payment of this tribute the conditio!^ 
on which the legatee held the land. Foe 



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tfifi LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAlt MANUFACTURER. 



tTol. XXII, No. 14. 



•ome years past these payments have natur- 
ally fallen into arrears, and as the Spanish 
law continues in force under th<y A^merican 
domination, the time is coming when the 
churoh will be able to collect her dues, Just 
as the holders of the Royal Mercies will 
eventually be in a position to compel iJke 
payment of the "censos." 

The grinding season has, however, com- 
menced and is now in full bla^t. The re- 
ports which reach the dty are to the effect, 
that many mills are running on half-force, 
being unable through lack ol funds to se- 
cure enough cane to keep therm busy. Or- 
dinarily, the mills, when they once begin, 
run day and night for six or seven months. 
Some big establishments, like those in the 
eastern end of the island controlled by the 
Havemeyer8,only cease work for a month or 
two in the year. To the difficulties which 
arise from a lack of cash, are added also 
those which accrue from the scarcity of cane, 
and the prevalence of baa weather. The 
latter is reported with more or less regularity 
from all parts of the sugar district 

These remarks* apply only to about fifty 
plantations, scattered throughout the island. 
The statistics of the destruction in the sugar 
regions occasioned by the war are startling. 
Only about twenty or twenty-five estates have 
escaped untouched. These were owned by 
persons of unlimited means, who made it a 
point of honor to maintain their places in- 
tact Such a person is the Marquis Apeste- 
guia^ the ex-leader of the autonomist party in 
Cuba, whose place, La Constantly, was de- 
fended by a system of forts and railroads 
and a force of about 5000 men, all of which 
co&t him from $30,000 to $50,000 a month. 
The Cubans repeatedly attemted to raid the 
estate and did succeed occasionally in burn- 
ing one or two of the outlying fields; but they 
were beaten off before any real damage was 
done. But the only other large plantation 
in that vicinity which was as well protected 
as La Constantia, and enjoyed a like fortu- 
nate escape, was Hormeiguera. The rest 
all endured the varying extremes of war. It 
is estimated by competent authorities that 
about 100 plantations were completely de- 
stroyed, and about 450 were more or less in- 
jured, so that in many instances their out- 
put is either entirely eliminated from the 
estimate of the present crop, or contribute so 
litue to swell the total that it is hardly wor- 
thy of notice. In fact, the output of these 
550 plantations was, before the war, esti- 
mated at about 1,250,000 tons per annum, or 
a very large proportion of the entire crop of 
the island. 

Whether or not these ruined and partly 
ruined plantations can be restored depends 
entirely on the success of their owners in 
getting money. If they can, get the funds, 
four or five years, at the outside, and not 
less than two or three years, will enable them 
to get their "centrales" into condition again. 
Bjr 'that time the fields will probably have 
be^n , replanted and the first crop will be in 
a condition to be taken to the mill. 



At the present moment the sugar district* 
are practically unpeopled and desolate. In 
the richest region of the island — between Ma- 
tanzas and Cienfuegos — one may travel for 
days without coming across anything more 
pretentious than the blackened walls of 
burned sugar-houses. 

In the province of Havana, where the war 
was at no time as bitter as it was in the prov- 
inces on either hand, the only plantation 
now grinding in a radius of twenty miles 
around the city is Toledo. The next place 
of any size which is working is Portugalete, 
on the road to San Jose de las Lajas. In the 
vicinity of Portugalete formerly stood six 
or seven large plantations, only one of which. 
La tMerced, is intact to-day. The great 
plantation of La Amelia, which was one of 
the greatest estates of that region, was com- 
pletely burned, and to-day the traveler sees 
nothing but the tall chimneys of the central 
projecting through heaps of debris and above 
the twisted beams of a destroyed shed. 

One planter told me that he had owned 
three plantations previous to the war, of 
which the Cubans burned one, and another 
had been occupied by the insurgents as a 
hospital. The Spanish burned that place to 
drive the Cubans out; and as the owner hav- 
ing maintained a company of Spanish sold- 
iers on the third, getting weary of the ex- 
pense, withdrew them, another Spanish col- 
umn burned that one, too. This same per- 
son had the satisfaction of seeing a schooner, 
loaded with his last hogsheads of sugar, sail 
out of Havana harbor and be captured by the 
American fleet; he stood on the seawall at 
La Punta and saw the fate of his vessel. 

Some of these Cuban places were of prince- 
ly size and equipment. Near Matanzas tnere 
is a finca belonging to a gentleman named 
Mendoza. Standing on his front gallery he 
pointed to a hill fifteen miles away, and re- 
marked that all the intervening country was 
his, and the green on that distant hillside 
was his cane, and beyon dwere other fields — 
all his. Near Baracoa is a plantation where 
the fields stretch for ten miles on either side 
of the sugar-house. This place, in spite of 
its great length, is only four miles wide, and 
the owner says he planned the shape of 
the fields so that this would result; and by 
planting it in twelve sections, beginning at 
one end and sowing each section a month or 
so later than its predecessor, he has secured a 
constant progression of maturing cane. 
Month by month his crop ripens, and month 
by month he cuts it off and takes it to the 
mill, his estate begins to grind about De- 
cember or the early part of January, and con 
tinues till November. The grinding term 
here corresponds, approximately, to that ob- 
served on the Havemeyer plantations, where 
the mills really stop grinding only because 
the supply of material is exhausted. 
These places sometimes qiake as much 
as 50,000,000 pounds of sugar per annum. 
One of them is equipped with three sets of 
triple effects, and has a crusher, besides nine 



rollers. The larger places use about 3000 
tons of cane per day. These, at least, were 
the figures which applied previous to the war. 
^Pffking an average of the yield of all the 
plantations of the island for that time, the 
yield was about 10,000 or 12,000 tons of sugar 
per annum. But now the average will not 
exceed 2000 or 2500 tons each. 

In the province of Havana the variety of 
soil is such that plantations of cane and to- 
bacco exist almost side by side. For ex- 
ample, the central at Toledo, a couple of 
miles from Marianao, is less than a league 
distant from Wajay, where some of the best 
tobacco in the islsmd is grown. It is true 
that the land at Toledo has been fertilized 
for thirty years- with the refuse of Havana, 
the grandfather of the present owner having 
purchased the place against the advice of 
everybody, who asserted that he could not 
possibly raise' cane* there. But by building 
a railroad he was able to haul immense quan- 
tities of garbage, which formed a rich com- 
post and hais made the soil as blaok and co- 
hesive as the best sugar lands in the Tumuri 
vall'^y. Red soil is generally preferred for 
tobacco and the black for sugar^ and good 
cane grows in almost every quarter of the 
island. Some plantations have been estab- 
lished in the eastern and western extremi- 
ties, but the bulk of the capital in the sugar 
business is located in the central part of the 
island, in the provinces of Havana, Matanzas 
and Santa Clara. 

It was in these provinces that the Spanish 
sentiment was strongest and that the Insur- 
rection broke out last; consequently it is 
not surprising that the fighting was fiercest 
and the loss was correspondingly greater 
here. During the five or six years Just pre- 
ceding the war the southeast coast of San- 
tiago was being developed as a sugar coun- 
try, and several large centrals had been open- 
' ed in the vicinity of Manzanillo and Guanta- 
namo. But these places, I understand, dis- 
appeared almost completely. Excepting the 
great plantations of which I have already 
spoken, the bulk of the sugar was grown on 
places averaging about 300 *'caballerias," or 
about 10,000 acres in extent. Wherever a 
central stood, it was equipped with the very 
besit modern machinery, purchased in Eng- 
land, France, Belgium, Germany and the 
United States. Most of it. came from E<u- 
rope, because not only was the machinery 
good, but the makers permitted the Cubans 
to enter into contracts by which they paid 
for their purchases on very easy terms. No 
attempt has been made in the island to man- 
ufacture sugar machinery, although quite a 
number of shops exist where repairs can be 
made, or small parts of sugar machinery 
made. 

I give these details because obviously there 
is going to be a strong demand for machinery 
to re-equip the sugar region, and the United 
States, if it cares to handle this trade, will 
have to cater to the Cubans. The existing 
tarift, in spite of alleged revisions and re- 



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April 8, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



221 



ductions by the Americans, continues to offer 
many impediments to commerce, more par- 
ticularly to the importation of machinery, in 
wM(A respect i» even more burdensome 
than 'the Spanish charges were. At pres- 
ent the lack of capital prevents any large im- 
portation of machinery from being made, 
but eventually the question of these duties is 
likely to become a pressing one. Under the 
Spanish tariff, the planters paid a duty of 
4 to 10 per cent ad valorem. The present 
tariff subjects this class of importations to 
duties ranging from 10 to 20 per cent ad va- 
lorem On the other hand, the Spaniards 
imposed a tax on sugar lands, which amount- 
ed to about 2 per cent per annum on the total 
value of the crop, although this tax was very 
equitably levied, and imposed only on lands 
under cultivation. The law on this point 
remains unchanged. 

I have observed on the plantations where 
cane is now being worked that the. American 
cultivators are very generally used. Usually, 
they are drawn by a mule or an ox, the rows 
of cane being planted about six feet apart. 
The cultivator is used when the cane is 
about three feet high and just after the r€Uny 
season, at which time the plant begins to ri- 
pen. I have been told that further cultiva- 
tion is unnecessary, and, in fact, injurious, 
as cane which is too persistently worked 
runs to roots and loses its fine qualities in 
the demands which increased growth impose 
upon its energies. Cane is planted here 
twice a year, in the spring and in the winter; 
but, as I have said above, the stubble con- 
tinues to yield every year for years there- 
after. 

In this connection, it might be well to 
warn the planters who may contemplate go- 
ing to Cuba for seed cane that here it has 
been found that the best results are obtained 
from the green cane of Tahaitl. Oompari- 
tlvely little ribbon cane is grown, as expe- 
riment has proven It unsuited ta the climate 
of this island. 

One of the Incidents which illustrate the 
enterprise of the Cuban sugar planters comes 
to mind. Some years ago an attempt was 
made to introduce the steam plow from Eng- 
land, but the experiment proved a failure.. 
The soil was so tenacious and glutinous dur- 
ing the rainy season, and so hard during the 
dry period, that the consumption of coal by 
the plow ate up all the profits which its use 
was supposed to produce. Coal is very ex- 
pensive here, coating about $10 per to^, laid 
down on the plantation. 

The great question which will have to b« 
solved before the Cuban sugar industry can 
hope to cope with Lrouislana's will be the la- 
bor problem. This year and next year it 
will present no special difficulties. There 
is labor to spare to work all the plantations 
which are working now. But if the time 
should come when the capacities of the isl- 
and are brought up to the pitch which they 
had attained at the beginning of the war In 
1895, there is no doubt whatsoever that the 
•uppljr ot Iftlwr wJU m far* Short Jn |aot. 



in 1870, it was noticed that the available la- 
bor in the island would not suffice if the out- 
put continued to Increase as it had in the 
past. 

Certain planters in that year began to ex- 
periment with portable railways In the hqge 
that by using machinery the number of la- 
borers needed would be reduced. These ex- 
periments led certain German firms to un- 
dertake the manufacture of portable rail- 
roads, and as they turned out an article with 
very light rails, and well suited to use In 
Cuba, the system soon became popular. 
Portable railways wfere tried in Louisiana 
about the same time, but it was found that 
our soil did not yield enough cane to the acre 
to justify the use of the appliance. No such 
trouble has occurred In Cuba, where the 
yield Is wonderful. 

At the present time the reconcentrados — 
such as survive — are returning to their for- 
mer homes. In fact, the bulk of this hap- 
less class of persons have left the cities 
around which they were herded, ancl resumed 
their pursuits In the country. These, to- 
gether with the discharged Spanish soldiers, 
of whom there are thousands In the Island, 
cons-tltute the chief part of the present la- 
boring class. The discharged soldiers are 
said to be extremely satisfactory, as they are 
docile, obedient and industrious. As soon 
as the Cuban army Is paid ofT and^ dissolved, 
this will make available the labor of fully 
30,000 men, who are now not merely idle, but 
unprofitable consumers. The one serious 
part of the existing situation Is, how can la- 
bor be supplied for such a large number of 
men? 

A number of capable men with whom I 
have discussed the labor situation here, say 
that the solution will be found In the encour- 
agement of Immigration from Itajy. They 
point to the fact that the Italian has proven 
a first-rate laborer In Louisiana, where he 
has been employed quite extensively In the 
sugar plantations. It is apparent that the 
importation of negroes from the West Indian 
Islands will not be very successful, first, be- 
cause the population now contains quite 
enough of the colored element, which Is al- 
ready too aggressively conscious of Its dis- 
tinguished services In the war with Spain. 
In the second place, the Jamaicans, Haytians 
and Bermudans obtain better wages working 
In their own country, and being of that hap- 
py disposition that Is satisfied with the day's 
gain, they feel no encouragement to immi- 
grate In the hopes of bettering their financial 
condition, even did Cuba offer a field for that 
form of enterprise. The Italians seem to be 
well -suited to the climate and are congenial 
to the people here, so that the chances are 
that once In the Island, they would rapidly 
be absorbed Into the population and become 
valuable citizens. 

From these considerations. It does not 
seem to me at all likely that Louisiana has 
any reason to anticipate any competition 
from the Cuban sugar industry for many 
years to com?. As a matter of tact, alioulcl 



Cuba remain an Independent nation, the dif- 
ference made by the necessary duties would 
prevent Cuban sugars from ever injuring 
ours. Cuba and Louisiana combined yield 
only about one-half the sugar consumed in 
the United States. The price will, there- 
fore, be fixed by the figure commanded by 
the foreign sugars. If, In order to get the 
foreign sugar we have to pay more than we 
might otherwise give, It Is inevitable that 
the makers of sugar In Louisiana and Cuba 
win ask similar prices. 

The producers won't sell for less than the 
Imported sugars cost. This holds true,, al- 
though It costs only about 1 1-2' cents to 
make and market sugar profitably. Not- 
withstanding the fact that railroad freights 
consume a large fraction of the gross re- 
turns, it is profitable to use the railroads, 
and so one finds every plantation, except the 
most Insignificant ones, tapped by a railroad 
line or Its connection. Each sugar province 
has Its seaport; Havana, for Instance, sends 
its sugar through the city of that name, and 
through Batabano, and Matanzas has Car- 
denas and Nuevitas, as well as the capital of 
the province, which is located on the north- 
ern seacoast So that the railroad haul is 
not very far. These expenses are further 
balanced by the abounding fertility of the 
soil, which does not require fertilization as 
a general thing, by the cheapness of the. labor 
at present, and by the weather conditions, 
(which, in spte of the bad reports for the 
present season, are generally very favorable. 

It Is a very difficult task to collect informa- 
tion about the condition of the sugar country, 
as no one has thought to keep statistics of 
the destroyed plantations, and in the hurly- 
*,buTly of the war, no one has had time to 
sift the various lies which both Cubans and 
Spaniards have put in circulation about the 
number and the names of estates that have 
been burned. Even now the only way one 
could get any accurate knowledge of the ex- 
act number of plantations which have been 
destroyed would be by visiting them. I have 
consulted the best available authorities, and 
they can give me nothing but estimates, 
which, accurate enough for the purposes of 
generalization on the ruin wrought by the 
war, do not give very clear ideas as to the 
exact plantations destroyed. There is a 
deep spirit of unrest in Cuba at this moment, 
and, although all signs point to an industrial 
revival, even the agriculturalist has a settled 
conviction that the great things in life are 
tied up with political issues. Until the 
•'Cuban problem*' shall have been settled 
forever, I fear that there will be no abso^ 
lately reliable statlstlcsto present regarding 
anything In the island.— John S. Kendall in 
the Picayune. 

Susar Patents. 

Patent Issued March 28, 1899. Reported 
specially for the Louisiana Planter by R. W. 
Bishop. Patent Attorney, Washington, D. C. 

622,106. Combined stubble-shaver and 
plant-cane scraper. A. M. Bernard, H. F. 
Raynaud wid W. J. Beruard, N«w Iljeri^^Ii^ 



Digitized by 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 14. 



Apr. 7. 



•UCAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Chotee 

Striot Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Qood Common.. 

Common 

^erior 

Centrifugal. 
PlanVn Qraanl'ed 
Off Granulated... 

Qhoioe White 

Off White 

if«r White 

CholoeTeUow — 
Prime Yellow .... 

Oft Yellow 

BitfMndB 

MOLAME*. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faney 

Choice 

•triet Prime.... 
Oeod Prime.. .. 

Prime 

€k>odFair 

Fair 

Good Commpn. 
Common.....:. 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Ohoioe 

itriot Prime.... 
Gk>od Prime — 

Prime 

Gk>od Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Common 

Inferior 



•YRUP, 



April 1. 



Q 

o 



< 

o 
m 



a 

•J 

o 

n 



5 

o 
n 



April 3. 



April 4. 



— fe — 

3H(^3^ 

3%(fl/3^ 
3A@3i«« 
3A@3A 

3 (w3yi 



— (& — 

— (^ — 

— (a — 

4U@4si 



CO 



<D 

o 



@ 16 

@ 15 

@ 13 

(B 11 

@ 9 



- @ 



@ - 



3i«(*4^ 

— (j^ - 

3[iCa3/8 

3i:^^3^^8 
3a^C'^3U 
3^'o(«'3-^4 

3^8(^-3:^4 

3i^6(«^3A 
3 ^3J4 

— (fl; ~ 

— (3 - 

_ (a) - 

4P.ra: - 

— (a. - 

4[^(<f4?^ 
4'4Cl-4''^u 
2^4X^4 A 



c 



12; 



@ - 

@ 16 

(o^ 15 

(^ 13 

(a.- II 
9 
8 
7 
7 
6 



Qi 
@ 
@ 



- @ - 



\1ARKI 


UT REP( 


3RT. 




1899. 


April 5. 


April 6. 


April 7. 


Sam© Day 
Last Year. 


Tone of Market ai 
Closing of Week. 


3i^'.Ca4}^ 




V^iB^'A 


— is — 




— (re — 




^\U^^ 


3!^W - 




3f;l/^.i,'rt 




3}re4 


3\k-o:vu 




3;2^«3'H 


>> 


3','.^.3[,^ 


3|k"3\ 




3^\t(/^"^i;; 


c3 


3(;N'3^8 


3^.(^3^-8 


Finn 


3^8C«3-;'4 


o 


3^,.<i3,-i4 


3r,(C'^-"^^8 




3^eC'^3^4 


ffi 


3-"',A./:;-'4 


3.^;C«3/'« 




3,rt(^^3i^.; 




3,'nC^.3V, 


3V4C^.3,-, 




3/o(a3,^, 




3,',i(rt3>''8 


3'4C"3,"« 




3 (^3^4 




3?8(i^' — 


23;i(g3,1h 




- Qv^ 




- (a. - 


- (r'iH 




~ (a - 


5^ 


— (*l^. — 


— {w — 




— Qv. — 


rt 


— (a,' ~- 


- c^ - 




4}:!c-^ - 


3 


■ 4}J^. - 


^M^ — 




— (U' — 
4^4^'^ - 


O 


— d^ — 
434.V — 


— (a) — 
4?fiC^^ - 


Strong 


^nd^m 




^k(^m 


i'iini^o 




4'4(Vl'4'^8 




^^^«t^'B 


4 ('i4,\ 




2?4(1^4A 




2hAii^, 


23«(^^:^U 




en 

c 




rr 






^ 




s: 


« 

.c 




00 


>^ 


■^ 






t^ 


ri 


u 


9^ 




tc 


T3 


»X3 


iC 




c 


O 


f- 


d 




OJ 


ffi 


•l-l 






g 




0) 







o 




c 


c 




Z 












- @ - 




- c<^ - 


- (a U 




- @ 16 




— (o. 16 


— (S 13 




— (g 15 




— C5 15 


- (r. 12 




- (^ 13 

— @ 11 


?? 

'^ 


- ta. 13 

— (a \i 


— (a H 

- m 10 


Quiet. 


— (^ 9 


'o 


- 0$ 9 


- (a 9 




— C'^ 8 


ffi 


- (5! 8 


— (a 8 




— @ 7 




— C*^ 7 


-- (n. 7 




— @ 7 




— C^ 7 


— (ic 6 




— @ 6 




— (ix. 6 


— (5' 5 




- ^^ - 




— V* — 


— (Vi' — 





OTHER MARKETS. 



New York: 


















•UCAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89*^ 
Centrifugals, Qe*".. 




- @ - 


- @ - 


~ @ - 


- @ - 


_ @ - 


- @ - 






- @ - 


- (§ - 


- (4 - 


— (a; — 


- (^ - 


•- (^ - 


Raw— Strong with 


Granulated 




~ @4.84 


— (a4.84 


— (a4.84 


- (^4.81 


- (ai 96 


4.96(r^ — 


upward tendency. 


StandardA 


>h' 


- ^4.72 


- (^4.72 


— (a4.72 


— C^)4.72 


— (2^4.84 


4.8i(^ — 


Refined— Good de- 


Dutch Granulated 


< 


— (a;4.98 


— (a^4.98 


- («4 98 


— (a4 98 


— (a5 00 


— (fll — 


mand. 


German Granul'td. 


2 


- (^4 93 


- (i^4 C6 


- @4 97 


— (ai 93 


— (E5 03 


— (rt^ — 




MOLASSES. 


s 
















K.O. Choice 




- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- (5^ - 


-@ - 




N. O.Fair 




-@ - 


- @ ~ 


- (^ - 


- (^ - 


>- (a. - 


- @ - 




London: 


















Jara, No. 15 D. S. 




Holiday. 


128 Od. 


123. Od 


12s. Od, 


12s. 1 Wid. 


lls.3i. 


Cane— Fir.ner and ralU- 


A.& G.Beet 






lOs. Ij^d. 


10s. 2>4d. 


9s.lli4d. 


10s.5V4d. 


93.0?4d. 


Beet— Very firm. 



NEW ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Roaetta Sxtra C 

Candr A 

Crrstal Extra C. 

Royal Ez C 

SYRUP. 



- @5^ 

- @ 

- @5A 



(db^ 

@ - 
@ - 



(db^ 

OP. 

^tf — 
(w - 

@ - 



- (^5,3s 

— @5A 

— (d - 

- (a) - 



- («5\ 

- ^5.^4 

- C«> 

- &^i\ 

- (w - 

- (a] - 

- @ - 



— c« 

— @5i^o 

— @ — 

— @ - 

— @ - 



@ - 
@ - 



Strong. 



STOCKS 

At four ports of the United States to Mar. 29 ..." Tons 192,969 

At four ports of Great Britain to Mar. 28 " . r.2,«)0 

At Havana and Matanzas to Mar. 28 " 79.500 



Receipts and Sales at 



New Orleans for the week ending 
April 7, 1899. 



Reoelfad. 
Sold 



Hhds. 
645 
648 



-Sugar 



Barrels. 
8,156 
8,807 



Molasses 

Barrels. 
3,551 
4,056 



Receipts and Sales at New Odeans from September 1 
to April 7, 1899. 

Hhds. J^ barrels. 

Received 9,727 1,189,061 

Sold 9,727 1,182,12« 

HeoQived same tftaQ t¥rt y^r 22,00^ l|361,72a 



, 1898. 



rviolassoj 

Barrels. 
22l,0i7 
220,752 
181,201 



Digitized by V^OOQLC 



April 8. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



223 



Apr. 7. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT, 



1809. 



RICE. 


April 1. 


April 3. 1 April 4. 


April 6. 


April 6. 


April 7. 


Same Day Last 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
doae of Week. 


RouoH, per bbl... 

CiJtAN, Ex. Fancy 

Fancy — 

Prime.... 

Good .... 

Fair 

Ordinary 

Common. 
Screenings 

Inferior . . 

No.2 

BRAN, per ton.... 
PeLisH, per ton... 


1 50(g4 75 
6>^fe6?4 
6 (B^ki 

4M@4^ 
3K@4i>^ 
3 ©3^4/ 
2>^@3 

Nominal 


1 60(5-4 76 

6 @6>^ 

4%@5>i 
4Ji<S!43i 
3^@4»i 
3 @3% 

2 <g2X 
Nominal 


Nominal 

6 %^% 

4%@5>i 
4M@43i 
3?i@4>4 
3 @3|i 

2 @2% 
13^(a2 

Nominal 


Nominal 

6- -^^ 

6 

5 

4 

4 

3 

3 

2 

a 

1 
1 

Nominal 


1 


Nominal 
Nominal 


2 00@4 50 

- @ — 
5?i(^6 

43i@5 
4>i@4% 
4>i@4% 
3?^@4 

- a — 

Nominal 

9 50@10 00 
14 00(915 00 


Dull. 

Steady. - -i 


RMtlpU and Sul€s at New OrlMfi* for ttaa week ending 
April 7. !«•• 

Sacks ROUGH. Bbls. Cwan. 

Received 2,598 342 

««W 1,569 1,154 


This 
Last 


l^eelyte et New 0«1e«u frmn Anff. i. 189S 

Bag 
vear ft' 


, to April 7. i«W. 
w. 

Kt ROUM. B9LII. CfeAAW 

r3,972 6,386 
48.481 3,940 


J*"" 

yeskf 




4 



Sugar. 

•phe sugar market was rather quiet dur- 
ing the week under review, with movement 
aiMl receipts moderate. Open Kettle goods 
wiere firm at the clo^e and centrifugals 
strong. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals quiet. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

The rough rice market was dull at the 
end of the week with light receipts. Clean 
rice was steady with a fair demand. 



Sugar in India. 

In India, sugar cane is grown both for eat- 
ing and for manufacturing into Sugar. The 
chief edible cane, known as paunda, is chiefly 
grown in the neighborhood of important cen- 
tres; a white variety largely found in Saha- 
ranpur is much exported to other districts, 
and has a ready sale as it is very juicy and 
sweet; a red variety is commonly grown 
everywhere, but is not so good to eat as the 
white, and is more dry. Paunda. stalks are 
tall and thick, soft and full of sweet juice; 
the crop is a very remunerative one, but re- 
quires an immense amount of labor to pro- 
duce; constant supervision, plentiful water- 
ing, and much manure are essential, which 
place it beyond the means of all but the 
wealthier cultivators. Another cane known 
as merthi, from the fact that it is most large- 
ly grown in the Meerut district, is boh eaten 
and pressed for sugar; the stalk grows as 
tall as that of paunda, but is not so thick, 
and is much harder; the juice is viscous 
abundant, and sweet, but the Sugar made 
from it is not so white as that made from 
other varieties of cane, nor has it the same 
sweetening qualities, and merthi is not in 
consequence so much grown or pressed, ex- 
cep't by poorer cultivators. Sugar is chiefly 
made from dholu cane, a variety that has a 
soft, thin, and rather short stalk; the juice 
is very plentiful, is easily extracted, and par- 
ticularly sweet, while the Sugar made from 
it is very white and is the kind most largely 
used in confectionery; it is the most com- 
inoftly gfrpwn cane, (©d is to b^ found In 



every district all over India. An inferior 
sort of cane is known as sorta; it has a hard, 
crooked stalk, red marks on the knots, and 
gives but scanty juice; the Sugar made from 
it is neither very white nor sweeE, and in con- 
sequence this variety was not so much 
grown, but its production is less costly, as 
comparatively little labor and manure are 
required, and it is therefore more suited to 
a poorer class of cultivator. By the intro- 
duction of iron crushing mills in place of 
the now old-fashioned stone and wooden ko- 
lus with beams the diflBculty in pressing the 
hard stalk is now removed, and as the cost 
of production and labor entailed is so much 
smaller the growth of sorta oane is now 
greatly on the increase. AH varieties of 
cane are now propagated from fresh seed 
every year„ with the exception of a variety 
of paunda, known as munda, which is grown 
from the roots of the cane of the previous 
season; it is much shorter than the ordinary 
paunda, the knots in the stalk are closer, and 
the juice is not so sweet, but the facility 
with which it is grown makes this" variety 
popular with cultivators. 

Besides its great enemy beetroot, Sugar 
cane has another enemy in a red funges 
known as trichosphaeria sacohari. This 
disease attacks the tissues and saps the juice, 
with the result that canes which would have 
given a large yield of rich juice are found to 
be absolutely valueless, and so far from 
themselves giving much juice, their presence 
among crushed oanes leads to a very marked 
deterioration in the quality of Sugar pro- 
duced, as well as a diminution in the quan- 
tity of Sugar obtained. This disease, which 
has produced such disastrous results in the 
West Indies and Demerara during the last 
few years, is supposed to have been intro- 
duced from the East, and ffas been recently 
noticed in the Mozaffarnagar district of these 
provinces, and in the valley of the Godavery 
in Madras. The disease declares itself by 
the leaves of the stalk turning yellow and 
the knots red, then the tissues attacked turn 
red and woolly, the leaves wither, and the 
whole cane dries up. The merthi variety of 
cane appears to be more susceptible to this 
fungoid dis^fise than others, fpr other varied- 



ties growing in the same field and under sim- 
ilar conditions are not attacked in the same 
way. The spores of the fungus may attach 
themselves to the stalk without doing much 
damage, but if the cuticle be pierced by any 
insect, such as a borer, they attack the tis- 
sues, and the cane is ruined; bad water, un- 
suitable manures, and a poor soil may tfaus^e 
a weak crop, but if once the pores enter 'the 
tissues the strongest and healthiest cane will 
wither away The disease appears to be more 
prevalent during the hot weather than in the 
rains, as the spores of the fungiis are libera- 
ted and dispersed by the hot winds The 
preventive measures adopted are tjie removal 
and burning of diseased stalks, plantinjg 
fields where the cane has been attacked with 
other crops, using perfectly heatthy cane for 
propagation, and spraying the stalks with a 
weak solution of sulphate of copper. It has 
been observed that the fungus develops read- 
ily on young leaves of the bamboo, so a care- 
ful search should be made for such nurse 
plants, as the spores are easily carried for a 
considerable distance by the'wlniJ, and are 
likely to be disseminated in the hot weather, 
Cultivators in these provinces usually have 
a corner of their cane fields for propagation, 
but are not careful to see that the best canes 
are left for seed, and when they bury "the 
stalks still required for planting, do they se- 
lect the finest cahes and remove all bad ones? 
If the Government were to have a short, sim- 
ple manual of instruction printed In the ver- 
nacular for the use of cultivators, ^vlng a 
general description of the disease and of the 
preventive measures to be adopted — a* man- 
ual on the same lines as that compiled by Dr. 
Hankin for the prevewflon of cholera and 
cleaning of wells— a great deal of good would 
result, and the bugbear of trichosphaeria sac- 
chari would not be found so formidable a foe 
as that of beetroot. — Pioneer Mail. 

Mr. John Peters, of SL Martinsville, where 
he is the resident manager of the Keystone 
Plantation, belonging to the estate of P. Pet- 
tebone, was in the city on a visit a few days 
ago. 

Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Warmoth, of Magnolia 
Plantation, on the lower coast, were at thd 
St. Charles last Wednesday. The governor 
and his wife were en route for California 
where they will spend some four or five 
weeks. They expected to go direct to Lios 
Angeles on the Sunset Limited. 

At the Riverside Refinery of that estimable 
gentleman. Col. G. G. Zenor, the sugar boiler 
during the last campaign wias Mr. S. L. Dq 
Gravelles, an expert at the prooifbtick, wh9 
Jias a reputiitlon all pv^r tb9 etate. 



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S84 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAH MANUFACTORBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 14. 



WANTS. 



W« #n pabltah la tMs colamn, free of charge until 
fartker notice, the appllartloiis of all maiufers, over* 
Mara, engineen and sutar-makera, and otbera who- 
wmy be aeeking poeltlona In the coontry, and also the 
wanta of planters desiring to employ any of theae. 

WANTED— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar boUer, 
a crop for the coming season in Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawallaa lalands. The best of references furnished; 
addresa J. H. P., 727 Gravier street. New Orleans. 

4-5-99 

WANTBI>-Sltuatlon by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and qoick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
Mterences aa to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of running thA factory, or 
a« sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 
^ 4-«-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
time keeper. **Gbo.", care this office. 4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man with first-class refer- 
encea a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a bugar plan- 
tatton; address 8. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Poeltion by a man 80 years old, of sober 
hablta. with good references, as clerk in genersl m<^r- 
ohandlse store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do acme office work. Speaks Prench. Salaiy not so 
much an object; address J. Bbbthbl6t, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-28-09 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
An yard or atablei&aD; address Philip Braun, Gibson, 
IM, 8-27-99 

WANTEDz-Poeition by a first-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for orystallizers. Best of references; 
address H., care this office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a grst-dass sugar house en- 

Saeer, good machinist, 18 years' experieOce in some of 
e best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas: address 
F. O. Walter, Thlbodanx, La. 8-2S-90 

WANTED— Situation bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally uaeful, or aa yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
Weat Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other Weat Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work In every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 8-20-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrela. In the country; good references; ad- 



dress Alphonsb Buck, 2714 Second street", ^cii 



-16-99 



WANTED- By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will acoept a crop either In Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico: address Sugar Makbr, Lock Box 
418, Eagle Lake, Texas. 8-22-89 

WANTED— Positkni by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
aaslstiuit engineer. Have been employed for last six 

J ears as aasbtant engineer In large sugar refinery; ad- 
reaa Draughtsman, 1010 8. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 8-28-99 

WANTED— Thoroughly oomnetent machinist, with 
several years experience in leading railroad shops, 
wanta work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 
plantations. Will work by the day or by contract. He 
Is a practical locomotive engineer and has had experi- 
ence In repairing and running sugar house machinery. 
Addreas W. L., No. 1016 Magaxlne street. New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same: 
addresa J. M. S., Fletel, La. J^-16-99 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
ohemlat, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
•plantation. Ten vears experience; best of references; 
addreas A., care this office. 3-15-99 

WANTED— In first-class sugar house In Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Lonlalana, poeltion as sugar boUer or chemist, by 
man of experience: satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6041 Laulel street. New Orleans. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position aa engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a apeclaltv. Address Chief Enoi*> 
HBBB, Lntoher, Ia. 8-7-90 



WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give A 1 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 3-13-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have bad two years* experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sugar reflnhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 3-8-99 

WANTED— Position by a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 Villere street, New Orleans. 

3 9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by a flrst-cla s vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ebces from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 8-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2S-99 

WANTED— The best sugar maker In Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To ftieet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
close boiler of first and particularly of molasses sugars 
(2Qd and 3rd). State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C. M., this office. 
2-27-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, sinsle and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. NE80M, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Address H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
details of sugar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as clarifier on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hincklet, Charenton, La. 

1 2-24-99 

WANTED— An experienced young man, single, is 
open for engaffement as time-keener or clerk in coun- 
try store. A 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Off, 3418 Constance street, New Orleans. 
2-22-99 

WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-23-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlll-wright 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street, New Orleans. 
2-13-99 

WANTED— A i>osltlon by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 802 S. Basin, St., City. 2-15-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good , steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Clio 
street, New Grteans, La. 25-90 



WANTED— By a graduato of a first-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 
La^ ^25-99 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 
2t-99 

WANTED— Position as chief or second engineer; 16 

Sears' experience in cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
lis office. 24-99 

WANTED— A position for the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee to give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a flrst-clasQ man: addreos J, F. Leteff, Nes^ 
eer, U« l4-9« 



WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 320 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. l-^ 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or derk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, eto., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
r^hemlst would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rloo. 
Speaks English only. Address W., oare Loulalaia 
Planter. * ^ 1-4-98 



WANTED—Positlon as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
furnished. Call on or address F. F. Merwin, 621 Du- 
maine street, New Orleans. 12-81-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantailon. Well experienced. Can furnish beat of 
references. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 

12-26-98 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1036 N. Derblgny street. New Orieans. 
[ 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years* experience. References first- lass. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Pltn- 
tatlon. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the houseke<*p- 
Ing department on a plantation. Understand the cqrinff 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting ana 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations. <«ddress Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-ftR 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
practical machliUpt who has passed all the branches of 
the technical bign school In Germany, has had 14 yesrs 
experience In sugar house work, is in position many 
years, but wants to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 

Eerintendent for consturctlon or repairing of sugar 
ouses. Can give best of references. Address, Sugar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. 12-26-98. 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation by a man .% years of age, well versed in the rou- 
tine work of a plantation. Address Ely Strode, care 
Louis iana Planter. 12-81-86 

WANTEI>— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial. If 
^'vner Is not pleased, no (salary will be expected. Ad- 
Hvess Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-S1-96 



WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant In 
sugar house, by a young man who has had four years' 
experience and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dress D. H. Struther-s, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17-98 

WANTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish first- 
class references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. 0.,La. 
12-21-96 

WANTED— By a young man of 24, a poeltion in the 
West Indies, Mexico or elsewhere, as chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Speak German and French. 
Unmarried. Address E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 

12-21-96 



WANTED— Young sugar boiler to aot as assistant 
bailer in refinery. Those thoroughly versed in refinery 
boiling will sppiy to C. R., care Louisiana Planter. 
12-20-96 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planta- 
tion as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who haa 
had fiimilar experience In the West Indies. Commenc- 
ing salary. Address B. A. W., care this ofllce. 
1220-96 

WANTED— A competent chemist willing to carry 
laboratory work for two or three weeks, beginning 
January 1st. Compeniaatlon $30. Address F. E. C, 
Shadyslde Plantation, Centervllle, La. 12-20-96 



"Improvement Is the order of the age.*' 

Filter Cloths and Filter Bags 

We are the only thoroughly equipped house In the 
South manufacturing these goods, having imported the 
latest Improved machinery for the purpose, and our 
prices are at all times the lowest. 

steel Perforated Plates. 

Made by Wm. R. Perrin ft Co. The Perrln PresS^v- 
ing been lately adopted by some of our most prominent 

Rlanters, Is sufQclent evidence to prove its populsrlty. 
[ade in all sizes, with or without perforated plates. 
Kindly write for prices. 

Washers and Wringers for Filter Cloths. 
907 Common 9t , r - N6W QRt^ANS. 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



iLND 



R MeeM? IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS. APRIL 16. 1890. 



No. 15. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

QFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Uuia/ana Sugar Planters' Association, 
Ascension Branch Sugal* Planters' Association, 
Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 
iansas Sugar Growers' Association, 
Texas Sugar Planters' Association, 

PubUsbea at New Orleans, La., every Saturday Morning 

BT TBB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Deroted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sus^r Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 



EDITORIAL CX>RP6. 



W. C. STUBBS, Ph. 
\7. W. PUCH. 



W. J. THOMPSON. 
JOHN DYMOND. 



Entered at tho Postoffloe at New Orieana as socond-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) $3 00 

Foreign Subscription 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Space 



llnch 

2 Inch 

3lnch 

4 Inch 

6 Inch 

finch 

Tlnch 

Slnch 

91nch 

10 inch 

Halt Page. 
Full Page. 



1 months month month 12 month 



$600 
060 
14 60 
19 00 
23 60 
28 00 
82 60 
86 00 
88 00 
40 03 
60 00 

100 00 



$12 60 
24 00 
36 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
90 OD 
06 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 



$18 76 
36 00 
64 40 
71 25 
88 16 
105 00 
121 76 
185 00 
142 60 
160 00 
225 00 
40000 



$25 00 
48 00 
72 60 
05 00 
117 60 
140 00 
162 60 
180 00 
190 00 
200 00 

aoooo 

60000 



All communications should be addressed to The 
Louisiana Plantbb, 880 Carondelet street, New Orleams 
La. 

UST OP STOCKHOLDBRS. 



McCall Brothers. 
McCaia & Legeadre, 
Leoo Godchaux, 
James Teller. 
B. Lemaon & Bro., 
Leone 3 5oalat. 
Louis Bash. 
W. e. Brickell. 
W.C Stttbbs. 



John Dymond, 
Oaolel Tboraps 
Poos & Barnett, 
H. C. Warmoth. 
Lachis Porsyth. Jr., 
Bdward J. uay, 
Shattack ft Hoffman. 
Birile Rest. 
Thooias D. Miller. 
Scbortdt ft Zlegler. 
T. 6. flcLaury. 
L. 5. Clark. 
I. B. Levert. 
Slapsoa Hornor. 
W.ft. Bloomflekl. 
W. W. Stttdiffe. 
Mm S. noore. 
Janes C. Murphy. 
JM.Webf«. 



R. Beltran, 
Luden Sonlat. 

D. R. Calder. 
L. A. EIIU. 
Hero ft Malhlot. 
W. J. Behan. 

J. T. Moore, Jr., 
Edwards ft HauhtKsn. 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. Cunolngham. 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 
C. M. Sorla. 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Price. 
E.ftJ. Kock. 
Wm. Qarig. 
Adolph Meyer. 
A.A.Woods. 
Bradlsh Johnson, 
Oeorge P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonnot. 
Richard MUliken. 
W. P. nilas, 
Lezin A. Becael, 
J. N. Pharr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

Llenry HcCa!!. 

Sooiat. W. Be 

D.R. Calder. keuUBusli, 

Jolm Dya|$Qd. Prfs^om^ 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters* Asso- 
ciation. 

The April meeting of this association 
was held at its rooms on Union street 
last Thursday night and was both inter- 
esting and largely attended, among 
those present being Messrs. Henry Mc- 
Call, W. C. Stubbs, John Dymond, L. 
A. Becnel, Victor Meyer, II. S. Cro- 
zier, H. G. Morgan, Jr., James Mal- 
lon, R. G. Comeaux, W. L. Goldsmith, 
J. S. Webster, G. G. Zenor and several 
others. 

On motion, the reading of the min- 
utes of the previous meeting was dis- 
pensed with. President Rost, who had 
been absent from tlie Mareli meeting 
througli ill health, then took occasion 
to oflFer his thanks to the association for 
re-electing him to the presidency dur- 
ing his absence, the annual election 
having been held at the last meeting. 

Mr. W. L. Goldsmith, manager of 
tho Xew Orleans Acid and Fertilizer Co. 
was unanimously elected a member of 
tho association. 

The topic of the evening, "The Best 
Method of Planting, Fertilizing and 
(Cultivating Cane so as ti give the Best 
Results in Sugar," was then taken up 
and i)apei*s thereon were read to the 
meeting by Mr. R. G. Comeaux, Mr. 
H. S. (Vozier, Mr. W. L. Goldsmith 
uid Dr. Wm. C. Stubbs. The papers 
were all received with thanks and or- 
dered published, appearing elsewhere in 
this issue with the exception of the 
one prepared by Dr. Stubbs, the pub- 
lication of which Ave have been obliged 
to defer until next week owing to lack 
of space. Considerable discussion of the 
subject matter of the papers tlien en- 
sued, which was participated in by 
Messrs. McCall, Zenor, Dymond, Cro- 
zier, Goldsmith, Rost, Rickey, Stubbs 
and othei's, a full stenographic report of 
which will be given iu our next issue. 
The discussion lasted until f^ late bow, 
md tbw; af t^r leaving the §ekgtiott Qi 



a topic for discussion at the next meet- 
ing to the president, the association 
adjourned. 



Tlie Cane Crop. 

Our advices from the country this 
week indicate more or less of a waiting 
attitude on the part of the planters, who 
are unable to judge definitely of their 
crop prospects until the weather be^ 
comes warm enough to advance vegeta- 
ble life. So far as information can be 
secured, it appears that good stands of 
plant cane are anticipated from the acre- 
age seeded, and in some instances the 
stand is too thick, the managers, fearing 
very defective seed, having put it down 
.too abundantly. At this writing tho 
weather is warm, with' indications of 
the proverbial April showers, and it is 
probable that next week we will be able 
to record the marking of the rows all 
over the sugar district by both the plant 
cane and stubble. 



Anotiier Beet Sugar Factory in 
Mlciiisan. 

From the A. Wernicke Machine 
Works of Halle, A. S. Germany, whose 
advertisement will be found in this jour- 
nal, the Planter has received some data 
concerning the immense beet sugar fac- 
tory which the Wernicke Machine 
Works is now constructing at Caro, 
Michigan. The government reports 
have indicated for some time past that 
Caro was in the heart of the beet su- 
gar belt, the beets grown Jbhere showing 
the highest percentage of sugar. Sev- 
eral gentlemen interested in the devel- 
opment of the beet sugar industry took 
up the matter of the erection of a beet 
sugar factory and had a conference with 
Mr. A. Maritzen, the Chicago represen- 
tative of tho Wemickes, the firm hav- 
ing an American office there. All the 
preliminaries were carefully and syste- 
matically worked out and temporary or- 



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226 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 15 



last November. The announcements 
were then made to the public, contracts 
v^ero prepared and beet acreage was so- 
licited from the farmers. When the 
required amount was secured, or nearly 
so, a representative of the German firm 
was cabled for and Mr. Schroeder, of 
that firm,arrivjed in Detroit about the 
middle of January. 

The local bankers of the town of Caro 
took up the matter of securing compe- 
tent subscriptions to the capital stock of 
the company, laboring faithfully and 
persistently therein until finally the nec- 
essary stock subscription was secured. 
The enthusiasm of the citizens of the 
town of Caro when it was learned that 
the ufcessary subscription was secured 
was displayed by the ringing of bells, 
blowing of whistles and firing of bombs. 

The organization includes a consider- 
able amount of Detroit capital and is ef- 
fected under the style of the Peniusidar 
Sugar Refining Co., with a capital of 
$300,000. A number of prominent cap- 
italists were included in the directory 
and when the organization was an- 
nounced it is said that the stock was sub-, 
scribed for twice over. 

After the formal organization, the 
contract for the constniction of the fac- 
tory was let to The A. Wernicke Ma- 
chine Works, the specifications having 
been previously prepared and bids sub- 
mitted. 

The factory is to be completed and 
ready for operation early in September. 
The amount of money required for the 
construction of the factory gives but a 
partial idea of the magnitude of the 
work undertaken. It is estimated that 
when this factory goes into operation 
it will consume 600 tons of beets every 
twenty-four hours; that the product of 
the factory will be 75 tons of refined, 
granulated, white sugar, or 50 barrels 
ea( ^ day, the whole work requiring the 
services of fiUly 130 men and the c(m- 
sumption of some 50 tons of coal per 
day. 

TIt main building will be about 400 
feet long and about 200 feet wide. The 
beet sheds, for storing beet roots to 
supply the factory for ten days, will 
cover several acres; besides thc*se there 
will be buildings for blacksmith ing, 
c(M>per shop, repair shop, plumbers' 
building^ b^rn, etc., as well as a large 



pumping station beside the river. The 
factory site covers fully forty acres of 
land and is located between the Michi- 
gan (\>ntral Railroad track and Cass 
river, at the foot of Aimer street, just 
below the Fair grounds. The work of 
construction will be commenced as soon 
as the weather moderates. The or- 
ders for the structural iron and other 
materials having already been placed, 
600 car loads of brick will be used for 
the walls and a thousand cords of stone 
for the foundation, and everything else 
will be along the same line of immen- 
wtv. 

The Wernicke Machine Works have 
built many beet factories in Gennany 
and have now come to this country with 
a view of engaging seriously in similar 
construction here, they believing tJiat 
the vast experience of their establish- 
ment will enable them to come to this 
country and erect factories here as 
cheaply and of perhaps greater efficiency 
than can be done with, other establish- 
ments with less experience. As it will 
take some twenty-five factories like this 
one to supply Jlichigan alone with sugar, 
it will be seen that the possibilities of 
the beet sugar business are great almost 
beycnd comprehension. The factory at 
Caro will be so built as to render its 
eapac'ity of 500 to 600 tons of beets per 
day readily changeable to a capacity ex- 
ceeding a thousand tons per day. The 
Wernicke (^o. are prepared to build cane 
surer factories as well as beet sugar fac- 
tories. 



The Japanese Sugar Tariff. 

The new Japanese tariff, which went 
into effect on January 1, levies the fol- 
lowing duties on sugars: 
e aUUl shrdu shrdlu shrdlu shrdl shrd shrd 

From treaty and non-treaty countries, up 
to No. 14 D.S. 78. and Id. addiUonal each 
number. 

From treaty countries. No. 15 to 20 
D.S.. 25/8. 

From non-treaty countries. No. 15 to 20 
D.S., 52/3. 

From treaty countries. No. 20 and over 
28/4. 

From non- treaty countries. No. 20 and 
over 62/9. 

5ome weather Data. 

The somewhat disappointing condi- 
tion of the cane crop which wo believe 
to be largely the result of the exception- 
ally cold weather that has prevailed 
sin(»e the great freeze in February, ren- 
der interesting some weather data with 



which Mr. IF. G. Morgan, Jr., has kind- 
ly favored the Planter. The data is 
from the diary kept at Mr. Morgan's 
Fain^iew plaintation in the parish of St. 
Cliarles and reports for last Saturday, 
April 8, which sugar planters considered 
unpleasantly cold, white frost, weather 
clear and cool, with a minimum tempera- 
ture of 46 degrees F. 

On April 8, 1898, the same diary re- 
ports: White frost, clear and cool, with 
a minimum temperature of 44 degrees F. 

It may be that our anxiety to force 
the cane crop ahead makes us apprehen- 
sive of greater dangers than exist. We 
here find that April 8, 181)8, was even 
colder than April 8, 1890, and may we 
not infer that when wann, growing 
weather does come our cane crops will 
forge ahead rapidly. 



The Merits of Florida as a Sugar 
State. 

Thft Merits of Florida as a Sugar State, (lb) 

An editorial scrap in the Florida Timee- 
Union and Citizen in regard to the corre- 
spondence from San Antonld, Fla., on sugar 
in Florida, says, "the correspondence is un- 
worthily published, thereby stigmatizing the* 
corres.pondent and the publisher." 

When the T. A. & €. assumes to arrogate 
to itself the prerogative qf dictating to its 
contemporaries and their correspondents as 
to what Is worthy or unworthy to publish, 
it just then assumes a liberty that carries 
it across the border line of its privileges. 
This attempt to dictate or smother a review 
)ind a discussion of the sugar Industry In 
Florida has a decided smack of Caesarism. 

The question of sugar in Florida is open 
to criticism, and is subject to be sifted that 
truthful conditions may be eitposed, and the 
real status of sugar in Florida be laid bare. 
Jf Florida cane grows 37 tons per acre and 
holds 28 per cent sugar, the industry In 
Florida would not require argument to set 
it going. Capital has a way of discovering 
good Investments without argument If 
Florida is the cradle of sugar in the U. S. 
It is time to rock the infant out of it ami 
stand it on its legs or bury 4L It seems 
never to have acquired strength, whilst In 
Louisiana the industry extended,^at once af- 
ter Etienne de Bore made his * first crop 
iln 1795. In 30 years sugar culture had ex- 
tended all over the Southern district of 
Ivouisiana. If Florida began in 1767,* why Is 
!t today there is only one solitary planta- 
tion in the state, and that tottering. Ddd 
the cane in prior times yield less tonnage 
or lesj? sucrose. Years ago in Louisiana 
with the old apparatus in use 5,000 pounds 
was frequently made per acre. 

San Antonio, Fla. 

Lake Buddy. 



Mr. James C. Mahon, a leading sugar plant- 
er of the Bayou Sale section of St. Mary 
Parish, was in town on Thursday. Mr. 
Mahon made his headquarters at the Cosmo- 
politan. 



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April 15, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



227 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL CORRUPONDSNCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The drizzle mentioned in the closing para- 
graph of last week's Ascension letter, as hav- 
ing set in Wednesdaj^ night, developed Into 
a t*p-top rain by Thursday morning, the iwe- 
clpitation measuring 1.75 inches at DonaM- 
sonville. according to Local Observer Park's 
offlcflal gauge. The visitation did an im- 
mense deal of good and would have done as 
much again had it been followed by warmer 
weather. The temperature until to-day has 
continued to be unusually cool, however, and 
the progress being made by cane growth is 
therefore still of a very slow order. A per- 
ceptible elevation of temperature has oc- 
curred to-day and it is to ber hoped the 
change will mark the end of the cool spell 
that has so greatly retarded vegetation. 

Latest advices from the cane fields are 
somewhat more encouraging in tr,nor than 
those coming in a week ago. Plant cane 
is promising good stands, as a rule, and 
stu.bble. except in sandy lands, is also mak- 
ing a much better showing on fany places 
than would have been deemed passible a 
f3rtnight back. 

One of the finest crop prospects afforded in 
this parish is that on Cottage Farm, where 
the new proprietor, Mr. Fulgence Bourgeois, 
Jr., has secured an excellent stand of plant 
can and reports stubble marking the rows in 
very encouraging fashion. Mr. Bourgeois 
thinks he had the best seed on the coast, 
taken altogefher, and is confident that, with 
favorable future conditions, he will make an 
excellent crop. 

Passengers arriving by Texas and Pacific 
and Mississippi Valley Railways report cane 
beginning to mark the rows, as plainly visi- 
ble from the car windows. 

iMr. Leone M. Soniat, of Iberville, last 
week replied as follows to a request from 
the Donaldsonville Chief for an opinion 
concerning the crop situation: 

"I have not been over neighboring fields. 
On .my own place and on small planters' 
places around, stubbles are coming out better 
than was expected immediately after the 
freeze, but it will take a few days of warm 
weather to srtiow what they will do. My 
planting has been about half of what I ex- 
pected last fall. It is showing up in places, 
but the same remark as to weather applies. 
So f r as I can see, second year stubbles are 
all gone except in new lands." 

To-day (Wednesday) Mr. Soniat writes: 
"During the long cold spell of this month 
cane has made but little progress, but I 
hope for the beat with the present seasonable 
weather." 

A letter from the Bayou Sale region of St. 
Mary parish to the editor of The Chief says : 
'This section was visited by a splendid rain 
wliich was very beneficial to crops, and the 
prospect out here in general is more encour- 
ai^nf than expected, Flra^ year stubbles 



are coming out right nicely, ibut we won't 
have any second year stubble. Spring 
plant will be splendid; fall plant not so 
good." 

The machinery of our new road system is 
being put in order for operation and the fol- 
lowing excellent district boards have been 
appointed for the purpose of directing the 
work in the three districts into which the 
parish has been divided: 

First district— Henry L. Weil, president; 
Henry McOall, secretary; J. B. St. Martin, 
K H. Barton, Jules O. Ayrand, John F. 
Landry, Thos. Blouin. 

Second distrtct — ^J. C. Klos, president; L. 
W. Armitage, secretary; Henry C. Brand, 
Alex. Marchand, C. D. Gondran. 

Third district— H. T. Brown, Amedee Fred- 
eric, B. D. Dixon, Lucien Goutreau, Leon 
Picard. 

The first district body has charge of all the 
roads in the. portion of the parish West of 
the Mississippi river; the second district 
comprises the river wards on the east bank, 
and the third district is formed of the two 
interior wards commonly known as the New 
River section. Considerahle preliminary road 
work has been done, particularly in the first 
district, and this supplement 'by the ameli- 
orating efTects of dry weather has made most 
of the public thoroughfares again passably 
good in. Ascension. 



Iberville. 

rSPBCIAL CORRBSPONDBNCC.I 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been favorable during the 
week to a certain extent only, for there were 
several frosts which in some places nipped 
tender vegetables and young cotton, requir 
ing a new planting. Stubble digging was the 
main work under way this week, and we 
think the outlook for this branch of the crop 
is hardly as good as it was awhile back. One 
planter who was complaining said, when 
asked if he would get a half crop, *'0h, bet- 
ter than that." Another reports the stubble 
as coming, for a row that had to be plowed 
out showed plenty of sprouts for a good 
stand. Thus you see the conflicting reports 
are still coming in. At Cedar Grove 169 
acres were planted where 400 ought to have 
been and at lower Bimer. 35 where the plant- 
ing should have covered four times as much. 
We were on Bayou G-osse Tete this week 
and observed on the front of Hon. A. H. 
Gay's Augusta plantation a fine stand of 
plant cane, and at others a good running 
stand. 

A good number of cars of fertilizer were 
received this week, showing that our peo- 
ple do not apprehend a repetition of last 
year's wet season. 

•Mr. Frederick D. Robertson, of Plaquemine, 
sold his Homestead plantation to Hon. An- 
drew H. Gay, last Saturday, for $60,000.00. 
Mr. Robertson reserved a nine acre tract in 
the lower front corner, opposite his "Island 
tract," on to which he will roll the dwelling 
\n which ft9 upw residwj lit #lfo r^serv^ 



all the machinery in the sugar house, a part 
of which will no doubt find its way into the 
Hunter's Lodge sugar house on Bayou Jacob, 
belonging to Robertaon Brothers. Home- 
stead has an area of 1700 acres and will prove 
a most valuable addition to the Union Plan- 
tation of Mr. Gay, which it adjoins on the 
lower side. 

While the price paid was way below what 
the place would have fetched in 1898, yet it 
shows that men like Mr. Gay have confi- 
dence in sugar, and are willing to invest 
their money in Louisiana land. 

In a letter received from Mr. Desire Lorio. 
of this parish, who is now at Ahome, Sina- 
loa, Mexico, ass^isting Mr. Clarence O. Pel- 
tier, also of this parish, In taking off a sugar 
crop, he says, among other things: "You 
would be astonished to see how these poor 
Mexicans live; their food is merely corn and 
beans. They cannot do better, for they get 
from 25 to 30 cents per day in Mexican 
money. They grind their own com with two 
pieces of rock and do not know what flour 
is. The cane here is much sweeter than in 
Louisiana. The rainy season lasts from July 
till September and after that they pump 
water on the cane as we do with rice in 
Louisiana. I have seen a thick heavy crop 
of cane coming from land on which I was 
told the original planting was made eighteen 
years ago. This crop was in every respect 
as good as others planted recently. We had 
a good deal of trouble to start up, but every,- 
thing has been running well since, and if it 
continues we will be able to leave for home 
about the first of May. Mr. Lorio and Mr. 
Peltier are enjoying good health." 

iMr. Michael Schlater, of Plaquemine, 
passed the octogenarian line this week, and 
is stdll hale and hearty, although he says he 
is not as good a man as he usedto be, and 
will not undertake to put Bnterprise back in 
cane. Mr. Schlater says that liis father al- 
ways told him that on the night he was 
born, April 10th, 1819, Louisiana was visited 
by a very severe cold spell. He says the 
sap under the bark of the sycamore trees 
froze, causing the bark to slip, and tha^ crops 
and vegetables were killed to the ground. 

Iberville. 



West Baton Rou^e. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather of the past two weeks has 
not 'been at all conducive to the growth of 
cane, or any other plant, for that matter. It 
is unseasonably cooA and the result is that 
germination is exceedingly slow. The nights 
and momiings are almost cold, and even 
mid-day, with an abundance of sunshine, 
is not near as warm as it should be, con- 
sidering the fact that the middle of April is 
at hand. Then, too, more rain ds needed than 
has been falling latterly. We had quite a 
heavy shower last week, but as it was a cold 
rain and was followed by a north wind and 
a decided fall in the temperature, its bene- 
ficial ^ff^tf are problematical. Indeed, 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 15. 



frost is said to have been in evidence Sat- 
urd'ay and Sunday mornings. As a result of 
these untoward conditions, the crops are 
almost at a standstill and present an un- 
healthy color, corn, particularly, being of a 
yellow^ish cfast. 

What planting there was to do was com- 
pleted some days ago. Cane planted early 
in the spring is beginning to peep up here 
and there, but as a general propoeition it 
is too early to tell how the "stand" will 
pan out. A Uttle more rain and hot, sun- 
shiny weather ds needed to bring out the 
cane, and until this welcome change for the 
better comes the planters will be more or 
less in the dark as to the probable outcome 
of the crop. 

One .has only to walls through the average 
cane field in order to realize the havoc 
wrought by the freeze of Feb. 11-13. In 
some "cuts*' the stubble has been literally 
wiped out. Yesterday the writer walked 
through a piece of cane land that thad gi>fen 
27 tons to the acre last fall. About a month 
ago these stubbles were dug, but to-day one 
lonesome shoot is the only promise of a 
crop in that ground. Odher planters have 
stubble that is coming out quite nicely and 
promises well. A ferw planters here will 
probably grind a week or two next fall, but 
in many cases others are simply hoping to 
raise this year a sufficiency of cane for next 
year*s planting, for seed cane will be at a 
premium. That miK;h seems reasonably 
certain. 

In view of the drisaster to seed cane, it is 
quite safe to say that next fall, when seed 
is being put doi^n for the crop of 1900, it 
will be placed with a care never before ex- 
ercised. It is qul'te generally conceded that 
many planters and managers have hereto- 
fore been unduly careless in putting down 
seed cane, and that a portion of the loss by 
the zero weafher of February was due to this 
cause. 

Mr. Hugh Chamberlain, of Batture plan- 
tation, had the misfortune last week to suf- 
fer a serious loss in the burning of his 
stable, which contained a large quantity of 
feed and nearly all of his farming imple- 
ments. Insurance light. 

The river continues to rise at this point. 
West Baton Rouok. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor LouiHana PUtnter: 

The weather for the past ten days has not 
been wholly bad, yet not altogether what 
was most needed. The good rain of last 
Wednesday night did a great deal of good 
to the corn planted as well as to the cane, 
both plant and stubble, and could it have 
been followed by several days of good weath- 
er the effect on the crop would have been 
very percpfcible. As it was a certain amount 
of benefit was realized, particularly in the 
improved condition of the land, that was 
getting rather rough and cloddy and needed 
just such a Tain to put it in real good order. 
Tl»« Qo\q rwt>«r that foUowe4 (wjtb trwft 



three successive mornings) has been a set- 
back to all vegetation. However, in spite 
of this, planters seem to be more encouraged, 
and several have lately informed me that 
they thought the stand of stubble would be 
much better than anticipated. The plant 
cane is poppling out pretty generally, with 
a week of warm weather (particularly 
warm nights); on most places a fair stand 
will be realized. In fact several have told 
me that they were sorry that they had 
planted so thickly, as they would have done 
better had they stretched their cane some- 
what. The planting community will prob- 
ably not own the soft impeachment, but we 
think there is a wee bit of truth in the i^ea 
that the snow and ominous predictions then 
made resulted in a small sized panic, and in 
the planting of cane thicker than there was 
any actual necessity for, and in consequence 
an unusually heavy stand is coming up. Of 
course it is much better to have a thick stand 
than a thin one, but at the same time a too 
heavy stand means a shorter planting. 

The Lafourche continues to rise slowly, 
and is now at a very pretty height, giviing 
good steamboat navigation, and at the same 
time will furnish our rice planters with a 
plentiful supply of water at cheap rates. A 
larger area than usual will be devoted to the 
cultivation of this cereal the present year. 
The development of this industry means 
much for the prosperity of this section, and 
we trust that it will reach the proportions 
It had once attained. It has been found that 
a field planted in rice for a year or two, and 
then put lin cane is much the better for the 
rotation of crops. The Live Oak place will 
this year be cultivated altogether in rice; 
the Pothier place adjoining has this year 
partly gone iQto cane, and wiill probably in 
a year or two go back altogether in cane. 
Tile amount of corn plan/ted this year will 
also be large, and the supply of feed to be 
bought another year will .be considerably 
curtailed. The work on the Lafourdhe branch 
seems to be slow, and we hear nothing of its 
early completion. Mr. Leo Cancienne, who 
had expected to put up a refinery. Informed 
me to-day that he had given up the matter 
for the present year, as he could not count 
upon getting his machinery by rail. He has 
three rows of stubble that are the talk of 
the neighborhood, they are in a warm spot, 
and mark the rows very distinctly. He told 
us that he was not uneasy about the rest, as 
he thought it needed only a few days of hot 
weather to make it come up. The stubble 
crop on Woodlawn Is showing up very pret- 
tily, and less fortunate planters are wanting 
to know the secret of Mr. Flower's success. 
The fact that on some few places the stubble 
is marking the row well leads us to infer 
that Mr. Cancienne is right and that it is 
only a question of a few hot days when the 
laggards will come Into line. 

The death of Mr. Pierre Gilbert removes 
from Assumption one of its best known citi- 
zens. He had become almost a part of the 
clerk's office, and his fine memory, and 
t}ior9«f h iMX^uJ^^nt«nc9 wltft th^ ftrchJvcB of 



the parish will cause him to be greatly 
missed. A brave Confederate soldier, a 
wide-awake progressive citizen, genial In 
disposition, the always took a prom/inent part 
in pubMc afTairs, and his absence will be 
felt. His funeral was probably the largest 
attended ever lield in Assumption. 

Tihe roads are in much better condiition 
than they have been for some time, and yet 
the waters from the Lafourche, trickling 
through the levees are making them bad in 
some places, and a Wttle attention now be- 
stowed will greatly facilitate travel. 

We learn indireotly that the cane of 
Messrs. D. Himel and Folse & Naquin will 
be bought this year by Mr. Landry, the man- 
aging partner of Cedar Grove. Not having 
recently seen any of the parties to the sup- 
posed sale of cane we cannot vouch for the 
correctness of the rumor. 

More Anon. 



Terrebonne. 



tPPEClAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Eclilur Louisiana Pianter: 

This section was favored with seasonable 
showers last week which were of immense 
benefit to the recently planted canes, stub- 
ble and young corn, yet vegetation has been 
somewhat re'tarded by the cool weather 
which followed the rainfall. The crops are 
retarded by the backward season, experi- 
enced elsewhere to a greater extent than 
here near the Gulf. Many of the eyes of the 
stubble and the planted canes as yet show 
but slight signs of germination, due to the 
absence of heat, still cane sprouts are here 
and there forcing themselves to the surface 
where the conditions are most favorable. 
Planters have been favored with most ad- 
mirable weather to advance field work; and 
in the next two or three weeks all of the 
heavy -work of ridge forming, etc., should be 
done, whilst the weather remains cool, as the 
chances are when May arrives the tempera- 
ture will be such as to tax the power of en- 
durance of man and beast. It possible, on 
the first of May, middles should be all 
ploughed out, fields fertilized and free of 
extraneous grass and weeds. The chances 
are the canes in many fields may be bunchy 
and the stand not up to the average; and 
consequently every eftort should be made 
to produce as many suckers as possible to 
make up for tne deficiency in original stand. 

It is generally conceded that canes sucker 
best when the covering is limited, as depth 
of earth retards the operation. In ante-bel- 
lum days Mr. Henry Doyle, one of the most 
successful planters in the State, liad a single 
plough for each mule on the place, and when 
he decided the Qme had arrived, the cane 
was barred with the single plough and some 
soil was removed 'from around Che canes. 
They were left in that condition until the 
eyes began to elongate on the young sprouts 
and then the earth was rapidly returned to 
the canes. He has been known to work a 
piece of cane twenty times before giving It 
(bQ laying b^ working. To secure tbe best 



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April iS, um 



Mfi LOWSUNA ttANTfifi AND SUOAH MANUPACTtJimft. 



m 



,*esiilts on moat places this crop will have to 
be carefully nursed and frequently culti- 
vated to eradicate all extraneous vegetation. 
The fields should be put in admirable con- 
dition to produce a large crop next year, as 
Che prospects for good prices are favorable, 
due to the want of capital to develop the 
sugar industry of Cuba. 

On some places canes are being scraped for 
the second time, the stubble all fertilized and 
young com being worked, and soon all the 
cane middles will be ploughed out to ratoons 
and plant cane. The canes are coming out 
in a very perplexing manner. On Southdown, 
the estate of the late Hon. H. C. Minior, the 
last planted cane is coming up much better 
than the first seeded fields, although on the 
latter pea vines were groyn last year. The 
canes on the front of Argyle and Crescent 
farm of Messrs. Bon villain Bros., are mak- 
ing a good showing when the backwardness 
of the season is remembered. 

Wednesday of last week was cloudy and 
cool in the morning, with showers in the 
afternoon, and rains during the night and 
early on Thursday; Friday, cloudy and cool; 
Saturday, frost in the morning and fine later 
in the day; Sunday, cool, with bright sun- 
shine, also on Monday and Tuesday; and 
Wednesday morning warmer and partially 
cloudy. 

Terrebonne. 



St. nary. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The condition of the weather at this par- 
ticular time,' is all that could be reasonably 
desired or expected. While the crops have 
been dreadfully in need of rain, and were 
showing discouraging headway, owing to the 
dry, cool we&ther, the rains of some days 
ago have rlghtened things out to a very ap- 
preciable extent, being so heavy upon the 
lower lands as to necessitate the running of 
the drainage machinery, and heavy enough 
upon all to satisfy the needs of vegetation 
completely for some days; while the temper- 
ature, at or near the same time, went up 
much higher and warmed the growing things 
up to a lively degree. 

This the planters have taken advantage of, 
and have done a great deal of work towards 
breaking up and cultivating during that 
time, until now every field has been gone 
over. 

The stubble and plant cane have taken 
another start from the set back of the cool 
weather, but have not got well under way 
at this writing. The stubble was severely 
injured several eyes down, throwing all of 
the strength of the roots into the lower 
ones, which it is claimed, will mature them 
to a greater extent than though the higher 
oaes had not been injured. 

The corn is being injured by the worms, 
which have lately made their appearance, 
and which are devouring both seed and 
plants. This will entail an additional ex- 
pense upon the planter in going over and 



re-dropping. The plentitude of the worms 
is credited by some to the heavy rainy 
season that was broken last month, while 
others contend that they are not more plenti- 
ful than usual, but that their visitation upon 
tlie corn plants is due to the scarcity or the 
lateness of other vegetation, upon which 
they must subsist. 

Mr. A. H. Barman, a prosperous merchant 
of Bayou Sale, and Miss Annie Clausen, eld- 
est daughter of Mr. Jacob Clausen, manager 
and one of the principal owners of Mary- 
land ip'lantation, on Bayou Sale, were mar- 
ried a few days ago. Miss Clausen is one 
of the prettiest young women in this parish. 

Mr. S. T. McCardell, owner of J:he Oak 
Hill, and one of t,he pl-ime movers In our 
enormous drainage canal movement, was in 
Franklin, Tuesday, in connection with the 
enterprise. Mr. McCardell will receive a 
benefit from the cutting of the water way 
which he is willing and anxious to pay for. 
The last preliminaries towards holding the 
election have been gone through with, leav- 
ing the next move to be the election itself; 
and since so little opposition has manifested 
itself so far, one is warranted in the pre- 
diction that the vote of the qualified people 
will be practically unanimous in favor of the 
plan. 

St. Mary. 



Vermilion. 



(SPECIAL C0RRE8P0NDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
very cool and disagreeable and its effects on 
the young crop are anything but beneficial. 
Cane, corn, cotton and rice will all suffer 
more or less from the cold weather. The 
weather was not cold enough to kill even the 
lenderest plants but the growth of all vegi- 
tation is checked and several days of warm 
clear weather will be required to start It off 
growing again as it should at this season 
<of the year. There were reports of ice in 
several sections of the parish the early part 
of last week and it was even cold enough 
that a fire was very comfortable all during 
the day. However, the temperature has con- 
siderably moderated and today, Monday 10th, 
very pleasant with a warm, gentle breeze 
from the South. Some apprehensions are 
felt for the safety of corn sjid cotton from 
the ravages of the cut worm and reports 
from sections where the land was not broken 
before the severe cold weathr in February 
are to the efiTect that they have made their 
appearance and are sweeping every thing 
in their reach. Seeds planted in lands broken 
before the freeze have come up very nicely 
and the worms are not bothering it. Plant 
cane is coming up splendidly now and the 
pnospects are that fairly good stand will 
be obtained; in some sections where the 
cane was planted very thick to insure a good 
stand, a perfect stand has already showed it- 
self and more coming. Stubble is not so 
favorable. In some sections the stubble is 
perfectly sound and good and a perfect stand 



is already in sight, notwithstanding the very 
late spring, but in other sections there will 
be little or no stubble at all. Something 
very strange about the stubble in many 
places it comes out of the ground very nice- 
ly but as soon as the sun strikes it, it with- 
ers and dies. This is a mystery to many 
of our cane planters. The first cane that 
was planted after the freeze is now being 
off barred and scraped and early corn is be- 
ing ploughed or harrowed, cotton is not large 
enough to work yeL Rice planting is be- 
ing pushed to completion and the weather is 
very favorable for the progress of the work. 
R. H. Mills is progressing very nicely with 
his irrigating canal and with no hdndrances 
he will be ready to flood his flelds by the 
15 th of May or the 1st of 7une, he will be 
able to put water on his rice before that 
time. 

The eighth w^rd of this parish is coming 
prominently to the front and in so doing 
displays push and energy of which her citi- 
zens have plenty. By a special election held 
in that ward on the 5th inst. for stock law 
or no stock law the stock law carried by a 
large majority and on the day following a 
number of the more progressive citizens of 
that ward who enjoy good roads and 
bridges organized an improvement associa- 
tion, the purpose of which is to raise money 
to open roads and build bridges in the 8th 
ward. . The Police Jury of the parish have 
absolutely neglected the roads in that sec- 
tion of the parish and the roads that are 
there now were built by private individuals. 
Not until after the 6th ward was divided and 
the 8th ward created with that hustler, Mr. 
W. Quereau, as police juryman representing 
same, was there ever a word said about open- 
ing public roads in the western part of ttPe 
parish, but the move that is now on foot it 
is safe to say that West Vermilion will have 
roads in the near future second to none in 
the state. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8PCNDENCB. ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Owing to the unsettled condition of the 
weather dince the first of the month, plant- 
ing has been delayed from time to time until 
now the farmers are ibecoming restless un- 
der the strain, hoping for a fair and better 
season in Whicfh to terminate planting. 

The 8th and 9th inst. developed light frost 
At six o'clock a. m., on the 9th, the mercury 
indicated 36 degrees. The morning otf the 
10th was very little warmer, taie thermome- 
ter at six o'clock indicating 42 degrees; cold 
and disagreeable to all young and tender 
plants. The 11th was much warmer, the 
wind blowing strongly from the South, the 
barrometer indicating rain, and the 12th was 
warm and cloudy. 

Cane from all acounts is coming up too 
slow, but the season has been so cool since 
cane planting was "brought to a flni»h that it 
is a wonder that there is aa much of it up 
to-day as there really is. 



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TttB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAft MANUPAOTUftSH. 



[Vol. iXlI, Ko. 16. 



I And that there are some few cane raisers 
who seem to think that they will succeed in 
getting a fair stand of cane this season, at 
least over a part of the acreage planted to 
cane. On the other hand planters are met 
wilth who seemingly doubt getting anything 
like a stand of cane this season. They 
reason that a large per cent of the seed 
planted was, when put in the ground, to all 
practical purposes damaged to such an ex- 
tent that there was not life sufficient in the 
canes planted to sustain for any length of 
time an eye if it should germinate. There- 
fore this reason is put forward to prove that 
this season will produce many very bad and 
gappy stands of cane. Another item to be 
taken into consideration is, t)iat we haT-a 
not had a warm spring shower since the 
season opened, but of cold rains the plant- 
ers have had the greatest abundance, too 
much for the good of all who are In any 
manner engaged in the cyltlvation of the 
soil for a living. 

If cane, what there is of It, should develop 
something nice in these upper parishes, in 
■ this year of grace, it may be set down as an 
assured fact that hereafter no pains will be 
spared by .the cane growers in trying to put 
up their see*d cane In such a manner as to 
preserve it from the destructive effects of 
frost and freezing. 

At this point dt might be well enough to 
suggest that as far as observation has ex- 
tended canes rich in saccfharine contents are 
less subjected to the effects of frost than poor 
or watery canes. The future wdli evidently 
demand cane rich in its sugar contents. 

The cool weather -which prevailed during 
the past week and In the first days of this 
week was decidedly trying on the young 
com plants which were just coming out 
*above the surface af the ground. On some 
places the later planting of com is not doing 
as well as it should or would have done had 
the weather been more farvrorable to plant 
Ufe. 

Cotton which was planted ten days ago 
is not up. nor is it now expected to come 
out. Much replanting will have to be done 
to get anything like a perfect stand of cot- 
ton. 

Much of the cotton seed, like cane, is 
found to be defective this spring. There- 
fore the farmers have to be very careful 
when selecting seed for planting to secure 
a good and perfect stand of plants. 

The farmers have not to date finished seed- 
ing their lands to cotton, nor will they come 
to a finish this week should it rain. 

There is considerable inquiry this spring 
for sorghum seed and velvet beans for plant- 
ing purposes. 

Millet will be planted by some of our pro- 
gressive farmers for hay making. Forage 
corn has been planted on most places to grow 
for early food for feeding work stock. As 
the season grows warmer it is expected that 
farm work will advance and Improve to the 
interest and advantage of the farmers and 
planters Erin. 



St. James — Left Bank. 

(SPECIAL COBRKSPONDENCB.) 

Editor IjoniHiuua PUuiter: 

Unruly as have 'been the winter months 
che spring has been an exceptionally fine 
one so far. Fair weather has predominated 
generally with occasional showers falling 
most appropriately. Barring the effects of 
the freeze which unhappily will promin- 
ently appear throughout this year's crop, 
everything has more or less regained its lost 
vigor; the gardens are assuming a very 
pleasant outlook, and even the crops-are all 
beginning to sprout and in some places the 
rows are well marked by their green hue. 
Still vegetation has been greatly retarded 
by the rather cool snaps which have kept up 
quite steadily since the middle of March, 
thus preventing the general growth of the 
canes. 

The corn crop shows a very good stand 
and promiss a very fair outcome from pres- 
ent indications. All the rice planters of our 
district have started their crop work, most of 
them have finished planting and with the 
river that is now at our levees, flooding is 
done eslsily and with little expense, and so 
they are taking advantage of it. 

Mr. Fred Jacobshagen has planted 175 
acres of this cereal on the Tippecanoe plan- 
tation, where there are very fine and well 
drained lands for the purpose, and also all 
the necessary implemei^ts, the property 
being formerly cultivated altogether in rice. 

Mr. J. W. Pugh, of St. Elmo plantation, 
has decided to rebuild his sugar house which 
was destroyed hy fire at the close of the past 
year. Many of the neighboring small plant- 
ers were pleased to hear of this, as a factory 
in that vicinity is very necessary for pur- 
chasing canes. We understand that the work 
will be shortly begun. 

Our parish has again been visited by fire 
during the past week, the beautiful residence 
of Dr. F. P. Chopin, on the right bank, 
having been completely destroyed Friday 
evening; and also the store of Messrs. Bien- 
venue Bros., on the Gramercy place, was 
burned to the ground last Thursday. 

On Monday evening, at St. Michael's 
Church, were married Miss Alice Pitre, of 
Convent, and Mr. L. S. Toups, of Lafourche. 
The bride is a charming young brunette, and 
the groom a promising young planter of our 
sister parish. 

On the Model Farm o- Mr. Alfred Plaisance 
there have been recently built two pretty 
and neat little buildings, one on the lower 
side to be used for the office of the Pont- 
chartrain Levee Board, and the other on the 
upper side, for the Convent P. O., and "St. 
James Gazette" — both will prove quite an 
addition t^ the rising little Convent villa. 

Miss Lena Vega, of Donaldsonville, is 
being entertained in St. James by Mr. and 
Mrs. P. A. Vega, of AlU Villa. 

Convent. 



Mr. L. Geismar, of Gelsmar, La., was a 
guest of the Cosmopolitan Hotel during the 
tweelL 



The Best Hethod of Plantini:, Ferti- 
lizini: and Cultivating Cane so as 
to Give the Best Results in Sugar. 

(A paper by Mr. H. P. Crozibr, read before the Lou- 
isiana Sugar Planters' Association April 13th 1S99.) 

Never in the history of Louisiana has a 
more Important subject come up for discus- 
sion; and never was there a more propitious 
time presented for this discussion, because 
it is very important to connect the topic 
of our last discussion, as it is necessary to 
unite them both for the mutual interest 
of the buyer and seller of cane. This sub- 
ject has been almost ignored by the asso- 
ciation, and has been absorbed in discussing 
only the manufacturing part of our indus- 
try. I have been attending these meetings 
for the last ten years, and heard about every 
department of the sugar house, from the 
top of the chimney to the skim ditch. There 
never was a more serious mi&take made 
on earth than not connecting the field and 
tne factory; because the field and factory 
are linked together by the strongest and 
most inseparable connections, owing to the 
peculiar relation afTecting the cost of sugar 
accoraing to the yield and percentage of the 
raw material. As the sucrose runs up or 
down in the stalk of cane, the scale of profit 
is regulated, as the thermometer marks the 
temperature of the weather. For instance, 
if it cost $2 a ton to raise a ton of cane mak- 
ing a hundred pounds of sugar at 3 cents, 
you give bwo-'thirds of the value for the 
labor; if you raise 175 pounds you give 
only about two-fifths of the. product for 
labor. If we pay for our labor In sugar, 
you can readily see at a glance how it would 
afTect the relative value of work paid for 
out of the product of a ton of cane. Three 
conditions in the last twelv^ months havo 
cast a dark cloud over our industry, which 
threatens us with a loss that seems almost 
too distressing to contemplate. First the 
ccimplication iwdth Cuba which threatens us 
with a competition with Cuba's riper cane 
under peculiar circumstances. Second, the 
•most phenomenal pecuMarities surrounding 
the character and Qualities of our cane 
harvested this last season. Thirdly the un- 
precedented cold that filled us with a gloom 
and fear that we have never experienced be- 
fore, as Nature seems to have robbed us of 
our climate, which has been a precious in- 
heritance that was so essential to our tropi- 
cal tplant that has been protected so many 
winters by the balmy breezes of our Gulf 
that softened the wiatry blasts in our 
tropical clime. None of these obstacles 
however can we control; but their serious 
consequences combined have impressed upon 
us the imi>ortance of first preserving our 
cane for the factory, and our attention has 
by this severe lesson been forced to direct 
itself with redoubled energy towards the 
practice of economy and the best method of 
p.'oducing a ton of cane that will be best 
suited for. the factory and of the greatest 
profit for the grower. Two of the foregoing 



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TflB LOUISIANA PLAMTEH AND SUGAR MANUPaCTUSER. 



i$i 



DQd-ilicns prove also to the Louisiaoa plant- 
ers more than ever that our crop is an arti- 
ficial one and that it is necessary to resort 
•o Eiime artificial means not only to pro- 
t:K;i ii from the cold, but to force its develop- 
ment in suoh a manner as will secure the 
best results. The very fact that all the 
Louisiana planters united in desperate el- 
fcrts to establisli some method of buying 
cano on its intrinsic val|3 in order to protect 
tliemselves against green cane, shows that 
It is necessary for the grower of cane to re- 
sort to some means of making it less green. 
U i? also a positive admission on the part 
ct tiic planters that there is a possible chance 
Qi ariiving at some medium, which through 
the co-operation of science and nature, with 
judgment and cultivation and fertilizing, 
that some of the obstacles will be overcome, 
that go to produce green cane. Now the 
question Is what are we to do? This part of 
the industry has been absolutely neglected, 
and the impression prevailed that no means 
wire in our powr to improve the sugar con- 
tents, and at our last meeting the planters 
came to the front and said ,"if you do not 
grow riper cane, we will not buy it." I 
am sure the multipliolty of obstacles that 
block the rugged road that leads us in the 
direction of making riper cane will spring 
up from every direction and every voice at 
this meeting. Success is a good criterion 
and is generally a target for us to make 
our pattern; but even this fails in sugar 
culture, as the field for economy is so lati- 
tudinal that many leakages in one branch 
or other are overbalanced by strict economy 
in other departments of the plantation ad- 
miRiatration. With these wide differences 
of management they often produce the same 
financial result. Now causes and effects have 
escablished rules in nacure, as well as me- 
chanical, therefore the causes which pro- 
duce green cane aiteci the causes which 
make it less green, and if we admit our 
knowledge of most of the conditions that 
produce green cane we should be able to 
coiitrol to some extent the conditions that 
make it less green, which is equivalent to 
making more sugar. I do not agree with 
the authorities that say we cannot increase 
lonnage and at the same time increase su- 
crose; because the objefct of fertilizer is 
to increase tonnage and force maturity; and 
the sooner we expose the red joint the 
sooner we develop maturity, which natural- 
ly makes mo^e sugar even if we resort to 
mechanical means of topping properly to 
1 educe tonnage. All cane should be fertil- 
ized when planted, as it absolutely secures 
the stubble crop under ordinary circum- 
stances, and the vitality of the roots pro- 
duce an early development in our stubble 
crops which is of the greatest importance, 
as it is the first cane ground, and its develop- 
ment depen-ds on the fertility of the land 
to reach this development as early in the sea- 
son as possible. Suckers are produced from 
two causes. One is to check the cane out of 
the ground, so that the root vitality will 
be strengthened in this manner and sub- 



sequently throws out suckers. But by fertil- 
izing with the proper fertilizers you 
strengthen this root vitality sufficient to grow 
and put out suckers at the same time, even 
•when your cane is dirted in dry weather. 
You can also increase your tonnage by 
planting a six Coot row instead of seven 
foot row. This would give you five more 
rows to the acre that can be cultivated more 
economically and the fact that the nature 
of our plant is a social one, the sooner we 
shade the ground the sooner we force the 
growth of the cane, by retaining moisture. 
Five foot rows have another advantage over 
seven foot rows. Often in pilowing out the 
middles of a seven foot row the mules make 
sixteen hundred tracks on th sides of the 
plowed ground. This can be obviated in a 
five foot row with cultivators and advance 
plow. Great importance should be attached 
to the manner of squaring u^ the edges of 
the row; so the cultivators can lift the dirt 
which softens the crust and holds moisture, 
which is a suhstUute for late plowing. Care 
should be taken to keep the beds square, so 
th^t the fertilizers will not be washed In 
the direction of the water furroiw. Good 
judgment in cultivation I consider has as 
much to do in efTedting \gx>od results in the 
direction of ripe cane, and a uniform ton- 
nage seems to be more desirable. One of 
the most discouraging features suggested 
to me that will continue to present an in-^ 
terruption in the direc'tiOn of riper cane is 
the fact that the greater portion of Louis- 
iana interests are in full control of agents 
and managers, whose ambition is to please 
the fancy of the owner of vigorous top- 
heavy cane, that he watches growing for 
nine months. And while he justly claims 
that he has done his duty well, the sugar 
maker growls, the mill trembles, the coal 
pile is never still, the hot room is jammed, 
and as tl^e angry smoke rolls out the big 
chimneys, all seem to join In a chorus of 
Indignation at the manager; since he had 
one year to study the conditions that made, 
these troubles, and the factory only a few 
hours. If he too were interested in the su- 
crose, I am sure we would have much better 
results. One-half per cent sucrose on the ton- 
nage of last season would have given a 
thousand overseers additional wages of $3,- 
600 each. Now this subject is too serious 
for the planters to be deceived Into think- 
ing that sugar contents cannot .be Improved. 
Every Intelligent planter knows that phos- 
phates force maturity In every crop under 
the American sun; and as sugar cane Is the 
only crop under the American sun that does 
not mature, how very important it is for us 
all to join In the cn/ade against green cane 
and march bac.l|C along the line and study 
from our experience the conditions thaJt 
make It less green If we cannot make It 
riper. I call your attention to a few ex- 
amples that I hope will be calculated to In- 
crease your prejud'lce against green cane. 

12 per cent sugar at 3 cenits Is the same as 
9 per cent sugar at 4 cents. 9 per cent sugar 
with 75 per cent ext equals 1^ pounds at 4 



cents, or $5.40 per ton. 12 per cent sugar, 
75 per cent ext equals 180 pounds at 3 cents, 
or $5.40 per ton. 15 per cent Increase In 
extraction Is not equal to 2 per cent Increase 
in sugar. 65 per cent, or 1,350 pounds, 12 
per cent sugar, 162 pounds at 3 cents, $4.96. 
80 per cent ext, 1,600 pounds x 10 per cent 
sugar Is 160 pounds at 3 cents, $4.80 per 
ton. 1 per cent ext. Is equal to 2 pounds 
of sugar to the ton. 1 per -cent sucrose Is 
equal to . 15 pounds of sugar. 2 per cent 
Increase In sugar makes 20 ton cane equal 
to 30 ton cane. 

I have known instances where there was 
a difference of $30,000 In crops of equal ton- 
nage. I think the great solution oif this prob- 
lem of how to make riper cane has been 
partly solved when we decide to buy cane 
on Its Intrinsic value. In 1894 two plant- ' 
ers in the same neigliborhood, one had 80 
per cent extraction, the other 60 per cent ex- 
traction, but both made the same sugar on 
the same number of tons, masculte worked 
alike. The difference was 400 pounds of juice 
to the ton, on 20,000 tons was 8,000,000 
pounds of juice, necessitating the use of over 
a million pounds of coal. I consider that 
this subject has also been seriously neglected 
from a scientific standpoint as the organic 
tnaterlals of the cane have never been 
analyzed sufficiently at the different stages 
to study the conditions more closely. Su- 
crose at the time of harvest seems to be-our 
only desire to determine results without 
causes. Sugar cane, is said to be a species 
of grass; if this Is the case, we all know that 
in the phosphate lands the grass is far 
superior to any other grass in the world, 
and we should never use ammoniates on 
cane of any nature without using phosphates. 
The wheat, grower with his hundred and 
fifty pounds of bone goods has not only 
doubled his crop, but la^ the foundaitlon 
Cor productive leguminous crops, and the 
cotton planter has brought his product Into 
the market one month earlier. I do not 
think It Is admissible for me to discuss the 
qiV^lity and relative values of fertilizers. I^ 
will only cite some of the reasons why com- 
plete fertilizers are not more <used. iMany 
an overseer refuses to buy tankage because 
the cane Is tinged with a yello(wish cast be- 
fore harveat A great many object to it 
on account of its odor. Planters should not 
be prejudiced by the competition In the com- 
petitive brands of fertilizers; they should 
L'tudy closely the commercial values and use 
every effort to get the managers to use them 
Intelligently. Cane Intended for the mill In 
October should not be fertilized and culti- 
vated In the same manner as cane we ex- 
pect to grind two or three months later. 
The more we fertilize and the less we culti- 
vate late Is, In my opinion, the best way to 
mature cane. 



Mr. J. B. Brown, at Ivanhoe plantation, 
and Mrs. Brown, were in the city on a visit 
a few days ago. They registered at the Com- 
mercial Hqtel. 

•Mr. J. Supple, a leading Iberville Parish 
sugar planter, accompanied by Mrs. Supple, 
took departments at the Gnmeiwald during 
the week. 



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232 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXn, No. 15. 



Best Method of Plantins:, Fertilizing 
and Cultivating Cane so as to 
Give Best Results in Sugar. 

(A paper by Mr. R. G. Comeaux, re»d before the 
Louisiana Sugar Planter^' Association April 13th, 
1899.) 

The subject adopted for discussion tonight 
Is one of vital importance; it is one upon 
which will depend largely the destiny of the 
sugar industry of Louis^iana. 

The time is not far distant when we will 
be brought in competition with the world In 
the production of sugar, when we will com- 
pete with those countries, who, favored 
either by nature, or by science well applied, 
have been able to make their cane or beets 
produce much over 200 lbs. of sugar per ton. 

iWhen we consider the disastrous results 
of the season just elapsed, and all on ac- 
count of cane which was deficient Sn sugar 
qualities, then it strikes us forcibly that 
something must be done to Improve our cane. 

The question is now asked, what is the best 
method of planting, fertilizing and cultivat- 
ing' cane, so as to give best results in sugar? 
I dare say, if the question was put to one 
hundred people who are growing cane in 
Lfouislana, that hardly two would give exact- 
ly the same method. If such should be the 
case, and I believe it would, then why should 
there be so many dl/ferent methods of grow- 
ing the same cane on the same lands. 

The old method, and one still largely in 
vogue, that of deep plowing in cane late in 
July, or until the mules are entirely hid by 
the cane tops, will have to cease. 

The season in Louisiana Is too short for 
cane to mature, and as its age dates from the 
day it Is laid by, to the day it is cut, then 
it is evildent that cane laid by in the mid- 
dle of July, and cut in October for the mill, 
would be very immature, unless the fall 
months were either very dry or the land was 
so poor as to cease nourishing the cane along 
in September. For the reason last given, 
cane in old worn out Isinds produces plenty 
of sugar, but as that Mnd of cane always re- 
sults In low tonnage, does it pay? Is there 
no means by which we can combine the two 
— heavy tonnage and good sugar yield? I 
believe that if ever the chemist is to help the 
sugar planter, he will start right here; he 
will analize our soils, and tell us in what 
properties it is deficient. 

It is useless to believe that we can dis- 
pense with the use of commercial fertilizers 
In the growing of sugar cane; still many 
contend,, that fertilizers produce green cane. 
The first requisite to grow cane success- 
fully, is to have good drainage; the second 
in my opinion is fertilizers judiciously ap- 
plied. In all styles of business, we have sys- 
tems; have methods expressed and well de- 
we have methods expressed and well de- 
fined on paper, which are guides to run the 
business, and we have recourse to them from 
lime to time, as the occasion requires; until 
we have les^rned to make a success of. our 
business, but in my long experience of rais- 
ing sugar cane, I have not yet seen a method 
or treatise on cane growing, a method, hy the 
use of which a beginner could start in the 



business, and by giving proper care and at- 
tention, be guided safely to success. It is 
the general belief, that no definite method 
can be formulated, by which cane can be 
cultivated uniformly through the different 
seasons. It Is very true, our seasons are un- 
favorable sometimes, but if we notice closely, 
thiis condition does not extend throughout 
the whole year, each year having some good, 
as well as some bad features. 

As I have already stated, every man grow- 
ing cane has his own method, and while 
many may claim their method to be the best, 
still I think It will be necessary to combine 
the best points from the different methods, 
and by that means conclude upon a general 
method. In order to do so it will be neces- 
sary to get Individual ideas. Individual ideas 
are not easily obtained, especially when 
wanted on subjects on which one feels not 
over-confident in liimself. While I am no 
exception to the rule, I am willing to come 
in for my share of criticisms, and will give 
my method of growing cane. 

Sugar cane is a hardy plant, it stands the 
vicissitudes of our climate better, and is 
safer than any of the staple crops which we 
grow, still for all Its advantages we make 
failures of It sometimes. 

In order to grow a good crop of cane it is 
necessary to first plow the' land deep in the 
fall. The effect of the freezes helps a great 
deal to pulverize the soil, so as to make It 
Impart its goodness to the canes as soon as 
they begin to sprout 

Were It not for the Inconvenience of load- 
ing and hauling cane in wagons with tread 
boo wide to fit the rows, cane could be plant- 
ed in rows B% or 6 feet apart; but where 
lands are sandy and strong, cane grows of 
such length, that When cut they overlap nar- 
row rows, and much of the ends are crushed 
hy the wagon wheels as they drive through 
the cuts. I have therefore been compelled on 
that account, to adopt as the distance be- 
tween rows, 6 feet In black, and 6% feet in 
sandy lands. It has always been the cus- 
tom to leave cane on the bar furrow until it 
was up to a stand, and even longer, that the 
sun might heat the roots. That I believe is 
an error. Oane should, as early In the spring 
as Is considered safe, from the cold, be barred 
off and scraped very close, but It should re- 
main in that bare condition only a few days, 
wheii a light furrow should be brought up 
on each side to retain moisture; from thence 
cultivators with narrow shovels can be 
worked frequently to great advantage. 

It is just at this stage that commercial 
fertilizers cut a most imx>ortaait figure; not 
being versed in chemistry, I will only speak 
from experience. 

Eight years ago I began to use fertilizers. 
The first year I used 8 tons; since that time, 
I have increased the amount gradually 
every year, until last season I used 104 tons. 
I have not yet reached the limit, and still 
consider it safe to use more. 

My first idea of using fertilizers on sugar 
cane was gotten from Mr. Maglnnis, of the 
Planters' Fertilizer Co. Although Mr. Ma- 



glnnis had not been long in the sugar busi- 
ness, he contended that even in well pre- 
pared pea vine land, cane could be made to 
ripen sooner if a certain amount of fer- 
tilizer was used at planting time. He claimed 
that as soon as the mother canes came out 
of the ground, the extra nourishment af- 
forded, would bring the suckers out at once, 
and that the growth wouIU be so rapid, as 
to permit laying by three or four weeks 
sooner than usual. 

Starting with that idea as a basis, I find 
from actual practice that I can use fertilizers 
with safety. 

As far as I can see, our lands for sugar are 
deficient in two ingredients — ammonia and 
phosphates. To get the required amount of 
each is what we have tx> determine. In order 
to avoid confusion, I have confined myself to 
two grades of fertilizers, namely: standard 
high grade and McCall's formula, both made 
by the Standard Guano & Chemical Manu- 
facturing Company. High grade is used in 
plant cane, at the rate of 300 lbs. per acre 
In pea vine land, and McCall's formula is 
used in stubble In amounts to suit require- 
ments of land, from 600 to 800 lbs. per acre. 

The method of cultivation clepends a 
great deal upon the strength of the land. 
Where lands are poor, deep plowing has to 
be resorted to, in order to keep the cane 
growing, but if fertilizer enough is used In 
the drill, cultivation can be llghtenecl so as 
to simply hring the dirt up from the middles, 
covering the roots gradually without cutting 
them. 

This work can he done to great advantage 
with cultivators, of which we have a great 
number, and by the frequent use of which 
grass is destroyed in the bud, thus reducing 
hoe work. Cultivators made by the John 
Deere Co., of Illinois, are well suited for 
cane work; they are built strong, and with 
shovel attachments, can be run deep on the 
sides of cane, until it is two feet high; from 
then on, the disk cultivator should be used, 
leaving two or three furrows only in middles 
for the plow. 

Cane should be hilled up finally, as much 
as possible. In order to cheai>en this work, 
I have a fiuke attachment for Avery's Ad- 
vance plow, which, if run after middles are 
plowed out last time, crushes the furrows, 
and raises fine dirt up to the cane. When 
cane is laid by in this manner. It offers much 
resistance to the wind, and Is always 
straighter when cut for the mill. 

The laying by of cane should not be later 
than July 4th. 



The Best Hethod of Plantinsf, Ferti- 
lizing and Cultivating Cane so as 
to Give Best Results in Sugar. 

(A paper by Mr. W. L. Goldsmith, read before the 
Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association April 18tb, 
1899.) 

Mr. President and Gentlemen: My first 
sentence shall be one of'fhanks for your 
very kind Invitation to submit this evening, 
a paper on the question of: *'The Best Meth- 
od of Planting, Fertilizing, and Cultivating 



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April 15, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND StJOAft MANtPACTtmBft. 



233 



Sugar Cane, so as to Give Best Results in 
Sugar." Vast question, CBIs.' Either of the 
three natural divisions— planting, fertilizing 
or cultivating— Is a big question. Afl I am 
a manufacturer of fertilizer, I will, with 
your permission, select the second division, 
to-wit: "Tlie Best Method of FertlJTzfng 
Cane, so as to Give Best Results dn Sugar.'' 

Indulge me. please, in a few personal and 
preliminary remarks.. 

I come, not to teach, but to Be taught; 
not to give, but to receive information. 
Content will I be. if I can add my humble 
mite of information toward the future pros- 
perity and glory of your great industry. 

And again: As manager of the New Or- 
leans Acid & FertiMzer Ck>mpany. I beg to say 
rhat we have invested, in a plant in Gretna. 
La., just across the river, one hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, exclusive of real es- 
tate, and have fitted up this plant with every 
possible scientific and practical arrangement 
Icnown to the business. We have a compe- 
tent and experienced corps of employes, em- 
bracing chemists. 

This is sadd to show the mutualRy of our 
interests, and the faith we have in Che 
future of siigar. 

I desire to remark in the outset that, un- 
less there is proper preparation for plant- 
in?, and cultivation thereafter, we cannot 
get even passable results from the very beet 
fertilizer, but each depends upon the other, 
and, where we have thorough preparation, 
the right kind of fertilizer, and proper culti- 
Tation, success will be sure to follow. It 
may be defeated once in a while on account 
of the seasons, but, in a given number of 
years, the general average will be great 
success. 

We believe that the sore trials through 
which this industry has gone during C6e past 
year, will prove a blessing in disguise, for 
we believe that mistakes have been made in 
the use of the proper fertilizer, best adapted 
to the sugar cane. 

While the sugdr interests have exhausted 
every means possible to invenl and employ 
machinery to extract the last drop of Juice 
from th ecane, which is commendable, we 
fear that sufficient interest has not been 
given to enriching this Juice in saccharine 
matter. The growers of beet sugar, both in 
Germany and in this country, have perhaps 
paid more attention to the fertilisation of 
their crops than we. 

All plant and animal life require three dis- 
tinct elements of nourishment — nitrogen, 
phosphoric acid, and potash; and we contend 
that it is just as important to know the 
chemistry of plant food, as it is of animal 
and human iood. No family can prosper in 
health, that rf^est of blessings, unless they 
understand the chemistry of the kitchen. 
People require nourishing foods, and that of 
different finds— vegetable, bread and meat. 
Exclusive use of either one is injudicious. 
Neither will plahts thrive best on one kind 
of food alone. They must have natrogen, 
phosphoric acid and potash, and, as a f oisral 



rule, all three of these chief fertilizer in- 
gredients, are absolutely necessary. 

Time will not permit me even to mention 
the various sources of nitrogen, composing 
the 3 great classes of mineral, vegetable and 
animal nitrogen. Suffice it to say, that this 
information is of utmost importance, as the 
range is from worthless to good; from cotton 
seed meal, our own native product, which is, 
perhaps the best, to scrap leather, which is 
almost worthless. 

The same can be said of potash salts. 
Phosphoric acid, however, is the same, de- 
rived from whatever source. The essential 
thing is to get available phosphoric acTd, 
that which is changed from tricalsic, (or 
natural) to monocalsic and dicalsic. By 
available we mean such as will afford plant 
food during the life of the growing plant. 

Judging from the analysis and observation 
of the soil of the sugar cane district of 
IxNiisiana, it is comparatively well supplied 
with potash and nitrogen, but not with phos- 
phoric acid. 

Nitrogen, as you know, stimulates growth, 
potash strengthens and straightens the stalk, 
while phosphoric acid enriches, with saccha- 
rine matter, the sap, and hastens maturity 
from two to four weeks. 

A good fertilizer for the average lands of 
Louisiana should contain about 3 per cent of 
ammonia, 7 per cent to 8 per cent of phospor- 
ic acid, and 1 per cent of potash, and from 400 
to 800 pounds used per acre. 

The use of fertilizer containing from 8 
per cent to 10 per cent of nitrogen, we deem 
neither economkal nor judicious. Ammonia; 
which is one of the most volatile of gasses, 
will generally expend Itself in a compara- 
tively short time, and, even when derived 
from a vegetable source, such as cotton seed 
m^l (which is slowest in decomposition), a 
very large percentage win leach out and 
pass away, without nourishing the plant; 
and that left behind will unduly stimulate 
it to a luxuriant overgrowth. 

We all know how a crop highly stimu- 
lated with ammonia appears — large luxuri- 
ant stalks which challenge our admiration, 
and which are a delight to look upon, and 
to show to oiir neighbors, but too often it is 
like unto the "Whited Sepulchre"— beautiful 
to look upon, but within, full of insipid 
sap. There is something more to oe desired 
than luxuriant growth, frail and tender, to 
be blown about and tangled by every wind. 
It would he better to have a smaller stalk, 
nourished with ammonia derived from ni- 
trate of soda and cotton seed meal com- 
bined, the first to give quick and active sup- 
port to the young and needy plant during 
the coM spring weather, and the latter, by 
its slower decomposition, to nourish and 
feed it during its first two or three months, 
with sufficient potash to strengthen and 
straighten its stalk, and plenty of phosphoric 
acid to enrich and nourish, with saccharine 
matter, its juice. Man cannot create life, 
but he can liourish it into vigorous growth 
and abundant fruitage, or can starve and kill 
it 



I mentioned above what I deem the best 
fertilizer for our average soil, but every rule 
has its excepblons. I am aware that every 
planter is the best judge of his own soil and 
therefore, should know best what fertilizer 
to use. I do say, however, that no fertilizer 
skould be used that does not contain a large 
percentage of phosphoric acid. If either one 
o< the above named valuable ingredients is 
to be left out. do not let it be the phosphoric 
a^d; and if any one of the three above 
named ingredients is to be used alone, by all 
means let It be the phosphoric acid. A great 
deal of our virgin soil needs nothing but 
phosphoric acid to enrich the juice of the 
canu. and to force it to an earlier maturity, 
while other soil may need potash and nitro- 
gen. But, in a great majority of cases, a 
moderate use of potash and nitrogen is suffi- 
cient, inasmuch as the soil, if properly pre- 
pared and cultivated, will furnish an almost 
sufficient supply of these two valuable in- 
gredients, but. in no case can a soil be 
found in the sugar district of Louisiana, that 
would not be greatly benefitted by the liberal 
use of phosphoric acid. 

The kind of phosphoric acid which is best, 
is that which has the largest percentage of 
it immediately available, such as water solu- 
ble and citrate soluble phosphoric acid. The 
insoluble phosphoric acid, such as raw bone, 
or bone phosphates which have not been 
acidulated, is too slow in deoomposltion to 
andwer the purpose. The raw bone in our 
mai'kdts takes one. two and three years to 
naturally decompose in the soil, and fur- 
nish phosphoric acid as plant food for Che 
growing cane. 

Science has acidulated iwne phosphate, and 
has made 90 per cent immediately available 
as plant food. I cannot see the economy of 
a planter burying his money in the ground 
in the shape of insoluble phosphoric acid, 
be it derived from raw bone or bone phos- 
.phates. there to lay unremuneratice for one. 
two and three years, when, for the same or 
less money, he can buy a fertilizer contain- 
ing a large per cent of water soluble and 
citrate soluble phosphoric acid, which are 
immediately available as plant food, and a 
small per cent of insoluble phosphoric acid, 
which will be available the second year, on 
account of its finely ground condition. 

The present method of applying fertil- 
izer, as it is now practiced, is perhaps as good 
as any. The plant canes, whether fall or 
spring, should be placed in furrows that have 
/been previously drilled or strewed with the 
fertilizer, and thoroughly intermixed with the 
soil by running a plow after the drill; or. 
if stubble, it should be fertilized after the 
off-barring, and just before the soil is 
turned back to the cane. 

We believe that one application of a well 
balanced fertilizer, at the proper time, would 
ibe best, but, in seasons like the present, 
where so much valuable time has been lost 
by wet and cold weather, the crop, whether 
plant cane or stubble, should be liberally fer- 
tilized at as early a day as possible, by 



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[Vol. XXII. Ko. 15. 



strewing the fertilizer in a furrow from 
twelve to fourteen Inches from the cane. 
Especially it is Important to make up lost 
time by thoroughly fertilizing the present 
crop. 

We all know that the sweetest cane is that 
which is most matured when the fall time 
comes; therefore, it behooves us to push for- 
ward, by the liberal use of phosphoric acid, 
the crop to as early maturity as possible, so 
that its sap will be as full of sucrose as pos- 
sible before the harvest time arrives. 

Elspecially is this important in view of 
getting the best seed cane. One should fer- 
tilize his entire crop if possible, but certainly 
the cane intended for seed should be fer- 
tilized judiciously and liberally, thus guar- 
anteeing straight, strong and healthy cane. 

I say Judiciously, because if fertilized with 
an unbalanced ration where nitrogen pre- 
dominates, our cane will be crooked, green, 
and sappy, with protruding eyes, and heavy 
tonnage. But, as above stated, whether the 
cane is for seed or for the mill, it is of ut- 
most importance that it should receive the 
proper nourishment in the way of a fertilizer 
well balanced in its essential parts, which 
will produce a straight, strong, and not over- ■ 
grown cane; but rich in sucrose.. 

Results are what we want, rather than ap- 
pearances, and we believe that the time is 
coming when our planters will lean more 
than ever upon their chemists, and the sug- 
gestions of science, and will pay closer at- 
tention, not only to preparing and cultivat- 
ing, but to the judicious and proper fertiliza- 
tion of their cane. 

But, as above stated, in Its last analysis. It 
is narrowed down to this: The planter 
should, and must know better than any one 
else, the character of his soil, and the kind, 
quality and quantity of fertilizer necessary 
and best adapted to his soils and crops. 

We have faith in the superior methods and 
intelligence of our planters. We, therefore, 
do not indulge in the fearful forebodings 
heard concerning the future of this great 
industry. In our humble opinion, Louisiana 
will still be the "Queen of Sugar," although 
the Beet Sugar of the West and the tropical 
isles, including the "Queen of the Antilles," 
have siprung forward, with unshackled limbs, 
to vex us with their competition. 

This country, with a sugar consumption of 
over two millions tons, and only producing 
about twenty-five per cent of fhis amount, 
and requiring one half the price of our vast 
cotton crop to pay for the Importation of the 
seven ty-flve per cent, presents strong reasons 
for encouragement 

Surely the government and the people of 
the United States, considering the vast inter- 
ests, not only of the beet, maple and cane in- 
dustries, but capitalists, factors, mill men, 
railroads, and hundreds of other dependent 
occupations, will not permit free sugar from 
these outside lands of pauper labor, to ruin 
one of her greatest industries. We certain- 
ly have not freed Cuba, Porto Rico and the 
Philippines in order to enslave ourselves. 



This country cannot, and will not allow her 
labor and capital unaided to compete with 
the cheap labor of these places. Self pre- 
servation is the first great law of nations, 
as of nature, and this great injustice will 
not be accomplished. This suicidal policy 
will not prevail. 

We have shown our faith, as mentioned in 
the first part of this paper, by making large 
investments in your midst, to furnish proper 
fertilizer material. We can furnish any 
grade of fertilizer, or any kind of material 
that a planter may want, in any kind of 
combination he may desire. He must judge 
the wants of his soil, and we will supply it. 

We are deeply interested in this question; 
interested second only to fne planter. If he 
lives, we will live. If he perishes, we will 
perish. But our faith, as above stated, is 
as bright as the Morning Star. We do not 
think of failure for a moment. The past 
year, with all its trials and tribulations, has 
not in the least diminished our faith, and we 
confidently look forward to a brighter and 
more glorious future for sugar than ever 
before known. 



^ . Indian^ Pro^ction of Sug^r. 

In a circular the Government of nidia goes- 
on to point out that the ared under Sugar 
, cane in India is estimated at about 2,500,009 
acres, and the output of "course, refined" su- 
gar at about the sanie number of tons, one 
ton being the estimated output per acre. 
Taking the value of this coarse, unrefined Su- 
gar at 100 rupees a ton, the total value of the 
Indian production of Sugar is estimated by 
the Indian Government at Rx25,000,000. Ths 
total value of the imports of Sugar of all 
kinds into India in the year 1897-98 was re- 
turned at Rx4,700,000. On these figures the 
comment of the Government of India is that 
*the imports bear a considerable proportion, 
as regards value, to the production of the 
country." The proportion, it will be ob- 
served, is only a trifle over 1 to 6. The com- 
parison, however, is between commodoties of 
very different intrinsic value. The Indian 
"coarse unrefined" Sugar, to use the phrase 
of the Government of India, is stufC that 
looks more like mud than Sugar. It is 
squeezed from the Sugar cane by the rudest 
of presses, and is prepared by methods whose 
only claim to respect lies in their hoary an- 
tiquity. A large part of the imported Sugar, 
on 'the other hand, is the purest Sugar that 
German chemical science can prepare. Not 
unnaturally the market prices of the two 
commodities somewhat diffef. According to 
a trade paper German Granulated Sugar 
fetches at least double the price of native-In- 
dian Sugar. Therefore, to get a true pic- 
ture of the relation of foreign imports to 
Indian production, we must compare quanti- 
ties as well as values. This comparison 
shows that as against an estimated Indian 
production of 2,500,000 tons of Sugar, the 
import in the last recorded year of all for- 
eign Sugar, Beet and Cane combined, was 



only 230,000 tons. In other words the im- 
portation was less than one-tenth of the In- 
dian production. A Government that can 
take alarm at such a proportion as this must 
be timorous Indeed. — Produce Market Re- 
view. 



Trade Notes. 

Haubtman & Loeb. 

As C3n tracts of any magnitude for sugar 
machinery^4iave unfortunately been a little 
bit scarce hitherto this season, it is refresh- 
ing to chronicle the daal recently made by 
Mr. L. A. Ellis, of Sartartia. Texas, with that 
well-known firm, Haubtman & Loeb, for an 
extensive outfit for his sugar tiouse, compris- 
ing vacuum pan, pumps, double' effect, cen- 
trifugals, ecc. Messrs. Haubtman & Loeb 
are a thoroughly live Lrd wide-awake firm, 
and as they handle some of the finest and 
most reliable mochinery in the market, they 
find that business ic^omes their way, even in 
a dull year like the present. 



Sugar in London. 

The Raw market has been rather unsettled, 
but t^rfces have^ quickly recovered from any 
d^rllne and close wlthimt showing any par- 
ticular change. Rumors have been current 
of a possibility of a reimposition by this 
country of a duty on Sugar, but the success 
of the proposals of the Indian Government, 
which were approved of by the Ministers 
here, might encourage them to make the at- 
tempt. Be this as it may, the rumor has led 
to some little buying. There Is one thing 
almost certain, and that Is, that the position 
of sugar at the moment is too strong to admit 
of any set-back in values, and it would be 
wise, therefore, to carry rather larger stocks 
than is the plan nowadays. The present 
firmness of the market is strong evidence of 
the generally good opinion of the position, 
lor the actual demand from the trade is by 
no means heavy. The fact that the visible 
supplies show a considerable deficit, and are 
s-hrinking last, does n«t seem to be sufliclent- 
ly realized by the retailers. A firm tone has 
been shown in the American markets, al- 
though their stocks show a small Increase, 
but the .receipts in Cuba are again below the 
figures of last year, and do not seem capable 
of expansion just now. The small stock of 
Cane Sugar here does not admit of any im- 
portant business so far as refining kinds are 
concerned, while Grocery sorts, which have 
been obtainable in moderate quantities only, 
continue in poor demand at a decline of 3d 
per cwt. on the pale kind*. The imports of 
Crystallized Raws to London for the week 
ending 16th inst., amounted to 684 tons, and 
for this year to 5,630 tons, against 5,805 tons 
in 1898.— P. M. Review, March 18. 



Mr. W. K. Morrow, who hails frojn Sugar 
Land, Texas, the site of Col. E. H. Cunning- 
ham's big refinery, was in the city on a visit 
a few days ago. He put up at the Cosmopoli- 
tan Hotel. 



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April 16, 1809.] 



TKE LomauKA PLAismtk aki> svoak icANOf Aorumat 



83S 



FOBBIGN LBTTBBB. 



Berlin. 

Berlin. March 25tli. 1899. 

(8PBCXAL CORRESirONDBNCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Ptanter: 

Som« weeks ago you had an unexpected 
and untimely freeze; last week we had it 
Id the midst of the transition from winter to 
t^^idng, a sudden reaction haa taken place 
and immediately we had winter again and 
much harder than it. ever has appeared in 
the present season. A sharp northerly wind 
began blowing last Sunday and 4uring the 
following days most dismal weather pre- 
yailed. The temperature sank as low as 8.5 
degrees below freezing point and snow 
storms of the most violent kind risited many 
parts of the country, causing serious Inter- 
ruptions to commuxlication. And all this 
exactly at the astronomic commencement 
of spring (March 21st). The phenomenally 
bad weather put, of course, a stop to any 
kind of field work and it seems that the ex- 
traordinary mild winter, will, like last year, 
be followed by a late and uncongenial 
spring, delaying the sowings of summer 
cereals and particularly those of the heets. 
Little could be done yet even in preparatory 
work, and, of coui^e, ererybody longs tor 
real and not theoretleal spring. The sudden 
change has taken place in all Central 
Europe, but in the ^western part of It, in 
France, Holland aad Belgium, the conse- 
quences of it are not felt so deeply as here 
and in Austria, as In the former quarters 
ield work previous to the blizzard, had been 
fairly advanced. Russia reporu also cooler 
weather, but the temperature has not the 
normal degree of the season. It Is now cer- 
tain that in the last named empire 25 new 
factories will be started and five others are 
in the way of construction and intended to 
begin work in the campaign 1900-1901. But 
there Ls in Russia already much competition 
for beets and it Is doubtful whether so many 
sugar producing establishments can be 
worked with the high profits hitherto ob- 
tained. This dej^ends. however, in the first 
line on the increase of home consumption, 
if the Russian fabricants are unable to place 
a large part of their augmented production 
on the interior market, on whloh they get 
the well paying high prices, it is sure that- 
by an abnormal increase of the output they 
will not improve their situation, which, how- 
ever, is so excellent at present, that the 
shareholders, (unhappy wretches who in 
these latter years had to pocket 30, 40, 6 and 
more pet) couW readily do with a flv^r 
ten pet less dividend. 

A strong fact it is that whilst on one side 
the system of countervailing duties on boun- 
ty receiving beet sugar Is gaining ground on 
the other side the bounties themselves make 
also headway. As I wrote you a week ago 
the Swiss (Government probably will grant 
them in favor of the new sugar tectory 
Aarberg, and notw comes news that Chili will 
pay a subsidy of 2 centares |^ kila beet 



sugar, quite apart from the bounties paid 
by many States of the American Union for 
the encouragement of the beet si^rar indus- 
try. The country which latterly has re- 
sorted to countervailing duties is British 
Bast India, where the importation of granu- 
lated beet sugar is on the increase. But it 
may be safely asserted that the Indians will 
not be deterred from buying granulated by 
raising the price to the extent of the bounty 
received, for there is not the least doubt that 
European beet sugar has tound a ready sale 
in India on account of its superior quality, 
i\nd that will be also the case, further on, 
when the sugar is a little dearer, so that the 
effect will be for the producer certainly not 
the expected one. Also in America the 
countervailing duties are certainly not of 
the desired effect, for the refineries do not 
cease to buy beet sugar and as to prices It is 
evident that the producer do^ not get the 
difference between the subsidized and the 
non-subsidized sugar, but it is pocketed by 
the refineries and at present periiaps not 
even those on account of the underselling 
war between the two groups of refineries. 
The Austrian Government is said to have 
protested against the imposition of counter- 
vailing duties on Austrian sugar, whilst 
Germany has no reason to do so, because of 
her not being in a relation based on a com- 
mercial treaty with East India, but we shall 
certainly cease to admit Indian goods under 
the favored nation clause if our sugars are 
burdened with countervailing duties. Hith- 
erto Germany treated Indian imports out of 
regard to England as enjoying the advan- 
tages of the most favored nation. 

In Sweden a member of the upper cham- 
ber submitted a motion purporting to reduce 
the import duty on sugar and to abolish the 
inland duty entirely. The motion was de- 
clined in both legislative bodies. 

The rei)ort of the Si«ar Refinery Frell- 
stedt, which in November was partially de- 
stroyed by fire, shows, that this establish- 
ment worked, up to November 10, 1898, 615,- 
500 centners molasses (€> 50 kilogs.) aB 
against 566,000 centners in 1897. But in 
spite of the interruption of work the factory, 
which is exclusively converting molasses into 
sugar obtained a profit of M. 138,277, of 
which a dividend of 7 pet., as against 6 pet 
in 1897, was paid to the shareholders. The 
factory is one of the molasses working 
houses, and the shareholders are in general 
raw sugar manufacturers who furnish the 
raw material, the molasses, so that there is 
no fear of being not sufilciently provided 
with it 

The statistical position of the three prin- 
cipal beet sugar countries— Germany, Aus- 
tria and France— is now decidedly improv- 
ing, the final stocks being (on Feb. 28th) 
81,100 tonK smaller than last year and thedr 
decrease In February exceeding that of last 
year by about 90,000 tons. 

The markets present no particular of in- 
terest for the period under review. At the 
beginning they have be^i quiet with prices 
receding a little. During the second part of 



the week the tendency rallied somewhat and 
generally values recovered or even sur- 
passed a little the small losses. Business was 
restricted, principally on account of the 
small offerings of actual sugar of which the 
stocks in the factories are now very small. 
In Germany 88 pet rendement prompt de- 
livery is quoted at M. 10.85-11.05, whilst de- 
livery March in Hamburg is sold at M. 9-97. 
Refined continued quiet without quotable 
change of prices. 

ROBT. Hennio. 



Havana. 

CSPSCIAL COBEBSPONDBNCB.) 

Havana, April 7th, 1899. 
BdUor Ijouisimui PUirUer: 

Owing to advices of an advance in prices 
for beet sugar in Europe, and higher quota- 
tions in the United States for cane produce, 
shippers at this place Increased their offers, 
which gave scope to the sale of about 100,- 
000 bags, the greater part on the coast, at 
from 5.15^5.30 rs. per cirrobe, equivalent to 
2.5^H®2.65 cts. per lb. for good centrifu- 
gated sugars, 95H@96H test at which the 
market, tliough quiet, closes strongly sup- 
ported, owing chiefly to the unimportance of 
disposable stocks of good classes at our 
principal shipping ports. 

Crop reports — Grinding is slow and were 
it not for the small parcels occasionally 
coming in, anyone might think it was al- 
ready over in the most important producing 
districts on the Island. The yield of the 
cane in sugar is so smaU, owing to the lack 
of proper attendance to the fields in due 
time, that it will hardly cover manufactur- 
ing expenses. 

According to the Cardenas papers, the 
scarcity of bags in that locality is keenly 
felt and interferes with grinding to such an 
extent that several plantations will soon be 
compelled to stop working for want of bags 
to pack the sugar in, those which were for- 
merly sold at 16 and 16 cents are worth to 
daty 28^30 cents and none hardly are ob- 
tainible, even at these high figures. 

At Porto Principe, in the central part of 
the Island, an American syndicate, has just 
purchased for |500,000 American gold, an 
area of 500 cabillerias, about 168,000 acres, of 
good oane lands, whereon they contemplate 
to build several large central factories. 
Would to God now that confidence is re-es- 
tablished and peace restored in the country, 
the example set by the New York syndicate, 
might be followed by many more, for their 
own benefit and in Cuba's behalf! 

General Brooke has prorogued for one 
month, to investigate into the matter, and 
not one year, as I erroneously said in my 
previous letter, the decree issued in 1896 by 
General Weyler, and extended to another 
year by (General Blanco in 1898, for the pro- 
tection of those mortgages in the Havana, 
Pinar del Hio, Matanzas and Santa Clara 
provinces, whose plantations were unremu- 
nerative owing to the war. According to 
the said decree all Judicial proceedings 



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THtl LOUiSLAifi. MJLNTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 15. 



against plantations and collection of inter- 
ests on mortgages were suspended for one 
year, and as the efiTectB of the decree were 
prorogued for three successive years, plant- 
ers have had a respite. 

An effort has been made to secure from 
General Brooke another delay, but it is 
doubtful whether it will be granted, since it 
entails a great injustice, as it would mean 
ruin and starvation for the majority of 
planters' creditors. 

Banditism continues active In the eastern 
region of this Island and amongst the mis- 
deeds recently committed by the outlaws, 
the following are mentioned: On March 
31st they raided the small town of Sama, 
looted the residences of several citizens, shot 
and killed a local store keeper, stole |500 
from his cash drawer and set fire to the 
premises; at Holguin they also looted the 
store of a Spaniard, whom they wounded as 
well as his father, and shamefully ill-treated 
his wife and daughter; near Magari a United 
States army commissary train was held up 
and robbed by another party who killed the 
officer in charge. 

It is also reported that bandits have ap- 
peared in Matanzas province and are burn- 
ing cane fields around Sabanilla. 

The position as may be seen is not pleas- 
ant to those who are compelled to work and 
live in the country; though the war is over, 
confidence and security prevail nowhere. 

In the midst of the war agricultural labor 
was conducted with less exposure than to- 
day, in spite of the American and Cuban 
armies that occupy the country to guaran- 
tee peace and security to all those willing 
to devote their capital and personal ener- 
gies to agricultural pursuits. 

D. T. 



Barbados. 



The weather of March, as befits the Mad 
Month, has been somewhat uncertain, gusty 
with light showers; however, for the last two 
or three days it has been more settled and 
suitable for reaping. Rainfall for fortnight 
one inch and 69 parts. Althougji the canes 
are not ripe, and will hardly be at their 
prime before the end of April, or beginning 
of May, yet there can be no further dallying, 
but reaping must be pushed on, to save the 
inevitable loss which occurs when too much 
of the crop lies rotting in the fields late in 
June and July. As things are with us we 
cannot harvest our crop in its prime; in- 
efficient .machinery is no hand-maid of 
economy, while efficiency with economy is 
our greatest need. The problem is how best 
to obtain it without dislocation of our social 
state. The schemes so far put forth do not 
take into consideration the needs of our 
many-sided labor, and Its dove tailed inter- 
ests, which have g^rown up wltt. ^^^ *re now 
part and parcel of, our Industrial fabric. 
Our factory scheme must not only be desig- 
nated for efficient reaping, but also must be 
carefully adjusted to the needs of the popu- 
lation. To safeguard these needs the design 



must be local, and the working mutual. 
On any other but mutual lines, we should 
soon have to go on our knees to the Imper- 
ial government for a few more thousands 
to assist at least one-third of the working 
population to emigrate; while the remain- 
ing two-thirds workers would hardly be able 
to grow canes profitably at 101 per ton and 
out of nothing per annum to support the 
ever-increasing army of paupers which un- 
controlled iUegitemacy and lack of useful 
training for the young are continually bank- 
ing up on the patient camel back of the 
productive and industrious section of the 
people. We have now very nearly reached 
the last straw stage, and our island has a 
very tough nut to crack in determining the 
best means of carrying on in the general in- 
terests of the community. It has to be done 
somehow; nor can we lose sight of the 
fact that the development of Cuba and 
Porto Rico will all too soon exclude us from 
our only market in the United States. The 
market problem and the machinery problem 
are so interlaced that it is impossible to 
separate them, and whiile we are waiting 
Micawber-like the problem is becoming more 
Intense everyday, and Is not likely to solve 
itself. Would that we could follow the in- 
dependent action of India and protect our 
own industry; no doubt this splendid move 
will ultimately lead to the abolition of the 
bounties, but the immediate effect will prob- 
ably be to drive continental sugar into our 
already too congested markets. 

Cane fires have again been all too frequent, 
and. in the parlance of the streets, some 
very ''pretty" cane fires have during the 
fortnight crimsoned the skies. A few nights 
ago St. Philip and Christ church were again 
conspicuous, while In other places fire has 
answered to fire. Locust Hall has again suf- 
fered; but why Locust Hall so soon again? 
this time to the tune of about 12 acres. The 
proprietor of this estate Is one of the ipost 
genial and kind hearted of men, and earned 
the gratitude of thepeople of his district in 
his single-minded efforts to afford relief to 
the sufTerers from the storm, {or many of 
whom he found shelter, and was a most ac- 
tive and conscientious appraiser of dam- 
age done to laborers' houses thus actively 
furthering the work of restoration. So, why 
select him for fiery vengeance? It Is strange 
but true, but the philanthropic owner of 
Pilgrim, Chlrst church, was repaid In a simi- 
lar way, by a big bon-fire of twenty acres of 
his choicest canes. This sort of thing is 
quite enough to deter the most tender heart- 
ed of philanthropists who when the next 
calamity occurs will naturally be timid In 
offering their services. 

The sugar made is of splendid quality, 
well grained, and solid as Iron in hogshead, 
or barrel; but the quantity Is all too small. 
One hogshead per acre and a fraction over 
Is about all of yield reported throughout the 
length and breadth of the Island, indeed from 
the northern parislies report says that the 
canes are giving less than an hogshead. 



From such hard firm sugar very little 
molasses flows, but the quality of the latter 
is very fine indeed, thick, clear and syrupy. 
Next month the yield will surely go up as 
the canes mature under hotter suns. The 
cold, showery weather prevailing for the 
past three months has rather tended to re- 
tard the maturing process In canes which 
had been thrown back at least two months 
in their growth by the storm. Planters would 
like to make haste slowly in reaping just 
now, but these are the windy months, ^and 
wind mills must be kept on the turn lest 
the latter loss be greater than the former. 
The young crop is coming on very prettily, 
and certainly th^ tourists from America who 
scampered through the island last Sunday 
^(12th Inst.) must have been struck by the 
scant evidence remalni>^ of the devastating 
storm of the memorable 10th September, 
1898. Garden Vke culture, and green fields 
of young and old canes side by side, together 
.with a general air of thriftlness about the 
(Plantations could not fall to Impress the 
strangers, — Agricultural Reporter, March 18. 



Personal. 



Mr. W. N. Hamilton was t^e chemist at 
Captain John N. Pharr's Glenwild place dur- 
ing the \;^ast grinding season, and was ably 
assisted by Mr. E. E. Colvln of Columbus. 
Kansas. These gentlemen not only handle 
the ordinary work of a large plantation laba- 
ratory, but also took care of the elaborate 
system of testing purchased cane In vogue 
at Captain Pharr's. The engineer at Glen- 
wild was Mr. Geo. Watklns, of Berwick City, 
one of the best men in the business. 

Mr. Alex. Leplne and Mrs. Leplne, were 
registered at the Hotel Grunewald during the 
week. Mr. Leplne Is a prominent sugai 
planter of Lafourche Parish. 

Col. Lewis S. Clarke, of Lagonda planta- 
tion, arrived in fhe city on the Monday night 
train of the Southern Pacific R. R, and took 
up his usual quarters In the St Charles 
Hotel. 

Mr. Charles A. O'Neill, of Franklin, was In 
town during the past week. Mr. O'Neill is 
a leading citizen of Ills locality and registered 
at the Hotel Grunewald. , 

Mr. D. J. Kerr, manager of the extensive 
North Bend, Midway, and other properties 
of the S. M. Swenson estate on Bayou Sale, 
was in the city on a visit a few days ago. 
Mr. Kerr Is one of the most successful man- 
agers In the state. He put up at the St. 
Charles Hotel. 

Mr. Ed. Elliott was 'the capable engineer 
In charge of the macTilnery at the Avoca 
place of Dr. C. B. Darrall, this past campaign. 
Mr. Elliott is one of the best known men in 
the 'State and has been Intimately iduentified 
with the construction of a great deal of su- 
gar machinery. Avoca's engine room ran 
like clockwork under his skilful supervision. 

Mr. John J. Shaffer and Mrs. Shaffer, were 
arrivals at the St Charles hotel on Wednes- 
day night, coming In by the late train on the 
Southern Pacific from their plantation home. 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



April 15, 1899.] 



THE. LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



287 



BEET SUGAR. 



Eddy, New Mexicp. 

(SPECIAL CORRESP<yNDEKCE.) 

Editor Loitisutmi Planter: ■■^■ 

In the Issue of April 1st, the Planter puh-lL 
lished an able article on sugar beets, jnen- 
tioning two districts where they were, now 
being successfully cultivated. 

Within the last three years a new sugar 
beet producing district has been added to 
the list, one that now promises to become 
widely Itnown in the next few years; that is 
the Eddy district 4n the Pecos Valley. 

The factory erected at Eddy has a capacity 
of 200 tons daily, susceptible of being largely 
increased as the area of beets planted is ex- 
tended. Thus far in its history the factory 
has never been able to run to its full Mmit 
as the beet crop has never yet assumed suffi^ 
cient magnitude. Elach year, however, it has 
nearly doubled, and it is thought that this 
year, from th« increased number of people 
who are planting the beet, the factory can 
run to its full capacity during nearly its en- 
tire season. 

The farmers receive $4.25 for their beets 
per ton on the cars and every inducement is 
being held out by the company to promote 
the industry in the valley. The company 
disposes of its pulp to sheep feeders at forty 
cents a ton and sheep men are eagerly seek- 
ing contracts for large quantities to be de- 
livered during the campaign which begins 
about November 1st. It is claimed for this 
feed that it lends, when fed in connection 
with alfalfa, a delicate flavor to mutton that 
can be imparted to it by no other feed. 

Beet planting has commenced now in'sotoe 
parts of the valley and will continue as late 
as June Isl The average yield per acre is 
about twelve tons and that Js a very con- 
servative estimate, and the cost of produc- 
tion will hardly exceed $20, which includes 
the water tax of $1.25 an acre. 

That this industry is only as yet in its in- 
fancy in the valley just now no one doubts. 
It has about doubled each year since 189C, 
when It started, and the conditions are more 
favorable now by far than they were then. 
More people are planting land in beets who 
hithrrto relied entirely on alfalfa or Kaffir 
com and anticipate an increased revenue 
from the acres thus employed. X. - 



Chino, California. 

Henry T. Oxnard, president of the Chino 
Valley Beet Sugar Company, authorizes us 
to say that the company has decided to modi- 
fy the terms of the contracts for this sea- 
son, by which the farmers will materially 
benefit. Instead of requiring a purity co- 
efficient test of 78 per cent on all beets be- 
low 12 per cent in sugar, the company now 
agrees that on 11 per cent beets the reduc- 
ilon will be made only on those whose puri- 
ty is below 75, and on 10 per cent beets the 
reduction will be made only on those whose 
purity coeSicieni i« under 73. This means 
really an increace lu price of 45 cents per 
ion on l)eet5 w&w sugar percentage ie U, 



5 



with a purity coefficient of 75, and 75 cents 
per ton on beets whose sugar percentage is 
30, with a purity coefficient of 73. 

As there are very few beets raised here 
; whose purity, goes below these figures, this 
virtually means an elimination of the purity 
clause in the contract, and the additions it 
will make on the farmer*s side of the balance 
sheet next fall will be very material and 
most acceptable. On some soils it has ap- 
peared to be impossible to produce beets 
up to the required 78 per cent purity, and^ 
the price therefore suffered a reduction In 
spite of the eftorts of the farmer. 

Mr. Oxnard has realized this fact, and had 
determined before making his present visit 
here, to modify the contract in this regard. 
He has since received a request from a num- 
ber of f^i*mers to eliminate the purity clause, 
but as his offer amounts to practically the 
same thins:, he has decided to allow it to re- 
main that way. The modification is entirely 
voluntary on his part. 

Thi3 farmers have passed through one 
season of poor crops, and the coming sea- 
son not yet fully assured. With this con- 
dition surrounding them, our farmers will 
appreciate every modification to their ad- 
vantage in the terms of the beet contracts. 

Chino beet farmers will be glad to learn 
that it will be possible to supply themselves 
with beet pulp directly from the factory 
next summer and fall in quantities as they 
may require for a few cows each. The 
sugar factory management announces that 
It has retained a limited quantity of pulp, 
which It will furnish to the beet farmers as 
they may need it, while the factory is In 
operation, at the nominal price of 10 cents 
per ton. 

The management does this In a desire to 
encourage the farmers to keep a few dairy 
cows and as a matter of justice, believing 
that the beet grower should be the first to 
have the benefit of this cheap dairy food. 
The price it will be seen is a mere nominal 
one, and will enable all the growers who 
are keeping a few cows to lay In an abund- 
ant supply of feed for the fall and winter 
months at little cost. 

It will not be the Intention to sell the pulp 
in large quantities or for speculation, but 
rather to distribute It to the growers. 

We believe the sugar company deserves 
full credit for this arrangement, inasmucii 
as they could sell the entire output in bulk 
with much less inconvenience to themselves, 
and for an equal or greater return. 

Our farmers now have assurances of all 
the pulp feed they may need, and we ex- 
pect to see silos built all about the valley 
for economical handling of this and other 
forage. — Champion, March 31. 



Oxnard, California. 

Henry T. Oxnard left yesterday after- 
noon for Oxnard, after spending several days 
here looking after the company's Interests. 
In a short interview he expressed himself 
as quite satisfied with the condltioni here, 
although not disdaining another good rc^tot 



He Is well pleased that a considerable acre- 
age Is being planted to alfalfa, as it will 
renew much land which has become impov- 
erished through continuous beet cropping. 
He believes that proper rotation of crops Is 
the particular need of our soil, and that 
alfalfa Is In that line; but that at the same 
time the extreme of overplantlng of alfalfa, 
or "planting It where It will not thrive, should 
not be indulged in. Mr. Oxnard says that 
the work of doubling the capacity of the 
Oxnard factory will be pushed so as to have 
the whole completed in time for this sea- 
son's crop. — Champion, March 31. 



As^ricultural Manag^ement of the 
Suj^ar Beet. 

The recent ralne have Increased the labors 
of Agricultural Manager L. Hache in the 
sections growing beets for the Chino fac- 
tory. For some time It looked as though 
only the minimum acreage would be planted 
there, but now everything indicates that 
the maximum crops will be grown at Chino 
and Anaheim as well as Oxnard. 

The agricultural department maintained 
by the Oxnards In connection with their beet- 
sugar factories* is rendering the farmers en- 
gaged In beet raising Invaluable seirvlces. 
The head of the department and those un- 
der him are scientific and practical farm- 
ers. They do not simply set In an office and 
theorize, hut they are in the field with the 
farmer giving him the immediate use 
and benefit of the latest scientific informa- 
tion of the world and practical experience 
as well. In this section Mr. Hache, when here, 
spends most of his time in the saddle, his 
favorite method of getting about among the 
beet raisers, and Messrs Herz and Winter- 
helder are constantly driving about keeping 
an eye upon every acre of beets growing in 
this valley. This gives to every beet farm- 
er, besides his own knowledge and experi- 
ence, that of trained specialists In beet cul- 
ture. It also enables the agricultural de- 
partment to keep track of each locality and 
determine the manner of cultivation and 
conditions under which the best results are 
obtained for future guidance. 

As the growing of one crop where rota- 
tion Is the Inflexible rule as with beet rais- 
ing, has a very important bearing upon 
every other crop, the result of this careful 
supervision must be to the general benefit. 
Beet raising retjulres almost garden culti- 
vation and we can expect to see not only 
large crops of beets with a high percentage 
of saccharine content, but a gradual in- 
crease In the yield of the crops in rotation 
with it This has been the result of the 
cultivation of the sugar-beet In Europe, and 
the largest crops are grown In the localities 
where the beet-sugar Industry has been es- 
tablished. And the Increase is directly 
traceable to the Introduction of that Indus- 
try. 

This vJilley is very rich and has for years 
been noted for Its large yield of barley and 
other grains, beans, and in fact of every- 
thing attempted to be grown, but in a few 
years, if the advice of the agricultural de- 
partment Is followed and the waste proper- 
ties of the soil kept up by feeding beet tops 
and pulp and returning the manure to the 
land, the record of the past will be largely 
discounted. 

The Introduction of the beet-sugar indus- 
try has Inaugurated a system of higher cul- 
tivation that will inevitably increase the 
yield of every crop grown and bring to the 
farmer an Increased revenue from his lan4 
f^nd labor.— Oxnard Courier, April X, 



Digitized by 



Google 



288 



THB LOUISIANA PLAKTER AND SUGAR MANUPACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 16. 



Apr. 14. 



WEEKLY MABKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open KetUe. 

O. K. Ceatrifugal 

Choice 

Striot Prime.... 

Prime 

PuUyPalr .... 

Qood Pair 

Fair 

Qood Common 

Common 

/nferior 

Centrifugal. 
PlanVn Qranul'eo 
Off Granulated.. 
Choice White.... 

M White 

©rey White 

Choioe Yellow... 
Prime Yellow . . . 

Off Yellow 

SeeondB 

MOLASSES 

Open KetUe. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faney 

Choice 

Striet Prime.... 
deed Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Cood Commoa. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fanoy 

Ohoioe 

Striot Prime.... 
Oood Prime .... 

Prime 

Qood Fair 

Fair 

Oood Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



Aprils. 



April 10. 



April ii. 



AprU 12. 



April 13. 



April U. 



Same Day 
Laat Year. 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



-« - 
- « - 

-e - 

^h& - 



1 



o 

2 



a - 
a 16 
a 15 
a 13 
a 11 
a 9 
a 8 
a 7 
a « 
a 6 

a- 



-a- 
-a - 

- a - 
*Ha- 

- a - 

23ia4,», 



I 



I 



-a - 
-a- 
-a - 

4tia- 

4Ha*3i 
*Ka4jhj 
si^a^A 



I 






s 


s 


o 


o 


z 


z 


« .1 


-a 


a 16 


— 9 


a le 


— 9 


» IS 


— @ 


a 11 


-a 


a 9 


-a 


a 8 




® I 


— d 


a 6 


— (9 


a « 


— d 


A - 


- (i 



16 

15 

13 

11 

9 

8 

7 

6 





— « - 

4Ha4k 

2^@4A 



1 

.a 



I 



I 

z 



— • - 

— a 16 

— a IB 
-a 13 
-ail 
-a 9 
-a 8 

-« 2 
-a 6 

-a 6 
-a- 



-a - 



I 
I 



i 

55 



a 16 
a 15 
a 13 

® 4 
d ! 
® f 
« 2 
a 9 
a 6 



-a - 

— a - 
-a - 

— a — 

— a - 
Afia^H 

ika^H 

tH9*h 



s 

.a 

I 



i 



a — 
a 16 

« 15 
d 13 

®4 
^ ! 
« I 

CS 7 

<» ! 
a 6 

a - 



4«a- 
-a- 

— a — 
4Aa- 

— a - 

*tv84H 
4 «4A 

them 



I 

.a 

I 



o 



it 9 13 

12 i 13 

-« 10 

- ® 9 

-« 8 

-« 7 

^« 6 

-a 6 

-® 4 



Firm. 



Strong. 



Quiet. 



OTHBR MARKBTS. 



New Yore: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89** 
Centrifugals, 98^.. 


^ — 


— @ - 


(^ 


-a- 


-a - 


-a- 


— a- 




— @ — 


— @ — 


^ 


-a- 


-a- 


-a- 




Raw— Steady. 


Granulated 


- @4.96 


-@4.96 


-@4.96 


-a4.96 


-a4.96 


-a4-96 


4.90<S — 


Refined— Fair de- 


Standard A 


- @4.84 


-@4.84 


-@4.84 


— a4.84 


-a4.M 


— a4-84 


4.78^ — 


mand. 


Dutch Granulated 


-(85.00 


- ©6.00 


— @6.00 


— as 10 


- @6 10 


— as 10 


-e - 




German Granul'td. 


— @5.03 


-. @5 05 


— 35 06 


— 35 06 


— a5 06 


— as 10 






MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choioe 


— @ - 


— <9 — 


— a — 


-a- 


-a- 


-a- 


— Q — 




N. O.Pair 


- @ - 


-@ - 


- a - 


-a- 


-a- 


-a - 


— jft — 




London: 














- a - 


Cane— Firm and rath- 


Jara, No. 15 D. S. 


12s. l>id. 


12s. 3d. 


128 3d. 


128.3d 


12s. 3d. 


lSs.3d. 


lis. 3d. 


er dearer. 
Beet -- Firmer, rather 


A.& G.Beet 


108.5>^d. 


I0s.7><d. 


• 108. 7«d. 


10a. 7)<d. 


108. 8^d. 


10B.9Jid. 


9b. Od. 


dearor. 



NBW ORIiBANS RBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Oranula'd. 
RosetU Bztra C 

Candy ▲ 

CitbUI Bxtra C. 
Royal KzG 

SYRUP. 



- @6X 

-@- 

- @6fT 

-@ - 

-a - 
-a- 



-@6X 

.— @6'A 

— @6H 

- @ - 

-@ - 
-a - 

-a- 



@6H 

@ - 
asff 
a - 
a- 
a - 



a - 
a5f» 
a - 
@ - 

a - 



-a5>i 

-a5:*! 

-a5H 
— a - 
-astr 
-a- 
-a- 
-a- 



-aw 
-a5i< 
— a - 
-asA 
-a- 
-a- 
-a - 



(S5>i 

a5>^ 

^6.13 

a - 
asii 
a- 
a - 
a- 



Strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Apr. 6 

At four ports of Great Britain to Apr. 

At Havana and Matanzaa to Apr. 6 



Tons 



203,849 
32,000 
87,fOO 



Rcceipta and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
April i4v 1899. 

' Sugar ' Molnnn* 

Hhds. Baarreto. Baimla. 

Reoehred 209 6^ 1,822 

3old 101 5.55^ 8.«« 



Recaipto and Salea 



RaeeiTsA. 



at New Orleans from September i, 1898, 
to April 14 » 1899. 

Barrels. Barrels. 
1,194,284 223,969 
1|187,$51 223,574 
182,110 



Hhds. 
9,936 
9JK6 



3edby^^^^W)gK^ 



April 15, 1899.] 



T^E LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



239 



Apr. U. 






WEEKLY MARKET REPORT 


, 




1899. 


RICE. 


April 8. 


AprU 10. 


April 11. 


April 12. 


April 13. 


April. 14 


Same Day Last 
Year. 


To n ot Mirk at at 
Close of Weeic. 


RoooH, per bbl... 


Nomimal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


3 00^4 85 


Dull. 


Clban, Ex. Fancy 


6^(&^% 


e;4@m 


^'Ai&^H 


6>^(S63i 








Fancy 


6 @6>6 


6 ®6)4 


6 @6>^ 


' « ®6>^ 










«"noic©... 


6ii@5}i 


hK@bX 


5>4@5^ 


5Ji@6?i 










Prime 


43i(ij5>8 


4?i@6>i 


4^@5^^- 


4%@5J^ 










Grood 


iy^®iH 


43i@4Ji 


43^@4?^ 


4M®*% 










Fair 


3h®i^ 


3^@4>4 


3^(g4>4 • 


3%(£S4i^ 










Ordinary 


3 @3^ 


3 @3^ 


3 @3?i 


3 @3^ 










uommon. 


2>i@3 


2>^@3 


2>^@3 


2>^@3 










Screenings 


2 (ft2^ 


2^fer|^ 


2 .@23i 


« @3Si 


2 i2% 








Inferior . . 


l^®h 


. 1^@2 ,. 


13i(^2^ 


1^@2 


13il2'' 








No. 2 

Kraw, per ton.... 


^M^ 


/&^ 


'»« 


^flfo^ 


"ffi^ 




2(92>i 
9 50(^10 00 


Steady. 


Polish, per ton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


14^(315 00 




• Receipts ai 


Id Salts St N:w 


Oriems far the week emltag 


lieoelpu at 


New OrliMif frem Anf. 1. 1898. tm April 14. iSOQ. 




Apri 


1 14. i«9». 


■ 


: 


"iipiiii wHk laet year, mhm tl«M. 


ReceiT Hi ....... r_ 




Sacks Rouoa. Bbls. <^iCiur. 
, - : 749 . 377 


This year 




676,117 5,762 


PoM 




.. 4,326 1,6»7 


L:4st 


year 




451.293 . 6,013 



Sugar. 

The sugar market was quiet and steaidy 
at the end of the week and prices were'^j?fe][l 
n.aintained. The demand was sufficient to 
promptly absorb all offerings. 

Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands. Cen- 
trifugal molasses quiet. « ^ 

The rough rice market was dull and nom- 
iDc'il at the end of the week. The receipts 
were light and the offerings limited, par- 
ticularly in the higher grades. Clean rice 
was steady and in <fair demand. 



James F. Hogan. 

We clip the following from the N. O. 
Scates: 

*'The announcement this morning of the 
death of Mr. James F. Hogan caused regret 
in a large section of the country. 

"Mr. Hogan was born in Dungavin, Coun- 
ty Waterford, Ireland, 58 years ago. He 
came to this country when 4 years of age 
with his parents, settling in Alabama. 'He 
passed 'through the Civil War With Foulus 
Battery from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and .was 
severely wounded at the battle of Mission- 
ary Ridge. After the war he settled in 
Mobile. Ala., remaining there until he took 
up his residence in this city, twenty-three 
years ago. He was connected with the Na- 
tional Supply Co., for a period of fifteen 
years, and in this capacity traveled through 
Louisiana to all the sugar plantations, an^ 
often boasted of the number of staunch 
friends he had among the planters. 

"He was the best-liked and one of the 
most respected .traveling representatives that 
ever went among them. 

•^r. Hogan was the patentee of the Hogan 
liollow blast grate bar, one of the mos't 
uaef al inventions of its kind. A few 
years ago he associated himself with Mr. 
Julian M. Swoop and James Fisher, forming 
the Fisher-Hogan Bagasse Furnace Co., 
Ltd., and at the time of his death- was the 
vice-president of the company, which under 
his management has been very successful. 
Mr. Hogan leaves a wife and one son, as well 
as two brothers. Rev. John A. Hogan, S. J., 
now located at the Jesuits College, Grand 
Coteau, La., and Mr. W. J. Hogan, of 
Natchez, Miss." 

The death of Mr. Hogan. will cause no in- 
terruption in the business of the Fisher- 
Hogan Ba^asBe Burner Co., Ltd. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

Wholesale activity has prevailed through- 
out the week and the aggregate was quite up 
to its predecessor. At the moment there is 
a considerable spot stock of foreign; imports 
having recently been made with somewhat 
free hand in anticipation of the larger call 
incident. to the opening of navigation. Hold*- 
ers maintain a firm front as no resupply can 
be .obt:*|ned at former cost. Advices from 
the Sjuth note enlarging demand ajid the 
presence of a considerable Volume of buy- 
ing orders at figures closely approximating 
current prices makes sentiment decidedly 
bullish. Count of stock, rough and cleaned 
at all points, 1st inst. showed same to be 
^.uch less than at equal date last year. 
Straggling receipts at local milling centers 
ia^thought to auger the end of the crop In 
plaSnter's hands. Prices at all points are 
strong and sharp* advances may be expected 
almost any day especially in the ordinary 
to fair grades. As regards higher grades the 
ji,mpres3ion prevails that they are nearing 
the danger line, being already relatively dear 
\a fonparison with foreign of similar 
character. CJables and correspondence from 
abroad note decreasing shipments and with 
light stocks current prices are regarded as 
reasonable. While there are no important 
reasons now in sight for greatly higher 
prices, the. situation may be said to be upon 
a supply and demand basis with gradually 
hardening tendency. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louis- 
iana crop movement to dale: Receipts, 
rough 687,525 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over) 508,040 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (ets) 166,402 barrels, last year 109,012 
barrels. Good inquiry; prices firm; outlook 
favoring, early advance. 

Talmage, Charleston telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned. . 
35,709 barrels. Sales 32,003 barrels. Fair 
pnquiiT at former value and a large waiting 
list ready and willing to operate at least 
fraction off current figures. 



5u£ar In London. 

Apart from the fact that both the German 
and Auitro-Hunga|*lan governments have 
entered a protest against the exclusion of 



their sugar from India, nothing of Import- 
ance has occurred to disturb the steadily in- 
creasing strength of the market It must 
not be forgotten that if the new duties shut 
sugar out from India, It will have to find 
, a market here instead, but we do not be- 
ll*<ve that any perceptible effect will follow. 
Be this as it may, the supply hitherto has 
not been In excess of the demand, and, so 
long as the French people hold their sugar 
as they are doing now, there need be little 
fear of any extraordinary pressure this sea- 
son. So far as countervailing duties in this 
country are concerned, the suggestion does 
not seem, to have been taken seriously by 
the retailers, judging by the normal demand 
«]clsMng, and now that the deficit in the 
[e venue will apparently prove considerably 
smaller than was expected at one time. It Is 
hardly likely that the government will in- 
stitute a tax, the collection of which would 
prove far more difficult and costly than it 
used to be. As regards the American mar- 
kets, values have been firmly maintained, 
although their weekly receipts have been 
rather heavy, producing a sensible addition 
to their stocks. The difficulty of obtaining 
cane refining kinds here continues strongly 
marked, but soft grocery sugars have been 
more plentiful owing to the arrival of some 
Argentine syrups; it is to be regretted that 
the shipments of yellow srystals from that 
country have ceased now that the United 
Kingdom is so poorly supplied with crystal- 
lized raws from the West Indies and Demer- 
ara. For the moment there is rather more 
offering from the latter colonies, but the de- 
mand has proved quite equal to the supply, 
and values have consequently been well 
maintained. The imports of crystallized 
raws to London for the week ending 23rd 
inst. amounted to 368 tons, and for this year 
to 5,998 tons against 5,805 tons in 1889.— Pro- 
duce Market Review, March 25. 



The management of the Waubun plantation 
of Captain John T. Moore near Schriever was 
this year again performed by his two sons, 
Messrs. Jobn T. Moore, Jr., and Charles V. 
iMoore. If there is anything in heredity, 
these two young men should make fine su- 
gar planters, and the condition of things at 
Waubun seems to indicate that they are such 
already. 



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240 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND 8U«Alt MANUFAOlTCTBm. 



:Vol. XXII, No. 16. 



WANTS. 



We will pabllsh In this colamn, free of cbarf^ ontll 
fartber notice* the appllcatloos of all mmnagen, over* 
jeer«, en g i n ee rs end suger^niakers, end othfr« who 
niny be seeking positions In the country, end niso the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of ^^ese. 

WANTED— A position by a first-class, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced In sogar mill and locomotire work; 
good at Tlce, lathe or bench; address Ja8. Brommfr, 
care Loalalana Planter. 4—11—99 

WANTED— For the coming season, aposition as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Felix Oubrb. 
Edgard, La. 4— li-99 

WANTED— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season in MAioo, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references famished; 
address J. H. F., 727 Lowerllne street, Ne fr OrlearB 

4-5-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which ho can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of running the factory, or 



as sugar maker; address R. R., care this ofllce. 



4-6-99 



WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
time keeper. "Geo.", care this office. 4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man with flrst-cUss refer- 
ences a position as Ist. or 2nd orerseer on a sugar plan- 
tation; address 8. 29 this paper. 

WANTED^-PositfoR by a man 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk In general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. S^laiy not so 
much an object; address J. Bbbthblot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-99 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
a<t yard or stableman; address Pbiup Br a un, Gibson, 
La^ 8-27-99 

WANTED^Posltlon by a first-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed In refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for orystallizers. Best of references; 
address H., care this office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a grst-dass sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' experience In some of 
the best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter. Thlbodaux, La. 8-26-99 

WANTED— situation hv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent snd experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 8-20-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molass's or 
sugar barrels, in the countiy; good references; ad- 
dress Alpbonse Buck, 2714 Second street, city. 
i-16-99 



WANTED- By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. Referenoes 
furnished. Will accept a crop either In Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico; address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
433, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-99 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 8-28-99 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent machinist, with 
several years experience In leading railroad shope, 
wants work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 
plantations. Will work by the day or by contract. He 
18 a practical locomotive engineer and has had experi- 
ence in repairing and running sugar house machinery. 
Address W. L., No. 1016 Magazine street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years In same; 
address J. M. S., Fletel, La. 8-15-99 

WANTED— Position by a young married man aa 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience: best of references; 
Bddresa A., care this office. 8-1^-^ 



WANTED— In first-class sugar house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
roan of experience; satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6011 Laulel street, New Orleana. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address CaiBP Engi- 
neer, Lutoher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give A l 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 8-18-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; hare had two years' experience on large »u- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sugv.r refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. P. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position by a 'handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do sUble work. Good references. 'Ad- 
dress Henrt Ouvier, 820 Vlllere street. New Orl4ana. 
^^ 8-9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming orop of 1899 
by a first-ds^s vacuum pan sugar boiler. Stnotly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
eiices from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4281 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 8-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1889. I am familiar with ail details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. Address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— The best sugar maker in Louisiana, who 
Is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our reguiremotats he must be a llK>roBgh and 
d^Qse boiler of first and particularly of mol«teea sugars 
(2nd and 8rd). State ^alaiy expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C. M. , this offloe. 

2-27-99 



WANTED— A poeltlon as seoond overseer -on plan- 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, single and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Addrese H. 106, Qiia office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam a^d electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Addrees H. M. 8., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair anc take ofT crop of 1890. Familiar with all the 
details of susar house work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation aa clarifler on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. B^st of referenoes fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Ckarentoa, La. 
i-24-99 

WANTED— An experioBoed young man, single, is 
open for engaffement as time-keeper or clerk In coun- 
try store. A 1 references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Riqbt-Opp, 8418 ConsUnce street, New Orleans. 
i-22-C9 

WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a young 
man of good habits and experienoe. Also have a prao- 
ttoal knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, ba. 1-28-98 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlll-wright 
on a augar plantation. Best of referenoea furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orieans. 
, 2-18-99 

WANTED— A poeltlon by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years expertonoe. Addi^ss 
Frank Lorenz, 802 S. Basin, St., City. 2-15-90. 

WANTED— A you|^ man of good, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardsnipe. 
would like to procure a position as assistant overaeer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a valuable and 
"all around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1824 Clio 
street. New Grteans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a first-class teohnloal 
engineering school, poeltlon as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberia, 



WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
on large sugar plantation. Best of referenoes as to 
ability, etc. Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 



WANTED— A position tor the 1899 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Addrees J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a first-class man; address J. F. Letepp, Nes- 
ser. La. 14-99 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position In the South. Address I, 320 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTED— Position as bookkeeper or derk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc^that may be required. Address E. T., 
care LouiBiim a Planter. 

WANTED— An experienced and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto Rico. 
English only. Address W., care Loulslant 
. 1-4-96 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by & nian of family. References 
fum&hed. Call on or address F. F. MTerwin. 621 Du- 
malne street. New Orleans. 12-81-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish best of 
r^renoes. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 

12-26-06 

WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can cone well reoomihended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a sugar plantation. Ad- 
dresa C. A. B., 1086 N. Derblgny street. New Orleans. 
^___ 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man with 
nine years' experience. References first-class. Ad- 
drees Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
Utlon. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the honsekeep- 
thg deputment on a plantouon. Understand the curing 
-'-w meat, ffhsaertlng and ptdkllng, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-dOor clothing. Can furnish 
best of reoommendatlons. i^ddress Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical engineer and 
praotloal machinist who has passed all the branches of 
the technical high school In Germany, has had 14 years 
experience In sugar house work, is In position many 
years, but wanta to change as Chief Engineer or Su- 
perintendent for consturctlon or repairing of sugar 
nouses . Can give best of references . A ddress, St g ar 
House Special, care Louisiana Planter. l2-2ft-fl6 . 

WANTED— Position as first overseer on a sugar plan- 
tadon by a man 80 years of age, well versed in the rou- 
t&ie work of a plantation. Address Elt Strode, care 
Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as manager on a sugar plantation. 
Satisfaction guaranteed. After two months' trial, if 
awner is not pleased, no Isalary will be expected. Ad- 
dress Walter Scott, care Louisiana Planter. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Situation as chemist or assistant in 
sRgar honae, by a young man who has had four years' 
experienoe and can furnish best of references. Ad- 
dr»ss D. H. Struthers, Craig, Nebraska. 12-17- 96 

WANTED— Position in Cuba, Florida or elsewhere, 
by an all around up-to-date plantation manager. Am 
now managing a large plantation and can furnish flrst- 
claas references. Address Farmer, Baldwin P. O., La. 

12-21-9B 

WANTED— By a young man of 21, a poeltlon in the 
Weat Indlea, Mexico or elsewhere, aa chemist. Have 
had experience and can furnish good references. Am 
a university graduate. Qpeak German and French. 
Unmarried. Addresa E. P. Irwin, Sugar Land, Texas. 
l2-21-g 8 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana sugar planu- 
tlon as an assistant or Junior overseer, by one who has 
had almllar experience in the West Indies. CommeDo- 
Ing salary. Addresa B. A. W., care this ofllce. 



We Are Intredueing 

_OSGOOD 

SCALES 

in •TM7 4ocaUtf wh«r« w hAv« no acont at 

low prices. Dou't wait. 

Oaqood Scale Co . i^* Central St Binghamton. N Y 




FOR SALE. 



WANTBD— PoattUm •■ okM or leooDd •nctneer: M 
wMn;ezp«iieao« In case ml bwt. Addrew P. O. W., 
W» office, fi4f 



Til SHREVmiiT (La) FERTIUZER CO.. Ltt., 
In fN tale a eholGe lot Of 6R(HIIIP TAIIKA6E. 
WUte Ifr Prim, 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 

AND 

m MeeMiS! Bewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XIII. 



NEW OBIiBANS. APRIL 22. 1880. 



No. 16. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 

AND 

SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

LouiBiana Sugar P/anters* Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters' Associat'on, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Xansas Sugar Growers' Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publisheo •X New Orleans, La., every Saturday Homing 

BT THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Deroted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerdaL 

• EDITORIAL CORPS. 

Vf. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Poetoffloe at New Orieans as second-olass 
maU matteir, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) » 00 

Foreign Subscription 4 w 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Sus:ar Imports. 

The government reports indicate that 
the imports of sugar during March, or 
rather that the duties paid on imported 
sugars during March have been nearly 
the highest reached at any time under 
the Dingley bill. The amount of sugar 
imported subject to duty was 369,645,- 
444 pounds, valued at $8,195,915, and 
the duties collected thereon were 

5,061,600. The actual imports during 
the month reached 413,011,377 pounds, 
valued at $9,173,385. The imports for 
March, 1898, were 322,855,164 poimds, 
valued at $6,638,676. 

From these data it will be seen that 
the average import value of sugars im- 
ported in March, 1899, was 2.22 cent^ 
per pound and that the average for 
March, 1898, was 2.06 cents per pound,. 



Space 



1 months month 9 month 12 month 



1 inch.. 

2 Inch. 
8 inch. 
4 inch. 

6 Inch, 
einch. 

7 inch. 

8 inch. 
Inch. 

10 inch. 
Half Page. 
Full Page. 



$600 
060 
14 60 
10 00 
23 60 
28 00 
32 60 
86 00 
38 00 
40 03 
60 00 

100 00 



$12 60 
24 00 
86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
00 03 
96 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 



$18 76 
86 00 
64 40 
71 26 
89 16 
106 00 
121 76 
136 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
40000 



$26 00 
48 00 
72 60 
«&00 
117 60 
140 00 
162 60 
180 00 
190 00 
200 00 
300 00 
60000 



An communications should be addressed to The 
LOUISIANA PLANTER, 888 Carondelet street, New Orleaniv 
La. 

UST OF STOCKHOLDERS. 



McCall Brothers, 
McCall & Legeodre. 
Leon Qodchauz, 
James Teller, 
B. Lemann A Bro., 
Leoacts 5oiilat, 
Louls Bush* 
W. B. Brickell, 
W. C. Stttbbs. 
John DymoiKl* 
Daniel Thompson. 
Poos ft Bamett, 
H. C. Warmoth. 
Ladas Forsyth, Jr., 
Bdward J. Gay, 
Sbattuck ft Hoffmao, 
Bmile Rest. 
Tbomas D. Miller. 
Schmidt ft Zlegler. 
T. O. ncLaury. 
L. 5. aark. 
J. B. Levert, 
Simpson Homor. 
W. B. Bloomfleld. 
W. W. Stttdilfe. 
John S. noore, 
James C. Murphy, 
jM.Webfe. 



D. R.CaMer 



R. Beltran. 
Luclen Sonlat* 

D. R.Calder. 
L. A. BIIU, 
Hero ft Malhloft, 
W. J. Behan, 
J. T. Moore. Jr.. 
Edwards ft Haubtican, 
John A. Morris. 

E. H. Cunolngbam, 
R. Vlterbo. 
H. C. ninor» 
C. M. Soria. 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Price, 
e. ft J. Kock. 
Wm. Qarig. 
Adolph Meyer. 
A.A.Woods, 
Bradlsh Johnson, 
George P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonnot, 
Richard Mllllken, 
W. P. nXLe% 
Lezin A. Becnel^ 
J. N. Ptaarr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 

EXECUTIATE COMMITTKE. 
[limry ncCall. 
5onUit, W. B. Schmidt. 



John DyoMnd. PresMoot. 



Weather in St. James. 

The Planter has received from Mr. 
E. Cherbonnier, owner of Helvetia plan- 
tation, in the parish of St. James, a 
memorandum of his record of the weath- 
er during the first half of April, which 
sliows how very unsatisfactory the 
weather was for the promotion 
of the growth of the cane crop 
up to that date Although we are 
in the month of April, proverbial 
for its showers, the rainfall reached but 
1^ inches, this falling on the 5th and 
6th. During the fifteen days there were 
but three bright and three clear days, 
the rest being cloudy and foggy, while 
the average minimum temperature was 
but 49 degrees F., and the average max- 
imum but 72 degrees F. Experience 
has shown that the growth of sugar cane 
is practically suspended at temperatures 
below 60 degrees F., and these figures 
and the absence of rain and sunshiny 
weather show why the cane crop has 
done so poorly during the first half of 
April. 

The Planter is greatly obliged to Mr. 
Cherbonnier for the data given. 



The Cane Crop. 

The past week is universally reported 
by our correspondents a? having been 
been the most favorable, from a weather 
standpoint, that we have experienced in 
the sugar belt this spring. The tempera- 
ture rose to something like a seasonable 
point, there were welcome and highly 
beneficial rainfalls, and the general in- 
formation sent in to us is to the effect 
that the appearance, not only of plant 
cane but stubble as well, is everywhere 
better than has recently been considered 
possible. Such good results, indeed, 
have followed the short spell of warm 
weather that the planters are encouraged 
to believe that the advent of our usual 
hot and growing May weather will 
bring out everything, except the second 
stubble, in a way that will prove highly 
gratifying. At this writing a soaking 
and persistent rain is falling, but there 
are unfortunately indications of cooler 
weather to follow. 



Cuban Sus:ar Crop. 

As will be seen in another column Mr. 
Joaquin Guma reports the deliveries of 
the Cuban sugar crop to March 31 at 
about 188,000 tons, against 232,000 
tons at the same time last year, with 
every indication of a considerably small- 
er crop this year than the last* Mr. 
Guma believes that the total crop when 
it shall have been delivered will not 
exceed 290,000 to 295,000 tons, against 
305,543 tons last year. 



The Velvet Bean. 

Mr. Albert H. Benson, director of the 
experiment farms in Queensland, Aus- 
tralia, has been giving some attention 
to the velvet bean, which, during the 
last few years, has attracted so much 
attention in Florida and Louisiana, 
threatening to supersede the favorite 
cow pea because of its luxuriant growth 
and excellent effect upon the soil. Mr. 
Benson says that the plant has been 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



242 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTUSEIL 



[Vol. XXII, No. 11 



wrongly named, as it is not dolichos mul 
tiflores, but is recognized by Mr. F. M. 
Bailey, to whom he submitted speci- 
mens, as miicuna pniriens, var. utilis, 
a variety of the plant commonly known 
as cowhage, or cow itch. The observa- 
tions of Mr, Benson were based upon 
the growth that came from some four- 
teen of the beans planted at Redland 
Bay in a deep loam of red color. The 
beans made a heavy growth and bloomeil 
profusely. Mr. Benson seems to be 
hopeful as to the value of the velvet 
b(^«n for the improvement of the lands 
in Australia. 



SugfLT Be«ts in Kansas. 

A recent bulletin from the Kansas 
State Agricultural Experiment Station 
at Manliattan gives an account of the 

. experiments carried on for the last two 
years in the production of sugar beets. 
A few years ago Kauf^as had such high 
expectations in regard to developing the 
sorghum sugar industi^ that the pro- 
phetic words of Dr. Wiley , who was 
then, as some of us thought^ unduly 
severe in his judgment of sorghu m as a 
sugar plant, fell uuon unwilling ears, 
and Kansas continued her experiments 
in sorghum imtil failure resulted idl 
jlong the line. It is pleasant now to 
see the interest Kansas takes in sugar 
beets, and it would seem fair to hope 
that succesa-i^iith that plant as a sugar 
producer, will be permanent. 

Sorghum culture was peculiarly 
adapted to the state of Kansas on ac- 
count of the limited rainfall there. We 
find, however, that in California, with 
a very limited rainfall, good crops of 
sugar beets are producr^d and it may 
be that Kansas will have equal capacity 

Jn that direction. 

Thus far there seems to have been 
some difficulty to induce the farmers of 
Kansas to experiment with sugar beets 
with that cari? and precision of work 
that is essential to the detennination of 
success or non-success with beets in the 
state. Doubtless the failure of sorghum 
deters many from taking much interest 
now in the sugar beet, although its suc- 
cess in so many of the other states should 
ceitainly inspire renewed etforts in Kan- 
sas. 

The average total solids in the juice 
of the beets reported on by the state ex- 



periment station were 15.52 per cent, in 
1807 and 14.71 in 1898. The sucrose 
in the juice was 11.88 per cent, in 1897 
and 11.56 in 1898, with a purity of 
7G.1 per cenU in 1897 and 77.8 in 1898. 
It -IS intended to repeat the experiments 
again in 1899 and certainly the data 
thus far secured would indicate that the 
sugar beet can be growTi and beet sugar 
rnixlo in Kansas more profitably than 
the average results realized from corn 
and wheat. 



The Beet Su^^ar Factories of the 
United States. 

Few persons have any conception of 
the rapid growth of the beet sugar in- 
dustry as evidenced by the various fac- 
tories already in operation and those that 
are building for the campaign of 1899. 
There were eighteen factories reported 
in operation in the season 1898-99, 
which had a capacity for daily consum- 
ing 12,700 tons of beets. This estimate 
includes the two factories at Salinas and 
Oxnard ,(^'alifomia, which can hardly be 
considered in operation yet, and as they 
are the largest in the country ,with a 
capacity of the two for consuming 5000 
tons, there would be left 16 factories in 
full operation this last season capable 
of consuming 7,700 tons of beets per 
day. 

There are twelve factories now con- 
structing which are expected to be ready 
for the coming campaign, with a daily 
capacity of 5,300 tons, and if we add to 
this the two large California factories, 
the fourteen would have a capacity of 
consuming together 10,300 tons, or a 
total be^et consuming capacity for all 
the factories of 18,000 tons of beets per 
day which woiUd produce 1800 tons of 
beet sugar per day. 

The beet sugar crop of 1897 is esti- 
mated at about 41,000 tons. Owing to 
the drought that prevailed on the Pa- 
cific coast during the growing season of 
1898 the beet crop was very short and 
but 34,000 tons of beet sugar were pre- 
cis- ' "^1 ere has now been an immense 
increase in acreage of beets planted, and 
if all these beet sugar factories get a 
full supoly of beets, as they are now 
expecting to, and run for 100 to 110 
days, producing 1800 tons of sugar per 
day, we should have a beet sugar crop 
for the year 1899-1900 of nearly 200,- 



000 tons, which, while it lasted, would 
supply one-third of the entire demand 
of the whole Union 

It is, of course, not likely that tht 
vast increase in beet sugar production 
will be realized, but the factories are 
already built and are now building with 
a contract capacity to consume the beeb 
that would produce this sugar, and if 
the beets can be had and if the semm 
be reasonably favorable; we may find 
some astonishingly large figures realized 
in the way of beet sugar pro<iucti«in 
among our western confreres 



The Pump Trust* 

The International Steam Pump Comi^Dy 
is capitaUzed at ^27,500.000, of which |U- 
500,000 is in 6 per cent cumulative pre- 
ferred stock and $15,000,000 in oomnum 
stock. The company is a consolidation iA 
five steam-pump manufacturing conceras, 
said to control about 90 per cent of the 
trade, except for high-pressure pumps. These 
companies, with property assets and pn^is 
as officially stated in the prospectus, are as 
follows: 

Henry R. Worthiington— Assets, 16,148,- 
355.64; estimated net profite the past year, 
$550,000. 

Blake & Knowles Steam Pump Worlo- 
Assets, $1,178,000; estimated net profits, 
$425,000. 

'Deane Steam Pump Works— Assets, $1.^ 
155,600; actual net earnings for 1898, $111,- 
973.* 

Laidlaw-Dunn - Gordon Company — Assets, 
$800,000; estimated profits, $70,000. 

Snow Steam Pump Works— Assets, $700,- 
000; ' profits, $55,000. 

The assets as above given make no aUov- 
ance for goodwill. It will be seen, there- 
fore, that the actual assets as estimated ag- 
gregate about $12,000,000, or about cover the 
preferred stock in the new company, leaving 
$15,000,000 for the goodwUl. 

The prospectus sets forth that under the 
oonsolidH'tion net profits should increase $1.- 
300,000, which would mean a total of |2,500,- 
000. In other words it is predicted that un- 
der consolidation the net profits will be more 
than doubled. — New York Journal of Com- 
merce. 



Sugar Patents. 

/Patents of interest to the sugar Indus tij 
issued issued April 4, 18i^. Reporced spe- 
cially for the Louisiana Planter by R, W. 
Bishop, patent attorney, Washington, D. C 

6\^2319 evaporating apparatus. David 
Augsberger, Berne, Ind. 

Mr. E. W. Deming met with a painful 
but (fortunately not serious accident durias 
the past week through the ignition of some 
gasoline on his pleasure launch "Zeta.** Ui. 
Demlng'a face was ibadly burned hut he wiU 
soon be all right again. 



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April 22, 1899.] 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANX7FA0TURBR. 



148 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Ascension. 

(SFEaAL C0RAS8P0NDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather of the past week haa been 
entirely seasonable and aa a result Imiprov- 
ing advices are coming in from the planta- 
tions. F^ne stands of plant cane are com- 
monly confessed, even in localities where 
this sole saving feature of a lugubrious crop 
forecast was erstwhile lacking, and many 
instances are reported of a decidedly more 
hopeful prospect with regard to stubble. 

Col. J. Emile St. Martin is one of the 
planters in this vicinity whose estimate of 
the chances for a fair crop this year h€is 
risen several degrees of late. His compe- 
tent manager, Mr. L. M. St. Martin, whose 
conservative Judgment in such matters sel- 
dom overreaches the mark aimed at, thinks 
the cormbined contribution of Pelico, Ar- 
lington and Bar Harbor to the New Hope 
factory for the season of 1899 will reach 
5,000 tons, against 7,300 in 1898 and 4,600 
in 1897, the product in the last named 
year having been curtailed by the destruc- 
tion of Bar Harbor's crop by overflow. The 
colonel says he will be quite satisfied if the 
prognostication of a 5,000-ton yield is real- 
ized, considering the shortage in planting 
and the almost total failure of the second- 
year stubble, which now seems apparent 

The outlook at the fine, large Evan Hall 
estate of thcT McCall Bros. Planting and 
Manufacturing Company, has also exhibited 
marked improvement, and there is good 
ground for the assumption that plant cane 
will make a fine stand, and first-year ra- 
toons a fairly good one on Evan Hall. 
Second-year ratoons have made no demon- 
stration above ground as yet, and the 
chances are slim for such a result later. 
Both digging and shaving of stubble have 
been practiced on this place, and it may 
be that this fact accounts in some measure 
for the more forward state of this part 
of the growing crop than on neighboring 
plantations where only digging is done. 

Mr. E. H. Barton reports the stubble still 
exceedingly backward at St. Emma, and 
what it will bring forth is yet conjectural. 
He thinks another month of time will be 
required to furnish the basis of any intelli- 
gent estimate of the outcome. 

Messrs. Kessler Bros, are said to have a 
good prospect, considering the season, on 
their Voiron plantation in Assumption par- 
ish, and if it be true, as reported, that they 
calculate their probable shortage at only 
twenty per cent, they may indeed be classed 
among the most favored of Louisiana sugar 
planters in this unpropitious year. 

Mr. George B. Reuss has added to the al- 
ready extensive character of his investment 
In sugar property by purchasing the lower 
Bimer plantation in Iberville parish, from 
J. B. Lotz. The act of sale waa passed thJs 
week and the purchase price was $36,615, ex- 
clusive of certain advances previously made 



by the purchaser, Mr. Rei^ss, thus demon- 
strates his faith in the future of the domes- 
tic sugar industry, and that his judgment 
will be amply vindicated Is the abiding faith 
of Ascension. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
unusually favorable. The warm days to- 
ward the end of the week, followed by the 
rains of Saturday and Sunday and the cloudy 
weather of today (Monday) will no doubt 
do a world of good to the crc^s. There is 
ho complaint so far as to the stand of plant, 
and the general opinion seems to be with- 
out exception that there will be more on 
the ground than last year. The stand of 
corn is good everywhere and everything 
points to a very large com crop. As to the 
stubble there is still much uneasiness, and 
probably there Is good ground therefor. The 
next ten days will tell the story, for after 
the rains and the warm weather that Is now 
with us we ought soon to know Just how 
good or how ibad the stubble crop will be. 
In a brief conversation with Mr. OsCar Folse 
I learned that I had been misinformed as to 
the selling of the cane of Folse & Naquin 
to Cedar Grove. He seemed also to think 
that there bad been no contract fus yet by 
which the cane of Mr. D. Himel on St Mar- 
tin had been bought by Messrs. Landry and 
Meyer. The fall cane on Oakley is begin- 
ning to show up, and while a heavy stand 
will not be obtained, still a regular stand 
Is promised and with suckers will be worth 
while keeping. The Oakley Planting CJom- 
pany has already received two large rollers, 
and work on the new building will be rapid- 
ly pushed to completion. Messrs. Bergeron 
and Martin, progressive tenants on Hlme- 
laya have some very advanced plant cane in 
new ground. Their new ground stubble Is 
also making a good appearance. Our po- 
lice Jury laid a per capita and vehicle tax 
at Its last meeting. This tax we under- 
stand will be devoted to the Improvement 
of the roads. 

Court will adjourn this week after a ses- 
sion of three weeks. Two murder cases 
were tried. The criminal docket was light, 
and the grand Jury had but little to do. 

Mr. E. L. Monnet after a brief visit to 
Donaldson ville has returned In better health. 
His many friends will wish him a speedy re- 
lease from his indisposition. Last Monday 
the spacious grounds at Glenwood were 
filled with the children of the Episcopal 
church, a festival being given by Mr. and 
Mrs. Munson, Glenwood Is one of the show 
places on Bayou Lafourche, the house and 
yards being handsome and kept in perfect 
order. Mr. and Mrs. Munson take great 
pride in this annual festival and see that 
the children have the best of times. 

Mr. Jas. E. Kent haa sold his livery stable 
to Mr. Ralph J. Beaseley, who has re- 
linquished planting this year. 



Messrs. Edward N. Pugh, R. McCulloh 
and fudge Taylor Beattie were In attend- 
ance on court last week. Mors Anon. 

Terrebonne. 

IFPICIAL CORIiMPONDBNCI. ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The ipreclpations of recent date ha/ve been 
abundant in this section and favorable to 
both cane and com, and the latter Is now 
assuming a thrifty appearance. In many 
places the canes planted before and after 
the freeze are marking the rows nicely, and 
sprouts are agra^earlng in the stnbble fields 
on sandy as well as black lands. What Is 
somewhat unusual. In places, oanes cut early 
during the last campaign are ratoonlng as 
well if not better than others where the 
fields were left standing until near the end 
of grinding. 

It Is at present Impossiible to form an 
opinion as to what the thickness of the stand 
will be, either on plant cane fields or ra- 
toons. In some Instances the stand of plant 
cane promises to be up to the average; but 
from the quality of the majority of the 
seed It will be somewhat Irregular, and 
the ratoons will be somewhat thin. 

A half a stand of cane on the first of 
May with a very favorable season there- 
after will give better results than a full 
stand with an Inclement season to culti- 
vate and lay by the crop. In the early 
seventies on the first of May the stand of 
plant cane was exceptionally fine; but 
from the eighth of the month until the 
rain and wind storm In October, the preci- 
pitations were far above the normal. 

The output was disastrously low, but lit- 
tle of the plant cane area gave over six- 
teen hundred pounds of open kettle sugar 
per acre. 

Should the weather p^rove favorable dur- 
ing the month of May and June the crop 
prospects may improve far beyond expecta- 
tions. What the cane growers now require 
Is warm, dry weather, to effectively culti- 
vate the ^elds, as tilth is essential to healthy 
growth. Thus far this week the land has 
been too moist to plough, and from present 
indications the soil may not be sufficiently 
dry to do really good work until near the 
end of the week. To plough land too wet 
at this season of the year Is to counteract 
the ibenefits of fall ploughing and early 
spring work. After the recent showers with 
warm weather, grass will grow a(>ace. 
consequently planters desire comparatively 
dry weather to enable them to cultivate 
rapidly. Frequent, somewhat shallow cul- 
ture will prove of greater benefit to the 
growing crc^s than the tedious, slow, deep 
ploughing with the double plough. 

This season planters will make an effort 
to lay by the corn areas as early as circum- 
stances will permit to give them more time 
to carefully nurse the plant cane and ra- 
toon fields. Tp fertilize com with tankage Is 
to increase the yield of grain, augment the 
pea vine crop, and enrich the. 90II for the 
plant cane crop to follow. 



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244 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



[Vol. xxn, No. 16. 



The syndics^te which recently purchased 
the Greenwood property on the lower bayou 
Black, six in number, are all citizens of the 
parish, namely, Messrs. Bmile Daigle, A. 
Blum, L. F. Sutton, V. H. Kyle, Henry Ber- 
ger and Peter Berger. 

Wednesday of last week was balmy and 
partially cloudy; Thursday, warm with 
clouds and sunshine; Friday, a splendid 
growing day; Saturday, warm and cloudy in 
the morning with showers in the evening; 
Sunday, misty early in the day and sprinkles 
Bt Intervals later; Monday, cloudy; Tues- 
day, misty in the morning and local show- 
ers later; and Wednesday morning, cloudy 
with prospects of clearing weather. 

Terrebonne. 



St. ilary. 

(SPECIAL C0RBB8P0NDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for ten • or fifteen days 
previous to last Saturday, has been both 
cool and dry. The several rains that have 
visited our section since the beginning of 
the planting season, having been followed 
by crisping north winds, the moisture failed 
largely of its effect as a life-giver; and, in 
addition to this, the ground was too cold 
tor any appreciable growth of vegetation 
otherwise. But last Saturday the drought 
aforesaid, was broken by a light shower in 
the afternoon, which was followed by a 
heavy and substantial rain on Sunday, Sun- 
day night and so on, though, unfortunately, 
these too, were attended by cool weather, 
greatly retarding the progress of the crops, 
which, it seems, cannot get a warm spell of 
any profitable length along with other favor- 
able conditions. 

What the planter needs now, is one good 
start for his crop, which he would abund- 
antly receive with a few successive days of 
warm, summer weather. While this could, 
not ibe termed an unusually cool spring, it 
is one at the same time, that has followed 
after a long and severe winter, during 
which time the crops did absolutely no grow- 
ing, so they are necessarily late. 

Some of our planters have been passing 
the digger ove^ the stubble alone several 
times, others are following it with the hoe, 
while others still are hoeing out the dirt 
without the aid of the digger. Bellevlew 
plantation has about 250 acres of stubble that 
is not worth cultivating either singly or in 
conjunction with corn, so it has been com- 
pletely overturned and the land will be used 
for corn alone. Though enough stubble and 
seed cane combined, have been saved for 
seed in 1900 — ^Bellevlew being, by long odds, 
the heaviest loser in St. Mary, from the 
February freeze. Mr. J. J. Shatter, on the 
Anna plantation, which adjoins Bellevlew, 
Is also plowing up a ^eat portion of his 
stubble, being too heavily injured to justify 
cultivation. It is said these two plantations 
sustained a heavier loss of seed and stubble 
than all of the balance of the Irish Bend 
together. 



Mr. C. S. Trimble, on the east bank of 
the Teche, sdys that while he will make 
more than seed this season, it will require 
at least four years to regain what he oon- 
siders.to be his loss, with an ordinary yield 
all round. He made, in view of this, a re- 
duction in his price for labor of ten cents 
from 70, which will be resorted to, your cor- 
respondent believes, in many other places 
where the crops will be short 

The small planters who sell by the ton, 
are stirring around tor prices on their cane, 
and one buyer has said that 80 cents per 
cent will be his highest price during the 
present season, in all likelihood. But your 
correspondent is informed that, others have 
expressed the intention of ottering more, in 
view of the fact that competition from the 
manufactories in the lower portion of the 
parish will be more threatening this year 
than ever before, on account of the general 
scarcity of a full grinding season. But while 
it may ibe too early to call attention to this 
fact, it is nevertheless noticeable that noth- 
ing is being said of the intention of pur- 
chasing on the sucrose test scale, for which 
it is to the advantage of St, Mary sugar 
growers to agitate, owing to the superiority 
in saccharine of their cane as compared to 
other parishes along with whom they must 
sell, and for whose shortcomings in grade 
they must share by a corresponding reduc- 
tion upon the price of their own, under the 
general schedule. Of course it is to be pre- 
sumed that Messrs. J. N. Pharr and others, 
who have adopted the ad valorem scheme a 
couple or more years ago, will follow it out 
again this year. 

Mr. C. D. Kemper, the assistant manager 
of the Oaffery refinery, of this parish, in- 
tends erecting a large plantation store on 
the Peoples* plantation, near New Iberia, 
which is owned and has been cultivated 
since its purchase two or three years ago, 
by the management of the Caffery. 

St. Mary. 



Vermilion. 



(SPECIAL C0RRB8P0NDENCI.) 

Ldiior Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
exceptional growing weather. Winter seems 
to have faded and passed away for good, this 
change having taken place on last Tuesday. 
The weather for several days previous to 
that was very oold and very damaging to 
the young crops, but the change came and 
with it a most magnificient rain that was 
very ibadly needed. We have liad some very 
dry weather and with the cool spell at the 
same time, all crops were checked in growth 
or from coming up at all, but now everything 
has taken on a different aspect — corn, cane, 
cotton, rice, potatoes and vegetables are 
coming up and growing nicely. . Cane 
(plant), is making a fine showing and by 
the last of this week a full stand will be 
up. The first planting has already come 
up to a complete stand cmd the last planting 
is coming up nicely. In many places the 



stand will be too thick. Many planters, for 
fear they would miss a stand, put down more 
cane than was necessary to obtain a stand, 
and as much of the cane that was adjudged 
bad proved to be good seed, the stand will be 
too heavy. First plant is being worked out 
and it looks strong and fine, off barring and 
scraping is irapjdly being pushed, and a few 
days more will see it completed. Stubble in 
some sections is coming out nicely, but as a 
general thing the stand will not measure up 
to expectations. On grey lands the first 
stubbles are very good, but black land stub- 
bles are poor. This is due to the rain and 
not the cold weather^ The grey lands are 
light and porous and drain easily, but the 
black lands are heavier and pack very close- 
ly, consequently hold water longer. The 
outlook now is that there will be about the 
same tonnage of cane for the mill this year 
with a much larger acreage to draw from. 
All in all the cane crop is not so bad. Corn 
is very promising, and that part of the crop 
planted on lands broken before the freeze is 
unmolested by the cut worm and is growing 
nicely. April planting is about completed, 
which finishes up the planting for 1899. 
With ordinary seasons a heavy crop may be 
expected. Cotton is coming up slow:y; the 
cold weather was very Injurious to it and 
several weeks will elapse before it recovers 
from the backset. There was an average 
acreage planted, and favorable seasons will 
bring forth an average crop. Seeding the 
fields to rice is the most important farm 
work in progress in the central- western and 
western parts of the parish at present. The 
first planting of rice is up and looks strong 
and healthy and the rains that we have been 
having for the past few days, will push 
recent planting out of the ground and stim- 
ulate that that is already up to vigorous 
growth. There will be no decrease in the 
acreage previously reported, but instead the 
acreage will be larger than was at first an- 
ticipated. The prospect for, a full crop is 
very fiattering. Potatoes and vegetables are 
looking fine. 

The Planter correspondent took a trip 
through the Western part of the -parish some 
days ago, and while in the neighborhood of 
Gueydan learned that charbon had already 
made its appearance in that section, and 
several mules had succumbed to the 
disease. !*• C. M. 

Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPCNDENCE.i 

Editor Louisiaiui Planter: 

It is nothing less than a pleasure to the 
Planter's scribe to find farm and planting 
conditions improving to the djellght and 
benefit of the agricultural and business in- 
terest of this and adjoining localities. 

The past six or eight days developed 
warmer weather, with light showers on the 
16th and 17th, barely enough to soften and 
make pliable the top of the soil to permit 
young plants to break through to sunlight 
and air. 



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April 22. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



245 



■I have Just finishad looking over my 
weather journal report for April, 1898, and 
find that last April was by no means a 
favorable month to the farming interest. It 
was wet, too much rain, and at times quite 
cool. Farm work backward, etc. After all 
it seems that in the mad rush to push for- 
ward, we too soon forgot the past, having 
in mind the present and future only, and 
grow too restless over events which take 
place in the elements and are unavoidable. 

In looking around the country in quest 
of news, I find that the cane prospects are 
now improving and growing brighter. The 
warm, damp and foggy nights and morn- 
ings which prevailed over our fair section 
of the country during the past week, caused 
the cane to come but through the surface 
in places unexpectedly and hardly looked 
for. 

From reliable reports received from 
Rapides. It is learned that the prospects for 
cane in the vicinity of Loyd, Lecompte, 
Meeker and other places are now much bet- 
ter than anticipated some weeks past. 

The Home Place plantation, estate of the 
late Jos. H. Meeker, as well as the places 
tributary to the Meeker Central factory, are 
now coming forward with surprisingly fain 
stands of cane. 

Truly surprising It is found that the stub- 
ble when It was In a manner protected, Is 
beginning to show marked indications of life 
and ratoons, which is something remarkable. 

These reports are very encouraging at 
this day and date, being proof plain that 
the rich soils of Rapides are quick to re- 
spond to the laws of nature. 

The cane raisers of Meeker and adjoining 
localities are now more hopeful since the 
young sprigs of cane have started to shoot 
up through the soil to mark the rows. 

An increased acreage has, and is now be- 
ing planted to corn; a heavy pea crop will 
be put In for hay-making and fertilizing 
purposes, and with a heavy acreage to cot- 
ton, all combined, with present cane and 
rrop prospects so flattering, has had a de- 
rided effect upon the feelings of the plant- 
ers and farmers, clearing away the dark 
.-^louds of gloom created by the February 
freeze, letting In the bright warm light of 
snmmer to lead them on the way to progress 
and prosperity. From a gentleman just 
calling from Barbreck It has been learned 
that the crops at Barbreck and neighborhood 
are beginning to grow and Improve, since 
the favorable weather of the past week came 
in. Cane in particular was coming up better 
and more promising than at the date of 
planting it was expected to do, and was 
causing the cane growers of Barbreck and 
vicinity to look and feel more hopeful for 
thp future. 

A heavy corn and pea crop Is now plant- 
ed, and being planted by the farmers In the 
country which Is tributary to Barbreck, and 
plantations. A numiber of other points and 
localities heard from, report crop prospects 
as Improving, wJtJi io<)lc£^tion for fortl^er 



improvement as the weather and season 
grow favorable. 

About the only trouble to be found at pre- 
sent with the farmers, is that some of the 
first planting of cotton is not coming up to 
as perfect a stand as they would like to 
have It, which If investigated, would no 
doubt be found to have been caused from 
planting unsound and defective seed. 

The first planting of com Is now growing 
and promising. It is now being plowed and 
worked the .first time. The later planted 
corn and cotton is beginning to grow up 
and out through the soil, and will soon de- 
mand attention and cultivation. 

As the winter clouds disappear, the farm- 
ers and planters are beginning to feel bet- 
ter and more hopeful for growing good 
crops . Erin. 



Last Wednesday were married at the 
Catholic church. Mr. Henry Mathern and 
Miss Amanda Bourgeois, both of our parish. 

Convent. 



5t. James — Left Bank. 

(SPECIAL CORRB8PONDENCE.) 

Editor IjoniHiiUi^i Planter: 

As the month of April advances, the tem- 
perature is growing a little warmer and 
the sun's rays somewhat more effective. 
The mornings still continue rather cool but 
spring is developing rapidly. The stubbles 
have doubtless sustained a terrible blow as 
they are very bad off eveiywhere, the spring 
plant though is doing very nicely and 
promises a fair outcome. 

The rice and corn crops have suffered a 
little from these cool snaps but still have 
both a very good stand in our parish, merely 
awaiting the arrival of warm days to show 
i:.p with rapid growth. The season so far 
has proved quite favoable for rice, which 
strictly demands the fair weather we are 
enjoying. 

St. James has during the past week lost 
one of its most highly respected citizens, 
Mr. Louis J. Folse, who, with his esteemed 
family, has removed to Iberville parish, 
where he expects to reside permanently. 
Mr. Folse has been engaged In cane culture 
since his youth, and was for a long time 
half owner of Felicity plantation, with Mr. 
R. Beltran. 

A year ago he sold his interest in this 
fine sugar estate to Mr. Rost (who now owns 
the entire plantation) and moved to Con-: 
vent, where he resided until this last week. 
Mr. Folse is an expert sugar planter and 
no doubt he will soon return to his chosen 
industry. 

The cane growers of the lower part of our 
parish have signed a contract of right of 
way to the Oneida Planting and Manufac- 
turing Company, granting the privilege of 
building a railroad for transporting canes 
all along that district. ^ 

We note with pleasure that Mr. Felicien 
Waguespack, of Sport plantation Is recover- 
ing from a fall, from which he sustained 
rather painful Injuries. Mr. Waguespack Is 
a prominent sugar planter of the first ward, 
and has always been most successful. He 
owns o^e of the nicest and oeatest sugar 
e^tat^ of our parish. 



Trade Notes. 

Diebold Saf.-s. 

We invite the attention of our readers to 
the advertisement of Mr. A.'Roy, which ap- 
pears In this Journal. Mr. Roy has been 
for more than a quarter of a century sole 
agent In Louisiana for that well-known and 
popular concern, the Diebold Safe & Lock 
Co., of Canton. Ohio. The excellence of their 
work and the severe tests that their safes 
have been put to In Uhls city. Is a sufB- 
clent guarantee that they are perfectly reli- 
able in the crucial test. The splendid ref- 
erences which Mr. Roy has from John 
Gauche's Sons and B. J. Montgomery, occu- 
pants of the Moresque Building at tihe time 
it was consumed by fire two years since, 
should convince the most skeptical of the 
entire reliability of Diebold Safes. Old res- 
idents say that It was the hottest fire that 
ever occured here during their long eiq>er- 
ience. Having been an eye witness to that 
great conflagration, we can truthfully say 
that It was a veritable seething caldron of 
angry flames, which continued for hours. 
Yet, when the IMebold Safes, used in that 
building were opened, their contents of 
money, papers and books were found Intact. 
The well-earned popularity of Mr. Roy, to- 
gether with the unquestioned merit of his 
goods makes him at once a leader in his es- 
pecial line. Our planters who are need of 
safes, would do well to give him a call be- 
fore purchasing elsewhere. He can be found 
always In a pleasant mood, at his place of 
business, 719 Common St, opposite the St 
Charles Hotel. 

The Bodley-Mallon Cane Carrier Feeder. 

Elsewhere In this Issue we prlntt one of a 
long series of testimonials received by the 
Bodley Wagon Co., concerning their widely- 
known device for feeding the cane carrier. 
A new testimonial will appear every week 
for the next three months, and we cordially 
commend them to the attention of our read- 
ers. 



Personal. 

Mr. and Mrs. E. B. LaPice, and Master J. 
West LaPice, of Lauderdale, La., were in 
ine city on Sunday. They had a(»artmenta 
at the St Charles Hotel. 

Mr. George M. Boote, one of our best su- 
gar planting experts, was in the city last 
Sunday, accompanied by his wife, and regis- 
tered at the Hotel Grunewald. Mr. Boote 
Is now raising a good crop of cane, In spite 
of the season. 

Capt. T. D. Stewart, of Irish Bend, St 
Mary parish, was in town during . the past 
week and put up at the St Charles. Capt 
Stewart is a leading citizen of his locality 
and is widely known as a genial gentleman 
and good buelBess man. 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 16. 



FORBIGN LBTTBRS. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, Apr. 1st, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORBESPONDENCE.) 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

The unexpected and decided change, con- 
sisting in a Sharif reaction towards winter, 
reported last week, has been followed iby a 
not less radical variation, 1i)ut In the opposite 
direction. The first days of the week were 
stfll very cold and new snow storms have 
been very far from suggesting the idea of 
an early adyent of spring. Nevertheless, the 
season In the course of the week has become 
spring-like; the temperature which in eome 
places last week had fallen as low as 10"* 
C, has risen in the latter days to 14"* C. 
But as the change was accompanied by 
rainb, and a layer of snow had to he shaved 
off, the soil, at least on the surface, was too 
wet as yet to admit a regular resunvption 
of field work. For that we need a oouple of 
dry days, and if these would set in it can 
be hoped that the agricultural operations 
will be taken u?p shortly after the Ejaster 
holidays, which indeed would not be too 
early, but neither too late, so that the beet 
sowings could be effected' in the second half 
of April. The opinions as to the advisabil- 
ity of early sowings are still somewhat un- 
settled. On one side it is asserted that the 
earlier the seed is confided to the ground, 
the better will be the results of the crop; 
whilst on the other hand, late sowings are 
recommended. In explanation it must be 
added that the former rules will hold good 
when the weather continues warm and wet. 
But the seed and its germination and coming 
up is greatly endangered when dry and cold 
weather sets in after the sowing of the 
beets. The young plants then are suffering, 
dry up and dwindle away, and even if their 
coming up should ibe fairly complete, frosts 
could be injurious to them. The more 
spring-like turn the weather has taken in 
Germany, is also reported from abroad, so 
that everywhere an energetic comimence- 
ment of field work after Easter, is esiJpected. 

The never-ending bounty question is 
agpain furnishing rather sensational matter 
for the newspaper press. A reassembling 
of the Brussels' Ck>nference In August is 
spoken of, and this time the program of it 
is said not to aim at a radical abolition, 
but at a gradual diminution,' the latter more 
particularly with reference to France, whose 
indirect premium is to ibe always curtailed 
by one-quarter, in the case that the export 
is exceeding 235,000 tons, and this proceed- 
ing shall >be continued until the entire in- 
direct "bounty is taken t>ff. Besides a tax 
shall be levied from the exported sugar to 
the extent of the bounty paid in the pre- 
ceding year, but 50,000 tons shall be exempt 
from this measure; that much for France. 
Oermany is to reduce her bounty to the rate 
In force prior to 1896. and the other coun- 
tries are to accomodate their legislation to 
the tmslf of tl^e German l»w. It is, how- 



ever, exceedingly doubtful that st^» will be 
taken in that direction, and it seems that 
only the introduction of countervailing 
duties in British India has called forth a 
renewed talk about bounties and their event- 
ual suppression. I am sure that nothing 
practical will result, but as a chronicler, I 
had to note the matter dutifully. 

From an Austrian consular report. I 
gather that the four beet sugar factories 
existing in Italy turned out in 1898-1899, 
7,769.3 tons of sugar as against 5,343.5 tons 
in 1897-1898. This increase, however, is ex- 
pected to be surpassed very much in 1899- 
1900, for which period the production is es- 
timated to reach 14,000 or 15,000 tons, on the 
ground that besides the above four factories, 
seven new ones will be started. But a great 
many more sugar mills are projected to be 
buiit in the near future, and if all of the 
schemes now spoken of are carried out, the 
beet sugar production of Italy will in a 
couple of years amount to 40,000 xjr 50,000 
tons, which is al>out the half of what the 
Italian Kingdom consumes. 

•Spain, on the other hand will, to all ap- 
pearance be able to produce In the very near 
future all her (requirements, and it is be- 
lieved that she will by and by enter upon 
the line of exporting countries. The beet 
sugar industry increases there at a rather 
rapid pace. Ten or twelve years ago Spain 
produced only 30,000 or 40,000 tons; at pres- 
ent she is turning out 40,000 tons, and some 
years hence she bids fair to produce 70,000 
or 75,000 tons, which is all she needs under 
present conditions of consumption. This re- 
markable growth is due in a high measure 
to the protection the sugar enjoys in Spain, 
and which is now the more effective, as cer- 
tain large colonies have ceased to compete 
on the markets of the mother country. You 
see matters have developed exactly the way 
I have foretold in one of my letters; being 
driven out of her West Indian colonies, 
Spain will produce at home more sugar, and 
thus increase the supply of sugar, which is 
certainly not too small at the time being. 

In spite of all prohibitory laws and heavy 
taxation, saccharine and similar artificial 
sweets are making headway everywhere. 
There is now news from Sweden to hand, 
that in that country large quantities of the 
stuft are used, although the sale is only per- 
mitted at drug stores. But it seems that 
there are no regulations for those establish- 
ments, so that they sell it almost to every- 
body, which must be concluded from the 
large quantities smuggled Into the country. 

The market, although on account of the 
nearby E>aster holidays Is very quiet, of- 
fered some interest, inasmuch as notwith- 
standing the restricted business, prices ruled 
rather firm, which no doubt augurs well 
for the future of the article. Besides at the 
last hour the figures of the stocks in Ger- 
man factories of first runnings were pub- 
lished, showing a much larger decrease than 
in March, 1898. Actual 88 pet. Is quoted at 
Magd^burf a trlfie higher than laft w^k, 



and closes at M. 10.85—11.07%, whilst de- 
livery March at Hamburg fetched M. 10.05 
f. o. b. In refined, quite insignificant busi- 
ness without change in prices. 

ROBT, Hennic. 



Havana. 



(SPSCtAL COmtESPONDENCB.) 

Havana, April 14th, 1899. 
Eklilo,' Is }ui:ua:i^i Planter: 

Prices abroad having advanced further, 
the demand at thl; place continued active 
and the greater part of stocks of desirable 
classes, was disposed of at higher prices, 
say at from 2.62Vi@2.85 cts. lb. for centrl- 
figated sugars, basis 96@)96 1-2 test at which 
about 95,000 bags changed hands, market 
closing today rather quieter, owing to the 
unimportance of stocks in first hands. 

Speculators have evinced good disposi- 
tion to secure large parcels of good quality 
for which they would have readily paid a 
fraction above exporters' offers, but owing 
to scantiness of stocks, business in this 
line has been rather limited. 

The sale of 3,500 bags, molasses sugars. 
86@88 test was also reported during the 
past week, at from 2%@2 5-16 cts. per 
pound. ^ 

As previously stated, this year's crop will 
be a very poor one and according to calcula- 
tion, the next one will be smaller still, in- 
asmuch as the monetary and labor diffi- 
culties, which planters have to contend with, 
have been of late considerably increased by 
the exigencies of their creditors, in whose 
behalf their plantations have been mort- 
gaged and any decision given by ihe govern- 
ment (to which the matter has been sub- 
mitted) In favor of such creditors, would 
irretrievably complete the ruin of the ma- 
jority of the Cuban sugar producers, even 
of those who would still retain the posses- 
sion of their estates, as they should be alto- 
gether unable to run them from want of 
necessary funds, or credit to raise money. 

General Brooke requested one month to 
study the. quo^tlon and give his decision 
and not being willing to assume the re- 
sponsibility, as he is well aware that it is 
impossible to satisfy all parties therein in- 
terested, he has sent his secretary to Wash- 
ington, to submit the case to the govern- 
ment. 

In this province of Havana, the fields of 
only three plantations have so far been re- 
planted, the proprietors of all others either 
lack confidence in the future of the staple 
or money and credit to resume cane plant- 
ing, and to make to their machinery the 
necessary repairs, in order to put again their 
factories on a working footing. 

The following fires In cane fields have 
been reported, previous to the setting in of 
the rainy season; one, on plantation "Les 
Pinos," at Cabezos, in the province of 
Matanzas, which destroyed about 60.000 
arrobes. of standing cane; at Bahia Honda, 
in thia province of Havana, factprl^f "8aa- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTEll AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



247 



tlago," "Nueve Feresa," "Mercedes," and 
"Remedlos," lost in a like manner one mil- 
lion arrobes of cane, from which about 85,- 
000 bags of sugar might have been obtained, 
had it not bee for the scarceness of oxen, 
which prevented it from being hauled in due 
time alongside the mills or factories. 
"Bramales" and "Louisa," whose machinery 
has been thoroughly repaired and which 
today are in fit condition to grind the totality 
of the cane grown in their neighborhood. 

At Ca/majuani, in the Remedios district, 
the establishment is contemplated of two 
agricultural tenancies, whereon toT)acco will 
be grown on a large scale, and it is general- 
ly anticipated that this method applied to 
tobacco will prove as satisfactory as it did 
as far as sugar cane is concerned. 

A terrific whirlwind, accompanied by hail 
and rain visited Placetas, in the Remedios 
district, last Saturday afternoon and in- 
flicted heavy damages upon both buildings 
and growing crops and it has-been raining 
ever since in that locality. 

Advices from the country are each day 
more conflicting as to bandits who control 
the greater part of the eastern region of the 
island and In the vicinity of Holguin, in the 
province of Santiago de Cuha, there is a well 
organized band of about 100 men, divided 
in small parties of 8 and 10 men, who scour 
the country and have succeeded in utterly 
paralizing agricultural lab.or in that part of 
the country. 

It is an undeniable fact that there have 
always been bandits in Cuba and it is not 
surprising that under the present demoral- 
ized social state of the country, their num- 
ber should have' increased, as it generally 
happened in all countries immediately after 
a civil war; it is a phenomenon which 
directly proceeds from a state of anarchy; 
but it is to be hoped that the aggravation of 
the evil will produce the remedy, as soon as 
the honest and working part of the popula- 
tion shake oft the drowsiness that paralizea 
their energy and fully realize that brlgapd- 
age is a scourge which must be done away 
with and that the time has come to restore 
order in the country and to impart confid- 
ence to its inhabitants at large. 

In former times, under the Spanish regime, 
it was more diflacult than today to pursue 
and exterminate bandits, on account of a 
certain political character that was attri- 
buted to them, which made them more 
sympathetic to the country folks, who often 
bestowed their protection upon them; but as 
they lack today of such political character 
and prejudice everybody's interest, regard- 
less of whomsoever they may be, they have 
made themselves hateful and as no one 
would now protect them any longer, it will 
be an easy task to* get rid of them as soon 
as our people come to the determination of 
putting an end to their depredations 

T. D. 



RICE. 



Mr. W. W. Duson, of Crowley, than whom 
there is scarcely a more widely known man 
in the State, was among the guests of the 
CpmmerciaJ Po^el a few daya ago» 



Calcasieu. 

(SPBCIAL CORRESPONDKNCE ) 

Editor Louisiana Planler: 

While we have had fair weather this 
week yet we cannot brag very much 
over It, for It lias been rather col-d', and 
such weather Is not the best for the rice 
which Is swelling, the soil yet remaining 
too cold for the seed, and It would be better 
for the farmers. If they did not have a ker- 
nel planted yet. I have examined consider- 
able rice which was sown some two weeks 
ago, and It was In bad condition, for lots of 
It was rotted, owing to the cold, wet soil. In 
some sections of the country there Is a large 
acreage of rice In just this condition, and it 
Is beared the stand will be thin, and this will 
greatly lessen the profits of the farmer. 
Some of our old farmers, who have had 
nearly a life's experience In rice culture, 
always watch the weather In the spring, and 
never plant until the soil is warm enough, 
even If they have to wait until ^middle of 
May. Some seasons rice can be planted by 
the middle of April with good results, but 
when the spring is as backward as it Is this 
season, then It Is far better to wait until 
the soil gets warm, for the stand will be 
better, and the rice will come on faster when 
It once starts. But where farmers have a 
large acreage of rice to plant, they begin 
early do as to hasten the work, but it is not 
always the best way to do. A large acreage 
of rice wass planted this week, and It can not 
do anything until the soil warms up, and It 
will be all right If It does not swell, and It 
may be all right any way. If the weather 
does not keep too cold. A large acreage of 
rod has been turned over this week, and It 
will be a good while before farmers get all 
their ploughing done, yet a few will get 
through seeding in a few days. A ferw 
•patches of rice is up — It sprouted during the 
warm spell — and It presents a sickly appear- 
ance, owing to cold weather, and even the 
wild rice that has come up In the fields, 
looks yellow, and when this hardy variety 
turns yellow. It is too early to plant rice. 

There Is very little rice now remaining In 
first hands, and what little there Is, will un- 
doubtedly go to the local mills, for shipping 
rice Is dangerous business of late years, since 
so many commission merchants are falling. 
Our rice mills seem to have all they cafl 
handle as yet, but the most of them do not 
run nights. 

They have a very successful rice mill at 
Galveston which has been doing good work 
this season, and has worked up considerable 
of our rice, and that point Is getting to be 
quite a good rice market, and bids fair to 
become much better in the future. 

A number of pumps arrived last week to 
be used for lifting water from the wells 
which have been drilled this winter and 
spring, and more are to arrive soon. 

The drilling outfit of the Andrews Artesian 
Well €o. came dawn to Jennings trls week 
to do some work, any they seem to be well 
equipped for the business, and, no doubt, 
they can get plenty of work, for there has 
been plenty of it In sight until just re- 
cently. Some have given up drilling this 
season, owing to their financial condition 
being such that It would not justify them In 
putting down a well. Of the many wells 
which have been put down during the past 
two seasons In this section. I have not heard 
of any complaints of them, all seem to fur- 
nish an Inexhaustible supply of water. Corn 
throughout the parish, looks sickly, owing 
to the cold late spring, and the corn planted 
now, will come on as soon and make better 
corn than the yellow crop uow standing in a 
9tujxt^d ponflitlppi, ^ ^ ,_ ^ 

PAWAiiiu RICH »mp. 



Calcasieu. 

tSPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.). 

Editor Loiiisuina Planter: j 

We have more rain to record this week. 
The weather, during the first off the week, 
was pleasant and rather dry, tout towards the 
close of the week. It Indicated rain, and it 
finally ca-me In earnest, and every foot of ^ 
ground Is thoroughly soaked, and all f arnii ' 
work Is at a standstill. There was a heary ' 
fall of rain during the past twenty-toiir : 
hours, and some localities are under water, 
but It will not be long before It runs off and 
^ork can be resumed. All those who have 
breaking to do, can do k now while the old 
land Is drying off, but there is not very much 
ploughing to do now. There is a large acre- 
age oi rice to be sown, and those who have 
put off the planting of rice until now, are 
more fortunate than those who sowed some 
two or three weeks ago, for that rice Is not 
doing very well, and the stand "Wilt be thin. 
Some of It has been planted in moist soil 
for three weeks, and it la not all up yet, 
and I doubt If It will come up. So much 
cold weather has been a drawback to the 
rice In the ground, but farmers hustled this 
work, for they were looking for a dry spell 
and wanted to get the rice sprouted before 
the dry weather set in, but many think, ^ey 
have missed IL Many are still waiting for 
the weather to become warmer before sow- 
ing, and they are wise in doing so.' Several- 
■wells are now 'being pUt down neaf Jennings, 
and some of them are to be eight inches in 
diameter, and are to furnish water for one . 
hundred and fifty acres of rice. That will be 
doing well for one well, but the parties wlio 
are putting down the wells, claim it can be 
done. 

One farmer will put down two six-inch 
wells and then connect them to one pump, 
and some think that plan is better than ^ 
one well, of larger size. But <there is quite 
a diversity of opinions bearlngf^ upon this 
subject, and the matter cannot be^ determined 
until It has been tested, and U is liable ^tot be 
tested this season. 

If farmers were able to pay for having 
wells put down, there would not be very 
much demand for the canal water, except on 
the large farms, for all the small farmers 
are in favor of the cheaper way. and the best 
way. Then they are not at ^the mercy of any 
body else, and can get water when they want 
it, without begging for It and having to 
pay six dollars per acre for water. Expenses 
have got to be curtailed more than they have 
In the past, or some one is going to see hard 
times, unless they are clear of deibt. In 
some of my rambles about the parish re- 
cently, I noticed some farmers sowing Japan 
rice which had as high as twenty kernels of 
wild rice In a single hand full, and still 
those farmers thought It would not do much 
harm. As long as farmers are this careless . 
a'^jut their seed rice, they cannot expect, 
to ever rid their fields of red rice, or hope 
to obtain top prices for the product from 
such crops, but it takes years of drilling to 
convince some people that they are making 
a mistake in farming, and some will never 
learn it, and will ' finally give up farming 
and say it does not pay. Farmers are now 
beginning to see that the freeze of the past^ 
winter did much more damage to their cane 
than they had any Idea of, and the crop will 
be short In -this parish this season, for there, 
was very little planted this spring, the seed 
cane being nearly all frozen. 

Corn Is yet looking very poorly, and some 
farmers tell me that they will have to plant 
over, as the stand 1» so thlo. 

Cjucameu RicB Bird* 



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248 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 16. 



The Best Method of PitLntlng, Ferti- 
llzlnf and Cultivatlns: Cane so as 
to Give the Best Results in 5us:ar. 

<A paper by Dr. W. C Stubbs, resd before the Louis- 
iana Sugar Planters' AssoOlaUon AprU 18tta, 1890. ) 

The «ii-bject this evening is a cofhprehens- 
ive one and has ali'ead]^ ibeen covered "in 
extenso" in a book of over 200 pages recent- 
ly published by your speaker. To this work 
I refer all interested for details. It Is diffi- 
cult to treat satisfactorily such a subject 
in a few pages. The questions of soils, 
seasons, climate, drainage, preparation of 
land, fertilization, irrigation, cultivation, 
etc., are all Involved in the discussion of 
properly growing sugar cane. 

The alluvial soils of the Mississippi and 
Red Rivers, with their outlying bayous, 
show by chemical analysis a high degree of 
fertility. To render this fertility available, 
certain physical conditions must <be estab- 
lished. Drainage is of first Importance. 
Few plantations are sufficiently drained. As 
a rule, wken one thinks he is well drained. 
It Is best to duplicate his ditches and deepen 
his drains. 

When thorough drainage is established, 
then the proper preparation of the soil can 
Q>e essayed with an assurance ultimately of 
that tilth which Is absolutely necessary to 
wring from the soil miizlmum results. The 
physical properties of onost of our soils, for- 
bid thorough pulverization when freshly 
broken. Therefore deep plowing, with heavy 
raging should precede planting sufficiently 
long to enable sunshine and showers to dis- 
integrate thoroughly and bring a condition 
commonly known as "an ash bank.*' The 
"modus operandi" best suggested by extens- 
ive experiment. Is to break broadcast as deep- 
ly as possible, burying pea vines or other 
vegetalble matter growing on the soil, 
throw at once ridges five to seven feet 
wide and open ^he middle with a double 
mould plow and clean out the quarter drains. 
The latter should be six Inches below the 
middle of the rows and numerous enough to 
convey rapidly to the ditches our heaviest 
rainfalls. It should be remenvbered that ev- 
ery flat surface, with an 'Impervious sub- 
soil. In order to be placed In a condition of 
the highest tilth, must be artificially con- 
structed Into hills and valleys, and the val- 
leys must have their channels of drainage. 
Hence, throwing up our soils Into high 
ridges or rows and maintaining them thus, 
as far as possible through all the operations 
of cane growing, from preparation of soil to 
lay-by of the crop Is almost an agricultural 
commandment to the pirosperous sugar plant- 
er upon our alluvial soils. Frequently a 
heavy rain falling upon the temporary beds 
will destroy the tilth which a previous prep- 
aration of months had secured. The reason 
Is obvious. All plant food Is elaborated by 
microbes which abundantly fill all fertile 
soils In good tilth. The existence and rapid 
multiplication of these mlcro^bes depend up- 
on, (1) a thoTOU£^ aeration of the soil, (2) 
a certain amount of heat, (8) a certain sup- 



TABL,B ISO. I. 

- — No. stalks per acre. — » 

KIND OF CULTIVATIOH. What At Ac Tons per 

came up» lay-by. h«rveU. acre. Brlx. 

I. Doable Horse Plow 20,S19 35,65» 2:^,82) 85.78 16.46 

II. Two Horse How and Disc Cultivator 19,672 41,562 30,S5^ 39.51 16.lt 

HI. Two Horse Flaw, Disc aid Middle Cultivator 1S,52> 48,2^J 2),73S 42.55 15.40 

IV. Disc CulUvator and D.M. Plow 17,6»S 44,667 2J,734 HH.il 1.5.01 

V. Disc and Middle Cultivator 18,346 44,3iO 2),130 4i.20 14.88 

III. oompared with I -2^>4 +8,631 +0,909 t5.78 -.06 

III. compared with 11 -1,017 ^3,721 -1,12) ^ 3.0i ^.28 

111. oompared with rv +877 3,616 ^O.OK * t.19 ^.39 

III. compared with V +179 h3,W8 40,60i tl.36 f.52 

V. oompared with I -1,470 H,69S +0,301 4.42 -.58 

V. oompared with II 1,228 -1,222 -0,72J 4 1,66 .21 

V compared with IV +0,i98 0,327 0,60J '2.83 .13 

TABL,B ISO. 3. 

/ — No. stalks per acre. — . 

niTD OF CULTIVATION. What At At Tons per 

came up. lay-by. harvest, acre. Brlx. 

I. Two Horse Plow 22,7n 32,828 2>,IS6 26.10 13.21 

II. Two Horse Plow and Disc CulUvator 21 A^3 3I,2>9 25,641 31.05 13.23 

III. Two Horse Plow, Disc and Middle Cultlaator 22,92) 32,16> 21,1:35 31.16 13.6^ 

IV. Disc Cultivator and D. M. Plow ' 21,961 33,211 21,157 31.21 13.42 

V. Disc and Middle Cultivator 22,837 31,30) 2->,9H a3.35 13.21 

V. oompared with 1... iO,0» +1,4S3 i 432 i 7.2-» ^.03 

V. compared with II i 1,774 + 100 721 f2.30 { .01 

V. OOm ured with III 0,081 +1,811 l 1,78J +2.19 -.44 

V. ooaipared with IV -0,833 -1,0)3 +1,701 -2.11 .18 



Sue. 


Gloc. 


12.48 


1-11 


12.31 


1.03 


12.^ 


.06 


12.63 


1.0) 


12.17 


l.Oi 


+ .41 


-.15 


+ .61 


.09 


-.21 


-.10 


r.72 


-.70 


.31 


~M 


.19 


.« 


.16 


.02 


Sue 


GITI^ 


9.6) 


i.a 


9.63 


i-ii 


10.27 


1.82 


9.83 


IM 


9.88 


l.% 


4^.21 


-U 


+ .21 


^M 


-.41 


-.0' 


+ .03 


-.11 



ply of moisture, existing only as capillary 
■water, (4) the presence of organic matter 
containing nitrogen, (5) the presence of a 
small amount of alkali, e. g., lime. When- 
ever a eoU Is flat and Is flooded by water, 
air Is excluded, capillarity is superseded by 
bottom water, heat Is consumed In produc- 
ing evaporation, and the microbes are liter- 
ally killed by the million. Hence the danger 
always of destroying tilth by a heavy rain- 
fall upon a flat soil, and the necessity. If 
maximum crops are expected, of maintaining 
permanent ridges throughout the year. If the 
preparation Just described be performed In 
the fall or early winter ,the spring will find 
these ridges loose, pulveraljle and In excel- 
lent tilth. Usually, at planting these ridges 
are opened with a double mould board plow, 
and two or more running stalks of cane de- 
posited into this furrow and covered with a 
disc cultivator, plow or hoe. Two stalks of 
good cane have been found abundant for the 
thickest desirable stand, and the disc cul- 
tlimtor Is an efficient and economical lmi>le- 
ment for covering the cane. 

In the spring. In off-barring plant or stub- 
ble cane, great care should be exercised to 
wrap up well and high the middle, revers- 
ing now the ridges, leaving draining chan- 
nels on either side of the cane or stubble. 
If this be carefully done. It will be found on 
returning the dirt to the > cane that It re- 
tains Its pulverable condition and excellent 
tilth. 

Fertilizers should be applied in the open 
furrow and well mixed with the soil just be- 
fore planting the cane, or else distributed 
and well mixed with the soil on either side 
of the cane or stubble before returning the 
dirt to the cane. After fertlllilns and re- 
turn the dirt I. e., re-establishing the origi- 
nal rows, by splitting out the middles, the 
plows should be sent to the Implement room 
to remain until next fall or spring. Culti- 
vators alone should be used for cultivation 
of the crop. The disc cultivators, so con- 
structed as to conform to the existing ridge 
and yet capa'ble of 'being disced so as to 
throw M17 ditired dirt to t]»e oane, are ex- 



cellent Implements for cane culture. These 
follow 3d by middle cultivators which at one 
movement sweijp out the middles, throwing 
up the dirt to the spaces removed by the disc 
and leaving a central furrow for drainage, 
give. In our experience, the most effective 
and economical methods of cultivation. 
Quarter drains should be opened directly 
behind plows and cultivators. The above 
implements will cultivate from 10 to 12 
acres per day; will pulverize or keep In 
pulverable condition the soil, promote ni- 
trification, conserve moisture and maintain 
tilth. They can be adjusted to throw any 
amount of dirt to the cane desired, and at 
lay-by approaches, the height of the ridges 
can be increased to any desired height At 
lay-by, if the old orthodox .method be fol- 
lowed, large lay-by discs, followed by mid- 
dle cultivator with its two forward shovels, 
will perform work satisfactorily, I believe, to 
the most fastidious. The above system of 
cultivation ap(peals to the intelligent planter 
from almost every standpoint. It maintains 
tilth and avoids the barbarous practice of 
lacerating cane roots. It conserves moisture 
and "promotes rapid growth. It minimizes 
expensive hoe labor and diminishes, by the 
large area cultivated daily, the cost of plow 
labor, permitting. If desired, (and it is al- 
ways desirable), more frequent cultivations 
of the crop. Four years ago, comparative 
experiments with different methods of culti- 
vation were begun. The first two years only 
two methods were adopted. First, with two- 
horse plow only, all through the season; 
second, after the middles were returned to 
the cane by the two-horse plow, the disc and 
middle cultivators only were used. Through 
two years plant and stubble, the latter 
method gave an average of over 10 tons cane 
and 700 lbs. sugar per acre each year over 
the former. 

Two years ago, a large plat was laid out 
for cultivation experiments. Five systems 
were adopted. First, double horse plow. Ii 
was used alone in all the operations of culti- 
vation. Second, ^he disc cultivator wiw psed 



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J 



April 22, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



249 



to cultivate the upper portion of the rows 
whUe the middles w.ere split out by the two- 
horse plow. Third, the two-horse plow wcs 
used to return the furrows to the cane, 
after a stand was secured and all subsequent 
cultivation performed by the disc cultivtor 
and the middle cultivator. Fourth, the fur- 
rows were returned to the cane by double 
board plow, and in all the subsequent oper- 
ations, the disc cultivator, folloyred by double 
mould plow were used. Five, the, furrows 
returned to the cane with the middle culti- 
vator and all subsequent cultures made with 
disc and middle cultivators. 

These methods were triplicated in the plat 
and so arranged as to preclude any possibil- 
ity of variation in the soil. There were 
fifteen sub-plats of from three to six rows 
each. To avoid any error which variation 
in rowa in different plats might occasion, 
every row was separately counted, weighed 
and juices carefully analyzed. It would be 
impracticable in a short paper to give you 
the details of these experiments, which 
show a remarkable unanlmUy of results on 
every row in each set of experiments. But 
the average of each method is given for each 
year. Table No. 1 is plant cane of 1897. 
Table No. 2 is 1st year stubble of 1898. The 
plat is the sandiest on the station and was 
in excellent tilth both years. 

The season of 1897 was almost an ideal 
one, giving us a large tonnage with fair su- 
gar content. The season 1898 was execr- 
able in every respect and cultivation ex- 
periments were not as clearly differentiated 
on account of excessive rains prevailing 
throughout the last half of the season. Tet 
both years were pronounced against culti- 
vation with two-hors^ plow — 5.78 tons in 
1897 and 7.25 tons in 1898. 

The use of disc cultivator with either two- 
horse plow or double mould board plow are 
great Improvements over two-horse plows 
alone, but inferior to the use of disc and 
middle cultivator. 

FERTIUZERS FOR CANE. 

We have several times discussed fertiliz- 
ers for cane before this association and have 
gone into minute details on this subject in 
a book recently published. It is therefore 
unnecessary to dwell upon this subject to- 
night A few salient points may however 
be given. 

Analyses conducted by our stations have 
shown that a ton of cane when the tops and 
leaves are burnt qn the field, removes from 
the soil 3.4 lbs nitrogen, 1.48 lbs. phosphoric 
acid and 2.17 I'bs. potash. A crop of thirty 
tons will remove therefore about 102 lbs. 
nitrogen, 45 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 65 lbs. 
potash. 

These ingredients are nearly supplied in 
1500 lbs. cotton seed meal, using the stand- 
ard analysis as a basis of calculation, viz: 
7 per cent nitrogen, 3 per cent phosphoric 
acid and 2 per cent potash. The 1500 lbs. 
will therefore contain 105 lbs. nitrogen, 45 
lbs. phosphoric acid and 80 lbs. potash, leav« 
ing onl7 85 lbs. potasl^ to be supplied, 



The afbove analysis,shows that cane shares 
with other grasses, its fondness for nitrogen, 
and to grow maximum crops goodly quanti- 
ties of this ingredient must be present The 
triennial growth of cow ipeas, besides the 
many physical benefits accruing to our soils, 
add from 100 to 150 lbs. of nitrogen to each 
acre — a contribution from the air, the great 
reservoir of this element They do not, nor 
cannot increase the supply of either phos- 
phoric acid or potash in the soil. They may, 
and do perhaps, transfer* these ingredients 
by their tap roots, from sub-soil to soil and 
thus increase the available supply for the 
cane crop, which forages mainly in the up- 
per layers of the soil. 

But if the soil be deficient in them, they 
must be supplied in some fonm of fertiliz- 
ers. Knowing therefore the demands of the 
cane plant, it behooves us to learn how far 
our soils can supply them without assist- 
ance. When the sugar station was first es- 
tablished, a series of experiments of a per- 
manent character wias instituted, seeking a 
solution to the following questions: (1). 
Do these soils need nitrogen, phosphoric acid 
or potash? (2). If so, in what forms? (3). 
In what quantities. 24 lbs., 36 lbs. and 25 
lbs. were respect! vely ^assumed as OQe ration 
of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. 

Our experiments at Kenner, covering four 
years, assured us that in our short and vari- 
able seasons, two rations each of above in- 
gredients were maximum quantities which 
the cane plant would appropriate. There.- 
fore, further exiperiments using three rations 
of each were abandoned on our removal to . 
Audubon Park. 

In 1890 the station was removed from 
Kenner to its present abode. There were 
selected three plats of about one acre each, 
of apparently uniform fertility, for replies 
to €ibove questions for each Ingredient. 
These plats were each divided into twenty 
sub-plats for experiments. No. 1 was ded- 
icated to nitrogen as manures. No. 2 to phos- 
phoric acid manures and No. 3 to potassic 
manures. 

Every available commercial form of ni- 
trogen, phosphoric acid and potash was util- 
ized. These forms were used singly and 
combined in one and two rations, with two 
rations of the remaining two ingredients; 
recognizing the fact that to test the want of 
any soil for any one ingredient, all of the 
others must be present in ample quantities. 
Between each form or group, a check is 
made omitting the ingredient under test 
and using only the other two. 

Also at regular intervals a plat was left 
without fertilizer of any character to test 
the natural need of the soil. 

Since 1890 these plats have received each 
year the same fertilizer and will be con- 
tinued indefinitely. 

The average of eight years upon these 
soils have shown that nitrogen is the domi- 
nant Ingredient in all fertilizers for cane, 
and that phosphoric acid in moderate quan- 
tities 18 alto required. PotfMh has px>% b^e^ 



found at all beneficial. While sulphate of 
ammonia has shown each year a slight su- 
periority over the other forms of nitrogen, 
Its high price gives no financial benefit to the 
planter. Cotton seed meal comes next, fol- 
lowed closely by dried tblood, nitrate soda 
tankage and fish scrap, in the order named. 
All should be combined with available phos- 
phates. 

Of the various forms of phosphates used, 
the soluble gave decidedly best results, fol- 
lowed by slag imeal, fioats, bone black 
ground bones, &c. 

A comblnaition therefore of nitrogen and 
phosphoric acid in available forms is there- 
fore best adapted to sugar cane. 

The' next question arises, how we shall 
combine them — how much of each shall we 
use per acre? How deep shall they be ap- 
plied and how they shall be distributed in 
the soil. 

It has been found also that but few of 
our seasons give us rainfalls in quantity and 
distribution sufficient to enable the cane to 
appropriate 48 pounds of nitrogen. Hence a 
larger quantity is excessive, and it may be 
a waste. It is therefore safe to recommend 
quantities of nitrogen varying between 24 
and 48 pounds per acre for our cane crop. 
Again, different soils and different kinds of 
cane require varying quantities of nitrogen. 
Plant cane upon pea vine land, will not re- 
quire the same amount as upon ''succession" 
land, i. e., upon soils from which a cr(H> of 
stubble cane has just been taken and which 
has been continuously in cane for years 
without the intervenUon of a leguminous 
crop to restore nitrogen. Indeed such soils 
are frequently in an execrable physical con- 
dition, which not only precludes the possi- 
bility of themselves furnishing plant food, 
but also prevents them from assimUaUng 
much of that presented in the form of com- 
mercial fertilizers. Hence the unsatisfactory 
results from manuring succession canes, so 
often experienced by planters. It is doubtful 
whether one-half of the plant food appUed 
to succession canes in commercial fertilizers, 
is recovered in the canes in the average 

season. 

Pea vine lands put in plant cane, on ac- 
count of their excellent physical conditions, 
not only yield up readily the nitrogen stored 
up by the peas, l>ut can also assimilate large 
quantities of plant food supplied as fertiliz- 
ers. Hence such canes usually make large 

crops. ., . 

Since nitrogen is the chief Ingredient 
taken from the soil by a crop of cane, it fol- 
lows that with each successive crop of cane 
grown on the land, without the intervention 
of a restorative leguminous crop, there arises 
an increased demand for nitrogen. Hence 
stubble canes require larger quantities than 
plant cane, and the older the stubble, the 
larger Its requiremenU for this element to 
make a given tonnage. 

From investigations made by this station, 
a crop of cow pea« when turned under at 
the proper tim^, will add at least 100 lb9. 



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250 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER Ac^O SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 16. 



of nitroffen per acre, most, if not all of 
which, it is believed, is gathered from the 
air. The average crop of plant cane grown 
upon pea vine land is not far from thirty 
tons per acre. The first year stul)ble follow- 
ing this plant, should give twenty tons per 
acre, and if kept for the second year stub- 
ble, a crop of at least 15 tdns per acre should 
be obtained. The three years cropping 
would give 65 tons of cane which, together 
with tops and fodder (which are burned) 
would remove from the soil 221 pounds ni- 
trogen. Of this amount, 100 pounds would 
be furnished by the peas, most of which go 
to the plant cane, leaving 121 pounds to be 
supplied by fertilizers in order that the soil 
may retain the original fertility. It will 
require over 1700 >pounds of cotton seed meal 
to supply this quantity of nltogen, or 970 
pounds for first year stubble and 730 pounds 
for the second year stuibble. These quanti- 
ties are usually in excess of practice, because 
there is a certain amount of nitrogen fur- 
nished by the soil every year, and secondly 
our crops of peas give frequently larger 
quantities of nitrogen than given above, and, 
lastly, such tonnage through three years is 
rarely obtained. However, this will serve 
as an illustration of the value of nitrogen 
to the sugar cane crop. 

It is therefore advisable to decrease the 
nitrogen in a fertilizer for cane upon a pea 
fallow and increase the phosphoric acid— a 
ratio of one of nitrogen to two of phosphoric 
acid— would best meet the requirements of 
cane on such land. This ratio is albout ob- 
tained in a TOixture of equal parts of cotton 
seed meal and acid phosphate. 

Upon first year's stubble — succession plant 
and second year stubble, the nitrogen should 
be greatly Increased. The ratio may ex- 
tend from one to one, to two to one, and 
sometimes even three to one in order to 
supply the deficiencies of the soil. 

Plant cane, particularly In the spring may 
very properly receive a portion, and the rest 
early In May. With fall planting, the farm- 
er should decide upon the chances of leach- 
ing 'against benefits to his crop, by character 
of soil worked. It is safer, if not always 
more remunerative to apply in spring. 

Stubble cane should not be fertilized till 
the roots from each sprout are sufflciently 
developed to appropriate the fertilizer. It 
has been found by numerous experiments 
at Audubon Park that fertilizers pay best by 
applying them all at once. Sometimes 
seasons occur making two or more applica- 
tions slightly more profitable, (but through 
a series of years, one application has given 
most satisfactory results. The depth at 
which fertilizers should be placed, lies be- 
tween two and six inches according to soil 
and seasons. 



Mr. J. W. Llbby, of the firm of Llbby &. 
Blouin, proprietors of the Bush Qrove place 
at Lafourche Crossing, was In town on Tues- 
day last 



The Best Method of Planting:, Ferti- 
lizing: and Cultivating: Cane to 
Give the Best Results in Sus:ar. 

(Discussion by the Louisiana Sugar Planters* Assoofa- 
tion. Judge Emile Rost 1 1 the chair; Mr. Regi- 
nald Dtkers at tbo deslc.) 

Chairman: Gentlemen, It was my misfor- 
tune not to be able at the last meeting to 
attend the election of officers, and I see by 
the minutes of the last meeting that I was 
re-elected president of this association. For 
this honor which you have conferred upon 
me I wish to tender my thanks. I am not 
by any means ambitious to continue In the 
responsible position to which I have been 
again elected, but as the association has 
thought It proper to continue me in the 
same office, all that I can do or say Is to 
promise to do my best. As I have already 
had occasion to say, if the association finds 
better material for the presidency, I am al- 
ways willing and ready to step down and 
out. I thank you. 

The regular topic of discussion this even- 
ing Is, "The Best Method of Planting, Ferti- 
lizing and Cultivating Cane, to Give the 
Best Results In Sugar." The gentlemen who 
have prepared papers on this subject will 
be called upon to present and read them to 
the association. 

Papers were presented by Mr. R, G. Co- 
meaux, Mr. H. S. Crozier. Mr. W. L. Gold- 
smith and Prof. W. C. Stubbs, all of which, 
except Dr. Stubbs*, appearing In this Issue, 
appeared In our last week's Issue; a vote of 
thanks being tendered the contributors by 
the association. 

Prof. Stubbs: I want to say to Mr. Co- 
meaux that the Experiment Station, aided 
by the Geological Survey of this State, has 
analyzed probably 150 or 200 soils, covering 
nearly the entire sugar belt, and we are per- 
fectly cognizant of the composition and con- 
ditions of nearly all the sugar soils in the 
State. 

Member: I would like to ask Prof. Stubbs 
if this Is a good year to fertilize? 

Prof. Stubbs: I would refer you to my 
paper. Whenever your stubble is sufficient- 
ly developed, with long rootlets to appropri- 
ate the fertilizer, and you see that you have 
stand enough. It Is an excellent thing to do; 
It Is an excellent Idea to fertilize this year 
if you have a stand of cane. 

Mr. Hy. McCall: I think, after hearing 
Prof. Stubbs* able paper, that there Is really 
nothing for any one to say on the subject 
I think Prof. Stubbs has covered the ground 
so thoroughly that there is really nothing 
to say. We might ask him some questions, 
but I do not know that I have anything at 
all to say, Mr. President. 

Chair: The subject has been presented 
In various papers, and the matter gone over 
thoroughly by each. If any one present has 
any views to express, the chair would be 
glad to have them presented. Professor, I 
would like to ask you If dissolved bones 
and acid phosphate are not the same thing. 

Prof. Stubbs: No, sir; dissolved bones 
are bones treated with acid, and contain, 
besides phosphoric acid, a considerable per- 
cent of nitrogen — 2 to probably 3 1-2 per 
cent; whereas acid phosphate Is a mineral 
phosphate, which has been dug out of the 
earth— containing no organic matter or ni- 
trogen. Dissolved bones contain nitrogen. 
In other words, to make myself plain: If 
we take a bone and burn It, we bring it 
down to burnt bone, and the organic mat- 
ter will be destroyed; nothing will be left 
but what we call In chemistry tricalclc 
phosphate. Now, takes these bones and 
treat them with acid and we will get acid 
phopplMite, Rock phosphate Is nothing more 



nor less than 'tie remains of the bones of 
extinct animals, through a long process of 
time. Now, we so Into these mines and dig 
up this rock phosphate and treat it with 
acid, and In th'ls way get what we now de- 
signate as acid phosphate. 

Mr. Rickey: I think the subject has been 
thoroughly covered by the able papers that 
have been presented here to-night As many 
of the gentlemen present to-night know, I 
visited the planters many years ago, intro- 
ducing commercial fertilizers. At that time 
I think fully 90 per cent of all the sugar 
planters In the State who were using ferti- 
lizers at all used cotton seed <meal only. I 
found In Investigating the sugar district and 
in talking up fertilizer to the sugar planters 
that it was a question, as a rule, that had 
not been thoroughly investigated and un- 
derstood. My plan at that time, and for all 
subsequent time, was to say to the sugar 
planter: Take a quantity of this fertilizer, 
try It and see what the result Is. I pursued 
that plan, and Induced a great many sugar 
planters In the State to try it; first small 
quantities of fertilizer, which were gradual- 
ly increased — beginning with 5 tons and go- 
ing up to 100 tons. I found by careful in- 
vestigation, following the use of fertilizer, 
going Into the fields with the managers, see- 
ing the condition of the cane in different 
stages, in some instances taking the chem- 
ists and going Into the sugar houses, and 
having the cane analyzed to ascertain as Car 
as it was possible, the difference between 
the different kinds of cane as they were fer- 
tilized In the field. Now, my observation 
has been that the best results have been 
obtained by those planters who have taken 
this fertilizer and used it a succession of 
years. As Prof. Stubbs has told you here 
to-night, he has been making these experi- 
ments for eight years. I know of planters 
in the State who began using fertilizers 
and continued the use of the same fertilizer 
for a series of ten years. They tell me they 
have never changed this fertilizer, and have 
obtained the most satisfactory results. I be- 
lieve that this Is a question the sugar plan- 
ters are solving and will continue to solve 
year after year, and that the time is com- 
ing when the sugar planters of the State of 
Louisiana will go to the manufacturers and 
say lo them, "Gentlemen, we want so many 
units of ammonia, so many units of phos- 
phatic acid and so many units of potash; 
what will it cost us?" And I believe that 
is the only Intelligent way of getting at the 
fertilizers. Every sugar planter here pres- 
ent knows that the seasons have a great 
deal to do with any kind of fertilizer. I think 
the manufacturers propose not to dictate 
so much to the planter as to what they 
ought to use, because the planter as a rule 
understands his soil; knows what the dif- 
ferent kinds of soil require, and they are 
perhaps the best Judges. I think the proper 
thing for the manufacturers to do is to say 
to these gentlemen: "We will furnish you 
with Just what you want** 

Chair, I was going to ask you. Professor, 
in connection with the remarks Just made, 
whether, in your experiments at the station, 
I did not understand, you to say some days 
since that the station had never been able 
to present a formula which would be adopt- 
ed, and which would give maximum results 
In sugar under all circumstances? 

Prof. Stubbs: I stated to-night In my pa- 
per you cannot do It on all canes, and you 
cannot possibly do it in all seasons, because 
seasons vary; and I find, by reference to 
the records of our station, that where the 
fertilizers have been applied upon the same 
soli for eight years, there is a variation from 
9 per cent up to 16 per cent sucrose, all by 
the same fertU^r, mid the variation Is 



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April 22, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



251 



simply due to the difference In seasons. 
Therefore seasons and soils are larger fac- 
tors in the production of sugar than any 
other. There is one thing I want to say 
to you; several speakers here to-night are 
on the right track. The sooner we can get 
the cane out oif the soil in the spring, the 
sooner we can force them into vigorous 
growth by cultivation and a proper bal- 
anced ration, and the sooner we can force 
that cane on to lay by early in May. the 
maturer and riper will <be the cane. I have 
laid by since I have been here in May (when- 
ever the seasons were at all propitious), 
and in September it was found that the cane 
was ripe and mature and contained a good 
sugar content. The planter, therefore, can 
aid wonderfully in getting a large sugar 
content, or a better sugar content, hy expe- 
diting his work; getting the soil in thor- 
•ough preparation before the cane starts to 
grow, then fertilize properly, and force it 
from the Word "go," so to speak, and lay 
by early. Cultivate carefully without rup- 
turing the roots, and, my word for it, you 
will 5et more sugar. 

Now I wish to call attention of the plan- 
ters to a matter of interest to you all. One 
of our planters a few weeks ago bought a 
large quantity of cotton seed meal, and 
brought us a sample. It had a ibeautiful 
yellow color. He had bought it by sight, 
and it had every appearance of being a 
flrst-class meal. We analyzed it, and to our 
horror found it contained only 3 per cent 
of nitrogen. We re-analyzed it, and imme- 
diately posted a man off to the planter to 
inform him to hold off and not to buy the 
g>oods too largely, and that he should not 
pay for the goods until further investiga- 
tion. We went to work and made a physi- 
cal analysis. We separated the meal care- 
fully, and found fifty per cent of meal and 
50 percent of hulls — about halif and half — 
and the hulls were so adroitly concealed in 
the meal by a process of polishing, and were 
pulverized with so much fineness that it re- 
quired the microscope to detect It. By this 
work we found small reddish paTticles, 
which were so finely imbedded in the meal 
that they could not (be detected with the 
naked eye. It was a yellow meal — at least 
had that appearance. You could not detect 
the imposition with the naked eye. This 
stuff contained one-half meal and one-half 
hulls. We immediately posted the planter, 
and hQ rejected and sent back from his 
plantation 90 odd tons. I have not been able 
to find out where the meal came from. It 
went away from Louisiana after the expo- 
sure. I mention this so that planters may 
be just as careful as they can possihly be. 
Under our fertilizing law we cannot inspect 
coton seed meal. Three-quarters of the cot- 
ton seed meal in the Southern States goes 
out to foreign ports, to England and to the 
North, where_ it is used for food. We have 
no control over it under our fertilizing law 
whatever. We are willing to aid those who 
buy it if they will send us a sample. You 
can withhold payment until you find out 
whether the meal is pure or not. I have 
not the slightest idea where the meal we 
analyzed came from. This occurred two 
months ago. 

Chair: The sample you refer to was bright 
yellow? 

Prof. Stubbs: Just as pretty yellow as I 
ever saw. The cuticle had been taken off 
and exposed the hull of orange color in- 
side and had been ground to a complete 
powder, and this was thoroughly macerat- 
ed and mixed with the yellow meal. The 
imposition could not be detected by the 
naked eye, and our analysis developed that 
only one^half was pure meal, the other half 
Wng hulls wltlx no nitrogen Iq jt If any 



of the gentlemen present here to-night con- 
template buying cotton seed meal, I would 
advise them to have analysis made first. I 
don't want to condemn our home product; 
it is as Mr. Goldsmith said here this even- 
ing, our cheapest and 'best form of nitro- 
gen. 

Cotton seed meal contains 7 per cent of ni- 
trogen, 140 pounds to the ton. If you will 
calculate the value, esftimating the nitrogen 
at 15 cents per pound, and multiplying 140 
by 15, you will get twenty odd dollars; and 
yet you pay but $16 or $17 per ton in this 
country for this cheap form of nitrogen. 
Therefore I don't mean to say we .should 
discontinue its use; but I mention the inci- 
dent referred to, so that all who buy it may, 
before using it, send us a sample, and we 
will determine its true composition. 

Mr. Goldsmith: Don't you think it would 
be a good idea to have cotton seed meal 
analyzed like other fertilizers are analyzed 
under the law. You can make a law to 
cover it. 

Prof. Stubbs: This meal is not sold only 
as a fertilizer, but also as a food for cattle. 
We are feeding aibout 30,000 head of cattle 
annually in this State with cotton seed 
meal, and I do not believe I underestimate 
the number when I say this. 

Mr. Goldsmith: In Georgia they have a 
law that requires them to analyze cotton 
seed meal within the State if it is sold for 
fertilizer. 

Prof. Stubbs: I was not aware there was 
such a law. 

Mr. Goldsmith: Yes, sir. It Is a late law, 
however. If you will examine it you will 
find it. I will furnish you with a copy if 
you will kindly step into my office in the 
Liverpool and London and Globe building. 
Cotton seed meal, when sold for fertilizing 
purposes. Is required to be analyzed like any 
other fertilizer. This is but right, proper 
and just, in order to guard against just such 
instances as you mentioned just now. Geor- 
gia has that law. and they pay as much for 
inspection aiid tagging cotton seed meal as 
on the commercial fertilizers. This is done 
now. 

Prof. Stubl>s: The uses of cotton seed 
meal are Inseparable. For Instance, at Cal- 
houn we have a dairy, and I am feeding 
some beef cattle. I use that meal for feed- 
ing dairy cattle and for' fertilizer. When- 
ever I want a few sacks or a ton for ferti- 
lizing purposes. I use It 

Mr. Goldsmith: Don't you think the 
planter ought to be protected by some such 
law? 

Prof. Stubbs: They shall be protected If 
they will take advantage of my offer. 

Mr. Goldsmith: In buying It, you could 
state whether it is intended for food or as 
a fertilizer. 

Prof. Stubbs: Take my case. I don't 
know what I am going to do with It; wheth- 
er I am going to use It for food or as a ferti- 
lizer. 

Mr. Goldsmith: Most planters buy it for 
planting. 

Prof. Stubbs: I suppose the 'sugar plan- 
ters do; but the day may not be far distant 
when some of our planters may use cotton 
seed meal mixed perhaps with our low 
grade molasses and alfalfa and other pro- 
ducts readily grown upon this soil for fat- 
tening cattle, just as Is done in the beet 
country, where beet pulp is a refuse pro- 
duct. 

Mr. Goldsmith: I think It Is very Import- 
ant, this, inspection law. Every honest man- 
ufacturer will sustain It; and we think that 
cotton seed meal ought to he subjected to 
the same law as commercial fertilizer. That 
point was raised in Georgia. I sold fertl- 
1{;b^ }u Georgia for a long time. In Georgia 



they have to say whether it is intended for 
food or for plant; and if for planting pur- 
poses it is subjected to the same analysis 
as other common fertilizers. It is nothing 
but right that they should do It. It is a 
duty the State owes to the planters and 
commercial fertilizer manufacturers. 

Col. Zenor: Don't you think it would be 
a good idea to expose this Transaction? 

Prof. Stubbs: We intend exposing it in 
our regular fertilizer bulletin, giving the 
analysis, but we cannot find out where it 
came from. 

Col. Zenor: This planter knows. 

Prof. Stubbs: No, he bought it from a 
broker tn this city and he refused to give 
the information; the broker, seeing the 
analysis, said it was a mistake. The meal 
was shipped back. 

Mr. Crozler: Did you ever see cotton seed 
meal with rice hulls? 

Prof. Stubbs: No, sir. This broker sent 
the cotton seed meal back to the man he 
got it from, and we have not been able to 
find out where It came from. 

Chair: You spoke of the sample contain- 
ing 50 percent hulls. Is it not a fact that all 
cotton seed meal contains a small proportion 
of hulls? 

Prof. Stubhs: There is a probability of a 
few hulls l)elng mixed with the meal, but 
not to speak of, unless It be caused by de- 
fective machinery; not through the culpa- 
iblllty of the manufacturer. But when they 
are there through defective machinery, they 
are apparent to the naked eye — the little 
black speck will soon reveal itself to the 
ordinary eye. The lot that I just alluded 
to, however, was beautifal. 

Chair: That was prepared with extra 
care. 

Prof. Stubbs: With extra care. 

Col. Zenor: And In good condition. 

Mr. Crozler: Is it a fact that with the 
better quality of meal you get a higher per- 
centage of moisture? 

Prof. Stubbs: No, sir; not necessarily. 
The higher the moisture It contains prob- 
ably the lower nitrogen content. The drier 
the meal, for instance, the higher must be 
its content of nitrogen. Off-colored meal is 
frequently higher in nitrogen than brighter 
meal ,because in the process of fermenta- 
tion some of the moisture has been driven 
off, and all of the remaining substances are, 
therefore, more concentrated. Cotton seed 
meal when perfectly fresh is yellow and 
harmless to ordinary stock, but If It be ex- 
posed for some time to the weather, It will 
gradually lose its yellow color and turn 
brown. When it begins to assume that 
brown color it has passed the condition 
where it Is fit for stock feed, but is still as 
good as ever for fertilizing purposes. This 
gradual assumption of brown color is the 
first step towards fermentation and decay. 
This fermentation develops ptomaines, 
which may be poisonous to live stock. 

Col. Richard McCall: About how high 
should the percentage of ammonia run? 

Prof. Stubbs: Eight and one-half per- 
cent is aUout the best. 

Col. Richard McCall: I cannot remember 
who offered me meal In the early part of 
this year. I was offered meal with a guar- 
antee of 10 per cent. I was wondering how 
in the world he got 10 per cent in that meal. 

Mr. Goldsmith: I want to make myself 
understood. I think this association at the 
proper time ought to Insist on an Inspec- 
tion of cotton seed meal. We are the larg- 
est manufacturers of cotton seed meal in 
the State of Louisiana, and we don't fear 
inspection. I think cotton seed meal ought 
to be inspected like commercial fertilizers, 
and ought to be analyzed and tagged just 
like all fertilizers are branded with an ho»- 



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282 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 16. 



est tag; because this imposition will be 
practiced on planters and every one else. 
In <}eorgia all cotton seed meal for planting 
purposes is tagged and analyzed Just like 
commercial fertilizers, and the planters in 
Louisiana^ I thinlc, ought to insist on it 
here. 

Prof. Stubbs: We can have city inspec- 
tors of flour, but no State inspectors. I be- 
lieve this question of inspecting fertilizers, 
as you mention, came up before our legisla- 
ture some time ago. It was there discussed 
at some length, and it was argued that there 
would be some impediment in the way be- 
cause of the food value that this has. I 
know we cannot hava, a State inspector of 
flour; and I think we have a law in our 
constitution that there shall not be a State 
inspection of feed-stulfffs. 

Mr. Goldsmith: I was not speaking of 
the local aspect. 

Chair: The inspection law, as it exists 
in our statutes, expressly excludes cotton 
seed meal from the law. 

Mr. Goldsmith: It was so in Georgia, but 
now cotton seed meal is included, as is any- 
thing else for planting—^ll are inspected 
just as are commercial fertilizers. I do not 
know of any local barrier In the way here. 
Perhaps there is; if not, cotton seed meal 
ought to be on the same footing as com- 
mercial fertilizers. I want to say this In 
justice to the manufacturers of cotton seed 
meal in Louisiana. 

Chair: You stated this was the question 
during a recent session of the legislature; 
it was about feed. While you cannot re- 
quire the inspection of analysis of cotton 
seed meal as a fertilizer, you can now guard 
against such infringements and fraud as 
was referred here to-night by Prof. Stubbs 
by submitting a sample to him, and this 
ought to be done. 

Col. Zenor: In this connection there is 
something which suggests itself to my mind 
possibly I may call it experience. I claim 
to be about the first person in Louisiana 
to apply cotton seed to sugar and with mag- 
nificent results. This was in 1871. It came 
about in this way: I was working a piece 
of land near the village of Patterson that 
was so exhausted before the war; the gen- 
tleman who had been interested in it told 
me the land was practically good for noth- 
ing; that it would not grow cotn, and he 
was doubtful if it would grow cow-peas. I 
told him I was going to plant it in cane. 
The New Iberia oil mill gave me eome seed 
that was decayed (it was entirely unfit for 
meal), on the condition that I would pay 
for sacking and cost of transportation. They 
gave me nearly four tons. I burnt some oy- 
ster shells in a little kiln, which made doubt- 
ful lime. I took this seed, moistened it, 
and with this lime drove it into the furrow 
ahead of planting my cane. I put, I suppose, 
one ton of this seed to the acre. Well, sir, 
the results were simply magnificent Peo- 
ple riding along the road (this was on the 
Morgan road from Morgan City and Patter- 
son), would stop and look at that cane. 
From the time it came out it was a great 
size; simply enormous. It was ground on 
a very inferior mill, almost worthless (I 
am sure I didn't get half the sugar out of 
it), and I got three hogsheads of 1200 
pounds each to the acre. With a good mill 
I believe I would have gotten at least three 
tons. I just mention this to show what 
things will happen and what results can be 
accomplished under certain circumstances, 
but it evidently shows that the com>bination 
of this cotton seed and oyster shell lime 
was an excellent thing for cane. It was not 
only of enormous size, but rich in sucrose. 

Col. MoCall: Professor, do you think 
much of lime? 



'Prof. Stubbs: Not much on our soils. I 
have at the station about two acres upon 
which I spread between three and four hun- 
dred barrels of lime that I found on the 
park and that were in my way. This lime 
was covered. up, having been a remnant left 
over from the exposition. It was still in- 
tact, and I spread from three to four hun- 
dred barrels upon two acres. I have worked 
it ever since and carefully noted the results 
during the past four or five years, and I do 
not believe it has been beneficial— no bene- 
fit was derived from it. You can still see 
white stseaks in the land. 

Col. Richard McCall. Col. Zenor speaks 
about an experience of his in 71. I went 
to Washington, in St Landry parish, in 70. 
I met Mr. Morgan there, formerly from the 

lower coast. He had the old Over 

place. He told me if I would go over there 
he would show me a magnificent stand of 
plant cane, but what he had besides was 
the most gorgeous stand of cotton. He had 
planted live seed, and everything came up. 
He had a superb stand of cotton, about this 
high (indicating), with a gorgeous stand of 
cane. 

Prof. Stubbs: Col .Zenor planted hisK cane 
right on this cotton seed? 

Col. Richard McCall: Yes, sir. 

Prof. Stubbs: You thereby enabled that 
cane to come out early. You made a hot- 
bed running underneath every row, and the 
fermentation produced so much heat that 
the cane came out early. 

Col. Richard McCall: You made a remark 
in your paper which is a practical sugges- 
tion ,and my belief is, while it may do more 
towards cheapening the cost of cultivation 
than anything else, that is, the doing away 
with the ordinary double moulded board 
plow in cultivation, so far it seems almost 
impossible to get any one who will propose 
to take that thing up practically. I believe 
on sandy land that thing might be done 
with the assistance of the double-moulded 
board plow in the middle; but when it comes 
to black soils, tough soils, I have my serious 
doubts whether any disc cultivator that you 
might send could do the work. You have 
worked your black soil; but your soil is 
entirely different from our soil. You do your 
work; you handle your soil just as you 
please. We have to work our soils in all 
kinds and conditions of weather; often we 
have to absolutely work the middles of our 
rows wet We haul our eane out, as much 
as ten thousand tons; drag it out in wet 
weather. What was the result? You could 
not get the plows £o go down. You have to 
cut, and what you fail to cut with your 
four-'horse plow, we have to cut, according 
to your theory, with the disc, that is slid- 
ing — with a sliding moton. I claim you 
cannot do it on black land. 

Prof. Stubbs: I don't exaclly do away 
with the disc cultivator. 

Col. Richard McCall: No. but I say I do 
not believe it is feasilble on our black, stiff 
lands to do so. If you will take a piece of 
land and prepare your soil to a point of 
cultivation, possibly the disc cultivator 
could work and will scrape this loose earth 
towards the cane, but when it comes to cut- 
ting it and moving it, I don't believe I 
can do it. 

Prof. Stubbs: I don't understand your ar- 
gument. I don't propose to use the disc 
t;ultivator until after you split out the mid- 
dles and have thrown everyAlng back to 
the cane and started to cultivate. 

Ck)l. Richard McCall: But you have to 
keep down In the middle to get there. 

Prof. Stubbs: We cultivate with the mid- 
dle cultivator, which is entirely different 
It has five teeth, and with It I can go as 
deep as you can with the double moulded 
bo»rd plow. If I o<tiiDot do it witb two 



horses, why, I take four; but I can put in 
four mules wfth these middle cultivators 
and can just tear up any soil. 

Col. Richard McCall: Then what is the 
advantage of your middle cultivator over 
the plow? 

Prof. Stubbs: As it passes along It pul- 
verizes the soil and leaves a pulverable 
surface, whereas the other throws the dirt 
up in flakes— the cultivator I speak of tears 
it You must not expect to get your land 
in tilth after you start cultivation; that 
ought to be done previous to your starting. 
As I remarked, a planter ought to put his 
soil in good tilth before starting to culti- 
vate. I have forty-five acres under cultiva- 
tion with diversified crops. Besides sugar 
cane, corn and sorghum, I have four or 
five acres in garden crops. I have four 
mules and three negroes. I believe my cul- 
tivation, with my limited force, is as diffi- 
cult as yours; and what I can do, you can 
do. I believe you can do it, because, when 
you compare your force of men and your 
mules with mine. In proportion to the acre- 
age, you will find you are just about as I 
am. Now I don't wan^t you to take my word 
for it — if you will let Mr. Mallon-put in these 
machines and start with you, and get them 
adapted to your wants, I believe you will 
be pleased with them. Six years ago Mr. 
Mallon came up to fhe station and wanted 
me to try his cultivator on some of our 
coil, but I refused, thinking it would not 
cultivate properly our cane. He then asked 
if I would give him an extra patch. I as- 
signed to him an acre and told him to go 
ahead; at the end of the year his acre was 
a long ways ahead of mine. 

Since that time I have been cultivating 
continuously cane and other crops on the 
station, using the disc cultivator for strad- 
dling the rows and throwing the dirt to the 
cane, and the middle cultivator for spitting 
out the middles, both being drawn by two 
mules. I do not use the plow in cultivation. 

Mr. John Dymond: I can say little con- 
cerning the matter. I rather thought that 
the scientists would get away from us, but it 
seems not I shall drop back to the origi- 
nal text — the best method of cultivating 
cane, as well as fertilizing it It seems to 
me that perhaps the most important paper 
of the evening was that of Mr. Comeaux. 
which dealt with the cultivation of cane. I 
was quite interested in it, particularly in the 
remark he made concerning leaving cane on 
the ibar furrow until the stand had devel- 
oped. Some ten years ago, when I first vis- 
ited Donaldsonville, I met the senior Mr. 
Hanson, who was discussing the stand of 
cane on the lower coast, and he remarked 
that in the Parish of Ascension they were in 
the habit of barring off, and throwing back 
some three or four times. Col. Richard 
McCall, in discussing the matter, has stated 
that some of his friends bar the cane off, 
and leave the cane on the -bar furrow as Mr. 
Comeaux suggests. Mr. Comeaux has. in his 
remarks on the early culture of cane, 
touched on a vital point, and one that is 
not very well understood. Mr. Cage, in the 
Parish of Terrebonne, in one of his articles 
to the Planter, claims it Is dangerous to 
leave stubble — or plant cane on the bar fur- 
row, especially this season, and If left in 
that condition It is liable to die from the 
effects of the drought Mh Theodore Wil- 
kinson told me some years ago that he had 
never known stubble cane to 'ue injured by 
exposure In the spring, but that plant cane 
in stiff lands, was liable to die out In that 
way. I was told only yesterday by a col- 
ored man. who is a success as a planter, that 
he was going to bar .off his stubble now and 
that he was going to throw the earth right 
back. He argued he would get his stand 
cane mor^ quickly b^ throwing back the 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



April 22, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



253 



earth at once. This Is in black land, where 
the cane has not yet appeared. In light, 
san^dy lands, if you leave much earth to the 
cane, it will never come up. I think I 
heard Dr. Stubbs say within a week— 'he 
or some one else—that can«8 had developed 
eyes after lying in the ground one year. 
Just so with canes in sandy land— they will 
not germinate if you leave much earth about 
them. This question of leaving cane on the 
bar furrow ought to be better understood 
than it is now. Only a month ago we were 
told we were going to ruin our crops 11 we 
let them stand so. This feature has not 
been discussed to-night except in Mr. 
Comeaux's paper. 

Col. MoCall: It ought not to remain 
very long on the bar. 

Mr. Dynwnd: I thought perhaps Mr. 
Oomeaux had in view some particular land, 
based upon his own experience — black lands 
or mixed lands. I have a certain piece of 
land on the Belair plantation that the over- 
seer told me thirty years ago would not 
grQW sugar cane, because' It was composed 
of nearly all river sand and contained no fer- 
tility. That land to-day is in first stubble 
and is making the best start of any. We 
dig the stub'ble by ha Ad and the rows now 
are all marked. We had never gotten stands 
of canes there because the land was so fri- 
able that the canes when planted were cov- 
ered too deeply. We never uncover the 
canes. After having imperfect crops there 
for many years, I learned we should scrape 
our canes in sandy land until the canes were 
cut by the hoe, and since I have been do- 
ing that, we find that we always get a stand 
of cane in this land. That has led me to 
make this remark of how such earth will 
maintain life in these sandy lands. Atter 
some desultory remarks the discussion closed 

Talmage on the Rice Market. 

There has been unusually light call during 
the past week locally and from the region 
roundabout of which this Is the trade center. 
With evidence from every quarter showing 
general prosperity, the question naturally 
arises, "what's the matter", and to this query 
comes the universal answer, "roads almost 
impassable and trade well nigh impossible." 
It's here to be done; only deferred. Fortu- 
nately for the market the lack in this im- 
mediate locality has been nearly made up by 
the suddenly enlarged demand from the 
South and extreme West. Spite the heavy 
freights, the chief business has been in the 
superfine qualities— 'Patna, Japan and a spe- 
cial Foreign Import grown from Gold Seed 
Carolina, which corresponds exactly to 
choicest of the home product raised from 
seed named. Advices from the South note 
good disposition toward trade, but increasing 
difficulty to meet same on account of narrow- 
ing assortments. Holders are quite indiffer- 
ent, knowing full well' that the stock in hand 
is short of local requirements and Its 
marketing therefore assured at present and 
probably enhancing values long before new 
crop can be. reached. Cables and corres- 
pondence from abroad note free arrivals and 
liberal quantity en route of all far eastern 
new crops. The markets, however, are in 
good shape and maintain previous firm front 
as most of the receipts are under contract 
and long since disposed of. The surplus 
or spot stock as heretofore, is light at all 



points, and no accumulation being made 
whereby to bring them up to normal quan- 
tity. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: ^ Receipts, 
rough, 691,530 sacks; last year, (inclusive 
of amount carried over), 510,575 sacks. 
Sales, cleaned, (est), 168,227 barrels; last 
year, 110,250 barrels. Steady demand at 
former range. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned. 
36,285 barrels. Sales, 32.190 barrels. Good 
enquiry at full recent quotations Market 
firm, with upward tendency. 



Trade Notes. 

Rope Power Tnuismlsslon. 

We have recently had our attention called 
to a new and novel method of transmitting 
•power by means of manila rope, grooved 
iron sheaves and tension carriage. Manu- 
facturers say it is rapidly displacing leather 
and rubber belts, where they are run at 
high speed, or the amount of power to be 
transmitted is considerable. They also 
claim that in a rope drive the quantity of 
power transmitted is far more independent 
of the tension, for the adhesion is attained 
by the wedging of the rope into a "V" 
shaped groove, any tendency to slipping 
merely driving the rope tighter into the 
groove. Further than this, in the very na- 
ture of the winding of a rope drive, the 
tension carriage, under every condition of 
weather, no matter how continuous the ser- 
vice, will maintain exactly the same ten- 
sion at all times on any strand of the drive. 

Besides this, the evenness of the tension 
•permits the transmission of large amount of 
power, with very short centers, and but lit- 
tle space on the shafts. Power may be car- 
ried to almost any distance, around comers, 
over any obstacle, under-ground, anywhere 
in fact, and It is altogether unnecessary to 
have the driving and driven shafts in line. 

Manila rope will transmit power equally 
well though exposed to any conditions of 
weather— out of doors, snow, rain, steam, 
etc., have no effect in changing the tension 
or the grip of the ropes; and under no con- 
dition is there any slippage possible, the 
movement being almost as positive as tooth- 
ed gearing, without the inherent objections 
to the latter. 

An admirable illustration of what can be 
accomplished in this line was shown last 
season on the ''Myrtle Grove" plantation, 
of Hon. T. S. Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson had 
a Corliss Engine, with a great deal more 
power than was necessary to operate his 
mill; so he conceived the idea of doing 
away with the crusher engine, and trans- 
mitting 'power direct to the crusher from the 
mill engine shaft. 

This was accomplished by means of a 
manila rope transmission, designed and 
furnished b.y the Link-Belt Machinery Com- 
pany, of this city. It being the first drive 
of the kind ever put In for this purpose. 



there was more or less speculation on the 
part of mill crusher and engine manufac- 
turers, as to whether it would work or not; 
and if so. whether it would be altogether 
desirable. The Link^Belt people say Mr. 
Wilkinson informs them that the results 
were very, gratifying, and that it was satis- 
factory to him in every respect. 

The Link-Belt people have recently de- 
signed and contracted to furnish a similar 
drive to the Adeline Sugar Factory Com- 
pany, Ltd. They are also furnishing them 
a quarter twist rope drive for their drain- 
age plant. They are also furnishing man^' 
ila rope drives for drainage plants at Mag- 
nolia and Raceland plantations; and have 
orders for about twenty drives in western 
Louisiana among rice planters, for driving 
Irrigating pumps. 



Personal. 



(Mr. S. M. Mayer was the manager of the 
Island of Cuba plantation this past season 
and Is evidently a man of the highest abil- 
ity in all matters pertaining to a sugar 
plantation. Mr. Mayer is also interested in 
the Cedar Grove plantation of Landry and 
Mayer on Bayou Lafourche, a piece of sugar 
property which is being finely developed. 

Mr. Frank A. Monroe, Jr., a son of the 
distinguished justice of the Supreme Court, 
was the head chemist this past campaign 
in the finely equipped laboratory of Messrs. 
E. & J. Kock, on their Belle Alliance plan- 
tation. Mr. Monroe is a graduate of the 
sugar school department at the Tulane Uni- 
versity, over which Dr. L. W. Wilkinson so 
ably presides. He was assisted in the chem- 
ical work of the house by Mr. B. Lestrappes. 
The old reliable J. C. Riley was the engi- 
neer again at Belle Alliance, and he is evi- 
dently the right man in the right place. 

Dr. B. J. Sanders, of St. Mary parish, was 
among the recent visitors to the city. Dr. 
Sanders put up at his usual abiding place, 
the SL Charles Hotel. 

Mr. Thomas Butler, a leading citizen of 
St. Francisville, La., was a recent arrival at 
the Hotel Grunewald. 

Mr. G. E. GilUs, manager of the Poydras 
plantation of the Poydras Planting and 
Manufacturing Co., on the Lower Coast, was 
in the city last Wednesday. 

That estimable lady, Mrs. John Vegas, of 
St. James parish, was a visitor to New Or- 
leans during the past week and took apart- 
ments at the Hotel Grunewald. 

Mr. T. H. Benners, of Birmingham, one of 
the high officials of that splendid and rapidly 
growing concern, the Birmingham Machine 
and Foundry Co., was a guest of the Grune- 
wald on Wednesday last. 

Mr. Harry Rollins, who has been assist- 
ant superintendent at the Adeline Central 
Factory of Messrs. Oxnard & Sprague, has 
accepted a position with the Oxnards at Ox- 
nard, Cal., in their great beet sugar house. 
Mr. Rolllna left for his new field of labor 
on the 21»t Inst 



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254 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXn. No. 16. 



Apr. 21. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT, 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

inferior 

Ceiitrifug:al. 
Plant'n Granured 
Off Granulated . . . 

Choice White 

Off White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow 

Prime Yellow .... 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 



MOLASSES 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Paney 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime. . . . 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Pair 

flood Common. 

Common 

Inferior 



Centrifugal. 

Fancy 



Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common . . 

Common 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



April 15. 



April 17. 



April 18. 



April 19. 



April 20. 



April 21. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of MariMt at 
Closing of Wsek. 



- @ - 

- @ - 

— @ — 

— <s — 

— (a. — 






g 
o 



& - 

(d 16 

(B 15 

^ 13 

(^ 11 

« 9 

(^ 8 

(^. 7 

(^ 6 



- @ - 



— (^ — 

- @ - 



cd 

.a 

£ 



0) 

o 



® - 
@ 16 
@ 15 
@ 13 
(S 11 
@ 9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



- (3) 



-C4 



— (£5 - 

— (^ — 

— (^ — 



4H(^4^4 

4m:(^4^8 



c 



0) 

o 



(^ — 

@ 16 

(§ 15 

(^ 13 

(^ 11 

@ 9 

@ 8 

@ 7 

@ 6 

(S fl 

O - 



- @ - 

- @ - 



V5 

43^;^4}3 

4H(g4^ 
4V4@4^8 






.1-1 

o 

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(i - 
(d 16 
@ 15 
@ 13 
(§ 11 
(d 9 



3 



- @ - 

- ^ - 

- (s? — 

- @ - 

4:Ti@4|3 
4U(34% 
4>4@45.8 
3 @4>4 



T3 



4> 

O 

:2; 



® - 

^ 16 
^ 15 
^ 13 

(§ 9 






37'«(g4>^ 

3H@4 

3H@4 

3^8^(ft3[| 

3tJ(^3% 

3^8 (s3^ 

3^8@33i 

3i^.(a3>'8 

3A@3H 

- @3^ 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- (^ - 

- @ - 

4H(^ - 
4%<^4tJ 
4%@4{i 
3 @434 



43 



§ 



« - 

^ 16 

@ 15 

@ 13 

@ 11 

(^ 9 

^ 8 

^ 7 

@ 6 

« 6 

« - 



- @ - 

- C3> - 
3?6@33i 
3^8^33^ 
3A@3?^ 
3>g@3>^ 

3 @3^ 

3 @3>^ 
23^(fl2H 

-@43i 

- (S - 

- (^ — 
4A@ - 

- @ ~ 

4>g(5^ - 
4>4@4H 

4 @4^ 
2^@3U 



c 

cd 

43 

e 



13 

o 



12 (2 13 

12 ^ 13 

- ^ 11 

- @ 10 

- @ 9 

- (s 

- @ 

- OP 

- ^ 

- @ 



Firm. 



Quiet. 



Quiet. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



New York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining 89'' 
Centrifugals, 96*^.. 


- @ - 


-@ - 


— @ — 


- @ - 


- @ - 


— @ ~ 


- @ - 




- @ - 


— (w — 


— .(«' — 


— @ - 


— @ - 


- @ - 


— @ ~ 


Raw — Strong. 


Granulated 


— (a'4.96 


- C«4.91 


- (^4.96 


— c^4.96 


- (S^4.96 


— @4 96 


4.96@ - 


Refined— Fair de- 


Standard A 


— @4.84 


— @4.84 


— ^4.84 


— (a4.84 


- @4.84 


- ^4.84 


4.84@ - 


mand. 


Dutch Granulated 


— (/i/5.10 


— (0/5.10 


— («5.10 


- @5 12>^ 


— @^ 12K 


— @5 20 


- @ - 




German CranuPtd. 


- @5.12ir. 


- (ab 10 


- @5 12>^ 


— ^5 14 


— (2)5 09 


— (ab 09 






MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


~@ - 


- @ - 




N. O.Fair 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- - 


- @ - 


-@ - 


- @ - 


- (^t - 




London: 














- @ - 


Cane — Quiet, prioes 


Java, No. 15 D. S. 


129. 3d. 


128. 3d. 


12s 6d. 


12s. 6d 


128. 6d. 


128. 6d. 


lis. 3d. 


barely mainUin^- 
Beet — weak and de- 


A. & G. Beet 


10s.ll>^d. 


10s. 9^d. 


lis. d. 


Us.OJ^d. 


lOs. 10>id. 


108.9^d. 


98. l>^d. 


pressed. 



NBW^ ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Roeetta Exiiei i 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal Ex C 

SYRUP. 



- C^5K 

- @5>t 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ — 

- @ - 



@5K 
^'5^2 

(a) _ 

@ - 
@ - 
@ - 



@5>^' 

@5^ 
@ - 
(s5fT 
@ - 
@ - 
@ - 



— (a — 



Crf5>^ 


- @5i. 


@5f4 


- @5!ii 


©5,^8 


- (3!5-«i 


@ - 


- @ — 


@6fj 


-@5fT 



- @ - 



- @5>^ 

- @5>^ 

- @5>g 

- @ - 

- @5A 
-- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



@5A 

@ - 

@ - 
@ - 



Strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Apr. 13 Tons 192,699 

At four ports of Great Britain to Apr. 13 " 52,500 

At Havana and Matanzas to Apr. 13 . . " 91,500 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
April 21, 1899. 

' Sugar- ^ Nlola68«6 

Hhds. Barrels. Barrels. 

Received 154 . 6,835 §44 

Sold 154 6,860 944 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September 1, 1898, 
to April ai, 1899. 



Hhds. 

Received 10,090 

Sold 10,090 

RBMired same time last year 22,196 



-8«g.g 



arrels. 

1,201,119 

1,193,163 

1,383,212 



Molasses 
Barrek 



Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



225,29$ 
183,58t 



April 22. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



255 



Apr. ai. 



WEEKLY MARKET KEPORT, 



1899. 



Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 



RICE. 

RouoH, per bbl. 

CuuK, £x. Fancy 
Fancy... 
Clioio«.. 
Prime... 
GkxKi ... 

Fair 

Ordinary 
CozDmoD 
Screenings 
inferior 
No. 2... 

BRAjf, per ton.. 

PeLiSH, per ton. 



AprU 15. 



Nomimal 

I 

i 

\ 

[ 
i 

I 



Nominal 



April 17. 



Nominal 

\ 
t 

I 
[ 

[ 

i 
i 



Nominal 



April 18. 



Nominal 

I 
i 



Nominal 



April 19. 



Nominal 



I 



Nominal 



April ao. 



Nominal 



Nominal 



April 21. 



Nominal 



Nominal 



Same Day Lait 
Year. 



2 26^4 75 

- ® - 

5 %b^ 

4%@6 

S>1^@4 

- « — 

10 00«10 60 

- (i - 



Dull. 



Steady. 



R«oeipU mmd Jelea 



April ai, iftev- 



ReoslTed 
Qoid 



1,838 
2,537 



167 
1,319 



U April ai, ittp, 



K 



y«tf 



8A0K8 ReUtfB. 

078,585 
451,586 



6,119 
6,410 



Sugar. 

The local sugar m-arkfit was steady and 
firm at the end of the week. The demand 
was amply sufficient to absorb the rather 
light arrivals. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals quieL 



Cen- 



Rice. 

Rough rice was dull at the end of the 
week, and business was confined almost en- 
tirely Co the lower grades. Receipts were 
meagre. Clean rice was steady and in good 
demand, but offerings were restricted. 



Sugar in London. 

The raw market opened after the holidays 
with a very firm tone, and, with only oc- 
casional weakness, prices have risen almost 
uninterruptedly. The advance in values in 
America is understood to be the reason of 
the improvement here, and as Continental 
holders show little disposition to accept the 
higher prices i\,ow obtainable a further rise 
may take place. At the same time it will 
be as well to remember that some difficulty 
has been experienced hitherto 'this season 
in maintaining the price of 88 per cent. Beet 
when it has exceeded 10s per cwt., and as it 
is now well above that figure, some slight 
set back may occur but that present values 
will be maintained throughout this season 
is generally believed. The fact that the 
sowings of the next beet crop will probably 
be from 5 per cent to 7H per cent larger 
than last year has had no effect on the 
market on this occasion, and, with bad ac- 
counts from Cuba as to the present and the 
following crop or crops, there is apparently 
no likelihood of too much sugar for some 
time. As regards cane sugar U is almost 
impassible to obtain useful refining kinds, 
but the supply of grocery crystallized raws 
has received considerable additions within 
the last few days. Larger offerings may, 
therefore, be expected, but unfortunately a 



THE CUBAN SUGAR CROP OP 1898-99. 

Statement of the Exports and Stocks of Sugar March 31, 1899, and same date last year. 







I808. 


1899. 




Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 


Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 




r Hayana 


87,383 
140,432 
180,260 
328,881 

41,440 

l',666 
27,015 


::;: 


106,991 
116,168 


53,658 

130,890 

122,538 

185,684 

18,955 

25,730 

21,622 

10,380 

16,276 

10,073 




• 






Matanzas 






Cardenas 




CO 


Clenfueflros ^ 




K 


Sryia 




fV 


Caibarien 







Guantanamo - 1 




Cuba 




MaQzaniUo. 




Nuevltaa 




Gibara 






7.ft«j^ 






Trtnldad 














765^1 




696,665 




82,484 




r Havana 


89,844 

292,539 

251,258 

96,670 

48,015 

60,538 

9,147 

8,515 


•••• 


99,820 

125,941 

168,668 

94,477 

40,094 

86,163 

36,60a 

1,941 

16.770 

12,561 

2,810 

7,656 










Matanzas . t r ..,-...,, ,--■,, 






Cb.tAgti&s 




. 


ClenfuAflTOs 




CO 


Saffua ■ 




^ 


Caibarien 




oj 


CrUAiitAn&ino 







Cuba 




K 


MA.nzAni11n 




CO 


Nuevltas 






Gibara 






7.ft«j^ , 






trtnldad 








840/)21 





641^688 




88,P06 



Stock of old crop, January 1. 



238,647 
1,616 



Receipts at all ports to March 81 • 

Note— Bags, 810 lbs. Hogsheads, 1,660 lbs. Tons, 2,240 lbs. 
Hivana, Miroh 31, 1839. 



171,239 

11,000 

182,239 
4,336 

177,903 
JOAQUIN GUMA. 



great deal of the sugar is distinctly lacking 
the qualities required for the London mar- 
ket, while the relatively high values obtain- 
able continue to be a great hindrance to the 
free sale of these kinds. The imports of 
crystallized raws 'to London for the week 
ending 6th inst. amounted to 1,988 tons, and 
for this year to 10,046 tons against 6,649 tons 
in 1898.— Produce Market Review, April 8. 



Sus:ar in London. 

Considering the usual interruption to busi- 
ness, owing to Easter, the market haa shown 
surprising firmness, and any slight reduction 
in the value *of beet is Immediately followed 
by a recovery. The falling off In the imports 
of raw sugar (principally beet) to this coun- 
try is seen in the published figures, the de- 



ficit since January 1st amounting to 28,000 
tons, while refined sugar shows an increase 
of 23,000 tons. This is a strong proof of 
the tendency to make less 88 per cent beet, 
and of unfortunately thus adding to the pres- 
ent difllcultiee of the British refiners. The 
American markets have been quJiet in tone 
like our own, but values have been main- 
tained, and, owing to lighter Imports, no ma- 
terial increase has taken place In their 
stocks. No public sales have been held thds 
week, nor will they be resumed until April 
7th, and, privately, business in Cane kinds 
ha43 been restricted to a few lota of crystal- 
lized raw sugars. The imports of these de- 
scriptions to London for the week ending 
30th March amounted to 2,060 tons, and for 
this year to 8,058 tons against 5,805 tons in 
1898.— Produce Market Review, April 1. 



Digitized by 



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256 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTE* AND SUGAR MANUPACTaiOBL 



[Vol. XXII, No. 16. 



WANTS. 



We will pubUsh la this column, free of charfe nntli 
further notice, the appikatlonj of all manager*, over- 
jeers, engineers and snsar-makers, and others who 
auiy be seekins positions in the country, and also the 
wants of planters deslrins to employ any of these. 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
yeara experience as head ohemlst in Germany, and ajso 
able to supervise the culture of of suear beets. A 1 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; address L. G. Leleb, care M. E. Sepp, 2563 
8th Avenue, New York. 4-14-» 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, DonaldsonTllle, La. 4-13-09 

WANTED— Position bv an experienoed young man as 
book-keeper, stenographer, or both; address a. T. Z., 
care this office. 4-15-90 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer on a Louis- 
iana sugar plantation, by young man who has had expe- 
rience as a planter In neld and factory in the West in- 
dies; salary no object; address Mourant, Bumside P: 
O . , Ascension Paris h , La . 4-14-00 

WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good referenced; address Boys-Bances, AparUdo 
715, Havana, Cuba. 4-17-00 

WANTFD— Position as blacksmith by a middle-aged 
man of 10 years practical experience on large sugar 
. .... K . T. P. Da- 



plantatlons in Louisiana; good references 
KIN, Gibson, La. 



4-10-00 



WANTED-On a plantation, a competent blachsmith, 
one who thoroughly vnderstands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt A Ziegleb, Nos. 429 to 436 South Peterft st. 

4-13-oej 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a ffood plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartia, Texas. 4-10-09 

WANTED— Position bv a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give first-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of famUy and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S. , care this office. 

4-10-00 

WANTED— Position as plantation cook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillls of Poydras 
plantation, and others; address Mrs. S. Tbrrellb, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-00 

WANTE£>— A position by a flrst-class, alround ma- 
chinist; experienoed in sugar mill and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommbr, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4—11—00 

WANTED— For the coming season, apositlon as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Fbux Oubrb, 
Edgard, La. 4—12-09 

WANTED— By a flrst-claas vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season in Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
addreis J. H. F., 727 Lowerline street, Ne jt Orleai t. 

4-6-00 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he cau 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking eatlre charge of running the factory, or 
nake " " '^ '" 



as sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 



4-«-00 



WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
time keeper. "Geo.**, care this office. 4-0-00 

WANTED— By competent man with flrst-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation; address 8. 20 this paper. 

WANTED— Position by a man 80 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk In general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Bebthblot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 8-23-00 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Phiup Braun, Gibson, 
La. »-27-90 

WANTED'-Poeition by a flrst-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed In refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crystalllzers. Best of references; 
address H^ care this office. t-27-Oe 



WANTED— Position by a'grst-class sugar house en- 

gaeer, good machinist, 18 years' experience in some of 
e best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, Thlbodaux, La. 3-2S-00 

WANTED— Situation hv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTEE>— Thoroughly competent snd experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work In every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 3-20-00 

W A NTE£>— Situation as a cooper for molass'^s or 
sugar barrels, in the countiy; good references; ad- 



dress Alphokse Buck, 2714 Second street, city. 

a-1 



16-00 



WANTED— By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas f>r Mexico; address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
483, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-00 

WANTED— Position by a mechanicsl draughtsman. 14 
yeirs experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphU, Pa. 3-23-00 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent machinist, with 
several years experience in leading railroad shops, 
wants work in repairing locomotive engines on sugar 
plantations. Will work oy tne day or by contract. He 
Is a practical locomotive engineer and has had experi- 
ence in repairing and running sugar house machinery. 
Address w. L., No. 1046 Magazine street. New Orleans. 

WANTED— Position as general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. S., Fietel, La. 3-15-00 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references ; 
address A., care this office. 3-15-00 

WANTED— In first-class sugar house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience; satisfaction guaranteed ; address 
Martin, 6041 Laulel street. New Orleans. 3-8-00 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Chief Engi- 
NBER, Lutoher, La. 8-7-00 

WANTED— Position as Ume-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give A 1 
references as to competency and energy; address C 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 8-13-00 

WANTEE>— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years* experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sug7r refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P.O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-00 

WANTED— Position by a handv man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricldiurer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 Vlllere street, New Orleans. 

8-0-00 



WANTED-A position for the comhig crop of 1800 
by a first-cla'^s vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
eboes from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans 8-1-W 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1800. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-28-00 

WANTED— The best sugar maker In Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
close boiler of first and particularly of molasses sugars 
(2ad and 8rd) . State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C. M., this office. 

2-27-00 

WANTED— A position as seoond overseer on plan- 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, single and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can mi^e repairs in sugar house, and who 
oan superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. AddrsbS H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 

WANTEE>— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair ano take off crop of 1800. Familiar with all the 
aetalli of sugar housA work; also cart work. Address 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation as clarifler on some large 
plantation this season of 1890. Best of references fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charenton, La. 

2-24-00 

WANTE£>— An experienced young man, single. Is 
open for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in coun- 
try store. A I references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Right-Off, 3118 Constance street. New Orleans. 

2-22-00 



FOR SALE. 



300 sacks choice Clay Peas 

AAPPLY TO- 

SCHMIDT ft ZIECLER, 

428-436 S. Peters St, - • NEW ORLEANS. 
FOR SALE. 



. The SHREYEPORT (La. ) FERTILIZER CO.. LM., 
his for sale i choice lot of GROUND TANKAGE. 
Write for Prices. 



WATER 
SUPPLIES 

By Compressed Air 



FROM 



WELLS 



OR 



BAYOUS 



Class A Straight Line. 



A FAVORITE 

AIR 

COMPRESSOR 

FOR 

PLANTATIONS. 

Tke IN6ERS0LL SERGEANT 
DRILL CO., 



Aokfor Circular «<a c." Many Other Types. Hennen BM'ng, NewOrleus. 

L«reauvllle, La., Jao. iQth, 1899. 
The BODLEY WAOON CO., care A. BaUlwlo & Co., Lim., New Orleans, La.: 

Qentiemen— I takepleasure io statlog that the two carrier feeders which you fur- 
nished me have s:iven perfect and entire satisfaction this past season. They saved me not 
less than $25 in 24 hours, and for the next crop I expect that they will save me not less 
tiian $36 per J4 hours, as I expect to grind 800 tons every 24 hours, whereas the last 
crop 1 only ground 600 tons. Yours truly, ADRIEN OONSOULIN. 



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H MeeMt! flewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLHANS. APRIL 20. 1809. 



No. 17. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Uuiaiana Sugar Planters' Association, 

AscMsion Branch Sugar Planters' Associat'on, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Ktnsas Sugar Growers' Association, 

Tsxas Sugar Planters' Association. 

PaUiabea «t New Orleans, La., every Saturday Morning 

BY THE 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 

W. C. 8TUBDS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at tho Poetofflce at New Orleans as second-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terroa of Subscription (Including postage) $3 ^ 

Foreign Subscription 4 w 

ADVERTISIXO RATES. 



Space 



1 months month 6 month 12 month 



imai 

aincb 

3 inch 

4 inch 

6 inch 

• inch 

7 Inch 

8 Inch 

9 Inch 

10 inch 

llalC Page. 
Fall Page. 



$600 
060 
14 6(; 
10 00 
23 DO 
28 to 
S26) 
86 00 
88 00 
40 03 
60 00 
100 00 



9 12 60 
24 0) 
86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
00 0) 
06 00 
100 00 
160 00 
250 00 



$ 18 75 
86 00 
61 -iO 
71 25 
88 15 
106 00 
121 75 
136 00 
142 60 
160 00 
225 00 
400 00 



$25 00 
4SO0 
72 60 
J 5 00 
117 60 
140 0) 
162 60 
180 00 
190 00 
200 00 
800 CO 
6(000 



All oommunicatlons should be addressed to The 
Louisiana Planter, 889 Carondelet street, New Oiieamv 
La. 

UST OP STOCKHOLOBRS. 



McCan Brothers. 
McCali St Legendre, 
Leon Qodchauz, 
James Teller, 
B. LemMin A Bro., 
Leoaco Soolat, 

ris Busb, 
e. Bricken. 
W. C. Stabbs, 



Oymond, 
J Thoaipsoa, 
Pees A Bamett, 
H. C. Wamoth, 
UmIiis Persyth, Jr., 
Gdward J. Gay. 
Shattock ft HoMaian. 
Bmlle Rost« 
Thoaas D. Miller, 
Scliflridt ft Zlegler, 
T. Q. ncLaiiry, 
L. 5. Clark. 
J. B. Levert, 
Simpson Homor, 

W. W. Sotdifle. 
Joha8.noore. 
James C^nrpliy, 



R. Beitran, 
Luden Soniat, 

D. R. Calder. 
L. A. Bills. 
Hero ft Malhiot. 
W. J. Behan. 

J. T. Moore. Jr.. 
Edwards ft Haubtiran, 
John A. Morris. 

B. H. Cunolngham, 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 

C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Prica, 

E. ft J. Kock, 
Wm. Oarlg. 
Adolph Meyer, 
A. A. Woods, 
Bradlsh Johnson, 
George P. Anderton, 
A. L. nonnot, 
Rkrhard Milllken. 
W. P. niCes. 
Lezhi A. Becael. 

J. N. i>harr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 






I1(^ry JlcCall, 

W.B. 



The Suicar Cane and Its Cultivation, 
by Willielm Krus:er, Ph. D. 

We have received a handsomely 
bound copy of a work recently pub- 
lished by Wilh. Kni^er, Ph. D., super- 
intendent of the Bacteriological Divi- 
sion of the Agricultural and Chemical 
Experiment Station, Halle, A. S., 
Sehallehn & Wollbmck, publishers, 
Madgeburg and Vienna, price 30 M. 
The book is entitled ''The Sugar Cane 
and its (\iltivation, with Particular Re- 
gard to the C^onditions and Investigations 
in Java.'' The contents of this book 
indicate its character. It opens by 
giving the general literature upon sugar 
cane, and also mentions the institutions 
giving instruction in the culture and 
manufacture of sugar- cane and its pro- 
duets. Among these the author mentions 
tl e Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station, 
'.Hid tlie Audubon Sugar School of the 
Statf^* University at Baton Rouge. He 
also mentions this paper as one of the 
v.cekly periodicals giving valuable in- 
fcMi^ation in regard to the culture and 
manufacture of sugar-cane and its pro- 
ducts. 

The first chapter discusses the posi- 
tion of sugar cane in the plant system, 
giving a large number of species with 
numerous varieties; and while we regard 
the discussion of these numerous spe- 
^' ns being more scientific than practi- 
cal yet it is interesting and instructive to 
see the manner in which it hns been done. 
The second chapter treats of the struc- 
ture, development and physiology of 
the cane and gives a clear insight into 
the manner in which cane grows and 
develops. The third chapter discusses 
the habitat of sugar-cane, and the cul- 
tivated varieties derived from the wild 
kind. The fourth chapter gives a his- 
torv of the cane and its preparation into 
sugar from the earliest times down to 
the present day. The fifth chapter 
deals exclusively with the history and 
cultivation of the eugarcime in Java. 



In this chapter w^e find a discussion of 
the varieties, so-called, of the cultivated 
cane and those grown in different coun- 
tries of the world, and at the same time 
those found adapted to the seasons in 
> T«A'a. The seventh chapter gives the 
ciiemical composition of the sugar-cane, 
with different kinds of fertilizers. The 
eighth chapter discusses the requisite 
climate conditions, and the ninth chap- 
ter the soils best adapted for cane culti- 
vation. The tenth chapter gives the 
cultivation and preparation of the soil. 
Chapter eleven is devoted to the fertili- 
zation of cane as practiced in different 
parts of the world with experiments 
with different kinds of fertilizers. The 
rotation of crops is treated extensively 
in the twelfth chapter; while the selec- 
tion and handling of seed cane consti- 
tute the subject matter of chapter 13. 
The proper methods of planting and 
cultivation, are subjects for the four- 
teenth and fifteenth chapters; while 
the enemies and diseases of the sugar- 
cane form the subject of the extensive 
chapter sixteen. Harvesting tho cane, 
the tonnage, the cost of cultivating it, 
the cost of manufacturing cane-sugar 
and the world's production of sugar and 
list of sugar-producing countries, are 
treated of in the concluding chapters. 
The book is extremely fuU of ip forma- 
tion, and is well written. 

In the first chapter we find twelve 
distinct species, giving Saccharum Offi- 
cinaruin, one to which we have been in 
the habit of referring in the canes cul- 
tivated in this country. He claims it 
^^'^s not found wild, its original habitat 
being Cochin (^hina, Malay Archipe- 
lago or Bengal, and they have separate 
varieties of these species. Of the canes 
cultivated in Java he thinks that they be- 
long to the following species, Saccha- 
rum Spontaneum (L), Saccharum Solt- 
wedeli (Kobus), and Saccharum OflBci- 
narum (L). He says that canes closely 
related to tbo cultivated canes of the 



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[Vol. XXII. No. 17. 



country are found even in the Pacific 
Islands, while their original home was 
doubtless in the region of the Ganges 
delta. He further gives the history of 
the cultivation of the cane and the sim- 
ple methods originally pursued of 
preparing sugar, and claims that 
in the early stages the fermen- 
tation of the juices and the pre- 
paration of effervescing beverages 
WTre more the object of the producers 
of cane than the production of sugar 
therefrom. lie alludes to a knowledge 
of sugar-cane by the ancient Greeks, 
Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians and 
Jews. He tracers the growth of sugar 
cane and sugar in Persia, and claims 
that it was at one time largely used as 
a medicine by Pei^ian physicians. He 
also follows its developments in Arabia, 
Egypt, and its general distribution into 
Africa and Europe, Babylon, Cairo, 
Xubia, Morocco, Italy, Sicily, Andalu- 
sia, Granada, Valencia, Madagascar, 
Rokotra, Zanzibar, Bourbon, etc. He 
traces sugar-cane and sugar during the 
middle ages of EurojM^ and then takes 
up its cultivation in Asia, China, Ja- 
pan and the Archipelagos, then its cidti- 
vation in Manila, Formosa, Cochin 
(^hina, Java and Hawaii. He then fol 
lows it into the New World, and claims 
C^olumbus brought it from the Canaries 
to St. Domingo, Cuba, Mexico, South 
America and Paraguay. 

The history of the cane in Java is an 
interesting one. It was first intro- 
duced by the government in partnership 
with the natives. The first vacuum 
yen was introduced into Java at Pro- 
bolinggo in 1836, and an experiment 
station was founded in West Java in 
18S6, one year after the establishment 
of the one in Louisiana. Another was 
established in East Java in 1887. In 
1893 there was formed a syndicate of 
the 6\igi\r manufaclurers of Java. 

In describing the so-called varieties, 
he gives different methods of variation, 
color, size and form of intemodes, nodes 
and the formation of eyes, smooth or 
hairy stalks, form, buds, etc., botanical 
characteristics of flower, stalks and 
l)lossoms, suckering, chemical constitu- 
tion, and then with these characteristics 
he differentiates them into the varieties 
found throughout th^ world. The va- 



rieties most cultivated in Java are the 
Cheribon, Djapara, Tangerang, Lozier, 
Tied Fiji, and in the West Indies, Bour- 
bon, in Porto Rico the (^rystallina, in 
Brazil the Cayanna and Otaheite, and 
in Louisiana the Red Ribbon and Pur- 
ple, in Mauritius and Reunion, the 
Bourbon, Bamboo, Mackay and Lo- 
zier, in Australia the Bourbon, and in 
the Sandwich Islands the Lahaina and 
Rose Bamboo. The chemical constit- 
uents of the cane are given in detail. 
Under the preparation of soil for 
rane culture he emphasizes drainage, 
good roads, and mentions the fact that 
steam plowing is largely in vogue in 
Java; tile draining is not practicable, 
while irrigation is performed in some 
parts of the Island with success. He 
gives the manurial constituents of su- 
gar-cane and the fertilizer found adapt- 
ed to the same, and gives the natural 
sources of fertilizers in Java, viz: pea- 
nut oil cake, bat guano, residues from 
indigo^ factories, leguminous crops. He 
also disciLsses the methods of applying 
fertilizers, the l)enefits derived there- 
from, and when to apply them, with 
quantities per acre. He gives the fol- 
lowing as an excellent rotation for the 
sugar-cane in Java — sugar-cane, legu- 
minous crop, rice, leguminous crop, rice, 
sugar-cane. 

He further discusses seedlings and the 
method of their selection, how to ger- 
minate the seed and the successful 
method of cultivating the seedlings. He 
also refers to the method of planting 
the bottom, middle and tops of ordinary 
cane, width of rows, quantity of seed- 
cane per acre, depth of planting, and 
care and cultivation during the growth, 
laying by the cane, protection against 
external damage, winds, animals, etc. 
Removal of trash from the cane, and in- 
fluence of light in ripening the cane are 
all thoroughly discussed. Among the 
enemies of the cane he mentions rats 
r :d cattle aid of diseases those chiefly 
of the fungus order of plant life. Un- 
der the head of harvesting cane he dis- 
cusses the ripeness of the cane, how it 
shall be cut, cost of cidtivation, cost of 
producing sugar, and the world's pro- 
duction of sugar. The book is ex- 
tremely valuable, is written in German, 
handsomely bound, and excellently 
lUustTAtod with colored plates. 



John C. Riley. 

This gentleman died in this city on 
the 8th inst. and in his death the sugar 
industry of Louisiana has lost one of its 
brightest lights. Mr. Riley was one 
jf the most unassuming gentlemen 
connected with the sugar industry of 
this State, and yet one of the most 
thorough and accomplished engineers in 
the profes:?ion. For a considerable time 
Mr. Riley was chief engineer of the 
Belle Alliance plantation on Bayou 
Lafourche, belonging to Messrs. E. & 
J. Kock, and in the immense sugar fac- 
tory on that large plantation he had a 
fine field for the development of his 
progressive ideas, realizing as he did 
finally his great professional ambition 
in making the Belle Alliance sugar- 
house one of the largest, best and most 
economical sugar-houses in the State. 
Mr. Riley always had a thorough com- 
prehension of the mechanical problems 
that were ])resented to him for solution 
and he approached them with that 
breadth of thought and careful research 
and long experience that insured succe^ 
wlieiever success was possible. 

The writer of these lines first met 
Mr. Riley in the Belle Alliance sugar- 
hou?e and became there interested and 
surprised at the extent of Mr. Riley's 
learning and ability in sugar engineer- 
ing, and desires to contribute these few 
lines to the memory of one to whom 
our industry owes a great deal. 



Anthrax in Delaware. 

A recent bulletin from the Delaware 
College Exj>eriment Station gives some 
data concerning the study o:*' autlirax, 
or charbon, in that Institution. It 
seems that the sewage from the morocco 
shops carries the anthrax spores into the 
Delaware river. Seven meadows be- 
longing to as many different farms 
were watered by a stream into which 
some of this sewage had been allowed to 
flow, and in 1897 anthrax killed milk 
cows which were pastured upon five of 
these meadows. Vaccination was prac- 
ticed upon several of the properties after 
the attention of the State agricultural 
authorities had been drawn thereto, 
and where this was done no deaths fol- 
lowed, while a new tenant, unfamiliar 



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259 



with the surroundings, and unwilling 
to take such precautions, lost four cows 
in rapid succession and later on lost 
{out more. A careful diagnosis revealed 
anthrax in each instance. The herd 
of about ten head of cows was then 
removed from the suspected meadow 
and they were then vaccinated, finally 
a colt was left behind, which subse- 
quently died from anthrax. 

The whole situation was of such 
gravity that after consultation with the 
veterinarian and director of the expe- 
riment sfation, a would-be purchaser of 
this property, was advised to complete 
the purchase on the following condi- 
tions: 

FIrsL That for a few years to come he 
shaU cause the vaccination of hia milch 
cows to be made each spring prior to pas- 
turing on his meadow. 

Second. That he shall cause an immedi- 
ate investigation in case of sudden and not 
c'.early explained cases of death of live 
slock. 

Third. That he shall not pasture high- 
priced horses upon his lowlands unless, with 
the consent of their owners, they hffve been 
subjected to relatively recent vaccination. 

Efforts are also making to insure tlie 
protecticm (^f the country bv sterilizing 
the wastes from the moroeceo sliops 
and from the woolen mills using im- 
ported wool. A cargo of hides im]) rtid 
from Singapore carried the anthrax into 
a Pennsylvania valley. So much is 
(lone in Delaware in the wny of mriu- 
faetures of moroceo and kid leather that 
the question })resented is a very serious 
one and hence the necessity of urgent 
action to prevent the dissemination of 
this virulent disease. 

The Cane Crop. 

The past week has brought us excel- 
lent weather for aiding crop develop- 
ment and the effect of it is readily ap- 
parent in all sections of he sugar belt. 
The planters of the upper tier of par- 
i^hes which were so severely hit l:y the 
freeze, and where the croj) was at one 
time thought to be almo.-t completely 
uined, are now particulirly loud in 
their expressions of qu ilificaiion r^gard- 
iuii the way the canes are coming up. 
Instead of an entir.' failure it now seems 
|r l)rJ>l( ih'^t a half crop, of thereabouts, 
wH' J p nipde in those parishes, and the 
?tate, as a whole, should make two- 
thirds and perhaps the three-fourths' 
crop which we predicted the week after 
the freeze. 



Cane Growing for Central Factories. 

(Read before the Centnl Louisiana Agricultural So- 
ciety by N. S. Dougherty, Esq.) 

The flrat requisite for successful dane cul- 
ture is good drainage, and on our hill lands 
this is quite as ImpoVtant as on the alluvial 
lands, on account of the impervious nature 
of the soil and the consequent large per- 
* centage of the rlainfall which must be dis- 
IK)sed of as surface water. The system of 
drainage must be open ditches, as we look 
upon tile drainage in Louisiana yet as an 
experiment, on account of the silt deposited 
in the tile, and because of the excessive 
raiiifaU at times, which must be disposed of 
as soon as possible. Imperfect drainage is 
a source of loss that is not properly esti- 
mated, nor can 1;^e benefits of perfect drain- 
age be over-estimated. 

There will scarcely be a cut in any field 
a rainy season that will not reveal a poor 
crop if the drainage is at all defeotinre. Cul- 
tivation is retarded, the fudl benefit of fer- 
tilizing is not received, water staoiding In 
puddles stops up subdrains and excludes air 
from the earth — in fact, arrests the en- 
tile chemical process of elaborating plant 
ifood from the food elements found in the 
3oil. These are some of the most important 
reasons why lands should be well drained. 
Others are preservation of stu'bble and fall 
plant cane and the keeping of the cane seed 
in windrow. Since it Is known we have 
vory heavy rains, and it Is important to get 
'he water oft soon after it falls, it will be 
lUain we must have open ditches, deep and 
large, with a continuous fall to the canals, 
and both uno'bstructed. 

I have used in some cuts plowed ditches 
and, where carefully made, work well; but, 
as with open ditches, they require constant 
attention to keep them free from weeds and 
grass and deposits below where the quarter 
drains discharge. The quarter drains should 
be put in wherever required and kept open 
at all times, and must be six inches below 
the bottom of the middle of the row, and the 
eves of the rows open. In the spring of the 
year this is probably the most important 
point in securing good stands. 

In all 'bottoms or low places in the field 
It will be seen imperfect stands prevail If 
:he quarter drains are not properly placed 
and kept open. If the above rules ar^ ob- 
served good drainage will be obtained. 

The land is now broken with two-mule 
plows, the rows being thrown in "beds six 
feet apart. This distance suits all imple- 
ments used in the cultivation; gives room 
for two large mules in the row to plow. The 
drill for seed is opened in this bed, going 
down nearly as low as the middles. This 
done by two furrows of the plow and one 
furrow of a fluke, the seed is put in, two 
canes and a lap of six inches, always having 
the top laps on the huts. F^l and spring 
planting are the same in this particular, and 
good seed presumed. The seed is covered by 
running over the row with one of the re- 
volving disc cultivators* In (be lill three 



to four inches of soil is best, and if the 
earth is cloddy a roller is run over the row 
to press the earth, thus preventing dry rot. 
In the spring one to two inches of loose, 
well pulverized soil is al>out right, and no 
rolling is required, unless the land is very 
rough. The work of covering is finished by 
having the hand-^hoes go over and cover 
places that have been omitted by the ma- 
chine. I prefer covering cane with this ma- 
chine to plows, because it throws a more 
uniform quantity of pulverized soil and it 
does the work at one-half the cost; and it 
lifts up the earth and drops it in the row, 
while the plow pushes it in and often crowds 
the cane too close together. The machine 
fills up the trench and leafves the roiw a lit- 
tle pointed to shed water in case of very 
heavy rains. If the seed is defective the 
farmer must use his own judgment in try- 
ing to get in sufficient to secure a good 
stand. The stand should be about one cane 
per foot when it first comes up, and if it 
suckers well, two or three per foot should 
be harvested. That means a row of three 
acres in length will have from 1,260 to 1,890 
well developed canes on it. It is well to 
mention here the great importance of se- 
curing a good stand of plan^ cane, it being 
its nature to grow best when thick, and 
because tbe stubbles are to be cultivated the 
coming year. 

A good stand can be cultivated for less 
than a poor one. Fertilizing, wbich is now 
generally done, costs as much for an im- 
penfect stand as for a perfect one. As before 
stated, good drainage is absolutely neces- 
sary to accomplish this. I have made some 
repetition in relation to these two imjwrt- 
ant points — good stands and perfect drain- 
age; but the great importance of the first 
and the imperative necessity of the latter 
are sufficient Justification for it The cul- 
tivation will be commenced by bedding up 
the middle with tnvo-mule plows, and if the 
cane bias 'been planted in the fall and cov- 
ered very heavily, a stubble shaver can be 
run over the row to take off the top soil. 
The hand hoe is now expected to remove 
tbe soil to within one inch of the seed, 
so that the sun may warm up the eyes and 
cause germination. This work is done early 
in the spring, but after danger of frost is 
supposed to be over. As our seasons are 
short, it is desirable that the cane may at- 
tain a good growth for an early lay-by. The 
stu'b'ble cane should have the middle bedded, 
the same as plant cane, and the shaver run 
over the rows, cutting oft the first two inches 
of the stubble and leaving the row fresh 
and clean. The stubble-digger is now used, 
going over the shaved stubble twice to the 
row, pulverizing the earth completely, and 
letting light and air penetrate to the dor- 
mant eyes, thus warming them into early 
and vigorous growth. 

From this point the cultivation and fer- 
tilization of stubble cane is the saone as 
plant caue. 



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[Vol. XXII. No. 17. 



FERTILIZING. 

Now is the time to apply fertilizer, the 
ot)Ject being to obtain maximum 'tonnage 
wibh maximum sugar content. The sacri- 
fice of sugar for excessive tonnage will glv€ 
the factory just cause to look with sus- 
picion on your cane. The time to apply, and 
the kind and quality, are questions which 
each planter will determine according to 
the requirements of Jiis soil. I recommend 
applying the fertilizer in one application, at 
the first working, for several reasons. It 
will furnish food for the young roots and 
force a rapid growth, an early suckering, 
and (When the fertilizer is exhausted the 
cane will ripen, if favorable weather pre- 
vails. That which has given me best re- 
sults has been, 200 pounds oS. cotton seed 
meal and 200 pounds of a'cid phosphate per 
acre for plant cane; and 300 pounds of cot- 
ton seed meal and 100 pounds of acid phos- 
phate for stubble. Eirery planter can de- 
term^ine the quality of his fertilizer by sub- 
mitting a sample to the state chemist for 
analysis, .which is done free ol charge. I 
mention this, because it sometimes happens 
that the use of fertilizers does not give sat- 
isfactory results, and this analysis will de- 
termine whether or not the fertilizer is the 
fault. It must be understood that no plant 
can use fertilizer in the shape in which it is 
put on the ground. It is necessary to iiave 
moisture and good tilage to properly pre- 
pare it for plant food. Should these condi- 
tions be absent, unsatisfactory results must 
be the consequence. On our hill lands, after 
heavy rains, the soil bakes arid becomes very 
hard, forming a crust on the top. This 
condition checks all chemical operations 
which may have been commenced for pro- 
ducing plant food, from the fertilizer. AS 
soon as the condition of the soil will per- 
mit, this top crust should be broken and 
the soil left well pulverized. Strong, rich 
lands will utilize heavier applications of 
fertilizer than poor lands, and for this rea- 
son it Is very desirable before planting cane 
on poor soils to rotate them for two years 
in corn and peas. With appropriate fer- 
tilizer, should the peas be turned under in 
the fall while the vines are yet green, an 
excellent crop of cane will be obtained. 

As some of the farmers In our section are 
anticipating planting cane on lands that 
have been previously planted in cotton. I 
will say that the fertilizer recommended for 
plant cane has given the very best results 
obtained by me in the past five years on my 
cotton lands — lx)th tonnage and sugar con- 
teat being considered. We now have the 
middles bedded and the fertilizer put out on 
the cane. The latter operation is done by 
a machine that will do over eight to twelve 
acres per day, and is operated by two mules 
and one man. The next work the plant re- 
ceives is to plow out the middles, but not 
putting any dirt in the drill, only throwing 
furrows from the plow alongside the row. 
The cane now. if good growth has been ob- 
tained, ehouia l)e from t?n Jncliw V> ft fwt 



hl£^. and will begin suckering. This is a 
natural function of the plant and will, un- 
der favorable weather conditions, be very 
rapidly brought out. and good growth con- 
tinue. But often this state of the plant 
growth comes during a dry spell, and suck- 
ering is retarded, and in extreme oases it 
is prevented until the necessary conditions 
are present 

Some planters claim to be able to promote 
suckering by cultivation. For example: To 
force the plant which has oome up to suffer 
for dirt, to give it too mucb dirt, or to off- 
bar very close, giving a severe root pruning. 
Some propose one plan, and others a dif- 
ferent one. How successful these methods 
are. or whioh is the proper one. I atn un- 
able to say. but I recommend keeping the 
plant in a vigorous state of growth. I know 
that some seasons I have harvested cane 
which had suckered much more than others, 
and I attribute the reason for not sucker- 
ing to the lack of fertility and moisture. 
€ane in rich land, well fertilized and well 
cultivated, will usually sucker enough. The 
process of cultivation from this point is 
very simple and should be very fast. Run- 
ning over the rows once in every ten days 
or two weeks with disc cultivators, putting 
a little dirt in the cane at each working, 
with only the use of the band hoe to keep 
grass out of the drill. The middle left after 
running the disc cultivator is either thrown 
out by two furrows of a plow, one furrow 
of a double mould board plow or a middle 
cultivator. I think probably the latter will 
give best results and reduce cost of cul- 
tivation. The quarter drains should be well 
opened after each working. This cultiva- 
tion is to continue until the cane is of 
sufficient size to shade the ground enough 
to prevent growth of weeds and grass, and 
then the work of laying by begins. 

This is only another cultivation with the 
disc machines, set to throw all the earth 
possible, and the team required to go a lit- 
tle faster so that the Isoil is pitched up close 
around the cane, otherwise, where the cane 
is very thick, a hollow place will be left and 
subsequent rains and winds will open the 
hollow to the roots of the plant, thus expos- 
ing the stubble to cold and wet in winter 
and cause loss thereby. The middles of 
the rows are plowed out deep and the earth 
thrown up on the bed. The rows, when 
finished, should present broad, flat beds, 
with a narrow, deep trench betjween them, 
rather than a sharp, narrow bed. with a 
deep, wide trench. The former will not be 
washed down as much as the latter, and if 
the rainfall is moderate the broad bed will 
absorb it. when the sharp row would shed it 
off. All the quarter drains should be opened 
as previously stated, six inches below the 
rows, and the ends of the rows hoed up well 
and cleaned of weeds and grass. Close at- 
tention should be gi'ven ditches where quar- 
ter drains discharge, and deposits from same 
removed, if they in any way obstruct drain- 
^^, Tlw crop if pow laid \>j, an4 \t weatft^ 



er conditions prevail a bountiful harvest can 
be looked for. 

CARE OF IBIPLEMENTS AND ROAD WORKING. 

Tbe disc machines which have been used 
throughout the cultivation with such good 
efiPect, should be taken to the shop and gone 
over by a careful man and all nuts tightened 
up. and the machine otherwise put in flrst- 
class condition. The same attention should 
be given all other implements on the planta- 
tion, and all polished parts painted to pre- 
vent rust. Plantation roads and bridges 
should be looked after and put in good shape 
for shedding water. If the wagons have not 
been overhauled since cane planting, they 
should be gone over now. The land that is 
to be planted in the fall and spring should 
now be occupied by corn and peas and as the 
men will want work, the ditches can be 
cleaned down and spaded out. If necessary. 
After corn and hay have been harvested the 
land should be in fine condition for fall 
planting. This can be done either by break- 
ing the land as for spring planting, or, if the 
season has been a dry one and the land IM 
soft and mellow, the same beds can be open- 
ed and cane planted in them, as for spring 
planting; the cane being cut in the field 
the samp as for mill, except the leaves are 
not stripped off. The cane is then thrown 
in the wagon and delivered to the planting 
field. I like to have one-half or more of my 
cane planted in the fall because it Ukos less 
seed, is less expensive, and generally fall 
planting will give best cane. 

ROWING SEED CANE. 

This is usually done about the last of 
October, when prevented from hauling cane 
to the factory by rain, the wet ground being 
the best condition for putting down seed. 
All hands are put to work cutting down and 
putting the cane in windrow. The selection 
of cane for seed is given little or no atten- 
tion, that being used which is on high and 
dry land, and usually being first year's stub- 
ble, the second year's having been planted 
in the fall. As much cane should be put 
in the windrow as can be covered, the cane 
being put down so as to have the tops cover 
the butts, and all the butts coming in con- 
tact with the ground. Either two or four 
mule plows are used to cover, but the best 
implement I have used for this purpose Is 
the disc plow. It puts the earth better over 
the cane than any of the otners. The science 
of the Job seems to be to have the plow 
folloy the row. covering the cane as fast as 
possible after it is put on the ground, to 
prevent drying out, and at the same time 
to have all the leaves completely covered. 
The finishing touch is put on by the |iand 
hoe coming over and patching up all places 
omitted by the plows, and the quarter drains 
opened with as much care as possible. 

We now come to the harvesting eft the 
crop— Glutting cane, loading carts and driv- 
ing wagons are the classes of .work to be 
accomplished, and the manager will have an 
ppportu5lt7 to show Jiip bwt ability in cla«0T 



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261 



ing the labor. Driving wagons requires skill 
and intelligence, and it is always desirable 
to select men with good, even temipers for 
teamsters. After fitting them out with mules 
and wagons keep them constantly at this 
work, as they will become expert by practice, 
and all the W€igon drivers should be under 
Immediate supervision of a smart, quick- 
witted person, to have the harness properly 
adjusted and see that the teams are well 
matched and that they are worked so as to 
keep them well and in good condition. The 
work required of the team at this season 
is fast and laborious, straining work, and ex- 
actly contrary lo the slow work which has 
been required of them during the cultivation 
season, and besides the mules are working 
four In a team, instead of two, as they were 
when plowing. Some time is, of course,re- 
quired to have them trained for the new con- 
dition and get them hardened to wagon 
work. Four well- trained mules will deliver 
an average of thirteen tons of cane per day 
for the entire season at a distance varying 
from half a mile or two miles, average 
weather, without being hurt The same 
team untrained, and with a change of driv- 
ers every few days, will not, deliver more 
than ten tons per day, and will be absolute- 
ly worn out at the end of the season. 

These are details which cut a great figure 
in the cost of delivering cane to the factory. 
Since it is the dally average which must be 
obtained by the factory, too much is ob- 
jectionable on account of loss by evapora- 
tion and chemical changes, which begin 
soon after the cane is cut and cause a loss 
of sugar, enough must be delivered daily 
to keep the factory running to its full capa- 
city. Thus it will be seen, in commencing 
the work, a sufficient force of teams and 
teibor should be provided to deliver one- 
sixtieth of your crop per day. It will be 
better to have more than required than to 
have to rush beyond the capacity of the 
force. Some days will come when tlie fac* 
tory will desire more than your regular pro 
rata, and if prepared to deliver, it will be a 
source of great pleasure. 

Loading wagons is laborious, skillful work, 
and requires men trained to do it. A well- 
trained set of men will load ten to twelve 
tons of straight cane per man per day with 
less effort than untrained men can do eight 
to ten tons. For this reason it is desirable 
to select the men and keep them continu- 
ously at this work for them to become suffi- 
ciently scientific for economical loading. 

Cane cutting has been passed over with- 
out, probably, enough being said as to 
classification of the hands. This is work 
that an intelligent overseer can soon teach 
his cutters, if he is a close watcher and 
exacc in his demands. Contracts with fac- 
tories usually require cane topped in the 
first red Joints and stripped clean of trash. 
The bottom should be cut as low as possible. 
A good cane cutter should cut from three 
and one-half to four and one-half tons per 
day wlien cane is thick and straight, and 



the field of cutters should be classed so as 
to leave the cost of cutting at about 25 cents 
— not more than 30 cents-^with good, 
straight, thick crop. This will be too good 
an average for a lot of hands that are 
constantly changing work and dropping out 
two or three days In each week. When cane 
is crooked and down on the* ground the cost 
of cutting runs up very rapidly, owing to 
how badly blown the cane is. In some cases 
the cost will reach as high as 50 cents per 
ton, though that is excessively high for 
any such work where cane is a regular stand. 

I think it will be appropriate before clos- 
ing the subject to have something to say in 
reference to the work and care of the team. 
The work, from early spring— plowing, pull- 
ing stubble diggers and disc cultivators— is 
slow but heavy work, the only important 
points to be looked after being to have the 
team well matched as to weight and gait, 
and to see that the harness fits properly, 
and be careful not to over-drive them. But 
when the work of laying by comes on, the 
weather being very hot and the plowing 
deeper than usual, and at times the ground 
being hard, the work is excessively labori- 
ous. To prevent tatal effects from the ex- 
cessi've heat oJ! the sun, nature has provided 
the animal with the means of keeping wet 
with perspiration, and the animal that 
sweats will probably go through without any 
perm^anent Injury; but there are always 
some animals which do not sweat, from 
some cause unknown to the. planter, and it 
is to these that injury is likely to occur 
from sunstroke. The dry, glossy appear- 
ance of the coat is calculated to deceive the 
unpracticed eye and consequent Injury be- 
fore you are aware of the danger. Animals 
that do not sweat should be watched very 
closely, and if they blow too much should 
be stopped in the shade. A good 01an in 
these long, hot days is to have the team 
taken out at early dawn and worked until 
about 11 o'clock and then returned to the 
stable and allowed to rest for one hour be- 
fore feeding, and to remain in the stable 
until about 3 o'clock, and work can be con- 
tinued in the evening until dark. In this 
way as much will be accomplished and with 
a great deal more comfort to the mules. The 
collars and bridles should be made to fit the 
animals and kept clean. Sore shoulders and 
•ore mouths come oftener from ill-fitting 
harness than from any other cause. The 
sweat on the collars and the saliva on the 
bits left in the sun at noontime become hard 
and sharp, and when replaced on the ani- 
mals after dinner cut and chafe If not 
cleaned off, and soon the mule Is unable to 
work. 

Great care should be exercised in having 
the mule harnessed to the plow and never 
permitting the backhand too far back on the 
iolns. 

The details mentioned as to care of mules 
will be picked up very quickly by the plow- 
•men If the overseer is a man who appreciates 
the importance of such things and is exact- 



ing with his men. and the mules will at 
once show it and It will be manifest in the 
feed bill, It of course being cheaper to feed 
mules in good condition and properly woi^- 
ed than other with sore shoulders and over- 
worked and Ill-treated. It would be a great 
education for those who use teams to have 
a branch of the Society for Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals organized in our midst 
and a great protection to dumb brutes. I 
am sure such a society yould be well received 
by the besc people of our community. These 
societies are sources of great good in other 
towns and cities, and would be here. 
Conclusion. 

''t'he cost of making and delivering a ton 
of cane to the factory is put down at from 
1^.25 to |3, and will be divided about as 
follows: Cultivation, 50 cents, which means 
the cultivation of sufficient land In corn and 
peas to nearly feed the team, and also the 
cultivation of cane for seed. Fertilizing, in- 
cluding Che cost of cow peas, 30 cents; land 
rent, no cents, and harvesting crop 50 cents. 
i!ixtra feed, buying and keeping In repair 
implements, wagons, blacksmi thing, roads, 
bridges, harness, plows, hoes, axes, over-see- 
ing, interest, Insurance and taxes, ditching 
and other annual expenses which cannot be 
named, 75 cents per ton, making a total of 
12.35. Harvesting we put down as follows: 
Cutting, 30 cents; loading, 8 cents; driving, 
8 cents; working roads, 4 cents. Total, 50 
cents. 

This estimate is made on a basis of 16 
to 1/ tons per acre, as much as I think the 
average hill planter will produce, one year 
witTi another, both stubble and plant cane. 
The above is aibout what results have been 
ODtalned on my place for an average of^e 
years, and I am sure as good an average 
can be made by others. No effort at all has 
been made to color the statement with the 
object of inducing other to rush Into cane 
cuture to recoup losses made in cotton cul- 
ture, nor haV^ 1 made the cost appear too 
high to prevent others trying cane. 

I'he object has been to give as near as 
possible my own average result for five 
years, and then let each farmer decide for 
himself whether or no It will be profitable 
for him to venture into the enterprise. I 
shall be glad to have this paper extensively 
criticized, so that if there are errors wo will 
find them and avoid future loss. 

Every planter should bear in mind the 
importance of keeping a correct account of 
all plantation work; and often summing up 
to see what his work Is costing, and make 
a record of it All such records are valu- 
able, if accurate, and It is absolutely the 
only way anyone can tell what he is doing. 
I am so thoroughly convinced of the import- 
ance of this matter of accounts and records 
that I have little conBdence in statements 
oj: cost of cane culture from parties who do 
not work that way. 

I think we all feel proud to have been 
of assistance to our neighbors, and if there 
is anything at all in thiis paper which will 
lighten the way of any planter, I shall feel 
well paid for the labor of writing it. 

I presume we all consider sU^ar cane '& 
tropical plant, and the culture profitable only 
in temperate climates, and fjt tbat reason 
I hesitate Just now to ad'vise parties who 
have other means of losing all the capital 
they have, to rush into it, as we seem to 
be making new records as to rainfall and 
climate which Indicate more of a 
frigid temperature than is good for profit- 
able cane culture. 



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THB LOOTSIANA PLANTER AITO SUOAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXn. Na 17. 



LOCAL LETTFRS. 



Iberville. 

^ I8PCC1AL CORRESPONDBNOE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

During the past two weeks the early days 
were rather cool, but since last Monday the 
weather has been splendid and the good 
effects on the cane can be seen on all places. 
Large quantities of fertilizers are being ap- 
plied in the hope of pushing things forward, 
for they are generally backward and unless 
helped the cane will "be small at rolling sea- 
son. The plUnt cane seems to be coming 
splendidly, but the stubbles rather slowly, 
though I learn from several that a close in- 
spection shows stubbles in black and mixed 
land to be coming out first rate while those 
In sandy and light soils are hardly worth 
cultivating. The corn crop is in splendid 
shape and will ^be the largest ever raised in 
the parish. The register at the U. S. en- 
gineer's office at Plaquemine indicates a 
maximum temperature on April 23rd of 70 
degrees and a minimum of 47 degrees on 
April 12th. The rain fall during the two 
weeks was M of an inch on April 20th. 

Hon. Jas. A. Ware thinks many in his 
section will do well to get seed out of their 
stubble, and this opinion is shared by others. 
Mr. Thomas Supple finds his stubbles com- 
ing nicely and will get 60 to 75 per cent of 
a stand; and his plant cane is all right. The 
stubbles on the Trinity plantation on Bayou 
Grosse-Tete are beginning to mark the rows 
and at the Corinne plantation of Mr. S. V. 
Farnaris, Jr., the spring plant is coming to 
a perfect stand, while the fall plant is only 
tolerably good. 

From the sheriff's office we learn that 
the shortage of the sugar crop of last year 
on the west hank of the Mississippi river in 
the parish was over 20,000,000 lbs. compared 
with 1897, or a'bout 40 per cent. At a value 
of 4Vi cents per lb., this shows a loss sus- 
tained 'through bad weather of nearly a 
million dollars. 

Lands on Bayou Jacob have been changing 
hands rapidly lately. Following the sale of 
Homestead plantation, from Mr. F. D. Rob- 
ertson to Hon. A. H. Gay, came that of the 
Enterprise plantation by Mr. and . Mrs. 
Michael Schlater, (Mr. Schlater reserving the 
old homestead and 16 acres of land) and a 
trade for the Kuneman plantation has been 
made between the heirs of the late Mr. and 
Mrs. 'Edward J. Gay and the Messrs Wilbert. 
These two acquisitions will prove valuahle 
additions to their fine Myrtle Grove planta- 
tion. They have been out of cane for several 
years hut preparations for putting them back 
have already ibegun, and new fences and 
buildings will no doubt soon be under way 
too, for the Messrs. Wilbert believe in keep- 
ing such in first class condition. Another 
year will witness a large increase in the 
sugar output of the Bayou Jacob section. 

The state engineers have staked off a new 
levee in front of the Evergreen plantation 



of Mrs. Henry H. Baker, starting at the up- 
per line and running clear across the place. 
This will necessitate the removal of the 
residence of Manager Laville and seven or 
eight cabins. The loss in land will exceed 
34 acres, a good part of which is in plant 
cane and the stand is splendid. We hear 
the authorities have agreed to wait till fall 
to build the levee so as to permit the sav- 
ing of the present crop. 

'Mr. Hiram Sigler, of Rosedale, aged 84 
years, a native of Pennsylvania, but a resi- 
dent of this parish for more than half a 
century, was buried this week. 

Death also claimed Mrs. Tennessee Rob- 
ertson, widow of the late Samuel Matthews 
and a sister of Messrs. Frederick D, James 
M. and William B. Robertson, and Mrs. 
Mary R. Welsinger. The- deceased leaves 
five children, among whom are Mr. Crusoe 
Matthews and Mrs. T. Weislnger Schlater, 

of Plaquemine. 

Iberville. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL C0RRS8P0NDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather last week was unusually wet 
for April, but little field work was accom- 
compllshed, but as work v/as generally ahead 
of the crops, there can be no complaint on 
that ground. However more sunshine was 
needed, and warmer weather, and the ab- 
sence of these elements has not accelerated 
the growth of the cane. The stubhle is 
still showing up somewhat, ibut dry, warm 
days and warmer nights are now badly 
needed to bring it out. Several planters 
have told me that a recent examination of 
the stubble not yet up has revealed good 
eyes. In some instances just beginning to 
swell. Monday and to-day have been hot, 
and a* continuance of this weather for ten 
days will bring up all of the good eyes or 
a very large proportion thereof. The plant 
is coming up well. I have heard little or 
no complaint of a poor stand, and in rid- 
ing around the stand of cane seen is re- 
freshing to the eye after the numerous com- 
plaints heard during the planting season. It 
really looks as if a good many of the bad 
canes now are up, if one can judge from the 
appearance of the cane on the rows. 

Woodlawn Is drying out seconds, and the 
yield per car seems better than during grind- 
ing. Elm Hall is also hard at work drying 
its string sugars, a conslderal)le task as a 
large proportion of seconds is always kept 
to be worked out when the grinding rush 
Is over. I believe that Oakley will soon 
start active work on the tramway to the 
Attakapas canal. The right of way has 
been cleared, and soon the grading will be 
commenced. There will be a start made 
very shortly on the canal In Drainage Dis- 
trict No. 1. We understand that Mr. Lee 
Cancienne has the work in charge. It has 
been determined to do it with the spade, and 
great benefits in the way of drainage will 
follow this improvement. 



'We can report hut little Improvement in 
the condition of the public roads. Travel 
by land along the bayou front is rendered 
impossible in many places, and the fields 
are used by many in order to get to their 
destinations. The water from the dredg- 
ing has brought about to a great extent this 
state of affairs, i hear some complaints as 
to ravages of worms on early corn, but it 
does not seem to be a general complainu I 
learn that Mr. U. B. Dugas, the managing 
partner on "Sweet Home," has bought che 
cane on the Vlves plantation, and will buy 
the cane from these places. He is adding 
thus to the capacity of his house, and will 
doubtless be able to handle expeditioosly 
the increased tonnage of cane that will be 
brought to the mill by his railway. 

The news of crevasses in the Lafourche 
once more emphasizes the necessity of co- 
operation "between the Police Juries and citi- 
zens of Lafourche and Assumption in an 
effort to remove the obstructionfi now clog- 
ging the egress of the water in lower La- 
fourche. A united effort ought to result in 
the removal of these obstructions, and would 
in the opinion of many result in the free- 
dom of both places from the dangers of 
overfiow. At present Lafourche bears the 
brunt of the present system of improvement, 
a system that seems to look to the enlarge- 
ment of the Lafourche at Donaldsonville, 
and "innocuuous desuetude*' at the mouth. 
As a result the water backs up In Lafourcbe. 
crevasses occur, after a gallant fight, when 
there is no danger in Assumption. My atten- 
tion was called to the fact, that, with more 
water in the Lafourche than there was ten 
years ago, the current is nothing like as 
rapid as it was then. The presence of a 
crevasse below Is shown in the rapid tall 
of the Lafourche In Assumption and a very 
perceptible increase In the rapidity of its 
current. The planter who would attempt 
to take off his water by increasing the 
ditches in the front of his place and doing 
no work in the canals behind would scarce- 
ly be considered a Solomon (to put it mild- 
ly) and yet all of the recent dredging on 
the Lafourche has been above Lockport, 
most of it nearer Donaldsonville, and tiie 
islands and obstructions below are l€?ft there 
for nature to remove. We speak of the suc- 
cess of our levee system and how much the 
government has done for the improvement 
of the Lafourche and yet every spring there 
comes from lower Lafourche the same story 
of vain struggles against high- water. We 
have tried for a number of years the sys- 
tem referred to, and its lack of success is 
marked in the yearly overflow of a portion 
of the Parish of Lafourche. Would it not 
be well to change the prescription, an'3 re- 
lieve the dropsical symptoms by- tapping the 
lower extremities. We say they have a just 
right to complain. 

More Akok. 



■Mr. J. G. Oxnard, of New York, was one 
of the distinguished arrivals at the Cosmo- 
politan hotel during the week. 



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April 29, 1899.1 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



268 



Terrebonne. 

(SPECIAL CORRISPONDENCE-) 

Editor Louisianti Planter: 

Until the heavy precipitations during 
Thursday night and on Friday, the rainfall 
had heen abundant in some localities and 
inadequate in others. Field -work has been 
retarded and ploughing was only resumed 
by some on Tuesday. 

-Grass Is now rampant in the fields, and 
dry weather for ten days or two weeks will 
prove of great benefit to enable planters to 
destroy the extraneous vegetation and put 
the soil In a friable condition. L#atterly the 
weather has been propitious, and the corn 
crops have made rapid progress, and the cane 
fields in places have improved notably. 
Regular stands of cane will be the excep- 
tion, not the rule, going to prove that the 
seed was defective when planted. Ratoons 
are appearing tout slowly in the first year 
stubble fields, and in those of the second 
year in most instances nothing can be seen. 

The majority of the planters have planted 
com on the stubble rows as a precautionary 
measure should the stubble fail to ratoon. 

It is reported that the canes, both plant 
and scubble are coming up much better on 
the lower portions of the bayous Terrebonne, 
Little CaiUou, Grand Caillou and Dularge 
than In the upper portion of the parish. 
Proximity to the gulf may account for the 
difference. 

From recent indications the grinding sea- 
son will be short and the campaign will not 
begin until late. It is generally conceded 
that plants of the grass family tiller or 
sucker more profusely where the land is 
rich than on poor soils. False economy may 
prompt some to curtail expenses (by decreas- 
ing the fertilizer bill, when in reality thin, 
bunchy canes should by all means be stimu- 
lated to induce the original sprouts to sucker 
profusely. To incorporate two or three hun- 
dred pounds of cotton seed meal with the 
soil in close proximity to the plant cane 
will be to enhance the chances of increas- 
ing the number of suckers and impart vigor 
to the young sprouts. Canes sucker easier 
and more profusely when the covering does 
not exceed an Inch of compacted earth. The 
soil banked to but not on the canes will re- 
tain soil moisture and encourage early root- 
ing. 

The plant cane fields on Southdown, the 
Hon. H. €. Minor estate, have improved very 
materially in the past ten days; also those 
at Concord, of Col. Wm. Minor. Adjoining 
Concord fir. Banin Bonvillain has the most 
* uniform stand of ratoons the writer has seen 
this season, and the plant cane is above the 
average for this year. On the same place 
and in close proximity are stubbles as back- 
ward as elsewhere. 

One Wednesday of last week, cloudy in the 
morning, with local showers in the after- 
noon; Thursday, threatening early in the 
day, sprinkles later and heavy rains during 
the night with thunder and a northeast gale. 



shifting to southeast on Friday morning, af- 
ter which the wind abated and showers fell 
in the afternoon; Saturday, Sunday and 
Monday, bright sunshine; Tuesday, heavy 
fog in the morning— a splendid growing day 
later; and Wednesday fog, with indications 
of favorable weather. 

Terrebonne. 



St. nary. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor L<m%9iana Planter: 

Since the rains of last Saturday and Mon- 
day, the 15th and 17th, the planters of this 
parish have experienced the best and most 
effective growing weather that has been 
enjoyed since the beginning of the cultivat- 
ing season, in point of both temperature and 
soil moisture; and during this time the 
crops have made a wonderful showing in 
growth, especially the plant cane upon those 
places that suffered loss from the freeze, 
together with both plant and stubble in the 
uninjured fields. 

iMr. L. P. Patout's Vacherie plantation, in 
the Cypremont district, has five hundred and 
fifty acres of plant cane and four hundred 
acres of stubble; and it is estimated that he 
will make two and a half millions this sea- 
son. He lost absolutely nothing from the 
freeze (or whatever was the cause of the 
loss with others) and, in consequence, ex- 
pects to gather a full harvest 

Mr. Sosthene Robichaux, on the Augusta 
plantation, has six hundred acres of plant 
and a splendid stand of stubble. 

The Maryland, owned in part and man- 
aged by Mr. Jacob Clausen, has 100 acres of 
stubble and one hundred -and fifty acres of 
plant She expects to crush four thousand 
tons of her own, and will contract for 
enough outside cane to complete her own 
yield into a full grinding season. 

Mr. P. D. Guidry, of outer Cypremont, has 
a magnificent crop. He realized nine hun- 
dred thousand pounds upon his little place 
test year. tA.ll of the above mentioned 
planters are only syrup makers, having the 
degrees of granulation put on by the Frank- 
lin refinery, and most of whom ship in 
tanks over the Southern Pacific. 

Last Thursday was cloudy during the fore- 
noon and a good rain fell in the evening 
and all night Thursday night and the whole 
of the following day; the rain of Thursday 
night was accompanied by heavy winds. The 
Friday rain was the heaviest we have had 
thus far this planting season; but the skies 
were cleared away .by Saturday morning 
with a temperature slightly chilly, which 
absorbed the surplus moisture, allowing the 
planters to return to their fields with the 
work of cultivation. 

The Cote Blanche plantation in this par- 
ish, which has been owned and operated lor 
the last few years by 'Mr. Walter J. Suthon, 
was advertised to be sold from the court 
building In Franklin last Saturday, the 
22nd; but owteig to the height at which the 



appraisement was placed, to- wit: |96,000, 
no bid was received and no adjudication 
made, as the sale could not have been made 
for less than two-thirds of sum of the ap- 
praisement Under the law, the property 
will have to be re-advertised for fifteen days 
and sold on a twelve months* credit Cofe 
Blanche plantation is one oif a chain of 
islands running around our Gulf coast; it 
faces Cote Blanche bay, and is severed from 
the main land of Cypremont in the rear by 
a small scream; its green and waving hills 
can be seen for miles around, over the low, 
flat country, out oif which its crests rise to 
an elevation of sixty or eighty feet The 
hill facing the water is covered with trees 
of all kinds, some of them in avenues, and 
among them once grew various kinds of 
fruit And flowers rarely seen in this por- 
tion of the world, being the abode, in ante- 
bellum times, of a succession of rich and 
luxury-loving Southern people. Many of 
our business people ha've discussed the pro- 
ject of buying it, at different times during 
the last dozen or more years, send converg- 
ing it into a watering place, as its base is 
lashed by a splendid bathing surf, while 
from around the summit of its hills, beauti- 
ful little spi:ings in all directions are hurry- 
ing down to the sea. And even as a sugar 
plantation its soil is very strong and es- 
pecially adapted to the production of sugar 
cane, always registering a high tonnage and 
rich in its saccharine; but for some cause it 
has never been classed as a profltabie in- 
vestment with its enormous arable acreage, 
compared with star sugar estates in this 
parish. 

Your correspondent has been informed 
that Mr. Millard Bosworth's refinery and 
mill, on his Mathilda plantation in this 
parish, up near the Iberia line, was con- 
sumed by fire last Saturday night. The 
structure Is estimated by sugar ifien here 
to have been worth about |40,000, and no 
insurance is sai4, positively, to have rested 
over it. The house has not been used for 
two years past ^r. Bosworth selling his 
cane by the ton to Messrs. Oxnard ft 
Sprague's Adeline refinery, situated near 
by. 

Mr. James C. Mahon, one of the most suc- 
cessful sugar planters in this section, died 
last Friday morning at his home on the 
South Bend plantation, on lower Bayou 
Sale, at the age of 54 years; and his funeral 
took place from the Episcopal Church In 
Franklin the foUowing day at 7 o'clock. The 
funeral procession was the longest ever seen 
in Franklin before, to have come from so 
long a distance, about twenty miles. 

Mr. Mahon was born in the West Indies, 
and came to this parish about thirty years 
ago. At that time he was penniless; but 
by his intelligence, industry and honesty, 
became by degrees the owner of the South 
Bend estate, which he ably and successfully 
managed up to the time of his last sickness. 
He was one of the most popular and highly 
respected men in this parish, a congenial 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER- 



[Vol. XXII. No. 17. 



Btranger, a warm and hoepltable friend, an 
oracle and an idol in hie neighborhood. 

St. Mary. 

Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRESrO.VDENCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The past week has been one of rain with 
us in Vermilion. We have Just passed 
through a regular typical spell of January 
weather. It began raining on Saturday 
e'/ening, the 17th, and rained daily till the 
2l8t. and during the time ft was very cool 
for a day or two. On the 22nd the weather 
changed and since that time It has been 
simply fine growing weather. The sky is 
clear and the thermometer stands a*t about 
80 degrees. While it rained it rained and 
the result was at least five inches of rain 
fell from the 17th to the 21st Rain was 
needed very badly but when i't came there 
was too much of it. It checked the growth 
of cane and com and gave the cut worms a 
fresh chance and opened up new atvenues to 
them to coh'tinue their ravages on the corn 
and cotton. Considerable complaint has 
been brought in for the past day or iwo of 
the destructive work of the worms and es- 
pecially from sections where the land was 
not plowed before the severe cold weather 
in February; well drained land is less in- 
habited by those pests than low soggy places. 
Cane is coming up splendidly; it is Just 
simply outdoing itself so to speak. The 
stand will be so much better than was ex- 
pected that the farmers are at a loss to 
know how to express their appreciation of 
this good fortune. The plant cane is up to 
a good stand already and the first stubblen 
are coming out nicely. It looks very much 
now as if the stand will be perfect in plaint 
and at least 85 per cent in first stubbles. 
The ground is still cold and stubbles are 
slow in coming out of the ground though 
they show to be good; but a few days of 
such weather as we are having now will 
bring them out a whooping. In many places 
where the seed was thought to be affected 
and where It was planted thick to insure 
a good stand the stand will be double. The 
stand of corn throughout the corn section 
of the parish is splendid as far as can be 
ascertained. Worms have devastated some 
sections but not of such import as to affect 
the general stand. Replanting and thinning 
to a stand is the attention that corn is re- 
ceiving and as soon as this is completed it 
will be ploughed or harrowed as the sur- 
roundings require. Cotton planting is about 
finished up and though the young plants 
have suffered considerably from the exces- 
sive rains and the continued cool weather 
a regular stand is still reported. Cut worms 
have not been idle in getting in their work 
in the cotton fields and in some sections the 
stand has been impaired but not generally. 
Quite a good bit of attention is being paid 
to rice now, both providence and irrigated 
rice. Farmers who are so fortunately situ- 
ated as to be on an irrigating canal and 



who raise nothing but rice are now waiting 
for their „rice to get large enough to turn 
water on their fields, or the most of them 
are. for the bulk of the rice that Is to be 
irrigated has been planted already, and the 
■small fry farmer who plants his patch oZ 
providence rice as a surplus crop has Just 
commenced to prepare his land for seeding. 
He is not anxious to prepare his ^^H early 
for if he did the weeds and grass would run 
away with his rice before the June rains 
come. The general outlook for a crop for 
1899 is much brighter than it was two 
months ago. 

Mr. S. S. Hunter, of Shreveport, with 
other gentlemen was here the latter part of 
last week looking into the feasibility of 
building a huge irrigating canal from Abbe- 
ville to Giieydan. The survey yill be started 
this week by Capt. iverr of the State Board 
of Engineers. P. C. (AL 

Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. . 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

All gloom and gloomy forebodings as far 
as they related to the sef/jn and crop pros- 
pects, have now about disappeared. Warm 
refreshing showers fell over the country on 
the 21st and 22nd, with the clouds clearing 
off on the 23rd, permitting the warm sun to 
penetrate the tfoil and quicken plant life. 
The farmers have grown more hopeful and 
apparently more determined in their en- 
deavors to so work and cultivate . the soil 
that it may, at harvest time, yield bounti- 
ful returns in payment for the labor and 
means laid out upon it. Cane prospects are 
improving, to the great admiration of the 
cane raisers. While on a short turn over the 
country last week, I must say that I was 
most agreeably surprised to find some beau- 
tiful stands of cane, growing from plant 
cane, too, which, when planted, had such a 
dead and frozen appearance it was not at 
the time thought to be worth the trouble 
and cost of planting it. 

If the Planter's correspondent has been 
correctly informed, Lienster plantation suc- 
ceeded in planting this spring some 200 
acres to cane, which is now reported to be 
coming up to a good stand. Some of the 
first year's stubble on Lienster is said to be 
showing indications of making something. 

iMr. J. Y. Lilly, Bunkie P. O., and a num- 
ber of prominent cane raisers in the vicinity 
of Lienster and Evergreen are now reported 
as having prospects for obtaining fair 
stands of cane. 

Mr. Jeff. Caldwell, E}ola P. C, has on his 
fine farm some acres of beautiful cane 
growing from this spring's planting. Mr. 
Caldwell has never failed to make paying 
crops of cane, com, cotton and peas. He 
plants alfalfa for pasturing and haying pur- 
poses. 

Mr. A. O'Quinn is another progressive 
small farmer on Bayou Boeuf, Haasville P. 
O., engaged in raising cane, corn, cotton and 
peas. Mr. O'Quinn has several acres of 



spring planted cane now up to a good stand, 
which will, if taken by comparison, stand 
the test in color, growth and evenness of 
stand in the row with the best cane in the 
three parishes of Rapides, Avoyelles and 
St. Landry. 

Mr. R. Weir has a pretty place fronting 
on Bayou Boeuf and some 75 acres in culti- 
vation, planting such crops as com, peas, 
cotton and cane. Mr. Weir has prospecte 
for getting a fine stand of cane, better than 
he expected, fiom the looks of his seed cane 
when he planted it. 

Mr. Chas. O'Quinn, Eola P. O., cultivates 
his fine place and rich acres to cane, cotton, 
corn and peas. His cane was planted late, 
but it is now marking the rows. Corn and 
cotton are coming up and growing In a soil 
of rich sandy loam, watered by Bayou 
Boeuf. 

A number of small farmers living lower 
down on the bayou at and near "Gk>ld Dust." 
are reported as having from fair to good 
stands of cane to grow and develop some- 
thing profitable to market or for planting 
next season's crop with. 

Two well known cane raisers, being very 
busy, failed to put down their seed cane 
until quite late in the fall. Finally, when 
they did cut their cane for seed the ground 
was so wet and muddy it was next to im- 
possible to i^roperly cover the c^ne, as it 
laid in the windrow, in which mud-covered 
condition it was left to take care of itself, 
regardless of the coming events or results. 
But strange to state,' this very same cane 
was found this spring to be comparatively 
free from the blight of the winter's frost, 
better, sounder and lesp injured than seed 
cane in the same field whic|i had been laid 
down and covered in the most careful, pains- 
taking manner. How are we to account for 
this apparently strange incident? 

Reports from the cane raisers of Rapides 
and St. Landry are highly encouraging. 
Most places have seeded more acres to corn 
this spring than it has been the custom to 
do. All who can do so will plant peas for 
building and improving the soil. 

Cotton is coming up and presents a fair 
stand on many places. Sorghum is being 
planted for fodder and as a green summer 
food for stock. 

Erin. 

St. Mary. 

The crops in lower St. Mary are coming 
out handsomely. All the way from Centre- 
ville to Patterson the stubble is showing 
above the ground and promises a fair stand, 
while the plant is Just **bursting the ground- 
open" to get out. 

Shady Side, one of the best equipped as 
well as one of the largest sugar plantations 
in the state, displays signs of a good croi> — 
not quite as much however as it would have 
been with a good season, but far beyond 
the estimates of some months ago. The 
acreage will be about 80 per cent of the 
estimated quantity, which is satisfactory, 



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considering the general outlook in the sugar 
district. We are informed that seed will 
be put down for a very large crop next 
year, and that Shady Side, with favorable 
conditions, will pass her own previous 
records. 

Calumet, the previous leader in produc- 
tion per ton and also in classification, h&s 
commenced to show ' up in promises of a 
fair crop, coupled with this year's condi- 
tions of course, and will have a good'^ 
quantity of cane for the mill. Calumet su- 
gar house is an up-to-dlate affair, embrac- 
ing every aippliance known to the scientific 
manufacture of sugar. Nothing is wasted 
that can be granulated. Like Shady Side, 
Calumet, is cob webbed with railroiad tracks 
to transport the cane to the mill. The fields 
of both places being so large — ei^ht plan- 
tations being embraced in the two present 
ones, make such measures necessary to save 
the crops. 

Mr. Oscar Zenor's Avalon pllaice will make 
a fair crop. Both plant and stubble is com- 
ing out well, and the com crop will slimply 
be enormous. Everything is in tip top 
shape, the fields clean and the working 
stock in splendid condition. 

Among the best cane we have seen along 
the route was a section otf plant cane along 
the front of Dr. Sanders' Luckland planta- 
tion. In its advanced state of primary 
growth, it lines the row from end to end. 

We spent a few hours in Patterson and 
were royally treated by our good friends 
in that progressive town, which has grown 
so large that enormous tracts of lands — 
plantations and pastures — have been taken 
in and triansformed into handsome homes 
for its ever increasing population — emigrant 
as well as the home made quality. Pat- 
terson will be twice its present size in a 
few years if the same progressive spirit is 
displayed as now pervades the atmosphere. 
We wiil have more to say about our lister 
city in a later issue.— Vindiicator News, Apr. 
14. 

Qov. Warmoth Abroad. 

Col. H. C. Warmoth, the handsome and 
genial ex-Governor of Louisiana, is visiting 
relatives in this city and making little ex- 
cursions about the country between times. 
His last trip was to Oxnard and its great 
sugar factory, from which he returns brim 
full of enthusiasm. The Colonel's appreci- 
ativeness is based on long experience of his 
own, for he is a veteran planter himself. 

'The Oxnard factory is the finest in the 
world in every respect — size, efficiency, 
beauty, output, machinery, management, 
everything. I have seen all the principal 
factories in this country, Germany, France, 
Belgium and other countries, and I can as 
sure you that nothing in the world compares 
with the Oxnard. While I was up there 
they took me driving around the fields, and 
1 tell you it is a beautiful sight; the crop is 
magnificent and everybody is crazy about 
it I don't wonder. Why, even the cMl- 



dren have their beet farms. I saw one little 
girl 10 years old who has a thirty-acre farm, 
employs men to work it, and is as independ- 
ent as a princess. Think of it! 

**They can easily work 2.000 tons of beets 
there every day; that is. let me see, 250 to 
300 pounds of sugar to the ton of beets is 
250 to 300 tons of sugar, isn't it? Three 
hundred tons of sugar a day. They will 
keep that up for about 100 days, and that 
makes 60.000.000 pounds, doesn't It, of sugar? 

'•Overproduction? Not a bit of danger. 
Everybody will use sugar and cry for more, 
that's all. Why, that is a giant factory, of 
course, compared with the rest, but there 
are a host of others, up and building. In 
your vicinity you have the Alamitos and 
Chino factories, and there are still others. 
Then in New York, Wisconsin, Nebraska, 
Louisiana, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, 
New Mexico and other states there is a 
steady growth of the sugar industry. The 
machinery manufacturers are overwhelmed 
with orders, and the end is not yet. 

"There is no place like California for ease 
of production. Down in Louisiana we 
think we cultivate our fields pretty well, 
intensively in fact. But since seeing the 
beautiful stretches of soil here I am going 
back and tell our manager to put on a few 
more mules and a few more men to get our 
fields in order. 

"You see we have two great difficulties 
to contend with that you are free from, 
the grass and the rain. Sometimes it rains 
so persistently that before we can get into 
the fields the grass has simply overgrown 
everything and choked it up. It's an awful 
labor to get rid of the grass; you can't get 
it out with a cultivator; you must pull 
it by hand, and carefully too, or the crop 
comes up with it. It costs us twice as much 
to raise a crop as it does you. If you worked 
half as hard as we do you would do wonders, 
bigger wonders than you do now. 

•*I asked my friend Mr. B. P. Allen, of 
the Forestry Bureau here, how many men 
he kept on his 40-acre ranch out at Covina. 
'Well,' he said, 'one man all the time, two 
men sometimes, three men once in a while, 
and four men on rare occasions.' If he 
were running 40 acres in Louisiana he would 
have to reverse the order. I have 100 men 
on my 1,000 acre plantation, to say nothing 
of three others of 800 acres each. 

"Oranges? Well, there won't be an orange 
shipped out of Louisiana this season. My 
neighbor had 20,000 orange trees, planted 
four years ago — beauties— and not one left. 
I am going to put the whole place in cane. 

"But for the most part the orchards will 
ibe replanted; we never give up. Oranges 
are not the big industry that sugar is 
though, either here or \p. the South. You 
ha've an enviable future before you in many 
directions, but that is one of the best" 

Governor WarnK)th then fell to campaign- 
ing with Major Klokke, who happened in 
and sugar was forgotten. 'The Governor, 



though a northern ^man by birth, was Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of the Thirty-second Mis- 
souri during the Civil War, serving in Sher- 
man's division. He is a good story-teller, 
and has plenty of them at command, both 
of peace and war. It is pleasant to know 
that he is coming out next year for the 
summer, with his family. His home is at 
"Magnolia plantation," Lawrence, Louisiana. 
—II. P. Earle, in Los Angeles Express. 



Personal. 



Mr. B. A. Oxnard. the prominent sugar 
planter and co-proprietor with Mr. Sprague 
in the splendid Adeline Central Factory, was 
married during the past week to one of the 
most charming young ladies of New Or- 
leans. • 

Hon. Andrew H. G>ay €tnd Mrs. Gay, of 
the Union and St. I^ouis plantations, in the 
parish of Iberville, were in the city on a visit 
a few days ago aad registered at the St. 
Charles hotel. 

•Mr. Henry Hauseman, of SL Mary parish, 
was at the Grunewald on Sunday. He was 
accompanied by several congenial friends. 

At the splendid Belle Terre place, Mr. J. E. 
LeBlanc is still officiating as manager and 
keeping everything In the admirable condi- 
tion for which he is famous. Mr. CeBlanc is 
one of the leading managers of the state 
and has been an honored and efficient mem- 
ber of the Police Jury of his parish for a 
number of years. 

Mr. J. Allen Barnett and his mother. Mrs. 
J. W. Barnett, of Shadyside plantation on 
Bayou Teche, were guests of the St Charles 
hotel during the past few dayp. 

Senator Don. Caffery, of Franklin, who 
combines his senatorial duties with the 
arduous work of running a sugar plantatdon, 
was a guest of the St. Charles hotel during 
the week. 

Hon. William E. Howell, of Lafourche, 
was in the city on a vlsri a few days ago. 
He stopped at his usual abiding place, the 
St. Charles. 

Mr. Robert Oxnard, of San Francisoo, Cal., 
accompanied by his son, had apartments at 
the St. Charles hotel during the wee*k. 

Mr. A. T. Ambrose is still in charge at the 
large Point Houmas place, and he keeps 
things hustling in a way that ds pushing the 
plantation higher and higher in the scale of 
efficiency. The general verdict about Mr. 
Ambrose is that he is "all right." 

The Minnie place of Mr. H. W. Barton, one 
of the best sugar plantations for its size in 
the state, had Anthony Bringier, Esq., at the 
vacuum pan during the past crop, and has 
never had cause to regret it He is a first- 
class sugar boiler in every respect and a 
thoroughly well trained, steady and efficient 
man. 

Mr. C. L. DeGravelles, of St Mary parish, 
one of the ieading sugar boilers of the state, 
was in the city during the past week. Mr. 
DeGravelles stopped at the^mmeroial hotel. 



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tH£ LdtJlSIAKA tLANtER A > ^ SU6aR MAlTOt^AOTUftfiR. 



[Vol. JtXll. No. 17. 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, Apr. 8th, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The week under review opened cool and 
cloudy and at different points night frosts 
were observed, then we had, just at Easter, 
two mild days, but this short period of 
agreeable weather was cut short by thunder- 
storms and the following days were rough 
and wet, so that the hope of beet growers to 
begin right after the Easter holidays, with 
field work in view of effecting the sowings 
of the sugar plant were realized only in a 
small measure. The time for early sowing 
*is past already and now it depends on the 
weather whether we shajl have late sow- 
ings, which for the present looks very prob- 
able, on the ground that the winter and the 
spring, so far, iiave been very much like 
the corresponding seasons of last year, 
when the sowings experienced a large delay, 
resulting in a short crop per acre. In Aus- 
tria the situation is abqut the same as in 
this country. In the Western "part of Cen- 
tral Europe, however, that is In France, 
Belgium and Holland, they have been more 
favored by the weather and therefore work 
there is somewhat more advanced. In Ruif- 
sia an agressive return of the winter is re- 
ported, but at the end of the week warmer 
weather has again set in there and accord- 
ingly an early commencement of field work 
is hoped for. 

There are now some figures to hand with 
regard to the probable extent of this year's 
beet sowings in Europe. In Germany the 
society of raw sugar manufacturers has held 
a provisional inquiry on the subject, witfli 
the resuft that about 2.3 per cent less will 
be planted as compared with last year. Of 
France no figures are yet obtainable, but 
it is believed that sllgtn increase will take 
place. Nothing reliable is heard yet from 
Austria, but certain sections oT t'he Empire 
report that no noteworthy increase is con- 
templated. However a very large augmenta- 
tion is qui7e certain In Russia where 470,- 
000 desja tines will be sown as against 402,- 
000 desjatines in 1898. Some persons even 
speak of 500,000 desjatines (1 desj. equals 
1.09 hectare), and It must be expected that 
the Russian crop this year will exceed one 
million tons, "but if the yield per acre and 
in Dhe factory were like thCse oDiained in 
Germany, the figure of ^o millions would 
be approached If not exceeded. This ex- 
traordinary growth of the Russian sugar in- 
dustry is due to the 'brilliant results the 
fabrlcants of this country ihave obtained of 
late and of which I wrote you already. There 
is also something alarming for the other 
beet countries in this enormous increase of 
production, but the daiMger seems to be 
mitigated by the quickly inoreasing con- 
sumption of Russia and the equally rapid 
growth of exportation to eastern countries, 
which is now highly facilitated by the large 



Russian railroad through Siberia, a great 
part of which is already finished. 

On the 11th inst. Professor Dr. Carl 
Scheibler, imperial privy councillor, died of 
an asthmatie disease in this city in his 73rd 
year. He was one of the greatest chemists 
of the age, and the sugar industry owes "him 
the greater part of Its modern scientific de- 
velopment. From 1866 to 1878 he was tne 
director of the laboratory of the large Ger- 
man beet sugar society and from 1872 to 
1877 he acted as editor of the "Zeltschrift 
des Vereins die Deutsche Rubenzuckerin- 
dustrie" — the monthly paper of the society. 
His merits in both these positions and his 
scientific inventions and discoveries insure 
him one of the first places in the histt)ry 
<A the sugar industry. It may toe, toy tlw 
way, also mentioned that the deceased was 
the inventor of smokeless powder. 

The Russian sugar manuifaoturers on their 
last general assembly have appropriated 
5,000 roubles (a rouble equals 50 cents) for 
measures to fight saccharine, 1,000 roubles 
for the discovery of means for the destruc- 
tion of animal enemies of the beet, and 
1,000 roiibles a year have been set aside 
as an honorary salary for Mr. Tolpygin, the 
eminent Russian sugar statistician and 
scientist in acknowledgement of his merits 
for the sugar industry of the Russian Em-, 
pire. 

There have been some balance sheets of 
German sugar refineries published from 
which I extract the following: 

The Provincial sugar refinery of Stettin 
obtained in 1898 a gross profit of M. 728,115, 
of which after the deductions for sinking 
fund and reserves, a dividend on the capital 
of M. 3,600,000 of 10 pet. is paid. The Rosltz 
sugar refinery pays a dividend of 12% pet., 
as against 14 pet. last year. The capital of 
the latter esta'blishment amounts to M. 
5,000,000. A loss, however, of 106,638 marks 
was sustained by the Bremen refinery, 
whose capital is M. 2,000,000. 

A delegation of French beet growers, pe- 
titioning for the imaintenance of the pres- 
ent sugar legislation, which means, of 
course, of the present high bounties, has 
been received by the prime minister, Mr. 
Dupuy, who gave them the most reassuring 
answer. There is, however, notwithstand- 
ing, much talk of a new conference, but so 
far all rumors in this respect appear to 
be devoid of any real foundation and it is 
indeed surprising that many so-called sugar 
authorities place some confidence in this 
talk. 

For the markets the last week, beginning 
only after the Easter holidays, was short, 
but most Important. The firm tone ob- 
sei'vable already last week at the close has 
developed into a veritable bull movement 
and prices all arcftind advanced daily in a 
quite unaccustomed scale. The cause of 
this extraordinary improvement is toad 
nerws from Cuba and favorable statistical 
figures of Austria, which induced bona fide 
and speculative touyers to operate more free- 



ly than for a long time since. Actual 
sugars, which are now scarce in first hands, 
fetched on the basis of 88 pet. irendement 
M. 11.15-11.35 and delivery April 1. o. to. 
Hamburg is quoted at M. 10.42, 'wlilch Is 30- 
40 pfennigs higher than last week and the 
tendency at the close points to furtsher ad- 
vances. Refined have also Improved, but the 
margin between the raw and refined pro- 
duct is not yet satisfactory. 

ROBT. HeNNIO. 



Havana. 



. Havana, April 21st, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRE8PONDBNCB.) 

LaLLu,' ^.oit ii>.a.iu Planter: 

The demand is well kept up, especially on 
the part of specu1atx)rs, who have succeeded 
in securing a certain number of large par- 
cels of high test, for .which they paid prices 
which quotations from abroad do not Justi- 
fy, since they exceed by l-16@l-8 of a cent 
the average of those ruling in New York 
at the time the operation was closed. 

Owing to the scarcity of suitable classes 
for exports, and high pretensions entertained 
by holders, tradsactions have been light and 
buyers generally keep aloof. 

Sales reported add up about 95.000 toags 
centrifugals, 94-96V6 test at from 6%®6% ra. 
per arrobe, equivalent to 2.87%@3-12V6 
cents per pound, market closing to-day 
Blirong, though quiet, at from 3^3^ cts. for 
good centrifugated sugars, toasis 95%®96V4 
test. 

In accordance with all that has hereto- 
fore been said as to the smallness of this 
year's crop, owing chiefiy to the lack of 
due assistance upon the fields, scarceness of 
oxen and other no less important difflcultles, 
Mr. Guma has just published hia monthly 
statement, in which receipts at all the ports 
of the Island till March 31st. are reckoned 
at 177,903 tons, against 232,032 tons, same 
date last year, showing a decrease of 54.129 
tons for this year. 

In a note at the foot of above referred to 
statement, Mr. Guma furthermore says: 

''On account of the small quantity of sugar 
received at shipping ports and reports re- 
garding the poor yield of cane, on one side 
and taking into due consideration, on the 
other, the fact that the production of the 
eastern region of the island will also toe 
much smaller than expected. I do not thintc 
the total production this year will go over 
290,000 or 295,000 tons." 

Though the crop at Guantanamo, is rather 
reduced, as well as in all other districts, 
planters in that locality are seriously con- 
templating to commence at an early date 
the preparation of their fields in order to 
extend as far as they possltoly can cane 
p' an ting for the next campaign. 

In my previous letter. I erroneously said 
that, if ground in due time, the one million 
arrobes of standing cane that was burnt at 
Bahia Honda, might have yielded 85,000 toags 
of sugar, instead of 85,000 arrotoes, equira- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUGAR MANUFACTURHR. 



867 



lent to about 700 bags, of 72 arrobes each, 
proTided a yield of 8V6 per cent might have 
t>een obtained from the juice. 

The Cuhan planters' commissioners at 
Washington, are striving hard with the 
government to obtain at least a respite of 
ten years for the settlement of mortgages 
on plantations, which have already fallen 
due and whose payment was successively 
postponed for three years. 

Planters pretend they need 18 months to 
liquidate the crop, which is Just ending, and 
that the year postponement the government 
offers them is not sufficient, and claim a 
three years extension, as a minimum. 

It is likely that the committee's efforts 
will be unsuccessful, since it is a well known 
fact that a powerful syndicate or ring has 
been organized in New York, with the ob- 
ject of acquiring in Cuba as many sugar 
plantations and other properties as they may 
be able to; the plan these financiers pro- 
pose to carry out is to bring enough pres- 
sure to bear upon President McKlnley to 
get him to decline to interfere into the mat- 
ter of extending the time in which mort- 
gages are to he paid. 

Through this scheme, a large number of 
valuable plantations would be sold by 
auction and the syndicate might purchase 
them for half or less of their actual value. 

The prime question is now to know if 
President McKinley will sufbmit to the syn- 
dicate's exigencies and refuse to grant the 
Cu^an planters the respite they are so much 
in need of to continue business. 

A band of 18 or 20 mounted and well- 
armed men, several of whom were masked, 
entered, on Saturday last, at about 9 a. m., 
the small town of Carmito, ahout 12 miles 
from this city, sacked several stores and- 
private dwellings, murdered three men and 
wounded several others, escaping with their 
spoils. 

This daring misdeed seems to have at last 
awakened the attention of the authorities, 
which was heretofore totally concentrated 
on collecting taxes and custom house duties, 
and after the Military Governor had con- 
ferred with the Governor General, orders 
were issued for the immediate organization 
of a corps of rural guards, which will be 
formed with picked men from the Cuban 
army, but until they are organized and ready 
to go into commission, the country people 
will remain unprotected, since the Ameri- 
can troops have all been gathered into the 
larger towns and cities and fortresses around 
the latter. T. D. 

Porto Rico. 

Fajardo, Porto Rico, April 9. 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRE8PONDBNCS.) 

Editor Louiinana Planter: 

The sugar season is now in full blast and 
owing to most favorable weather, great pro- 
gress is being made on all sides with good 
results and as prices are favorable the 
planters are all happy, only wishing that 
they had more cane to grind. The coffee 



prospects, so far as can be judged at thia 
early date are also favorable. 

At the present moment there is some dis- 
content owing to the recent publication of 
new tax regulations, hut as several orders 
have been changed soon after their issue, 
we are in hopes that we shall not have to 
pay them. 

The Insular Commission has heen here 
and made a seemingly thorough Inquiry into 
the state and needs of the island, and it is 
possible that some good may come of it. 
but if they rush into print and assure peo- 
ple in the States of the possihllity of mak- 
ing $120 per acre from cane planting, it 
would be better that they had not come. 

It cannot be denied that a change for the 
better has taken place in many ways. One 
or two so-^called politicians have left the 
island and if others would go, too, their loss 
would be for the good of the island and to 
some extent aid progress. 

Ubique. 



Barbados. 

Reaping is being pushed on as vigorously 
as the light and fitful March winds and the 
trash spoiling showers will permit. There 
has been slight improvement in the yield. 
Here and there 1% hogsheads may have been 
reached, but the average so far cannot be 
estimated beyond 1% hogsheads to the acre; 
still the slight tendency to improve is en- 
couraging, and may afford us better results 
in April and May. The fact is. the canes 
were much more injured by the storm than 
people allowed themselves to believe: as we 
have before observed they were strewn on 
the ground in such a manner that the fields 
of canes on the morning after the storm had 
a shortened appearance as if two feet at least 
of their growth had been mysteriously sub- 
tracted. Thus layered they rooted at every 
joint in contact with the ground, sprouted 
from every eye, and proceeded to straighten 
themselves by upward new growth; the 
lower two-thirds of aimost every cane ex- 
amined is thus found to have been sucked of 
its saccharine by its own efforts to recover, 
while the remaining one-third at the top is 
immature. The young deluge, too, which ac- 
companied and persistently continued for 
several days after the storm could not fail 
to wash away the surface of the soil, to bare 
the roots, and deprive them of their food. 
The crop now in process of reaping has 
surely had a hard time of it, and if IVi hogs- 
heads to the acre has been left us we have 
cause to be thankful, it might just as well 
hsLve been nothing at all. 

The young canes are thriving" nicely, there 
is a pretty and regular spring all over the 
Island; and many fields are so forward that 
several planters are resorting to the old 
custom of cutting back. Fear of fungus 
micrdbes finding entrance through wotmds 
caused this practice to be abandoned for 
several years, but now that the fungus scare 
like the storm scare has become dim, prime- 
val history, and lost its terrors, people ^e 



becoming bold once more. But apart from 
wounds to growing plants becoming inlets 
of disease, it is a moot question whether it is 
really advantageous to cut back young and 
quickly growing plants. Their vitality must 
be decreased, or used up in the process of re- 
pairs, thus retarding growth while the free 
suckering, which it is the ohject of the 
planter to promote must necessarily be of 
a weak and grassy nature. 

For the most part, the young fields have 
been handed over to the farmers whose duty 
it Is to Ifeep them free from weeds, and to 
stir the surface mould; but on some estates 
di aining land forking are still being done 
with th$ object, we believe, of keeping 
hands oxnployed in the spirit of agricultural 
philan^rophy, but not to be commended 
from an economical point of view. Forking 
at this time cannot but tend to break and 
injure the roots ot the young plants, and un- 
necessarily expose them during the period 
of hot suns and drying ^inds. It seems to 
us to be rather late in the season for such 
work, which, begun in November, ought to 
be closed by the end of January. Still we 
cannot be hypercritical and must allow a 
broad margin to local judgment ~^d local 
conditions — conditions which vary immense- 
ly even on estates that butt and bound. 

The sugar made is of excellent quality, 
while the molasses is scant but thin and 
syrupy. The usual order of things seems to 
have been reversed, the immature canes 
ought to give a weak sugar with plenty of 
molasses; what he is losing in molasses the 
planter is getting in solid sugar. Prices have 
been somewhat more hopeful, as times go, 
$1.90 for hogsheads, and $2.00 for bags, 
while for extra quality of muscovado, the 
local consumption market has 'been giving 
even as much as $2.40 for barrel sugar. As 
the crop must be short as a whole, it is to 
be hoped that the life-saving extra cents 
will 'continue to the end of the season. Mo- 
lasses has begun thus early to fluctuate, 
opening at 12c. it has already proved fickle 
and sunk to lie. In West Indian markets 
the downward scale is manipulated with 
much more facility than the upward, and as 
our market thermometer begins to fall, we 
may be prepared for that further decline 
which invariably stops short, only just be- 
fore the actual extinction point is reached. 
Were we not the tantalized victims, we couJji 
almost admire the systematic skill wliich so 
admirably regulates these prices; the spicing 
with little hopes of continued rise at brief 
intervals is the acme of financial art. — Re- 
porter, April 1. 



Secretary Alger's Order. 

New York, March 31. — Before the depart- 
ure of Secretary Alger from Washington, 
he approved a circular authorizing candies 
in half-pound packages to be kept on hand 
as staiples to officers and enlisted men 
of the army. This is similar to action taken 
in European armies baaed on recent discov- 
eries as to the food value of sugar. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUOAK MANUPACTUftEft. 



tVoL XsCn, Ko. 17. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Salinas, California. 

Salinas, Cal.. April 12, 1899. 

ffiff-JlAL OjBRZnyiJSVhHCR.; 

Ekiilor l^juif>iaiui Planter: 

On his way to San Francisco the writer 
btopf^d over a few days at Salinas to visit the 
largest sugar factory in the United States, 
if not in tiie world, where the finishing 
toiif'hes are now being given to the enor- 
mous mass of machinery that is to handle 
o.VjO tons of beets a day. On entering this 
vast erttaie of Spreckels, from the south, the 
railroad train first crosses a high range of 
mountains and then gradually descends until 
the banlis of the Salinas river are reached, 
where the beet field commences, and from 
there on for about 80 miles, or more. Is 
nothing but beet lands. 

Everyone, at present, is busy planting, as 
b^Hits are somewhat behind, and .with all this 
land which, probably, is not half of what 
will be cultivated, the factory will not be 
able to run to full capacity. So they have 
decided not to run the Watsonville factory 
(which is owned by Spreckels, too,) this 
coming season, but to haul all beeU to the 
Salinas factory. 

On a visitor first entering the grounds of 
the factory proper he is not struck with the 
t^'randeur of the building, as is generally the 
case in this country, but finds a plain struc- 
ture, a mass of brick and steel some fl^e 
stories hijch. On entering the building you 
stare with amazement, hardly knowing 
which way to steer amongst such a mass 
of ponderous machinery, and to try to de- 
strlbe it would fill several pages, but I will 
give a description of some of the principal 
parts so an idea can be formed. 

There are four sets of diffusion batteries, 
14 cells in each battery; they run parallel 
with the building; two quadruple effects and 
one double effect; seven fourteen-foot 
vacuum pans (Deely make) and two 
(Jerman vacuum pans, each vacuum pan hav- 
Ing its own mixer and four centrifugals. The 
vacuum pans are connected in sets of two 
and three to a large vapor pipe having a cut- 
off over each pan, and leading to one con- 
denser, so that one pump can run three 
pans at the same time. There are 64 crys- 
tallizers, each having a capacity to hold a 
strike of strfng sugars. 

The iboilers are the Babcock and Wilcox 
make. 14 sets of 6000 h. p. There are no 
grauuiators as crude sugar will be made 
and sent to the refinery. All pumps are of 
the fly wheel style, very massive. The ma- 
chinery in the house is all of German make, 
except the pans and boilers. 

Besides the factory Spreckels owns all the 
land; has his own railroads, irrigating 
plants, and his town called Spreckels. 

Sugar Beets. 



Another New York BMt Sugar 
Company. 

There has recently been incorporated un- 
der the laws of New Jersey the Jefferson 
Sugar Refining Company, Watertown. N. Y., 
with a capital of $600,000. The incorpora- 
tors are A. H. Sawyer, Charles H. Penning- 
ton. G. C. McMulMn. and John N. Carlisle, 
of Watertown; George E. Schull, of Carth- 
age; George E. WocJ, of Dexter; and George 
E. Moyer, of Passaic. N. J. The company do 
not expect to have their factory ready for 
this campaign, but for that of 1900. During 
the present year extensive experiments will 
be conducted, and every means will be taken 
to have the farmers well prepared to raise 
a large crop next year. Many experiments 
have been conducted In that section during 
the last three years, and very satisfactory 
results have been obtained. Considerable 
acreage has also been grown for the Rome 
factory. — ^American Grocer. 



American Beet Sugar Company. 

Several of our exchanges the first of the 
week announced in a sensational way the 
sale of the Chino sugar factory to a new 
company. They had evidently just heard of 
a transaction which took place about two 
months ago, and announced in the Champion 
at that time, and developed the facts by 
imagination. Heretofore the Oxnards have 
operated under four different corporations — 
the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company at Grand 
Island, Neb., the Norfolk Beet Sugar Com- 
pany at Norfolk, Neb., the Chino Valley Beet 
Sugar Company at Chino and the Pacific 
Beet Sugar Company at Oxnard. 

These four corporations have now be^n 
merged into one, called the American Beet 
Sugar Company. Henry T. Oxnard Is presi- 
dent of this, as he was of each of the four 
separate companies. The capitalization of 
the new company is $20,000,000, of which 
$5,000,000 is preferred and $15,000,000 com- 
mon stock. Among the new stockholders in 
the organization are the banking houses of 
KuhB. Lo€ib & Co., and Spencer, Trask & 
Co. of New York. 

When asked last week whether the re- 
organization would make any local changes 
here, Mr. Henry T. Oxnard said that it would 
make none whatever in the management or 
operation. The name of Chino Valley Beet 
Sugar Company will, however, give place 
to the American Beet Sugar Company. 

It is the object of the company to buy 
or build other sugar factories, and Mr. Ox- 
nard states that two new ones will be built 
ready for operation next year. He declines 
to say where they will be located. — Chino 
Champion, April 6. 



a view of combining present oompetitive in- 
terests into one huge trust. Such a more. If 
consummated, would invite fresh competi- 
tion of a very strong character. It would 
place a premium on the starting of new re- 
fineries free from the burden which an ex- 
cessive stock issue imposes. 

The history of the American Sugar Refin- 
ing Company demonstrates the profit there 
is in refining sugar, and more than confirms 
the statement once made hy the prince of 
sugar refiners, Theodore A. Havemeyer, that 
he wanted no better business than refining 
sugar at a net profit of one sixteenth of a 
cent per pound. 

Up to the recent war the trust has had an 
average net profit of one-third of a cent per 
pound. This has enabled it to pay 12 per 
cent dividends on $37,500,009 common stoclE, 
7 per cent on $37,500,009 preferred, and put 
over $11,000,000 to surplus account ^nce 
il;3 organization it has paid in dividends 
over $50,000,000. 

Any industry as profitable as that can 
never escape competition by combination on 
combination. The present war is, as stated 
by an authority in the trade, "a war of 
giants," and is Hkely to be a fight to the 
flish, or the survival of fittest — ^American 
Grocer. 



Gen. W. J. Behan, of the Alhambra planta- 
tion was in the city last Wednesday. 



Is ft N«w Sugar Combination Prob- 
able? 

A Wall street rumor connects Standard Oil 
interests with the movement in the stock of 
the American Sugar Refining Company, with 



Trade Notes. 

nr. Phlltp Hirsch. 

We publish on our back cover this week 
the advertisement of the above named gen- 
tleman, who is the nephew of the late Hon. 
Philip Hirsch, so well and favorably known 
all over the sugar district The present Mr. 
Hirsch Is carrying on the extensive cooper- 
age business of his uncle with the same care- 
ful attention to every detail and the same 
earnest desire to give perfect satisfaction 
which was always the rule at that establish- 
ment, and which served more than anything 
else to build up the business to fts present 
large proportions. In the past our sugar 
planters did a large amount of business with 
Philip Hirsch and although In his death they 
lost a friend whom they could always rely 
on, they have now the satisfaction of know- 
ing that Just as everything was before so 
It will be in the future, as under the care- 
ful supervision of thi present propriet(Mr 
there will be no change whatever in the 
excellence of the material handled and the 
care with which the business is conducted. 
Mr. Hirsch is headquarters for sugar barrels, 
sugar hogsheads, and molasses barrels, as 
well as sugar bairel material of all descrip- 
tions. His factory Is at the corner of St 
Louis and Mlro streets, and his main office 
is at No. 335 North Front street, near the 
Sugar Exchange, just as it has always been. 
He is equipped with two long distance tele- 
phones, numbers 1118 and 243, so that sugar 
planters can communicate with htm direct 
by wire from the country. 

Mr. Emlle Kahn, a planter of Lafourche 
parish, was a guest of the Commercial hotd 
on Wednesday last 



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AprU 29. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



269 



BIOS. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louiaiiimt Planter: 

Since my last writing we (have had an- 
other heavy rein which put a good deal of 
water on the ground in some places, but it 
did not come down so heavy In the west 
portion of the parish as it did In the eastern 
half. All the rice fields which were reached 
by the storm, were filled with water and all 
work was at a stand still for several days. 
There has been some lears of its doing the 
rice more or less injury, but I have not 
beard of any serious damage being done to 
the sown rice as yet But the cold rain 
caused many farmers to delay their seeding 
until the weather was warmer, for the early 
sown rice does not show a good stand and 
some of it must be re-planted or there will 
not be a quarter of a crop. 

(Much of the early rice which was planted 
as early as April 22nd is Just appearing 
above ground, and does not look extra well, 
and will not come on ahead of what is sown 
now. All those who sow from now on, are 
certain of a good stand 11 they put on seed 
enou^, for the soil is getting warm and 
will soon start the rice. 

^any farmers discontinued the sowing of 
rice and turned their attention to levee 
building, and while the soil is wet is the 
best thne to do this work, but by Monday 
next there will be a large acreage of rice 
in, and within a week, the greater portion 
of the rice crop will be in. Some early 
planted rice, which has had the advantage 
of sun and rain, is up about four Inches 
and shallow water has been turned on, yet 
it Is a trifle early to hold water on rice, it 
might do much better without it if the soil 
is wet. Canal work is going on in good 
shatpe, although this work has been hindered 
some by the rainy weather, yet there has 
been a large amount of this work accom- 
plished during the past eight weeks. But 
there must be a large amount of work in 
the country of some sort by the way the 
teams are selling, as well as harness and 
agricultural implements^ and I rather guess 
it Is all for rice, for farmers have gone 
wild over rice and left most everything else 
behind. Feed is shipped into this parish in 
almost train load lots and it goes like hot 
cakes in a cold morning in January. But 
some of the small farmers, especially the 
Creoles, try to grow what food they want 
on the farm, but they do not have any to 
spare for the larger farmers, and the large 
farmers devote all their attention to rice and 
buy all the feed which amounts to a big 
trade. Our well makers are still at work 
patting down some first class wells, and It 
will be some time yet before this work will 
be done for the season. There would be 
plenty of work in this line, If farmers CQuld 
afford to get the work done, for the ma- 
^rlty are very mucfh in favor of the wej}9, 



and only last iweek a test was made with 
some of the wells, and they more than ful- 
filled expectations, and the test was made 
with less power than it was expected it could 
be done with. The wells are here to stay, 
and if the crop of this season should prove 
to be a good one, a great many more wells 
will be put down next season. All our 
small crops look very backward and much 
later than they are in common seasons, but 
the rice planting was begun earlier this sea- 
son than last, and it would have proven an 
advantage if the season had opened in more 
favorable shape. Cane is Improving very 
slowly and we do not expect very much 
from this crop as it was badly injured by the 
freeze, and no one will Shave enough syrup 
to carry them through the season. 

Calcasieu Rice Bird. 



Talmas^e on the Rice Market. 

An unerventful week and a shrunken de- 
mand; not that there is any abatement of 
confidence but simply "too much weather" 
throughout the North and Northwest For 
this reason and again, waiting the opening 
of water routes, purchases are only being 
made to meet immediate needs. The call 
from the South and extreme West contin- 
ues on liberal scale, including several cars 
of fancy sorts to the Pacific coast. Advices 
from the South note light demand along the 
Atlantic coast but with meagre supply prices 
are firmly maintained; in New Orleans there 
is only fair inquiry, but with small receipts 
scarce equal to the daily call, the market 
rules firm with advancing tendency. Work 
on the new crop is going forward slowly; 
planting later than usual on account of 
cold spring; Georgia will undertake less 
than last year; South Carolina and Louisiana 
more. In the latter State the freeze-out of 
sugar cane and difficulty encountered by 
planters in securing advances wherewith to 
start anew may compel many of them to 
turn to the next best and cheapest crop, 
rice, and as a result there may be a radical 
extension of the culture. Cables and cor- 
respondence from abroad note steady move- 
ment and market features unchanged. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
694,616 sacks; last year (Inclusive of amount 
carried over), 516,350 sacks. Sales, cleaned, 
(Est.) 170,252 barrels; last year, 111,675 bar- 
rels. Moderate demand during week with 
marked enlargement toward close. Prices 
firm with advancing tendency. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,285 barrels. Sales, 32,555 barrels. Quiet 
but firm. Stocks light and holders indif- 
ferent, expecting appreciating values when 
spring trade is fully opened. 



The Sugar War. 

The fierce competition which marks the 
sugar refining interest never was stronger 
than at present, Jt Jooks now as U fh© 



outcome of the trouble would be a complete 
revolution in methods of distribution. We 
would not be surprised if eventually refin- 
ers were forced to sell sugar direct to con- 
sumers, just as milk, soap, and other articles 
are now sold. The introduction of package 
sugar was an innovation that is still in its 
infancy. The two-<pound paper package has 
•been followed by the two-pound and five- 
pound cobton packages, and in time the 
packages will be made to conform to the 
wants of consumers in various sections. And 
then we shall have the dollar package, and 
soft sugars, as well as hards, in packages 
finish, or the survival of fittest.— American 
Grocer. 



Sugar Production in Java in 1898. 

The sugar planters of Java have profited 
greatly by the curtailment of the sugar pro- 
ducing capacity of Cuba, and during the 
year 1898 the sugar output of that coflony 
amounted to 2,880,267 piculs (1 Javanese 
picul equals 135.1 pounds), an Increase of 
about 600,000 piculs over the production in 
1896. Of this output 13,042,000 fiorins (1 
fiorin equals 40.2 cents) worth went to 
Hongkong. 11,800,000 fiortns worth to Port 
Said for orders, 7,100,000 fiorins to English 
Channel ports for orders, 4.700,000 fiorins 
to the United States, 3,900,000 fiorins to Port- 
ugal for orders, 3,200,000 fiorins to Australia, 
2,700,000 fiorins to Singapore, 1,600,000 to 
England and 1,100,000 .to Portugal. The 
French Consul at Batavia is of the opinion 
thut the Javanese will doubtless lose their 
American and much of their European 
trade when the Cuban plantations are again 
in operation, yet the Dutch East Indians are 
confident that this loss will in a: short time 
be ofteet by an increase in their sales in 
the Eastern markets, and fne Javanese 
planters are bending every effort towards 
securing permanent control oif these fields. 
— ^Manufacturer. 



Netherlands Sugar Bounty. 

U. S. Treasury Deplartment, April 5, 1899. 

Sir: The department, being informed 
that sugars produced in the NetherHands 
during the sugar-account year 1898-99 (from 
September 1 to August «1) will earn bounties 
considerably less than tnose ascertained 
for the year 1897-98, anS proclaimed in Cir- 
cular No. 199, of December 12, 1898 (Synop- 
sis 20407), you are hereby authorized to sus- 
pend the liquidation of entries covering su- 
gars produced in that country until the next 
ascertainment and proclamation under the 
provisions of section 5 of the Act of July 
24, 1897. 

The duties on such entries will be estimat- 
ed on the basis of the bounties specified In 
said Circular No. 199, and will be liquldat- 
od, as to sugars which may be shown by 
satisfactory evidence to have been produced 
In the Netherlands after August 31, 1898, 
on the basis of the bounties to be proclaimed 
hereafter. 

Respectfully yours, 

O. L, Spauldino, Assistant Sec'y . 
Collector of Customs, N^w York, N. Y^ 



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270 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 17. 



Apr. 28. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

8triot Prime.... 

Prime 

Fully Fair — 

Qooa Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Common 

/nferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Granul'ed 
Off Granulated.. 
Choice White.... 

01! White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow... 
Prime Yellow ... 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime — 
Good Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Cood Commom. 

Oemmon 

Imf erior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice, 

Strict Prime — 
Good Prime — 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Seed Common. 

Common 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



April 22. 



April 24. 



April 25. 



April 26. 



April 27. 



April 28. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of Mar.:et ai 
Closing of Wfek. 



-@ 
-@ 
-@ 
- @ 
-® 

Hi® 

3 @4 



a 



d 
o 



(a 16 
^ 15 
@ 13 

@ 9 

® g 

® I 
@ 6 

@ 6 

O __ 



- (B — 

- @ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 

4t«@ - 
4?i@4|i 

4^@4H 
3 (§ii}4 



Si 
2 



o 

a 
o 



9 - 
9 16 
@ 16 
@ 13 
@ 11 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



-@ 



-@ 
-@ 
_(3 



-@ - 
-<8 - 

-@ - 
-@ - 
-9 - 
4iil@- 

3 ®iH 



43 



o 

e 
o 



- a - 

-<8 16 
-Q 16 
-9 13 

-® 11 

-@ 

-@ 

-® 

-<3 

-9 

-@ 



-9- 

-9- 
-9 - 

- 9 - 

- 9 - 

m9- 

4Ji@4|i 
4?i94H 

3 9*H 






(D 
§ 

z 



« - 

(i 16 
9 16 
9 13 

@ 8 

® 2 
@ 6 

@ 6 

9 - 



-®- 

- 9- 

- - 
-® - 

- @ — 
4H@ - 
i%9*H 
4?g«4H 
3 @4>^ 



■3 

d 

CO 

2 

Id 



o 

a 
o 

Z 



-a 16 

-« 16 

-« 13 

-(ill 

-« 

-9 

-9 

-9 

-9 

-@ 




00 

1 

pd 

•i3 

£ 

«d 



o 



9 
9 



-9 16 

-9 16 

— 9 IS 
-9 11 

- 9 » 



9 
9 
9 
9 
9 



- 94% 
-9 - 
-®4?i 

-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
4>i94A 
4A94A 
2^@4 



.3 

,d 



•*;» 

I 



9 

d 
o 



12 « 13 
12 g 13 

- ® 10 
-« 9 

— a 8 

-« 5 

6 
4 

- ^ - 



-a 



Firm 



Quiet 



Quiet. 



OTHER MARKETS. 



Nbw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 8&^ 
Centrifugals, 96'^.. 


- @ - 


— @ - 


— @ — 


- a - 


— a — 


— a — 


- a - 




- @ — 


— @ — 


— @ — 


- a - 


— a — 


— a — 


- a - 


Raw- Stronj?; hold- 


Granulated 


- @4.96 


- @4.98 


-@4.96 


- a4.96 


- a4.96 


-a4 96 


5.16a - 


ers ask h'gh'r prices 


StandardA 


- @4.84 


- @4.84 


- @4.84 


- a4.84 


- a4.84 


-a4.84 


5.03a - 


Refined— Quiet. 


Dutch Granulated 


— @6.20 


- @5.20 


- @5.20 


- a5 20 


- asao 


— as 20 


— a - 




German Oranul'td. 


— @5.09 


— @5 10 


- @6 11 


— as 12 


— as 12 


— as 14 






MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


- @ - 


- @ - 


— @ — 


- a - 


-a - 


— a — 


— a -- 




N. O.Fair 


-@ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- a - 


-a - 


— a — 


— a — 




London: 














- a- 




Java, No. 15 D. 8. 


128. 6d. 


128. 6d. 


12s 0d. 


12s. 6d 


12s. 6d. 


12s. 6d. 


lls. 7Md. 


Cane— Quiet. 
Beet—Firmer, with In- 
creased demand. 


A.& G.Beet 


.108. 11 ^d. 


10s. 10>id. 


Us.d. 


10s. ll)id. 


i0s.ll>^d. 


Us.lJ^d. 


9s. 6d. 



NBW ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granina'd. 
Rosetta Extra 

Candy A 

Crrstal Bztra C. 
Royal EzC 

SYRUP. 



- @5X 

- («5>^ 

- (SP. - 

- ^Mj 

- @ - 

- a - 

- a - 



@5>^ 
@5>2 

@ - 

@ - 
a - 

a - 



a5>^ 

@5>^ 

@ - 

a - 
a - 
a - 



as>i 

@5>^ 

as% 
a - 
asfir 
a - 
a - 
a — 



-as>^ 
-.as>^ 

- as^ 

- a - 

- asf • 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 



a6>i 
as>< 
as« 
a - 
asA 
a - 
a - 
a - 



- @5?^ 

- a&?i 

- asK 

- a - 

- as^ 
-a - 

- a - 

- a - 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Apr, 20 

At four ports of Great Britain to Apr. 20 

At Havana and Matanzas to Apr. 20 



Tons 201,711 

. " 60,500 

" 89.600 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 



Recefred. 
Sold 



April 38, 1899 

^ Sugai 

Hhds. 
07 
67 




Molasses 
Barrali. 
1,654 
i,94t 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i, 1898, 
to April 38, 1899. 

10,157 1,207,146 tgj,t*i 

10AS7 1,187,678 227,242 

88,378 1.395.969 181.6M 



ReoeiTsd 
Sou 



Digitized by VjOOQLC 



April 29, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



271 



Apr. 38. 






WEEKLY MARKET REPORT 






1899. 


RICE. 


Aprtl 22. 


April 24. 


April 26. 


April 25. j April 27. 


Aprtl 23. 


Same Day Lam 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 


Rough, per bbl... 


Nomimal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


2 60@4 75 


Dull. 


Clean, Ex. Fancy 






Ji 


" " ' "" 


" ■ "" 


6>!^@6?i 


- @ - 




Fancy.... 






H 






6 ®^% 


6 @63j- 




iJtiuice . . . 






H- 






6M'@6% 


5>i(s6.\' 




Prime — 






H 






^%%^% 


5^-4(015*8 




Good ... 






H 






*H®m 


5 (3;5>8 




Fair 






Ya. 






Bh@iH 


4^fe5 




Ordinary 






Va 






3 @3^ 


4)<@45a 




Common. 












2H@S 


4>4@4>i 


. 


Screenings 


— >^i — /"^ 




- ^-Ya 






2 ®2^ 


— a — 




Inferior . . 


l«®2 




i?^(^2 . 






i)i@2^ 


2^(43>4 




No.2 


'K'' 




\\(^^% 






'll^« 


2@2)i 




Braie, per ion.... 


-_ WW 


12 00 


_^ 


-— «v 


11 00@ - 


Steady. 


Polish, per ton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


-@ - 




k^emkpu ai 


•d 5mi%3 •! New 


Orl«Mi« for Ch« weok ending 




Raoelpta at New Orieans from Aug. 1, 1898. to April a8, 1809. 




Apr;i 


a8. 1S90- 








c.iiMf.d with iMt 7Mr, «MM Una. 






Sacics Rouob. Rblb 


. CLBjUf . 






SARITfl ROTIOB. BitLfl. CLEAN 


RwjeiT^n 






749 ] 


P4 


This year 




679,352 6,283 


RoM 






902 1 


574 


I«jiflt year 




469,447 7,033 



Sugar. 

The sugar market was quiet and steady 
at the end of the week, with moderate re- 
ceipts, and a demand about sufficient to ab- 
sorb all offeringe. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands. Cen- 
trifugals quiet. 



Rice. 

There is but little movement in rough 
rice. Clean rice is in fair demand, but the 
supply is limited. 



Farmers' National Congress. 

Ediioi' LouUiana Planter: 

The next session of the Farmers' National 
Congress will meet at Boston, October 3, 4, 
5 and 6. Section 2 of the Constitution of the 
Farmers' National Congress determines the 
membership and reads as follows: 

Sec. 2. The voting membership of this 
Congress shall be as follows: A member 
from each congressional district and two at 
large, to be appointed by the governor of 
each State (and such governors are requested 
to appoint practical farmers as such dele- 
gates); each Agricultural College and Ex- 
periment Station shall be entitled to a dele- 
gate; and each national and State society or 
organization, created and maintained for the 
fostering of any agricultural interest in the 
Western Continent, shall be entitled to a 
delegate. These organizations, societies, 
etc., shall supply a certified statement of the 
existence of said organization. 

Will you please give this communication 
a place in your columns, which we know 
are read by the officers of many of the or- 
ganizations entitled to representation in the 
Congress. It is hoped that if this meets their 
eye they will take the proper steps to have 
delegates appointed to the next annual meet- 
ing of the Congress. 

Respectfully yours. 
W. D. Hoard, President, 
Fort Atkinson, Wis. 
John M. Stahl, Secretary. 

4828, iLanglejr Ave., Chicago, 111. 



The Sugar Industry of Mexico. 

According to the Economista Mexicano, 
the Republic of Mexico is producing at the 
present time from seventy to ninety Lhou- 
Su.ad tuiid of sugar, v/hlcli is entirely con- 
sumou by her 14,000,000 inhabitants. Sugar 
'cane is being cultivated in about 2800 haci- 
endas and ranchos, which produce sugar, 
"panocha" and aguardiente; in Cuba, on the 
other hand, 500 plantations are producing 
1,000,000 tons of sugar. In other words, in 
Cuba four and a half times less of places of 
production, produce more than twelve times 
the quantity produced In Mexico. 

Sugar planting is carried on In Mexico to- 
day for the most part as It has been for cen- 
turies, according to the most antiquated and 
traditional sysems. In a few plantations 
of greater importance a combinatj!bn of old 
and modern methods is employed, bi5? all 
these plants are situated in regions that 
have an altitude of from 100 to 800 metres 
above the sea level.N The conditions exist- 
ing in such altitudes are unfavorable ones 
for the raising of the sugar cane and are 
making its propagation difficult. 

In close proximity to the coast, on the 
other hand, the climate is both hot and hu- 
niia, no irrigation is ever required, the cane 
grows rapidly, Is ripe for cutting in less 
than one year and during from eight to fif- 
teen years vigorous sprouts can be obtained 
from the original planting, and In this way 
the cost of cultivation which makes the best 
cane fields in Cuba. 

In the relatively high altitudes where su- 
gar cane is grown, wood for fuel is scarce, 
of poor quality and expensive, wnich prac- 
tically limits the fuel the planter can use to 
the "bagazo" (what remains of the cane af- 
ter grinding.) The cane is moreover very 
hard and the percentage of sugar is small. 

On the East fuel is to be had in abund- 
ance and Its cost does not stand in the way 
of the employment of the most perfect pro- 
ceedings for the extraction of the juice. The 
climate makes the cane very soft and by 
using the system of diffusion it will yield 
from twelve to thirteen per cent. or*sugar, 
or when a good system of grinding only is 
employed, fully 10 per cent., which is the 
average yield from the Antilles. 



Sugar War in 5an Francisco. 

San Francisco, April 6. — There is a sugar 
war on in this city. The "Chronicle" says 
that a local firm is importing cane sugar 
from Java and Manila refined In English 
land Scotch factories at Hong Kong. It Is 
carried by steamers of the California & 
Oriental Steamship Company, which is paj*t 
of the Santa Fe system. Heretofore these 
sugars have been landed in San Delgo and 
reshipped to this city, but In future the sugar 
will be landed in San Francisco. Several 
cuts in the price have been made, the total 
reduction being nearly one cent a pound. — 
Telegram. 

The Springville (Utah) Factory. 

Manager T. R. Cutler, Superintendents 
Austin and Vallez of the Utah Sugar Com- 
pany, were in Springville on Wednesday, 
and staked off the location for a sugar fac- 
tory -which thiat company is to build here. 
They also took measurements of the Big 
Hollow stream of water, to see how much of 
the stream they will require for the use of 
the factory. They show every indication 
of meaning business and work will undoubt- 
edly start on the grounds and buildings 
right away. Manager Cutler said In the 
presence of your correspondent that the ma- 
chinery to grind and crush the beets would 
be put in in time to work up this season's 
beet crop. The products of the beets will 
not be refined, but the juice will be con- 
veyed to the factory at Lehl, by the means 
of a pipe-line from the factory here to the 
one at Lehl, where the juice will be re- 
fined. Manager Cutler said that this move 
was made necessary on account of the rail- 
roads, saying that they would not be able 
to furnish the cars necessary for the proper 
handling of this year's beet crop. Mr. Cut- 
ler further stated that next year the Spring- 
ville beet growers would receive the same 
price for their beets as the Lehl farmers. 
•—Tribune. 

Mr. Henry T. Oxnard, of California, where 
he Is at present busy with the great beet 
sugar factory at the town of Oxnard, came 
to New Orleans during the week for the 
purpose of attending the wedding of Mr. 
B. A. Oxnard, and took apartments at the 
St. Charles hotel. 



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[Vol. xxn, No. 17. 



WANTS. 



W« wtU paNlsh In this colmmi, frae of charge until 
fartlMr notice, the appllcntkMU of all manatert, ovcr- 
aeara, e pg lne e r i and sasar-makert, and others who 
■Mj be eeeldns positions In the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED— A position as superlDtendent or head su- 

Sir maker, by a man of large experience, either In plan- 
tlon sugar nonse or sugar reflnery. Can furnish good 
references. Would prove a raluable and all-around 
faithful man In any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-2S-W 

WANTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk cows and make nlmself 
useful about a place. First-class references; address 
Chas. Tbbpaonier, 1426 St. Ann street, New Orleans. 

4-2'-»9 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experience as head chemist In Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; addreas L. G. LELBR,care M. E. Sepn^KflS 
8th Avenue, New York. ^-IMl 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S-, 
care of The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 4-13-99 

WANTED— Position by an experienced young mnn as 
book-keeper, stenographer, or ooth; address X. Y. Z., 



care this office. 



4-1V99 



WANTED— Position as assistant overseer on a Louis- 
iana sugar plantation, by young man who has hsd expo- 
rienoe as a planter in field and factory In the W« st In- 
dies: salary no obleot; address Mourant, BumMde P: 
O. , Ascension Parish, La. 4-14-99 

WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 years of agf», with long experience 
and good references; address Bots-Bances, Apartsdo 
715. Havana, Cuba. 4-17-99 

WANTFD— Position as blacksmith by a middle-aged 
man of 19 years practical experience on large Butc&r 
plantations in Louisiana; good references. T. P. Da- 
kin, Gibson, La. 4-19-99 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blachsmith, 
one who thoroughly vnderstands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt A Zieoler, Nos. 423 to 436 South Petem st. 

4-13-99 I 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwrignt. State wag^s: ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartia, Texas. 4-19-99 

WANTED— Position by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give first-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S. , care this office. 

4-19-99 

WANTED— Position as plantation oook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillis of Poydras 
plantation, and others; address Mrs. S. Terrelle, 
2221 Erato street, New Orleans. 4-17-99 

WANTED^- A position by a first-class, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced In sugar mill and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4— lX_e9 

WANTED— For the coming season, a position as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Felix Oubrb, 
Edgard, La. 4_12_ji9 

WANTED— By a flrst-claas vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season in Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
addreas J. H. F., 727 Lowerllne street, Ne v Orlear s 

4-6-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, bef>t 
references as to capability. Integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of takinff entire charge of running the factory, or 
as sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 
4-6-9 9 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
time keeper. **Gbo.'*, care this office. 4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man with first-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a bugar plan- 
tation; address S. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or etableman; address Phiup BRAUN,Gib6on, 
U. 3-27-99 



WANTED'-Posltlon by a flrst-claas vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of flrst and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly verged In reflnery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for orjrstallizers. Best of references! 
address H., care this office. S-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a grst-class sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' experience In some of 
the best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, Thibodaux, La. 8-2S-99 

WANTFH— Situation bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard roan or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, wtth the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Tuba, care 
this o fflc. 8-20 -»i9 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, in the country; good references; ad- 



dross Alphonse Buck, 2714 second street, city. 

a-1 



16-99 



WANTED-By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. Referenoea 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico; address Sugar Makkr, Lock Box 
433, Eagle Lake, Texss. 8-22-99 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
yesrs experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years ss asslstiint engineer in Isrge sugar reflnery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphla, Pa. 8-28-90 

WANTED— Position as general helper In machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. 8., Fletel, La. 8-15-fl9 

WANTED— Position by a young martied man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references; 
address A., care this office. 8-16-99 

WANTED— In flrst- class sugar house In Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience: satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6041 Laulel street. New Orleans. 3-8-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Chief Engi- 
NEER, Lutcher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C. 
A., Bonnet Carre. La. 8-18-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sug^r refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Position by a handv man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and orlcklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 VlUere street. New Orleans. 

8-0-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1899 
by a flrst-cla«s vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
eiices from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 8-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. Address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. P., La. 2-28-99 

WANTED— The best "sugar maker in Louisiana, who 
is sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorough and 
close boiler of flrst and particularly of molasses sugsrs 
(2ad and 8rd). State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Address C. M., this office. 
2-27-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan* 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, single and sol er. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish references from former employer. Address T. 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this office. 

WANTED— Position by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Address H. M. S., Laurel HUl, La. 

WANTED— Position by engineer and two sons to re- 
pair anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
details of sugar house work; also cart work. Addresi 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 



WANTED— A situation as clartfler on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. Best of references fur^ 
nished. Address L. H. Hincklbt, Charenton. La. 

2-24-99 

WANTED— An experienoed young man, single, is 
open for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in couo- 
try store. A l references from last employer. Ad- 
dress Rioht-Off, 8418 Constance street. New Orl'^sns. 

2-22 99 

WANTED— A position as clerk in store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical knowledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-23-99 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlO-wright 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 
2- 18-99 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 802 S. Basin, St., City. 2-16-99. 

WANTED— A young man of good, steady habits, re- 
flnement and education, one accustomed to hudships, 
would like to procure a position as assistant overseer 
on a plantation. The above would prove a vsluable snd 
"aU around" faithful man. Address H. G. I., 1821 Clio 
street, New Orleans, La. 25-99 

WANTED— By a graduate of a flrst-class technical 
engineering school, position as assistant engineer and 
electrician, or will take charge of small house. Best of 
references furnished. Address Box 217, New Iberta, 
La^ 25 19 

WANTED— Position as clerk or assistant overseer 
01 large sugar plantation. Best of references as to 
ability, etc. ^Address 100, care Louisiana Planter. 

2l-t9 

WANTED— Position ast^hief or second engineer; 16 

Sears' experience hi cane and beet. Address F. O. W., 
lis office. 24-90 

WANTED— A position for the 1809 crop as vacuum 
pan sugar maker, by an up-to-date sugar boiler. Will 
guarantee te give entire satisfaction, or no salary will 
be expected. Address J. J. Landrt, Convent, La. 

WANTED— A position as overseer on a sugar planta- 
tion by a flrst-class man; address J. F. Leteff. N€«- 
ser, La. 14-g> 

WANTED— Experienced lady stenographer; desires 
position in the South. Address I, 820 N. Main street, 
Louisiana, Mo. 1-6 

WANTEID— Position as bookkeeper or clerk by young 
married man; a thorough accountant, quick and ac- 
curate at figures, and can furnish any references as to 
capabilities, etc., that may be required. Address E. T., 
care Louisiana planter. 

WANTED— An experienoed and practical sugar house 
chemist would like situation in Cuba or Porto RIoo. 
Speaks English only. Address W., t3are Louisiana 
Planter. ^t*-f8 

WANTED— Position as manager or first overseer on 
a sugar plantation by a man of family. References 
furnished. Gallon or address F. F. MBR¥riN, fiSl I>i- 
malne street, New Orleans. 12-31-98 

WANTED— Position as Overseer or Manager on some 
plantation. Well experienced. Can furnish beat of 



references. J. A. Larkin, Benton P. O., La. 



12-26-9R 



WANTED— By a sober, honest and experienced man 
who can come well recommended, a position as time 
keeper, or record keeper, on a su^ar nliintati yo. Ad- 
dress C. A. B., 1036 N. Derbigny street. New Orleans. 
12-7-96 

WANTED— Position by a good double-effect man wltb 
nine years' experience. References flrst-dass. Ad- 
dress Paul Parr, Gibson, La., care Greenwood Plan- 
tation^ 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position to take charge of the housekeep- 
ing department on a plantation. Understand the oaring 
of meat, preserving and pickling, and the cutting and 
fitting of plantation out-door clothing. Can furnish 
best of recommendations, address Mrs. Proctor, 
Alexandria, La. 12-7-98 

WANTED— Position by a nuui 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk In general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not s> 
much an o'^ject; address J. Bebthblot. Box 101, 
Welsh, La. I 8-9?-99 



JNO. DYMOND, Jr., 

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, 

339 Carondelet Street, 
New Orf^nns, La, 



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AND 



H MeeM? IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS, MAY 6, 1800. 



No. li. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Utti$iana Sugar P/anters* Association, 
ktcontion Branch Sugar Planters' Associdt'on, 
Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 
Kansas Sugar Growers' Association, 
Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

PobUsheo ftt NewOrleani, La., ev^y Saturdajllomlnf 

BT THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER if^D SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to Louisiana Agriculture in gieneral, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
braucbes. Agricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerdaL 



EDITORIAL CORPS. 



W. C. 8TUBBS, Ph. D. 
W. W. PUGH. 



W. J. THOMPSON. 
JOHN DYMOND. 



Entered at the Poetoffloe gb New Orleans as second-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 
Terms of Subscription (Including postage) . . . .^ . . .13 00 
Foreign Snbecrfptlon 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Space 



1 month 3 month 4 month 12 month 



lUich 

2Uich 

Shich 

4hioh 

Blnch 

finch 

71nch 

8Uich 

91nch 

10 Inch 

Half Page. 
FoU Page. 



$600 
060 
14 60 
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23 60 
28 00 
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30 00 

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100 00 



$12 60 
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86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
90 00 
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160 00 
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$18 75 
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88 16 
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225 00 
40000 



$26 00 
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117 60 
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162 60 
180 00 
190 CO 
20O0O 
80O0O 
60000 



An oommuDlcatlona should be addressed to Thk 
Lovi8iAifAPLAifTEB,889Caroiidelet street, New Orieanrv 
U. 

LIST OF ST0CKH0LDBR8. 



McCaH Brothers. 
McC«U ALegendre, 



B. Lsnaan A Bro., 



W. e. Brkken. 
W. C. Stubbs, 



Pees dBaraett, 
H. C Warmotb, 
ImOms Porsytb. Jr.* 

"" u.Ctay. 

: A nonsuui. 



R.Beltraii, 
Ludcn Sonlat, 
D. R. Calder. 
L. A. eiHs. 
Hero d MalhloC, 
W.J. Behan. 
J. T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards d Haubtica 
John A. Morris, 

B. H. Cansliigfaaai, 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 

C. M. Sorla. 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy. 



>Rost, 

las D. IV. 

SchiBldt d Zlegler, 
T. Q. ncUuiry. 
L.5. Cterfc. 
J. B. Levert. 



w.BTSk 

W. W. SvtdlffD, 
JsbaS. noors, 
Jsaes C^Murphy. 



e.dJ. Kock. 
Wn. Qarlg, 
Adolph Meyer. 
A.A.Woods, 
BradUh Johnson, 
Oeorge P. Andertea, 
A. L. nonoot, 
RIchMti MHIikeo. 
W. P. riMes. 
Lesin A. Becoel* 
J. N. Pharr, 
Jules J. Jacob. 



BZBCUTIVB OOMinTTEX* 



LtaufHif. 



The Cane Crop. 

The warm and favorable weather we 
have now enjoyed for some^days has 
served to elucidate the crop situation to 
some extent and to brinp^ out the laggard 
stubbles which possessed sufficient vital- 
ity to come out at all. The damage in- 
flicted by the unusual weather of last 
winter is now more clearly defined and 
it is possible to judge of its magnitude 
better than has hitherto been the case. 
Unfortunately the stubble cane has ap- 
parently been very seriously hurt every- 
where. It has not come out as well as 
had been hoped, though in some cases 
excellent results are reported. The plant 
cane, while less in acreage, shows a 
good stand. 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters* Asso- 
ciation. 

The May meeting of this association 
will be held on Thursday evening, "May 
11th, at 8 o'clock, at No. 712 Union 
street. New Orleans. The subject of 
"How to Secure the Best Results in the 
Preservation of Seed Cane" will be dis- 
cussed and all interested, whether mem- 
bers of the association or not, are invited 
to be present. 



How to Bring Out the Sugar Canes. 

A correspondent in the Attakapas 
wrote us a few days ago that where he 
had dug his stubble cane practically 
down to the mother cane he already had 
a full stand, while where the earth was 
not nearly so much removed he still finds 
the eyes sound and sprouting, but very 
bacltward. This is attributed to the fact 
that the ground has been cold up to the 
present time and without exposure to the 
influence of the sun germination has 
been almost impossible. He states fur- 
ther that the cane planted before the 
freeze promises very well and is quite 
yigorous* 



Thomas' American Grocery Trade 
Reference Boole. 

The Planter is indebted to the Thomas 
Publishing Co., of New York, for a 
copy of its American Grocery Trade 
Reference Book for 1899. This compil- 
ation includes classified lists of all the 
jobbers, manufacturers, importers, pro- 
ducers, commission and brokerage con- 
cerns connected in a wholesale way 
with the grocery and allied interests of 
the United States. The work has been 
made as complete and accurate as pos- 
sible and is intended to accomplish for 
the grocery trade what the reference 
hand books of the same firm have al- 
ready done so well for the hardware and 
machinerv trades of the United States, 
f^omplete schedules are given of all the 
dealers and brokers in any of the gro- 
ccrv or collateral trades, the lists being 
made up first by the articles dealt in, 
giving the brokers^ and dealers' ad- 
dresses and secondly by the various 
states and cities, giving the dealers and 
brokers therein. 

The book is published at $3.50 and 
will be issued annually and it will be 
sent postpaid by remitting this amount 
to the Thomas Publishing Co., of New 
York. 



The Annual fleeting of the Louisiana 
Press Association. 

The annual meeting of the Louisiana 
Press Association, which was held in 
Baton Rouge last week, April 25, 26 
and 27, was a very enjoyable affair — 
one of the best in the history of the as- 
sociation. The city of Baton Rouge 
gave the members. of the association a 
royal welcome, and all concerned, from 
the governor down to the car drivers, 
seemed bent on making the members 
feel at home in Baton Rouge. 

Apart from the routine business of 
the association there were addresses of 
welcome by the Governor of the State 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 18. 



and also by tlw flavor of the City, re- 
])ixsent((l l>y ('<;1. T. Jones Cross; a re- 
ee])tion at the (iovernoi's mansion; a 
l>an(|uet at tlie Veranda; an exeursion 
to flack. on, to visit the groat Insane 
A>vlnni tliere, and also the Centenary 
College, and a reception and school ex- 
ercises by the sisters and pupils of St. 
Joseph's CVjnventual School. 

The papers read before the association 
were plain, practical essays, all tending 
to treat imj)roved methods of newspa- 
per woik aiid management. The press 
of the State, while not entirely, was 
largely represented, and the members, 
in parting, wc re nnanimons iu their ex- 
prt*8sion of satisfaction and pleasure 
from the meeting and their enjoyment 
of the whole-souled hospitality display- 
ed towards the press by the good people 
of Raton Kouge. 

Before adjourning the following reso- 
Intions were adopted: 

Resolved, That the Louisiana State Uni- 
versity, under the control of Col. Thos. D. 
Boyd, is carrying on a grand educational 
.work in the State; its 287 icadet students dis- 
play excellent discipline, studious manners 
and good behavior; that the University de- 
serves the support of the press of the state 
and should 'be ehabled to enlarge its work, 
to increase its efficiency in full accord with 
twentieth century standards. 

Second. That tne Louisiana Insane Asy- 
luip caught us by the immensity of the char- 
italjle work there done, by the extraordinary 
<}iscipi'ine maintained and by the general 
good nature and pleasant relations subsist- 
ing between the 1112 patients and the man- 
agement. The imperative necessity for im- 
mediate enlargement of the asylum or the 
transference of some of its patients to other 
quarters that might be erected for the pur- 
pose is self-evident. The increase in popula- 
tion of the state carries with it more than 
a proportion of its Increase in the de- 
make careful provision for the same. 

Th'ird— That the Louisiana Institute for 
the Blind is a most deserving state institu- 
tion; that thfi educational work there being 
(|pne in enabling the blind to earn a liveli- 
hood merits the support oif the press of this 
state, and that all blind young persons should 
be sent to the institute to avail of its ad- 
vantages. 

Fourth — That the state institute for the 
deaf and dumb is also one of the most use- 
ful cf the state's grand charities; that the 
education of the deaf and dumb to the self- 
supporting condition here attained makes 
th[s one of our most successful state insti- 
tutions, and it should "be supported by the 
press. 

Hffh— That the Louisiana State Peniten- 
tiary we found to be in excellent condition, 
the health and comfort of its inmates care- 
fully considered and maintained and the 
disLi-pline excellent. 

Resolved, further, That considering that 
the enormous crops of cotton which are an- 
mially raised in the South bringing financial 
eml)arrassment to many growers thereof in 
lieu of profit, and causing commercial and 



industrial depression, where smaller crops 
formerly /brought animation, comfort and 
wealth; considering that the people of thie 
Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and other 
Southern states, are successfully engaging In 
cotton manufa'ctories and by that means 
striving to wrest the control of the price 
of the raw cotton and of its futures from 
the foreign Ibuyers and manuifacturers; con- 
sidering that these enormous crops of raw 
cotton are, notwithstanding temporary em- 
barrassment they are causing, demonstrating 
the capai3ity of the South to dominate the 
■cotton production ot the world; considering 
that time has revolutionized the trade and 
industrial methods of the world; and further 
considering that our people must adapt them- 
selves to such changes; 

Be it resolved. That tl^e entire press of 
Louisiana, f>e and is hereby earnestly re- 
ijuested and invited to unite in the advoc- 
acy of the following special measures: 

1st. The erection of cotton manufactories 
at every ipoint in the state affording the 
requisite facilities. 

2nd. The creation of other manufactories 
for which the state possesses so varied and 
numerous material. 
3rd. Diversification of production. 
4th. The full development of the stock 
raising Industry, including the fattening of 
stock for home and distant markets. 

5th. The creation of new inventions and 
the perfecting of those already in existence. 
6th. The speedy completion of a canal 
across the Isthmus of Panama, and the ex- 
tension of our commerce in Latin America. 
7th. Pu'blic improvements of every char- 
acter. 

Resolved, That the press of Louisiana 
should deem it a pleasant duty and privilege 
to profote the success of the State Reunion 
of 'Confederate Veterans to be held in the 
city of Baton Rouge on the 3rd and 4th of 
July, 1899. 

Resolved, That the grateful thanks of the 
Louisiana Press Association are due to the 
good people of Baton Rouge for the cordial 
reception, unbounded -courtesy and gener- 
ous hospitality extended our mem'bers and 
for the admirable and perfect arrangements 
made for our comfort and entertainment dur- 
ing the delightful session of the association 
just closed in this heautiful Caipltal City. 
Among the many ladies, gentlemen and 
organizations, who with their associates, 
members and employes have thus placed us 
under a lasting obligation, it is a pleasure 
to mention the following: 

1st. Mrs. J. W. Bates, chairman of the 
ladies' entertainment committee. 

2nd. Mrs. F. H. Loucks, chairman decor- 
ating committee. 

3rd. Mayor Hart, chairman reception com- 
mittee. 

4th. Ben. R. Rayer, chairman finance com- 
mittee. 

5th. Miss Lucy Bates, chairman music 
committee. * 

6th. The Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent. 
7th. The president, faculty and (band of 
the cadet corps of the Louisiana State Uni- 
versity. 

8th. The management and brchestra. of 
the institute for the 'blind. 
9th. The Electric Railway Company. 
10th. The Independent Silver Cornet Band 
and the Girls Mandolin Clubs. 

11th. The girls chorus of Miss Mayo's 

school. 

12th. The Verandah and Grand hotels. 

Resolved. That the success of our meeting 

has been largely due to transportation fa- 

ciUtlM extended our membere by the fol- 



lowing railroads: Illinois Central; Ya- 
zoo and 'Mississippi Valley; Texas and Pa- 
cific; Southern Pacific; Vicksburg, Shreve- 
port and Pacific; Missouri Pacific; Kansas 
City, Watkins and Gulf; East and West 
Texas, and the St. I^ouis and SouthVestem, 
and to these roads our thanks are gratefully 
rendered. 

Resolved, That we are specially indefbted 
to the co\irtesy of the Yazoo and Mississippi 
Valley and the Jackson and MdManus rail- 
road for the delightful excursion to Jack- 
son, and to the people of that lovely little 
town, the authorities of the Louisiana State 
Insane Asylum, Centenary College and Mil- 
wood Institute for hospitality, courtesies and 
entertainment that combined to render this 
excursion one of the most enjoya'ble fea- 
tures of our annual meeting. 



The Weather in St. James. 

^Ir. E. (^lierbonnier, of the Helvetia 
plantation, St. James parish, has kindly 
given the planter his weather ohserva- 
tions for the last half of April. The 
maxinnim temperature reaehed was 92 
deg. F. on Ayril 29, ami the minimum 
48 deg. F. on April 23. One and three- 
quarter inches of rainfall were reconl- 
ed, that of April 21 reaching three- 
(piarters of an inch. The average mini- 
mum temperature for the fifteen dav;^ 
was 58 deg. F., and the average maxi- 
mum was 82 deg. F. 

ilr. (^herbonnier made a series of 
observations to discover the relative 
open air temperature and that four inch- 
es below the surface of the gn)und. 
These observations revealed some in- 
teresting facti^, as will be seen by the 
tabulated statement, which is as follows: 



Date. Time 

April 25 6:00 A. M. 

April 25 3:00 P. iM. 

April 25 6:00 P. M. 

AprU 26 6:30 A. M. 

April 26 3:00 P. M. 

April 26 6:30 P. M. 

A'pril 27 6:30 A. M. 

AprU 27 3:00 P. M. 

April 27 6:30 P. M. 

AprU 28 7:00 A. IM. 

April 28 3:00 P. M. 

April 28 7:00 P.M. 



4 in. Under 

Outside. Ground. 

68 deg.. 61 deg. 

84 deg. 76 deg. 

74 deg. 76 deg. 

70 deg. 66 deg. 

88 deg. 86 deg. 

88 deg. 86 deg. 

72 deg. 68 deg. 

86 deg. 86 deg. 

88 deg. 87 deg. 

74 deg. 71 deg. 

90 deg. 80 deg. 

78 deg. 83 deg. 



Tt will be notictHl that on April 25 a 
temp(»rature of 84 deg. F. was reached 
at 3 p. m. At the same hour the tem- 
])erature below the surface was nvonled 
at 76 deg. F. Three hours later the 
open air thermometer recorded 74 deg. 
l'\, while the underground thermomet(»r 
recorded the same temperature as at 3 
p. m. Again, on the 28th, the :3 p. m. 
tem])( ratun* n ached 90 deg. F., while 
the underground thermometer nvorded 
but 80, while at 7 p. m. the exposed 
thermometer indicated 78 and the im- 



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(loi_.oni.(l tluMiioiuotir had n^on to S:]. 
Yroui tlio table it will ho seen that all 
of tli:' (5 J). 111. tmixratUK's were rela- 
rivdy hiiili, indicatiii^i^: that the earth 
had heeonie heated by the tcMiipcratun* 
•luring the day, and while the tenipera- 
tine of the air falls ra])idly in th(* even- 
in<?, the earth radiates its heat some- 
what slowly, maintaining a hit^h tem- 
|)erature for a considerable time and 
becoming relatively cold only the fob 
h^.^\^ng nioniing. 

The slowness of the growth of the 
Qimv er<»|) this season makes the<=e ol>- 
.orvations cf Mr. ( lierboiinier's very 
interesting, indicating as they do tlie 
average low temperatnre of the month 
of April and thiLs perhaps largely ac- 
counting for the slow growth. 

flay Weather. 

The r. S. Depaitment of Agricnltnre, 
Weather Burean has just i)nbli<hed data 
fiom the ncords at Xew Orleans, eover- 
ing a period of 27 years. The mean or 
normal temptvatuie has been 75 d(»g. 
F., the warmest May was that of ISi)*;, 
with an average of 78 deg. F., \vln1e 
the col<l(-^t ^lay was that of IS77, 
with an average of 7:] deg. F. . 1'he 
highest tempcratnn^ naelied \va< W 
(leg. F. on ilay L>r), ISJ)8, and tlie lowest 
tcmperntnre wa« i>:\ d(»u. F. ou M:,v 7, 
1SJ)1. The aveiage rainfall for th(> 
month Inis been 4.47 inches wiiJi iS.fiS 
inches in 187:] as the greatest r:iiijnd]. 
The lowest rainfall was that < f Ijwt ycir, 
when only .02 inches fell dnnng the 
month of Max, 



Chino Factory Sold. 

The Oxnard-Hamilton beet sugar propsr- 
lies, in which are included the factories lo- 
cated at Chino, Hueneme and Grand lslan.1. 
Neb., have been sold t^ a new corporation 
just organized under the laws of the State 
of New Jersey. Henry n^nard, who is now 
at the Hotel Van Nuya admitted the faces 
of the sale to-day. 

The three factories in luestion have been 
the property of Henry and James Oxnard 
and James G. Hamilton. The last named is 
a New Yorker. 

The price paid for the two California fac- 
tories could not be learned io-day. Experts 
place the figures at $1,500. "00 for each plant, 
tbe amount being based upon the earning 
capacity of each factory. 

The identity of the purchasers has not 
been disclosed, the new company having 
been capitalized at |1,000,000. The Clark 



racLory, localed at Los Alamltos, is not in 
the ne*w deal. 

U was stated at the office of J. Ross Clark 
to-uay chac Senator W. A. ^llark would not 
r?r!: wich his beet sugar holdings for any 
a-Toun: that any idividual or syndicate 
cjuid afford to pay. The Los Alamitos fac- 
tory represents an investment of $1,000,000 
to Senator Clark, and he does not care to 
unload, as he placed his money originally 
not for speculation but for le.a^itimate invesc- 
ment, and he is satisfied with the returns 
earned by the property. 

The indications are that the coming beet 
campaign in this section will net a two- 
thirds yield. Upon this basis, the Chino 
factory will .handle 66,000 tons, the Hueneme 
factory 75,000 tons, and the Los AlamMos 
factory 50,000 tons. This yield will mean 
$4 to the growers for every ton handled. 
Thid mean^ $764,000, nearly all of whidi 
finds its way finally to L05; Angeles in the 
purchase of machinery, supplies and other 
necessities. 

The length of the season at the three 
Southern California factories is usually 120 
days. Upon the basis of a two-thirds cro'p 
the season this year will last 80 days. The 
campaign will be inaugurated somewhat 
I'ater than usual this year, because ct the re- 
cent rains which failed to arri-ve until long 
after they had been due. Operations will 
begin August 1. 

Mag^azine Notes. 

The German appreciation of Kipling, 
which The Living Ago has translated from 
the Englisfhe Studien. is keen, just and dis- 
ci imina'ing. Kipling is widely read, and 
t) juCi^e from this estim'ate, is v/ell under- 
stood in Germany. 

People who find a good deal of current 
fiction sjmewhat too gruesome and gory will 
i.:.})ieciate Mr. Robertson's essay on The 
Murder Novel, which forms the leading 
article in The Li'v'in^ Age fbr April 29. 

Henri * Lavedan's story of A French 
Courtship, which The Living Age translates 
in its numbers for Anril 22 and 29, has a 
very delightful humor and naivete. 



Mr. R. R. Barrow, of Houma, La., a lead- 
in,? Terrebonne 'parish capitalist and sugar 
:)].in:cr' registered at the Hotel Grunewald 
on Monday last. 



Shall We Severely Expose Our Planted 
Canes and Stubbles to Secure a 
Stand ? 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

At the last meeting of the Louisiana Sugar 
Plancers* Association papers were read on 
the "Best Method of Planting, Fertilizing 
and Cultivating Cane so as to give the Best 
Results in Sugar," and the subject was then 
d.sjQssed by :he members. In this State the 
cane growers cultivate a tropical plant in a 
semi tropical clime where the period for 
maturing is curtailed by low temperatures, 
and extremes of wet and dry weather. The 



reasons why opinions differ so widely as to 
the treatment of cane is simply due to its 
extreme hardiness. During the discussion 
CVIr. Dymond justly stated: "This question 
of leaving cane on the bar furrow oujght to 
be better understood than it is now," and 
quoted instances where opinions differed. 
Mr. Comeaux in his paper stated, "It has 
always been the custom to leave cane on the 
bar furrow until it was up to a stand and 
even longer, that the sun might heat the 
roots. That I believe is an error. Cane 
should, as early in the spring as Is con- 
sidered safe from the cold, be barred off and 
scraped very close, but it should remain in 
that bare condition only a few days when a 
light furrow should be brought U(P on each 
side to retain moisture.'* The writer has 
been opposed to leaving cane on the bar for 
divers reasons, although he had an experi- 
ence in 1870 whicli would seemingly refute 
the objections. From early in March until 
about the twentieth of June no rain fell to 
reach the mother canes planted. When the 
last twenty acres of cane were barred the 
clods were very large and the land so hard 
that the men could only peck, not dig the 
stulible. The stubble remained on the bar 
during the longest drought experienced here 
since 1865, yet the yield amounted to 1% 
hhds. of sugar per a-cre with single mill and 
open kettle. 

Because canes are extremely hardy is no 
reason why their vitality should be taxed 
by subjecting them to unnecessary extremes 
of dry or wet surrounding. Sprouts when 
on?e above ground will survive with a soil 
almost constantly saturated, yet canes can- 
not be profitably grown from year to year 
A/hen the drainage is very defective. The 
narket gardener here and elsewhere in 
colder climes wants to hasten vegetation and 
early maturity, but he does not remove the 
eai th from the sides tff his plants and leave 
them in that plight to accomplish his end, 
he places an enriched soil in fine condition 
around his plants and trusts to sunlight and 
soil moisture to develop luxuriant and 
h*:althy vegetation. 

Some years ago the writer was discussing 
the treatment of stubble fields with Major 
Lagarde who stated: "On my way dov/n 
the Lafourche I came to a small planter 
who was molding some stubble where no 
sprouts were yet visible. I told him he was 
making a mistake and the reply was 'Major, 
that stubble is sick and wants nursing.' 
Two weeks later I had occasion to pass 
down the bayou from Thibodaux to Lock- 
port and the finest stand I saw was where 
the small planter had molded his cane. A 
year or two later I went to a meeting of the 
Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 
where "The Proper Time to Fertilize Stub- 
ble" was the subject of discussion. The 
consensus of opinion seemed to be in favor 
of a somewhat late application, and as I 
had already manured my fields I had to be 
content and await developments." That 
season Major Lagarde on Leii^ton had the 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 18. 



finest ratoons on the bayou from Napoleon- 
ville to Lockport. 

Some years sprouts begin to throw out 
independent roots early in May and some- 
times not until several weeks later. The 
cane grower wants not only tonnage but 
maturity, and the time of application of 
fertilizers must depend on the quality of the 
ingredients; if chemicals soluble In water 
are used no harm will be done if the manure 
U not put on the fields until the young 
canes begin to root. If tankage, etc., are 
used where decom4po3ition from nitrogen to 
nitric acid must take place before the plant 
food is available, then the earlier manuring 
will prove of benefit. If micro-organisms are 
so essential to healthy plant life, and 
myriads are killed by soil saturation, why 
convert what should be ridiges into water 
furrows and thereiby risk the destruction of 
what should be conserved and encouraged to 
multiply indefinitely? It would prove of 
interest to cane growers here to learn how 
plant cane and stubble areas are treated In 
Spain and Queensland in Australia where 
the cane is cultivated in the frodt belt as 
here, and if passible where the practice of 
barring cane originated. 

Thos. Mann Cage. 



Sugar and Expansiun. 

San Francisco, Cal., Apr. 26, 1899. 

What effect will territorial expansion have 
upon sugar making in the United Staes? 

One answer seems to be 'that fche beet 
sugar industry of this country and also the 
domestic -cane sugar interest are seriously 
threatened. 

Handicapped as the beet sugar makers and 
sugar beet growers have been in competing 
witih the bounty-fostered industry of Con- 
tinental Europe, they must, plainly, in the 
near future face an enormous increase in 
i.he output of cane sugar from Cutoa and our 
new possessions in the far East. 

If it be admitted -that the Philippine 
Islands will soon be developed by American 
capital, along with the admission goes the 
corollary that the work of developing must 
be done by Chinese or Filipino laborers, 
with 'Whom the white man cannot compete 
out there because of climate and wages. 
With this sort of labor and with the im- 
proved methods and machinery that will 
surely be introduced, it seems that the out- 
put of sugar from those islands mus-t in- 
evitably, within the next five years, be im- 
mensely Increased. 

The principal sugar-producing districts in 
the Philippines are on the islands Of Luzon, 
Negros, Panay and Cebu. It is not now 
possi>ble to say how great in these districts 
is the acreage upon which cane can be suc- 
cessfully grown; but the statement is made 
that the average yield for each acre under 
cultivation during the old regime was thirty 
tons of cane, which is a moderate one. Ne- 
gros has the finest cane^roducing lands, 
but not mor« than on«-half of thM« landi 



has efver >been brought under cultivation. In 
all of the districts mentioned the sugar es- 
tates have heretofore been small. An es- 
tate that turned out five hundred tons of 
sugar annually was a large one, and at no 
time have there been more than ten or 
twelve estates in the entire archipelago that 
produced more than one thousand tons of 
raw sugar ea<;h during a season. There is 
every reason to believe that in the near 
future there will be plantations In the group 
fully equal to those that were in operation 
in Cuba before the late war, from which 
ten thousand to fifteen thousand tons were 
not unusual yields. 

In the Philippines the methods of manu- 
facturing are generally the most primitive 
conceivable. Except In Negros, vertical 
mills, made of wood or stone and with the 
native carabao or water buffalo for motive 
power, are still in use, having undergone 
little change since they were first introduced 
by tlie Chinese centuries ago. On Negros 
there are a number of European-makie mills, 
and on l<uzon there are perhaps as many as 
ten private estates where vacuum pans have 
been in use. Will not all of this old-fash- 
ioned machinery be supplanted iby the latest 
modern contrivances from the United States 
in much^the same way that the most mod- 
ern appliances from this country have taken 
the place in Cuba of machinery made in 
Glasgow and Belgium? 

On all of the far Eastern islanlds trans- 
portation facilities are abominable, and from 
the greater num'ber of plantations to the 
coaLi: there are no canals, no dirt roads 
worthy of the name, and no railways. The 
sugar is usually carried to market or to tide 
water in buffalo carta. No port has yet 
been found in Negros where large vessels 
can take cargo, so that sugar from that 
island is taken to Hollo on the island of 
Panay in schooners carrying from forty to 
one hundred tons. 

Undoubtedly Americans will bring about 
an industrial revolution in our Oriental 
archipelago; for nowhere else will the soil 
give such wonderful returns, when property 
worked, as In these islands. The Spaniards 
and the natives were content to get as much 
as possible from the soil with the least 
possible effort, and tried for no morer This 
is shown in t!he table following by the tdtal 
exports of sugar, fn tons, from the islands 
between 1883 and 1889: 

From— 
ManUa— Dry 

Wet ; 

Cebu— Dry 

Wet 

nollo— Dry 

Wet 

Totals 

There are no data from which the cost of 
producing this sugar can be compiled, nor 
would knowledge of such cost be of much 
use, for under improved conditions and 
me^thods an entirely new basis will b« m- 
Ubli«h«d. 



The world's production of beet sugar in- 
creased from 2,699,000 tons in 1884 to 4,- 
790,000 tons in 1894, under the export bounty 
system, a gain of 78 per cent During the 
same period the output of cane sugar in- 
creased from 2,180,000 tons to 3,080,000 tons, 
or only 41 per cent But this proportion 
will surely be very difterent under the 
changed oonditions. E^ven now there is a 
•crisis in France in the sugar industry re- 
sulting from over-producMon, due to the ex- 
port bounty and consequent low prices. 
Many who have France's interests at heart 
are advising her to turn from sugar making 
to manufacturing alcohol. 

After Cuba shall have been restored to 
her old place as a sugar producer and the 
Philippines shall have entered the market 
in eames^t with their great output from large 
plantations worked by cheap laborers, the 
governments of Continental Europe are 
likely to find it but sorry work protecting 
by bounties their beet sugar makers. Nor 
is it easy to see much more hope for the 
sugar makers and sugar growers of the 
United States; for cannot our faraway pos- 
sessions say, with at least a shofw of demand- 
ing only justice, that they are entitled to 
as fair treatmen<t as that given to the Ha- 
waiian Islands, from which sugar has been 
admitted free of duty ever since 1876? — ^F. IL 
W., in N. Y. Journal Commerce. 



Personal. 

Among the visitors to this city last week 
was Mr. Charles S. Parker, of Liverpiool. 
Bug. Mr. Parker is extensively engaged in 
sugar producing in British Guiana, where he 
has a factory which annually produces over 
20,000,000 pounds of high grade sugar. He 
is just conpleting a trip around the world, 
starting some five months ago from Ldver- 
pool. He has visited the sugar producing 
sections of Egypt, Australia, HaiwcUi, Cali- 
fornia and lastly Louisiana. While here 
h^ was the fguest of \Mr. B. W. Deming, who 
had arranged to show him some of the larger 
Louisiana houses. 

Hon. Charles A. O'Neill, a leading barris- 
ter and highly esteemed citizen of the town 
of Franklin, La., was in the city on a visit 
a few days a^o and registered art the Hotel 
Orunewald. 

iMr. A. W. Conerly, of Terrebonne parish, 
was in the city on a vdsit a few days ago. 
He stopped at one of our leading hotels. 

1883. 1884. 1866. 1886. 1887. 1868. 188». 

e2/)04 46,481 47,642 82,694 «2,167 63.880 

33,602 17,77/ 18486 21,610 21,302 t7,7» 

16,807 13,404 23,676 16490 12,766 iZfilH 

5,693 3,870 4419 2,960 6,060 3^ 

80,702 89,841 102,369 81,201 71,722 72.882 

12,694 1,666 7,210 2 256 6,125 4416 

211,692 121,978 203,482 186,800 179,131 lSBfii9 218,^ 

Mr. J. F. Wellington, who is largely in- 
terested in the rice section oif this state, was 
a recent guest of the Hotel Grunewald, regis- 
tering from JenningSi La. 

IMr. F. A. Coomhs Was a guest of the St 
CharlM hotel last SuadaT' 



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LOCAL LBTTBB8. 



Ascension. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCC.) 

Editor Loui9iana Planter: 

The wearther has assumed a seasonable 
fown now, the average of temperature be- 
ins properly h)igh, and the only amendlnent 
that might render the meteorological situa- 
tion entirely aoceptaible would be an occa- 
sional waiun shower. 

The stiminary of Local Observer W. D. 
Park for April, ffh-ows a maximum tempera- 
ture at 91 degrees, a minimum oif 39 de- 
grees, and a total rainfall for the month of 
3.70 inches. There were 20 clear (iays, 7 
partly cloudy and 3 cloudy. On 5 days the 
precipitation exceeded .01 of an in'ch, and 
there was a ligiht frost on the 8th. A 
thunderstorm occurred the night of the 20th, 
fodloiwed by a hi^h wind the morning of the 
21st, causing oonsideralsle da'mage to fenc- 
ing antl fruit trees. The maximum tempera- 
ture for April, 1898, Was 88 degrees, the mini- 
mum 40 degrees and the preciipitation only 
2.10 in«ihes. The past month was therefore 
more generally favorafble to crop interests 
than the corresponding period of a year ago, 
hut unifortunately there is not the same 
agri'culturai basis to build on there was in 
the spring of 1898. 

Taking the reports from the stigar planta- 
tions by and large, the situation may 'be 
sunmiarized as follows: Spring plant cane, 
with tihe exception of a small proportion put 
into the ground later than the rest is show- 
ing a very good stand; first-year ratoons 
are fair in some places and indifferent in 
many others, whiie second-year ratoons are 
generally bad, but showing a reasonably 
good stand in some instances. 

The principal event of local interest this 
week has been the annual meeting, elec- 
tion of officers and fifteenth anniyersary 
banquet of the Ascension Branch Sugar 
Planters' Association of Lrouisian'^ wliich 
took place last Tuesday. 

The meeting was well attended, among 
\}'Aose present besides President Henry Mc- 
Calil and Secretary F. B. Lemann, beine^ Drs. 
W. M. McGaUiard, John D. Hanson and 
E. K. Sims, Judge Waller Guion, Cols. R. 
M'oCall and J. E. St. Martin, Capt. R. Pros- 
per L#andry, Messrs. E. H. Barton, Myer 
Lemann, W. I. Barton, E. N. Pugh, Carroll 
Barton, Henry C Braud, G. A. Gondran, R. 
N. Sims, Jr., C. Kline, S. H. St. Martin and. 
L. E. Bentley. Among those who sent ex- 
cuses for non attendance were Messrs. 
James P. Kock, Arthur Ja<x)(bs, Adol'phe 
Netter, A, D. Vega, J. Lebeimuth, D. D. 
Dalferes and J. S. lJom)bard 
* Routine business was disposed of in due 
form including the adoption of a resolution 
restoring the dues of regular membra frovn 
|18 to $24 per year, after which the present 
officers were unanimously re-elected as fol- 
lows: Henry McCall, president Bernard 
Lfomann, first vtce-president; Dr. W. M. Mc- 



GaUiard, second-vice president; F. B. 
Leonann, secretary and treasurer. 

Failing health led to the resignation of 
CapL John T. Nolan, whose .pilace an the 
board of directors was filed by the election 
of Mr. E. H. Barton. The board as at pres- 
ent constituted comprises the following gen- 
tlemen in addition to the officers: Jannes P. 
Kock, R. MoCaU, E. N. Pugh. R. N. Sims, 
J. E. St. Martin, C. Kline and E. H. Bar- 
ton. 

The following resolution, offered by Hon. 
Henry MoOall, was unanimously adopted: 
Whereas, the interests of the whole coun- 
try, the reinforcement of our navy, tjhe 
enlargment of foreign markets for our sur- 
plus product, the increased employment of 
our workingmen would be all promoted by 
the restoration of our merchant marine to 
its fonmer position on.tJhe seas of the world; 
therefore be it 

Resolved, That, in the opinion of the As- 
cension Branch of the Sugar Planters* As- 
sociation of Louisiana, it is the duty of con- 
gress, at the earliest day possible, to enact 
legislation to secure such restoration, on the 
lines cxf that recently reported favorably to 
both houses of congress by the committee on 
the part of the senate and the committee on 
Uhe merchant marine and fisheries on the 
part of the house. 

•Further resolved. That a copy of these 
resolutions be mailed to Capt. A. K. Miller, 
of New Orleans, president of the American 
Shipping and Industrial League. 

The banquet followed, but that is another 
story to be told in next week's letter from 

Ascension. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8P0NDENCE.) 

ElUor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has been favorable during 
the past week, but occasional showers Would 
be appredia'ted as the soil is getting pretty 
dry. On April 29th the maximum tempera- 
ture, as reported at the U. S. engineer's 
ofllce at Plaquemine, reached the 93 degree 
mark; the lowest temperature was on April 
26'th, 60 degrees. Ever>'thing seems to be 
growing and even the stubbles, whfch have 
been very slow this year, are showing up at 
last. A gentleman, who pulled up 36 bunches 
last week told us he found two and three 
good vigorous sprouts on all the bunches 
'but 5, and he felt satisfied that he would yet 
get a fa/ir stand. A ride along the coast 
from Plaquemine to Ascension line, right 
bank, however discloses very few cuts of 
^tuJbble showing even a half stand. The 
stand of plant cane is good. 

Hon. Fred Wilbert, of Plaquemine, who 
has large planting interests on Bayous Jacob 
and Sorrell says he feels very much grati- 
fied at the way things are looking now. 

Mr. Eli Laville, of Plaquemine, the clever 
manager of Mrs. H. H. Baker's Evergreen 
plantation, says the new levee will take over 
60 acres of their finest land. Evergreen's 
crop is one of the best in the parllsh and Mr. 



baville has received many compliments from 
all who have seen it. 

>We hear of a small reduction in wages on 
several places in the parish, but we do not 
think this move will be general. 

iMessrs. Holloway & Postell, of Plaque- 
mine, have planted cotton in some of their 
stuibibles on the Star plantation They did 
the same on several small pieces last year 
and seem satisfied with the result. 

Mr. Joseph D. Berret, of Soulouque, one 
of the best rice planters in the state realized 
a handsome profit on his rice crop of last 
year by holding it over till this spring. 

The Police Jury held its regular meet- 
ing last Monday and among other things, 
appropriated ^50.00 for the Richland road 
in the first ward. Tttie neighiborhood to 
whi»ch this road leads is now very thickly 
settled with small farmers, who by putting 
' their own la'bor in with the help extended 
them by the parish, can makr> i^his road one 
cf the best in the parish. A motion to levy 
a per caipl-ta tax of $1.00 for road purposes 
was voted down. The parish health officer 
was authorized to select a site for a pest 
house, several sfraggllng cases of smallpox 
having found their way into the parish. 
Planters should waWh cl'osely and should 
also require their la.borers to get vaccinated. 
Hon. Judges J. M. Thompson and W. W. 
Leake held a session of the 4th circuit, at 
Plaquemine, this week and tried four cases, 
to-wit: A. V. Coco, vs. Dr. G. R. Fox; 
Amedee Levert, vs. Serena Jackson, et als.; 
Dr. G. R. Fox, vs. Mrs. Josephine Dunlap; 
and Gr'ace Bros., vs. Mitchell Zeringue, et al. 
The judgment of the lower cour in the last 
named suit was reversed while those render- 
ed in the three first mentioned were affirmed. 
Messrs. Harley and Samuel Matthews of 
Nashville, Tennessee, who were brought here 
by the sad death of their mother last week, 
after spending several days in the l^arisih 
wit'h relatives have returned. 

Iberville. 



West Baton Rou^e. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

There has been a slight change lor the 
better here during the past two weeks in 
the -condition of the cane crop. This im- 
provement seems to apply more to the up- 
per half than the lower portion of the parish. 
In this connection it is noted as a peculiar 
fact that the central and upper portions -of 
the parish suffer less in unfavorable sea- 
sons than the lower section. 

Under the influence of the warmer weather 
now prevailing considerable cane, both plant 
and stubble, has come out during the past 
two or three weeks, and it is generally be- 
I'ieved and hoped that more will yet come 
when the weather conditions are more favor- 
able. For, although the days are warmer 
than they were three weeks aigo, the 
weather is still unseasonafbly cool and de- 
cidedly too dry. Rain is 'badly needed every- 
where. It is generally conceded that it will 



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^Z? THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 18. 



be at least two weeks before it can be 
learned just to what extent the cane will 
come out, while some planters contend that 
June 7 will have come and gone ere the 
situation can be sized up accurately. 

In the opening sentence of this communi- 
cation i^t is stated that " there has been 
a slight change for the better here." This 
in a resiricted sense. As an illustration of 
what is here meant, the case may be ciied 
of a large plantatian whose proprietor two 
weeks ago did not expect to make enough 
cane to plant his place for at least two years. 
On Monday the gentleman seated that somj 
of his cane had come out surprisingly well 
lately, and th-at he thought they would at 
least make seed enough this season to plant 
the iplace next year. Tw^o other planta- 
tions here are not so fortunate, as their 
owners at present de&palr of growing a suffi- 
ciency of seed cane this year. Several place's 
will probably grind, ii only for a couple 
or three weeks. That is to say, they have 
more than enough seed cane in sight. In 
view of the generally unfavorable weather 
conditions that have prevailed, and aae still 
prevailing, it seems quite certain that the 
crop will be late, but as few planters expect 
to grind, that -fact is of little consequence. 
"Mr. John Cronan, who has alv.a>s made 
good crops on his own property and, more 
reoentHy, on the Bellevale plantation, which 
he leases, is endeavoring to "tide over" the 
situation by putting In 100 acres of cotton 
on Bellevale. While several of the larger 
planters some weeks ago had expressed an 
intention to experiment wiili c^icon, Mr. 
Cronan, so ifar as I can learn, is the jnly 
one who has carr*ied his intension iuto ex- 
ecution. The result of his efijrcs will je 
watched with interest. A»prop3s of 'Ai^ fljooy 
staple It is almost im'possi'bie to get good 
cotton seed here, and, consequently, the 
stands are very defective. In many casas. 
It has heen found necessary to replant. The 
incessant rains cf last fall and the zero 
temperature of February seem to have 
seriously injured the cotoon seed as well as 
the cane. 

Berthelot Brothers, who are culcivating 
rice on Limerick plantation, have flattering 
pro&peots of an excellent icrop. 

A aoaklng rain would be o>f great benefit 
just now to West Batun Kolgk. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL COaRESrONDENCr.) 

Editor LouUiana Planter: 

No complaint can be urged against the ex- 
cellent weather given us for the p.i;^ t?ii 
days. It has been exceptijnaliy war..i, a-id 
under the influence of the genial ra\s o! ih.^ 
sun all vegetation has taken a new lease of 
life The corn crop will b3 a \i:;i^ one, 
and everything now points to a Ia^^; r taan 
average yield of corn per ajre, a3 ij. alnuj. 
perfect stand has been secured, and :-:p 
ground was probably in bat.er conditijn 
than ever before. It is growing rapidly, and 
the planter is anticipating the time when 



ir will have been laid by and he can de- 
vote his best efforts to the cane. The plant 
looks thrifty, and is better than was usu- 
ally anticipated, thus showing that the de- 
struction wrought i)y the cold wea:her of 
Ktbruary was but small. Many contend that 
the harm was done not by the i;j!d, biK 
by the wet winter, and the cool spring fal- 
low ing. The stul/ole is coming still, and 
many eyes are sjtill to bc> found to reward 
the patienct} of the invobtigator. Dust is 
i-ow in evldenre, and the dry spelLhas en- 
abled the farmer to catch up with his work. 
So far there seems hope for a fair crop, and 
pcrhiLps wiih the best of weaiher we may 
exceed the sugar returns of last year. 

A careful observer told me th.it on cane 
marking the rows the latter part of April, he 
had obiaiued from stubble an average of 
twenty-two tons per acre, ho-wever, ana.ther 
year he had been only able to goL to fifteen 
tons to the acre. There is no doubt that su- 
^gar cane is a rank grorvver, and if given fav- 
orable seasons it will rapidly make up fc 
lost time. A comparison of the tempera- 
ture of last week with that of April a i'ear 
ago, shows a higiier degree this year, in fact, 
i, exceeds the normal, which is a condition 
of climate most favorable for the cane. 

Among the crops showing up very pret- 
tily along the public road, we nuy mention 
I incase Grove, wht?reon an excel lent s-land 
of plant cane can be seen. Mr. Roussel 
cl.iiais that he is too mo.lest to put his 
besi cane in front, so that we surmise that 
liOcust Grove will be hoard from when we 
be*;Iu to spin yarns about tonnage. The 
cane on Oakley and Litt.e Texas has come 
out surprisingly wiihin the p.i.^t ten days, 
and pi aspects look bright as to a ques:ion 
of stand. The prettiest plant cane I hav^* 
sren was on Georgia, the product of the 
seed I referred to in one of my letters in 
the early spring. The s:ubble here as well, 
seems to be improving in quality. Elm 
Hall and Foley are nui boascing, but their 
man.ager3 have a contented look that argurs 
well for future results, a^nd is a fair indi- 
cation that they are no worse off than their 
neighbors. It has been stated that the Elm 
Hail crop, both stubble and plant, will equal 
that of the same time last year. 

While a warm rain now, not tao heavy, 
would do good, we are not suffering for it. 
/ : a ral:, a dry May means a good crop 
ye\r. The reason for this is obvious, for a 
diy May means cane well worked, and 
tlrjrough culture of cane and an early '*lay- 
bj" are regarded as almost sure precursers ' 
cf i;ood sugar yields, the year 1898 to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

We regret to record the fact that Mr. E. 
L. Monnot Is still confined to the house; 
his many friends will join me in the hope 
that he will soon be up and about again. 

Mrs. Walter Stella, (better known as Miss 
Fanny Foley.) will spend a few weeks at 
the old homesitead. 

Mrs. Race is visiting Glen wood, after an 
absence of some years. 



Mrs. Espy Williams has been the guest 
of Mrs. Ford at Bellcwood for some days, 
enjoying the country hospitality so charm- 
ingly extended. 

Tlie water in the Lafourche continues to 
fall, and no danger from the water in sigh: 
is fell ill Assumption. More Anon. 

Terrebonne, 

»PPECIAL CORRESPONDEN'CE ) 

/..!..%>/• Louisiana Planter: 

With more than ten days without any rain- 
fall and the weather otherwise generally 
propitious, field work has made rapid prog- 
ress and the crops of both cane and corn 
have notably improved, and quantities of the 
latter are being laid by and peas planted, 
a much earlier date than last year. In local- 
ities where the worms were not destructive, 
the prospects for a corn crop are above the 
average, and the acreage will certainly ex- 
ceed that of last season. Last year but lit- 
tle cane was pfanted with the land in good 
condition; but this spring in this parish 
the bulk of the plant cane was seeded wiih 
the land in gct>d order, and had the seed 
cane been sound before and after the freeze, 
the s:and of plant cane would have been 
;p to the average. As it is in very many 
instances the outlook for plant cane is far 
superior to what was hoped for by many a 
day or two after the exceedingly low tem- 
peiuture in February. Although nertv sprouts 
appear from day to day in the stuhble fields. 
yet but few now hope for an apfproximatlan 
to an average stand, and consequently com 
has been largely planted, to be thinned out 
later should the ratoons appear. The lands 
are genei'ally in better tilth than las: sea- 
son and middles are being (ploughed out to 
plant oane and stubble. 

It will be ten days or two weeks yet be- 
fore any just estimate can be formed of the 
crctp prospect, and even then much will de- 
pend on the kind of season until the crop is 
laid by in July. Last yeair in this parish 
Iviay was dry, followed by precipitations far 
above the normal until October, one of the 
most UFiipropitious seasons ever experienced 
in this latitude. The chances are this sea- 
son will be far more favorable than last 
year and the output from the plant cane area 
crop requires assiduous cultivation with the 
land well ridged to ex'jjedite the flow of 
water from the field, whereby the numiber 
of working days may be increased should 
showers interfere with cultivation. In this 
latitude clean water furrows are essential to 
frequent tillage— so necessary to aug^ment 
crctp yields. A warm shower might prove 
au*ept£j'ole to Sv>me, bu'c dry weather is in- 
fluitely preferable to frequent rains, as the 
crop requires rapid cultivation to put the 
soil in a friable condiVion for ra/pid and 
prdfuse rooting. There are uhose who may 
treat with derision the Idea that waves of 
thought affect peoples and nations, yet in 
time such may be recognized as a fac't. One 
can see the ripiple on the shore in cane cul- 
tune, beginning with the realiz-aJion that 



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279 



constant clod cumulation with the doul)le 
plough is diametrlciilly opposed to correct 
tillage. 

At a recent meetinig of the Drainage Com- 
mission No. 1, the cftiairman, Mr. R. R. Bar- 
row, sta.:ed: "When we reach Scliriever we 
will have cut out the following bayous ^ince 
Dec. 13th, 1893: 

I.ii';le Caill'ou 10^6 miles 

Terrebonne 22 miles 

Bayou Oane % miles 

Canal to Prairie % miles 

La Cache bayou 3 miles 

La Cache canal \^ miles 

Bayou Chauvin and canal 4^ miles 

Bayou Sale 4 miles 

Mating a total of 45% miles 

Tour commission ho.pe to finish the 
W3rk on upper Terrebonne shontly and to 
remove the dredge finishing up the work as 
ibey go to tlie bayou Du Large section o«f our 
districL** 

Wed-nesday of last week, heavy fog in the 
early morning and parr:lally cloudy later; 
Thursday, fog and fine; Frift'ay, fog and 
fivojable growing weather during the day; 
similar conklltions on Saturday; Sunday and 
Monday, cloud's and sunshine; Tuesday, 
cbudy and threatening; and Wednesday 
morning, warm and pai^tially cloudy. 

Terrebon.ne. 



5t. riary. 

(SPECUL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

We have not had a rain at this writing 
since the 18th ol April, and during that 
period of time a great deal of field cultivat- 
ing has gone on, uuder a temiperature that 
is ttie exact number for rapid growth of 
crops, and favorable, too, for giving the 
grass a back set from which it will not re- 
cover until the laying- by season, unless we 
are overcaken by an excessive rainy speil 
during the growing period. But while we 
are not having an over suipply of what our 
cukared broDher in Terrebonne invariably 
siy.es **precipitations," we have had, dur- 
ing- the past six or ten days, several threat- 
ening "agglutinations," but they each result- 
eJ in very complete "scatterations," and, as 
a consequence, the dust upon the public 
roads, has continued to grow thicker, and 
the South winds have distributed it to some 
extent upon the vegetation growing near the 
roadways throughout the parish; but ''con- 
glomerations" of lowering; miwi, have been 
hanging over us to-day, though no rain. 

Senator Caffery, owner of Bethla plant- 
ation, half a mile above Franklin, is at home 
again, after his long labor at the Nation's 
Capital, in a vigorous and praiseworthy 
campaign in opoxosition to the ratification of 
the Paris "acquisition" treaty, disguised as 
a treaty of peace. While Mr. Caftery is not 
considered an old man in the Senate, (owing 
to the fact that it is a body otf white heads) 
he is looked upon aa a land mark in this 
parish, and as holding his age in high preser- 
vation.* The Senator has been identified 



wit"h the interests of the sugar industry for 
many years, and has always l)een a forciJble 
exponen-t of land reclamation, perfect drain- 
age and the central factory oorpo ration for 
the small planter, and by -him (the planter) 
owned and operated. 

Upon enquiry, of persons in authority, your 
corresipondent learns that .the Praiiklin re- 
finery, basing its calculations on ordinary 
results, exi)ects today between seven and 
eight millions this season. This concern Is 
exclusively a refinery, having no crushing 
appfaratus whatever, and running at full 
time, its capacity will exceed very largely, a 
million a week; but so many of our planters 
LavG put in a full «train of machinery from 
the mill to the packer that its patronage has 
been somewhat intenfered with in recent 
years. 

Mr. A. A. Bonvillain's several plantations 
in the Cypreniont di&trict are all about up 
and coming now, and from present Indica- 
tions he says he can safely count upon a 
full stand of cane, less ten per cent. 

Mr. W. B. Kemper, owner of the Chou- 
pique "plantation, says his shortage will be 
as much as fifteen per cent. -But both these 
planters will make up the scarcity as near 
as (possible, with heavy corn planting. 

»Mr. A. M. Underwood, of the Belleview, on 
the Teche, Is merely throwing dirt to his 
cane in the windrow, as he claims it were 
impossible to economically take utp and 
plant it in the regular way, dwing to the 
extent of his loss from the freeze. 

Messrs. J. N. Pharr and J. W. Barnett, two 
of the most extensive planters in the lower 
section of this parish, have contemplated 
the erection of cane hoists on the rail and 
water ways of this portion ot St. Mary for 
several years past, which would be of great 
benefit to those producers who sell by the 
ton, and your correspondent learns that 
they will put them in without lail, in time 
for the present harvest season, if the gross 
yield indicates a disposition to allow it. • 

Mr. J. P. Kemiper, proprietor of the great 
farm implement and cultivator house, with 
headquarters at Franklin, is the inventor of 
a calble-rake <?arrier feeder, of which little 
is known as yet, but which has 'been pro- 
nounced by planters and mechanical men as 
embracing every essential to its ultimate 
success. Only one has ever been erected so 
far, and that upon one of Mrs. Ernest Bur- 
guieres* places in Cypremont, aver which 
some misunderstanding in the contract of 
erection is being contested in the courts at 
Franklin. But Mr. Kemper declares that 
the decision will not effect the future of his 
invention for good or ill, as he expects to 
build under an absolute guarantee. 

Some of the plant cane was thought to be 
more seriously damaged at the time It was 
put in the ground than was really so, and, 
consequently, is coming up too thickly. 

The question oif diversified staples, which 
was one of the most universally accepted 
theories for working out the destiny of the 
cotton producer in this country a few years 



ago, could have been resorted to, and will 
be, to some extent, among the cane grow- 
ers this year in St. Mary. Being safely con- 
ceded that an acre of land does not produce 
as many tons of cane now as it did twenty 
thirty and fifty years previously, even when 
accompanied by the strongest, costliest and 
most adaptable fertilizer, it is a very neces- 
sary conclusion, in the absence of any other 
reasonable excuse, that the soil itselif is 
growing gradually weaker by reason of a 
continuous con'sumptlon of Its sulbstance by 
the production, of sugar cane. 

Your correspondent considers the editorial 
article in the Planter oif last week, April 
29th, a very clear introduction to the Gc'rm'an 
book of Dr. Kruger, upon the history, several 
icinds, individual characteristics and 
methods and extent of production of sugar 
cane in the different countries of the world, 
and would suggest that the producers of the 
different sugars of this country be urged, 
through their scientific and progressive in- 
s:itution3^ to obtain a copyright from the 
publisher for an English editiion, or ^o in- 
terest the publisher himself in a translation 
into our language, upon his own accoun., 
if such Is not already in course Ot contempla- 
tion. St. Mary. 



St. Mary. 

The cane is coming out beautifully, and 
each planter wears a smile on his iface a yard 
and a half long. 

The crops in the upper portion of St. Mary 
are quite good. The Adeline plantation which 
emibraces the largest sugar plantations in 
Lipper St. Mary has a good crop of cane and 
the acreage is large. The corn crop Is also 
all that could 'be expected and will serve 
all purposes for another season. 

The weather is simply getting hot. An 
occasional rain during this kind of weather 
will ibe of immense benefit to the crops of 
all sorts. 

The sugar house on Matilda plantation was 
burned to the ground last Saturday night. 
In its day, it »was considered to be one of 
the ibest in St. Mary, but the immense im- 
provements in the sugar manufacturing busi- 
ness, developed within late years, it had be- 
come outclassed, and the proprietor sold his 
cane crop to the immense Adeline plant. 
The Matilda contained a vacuum pan and 
all its appurtenances of sufficient capacity 
to manufacture raw sugar, but did not con- 
tain equipments necessary for the refined 
article. The house had not Ibeen in actual 
use 'for two years. We did not learn 
whether or not there was any insurance 
policy 'bearing upon the loss. ^^^^ 

The Cote Blanche plantation was offerea uuc 
there bellng no bidders, was not sold. The 
property was appraised at $96,000, two- thirds 
of which appraisement was necessary for the 
first bid. It will be sold on credit after re- 
advertisement of ten days. It will be sold 
at private sale for less than the two-thirds 
figure.— Vindicator News, April 28. 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[VoL XXII, No. 11 



Vcrmilkm* 

(•rccuL com%wM9Qmtm,itc%.y 
SdUor LouiMana PlamUr: 

T\us weather for the pajit week baa been 
rery flne f-^r farm work and the hnproTe- 
ment In the young cn/p U rery perceptible, 
Tb« weather baa been warm wkb a atiff 
fi'iatb wind which baa dried out the super- 
abundan<:e of water in the land. The ground 
is now in fine shape for stirring, and the 
farmers are not losing any time from their 
work. Cane, com and cotton are all being 
worked out this week, except com that is 
being killed by the worms. Cane is still 
coming out and the stand will come op to 
that mentioned In our last week's report, 
but it is feared that on account of the late- 
ness of iu coming up that it will not sucker 
nor grow to be of any size. Your corres- 
pondent was out a few days ago examining 
cane and saw considerable plant as well as 
stubble that was just peeping out of the 
ground. The stand will be very fair, but the 
resulu may repeat those of 1895. In the 
spring of 1896, after the snow in February, 
the stubble cane was very late in coming out, 
and though the stand was regular, the cane 
did not mature over two feet for the mill. 
It is to be hoped that 1899 will not repeat 
1896. At least seventy-flve per cent of the 
plant, however, is up to a good stand and is 
being worked out this week, while fifty per 
cent of the ()rst stubbles show an average 
stand. Every stimulus will 1>e put behind 
this cane to push it to maturity, and if the 
seasons are favora'ble the resulU may be 
materially changed. Intense cultivation will 
be practiced this year throughout the cane 
belt— a system tff farming uever before prac- 
ticed by the farmers in Vermilion. Cora 
is recovering from the set ba<:k caused by 
the excessive rains of week-before-last, and 
is regaining its fresh green color. Where 
the worms killed it out and where the stand 
was not completely destroyed it is being 
replanted, and where It was completely des- 
troyed it Is being planted over again. The 
prospects for a com crop are flattering, and 
a flne yield may be expected. Cotton was 
damaged considerably by the continued cool 
nights; the worais assailed it and destroyed 
the stand in many places, and the cool 
weather stopped the growth of that remain- 
ing and caused it to look very sick and turn 
red. In many places it was ne<ceBsary to 
plant over. The outlook for cotton is any- 
thing but promising. It is a fact that cot- 
ton planting has not been finished yet; many 
farmers are just ready to plant, and many 
of them who have their lands ready to plant 
have no seed to plant them with. Cotton 
seed is quite scarce in the parish. Rice 
planting is being pushed to completion, and 
though the crop will not be fully put in 
before the last of May. the bulk of the 
crop has already been seeded down. The 
first planting al^ong the irrigating canals 
has been flooded already and is looking fine. 
The general crop will be fiooded by the 15th 
of May and the future prospects are rer^ 



brigbL R. R Mills is pushing bis canal to 
completion and by the 20tb of May expfH^ts 
to be rf*ady to furnish water to those along 
his canal and also to flood his own crop. 
When completed this will be one of the pret- 
tiest Hule canals in the rice section, and 
will have a capacity of irrigating 5000 acres 
of rice. P. C. M, 



Avoyelles. 

(SPCCIAL COaRBSPCKDCIfCC.) 

Biitor Lou'H%na Planner: 

Enjoyable weather has at last come and 
of that warm soft and partly cloudy nature 
so much in demand by the planters at this 
season of ibe year, to impart life and 
growth to plants. 

The first day of May ofpened nice and 
pleasant, with slight indications fbr rain, 
which if not too heavy, would not be felt 
amiss for such field plants as cotton would 
feel the beneficial effect at this date of a 
warm shower. 

Corn, where ttioroughly cultivated, is 
growing, the young and tender plants pre- 
senting a flne color, seemingly doing as well 
as the planters should expect. A number 
of our sDirring farmers have informed me 
that it is their in'tention to begin laying by 
some of their first planting of corn next 
week, not forgeting to, at the same time, 
plant peas and enough eft them 'to insure a 
full crop of vines to cover the ground, shade 
and enrich the soil. 

The cane crops ot our fair .par'ishes are 
now showing up surprisingly wdl and be- 
yond the expectations of the cane raisers at 
planting time. 

Mr. Jas. B. Stewart, of St. John parish, 
called on the Plan*ter's scrfbe on the 30th 
ult. Mr. Stewart was employed last season 
by the MoCractoen Bros. In their Powhontas 
sugar factory as master mechanic and direct- 
ing engineer, and is also an expert sugar 
maker. With his assistant, Mr. Mason, of 
New Orleans, he is just now finishing work 
on a liarge lot of thirds left over in tanks 
and oars from the '98 crop. Mr. Stewart 
informs me that the outlook in St. John is 
not as Ibright as he would like* •to see it, 
hut is truly glad that conditions are not 
found to (be worse than they are after such 
a hard winter. 

St. John has some iplaces and fields pre- 
senting fair stands at growing canes, bui, 
ail said, Mr. Stewart seems to think that 
few if any of the sugar fa*c Lories in his 
parish wiU he able to do much of any grind- 
ing this coming iall. 

The Powhontas plantation, Mr. C. 6. 
Fusilier managing, with Mr. Wlllcerson, as- 
sistant, has 150 acnee of plant cane, but, as 
I undenstand, no stuibble. Mr. Fusilier is 
surely fortunate in planting as many acres 
as he has for a hard year like this one has 
been. 

Not only is he fortunate in the number of 
acres he has to cane, but also in the splendid 
stand which Is now in view. 

The Messrs. MIoCracken Bros, seem to be. 



as I have been informed, very well pleased 
with the results so far obiained on Pow- 
hontas. The acreage which will be devoted 
to com and peas will be in excess of that 
of last season. 

One object sought for will be to build op 
and improve the soil during the year for 
next season's cane crop. One cause contrKrat- 
Ing to the sound keeping quality of tbe seed 
cane found on the Powhontas plantation this 
Lpring. was its superior richneas in sac- 
charine contents, together with the splendid 
work and care taken in cutting, laying down 
in windrow, coverincf, etc 

Late advices from Barbreck and vicinitj 
indicate from fair to good stand of cane ia 
the locality. Mr. Caonpbell, nkannsins Cum- 
berland plantation, Barbreck P. O., has some 
75 acres of plant cane now aA>out op to a 
good stand. 

Mr. Campbell will plant an increased 
acreage to peas, com and some cotton. 

Mr. Henry Shaw, in command of Barbreck 
plantation, has prospects for a f&lr stand of 
cane. He %as planted a large acreage to 
corn to be set to peas at time of laying by. 
Mr. Shaw will plant a number of acres to 
cotton, more, I think, to fill out the round 
of work and time than otherwise. 

Prospects in Rapides are aaid to be im- 
proving with cane comdng out and up to 
nice stands. A large area planted to com 
and later to be planted to peas. With ootton 
now coming up and beginndng to grow, 
business is brightening up. 

Alexandria, the "Future Great'* and ccnning 
Chicago and railroad center of Louisiana, 
like the magnet, is drawing, by attraction, 
more and more railroads to center there. 

With prospects and projects for big cotton 
and other factories, the "Future Great" has 
a golden dream of reality in its future, 

EiRCf. 

5t. James — Left Bank« 

rSPBCIAL CORRBSPONDBNCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Dally itmiprovements are noticed in the, 
up to now, distressing state of the crops. 
The wea'ther is certainly propitious. We 
had a very good rain ten days ago, and since 
have had warm, sunny days, with damp fogs 
in the morning, several times falling as a 
thick dew. 

The crops themselves seem to slightly im- 
prove daily; new stalks peep out, and we 
hope thus for an additional imiprtoTeiment. 
The spring plant is doing remarkalbly welt 
almost everywhere, and the stubbles, where 
the shucks had not been burnt prior to the 
devastating blizzard, have been very well 
protected — as the difference is easily seen. 

During the last rain we had. a strong gale, 
almost a hurricane, which blew quite he&vilr 
for over two hours and caused consider- 
able damage here and there. Fences were 
blown down in a great many places, some 
little shanties succumbed to the forcible 
wind, and a ermoke stack on the Union Sugar 
House of Mrs. JwCQtosti&gen, was Iv^ken and 



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fell; also several large trees, were torn up 
by the roots. 

The Uncle Sam facftory ha^ just finished 
drying sugars. Wilton factory, also, has 
>ust terminated the same process. 

The river which has been at our levees for 
qufte a w<hile not far from the danger line, 
is now slowly and silently creeping away 
from our emib'ankments and all are glad to 
see the departure of aiJich a dreaded visitor. 

The weather since thils morning is some- 
what cloudy and the profbalbilities are that 
we may have a good sQiower very shortly, 
which would be most welcome. 

Convent. 



Lower Coast. 

Bertrandville, La., Apr. 25, 1899. 

C8PECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor LouisUtna Planter: 

In the last discussion by the Louisiana 
6ugar Planters' Association, it was said that 
the scientist would have to take a back seat, 
but when one looks at the tahles you pub- 
lish with the paper olProf. Stuhbs, it will 
t>8 seen that he has been doing remarkably 
well With his way of cultivating and fer- 
tilizing, securing az>out 40 tons o(f cane to 
the acre with 12 per cent of sucrose. This 
is better than the average planter has done. 
Again, he makes about 300 tons of oane to 
one mule which cannot be beaten by any 
planter. I agree entirely with Dr. Stubbs 
in his way of cultivation. We can cultivate 
and fertilize but we cannot make th^ weath- 
er, and the weather is all to make the crop. 

It was 'very amusing to hear from some 
old fogies and ex-pUnters right after the 
late freeze, that the cane was not hurt at all 
when they had lots of precedents against 
them and the more so now, when they try 
to make others beliei^e that the freeze did 
not hurt* the canes as much as the wet 
weather. Any planter who takes any in- 
terest in his cane should have known that 
t)efore the freeze the stubble cane was 
alright. In black land there was more cane, 
out before the ireeze thun there is now, and 
again wherever the trash had not been 
-burned when the freezo came along the 
stand of cane is perfect now. That should 
be enough to show that it was the freeze 
that did the damage. 

Now in regard to culti rating cane so as 
to give the best result in sugar I believe 
that to cultivate as little as possible we 
should, of course, help nature to get the 
cane out by taking the dirt aiway from the 
cane and fertilizing wherever the land re- 
quires it as soon as the young oane makes 
roots 6o as to give them a good start. After 
that they will take care of themsetyes. In 
shor't, I think we should cultivate early and 
stop early and the weather must do the 
rest. 

The groimd temperature on the morning 
of the 25th in^, three inches down was 62 
degrees, and above the ground 60 degrees F. 
That shows .that the earth has warmed up 



and anything alive will soon be above the 
ground now. The cane is making great 
progress and it is thought now that 2-3 of 
a crop of what was expected before the 
freeze will be made in this neighiborhood. 

H. M. 



FOREIGN LBTTBRS. 



Trade Notes. 

nr. Geo I*. Andertan. 

Thi3 wide-awake gencleman inforras us 
that he has jusl closed a deal for the iile of 
the entire machinery or the Promised Land 
place on the lower coast to some Chicago 
pai'Jes who Intend to take it to Xiz:: -> and 
erect it there. j Mr. Andertan v. ill ha^^e 
charge of the installauon of tiie niAcliinery 
in its new albiding place, which is boated 
on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and he w.il 
have full charge of the sugar house until it 
is s'^rted and in complete running Ox^Jer. 
The projectors of this new Mexican eiiccr- 
prise are evidently men of good jud^m_n*: and 
discrctiun, for in selecting Mr. Anderson, 
they have got hold of a good engineei* and 
a practical sugar house expert. We con- 
gratulate all parties to the deal. 



The Texas & Pacific Railway. 

The Planter has received the Texas & 
Faciflc Railway quarterly, volume 2, No. 3, 
for April, 1893, which is a very handsome 
pamphlet, published by the general passen- 
ger department of the Texas & PaciCc Rail- 
way Co., at Dallas. Along wi{h a lot of 
literary matter, ranging ail the way frcim 
the illustrated poem of the man with the 
hoe to a modern tournamenc, descriibing the 
sale of the famous I'iioroughbred Hereford 
bull. Sir Bredwell, and the many advantages 
and wonderful improvements in the* Texas & 
Pacific Railway during the last twenty years, 
altogether make up a beautifully illustrated 
and descriptive pamphlet that will certainly 
attract more attention to this great trunk 
line. 



Personal. 



Mr. S. S. Lees, of the C. S. Burt Co., Lim., 
has returned from a business trip to the 
North and West. 

Hon. Andrew H. Gay, of the St. Louis and 
Union plantations, in Iberville parish, was 
registered at the St. Charles hotel during 
the week. 

Mr. J. Lebei muth, of St. James parish, one 
of the best planters and cultivators in the 
state, and a leading citizen of his parish and 
vicinity, was a recent guest of one of our 
leading hotels, having come to the city on a 
brief trip. 

Mr. J. W. Lihby has returned from a very 
interesting and entertaining trip to the Is- 
land of Cuba, whither he went to look into 
conditions, and see for himself what the 
prospects were for the industrial develop- 
ment of the island. Captain Pearl Wight, 
of the well-known firm of Woodward, Wight 
& Co.» Limited., aocomxxanied Mr. Libby. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, April 15th, 1899. 

(SPECIAL COt^RESPONDEN'CE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

tt is by no means surprising in April to 
see the meteorological coniltions change 
day by day or even every few hours, and the 
asrit„l:".r;s:3 are in general well prepared 
for siLii an e^iergeucy, ba: in years like the 
presen:, when the prey.j..3jr prevailing 
weather has been qui'ce unfavjrajble to fleld- 
V.-:..-, .!:e vr,::aL..-i.y of the atmospheric cl.- 
ca.^3.':inccs a-^us only to the uneaslnesi of 
the farmer, and this has been the case last 
week, more particularly on account of the 
frequent mois-t precipications ex'peilenced in 
almost all our beet districts; and as the 
temperature has grown , also very cold, in 
sjme places those prec.pI:a:ion3 degenerated 
in:o snc'AT StO.vas; which in other quarters 
have been so abundant that the rivers. 
especially the Rhine, began to rise to a 
threatening extent. In the 'face of this 
course of the weather, it need hardly be re- 
marked that the beet growers had not much 
cause to rejoice over it. Beet planting, it is 
true, has begun, but in consequence ot the 
many interruptions it advanced only very 
slowly, and unless an early change takes 
place late sowings must be anticipated. Sim- 
ilar reports are to hand from Belgium and 
Holland, where likewise the weather has 
assumed again a very winterlike appear- 
ance, ^n Austria it has rained also a good 
deal, but the intervals occuring were long 
enough to permit a more continuous work- 
ing on ihe fields, and in France the situation 
is even a shade more satisfactory. In 
Russia it is getting to be more like spring, 
and an early commencement of field work 
appears now to he certain. 

Saccharine continues to oe fought relent- 
lessly in all countries, only it seems that the 
stuft does not suffer very much by the at- 
tacks directed against it from all quarters. 
In France they will try to kill it now by a 
tax on the consumption of the article and 
by placing the saccharine factories under 
the supervision of officers of the treasury; 
such, at least, is the view of a motion sub- 
mitted to the French Lower Chamber by the 
deputy, Fleury Ravarin, who proposes to 
put a tax on saccharine to the extent of fr. 
60 for one kilogramme, ($12 for 2.*{ Ameri- 
can pds.) Besides the bill drawn up for the 
restriction of the duty-free use of saccharine 
contains very strict regulations for the man- 
ufacture and siale of the article, and it re- 
mains to be seen, in the first place, whether 
the bill will become a law, and if so, 
whether it will be of the desired effect. As 
I wrote you once, it was also intended in 
Germany to levy a tax on saccharine, the 
amount of which was" to be fixed in pro- 
portion to the sweetening power as com- 
pared with sugar, so that the tax on sac- 
charine woudd have been made to amount to 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER A . > SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 18. 



about 300 times as much as that on sugar. 
But such a high tax would no douibt involve 
an enormous temptation for smuggling, 
which on account of the possibility to handle 
the stuff in the easiest manner imaginable, 
offers not the least difficulty and almost 
no danger of detection. The effect of high 
taxation there^fore would be most probably 
that the bulk of saccharine produced would 
be exported and clandestinely re-imported, 
by which means a fraudulent traffic would 
be established both to the detriment of the 
treasury and ot the puiblic, who are not cog- 
nizant at all that they are g'ood customers 
of the saccharine factories. It is anyway 
exceedingly difficult to fight successfully 
those artificial sweets as is evident from the 
fact that their production has steadily in- 
creased. As a kind of curiosity it may be 
noted that the sugar manufacturers In Rus- 
sia demand that the word s-accharine should 
be replaced by some other designation, be- 
cause the Russian word for sugar, sacchar, 
is so very much like the name of its su'b- 
stitute. 

The results of the imperial insurance of 
German workmen and women employed in 
the suigar industry of this country are em- 
bodied in the following figures for 1898: 
The entire number of insured persons, la- 
borers and officers, amounted to 100,738 who 
received an aggregate sum of wages and sal- 
aries of 45,648,544 marks. There have been 
last year 509 accidents for which the insur- 
ance office had to pay damages, including 
66 deaths. Of former years the numl^er of 
cases carried over was 3067, so that in 1898 
the numlber of accidents for which the claims 
had been recognized rose to 3576. The 
amount thus paid out last year was 713,537 
marks, whilst the receipts amounted to 862,- 
350 marks contributed by the sugar factories 
and refineries. The institute has now also a 
reserve fund o^f 2,073,588 maj-ks, the interest 
of which henceforth shall be used for the 
covering of expenses, which goes to lighten 
a little the burden of the industry. 

The German sugar production of the cam- 
paign, 1898-1899, reaches now 1,645,647 tons 
as against 1,761,710 tons in 1897-1898. This 
represents a yield in the factory of 13.13 
pet. as against 12.50 pet. at the same time of 
the preceding year. As will be rememibered 
our estimate of this year's crop has been 
1,717,000 tons, and it seems that i-t will be 
carried out very accurately. 

The sugar imports into Great Britain 
amounted in the month of March to 129,- 
487 tons raw value, and since January 1st, 
356,572 tons. For the firat quarter of this 
year the English imports keep very much 
on a par with those of last year, when they 
comprised 132,224 tons in March and 357,- 
072 tons from January to March. The im- 
port of this year is, however, notable for a 
marked increase of refined, of which 34,230 
tons more than in the first quarter of 1898 
were imported. 
The markets continued in their firm at- 



titude noted previously. Local refiners and 
exporters competed actively for the small 
stocks of actual sugar still available, but 
more inportant transactions took place in 
delivery next campaign on which the prin- 
cipal interest concenti-ated. The upward 
movement was stimula,I:ed again by Paris 
speculators and by American buyers who are 
said to have purchased about 30,000 tons. 
Actual 88 pet. advanced this week in Magde- 
burg to M. 11.70-11.85 and delivery April 
fetched at last at Hamburg M. 11.80 f. o. b. 
Refined were firm and 25-38 pfennigs higher. 

KOBT. Hfn.mo, 



Havana. 

f SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. J 

Editor L'».;i.s.\t/M PidiiU'r: 

Since the opening of the present cam- 
paign, prices have constantly shown an up- 
ward tendency which speculators' combina- 
tions have altogether been unable to check; 
the principal reasons why prices all around 
have ruled with so much firmness was the 
anticipated, and to-day fully confirmed de- 
crease in this Island's production, and the 
total lack of confidence in the results of the 
International Sugar Bounty Congress, wliose 
di.ssolution the cable has recently announced, 
the suspension of their sessions being an 
evident sign of an acknowledgement of im- 
potency on their pai't. 

The market here on this acount, has ruled 
steady and though exporters have reduced 
their offers, sellers continue reluctant to 
make the least concession in prices and the 
few parcels brough'. forward, were acquired 
at full figures by local speculators, who 
readily granted at from 6 to 6^A rs. per ar- 
rcbe, equivalent to 3 to SVa cts. per pound, 
for all parcels to their convenience, where- 
as exporters' offers do not go over 2.81 to 
2.87 V^ cts. for 95-96 test of good classes. 

Abou-: 25,000 bags centrifugals changed 
hands wiihin above limits and 1,500 bags 
molasses sugars, 89-90 test were also sold, at. 
from 2.31 to 3 cts. per I'b. 

No important cliange to report as yet, and 
the number ci pjantations still at work is 
quite liaiiced, the r.joor yield of the small 
quantity of cane that has not as yet been 
ground offering no enticement to planters to 
keep their factories running. Receipts at 
our shipping ports are accordingly each day, 
lighter and lighter, and it is likely that they 
will altogether cease prior to the 15th of 
May, next. 

It has been repeatedly said that the Pres- 
ident of the Uni'ted States, favorably im- 
pressed by the planters' demands, was dis- 
posed to grant them a long term for the set- 
tlement of mortgage obligations; but fear- 
ing thai the military occupation of Cuba 
would probably not last over one year, the 
Government could not well make the exten- 
sion efTective beyond that period, without 
incurring liabilities which the new govern- 
mont of the island might disapprove on the 
withdrawal of the Americans. 



This question is now thoroughly settled. 
Secretary Desvernine is back here and has 
obtained fro!n President McKinley a state- 
ment that the decree of suspending foreclos- 
ure procpedings in moi'tgage cases shall be 
extended two years more, dating frojn May 
1st. The question of interests already fallen 
due has not been taken into consideration. 
This respite will be of no use to the ma- 
jority of planters whose propeilties are af- 
fected by mortgages, Inasmuch as they are 
most likely to find themselves within twenty 
four months in the same tight position as 
they are to-day, provided circumstances do 
not improve. 

The extension has been limited to debts 
secured by mortgages on ground rents and 
Vhough the "planters' representatives at 
Washington, contended for the suspension 
of p-iymen'. of interests pending fijial liqui- 
dation, they failed to secure this im»portant 
point; the government disapproved such a 
pretension, stating at the same time that it 
could not apply a principle which was di- 
rectly opposed by common justice, and it 
was also suggested to said representatives, 
tha't were they so persistent in that cause, 
they would seriously injure the credit of the 
island in the most serious manner. They 
'were told that on assuming the control of 
the island, the United States Government 
had declared its purpose not to impair ex- 
isting obligations. To assent to the repu- 
diation of any debt, interest or otherwise, 
would- be a direct contravention of the policy 
indorsed and proclaimed by President Mc- 
Kinley and his Cabinet regarding Cuba. 

As to limiting the period for two years, 
it was said that the government would not 
undertake to exercise any control over the 
afjjiirs of the island, beyond the period of 
its occupancy, 'but if at the end of twenty- 
four months another extension for a limited 
time were necessary and Cuba were still oc- 
cupied by American forces, it xnlght be 
gi anted, but for the present, no longer ob- 
ligation could be assumed. 

The most equitable plan that has hereto- 
fore been formulated to settle this import- 
ant question, is the following, based on the 
two years' respite, just granted to planters 
by the United States Government: 

A board off planters and creditors should 
be appointed and made arbitrators, under 
the presidency of the secretaries oif finance 
and agriculture; plantations to be then as- 
sessed, earning ability estimated, and from 
the commencement of the fiscal year 1900- 
1901, planters to pay to their creditors from 
50 to 70 per cent of their net profits. 

As a natural thing, planters are reluctant 
to accept this arrangement, wh\lch is, accord- 
ing to impartial parties, the only scheme 
that might prevent thetn from al'tog^ther 
losing their property within two years. 

The excitement caused during the past 
few weeks by the appearance of small 
parties of bandits in several localindes, has 
subsided owing to the disbanding of the 
outlaws; and in the Province of Santiago de 



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Cuba, where they were more numerous and 
ddfiog, tranquility seems to be utterly re- 
stored through the energetic measures en- 
fjrced by General Wood and skillfully exe- 
cuted by the American milicary commanders 
and the Cuban officers of the Ruial Guard 
of recent creation. • 

At Manzanillo and Guantanamo, the crop. 
wiiJae operations bandiLs seriously inLer- 
fored with at the beginning, could be quiecly 
completed. T. D. 



Porto Rico. 

Ajpril 14th, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Loniiiidiiii PUinlcr: 

In your Issue of April 1 I find an article 
from the Times-Democrat on "Procection 
aga nsL Porto Rican and Cuban Sugar." 

I have no desire to enter the controversy 
cf "Protection," but ns a resident of several 
\5.irs in Porto Rico, during which time I 
had every fa;cility of be.^:)mins thoroughly 
acquainted with the laboring class, I cannot 
allow to pass unchallenged the very errone- 
ous statements throughout the article which 
show that the writer is perfectly ignorant 
Gi his subject in hand, and it will be a greac 
injury to Porto Rico if Congress is guided 
by such advice as Mr. Saylor gives. 

•The low price of labor, the cheapest in 
the World" is diametrically oppoised to face. 
In East India the field laborer earns some- 
what less than one quarter of the same man 
in this island, and the English West Indian 
islands do not average one shilling or twen- 
ty-four cents as a day's wages, it must also 
"be remem'bered that In most of those islands 
the women work in the fields and are paid 
six pence or twelve cents; and I could 
quote many other countries where lajoor is 
even cheaper still. 

The usual daily rate of field labor here is 
fifiy cent^ currency, equ«al to-day to thirty 
cents gold or six cents above the adjacent 
islands, and in many parts the cane planner 
pays above fifty cents. No man oan feed 
nlaiself on five eents^ the sum gi^nerally .paid 
is twelve cents for eacn meal or half jf his 
day's wages -for two meals. 

Soup! bread! potatoes! 

1 have never seen a laborer taking soup; 
they buy bread when they go to tue pueblos 
and for potatoes should be written sweet 
potatoes. Labor is not, by any means de- 
giaded, and as I have shown, wages are not 
low. 

The laborer comes to work as the sun 
rises and works contentedly till sundown and 
with the intermission of a few minutes for 
a mid-day meal, accompanied generally by 
a battle of coffee With milk, they work 
honestly the' whole day long. 

I have had a very large experience of 
laibor in many climes and I can only speak 
favorably of the Porto Rican. 

Going somewhat beyond my original in- 
tention of touching only the laborer we may 
very fairly ask is Porto Rico part of the 



United States or is it not? If it is surely 
ve ii:ive a right to look for equal treatment 
wi:h othor parts of thai country, but if it 
is no:, why iloes the government compel us 
to SJ.ip sugir in Ameri;'aa bo^coms? 

It would also bo of some in tores: to kiuA' 
when the -government will cease to s.^rul 
useless comr-n.-'sions rf inquiry, who f:i\\» 
their opinions indA MiiaViy, to tiu pu'l.i.'/ 
■press before ma^iiug any icpoi.: to i]\.-- gjv- 
eriji^ipnt that siiu Jlicni. It is rMivii-.^.^o to 
rc.ul tha: Mr. ^''j-and-£o, of such ;-../. .j^iAi 
coTnmi.-'-ior, says a mliitary govei.: .. .il: is 
an aJbsolure norr-isity, and then to read that 
£r:i\e cjainiis.>ij:iiT says the govcraaieui: 
should be handed over to the civil aiul>ori- 
t'L's Cii once. Which of these two niiy be 
right 1 do no: cfier an opinion Jii^.. here, 
bin an indisc^reet reniark falling tVom the 
i::^s of any one holding the pos!:ion of a 
cam I'ii-'sloncr v/culd most undoub.*.aly do 
th3 v/'.iSio island much harm. Men who, 
af.t r spend. ng an hour or so on a sugar 
e.-'Mte tha: rhey have been invi.ed .a viii., 
a-.-er: t:i.^r the iuaus:ry can, if properly 
:^:v\\::i\\, bj ma:^e to givti a profit of $120 
per a. re; who come dawn duri;ig the dry 
boaobu vhou L'l.'c is a .nDnthly rainfall of 
on'V 5 or G inches and raik of how easy it 
would he to make roads here as t'aey do in 

the Stue ot ; who make; a vi.-^it to 

an i'rpoitant tav n and leave ai'ter two 
hams and a half and the no i ice of their 
coming only arrives whilst they are in the 
town arc not very likely to do us much good, 
and "f such con;aii.ssioners eAorcss their 
canlenpt ii)r or ridicule the acts of themili- 
iiiy ^"jveinor, they are not iil<ely to gain 
tiie re;>pe-L of those who ..Tjuic 'n contact 
V. iih t'aem. 

iiiai kiiig you for the space you have 
kindiy allowed me to take up, I am 
Yours faithfully, 

• Artht R C. Hansakd. 

Argentine, 

Buenos Ayres, March 12, 1899. 
l^duor Louisiana Planter: 

1 riui.^)a3c this correspondence to be the 
'AiBi original L.aaer ewv published in your 
pa^ier ab^.i: ilie sugar indus:ry in the Ar- 
:,o:uine RcpalKc. Until now our country 
was knawu abroad only as a producer of 
v'2. .:<.-:, ^'lilo i'na sheep, and few people 
t ie:a h.;/c an i..ea of the progress the cane 
sii:^ar ind'a.-^^ry lias realized during the last 
f w yeais. Xjvertheiess, Argon cine, with a 
rjiapii.a.ian of five millions of people — great 
sugar ea.crs. mohi of thc^m, like all true 
V leoles— profiuees more than enough for 
ner nereis and h?r inaniiiajrurers are a 1- 
rcidy tiding to lir:d a market for the surp- 
^)lus of til ^ir prociuets. 

Tu;*a.nian is to-day praetieally the only 
sa^rar pradue;u- of the Ar^^entine provines. 
(jf tae forty-nine sugar factories whi:*h ac- 
tually exist in the Repu-blic, thirty-'four are 
situated in the province of Tucuman; thie 
remaining are distributed as follows: two 



in the province of Santiago del Esters, two 
in Salta, three In Jujuy, one In Corrientes, 
one Santa F-e, three in the territory of 
Chac'o. two in that of i^'orinosa and one in 
:M\s.-iones. 

So 5 y.\ may S3^. the Arge iJne Republic 
he.s not hundreds or thousands of sugar 
hon.s:a such as exist in Peru or Mexico: 
rave] /iriess, her production is by far supe- 
rior L) th::t of those tv'o countries. The 
reasoa c! this is Obvious; Argentine has no 
old fasiiioned mills, nor petty sugar houses; 
all her ta;';u:ies are provided with modern 
fii.' -class mrj?h:ncry and conducted by ex- 
:)...:. .^1 ei.e-iists and sugar engineers. 
;vlany of them can sustain a comparison with 
tin bcs: managed of the Hawaiian Islands, 
Cuba or Louisiana. Their annual produc- 
tian varies from about iue millions to 
:.-j.Ouo kilos, and there are only eight of 
.l.em v:'Aose production docs not amount to 
L-rv million c'f kilos. 

Ti^n Tucuman province is situated between 
: «'i livgi MS and 2S /iegrecs sou/n latitude., i. 
r , In liic e.Xireme southern limit of the cane 
glowing region. The cane, therefore, fre- 
quently suffers from frost. The mean crop 
per hectare is of about thirty-five tons of* 
chne (14 tons per acre). 

Five years ago. the cane began to suffer 
from a disease known here as **polvillo." At 
ihe beginning of 1895 the "Centre Azucare- 
10* sent the Italian naturalist, Dr. Spegaz- 
zini, to Tucuman, recommending to him the 
study of polyillo. But as Dr. Spegazzinl 
spent only a short time in the cane region, 
his investigations gave no result. A lew 
months ago, the national government, at the 
leciuest of the same Centro Azucarero ap- 
pointed a commission for the study of the 
disease. The damage done by the pel 
villo until now is of liUle an^ount; but it 
is feared that its development may taring 
about serious disturbances in the sugar in- 
dustry. 

Another stop taken by the ga^ernment in 
favor of the sugar industry is its recent 
inLervenJon against the abuse (brought 
about by the sale of saccharine. At the 
request of the "Centro" aibove named, the 
president of Sanitary department presented 
a leport condemning strongly the substitu- 
tion of sugar in foods by tha nauseous drug 
called saccharine. 

In my next correspondence I shall enter- 
tain you on the economical situation of the 
industry in this country, as well as of the 
I'lineipal. peculiarities of the sugar making 
here. 

Southern Cross. 



Mr. C. S. McFarland, of Burnside, La., 
where he superintends some of the large 
su^ar planting interests of the Miles P. & 
M. Co., Lim., was in the city on a visit a 
few days ago, registering at the Comimercial. 
Mr. McFarland is one of the best sugar 
house ex'perts in the s-tate. 

Mr. E. W. Deming left- on Tuesday last for 
a short business trip to the North and 
East. 



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284 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXlh No. 1«. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Eddy, New Mexico. 

April 26, 1899. 
Editor Louitiana Planter: 

Since my last report of conditions of the 
sugar beet influstry In the Pecos Valley a 
close estimate of the coming crop has been 
made by the factory people and they place 
it at 16,000 tons. They state that if there Is 
any deviation from that figure It will be an 
increase rather than a decrease. This yield 
at $4.25 a ton means the distribution of 
178,000 to the farmers of the valley. 

Analyses of the EMdy beets sfliow 15 per 
cent sucrose on the average, and 84 per 
cent purity. These averages hold up well 
throughout the season. The beet farmer 
has one great advantage here that Is not 
found In other beet growing districts. Here 
the farmer leaves his beets in the ground 
until he wants to deliver them to the fac- 
tory. The winter climate Is so mild that It 
admits of this. 

The alfalfa yield this season will be larger 
than ever (before, as the area devoted to that 
clover ha6 been greatly extended. The de- 
mand for the hay Is far In excess of the 
supply. Ten dollars a ton is readily paid. 
Sheep feeders expect this year to feed 10,- 
000 lambs and muttons on beet pulp and al- 
falfa and before the cattle and sheep feed- 
ing season is over It is quite likely that 
the price of good alfalfa hay will advance 
materially. 

The success of the sugar factory and the 
energy and ability which characterizes its 
present manaigement have done more for 
the Pecos Valley and Eddy especially than 
any other enterprise ever promoted here. 
Last year, •even when they were compelled 
from lack of beets to run on short time, 
their pay roll averaged $200 a day, and this 
year, with a much larger cro(p in prospect, 
that figure will be materlaly Increased. 
This factory has been the means of building 
many a home for Its emiployees and Is des- 
tined to build many more. 

Argus. 



Chino, California. 

Last Friday the Chlno Vall^ Beet Sugar 
oonvpany ceased to exl?t — ^at least so far as 
holding any property or interests here. On 
that date the factory here, with all Ha equip- 
ment and nearly 5000 acres of land, passed 
to the American Beet Sugar Company — 
which, however, is but a reorganization and 
comfblnatlon of the former Oxnard-'Hamllton- 
Cuttlng companies. The change Is one In 
name only; but the company here should 
now be addressed as the American Beet 
Sugar Company. 

. Manager Pardonner informs us that there 
are planted to date on the Chino ranch over 
2800 acres, and outside for this factory about 
1800 acres. The crop on Ihe moist lands is 
doing ,very nicely, with a good promise of a 
harvest. The dryer lands, however, should 



^ave some rain yet to assure a crop. Alto- 
gether, the prospects are better than they 
were last year at this time for a beet crop, 
and with some good late showers we should 
have a lively haivest. Some fields are al- 
ready being thinned and by next week the 
work of thinning will be in full blast. The 
factory management U laying all lU plans 
and preparing the factory for a big manu- 
facturing campaign this fall.-^hamplon, 
April 21. 

nodern Methods of Building Sugar 
Factories. 

San Francisco, Cal., April 25, 1899. 
Editor LonvtUuia PldiUer: 

There are very few persons outside d 
those who are ln»terested or living in the 
radius of a beet sugar factory who know how 
or why certain particular sections of a State 
are selected for the erection of a factory. 
With the promoters of a beet factory, it is 
optional with them as to whether a factory 
13 one or fifty miles from a beet field or in 
one town or another. The selection de- 
pends on what town offers the best Induce- 
menU, In other words put up the most cash 
or as they call It. subsidy (there are excep- 
tions m a few cases). This subsidy Is raised 
by either a vote or a volunteer subscription. 
Every farmer, banker, merchant, hotel man. 
property owner and even laborer, wh«o lives 
m the town or vicinity, has got to contri- 
bute. This subsidy must be either In cash, 
notes, or If neither, then It must be worked 
out In labor In the construction of the 
building, the tax on each ranging from one 
hundred to one thousand dollars. The notes 
being gilt-edged are readily accepted by the 
banks at par value. So In this way are se- 
cured from eighty .to ninety thousand dol- 
lars. Besides this amount the railroads con- 
tribute about ten thousand and the town 
proper donates the site to the factory, bring- 
ing the total up to over one hundred thous- 
and dollars. Besides, so enthuslaatlc do the 
people of the town get that the lumber and 
brick men Invariably contract to supply the 
material below the cost of production. 

So with a binding contract from each far- 
mer for a number of years to cultivate and 
deliver so many acres of beets, and the one 
hundred thousand dollars (which, by the 
way, U not paid until thirty days after the 
factory Is In operation). The promoters In- 
form the ipeople that they accept their offer 
and win erect a 350 ton factory that Is going 
to cost three hundred thousand dollars. 

Talk about Louisiana, with her up-to-date 
methods, the Hawaiian Islands where plan- 
tation stock jumped uip 80 per cent last 
week. I will say that there are no such op- 
portunities offered there as there are here 
in the West for men with plenty of brains 
and some little capital. 

Beet Sugar. 



Lehi, UUh. 

For two weeks a gang of 40 men and 
.boys have been at work digging out of the 
pits, sorting, testing and planting "mother 
be€lts" for seed. Last fall 170 tons of tHe 
best beets brought to the factory were 
pitted In the tfeM south Of the factory. Out 
of these 125 tons were found to ^ In good 
condXlon and were up to the standard In 
sugar. This Is the firat year the becte 
have been pitted, having been stored In 
the sheds before, but It Is found that they 
keep much better In the pits. The 125 ton* 
Oiave been planted covering about 46 acres 
which Is the largest acreage of seed beeu 
ever pUnteld here. These have been put 
on the choicest land and will yieftd many 
tons of seed. Lehl grown seed has pro- 
duced splendid results in the past and the 
growing of seed promises to be an import- 
ant bran-oh of the inSdustry. 

The newly elected board of directors of 
the Utah Sugar Co., held a meeting at Salt 
Lake on Monday and elected the following 
officers: George Q. Cannon, president; T. 
R. Cutler, vice-president and manager; Hor- 
ace Q. Whitney, secretary and treasurer. 
The board received the report of General 
Manager Cutler to the effect that the site 
of the auxiliary factory near SprlngvUle has 
'been determined on and that orders had been 
placed for the first Installment of machinery 
and the piping necessary to conduct the 
juice from the Sprlngville plant to the re- 
finery at Lehl. The board then took up 
the question of obtaining the funds neces- 
sary to complete the enlargement, ansd it 
was decided to sell 40,000 additional shares 
of the treasury stocks at par (|400,000) the 
same to be paid for In four quaiteriy Install- 
ments of 25 per cent each, the first on Oc- 
tober 1, 1899, the subscription to be taken 
at once. Tills amount with the avaiUble 
cash In the treasury, i»c was decided. wouM 
Increase the capacity of the Lehl factory to 
at least 1.000 tons of beets per day, build- 
ing the auxiliary at Sprlngville this year 
and the one in Salt Lake coun^ty next year. 
the location of whilch has not yet be«i de- 
cided on. 

As some of the atockholiders objected to 
Manager Cutler taking half of the new stock 
to be Issued by the company he has relin- 
quished his claim and the stock will be di- 
vided pro rata among the stockholders. 
The issue has been cut down to |376,000 
which exactly doubles the stock now out so 
every eharehollder will be entitled to one 
full share for every share he now owns.— 
Banner. 



Mr. C. C. Wllllaims, of Lafourche, and Mrs. 
Williams, were guests of the Cosmopolitan 
hotel a few days ago. 



Mr. C. Trahan, a prominent sugar planter 
of the parish of Iberville, aocJon*planled by 
Mrs. Trahan and Miss Trahan, arrived in 
the city on a visit duriag the past week, 
and stopped at one of our leading hotels. 

Mr. S. Abrahaon, of RIacedand. La., near 
which place he possesses extensive mercan- 
tile and sugar planting interests, was regis- 
tered at the Cosmopolitan last Tuesday. 



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May 6. 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



285 



BIOE. 



Calcasieu. 

(SPECIAL CORBBSPONDENCE.) 

Edit<^ lA)niMaiui Planter: 

This week h'as .been dry and more or less 
windy. A few light showers fell, but they 
were not worth a passing notice and did 
very little good. But we are not in 
need of moisture this week and it will be 
some little tim^e before we will com(plain of 
dry weather. 

Ajpril was a wet month with us and twelve 
inches of water fell, but we are drying off 
fast and there are not many fields whi'ch 
are now too wet to plow. There was a large 
acr^ige of rice sown the past week but there 
is still a large acreage to be planted. Much 
of the early sown rice is up but the stand, 
in most cases, is poor and considerable of 
it would be flar more profitaible if the land 
was replanted. 

Those who planteld two weeks ago and 
planted or rolled the soil have a good stand 
of rice and all up even and doing finely, 
while other fields, pllanted at the same time, 
but not planked or rolled, is not all up 
and the stand is very uneven and too thin. 
Rice planted with the drill is doing the best 
this season, so far, and farmers are be- 
ginning to see the value of the drills where 
the soil is put In proper shape and the 
drills set right. The press driUs are gain- 
ing favor fast, as they possess points of 
superiority not found in other styles, and 
all the large farmers will be using thrs style 
of drill before -many years, for they recog- 
nize the fact that a crop of rice, on good 
clean soil, is woi'th putting in w«ll. The 
press drills are most too expensive for the 
small farmers, but they often find opiportuni- 
ties for hiring tlie drills otf the langer farm- 
ers. When our farmers get into the pactice 
oC preparing their soil better beifore plant-* 
ing rice, and when they plant the seed with 
a press drill and give the soiil proper work- 
ing after sowing, they will realize much 
miore from a given acreage, than in the old 
way, and this will be a step towards 
economy. Then if they will give the rtee 
a proper flooding and harvest the crop when 
It is ready, they will realize a much larger 
benefit than they do from the present man- 
agement. Farmers are wanting to institute 
a stock company, for erecting a mill, com- 
posed at rice farmers exclusively, and make 
the shares small, and not allow each stock- 
holder ibut one share, thus bringing into 
the company a large number of share-hold- 
ers, so the business will not be In the handu 
of a few selfisli ones who would control the 
business and take unnecessary advantage of 
the farmers. Then they wish to platee a 
relia'ble p^afty at some good distributJlng 
pohit to sell the clean rice. If this can be 
don«, it .will largely do away with the selfish 
Work now going on by the mills of the 
oountry, and prevent ooxattlsiloB mexvhants 
from exacUni mort t1i4a th«iT lost duti. 
V9^%n iff tadutof iBf to oMtia % bytttr 



control of the rice market, and If the above 
plan could be worked out, a large number of 
rice farmers would be greatly benefitted. 

The well business has ibeen going on live- 
ly this week, and some farmers who allowed 
the canal to run throuigh their land, have 
reifused to buy the water, and are now put- 
ing dawn wells, and the Irrigating companies 
are much waked up over the well problem, 
but they still Insist on taking two sacks per 
acre, and this amounts to six dollars -per 
acre for the water. Rice will be planted 
all this month, but the heft of the crop Is 
In now and a*bout one third of the total 
acreage which will be planted this season, 

is up. _ 

Calcasif-u Rice Bird. 



Talma^e on the Rice Market. 

Another disappointing week; not that 
there is nothing doing, "furfrummlt" but 
the greater demand Incident to this time of 
year fails to materialize by reason of back- 
ening weather conditions. The outlook Is 
regarded as excellent;. this based partially 
on the liberal call from the South and 
Southwest, also on well ascertained busi- 
ness to come from larger points along the 
lakes, early next month. Good Inquiry con- 
tinues from the Pacific Coast and as here- 
tofore, entirely for fancy sorts. Advices 
from the South note characteristics of mar- 
ket similar to those prevalHng at this point; 
limited demand from the North with nor- 
mal demand for local use and from conti- 
guous territory. Receipts are most trifling 
and most (rf the mills have shut down for 
the season: Offerings of cleaned In conse- 
quence are limited and firmly held. Caibles 
and correspondence from abroad note large 
business doing In (Rangoon) Java of or- 
dinary make. Better grades, however, are 
held back as first quality Paddy is limited 
and millers therefore regard the outlook 
favorable for higher prices. 

Talmage, New Orleans telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough, 697,520 sacks; last year (Inclusive of 
amount carried over) 523,625 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (Est.) 171,872 barrel's; last year 
114,905 barrels. Fair inquiry at former 
prices. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,285 barrels. Sales 32,920 barrels. Steady 
demand, principally local and to Southern 
points. 

Immense Rice Acreage. 

It is conservatively estimated on good 
authority, that the total acreage of irrigated 
rice this year in Southwest Louisiana will 
reach over 170,000 acres.— -West Lake Her- 
ald. 

Rice Canal. 

Surveyor Bradford, of Acadia, Is securing 
right-of-way and making a survey for a 
ric« cR&ftl io run w«»t from ntar ih« Juno-' 
tiM Of Bftyotti BMttf ft&d OooodrU. Tbf 



rig!ht-of-way wanted is 250 feet wide, so the 
canal capacity is to be commensurate with 
the water supply furnished by the two bay- 
ous, which Is practically limitless. It is 
said that the project Is backed by English 
capital in all required quantities, and that 
right-of-way will no doubt be promptly 
^ven. 

The eanal will be of immeasurable value 
to the cotton planters of the St. Landry 
prairies, and it is to be hoped that the pre- 
liminaries will soon be arranged and work 
commenced. — Opelousas Tribune. 



Rice Items. 



A. Brechner contracted yesterday with 
Snyder & Oook for two deep wells on their 
faitm just south of town, and the firm have 
bougOit of Black Bros. & Co» a 15 h. p. en- 
gine, a 20 h. p. boiler and a 6->m0h Van Wie 
puimp for raising water. The numiber of deep 
wells going down this year In this vldnity 
Is remarkaible and shows that farmers hare 
enough of the uncertainty of providence 
rice. 

l«ake Charles parties contemplate build- 
ing a canal to connect Grand Lake with 
Lake Arthur. The Oomflnerclal Tribune says 
of the new project: 

"The surveyors will go to the line of the 
proposed canal soon and accurate measure- 
ments as well as grades wiUl be taken. Men 
of means stand ready to help the project 
financially. In the Lake Arthur country the 
building of a canal means lower freight 
rates for all the rice fanners and less handl- 
ing of the freight. Par Lake Charles the 
canal will bring trade and more rice com- 
ing into this market * * * It Is pro- 
posed to pusti the canal through this sum- 
mer if possible and have It ready to deliver 
the fall crops and supplies.— Crowley Signal. 

B. M. LamT^ert was In from his Prairie 
Hayes farm Sunday and reports that he has 
650 acres of rice planted. Three hundred 
acres are up and make a fine s:howlng. The 
work oif planting Is going on rapidly in all 
parts of the country and a large acreage is 
already up. It was feared a few weeks a<go 
that the season would be tiulte backward, 
but if matters are kept going as they are 
now being pushed the harvest will not be 
much later than usual. --<Jrowley Signal. 

Gueydan, La., May 2.— The Gueydan Rice 
Milling Company, Limited, was organized 
here to-day, cash capital |40,000, with R. H. 
Washlburn, president; O. -E. Gammill, vice- 
president; W. G. Francis, secretary and 
treasurer. Committees were appointed on a 
building site and machinery, also committee 
on charter and bylaws. Everything went 
off sm'ootlhly, and with the list of stock- 
holders, together with the officers of the 
comipany, insures great success to the under- 
taking. Mr. Francis, who was elected sec- 
retary and treasurer, is from Chicago, and 
represents considerable capltaL He has been 
here only a few days, ibut was so highly 
pleased with the general outlook and pros- 
pects here for a rice mill that he came in 
for a large Chare <rf thd iT5ck in Dht mill. 
Tlio olll mill U «i'«ot«d lb tim« for tht 
miUiu 9l ibf tfomlfti «f op. 



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286 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 18. 



May 5. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



l.M»^J. 



SUGAR. I 

Open Kettle. | 
O. E. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifusal. 
Planfn Granured 
Off Granulated... 

Choice White 

Oft White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow — 
Prime Yellow — 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

' Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

•ood Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 



April 29. 



May 1. 



May 2. 



May 3. 



May 4. 



May 5 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone of M.trket at 
Closing of Week. 



SYRUP. 



- (r? - 

- @ - 

- (o^ - 

- @ - 

3 (ai}4 



T3 
C 



c 

•l-l 
O 



@ - 

@ 16 

@ 15 

@ 13 

@ 11 






— (iy) - 

— d^ — 

— fe - 

— (2; — 

— (a) — 
4^(s4{i 
3 0^414 



C 
cd 



<D 

o 



<S 16 

@ 15 

(w 13 

@ 11 



(a 



3^8(L^'4'., 

4i^.;(s4'a 
3tk«4i\3 

3r^e^4,-H. 

3'«e'3U 

3,\(«-M 
3 iS, («■-[.! 

— (a - 

— (rr. - 

— C^: — 

— (a - 

— (rr — 

41;i('t — 
4^(al{i! 
4i..^r7 4[,'. 
3 "(a4V 



^3 



4) 
O 



(a) — 

^ 16 

^' 15 

(a/ 13 

(a; 11 

dv 9 






(a 6 
C^ - 



3J8('f'43lj 
V,(^4i^ 

3[i;(£?^4/G 

3i^,(«o|;'. 

3i'.5v.".':>lii 

- («3 =,5 

- ^ - 

- (a — 

- (fi — 

- (a — 
- (a — 

4i;u^ - 
4^4(24i;i 
41^'.^!^ 

3 Ct43« 



c 



O 

Z 



— (ft - 

— ^ 16 

— (^ 15 

— (w 13 

— C"' 11 

— C^ 9 

— (^ 8 






(hi 6 



3'n(^4', 

4,V.(«41y 

3[^'^4/, 
3[;:^,4/, 
3.';^^'.i){ ,; 

3'^.l,^r3', 
3.^4 (^' 3? B 

3,'>(a:^li; 

3iV/«>3i;l 
- ^V^^ 

— (si' — 

— (a^ - 

— (a — 

— (a — 

— {a. — 

4':; (a — 

4}i:ef4:i^ 

4^2^'4;^ 
3 @4,\ 






O 



OTHER MARKETS. 



Nbw York: 








SUGAR. 








Fair Refining, 89« 
Centrifugals, 96^.. 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- (a) - 


- (h — 


Granulated 


— ^4.96 


— @4.98 


— e'4.96 


StandardA 


— @4.84 


— (ri4.84 


— (^4.84 


Dutch Granulated 


— @5.20 


- (a5.20 


— («5.20 


German Granul'td. 


-- @5.15 


- (g5 17 


— («5 19 


MOLASSES. 








N.O. Choice 


— @ — 


- @ - 


— («■ — 


N. O.Fair 


- @ - 


- C^' - 


— (^L - 


London: 








Java, No. 15 D. S. 


I2s. 6d. 


12s. 6d. . 


12s 6d. 


A. & G. Beet 


Il8.2i4d. 


lis. 3d. 


Us. 4f.<d. 



(a> - 

Ca4.96 
(?U.84 
(a 5 20 

(ab 20 



- (s - 

12s. 9d 
lls.Bd. 




Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan*d Granula*d. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candy A 

Cryatal Extra C. 
Royal Ex C 

SYRUP. 



- @5>i 

- ^5>^ 

- @5% 

- @ - 

- (a5?« 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ — 



NEW ORLEANS REPINED. 



-- @5?^ 

- (55^8 

- (''5i« 

- («' - 

- @5»^ 

- (O) - 

- @ - 




3'a(s4>2 

4^(a4>t 
3|^a4/, 
3{;I(^^4A 
3'a('/3[.^ 

3/^i(a3^8 
3'i,(^/,:v.. 
3i',;^:^{;{ 
3i'.^i3}3 

- (1^3,^8 

- C'^ — 

- C"* - 

- @ - 

- (a) - 

- d^ - 

4[ii(s4^i; 

4i..^a4i.j 
3 @43/ 






o 



@ - 

@ 16 

@ 15 

^ 13 

(«; 11 

@ 9 

(^ 8 

C^ 7 

(a) 6 

Ca^ 6 

06 — 



-- @ - 

— C'^^ — 

— (aih 08 

— {a^M 

— c« 5 25 

— (ji5 £0 

— @ - 

— ($ — 

133. Od. 
lls.5Kid. 



- (^'5% 

- @5% 

- @5i'6 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



- (a; - 

- («4 
3^i(«3}J 
3J8Cs3[5 
3-li^3J'8 
3^;U^:i^ 
3-%;C''^3?v, 
3.'V.(L^3A 
3r'.e?3,^V. 
2?^C5^3^8 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- («;• - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- (a; - 
4,3b^4I« 

4A(5;4A 
23^@4 



T3 

.a 



© 
o 



12 @ 13 

12 @ 13 

— @ 11 

— (^ 10 

— @ 9 

— (^ 8 

— @ 7 

— (^ 6 

— Crt> 5 

— ^ 4 

— (a> — 



Firm. 



Strong 



Quiet. 




Raw- Strong; little 
offering. 

Refined— Fair de- 
mand. 



Cane — Firm, rather 

dearor. 
Bett — St-^ady, prices 

fully maintained. 



- ^5|S 

- (f<A\ 

- (a;5 5J 

- @ - 

- (§5 41 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



Strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to Apr 19 Tons 201,711 

At four ports of Great Britain to Apr. Z9 " ' 48,500 

At Havana and Matanz as to Apr. 25 " 85,500 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
May 5, 1899. 

' Sugar » Molasses 

Hhds. Barrels. Barrels. 

Received 6,127 2,359 

Sold 6,691 2^59 



Receipts ani Sales at New Orleans from September 1, 1898, 
to flay 5, 1899. 

Barrels, 



Molasses 

"^arrds. 



Hhds. "^ Barrels. Ba 

Received 10,167 1,213,272 . 229.601 

Sold • 10,157 1,204,869 229,fl91 

Received same time last year 22,431 1^410,918 186,045 



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May 6, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



287 



May 5. 






WBBKI 


jY MARKS 

May 3. 
Nominal 


T REPORT 


» 




1899. 


MICE. 


April 29. 


May 1. 


May 2. 


May 4. 


Miy 5. 


Same Day Laat 
Yea?. 


Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 


RouoH, per bbl... 


Nomimal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


2 25^5 35 


Dull. 


Clean, Ex. Fancy 


6>^(2 6J4^ 


6>^@63i 


Gy:i>i6% 


6k:(ft6^.^ 




6)^@6^ 


- @ - 




Fancy — 


6 Cnii^i 


tJ @6>^ 


6 (a-6>^ 


6 (3^6>^ 




6 (c^6>^ 


6>^(^6^ 




^ £lolC6... 


5.^4 (!i'5^ 


5K@53i 


5^(a'5% 


5^'(£^5^4- 




5^4@6^ 


5?^ (^6 




Prime.... 


r^^^H 


4^4(^51^ 


4^4(^5)8 


4iyia^5l^ 




4^4@5>i 


5>tl(g5% 




Good ... 


4V4@1% 


4^4(^4% 


^hL^AH 


434(3^^^>4 




4>-4C^4?i 


53^4@5'8 




Fair 


SX^'i^A 


3%@4i.4 


sh(^^h 


3^(3^43,^ 




3^(g4t4 


5 @5>B 




Ordinary 


3 (BS)i 


3 (3^3^ 


3 @3>4^ 


3 @3% 




3 (S3H 


4%@4.^i 




iJomTLJlk. 


2}4(§3 


2>i^@3 


2>^@3 


2>^@3 




2^(S3 


ih@i>i 




Screenings 


2 ic2^4 


2 Qt2^4 


2 (ft2^4- 


2 <a23i 


2 (gi2% 


2 @2|i 


- @ - 




Inferior . . 


13i@2 


13^@2 


1^@2 


1?^(^2 


l?i@2 


IH&2 






No.2 


lh@^H 


l>^8@13i 


1^/r@1^ 


12 00 


l\fe'l?i 


'K*^ 


^ 2@2>i 




bRAN, per ton.... 


12 00 


12 00 


12 00 


12 00 


12 00@ - 


Steady. . . 


Polish, per ton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


16 OOro) — 




KecelpU at 


Id 5ale* •! New 


Orleans for the week ending 




Receipts at 


Mew OrldaiM from Auf. i, 1898, to flay 5, ■tj9. 




Hays. 1899- 








compared with laet yew, aaae ttOM. 






Sacks Rough. Bbls 


. Clbam . 






8A0C4 HOVWk. a"-.* CL«A:^ 


P'*CCitr**d 






596 28 i 


This vA5tr 




68)072 6/66 


<ni*i 






688 734 


Last 


year 




463.837 7.645 



Sugar. 

The local sugar market was strong at the 
end of the week, in sympathy with New 
York, -but offerings were somewhat re- 
stricted. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle molasses in first hands. 
Centrifugals quiet. 

Rice. 

Paucity of receipts greatly restricted the 
movement in rough rice at the end of the 
week. Clean rice was in fair demand, with 
prices steady and offerings moderate. 



Personal. 

Mr. J. T. Witherspoon, for many years 
a trusted and highly valued officer of the 
local branch of the. American Sugar Re- 
fining Co., has been promoted to the posi- 
tion of general manager of New Orleans 
plant, to suciceed Mr. George S. Bastwlck, 
resigned. Mr. Witherspoon is a New Orleans 
man, a son of the late lamented Dr. Wither- 
spoon, and his promotion is a source of 
gratification to his numerous friends. Mr. 
Eastwick leaves shortly for Europe, which 
he has long desired to visit. 

Sugar in London. 

The steady advance which has character- 
ized the market of late has become more 
rapid, and although a tendency to snatch 
profits brought about a temporary decline 
early fn the week, a sharp recovery then 
took place, and a further advance has since 
been established. Although some misgiv- 
ings have been previously expressed as to 
the permanency of the present improvement 
in values, it is evident that a better chance 
exiE.s at this comparatively advanced period 
of the sugar year than it did six months 
back, when the pressure of new supplies was 
just beginning to be felt, whereas now the 
falling off of the same will soon begin to be 
noticea'ble. The scarcity of 88 per cent beet, 
and a renewal of the demand for it by Amer- 
ican refiners, continues a strong feature of 
the position; while the accounts of the poor 
yUld of Juice in Cuba point to a further re- 



duction in results, the falling off compared 
with last year already amounting to nearly 
GO, 000 tons. Tiiere has been a good demand 
here for the lower kinds of cane for refining 
purposes, and firm prices have been eagerly 
paid both for the small quantity available 
and for forward del'l's^ery; but grocery cry- 
stallized has been rather too freely offered, 
and values are about 3d per cwt. lower for 
the medium kinds. With the recent advance 
in Lonlon yellow crystals, however, the 
dia'prcportion of the relative value of these 
two kinds has been considerably reduced, 
and a better demand for crystallized raws 
should consequently occur. It is now possi- 
ble to buy well-made sugar at a more moder- 
ate price and, although this still remains 
high, the competition with America for 
cr5'stallized West Indian sugar continues so 
strong that any serious decline In values 
here would be Immediately followed by a 
d'lversion of supplies to the United States. 
At present the market here is well supplied, 
the imports of crystallized raws to London 
for the week ending 13th inst., amounting to 
1,127 tons, and for this year to 11,173 tons 
against 9,302 tons in 1898.— P. M. Review, 
April 15. 



Sugar in London. 

After the extremely heavy and consider- 
able advance in values which has lately 
characterized the market, the reaction whic'h 
has taken place is neither unexpected nor 
unnatural. The position of sugar is, how- 
ever, too strong to admit of any collapse of 
importance and, although the speculative 
energy of the market may be spent for a 
while, a recurrence of the movement Is most 
likely to occur later on. Of course, the sugar 
which Is held against market commitments 
is no: actually consumed, but, if figures are 
to be relied on, there is little possiibility of 
any weight of sugar being brought forward 
from an unexpected quarter, though on the 
other hand any sugar which may be shut 
out from the Indian markets will probaibly 
find its way here instead. The visible sup- 
plies of European sugar, however, continue 
to steadily decrease at the present time, and 
the existence of 0uch remunerative prices 



as are now ortj'taina'ble has up to the present 
failed to bring to light invisible stocks. The 
American markets have shown considerable 
firmness, although the receiipts for sugar for 
the past week were rather larger and their 
st:>cks were slightly heavier; the receipts 
from Cuba, however, showed a falling off. 
There has been rather less Inquiry for cane 
refining klncfi here, but with little offering, 
values have been maintained. Grocery 
Crystallized, on the other hand, remains un- 
der a cloud, and the advance in value which 
has taken place In Its dangerous rivals, 
foreign granulated and London yellow cry- 
stals — has apparently not been sufficient to 
rest'ore crystallized raw sugar to the place 
It once held in public estimation, as un- 
fortunately the advantage of a farthing or 
a half-penny per lb. in the retail price far 
outtweighs the preference wliicli a good many 
people would still give to cane sugar. The 
imports of crystallized raws to London for 
the week ending 20'th Insj:. amounted to 197 
tons, and for this year to 11,370 tons against 
9,549 tons In 1898.— Produce Market Review. 
April 22. 



Rice Items. 

It would surprise you to visit the rice 
belt of Louisiana right now and see for your- 
self the Immense amount of machinery be- 
ing put In on the rice planUitlons, said F. H. 
Thompson, of New York, a: the Cosmopoli- 
tan hotel, represents one of :he lai|^st ma- 
chinery estajbllshments in the United States. 
He had Just reiumeil frran the mammoth 
Lowry place on the Mermentau river near 
Lake Arthur, where some new engines are 
being put up for the pumping plant. 

Thousands and thousands of dollars are 
being invested In pumping plants this year, 
Mr. Thompson added. The days of providence 
rice are numl^ered. The province 
crop is an uncertainty — some years It can- 
not be beaten, then again It will fall for 
several years In succession. Rice growers 
in Louisiana are getting too scientific, too 
matter-of-fact to take these dhances, when 
with pumping plants the crop is a dead sure 
thing. I bellevf. the real wealth of South- 
west Louisiana has never been dreamed of, 
let alone calculated, 



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888 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 18. 



WANTS. 



We wUI pubtUh in thU column, free of cbarffe unUI 
further notice, tlie applications of all managers, over- 
aeera, engineer! and auflr^r-nt^kcrs, and others who 
mmy be aeeklnf posltlone In the country, and also the 
I of planter! desiring: to employ any of these. 



WANTED— Position on a sugar plantation as black- 
smith, wheelwright and horse-shoer; address Sidney 
G. R0U88ELL, Edgard, La. 5-1-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper, overseer, clerk 
or general office or store work. Can give the best of 
olty and outside references; address A. H. Noeninger, 
nare of Room 203, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans^ 4-28-99 

WANTED— Position ae assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, college gradu- 
ate. Have done some work in su?ar ana'ys s. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 33, State 
Cnllege, Pa. 4-2S-99_ 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
dations, desires to secure a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., cire General Deliv- 
ery, New Orleans. 5-3-99 

WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 
gar maker, by a man of large experionce, either in plan- 
tation sugar house or sugar refinery. Can funiish good 
references. Would prove a valuable and all-around 
faithful man in any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-2S-99 

WANTED— Position by an all-around hancy men: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk cows and make himself 
useful about a place. First-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1426 St. Ann street, New Orleans. 

4-21-99 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experience as head chemist in Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references. Can speak German, Dutch. English and 
French; address L. G. Leler, care M. E. Sepp^^3 
8th Avenue, New York. 4-* 



?*&*' 



WANTEI>— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaidsonvllle, La. 4-13-99 

WANTED— Position by an experienced young man as 
book-keeper, stenographer, or both; address X. Y. Z., 
care this office. 4-15-99 

WANTED— Position as assistant overseer on a Louis- 
iana sugar plantation, by young man who has hml expe- 
rience as a planter in field and factory in the Wt .st In- 
dies; salaiy noobiect; address Mol'Rant, Burnsldo P: 
O., Ascension Parish, La. 1-14-99 

WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 year*» of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Boys-Bancfs, Ap-irtado 
715, Havana, Cuba. 4-17-&9 

WANTFD— Position as blacksmith by a middle-aged 
man of 19 years practical experience on large suerar 
plantations In Louisiana; good i:eferences. T. P. Da- 
itiN, Gibson, La. 4-19-99 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blachsmlth, 
one who thoroughly vnderstands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt A Ziegler, Nos. 423 to 436 South Peters st. 

4-13-99 I 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blaoksniith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; jul- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartarlla, Texas. 4-19 O-i 



WANTED— Position ly a rellalle and experienced 
man, who can give flrst-class references, lotane charge 
of a plantation store. Is aman of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S. , care th:>, orflrp. 

1-19-JW 

WANTED— Position as plantation (<ook by experi- 
enced widow. Can n fer to Mr. GlUis of Poydras 
plantation, and others; address Mrs. S. Tkrrelle, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-99 



WANTED— A position by a flrKt-ola&K, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced in sugar mill and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Hrommrr, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4—11—99 



WANTED— For the coming season, aposilion a.s sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and otherpartlcuiars.addre s Felix OrBRK, 
Edgard, La. 4—12—99 

WANTED— By a flrst-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season In Mexico, Cula or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of roferenc«>s furnished; 
address J. H. F., 727 Lowerllne street, Kev Orlear s. 

4-5-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
timekeeper. *'Obo.", care this office. 4-0-(9 



WANTED— Sltuati-^n by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself gen rr>l y useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly .sober, best 
references as to capability, Integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. Jame.s, La. 

WANTED Asugarhous3 expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of 1 akin f: entire charge of running the factory, or 
as sugar maker; address R. U., care this office. 

4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man wiih flrst-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2iid overseer on a bugar plan- 
tation; address S. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Philip Braun. Gibson, 
Li. 8-27-99 



WANTED—Posltion by a man 30 yeara old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some offlne work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Berthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-99 

WANTED -Position by a flrst-class vacuum pan su- 
gir boiler. Is a cloi^e boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and ih')roughly verged in refinery and beet sugar 
and the billing for orvstalllzers. Best of referencesJ 
ftddre.ss H., care ihls office. 3-27-95 



WANTED— Position by a grst-class sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, IS years' exp?rlence In some of 
the b^^st sugar houses In Loulblana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, Thibodaux, La. 3-25-99 

WANTF.n— Situation hv a middle-aged, ftinule Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make hlmse'f gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman. c.»ro Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; Is thoroughly equipped 
forth" work in everv particular; address Cuba, care 
this i ffl ^ '_ 3-20-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molass°s or 
sugar barrels, in tho countir; good references; ad- 
dress Alphonse Buck, 2714 second street, city. 

3-16-99 



WANTED— By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar b )ller, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnbhed. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas f-r Mexico; address Sitgar Maker, Lock Box 
433, EjrI-) Like, Texas^ 3.-22-99 

W.\NTED— Position by a mechanloal draughtt-mm, 1 1 
years experience, praotiral and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been emi)ljycd for last six 
years as a8«.i.slant engineer in large sugar reflnerv; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street. Phlla- 
d elphla. P a. ?l^-02_ 

WANTED— Position as g( n val helper in machlneiy. 
Have been working for the patt twelve years in same; 
add ress J. ^f . S.. Fietel. 1^^ 3-16-»9 

WANTED—Posltion by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantf.tlon. Ten years experience; best of references; 
address A., care this offic. 3-15-99 

WANTED— In flrst-class sugar house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Ix^uislana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience; satlsf£Ctlon guaranteed; addr«^s8 
Martin. nOll Laulel strrel, New Orleans. 3-8-99 

WANTE1>— Position as 1 ne-keeper on plantation or 
teacher In a private famiiy, ly a yonng man cf good, 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give A 1 
ref'M-enf es as to competency and energy; addre."5sC. 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 3-13-99 



WANTED—Posltion as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Add rose Chief Enoi- 
NEER, Lutcher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED—Posltion as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for 8ug:r reflnhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P.O. Box 162, 
New Orleans, La. 3-8-99 
~ , 

WANTED—Posltion ly a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklaver, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 ViUere street, New 0-l«sn«. 

8-9-90 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1890 
by a flrst-cla's vacuum pan sugar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ences from past employees as t j character and ability. 
Addross Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 3-1-99 

WANTED— Po-ltion by engineer to do repairing and 
to take ofl* crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. -' ddress J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2S-99 

WANTED— The best sugar maker in Loni«iana, who 
is sober, good-natun^d, a man who understands the 
use of steam and can prop*^ rly .handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirements he must be a thorougi and 
close boiler of flrstand particularly of molasses sugsrs 
(2 id and 3rd). State salary expected. None but the 
most competent need apply. Addres* C. M , this office. 
2-27-99 

WANTED— A position as second overseer on plan- 
tation by a y6u g man 26 years old, siUKle and sober. 
Am willing to work for moderate wages. Can fur- 
nish r»»ferences from former employer. Address T. 
R. Nesom, Terrell, Texas. 

WANTED— A position by a good sugar boiler. Nine 
years' experience. Address H. 106, this of&ce. 

WANTED—Posltion by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repairs in sugar house, and who 
can superintend railroad construction. Good refer- 
ences. Address H. M. S., Laurel Hill, La. 



WANTED—Posltion by engineer and two sons to rc- 

Salr anc take off crop of 1899. Familiar with all the 
etallH of sugar hous*^ work; also cart work. Addres 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 



WANTED— A situation as olsrlfler on some large 
plantation this season of 1899. B«»8t of references fur- 
nLshed. Address L. H. Hinckley, Charcnton, La. 

2-24-99 



WANTED— An experienced young man, single, Is 
open for engagement as time-keeper or clerk in coun- 
tiy store. A I references from lost employer. Ad- 
dr.»s3 Uioht-Off, 3418 Constance street, New Orleans. 

2-22-99 

WANTED— A position as clerk In store by a young 
man of good habits and experience. Also have a prac- 
tical kr^owledge of drugs. Good references. Address 
Robert, care Postmaster, Woodland, La. 2-23-9B 

WANTED— A position as carpenter or mlll-wrlght 
on a sugar plantation. Best of references furnished. 
Address 418 N. Johnson street. New Orleans. 
2-18-99 

WANTED— A position by an A No. 1. Sugar dryer, 
am a machinist with 14 years experience. Address 
Frank Lorenz, 302 S. Basin, St., City. 2-15-90. 

WANTED— A young man of gocd, steady habits, re- 
finement and education, one accustomed to hardships, 
would like to procure a position as assistdnt overseer 
on a plantation. Tho above would prove a vnluable and 
**all around" faithful man. Addre«>s H. G. I., 1S2I Clio 
8tr_*et, New Orleans, La. 25-C>9 



SAVB TIME— ItTs the stuff life is made of. 

The bean pneumatic coating machine 

FOR WHITEWASHING. 

It I5 not an experiment; it is TiriE-TftlED and TESTfiD. It s«vej» TIME: saves 
DOLLAkS; saves bl<U^HE5; «ave« INSURANCE. One man with this HACIIINE can 
do more work in a day than TtN HEN WITH BRUSHES. IT SPRAYS. 

IT PAINTED THE WORLD'S FAIR BUILDINGS. 

. H«\e you ever heard of 

STAR WAUU PAIINT. 

It covers more than twice as much surface as any WHITEWASH, KALSOMINB 
or COLDWATER paint made, and It will not rub off TRY IT. Ser,d for illustrated 
catalogue. 

J. H. DUCCAN, Agent, 219 N. Peters St., New Orleans. 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



A^D 



H MeeMs newspaper. 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. xxn. 



NEW ORLEANS, MAY 13. 1899. 



No. 19. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

UyiMum Sugar PlanHr$' /l9sociation, 

MwewiMn Branch Sugar Pkuit0r$' /l$90ciat/on, 

iMiistana Sugar ChMii9t$' /l99ociaiion, 

Kansas Sugar Growsrs' Association, 

Togas Sugar P/Oniors' Association. 

PuMisheo at NewOrlwuit, La., •vtry Saturday If oralnc 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTBR AND SUOAR 
IfANUFACTURBR CO. 

Devoted to Looisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all its 
brauches. Agricultural, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical, P<^tical and CommerciaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STUBB8, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGIl. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at tbo Poetoffloe at New Orleans as seoond-dass 
mail matter, July 1, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Sobscrlptlon (including postage) IS 00 

Foreign Subscrtpdon 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Spaoe 



llnch 

tlneli 

Stnoii 

41nch 

ShuA 

• iMdi 

Tlnch 

8 Inch 

• Inch 

10 Inch 

Half Page. 
Poll Page. 



1 months month month 12 month 



$600 


$12 60 


960 


24 00 


14 80 


80 20 


19 00 


47 60 


28 60 


68 76 


28 00 


70 00 


22 60 


90 00 


86 00 


88 00 


06 00 


40 00 


100 00 


60 00 


160 00 


100 00 


280 00 



$18 76 
80 00 
64 40 
7126 
88 16 
106 00 
12176 
186 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
40OO0 



$26 00 

48 00 

72 60 

06 00 

117 60 

14000 

18260 

18000 

190 00 

20000 

80000 

600 OO 



An oommnnlcatlons should be addr e s se d to Tei 
LOUISIANA rLANTBE, 888 CsTondelet street. New Oileantv 



UST OP 

HcCan Brothers, 
McC«il « UgwMira, 



STOCKHOLDBRf. 
R. Bettran, 



Tdler. 
B. Lamaoa ft Bre., 



W. e. Brkken. 
W. C StHbhs. 
JolMi Dynend, 
DaaM Thompisea, 
Peas & Bamett, 
H. C. Wannoth, 
Ladua Forsyth, Jr., 
Edward J. day, 
Sbattack ft tfoftaMB, 
Bnrila Rast, 
TlMai.-«s D. MItter, 
SdMBldt ft Zlegler, 
r. O. ncLaury, 
L. 5. Clark. 
J. B. Lcvcrt, 



BpsoQ ttomor, 

W'. W. Svtdlfls, ' 
JahaS. rioora, 
JaawsC. Murphy, 

jas. iTeDrSf 



D. R. Calder. 
L. A. BIHs, 
Hero ft Malhlol. 
W. J. Behan, 
J. T. Moors, Jr.. 
Edwards ft Haahticai 
John A. Morris, 

B. H. Cunoliigbafli, 
R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor, 

C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris. 
J. H. Murphy* 
Andrew Price, 
B. ft J. Keck, 
Wai.Oartg. 
Adolph Meyer. 
A. A. Woods, 
Brailah Johnson, 
George P. Anderton, 
A. L. rionoot, 
Richard MUNkea, 

W. P. rmas. 
Leiln A. Becnel, 
J.N. Pharr, 
jules J. Jacoh. 



B«R»CiMer, 



EXECUTIVE COmnTTBE. 

llfvry ncCall, 

IV. B. 



The Louisiana 5us:ar Planters* Asso- 
ciation. 

The May meeting of this association 
was held last Thursday evening at its 
rooms on Union stree^t, wfth President 
Emile Rost in the chair, Secretary Dy- 
kers at the desk, and a large attendance 
of members and others. Among those 
present was a distinguished guest in the 
person of Hon. James Wilson, Secretary 
of the U. S. Department of Agricul- 
ture, who is at present in this state for 
the purpose of 'investigating the agri- 
cultural conditions and resources exist- 
ing in this part of the country. 

On motion the reading of the minutes 
of the previous meeting was dispensed 
with. A communication was then read 
from Mr. II. N. Elmer of Chicago re- 
lative to a new device for the mechan- 
ical cultivation of sugar plantations. 
The secretary was instnicted to ac- 
knowledge the receipt of this commun- 
ication and express the thanks of the 
association to Mr. Elmer. On mo«tion of 
Hon. John Dymond a committee of. 
three was appointed to draft suitable 
resolutions expressing the sorrow of the 
association at the recent death of Gen- 
eral William Porcher Miles of Ascen- 
sion Parish, one of its most distin- 
guished members. President Eost ap- 
pointed Messrs. Dymond, Zenor §nd 
Stubbs on this (^mmitteie and they 
drew up the following resolutions: 

'Whereas, a wise an4 inscrutable provi- 
dence has seen fit to take from us General 
William Porcher Miles, who was a member 
of this association and a man who repre- 
sented the highest /levelopmenc of those pre- 
cepts of chivalry, courtesy and hospitality 
implanted among us by the Illustrious pion- 
eers of the Louisiana sugar Industry, and 

Whereas, It is proper that we should ex- 
press our grief when those^die who have 
been for years our counsellors and friends, 
who have shared both our prosper:y and 
our distress, and who have led us by their 
example to take fresh courage and to be- 
]Kve more firmly in the great future of our 
chosen Industry, and 

Whe-eas, We recognise that in this loss, 
so recent that we can fcm^l^ yet realise it, 



we have had taker trom us a man who was 
a type that Is only too quickly passing 
away; 

Therefore. Be it Resolved, That this as- 
sociation deeply mourns so serious a blow 
as has befallen it In this death of one who 
was both an exemplar and a friend; 

Be n furthei Resolved. That a copy of 
chese resolurions be sent to the family of 
General Miles, and be spread upon the mln- 
utos of the association. 

John Dymond, 
W. C. Stubbs, 
G. G. Zenor, 

Committee. 

Judge Rost then, in a few appropriate 
words, introduced the Secretary of Agri- 
culture, Mr. Wilson, and stated that it 
was the first time in fifteen years that 
the Louisiana Sugar Planters' Associa- 
tion had had the honor of en»teiitaining 
the incumbent of that high office. On 
motion duly made it was decided that 
the regular topic of the evening, *'How 
to Secure the Best Results in /the Pre- 
serva'tion of Seed Cane," should be 
postponed until the next meeting and 
that Mr. Wilson should be requested to 
favor the association with a few remarks. 
Amid hearty applause, Mr, Wilson 
kindly consented; stating, however, 
that he had come to Louisiana not to 
instruct, but to learn. He spoke for 
about three quarters of an hour and was 
frequently interrupted by applause. 
His remarks covered considerable 
ground, touching upon fertilizing, 
stock raising, the importance of the Mis- 
sissippi river as an outlet for the im- 
mense products of the west, the advisa- 
bility of digging a canal through the 
Isthmus, the growth of the beet sugar 
industry, the probable stability of the 
present tariff conditions, and kindred 
topics. Several inquiries were made by 
some of the gentlemen present^ at the 
conclusion of his address and the meet- 
ing was one of the most pleasant and 
profitable ever held by the association. 
The thanks of the meeting were ten- 
dered the Secretary by a unanimous 
rising vote, <Joy. Wfirmoth; who ww 



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[Vol. XXn, No. 19. 



present, and who has recently returned 
from a trip through the beet growing 
section of Califomia, was, on the sug- 
gestic^ '^f Mr. (^rozier, invited to give 
a dcFcription of what he had seen and 
learned, and he complied in a most en- 
tertaining way, dwelling at some length 
on the magnitude and excellence of the 
great sugar manufacturing establish- 
ments he had visited. Gov. Warmoth 
was thanked for his entertaining talk, 
and we will print in this journal next 
week a full stenographic report of the 
whole meeting, including a complete 
transcript of the address of the Secre- 
tary of Agriculture. 

There being no further business be- 
fore the meeting adjournment was had 
until the second Thursday in June. 



The Cane Crop. 

The weather during the past week has 
been hot, and had it been accompanied 
by some rainfall it would have been 
ideal for cane growing purposes. Un- 
fortunately it has been very dry, how- 
ever, and while the crop can scarcely 
be said to have suffered so far, it is 
on the verge of doing so. and its cup 
of affliction having been so bounti- 
fully filled already the planters are par- 
ticularly anxious that no further unto- 
ward conditions shall assail it. Excel- 
lent opportunity has been afforded by 
the dry spell to do cultivating work, 
and the cane is now far ahead of the 
grass, a circumstance of which the value 
will become more fully apparent should 
frequent rains arrive during the latter 
part of May and in June. 



William Porcher fliles. 

This di^inguished gentleman, sugar 
planter and citizen, died at Burnside, 
Thursday morning. It v/as only early 
this week that it became generally 
knoAvn that (leneral Miles was seriously 
ill ard the news of his death comes as 
a shock to thousands of his friens in this 
state and elsewhere. 

General Miles had reached »the ad- 
vanced age of 77 years, but his erect 
bearing, cheerful temperament and ge- 
nial manners always left the impression 
of far fewer years. William Porcher 
Miles was a South Carolinian of the old 
HugueM)t stock that has lent so many 



illustrious names to the history of the 
Palmetto State. lie was a typical 
Southern gentleman of the old school, 
of great natural ability, highly educat- 
ed, energetic progressive and generous. 
He represented Soulth Cvarolina in the 
Federal Congress before the civil war, 
and became a member of the Confed- 
erate* Congress, retiring from public 
life at the close of the war. 

After the death of John Burnside, 
the owner of the famous sugar planta- 
tions of the Iloumas tract, some 20 
years ago. General Miles came inlto the 
control of these plantations through 
their inheritance by his children, who 
were the grandchildren of Oliver 
Bierne, Mr. Burnside's legatee. Gen- 
eral Miles' excellent managefent of this 
property led to the acquisition of a 
number of adjacent properties, and fin- 
ally to the organization of a corporation 
to carry on the business of the whole, 
which became known as the Miles group 
of plantations on the east bank and the 
Miles group on the west bank, forming 
an aggregate of 12 or 15 sugar planta- 
tions among the best improved in the 
state. 

In the center of the Iloumas group 
at the present town of Burnside he built 
the well known Iloumas Central Fac- 
tory with a capacity to grind 1500 tons 
of sugar cane per day, perhaps the 
largest in the state at the time of its 
eonstniction and one of the bef^t at the 
present time . 

For a number of years General Miles 
was the president of the Ascension 
Branch Sugar Planters' Association, 
lie was one of the founders of the Su- 
gar Experiment Station and also one 
of the founders of this journal. He 
was always ready to lend his efforts and 
his means to promote the welfare of 
Louisiana. His memory will be cher- 
ished in the years to come by those 
of us who have known him so well in 
this state. 



Cane Sales in Lafayette Parish. 

From the last ivssue of the Lafayette 
Gazette we learn that a meeting of cane 
planters occurred there recently and at 
the meeting the contract submitted by 
the Lafayette Sugar Kefining Co. was 
discussed, The main points in the con- 



tract were not given, but it seems that 
the cane planters there believe that the 
sugar factory ought not to have the 
right to reject the cane under the pro- 
posed conditions; that the juice test of 
12 per cent, sucrose was too high; that 
the regulation for daily delivery was un- 
fair; that the proposed nullification of 
the contract by the company under cer- 
tain contingencies was unfair. 
It is of course impossible to render any 
proper judgment concerning this mat- 
ter without more data than was pub- 
lished in the Gazette. It is to be hoped 
that a satisfactory settlement will be 
reached, one that will be to the interest 
of the factory as well as to the cane 
growers. 



Rice in Ouachita Parish. 

From a recent issue of the Caldwell 
Watchman we learn that Messrs. Alex- 
ander and Grewe of Ouachita parish 
have planted 150 acres of their land this 
year in rice and will irrigate the crop 
with water from the Ouachita river. 
The Watchman says that this is quite 
a radical departure from the beaten 
track so ,faithfully followed hikherto 
by the Louisiana cotton planters and 
hopes that the venture will bring suc- 
cess. 



An Experiment Station in Jamaica. 

Dr. Morris, from whose agricultural 
mission in the British West Indies so 
much has been hoped, is certainly cheat- 
ing a very active inquiry as to better ag- 
ricultural methods in the English West 
Indies and from a recent issue of the 
Jamaica Gleaner we learn that an ex- 
perimental station for Jamaica is now 
under consideration, a special committee 
appointed to examine into the matter 
having recently made a report, in which 
the whole subject matter is thoroughly, 
discussed. It is contemplated to carry 
on a school and experiment station, 
teaching agricultural chemistry the 
theory of agriculture, with the inciden- 
tal studies of plant physiology, botany, 
etc., and all this supplemented by ac- 
tual instruction in agricultural meth- 
ods and practice in the field. The pres- 
ent scheme contemplates an outlay of 
some $6500, whic hmay do for a be- 
ginning, but our good friends in Ja- 
maica will have to go into the matter 



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THE LOUliSIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPACTtJRBiL 



891 



on a more extended scale if they pro- 
pose to keep up ^vith modem agricul- 
ture as now practiced in the United 
States. 



Pras|>ective Su^ar Production in Cuba. 

The amount of sugax that may b e pro- 
duced in the Island of Cuba during the firm 
crop of the new century, and the rapidity 
with which the industry may be rehabilit- 
ated may have so marked an influence upon 
the future price of this great staple, that 
whatever throws any new light upon these 
two complex problems, must liave consider- 
able interest not only for those commercially 
and industrially concerned, but also for the 
public at large. The absence however of 
reliable data in respect to the number of 
factories destroyed beyond repair, of those 
partially burnt in which enough machinery 
may be saved from the general wreck 'to 
warrant reconstruction, and -the extent Of 
cane fields that may still be reclaimed, makes 
all attempts at even aproximate calculations 
hazardous in the extreme. 

Until a census be taken by thoroughly com- 
petent commissions visiting in detail the dif- 
ferent sections, all estimates made will be a 
mere sunnning up of very uncertain prob- 
abil^s. 

Nevertheless, something may be said that 
will tend in a measure to the elucidation of 
important phases of these intricate problems. 
There is one conspicous error that may be 
controverted and put to rest at once — ^the 
supposition, that all the Cuban factories that 
have succumbed, owe their ruin to the 
devastation of the war. This is so far from 
being the case, ithat it was on the contrary 
the general suspension of work on the part 
of the faotorieV in consequence of the low 
price of sugar, that made the revolution pos- 
sible, by leaving thousands of laborers and 
mechanics without pacific means of subsist- 
ence. A large number would not have sur- 
vived had no war or general de9:ruction 
supervened, owing to a variety of causes 
which single or combined, extraneous or in- 
nate, made competition impossible at the 
low cost of production reached by German 
manufacturers. Some of these doome4 es- 
tates were among the first to introduce vacu- 
um apparatus many years ago, but their ap- 
pliances in spite .of the remodellings effected 
from time to time, still retained inherent de- 
fects that, besides exacting a great excess of 
labor, save a scant yield of sugar. Others, 
owning none but exhausted lands, having to 
haul their cane long distances and compete 
in its purchase with richer and better equip- 
ed factories. Others again although pos- 
sessed of all the most modern Improvements, 
had in obtaining them become so overbur- 
dened by debt at high rates of Interest and 
others were situated in hilly districts where 
extreme economy in the cultivation and 
transportation of cane is impossible. All fac- 
tories handicapped in one or more of these 
ways, would, had no war taken place, have 
been forced to suspend operations, selling the 
cane of their tenants to more fortunate rivals. 
An4 finally become extinct by the disposal of 



the better part of their machinery. It does 
not seem at all improbable that, if we add 
to the number that must inevitably, through 
these defects have succumbed to the low price 
of sugar, those of the better class destroyed 
beyond repair by Cubans and Spaniards dur- 
ing the war, fully one-half of the Cuban fac- 
tories will never permanently renew their 
operations. But as many of those that will 
disappear were among the poorest and small- 
est, this does not imply a reduction of manu- 
facturing facilities to one-half the former 
outpu't. The largest, wealthiest and best es- 
tates have as a rule been saved, but under 
heavy loss and expense. 

The ideal sugar factory in Cuba is tod^y 
one owning a large extent of rich sugar 
lands upon the coast, where there is depth 
of water to permit loading its products from 
it.s own storehouse and ac its own wharf in 
chartered steamers to take them direct to 
their market at the seaports of the United 
States. Such a factory, besides getting a 
high grade of raw material at an extremely 
low cost, pays no lighterage, no land freight 
on cane or sugar, no brokerage, storage or 
commissions, no analyses, no weighing, or 
loss from mistakes in that operation. Such 
factories can compete advantageously wi»th 
those of any country in the world, and it is 
upon these lines that any great increase of 
production may be expected after those fit- 
ter, to survive have by replanting their 
fields, again reached their normal crop. , . 

The greatest difficulty the revival or re- 
habilitation of the Cuban industry will have 
to meet, is the scarcity of labor. The sup- 
position that fully one-half of "the population 
that directly contributed to the production 
of sugar has disappeared through death in 
battle, disease, starvation or Weyler's 
butcheries, is in no wise exaggerated. But be- 
sides this there is yet another very consider- 
able loss in the evident disinclination of 
many of their former laborers, to return to 
their tasks upon the plantations. This sc%ms 
to be in par. due to the low wages offered, 
and in part to a dislike for hard work, en- 
gendered by four years of enforced idleness. 
The landed proprietors (not sugar producers) 
are availing themselves of this new tendency, 
giving out small farms on shares, and It 
seems but too natural that in a country 
where land is cheap, and a man by working 
faithfully two or three hours a day upon a 
few acres of good soil, can support^e" family, 
the number of small farms should increase, 
and if this new departure continues as it 
probal)ly will, the effect though beneficial to 
the country at large, will delay the Increase 
iif sugar production very perceptibly. 

This enormous dimliiu:ion in the laboring 
class devoted to sugar production, will neces- 
sitate the importation of two or three hun- 
dred thousand laborers, before Cuba's maxi- 
mum production can again be reached, and 
there is no apparant source of supply for this 
demand but Italy. Without taking into ac- 
count many other impediments, the enorm- 
ous amount of shipping requisite for their 
transportation, would seem to preclude the 
attainment of Ihis indispensable accession in 
less than three or four years, despite any 
amount of "booming" the Industry is likely 
to receive. There is as yet no prospect that 
its revival will be so rapid, that its yearly 
increment will compensate the general in- 
crease of consumption (even supposing that 
Spain and Italy cease, as they probably will, 
to be purchasers abroad) or that Cuba will 
become a disturbing factor in the sugar mar- 
ket for years to come unless annexation 
stimulates its advance. 

The increase of next year's crop (if any in- 
crease there be) would naturally depend upon 
the amount of new plantlngi, and the ex- 



tent of old fields resuscitated by intelligent 
cultivation. In both these items there are 
enormous possibilities for economy and gain 
If one fact.. so generally ignored, were duly 
recognized and utilized in the present strait. 
It Is evident that the stools of a plant that 
replants and* renews itself yearly by sending 
out subterraneous stalks filled with eyes that 
germinate and form independent roots, never 
really becomes old. and that if it fails to 
give a remunerative crop, it is not due to any 
inherent defect, but solely to the fact, that 
the conditions of the soil that surrounds it 
are such, as either fall to nourish, or me- 
chanically impede its development. In any 
good soil in Cuba, these conditions may be 
80 improved by the intelligent use of the 
plow and cultivator, that any abandoned 
field which has live roots enough to com- 
pensate the labor of freeing it from weeds, 
can be made to give a good crop — a better 
one, in fact, than in normal conditions is 
obtained hy the old system of hand work. 
So, also, may the stools of those fields not 
worth preserving, be dug out with the plow- 
subdivided and planted in rows in lieu of 
seed cane, with the advantage of gaining two 
or three months in growth, because the sub- 
ten i.nean stalks begin tillering with the first 
spring rains. The writer has proven upon a 
large scale the efficacy of these resources, 
by such simple means it would be possible so 
far as the cultural phase of the question is 
implicated to attenuate so far the difficuHies 
of the situation as to attain an area of cane 
for the coming crop that would yield perhaps 
half a million tons; but the majority of 
Cuban cane growers are too much wedded to 
routine to suddenly adopt any such radical 
change even temporarily. 

There are new influences at work that will 
undoubtedly in time bring the cost of sugar 
production in Cuba down to an astonishingly 
low figure. Two important factors in this 
direction will be the great reduction in the 
cost of living which Is already being felt, 
and that of industrial supplies which soon 
will be. Besides 'these, there is a very large 
margin left for Improvment in t^he production 
of the raw material, and a greater still for 
an increase of yield by more scientific work 
in the sugar house. When the cane producer 
learns to cultivate his crop Just as an Ameri- 
can farmer does a field of corn, and Cuban 
factories are controlled by men as high in 
technical attainments as those who direct 
German sugar-houses, Cuba will have no 
competitor she need fear- unless dermany 
finally establishes a new industry in her 
African possessions. 

Both the rapidity and extent of agricultur- 
al progress in Cuba will depend greatly, upo;;i 
the number of American farmers who may 
make this their home. If the inclination of 
many of the U. S. volunteers sent here, is a 
true Index, the number will be large; and 
although in all likllhood they will prefer 
crop more remunerative, the cultivation of 
a sufficient amount of cane to supply fodder 
for \heir live stock during the dr |st months, 
when pasture fails is a necessity upon Cuban 
farms and the practices which they Intro- 
duce will be a series of object lessons to 
their Cuban neighbors, that will sooner or 
later revolutionize cane production. 

It is to be supposed 'that the measure 
adopted for the relief of encumbered estates 
will enable some of these to begin active 
work upon the coming crop, but there seems 
to be little ground to hope as yet that It 
will exceed the present one, or that the 
future increase of Cuban production will be 
rapid enough to have any great infiuence 
upon the price of sufar. 

SAjmAoo DoD, 



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THB LaUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAK MANUFAOTUUDL 



[Vol. XXJI. No. 19. 



Florida as a Sus:ar Producer. 

EdUor Louitiana Planter: 

Florida as a state has advantages and re- 
sources that are peculiar to FloridiEt Having 
traveled in most of the states North and 
East of the Rocky Mountains, and having 
lived In quite a numiber of them, qualify me 
in saying that none oif the states compare 
with Florida in the diversity of her produc- 
tion, crops, and seasons. 

The climatic conditions are all that could 
t)e asked for, if we except twenty-lfour to 
forty-eifeht hours in the winter season when 
a Northwestern hlizzard strikes a tangent in 
this direction, ruining thf semitropical prod- 
ucts of the country that at)sort> so much of 
the time, and labor of our people. Notwith- 
standing the great losses sustained year af- 
ter year, the people otf !Florida, as a whole, 
are airways hopeful, and courageous. In- 
deed they look with suspicion upon the per- 
son that sees all there is to see, or says all 
there is to say, regarding the drawlbacks and 
backsets that are to "be encountered by the 
newcomer that locates here. 

There seems to \be a general tendency in 
this direction, shared in alike a>y the press 
and people. . 

Thousands of good people have come to 
Florida to secure the benefit of her climate, 
which is good, supposing, on the representa- 
tions made on products and prices, that an 
honest living could ibe eked out of her soil, 
only to find out sifter diligent and persistant 
effort, again and again repeated, that very 
little "but disappointment awaited them on 
every hand. Usually, the exchequer, whi)ch 
was limited when they came, is >by this time 
at a low et>b. But the clitnate a'bounds. O, 
yes; and the newcomer takes all the satis- 
faction he can out of* it, hut the iwife and 
little ones are not used to living on it ex- 
clusively, so he feels that he is at the end 
of his resources, a condition that might have 
n>een avoided had he heen correctly inform- 
ed, and adopted methods that were peculiar 
to (Florida. 

The Florida press and some of her en- 
thusiastic admirers, have proclaimed loudly 
Co the world that the resources of the state 
in the production of sugar cane were almost 
unlimited. In other words they have cUimed 
that there were millions in it But I fear 
it will be a long time before they will ma* 
terialize. As a rule the Writers of such state- 
ments are theorists, not practical men. They 
do not produce cane in any quantity, neither 
are they instrumental in having it done. 

It is a fact that we can raise a Ane quality 
of sugar cane, and it is equally true that we 
can produce a fair quantity to the acre, per- 
haps as much as can be produced in other 
cane growing sections; "but we must place 
the elerments in the soil to make the cane, 
otherwise we fail. 

.€ane patches in Florida are usually fine 
and niunerous, but they are only patchet 
and limited to tht area oowpennta. 



Twelve years of careful observation Justi- 
fy me in making this statement. But what 
of the muck lands, so much talked of; will 
they not produce cane? Yes, for a short 
time; (but the fact that the managers of the 
St. Cloud sugar plantation have ^en using 
a large quantity of their muck land for 
vegetalble growing, an industry so compli- 
cated, and filled iwith uncertainty, argues 
very strongly against the profitable grow- 
ing of cane on muck land in Florida. 

Sugar cane growing in Florida has passed 
the experimental stage. And the muck lands 
of Florida are accessible to capitalists, and 
the fact that they are not taken up and 
utilized' when there are millions of capital 
seeking profltafble investment, tends to cor- 
roborate w^hat 1 say. If we could demon- 
roiborate what I say. If we could demonstrate 
to capitalists that our lands are fruitful, 
they would speedily take up every availa/ble 
spot in the state, for the reason that our 
climatic conditions are favorable alike to 
growing and manufacturing the crop. 

Florida is noted for its resources in small 
things. Those that succeed here succeed 
ii^a small way, comparatively speaking. The 
md^ that despises the day of small things 
should stay away from Florida. The man 
that aspires to run a largf farm, plantation, 
or 'business can find fields , more inviting, 
fields that will pay a >better dividend on his 
investments. 

Industrious, economical people can earn 
a livelihood in Florida, and those that want 
to dettle into a quiet way of living, those 
wishing to cultivate a spirit of contentment 
and patience, those wishing to live largely 
in^ communion «with nature and climate, will 
find ill Florida all that they need. 

W. W. Danis. 



Tho Orilin of the Velvet Bean. 

Editor Laui9iami Planter: 

ItL' a recent date of your very valuable 
paper, you say that Mr. Albert H. Benson, 
director of the experimental station and 
farms, Queensland, Australia, has been giv- 
ing some atten^n "to the velvet bean, which 
during the last few years, has attracted so 
ttiuch attention in 'Florida and Louisiana, 
threatening to supersede the favorite cow 
pea, etc. 'Mr. Benson says 'the plant hcu 
been wrongly named, as it is not dollchos 
multiflores, but Is recognized by iMr. P. M. 
Bailey, to whom he submitted specimens, 
as mucima pueriens, var. utilis, a variety of 
the plant commonly known as cow hags or 
cow itch. The same error wad made in 
Kingston, Jamaica, British West 'Indies. But 
on a close comparison of the velvet bean 
plant with the cow itch plant that grows 
wild in Jamaica by Mr. George Levy, Secre- 
tary Royal Agricultural Society of Kingston, 
he readily saw the difference, and said the 
cow Itch is entirely different, and the velvet 
bean has been Identified as mucima pueriens 
var utllei. The <queetlon of what is it, li a 
itooadarr fluttfr, po ft omMm food pork. 



plenty of forage and enriches and renovates 
worn out land, and this the velvet bean cer- 
tainly has done and is doing. 
The velvet bean lias come to stay. 

Yours truly, Geo. H. Wright. 



The Sus:ar Boom In Hawaii. 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

Kukaiau, Hawaii, April 20, 1899. 
There is quite a boom in sugar stocks out 
here at present, and in consequence quite a 
number of new plantations are being started, 
but it is feared by many persons, that not all 
of these ventures will prove successful. The 
• main cause of lliis activity is the increased 
water supply, which is derived from artesian 
wells, which has caused much of what was 
supposed to be worthless land to come into 
the market. But on many of these new 
plantations the water will have to be pumped 
to an elevation of 800 ft. whicii is a very 
costly undertaking, and which only very 
high prices of sugar can stand. In many 
places too the land seems almost entirely 
covered with rocks, and looks little calculated 
to raise much of a crop. In other places 
iheBoil. is all right, but the water supply js 
limited, and uncertain, and others again are 
started under even worse apparent condi- 
tions. 

Still they all sell like hot cakes, in fact, 
there is quite a scramble for them, and quite 
a number of the investors are basking in 
what is called a fool's paradise, and are said 
to be receiving big dividends from watered 
stock, or from the money that they have 
paid for the stock. Many persons also fear, 
that •ihia dealing In stock will rapidly de- 
cend to a species of gambling, and there are 
said to be schemes on foot to entrap the 
upwary and to fleece them of their hard 
earned savings. It is to be hoped that these 
are false reports. Many of these new ven- 
tiires will undoubtedly prove valuable prop- 
erties. But none of them can hope to rival, 
or even to equal the Bwa •plantation, al- 
though it is thought that the Oahu plantation 
may come near it. 

Annexation is another,cause for the expan- 
sion of the sugar industry out here, as it bas 
brought in confidence and capital. It is the 
money from America which is said to be the 
chief cause of the advance in the sugar se- 
curities of these islands, although the Roth- 
childs are said to be at ahe back of some of 
the biggest deals. 

Another cause for this advancement results 
from the improved machinery, which is fast 
replacing the old style three-roller mill, and 
is giving such good results. The yield from 
thase new plantations will undoubtedly In- 
crease the output of these islands, but not 
to such an extent as to cause you any un- 
easiness; although I must now admit that 
you were nearer in your estimate of the pos- 
sible yield that these islands could produce 
than I was. I must say, that none of us had 
any idea then that water could be gotten in 
such abundance. 

There is one thing, however, which will 
soon put a stop to the development of Hawaii, 
and that is the limited labor supply, which 
is a very serious question, and is beginning 
to be felt already. How it is •to be met and 
overcome is one of those questions which is 
most difficult of solution of any that we have 
to deal w)tb %t t)ie present time. 

Qbo» Osbornx. 



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LOCAL LBTTBBS. 



Ascension. 

(tPBCUL OORlUBfPONDINCl.) 

EdUor LouisiaHa Planter: 

Warm weather lias set in earnestly, and 
under its benign influence tliere is being 
noticed a gradual and almost general im- 
provement of crop prospects. In some in- 
stances the progress has been exceedingly 
rapid -wUchin the past two weeks, producing 
a vertable transformation in the appearance 
of stubble rows bnd fields, well marked lines 
of green shoots now appearing above the 
erstwhile barren and unlpromising surface 
of the ground. 

One of the most favorable reports of this 
character whicb has lately reached "Ascen- 
sion's*' ears comes from the Miles Company's 
Monroe plantation, where Manager J. J. 
Boote. who erstwhile apprehended an al- 
most total failure of the stubhle crop, is now 
expressing confidence in a fair stand. 

What is most desired now is rain. As a 
prominent planter sayB "we are needing rain 
darned had, for cane, corn and cisterns." A 
promising bank of clouds was viAlble in 
the South this afternoon, btft the prospect 
tonight is not favorable for the early pre- 
cipitation so generally desired. 

The hanquet with which the fifteenth an- 
niversary of the Ascension Branch Sugar 
Planters' 'Association of (Louisiana was com- 
memorated on the 2nd Inst., was one of the 
most enjoyable affairs of its kind, both in 
a gastronomic and an intellectual sense* that 
our "Planters' Club" has yet conducted, and 
those who have attended the dinners dt 
former years will readily appreciate what 
this statement implies. The company was 
congenial, ^ihe menu aM-sati^ing in variety 
and preparation, the service excellent, the 
wines Just ri<ght in quality and quantity, the 
toasts timely and the responses eloquent and 
felicitous. Hon. Hehry McCall, the repeaited- 
ly re-elected president of the association, 
occupied the head of the table and exercised 
the functions of toastmaster with his usual 
abilKy and good Judgment The first of 
the following list of sentiments was offered 
by Dr. W. M, McQalliard, the fifth by 
Col. R. McCall, the twelfth by Mr. B. N. 
Push and the others by the toastmaster: 

1. Our president. Response by Hon. 
Henry MeCall. 

2, Our vice-president. Response by Dr. 
W. M. McGalliard. 

8. The bar. Response by E. N. Pugh. 

4. The medical profession. Responses by 
Drs. Jno. D. "Hanson and B. K. Sims. 

5. The health of our living ex-presidents, 
Hons. J. L. Brent and Wm. Porcher Miles, 
and the memory of our dead ex-president, 
Mr. R. T. Hanson. Drunk standing and in 
silence. Mr. Henry C. Brand responjled on 
behalf of Mr. Miles. 

6. The press. Response by L. B. Bent- 
ley. 

7. The railway commission. Response 
%y R. N. Sims, Jr. 



8. The commercial interests of the towir 
apd parish. Response by C. Kline. 

9. The planters of Ascension. Response 
bir R. McCall. 

10. The soldiers of Ascension. Response 
by Capt. R. P. Landry. 

11. The women of Ascension. Response 
by L. B. Ben'tley. 

. 12. The army and navy of the United 
States and the Ascension boys of the First 
regiment Offered hy K. N. Pugh. 

13. The police Jury of Ascension. . Re- 
sponse by Col. J. Bml'le St« Martin. 

The pleasant reunlop^ closed with a general 
disc^ussion of the police Jury's new road sys- 
t;e^, which elicited, much commendation. 
? It* will sadden very many of the Planter's 
readers beycmd the limits of Ascension, as 
it does everybody in this parish, to know 
'hat Hon. Wm. Porcher Miles, the peerless 
citizen, plan^ter and gentleman— the truest 
type and representative of the old regime of 
Southern chivalry and refinement— is lying 
at the point of death in 'Houmas house, the 
elegant mansion on the river bank at Burn- 
side. The long life of honor, benevolence 
and usefulness is near iits close and the last 
fiickering spark will no doubt have been 
extinguished ere these lines are printed. The 
loss of this grancf old man will be regarded 
in the light of i9i public calamity in this 
community. 

Ascension. 

Iberville. 

(8PBCIAL 00RRB8P0NDBNCE.) 

EMor L(mi9iana FfaiUer: 

The dry weather is still with us and a 
good rain would be of untold advantage, 
especially with the hot days we are having, 
the thermometer running up Ihto the nine- 
ties every day. Work goes on briskly. The 
plant cane is reported ifrom all sides to 
be good but there are many oomplalnts.abovt 
the stubble. The most advahced can^, is 
heginning to sucker and the stand promises 
to be all tihat could be desired. , ,,. 

We have lately been along the line of 
the Texas ft PaciOc as far up as .Boyce. 
Crops generally are backward and, owing 
to the dry weather, cotton in stiff lands is 
not coming up. In the Lecompte neighbor- 
hood, it looks as if a large part of the st,ub- 
bles have been plowed out and the land 
planted in cotton. Further North nearly all 
the email patcbes of cane which were kept 
up in tbe hope of a .central factory going up 
at Alexandria some day, have been killed. 

From a gentleman who has lately ridden 
over the fine Sufifple places, we learn that on 
Catherine and Kinsdle plantations there will 
be a three^uarter stand of stubble, while 
the plant cane was as pretty as any he had 
ever seen. Mr. Thomas Supple ha% planted 
thirty acres of the velvet-bean this year, be- 
lieving tihat it will make more hay than the 
cow-pea, and that, the foliage 'being so much 
heavier, it will kill all weeds and grasses 
far better than the peas. Here as elsewhere 
rain is badly needed. 



Mr. Rudolph G. Comeaux, of Plaquemine, 
who planted Irish potat<)e8 between the rows 
of his fall plant c^e on his Mayflower 
plantation reports that the potatoes are do- 
ing well, though not yielding as bountifully 
as he has hoped. Mr. Comeaux did not get 
a good stand in his fall plant and he is 
no: expecting much from his pailibles. 

Mr. Bdwin Manomeaux, of Plaquemine, 
says if he could have got some cotton seed 
in the neighborhood he would have planted 
it In his stubble. 

The com crop is going to be immense this 
year and as a full crop of corn one year 
means a fuJl crop of everything els^ the 
next/ we, may look for Iberville's banner 
year in 1900. Amoi^^ those who will make 
more corn than cah^ be consumed on the 
pl:\ntktlon are Messrs. Sarrow ft LieBlanc, 
of? Plaquemine, and they arQ contracting 
now to sell corn in the fall. We think there 
are many others who can well afford to do 
the same. 

The water in the Mississippi is falling 
fast, with hardly any prospect of coming up 
again, and all feel that the danger of high 
water this year has passed. 

District Court convened in CivH session 
this week, but the docket is light 

Hon. George M. Bowie, the prominent mill 
man of White Castle, told us a few days 
since ILat the demand for lumber was never 
beder. Their business for February was the 
best of any preceding month since the es- 
tablishment of their mill; March went ahead 
of February, only to be surpassed by April. 

Iberville. 



St. Mary. 

(tPICIAL CORBBSPONDIMCE.) 

Editor Louinana PlaiUer: 

The weather has grown to be entirely too 
dry for effective advancement cH the crops, 
as i-t is how one month since we received a 
rain, and as it was badly needed at that 
time, the moisture did not long remain upon 
the surface of the ground. But as indications 
of rain aVe making their appearance nearly 
every day, it is reasonable to expect one 
within the next week or ten days. 

What the planters have lacked in showers 
they have made up by thorough cultivation 
and drainage, so that a rainy season of un- 
usual length would not have a serious effect, 
since the crops are so far in advance of the 
grass that the latter would not likely reach 
a stage to impair their maturity before the 
laying by season. 

The Germania plantation and the entire es- 
tate of Valentine Schwan, deceased, was 
seised by process of sequestration last Fri- 
day, and taken in charge by the Sheriff of 
this parish. The ownership of the effects of 
the estate is claimed by foreign heirs, and 
at the time o/f the seizure the property was 
in the hands of Mr. Wm. Schwan, a son of 
•the deceased. Mr. Schwan left a will, and be- 
tween the time of his death in February last, 
and the seizure last week, the whole estate 
had been opened and closed under the will. 



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T^E LOUII^IANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 19. 



iMr. Schwan was a German by birth, and 
came to this country, about thirty or forty 
years ago, without money; he went from one 
occupation to another several times, and 
finally to the cultivation and manufacture of 
sugar. He was also a member of 'the mer- 
cantile wholesale firm of V. Schwan & Co., 
of New Orleans, and at the time of his death 
was estimated to be worth several hundred 
thousand dollars. 

The largest corn acreage your correspond- 
ent believes, on any one plantation in the 
upper portion of the parish, is at the Belle- 
view, which has planted eight hundred acres. 
There are larger plantations in the parish 
tnan <Beilevlew, but none of them lost as 
heavily in their seed cane from the freeze of 
last winter. 

Mr. James W. Barnett's Shady Side, which 
is in the lower section, has eight hundred 
and fifty acres of very fine corn, some 
of wliich has been laid by. Shady Side has 
also one thousand acres of cane, wlUch will 
show a higher average than any on the water 
ways of this parish so far. 

Mr. L. S. Clarke, of the Lagonda planta- 
tion, says he will be satisfied with a half 
crop all around this season, which he ex- 
peels to surpass in a small degree. 

Capt. J. N. Pharr's Glenwild and Fairview 
plantations, further down the river, are 
much better, compared with Mr. Clarke's; 
b\ t they will finish the season with a con- 
siderable shortage, nevertheless. 

The South Bend plantation, of the late 
James C. Mahon, is offered for sale by the 
heirs and Mfs. Mahon. The succession owes 
no debts, but it was a request of Mr. Mahon, 
just prior to his death, that the estate be 
sold, his children being too young and in- 
experienced, in his opinion, to assume the 
management with success. South Bend is a 
magnificent estate, in thorough cuKivafile 
condition, and "has a splendid crop at this 
^irae. ^^^^ St. Mary. 

Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8P0NDBNCB.) 

Editor LouUiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has been 
i imply fine for growing purposes. It has 
been clear and warm and the young crops 
are responding readily to the influences of 
.he weather. iFarmers in some sections of 
:he country are wishing for rain, but the 
general crop does not need it A little rain 
-n stubble cane would not hurt, but even that 
can stand for at least a week yet without 
siiftering. Plant cane and corn is just simp- 
ly outdoing itself. The stand of cane is 
^ ill improving— stubble continues to come 
ojt and will yet, it looks, give a fair stand, 
fhere is but little question as to there being 
an average stand in the plant cane and with 
fivorable seasons, the crop will be fine and 
the tonnage per acre will equal that of last 
jear. Your correspondent was driving 
through the cane district a few days ago and 
was surprised to see the plant cane so far 



advanced. It is now suckering very nicely 
and as soon as this stage is passed, it will 
be thoroughly dirted and put in position to 
receive the rains. Stubble cannot be depend- 
ed on to any great exftent — if a half crop is 
harvested from the stubble it will be large 
returns. The stands may be almost perfect, 
but it will be so late in coming up that the 
growth will be short. The corn crop is very 
fine and the acreage is the largest, probably, 
that was ever planted here. If nothing pre- 
vents, there will be sufficient com raised in 
Vermilion Parish this year to supply herself 
and each parish that Joins her. Corn is 
raised" very cheap here and yields from 30 to 
40 bushels per acre. The average cost of 
raising corn here is about 10 cents per bar- 
rel, and it readily sells for 50 cents per bar- 
rel, which shows a handsome profit. Cotton 
is very backward, many planters having to 
plant over and the seed being very scarce, 
has put them to considerable trouble. The 
first planting of rice is looking very fine and 
the outlook is promising for a full crop. The 
future for the rice industry in Vermilion Par- 
ish is very bright. Irrigating canals are being 
put in all through the central and Western 
part of th© parish and more to follow. Capt. 
F. M. Kerr of the State Board of Engineers 
completed a survey on the 7 th inst. for a 
large canal to run west from the Vermilion 
river to the Gueydan Pasture line, a distance 
of 20 miles. This canal will be 200 feet wide 
and will irrigate a larger scope of country 
than any other canal in this seetion of the 
state. The Vermilion Development Co., of 
West Vermilion, in and around the thriving 
town of Gueydan, are extending their canals. 
They recently purchased the Garland canal 
and in addition to that they purchased the 
plantation on which it was located, known as 
the Garland Ranch, 1000 acres of fine rice 
lands for which they paid $22,500. This com- 
pany will very probably extend their canal 
several miles further west now and connect 
with the canal recently purchased on this 
estate. 

The cane planters on the Vermilion river 
and in the vicinity of the Rose Hill Sugar 
Company's plant, held a meeting at the Court 
House in Abbeville last Saturday to protest 
against the contract offered by that company 
this season. A committee was appointed to 
concur with the manager of the mill to see 
if a better contract could not be had, other- 
wise they would look for outside purchasers. 
It will be remembered that a similar meet- 
ing was held by the cane growers in Lafa- 
yette some time ago bo protest against the 
same contract. P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8PCNDENCE. ) 

Editor Louitiana Flan'^er: 

A good rain, If It could be had this week, 
would be very beneficial to the growing 
crops. 

Our last rain fell on the 21st ult., since 
which date there has been a number of 
cloudy days and foggy mornings and at times 



marked indications of rain, which however, 
wore away giving place to warm sunshine 
and south winds. 

It cannot be said that crops are Really 
suffering for the want of rain, but at the 
same time corn, cotton and cane would feel 
the beneficial effect of a good heavy rain to 
penetrate and refresh the soil. 

Corn is growing and promising if the sea- 
son is favorable to make a heavy yield this 
coming autumn. The cotton plant is be- 
ginning to grow, but it needs rain to help 
It along. 

Some places report bad stands of cotton. 
In such instances the gaps have been filled 
out by planting corn. 

The only trouble when growing a mixed 
crop of com and cotton is the greater cost 
of gathering the corn, when grown in and 
along with cotton; such work having to be 
performed by bringing into play the old 
time sled, mule and cotton basket, for driv- 
ing in and between the cotton rows to '*i>ull" 
the corn. 

As far as is known, cane seems to be grow- 
ing and improving in appearance as well as 
in stand. 

Of course the cane raisers would like to 
get rain during this week to help their re- 
spective cane crops forward, but the cane Is 
young yet and there is considerable moisture 
still left In the soil from the last rain. By 
careJfully pulverizing the soil around and 
near the tender shoots of cane it will keep 
up growth for a week or ten days before be- 
ginning to actually suffer for the want of 
rain. 

Corn, cotton and cane on the Bllen Kay 
and Shirly plantations, the fine property of 
Mr. C. F. Knoll, Bunkie P. O., give promise 
of fine yields. The fields present a splendid 
appearance clothed in verdant crops. The 
cultivation on these places is, to say the 
least, superb. 

Mr. M. Bubenzer, Bunkie P. O., has a fine 
place adjoining Mr. Knoll's Shirly PlanU- 
tlon. (Mr. Bubenzer planets cane, corn and. 
I understand some cotton. 

•Mr. A. D. Havard's fine plantation, Bunkie 
P. O., fronting on both sides of Bayou 
Boeuf and Just north of Mr. Knoll, is in a 
good slate oif cultivation and planted this 
year principally to corn and cotton. 

Mr. Geo. Bennette, Bennetteville P. O., has 
a beautiful country home and plantation. Mr. 
Bennette has on his place this season, so I 
learn, fifty acres of plant cane up to a nice 
stand. If not mistaken, I think it was Mr. 
Bennette's intention to have buil>t a syrup 
factory this season, but owing to the de- 
structive freeze of the past winter, his cane 
was cut short, precluding the possibility of 
building the factory for the present at any 
rate. 

Crop prospects In the vicinity of Cheney- 
ville are reported as very favorable. Mr. W. 
P. Ford, one of Cheneyville's up^o-date 
planters, has a splendid stand of cane. OUiers 
who are engaged in planting there have from 
teAr to good stands Of cane, com and cotton. 



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295 



the acreage to cane is not large, but it may 
be termed a gpod stroke of luck to them to 
get in as many acres to cane as they have 
after such a cold winter. 

Planting prospects in the districts around 
Loyd, Meeker, Lecomtxte and liamourle are 
said to be very promising. 

The farmers growing such crops as cane, 
cotton and com in the neighborhoods of Cot- 
ton Port, Evergreen, Leinster and Bunkle, 
have made fair progress to date along all 
lines in farming and planting. 

With the exception of lack of rain during 
this week, there is little or nothing else to 
complain of. 

The ath Inst was the warmest day so far 
this season to be noted by the Planter's 
scribe, the mercury at one o'clock resting for 
a short space of time at 92 in the shade. 

Erin. 



Texas Ba^as^ Paper. 

B. H. Cunningham ft Co., at Sugarland, 
twenty-flve miles wast of Houston on the 
G. H. & S. A., and the home office at the 
Sugar Land Railroad, has ^he largest fac- 
tory in T«xas and perhaps ^he largest in- 
dividual factotry in the United Stages. The 
esJmated value of their plantation, sugar 
mills, sugar refinery and paper mills is |2,- 
500,000. The manuscript man had time 
to go through only the paper mills 
which cover a space of about 300x600 feet. 
They manufacture their- paper of bagasse — 
a Spanish word meaning ''good for nothing" 
—in fact it is the pulp and hard substance 
of the sugar cane, after the saccharine juice 
ttas been extracted. This bagasse is first 
carried from the cane-crushing rollers by 
means of a system of endless chains 1,000 
feet and thrown inito a big pile. Here it is* 
allowed to mellow, or ferment, to be taken 
up again by a chain conveyor and carried 
up into the second floor and dumped into a 
very lai^e steam rotary boiler, wiiere it is 
cooked with caustic soda for the purpose of 
disintegrating the fibers. This cooking re- 
quires about four hours.- The i>ulp is then 
dropped into gr^at draining tanks where the 
caustic liquor and the dirt are w^hed out, 
leaving the bagasse in a measure clean. 
However, to further clean it and reduce It 
to a still finer pulp, k is forced into a series 
of from fifteen to twenty tanks, wherein are 
reuoTatlng and heating machinery, with 
pure artesian water, thus reducing the ba- 
saase to a perfect fine and smooth pulp. 
Thence it is landed by some machinery into 
a "Jordan engine," and here is where the 
pulp is reduced or cut into a fiber of the 
desired length as the different kinds of paper 
require. Thence this fiber is pumped, still 
in a wet state and all the time being washed, 
through a machine-stufTed chest, on to the 
paper machine, where more pure water is 
added to reduce It to a perfect fiber. Thence 
it passes into a sand settler where all sand 
^<1 foreign substances are eliminated. 
'Thence it passes into a "fiow box" or "level- 
ed;' which equalizes it and passes k, still 



through pure water, on to an endless fine 
wire cloth. Up to this time this bagasse 
pulp and fiber was Immersed through water. 
But here it begins to emerge and passes 
from this cloth wire on. to couch rollers 
and by means of light compound pressure 
is further dried and spread into a consist- 
ency to be handled by hand. From these 
rollers it passes on to a fine woolen felt 
roller, the first process of smoothing and 
drying. Thence (and here you can call it 
wet paper) it passes on to and through a 
series of rubber and moss rollers to further 
extract water and smooth it, and these roll- 
ers pass the damp paper to a series of six- 
teen great drying cylinders, each making the 
paper' smoother and dryer and tougher. 
Even here this bagasse, pulp, fiber and 
paper is not allowed to rest. It must move 
on, and It passes on to the "callender," or 
steel rollers where it gets its ,smooth finish, 
and is folded on large reels, it passing from 
the last roller in one continuous sheet six- 
teen feet wide, but being cut by knives into 
length of rolls as you see it on the mer- 
chant's counter. The capacity of thds paper 
mill is 60 tons a day and is driven by a 500 
horse power engine which eats up two car- 
loads of Texas lignite coal each twenty -tour 
.hours, Sundays excepted. When the MS. 
man emerged from this wonderful institu- 
tion he thanked the superintendent, Mr. C. 
G. Morris ton, waved good bye to Messrs. 
Cunningham & Morrow and caught the Mac- 
caroni for home.— (Houston Post. 



Sus:ar Cane — The Bis: Crop in Florida. 

The following article on sugar cane, by L. 
D. Graham, in the Klsslmee Valley Gazette, 
will be interesting to many of our readers: 
I have seen many articles on cane culture 
and its advantages in this section of Florida 
and the whole State as a remunerative crop. 
I will say that I was raised in a sugar grow 
ing country, namely the State of Louisiana. 
In my part of Louisiana cane cannot be 
planted earlier than the last of January, and 
must be harvested by the first of December 
giving only about eight or nine months in 
which to grow and manufacture the crop. 
Yet men have made fortunes growing cane 
under these conditions. Then why cannot 
we do as well or better in our favored sec- 
:ion, where we can plant in December giving 
us three or more months more growing sea- 
son than the section of Louisiana referred 
to? Another advantage we have Is our rainy 
season is certain to come on in June or July 
lasting through August and September. In 
the same growing season for sugar cane in 
Louisiana especially the nothem belt of the 
cane growing section, they are liable to 
have a drouth in the summer, which will 
cut the crop short. Here we never have a 
summer drouth, but in the fall we have dry 
weather and cool nights, just what we want 
, to mature our cane. Hence our cane con- 
tains a larger percentage of saccharine mat- 
ter than in other sections. Now as to the 
land; there is none better than our muck. 



but this is out of the reach of the average 
farmer. However we have another land in 
the country, and thousands, of acres too 
which is within the reach of all. This Is 
our low black pine land bordering on the 
lakes and swamps. These lands can be 
^bought for from $1.25 to |2.50 per acre, and 
properly drained and cultivated will grow 
as fine sugar cane as one would want to see. 
The only thing I can see in the way of 
growing suga:r cane is a question of a mar- 
ket for the output The only solution for 
this, however, is a sugar refinery somewhere 
'in the State, and I know of no place more 
centrally located than Jacksonville. With 
a refinery in Jacksonville and a little en- 
couragement and pu^ on the part of the 
farmers we need not kick any more about 
cold weather, hard times, dead orange 
trees and frozen out vegetables. For my part 
[ began two years ago to prepare for what 
( thought would be the ultimate outcome of 
the disaster, which struck us in '94 and '96 
and has continued to touch us up a little 
ever since, and that is to secure the proper 
lands and plant sugar cane. I am getting 
'fair9y started and hope to be ready when 
the refinery is going. — Florida Agriculturist 



Personal. 



Mr. A. Schierholz, a mechanical engineer 
of high reputation, who is now officiating as 
consulting engineer for one of the large 
sugar companies recently organized In 
Honolulu, was in Louisiana during the past 
week, being the guest of Mr. E. W. Deming 
during his stay. Mr. Schierholz says his 
company proposes to build a 1,600 ton fac- 
tory in the Hawaiian ^Islands. He left on 
Wednesday for the North and East 

(Mr. M. Hanlon, a highly esteemed citizen 
of the Bayou Goula neighborhood, where he 
enjoys the reputation of being a skillful 
sugar planter, was in the city on a visit a 
few days ago. Mr. Hanlon put up at thi^ 
Ho»:el Grunewald. 

Mr. John R. Todd, a leading sugar plant- 
er of St. Mary pariah, who possesses a fine 
piece of sugar property near Bayou Sale was 
a recent visitor to the city. Mr. Todd 
stopped at one of our leading hotels. 

Mr. John D. Minor, son of the late Hon. 
H. C. Minor, of Terrebonne parish, was a 
guest of the Commercial horel last Tuesday. 
Mr. Minor seems to inherit his father's mas- 
terly skill as a sugar planter and controls 
v^-i'fcely and well the broad acreage of the 
Southdown pla^e. 

At the Rich Bend place, in St. James' par- 
ish, there Is a splendid lllustra'tlon of the 
capabilities of the gentler sex to properly 
conduct such a complex establishment as 
a sugar plantation. At Rich Bend, Mrs. 
John Vegas, the proprietress has everything 
under her personal supervision and control, 
and stays in the sugar house during the 
l^rlnding season to see that everything is 
running aJong as it should. Louisiana has 
good cause to be pround of this brave and 
successful lady. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUQAlt MANUPACTUWER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 19. 



PORBIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, April 22, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

iSditor LouiHaiw. Planter: 

Last week has, with regard to the weather, 
seen at last a change in the seasonable and 
deeired direction. There have been at the 
beginning of the period under review still 
same moist precipitations, but they decreased 
in number and abundance and towards the 
middle of the week ceased entirely. The 
following dry days have been, as a matter of 
course, used to the greatest extent possible 
by the farmers for -field work which is now 
pretty well advanced. The sowings of sum- 
mer cereals are almost everywHere finished 
and those of the beets are progressing under 
satisfactory conditions. If the dry weather 
keeps on for some time to come it is very 
likely that a small advance will be obtained 
as against last year, which, however, as is 
known, was marked by exceptionally late 
sowings. Subsequent to the rains which 
were partly adduced by thunderstorms, the 
temperature went very low, and In this re- 
spect a change remains still desirable inas- 
mach as for the germinating and coming 
up of the seed, more warmth is required. 
Any way tbo insure a good coming up and 
consequently a full stand of the young plants 
warm and moist weather is now necessary, 
otherwise a defective stand may result in 
large resowircs which cause an additional 
outlay of work and money quite apart from 
ihe doubtful crop which must be expected 
from them. A change for the better is also 
reported from the other beet growing coun- 
tries. Of the latter it seems that xi'rance, 
Kel^ium and Holland stood most in need 
^{ it, very inclement meteorological condi- 
tiOii» having prevailed there of late. Au::i- 
irla appears to be a little ahead of Germany 
;iaJ in Russia field work has just been com- 
...enced. As a .whoU the situation of lac 
i:uiopean beet culture at the time being is 
..uL altogether unfavorable and there is at 
ioast a much better starting than last year. 

On the occasion of the introduction of 
countervailing duties in the East Indies on 
iDunty paid beet sugar the question has 
again risen to the surface as to whether a 
partial abolition oif the bounties is feasible, 
lu. order to paralize the countervailing 
duties. When the United States proceeded 
to establish this kind of protectionism, in 
kiany political and special papers in this 
cjuntry it was recommended to give simply 
nj bounty to sugar destined for America, for, 
it was argued, the bounty would go into the 
I. easury of the United States and thus would 
be anyway lost to the German producer. 
I.i reaHty things are however quite different. 
1 he effect of the countervailing duty in the 
n.^st place is that the American or any for- 
eign consumer does not buy any bounty paid 
sugar as long as he can avoid it. for the 
consumer must pay the countervailing duty, 



and, in the case of America, the refiners of 
that country, and they ask in the sujgar 
price from the public and they cash even the 
amount of the duty If they themselves have 
paid none at all. "But if there Is no more 
cane sugar or sugar that receives no bounty 
available, then the American consumer or 
refiner must bu^ bounty paid sugar, and in 
this contingency the German producer gets 
duties. And how could it be otherwise? 
The German manufacturer sells his sugar at 
the price which comprises the bounty. The 
exporter who buys it furnishes the sugar at 
the market price oif the world and must of 
course get back the amount of the bounty 
which he has paid to Jth6 producer. Suppose 
now the bounty to be abolished for sugar di- 
rected to America; he would either pay no 
bounty to the manulfacturer, and in this case 
the manufacturer would sell him not one 
pound, or he pays the bounty out his pocket, 
for the government would not reifund it to 
him. To sum up, the countervailing duty 
may tend to deprive a country, of production 
of a given market, but it does not deprive 
It of the bounty it legally gets. That is put 
in evidence now when America buys in Ger- 
many almost every week, but it must be 
added that American refiners prefer German 
sugar on account of the latter country paying ' 
the lowest bounty. In the iBast Indian ques- 
tion. -however, Austrian interests are princi- 
pally at stake and there it has been again 
proposed to do away with the bounties on 
sugar for that destination. But such a 
scheme would meet with the same obstacles 
ds shown above and besides the Austrian 
sugar industry does not care to have the 
bounties partially abolished even if this were 
satisfactorily demonstrated to be possible. It 
should be added that your neighbor, Canada, 
also levies a differential duty on bounty paid 
sugar, or speaking rightly, that she allows a 
rebate on sugar from English colonies; but 
there is nevertheless a lively importation of 
beet sugar carried on to that country. 

The Prussian ministry of war have decided 
that the experiments with the use of sugar in 
the army shall be continued this year on a 
larger scale. The military authorities want 
to make sure whether the men, using sugar 
are more capable o^ withstanding the hard- 
shit)s of war than those who get none. Of 
three army corps, two companies of two reg- 
iments shall be furnished with sugar rations 
prepared in different forms, in order to make 
a more thorough trial in that direction. 

I will give you some facts concerning the 
statistical position of the three European 
beet sugar countries, Germany, Austria and 
France, up to March Slst. The production of 
those three countries amounted in the pres- 
ent campaign to 3,437,431 tons (in 1897-98, 
3,3i27,445 tons), the importation was 62,098 
tons (74,834 tons); exportations, 1,364.201 
tons (1,279,802 tons); consumption, 1,188,348 
tons (1.093,983 tons; final stocks, 1.693,891 
tons (1,781,188 tons). These figures are no 
doubt favorable as in spite of a larger pro- 
duction, the final stocks are considerably 
smaller. ^ 



The markets opened this week still with a 
firm and rising tendency, but in the midst 
of the period under rpview, the bullish speH 
was broken, Paris and Austrian operators 
suddenly realizing profits and instead of 
buying, were largely offering. This caused 
some collapse, especially of terminal prices 
for near deliveries, whilst next crop rather 
held its own. In actual goods, which anyway 
are scarce, the business came to a complete 
standstill and there are no quotations given 
at the end of the week; but delivery April 
is quoted at Hamburg at M. 10-85 f. o. b. 
Refined are firm and 25-38 ptfenings higher. 

RoBT. Hennio. 



Havana. 

(SPBCIAL C0RRB8P0NDBNCB.) 

Editor Jjouixiaiut PUuUer: 

Owing to advices of firmness in the for- 
eign leading markets, prices at this place 
have recovered from their former downfall 
and buyers, especially speculators, have 
shown much eagerness to operate, and had 
stocks been larger, there is no doubt that 
transactions might have been of an unusual- 
ly large bulk, whereas, owing to the high pre- 
itsQtkyns of seller's transactions, have been 
rather limited and added up only 10,000 bags, 
centrifugal, 96-97 test, at from 3 ® 3V6 cents 
per pound. (Market closing to-day, quiet, but 
strong at from Z^k & Z 5-16 cents per pound 
for good centrifugal ^igar, basis 96 test 

Grinding may now be considered as ter- 
minated (for this year and according to oflicial 
statements, the total production amounted 
to 307,903 tons against 232,032 tons last year, 
which shows a difference of 75,871 tons, in 
favor of this year. 

* ^Whilst all plantations in this part of the 
island have already terminated their crop, 
it is announced that central factories *Na- 
tividad" and 'IMapos," at Santi Spirita, will 
commence grinding this week; but owing 
to the advanced period of the season, it is 
likely that the report is untrue, since the 
quantity of sugar they might manufacture 
during this month, the only one as yet avail- 
able for grinding, provided it does not rain 
again, would not be sufficient to cover start- 
ing expenses. 

The excitement that prevailed during the 
past few weeks regarding bandits has al- 
most totally subsided and the few bands that 
still hold the field In the Santiago de Chiba 
province are being so actively pursued by 
American cavalry and Cuban forces that they 
are no more to be feared, and the men who 
Compose' them are fast surrendering in order 
to save their lives. 

With the organization of the Rural Guard 
the gangs that were committing misdeeds in 
the western part of the island, have also to- 
tally disappeared. 

President McKlnley's decree postponing for 
two years foreclosure proceedings in mort- 
gage cases, reads as follows: 

''An extension of two years, terminating 
on the 1st day of May, 1901, is hereby grant- 



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297 



ed for the collection of all obligations wheth- 
er or not secured by mortgage on real prop- 
erty, where it may be necessary to sell prop- 
ety or its products to make collection. This 
extension shall not apply to obligations con- 
tracted since the Zlst day of December, 1898." 

Above decree has been received with much 
dissatisfaction by the country In general, ex- 
cept planters, who solicited it in the belief 
that it would improve their situation, which 
it has, on the contrary impaired, since it 
utterly does away with whatever small credit 
was left them. It is not likely that after they 
have publicly done all in their power to ob- 
tain from the United States the promulga- 
tion of a decree declaring them relieved of 
ail their obligations toward their creditors, 
that they will now ftnd any capitalist willing 
to advance them money to replant their 
fields, repair their machinery and put again 
their plantations in producing condition. 

The enactment of such a law is not only a 
flagrant infraction of the stipulations of the 
treaty of Paris, but also against justice and 
opposed to the rules contained in the com- 
mercial codes of all nations and President 
McKinley ought to be well aware of all this; 
it is ther^ore a mystery to every one what 
might have been the political reasons brought 
to bear upon his mind, in order to convince 
him of the necessity of signing an order, 
whose first consequences will soon be 
keenly felt by the very ones who made the 
greatest efforts for its promulgation. 

The entension embraces not only mortgage 
obligations referring to plantations and ru- 
ral property, but also those that affect city 
or urban property, against which all judicial 
proceedings for payment will be suspended 
for two years, whereas other debtors, perhaps 
in a worse situation than planters and other 
land owners, may be prosecuted with all the 
rigor of the law. 

Neither Governor General Brooke nor War 
Secretary Alger, when he was here a month 
ago, durst assume such a responsibility as 
the one President McKinley has so willingly 
overburdened himself with and this complex 
problem, far from being solved, has just en- 
tered into a new and more delicate phase. 

T. D. 



Cane Culture by Steam in Queens- 
land. 

A few weeks ago Messrs. Young Bros., of 
Fairymead, imported two improved steam 
ploughing engines and implements for use 
on their Fairymead and other cane-growing 
properties. The plant is now erected, and 
has been put to work, with such satisfactory 
results that an exhibition of the machinery 
is to be given at Fairymead this afternoon 
(weather permitting), so that neighbouring 
planters and others Interested may be able 
to see the grand work done by this system of 
cultivation. 

iMessrs. I and H. M'Laren, of Leeds, the 
makers of the Fairymead plant— ^and who 
have a world-wide repirtatlon as makers of 
road locomotives, steam ploughing engines. 



&c. — recognizing that for new country the 
old style of ploughing engines was unsuita- 
ble, re-designed them, with the result that, 
although they still have the same effective 
horse power and greater strength of parts — 
through putting in steel castings instead of 
cast Iron— 'the present engines are only two- 
thirds the weight of the old design, thus mak- 
ing them much more usieful, economical, and 
far easier to handle over rough country. 

The method of cultivation adopted Is what 
is known as the "double engine" system— 
this Is, an engine on each headland with a 
horizontal winding drum under' the boiler, 
with from 400 to 900 yards of steel wire rope 
on each drum, so that a paddock ^p to half- 
a-mlle long may be negotiated. The engines 
are worked alternately, pulling th6 imple- 
ment to and fro across the paddock. The 
engines are very powerful, having a working 
pressure of 160 lbs., and giving off 130 Indi- 
cated horse-power each. 

A paddock of forty-five acres has been cul- 
tivated to a depth of 2 ft., being just finished 
before the severe rains of last week, and al- 
though it was very heavy work breaking the 
hard pan at the bottom of the ordinary horse 
cultivation, the engines ran very smoothly 
and without a hitch, which speaks well for 
the workmanship and general arrangement 
of the parts. The work done was of a most 
satisfactory nature, the ground being thor- 
oughly stirred to a depth of 2 ft; yet no sour 
subsoil was brought to the top. 

The cultivator is a v^ry strong Implement, 
having seven tynes, and so made that it may 
be worked at any depth from 6 in. to 3 ft; 
and on a simple slide bar behind a set of 
horse harrows is attached, which makes a 
fine finish. The steam harrows are used for 
more cloddy ground. They are very strong, 
take in 18 ft. width, and are drawn across the 
paddock at a rate of about six miles an hour, 
thus insuring thorough harrowing. 

The ploughs have not yet arrived, as they 
ar^ being fitted with Improvements to make 
them specially suitable for cane plantation 
work. The engines are fitted with two 
wliidlng speeds— the fast ^peed for harrowing 
and light cultivating, tne slow speed for 
heavy cultivation.— Bundaberg Mail. 

Opportunities in Porto iWco. 

Mr. J. B. Stringer, Boston representative 
of the Eastern Refinery C5on^[Miny. 131 Wash- 
ipjpton street, has just returned from a two 
months' business trip In Porto Rico, where 
he has made a thorough investigation of the 
na»tural and trade resources of the island in 
connection with his purchases of sugar and 
molasses. Mr. Stringer, when Interviewed 
yesterjlay at his N*^ York office by a rep- 
resentatlrve of this Journal, said: "I wa« 
agreeably surprised at the condition of Por- 
to Rico. From all the i^scounts which I had 
had previous to my journey to the island I 
imairined the country was in a defplorable 
condition, financially and industrially, but 
my opinions have decidedly changed after a 
oftre'ful study of present conditions. The na- 
tives are of a fairly high order of intelli- 
pettce. the whites and mulattoes prepon- 
derating in a ratio of three to one as com- 
pared with the negro population. The coun- 
try has not been devastated by war. as has 
been the case with Cul>a. and as a result the 
inhabitants are in better condition for the 
intrc^uctlon of American industries and 
methods. Every tradesman has a leaning to- 



ward Amerltcan goods and is willing to 
adopt American ways. The Americans are 
respected In every 'Walk of life, and With the 
Increase of schools rthe ^pect for all things 
pertaining to thki^^ cbunlSy is growing. The 
enthusiasm for the American citizen Is no 
mere gush of a temiiorai^ sentiment, but the 
StATB and Stripes are rejected even by the 
school children, who are taught to salute the 
flag with the greatest reverenXse. An Ameri- 
can is as safe In Porto Rico as in any part 
of this city. The upper-classes are on a high 
plane— socially, intellectually and morally — 
and with such classes in the preponderamce 
the future of the Island Is assured. 

"With regard to trade conditions, I would 
say that the prospects for the introduction 
of American capital are excellent Money 
Is needed in the island; the people are not 
destitute as in Cuba, but the majority of 
Americans who havq^ gone to the island 
have expected to a^in large results with- 
out any outlay ,whlch, of course, Is ridicu- 
lous; but opportunities for small as well^ as 
large capitalists are numerous. The low 
price of coffee in the isfland has affected 
trade somewhat, but the United States is 
not securing all the benefit It might from 
this tra'de. A't present Bordeaux Is prob- 
ably paying the highest price for Porto 
Rican coffee, but we icould undoubtedly con- 
trol this trade were the attempt to be made. 
The bulk of the sugar and molasses comes 
'to this country. None Is refined in Porto 
Rico except what is consumed locally, 
which is refined on the various plantations. 
The quiaUy of the molasses Is excellent, but 
on account of the uncertainties of the war 
planters have no^t raised as large crops as 
formerly. Prices are firm and somewhat 
higher than during the last few years. The 
prospects for the sugar and molasses crops 
were never brighter. 

**There Is opportunity for the Introduction 
of manufacturing Industries, for the coun- 
try is sadly in need of materials with which 
to perform various processes. Various In- 
struments and implements can be manu- 
faictured to advantage In the country. 
There is little need for the Introduction of 
Ameri<;an labor, for native woi^men can be 
hired /or much less anid will do their work 
well. Considering the tools wliich they 
have if is remarkable What fine work they 
are able to accomplish. Skilled labor can 
be had against which it would (be difficult 
for American laibor to ooimpete. 

"We have no extensive competition from 
other nations in the Island The English. 
French and Germans are there, but we are 
given the preference, other things .bel|ig 
equal, and this state of affairs will became 
more intensified as time goes on. The op- 
portunities for in*vestment are exicellent The 
money lenders, included among whom are 
the English, and French espeiclally. have 
been securing high rates of interest on their 
loans, many Investments being made on a 
basis of 12 per cent Of course, it may be 
readily seen why these investors have not 
been open In tl^elr praise of the opportunities 
of the island. The native populace would be 
glad to secure loans on a lower basis, and a 
great deal of money could be placed on bond 
and mortgage at 6 per cent, with excelleht 
securities. An American has just made a 
loan of 180.000 at 8 per cent, and I know of 
another instance of an option taken on a 
coffee plantation which requires $600,000 and 
will guarantee 6 per cent for twenty-five 
years. Money, to be made, must be worked 
ifor in Porto Rico as well as in any other 
country, but there are opportunities .for 
work which seem to promise good results 
bejrond general belief."— 'N. Y. Journal ^Com- 
merce. 



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tvoi. xxn, Ko. Id. 



BBHT SUGAR. 



Oxnard, California. 

Henry T. Oxnard called at the Courier of- 
fice before leaving for San Francisco yester- 
day. He expressed himself as very well sat- 
isfied with all his interests here. He is much 
pleaed with the town and the progress that 
has been made. As he says "this is just 
the commencement." The future is bright 
with promise. A first-class hotel and a sub- 
stantial bank, which will be an Oxnard insti- 
tution, are assured before the campaign 
opens. In relation to the reported sale of 
the Oxnard Companies and their relations to 
the so-called sugar trust, he atated that the 
reported interview with him published in 
the Los Angeles ! Times was substantially 
correct, with the exception of the inference 
that it was the intention of American Beet 
Sugar Company, of which he is president, to 
erect two new factories in this state. Two 
new factories will be erected by the company, 
and one of them' will be in the arid region, 
Utah, Colorado or Ari2K)na. 

He considers this locality as an ideal place 
for" the beet sugar indm^try and predicts 
that the best results will be- obtained here, 
and that the record of this factory will be 
unequalled anyivhere else. 

The following report of an interview with 
Mr. Oxnard, which touches upon many poinits 
of local as well as general interest, is repro- 
duced from the 'Los Angeles Times of April 
4th. 

'Henry T. Oxnard, the well-known manufac- 
turer of beet sugar, was seen last evening at 
the Van Nuys and expreeaed himself very 
freely on the reports which have been wide- 
ly published of late regarding the alleged sale 
of the four beet-sugar factories of which he 
was president, and also regarding the out- 
look for the beet-fiugar enterprise. 

Mr. Oxnard was very indignant at alleged 
interviews which have been published by an 
evening paper in this city, purporting ito 
have been the result of conversation with 
himself and Mr. Clark of the Los Alamitoe 
factory. He said that the paper in question 
quoted both of them as making statements 
which were absolutely false, and that nei'ther 
had ever had any conversation with any rep- • 
resentative of the paper in question regard- 
ing the reported sale of the sugar pl«uits. 

•*The whole truith of the matter is simply 
this." said Mr. Oxnard. "There has been no 
sale whatever. The four sugjir factories at 
Chino and Oxnard, this state, and at Grand 
Island and Norfolk, Neb., each had an inde- 
pendent organization, although I have been 
president of them all. For business reasons 
it was thougjit best to consolidate them In 
one company, of which I have been elected 
president This new company has taken in 
new capital, which is now practically unlim- 
ited, but every man in the original compan- 
ies has an interest In the new, corresponding 
to his investment. This new organization 
is not only able to go ahead with the busi- 



ness of the ^our factories which it possesses, 
but it is amply able to proceed with any new 
venture which it may in the fu'ture decide 
upon." 

This statement opened the way for the 
direct query whether the company had any 
projects in view of the immediate future. 

To this Mr. Oxnard replied: "We intend 
•to build two more factories to be ready for 
business next year." 

He declined to answer the direct question 
as to the protwible location of them in this 
state. He said: "We are prepared to do 
business anywhere in this state or anywbere 
on American territory. We have not yet de- 
cided on the location of these factorie's." 

»Later, however, Mr. Oxnard said: "The 
future, of the beet-sugar industry is extreme- 
ly bright, particularly in t his state; bright- 
er here than in any other part of the coun- 
try." This would certainly indicate that the 
state has the best of prospects for securing* 
the factories which he said his company is 
to build. 

There is a belief on the part of some peo- 
ple that this new organization, which is call- 
ed the American Beet Sugar Company is 
to some extent aflUiated with the 
American , Sugar Reining Companj^ , (the 
so-called Sugar Trust), and this has been 
implied in some recent publ4cations. Mr. 
Oxnard was asked in regard to this question 
and he replied: 

"There is not, there never has been, and 
so far as I can say, there never will be, the 
slightest relationship between these two or- 
ganizations. No man in the trust owns a dol- 
lar's interest in this organization, nor ever 
owned a dollar's worth In the organizations 
which have just been united. The two or- 
ganizations are naturally opposed to one an- 
other, for every pound of beet sugar we 
make is so much less to be refined by the 
trust, and Mr. Havemeyer would tell you the 
same thing." 

"Regarding the prospect for beet-sugar.* 
said Mr. Oxnard, "we have just built the 
factory at the town of Oxnard, and by the 
time it is completed it will represent an in- 
vestment of fully 12,000,000. That is the 
best testimony I can give of our confidence 
in the industry. We would not have made 
that investment if we did not feel very sure 
of the result.** 

'Being asked in regard to the effect on the 
beet-sugar industry of the annexation of the 
Hawaiian and Philippine Islands, he said: 

"I do not believe that any serious results 
will come to the industry from the annexa- 
tion of the Hawaiian Islands, but the Phil- 
ippines are an unknown quantity, of wblch 
we stand in great fear. They are a very 
dangerous element, on account of the cheap 
labor there." 

Asked in regard to the outlook for the 
beet crop in California for the present year, 
(Mr. Oxna^rd said: **The prospects at Chino 
are not quite so bright as at Oxnard. At 
t?he former place probably about five thousand 
tons of sugar will be made from beets grown 



at Chino and the portions of Orange county 
which ship to that point. That Is about 
two-thirds of a crop, we estimate. At Ox- 
nard we expect .to make about twelve thous- 
and tons of sugar, which is all we care to 
handle. This is the first year at that fac- 
tory and there are always delays with new 
machinery, and it would not be safe to 
undertake to run at full capacity. What is 
a full product at Oxnard for this year, how- 
ever, would be about three-fourths of a year 
after this. It is probable that Southern Cal- 
ifornia will produce about two hundred 
thousand tons of beets. We expect to run 
each of these two faotories about ninety 
days. "—Courier, April 8. 



Oxnard, California. 

The welcome showers drove the beet thin- 
ners out of the fields and for several days 
this week they were very much in evidence 
on the streets. The work of beet thinning 
is well under way and the number of men 
at work is variously estimated, by some as 
high a s 1,000. 

The beet thinners, who worked in the 
fields at Chino claim that \i is much hard- 
er' here. The stand of beets Is better and 
more beets have to be pulled up. There are 
few bare places which elsewhere give the 
men a gain. Experts who were good for an 
acre or more a day elsewhere, claim that 
three-quarters of an acre is the best they 
can do here. 

This class of beet field work is usually 
let by* contract to some man who represents 
a number of men working co-operatively, 
or who employes others, it is customary for 
the contractor to employ some expert as a 
pace setter. A man who can thin an acre 
of beets a day commands as high as |2.00 
per day as a pace setter. The other em- 
ployees are paid in the proportion their work 
bears to that of the pace setter. The weak, 
lazy and unskillful get the smallest wage. 
Besides that the contractor runs a commis- 
sary department and feeds the gang. They 
sleep in tents or in the siiade of trees near 
where they work. 

It is an interesting sight to see a gang 
of men stretched out across a field, each 
man takes two rows and goes through on 
hands and knees pulling up surplus beets 
and weeds. The central Cor watches them 
to see that the work is done in such a man- 
ner as will secure the payment of the con- 
tract price. 

The prices paid by the farmers run from 
$4.50 .to $6.00 depending upon a variety of 
conditions. His measure of profit is de- 
termined by the skill and faithfulness of the 
pace setter. If he can secure a pace setter 
who will thin an acre of beets a" day, to 
wliom he pays $2.00 and found, which means 
about fiftx, cents more, the net cost to him 
will be ^1.75 per acre and he will receive 
the difference between that and the contract 
price to pay him for his work and the 
profits. 



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S99 



This is a class of work at whioh women 
and children can and do work. It is tire- 
some on account of the position the body is 
in, but it does not require any great muscular 
strength. 

It is a business, however, at which an 
energetic, skillful man can maJce good wages 
and if conditions are favorable, the profits 
of the contractor should be considerable. — 
courier, April 29. 



Los Alamltos, Cat. 

A visit to Los Alamltos Wednesday devel- 
oped the fact that that section is weathering 
the drought very well and that beet growers 
are finding but little fault with the present 
outlook. 

The work of thinning the beets commenced 
about the first of the present month and 
will last until the middle of May. There 
are between 300 and 400 persons engaged in 
this work, and are paid |3 an acre, which 
net them about $1.60 a day. 

There are 5900 acres planted to beets this 
year, which will yield about 50,000 or 60,- 
000 tons. The price paid for beets is to be 
$3.80 per ton for beets averaging 12 per cenft. 
sugar and 25 cents for each per cent, above 
thai The heavy fogs of the past two weeks 
have done much good and the yield will be 
much larger than was expected. 

The factory will begin operation about 
July 1, and will have a run of over five 
weeks. Santa Ana Blade. 



Springvilltt Sus^ar Factory. 

Springville, April 25.— Th^ long hoped for 
sugar factory for Springville is now practic- 
ally an assured fact. Manager Cutler, Sup- 
erintendent Austin and Vallez and Secretary 
Evans of the Utah Sugar Company were in 
town today, and spent the day with survey- 
ors laying out the factory grounds and stak- 
ing out two beet sheds. 

With the sugar company officers were 
Superintendent Welby and Chief Engineer 
Yard of the Rio Grande Western, who were 
present to see what side tracks and switches 
their company would need to put in. The 
location of the factory was slightly changed 
to make it easier to put in their tracks. The 
factory grounds as now laid off includes 
about forty acres, and is located about half 
way between Springville and Spanish Fork. 

The factory will have a grinding capacity 
of 450 to 500 tons daily, which Is fifty tons 
more than the Lehi factory. The two sheds 
staked off today were each 700 feet long, and 
have a storage capacity of 3,000 tons each. 
This makes the two sheds here equal to 
about three of the sheds at Lehi. The juice 
of the beets ground in the factory here will 
be run to Lehi factory through a five-Inch 
pipe-^line, twenty-one miles long, with a 
fall of 100 feeL The pipe will be here by 
June 1st and machinery by July ^st. Work 
on the factory will begin as soon as the deed 
for the land is proven. Every effort Is mak- 
ing to speed this.— Salt Lake Tribune. 



The Root System of the Sugar Beet. 

Prof. Ten Eyck of the North Dakota Ex- 
periment Station has made a study of the 
root systems of wheat, oats, fiax, corn, pota- 
toes and sugar beets, and the results of his 
investigation are embodied in Bulletin No. 
36, of that station. The land in which the 
roots were grown was typical Red river val- 
ley soil, being a deep black loam, underlaid 
by a subsoil bf lighter color which is com- 
monly called clay, but is in realiiy a com- 
pact, heavy loam. As to the sugar beet the 
bulletin informs us that its root syscem dif- 
fers from that of any of the other plants 
studied. The beet itself is ^really the en- 
larged upper part Cf the tap-root which ex- 
tends almost perpendicularly downward into 
the ground, becoming rapidly smaller in 
diameiier, the lower part being quite small 
and thread-like and reaching, in the case 
under investigation, a depth of over three 
feel. From the central root branches spread 
outward and downward into the soil on all 
sides. The upper main branches are the 
largest and extend ouiward almost horizon- 
tally for more than two feet. Those deeper 
down incline more and more until the last 
branches run nearly parallel to the tap root. 
The soil about the main roots is filled with 
long, white, hair-like fibers. , 

The sugar beet is a deep feeder. The main 
lateral roots stare out four to five inches 
from the surface, and there is not much root 
development in the upper six inches of soil. 
This study of the root system of the sugar 
beet shows why sugar beets require a deep, 
well-loosened soil. — Oregon Agriculturist. 



5us:ar Exports to Canada. 

The war between the Tival American 
sugar refiners and the low prices resulting 
from it are causing considerable agitation 
among Canadian sugar refiners and among 
the Canadian wholesale grocers who usual- 
ly do business with such refiners. It appears 
Lhat notwithstanding the' Canadian duty of 
1.26 cents upon refined su^ there has been 
a very decided increase in the exports of 
American refined sugars into the Dominion. 
American refiners at the present time if not 
selling actually at a loss are very close to 
the mark, and as they are able to obtain a 
drawback of duties they have paid on the 
raw sugars from which the refined is pre- 
pared it is now possible to export to Can- 
ada, as sugar is a staple in which a differ- 
ence of even 1-32 cent per pound will infiu- 
ence distribution. 

' The Canadian wholesale grocers, in con- 
junction with the Canadian sugar refiners, 
liave, it is reported, united to secure such 
legislation as shall prevent the importation 
of American refined sugars into Canada. It 
is also reported that the combination of 
these interests also proposes an agreement 
not \o purchase any other, than Canadian 
refined sugars. 

In the sugar trade here it is argued that 
itt would be obviously unwise and unfair for 



the Canadian parliament to enact any dis- 
criminative legli^aition against American 
sugar, as the influences that are now allow- 
ing the American competition are entirely 
abnormal and may cease at a moiment's 
notice, while on the other hand, if legisla- 
tion were secured to meet this temporary 
condition, it would probably take years to 
have it reversed. 

Canada sugar refiners are now receiving 
more protection than they had under the 
late governmentt. Canada refiners assert 
that the American Imporls are due to bounty 
fed United S:aies sugars. "This, of course, 
is ridiculous," said a prominent member of 
the sugar trade yesterday, "the only draw- 
back allowed by the United States on refined 
sugars exported is the duty actually paid on 
the raw articl<9 ffom which they are manu- 
factured — in other words, the refiners prac- 
tically refine in bond. Any effort on the part 
of the C^adian parliaimeuii to increase the 
duty on American refined sugars would prac- 
tically mean discrimination, and under such 
circumstances would have the attention of 
the United States government. As an in- 
stance of discriminative legislation, take the 
Canadian tea and coffee duties; tea and cof- 
fee are imported into Canada from Grea.t 
Britain and place of growth free. If im- 
ported from the United States 10 per cent 
du^y is charged. The only duties imposed on 
tea and coffee from Canada into the United 
States is the regular duty in force of 10 
cents per pound on tea, while coffee is ad- 
mitted free. Certainly it would appear un- 
wise for the Canadian parliament to legis- 
iate in eueh a manner as to show any ad- 
ditional discriminations against importaiions 
from this country." — ^New York Journal of 
Commerce. 



Trada Notes. 

Anthnuc or Charbon. 

The season is now approaching when an 
outbreak of charbon is liable to occur. Past 
experience should be sufficient warning to 
many stock owners to provide against a 
future attack, and no doubt these lessons of 
the past will be the means of saving the life 
df many a valuable animal. But time slips 
by so rapidly, and the cares of life are so 
numerous, that others may be caught nap- 
ping when the critical moment arrives, and 
only arouse to find their stock dead or dy- 
ing from this terrible disease. When it is 
considered how easily, how cheaply, live 
stock may be inoculated against charbon, it 
seems strange that every susceptible animal 
in infected districts is not vaccinated with 
Pasteur vaccine. The time, trouble and ex- 
pense are so trlfiing that it is much cheaper 
to vaccinate a hundred head than it is to 
lose a single animal. The warning here 
given is sounded in am:ple time; and it is 
to be hoped that every stockowner in the 
charbon "belt" will from this moment be 
haunted by this friendly advice — vaccinate, 
vaccinate. Those who are unacquainted 
with Pksteur vaccine, or with the extent 
and success oif its use in this country should 
write to the Pasteur Vaccine Co., No. 58 
Fifth avenue, Chicago, who will gladly 
furnish literature pertalnlAg to the subject 



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[Vol. XXII, Ko. Id. 



RIOR 



Talmag« on tho Rice Market. 

Another slow disappointing week until just 
At the close thero was a rush of orders knd 
requests for samples. The former might be 
called "only a spurt" but th« latter gives 
promise of "more to follow" in way of busi- 
ness. Until the limited demand of the past 
few weeks, stocks have accumulated some- 
what but with shutting down of shipments, 
are not regarded as excessive and if there be 
the usual spring call, further supply will "have 
to be sought abroad. Late receipts have been 
largely of new crop Java and it being of 
more recent growth than other styles, shows 
up finely in the matter of color. Advices 
from the South note movement local and to 
near-by points; stock is limited and firmly 
held, as owners are quite assured that it is 
short of requirements up to new crop. Ship- 
ments of rough have ceased from most lo- 
calities and all mills save one have closed 
for the season. Encouraging reports are be- 
ing received from every section regarding 
the crop of the current year. Seeding is 
steadily progressing and a much larger acre- 
age being prepared tlian was anticipated. 
Cables and correspondence from abroad note 
quickened demand and firmer prices, more 
especially on nice selections. So little of the 
present receipts of uncleaned are flrst-clftas 
that millers fear to contract against future 
delivery in high grades. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, rough, 
699,345 sacks; last year (inclusive of amount 
carried over) 631,700 sacks. tSales, cleaned 
(est) 172,382 barrels; last year 116,600 bar- 
rels. Featureless; demand local. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,286 barrels. Sales, 33,150 barrels. Fair 
enquiry at full values. 



Rice Canal Extensions. 

B. M. Lambert and E. HamiUon went out 
Thursday on a surveying tour. They ar« 
running the line for an extension to th^ 
Abbolt^uson* canal. The work on the other 
canals is being pushed rapidly and in some 
instances is already completed. The new 
plamt at the Crowley canal is almost finish- 
ed and is as fine a specimen as will be 
found in the country. The new pump will 
throw twice as much water as the one 
formerly used, and in order to properly 
cover the new engine, boilers and machin- 
ery the house has been enlarged to about 
three times the size of the former one. — 
Crowley Signal. 

(Messrs E. S. French, of Shelbyville, 111., 
and Ellsworth French, of Shell Beach, were 
in the c»ty last night saye the American. 
Each returned to his home today. These 
gentlemen, are interested in a large rice 
planUtion in the Lake Arthur country. 
They will have 400 acres in rice this sea- 
son on their own place. Their canal has 



been extended over a mile and many addi- 
tional acres will be planted, the Frenchs 
have a fine place. They report that the 
farmers in that country are much interested 
in the proposed canal to connect Ijake Ben- 
ton with Sweet lake. The canal would add 
grealtly to profits of the rice farmers in that 
territory by reducing freight rates.-HWest- 
lake Herald. 



riore irris^ated Rice. 

A canal project, of which very little has 
been said, is being woriced out near Kinder. 
O. E. Moore, civil engineer, of this city 
has been working on the canal for some time. 

The canal is now in process of construc- 
tion. The embankments for the main canal 
and laterals are being raised. 

The water wdU be taken from the Calca- 
sieu river by a lift of 31 feet. The main 
oanals and laterals to be constructed this 
year will be three to four miles long. (Con- 
struction is being pushed and Mr. Moore ex- 
pects fo have the plant in operation in time 
to water 400 or 600 acres of rice land on his 
own place. The possibilities of the canal 
have not been fully developed.— Lake Charles 
Commercial Tribune. 



New Policy of tlie American 5ugar 
Refining Company. 

The recent rumors in grocery circles, men- 
tioned in these columns on Wednesday, that 
the Sugar Trust was offering sugar direct to 
retailers in certain sections, particularly in 
Charleston and the Northwest, have caused 
no little concern among brokers and the Job- 
bing trade. If true the rumors, it is acknow- 
ledged, mean thfi open abandonment of the 
factor and equality plans of distribution, and 
the organization by the Trust of a system of 
distributing machinery that will eventually 
revolutionize current trade methods. 

It will be stated on authority that thus far 
lliivre has been no change in the Sugar 
Trust's policy of distributing its sugars, and 
it may also be stated on authority that the 
Trust is not desirous of selling over the 
heads of the jobbers who are now its factors. 
For the last two years or so, liowever, the 
American Sugar Refining Company has not 
regarded the factor plan from the same view 
point as the wholesale grocers. The latter 
when the plan was first promulgated re- 
garded it an agreement whereby the Trust 
would sell only through factors who were 
wholesale grocers. But the Trust has fdr 
some time been filling orders from all buyers 
it deemed desirable customers regardless of 
whether such customers were jobbers or re- 
tailers. All that was necessary was for the 
buyer to take a minimum quantity of sugar. 
In the South no serious attempt seems to be 
in progress on the part of the grocers to 
maintain the factor plan, and the saiqe is 
true of certain parU of the West. But in 
these sections where the grocers themselves 
are showing a disposition to comply with the 
factor conditions the Sugar Trust people are, 
according to an official of the company. 



doing all that is possible to aid them. In 
other words, they will not in those districts 
sell to retailers in less than 100-barrel lots. 
"There has been no change in our policy 
whatever," said a representative of the 
American Sugar Refining Company to a 
reporter of this journal; "we are strictly ob- 
serving the factor and equality plans in all 
sections where the grocers themselves are 
observing them." 

Sugar refiners generally— the Trust as well 
as outsiders — look to the jobbers themselves 
to maintain the factor and equality plans. 
No recent instances are known where any of 
the refiners have attempted to discipline in- 
fractions of either plan in the form of price 
cutting, as each refiner knows that it would 
be a very easy matter for a large customer 
to obtain his supplies from a competing re- 
finer. 

While the Trust has not yet deviated from 
the factor plan it is nevertheless true that 
it proposes to do so just as soon as its in- 
terests require such action. A representative 
of the company yesterday denied a report 
that the Trust had issued a circular letter 
threatening to abandon the factor system of 
distribution if the wholesale grocers to whom 
the circular was addressed did not purchase 
all their supplies from the Trust "We have 
issued no such circular," said the representa- 
tive of the Trust who was questioned, "but 
we certainly are doing our very best to get 
our customers to buy all their supplies from 
us. That is, however, simply what any busi- 
ness house in any line of trade would en- 
deavor to do." 

The explanation regarding the alleged cir- 
cular is, however, purely technical. It is a 
fact that letters have been written by repre- 
sentatives of the Trust to some large con- 
sumers and that traveling representatives of 
the Trust have personally presented the 
same arguments to otner large consumers, 
setting forth the desirability of such con- 
sumers purchasing all their supplies from 
the Trust and intimating that otherwise the 
factor plan cannot be maintained. The argu- 
ments have been made that the Trust is 
always able to promptly fill all orders, while 
more or less limited by the comparative 
supplies from other refiners are necessarily 
limitations of the plants. Consequently with 
as low prices as are named by competitors 
and a guarantee on prices the Trust people 
argue they are entitled to the full support of 
their customers. These representations have 
been regarded in the form of a threat that 
the continuance of the factor plan is condi- 
tioned upon their adoption of a policy of ex- 
clusive dealings with the Trust 

These conditions certainly do not suggest 
any negotiations looking to any immediate 
termination of the contest between the rival 
refiners. The net price for granulated sugar 
listed by all refiners is 5H cents, which, with 
discounts off, makes the net figure. 4.84 cents. 
Raw sugar on the basis of 96 degrees cen- 
trifugal is 4^ cenU bid» making the differ- 
ence between the refined and raw article 34 



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May 13, 1899.] 



THE LOtJISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR ItANXTFACTURlOL 



301 



cents per hundred pounds— -the smallest dif- 
ference that has thus far existed. In view 
of the strensfth in the raw eusar market and 
the fact that refiners are giving buyers 
thirty to sixty-day guarantees on re- 
fined sugar does not indicate evidence of 
an understanding among the confilctlng In- 
terests. There Is no doubt but what the in- 
dependent refiners who worked In harmony 
with the Trust before the Doscher and the 
Arbuckles started up, are in favor of estab- 
lishing similar conditions at the present 
time, but as far as can be learned there is 
no basis for reports of an alleged recent con- 
ference, and in Sugar Trust circles the con- 
ditions of compromise alleged to have be^n 
reached at the conference are in themselves 
a sufiaolent stamp of their own unreliability. 
These conditions, according to street report, 
are that the Arbuckles are to be allotted 10 
per cent of the combined output of all the 
refineries, and are to have given them in ad- 
dition the Woolston Spice Oompany, which, 
it will be recalled, Sugar Trust interests pur- 
chased in order to fight the Arbuckles In the 
coffee roasting field; Doscher was to be ac- 
corded 10 per cent of the total output, and 
the Howell refineries were to have 28 per 
cent. As the total output is about 40,000 bar- 
rels per day, the foregoing arrangement 
would give the Arbuckles' 4,000 barrels per 
day, which is more than their refining ca- 
pacity, while the Woolston Spice Company 
Is to be thrown in as a bonus. Doscher, ac- 
cording to reports, will on the same basis 
get a 4,000-barrel a day alottment, which Is 
•500 barrels a day more than his capacity. 
Such an arrangement, it will be observed, 
would be far from being a compromise, but 
would, as a matter of fact, be more than a 
defeat for Mr. Havemeyer, since it would 
be giving to the outsiders more than they 
ask, or under current conditions at least, 
more than they can command. Such an ar- 
rangement could not, it is argued, be ex- 
plained on the ground that the advances in 
prices of refined that it would be posslbU 
to secure as a result of ending the war 
would more than compensate for the less 
smaller proportion ot business the Trust 
would have left. Any material advance in 
refined sugar prices would, it is argued, 
quickly bring supplies of foreign refined 
sugars to this side. The only foundation for 
such a basis of compromise could, it is ar- 
gued, only be the acquirement of control of 
the Sugar Trust by actual purchase of sugar 
certificates In the open market. H. H. Rogers 
of the Standard Oil Company, Is credited 
with having been an active buyer of sugar 
certificates for some months, and the theory 
is suggested in some quarters that Mr. Rog- 
ers may be engineering a combination of all 
refineries, or, in other words, to organize 
a greater Sugar Trust. This, however, is not 
credited in usually well-informed circles, and 
friends of Mr. H. O. Havemeyer say that 
such a thing is the last thing he would con- 
sider. Mr. Havemeyer, under the amended 
b7-)»ws a4opted at the annual meet(u of 



the American Sugar Refining Company in 
January, has. It will be recalled, been given 
despotic power in the management of the 
Trust's business^ and it is regarded as a safe 
supposition that any movem^t — oonaolldii- 
tlon or otherMse— that did 'not have Mr. 
Havenmeyer*s co-operation, would have very 
uphill work. 

The reported : settlement at the coffee' 
roasters war appears to have as little basis 
as the similar report regarding sugar refin- 
ers. The Arbutkles are asking H cent per 
pound more for their Ariso brand than the 
Woolson people are for their Lion brand, but 
in some sectionii of the country the different 
interpretation of the equality plan by the 
two companies reduces the difference to 
about hi cent It is understood that many of 
the consolidation rumors of late have ema- 
nated from Chicago sources, which are cred- 
ited with endeavoring to market Glucose 
stock on the strength of the reports. It will 
be recalled that a few weekct ago reports 
were circulated that the Sugar Trust had 
purchased the control of the Glucose Com- 
'pany, but this report, as far as could be 
learned, proved to have nio substantial 
foundation.— New York Journal of Com- 
merce, April 7. 

The Velvet Bean. 

A successful rival of the well-known cow- 
pea oif the South has now made its appear- 
ance, and will get a fair test this season in 
nearly every county in the cotton-growing 
states. It is known as the velvet-bean. It 
is supposed to have been introduced into 
southern Florida from Brazil, yet some are 
of the opinion that it was Introduced years 
ago from the agricultural section of the pat- 
ent office. 

iPractical experience, supplemented by 
careful chemical analyses, has demonstrated 
the fact that the value of the velvet-bean for 
feeding purposes, exclusive of the shells or 
pods, much exceeds that of the cow-pea. 
Protein is one of the most important consti- 
tuents off food for live stock, and exists in a 
greater proportion In the bean than in the 
pea. Protein furnishes the materials for the 
lean fiesh, blood, skin, muscles, tendons, 
nerves, hair, horns, wool, casein of milk, al- 
bumen of eggs, etc. Ground with the pod 
the velvet-bean makes a most excellent feed 
for milk-cows, producing fine, solid butter of 
an excellent flavor. When shelled and 
ground and used as feed for horses, the meal, 
if supplemented by the usual supply of for- 
age, forms a rich and nutritious feed. As 
feed for stock, the vines when cured as hay 
are equally valuable. 

The estimated yield of green forage an 
acre, when produced on land of only average 
fertility, ranges from ten to twelve tons. As 
the vines are slender, and consequently con- 
tain less moisture than those of the cow-pea, 
it is much more easily cured and converted 
into hay. The difficulty in making hay out 
of the vines of the cow^ea has measurably 
prevented |ts general use for basr-maWni 



purposes. Even on comparatively poor land 
the vines from the velvet-bean grow from ten 
to twenty feet In length, and on fairly good 
land a growth of from twenty-five to thirty 
feet is not unusual. Experience has shown 
that the velvet-bean is one of the most rapid 
and' efficient! nitrogen-gatherers known. The 
nitrogenous nodules on the roots are often 
as large as ^hazelnuts. These form in great 
abundance and are evidently the habitat of 
some form of nitrifying bacillus. To secure 
the best results the beans should be planted 
early in April, as the velvet-bean does not 
get its niirogen-gatherlng capabilities in 
complete working order until late In the sea- 
son. This bean has been very aptly •termed a 
nitrogen-Jertlllzer factory. The amount of 
forage (vines and leaves) that it produces is 
astonishing as compared with the quantity 
yielded by the cow-pea. 

The vines usually come into full bloom in 
August, producing long clusters of some- 
what large purple fiowers, reminding one of 
the wistaria. The plant is therefore quite 
an ornamental one, which accounts for the 
first use of It in Florida, where it was grown 
as an ornamental plant on trellises for shad- 
ing piazzas: The pods are very thick and 
leathery In appearance, and contain from 
•three to five large, plump, fine-looking beans. 
These are irregularly colored with purplish 
and brown patches. The foliage Is much 
like that of other beans. The estimated 
yield of beans an acre ranges from twenty 
to thirty bushels. Florida-grown seed can 
be obtained of the leading Southern, and 
Eastern seed-houses. As yet, all the seed 
obtainable is that grown in Florida. 

As it is not probable that the beans will 
ripen North of the cotton-growing sUtei, the 
crop is likely to prove the most valuable 
when grown with the most rank-growing 
varieties of field-corn, so as to obtain the 
greatest number of tons an acre for ensilage 
purposes. This combination is a most de- 
sirable one for the purpose. Otherwise, the 
greatest profit is likely to accrue to farmers 
along the Northern border of ite successful 
growth, by using it as a crop to plow under 
for fertilizing purposes.— W. M. K., in Farm 
and Fireside. ^^ 

Personal. 

•Senator Donel»on Caffery, of Franklin, 
La., was a guest of the St Charles hotel on 
Wednesday last 

Among the distinguished visitors to the 
city during the past week was the Hon. 
James Wilson, of Iowa, secretary of the U. S. 
Department of Agirculture. Secretary Wil- 
son is a learned, earnest and hard work- 
ing member of President McKinley's cabinet 
and the country owes him a great deal. 

At the SL Claire plantation is still to be 
found the old reliable Jean ©aptlst Dubourg, 
without whom all could scarcely be as it 
should at this fine old place, fit Claire now 
has a vacuum pan and Mr. Dubourg con- 
sequently feels that bis responsibilities have 
been Inoresst^, 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 19. 



May 12. 



WEEKliY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifuga] 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Pair 

Gk>od Fair 

Pair 

Good Common . . 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Oranul'ed 
Off Granulated... 

Choioe White 

Off White 

Grey White 

Choioe Yellow.... 
Prime Yellow — 

Off Yellow 

Secondi i 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Faney 

Choice 

Striet Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Pair 

Pair 

C'Mid CommoA.. 

Common 

Inferior 



Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime — 
Good Prime — 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Sood Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



May 6. 



May 8. 



May 9. 



May 19. 




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OTHBB MABEZQTS. 



New York: 


















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Fair Refining. 89« 
Centrifugals, 96^.. 


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— (8 — T 


-a - 


-a - 


-a- 




— @ - 




— @ — 


— d — 


-a - 


-a - 


^«® - 


Raw— Quiet. 


Granulated 


- @5.08 




- @6.08 


- @6.08 


— a5.08 


- a6 08 


6.08a - 




Standard A 


- @4.96 




- @4.96 


— @4.96 


— a4.96 


- a4.96 


4.96a - 


Refined— Quiet. 


Dutch Granulated 


- @6.25 


• 


— @5.25 


— @6 26 


- a5 26 


- a6a6 


- a - 




German Oranul'td. 


- @5.15 


5 


— @5 16 


— @5 16 


-a5 13 


- a6 10 






MOLASSES. 




§ 














N.O. Choice 


- O — 


S 


— <S — 


- a - 


-a - 


-a - 


— a — * 




N. O.Fair 


-@ - 




-@ - 


- @ - 


-a- 


-a - 


— a — 




London: 














- a - 


Cane— Buyers and sell- 


Jaya, No. 16 D. S. 


138. Od. 




128 Od. 


138. Od 


138. Od. 


138. Od. 


128. Od. 


ers apart; notUng 
doins 


A.& G.Beet 


Il8.2>^d. 




lis. 3d. 


lis. l>id. 


lOs. llJid. 


108. 10>id. 


98.4>iid. 


Beet— Dull; jeasier. 



NQ-W ORLEANS RBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Qranula'd. 
Roeetu Extra C 

Candy A 

CryiUl Extra C. 
Royal EzC 

SYRUP. 



- @!iH 

- ®6H 
-@5h 

- @ - 

-a - 
-a - 



®Wz 

a - 

a - 
a - 
a- 



- a5% 

-a - 

-a - 
-a - 

- a - 



-as^ 

-afih 
— a — 

-a - 
-a - 

-a- 



- a6^ 

- @6h 

-a - 

-a- 
-a - 
-a - 



-aeji 

— @^% 
-asA 

- a- 
-asx 
-a - 
-a - 
-a - 



a6?< 
a - 
asii 
a - 
a - 
a - 



strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to May 3 Tons 220,321 

At four ports of Great Britain to Apr. 29 " 49,800 

At Havana and Matanias toMay. 2 . . . " 91.000 



Receipts and Sale* at New Orleans for the weeic ending 



May I a, 1899. 

■ Sugar 

Hbds. 



Received. 
Sold 



90 



Bamls. 

12,211 

14,071 



Moln.— 
Barnls. 
1,026 
1,026 



RMeipts and Sales at New Orleans from SeptembM- 1, 1898, 
to rtay la, 1899. 
-Sugai 



RMMivad. 

Sold 

RaoeifM 



Hhdfl. 

10,187 

10^87 

ilMljwr 22,619 



barrels. 
1,226,488 
1,218,440 
1,423,069 



Barreb. 
290,626 
230,626 
187.702 



Digitized by 



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May 13, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



8^)3 



May 12. 



T^TBBKLY MARKarr REPORT, 



18B9. 



RICE. 

RonoHy per bbl. 
Clran, Ex. Fancy 

Fancy 

•'♦-... 

Prime.... 

Good ... 

Pair 

Ordinary 

Common. 
Screenings 

Inferior 

No. 2... 
Bran, per ton . . 
PousH, per ton. 



May 6. 



Nomimal 



1%@2^ 
Nominal 



May 8. 



Nominal 
6 .@6K 

3 @3^ 
2M@3 
2 (fi2X 

12 00 
Nominal 



May 9. 



Nominal 



2 @2^ 

12 00 
Nominal 



May 10. 



Nominal 
6 @6>^ 
4^@5>^ 

3 @3J^ 

2 @23i 
13^@2 

12 00 
Nominal 



May 11. 



Nominal 

6 

6 

6 

4 

4 

3 

3 

2,._ 

2 (§2X 

13i@2 

12 00 

Nominal 



May 12. 



Nominal 



Nominal 



Same Day Last 
Year. 



2 25@5 35 
- @ - 

4^@43i 
4^@4K 
-^ - 
— ® — 

12 50(9t3 00 
16 00(8 — 



Tone oc Markei «i 
Close of Week. 



Dull. 



DuU. 



R*»r»«Mved 
Sold 



Sales at New Orlaaaa far Mm weak aodinf 
nay la. 1899. 

Sacks Rough. Bbls. Cmaii. 

544 , 72 

- 2,605 93 






Aflf. I, 1898. ta nay la. 1899. 



This year. 
Last year. 



Sacks Rouoi. Bbls. Gliah 
680,620 6,638 

464,894 7,867 



Su^ar. 

The Ircal sugar market was a little 
quiet at the end of the week, but there 
was better trading, owing to fair re- 
ceipts. 

Molasses. 

Xo open kettle goods in first hands. 
(Vntrifiigals quiet. 

Rice. 

Receipts of rough were very light at 
the end of the week, and trading was 
consequently rather restricted on ac- 
count of lack of offerings. The clean 
market was very dull and little or no 
business ^yas reported. 

Additional Duties on 5ui:ar Imported 
From, and the Product of Bel- 
S^ium. 

Treasury Department, 
Office of the Secretary, 
Washington, D. C, April 1^ 18:i9. 
To officers of the customs and others con- 
cerned: 

Section 5 of the act of July 24, 1897, pro- 
vides as follows: 

That whenever any country, dependency, 
or colony shall pay or »bestaw, directly or 
indirectly, any ibounty -or grant upon the 
exportation of any article or merchandise 
frcnn such country, dependency, or colony, 
and suteh article or merchandise is dutiable 
under the provisions of this Act, then upon 
the importation of any such article or mer- 
chandise into the United States, whether the 
same shall ^e Imported directly from the 
country of production or otherwise, and 
whether such article or merchandise is im- 
ported in the same condition as when ex- 
ported 'from the country of production or 
has been changed in condition by remanu- 
facture or otherwise, there shall be levied 
and paid, in all such cases, in addition to tihe 
duties otherwise imposed by this act, an 
additional duty equal to the net amount of 
such bounty or grant, however the same he 
p^id or bestowed. The net amount of all 
such bounties or grants shall from tijne to 
•time ' ascertained, detefimined, and declared 
by the ^Secretary of. .the Treasury, who shall 
make all needful regulations for the identi- 
fication Of such articles and merchamdise and 



for the assessment and collection of such 
additional duties. 

In pursuance of these ipro visions, the fol- 
lowing amounts of ibounties paid or bestowed 
on the export of sugars (by Belgium are 
hereiby declared for the assessment of addi- 
tional duties on sugars imported from, or the 
product of, that country, viz: On raw 
sugar, 4.05. francs iper 100 kilograms; on re- 
fined sugar, 4.60 francs per 100 kilograms. 
L. F. Gage, Secretary. 



Trade Notes. 

American Hoist and Derrick Co. 

We print elsewhere In. this issue Ihe adver- 
tisement of this well-known concern, whidi 
has supplied our sugar planters with a large 
amount of apparatus for the economical and 
rapid handling of sugar cane. Mr. Mc- 
Quiston their local representative whose 
office is at 904 Hennen building, New Or- 
leans, is thoroughly familiar wMh all sorts of 
plantation cane handling problems, and there 
are few situations which he cannot solve and 
mitigate. 

A Rapid Whitewasher. 

The advertisement of a new interesting 
labor device is now appearing in this paper, 
namely the Bean Pneumatic Coating or 
Whitewashing Machine. lAl though a com- 
paratively new thing in this state, the Bean 
Coating Machine has been on the market 
for the past ten years, during which time 
ii has been steadily improved and perfected, 
and it is in no sense an experiment. The 
machine consists of a specially constructed 
pump connected with a steel cylinder by 
means of which the coating liquid is placed 
undf^r a pressure and gradually released in 
the foTTu of a fine spray. This spray leaves 
tLe nozzle wlihoui spattering, coating the 
surlace to be whitewashed evenly and com- 
pletely, and reaching nooks and crevices 
which could not be touched with a brush. 
A few moments pumping will charge the 
machine so that it will 3oat automatically 
for .en to fifteen minuted. Bach machine is 
equipped with twenty-five feet of hose and 
a bamboo rod, wh'/!h when attached, en- 
ables the operator to reach ceilings, raft- 
ers, etc., without the aid of ladders or scaf- 



folding. The manufacturers of this ma- 
chine claim chat it will save at least 75 
per cent of the labor required to do the 
work with a brush, and that any ordinarily 
intelligent laborer can do more work and 
quicker work with it than ten men with 
brushes. 

. Mr. J. H. Duggan, No. 219 N. Peters St., 
New Orleans, who is the agent for this ma- 
chine, informs us that he will take pleasure 
in sending a descriptive catalogue giving full 
particulars, testimonials, etc., concerning it, 
to intending purchasers. 



Personal. 

Mr. Ozeme Naquin, a prominent man from 
Thibodaux, came up to the city during the 
past week on a flying trip and registered at 
the Commercial. 

Mr. W. J. Gibbens, of the progressive en- 
gineering and machinery firm of Gibbens & 
Stream, has recently returned from a trip 
through Cuba. 

Col. Gus. A. Breaux, of Lafayette, La., 
was in the city last Thursday. 

Mr. Frank Nicholls, of the well-known 
sugar planting firm of Nicholls and Hen- 
derson, near Thibodeau. La., was In the 
city last Thursday, and attended the regu- 
lar monthly meeting of the Louisiana Sugar 
Planters' Association. Their Ridgefleld 
plantation is a model of excellence in every 
resper»t. 

Gov. H. C. Warmoth, of the Lower Coast, 
was in the city during the past week and 
a.tended the legular monthly meeting of 
the Louisiana Sugar Planters* Association 
on Th'irsday nlghi. 



A Sugar War. 

There is a sugar war on in San Francisco. 
The Chronicle says th'at a local firm is im- 
porting cane sugar from Java and Manila, 
refined In English and Scotch factories at 
Hong-Kong. It is carried by the steamers 
of the California & Oriental Steamship Co., 
which is part of the Santa Fe system. Sev- 
eral cuts in the price have been made, the 
reduction being nearly on^ cent a pound. — 
Grocer's Criterion. 



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S04 



THE LOUISIANA PLAITTER AND SUOAR MANUFAOTOSHL 



[Vol. XXIT, Na 1». 



WANTS. 



WANTED— An all aroiind nood plantatloii bUoksmith. 



W« wM paMlsk la tiris Mlaaa, frit of ciMrg* antil 
tertlMr aoClos, tiM appHcatloiM of all i 



Mtr«, 

■■J to sooklMf posltlom la tiM coantry . aad also tiM 

waata of plaatera daslrtaf to eoiploy aay of thaaa. 

WANTED— Poaition for the 1800 crop aa book-kaeper 
oraaaistant. Can giye beat of reterenoea. Twenty- 
two yeara old and a irradiiate of a gk)od basiness col- 
lege; addreaa A. E. Smith, Ozan, Kf, 6-9-00 
« — 

WANTED— A Arat-class And competent aaalaUnt 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season. Best 
references furnished; address Proof Stick, Box 88, 
DonaldsonTlUa, La. 6-«-00 

WANTED— Position aa manager or Arst assisUnt, or 
aa OTeraeer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantation work, eighteen yeara experience and can 
fumlah beat of references; addreaa A. C, care this 
office. 

WANTED— Poaition by a jroang man as time or book- 
keeper. Can glre beat of -eference; sddreas Arthur, 
care P. M., Uitle Cypress, Ky . 6-10- 00 

WANTED— Sltoatlon by an experienced machinist 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly aober and at- 
tentlTe to bosiness. Would like to neoure work the 
year round if poBslble at reduced aalary, or take re- 
pltira and crop on Tery retsonsble terms. Good refer- 
ences fumiahed; address P. H. E. Fnginber, 724 Fern 
street, New Orleans. 6-10-00 

WANTED— A middle-aged German man for yard snd 
to make hlmaelf generaUy useful. Addreaa Mrs. J . L. 
Darraoh, Juatlne Plantation , Centerrllle , La. 6-1 1-00 

WANTED— Poaition on a sugar plantation aa blaok- 
amith, wheelwright and horse-shoer; addreaa Sidnrt 
O. ROU88BLL, Edgard, La. . 6-1-00 

WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the aervlcea 
of a competent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
references, will pleaae addreaa Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street. New Orleans, La. 6-11-00 

WANTED— Poaition aa time-keeper, OTeraeer. clerk 
or general office or store work. Can^ give the best of 
city and outaide references: address A. H. Nobninobr, 
care of Room 206, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans. 4-28-00 

WANTED— Position aa aaaistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, ooUege gradu- 
ate. Haye done acme woric In augar analysis. Have 
acme knowledge of German; address Box 8S, SUte 



College, Pa. 



4-28-90 



Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dreaa J. S- Goluns, SarUrtla, Taxaa. 4-ir ^' 



-19-99 



1 experienced 

angar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
datlona, deairea to aeaure a i>osltion as manager or aa- 
aistant; addreaa Manager H. A., care General Deliv- 
ery, New Orleana. 6-9-09 

WANTED— A poaition aa superintendent or head au- 
gaV maker, br a man of large experiefice, either in plan- 
tation augar nouae or augar refinery. Can fumlah good 
reterenoea. Would prove a valuable and all- around 
faithful man in any augar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-2S-99 

WANTED— Poaition by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk cows and make nimaelf 
naeful about a place. Flrat-olasa referencea; addreaa 
Chas. Trbpagnibr, 1426 St. Ann street, New Orleana. 
4-21-99 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemiat. Three 
yeara experience aa head ohemiat in Germany, and alao 
a^le to anpenriae'the culture of of augar beeta. Al 
referencea. Can apeak German, Dutch, Engliah and 
French; addreaa L. G. LBLER,care M. E. Sepp, 2588 
8th ATenue, New York. ; i-14-99 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next seaaon'a crop. Beat of referencea aa to 
experience, capacity and character; addreaa M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 4-18-99 

WANTED— Poaition bv an experienced young man as 
book-keeper, stenographer, or both; addreaa X. Y. Z., 
care this office. 4-15-99 

WANTED— Poaition as aaaiatant overseer on a Louia- 
iana augar plantation, by young man who haa had expe- 
Menoe aa a planter in field and factory In the West In- 
dies: salary no object; addreaa Mourant, Bumside P: 
O . , Asoenslon Paiiah , La . 4-14-90 

WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemiat, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good referencea; addreaa Bots-Bances, Apartado 
716. Havana, Cuba. 4-17-99 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blachamith, 
one who thoroughly vnderatanda horse-shneing; apply 
to Schmidt A Zibgler, Nos. 42S to 486 South Peterx st. 
4-13-99 

WANTED— Poaition aa book-keeper or aaaiatant 
timekeeper. "Obo.", care thia office. 4-6-99 



WANTED— Poaition by a reliable and experienced 
man, who cilh give first-daaa referencea, totane charge 
of a plantation atore. la a man of family and la anxlooa 
to make hlmaelf uaeful; addreaa S. , care thla office. 
' . , 4-19-99 

WANTEDr-Poaition aa plantation cook by experi- 
enoed widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillia of Poydraa 
plantation, and others: addreaa Mrs. S. Tbrrbllb, 
1221 Erato atreet. New Orleana. 4-17-99 

WANTED— A position by a first-daaa, alround ma- 
chinist; expeHenoed in augar mUl and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; addreaa Jas. Brommbr, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4—11—99 

WANTED— For the coming seaaon, aposltlon aa aumr 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
referencea and other particulara, addresa Fbux Oubrb. 
Edgard, La. 4—12-99 

WANTED— By a first-daaa vacuum pan augar boiler, 
a croptfor the coming aeaaon In Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaliaa Islands. The best of references furnished; 
addreaa J. H. F., 727 Lowerline atreet, New Orleara. 

4-6-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man aa atore clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any poaition in which he can 
make himself ffen**raliy naeful. Eight yeara experi- 
ence In genenu merchandlae bualnaaa. Good account- 
ant and quick at figurea. Married, atrictly aober, beat 
references aa to capability, integrity, etc. Addreaa J. 
P., Union P. O., St. Jamoa, La. 

WANTED Aaugarhouae expert, with the hlgheat 
recommendatlona, deairea to secure a poaition. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of runnlns the factory, or 
aa aagar maker; addreaa R. R., care thla office. 

* 4-6-99- 

WANTED— By oonpetent man with flrat^dflaa refer- 
encea a poaitfon aa lat. or 2nd overseer on a augar plan- 
tation; addreaa S. 29 thla paper. 

Wi^TED— Married man, German, deairea a poaition 
aa yard or stableman; addreaa PhiUp BRAUN,Gibaon, 
Lv 8-27-99 

WANTED— Poaition by a man 80 yeara old, of aober 
habita. with good referencea, as clerk in general nier- 
chandiae atore, plantation atore preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaka French. Salary not so 
much an object; addreaa J. Bebtbblot, Box 101, 
Wehih, La.: 3-28-99 

WANTED^Poaitlon t>y a firat-daaa vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. la a dose boiler of firat and molaasea au- 
gars.^and thoroughly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for cryatalllxers. Best of references! 
address H., care thla office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Poaition by a grst-daaa augar house en- 
gineer, good machiniat, 18 years' experience in some of 
tne best sugar houaea in Loulaiana and Texaa; addreaa 
F. O. Walter, Thibodanx, La. 8-26-99 

WliNTFn— Situation bv a middle-aged, alngle Ger- 
man.^o do plain family cooking and make himaelf gen- 
erally uaaful, or aa yard man or gardener; addreaa B. 
Gorman, care Loulaiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
reopmmendationa, deairea to aecure a poaition aa au- 
perintendent or manager oC a augar plantation in Cuba 
or dOier West Indian Island; la thoroughly equipped 
for«ie work in every particular; addreaa Cuba, care 
thl^|fflce. 8-20-99 

"Vf ANTED— Poaition by a mechanical draughtaman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, aa chief or 

Jaasktant engineer. Have been employed for last sit 
eafs aa aaaiatant engineer In large sugar refinery : ad- 
rew Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence atreet, PhUa- 
delphU, Pa. 8-28-99 



WANTED— Situation aa a cooper for molaasea or 
augar barrels, In the country; good references; ad- 



dreaa ALPH0N8E Buck, 2714 Second street, cl^. 

8-! 



l»-99 



WANTED- By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
augar boiler, a crop to take off next seaaon. Referencea 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas i^r Mexico; address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
488, Eagle Lake, Texas. 8-22-99 

WANTED— Position aa general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve yeara in same; 
a ddreaa J. M. S.^ Fletel, La. 8-1&-99 

WANTED— Poaition by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general atatlatidan on augar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references; 
addreaa A., care this office. 8-16-99 

WANTED— In first-daaa augar house In Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Loulaiana, poaition aa augar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience: aatlaf action guaranteed; addreaa 
Martin, 6011 LauleJ street. New Orleana. 8-8-99 

WANTED— Poaitkm aa time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a young man of good, 
ateady habita, refinement and education; can fflve Al 
references aa to competency and energy; addreaa C 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 8-18-99 

WANTED— Poaition aa -engineer and machiniat. Su- 
gar house work a ap3Clalty. Addreaa CHrsF Engi- 
neer, Lutcher, La. 8-7-99 

WANTED— Poaition aa book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large au- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ina and 
onto of office work for sugar refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. P. B., P. O. Box 162. 
New Orteana, La. 8-»-99 

WANTED— Poaition by a handy man on a idanta- 
tion. la a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows AOd do stable work. Good refereooea. Ad- 
dreaa Henry Olivier, 820 Vlllere atreet. New Orleans. 
8-9-99 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of -18» 
by a fir8t-cla«s vacuum pan augar boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furoish the best of refer- 
eiices from past employers aa to character and ability. 
Addreaa Proof Stick, 4281 N. Petera atreet. New Or- 
leana. 8-1-99 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do renalrlng and 
to take off crop of 1890. I am familiar with all detalla of 
augar houae work; also cart work. Jddreas J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P.O., La. 2-»-W 

WANTED— The best sugar maker in Loulaiana, who 
la sober, good-natured, a man who understands the 
une of steam and can properly handle a vacuum pan. 
To meet our requirementa he must be a thorouffli and 
dose boiler of first and particularly of molasaea sugars 
(2nd and 8rd). State salary expected. Nona bat the 
most competent need apply. Addreaa C. M., this office. 
^__^ 2-27-99 

WANTED— A poaition aa second overseer on plan- 
tation by a you g man 26 years old, aingle and aober. 
Am willing to work for modelrate wagea. Can fur- 
nlah referencea from former empl<^er. Addreaa T. 
R. NE80M, Terrell, Texaa. 

WANTED— A poaition by a good augar boiler. Nine 
yeara' experience. Addreaa H. 106, thla office. 

WANTED— Pealtion by a steam and electrical en- 
gineer who can make repalra in sugar houae, and who 
can auperiutend railroad conatruction. Good refer- 
encea. Addreaa H. M. S., Laurel HUl, La. 

Wanted— Position by engineer and two aooa to re- 
pair anc take off crop of 1809. Familiar with all the 
details of sugar house work; also cart work. Addrea 
J. A. L., Lauderdale, La. 

WANTED— A situation aa cUrlfier on aome large 
plantation thla season of 1899. B^st of referencea fur- 
nished. Address L. H. Hincklbt, Charentoa, La. • 

2-24-99 



The Lima Locomotive and Macliine Company, ^'h*?^. 

Obo. H. Marsh, Preat. 
T. T. MrrcHBLL, V. Prea't. 
W. C. MiTCHBLL, Genl M'g'r. 
D. E. Harlan, Sec'y and Treaa. 
I. P. Carnbs, Superintendent. 



The Shay 
Locomotive 




la aapadally daalgaad far mm 9m iMavy 
Prslglit Cara, Ltfftaf Gara, Car Wk9«l9 • 



Wa 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



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H MeeWi? Bewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NBW OBLBANS, MAT 20, 1809. 



No. 20. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Plantsra* Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters* Association, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Kansas Sugar Orowers* Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publishea at New Orleans, La., eveiy Saturday Morning 

BY THE 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to I/^uisiAna Agricultnr^ in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all ita 
branches, Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and Commercial. 



EDITORIAL CORPS. 
STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J 



w. c 

W. W. PUGH, 



THOMPSON. 
JOHN DYMOND. 



Entered at the Postoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1S88. 

Perannnrr 

Terms of Subscription (including postage) S3 00 

Foreign SubscrtpUon 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



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1 month 8 month d month 12 month 



$600 
060 
14 60 
19 00 
23 60 
28 00 
32 60 
86 00 
88 00 
40 0-) 
00 00 

100 00 



$12 60 
24 00 
86 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 
81 16 
90 00 
06 00 
100 00 
160 00 
260 00 



$ 18 76 
86 00 
61 40 
71 26 
88 16 
106 00 
121 76 
186 00 
142 60 
160 00 
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40000 



$25 00 
48 00 

260 
00 

162 60 
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An oommunicatlons should be addressed to The 
Louisiana Planter, 889 Carondelet street, New Oflsamv 
La. 



UST OP STOCKMOLDBRS. 



McCall Brothers. 
McCall & Legendre, 
Leoo (iodchaux, 
James Teller. 
D. Lemann A Bro., 
Leoaco Sooiat, 
louIb Bcisb, 
W. e. Brickell. 
W. C. Stubbs. 



I Dymond 

el Tboinp — 

Poos Sl Bamett, 
H. C. Wsmoth. 
Ladus Forsyth r Jr., 
Bdward J. Oay. 
Sbattuck ft Hoffmaa, 
Bmlle Rost, 
ThomxsD. Miller, 
Schnridt & Zlegler, 
T.O. ncLaury, 
U 5. Qarfc* 
J. B. Levert, 
Shnpsoo Homor. 
W. BTBIoomfleld. 
W. W. SotcUffe. 
John S. rioore, 
Janes C. Murphy, 
Jo8.Webre, 



R. Bdtran, 
Luclen Sonlat, 
U. R. Calder. 
L. A. Ellis. 
Hero ft Malhlot, 
W.J. Behao, 
J. T. Moore, Jr., 
Edwards ft Haubta:an, 
John A. Morris, 
E. H. Cunalngliaai. 
R. Vlterbo. 
H. C. ninor, 
C. M. Soria, 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew Pries, 
B.ftJ. Kock. 
Wm. Qarig, 
Adolph Mnrer, 
A. A. Woods, 
Brailsh Johrson, 
George P. Andertoa, 
A. L. noaoot, 
Richard Mttllken, 
W. P. nHss, 
Lezin A. Becosl, 
J. N. Pharr, 
Jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Ik-ory noCaU, 
Ludso 5oal«t, W. B 

D. R. CaMsr. LmUs . 

Joha DyoMBd. PrasMsat. 



The Cane Crop. 

The persistent drought we are now ex- 
periencing is a source of some anxiety 
to our planters, although the cane is 
standing the lack of moisture remark- 
ably well. A continuation of these dry 
conditions for another week or ten days, 
however, will render the situation seri- 
ous, to a certain extent, although sugar 
cane has a remarkable power of recu- 
peration from drought. A lack of rain- 
fall such as this, at a time when the 
young canes would be so greatly bene- 
fited by a little moisture, makes evi- 
dent the great value of irrigation, and 
our fiat lands and numerous water 
courses would render the process com- 
paratively simple and easy. All our 
correspondents speak hopefully of the 
general crop prospect, and aside from 
the want of rain the situation appears to 
be encouraging and to show a constant 
and well defined improvement. The 
fields are in fine shape to reap the full 
benefit of the rain when it does come; 
and surely our summer showers cannot 
now be far off. 



Leon Qodchaux. 

The sugar planters of Louisiana, 
who last week mourned the death of one 
of their most conspicuous members in 
the death of William Porcher Miles, 
have that said duty brought to th^m 
again this week by the sudden and en- 
tirely unexpected death of Leon Grod- 
chaux. Mr. Codchaux died Thursday 
afternoon at his residence in this city, 
aged 75 years, the greater part of which 
long and useful life he spent in Louisi- 
ana and chiefly in this city. Mr. God- 
chaux was a Frenchman by birth and 
located in Louisiana when he was quite 
a young man and eng^ed in mer- 
chandising on his own account. 

As a merchant Mr. Godchaux soon 
became conspicuous, his excellent judg- 
ment, great ability, sterling int^rity 



and infinite tact placing him in the front 
ranks in "the commercial world. He 
rarely made a mistake and acquired 
wealth rapidly and fairly. 

Mr. Godchaux's planting experience 
began just before the Civil War, when 
he acquired the now famous Jleserve 
plantation in St. John parish, whereon 
he has since built the Reserve Central 
Factory, said to be the best sugar factory 
in the State. More than thirty years 
ago the writer of these lines frequently 
bought the Reserve sugars just arriving 
from the upper coast by steamboat, 
11i\ Godchaux anxioutly and critically 
supervising the sales which were made 
by his broker, at that time Mr. Auguste 
Cr^biro, if we remember correctly. 

About this time the increased de- 
mand for advances to produce their 
crops indicated by the sugar planters 
generally attracted Mr. Godchaux's at-* 
tention and his large capital enabled 
him to make such advances to a large 
extent and he had in this business the 
reputation of being a fair, just, high- 
toned and honorable merchant. The 
declining prices of sugars and the 
floods and frosts of unpropitious seasons 
led to many failures among the sugar 
planters and to protect himself Mr. God- 
chaux was led in to the purchase of 
many valuable sugar properties, which, 
by consolidation and improvement have 
now become «the leading sugar properties 
of the State, including the noted. Re- 
serve Central, hereinbefore alluded to, 
and also the Elm Hall and Raceland 
Factories on Bayou Lafourche. Alto- 
gether some fourteen plantations are 
merged in these great properties and the 
centrals buy sugar cane from scores of 
other plantations. 

Mr. Godchaux has always been one of 
our most progressive sugar planters. He 
was an earnest and active member of the 
Sugar Planters' Association, one of the 
founders of the Sugar Experiment Sta- 
tion and also of this journal, and he al- 



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tHS tX>UISIAMA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPACTURBR. 



[Vol. TXn, No. i6. 



ways conlributed freely of his means to 
advance the cause of sugar. IFc con- 
ducted his plantation work on the in- 
tensive system and along the nu^st intel- 
ligent lines, utilizing every nuxlem in- 
vention and method. 

In Leon (iodchaux Ivouisiana loses 
its greatest sugar planter, one of its 
largest merchants, one of its best men 
and an excellent citizen. The planters 
and the people of the St^te dej)h)re his 
death and sympathize with the members 
of his family in their irreparable loss. 



5ugar Cane in Trinidad. 

The Planter is in receipt of Prof. J. 
II. Hart's reiK)rt as superintendent of 
the Koyal Botanic (hardens of Trinddad, 
and not<*s with interest the continued 
experiments with Demerara, Barbados 
and Trinidad seedling sugar canes, some 
of which seem to be of great promist: 
and which are designated in Prof. Hart's 
reports under the initials reAp(*ctively of 
I)., B. and T. 

While these seetllings may not here 
develop the exceptional merit that snomn 
to be indicated in tropical Trinidad, yet 
they are quite worthy of our considera- 
tion, and Prof. Stubbs, at our own sugar 
experiment station, is also experiment- 
ing with tliem with a view of finally 
selecting those be.-?t adapted to gur cli- 
matic conditions. 

We can best give Prof. Hart's state- 
ments in his own language, and as fol- 
lows: 

The experimental cultivation of the 
Demerara and liarDadoa seeaiiagfl has been 
continued at St. Clair. A large number of 
both have been selected, but the Demerara 
BeedlingB have so far proved the better ofr 
the lot. A report on the results of the tri- 
als, was published In May, 1898, but as these 
results properly fall Into the work of the 
year under report a recapitulation of the 
principal points Is given. 

The sugar cane year in Trinidad does not 
end until April or May, and the returns, of 
course, cannot l)e given until the crop is 
harvested. The experiments under report 
therefore, are those of canes planted In AprU, 
1897, and reaped In April, 1898. The next 
crop to be reported on will be reaped In 
April, 1899. A few observations on the 
growth of this lot since planting from cut- 
tings In April, of 1898, are given while the 
full report on the latter will be given as 
usual .after •harvest. Some 2.000 seedlings 
were raised In the season 1896-97, out of 
which only 126 stools were selected for test, 
the remainder having to be discarded, as 
naturally follows, where selections from 
seedlings Is being carried on. Most of the 
126 have been grown on for a second year's 
trial, for harvest in 1«99. It has been found 
that there was a marked likeness to the ma- 



ternal parent In many of the canes grown 
from seed. Those from D 95 gave stools 
having a high sugar value. The same fea- 
ture appeared among seedlings raised from 
D 102, and In vegetative characters also 
these closely resembled their maternal 
parent. The sugar value of canes ralsefl 
from "Caledonian Queen," considered by 
Harrison & Jenman to be synonymous with 
"White Transparent," is considerably lower 
than either of the foregoing. Canes raised 
here from seed harvested In Demerara (4) 
were of low sugar value. The highest sugar 
value was obtained from a cane raised in 
Trinidad (T 111) from seed of D 74, grown 
in Trinidad. The percentage of available 
sucrose in this cane was 21.3. Another cane 
T 2 gave 18.2 per cent; while the original 
D 74 gave 18.2 per cent. T 77 gave 18.3 per 
cent; T 19. 20 per cent; T 211, 18.8 per cent; 
T 62. 18 per cent; and T 43, 18.2 per cent. 
The best of the Demerara lot, so far as our 
experience goes appears to be D74 — ^D 78 — 
D 115— 102— and D 116. D 95 is the sweetest 
cane, but In vigor or growth and capability 
of resisting rust and other diseases, it Is not 
equal to some of the others. I received at 
the end of the year three selections from 
the Demerara raisers, and six from Barba- 
dos. These will be grown on for compari- 
son with those previously raised, and as 
guides to the value of our own seedlings. 
Plots of one-twentieth of an acre of the best 
Demarara kinds are now standing at St. 
Clair and show clearly the well-marked char- 
acters of each variety. 

In cane growing^ as in nearly every other 
cultivation, every grower has his fancy. In 
Barbados growers appear to prefer yellow 
canes, and the prejudice against a colored 
cane is somewhat marked. In Trinidad also, 
the same view holds good on several large 
estates. Most of the Demerara seedlings 
of the first sets raised, are colored more or 
less, but later acquisitions of the yellow 
strain, have now been secured. It would 
be very convenient if growers could furnish 
a reason for the preference of yellow over 
dark colored. Df the Trinidad canes the best. 
so far. is T 2 a colored cane raised from 
Barbados seed. In our first selectix^n from 
seedlings, 20 varieties gave an average re- 
turn of avaUable sucrose of 18.6 per cent, 
while standard varieties grown on the same 
ground, gave 14.7 per cent only. Our seed- 
lings raised from seed harvested In 18^7, have 
grown well, and we have now some 3,000 on 
the ground, and selections from these wlU 
be tested In April and May next. It is con- 
sidered, that if two good canes per thousand 
are secured the work is all that can be de- 
sired, and If only one good cane In every 
5 000 Is secured, the work Is highly success- 
ful, for if the end in view Is ultimately at- 
tained—namely, the raising of a hardy cane 
which will give a twenty per cent field re- 
turn., the growth of a thousand canes, more 
or less. Is a matter of little moment. So far 
the growth of the plant canes from the seed- 
lings of 1896-97 is all that could "be desired, 
but it is not expected that more than one- 
tenth of these will be considered fit to pass 
on for the 3rd years* trial, through the ab- 
sence of qualities which go to make up a 
"good all round" cane. 

Number T 111 the cane showing highest 
available yield of sugar has done fairly well, 
pnd will stand for Its second examination 
In Anrll next, and will then go on for Its 
third year's trial. Whether it will prove 
p'^od enough to nass on for further trials is 
a o'lestion for the future: for every cane 
in the selector's hands must stand or fall 
on Its own merits, otherwise there would be 
nn regiil«''ity. and the tests would be of no 
value. No matter how much a cane may 
strike the eye, it must go to the manure 



heap, unless it can sucecssfally pass repeat- 
ed tria^. 

The seedlings of 1897-98 (L e.) seediiogB 
raised from seeds sown in November, 1897. 
were late in being planted, owing to the press 
of new work on liand, and many of them 
have not had a cliance to make Bofflcien: 
growth to show their characters well during 
the coming tiarvest The canes on certain 
of the first planted areas, however, show 
sufficient character to enable us to judge 
them qualified to pass their first field test, 
and will come on for examination in April 

The later growth, however, must await 
the following season. Not more than 6 per 
cent of loss occurred from planting out the 
young seedlings in the field, as we took 
great care to well harden them previous 
to planting. They were attacked, however, 
by mole crickets and many were cut when 
over two feet in height A remedy was de- 
vised, however, to stop this loss. It con- 
sisted of placing a collar of bamboo over 
the plant and pressing it slightly into the 
ground, allowing the plant to grow through, 
until it obtained sufficient strength to resist 
the attack. 

The cron of seed harvested in November, 
1898, was' very small, owing principally to 
the transfer of the work from the old es- 
tablishment, but a good germination took 
place and we have quite sufficient for the 
year's work, some 3,000 plants. 

The varieties received from the Barbados 
station were B 147, B 347, B 306, B 208, B 
156 and B 264. Of these B 147 Is^ very 
highly spoken of. It Is yellow cane of the 
Bourbon type, and all the others possess 
similar characters. 

I obtained seeds of the Bourbon cane from 
various planters during the season, Novem- 
ber, 1898. In all some forty bags were re- 
ceived, but with all this material, not a sin- 
gle plant was raised. *Our experience goes 
to show that the Bourbon planted by itself 
is infertile. 

Close observation of the seedling canes 
show that they have a period of ripening, 
different with each kind. Some require as 
much as twelve months to ripen, some fif- 
teen months, while not a few are ready for 
the mill in nine or ten months of good 
weather. D 74 — planted in April arrowed 
(flowered) and produced fertile see^. in No- 
vember . and will be fully ripe at twelve 
months old. D 61, on the contrary, will not 
be ripe until over fourteen months old, be- 
ing quite grassy up to six months old; and 
T 2 is of a similar character. The Bour- 
bon, as usually planted, takes some fifteen 
months; in fact It is the rule to plant In the 
montlis of October and November for the 
crop to be reaped fifteen months afterwards. 
The cane crop In Trinidad commences some 
time in January, but often is not general 
until February and often continues until 
April or May. 

If a cane could be raised that would come 
to maturity regularly in ten or twelve 
months , it should be of great advantage to 
the sugar planter, and even if one could be 
obtained which would ripen in nine months, 
it would in many ways be a boon to the 
planter. Some say that this would be no ad- 
vantage, as during the months previous to 
taking off crop, labor would be wasted if 
they had no planting to do, and that it is 
better to grow canes for fifteeiv months be- 
fore cutting them. It would appear but reas- 
onable, however, that where growing and 
manufacturing are separated, it would be 
better, and to the advantage of the farmers, 
to get their crons to' maturity as quickly 
as possible. I find that many of the seed- 
lings show a precocity for ripening early, 
and a watch will be kept to secure if possi- 



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THE LOmSIAKA PLANTER AKD SUGAR MANtTFACTtTRElt 



807 



ble any variety which may be valuable for 
this reason. . 

A very curious kind of cane lias been re- 
ceived from Kew called the Japanese cane. 
The growth so far is decidedly weedy, but 
it shows strong vitality, and it may be found 
useful for bearing seed for experiment. Its 
sugar content will be tested in April. 

To prevent applications being made to 
which we are unable to respond, it \ib to 
be noted that we have only a single plant 
of a seeding the first year, and some eight or 
ten the second year, but during the third 
Feason, moderate numbers will be available 
for distribution. When plants of the best 
Mnds are available, they will be duly adver- 
tised, but it would not be in any way a wise 
proceeding, to take plants on a first, or even 
on a second analysis, as subsequent trials 
might find them completely unable to main- 
tain any superiority which they might have 
^hown on the first or second occasion. 



U. 5. Patents in the Colonies. 

The Lfouisiana Planter is informed that 
owners of United States patents or designs 
and of trade-marks, prints or labels regis- 
tered in the United Stfittes Patent OflBce can 
now have their rights extended so as to in- 
clude the territory subject to military gov- 
ernment by the United States forces. An or- 
der recently issued by the governmental au- 
thorities provides for such extension upon 
the owner of the patent, design, trade-mark, 
print or label filing a certified copy of the 
patent or design, or certificate of registration, 
with the Governor General of the island 
wherein such protection is desired. 



Secretary Wilson in tlie Country. 

Secretary Wilson, of the agricultural de- 
partment, was entertsained yesterday by the 
sugar people of Louisiana. He was taken 
over the sugar belt, shown the great sugar 
machinery of the state and the immense 
plantations. 

A special train was run over the Mis- 
sissippi Valley Railroad yesterday morning 
covering the plantation district within forty 
miles of New Orleans. Secretary Wilson 
was very much interested in the grofwth of 
stuhble cane, after the freeze of last winter. 
He was much interested in the rice plan- 
tations he saw as the train covered the dis- 
tance between points the local committee 
thought of interest to the cabinet ofiElcer. 
The lack of the industry of stock raising 
was a point that he laid great stress on, and 
saw no reason why Louisiana should not 
raise as fine horses as any state in the 
Union. • ♦ 

The special train with the distinguished 
party on board left the Illinois Central depot 
at 9 o'clock in the morning. It consisted 
of two coaches and a baggage car. The 
country gone through was pointed out to iMr. 
Wilson, the points of interest explained until 
the Oramercy plantation was reached and 
there the party alighted and visited the 
great sugar mill. C. T. Raynor, superin- 
tendent; H. S. Bell, secretary, and R. R. 
Chllds, bookkeeper, showed the visitors about 
and explained to them the Improvements on 



the old process. An hour was spent at this 
plantation and Secretary Wilson looked over 
the mill, carefully observing how it was 
managed and woi^ed. Then the train was 
boarded and the engineer turned the engine 
toward Reserve plantation, the immense 
place of Leon Godchaux. Mr. Wilson went 
all over this place, looked up every new and 
unfamiliar piece of machinery, aaked ques- 
tions and volunteered answers to natural 
queries fibout the cultivation of beet sugar 
as local men propounded them. 

At Reserve plantation, the management 
had tboughtfuUy pronrided lunch for the 
travelers, and after walking over several 
plantations one does develop an appetite. 
It seemed so with most of the people, and 
when Colonel James D. Hill, who presided, 
called the iunch to order it was with grate- 
ful hearts that the company seated them- 
selves. At the right of the colonel sat Sec- 
retary Wilson, and on his left Senator Mc- 
Enery, and the balance of the company In 
the order most suited to everyone. 

Colonel Hill, when the time came for 
toasts, in welcoming the distinguished 
guest, said: 

**I had great pleasure yesterday in wel- 
coming you, Mr. Secretary, to the City of 
New Orleans, and I feel flattered at the re- 
quest of the sugar industries to preside here 
L>day, and to welcome you as you have 
concinuea your journeying among che fer- 
ine fields of our scaie. All re.aciuas of 
busine£3 or government have a new hue 
given by personal intercourse, which cre- 
ates be .wee a persons &en:im^ts and sympa- 
thies which would never have existed if they 
v.oie known to each other only by hearsay. 
You come in our midst, a cabiaet officer, 
with the purpose, which you have often ex- 
pressed, of endeairoring to add by observa- 
tion to your information. Sugar has made 
the City of New Orleans, €uid after you have 
passed through the fields lining the mighty 
father of waters and have inspected the 
great institutions of Oramercy and Reserve, 
you can see that in the factory and fields 
have been expended millions of money, giv- 
ing sustenance to thousands of people. We 
here assembled know that no wanton act 
could be undertaken against these tre- 
mendous interests raising money from out 
of our fertile soil but you would be found 
a champion guarding our interests as your 
own, as they form part of the great agri- 
cultural interests of this country, which are 
specially under your supervision." 

Secretary Wilson responded in a few 
words, saying that Colonel (Hill came from 
the same part of Scotland that he did, but 
that Colonel Hill, with southern surround- 
ings, had been msAe a finished orator, while 
the speaker undertook to state only plain 
facts as results of his observation. He had 
picked up facts enough since his arrival in 
the South, he said, and was pleased with 
the welcome he received, and had watehed. 
with ever-growing interest the wonderful 
fields and manufacturing industries along 
the Mississippi river. 

''These things have made me a friend of 
Louisiana," continued Mr. Wilson, "and 
wherever my influence can be exerted for 
your good you can depend on me." 

Senator McEnery referred to the fact that 
Mr. Wilson's was the first visit paid by a 
cabinet officer to Louisiana, even for pleas- 
ure. He appreciated the visit, and said it 
would be to the benefit of the state. 

Governor Warmoth said that he and Sen- 



ator McEnery had not always voted the 
same way, but when Senator McEnery voted 
for the Dingley bill it was one time, and a 
time when the people of his state felt he 
did right. 

Then followed a few remarks apropos of 
the occasion by Edward Godchaux, Theodore 
Wilkinson, John M. iParker, J. C. Murphy 
and Prof. Stubbs. 

Lunch being over and the party having vis- 
ited the machinery plant on the Reserve 
plantation, the train was taken for home, 
after a most enjoyable day. 

To Mr. Hearn must be given much of the 
credit for the management of the excursion. 
Under his direction everything went without 
a slip and all were taken care of. 

The day was most profitably and pleasant- 
ly spent. These committees had' charge of 
the outing: 

From the Sugar Exchange: J. C. Murphy, 
James Hearn, W. J. Barfcley, P. A. Lelong, 
G. O. AUain. 

Louisiana Sugar Planters* Association: 
Judge E. Rost, J. S. Webster, H. O. Morgan, 
Sr., H. G. .Morgan, Jr. 

American Cane Growers* Association: C. 
A. Farwell, H. C. Warmoth, Colonel James 
D. Hill, D. D. Colcock. 

Guests: Senator S. D. McEnery, Prof. W. 
C. Stubbs, Theo. S. Wilkinson, Secretary 
Wilson and son, Mr. Caffln from Iowa, John 
M. Parker, George Gillis, (Edward Godchaux, 
C. H. Menge, Prof. WUkinson, H. H. Smith. 
N. S. Hoskins, W. F. Pickard, Joseph Good- 
rirh. Chas. Beattie. Walter Godchaux. 

By the arrangemeQt of these committees 
the party left iNew (Jrleans at 9 o'clock in 
the morning and returned about 6'oclock 
in the afternoon. Tljey had visited some of 
the most interesting points as regards the 
sugar industry in Louisiana, and certainly 
the largest plant for the grincyng of the 
cane in the state. 

Mr. Wilson expressed himself as favora- 
bly impressed with the sights shown him, 
and saw that millions of dollars were invest- 
ed in the sugar interests of Louisiana. In 
talking to a newspaper man, Mr. Wilson 
said very earnestly that he was much inter- 
ested in the cane industry. 

"As regards the importation of cane sugar 
from the islands south of the United States," 
said (Mr. Wilson, "the people of Louisiana 
need not fear, that sugar under the pres- 
sent administration at Washington !will 
ever be admitted free or at a duty that 
would injure the sugar industry of the 
United States.l The Government must look 
not only at Louisiana, but all over the coun- 
try, for we are growing beet sugar very ex- 
tensively throughout the West, and we must 
take care of that industry. 

" I came down here," continued Mr. Wil- 
son, "to see what the farmers of Louisiana 
wanted. SI don't represent any secton; I 
am a part of the iNational Government, and 
am Just as much interested in the develop- 
ment of the industies of Louisiana as of 
Arizona, and we are spending thousands of 
dollars annually in developing that arid 
waste. We have spent much money experi- 
menting with date palms from Morocco, 
which are being transplanted to Arizona, 
as the climates ^re similar an^ atmospheric 
conditions nearly the same. Last year we 
bought much rice seed from Japan, and dis- 
tributed it about in southern countries to 
experiment with. (Louisiana got one-quarter 
of the quantity. We, in our department, 
are always looking; about to improve the 
conditions of all the states, and so we try 
to improve Louisiana."! 

Secretary Wilson will to-day visit the 
Agricultural Experimental Station at Au- 
dubon Park.— Picaynne, ICaj IS. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTURHR. 



IVol. XXn, No. 20. 



LOOAL LETTERS. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana FlarUer: 

The weather has been at summer heat all 
the week and this 1:3 very agreeable to the 
planters. (Rain, however, is badly needed, 
and unless it comes soon the .props will suf- 
fer. On Sunday afternoon there was a light 
rain at St. Gabriel and at Point Pleasant, just 
opposite. 

Last week 'Mr. Edwin Marionneaux, of 
Plaquemine, sent to the Iberville South a 
stalk of oane which was planted in 1898, and 
which had two eyes that sprouted only this 
year. Two eyes of this stalk grew last year, 
producing two fine stalks of cane and two 
eyes sprouted only this year and doubtless 
would have produced two stalks, but for the 
fact that It was such a curiosity Mr. Marlon- 
neaux sent it to the South with a note ask- 
ing, *'What do we know about cane, any- 
way?" We have since been told that the 
eyes of cane frequently remain dormant a 
whole year and come up the year following. 
It is evident that we have much to learn 
about cane, for we have seen several in- 
stances where the best planters were mis- 
taken this year. In one case aa old planter 
destroyed his entire seed because he thought 
it was all spoiled, yet his neighbor, with no 
better seed, made a good 'planting and got a 
first-class stand. Another instance was a lot 
of cane that was planted in the fall and 
which experienced planters said was gone up. 
The owner wanted to plow it out, but was 
prevailed upon to let it be for awhile. We 
saw the cane this week and found a fair 
stand and we feel satisfied it wiil, with proper 
care and attention, produce from 20 to 25 
tons per acre. The third instance was in the 
case of a lot of scubble with not more than 
three inches of dirt over them, and which, al- 
though thought to be killed, is up to a 
better stand to-day than any other cane on 
the place and is pointed to with pride by the 
planter. 

Mr. John Terrell, the clever manager of 
Hon. Andrew H. Gay's Augusta Plantation, 
is at home again after an absence of several 
months in New Orleans, where he had under- 
gone medical treatment for a wounded foot. 
Although not entirely well, Mr. Terrell is 
happy to be on horseback again, and his 
numerous friends throughout the parish are 
glad to be able to welcome him home and to 
know that he has regained his health. 

The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew H. 
Gay, Jr., of Plaquemine, sympathize with 
them in the death of their infant, Andrew H. 
Gay, Jr. 

We had the pleasure this week of riding 
over the Trinity Plantation on Bayou Grosse- 
Tete, belonging to Widow Joseph Webre, of 
UoscJala. ia company with Mr. J. A. Webre, 
the clever manager of this fine esute. Quite 
a change has been wrought in the appearance 
of Trinity and it will soon be one of the 
finest sugar estates in Louisiana. Like most 



other places the shortage in plant cane was 
about 25 per cent of expectations, 100 acres 
having been planted i^rhere 124 were expect- 
ed. The stand is fairly good. There are on 
the place 170 acres of first year's stubbles, 
some of which are very good, and some 
second year's which have been filled up with 
corn. The corn crop will largely exceed the 
need of the place and Mr. Webre would like 
to contract now to sell several thousand bar- 
rels in the fall. Rain is badly needed.. Trin- 
ity's cane will go to Ginclare this year, but 
we venture to say that before many years a 
fine Central factory will be built at Trinity. 
That splendid mechanic, Mr. Clarence O. 
Peltier, of Dorceyville, who has been taking 
ofP a crop of sugar at Ahome, State of Sina- 
loa, Mexico, returned home last Monday. 

IBERVILLB. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

EdiUyr Louisiana Planter: 

The weather, but for the lack of rain, 
would have been perfect for the last • ten 
days. It enabled much necessary field work 
to be done, and now the crops are all ready 
for a good rain. NotTWithstanding the pro- 
longed dry spell, the canes are growing 
rapidly, and the stubble comes out like the 
tardy school boy on his way to school. It is 
astonishing how much has come out of the 
ground within the past ten days, and it is 
still showing up, not as rapidly as before, 
but still there are plenty of young sprouts 
peeping forth. An all day show rain, followed 
by dry weather is just what the farmers are 
now longing for. It would enable them to 
get the corn out of the way, and to devote 
their best attention to the cane. The effect 
of a rain would be to bring to the surface 
thousands of grass seeds now waiting for 
more moisture before coming out, and, of 
course, the farmer would like time to get 
around and destroy these weed germs. It is 
usually the case that a dry cultivating season 
in May, followed by a moderately dry June, 
is considered propitious for big crops. TJils 
is almost the inevitable result if we get with 
these condition a plenty of rain in July, 
August, and the early part of September, 
then a dry spell with cool nights to ripen the 
cane. With these conditions we believe the 
crop of *99 would surprise many who are 
despondent. The plant cane is growing 
rapidly, and is generally above the average 
year as to stand, though backward as to size. 
The stubble is good, bad and Indifferent. 
"§weet Home" has a very thrifty cut along 
the public road, and we are told that this 
is "but a fair specimen of the crop. Foley, 
Lilm Hall and iMadewood, all have fair stub- 
ble crops. As a rule the new ground stubble 
is good. Those who fertilized the plant cane 
last year seem to have secured good results 
in this year's stubble, and that whether the 
brand was tankage, or meal, or acid phos- 
phate. The stubble rows next to hedges are 
well to the front showing that this protec- 
tion was to a certa.\i extent benefi<iial. The 



weather compared with normal has been 
"warmer than we usually have. There is a 
good deal of sickness caused, doubtless, from 
the dust, and <water supply in the cisterns 
getting low. A recent visit tg '*Melrose," the 
plantation of Messrs. Prejean and Abraham, 
in cane, this year for the first time in years, 
showed that very much work had been done 
in renovating the place, in draining it, and 
putting it in fine condition. Owing to the 
bad seed cane a shorter planting was made 
than expected, but Mr. Prejean has some re- 
markably pretty plant, and I learn has 150 
acres of choice rice. He had expected to 
plant more than double the cane actually 
planted, but has had to supplement his cane 
with rice and a large acreage of corn. This 
place, when thoroughly developed and 
drained, will make a very valuable estate, as 
it has lain Idle or been simply worked in rice 
and corn for a number of years, and conse- 
qu^tly the land is like virgin soil. A recent 
trip to New Orleans along the T. & P. road 
demonstrated that the crops of Assumption 
will compare quite favorably with those 
along that line of road. However, just at 
present "the river" is being favored with 
showers that would greatly add to the ap- 
pearance of all crops here. I have seen some 
corn laid by, with a good stand of peas show- 
ing. The corn crop promises to be very good, 
and a much larger acreage than usual was 
planted. 

Rice planters wear happy smiles and seem 
to think that there will be money in rice this 
year. The acreage of this crop has been in- 
creased In Assumption, and the yield to- 
gether with the price will, no doubt, prove 
that the rice planter is not much wrong in 
his opinion. Albemarle has some land in 
rice this year, and the two places above are 
almost entirely devoted to this cereal. 

(Mr. E. L. Monnot has returned from a 
short stay in Donaldsonville, and Will leave 
in a few days for the Teche on a visit to his 
brother at Vaufrey. He is very much better, 
and will, no doubt, rapidly regain his 
strength. 

The Lafourche is falling rapidly, and the 
danger from high water (never very near this 
season) has disappeared. If the fall contin- 
ues our rice men will, before very long, have 
to start their pumps. 

We regret to record the serious Illness of 
Mrs. Ulysse Dugas, in New Orleans, but 
learn that her condition is improved to-d^y. 
We hope that the crisis is over, and tiiat she ^ 
will speedily recover her health. 

Cloudy weather to-day (Tuesday), but no 
rain yet. Mori Anon. 

Terrebonne. 

(FPCCIAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor Louisiana Ptanler: 

As there has been no rainfall since the 
night of the 21st of April and the following 
afternoon, the crops of cane and corn would 
be immensely benefited by seasonable show- 
ers, particularly the latter, which in many 
instances is being checked in growth. For- 



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809 



tunately, corn recuperates very rapidly after 
showers if stunted from dry weather. Field 
work is well advanced and the crops general- 
ly free of extraneous vegetation. 

Taken in its entirety the stand of plant 
cane is far superior to what was generally 
anticipated, there having ^been an unusual 
amount of defective seed planted hoth before 
and after the unprecedentedly severe freeze. 
Until recently the season has heea back- 
ward and the temperature below the normal, 
and in consequence the canes are small for 
the middle of May. The stubble is simply 
enigmatic coming up best where least ex- 
pected and almost a failure where a good 
stand was expected. Where fields were wind- 
rowed early for the mill; the stubble seems 
to he in places more defective than canes left 
standing later or left standing until cut for 
the mill. The canes were green and growing 
when the cold wave came, and warm weath- 
er following the windrowing caused the eyes 
to elongate at once, and the wet weather in 
winter impaired vitality. The acreage in 
corn is unusually large, and the major por- 
tion has been laid by and the pleas planted. 

Duriing this dry weather some are correctly 
putting the earth well up to the canes, fear- 
ing that wet weather will follow the drought. 
In places the plant cane sprouts are begin- 
ning to suckor and put out independent roots. 
The canes are generally of good color, due to 
the fact that the lands are in hetter tilth than 
usual ,as there has been an absence of flood- 
ing rains this spring. Prior to the com- 
mencement of the campaign this fall, condi- 
tions will differ materially even an adjoin- 
ing plantations, and in diiferent sections of 
the parish. On some places it may take more 
than the stubble acreage for seed, and others 
again may send a quantity to the mill. The 
reports from the lower Terrebonne, from 
Canal Belanger to the lowest places on the 
bayou are very favorahle, also from the 
lower iLittle Calllou, so much so that some 
predict that the lower Terrebonne Refinery 
will probably receive about the same tonnage 
as last year. Latterly, personal inspection 
has not been general, yet the crops seen on 
the upper Grand Calllou and the Terrebonne 
show very m-arked improvement both in the 
plant cane and ra toons. 

This week the crops were seen on Wood- 
lawn and Ashland, of Messrs. CalUouet and 
Maglnnis, that on the former place is the 
best seen thus far this season. The writer 
rode over part of the place with the .Manager 
AAr. J. Dillard and found the fields well 
worked, and of the four hundred acres of 
plant cane three hundred as to stand will 
compare with average years. The ratoons 
from the last cut and earliest dug canes are 
very good and other fields, although defect- 
ive, are much better than was expected. On 
the Terre bonne (Messrs. Gueno firos.. of 
Presqu'ile and Messrs. Barrow and Du- 
plantis, of Myrtle Grove, have fields of 
promising cane. Through the courtesy 
of Mr. John T. More, Jr., of Waubun, 
the writer received recently a beautiful 



photograph of a thirty acre field of 
velvet beans. Mr. Moore stated in his 
letter: **We have followed the velvet bean 
crop with cane and find the land in better 
shape than where pea vines were planted. 
"Our experience with alfalfa, another valu- 
able forage crop, has "been very satisfactory. 
We can say this after three years of experi- 
ments, and claiming to be the pioneers in 
planting it in this section, we will be more 
than glad to give any one the benefit of our 
experience." 

Terrebonne. 



St. Mary. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

EklUor Louisiana Planter: 

At the present time a good' substantial 
shower would be of incalculable benefit to the 
growing crops; but the drought is in no 
wise, alarming thus far. On the contrary, 
while the ground seems to he almost parch- 
ing upon the surface, vegetation continues 
green and vigorous in color, and upon ex- 
amination it is found that a great deal of 
moisture still lies just below the outer crust, 
and within easy reach of the plant roots. 
But, of course, this too will disappear in the 
process of consumption within a short while, 
unless a rain Intervenes, after which time 
there will be no other appreciable mediating 
influence between the sun and the plant, 
when the effects of the drought will become 
immediately apparent. But while the healthy 
and more acclimated vegetation of the field is 
thus far uninjured, the truck gardening In- 
ar.Stry (which was resorted to la St. 'Mary 
more extensively this spring than has been 
seen before in many years, owing to the an- 
ticipation of dull times as a result of the • 
cane crop shortage) has been dealt rather a 
heavy blow, and a good many garden crops, 
which were very promising in appearance 
three weeks ago, principally the Irish pota- 
to crop, are now a total failure. 

The corn crop is being laid by all over 
the parish, after being hilled or "dirted" as 
heavily as possible, on account of the dry 
weather. And as the plant and stubble cane 
shortage will he substituted by a correspond- 
ing increase in the acreage of the corn, the 
latter crop will be largely In excess of the 
usual yield, on some plantations. 

The Caffery refinery corporation, situated 
in this parish, actively speaking, owns the 
Peoples plantation in the parsh of Iberia, to- 
gether with several other smaller tracts; but 
does not expect to crush a single ton of 
cane from these several estates this winter, 
en account of the greatness of its loss of seed 
from the freeze. All th3 cane raised on this 
land, will, on the other hand, be put down 
for seed for next season, which will practical- 
ly render It wholly dependent upon contract 
cane for its raw material during the grinding 
season, for which it is now offering 80 cents 
per cent for 12 degrees sucrose test, and 
which your correspondent learns is very 
close, either upon the one 9ide or the other, 



to what the remainder of the competing buy- 
ers are offering or intend to offer. 

The election authorized hy the newly con- 
stituted drainage district, which proposes the 
cutting of the 50 foot canal from the Irish 
Bend section out to the high seas, a distance 
of three and a half miles, at the approxi- 
mated cost of fifteen thousand dollars, and 
which election was originally called for the 
3rd of June, has been changed to the 13th, 
owing to several informalities in the original 
notices of election. It is expected that the 
levy of the extra tax will be carried almost 
unanimously. 

The writ of sequestration issued from the 
iDistrict Court of St. Mary, placing the estate 
of Valentine iSchwan in the hands of the 
sheriff, pending the claim of foreign heirs, 
was dissolved, after trial, by the court grant- 
ing It, last Monday. The claimants are resi- 
dent In Germany, represented by D. Caffery & 
Son; the defendants by several local firms 
and Hon. Chaa. F. Buck of Orleans parish be- 
tween whom and Senator Caffery the contest 
was carried on. About two hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars* worth ©f property was 
seized under the writ, and other efforts will 
be made to prevent its going back Into the 
hands of the prima facie heirs. 

St. Mary. 



Vermilion. 



(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

'Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather for the past week has !been 
very fine for all purposes with the exception 
that it was a little too dry at the last part 
of the week and still continues dry. The 
■wind has been blowing from the southeast 
for several days and the dust at times is al- 
most unberable. We have not had rain since 
the 22nd of Ayi'H ami a"i,uod rain now would 
be of vast benefit to the cane crop and also 
to the providence rice crop. Corn is not 
suffering for rain yet and is growing very 
fast. The corn crop Is simply fine and with 
a rain within the next eight or ten days it 
will be virtually safe. Cane Is doing as 
well as could be expected. Plant cane is 
growing notwithstanding the dry weather but 
the stubble seems to be at a stand still. The 
stubble crop will not be as good as was at 
first expected. The stand In some sections 
is very good and even but it just peeped out 
of the ground and stopped. It needs a good 
rain now to push it off. "Most cane farmers 
are waiting for their cane to suoker to put 
dirt to it but it is suokering very slowly on 
account of the dry weather. The first plant- 
ing, however, has been dlrted as it suckered 
before the ground got so dry. The outlook 
for a fair tonnage on plant cane is very bright 
but stubble cannot be depended on unless it 
gets a rain In a very few days. The rice crop 
is looking fine. Along the irrigating canals 
the planters have turned water on their early 
rice and it Is growing fast. Providence rice 
does not look so promising and It will be 
materially damaged if rains do not come to 
its aid shortly. All in all though the outlook 



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310 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. xxn. No. 20. 



for a full rice crop never was brighter in the 
ri<;e section of this parish than at the present 
time. The rice promoter is still making ex- 
tensive Improvements in the different parts 
of the parish, and the result of hie expendi- 
tures will be large return from irrigated rice 
in dollars and cents to the fortunate individ- 
' ual that is aloag his line and to the promoter 
in handsome profits on his investment The 
time is not far distant when the entire west- 
ern part of Vermilion parish will be one 
continuous net work of irrigating oanals and 
Lake Arthur or the iMermentau river and the 
Vermilion river will be connected. Your cor- 
respondent has been reliably informed that 
the Vermilion Development Company, since 
buying the Garland canal and plantation, are 
now taking the right of way east from the 
Garland farm in the direction of Abbeville 
then with the Hunter canal running out from 
the Vermilion river west twenty miles the 
connection can very easily be made between 
the Bayou Queue de Tortue and the Vermil- 
lion, then the latterals and side canals that 
will be necessary to irrigate the lands each 
side of the main oanals will just about cover 
the entire country. 

The cotton crop is very backward this year. 
The first planting proved to be a failure and 
the scarcity of seed curtailed the acreage to 
some extent. Where good seed was planted 
at the last planting the stand is very good 
and the plant looks fine. The acreage will 
be some larger than last year though not 
extremely heavy. 

Mr. Will Norman, a prominent sugar plant- 
er oi Patterson, La., was in Abbeville for a 
few hours last Sunday, 14th. This was Mr. 
Norman's first trip to Vermilion and he like 
all others liked the Vermilion lands. 

P. C. M. 

Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8PCNDENCE. ) 

Elitor LouUntna Flan'er: 

The farmers have made rapid progress 
since the first of this month, which today 
Is shown by the splendid appearance of the 
fields and growing crops over all this pro- 
gressive upper cane producing district. 

In so far as the -^eat^ier is concerned, 
it is hot and dry. The indications have been 
favorable for rain since the 12th Inst, but 
with the exception of a very light sprinkle, 
not enough to lay the dust, on the afternoon 
of the 14th inst, no rain has fallen since the 
^st ult., 'consequently the ground under the 
Influence of the constant hot penetrating suns 
has become very dry and dusty. During the 
past ifive days the thermometer has registered 
at two o'clock p. m. from 92 degrees to 96 
degrees in the shade, which is Just about hot 
enough for any purpose to please the plant- 
ers. The south winds, blowing brisk, have 
a tendency to make it possible for men and 
teams to work and endure such oppressive 
heat. 

At this point it is well to note that May, 
'98, was a decidedly dry month, no rain 
falling to amount to anything until the month 



was closing out, when the rainy season set 
in, lasting until the close of the year. Are 
we to have a repetition of the same during 
this season? 

iWhile on the wing last week, I had the 
pleasure to stop off at "Gold Dust" station 
on the Alexandria branch of the S. P. rail- 
road, and make a brief visit to a number of 
places in that locality. Calling first on 'Mr. 
S. O. Presser, Barbreck P. O., I mounted one 
of (Mr. Presser's fine saddle horses and ac- 
companied him over some '250 or more acres 
of fine lands planted to corn, cotton and 
oane. Of cane Mr. Presser has but IS acres, 
having met with the ofilsfortune of losing a 
large body of seed cane by the February bliz- 
zard. But he feels confident that, with the 
splendid p.tand which he now has on his 18 
acre plot of cane, providing the season is 
propitious, he will make an ample supply of 
seed with which to plant a fair acreage to 
cane next year, or enough at least to drop 
the cultivation of cotton, which he is grow- 
ing heartily sick of. 

Mr. Presser has a heavy acreage planted to 
corn and cotton. Both of these crops are in 
good tilth and growing, but beginning to 
need rain. 

Mr. Presser bestows time and labor to 
growing fine strains of milk cows. Alderneys 
I think he told me, no matter, he has a fine 
herd, fat and sleek, grazing on a pasture of 
nutritious grass. Plenty of rich milk and but- 
ter, poultry and fat pigs, Jast but not least, 
a pleasant family, contented and happy in 
their commodious Southern built home, large 
and roomy, shaded by live oaks and grand 
old pecan trees. 

My next step was to make a rather hasty 
flight through Mr. W. L. O'Quinn's fine plant- 
ation fronting Mr. Presser's place, but on the 
east bank of Bayou Boeuf. Mr. O'Quinn has 
a beautiful home place in a shady grove of 
trees and fiowers entermingled. Mr. O'Quinn 
lost heavily of seed cane by the past winter's 
freeze, but out of the wreck managed to get 
enough of seed to plant some 21 acres to 
cane, which is now up and growing with 
prospects for maturing a fine quantity of 
seed with which to plant next year's cane 
crop. 

iMr. O'Quinn has two fine places, the other 
one being to the north of Mr. Presser, on the 
west bank of Bayou Boeuf. The soil of both 
places is principally sandy loam and exact- 
ly ifitted to the production of cane rich in 
sugar. 

Mr. O'Quinn has perforce planted heavy 
crops in acreage to corn, cotton and peas. 
His fields are well cultivated but rain would 
be beneficial. 

The Augusta Planting and Sugar Manu- 
facturing Co.'s fields Join Messrs. O'Quinn 
and Presser on the south, and have, so I 
was informed, 150 acres to cane this season. 
Seed cane was cut short by the past winter's 
freeze. Cane on the Augusta plantation is 
up to a good stand and they expect to make 
a paying crop. The acreage on this place 
to HOtH And peas is very large, besides, I 



understand they have some cotton planted. 
My time was so limited I failed to call on the 
stirring managers Mr. A. Lesseps and Mr. 
Robichaux. Rapid strides have been made 
along ail lines of field work. 

Cane is beginning to sucker. It is growing 
and has a healthy appearance. 

Crops in the vicinity of "Gold Dust," show 
nice, neat cultivation and growth, but at 
present need rain. Erin. 

Trade Notes. 

The Battle Creek St^'am Pump Cti. 

We print elsewhere this week the half-page 
advertisement of the above named concern, 
which is one of the most celebrated pump 
building establishments in the world to-day. 
The Marsh pumps are in extensive use 
throughout the Louisiana sugar district and 
they rank high in the estimation of those 
who have used them. From a letter recently 
written us by the Battle Creek Steam Pump 
Co., we extract the following: 

"It may be well to inform you that Marsh 
pumps, including the dry vacuum pumps, 
have been adopted for the new beet sugar 
factories now building at Rochester, Kala- 
mazoo, Alma and Bay City, Michigan. We 
furnished all the pumps for the new beet 
sugar factory at Crockett, Cal., a year ago, 
including the dry vacuum pumps. We have 
made and sold since January 1st over 2000 
marsh pumps, and are over 1000 pumps be- 
hind our orders to-day. We have enough 
business in hand to operate our factory for 
two months. A fair percentage of our busi- 
ness is done with sugar factories in this 
country, as well as Mexico, Hawaiian Islands, 
Cuba. Holland, France, Germany and Rus- 
sia, We are increasing our facilities by ex- 
tending our factory and putting in new ma- 
chinery. We are at present working 125 
men twelve and one-half hours per day." 



Personal. 



The Planter is glad to learn from that 
prince of good fellows, Mr. John R. Gheens, 
of Golden Ranch plantation, that the recent 
cravasse in Bayou Lafourche did not injure 
his crop, which was protected by his splendid 
system of private levees. Two of his tenants 
has a little cane outside the levee, however, 
which was lost. Mr. Gheens says that his 
crop needs rain badly. His plant cane he 
reports to be pretty good, but stubbles only 
"so so." 

Mr. Thos Supple, of Bayou Goula, Iberville 
Parish, where he is at the head of one of the 
finest sugar manufacturing plants in the 
State, was in the city on a a visit a few days 
ago, accompanied by his wife. They stopped 
at the Hotel Grunewald. 

Mr. J. N. Caillouet, a leading sugar planter 
of Terrebonne Parish, La., was in the city on 
a visit a few days ago. He stopped at the 
Commercial Hotel. 

Mr. D. J. Kerr, manager of the North Bend 
and Midway places, on Bayou Sale, which be- 
long to the estate of the late S. M. Swenson, 
was a guest of the St. Charles last Sunday. 



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May 20, 1899.] 



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811 



PORBIGN LBTTBRS. 



Berlin. 

Berlin, April 29, 1899. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB6P0NDENCE.} 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The week under review opened, after some 
thunderstorms, rather cool, and in the west- 
ern part of the country rainy, whilst in the 
eastern provinces dry weather was predomin- 
ating. This meant, on the whole, a reaction 
which only at the end of the week was re- 
covered by the setting in of a somewhat 
higher aerial temperature which coa.ri'buted 
to restore something like seasonable weather. 
The sowings of beets have made some further 
progress, but in consequence of the prevail- 
ing wetness, the western part of the country 
is less advanced than the eastern, and as to 
the coming up, little can be said so far, the 
temperature having been too cold throughout 
the country, and it is reported already that 
fields, sofwn exceptionally early, have been 
turned over and resown, an operation which 
must be expected on a larger scale if no de- 
cided change takes place at an early day. The 
situation therefore Is in general a little less 
satisfactory than a week ago, and such is also 
the case in the other beet growing countries. 
Especially in Prance, who formerly was 
ahead of the other countries. They are now 
complaining of cold and wet weather, which 
is unfavorable both for agricultural opera- 
tions and for the germination of the beet 
kernels previously confided to the ground. 
Austria, Belgium and Holland are more or 
less in the same plight, whilst Russia, where 
the sowings of the beets have just begun, 
longs for a good rain. You see, like in Ger- 
many, -which is situated *ln the center of 
Europe, the continent itself is wet In the 
west and dry in the east. 

The addition of sugar to the fodder of the 
cattle having, as I have written you some 
time ago, proved a perfect success it was of 
paramount importance, that the regulations 
lor the sale of the product, which in order 
to prevent fraudulent abuses with regard to 
duty, had been very stringent, should be 
made less strict. There had been — -I speak of 
course of Germany — mainly two grievances. 
In the first place a multitude of legal pro- 
ceedings which the stuff had to undergo be- 
fore the farmers were able to use it in the 
proper way, and secondly the kind and man- 
ner of admixture for denaturalizing the su- 
gar. In both ways the administration has 
fully complied with the wishes of those in- 
terested in the business in question. The 
legal proceedings are simplified, so that ac- 
cording to the wishes of the sugar manufac- 
turers, cattle sugar may be bought freely 
and with respect to the denaturalizing ad- 
dition, the admixture of oil cake flour is re- 
duced from 50 to 30 per cent and fish guauo 
may be added only in a proportion of 20 per 
cent There is, in consequence, every rea- 
son to expect, that the lower products of our 
sugar factories will be largely employed now 
by cattle breeders. The effect of sugar add- 



ed to the fodder is a two fold one; it makes 
the fodder more palatable and the animals 
develop more appetite, whilst on the other 
hand the sugar is a fattening substance in 
iteelf. 

In Sweden there has been last year a short 
crop, which was quite insufficient to cover 
the requirements of consumption. The con- 
sequence is an increased importation which 
for the flrst of the present year will amount 
to about 40,000 bags, whilst last year in the 
same period only 2,600 bags had been import- 
ed. Now this shortage of production has 
lead to the idea of increasing the productive 
capacity of the country or in other words, to 
build more factories, a tendency which even 
degenerated into a kind of beet sugar factory 
craze, a great number of projected factories 
springing up in different parts of the coun- 
try. One of th^e projects has caused a 
good deal of talk. It originated with the 
factory of Roma, which in,tended to build 
another sugar producing establishment, but 
this scheme met with the sharp opposition 
of the other factories, who, in the province of 
Schoonen, threatened to build also a new fac- 
tory. This threat for the time being has 
caused the administration of the iRoma fac- 
tory to lay the project in question aside, but 
the public at large sides in general with the 
last named enterprising establishment, the 
more so as the province of Gothland, in 
which Roma is situated has undergone an 
extraordinary economical Improvement since 
the sugar industry has taken root there, and 
it is therefore hoped on all hands that Roma 
will eventually not flinch and in spite of all 
opposition will carry out its former projects. 
There are a couple of other projects spoken 
of in Sweden. 

A German consular report from Queensland 
has some interesting details from which we 
clip the following. In the campaign year 
1897-98 the area planted in Queensland with 
cane amounted to 102,152 acres, but only 66,- 
099 acres were ground, as against 92,250 and 
66,640 acres in 1896-97. The crop although 
taken off from about the same surface was a 
little smaller than in 1896-97, and it amount- 
ed to 97,916 tons as against 102,774 tons in 
the preceeding year. Of last crop whose 
value is estimated at £881,000, 66,557 tons 
were exported and 31,359. remained for home 
consumption. It is, however, doubtful 
whether this quantity was really used up as 
the consumption of the preceding period has 
not exceeded >26,000 tons. Still, the use of 
sugar in breweries and jam factories is said 
ID be rapidly increasing. 

The markets bore at the beginning of the 
week a very quiet aspccc and it looked very 
much as if the upward movement had reach- 
ed its end, both buyers and sellers maintain- 
ing quite a reserved attitude. This pause, 
however, was of a shorter duration than gen- 
erally expected, and towards the close busi- 
ness was actively resumed, bona fide buyers 
as well as speculators having re-entered the 
market. A very firm tone prevailed in the 
last hour, as it became known that German 



stocks of first runnings in first hands amount- 
ed to only 40,150 tons as against 165,000 
tons at the same time of last year. Prices 
consequently moved again in an upward 
direction, but are quoted still a little below 
the highest point reached previously, 88 pet. 
rendement fetching at Madgeburg M. 11.90— 
12.00, and at «M. 11.05 f. o. b. at Hamburg, 
delivery April. Refined were at flrst well 
maintained, later on, however, a little weaker 
without quotable change Of price. 

RoBT. Hennig. 



Havana. 

Havana, May 10th, 1899. 

(8PBCIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor LouiHiami IHant^ir: 

The demand continued fairly active, but 
owing to reduced stocks and higher pre- 
tensions entertained by holders, business 
transacted was light again and only 18,000 
bags changed hands on the basis of 3 cts. 
pound, for good centrifugated sugars 96-97 
test, at which market closes strong, despite 
recent advices of a quieter demand and a 
slight decline in prices in New York. 

According to recent advices from Liver- 
pool, the decrease in this year's crop and the 
anticipated one In that of next year, both 
on this island and in the Philippines, have 
caused prices to advance, not only for pro- 
duce of this year, but also for that of the 
next crop, speculators having already closed 
several transactions for future delivery, at 
prices ranging at from Is. 6d. & is. 9d. 
higher than those ruling for parcels on the 
spot, which gave margin to another rise of 
% cent per Ih. in New York, and induces 
sellers at this place to enhance their pre- 
tensions until placing them altogether out 
of exporters* reach. 

Orinding on this island may now be con- 
sidered As virtually over and the total pro- 
duction for this year, as reported in my pre- 
vious letter, exceeds 300,000 tons by only a 
few thousand tons. 

Exports from Guantanamo, from 1st of 
January to 30th of April, added up 22,970 
bags. 

Factory '*Courtania," at Sagua, which still 
had a supply of cane to keep it running a 
couple of weeks longer, has just lost by flre 
one million arrobes of standing cane, from 
which about 7,000 bags of sugar may as yet 
be obtained, if the weather allows it to foe 
totally ground. As bandits have been lately 
lurking in the vicinity^ the misdeed is at- 
tributed to them. 

Diffusion Process: This process applied 
to cane and whose failure, on factory "San 
Joaquin de fbanes," of the French company 
of Fives Lille some 6 or 8 years ago, which 
the readers of the "Planter" were duly ad- 
vised of, has just been suhmitted to a new 
trial at factory '*Caracas" at Cienfuegos, 
and as its proprietors, Messrs. Terry 
Brothers spared no money to insure the suc- 
cess of the operations, it is said that the re- 
sults obtained hav^ been as favorable as 
could have been expected. 



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IVol. XXU, No. 20. 



The success ie 00 complete and absolute, 
that even the water expelled from the dif- 
fusion apparatus, and which was a draw- 
back to the process, is biing now advanta- 
geously used for irrigating the fields and the 
"cane slices which previously formed a com- 
pact i^aste, come out of the apparatus so 
'•dry that they can be immediately used as 
fuel. 

The extraction of juice exceeds by 25 per 
cent that obtained by double pressure in 
the best mills and all the parties who have 
witnessed the operation, unanimously declare 
the industrial revolution so long expected 
la the sugar manufacturing process, has at 
last been effected. 

In consequence of this success, Messrs. 
Terry Bros, have already ordered from 
France a large and complete diffusion plant, 
which they intend to use next year, to the 
exclusion of mills and cane crushers, as they 
calculate that the new process will afford 
them an economy of over 30% in the cost 
of sugar manufacture. 

Whilst owners of old factories despair of 
the future of the industry and have to con- 
tend with so many obstacles to run their 
plantations, other parties entertain, on the 
contrary, the most cheerful expectations re- 
garding same, and are willing to invest large 
sums of money in the business, "Mr. Fluriach 
of «Santa Cruz, on the southern coast of 
this island, being one of the latter, since 
he has just commenced, at the place known 
under the name of *'E1 Frances," the pre- 
liminary operations, such as the cutting 
down of trees, the distribution of land 
among tenants and the preparation of the 
soil for cane planting, for the establishment 
of a large central sugar factory, whose ma- 
chinery, comprising all the most modern and 
improved apparatus, has already been or- 
dered from abroad, in order that said fac- 
tory may inaugurate sugar making early 
next year. The capacity of this factory is 
calculated at about 50 or 60 thousand bags 
of sugar. 

An English syndicate, the "Cuban Central 
Limited Co.," has Just purchased for |5,- 
306,000 in Spanish gold, the Sagua and Cal- 
barien railroads and is in treaty to acquire 
those of Cardenas to lucaro and Cienfuegas 
to Santa Clara, which will transfer the con- 
iiol ot all toe largest lines on this island to 
British subjects who already own the Ha- 
vana Consolidated, the Western and the 
Mariano railways, whereas only the small 
one of Santiago de Cuba to San Louis belongs 
to aa American company, and those of 
Gibara to Holgiun, Neuvitas to Porto 
Principe and Sancti Spiritus to Fuoas, are 
controlled by Spaniards and Cubans. 

I'he total value of properties owned to- 
day by foreigners is estimated, as follows: 

Railways owned by Englishmen. $25,000,000 

Cigar factories and tobacco farms 
belonging to Am. citizens and 
British subjects 20.000,000 

Mines, cattle breeding farms and 
other industries of minor im- 
portance 15,000,000 

Grand total , $60,000,000 

T. D. 



Some 1898 Sugar Data. 

In Natal matters have gone more to the 
satisfaction of the planters than last season, 
and in spite of some losses from drought it 
is said that the crop will reach 25,000 tons. 
To make head against the ravages of the 
locusts, which lately caused such fearful 
destruction, a cane called the Tul>a has been 
^largely adopted, which is said to have the 
advantages of being locust proof and frost 
proof and of ratooning freely, keeping down 
the weeds and requiring little manure, its 
disadvantages are that it is difQcult to crush 
and requires special treatment in the manu- 
facture. 

iBut little information is available as to 
the Brazilian sugar industry. Owing to many 
of the factories being fitted with poor and 
antiquated machinery, there Is a decline in 
production, though statistics are little reli- 
able. It is probable that only some 30,000 
tons will be exported, as the home consump- 
tion absorbs nearly 80 per cent of the pro- 
duction. 

Up to very lately the sugar industry in 
Venezuela was in a most primitive condi- 
tion, the most antiquated processes only be- 
ing in use. One of the planters In that 
country has Just had a small factory erected 
by a French engineer, with results which 
will certainly shortly revolutionize the in- 
dustry, which hitherto has only obtained on 
an average 3 per cent of sugar on the weight 
of canes, the product being course and un- 
sightly. 

The Mexican sugar industry is steadily ad- 
vancing; the new machinery set up of late 
years, much of it being from Scotland, has 
worked very satisfactorily, but the produc- 
tion is as yet insufficient for the require- 
ments of the country. 

The Argentine Republic, which has been 
suffering from the large over-production of 
sugar In 1895, is now recovering from the 
crisis, the recuperative process being assist- 
ed by the small crop of 1897-^8, the yield 
having been poor owing to much damage by 
frost 

From Java we have had nothing but fa- 
vorable reports. The crop finally worked 
up by the middle of October turned out the 
largest and finest hitherto known. The 
canes were large and heavy, and the sac- 
h-arine content above the average. The 
season was somewhat wet, and the roads 
were frequently impracticable for the buffalo 
carts. The crop is finally estimated at 
711,500 tons. The new crop is doing well, 
but cannot be expected to attain the dimen- 
sions of the one just taken off. The number* 
of factories is steadily diminishing, not be- 
cause of any decrease in the area planted, 
which is estimated this year at over 202,000 
acres, but because of the policy which is 
being pursued of adding small estates to 
others in order to bring down the general 
cultivation, and the adoption of improved 
machinery and processes, together with 
ciMmicMU control, the planters have been 



successful in reduciag the cost of working 
every year, and in thus meeting the competi- 
tion of the beet sugar. Crystallization in 
movement has been especially successful, 
and we learn that all the first sugar is ob- 
tained in one operation, leaving nothing in 
the molasses but a very low class second 
sugar, the so-called *'sack sugar," which 
cannot be centrifu galled. The services 
rendered to the Java industry by the chemi- 
cal experts cannot be over-estimated. We 
hear that the Ranson process has been tried 
in three factories, but it was not found to be 
adapted for cane sugar manufacture, at any 
rate in Java. 

fin Japan there are now two refineries in 
fall operation under European superintend- 
ence. The consumption in that country is 
far too large for the home production to sup- 
ply, and has for years been steadily increas- 
ing. On the first of January, this year, the 
nffw import duties came into force; under 
these the duty on raw sugar is raised from 
about 2^d. to 4^d. per cwt, while the old 
rate for refined, about 5d., is raised to 2s. 
6%d. for 1 5to 20 D. S., andto 3s. 0%d. for all 
above 20 D. S. The imports in 1897 were 
192,000 tons, considerably under half the 
quantity being raw, and continued to in- 
crease in 1898. but those of refined will now 
fall off largely, owing to the new tariff. — 
International Sugar Journal. 



New Sugtir Bounty Law in Chili. 

At its recent session the national congress 
enacted the annexed measure providing for a 
bounty on sugar produced in the republic: 

Article 1. The president of the r'epublic 
is hereby empowered to pay a bounty of two 
cents for each«kilogram of raw beet sugar 
produced in the country. 

The bounty shall be paid for six years, dat- 
ing from January 1, 1899, and the total an- 
nual amount shall not exceed the following 
sums: In 1899 the sum of |25,uo0; in 1900, 
the sum of 150,000; in 1901, the sum of |75,- 
000; and in each of the years 1902, 1903, and 
1904, the sum of $100,000. If these sums 
should not be sufficient to pay the bounty of 
two cents per kilogram, (2.2046 pounds), they 
shall be distributed pro rata in proportion 
to the quantities of sugar produced. 

Art. 2. For a term of ten years the rates 
of carriage of beet sugar by the state rail- 
ways shall not be higher than those paid to- 
day for this article. 

During the same term the rates of car- 
riage of molasses and raw sugar on their first 
leaving tt3 estates or factories In fully oc- 
cupied cars shall not exceed the rates paid 
to-day for articles of the fifth class. 

Art. 3. In order to obtain the 'bounty, the 
producers will be required to prove the 
quantity produced, and to comply with the 
following conditions: 

(I) To establish a legal domicile in Chile; 
and 

(II) To supply all the data and informa- 
tion that the president of the republic may 
ask for respecting this industry, and such 
other as may conduce to the objects of the 
law. 



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May 20, 1899.] 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters* Asso- 
ciation. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



31S 



(Disoosslon of the Association at its regular monthly 
meeting, Thursday, May 11th. President Emile 
RosT m tne Chair and Secretary Reginald 
Dtkers at the Desic.) 

Chair: Oentlemen, the meeting will please 
come to order. The first business before the 
meeting is the reading of the minutes of the 
last meeting, unless a motion is made to 
dispense with the same. 

On motion, duly seconded, the reading of 
the minutes was dispensed with. 

The n^rt thing was the election of new 
members. There were no names proposed. 

Reading of communications followed, and 
under this head the secretary read a letter 
from Mr. Elmer, of the Trenton Iron Works, 
Chicago, at the conclusion of which the chair 
suggested that the secretary be instructed 
to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and 
that the communication remain in the secre- 
tary's hands for reference by memT)ers of 
the association. There was no objection 
to the suggestion, and it was so ordered. 

Chair: The next thing in order is "New 
Business" if there is anything to be offered 
under that head. I will state that news has 
reached ^he association of the death of 
.Gen. Wm. -P. IMlles, one of its members, and 
a resolution, or motion, would now be in or- 
der for the appointment of a committee to 
draft the proper resolutions relative to his 
death. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: I would make that 
m6tion; that a committee be appointed to 
formulate resolutions. 

Chair: <A committee of how many would 
you suggest ? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Three would be suffi- 
cient 

Motion duly second by Dr. W. C. Stubbs 
and carried. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Do you wish the com- 
mittee appointed this evening? To report 
this evening, or later? 

Chair: At the convenience of the chair- 
man. I fancy that the committee could 
hardly report at once. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: If the committee 
could report this evening, and announce Its 
report, it could be published tomorrow I 
believe the association has done that be- 
fore; has entrusted a committee to formu- 
late a set of resolutions, and then they have 
been published with the proceedings. What- 
ever the chair thinks best would satisfy all. 
Chair: This can be left to the convenience 
of the committee. The chair (will appoint 
on that committee: Hon. John Dymond, 
Col. G. G. Zenor and Dr. W. C. Stubbs. 

Chair: The next business before the asso- 
ciation is the discussion of the topic selected 
for this evening; the subject being "How to 
Secure th Best Results in the Preservation 
of Seed Cane;" but it Is my pleasure to an- 
nounce to the association chat we have this 
evening a treat which it has not been our 
pleasure to have for, I believe, fifteen years. 
We have with us this evening the Secretary 
of Agriculture of the United States (Ap- 
plause). Mr. Wilson, who is now visiting 
our city, kindly consented to attend the 
meeting of this association this evening, and 
! knew that every member of the associa- 
tion would be delighted to welcome him 
here, and to listen to ievery word which he 
might have to say. I knew that Mr. Wil- 
son could give us Instruction; could give 
us entertainment; and could give us fresh 
ideas. I knew that Mr. Wilson coming here 
could perhaps remove from our minds cer- 
tain doubts which have been hovering over 
us, which have been hanging around us, with 
regard to the new poeseseions which we have 
been acquiring during the last »lz or eight 



months, and I knew that on many other sub- 
jects Mr. Wilson could make us pass a most 
enjoyable evening; and for that reason I 
propose and suggest, gentlemen, that the 
matter which was to be discussed this even- 
ing as the regular topic be postponed until 
the next regular meeting of the association 
by a motion to that effect, and after that is 
done, the chair, in your name, will invite 
Mr. Wilson to address the association (Ap- 
plause). 

On motion, duly seconded, the topic far 
discussion was postponed until the June 
meeting. The motion was put to a viva voce 
vote. 

Chair: I now take pleasure in introduc- 
ing to the association Mr. Secretary of the 
Department of Agriculture. (Applause.)' 

Mr. Secretary Wilson: Mr. President and 
Gentlemen: I came down here to learn 
something about you people. Nothing was 
more remote from my mind than coming to 
give you instruction on any point I have 
never been in New Orleans before— it is a 
long distance off. The President of the 
United States Instructs me to endeavor to 
make the Department of Agriculture ser- 
viceable to all the section of our common 
country. I have been visiting the South for 
the last two years at different times, and 
this is probably my fifth visit, in order to 
m'ake myself familiar with your industries. 
I know little about sugar cane— scarcely any- 
thing about it. I come to see It, and to study 
the conditions of production along that and 
other lines, so that when in the future repre- 
sentatives of this locality should enlist .my 
interest, and la any Southern matter, I 
would know and understand what they 
might be speaking about And so I have 
very grave doubts about my ability to enter- 
tain you people, unless I talk about some 
of those points that your able chairman out- 
lined. The most difficult thing in the world 
for a man coming to a new country is to 
understand why everybody in It does not do 
just what the people do where he came from, 
and the readiest, the very readiest advice 
given Is always to change your methods aU 
at once and do the way we do In the North. 
But I have lived a little too long in the 
world to indulge in egotism of that kind. 
I would much rather sit still and learn, sit 
at your feet, gentlemen, and learn of your 
industries from yourselves; and yet there 
may be some of your practices here that 
strike me very forcibly. A few momentf ago 
I was discussing a quefiTtion with some of 
your people with regard to the fertilizer used 
in your cane fields. I learn for the first 
time that you do fertilize. I learn for the 
first time that you fertilize with cotton seed 
meal; and that strikes me as being some- 
thing very trying and hard; that is, as noi 
being at all economical. There is no fertil- 
izer, I will admit that is any better; I think 
it stands almost next to dry blood In Its 
nitrogen, and without question it will make 
a good fertilizer; but I don't think It should 
be produced for that — not a single pound. I 
think you can not afford to do that; and so 
il will venture to make this statement along 
that line, and If I am wrong you can think 
it out If any of you have ever consulted Dr. 
Stubbs he would tell you that an animal In 
feeding cotton seed meal will probably util- 
ize, or assimilate, from ten to fifteen per 
cent of it — perhaps a little more In some 
cases, it depending on the animal to which 
you feed it The other eighty-five or nine- 
ty per cent will not be assimilated at all; 
but If It Is correctly taken to the field, It Is. 
I think, quite as valuable after having been 
used in the feed stable, or feed yard, as If it 
had never been used at all. Now the ten or 
fifteen per cent the animal usee of that cot- 



ton seed meal, or assimilates Is worth more 
in any animal product with which we are 
familiar, than the whole one hundred pounds 
^ould cost, and that Is why it is not eco- 
nomical, from my standpoint (But I defer 
all these matters to Dr. Stubbs because I 
have looked over his "work today, and I am 
greatly delighted to find that the prog- 
ress of our agricultural lands has unffues- 
tlonably been In his mind. I have thought 
for example tlmt as you replace the native 
grasses here that are grown in the spring, 
and die in summer, leaving your animals 
without feed, that you must familiarize your- 
selves with the legumes that will help to 
make your pastures good. We must do it at 
the North; we have to do It all over the 
world. I find Dr. Stubbs, thinking along on 
this line, has on exhibition a dozen different 
bundles of hay from different legumes, so 
that in his work at your experiment station 
he has outlined what you might do along 
these lines. The question that would prob- 
ably arise In your minds Is: To what will 
'we feed our cotton seed meal? Now It is 
an enormous factor in your prosperity, let 
me tell you. You probably produce every 
year 500,000 tons of cotton seed. For the 
sake of argument we will say that Is what 
you produce — you probably produce more. 
Now that will furnish the muscle making 
material for the fattening of all the cattle. 
We sent to foreign countries — we shipped 
over four hundred thousand head last year! 
If you will compound your cotton seed meal 
with some carbonaceous nutriment, you can 
fatten all the cattle. All the feed cattle that 
we sent to Europe last year brought us 
back thirty-seven millions of dollars. There 
Is nothing that will start an animal so quick- 
ly ae cotton seed meal. I have been endea- 
voring to open up the markets of South 
America and the Orient to the dairy prod- 
ucts of the United' States, among other 
things, and a most Interesting fact came to 
my attention through a gentleman who 
makes butter, puts It In cans, and sends it to 
South America. .He says that the butter 
made In Iowa does not compete with the 
butter made In Denmark and those coun- 
tries. Why? Because It melts sooner; It 
has not the constituency of the Danish but- 
ter. Now the Dane sends over here to us, 
buys our meal feeds and sells to the Eng- 
lish people twenty-eight million dollars of 
butter every year! The reason for this is 
because the Danish butter stands up bet- 
ter, to use a common expression. Seven 
years ago when the director of the Iowa Ex- 
periment Station, I sent for a carload of cot- 
ton seed meal which I had fed to animals, 
and carefully noted its effects. I must say 
that five pounds a day to a dairy cow made 
a safe and abundant feature ot the ration, 
and gave excellent results. I then took the 
butter and had it analyzed in the labratory 
by the chemist, and after it was made Into 
creamery we found that Its melting point 
was higher. We sent It to Chicago where it 
was examined by experts and they report- 
ed It first-class. Now then there te a direc- 
tion In which you might feed your cotton 
seed meal. I did not experiment with all 
the animals. I did feed young hogs and 
found in thirty days, probably. It killed them. 
What the cause was I do not knohv; how 
to avoid that I did not try to ascertain; 
but I have no doubt that could be got around. 
I have found, however, that cotton seed meal 
fed to steers In the feeding yard where 
there were hogs had no bad effects at all. 
So that you are peculiarly prepared With this 
nutriment to feed dairy cows that are want- 
ed now In South American and the China 
seas. I don't like the idea of eeeiag the 
fields robbed aa they are being robbed by 



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[Vol. xxn, No. 20. 



not returning regularly to them all that you 
lake away from them. At your Fair you will 
find everything that a cow needs can be 
grown here and grown beautifully. 

Just to what extent this feed can be used 
with horses, I do not know. But, with re- 
gard to horses, we sold fifty-one thousand 
head last year to foreign countries, and 
there is a great demand for them. We of 
the North can furnish the heavy draught 
horses. We can furnish the high stepping 
carriage horse. A good many people breed 
the American trotting horse; but there is 
a horse peculiar to the South that you gen- 
tlemen understand how to breed, high spirit- 
ed, high bred, a daily horse that the world 
wants and can never get enough of. I am 
inclined to the opinion that you can afford 
to arrange pastures here for the purpose of 
producing that kind of horse. You can 
train him, and you can get your own price. 
We know the horse is never found in any 
market in sufficient numbers to justify any- 
body excepting the most wealthy from pur- 
chasing at all. Now, then, the dairy cow 
will succeed do^n here; I have no doubt 
it will. I learn that the last freeze you had 
down here will cut your next sugar crop 
fifty per cent. This is a serious matter— a 
very serioue matter. I think you should give 
some attention to the production of things 
that will make you independent along the 
line of husbandry. You produce cotton 
seed meal, furnish nitrogenous matter, 
legumes, for the same purpose, and I am 
well satisfied that you can eventually teach 
enough of the art to your laboring class un- 
der your supervision to add very materially 
to your incomes. 

You can sell and furnish the mutton 
shipped to the North, as you now do straw- 
berries. These sbeep, three months old or 
less, weighing 60, SO and 90 pounds sell for 
ten cents per pound on the foot and the mar- 
ket is never supplied. You can get the 
muttons for lamb before we can furnish 
them from the North because our weather 
is more severe. We can not grow luscious 
crops through the winter as you can. We 
are frozen up in winter. We have to turn 
our energies in other directions. You have 
twice as much rain-fall while, I may put it, 
you have twice our heat; and heat and 
moisture are great factors In producing 
crops. 

There is another direction in which you 
may find profitable employment for your less 
intelligent laborering people and that is in 
the raising of hogs. We have never enough. 
Some of the States in the South have be- 
come independent of the North because they 
are producing their own bacon. The South 
has been famous for many years f^r the 
production of its bacon. "Henry Clay" ham 
sells for twenty-five cents per pound in 
Washington while we can buy the fat ham 
frem Chicago for fifteen cents. The bacon 
hog is an animal that is produced in a nitro- 
genous region. The hog that we produce in 
the Mississippi Valley, in the great com 
growing states, is a fat hog. We keep him 
there and fatten him as long as he will 
grow and then sell him. The world wants 
him, too. It is a profitable business, and if 
you etart the industry here it will also be 
a profitable one. 

With regard to your sugar industry, as in- 
timated by your chairman, there has been 
some doubt with regard to the permanency 
of a public policy that will encourage you to 
the utmost to produce sugar. I know that 
to be the case. One of the first acts ever 
passed by the American congress was to 
protect sugar. The policy of the United 
States government has not been uniform all 
the time regarding the protection of the 



sugar crop, and for that reason I suppose 
you have not enlarged your acreage as you 
otherwise would. There are other sugar 
people in the United States, now, who are 
just as much interested in a stable, steady, 
policy, as you are. We have found that the 
Northern states, from New York all the way 
to the Pacific, can grow sugar, and people 
from all these states are interested in it. 
There will be no question in my mind about 
the determination of the representatives 
from that section to have that industry pro- 
tected. I firmly believe that it will only, be 
a reasonable number of years when the peo- 
ple of the United States will produce their 
own sugars. 

With regard to these islands, I do not 
know what the future will bring forth; what 
the future policy will be, I do know what it 
is now. It is necessary to have a revenue to 
conduct the cleaning of these islands, and 
the governing of them, and to pay their 
municipal expenses, etc., and to that end, 
when the Spaniards were driven out in 
Cuba and Porto Rico for example, a tariff 
bill was framed by the President of the 
United States which it was believed would be 
sufficient for the people of Cuba and Porto 
Rico. It has been a very great success. It 
is arranged that anybody going into either 
of these islands shall pay a duty; there shall 
be no distinction between persons or nation- 
alities. It is well understood that a man 
can take care of himself if he has fair play 
and an even chance. We are selling our 
gpods in the China seas to the extent of 
forty millions a year under free competi- 
tion with all the other nations, and are go- 
ing to sell more. We are sending our goods 
to Great Britain; our steel goods are going 
everywhere. The Nile expedition going into 
Soudan wanted a bridge, and wanted it soon. 
Our people could and did furnish It. So 
we are not afraid of the American people 
taking care of themselves In open trade 
with these islands. Now then, when they 
have anything to sell, and come to the 
United State's to sell it, they meet our tariff. 
If they send sugar, they must pay our duty; 
if they send rice or tobacco it is just the 
same. When I said I did not know what the 
future policy would be, I meant that I did 
not know what congress would do; but I am 
inclined to the opinion that the American 
people, after considering that they have done 
remarkably well for these Islands, have 
driven the imposters out and given them 
good honest government, and opportunity to 
progress, will not do anything that would 
tend to destroy the sugar industry of Louis- 
iana, or the cultivation of rice, or tobacco 
which Is grown In many states. While rice 
Is not grown yet In the North we people up 
there are religiously inclined to protect any 
American industry— it does not make any 
difference where found; and I have no doubt 
there will be the utmost harmony in the 
future In the protection of American In- 
dustries In regard to these people. Much 
can be done for these people In those Is- 
lands. Scientists have never studied any of 
their products. Coffee, for example, has 
never been grown to any considerable ex- 
tent; they have never crossed the tree that 
has the finest berries with the tree that has 
the most. They have never studied the bac- 
teriological disease of the coffee tree. A few 
years ago a bacteriological disease broke out 
on a coffee tree In the Island of Java and as 
the scientists there gave It no attention it 
ravaged every tree in that island as though 
It were swept by fire. We may help them 
with regard to their production along other 
lines; whatever Dr. Stubbs has touched on 
here in his classes they can get by sending 
for one of bis men; and you may depend 



upon it that these bright young fellows, 
educated in these channels, will find their 
way to the market where they can sell their 
labor. We can help them in all these mate 
ters, and I believe the United States govern- 
ment v/ill be disposed to establish experi- 
ment stations in the Philippines and Porto 
Rico so as to enable these people to progress 
along these lines to as great an extent as 
possible. 

I have been interested in the mouth of 
the Mississippi river for a long time. I was 
sent to congress for the purpose of helping 
get these jetties established there so as to 
deepen the river a little, and let the ocean 
vessels come up here to meet our grains com- 
ing from the West. Our grains will natu- 
rally come here. If you start a boy rolling a 
barrel why he is going the way of least re- 
sistance; the necessity of rolling over the 
Alleghenies would be an obstacle; he would 
find his way down here to tide water, where 
it should come (Applause). We have been 
looking for outlets here in this gulf and are 
continuing to look. Railroads are heading 
down this way and are using ports which 
are here. How to Succeed with your com- 
petitors la getting the volume of trade I do 
not know. , I have never looked Into that. 
That is your find; but I hear of Port Ar- 
thur, I hear of Galveston, and I hear of 
rallroac's coming on down. I am well satis- 
fied In my mind that they will come more 
and more all the time. I was talking to a 
railroad man one day about the competition 
in getting freights to the seaboard. He said 
(he is a railroad man in the Northwest) 
that when they began to build through the 
state of Iowa they had an engine that would 
pull seven cars with ten tons of freight In 
each car. Now they find it necessary to 
have an engine that will pull eight hundred 
tons of freight, and the result is that the 
transportation of grain Is getting cheaper 
and cheaper. Now the test will come be- 
tween those who steam over the Allegheny 
and those who steam down hill. It Is a lit- 
tle further from here to the old world, 
across the Atlantic, than from some of the 
Eastern seaports; but after a vessel is load- 
ed, and gets on the ocean, it Is very cheap 
transportation. The great expense Is mov- 
ing on land lines. So that the great strug- 
gle between the carriers will eventually re- 
sult year after year in bringing more and 
more traffic here than there Is at present 
I understand that the jetties have not l>een 
continued as fast as the (Mississippi river Is 
filling up the Gulf of Mexico. I have no 
doubt what the outcome of that will be. 
You will get whatefver appropriations you 
want. New York found herself with much 
the same trouble. Some years ago twenty- 
six feet la that harbor was considered 
abundant. Now the struggle between car- 
riers to carry cheaply has led ihem to build 
enormous vessels, over four hundred feet 
long, that will carry more than vessels ever 
carried before, and some drawing thirty feet 
of water, so that congress had to go to 
worlt at the last session and appropriate 
money to deepen New York harbor. Why. 
that Is right. Certainly, no matter how much 
money it costs, or how many feet they need. 
New York should have it. No matter how 
much money or how many feet you want, 
you should have it. You are becoming more 
important as these great traffic lines run 
down here from the great corn and wheat 
fields of the West. You are taking more and 
more interest in us, and we are taking more 
and more interest In you (Applause). You 
will have no difficulty in getting feet 
enough to float the ships through the passes. 

I don't know along what lines i should 
talk here. I protested to Dr. Stubbs this 



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eirenlng that you gentlemen should do the 
talking. He said, "Old agriculturists like 
you and I can talk at any time on any sub- 
ject." (Laughter.) This is a pretty critical 
audience here. 

I recognize the fact that the people of the 
United States have made up their mind that 
there should he a ditch dug between the 
Atlantic and Paciiflc, somewhere around 
Central America where it can be most easily 
done. Just as soon as the attention of the 
nation was brought to the trip of the "Ore- 
gon*' around Cape Horn, the American peo- 
ple claimed we must build that ditch; we 
must dig that canal; we are not going to 
have that happen again. (Applause.) The 
"Oregon" was needed at Santiago, and got 
there Just In time. (Applause.) The Ameri- 
can people have given the order that it 
must be done, and that means a great deal 
to you. You are quite close, comparatively, 
to that canal; the trade between the United 
States and other countries is growing, and it 
will grow. 

We want, above all things, American bot- 
toms to carry our own products over the 
world under the American flag; that is 
what we need more than anything else. I 
suppose the reason we have not more Amer- 
ican ships has "been that It costs a great deal 
of ^oney to go into that business, and that 
it has been costing more in the United States 
than in European countries; but yet we are 
loaning money abroad. I heard last week 
that the banks of Iowa had one hundred mil- 
lion dollars of idle money, and that it could 
not be loaned on real estate at flve per cent. 
This great Mississippi valley is the produc- 
ing field that is Just now feeding the world; 
it has reached all the way up to its uttermost 
sources. We don't need to fertilize when 
we go to that rich country, provided you ro- 
tate the crops and grow grasses. We don't 
need to use fertilizer; T have never seen 
fertilizer used there and I have lived in 
Iowa forty-four years. It is from such a 
country as that that the intelligent Ameri- 
can people are piling up money all the time. 
Possibly another generation may find ways 
to spend that surplus money, but the present 
generation of Iowa farmers don't know 
how, and it won't be spent— it is finding its 
way eastwardly so as to get invested, and 
the Eastern people are sending it to Europe. 
During the last war we had two hundred mil- 
lions of bonds to sell and fourteen hundred 
millions was deposited to subscribe for that 
two hundred million; and at three per cent! 
Why, we have plenty of money! 

Now, the one thing I want to see is the 
building up of the merchant marine that will 
take our produce from all this valley up 
there. There is a business of a thousand 
million dollars done in the iChina seas; we 
have only forty million of that, but we are 
going to get more; the American in busi- 
ness is absolutely enterprising. I really 
think, gentlemen, that there is a very great 
future before the city of New Orleans and 
other cities around here, because you have, 
what they . call in Southern Africa, the 
hinterlands behind you, those great produc- 
ing ^fields that produce more next year than 
this year. The people, through the instru- 
mentality of experiment stations, agricultur- 
al colleges, etc.. are learning more and more. 
I may say, with regard to these institutions 
that are erected in every state, that they are 
doing more for the American farmer than 
has been done by any other country. And 
so we are learning how to make more and 
more money every year by more economical 
husbandry from these magnificent fields that 
can touch tide water from the Missouri line. 

I have certainly talked more than I 
thought I would, hay said all I could say 



and you will have to excuse me. CLoud ap- 
plause.) 

Chair: GenUemen, I thin^ it is hardly 
necessary for me to say that a resolution of 
thanks should be placed in writing so as to 
express our gratitude to Mr. Secretary Wil- 
son for his kindness, and for the interesting 
talk he has given us here thid evening. I 
ask, however, that it be in the form of a 
motion, that the grateful thanks of this as- 
sociation be returned to Mr. Secretary Wil- 
son for his kindness in addressing the as- 
sociation this evening, and that it be done 
by a rising vote. 

Motion put and carried unanimously. 

Mr. Secretary: I thank you for your kind- 
ness. I will try to see to it that this kind- 
ness don't turn my head. 

Chair: There is one thing, Mr. Secretary, 
that the chair will aek of your kindness; 
and that is, if any member of the association 
desires to ask any questions with I'egard to 
the subjects you have discussed, if you will 
have the kindness to allow tfiem that privil- 
ege? 

Mr. Secretary: With pleasure. 

Chair: Is there any question any member 
would like to ask Mr. Secretary Wilson? 
The chair would ask you, as you did not 
touch upon the subject, to state what you 
think of the development of the beet sugar 
Industry in the United States, if you have 
given that matter your attention, and if you 
thinlc, from your own observation, that the 
progress of the past ten years is likely to 
continue during the next ten years. 

Mr. Secretary: The experiments conduct- 
ed by the Department of Agriculture along 
that line have been very extensive. We have 
sent the most approved sugar beet seed to 
every part of the United States where we 
could Induce the people to Interest them- 
selves in it. Two years ago we began with 
flve factories .in the United States^-two in 
Nebraska and three on the Pacific Coast. 
We have reports from nearly all the States 
that are north of the Ohio river you may 
say. and from quite a few Southern States 
south of the Ohio river. Twelve per cent 
of sugar in the beet, with eighty purity of 
Juice, Is considered profl table; that Is "what 
they get in France and Germany. The ques- 
tion of labor, the question of machinery, 
etc., were the objections of most of our peo- 
ple to follow experiments even along this 
line. »It was necessary to organize in a 
great many neighborhoods during the present 
year to induce the people to make a sensi- 
ble start. That is, to secure the right kind 
of land and grow the beets intelligently, ac- 
cording to the most approved methods; to 
avoid growing them as big as they could 
get them and to grow them the regulation 
size of two pounds. We have received sam- 
ples through the mails from most of these 
States, and the chemists at the agricultural 
colleges have analyzed them also, and we 
find that in nearly all the northern States 
that the beet Is of sufficient richness to Jus- 
tify growing it ^ for sugar. 1 have been 
looking very carefully into the growth. 
(Last fall there were nineteen factories in 
operation in the United States. Next fall 
there will be forty that we know of; there 
are flve being "built in Michigan now. They 
are building, and getting ready to grow beets 
in Illinois and there is a prospect in Iowa. 
They are adding factories on the Pacific 
Coast. Beets sufficiently rich have been 
grown in the mountain States. Colorado 
will. I think, have some factories running 
next year. So that the matter, in my mind, 
has gone beyond he experimental stage and 
I have ceased to take as much interest in 
it as I did previously. I am well satisfied 
that after a lixne these Northern States will 



have more or less factories, and that the 
people in those States, as they begin to as- 
certain that the pulp has all the nutrition 
in it that the dairy cow requires, will spread 
the industry everywhere along that belt 
where there is above 70 degrees of heat dur- 
ing the three ripening months. I may say 
that I do not propose to concern myself so 
much about that part of the industry in the 
future, because I believe it will go itself. 
I believe it*is only a question of time when 
we shall make our own sugar. You will in- 
crease your acreage here while we increase 
our factories in the North. 

I might say durinj? my visit to South Car- 
olina I became well satisfied that there is a 
new industry that you can take care of in 
this country, and that Is tea. You have all 
the conditions necessary to produce fine 
teas under your latitude and under the lati- 
tude of South Carolina. How much farther 
north I do not know. There they have a 
fifty acre tea farm which was originally 
encouraged by the Department of Agricul- 
ture and I propose to push that. I would 
like very much to have this industry devel- 
oped. I know that Dr. Stubbs will give it 
some encouragement here, and I have no 
doubt it will become as successful as the beet 
industry of the United States. This is prob- 
ably all I have to say on that point. 

Mr. Frank Nlcholls: I would like to ask 
Mr. Secretary Wilson about the Importation 
of a new kind of rice from Japan, which has 
come here through the supervision of the 
Department of Agriculture. 

Mr. Secretary: When the Dingley bill 
was being framed, you sent a man from 
Louisiana up there to look after your indus- 
try, a very intelligent gentleman. Dr. Knapp, 
of iLake Charles, and I think he got aboitt 
what he wanted. In discussing the rlc« 
question with me ('I knew nothing about 
rice) he told me that the rice grown in 
(Louisiana was not as fine in some respects 
as the rice grown in Japan; he said the 
Louisiana people needed a shorter, chunkier, 
fatter rice that would not crack, that would 
not break up in threshing. I said "will you 
go and get it." He agreed, and we arranged 
to send him oij and get that rice for your 
people. We received ten tons; we have sent 
some to your people, we sent some to other 
rice growing sections, but mostly here. It 
will be experimented on, but I do not know 
how it will come out. You can watch It at 
your station. I think Dr. Stubbs has had 
some of it; he will tell you of its value. If 
it is of decided value, why then. If necessary, 
we will send and get all you want. 

Col Zenor: As the secretary, Mr. Wilson, 
has touched in his remarks upon one ques- 
tion that I have thought a great deal about 
if you will pardon me Mr. President. I will 
make a few remarks. It is In regard to the 
outlet for the Mississippi river. I mainUln 
that the protection of the caving ^anks of 
the Mississippi river— the protection of the 
alluvial lands of the Mississippi from over- 
flow and a deep outlet for the Mississippi- 
Is of even more Importance than any ques- 
tion that surrounds our national legislation. 
As regards the protection of the caving 
banks, that seems to be in the far distant 
future. In protecting the valley from over- 
flow, it is approaching; we have almost got 
around to perfection. I touch upon this 
gentlemen, because I believe that I have lost 
more from overflow than perhaps any other 
person in the State. My father lost a flne 
plantation on the Mississippi Just from cav- 
ing banks. I have thought often: Could 
that not be prevented? I believe it will be. 

Now, as regards the deepening of our 
channel; this is as simple as digging a ditch 
through a plantation. The first time that 



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I went down to view the jetties and the posi- 
tion of affairs there, when I looked down and 
saw this narrow pass to which this great 
outlet has been confined, I thought: Is it 
possible that the commerce of the Missis- 
sippi valley has to go through that little 
ditch when here, a little lo the southwest, 
was the grand opening of the entire river, 
and with less money than was spent on the 
South pass we could have had a channel? 
If the Southwest pass had be^n allowed to 
be taken by Congress it would have given 
us at least a channel of fifty feet deep and 
a thousand or more feet wide. We see be- 
fore us, (let us state actual facts,) that 
where the water is confined within its banks, 
as it is below New Orleans for a good many 
miles, we have deep water all the way, from 
one hundred to two hundred feet deep, until 
we strike just above the head of the Passes, 
at what is called" the "Jump," when we com- 
mence to get less. There we have different 
outlets — it spreads out. What is the conse- 
quence? We immediately have shoal water. 
Now, based upon this fact, which is demon- 
strated, if these banks were continued all 
the way down, and the water turned into 
this great Southwest Pass, having the jet- 
ties not two or three hundred feet wide but 
three thousand feet wide, and close up .all 
the other outles, (don't let some one object 
to closing up this outlet because it will in- 
terfere with his fishing grounds, or that out- 
let because it will prevent some one else 
from getting out to his favorite hunting 
grounds. Is it possible that such consider- 
ation as that would be entertained for a 
moment to interfere with the navigation of 
the Mississippi river?) and let us have these 
jetties three thousand feet wide and over. 
If ttiis be done, we could have the same 
channel out to the Gulf that we now have 
from here to the head of the passes. It 
looks to me very plain and simple. 

There is another point that was not 
touched upon, and that is this: Why is it 
that we find the Mississippi river to-day 
rising at New Orleans four or five feet high- 
er than it did in former years with the same 
stage of water, we will say. at Natchez, Miss. 
From 1858 to 1890, New Orleans was about 
15 feet above tide level. Last year, if I re- 
member correctly, it was considerably over 
nineteen feet, was it not, Mr. Dymond? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Nineteen and one- 
half feet. 

Col. Zenor: There was an increase of 
four and one-half feet, which shows that 
the water is gradually getting higher at New 
Orleans. Why is this? I will state it em- 
phatically and positively. There is but one 
solution. It is the great outlet of the At- 
chafalaya. Now that seems rather para- 
doxical; but why does the Mississippi shoal 
at the head of the Passes if it is not for the 
various outlets you have there? You can 
see plainly if these banks were continued 
it would be just as deep as it is to the head 
of the Passes to-day. Captain Eads, (who 
I consider one of the grandest men we ever 
had,) said years ago that if the Atchafalaya 
continued to increase, the time would come 
when it would be almost impossible to build 
the revetment high enough on the lower 
coast to prevent overfiow. Why? Because 
this deposit has been gradually filling in the 
bottom of the river, and as the bottom fills 
the top rises. Let us prove that. I can re- 
collect myself when the Atchafalaya was 
quite an insignificant stream — its discharge 
amounted to nothing. In fact, at one place, 
it went entirely dry and filled up — it was 
completely choked for fifteen miles. Then 
the entire body of water from the Red and 
Ouachita poured into the Mississippi; it did 
not go to the Atchafalaya— it all went into 
the Mississippi river, and I will tell you, 



then, with the same stage of the river at 
Natchez in '62, the highest record there, the 
river was 52 feet at Natchez, when the At- 
chafalaya was comparatively closed to the 
water. To-day we have three of four feet 
less at Natchez than New Orleans with the 
Atchafalaya carrying off a large volume of 
water — the discharge is enormous, and if the 
Atchafalaya were large enough to discharge 
three-quarters of the whole amount, the 
lower river would fill up. That can be 
clearly demonstrated. Why is this? Be- 
cause the water will seek tide level at the 
nearest point, and it is only one hundred 
miles from where the Atchafalaya starts out 
to tide water, while down the river it is 
three hundred miles, consequently the vol- 
ume of water would go down there and seek 
its tide level in the shorter distance. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: The secretary brings 
np a rather novel proposition when he 
speaks .about the agriculturists of the West 
not using fertilizers. We have been taught 
to believe that fertilizers ought to be used 
every where by intelligent farmers. That 
is one of our staple arguments, and it was 
rather startling to have the idea remarked 
here, as it has been to-night by the secre- 
tary, that the use of fertilizers might be 
dispensed with through the proper rotation 
of crops and dairy farming. Now, the cot- 
ton seed meal that we are using here, we all 
know is our cheapest source of nitrogen. 
We know elsewhere in the country they are 
buying nitrogenous fertilizers. For instance, 
tankage from Chicago, etc. ,and these things 
are being sold all over the United States — 
fish scraps from the Eastern cities — ^so that 
we can compete with them successfully so 
far as the purchase of fertilizer is concerned, 
by the use of cotton seed meal. Therefore, 
if we are to use manufactured fertilizer, or, 
rather, buy fertilizer at all, then it seems 
enimently fit we should use cotton seed 
meal; if on the other hand we are to de- 
pend on proper rotation, dairy farming, we 
might avoid that. But it seemed to me a 
rather novel proposition with successful 
farming in this stage of experiment stations, 
and thousands of analysis of manufactured 
fertilizers, to . have the idea advanced that 
perhaps It was unwise to use, or, at least, to 
buy fertilizers. Therefore, if the secretary 
would kindly dilate a little on that subject, 
perhaps it might be valuable to us all. 

Mr. Secretary: I remarked in the begin- 
ning that a man coming to a new country 
wonders why everybody don't do exactly 
what the people do in his country. It is 
much better to grind cotton seed into meal 
and fertilize your fields with it, than to sell 
it. I can see that it is much better. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: How about buying 
tankage? , 

Mr. Secretary: Well, when you get tank- 
age, you get the blood of our Western States. 
Now, we don't seem to know fertilizers up 
in our country. We crop there, three or 
four years, and then graze two, three or four 
years. Then, when we plow up our pastures, 
we get bigger grain CT(T0a than when the 
ground was new. It depends of course on 
what you sell. If you sell butter and sugar, 
why you don't lose the fertility of the soil. 
If you sell grains and cotton seed, why you 
are producing very fast, exceedingly fast; 
and owing to the fact that a freeze once in 
a while cuts your crop in two, I made the 
suggestion that it might possibly be wise 
for you people to secure your independence 
by giving a little more attention to these 
farming animals that you can profitably 
raise. I think you can pursue dairy farm- 
«n^ here with greater facility than anybody 
can further north. You can grow a succes- 
sion of corn or feed crops — and you have no 



difficulty in feeding your animals through 
the winter. We can not do that in the 
North, and with your cotton seed meal you 
can make a valuable butter that will stand 
up in a hot climate, and the world is want- 
ing that kind of butter. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond:' The high tempera- 
ture might interfere with butter making in 
this latitude? 

Mr. Secretary: There would be no 
trouble. All that you would have to do 
would be to get near one of your springs, 
where it comes up cool, or go down and get 
water at a temperature where it is under 
50, and you will succeed admirably in mak- 
ing fine butter. I ate just as beautiful but- 
ter in South Carolina as I ever ate in my 
life; and I have seen just as fine fn Louisi- 
ana. Now, the only question in my mind 
here is whether you can produce as large 
sugar crops, and still have these things to 
secure your independence against the time 
when possibly a freeze might come. These 
were the things that occurred to me. Of 
course you can tell belter than I can tell 
about that. But there is far more profit in 
such a valuable nutriment as cotton seed 
meal than there is in using it as fertilizer. 
However, I would much prefer it as ferti- 
lizer than to sell it to anybody. I think it 
is really worth, as a nutrient for ani^pals. 
in comparison with the other nu rients we 
feed a;bout forty dollao^ per ton for that 
purpaso. Of course, it is worth .is fertilizer 
what you could buy the same amount of fer- 
li'.izer for. I have uo doubt at all in my 
mind but what .as practical people as you 
are, you will some day feed every particle 
of your cotton seed meal. I have no doubt 
of it. I am horrified at the idea that it is 
used as a f?rf:':7er. 

Mr. Frank Nicholls: The cotton seed 
meal v/hich we use for fertilizing purposes 
is not as wasteful and extravagant a prac- 
tice as might appear, for the reason that a 
large amount of the meal that we use for 
fertilizer is known as "off meal." and that 
meal is not adapted for feeding purposes at 
all. It is rich in ammonia content, probably 
as rich as prime cotton seed meal, but it is 
the result of heated seed, or defective man- 
ufacture — it is not adapted as a feed pro- 
duct, and for which reason it is not as 
wasteful. This "off meal" costs three or 
four dollars less than cotton seed meal that 
is used for feeding, and it is not adapted 
to that purpose, and is only used as ferti- 
lizer. It is the cheapest form of nitrogen 
that can be had — much cheaper that tank- 
age — than these various forms of sulphate of 
ammonia and these other fertilizers. For 
that reason it is not wasteful and extravagant 
as it might appear on the surface to be. 

Mr. Crozief: In connection with the beet 
industry of the country, I would like to ask 
the president if he will not request Gover- 
nor Warmoth to tell us what he saw out In 
the beet farms of the West. 

Gx-Governor H. C. Warmoth: Gentlemen 
of the Association: There are some things 
that I do not think ought to be told in- pub- 
lic, and perhaps the large yields in Oxnard 
Valley being exceptional might not be as 
encouraging to our friends in our own midst 
as we would like them to be. I do not think 
that T have anything new to tell you about 
what I saw in California, because our valued 
paper, our weekly paper, contains the fullest 
accounts of everything that occurs in the 
beet industry in California. We read in the 
"Planter," from the Chino. Oxnard and Los 
Angeles correspondent every week, the ful- 
lest accounts of the progress of the beet in- 
dustry in that section of the country. I 
can only confirm the reports which we have 
read, a^d say to you, however, in addition. 



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that the industry is simply marvelous, as I 
discovered in tha^ country. They have, 
however, their difficulties as we have. For 
instance, while they do not suffer from frosts 
and from killed stubble, etc., they have their 
dreadful droughts. In the Los Alamltos sec- 
tion they made less than half a crop last 
year because I think they had only six or 
seven inches of rainfall during th i year. 
The Chino people had a short crop, and had 
it not been for tho wonderful production in 
the Shnta Barbara Valley, (at least it is the 
valley in which Santa Barbara is located— 
they had so many ""San" valleys I became 
confused — It is the valley running from 
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles). In that 
wonderful valley they produced some thirty 
to forty thousand tons of beets last year, 
with an average sucrose content of seven- 
teen per <sent These beets were taken to 
the Ohino factory. The Oxnard factory did 
not work last year, although it has a capa- 
city of one thousand tons of beets a day, 
and is the most wonderful mechanical con- 
trivance I have ever seen. It has the most 
beautiful building; the most magnificent 
machinery ,the most perfect arrangement 
for economical administration that I have 
ever seen in my life. I would suppose the 
building is 500 feet long; it is certainly 200 
feet wide. It is five stories high. They have 
one diffusion battery, each cell of which 
holds over five tons of beets. They are erect- 
ing another battery right alongside; they 
have three 14-fL vacuum pans in place; they 
are putting up another 16-ft. vacuum pan. 
They have four quadruple effects, with a 
capacity of one thousand tons a day; they 
have lime kilns five or six hundred feet high, 
(more or less), and the most complete ar- 
rangement that could possibly be conceived. 
The walks are as handsome as you ever 
saw in a gentleman's park. They are lined 
with the most beautiful plants and flowers, 
and you are lost in contemplation of the 
beauty and lose the idea that you are in a 
manufacturing district. The residences and 
outhouses, and everything, are perfection. It 
made me feel that what we have in Louisi- 
ana was not worth much. (Laughter.) 
They drove me over the place. In one place 
they have about three thousand acres of 
land, and there is another ranch adjoining, 
of two thousand acres — all in beets. I did 
not go any further than these two that I 
speak of, b;:t the whole valley was planted 
in beets. They estimate they will have two 
hundred thousand tons of beets for this fac- 
tory alone; they expect to work two thous- 
and tons of beets a day. They certainly will 
have the capacity to do it. The beets cost 
five dollars a ton^ I suppose it costs two 
dollars a ton to manufacture. Bear in mind 
they have an enormous e;Kpense for lime. 
There are materials in the manufacture of 
sugar from beets that we do not have. 
Their fuel is cheaper than ours— certainly as 
cheap — ^because of the wonderful oil fields 
discovered in the Los Angeles district. 

(Member: Does that $2.00 per ton, the cost 
of manufacture, include the wear and tear of 
machinery? 

Gov. Warmoth: I guessed at this; I 
really have no data, but would fancy rather 
that they could manufacture their beets into 
granulated sugar for $2.00 per ton working 
with such enormous capacity. You will 
know it costs a great deal more to manu- 
facture granulated sugar than our hand- 
some yellow sugar. Their lime itself is an 
enormous expense; the handling of lime- 
stone, and the carbonatlng process. The 
filter cloths are of enormous cost; they have 
considerable difficulty filtering: they filter 
the juices four or five times. They have ex- 
penses that we have not. Therefore I say 
I believe they can manufacture their beets 



for two dollars a ton. This is seven dollars 
per ton that their product costs them. Now 
they turn out granulated sugar as pretty 
as you ever saw — sugar you can put in cubes. 
They get from 260 to 300 pounds of sugar 
per ton. If they make three hundred pounds, 
and get fifteen dollars (it cost them seven 
dollars,) you can see the situation. They 
turn the sugar from the beet into granulat- 
ed sugar at one process. We can not do that 
with ours, so far. They cultivate their beets 
by machinery. When I was in Germany a 
number of years ago, I went out to their 
beet fields and saw hundreds of women take 
the beets, by hand^ bar off, drive the spade 
in the soil and turn the beets by hand. This 
is all done by a plow now, with a horse or 
two. In Califoraia. There, lands are culti- 
vated with the greatest ease; they have the 
most beautiful lands I have ever seen, they 
never run together. I saw no end to the 
beet industry in California. They can grow 
millions of tons of beets in that one valley 
alone, and I feel therefore not jealous of the 
Californian. nor of these people who are 
making sugaF, but welcome them as our al- 
lies and friends: for when they begin to 
grow beets In California, and in Michigan, 
and in Iowa and Illinois and in Indiana, and 
In Nebraska and Colorado, why we know that 
the industry with which we are connected 
will have friends enough to keep it from 
being destroyed by politicians and pirates. 
We feel that we will be able to hold our 
own in the sugar cane section of the coun- 
try. We produce, Mr. Secretary, a kind of 
sugar that the beet don't make. The beet 
is sweet; it Will supply very many of the 
demands that are made for sugar; but there 
are many tbat It will not supply. I don't 
know whether It was because the people out 
there in California got on to the fact that 
I was engaged in cane culture, but even the 
waiters at the table as they would hand me 
the sugar would remark, "This is not as sweet 
as cane sugar; you will have to take a little 
more of it." Such was the Impression 
throughout that country; that the beet su- 
gar is not as sweet as the cane sugar. The 
people want cane sugar, and they are going 
to have it more and more as they get the 
beet sugar. They are going to mix It with 
the beet sugar; and therefore we have no 
anxiety about the success of our agriculture 
and of our manufacture of sugar In this 
country, because of the wonderful progress 
that is. being made by the beet people. We 
have just begun, Mr. Secretary .the develop- 
ment of the cane Industry of this country. 
We have been making enormous strides in 
the last fifteen or twenty years in the ex- 
traction of the juice from the cane and the 
manufacture of sugar. It is only since Dr. 
Stubbs has come among us that we have 
been addressing ourselves to the develop- 
ment of the cane itself and the improvement 
of the plant. A little while ago we grew in 
this country a cane called the "Creole" 
cane — It didn't grow more than three to four 
and a half feet high. It lookod like a sort 
of cactus, with sharp points. It was an ex- 
tremely sweet and beautiful cane, and made 
beautiful sugar. Our people after a while 
found that they did not get sufficient yield 
and sent abroad, and through qualities of 
canes obtained from the West Indies and 
elsewhere, we have gone on Improving the 
character of our canes until now we have a 
very reasonable sort of cane, and with any- 
thing like a fair season we produce a very ' 
sweet cane and a very fine sugar. We aro 
going to address ourselves now to that 
branch of the Industry. Your department 
can be of immense service to us if it will 
cast Its eyes over the world and find 
where the sweetest and best canes can be 
had. 



Mr. Secretary :s We will do it. 

Gov. Warmoth: We know you will. We 
will help you to develop whatever canes 
you will be able to get from different por- 
tions of the country, and we believe in a 
short time we will be able, by proper culti- 
vation and selection to develop this cane 
industry, so we will have a cane that will 
produce from twelve to fourteen per cent 
sucrose, and when we shall have done that, 
we will get up to the average of the world 
in the production of sugar. 

As an individual, <Mr. President, I can not 
sit down without expressing my great grati- 
fication at the visit that the Honorable 
■Secretary has made to us. It makes us 
feel as though we were a part of the Gov- 
ernment, and that the Government feels 
an interest in us and our people when the 
head men of the Government pay a visit to 
our section. We hope that the secretary will 
have a very pleasant visit with us, and that 
he will come again, and that we will have 
the pleasure of seeing him oftener, and es- 
pecially when we are in the midst of sugar 
making in order to show him our processes 
and our results and cause him to feel at 
home in this country as does every man who 
comes among us. (Applause.) 

Chair: This brings the discussion of the 
evening to a close. Before adjournment the 
Chair desires to announce that the Sugar 
Exchange and the Cane Growers' Associa- 
tion, in co-operation with the Sugar Plant- 
ers' Association, have tendered Mr. Secre- 
tary Wilson a ride through the sugar dis- 
trict of the State which will take place on 
a special train leaving the Illinois Central 
depot to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, and 
the Chair extends to the members of the 
association who desire to take part in the 
excursion the privilege of doing so, and will 
be, glad to have all the members receiving 
the notification to take part in this excur- 
sion, and who feel disposed to go, to please 
leave their names so that we may find out 
what the number will be. Gentlemen, you 
will please come up to tlie table after ad- 
journment and state which of you can take 
part in that excursion. The trip will occupy 
the better part of the day, returning to the 
city early In the afternoon— probably 3 or 
4 o'clock. 

The^e being no further dlscusslon> the 
meeting adjourned. 



Trade Notes. 



The Anniston Lime «nd Stone Co. 

We publish elsewhere in this issue a special 
notice advising the sugar planters in general, 
and those of this state in particular, that 
the management of the business of the 
above named concern In Louisiana has been 
assumed by Mr. G. S. Plerson, who Is located 
at No. 105 Board of Trade building. New 
Orleans. Mr. Plerson Is widely known In this 
community as the former purchasing agent 
of the American Sugar Refining Co., a posi- 
tion In which he necessarily acquired per- 
fect familiarity with all sorts and kinds of 
lime, and that he should now undertake to 
handle here the product of . the Anniston 
Lime & Stone Co. certainly Indicates that he 
must have had a very high opinion of that 
lime. The sugar planters have in the past 
bought immense quantities of it, and doubt- 
less the shipments to them will steadily in- 
crease under the supervision of Mr. Plerson, 
who is a courteous, well-informed, and thor- 
oughly wide awake business man. 



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^18 



ftta tOtrtSIANA tLANtfift AM) StJAAA MAlWf AOWttBfL 



tVol. 3t3tII, Ko. 20. 



May 19. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle* 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

FuUyPair 

Gk>oa Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Oranul'ed 
Off Qranulated... 

Choice White 

Ofl White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow — 
Prime Yellow — 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

QkK>d Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Cood Common... 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugar. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Qk>od Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Sood Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



May 13. 







- a - 

- e - 

4H@4k 
4K@4H 
3 @^H 



s 

e 

Id 
1 



a - 
d 16 
d 15 

@ 13 
a 9 

« 2 

@ 7 

® 5 

@ 6 



May 15. 




CO 

•3 



Id 






@ 16 

@ 15 

@ 13 

@ U 

3 9 



-@ 
-@ 
-@ 
— e 



May 16. 



May 17. 



— 9 - 
3 ®^H 



s 



§ 

iz; 



3 



-@ 



16 

15 

13 

11 

9 

8 

7 

6 

6 



-« - 

z® z 

iitisi 

8 (84% 



1 

£ 



§ 

z 



- <i - 

-0 16 
-® 16 

— ® 13 
-0 11 
-@ 9 

— @ 8 
-® 7 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 

-Q - 



May 18. 



-@ - 

-« - 

-@ - 

_@ _ 

4>i^(g4tl 
3 



Id 






-^ « — 

-® 16 
-@ 15 
-« 13 
-«11 



-0 
-@ 
-@ 
-@ 
-@ 
-@ 



May 19. 



Same Day 
Last Y«ar. 



-<J- 



4>^@4IJ 
3 <S4>i 



s 

Xi 

.9 

o 

is 



-« 16 

— @ 15 

— @ 13 
-@ 11 
-0 9 

— @ 8 
-@ 7 

— (g 6 

— @ 6 



-@ - 



Tone of Market at 
Cloaing of Week. 



- @ - 
-« - 

-0 - 

AH® — 



-9 

S 



d 

o 

15 



12 ® 13 

12 i 13 

— @ 10 

— @ 9 

— (8 8 

-a 7 

— @ 6 

— @ 5 

— <S 5 



Firm. 



DuU. 



Quiet. 



OTHBB MARKETS. 



Niw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89» 
Centrifugals, 96''.. 


-a - 


_@ - 


— a — 


— a — 


— a — 


— a — 


-a - 




— a — 


- a — 


— a — 


— a — 


— a — 


— a — 


-a - 


Raw-St'dy; prices 


Granulated 


- @5.08 


- a5.08 


— as.os 


- as. 08 


— a5.08 


- a5 08 


6.08a - 


fully maintained. 


Standard A 


- @4.96 


— a4.96 


- a4.9« 


-a*.9fl 


- a4.96 


- a4.98 


4.96a - 


Refined — Pair de- 


Dutch Granulated 


- @5.25 


- a5.25 


. - a5.26 


- a«{25 


- a5 25 


— as 25 


- a - 


mand. 


German GranuPtd. 


- @5.15 


- a5 15 


- a5 20 


- as 17 


- a5 17 


- as 20 






MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 


- a - 


— a — 


— a — 


- a - 


-a - 


- a - 


— a ~ 




N. O.Fair 


-a - 


- a - 


- a - 


- a - 


-a - 


-a - 


"a - 

12s. 3X 




Jaya, No. 15 D. S. 


13s. Od. 


13s. Od. 


138 Od. 


13s. Od 


13s. Od, 


138. Od. 


Cane— Quiet. 


A.& G.Beet 


10s. ll>2^d. 


lts.Od. 


lis. 3d. 


lls.2>^d. 


lis. l>^d. 


lis. 3d. 


98. 6^d. 


yanoe. 



NBW ORLBANS BBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Oranula'd. 
Roeetta Extra C 

Candy ▲ 

Cryatal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



- @5?i 

- @6H 
-@5h 

- @ - 

-@ - 
-@ - 
-@ - 



@6H 
®6H 

@ - 
®&H 
® - 



- ®f>% 
-@5% 
-@5h 

- @ - 

- @ - 
-@ - 
-®- 



- ®h% 
-@ - 

-®r>K 

-®- 
-® - 

— ® — 



-®6% 

- ®6h 
-@- 

— @5K 
-@ - 
-@ - 
-@ - 



-@5^ 

-@5A 

- @ - 
-@6X 
-@ - 

- @ - 
-®- 



®^% 
@5?i 
@6 44 
@ — 
@5 32 
® - 
® - 
® - 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to May 10 

▲t four ports of Great Britain to May 6 

A.t Havana and Mataniaa toMay. 9 



Tons 



220,321 
50,600 
83.500 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
May 19, 1899. 

' Sugar . Molas*0t 

Hhda. Barrels. Barrels. 

Received 46 7,741 1,184 

Sold 46 7,597 1,184 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September 1, 1898, 
to nay 19, 1899. 

^:r~, — s^S^C: — :~^ 

Hhds. Barrels. 

Raoetved 10,233 1,233,224 

Sold 10,233 1,226,037 

Raaaimd ■amaMBM last year 23,114 1,437,132 



ee 



Malassc 
Bttnwt 
231,810 
281,810 
189,481 



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May ^6, m9.J 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER; 



819 



May 19. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT, 



RICE. 

RouoH, per bbl . . . 
Clean, Ex. Fancy 

Fancy . . . 

Choice. . 

Prime... 

Good ... 

Pair .... 

Ordinary 

Common 

Screenings 

Inferior . 

No.2.... 
I KAN, per ton . . . 
Polish, per totf . . 



May 13. 



Nomimal 
6 @6>^ 

3 @S^ 
2 (s2^ 

m@2 

Nominal 



May 15. 



Nominal 



1%@2 

12 00 
Nominal 



May 16. 



Nominal 



Nominal 



May 17. 



Nominal 



ih@2 

12 00 
Nominal 



May 18. 



Nominal 



Nominal 



May 19. 



Nominal 



l%@lJi 

12 00 

Nominal 



Same Day Last 
Year. 



3 00@5 35 

- @ - 

63^(56 

5>i@5% 

53^@5>^ 

- @ - 

- (^ - 
2@2J^ 

12 50@13 00 
16 00@ — 



Tone oC Markec at 
Close of Week. 



Dull. 



Dull. 



R«5fseiTed 
Pold ... 



Receipts and 5alas at New Orleaiia lor the week ending 
flay 19. 1800 • 

SACsfi Rough. Bbla. CLBjuf. 



524 



1,378 
136 



Receipts •( New Oiieena frem Aug. 1, 1898, to ilay 19, 1899, 
compared with last year, snuM tlsM. 

8ACIC8 ROUOH. BRT.fl. 0LIA!< 

This year 681,150 8.108 

L«wt year 466,215 8,070 



Sugar. 

The sugar market was quiet and steady 
at the end of the week, with rather moder- 
ate receipts from the country. 



' Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands. 
Centrifugals quiet. 

Rice. 

The rough rice market was very dull at 
the end of the week, with scarcely any 
actual trading. Clean rice was also quiet 
with but few transactions. 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The expected happened this time in that 
the business promised the previous week 
materialized during the one Just closed. All 
styles and grades in Foreign shared in the 
movement, the leader being Java, only slight- 
ly in advance, however, of both Japan and 
Patna sorts. As a matter of fact, the ex- 
hibit of rice could not be finer, including 
grades which have rarely been seen in this 
market before. The enlargement of variety 
is due to demand on the part of the trade for 
the best of every kind and by reason of the 
presence of these extra fancies consriderable 
trade has been and continues to be drawn 
from the Pacific Coast which ordinarily sup- 
plies its wants from the far East direct. 
There is also renewed enquiry for ordinary 
to fair domestic and the request for samples 
of these grades would seem to Indicate an 
enlarging interest. In comparison with 
foreign of similar character, they are by all 
odds the cheaper purchase and give promise 
of long margins. Advices from the South 
note rather quiet conditions, but marked 
strength as stocks are at low ebb and statis- 
tically there are substantial reasons for an 
early advance. Cables and correspondence 
from abroad are of similar character to those 
heretofore received,demand seasonable.prices 
firm and outlook so favorable toward higher 
prices as that millers and dealers refuse to 
undertake orders for future delivery. Tal- 
mage, New Orleans, telegraphs: Louisiana 
crop movement to-date: Receipts, rough, 
700,346 sacks; last year, Inclusive of amount 
carried over, 536,250 sacks. Sales, cleaned 



THE CUBAN SUGAR CROP OF 1898-99. 

Statement of the Exports and Stocks of Sugar April 30, 18D9, and same date last year. 







1898. 


1899. 




Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 


Bags. 


Hogsheads 


Tons. 




f Havana 


66,973 
289,914 
337,236 
381,678 
92,652 
45.032 
1,500 

37,767 




173,372 
* 84,019 


64,?47 
192,485 
208,611 
264,124 
30,289 
32,805 
27,711 

16,146 

7,031 

28,270 

10,073 








Matanzas- 










Cardenas 




CO 


Cl^nfueffoa ' 




H 


Sfgia 




K 


Caibarien 




Q. 

Si 


Guantanamo t - - - , , 




Cuba 




Manzanillo 




Nuevltas 






Gibara 






Zaza 






Trinidad 














1,252,752 




866,886 




119,971 




r Havana 


91,236 
204,739 
162,538 
82,233 
33,842 
17,820 
13,781 

1*,684 




101,607 

163,604 

UO,a48 

87,660 

59,499 

59,877 

41,910 

2,472 

15,810 

6,230 

5,215 

13,048 


•••■ 






Matanzas . . t - 






Cardenas 




• 


CienfueflTOS 




CO 


Sasua 




^ 


Caibarien 




Q) 


Guantanamo 







Cuba 




H 


Manzanillo 




CO 


Nuevltas 






Gibara 






Zaza 






Trinidad 










1 


607,323 




736J08O 




10 1, f 63 



257,421 
Local consumption, 4 months 15,600 

273,021 
1,516 



221339 
14,500 



Stock of old crop, January 1 . 



4,336 



Receipts at all ports to April 30 271,506 

Note— Bags, 310 lbs. Hogsheads, 1,550 lbs. Tons, 2,240 lbs. 
Havana, April 30, 1809. 



232,003 
JO.\QUIN GUM .A. 



(est), 173,200 barrels; last year, 119,500 bar- 
rels. Demand only fair but under light of- 
ferings; prices firm. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to-date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,425 barrels. Sales 33,485 barrels. Steady 
enquiry at former range of values. 



Personal. 



Mr. H. C. Barnett, of St. Mary parish, was 
a guest of the St. Charles Hotel during the 
past week. 

Mr. Henry Hauseman, of Patterson, La., 
was in the city on a visit a few days ago. He 
put up at the Grunewald Hotel. 

Mr. Joseph Birg, whose Katy plantation is 
one of the best places for its size in the 
State, was a guest of the St. Charles Hotel 
on Tuesday last. 

Dr. R. W. Boland, of iBirmingham, Ala., 
president of the Birmingham 'Machine & 
Foundry Company,, of that city, was a visitor 
to New Orleans last Monday. Dr. Boland put 
up at the Hotel Grunewald. 



Mr. S. Abraham, of Raceland, La., was in 
the city on a visit a few days ago. 

Mr. C. D. Gondran was in the city recently, 
and put UQ at one of our leading hotels. 

Mr. James H. Hall, the widely known 
agricultural implement maker of Maysville 
Ky., was a recent .visitor to New Orleans. 

Mr. John B .Foley, a leading sugar planter 
of Assumption parish, accompanied by Mrs. 
Foley, was in the city on a visit a few days 
ago. They stopped at the Commercial Hotel, 
and spent a short while in New Orleans ming- 
ling with their friends and otherwise enjoy- 
ing themselves. 

Hon. Andrew Price and Mrs. Price, of the 
well known Arcadia plantation .were in the 
city on Tuesday and registered at the St. 
Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Price came to the 
city especially to see the horse show out at 
the Fair Grounds, for Mr. Price is an en- 
thusiastic lover of fine horse flesh and knows 
a great deal about stock raising, having a 
magnificent stock farm of his own in Ten- 



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THS L0U18IAKA t>LAKTER AND SU«Alt MAKUFAOTOltSlt 



[Vol. XXII, No. 20. 



WANTS. 



Wo will puMlsh In this colunn, frae of charfo antil 
fvrtiior notice, tho appilcatloiu of all nuuiagort, over- 
joers, engl n eor i and sacar-nakcra, and oCiiers who 
tmmy bo l eo l diiy poolttona In the coaatry, and also the 
want* of piantera deolrinc to onipioy any of thoao. 

WANTED— Position as governesi or teaoher; sum- 
mer or session. Best references furnished. Address 
Miss Mary Stltta, 1446 Camp street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
machinist and engineer for repairs and all-around work 
in beet sugar factory. Position permanent if satisfac- 
tory. Address, with references and salary ezpocted, 
C. A. Zimmerman, Box 06, Eddy, New Mexico. 

WANTED— By a arst-olass vacuum pan sugar boiler 
and dariaer with 18 years experience, expert In hand- 
ling green oane, a crop for the coming season In Louis- 
iana, Texas or Mexico. Best of references f uralshed. 
Makes no use of intoxicating liquors. Addref^s Wes- 
ley, 218 Canal street, New Orleans. S- 17-90 

WANTED— Situation by a young man 22 years of aee, 
with gilt-edged references, as clerk In country or city 
store. Fiye years experience, ran speak French and 
English. Address Aouinaldo, Soulouque, La. 
5-17-00 

WANTED— Position foi; the 1809 crop as book-keeper 
or assis t ant. Can give best of references. Twenty- 
two years old and a graduste of a good business col- 
lege; address A. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 5-9-90 

WANTED— A flrst-class and competent assistant 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season. Best 
references fumishod; address Proof Stick, Box 62, 
DonaldsonTille, La. 5-6-00 

WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
as OTerseer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantation work. Eighteen years experience and can 
tumish best of references; address A. C, care this 
office. 

WANTED— Position by a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best of -eference; address Arthur, 
care P. M., Llitle Cypress, Ky. 6-l(K99 

WANTED— Situation by an experienced machinist 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly sober and at- 
tentire to business. Would like to secure work the 
year round if possible at reduced salary, or take re- 
pairs tad crop on Tery reasonable terms. Good refer- 
enoea furnished; address P. H. E. Fngineer, 724 Fern 
street. New Orleans. 6-10-00 

WANTED— A mMdle-aged German man for yard and 
to make himaslf generally useful. Address Mrs. J. L. 
Darkaoh, Justine Plantation, Centenrille, La. 5-11-00 

WANTED— Position on a sugar plantation as black- 
smith, wheelwright and horse-shoer; address Sidney 
G. ROUSSBLL, Edgard, La. 5-1-00 

WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the senrices 
of a competent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
references, will please address Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street. New Orleans, La. 5-11-00 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper, overseer, clerk 
or general office or store work. Can give the best of 
city and outside references; address A. H. Nobninger, 
care of Roopi 206, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans. 4-28-00 

WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, college graau- 
ate. Have done some work in sugar analysis. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 88, State 
College, Pa. 4-28-00 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
dations, desires to secure a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., care General DellT- 
ery. New Orieans. 5-3-00 

WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 

Sir maker, bra man of large experience, either in plan- 
tion sugar house or sugar refinery. Can furnish good 
references. Would prove a valuable and all-around 
faithful man in any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-28-00 

WANTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentrv, painting, milk cows and make nimself 
useful about a place. Flrst-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1426 St. Ann street, New Orleans. 

4-21-00 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three* 
years experience a* head ohemlst in Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; address L. G. Leler, care M. E. Sepp, 2588 
8th Avenue, New York. ^14-00 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldson ville. La. 4-18-00 



WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Boys-Bances, Apartado 
715. Havana, Cuba. 4-17-00 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blachsmith, 
one who thoroughly vnderstands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt A Ziegler, Nos. 429 to 436 South Peters st. 

4-13-00 

WANTED— Position as book-kf>eper or assistant 
time keeper. *'Geo.", care this office. 4-6-00 

WANTED— An aU around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartia, Texas. 4-10-00 

WANTED— Position by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give flrst-class references, totahe charge 
of a plantstlon store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S. , care this office. 

4-10-00 

WANTEI>— Position as plantation oook by experi- 
enced widow. Csn refer to Mr. GlUls of Poydras 
plantation, and others: address Mrs. S. Terrelle, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-00 

WANTED— A pos»ltlon by a first-cl^ss, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced In sugar mill and lxK)motive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4—11—00 

WANTED— For the coming season, a position as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Fbux Oubrb, 
Edgard, La. 4_i2-_g^ 

WANTED— By a flrst-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season in Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
addrejs J. H. F., 727 Lowerline street, New Orleans. 
4-5-00 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, Integrity, etc. Address J. 
P., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of running the factory, or 
as sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 
_____^ 4-6-00 

WANTED— By competent man with first-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a bugar plan- 
tation; address S. 20 this paper. 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Phiup Braun, Gibson, 
La. 3-27-00 

WANTED— Position by a man 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Berthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-00 

WANTED ^Position by a first-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed In refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crystallizers. Best of references! 
address H., care this office. 3-27-00 

WANTED— Position by a grst-dass sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' experience in some of 
the best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, Thlbodaux, La. 3-25-00 

WANTED— Situation bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 



WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or mansger of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, eare 
this office. 8-20-00 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 

J ears as assistant engineer In large sugar refinery: ad- 
ress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 3-23-00 

W A NTK>— Situation as a cooper for molass^ or 
sugar barrels, in the country; good references; ad- 



dress Alphonse Buck, 2714 Second street, city. 

^1 



16-00 



WANTED— By a temperate and relitfele vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas sr Mexico; address Sugar Maksr, Lock Box 
433, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-00 

WANTED— Position ss grneral helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. S., Fletel, La. 3-16-00 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of referenoea; 
address A., care this office. 3-15-00 

WANTED— In first-class sugar house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience; satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6041 La ulel street. New Orleans. 3-8-flO 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on planUtion or 
teacher in a private family, by a young man of good. 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. 3-13-90 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Chief Engi- 
neer, Lutcher, La. 3-7-00 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenographer, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sugsr refinhry. Can furnish 
best of reference. Address J. F. B., P. O. Box 162, 
New Orieans, La. 8-8-80 

WANTED— Position by a handv man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 Villere street, New Orleans. 

8-9-00 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1800 
by a first-cla*8 vacuum pan sugsr boiler. Strictly tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ences from past employers as to character and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4231 N. Peters street. New Or- 
leans. 3-1-00 

WANTED— Position by engineer to do repairing ar.d 
to take off crop of 1800. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work. Address J. A. L., 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-28-90 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 

Mr. G. S. Pierson, formerly the purchasing agent of 
the American Sugar Refining Co., has assumed the 
mansgement of the Anniston fJLwe a Stone Co. in New 
Orleans «nd Louisiana. All mall ordfrs or inciulried 
addressed to the Anniston Lime A Stone Co., No. IDS 
Board of Trade Building, New Orleans, La., will re- 
ceive prompt attention. Shipment in car load and lef s 
than car load lots can be made at a moment's notice. 
Long Distance Telephone No. 2261-12. 



The Lima Locomotive and Machine Company, ^'h*?^. 



Geo. H. Marsh, Pres't. 
T. T. Mitchell, V. Pres't. 
W. C. Mitchell, Genl M'g'r. 
D. E. Harlan, Sec^and Treas. 
I. P. Carneb, Superintendent. 



The Shay 
Locomotive 




Is especially deatgned for use on heavy grades and sharp curves. We 
Prdght Cars, Logging Cars, Car Wheels and Steel and Iron Caatlnga. Cei 



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a TKDleeWs "Wewspapec, 

DEVOTED TO THE StJGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA? 



Vol. XXIL 



NBW OBLBANS, MAY 27. 1809. 



No. 11. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

lowMiona Sugar FhnHn* AMaoeiaikn, 
MuMBion Branch Sugar Pkuit§r9' AuockOfon, 
LouiMum Sugar Ch$mi9t9' Auoehdion, 
KanuL9 Sugar Growu%' AMPciation, 
Twaa Sugar P/anHr$' A$$oetaHan, 

PnbiisheaatNawOrlaafii, Ltt.,tvti78atnrdaylforBinc 



LOUISIANA PLAMTBR AND 8UQAR 
liANUPACTURBR CO. 

DtTOttd to Looisiana Affriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industiy in particular, and in all its 
bran<^es. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and ConunerdaL 

EDITORIAL 00BP8. 
W. C. STUBB8, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. "W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Btttered at the Postoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Snbscrlptlon (Inclndlng postage) $8 00 

Foreign Subscription 4 00 

ADVERTISING RATES. 



Space 



llnoh 

lln^..... 

Sinch 

4 Inch..... 
Slnch 

• Inch 

Tinch 

Slnch 

• Inch 

10 inch 

HaM Page. 
Full P»ge. 



1 months month month 12 month 



• 600 
060 
14 60 
19 00 
28 60 
28 00 
82 60 
80 00 
88 00 
40 00 
•0 00 

100 00 



• 12 60 
24 00 

80 20 
47 60 
68 76 
70 00 

81 16 
80 00 
06 00 

100 00 
160 00 
250 00 



• 18 76 
80 00 
64 40 
7126 
88 16 
106 00 
121 76 
186 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
400 €0 



• 26 00 

48 00 

72 60 

86 00 

117 60 

14000 

182 60 

18000 

10000 

2D000 

80000 

60OOO 



All oommonicatlons shonld be addressed to Tbi 
Loui8UKAPuufTBB,S8SCarondetot street, New Orleaniv 
La. 



LIST OP 

McCaO Bratbera, 
McCaU * Legendre, 



STOCKHOLOBRS. 
R. Bdtraa.. 



JaoMS Teller, 

B. Laniaaii A Bra., 



W. B. BrickeU, 
W. C. StMkba. 
John Dyaoiid. 
I>aiilsl Thonpsc. 
Poaa ABaraett. 
H. C. Warneth, 
Ladua Perayth, Jr., 
Bdward J. day. 
Sfeatlack * HoMmmi, 
taHeRost, 
Thbaias D. Miller. 
Scbaridf * Zlegler, 
T. O. ncLaury. 
L. 5. Clark, 
J. B. Levert. 
Slinpseii llerBor, 

w.ETikMiitfMd. 

W^ W. SotcUlfs. 
Jeto 8. floors. 
J—ss C. Murphy. 
jM^Wehrs. 



D. R. CiMer. 

L. A. BUU. 

Hero * Malhtot, 

W.J. Behaa. 

J. T. Moore. Jr.. 

Edwards A HaiiMBan, 

John A. JMorrU. 

B.H. 

R. Vlterbo. 

H. C. ninor. 

C. M. Sorhit 

J. L. Harris, 

J. H. Mnrphy» 

Andrsw Price, 

B.AJ. Kock. 

Wn. Oarig, 

Adolph IMeyer, 

A.A. Weods. 

Bradtah Johnaos, 

Qeorge P. Anderton. 



a.l; 

RIclMnlJ 

wrpTin 

Leslo A. Becasl, 
J. N. Pharr, 
Jalea J. Jacoh. 



;.Mtaa4eatat, 
BTRTOMir. 



BZBCUTIVE CQAnnTTlB. 

HeMT noCaU, 

^. B. 



flay Weather in 5t. James. 

Mr. E. Cherbonnier, of Helvetia plan- 
tion, St. James parish, who is quite a 
meteorological student, has given the 
Planter some data concerning the 
weather during the first half of May, 
which accounts for the rapid progress 
that the cane crop has been making 
thus far this month. The low tempera- 
ture that prevailed during April inter- 
fered more seriously than most persons 
think with ithe development of the cane 
crop, the vitality of which was already 
seriously depressed by the direct and in- 
direct influences of the great freeze of 
February. Had we had hot weather 
earlier in the season the marked im- 
provement ithat we now have would 
have been more conspicuous, but of 
course we mu* take it as it comes. 

During the first sixteen days of May 
the maximum .temperature exceeded 
90 degrees F. Every day after May 3, 
to 16th inclusive, recording a maximum 
above 90 degrees F., with one day, the 
13th, at 98 degrees F., ithe 14th at 96 
F., four days at ,95 F., four days at 94 
F., three ait 92 F., and one at 91 degrees 
F. The average maximum for these 
sixteen days was about 93.5 de^:ree8 F. 

The other side of this somewhat fav- 
orable picture, however, is scarcely so 
pleasant. We find that the average 
minimum temperaiture for these sixteen 
days was but 65 3/4 degrees F. 71 
degrees F., minimum, was recorded on 
the 12th and 70 degrees F. on the 15th, 
with 'the first, second and third at 61 
degrees, 62 degrees and 62 degrees F., 
respectively. As the nights have since 
grown warmer, the minimum averaging 
higher, the latter half of May will make 
a better show than the first half. 

The prevailing winds were from the 
South, with considerable fog, some few 
clouds, but no rain. 

As sugar cane effects very little 
growth below 60 degrees F., we have 



thus shown to us in these figures the 
cause of the backwardness of the crop 
up ito the preseniC time. The present 
warmer weather, we may hope, will re- 
deem the situation, but the redemption 
comes at such late dates as to have al- 
lowed quite a fraction of the cane crop 
•to perish before the vegetaltSon processes 
were stimulated into action. 



The Latent Life in Sugar Cane. 

The warmer weather of the last two 
or three weeks has occasioned some 
queer phenomena in the matter of the 
growth of sugar cane. One of these 
was mentioned by our Iberville corre- 
spondent in the issue of the Planter of 
May 20, in ithe reference to a cane sent 
by Mr. Edwin Marionneaux, of Belfont 
plantation, to the Iberville South. This 
was a stalk of sugar cane planted in 
1898 which had two eyes that sprouted 
only this year. Two eyee of this stalk 
grew last year, producing two fine stalks 
of cane, and the (two eyes that sprouted 
this year would have doubtless produced 
good canes also but for Mr. Marion- 
neaux's sending the plant into the of- 
fice of the Iberville South as a curiosity. 

There are traditions of this kind all 
over Louisiana, that ds that sugar cane 
will lie dormanit, some eyes retaining 
their vitality imtil the second year and 
sprouting at that time. The case imder 
consideration would seem to be indis' 
putable. 

In another column in this issue will 
be found a letter from East Baton 
Rouge, written by a well known gentle- 
man who is a positive authority on the 
subject matters of which he treats, and 
the careful statement made by him as 
to the longevity of certain canes planted 
for the crop of 1898 and lying dormanit 
until the season of 1899 we put on re- 
cord as specific and conclusive datum 
concerning this moot question. The in- 
stances cited hitherto have been ordi- 



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tia touisiAKA ttAirrsti Ain> svqaa MANtTVAOTinuuL 



tVol. XXit 1*0. iL 



narily referred to as curioedties of veg- 
etation, whereas now we find through 
the observation and investigation of a 
professional scientist that this latent life 
in sugar cane is a fact. Possibly it 
might account to, some extent for the 
very rapid development of the cane crop 
during ithe last few weeks. 



Another Trust. 



A report to the Associated Press from 
Chicago is to the effect that 80 per 
cent, of the plow business of this coun- 
try has given options to Ex-Judge Wm. 
A. Vincent of Chicago for 'the formation 
of a plow trust. It is stated that the 
U. S. Mortgage and Trust Co.. of New 
York, is furnishing the money and 'that 
Messrs. Alexander and Green of the 
same city are representing ithe eastern 
end of ithe enterprise. Deere & Co., 
of Moline, 111., and the Rock Island 
Plow Co., have given options. It is re- 
ported that the Bi^ley Mfg. Co., Parlin 
& Orlendorf Plow Co., Satley Mfg. Co., 
Pekin Plow Co,, and quite a number 
of others, including the Avery Plow 
Co., of Louisville, Ky., have given these 
options, and the new company is to be 
•ailed ithe American Plow Co., and to 
be organized under ^the laws of New 
Jersey. It is explained by Mr. Charles 
H. Deere, the veteran plow manufac- 
turer, that it is not the in»tention of the 
combination to increase prices, buit, on 
the contrary, it is the intention of the 
company to materially reduce prices to 
the consumer, and that this can be done 
because of the great saving in the coat 
of distribution and freight rates. Nous 
verrons. 



The Cane Crop. 

The lack of sufficient rainfall is now 
the untoward feature of the crop sit- 
uation. While in a number of local- 
ities showers have fallen, doing great 
good in the spdt's ithey favored, the ma- 
jority of the plantations are badly in 
need of moisture, although the cane is 
still holding up exceedingly well. The 
stubble still continues to be heard from, 
sprouts appearing every day from it, 
although it is now almost ithe firslfc of 
June. Whether or not these belated 
suckers will make cane of any satisfac- 



tory length for the mill will depend 
entirely on the favorable or unfavor- 
able nature of the season, but they can- 
not fail ko be of more or lees value as 
seed cane, and it is encouraging to find 
so much latent life in the ratoons after 
their severe and unusual experience of 
last winter. 



Centralblatt fur die Zukerindustrie. 

This well known German beet sugar 
journal has dropped the last two words 
of its former name, der Veldt, and will 
now appear regularly under the above 
title. Since April first it is owned by 
a society of sugar manufacturers, Ver- 
lazsanstalt fur Zukeriiidustrie at Madge- 
burg, and will unquestionably maintain 
its high place in our current sugar lit- 
erature. 



Industrial Chemistry. 

The McMiUan Company, of New York, 
have recently published OuUlnes of Industrial 
Chemistry, a text book for students *>y Prank 
HaW Thorp, Ph. D., instructor in industrial 
chemistry in the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology. Dr. Thorp has dedicated this 
excellent work to the memory of Lewis MUls 
(Norton, professor of industrial chemistry 
during nine years in the Massachusetts In- 
stitute of Technology. 

Since the publication of Wagner's Chemi- 
cal Technoflogy many years ago we believe 
that there has been no publicaClon devoted 
to industrial chemistry that surpaaaes this 
work of Dr. Thorp's In its accuracy and the 
exhaustive method in which it treats the 
various branches of industrial chemistry 
that are now in such hii|i repute throughout 
the industrial world and so essential to all 
progress along Industrial lines. The book is 
divided into fwo parts, part one treating 
Inorganic Industries and part two Organic 
Industries. 

Under the head otf Inorganic Indwetry are 
considered distillation, subUmation, filtration, 
crystalUzatlon, caflclmatlon, refrigeration; 
the composition, char§u;teristiaB, uses and in- 
cidental processes with fuels, water sulphur, 
sulphuric acid, salt, hydrochloric acid; the 
soda Industry; the chlorine industry; nitric 
add, ammonia; the potash Industry; fertil- 
izers; lime, cement and plaster; glass; 
ceramic industries; pigments; bromine and 
Iodine; phosphorous; borisacld; ansenlc com- 
pounds, water glass peroxides, oxygen, sul- 
phates, manganates, cyanides, etc. 

Under the head of Organic Industries are 
considered the destructive distillation of 
wood and bones; the manuflacrture of gas, 
coal tar mlheratl oils, vegetable and animal 
oils, waxes, soap, candles, glycerine, essen- 



tial oils, and gnuns. Considerable space Is 
given to a group of organic products closely 
related and including the sugar Industry, 
viz., starch, dextrine and glucose. Cane su- 
gtLT with the discussion of the processes of 
Its manufacture from sugar cane and beets 
and the modern method of sugar refining. 
This part of the work Is included in some 
30 octavo pages and Is of Interest to every 
one connected with the sugar Industry, str- 
ing the latest authoritative expression of 
chemical Investigations. , 

The fermentation industries are very ela- 
borately considered, covering the discussion 
of a process of fermentation and Its applica- 
tion to wine and In brewing, as weU as to 
the distil lizatlon of alcohol and the m«aniifac- 
ture of aH kinds of liquors. 

Explosives have some fifteen pages devoted 
to them. 

The textUe industries, In teaching which 
the (Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
excels, have some elxty pages devoted to 
them, covering the vubject heads otf fibres, 
bleaching, moardants, coloring matters, dye- 
ing and textile prlntiner. 

The paper, leather and glue industries are 
also considered. The .book contains some*540 
pages and can be procured from the HcMH- 
lan Co., New York. The price is |8.50. 

Correction. 

In our issue of May 13, was a commiml- 
catlon on Florida as a sugar producer, writ- 
ten by Mr. W. W. Davis, of Midland, Pla., 
and by a typographical error Mr. Davis' 
name was signed Mr. W. W. Danis. 

Trade Notes. 

New Regrlnding Swinc Check Valve. 

Herewith Is idlustrated a swing check 
valve that the manufacturere consider has 
some desirable points that merit its favor- 
able consideration, they being In the line of 
Improvement! It is simple, el&cient and 
warranted to be tight. The re-griiulln« is 
quickly accomplished at any time by un- 
screwing the cap B from the shell A, in- 
serting screw-driver into the slot B and 




rotating the disk back and forth wHh a lit- 
sand and water until a proper bearing is ob- 
tained. The disk rotates freely in the nee* 
of rock lever F, and as the movements of 
the disk within the lever are aill free, the 
seating of the same should always be true 
and perfectly tlgb;. The valve works well 
either In a horizontal or vertical position. 

Superin'tendents, engineers and others in- 
terested are invited to send for an illustrated 
catalogue containing a full description of the 
above and other brass goods, which will .be 
sent postpaid to. any address by the maim- 
facturers.—The Wm. PoweH Co., 2625 firing 
Grove Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio. 



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THS LOUISIANA PLANTSIt AND SUGAR MANUVAOTUSUL 



Sit 



LOOAL LBTTBBS. 



Ascension. 

(tPiaAL OORRUPONDtNCI.; 

EdUor LouiHatia Planter: 

The dn>uth bas 'been broken to some ex- 
tent in tbis iMiridb, local ebowera of yarydng 
iFolome bavins occurred now and tbea dur- 
ing 'tbe iMfaBt ^ten days, but In moBt localitiee 
tbe preoifiitation baa been entirely inad^ 
quate to tbe general need, wblle even tbe 
moBt favored ms^oba ^ve none of tbem been 
vJsifted by a superabundance of moiAture. 
TkMMaadsonviUe and its immediate vicinity is 
one of tbe lesust lucky localitiea, tbe precipi- 
tation bore baving been scarcely 6ufa<^nt to 
lay tbe dust effectually, tbougb tbere bave 
been tbree sbowera since tbe 14tb Inst A 
fine downpour blessed tbe lower portion of 
tbe parisb on Monday, filling; tbe dltcbes on 
Rivereide and ad:}oining plantatioM wltb 
water, an-d tbe consequent measure of benefit 
to tbe growing cros>s will be very great 

/Tbere bas been no matenial cbamge in tbe 
agripCuKural situaftloii or prospects recently. 
Some ipkuitations bave a very fair outlook, 
and in rare instances an ezpeotatJon at com- 
ing near last year's tonnage is entertained; 
some otber places will do little more tban 
produce seed for tbe big planting of 1900 
wbicb Is generally anticipated, wbile still 
otbem-nand tbis class constitutes a consider- 
able maiority of tbe whole— look tor cane 
yields ranging from thirty to sixty per cenit 
of those of 1898. 

Tbe death of ILouisiana'to two ku^^est sugar 
planters— Hon. Wm. Porcher iMiles and Mr. 
Leon <3odchaux— Just a week apart, was a 
notable coincidence, and one that bas pro- 
duced tbe profoundest regret among all daas- 
es of people in the sugar district 

No tribute too glowing or eloquent oould 
be paid to the liife and character oif Mr. Miles, 
and Tbe Planter's editorial but briefly ex- 
pressed tbe uniTeraal esteem and admiiwtion 
In wbiicb this 'Uypdcal Southern genUeman 
of tbe old school" was held by all who knew 
him. The followdng extracts from The 
Donaldsonville Chiefs sketch of his career 
will doubtless possess special in'terest for 
many of your readere, tbe estate referred to 
•being tbe plantations bequeathed by John 
Buraside to Oliver Beime, and by tbe latter - 
in turn to his giandcbiUdren, tbe cbiMren of 
Mr. Miles: 

"Tbe successful management of tills ex- 
tensive etftate by Hon. Wm. Boicber Miles 
bas furnished conspicuous evidence of bis 
great business cacMM^ity and executive ability. 
Tbougb be bad bad no previous experience 
in suear planting be was a good Judge of men 
and surrounded himself with a corps of man- 
eerers and employes whose competency and 
skill will compai^ favorably with those of 
any in the sugar secticMi of Louisiana. 
Among tbe leading improvements effected on 
tbe property under bis admindstmtion may be 
mentioned tbe erection of the New Hope fac- 



tory in 1883, and of tbe Houmae central fac- 
tory in 1893; tbe opening up of bearwood's 
five hundred ferule acres; the reclamation of 
tbe Armant and St James plaotations, which 
bad greatly deteriorated in condition; and pro- 
ductiveness; the building of back and side 
levees to afford protection from overflow, and 
tbe general raising of the citandard and value 
of all tbe plantations operated by tbe Miles 
Planting and Manuifaicfturing Company. He 
rapidly mastered tbe principles and deltails 
of the busine^i and was quick to adopt tbe 
most improved metbcxlB of scientiflc cultiva- 
tion, drainec:e, (fertilization, chemdcal analy- 
sis and all tbe advanced ideas now in vogue. 
« « • « « 

Tbe death qf Mr. Miles will necessitate no 
changes in the administration df tbe affaira 
of tbe Miles Company. His son. Dr. W. P. 
Miles, has been the active manager of tbe 
pnoperty during the past tbree years, and 
those most familiar wi'tb bis character and 
ability bave the fullest confidence that be will 
prove in all respects a capable and worthy 
succesBoar of his distinguished father." 

Mr. Leon Godchaux, pre-eminent among 
Louisiana sugar plantere as a self-made man 
and tbe largest owner of sugar-producing 
property, was also quilte closely identified 
with this parish as tbe proprietor of both 
town and country property. The first piece 
of real estae he ever owned is a vacant lot 
on Railroad avenue, in OonaldsonriUe, which 
he netained until his death, reif using for sen- 
timiental reasons to part with it, and a val- 
uable store building and lot in the most eli- 
gible business portion otf the same town is a 
part of the large estate be leaves to his esti- 
mable family. 

Tbe death of such men as Wm. Porcher 
Miles and Leon Godchaux is indeed a public 
calamity, and in no portion of Louiisiana is 
their loss more keenly felt than in 

Ascension. 

St. Mary. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPOND^CB.) 

EdUor Louifiana Planter: 

Your correspondemt is now of tbe opinion 
that tbe crops in this immediate section, 
which have not been visited by rain since the 
18tb of March, are beginning to show signs 
of sufferng, though they bave held out thus 
far very well. It is apparent that they have 
ceased to grow with any appreciable rapidHty, 
and are crisping sligbUy from tbe rays ol 
tbe sun, which are now rapidly growing 
warmer with the coming of each new day. 
^ A slight shower vdaited tbis CFranklin) 
.ponUon of the parish last Monday, but was 
very ligbt and short, and being followed tbe 
next day by a sultry sun, its effect was al- 
most entirely lost But your correapondenjt 
has been niformed that a heavy rain bas 
faHen during tbe last few days, beginning at 
Mr. W. J. Foster's Alice C. plantation, and 
continuing on down tbe Bayou Teche for 
some distance, wbicb is lined with some of 



the most valuable sugar plantations in SL 
Mary; and that several rains bave fallen in 
the upper part of the parisb, around tbe 
towns of Baldwin, Charenton, Sorrel, etc., 
and that the crops in those pontlobs are oft 
for the season, with very promising results. 

The Cote Blanche plantaticxi, owned by Mr. 
WaRer J. Sutbon, which was advertised to be 
sold on April 22nd of this year, and which 
was not sold, owing to tbe height at which 
the apparieement was pUused, to- wit: |96,000, 
was re-adventised to be sold lost Saturday, 
and was, aooordingly, sold to Messrs. Modse 
Bloch and Louis 'Levy both of this parish, 
on a twelve montiis' bond for the sum of 
$35,000, assuming the payment of certain 
privileged claims against some machinery, 
making tbe purchase price, in the aggregate, 
about $40,000. Both the purchasers are dry 
goods merchants, and have been in business 
in tbe parish for thirty odd years; but were 
never actively interested in the production of 
sugar cane until now. Cote Blanche wUl be 
managed by the new owners, with Messrs. 
J. T. Johnson and Henderson Doty, two 
competent and experienced planters, as over- 
seers. This place was a heavy loser from tbe 
freeze of last winter, amounting to cane suffi- 
cient to plant 200 acres; but beyond tbis 
shortage it has five hundred acres, two hun- 
dndd of which ane plant; it has, also, tbree 
hundred acres of com, and tbe crop, as a 
general thing, is in splendid and very' satis- 
factory condition. 

Tt is said that Cote Blanche is the first 
suear plantation in the State that ever 
operated the vacuum pan, tbe one in use 
tbere being built of copper, for tbe manu- 
facture of starch in one of the Northern 
cities; the same pan is yet on tbie plantation, 
and in use. 

The South Bend planitation, situated in the 
lower Bayou Sale district, and belonging to 
tbe beire of tbe Inte James C Mahon, who 
died a few weeks ago, and his wife, surviv- 
ing ^partner in community, was sold a few 
days a^o to Mr. John R. Todd, tbe present 
owner of the ffiUleslie place, adjacent to it 
The price paid was |35,000, tbe vendor pay- 
ing all expenses incurred n tbe raising of 
the crop up to the time of purchase. The 
Blleslie and South Bend combined, will make 
a large sugar plantation, and South Bend 
bas a miU capable of producing all the cane 
both place are capable of producing. 

Secretary Wilson passed through tills par- 
ish some days ago, after baving visited 
eeverai extensive sugar estates around New 
Orleans. A few persons gathered at the de- 
pot to see him pass through, but the sugar 
plantera being without organization for such 
purposes in this parisb, did not ibave him 
stop over as might have been possible had 
they known of his intention of passing 
through this end ot tbe sugar belt in time 
to rightly prepare for tbe same. It would 
have been a great pleasure to the sugar 
planters of this parish to baTe bad tbe chief 
eft tbe Department ot Agriculture get down 
among them and go over some of tbe great 
fplantaUons and factories that mark the 
course of the Teche; but they cB&i, at least, 
hope that a sufficient infiuence and satisfttc- 
tion has been created by Mr. Wilson's visit 
here to strengthen the cause of sugar at 
the Nation's Capital. 

St. Mart. 



Dr. H. J. Sanders, of St. Mary Parish, was 
in the city on a visit a few days ago. Dr. 
Sanders bas a pretty good crop, comparative- 
ly speaking, and if proper cultivation can 
turn a medium crop into a big one the Doc- 
tor is the man to do the business. 



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324 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTEB AlO) SUGAR MANUFACTUBKR. 



[Vol. xxn. No. 21. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Lottt^iana PtatUer: 

Th« weather Is fttUl too dry. Several lo- 
calities were visited by light showers this 
week, but it has been more than a month 
since the greater part of the parish has seen 
rain, and. with the thermometer ranging up 
in the 90's every day, the crops are suffer- 
ing, in fact a good part of the cane is dying 
out, and it Is hardly as promising as it 
was four weeks since. Planters are bring- 
ing the dirt up to the cane hoping thereby 
to retain some moisture in the ground. 
About one-fourth of the corn has been laid 
hy, and peas in some places are up to a 
stand, but even for them a good rain Is 
needed. 

The George M. Murrell P. & M. Co., Ltd., 
of Bayou Ooula, having more land for corn 
than their plantations require, are putting 
the rear part of St. Mary and part of Tally 
Ho in rice. An area of about 300 acres has 
been planted. These lands have in years 
gone by produced fine crops, and we believe 
the present season will be no exception, al- 
though the rice is a little late. 

iWe were ^pleased last week to observe a 
splendid stand of rice on the Limerick plan- 
totion In West Baton Rouge. The crop be- 
longs to Messrs. Berthelot Bros., of St. Ga- 
briel, in this parish, who are letting their 
Ophelia place rest this year. 

In company with that clever manager, Mr. 
Eli iLaville, we rode over Evergreen's fields 
last Sunday. This plantation has had num- 
erous heavy blows lately and It required a 
man of Mr. Lavllle's energy and perserver- 
ance not to become discouraged. The wet 
winter, the freeze, the cyclone and lastly the 
loss of over 60 acres of the finest land and 
the moving back of eleven liulldings in the 
midst of the cultivating season, were sufiEl- 
clent to overwhelm any manager, but Mr. 
Lavllle goes steadily on with the determina- 
tion of making as much sugar as last year, 
and may he succeed. There are on Ever- 
green, 160 .acres of plant cane, and except- 
ing about 25 the stand Is almost perfect. In 
stubbles are 270 acres, some of which are 
fairly good, but lack of favorable rains has 
apparently reduced the stubble crop one- 
fourth below what It promised in April. 
About 230 acres are planted in corn, which 
though late is up to a full stand. Last week 
Mr. Lavllle harvested a fine patch of jMtts 
which will save a good hay bill. Evergreen's 
seed cane was no better than the average, 
and many wonder why It oame out so well. 
JAr. Lavllle attributes it to the careful and 
thorough numner In which the land was pre- 
pared. In fact he says the man who tried 
to economize by cutting down labor, plow- 
men as well as hoemen, made a serious mis- 
take. The present crop has required more 
coaxing, at it were, and particularly hoe 
work than any proceeding it Mr. Laville*s 
crop was scrupulously clean. 

The delinquent tax list was published last 



Saturday by the sheriff, and we are pleased 
to observe that It Is shorter tkan usual, and 
that none of the names of our planters or 
farmers appear thereon. At his final set- 
tlement with the auditor. Sheriff Browne's 
returns will be very close to the 100 per cent 
line. 

Iberville. 



West Baton Rou^e. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louinana Planter: 

The drouth that has prevailed In this par- 
ish for some 'time past was broken yesterday 
<by what seems to have been a general rain 
throughout the parish. Prior to this rain 
the condition of the crops had become quite 
serious, and some damage hds undoubtedly 
t been (ione by the long dry spell. In black 
land the smaller eKalks of cane had begun 
to die; some had died and others were be- 
ginning to look sickly. In plant as well as 
stubble the mother oane lacked vitality, 
hence the weakness of the later and smaller 
shoots. As Incredible as It may seem (con- 
sidering the fact that the first of June is 
close at hand) new canes ig*e coming, out 
daily from situbble as well as plant In- 
deed, It is generally believed that had a 
good soaking rain fallen a month ago there 
would be considerably more cane In the 
field. StUl yesterday's shower was worth 
thousands of dollars and was heartily wel- 
comed by everybody. Corn was almodt at 
a standstill, and, in some sections, dying. 

As to the cane crop, the situation here 
seems to have Improved to the exi:ent that 
all the planters, with one possible exception, 
will at least make enough seed for next 
year. As was stated In this correspondence 
some time since, four or five factories wUl 
probably make short runs — one of them ex- 
pects to grind about a month. The majority 
of lihe plantations will not turn a wheel, 
but will put down their entire crop for seed. 
Instead of making 28,000,000 or 30,000,000 
pounds of sugar, the output of West Baton 
Rouge this year will liardly exceed 5,000,- 
000— a tremendous falling off. 

If the partial annihilation of the cane 
crop by the terrible freeze of Feb. 11-13 
has any compensating advantage, it can 
only be found In the fact that much land 
'that has heretofore been successively plant- 
ed In cane and thus, to a certain extent, ex- - 
hauGTted, will be rejuvenated this year under 
the stimulus of a change to corn and peas. 
The acreage devoted to corn is full twice 
as large as usual, and with anything like a 
fair season from now on, the largest crop 
ever grown In this parish will be harvested. 

These are hard times for everybody in the 
sugar district, but particularly for the field 
hands, who have been unable to obtain one- 
half of the work that has been so abund- 
ant In former years. Some planters sus- 
pended work several weeks ago, owing to 
the drouth; other planters have reduced 
their field forces to a comparatively small 
number of men, retaining only those with 



families. The discharged laborers and the 
"self-croppere," In order to live have g:ons 
Into the swamps cuid picked moss, which 
they sell to the looatt stores at about one 
cent per pound. ' But for this source oC 
revenue many of them ' would have fared 
badly. Despite various dmwbiaeks^-^and 
every state has some — who 'Will assert that 
(Louisiana Is not a great commonwealth, 
when men out of employment may piek 
money from the trees with no one to say 
them nay? 

As a result of yesterday's rain, the weathsr 
this (Wednesday) morning. is very cool alid 
suggestive of early autumn. The old in- 
habitants are predicting an abundance of 
rain next month— at leacft, for 

Wnr Batok Rouob. 



Terrebonne. 



\^PlCtAL CORREtPONDBNCE. ) 

Editor Louiaianm, Planter: 

Although the precipitations have not been 
general and copious, yet local showers have 
fallen In different parts of the parish and 
proved of benefit to the crops oi cane and 
corn and supplied sufficient moisture in 
places to sprout the peas. A general rain to 
thoroughly saturate the soil would he gladly 
welcomed by all as the water supply has 
become very scant and on many places re- 
course Is had to the water in the bayous. 
The crops are doing as well as could be ex- 
pecfted after a month of dry weather. The 
corn crop will be somewhat curtailed if 
copious rains do not fall In the near future. 
On Friday afternoon there was a wind and 
rain storm of some duration which passed 
over the major portion of Southdown and 
Hollywood, the estate of the late Hon. H. O. 
Minor, also Concord, of Col. Wm. Minor, 
and a portion of the lands below on the 
Bayou Black as far as Flora, of Mr. C. W, 
Bocage. On Monday the showers in the 
morning and afternoon were iighter Init 
extended over different sections. 

It is now a foregone conclusion that the 
ratoons will be thin in many places and to 
seed the field, with peas will prove of great 
benefit to the land for the coming year, 
particularly, If the ground Is to be planted 
in cane. . ' ^ 

The shortage in the plant cane acreage this 
spring will necessitate large ifall and aprinc 
plantings to Insure a large output of sugar 
next year. Now that It is certain that there 
will be another short crop in Cuba will be 
a strong inducement for the plant^v of the 
state to largely increase the output of suiar 
in the next two or three years^ When the 
affairs on the Island 'become settled, the agri- 
culture of the cane In Cuba will be material- 
ly changed for the better, owing to more 
favorable conditions. , 

Although the young canes are small for 
the season, if the planters have seasonable 
rains and no excessive precipitations the 
cTOfi will be laid by with the land in e]|cel- 
lent condition and stalk elongation should 



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May 27, 18d9.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLAiH'BR AND SUGAR MANUFACTUMBL 



SS5 



be very rapid. Judge Oailkmet is holding 
court btft there are "no cases of public Inter- 
est on the docket The health of Mr, G. B. 
Maginnis has -continued to improve since his 
return from the city. 

Wednesday ^of las't week, partially doudy; 
Thursday, fog in the morning, favorable 
later; Friday, k>cal rain; 6atur<lay and 
Sunday, cloudy and warm; Monday, local 
rains; Tuesday, distant thunder and cloudyj 
and Wednesday morning, fair with but lit- 
tle indication of rain. 

Terrebonne. 



New Iberia. 



The crops everywhere are an agreeable 
euil>rlae to the farmers and planters, who 
had expected that there would be very lit- 
tle <rf either stubble or plant cane this year. 
As a general rude the stands of plant cane 
are as line as anyone could wish it although 
the cane ki small. Stubble is very good in 
some localities and poor in oU^rs. While 
there is no doubt but that the tonnage of 
cane will be somewhat short this year the 
competition for it may make up for the want 
of tonnage, and the extraction of sugar, may, 
and probably will be such that the sugar 
crop of the state will be larger than it was 
last year. 

Cotton is several inches above the ground, 
and generally stands are good. 

What rice we have seen shows excellent 
stands, and we believe, the acreage Is larger 
than usual. The acreage of corn is also 
l^reater; 'both of these increases in acreage 
is large^ due to the plowing up of poor 
stubble. 

The prospect tor crops this year are good 
and, added to this is the good news that 
from 15,000 to 20,000 sacks of rice will be 
nalUed in this city for the first time in its 
history. 

We feel that the fall, winter, next spring 
months will be busy ones in New Iberia. — 
Ii>erian, May 13. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRBSPOItDBNCE.) 

Edik>r Jxmitiana Planter: 

The weather has continued dry since the 
22nd of last month until to-day at about 10 
o'clock A. M., when a most magnificent 
shower Mh and now at this writing, 4 
o'clock P. M., a steady rain is falling and 
it bids fair to give us plenty before it holds 
up. The crops had begun to suffer some for 
rain, but not to any great extent. Early com 
and cane was needing rain, but late com and 
cotton seemed to be growing nicely. The 
crops in general are In a first class condi- 
tion for rain. Farmers have worked over 
their crcHJS from two to three times since 
the rain of April 22nd, Just one month ago. 
Cane Is looking nicely notwithstanding the 
dry weather. Stut)ble cane is not doing so 
well, but plant is fine. The cane belt of 
Vermlhon parish has the finest plant cane 
that we Iwive fw» tjbrla sprlnjp. It Ip «w 



ahead of any cane along the Teche as far 
east as Patterson. There is a better stand 
and the plant looks stronger and larger. We 
noticed a few days ago while driving over 
the Sterling planUtlon of the Caffery Cen- 
tral Sugar Refinery, which is located just 
across Bayou Teche, east from their refin- 
ery at Franklin, that the cane was being 
destroyed by an Insect Mr. L. Forsyth, Jr., 
the efficient superintendent of the refinery 
told the Planter correspondent that those In- 
sects had been attacking his cane for sev- 
eral weeks, and pointed out some places 
where the cane had been completely des- 
troyed for twenty-five and thirty feet on a 
row and several rows together. This pest 
has not as yet made Its appearance in our 
cane fields. The corn crop is very fine and 
all that it needs to make it an enormous 
crop is a good season. The cotton crop is 
not so good, in fact the acreage of early 
plant is very short; late plant is Just com- 
ing up and some of it has not come up yet 
Seed was very scarce after the first planting, 
consequently the general acreage will be 
shorter than was expected. The rice crop 
is very promising. Irrigated rice was never 
finer at this season of the year, but provi- 
dence rice is needing a little rain; however, 
most of the crop Is Irrigated. Mr. R. H. 
Mills has about completed his canal and will 
be ready to flood lands along the line of the 
same in a very few days. The prospects for 
a good rice crop are very flattering. 

Mr. O. M. Nilson, the president of the 
Vermilion Sugar Company, Limited, spent 
a few days in Vermilion the past week. Mr. 
Nilson was accompanied by H. H. Youree 
and T. Alexander of Shreveport, who were 
prospecting in this section. 

Mr. L. VonTreskow, manager of the Lafay- 
ette Sugar Refinery, Limited, was looking 
after the interests of his flrm in Vermilion 
the latter part of last week. 

There is a current report around here that 
there will be quite a number of cane buy- 
ers in the Vermillion territory thJs season. 
The shortage of cane is bringing those extra 
biddens in. The cane grower is looking out 
for the best price for his cane, but at the 
same time he is inclined to give the prefer- 
ence to the refinery that has been taking 
care of his cane every year and that wlU 
stay with him and take it next year. It will 
be easy enough to sell cane this year, but 
the buyers next year will not be so numer- 
ous. OP. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8PCNDENCB. ) 

Editor IxmiHaTia Planter: 

While the growing crops throughout this 
part of the country have received the most 
careful attention and cultivation at the 
hands of the planters, prospects are not, ow- 
ing to the extreme dry weather, as favorable 
as they should be at this date in the season. 

<I find that com wherever planted and 
ITOwlng ^0 m^ Iiie^bl7 l^rtUlisd, baa not 



suffered to the extent that the crops have 
on poor or thin soils. Such is also the case 
in respect to cotton and cane. All fertilised 
and well-tilled soils hold the moisture longer 
than the thin, worn, half cultivated ground 
does. 

Sec'y WHson in his talk before the last su- 
gar planters' meeting, spoEe some excellent 
words of advice on the subject of feitiliz- 
ing the soil, how to feed for manure, etc., 
which if taken would no doubt lead to Un- 
proved conditions, with better crops at less 
expense and in the end better times for those 
who cultivate the soil for a living. 

Cfine continues to grow and Improve, but 
not as well as it would if rain could be had. 
But comparing with the same date last 
year, from my notes taken at that time, I 
am inclined to think that the cane has not 
suffered as much for lack of moisture this 
season as it did in 1898. While not sure, it 
may be urged that the cane is young yet and 
not as much advanced as it was at this date 
a year past, which together with the con- 
stant stirring of the soil has tended to meas- 
urably keep the young canes growing. 

I have been Informed that Barbreck's 
manager, Mr. H. Shaw, finding his flelds be- 
coming too dry for obtaining the best re- 
sults in the growth of the crops on the plan- 
tation, raised steam a week past, and start- 
ed the pumps to throwing water into the 
irrigating ditches for watering the growing 
crops of corn, cotton and cane on the plan- 
tation. What success he met with, I bave 
not to-date been able to learn, but I \wiU 
make it a point to learn something more 
about the Barbreck irrigating plant, its suc- 
cess and results, and at the flrst opportunity 
report the facts as I find them. 

Late advices from 'Rapides are to the ef- 
fect that while cane is growing and sucker- 
ing, it would do much better and improve 
in growing if rain could be had to moisten 
the hot, dry soil. 

The crops in the vicinity of Lamourle, Le- 
compte. Meeker, Lloyd and Cheneyville, are 
said to be promising but needing rain. The 
planters in the neighborhood of Bunkie also 
speak of needing rain. Lelnster, >Bvergreen, 
Cottonport and other points and places in 
this parish would feel overjoyed at the sight 
of rain falling on growing cane, corn and 
cotton^ 

In taking notes on the wing some days 
past I was not only surprised, but delighted 
to find at various points, beautiful plots of 
growing alfalfa. Hon. A. B. Irion, Eola P. 
O., has some acres on his fine place, which 
presents a beautiful appearance worth a long 
walk to see. 

Passing through the Powhontas plantation 
some days ago on the train, looking frcHn the 
car window, I saw some flelds and cuts of 
very promising cane. The manager, Mr. C. 
G. Fusilier, has from my point of observa- 
tion, his field and growing crop In the best 
of good shape.. 

To be sure rain would be beneficial to all 
crops; com in particular. The com crop 
was cut short last year on account of the 
May drought, and unless it rains at an early 
date, like results will follow this season. 

Cotton is young yet and is a hot and dry 
weather plant. However, there are some 
of our best farmers who seem to think that 
the cotton plant and the ground in which it 
is growing would respond to the beneficial 
effect of rain at this time.. 

As I go to mall this morning, there are. If 
all appearances are true, better Indications 
for rain than we have had for many days. 

Erin, 



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THB XX>UISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXH, No. 2U 



PORBIQN LBTTBRS. 



Havana. 

Havana, May 23rd, 1899. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDBNCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Advices of a recent decline of prices in 
London ^nd New York caused buyers ait 
this place to withdraw from the market and 
as hohders are reluctant to make conoeeelons 
in prices, business transacted during the 
week has been unimportant and saies add up 
only 10 to 12 thousand ba©3 Centrifugals, at 
from 2.87% to 2.95 cts per pound for 95-^6 
test, and about 2,000 bags molasses sugars, 
88-89 test, ait from 2.37% to 2.47% cts. per 
pound. 

Stocks In first hands are Qudte reduced, rcr 
ceipts from the county having aJmosit ceased 
and only omiall parcels ooaseionaUy coming 
in. 

A small number of plantajtk>ns in the 
Sagua la Grande district ore still grinding 
and will -most dikely complete their crop to- 
wards the end of tMs month; the cane yield 
having been smaller than anticipated, th^ 
totaJ production in that localHy wUl hardily 
amount to 200,000, Instead of 250,000, as an- 
ticipated at the conunencement 

A certain number of planters have begun 
to prepare their fields for planting them as 
soon las possible and on this account It is ex- 
pected that 1899-1900 crop wlM be rather 
larger at Sagua than this year's. 

The districts of Sagua 4a Grande and Clen- 
f uegos are thus far ithe only ones in which 
planters seem to have realized the idea that 
something oug^t to be done in order to be 
able to obbain next year a paying crop. 

Factory "Guayabo," at Sagua, came very 
near beiog totally destroyed by fire, last 
week, the machinery buildings being saved 
•through great exertion, but aia the balance, 
comprising the wareliouses^ stores, etc, were 
burned to the ground; the fire was com- 
municated to the"cane fields of which several 
were also destroyed before the fiomes couJd 
be subdued. 

lit is reported that the grand centrad fac- 
tory "Lugareno," at Minos, province of Porto 
Principe, has just been sold, to an American 
syndiloate for 1800,000 United Startes currency, 
the purchasers to take charge df said factory, 
after the taking off of this year's crop. 

Analher American company has made 
propositions for the purchase of central fac- 
tory "San Miguel," at Porto del Padre, in the 
flame province as above and the transaction 
has not as yet been closed owing to a dif- 
ference in price, for while the owner, Sr. 
Francisco Pka PIcabin, wants 11,500,000 for 
his plantation, buyenB* offer does not exceed 
$1,200,000; but owing to the strong desire to 
come to a fair understanding, it is likely thoit 
the question wUl soon be settled in a satis- 
factory manner. 

It is probable that new sales of sugar fac- 
torlw wlH soon ^ reported, owln^ to the 



recent arrival at this place of the representa- 
tive of a powerful New York syndicaite. 

Planter's creditors, ivho do not accept the 
two year extension given to Cuban planters 
by President McKinley's lost decree, for set- 
tling accounts with parties holding mort- 
gages on their properties, have just held a 
grand meeting in which resolutions were 
passed to the eeffct of protesUng in the most 
energetic manner against said order which 
they denounce as a flagrant violation of the 
clauses stipulated in the treaty of Paris and 
they have oocopdingly appointed four com- 
missioners who shall go to Washington and 
endteavor to obtain from the president the 
revocation of his order. 

On the other side, the members^ of the 
Planters' Board also held a meeting and ap- 
pointed a commission whose members are 
to meet a creditors' committee of a simfilar 
nature and discuss wifth them the basis for an 
arrangement or compromise that will satisfy 
all parties >and were this to be possible, It is 
anticipated (that the mortgage hodders upon 
Cuban estates would relin<juish their idea of 
sending special commissioners to Washing- 
ton. 

Several small gangs of outlaws have ap- 
peared recently at several pkices in this 
provimje and in the neighboring one of Plnar 
del Rio and Alatanzas. Squads of American 
cavalry and rural guards are pursuing them. 

The Isle of Pines Is about 60 miles from the 
coast of Cuba and directly south of Havana; 
its area is about 50 miles wide, by 70 miies 
long and its highest elevation, in the central 
part, a/bout 1,500 feet above the level of the 
sea. It is noted for its springs of magnesia 
and iron hot and cold water, which is used 
for bathing and drinking and contains sev- 
eral mediclnad properUes, especially for stom- 
ach troubles. 

(T^ugh very abundant in pdne trees, from 
which it tokes its name, ithere is also an 
extraordinary growth of mahogany, cedar, 
oak, ebony, lignum vitae and many other 
valuable woods, which have never as yet 
been brought to avaU. 

All the tropical (fruirts are In a like man- 
ner grown on this isle, the soil of which is 
also fit for .producing good tobacco and 
sugar oane. Abundant deposits of granite 
and wJiite and colored -marble are found In 
Its hilly regl-ons and as wo/ter omd grass ore 
both plentiful and of excellent quality, catUe 
breeding, if undertaken on an extensive 
scale, .would be a paying business, as there 
are on its coasts several large harbore, iwhich 
might be converted, at a small expensive into 
good shipping ports. 

It was almost impossible that so many ad- 
vantages should not have attracted American 
capitalists' attention and I am informed that 
several have already either purchased or 
leased large tracts of land, whereon rthey con- 
template to develop an important flarming 
quarrying and catUe breeding business. 

T. D. 

Havana* 

(BFMdAL COltRBSPONbEirCB.) 

Havana, May 1899. 
Editor Jxiuvtiatui Planter: 

Owing to advices of weaker prices in 
England and a quieter demand in the United 
SMit» lHi^»ri «t this place b^vp w}t]^(lraw0 



from the market and only a few sales were 
closed for speculators' accounts, at from 2.96 
to 3-02% cts. per lb. for 96 test, seUers stead- 
ily upholding their former pretension of 3 
cts. per lb. for aforesaid grade. 

•According to Mr. Guma's last statement^ 
the total production to April Slst, adds up 
232,003 tons, against 271,506 tons same date 
last year, which shows a decrease of 39,503 
tons for this year. 

Factory "Narclsa," at Yaguajay, whose ac- 
customed output generally ranged between 
80,000 or 100,000 bags up to the 10th inst, 
had produced only 22,000 bags and can as yet 
dispose of a quantity of cane sufficient to 
manufacture about 8,000 more. 

Cane fires continue to be occasionally re- 
ported,* the last one having occurred on 
Tenancy ''Siboney," at Santa Ana in the pro- 
vince of Matanzas, on which some 50,000 ar- 
robes of standing cane were burnt to such 
an extent that the greater part is utterly un- 
fit for sugar manufacture. 

There is as yet no visible sign towards 
the renewal of labor in the fields for the next 
crop. 

The question of aiding Cuban Industries 
has commenced to assume a more definite 
shape, and during the past week large a>ur- 
chasee of lands and other properties have 
been registered, an increase of confidence 
being noticed on all sides. It is said that 
owing to better prevailing feelings an 
American Co., **The Fidelity and Deposit 
Company," of Maryland, contemplates to es- 
tablUh a branch office in this city and in- 
tends to apply part of its large capital to 
loans to planters, to furnish security bonds 
for executors, trustees, administrators, guard- 
ians, receivers, assignors, or In replevin at- 
tachment cases and to contractors. United 
States officials, officers of fraternal societies 
and employes of banks, corporations and 
mercanUle establishments. Were this com- 
pany willing and able to furnish money on 
easy terms, it Is certain that It might soon 
control a large amount of Imsiness on .this 
Island where so many sources of wealth are 
as yet unproductive for want of money to 
duly exploit them. 

It is a well-known fact that a special extra 
duty is Imposed In the United States on all 
sugars which directly or Indirectly are fa- 
vored In the countries they proceed from, 
with certain privileges. The extra duty they 
are subjected to Is equivalent to the bounty 
granted them and thence the name of 
countervailing duty applied to it. In as 
much as the importance of the bounty varies 
according to the changes experienced by the 
Industry and amendments In the fiscal legis- 
lation, the countervailing duty «dso varies 
In equal proportions and on this aecount the 
American Government now and then altera 
said duty, and the last alteration in same 
Is rather recent since it began to rule on 
January 1st of this year. 

An interesting study Is that of the effect 
exercised n the importation of sugars by 
these countervailing duties in the United 
States, and the comparison of the importa- 
tlop of sugar? favpr^ wltft bounties, wltfe 



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127 



that of the produce that does not enjoy such 
a privilege, and as all extra duties are paid 
by importers, it is logical that refiners in 
the United tSates prefer to aoQuire sugars 
that are subjected to no drawback, or in 
plainer terms, cane sugar instead of the beet 
(produce. 

Importations for the tour last years, com- 
pare as follows: 

1895 1896 1897 1898 

Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons 
Austria— 

2,611 27,459 41,782 lyl77 

Belgium — 

8,538. 46,362 55,980 

Germany — 

86,307 435,694 570,134 224,962 
Holland—' 

2,390 3,722 43,491 9,166 

France — 

1.194 8 

Rest of Europe — 

4 10,918 

Cuba— • 

944,403 210,297 240,814 292,604 
Philippines— 

42,779 63,507 18.637 30,563 
Other Countries — 

657,289 1,158.393 1,078,571 1,155,134 



1,744,221 1,955,422 2,050,603 1,713,611 

Russia the Argentine Republic, Denmark 
and Holland do not appear in above tabular 
statement among the bounty paying nations, 
or appear with the insignificant quantity of 
only 10,722 tons in 1896. and among cane su- 
gars that enjoy the privilege of the bounty 
are comprised a few thousand tons of Argen- 
tine produce. 

At first sight, it is perceptible that the im- 
portation of sugars that do not enjoy a 
bounty is much larger than that of those 
enjoying this concession, and the difference 
in 1895, the last year normal crop was 
taken off on this island is enormous, since 
of the 1,744.221 tons consumed. in the United 
States, during that year. 944.493 proceeded 
from Cuba, whilst the total amount from all 
other countries was only of 799.728 tons, 
equivalent to more than half of the total 
imports during said year. 

In the following year, owing to the insur- 
rection, the result was entirely different, 
only 210.297 tons of Cuban sugars were im- 
ported into the United States, against 523.- 
225 from IBurope and receipts from other 
countries attained 1.158.393 tons, against 657.- 
289 tons in 1895. Imports from Burope con- 
tinued increasing in 1897, until the month of 
July, when the compensative active duty 
was enforced and receipts from Europe com- 
menced to decline steadily until 1898. in 
"Which year they only amounted to 253.310 
tons, against 712.^1 tons in 1897. 

Had peace prevailed in this island, our su- 
gar manufacturers should have certainly 
been the first ones to benefit to a considera- 
ble extent from the advantages of the 
countervailing ex{ra duty in the United 
States and the Cuban production should have 
attained larger proportions than ever. 

Among the injuries caused by the war. be- 
sides the destruction of crops, buildings, ma- 
chinery and whole plantations, the loss of 
control over our natural market and the de- 
velopment of the sugar industry in rival 
countries must also be reckoned, and many 
years are as yet to elapse before our sugar 
manufacturinig interest retrieves its former 
greatness and prosperity and this with so 
much more reason that there is at yet no 
perceptible sign that may Inpart to us the be 
lief that efforts are being made to remedy 
the pvils capped by th^ war, T. 0« 



Berlin. 

(8PBCIAL CORRBSPONDBNCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The week under review opened with most 
desirable springlike weather, but in spite 
of the commencement of May, it closed with 
a rather wintry aspect, on account of frosts 
and snowfalls which had set in after a couple 
of cold, rainy and altogether inclement days 
and whilst in the first part of the week, field- 
work advanced satisfactorily and in some 
sections the young beets also began to ap- 
pear aboye ground, in both these respects a 
rude interruption has taken place since Tues- 
day. There are few places only where beet 
sowing is finished, whilst in many sections 
this operation is backward at least in com- 
parison with average yearsi There is now 
a very slight difference in favor of this year 
as compared with the previous season, 
which, as is sufficiently known, started un- 
der anything but agreeable conditions. A 
similar change is also reported from the 
other beet growing countries and nowhere, 
except in Russia, has the agricultural part 
of the beet sugar industry made any prog- 
ress. In the last named empire, however, 
beet planting is nearly ended, but in the 
place of the drought flavoring outside work, 
rain is now wanted there which is neces- 
sary for the germination, etc.. of the beet 
kernels. Taken all in all the situation all 
over Burope is a little lees satisfiactory than 
a .week ago. ' 

A change of sugar legislation in France is 
again spoken of. The minister of finance is 
said to be contemplating two measures, both 
of which will have the tendency of curtail- 
ing the fiscal advantages of the sugar manu- 
facturers. One of them is said to consist 
In the raising of the limit of the legal yield, 
which now is 7.75 per cent refined sugar and 
which shall in future be fixed at 8.50 per 
cent. This would mean that the so called 
excedants, which are subject to the reduced 
rate of duty would begin only at the last 
named figure and as the second scheme it 
is declared that the duty on the excedants 
shall be made to amount to 40 francs — in- 
stead of 30 francs— for 100 kilogr. of re- 
fined sugar. A third measure should be that 
the amount thus squeezed out of the sugar 
manufacturers should be employed for low- 
ering the heavy taxes on sugar in France, 
in order to cheapen eugar and to facilitate 
and increase consumption. However, it 
seems that the change in question when car- 
ried out will prove to be a barely fiscal 
measure. im 

A technical question of much importance 
for all establishments working with steam 
gear is how to prevent the heat of the steam 
pipes from radiating and many devices serv- 
ing this purpose have been invented and 
applied, such as felt, clay mixed with cow 
hair, silk braids, infusorial earth, etc., the 
lattest in this line, however, is a tin mantle 
round the pipes with some space between 
the mantle and the pipe so tliat the very air 
is constituted the protective medium against 
the loss of heat. "May be that your inven- 
tive engineers have hit already on this 
means, but in the face of very successful ex- 
periments I could not help but submit irt to 
the attention and examination of your es- 
teemed readers. 

The agricultural experimental station at 
Breslau iSilesla) has published its annuaJ 
statement on the contents of sugar of the 
beets analyzed in this InstRution. The re- 
sults of these analyses plainly confirm the 
fiaot, that in the average the beet of 1898, 
in point of quaSiity, iranks a food deal higher 
then thAt Qt X997, Qt tb« t,9H iftnxples of 



beets analyzed in 1898, 25.2 per cent bad 
less than 15 per cent sugar. 65.5 showed 
from 15 to 17 per cent, and 9.3 per cent had 
upwards of 17 per cent sugar. In 1897 the 
majority of all samples, viz.: 53 per cent 
had less than 15 per cent sugar, 46 per cent 
were found to have from 15 to 17 per cent, 
and 10 per cent polarized upwards of 17 per 
cent The average of all samples analyzed 
last year turned out to have been 15.5 per 
cent sugar ,as against 14.7 per cent in 1897. 
These researches have begun in the year 
1887 and although the figures in this re- 
spect are somewhat fiuctuating. a steady in- 
crease of the saccharine quality Is observed, 
in 1887 the proportion of beets with less 
than 13 per cent ajnounted to 10 per cent of 
the samples, in 1898. only 1.3 per cent be- 
longed to that oattegory; on the other hand 
beets with more than 16 per cent sugar 
formed 19 per cent of the total number in 
1887. in 1898 this co-portion was 37 per cent, 
which goes to show that the poor beetts have 
nearly disappeared whilst the rich ones now 
have attained the firs£ place. This is an 
excellent showing for our breeders of beet 
seeds and the benefit of thiis signal progress 
Is reaped not by the German sugar indus- 
try alone, but by almost all beet growing, 
countries, drawing a large part of their seed 
from German growers. 

The sugar factory of Koerbisdorf, of which 
I formerly sent you a detailed report, pays 
for the campaign of 1898-99 a dividend of 8 
per cent aa against 6 per cenit dn 1897-93* 

The syndicate of the sugar manufacturers 
of France intend to convoke on the occasion 
of the world's liair next 3^«ar a universal 
congress of sugar growers or a congress of 
the international sugar industry. The sub- 
jects to be treated there shall be of an ex- 
clusively agricultunal and industrial char- 
acter. 

It will be remembered thait last year the 
estimates of the sugar manufiacturers. more 
particularly those of the Austrians. caused 
a great disappointment in the markets, be- 
cause of their being raised in December as 
against October to the extent of about 100,- 
000 tons. The staitistical bureaus were on 
this account accused of selfish and unfair 
dealings, this also on the ground that the 
results of the inquiries in December were 
sufpposed to have been made known to cer- 
tain parties prior to general publication. In 
the late assembly of the Bohemian sugar 
society these suspicions were dealt with and 
vigorottriy refuted. 

The divergency of the two estimates was 
caused by the much improved condition of 
the crop in consequence of copious rains in 
the month of October and as to the aMeged 
irregularity wKh regard to cultivation. It 
must be bom in mind. that the oflKdal statis- 
tics which appeared a few days prior to 
that of the fabricants. showed already a 
large surplus as against the estimates and 
caused Paris speculators to sell on a large 
scale, so that no undue underhand informa- 
tion as to the result of the last inquiries can 
be made responsible for the panic then en- 
suing. 

The markets are now quite in the hands 
of speculatora. rwho. profiting this week by 
the unfavorable weather, the absence of 
May tenders and some America purchasers 
rushed prices In the terminal markets fur- 
ther up. True, actual goods were thereby 
also fiavorably infiuenced but an account of 
the scarcity of stocks business In this line 
could not assume any considerable extent. 
Last quotations are for 88 per cent sugars 
at Madgeburg M. 12.20—12.40 nd for delivery 
May 1; Hamburg M. 11.475. Rsflned are 
firm ftud 5(h'75 pfcupl^ higher. 

ROPT, Hennio, 



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328 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 2L 



The niA^ini: Link in the Automatic 
Feeding: of Cane Crushini: Plants. 

The imi«^tude of induatrial progress In 
the recent past has been the 'wonder of the 
age, yet the. dawn of a mightier revolution 
can be discerned in the discovery cmd appli- 
cation of forces in nature which when 
utilised through the ingenuity of man will 
result in vast and undreamed of changes 
rendered necessary to properly apply the 
power in manufacturing plants, etc. In this 
the age of steam and steel, innovations are 
imperative to counteract the seemingly irre- 
sistible tendency to lowered values for raw 
•material and (finished products; conditions 
broughit about by combinations and concen- 
trated capital. Thirty years ago the cane 
sugar producers treated with derision the 
prediction that beet sugars would in time 
control the markets of the world; yet at 
present they <find a ready market even in 
India, >the supposed habitat of the tropical 
cane, where conditions are favoraVle and 
labor cheap. The aids of science were sought 
in the agriculture of the beet, and intelli- 
gences pt a high order were engaged in de- 
vising mechanisms such as to secure high 
and economic results in manufacture. To 
regain lost supremacy, any and all anti- 
qua/ted methods must be entirely superceded 
by more rational processes, not only to ef- 
fectively economize power, 'but secure maxi- 
mum results in the manufacture of cane 
sugar. To prepare canes to insure a con- 
stant high judce extraction is as imperative 
as to similarly treat the beets for diffueion. 

Past . priictices in purchasing cane will 
probably be superseded by more equitable 
measures to boith purchasers cmd sellers, and 
as the latter will likely demand payment 
for all the saccharine in the raw material, 
manufacturers will be impelled to so adjust 
their crushing plants as to constantly secure 
the very highest Juice extraction possible 
from a large volume of cane milled per day. 
The buyer of the cane, to minimize cost In 
manufacture must not only secure a relative- 
ly high Juice and moisture extraction, but 
at the same time avoid excessive communi- 
cation of bagasse to insure the beet results 
from the combustion o( the woody fibre. 

The phenomenally low output of sugar 
during the past campaign, followed by a 
probable shorbage this year, will for the 
time being be detrimental to the industry 
in the 6ta;te; but the probabilities are that 
in less than ten years the production of 
sugar will be on a firmer 'basis than if the 
disasters had not befallen the cane growers 
and manufacturers, as innovations will be- 
come accomplished facts in field and fac- 
tory which would otherwise have been 
ignored. The demand for a higher sugar 
content in the canes will result In improved 
drainage, followed by more efficient tillage 
as the more intelligent application of man- 
ures. Rivalry will necessitate greater per- 
t^oXion in crusbinf an<) m:ftnar»cturing plants 



to secure superior results at reduced cost per 
ton of cane. 

Wl/tnessing the futile attempts to regularly 
and constantly feed the three roller mill by 
hand with canes dumped on the yard from 
carts and wagons, and later the powerful 
compound crushing plants (wiith shredder or 
crusher adjuncts) from cars, either by hand, 
with hoists, or mechanical devices, the con- 
viction grows stronger that cut canes must 
in the future be automatically fed to the 
crushing plant to secure that general and 
uniform excellence in mill work, so very 
essential to reduce losses in extraction to a 
minimum— a factor of vital imporfaance to, 
in some measure, counteract growing and 
relentless competition. 

The cane sugar industry may at no very 
distant date encounter a keen competitor in 
domestic beet sugar, and factory owners 
must be prepared to face the rivalry or suc- 
cumb to the inevitable. The canes delivered 
from day to day at the factory of large ca- 
pacity vary in length and presence or ab- 
sence of crooks, and consequently no device 
has or ever can be perfected to constantly 
and regularly feed the mill rolls with whole, 
heterogeneous canes. When the proprietor 
of the factory can place in charge of the 
engineer a device which will measure the 
cut canes and deliver the pieces regularly 
and automatically to and across the mill 
rolls in desired quantities, say from ten to 
fifty tons per hour, free of any foreign, hard 
6ul>st)ances. then the latter knowing the 
quantity of material to be crushed per day 
can soon adjust the rollers to perform 
superior w^ork, if the plant has adequate 
power and strength. 

When cut canes in measured and desired 
quantities are fed to the mill rolls, valuable 
data may be o'btained and financial results 
will accrue to the average factory owner 
which will more than compensate for the 
cost of adding the missing link in automatic 
mill feeding. Being able to regulate the feed 
with precision, mills can be tested as to their 
crushing capacities, and greater rigidity 
can be adopted, and maintained, and safe 
guards against any irrgularities in feed, and 
hard substances can more than ever be dis- 
pensed with. A compound milling plant, 
•with rollers six feet long, and sliafts twelve 
inches in diameter may crush forty tons of 
cane per hour, and extract seventy odd per 
cent of the Juice with ten per cent fibre — 
can such diametered shafts, etc., sustedn the 
strain if eighty per cent is extracted? As 
the thickness of the fibrous mass increases, 
the elastic resistance to pressure increases, 
and consequently the power and iftrength re- 
quired to secure an eighty per cent extrac- 
tion when milling forty tons of cane per 
hour is immensely greater than when only 
twenty tons per hour pass between the roll- 
ers. There seems to be a limit to volume 
regardless of strength, and with the known 
and regular feed the question can be decided 
U9i oai7 •• u> th^ th}c]pie99 ot th9 t9^, t>ut 



the periphery speed of he mill rolls to in- 
sure the best financial results in quantity 
and quality of work performed. 

It can then also he decided by careful tests 
whether it will prove profitable to have one 
ponderous plant to crush twelve or fourteen 
hundred tons of cane per day, or two com- 
pact sets of mills to crush an equal or larger 
volume of cane in emergencies. Of all the 
crushing plants in the different cane grow- 
ing countries of the world, but a very limit- 
ed few can show a record of eighty per cent 
extraction on the weight of the canes, re- 
gardless of the volume crushed per day. 
When the factory owner succeeds In secur- 
ing an extracting plant with adjuncts which 
will enable him to constantly obtain ninefty- 
five per cent of the Juice in the canes with 
moderate saturation, then he will he in a 
position to invest in other machinery, etc., 
to perfect the tout ensemble, and thereby 
reduce the coift of manufacture per ton of 
cane to a maximum. Given a crushing plant 
with an automatic feeder attachment, and 
the chemist in the laboratory can readily 
decide as to whether the pressure or satura- 
tion or both must be increased or otherwise 
to secure the saccharine in the best paying 
quantities, as compressions of bagasse, and 
dilution of Juice may be carried to extremes, 
and serious losses accrue In the increased 
consumption of fuel, the lowered co-efflcient 
of purity and the retarded concentration Of 
sugar solutions to finished products. 

Regularity, the desideratum in mill feed- 
ing when attained wiU obviate alternating, 
violent strains, the cause of many and seri- 
ous breakages, costly in the extreme, par- 
ticularly here where the campaign is of 
short duration. There will be a decreased 
tendency to lateral movement to fill inter- 
stices under pressure, and consequently less 
communication of fibre. Minor adjustments 
iwill be made by the intelligent engineer, and 
bagasse of a more uniform and higher qual- 
ity will be sent to the furnaces, and the 
steaming of the boHens will be more regu- 
lar and reliable. Unusual mental strain and 
anxiety will be lessened, and wa;tchfulnesB 
•wUl be transferred from the carrier to the 
receptacle to see that there is a suplos of 
cut canes to keep the automatic feeder con- 
stantly in operation to supply the mill rolls. 

To fill the missing link will necessitate a 
cutter, a receptacle, and an automatic feed- 
er iwhich will deliver the desired feed at the 
same speed as the mill rolls travel. Cutters 
of various devices have been put on the mar- 
ket to prepare corn ensilage for the silo 
where the slice is generally one-half an inch 
in length; but for cane the cutter will re- 
quire to be stronger, and the length of cat 
increased to between three and four inches, 
probably three and one-half inches will in- 
sure an interlacing of the fihre and a cer- 
tain continuity in the 'bagasse going to the 
furnace. 

The receptacle 'With slopes at the bottom 
exce^inf: a^ an^le of lorty-flv^ .aegrsee t^ 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 



329 



expedite the moyemeat of the slices to the 
feeder, should have a capacity of from five 
to tea tons of cane to insure an uninterrupt- 
ed supply of material for the crushing plant 
-when in full operation. The feeders may 
consist of two rollers or drums of the same 
length as the mill rolls, with projections or 
indentations to grip the slices and in revolv- 
ing deliver them onto the carrier— the upper 
drum to be easily end quickly adjusted to 
regulate the size of opening and consequent- 
ly the volume of feed per hour. With the 
Messrs iMallon <& Bodley apparatus the canes 
can be delivered from the cars onto the 
carrier to convey them to -the cutter, from 
which they can be transferred to the recept- 
acle, from which the crushing plant can be 
fed without intermission, thereby dispens- 
ing with but a limited amount of hand latbor. 
The (Messrs. Mallon & Bodley apparatus is 
an admirable labor saving machine the value 
of which to the factory owner can be 
enhanced immensely if operated in conjunc- 
tion with the automatic feeder of cut canes, 
for with the combination large volumes can 
be delivered to the mill rolls with a regular- 
ity heretofore unknown and at much less 
cost per ton of cane than in former years, 
obviating the bete noir, irregularity— a con- 
stant source of dread of breakages, worry 
and unavoidable waste to proprfetors. 

iMetal, or other hard substances may break 
or blunt the knives of the cutter but they 
can be quickly replaced. Every engineer of 
intelligence and close observation who has 
bad charge of a cane crushing plant will 
admit that even with all the best appliances 
in vogue, irregularity of feed, and the risk 
of pieces of metal, ettc, getting between the 
mill rolls fu*e sources of severe mental strain 
and anxiety very seriously augment the 
chances of costly breakages, and the Conner, 
although in some measure counteracted by 
adjuncts and compound crushers and in- 
cessant vJ#;ilance is still to his Imperfect 
means of detection a source of considerable 
loss. The owner of the factory after having 
expended large capital and taken every 
known precaution is chagrined and disap- 
pointed with his entire crushing plants and 
mechanism when the chemiirt informs him 
at the end of the week's run that so many 
thousand pounds of sugar (which might 
have been extracted) have gone to the fur- 
naces from defective milling— the only 
known cause for which was the scarcely per- 
ceptible irregularity of feed— as the engine 
and mills had ample power and strength to 
insure very superior results with the rea- 
sonable amount of cane crushed per hour. 
Knowing that from ninety to ninety-five per 
cent of the juice in the cane can be had with- 
out excessive saturation, those whose plants 
crush from twenty to one hundred thousand 
tons per annum may l>e justified in expend- 
ing capital to increase yields. 

The problem of automatic mill feeding 
may ^be reviewed from a purely economic 
ptandpointf TU9 PWt P* 'tt^« milling plant 



has been increased two or three fold to at- 
tain firstly a much larger crushing capacity, 
and secondly to increase extraction. With 
the large expenditure of capital, not hav- 
ing been able to constantly obtain very su- 
perior results commensurate with the cost- 
ly outlay, the factory owner may find it im- 
perative to add to his plant an adjunct 
which will increase the annual output of 
marketable sugar. To purchase the sac- 
charine in the cane or produce it at large 
expense, and consume quantities in th^ fur- 
naces is contrary to the spirit of the age 
and a violation of economic practices. When 
the crushing plants in the different cane 
growing countries of the world are as per- 
fect as to secure results equal to those 
had in the factories of Europe— a ton of cane 
will -be manufactured at less cost than a 
ton of beets, and as the average saccharine 
strength of the juice of the cane should 
equal that of the beet, and the acreage yield 
of the former be double that of the latter- 
then barring the Ehiropean bounty system 
the beet and tropical cane will stand on 
their merits as sugar producing plants to 
supply the markets of the world. 

Thos. Mann Cage. 



Sui:ar Outlook in Texas. 

Wharton, Tex., May 22, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

Perhaps an occasional letter from this sec- 
tion of Texas wiM be worth your while to 
publish, and if so, I will undertake to send 
items from time to time. As to the location 
of this town, please get a good map of Texas, 
and you will find us atout 65 miles southwest 
of Houston, and on the Victoria division of 
the Southern ^Pacific. Prairie lands are most- 
ly in evidence, though the Colorado river, 
and El Oaney valleys furnish the richest 
farm lands, that it has ever been my fortune 
to see. What is called Cany river or creek, 
is to this state, just what the Teche is to 
Louisiana. It is a little larger between 
banks than New river, which runs paralled 
with the Mississippi tlirough part of Ascen- 
sion parish, emptying, I think, into Blind 
river. The character of the soil is some- 
thing similar to New river, a rich black 
loam. This Caney creek runs through Whar- 
ton and iMatagorda counties, 'beginning near 
Bagle lake, thence southeast, parallel with 
the Colorado and emptying into the Gulf 
about 15 miles east of the mouth of the 
Colorado. At Wharton, this creek runs with- 
in 200 yards of the Colorado, and the busi- 
ness part of the town is immediately t>etween 
the two. From here, it gradually defiects 
from the river, and from here to the Gulf, 
the Caney valley is neariy a solid farm, 
about 50 miles long, and from two to five 
miles wide. The main country road trav- 
erses this valley along the banks, crossing 
and re-crossing several times, and much of 
the bed of the creek is in cultivation, the 
wash from the farms having so filled up the 
ijreek th.^t Jt i§ dr/ in spring? i^ft<J §ummer 



most of the way down for twenty miles or 
more. This valley, is what we think Me the 
richest part of Texas. We have large cot- 
ton plantations now, while you- hay e cane 
plantations on the Teche, but the physical 
features of the two are similar. 

A company of six of us went to Louis- 
iana two weeks ago to look over the coun- 
try there, with a view to investing in a 
sugar plant. On the trip we visited several 
plantations, including the Gramercy, and 
critically examined the situation, so as to 
enable us to arrive at a satisfactory con- 
clusion before we ventured into the business 
here. Our unanimous conclusion was about 
as follows. We saw no crop in Louisiana, 
either corn, cotton nor cane, that is worth 
half as much as ours here. Our fieUds are 
so far ahead of the Louisiana farms, that a 
comparison would he painful (to Louisiana). 
The few hundred acres of cane put down last 
fall as a starter, has quite a different look 
from yours. We are of the opinion now, 
that one acre of this land is worth three of 
yours to the cane farmer, and we give our 
reasons for this opinion. Listen: There are 
more ditches to dig and keep clean on a 
1,000-acre farm there, than there is in this 
whole valley put together. We have a sur- 
face drainage that renders ditching unneces- 
sary here. This saves one tenth of the land, 
.besides the saving in the work. This is 
count number 1. We are not haunted by 
the nightmare of water that comes up on 
your levees every spring, destroying your 
crops totally, once in seven years. This is 
count number 2. We plant only every five 
years, and the ratoons are as good here with 
the fifth crop, as yours are at the third crop. 
This is count number 3. Our cane here will 
average 1% per cent more sucrose with same 
kind ^ of season than yours does. This is 
count number 4. We never calculate on less 
than 30 tons of plant, and from 15 to 25 for 
stubble cane per acre, and from that up, ac- 
cording to the season. This is count num- 
her 5. We can get cotton iseed meal for 
$2 per ton less than you, and this is count 
number 6. We can buy corn for 5 cents per 
bushel if necessary, less than you, and this 
is count number 7. We have a market at 
our doors, and based upon the present mar- 
ket in New Orleans, we can get nearly a 
cent more for sugar than your small plant- 
ers get there. You generally have a com- 
mission man to sell your stuff to the jobbers. 
He gets his commission, cmd you pay the 
freights into New Orleans. The jobber makes 
his long profit and sells to Texas and else- 
where, and the merchant here pays the other 
freight, and cull of this has to come out of 
the sugar before the consumer gets it. This 
is count number 8. You have mules there 
which they say cost $200 per pair. They 
don't do any more than ours, which we get 
at |100 per pair. A pair of our mules will 
turn out much more than yours, for they 

[COP^npod on p«fre 885.] 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER A..0 SUGAR MANUFACTURBR, 



[Vol. XXn, No. 21. 



The Latent Life of Sugmr Cane. 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

This week's Planter has Just been re- 
ceived, end In looking over the remarks from 
the different parishes the writer's attention 
was attmcted by remarks of the correspond- 
ent from Iberville in regard to the finding 
of stalks of cane coming from the mother 
stalk in first year's stubble. In discussing 
the cane industry some five years ago with 
Intelligent Western men the question as to 
whether this ever occurred was propounded 
to the writer. Though raised on a sugar 
planitation and having been engaged in a 
close scientific study of agriculture for the 
five years previous to this discussion we 
were surprised to find ourselves unable to 
answer this question. Our attention has 
been kept on the matter ever since and In- 
stead of such being a parity it is no uncom- 
mon thln« to find eyes from the mother 
stalk making a vigorous stalk in first and 
even second stubble, although of course they 
are more abundant in first year stubble. 
Last Thursday the writer had a striking 
lUustration of this. We were examining 
some stubble which had been abandoned 
until the week before when, discovering that, 
there was so much coming It was closely 
off-barred, the grass scraped off and diggers 
run over it two or three times. The ground 
had, of course, not been disturbed since the 
crop of last year was Jald by and was as 
hard as filnt The writer's attention was 
attracted by seeing a space of 15 feet with 
no stubble shaving ydt one healthy stalk 
had forced its way through the hard ground. 
When digging to the mother it was found 
that not only did this special stalk come 
from it but there were eight sprouted eyes 
in this space fmd forcing their way through 
a soil containing apparently not a paitlcle 
.of moisture and so hard that the diggers, 
though run three tignea with weight of ma- 
chine and driver directly on gangs, had not 
penetrated it There was about 4 inches of 
earcit over these eyes. 

This whole field, some 200 acres, of stubble 
is a curiosity and a puzzle to the writer. As 
above mentioned it has l)een abandoned, its 
proprietors, Messrs. Flynn Bros., having 
ceased the culture of cane and yet it is so 
promising that the writer and other parties 
have undertaken its culture. It is situated 
about five miles back of Baton iRouge on the 
hWls. Messrs. PJynn and Doherty, on the 
same hills just north of Baton Rouge and 
on the river, have practically no stubble 
while Mr. ©. C Zuber, one mile further east 
than the field in question, is no better off. 
As in the case instanced by "Iberville" this 
cane was planted very shallow but the ques- 
tion arises what has that to do with the 
keeping of the stubble. Truly, if it has 
taught nothing else the past eighteen months 
have demonstrated how litUe we know about 
cane. 

TVJiUe with yery litUe fuse and f^fft^j^, 



yet it may be of interest to your readers to 
know that the hill sectiogi of Bast Baton 
Rouge parish is preparing to take Its place 
among the sugar producers of the state. 
Messrs. Flynn & Doherty have been in the 
business for some years, delivering the prod- 
uct of some four hundred acres of cane to 
the Baton Rouge Sugar Company last sea- 
son. Mr. John McQuaide is another old pro- 
ducer and finds it profitable to haul his cane 
some six ^miles to the above company. Mr. 
A. J. Louden has been producing syrup in 
the Brookstown neighborhood for a number 
of years. Mr. Louden, though possessing a 
small plant, always produces a "top of the 
market syrup," and judging from the 
strenuous efforts he is now making to in- 
crease his capacity, finds it a profitable busi- 
ness. 

Istrouma plantation will make its debut 
into the cane market this year with a thous- 
and tons of oane, and, besides these, Messrs. 
Gfbbens & Thomas, W. B. Brown, Walker, 
Young, and a number of others are all rais- 
ing seed for a market crop next year. The 
demand for seed last fall gave quite a stimu- 
lus to the small grower and this year, de- 
spite the havoc of the last winter, the small 
patch is very much in evidence all, over the 
parish. In the face of adverse conditions it 
is safe to say that the cane production of 
£>a8t Baton Rouge hills will this year equal 
that of 1898 and more than quadruple that 
in 1900. We have said nothing a'bout the 
present condition of the crop. Needless to 
say it is very dry and It will take a good 
soaking rain before an intelligent prediction 
can be made of the outcome of the crop in 
East Baton Rouge. 



them a pointer on oane culture, but I was sad- 
ly disappointed, because they had made the 
same discovery years before.— ^Bx-Pkaniter, in 
Iberville South. 



nor« About the Latent Life of Sugar 
Cane. 



The cane eenft you by Mr. EJdwin Marion- 
neaux, who is ivatjky regarded as a good 
planter and sterling manager, is not a curi- 
osity to old plamters. 

In 1869 I planted a cut of cane which 
showed up well in the spring erf 1870, with 
ottly an occasional gap here and there, giving 
more than an overage yield. 

1871 finding some cane showing In some 
of the ga^, I sought the reason thereof and 
found that the old mother cane of 1869 had 
just awakened to a sense of her duty and was 
putting fiorth her efforts to increase the out- 
put of saccharine for that year. 

The cane lay dormant In the ground be- 
cause its temperature was too ©old to sitand 
vegertjatlon. It was planted too deep to re- 
ceive the warmth necessary to spix>ut the 
eyes. 

The extra dirt was removed in 1871, and 
to my astonishment then I beheld for the 
first time the "curiosity" similar to that 
which you have in your office. At the tfane 
this discovery was made by me, I hastily 
communicated the flaots to two old plantere 
of mjr acijtt^otance, tblnklnf I f^ogia ^r^ 



Saccharin. 

"Saccharin is used in the preparation of 
fruit sauces, stewed prunes, and in filling for 
pie." Such Is the frank statement printed 
on the menu of the Commercial Club. Many 
of the guests cannot eat certain articles 
when prepared with sugar without creating 
dietic disturbance, and therefore saccharin 
is commonly used as a substitute for sugar 
in all articles requiring sweetening. 

Would not that same honest policy, if 
adopted by the canners and preservers of 
fruits and vegetables, tend to increase con- 
fidence in their products? Many consumers 
prefer saccharin to sugar, as it does not 
infiuence the functions of the human body; 
does not decompose in the body; does not 
engender fat; has no nutrifefVe merits. There 
are, however, others who have a prejudice, 
oft times unreasonable, against chemicals of 
any sort in food, and such should be free 
t6 elect whether they should use food con- 
taining chemicals or subscitutes, instead of 
being made the victfihs of a paltry decep- 
tion. -Let us have the honest labeling of all 
food products. Occasionally a manufacturer 
using saccharin states the fact on his label, 
but the majority do not. Why not have 
candies, jams, preserves, honey and other 
articles containing glucose stamped with the 
fact; each sort of a baking powder sold for 
ejtactly what it is? If this is generally fol- 
lowed, then any unreasonable prejudice 
which may exist will disappear, and con- 
sumers will feel as free to buy oleomar- 
garine as butter; glucose or saccharin as 
sugar; apple jelly with various flavors, as 
articles true to name. "Honesty is the i)est 
policy" is the best sort of worldly wisdom.— 
American Grocer. 



Personal. 

Mr. Wibiay J. Thompson, of Calumet plan- 
tation, Ba^you Teche, was ait the St. Cbaites 
last Wednesday. 

Mr. J. B. Brown, of the Iranhoe planta- 
tion and his two bright younc: sons were 
guests of one of oun leading hotels test Wed- 
nesday. 

Mr. A. W. Norman, for many years located 
at 'the Hops plantation in St. John parish, 
was the manager during the past grinding 
season of the Clarkland place, belongiing to 
MilUken A Farwell. Mr. Norman Is a In*- 
class manager in every respect and it would 
be hard to find his superior. 

Mr. T. W. Montgomery was again at the 
vacuum pan on the Trinity plaatotto>n of 
Captain Hubert Murmy during the past cam- 
paign. Mr. Montgomery is an A No. 1 sugar 
maker, and, in addition, he possedsses greait 
skill as a watch and clock maker, re^wiring 
in (his leisure momeote the defective time 
piepee oi TrijU^ end fts earirpw. 



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Blay 27, 1899.] 



TBB LOVIBUSA P]JkNTBR AND SUQAR MANUFACTURER. 



3tl 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Chino, California. 

Oangs of beet tbinnera cure now to be 
ee^oi scattered about the beet fields in all 
directions, and ithinning is progressing 
raj»idly, 1000 acres being already thinned. 
This work will be completed earlier than 
it iras last year. 

The planting is now practically finished 
and Mr. sRuopp of the agricultural depar- 
ment of the factory, ftells us that the acre- 
age. Including that planted near Puente. is 
about an even 4000 acres. On the first of 
this week it was estimated that one-third 
of the acreage planted was already a good 
staod. What the next two months may 
have in store for the crop of course cannot 
be foretold. Mr. Ruopp, however, says that 
the beet^crop prospects are nwich better than 
they were at this date lacft year. Some dam- 
age h^s been done by winds, but not nearly 
to the extent of last: year. On some of the 
bottom lands, whpre the alkali is not too 
strong, the beets look really thrifty and fine. 
Of course on the higher and dryer grounds 
more rain than we have had this winter is 
necessary to assure a crop. It is yet early to 
make any estimate on the crc^j* it will be 
light, but If we should have such late rains 
as we have had last year, the crop would 
be vastly improved. 

The force of men at the sugar factory 
is being increased nearly every day now, the 
number at present being about 90. Many of 
these are skilled mechanics. In a few days, 
as soon as the farmers' teams have spare 
time from the field work, the work of ex- 
cavating the big settling reservoir wlU be 
commenced. 

Supertntendent Williams of the sugar fac- 
tory tells Its that in his recent trip to Eu- 
rope he visited most of the principal sii^ar 
factories in France and <Jermany, and was 
courteously afforded oppoilUinity to observe 
and study methods of manufacture. He was 
surprised to find that in most of the recent- 
ly improved processes the lAmerican sugar 
factories are Xar better equipped and more 
up to date than the 'European lactories. 
There seems to be there a dlspoeitkm to be 
satisfied with methods of years ago, and a 
slowness to graeq;> at new improvementa. 
Mr. Williams with ©r. Fortius was present 
at a meeting of sugar manufacturera in 
northern Oermany, at which the rudimentary 
principles of crystallization in motion were 
under discussion; whereas here the process 
is a firmly established one. Nevertheless Mr. 
Williams enjoyed his trip immensely. 
—Champion, May 5. . 



Lehi, Utah. 

iWhen the sugar factory employees again 
enter that institution they will notice that 
a great many changes have taken place. 
Past experiences have shown that these will 
be for the best and will improve the working 
pf the faptoi/. Tb999 cftanfe^ will coottou^ 



until the factory is equipped to handle the 
Juice from 1,000 tons of beets per day. One 
of the most important changes this year is 
in the south building where the old bone 
black filters have been removed and a com- 
plete new Osmose plant Installed. For the 
first time in America, Supt Vallez made the 
Osmose process of working low grade syrup, 
a success here last year. Only a small plant 
was put in but this was so successful that 
a larger one is now being put in. Supt 
Vallez took particular pains with this port 
of the factory last season and was exceed- 
ingly well pleased wHh the results and upon 
his recommendation the present plant was 
put in. The putting in of a rasping station 
at SpringviUe Vlll necessitate some change 
here. Again this company is in the lead in 
this matter, it is the first company in Amer- 
ica to try this method. It has been in suc- 
cessful operation in Ehiropean countries for 
some time and there is no doubt of Its suc- 
cess here. The Meaux (Prance) sugar fac- 
tory is connected with thirteen rasping sta- 
tions and hand^les the Juice from 2,000 tons 
of beets per day. At these stations is a 
diffusion battery where the Juice is extracted 
from the beets. The Juice is then mixed 
with a small quantity of lime and pumped 
to" the central refinefy to be worked up. 
Work has already begun on the pipe line to 
Sprlngnile and by fall everything wiU be 
in readiness for the crop. The beet sugar 
men in this country wiU watch the prog- 
ress of this method with much Interest and 
other companies will doubtless adopt it in 
the future. The Utah Sugar Company and 
Supt Vallez deserve much credit for being 
the first to adopt these new methods in 
Amerioa.— Banner, May 6. 

Lehi, Utah. 

At the special meeting of the stockholders 
of the Utah Sugar Company held at Salt 
Lake on Tuesday, Manager T. R. Cutler, in 
the absence of President George Q. Cannon, 
presided. There was a very full attendance 
of the stockholders, 22,203 shares out of a 
total of 26,500 being represented. The meet- 
ing was a very short one, all action taken 
being unanimouiB. 

A resolution was i>a6sed approving the ac- 
tion of the board of directors, authorized the 
Issue of 36,500 additional shares of stock, 
which is to be divided pro-rata among the 
present holders, 10 per cent of which must 
be paid on or before June 1st, and this 
amount is to be held by the company as a 
guarantee of the j>ayment of the remainder. 
Other payments are due as follows: Twenty- 
five per cent April 1, 1900, and the remainder, 
16 per cent on July 5, 1900, thus completing 
the purchase. The amounts received for the 
stock, of course, will be applied on the im- 
provements to be made to the old works and 
the handling of the new. 

Manager Cutler, at the dose of the meet- 
ing, was very much gratified at the results 
etttained so far la the prosecution of the 
p^w enterprises, fto4 ^aid that th^ ui^^lml^ 



off the stockhol^rs was very gratifying, Be- 
cause it removed many difficulties that might 
be encountered were conditions otherwise. 

""The late snows and rains," continued Mr. 
Cutler, "have been of great value to us, 
and the beet crop outlook good a month ago, 
is much better now. There never was a 
time, and that may be saying a great deal, 
when I had so much confidence in the 
future."— Tribune. 



5prini:ville, Utah, Sugar Factory. 

Springville, May lO.-^George Austin and 
Moelah Evans of the Utah Sugar Company 
came over from Lehl to-day and closed the 
deal with (Messrs. Miner for the land for the 
factory site. The fffty acres of land were 
secured for |1, 800. The cash was paid over 
and the deeds passed. The agent here, Mr. 
Robenson, informed your correspondent that 
the transfer of the water rights would soon 
take place as the subscription lists were all 
In and the $1,000 needed raised. 

The contract for 300 perches of blue lime- 
stone was awarded to-day to the Straw 
Bros., a local concern. Contracts for brick 
are now under consideration. It is thought 
these contracts will also be secured by 
Springville parties.— (Lehl Banner. 



Among the Beet Sugar Factories. 

The recent annexation of sugar bearing 
colonies to this country does not seem to 
have discouraged sugar manufacturers on 
this coast. With the opening of spring and 
the certainty of fair crops In California, has 
come renewed activity in most of the fac- 
tories. Many improvements are already be- 
ing made and oither more extensive ones are 
projected. Henry T. Oxnard has announced 
that the company, which he represents will 
build two more sugar factories during the 
present year. In Washington, D. C Cronin, 
of Spokane, has arranged to establish a fac- 
tory at Fairfield with a capacity of fifty 
tons of sugar per month. The factory is 
to be completed within one year from the 
present time. It is, however, in Utah that 
the greatest activity in the line of sugar pro- 
eduction Is manifested. In that state at 
least two new factories are pretty well as- 
sured. These will ^e situated at Springville 
and Cache.— Philadelphia Manufacturer. 



Sugar Patents. 

Patents of Interest to the sugar industry 
issued May 1-6, 1898; "^ Reported specially for 
The Louisiana Planter by R. W. Bishop, 
Patent Attorney, Washington, D. C, who 
WiU furnish copies of any patent at the rate 
of ten cents each. 

©24,907. Centrifugal separator. Loomis 
Burrell, Little (Falls, N. Y., assignor to D. H. 
Burrel & Co., same place. 

625,012. Cloth sack for sugar, flour, etc. 
A. F. Bemie, Boston, Mass. 

625,031. CrysUllizing apparatus. Ludwlg 
Hirt, Grevenbroich, Germany, assignor to 
the Maschinenfabrlk Grevenbroich, same 
place. ^ ^ 

625,211. Sugar cutting machine. Gustay 
St9ff, BerJlA, O^nttany. 



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TRS LOVIBUJXX PLANTER AMD 8UOAX MAKUFACTURBR. 



[VbL XTCTT, No. 2L 



RIOB. • 



Talmace on the Ric« Market. 

The week has witnessed a further en- 
largement of business, considerable propor- 
tion being deliveries under contracts made 
some weeks ago. There is a "merry war" 
going on between the representatives of the 
Java, Japan and iPatna, in the hope of at- 
tracting increased patronage to their re- 
spective sorts and as a result prices have 
been, put down below present importing: 
cost. It is suggested that "the strife will not 
be long" €LS stock are limited — far short of 
known requirements from now until nerw 
crop. Advice fk-om the South note an 
easing off in values. The domestic cuts but 
little figure in the general supply as the 
amount is limited and poorly assorted and 
the reduction of prices due chiefly to a de- 
sire on the part of all flrst hands and mill- 
ers to clean up and close out everything per- 
taining to last year's crop. Reports con- 
cerning the crop of the present year are en- 
couraging. A lai^e area is already up; early 
seeding shows good stand and all looks 
most promising; later planting going for- 
ward rapidly in all sections. It may be said 
of Louisiana that neajrly everyone previ<Hisly 
engaged in the culture and a host of new 
comers will put in every possible acre, and 
if there be no disastrous storms or other 
drawbacks, the outcome wlU be a record- 
breaker. Cables and correspondence from 
abh>ad note steady markets; seasonable de- 
mand; outlook favoring full values on finer 
sorts which are in light receipt; easing con- 
ditions in common to grdinary grades. 

Talmage, Neng^ Orleans, telegraphs Louisi- 
ana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough, 700,945 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over) 564,023 sacks. Sales, 
cleaaed (Est.) 173,425 barrels; last year 
121,143 barrels. Fair demand, strictly local. 

rraimage» Charlestcm, telegraphs Carolina 
cr(H> movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,490 barrels. Sales 33,560 barrels. Limited 
inquiry, mainly looal or to contiguous ter- 
ritory. 

Rice Prospects in Soutli Caroiina. 

Kihdly change my address to AsheviUe, 
North Carolina, where I will be for the sum- 
mer months. 'We look with alarm on the 
great developments your rice planters are 
making in irrigation. So (long as they planted 
providence rice we did not scare worth a 
cent, as we knew your quality could never 
compete with Carolina rloe, but this system 
of irrigation will improve your grades and 
the free use of machinery (which we can not 
utilize) will so cheapen cultivation that we 
rice planters will not <be in it the coming 
season, or not in the future, unless there is 
a radical change in our wages, and mode of 
(working. It is impossible to keep up our 
levees and pay the wa^es we are now doing 
and sell our rice for less than one dollar per 
|>u8hel, while jkhv pla^t^j^ wjjl m^e 



money at 75 cents per bushel. Wont some 
of your correspondents post us as to your 
wages, rates, and perquisites allowed the la- 
borer? Here they receive from 40 cts. to 60 
cts. per day; in harvest they can make |1.50 
a day; they are allowed each one acre of rice 
land to plant in rice; each famiay is allowed 
free of rent, a house to live in, garden lot 
and fire wood. 

It is quite clear to many of us that the 
heavy rice crop planted in Porto Rico is 
bound to be admitted into this country free 
of duty, and with your big crop to be mar- 
keted we ought to lose no time to unite and 
reorganize our affairs, to suit this changed 
condition of things. The fine crop prospect 
now, is alluring, and we wlH 6ad it so when 
the market opens, and closes. Prompt ac- 
tion to reduce expenses is absolutely neces- 
sary. 

The rice acreage of Georgia and th}8 state 
is in excess of last year and the stands of rice 
are better, but the harvest will be later, 
owing to full rivers all winter and heavy 
rain falls which kepit the lands soaked, 
which delayed early planting. We have had 
fine growing crop weather since the first of 
May, and the outlook for a heavy crop is 
good, debarring our usual: storms. t Very/re^ 
spectf ully, William Miles Hazzard. 

lAnnandale, South Carolina, !May 17, 1899. 



building ready for the machinery between 
June 16 and July 1.— 6ignal. 



Tlie Crowley Rice flill. 

J. B. Piatt has decided to rebuild the Bagle 
rice mill. When the plant burned some time 
ago it was predicted on all sides tliat it 
would be rebuilt, as it was considered a pay- 
ing property and an A 1 investment. After 
the mill burned there we're several parties 
desirous of putting money Into a new build- 
ing and machinery, but Mr. Piatt declined 
them all and held off with the erection 
of a new plant until he saw his way clear 
to handle the matter individually. 

The plans for this end have been com- 
pleted, and there are many who will be 
pleased to hear that the plant is to be re- 
built 

A contract has been closed with the Bo- 
land ft Gsohwind Ck>., Iftd., through their 
representative, Phil. Hoelzel, Jr., for the 
erection of a 400 barrel rice mill. The best 
and latest improved machines will be 
placed in the building, such as the Huntley 
Manf. Co., Nordyke ftMarmon, Engleberg 
Huller Co., and Webster Manf. €o., and the 
mill will be a model one throughout 

As soon as the ibuilding Is completed the 
work of installing the machinery will be- 
gin, and it is expected it will be finished in 
ninety days. 

It will be upon the same ground the old 
one stood and will be a larger structure. The 
mill proper will be 42x42 and four stories 
high.. There will be one two story 70x42 
warehouse for clean rice, and two ware- 
houses for rough ri^e, one 42x182 and the 
other 88x106. (Every possible effort wiai be 
m»de to push tbe work eo m tp b^vp t^9 



A Qneydan Rice Mill. 

The latest enterprise in Oueydan is the 
organization of the Oueydan Rice MilUirf: 
Co., Ltd. This is something we have been 
in need of for some time, and no one knows 
with what feeling of satisfaction the (News 
notes the success of this undertaking which 
was only begun a few weeks ago. Our peo- 
ple have awakened to the reality of the 
situation, and recognising the growing 
necessity for such an enterprise, liave come 
together and organized. A few weeks ago 
Mr. R. H. Washburn, the well-known bank 
organizer oame here to look into the .matter 
of establishing a bank, but after looking 
over the field, he realized the fa»t that a rice 
mill was needed much more than a bank, 
and in connection with others he went to 
work to organize a stock company for a rice 
mill. (He succeeded in Interesting our peo- 
ple, as well as several outsiders. Among 
the later was Mr. W. O. Francis, of the 
Continental 'National Sank of Chicago, who 
came here to look over the field with a view 
of going into the enterprise, which he did In 
. a substantial manner. (Mr. Francis has 
been with the above bank for the past six 
years, besides being one of the original 
stock holders and organizers of the Trow- 
bridge, MaoDonald and Niver Co., of Chicago. 
We mention these facts in reference 'to Mr. 
•Francis for the reason that he is a stranger 
in the South, and having been elected secre- 
tary and treasurer of the Gueydan Rice 
Milling Co., Ltd., we desire that our people 
know who, and what he is. 

The stock holders of the company held a 
meeting in the office of J. P. Gueydan on 
Tuesday, organized and elected the follow- 
ing ofllcerB: R. H. Washburn, president; 
O. E. Oammill, vice president; W. G. Fran- 
cis, secretary and treasurer. 

The mill is capitalized at |40,000, with the 
mosrt of the stock already taken up, and with 
the list of stockholders and the officers, suc- 
cess is assured. 

After the meeting of the stockholders the 
board of directors held a meeting and ap- 
pointed committees on building site and ma- 
chinery and several other committees includ- 
ing a committee of three to draw up charter 
and by-laws. 

The committees and all hands will go to 
work right away, and the mill will be erected 
in time for handling the coming crop. 
— ^News. 



Mere Rice in Texas. 

The Trinity Rice Land and Irrigation Com- 
pany, of St. Louis, with a capital of f 2€0,000, 
has purchased 18,000 acres in Chambers 
county, Texas, near Galveston on the Gulf 
and Interstate Railway. The company is 
fftill gathering in other available tracts. The 
most of the land has l»een purchased from 
the Soutl^^rn Pacific ^jlw^^y at prices riMii^- 



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May 27. 1899.] 



THB LOPttliaCA gLAHTBR AN» SUGAR MANOFAOTUUDL 



33» 



ing from $a to |6 per lujre. It is the pur- 
pose of the company to "bring tl^ese lands 
under cultivation as tiuickly as possible, and 
^Ith this object in view an engineer's corps 
will start out at once getting levels and 
•making surveys of the company's lands. The 
main canal for irrigating purposes will be 
twenty miles long. A good deal of the land 
has been engaged by Northern farmers* who 
have become tired of growing llfty-cent 
wheat, and are going to give their attention 
to the cultivation of rice.— Bossier Banner. 



very h^d, grows quite tighUy on the grain 
itself, splits away without much difficulty 
when subjected to an end to end pressure, 
leaving the w.hlte grain perfectly clean. If 
the whole rice were to be offered for gener- 
al use, it wouM have to either go thix>ugh 
this breaking process, or would iiave to be 
partially steamed, as the outer portion 
cooks much more slowly than the inner, a 
difficulty which the ordinary co^k often un- 
successful with rice, might not be able to 
overcome.— New England Grocer. 



Texas Ri€e. 

Messrs. Bell, Kaufman and Viterbo Bros., of] 
Lake Charles, have leased 4,000 acres of land 
at Deepwater, near La Porte, Texas, and 
will put the larger part of the aract in rice 
this year. Fifty 8-inch artesian wells are 
being sunk to furnish water, which will be 
confined to a large r^rvoir. Viterbo Bros, 
are equipped with oiiany years of experience 
in rice growing on a large scale, and the 
project has every prospect of success. As 
this is the flCT^a>ttempt to irrl^^ate rice from 
aftesftan wells, the enterprise will, be closely 
watched.— Jennings Times, May IL 



A Big Rice Parm io Harris Couoty» Texas. 

Messrs. Bell, Kaufman and Bettibo Bros., 
a Louisiana syndicate, liave leased 4,000 
acres of the rich lands of the Jones estate 
at Deepwater for a big rice plantation. They 
propose to irrigate and flood the land by 
means of fifty eight-inch artesian wells, us- 
ing air compresses and pipes. Already two 
carloads of piping, machinery, etc. have been 
received, and the men and teams are now at 
work making the levees. This 4,000 acres 
will all be in rice in another year and will 
give employment steadily to one hundred 
men.— The Situation, Houston. 



Nutriment In Rice. 

It is not generally known, says the New 
York Commercial, that a large part of the 
nutriment in rice is thrown away before the 
grain Is in shape to be offered to consum- 
ers. The rice, in ^Eact has three parts— the 
husk, the inner cuticle and the grain itself 
as it is ordinarily offered. The inner cuticle 
is cuticle in fact as well as in name, growing 
fast to the grain. It has to be worn off by 
frlcUon, and forms a residue, which is util- 
ised as cattile feed. The cuticle ds rich in 
gluten, or protein, and in China is eaten 
with the rest of the grain. The possibili- 
ties of awakening the general public to a 
realization of the nutritive value of rice 
without this cuticle removed, have not been 
considered by millers and rice men hitherto, 
but the man who makes the shredded whole 
wheat biscuit in Worcester is now consider- 
ing the chances of success that a correspond- 
ing product made of rice would iiave, and if 
the experiment proves a success, a new ar- 
ticle of food may be added to the grocer's 
trade.. 

The inner cuticle of the grain, while it is 



National Rice fUll. 

New York, May 18.— Referring to a pub- 
lished article with reference to the proposed 
formation of a trust to control the rice mills 
in (New Orleans, Pembroke Jones, president 
of the National Rice Milling Company, this 
morning denied positively and emphatically 
that the National Rice Milling Company had 
any connecton with the matter. The mills 
owned by his company would, under no con- 
dition, enter a trust ,ahd the visit of Henry 
Kahn, vice-president of the company, to New 
Tork was simply and solely for the purpose 
of consulting the president in regard to the 
enlargement of the business next season. 
— Picayune. 



Lake Canal Completed. 

The work on the etxensions of the Lake 
canal was completed last night, and every- 
thing is in good 8hat>e to begin pumping 
as soon as water is needed. If rain does not 
come before that time, pumping will begin 
on next Monday. Some of the rice which 
was planted early is about eight inches high, 
and needs the water for proper growth. All 
the planting on the lands tributary to the 
canal is not completed, but it is expected that 
all the seed will be in the ground before the 
end of the week. 

About 1,500 acres have been planted in rice 
along the Lake canal. This is a largely in- 
creased acreage, and a good crop in that 
Vicinity will add much to the prosperity of 
the community.-^Daily American. 



Rice Items. 



A canal project, of which very little has 
been said, is being worked out near Kinder. 
O. E. Moore, civil engineer, of this city, has 
been working on the cdnal for some time. 

The canal is now in progress of construc- 
tion. The embankments for the main canal 
and la):erals are being raised. 

The water i^ill be t^ken from the Calcas- 
ieu river by a lift of thirty-one feet The 
iEiain canals and laterals . to be constructed 
this year will be three or four miles long. 
Construction is being pushed and Mr. Moore 
expects to have the plant in operation in 
time to water 400 or 500 acres of rice land 
on his own place. The possibilities of the 
canal have not been fiilly developed. 

Messrs. (Bell 'Kaitfman and Viterbo Bros., 
Lake Charles, have a big enterprise on liand. 



They have leased 4000 acres of land at Deep- 
water, near Houston, and will put in rice. 
To secure the water they will put down fif- 
ty eight-inch artesian wells. Work has al- 
ready commenced on the wells, and the rice 
is mostly sown. It*s a big scheme, and if 
successful will yield an immense profit. 

Lewis ft Becker, of Lake Charles, are put- 
ting in an irrigating plant near Angleton, 
Texas, on the .Bastrop bayou. Texas is be- 
ginning to take a good deal of interest in 
the cultivation of rice and a great many pri- 
vate pumping plants are being put in wher- 
ever tlie ground is adapted to the cultivation 
of rice. They realize that cotton is past re- 
demption and are reaching out into other 
fields. 

A picnic was enjoyed at the Crowley canal 
pumping plant Saturday, and quite a num- 
ber of people have spent the day or a part of 
it in the woods or, about the plant The oc- 
casion of the event is the reopening of the 
pumping plant The Crowley canal is one 
of the first that was built. It was originally 
built in 1896, and enlarged in 1897, also in 
1898. In fact every year lias seen an im- 
provement mdke on the plant It irrigated 
6,000 acres of rice land last year. 

There being a demand for more water, 
Mr. Ouson concluded to improve again this 
year and make it large enough to supply 
the demand nuuie upon the plant The 
water is secured from Bayou Plaquemine, 
and the new pumps that have been put in 
this year are capable of throwing 60,000 gal- 
lons per minute. New boilers were also 
added, and over all was erected a new house 
or shed to protect the machinery. The new 
machinery is the finest that can be had and 
the plant is capable of supplying Just double 
the water that it provided in past years. 

To properly care for this increased amount 
of water the canal Itself has been greatly 
improved and strengthened, until now it is 
one of the *best pieces of property in the 
parish. 

The farmers, for the greater part, are feel- 
ing sanguine over the prospects for this 
year's crop. All of the canals are prepared 
to supply a greater funount of water than 
last year and a large number of deep wells 
and new private plants have been put in 
during the year and they have no fear about 
being able to supply a sufficient quantity of 
water for the crop. Most every farmer has 
got, or will have, every possible acre sown 
with rice this season, and if we have no dis- 
astrous storms or other drawbacks the yfeld 
will be a great one. 

In ^nnection with the above comes the 
prospective erection of new mills in Crowley. 
It is said that the Eagle Mill begins next 
week to start the rebuilding of a new plant 
on the same ground the former mill stood on. 
It is also rumored that another mill will go 
up, but such a rumor is always with us and 
nothing tangible iias yet been done on it 
Eighteen hundred and ninety-nine will be 
a great year for Crowley. — Crowley Signal. 



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S34 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANOTAOTURER. 



tVoL XXn, No. 2L 



May 26. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Opeo Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Gtood Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. . . . 

Common 

Inferior 

CeotrifugiU. 
Plant'n Granul'ed 
Oft Granulated.. 
Choice White.... 

OB White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow... 
Prime Yellow ... 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prilne 

Good Fair 

Fair... 

Good Common.. 

Common ^... 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy — 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 



May 20. 



May 22. 



May 23. 



May 24. 



-@ - 

-@ - 

-@ - 

@ _ 



4k@44 

3 (sik 



03 



2 



S 



SYRUP. 



— @ 16 

— @ 16 

— @ 13 
-@ 11 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 

— @ 7 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 

-@ - I 



- @ - 



4J5(S4iJ 
4|i@4J^ 

3 @4% 



P 
08 



§ 



— @ - 

— @ 16 

— @ 16 

— @ 18 

— @ 11 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 

— @ 7 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 



-@ - 

- @ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 

4ff@4}i 
4n@43^ 
4>^@4iJ 
3 



^ 






4> 



@ 
@ 



® 
® 
@ 



16 

15 

13 

11 

9 

8 

7 

6 

6 




I 



4> 
g 

z 



- @ - 

-@ 16 

— @ 16 

— @ 13 

— @ 11 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 

-@ I 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 



May 25. 



May 26. 



►< 

-< 



o 

n 



5 



O 

n 



a 

n 



is 



o 

n 




I 

43 



i 



— @- 

— @ 16 
-O 16 
-@ 18 

— @ 11 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 
-® 7 

-® 5 

-® 6 
-@- 



SameDay 
Last Year. 



@- 



-@- 
- @ — 



I 



§ 



12 @ 13 
12 @ 13 
-@ 11 
-@ 10 

— @ 9 
-® 8 
-® 7 

— @ 6 
-® 6 

— @ 6 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



Quiet 



Dull. 



Quiet. 



OTHER MARKBTS. 



Nbw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 89«» 
Centrifugals, 96*^.. 


-0 - 


-<§ - 


-@ - 


— @ — 




-a- 


-«- 


Raw— Firm; good 


- @ - 




- @ — 


— @ — 




-@ - 


— d- 


demand; little of- 


Granulated 


- @5.08 


- @5.08 


— @6.08 


— @6.08 




— @6.08 


*-25®- 


fering. 


Standard A 


— @4.96 


^@4.96 


-@4.96 


— @4.9« 


>* 


— <94-96 


4.96® — 


Refined — Fair de* 


Dutch Granulated 


- @6.26 


- @6.26 


— @5.25 


— (g6 25 


< 


-@6I6 


- 0- 


mand. 


German Granul'td. 


- @5.20 


- @6 20 


— @6 20 


-@6 20 


— 35 17 






MOLASSES. 










s 








N.O. Choice 


- @ - 


Q 


— @ — 


— @ — 




— 9 — 


-t- 




N. O.Fair 


~@ - 


— @ — 


- @ - 


~® - 




— e - 




London: 














-«- 




Java, No. 15 D. 8. 






138 Od. 


138. Od 


HOLIDAY. 


13a. Od.' 


128. 6d. 


bly lower. 
TlAAt— Dnll mnd rather 


A.& G.Beet 


HOLIDAY. 


HOLIDAY. 


lis. 3d. 


ll8.4)<d. 




lis. 2>^d. 


98.,9d« 


•asler. 



NBW ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



- @6?i 

- @5?6 

- @5h 

- @ - 

-@ - 

- @ - 
-@ - 



- ®m 

~@ - 
-@5>^ 
-@ - 



-@6% 

— @ — 


=Sift 




-@- 


-Isji 




-@- 


-(?- 


-@- 



- @ - 

- @- 
-® - 



- @63i 
-@5J^ 

- ®5l4 

- @ — 

- @6 32 
-@- 
-®- 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four port8 of the United States to May 17 . 

At four ports of Great Britain to May 13 

At Havfana and Matanzas to May. 16 



T6I18 281,696 

. " 61,000 

«« 82«000 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week endlog 
May a6, 1899. 

' Sugar » 

Hhds. Banela. 

Received 5,977 

Sold 6,121 



Molasi 

Barreli, 

1,900 

1,900 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleaos from SepUnbt i* 1898, 
to flay a6, 1899. 

Hhds. " fearrels? jSarreL. 

ReoelTod 10,238 1,289,201 238,710 

Sold 10,233 1^,168 20,710 

mt 23,212 1,451,161 190,454 



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May 27. Id99.1 



THS tOmsIANA PLAKTBil AND filJOAR UAlCut'AOtUttfiK. 



885 



Mat 26. 



WEEKLY MARBDST REPORT, 



1809. 



RICE. 


May 20. 


fMayM. 


May 23. 


May 24. 


May 25. 


May 26. 


Same Day Last 
Tear. 


Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 


Rough, per bbl... 
Clean, Ex. Fancy 

Fancy.... 

< Choice... 

Prime.... 

Good ... 

Fair 

Ordinary 

Common i 
Screenings 

Inferior . . 

No.2..... 
Bran, per ton.... 
Polish, per ton... 


Nomimal 
Nominal 


Nominal 
Nominal 


Nominal 
Nominal 


Nominal 
' Nomdnal 


Nominal 
Nominal 


Nominal 
Nominal 


3 00@5d5 

4^34^ 
4^«4X 

- @7- 

— <« - 

12 50@!3 00 

ieoo/a> — 


Dull. 
Dull. 


RMwIpU and 5*l«s at N«w Orleuu for «m WMk oidlBf 
riay a6. i8oo. 

ReoeiTed ^^«^^- ^ao?'^' 


RaoslpU at Naw Orlaau froai Anf. i. i8^. to Hay a6, 1S99. 
eompmnd with last yaar. anm tiaa. 

Sacks Rouob. Bbls. Glsam 

Thin VAft^P ^ AQO AQQ Q 'TOO 


ff^ld .... 


854 340 1 


LiMrt year 




*A?i*,\njw w, 1 av 

• 466,489 8,081 



' Sugar. 

The local sugar market was quiet at the 
end of the week, the receipts being light and 
the trana&ctions moderate. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first haods. 
trifugalfl quiet. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

But little businees was done in either rough 
or t;lean rice at the enu of the week. Re- 
ceipts were fi^mall and ofTerings Id^ht 



5ugar Outlook in Texas. 

[Goiitlnik«)d from page 229.] 
will cultivate more acres and the out-put 
per acre is more. This is count number 9. 

Why multiply counts in this way? There 
is no comparison between our advantages 
and yours, as to sugar crops, and we are sure 
that no one who knows both countries will 
doubt it. » 

You wm then ask: "Why is H you don't 
have the cane fields, and the banks burst- 
ing with money to your credit?" Why is it? 
Simply this: After the war, cotton went on 
a boom and cane went down. What few cane 
farms we had then were converted into cot- 
ton farms, and people who own them are 
very tender footed. They are afraid to ven- 
ture on other lines. Last year, however, we 
were visited by the Mexican boll weevil 
which 80 devastated the cotton that we think 
that cane will now be resorted to again. This 
weevil is a hard citizen. It wlU get into the 
blooms and sting the germ of the boll and 
it drops. Hundreds of acres laert year did 
not make a bale of cotton on the prairie 
lands, west of Wharton. This wee^ is here 
now, and we fear the cotton will be a total 
failure this year again. This is why we are 
talking up sugar, and if we can locate a 
dozen or two good refineries in this vailley, 
the weev41 will have proven to be a great 
blessing to us. If I had a plant in Louis- 
iana, and could sell it and buy in Caney 
valley, I would not be long in doing so. 
This is what Ellis has done with his Mt. 



Houmas, only he has concentrated at Sar- 
tatla, on the Brazos, which will not compare 
with our lands either. We will be glad to 
correspond with any who may wish to in- 
vestigate our country with a view to put- 
ting in factories. One trip will demonstrate 
what I say to be true. Caney. 



Personal. 



Gov. H. C. Warmoth, of lawrence. Lower 
Ooasrt, was in town on Tuesday. 

Dr. (B. T. Dugas, of Assumptdon parish, 
was in the city on Thursday last. 

Mr. Charles Oiesdnar, of Qieemar, La., was 
in the city on Tueadaj^ Mr. Glesmar sto(pped 
at the Cosmopolitan. 

Mr. F. A. iLeplne, a leading sugar planter 
of Lafourche parish, was in the city on a 
visit a few days ago. He was accompanied 
by Mrs. Leplne. 

Col. L. S. Clark, of Lagonda plantation, on 
Bayou Teche, came up to the city during the 
past week. Col. Clark stopped at the St. 
Charles, his usual abiding place when in 
town. 

Col. John R. Oheens, of Lafourche Parish, 
came to town Sunday before last and put up 
at the SL Charles Hotel. His many friends in 
this vicinity wish that he would come to New 
Orleans oftener and stay longer. 

Mr. Michael Werner, Jr., was at the 
vacuum pan during the recenjt campaign on 
the Rich Bend place at Mrs. John Vegas in 
SL Jejnes parish. Mr. Werner is a first-class 
sugar boiler in every resipect 

Mr. Max Roeenheim, (A the wddely known 
R. & R. Chemical Works, of New York City, 
was In New Orleans a few days ago on one of 
his frequent business trips and made hs head- 
quarters at the St. Charles Hotel. 

Mr. Ehnile Bourgeois, of St. James parish, 
a highly esteemed xesident of rthat locality, 
was in the city during the past week for a 
short stay. He was accompanied by his 
daughter. Miss Clotilde Boui^geois, and they 
stopped at the Hotel de la Louisdane. 

Mr. John R. Todd, a leading SL Mary 
parish sugar plan'ter, was In the city during 
the past week on a visdL Mr. Todd was ac- 
companied by his estimable wife, and they 



secured apartments at the Commerciai Hotel. 

Mr. J. T. Boudreaux was the elBcieni sugar 
boiler duDlng the past campaign on the well 
known Honduras plantation of Mr. Thomas 
A. Shaffer in Terreibonne parish. Mr. Boud- 
reaux has had a fine reputation dn this Staite 
for years as a oareful and successful sugar 
boiler, and he amply sueltained it during the 
crop recently closed.^ 

Mr. Irving H. Morse was again a valuable 
member of the "Steering Commiittee*' at the 
9L James and Annan t places during the last 
campaign and gave valuable add in making 
these fine places run in their usuafl smooth 
and efCective manner. Mr. Morse hias ren- 
dered some very valuable services to the 
Louisiana sugar industry since his advent 
among us. 

Getting Ready for Rice. 

The North American Land and Timber 
Company, which runs a steamboat and 
barges on the Mermentau, has prepared spe- 
cifications for wo new barges 50 by 18 feet, 
and work on them will be pushed. The 
barges will be covered and built in first class 
style. The increased acreage planted to rice 
in the Lake Authur country justifies the 
company in preparing to handle machinery 
and rough rice.— Dally American. 



The Lake Benton Canal. 

Prof. Philbrick started for the lower coun- 
try Tuesday to continue the surveying for 
the proposed canad to connect 'Lake Charles 
with the Lake Arthur country. He took 
with him several assistants and the survey 
will no doubt be completed before his re- 
turn. 

H. G. Chalkey returned last night from 
Lake Benton where he with others erected 
a pole twenty-three feet high which will 
serve as a guide to the surveyors as th<By 
come from the wesL The land owners and 
farmers who would be benefitted by that 
canal are much interested in the project and 
if a favorable report is made by the sur- 
veyors the canal will no doubt be built at 
no distant day. Freight rates from that 
country would be very low. — ^Lake Charles 
Commercial Tribune. 



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386 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAJR MANUPACTOIUni. 



[Vol. XXn. No. 21. 



WANTS. 



W« will publish la this coluain,lree of charge until 
furtlMr notice, tho applications of all managers, over- 
seers, engineers and sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions in the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of theae. 

WANTED— Situation by a lady of experience as a 
teacher; object, a good home with small salary; ad- 
dress A. W., care Mlsfilssippl Packet Co., New Orleans, 
La. 6-19-99 

WANTED— Position as stenographer or book-keeper 
by a young man. Can give good references, and have 
no bad habits; address L. J. Carter, care Draughon 
College, Galveston, Texas. 6-23-99 

WANTEI>— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar maker, 
a position for the season of 1899, either in Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico; Is a close boiler of firsts and "sec- 
onds; Is strictly temperate and reliable and can fur- 
nish the best Of reference from past employers as to 
character and ability; speaks Spanish and French. 
Address J. W. F., 4231 N. Peters street. New Orleans, 
La. 

WANTED— Position as governess or teacher; sum- 
mer or session. Best references furnished. Address 
Miss Mary Stith, 1446 Camp street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
machinist and engineer for repairs and all-around work 
in beet sugar factory . Position permanent if satisfac- 
tory. Address, with references and salary expected, 
C. A. Zimmerman, Box 98, Eddy, New Mexico. 

WANTED— Bv a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler 
and clarifler with 18 years experience, expert In hand- 
ling green cane, a crop for the coming season In Louis- 
iana, Texas or Mexico. Best of references furnished. 
Makes no use of intoxicating liquors. Address Wes- 
ley, 218 Canal street, New Orleans. 6-17-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man 22 years of age, 
with gilt-edged references, as clerk in country or city 
store. Five years experience. Can speak French and 
English. Address Aouinaldo, Soiilouque, La. 
5-17-99 

WANTED— Position for the 1899 crop as book-keeper 
or assistant. Can give best of references. Twenty- 
two years old and a graduate of a good business col- 
lege ^addressA. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 5-9-99 

WANTED— A flrst-class and competent assistant 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season . Best 
references furnished; address Proof Stick, Box 62. 
Donaldsonvllle, La. 5-6-99 

WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
as overseer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantation work. Eighteen years experience and can 
furnish best of references; address A. C, care this 
office. 

WANTED— Position by a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best of reference; address Arthur, 
care P. M., Little Cypress, K y. 6-10-09 

WANTED— Situation by an experienced machinist 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly sober and at- 
tentive to business. Would like to secure work the 
year round if possible at reduced salary, or take re- 
pairs and crop on very reasonable terms. Good refer- 
ences furnished; address P. H. E. Fngineer, 724 Fern 
8 titeet, New Orleans. 6-10-99 

WANTED— A middle-aged German man for yard and 
to make himself generally useful . Address Mils. J. L. 
Darragh, Justine Plantation. Centervlll e, La. 6-11-99 

WANTED— Position on a sugar plantation as black- 
smlth, wheelwright and horse-shoer; address Sidney 
G. ROUSSELL, Edgard, La. 6-1-99 



WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the services 
of a competent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
references, will please address Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street, New Orleans, La. 6-11-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper, overseer, clerk 
or general office or stbre work. Can give the best of 
city and outaldereferences; address A. H. Noeninger. 
care of Room 206, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
le^B. 4-28-99 

WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, coUege gradu- 
ate. Have done some work in sugar analysis. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 88. State 
College, Pa. 4-28-99 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
dations, desires to secure a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., care General Dellv- 
ery^New Orleans. 6-8-99 



WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 
gar maker, by a man of large experience, either In plan- 
tation sugar house or sugar refinery. Can furnish good 
rSf^"}^®*- Would prove a valuable and all-around 
LouU^^rPllTnS?^ ^^^'^'^ P. R:.care 



WANTED-Posltlon by an all-aronnd handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk oows and make himself 
useful about a place. Flrst-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1428 St. Ann street. New Orleans. 
4-21-99 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experience as head ohemist in Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references. Can speak German, Duum, EngUsh and 
French; address L. G. LBLEB,care M. E. Sepp, 2388 
8th Avenue, New York. 4-14-99 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 4-13-99 

WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Bots-Bances, Apartado 
716, Havana, Cuba. 4-17-99 

WANTED-On a plantation, a competent blacksmith, 
one who thoroughly understands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt A Zieoler, Nos. 423 to 486 South Peters st. 
4-13-99 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or assistant 
time keeper. "Geo.", care this office. 4-6-99 

WANTED— An all around good plantaUon blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartia, Texas. 4-19-99 

WANTED— Position by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give first-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S., care this office. 
4-19-99 

WANTED— Position as plantation cook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. GlUls of Poydras 
plantation, and others; address Mrs. S. Terrelle, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-99 

WANTED-A position by a first-olass, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced in sugar mllland locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer. 
care Louisiana Planter. 4_ii_09 

WANTEI>-For the coming season, aposition as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Fkux Oubrb, 
Edgard, La. 4— 12— S 

WANTED— By a flrst-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the cbmlng season In Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furtiished; 
address J. H. P., 727 Lowerline street, New Orleans. 
4-6-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability. Integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of takinff entire charge of running the factory; or 
as sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 
4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man with first-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation; address S. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Philip Braun, Gibson. 
]± 8-27-99 

WANTEI>-Position by a man 80 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much ail object; address J. Bebthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-99 



WANTEDz-Posltion by a flrst-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boUer of flrst and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and tbe boiling for crystallizers. Best of referenoes! 
address H., care this office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a flrst-olass sugar house en- 

Saeer, good machinist, 18 years' experience in some of 
e best sugar houses In Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, this office. 8-2S-99 

WANTFTV— Situation by a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 8-20-99 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery: ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 8-23-99 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, in the countiy; good references; ad- 



dress Alphonse Buck, 2714 Seoond street, city. 



16-99 



WANTED— By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. Refer^ioes 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico: address Sugar Maeer, Look Box 
483, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-W 

WANTED— Position ss gen3ral helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. S., Fletel, La. Srl5-00 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of referenoes; 
address A., care this office. 8-15-99 

WANTED— In flrst-class sugar house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience: satisfaction guarahtdM; address 
Martin, 6041 Laurel street, New Orleans. 8-8-90 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper on plantation or 
teacher in a private family, by a yonng man of good. 
steady habits, refinement and education; can give Al 
references as to competency and energy; address C 
A., Bonnet Carre, La. . 3-18-99 

WANTED— Position as engineer and machinist. Su- 
gar house work a specialty. Address Chtep Bnoi- 
neer, Lqtcher, La. 8-7-1» 

WANTED— Position as book-keeper or stenograplier, 
or both; have had two years' experience on large su- 
gar plantation, and thoroughly understand the ins and 
outs of office work for sugsr refinery. Can furnish 
best of referenoe. Address J. P. B., P. O. Box 102, 
New Orleans, La. 8-8-90 

WANTED— Position by a handy man on a planta- 
tion. Is a good carpenter and bricklayer, and can 
milk cows and do stable work. Good references. Ad- 
dress Henry Olivier, 820 Villere street. New Oriesns. 
8-0-90 

WANTED— A position for the coming crop of 1800 
by a first-cla<%8 vacuum pan sugar boiler. StncUy tem- 
perate and reliable and can furnish the best of refer- 
ences from past employers as to-cdiaraoter and ability. 
Address Proof Stick, 4281 N. Peters street. New Or- 
^e«>s. 8-1-90 

WANTEI>— Position by engineer to do repairing and 
to take off crop of 1899. I am familiar with all details of 
sugar house work; also cart work, .address J. A- L.. 
Lauderdale P. O., La. 2-2^^ 



The Lima Locomotive and Machine Company, ^^,^, 



Geo. H, Marsh, Pres't. 
T. T. Mitgbell, V. Pres't. 
W. C. Mitchell, Genl M'g'r. 
D. E. Harlan, Sec^and Treas. 
I. P. Carnbb, Superintendent. 



The Shay 
Locomotive 

Is especially designed for use on Iwavy grades 1 
Prslgbt Cars, Logging Cars, Car Wheels and Steel 



carves. We 
I Iron Castfngs. 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 



AN£> 



H MeeWiP IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS. JUNE 3, 1800. 



:No. 22. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



. SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

- OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Lou/Btana Sugar PkuiHrM' A$$ociatton, 

M9CM8/on Branch Sugar PlanHr^' A$$ociat/on, 

Louigfana Sugar Chemists' Mswciat/on, 

iCansoB Sugar 0row§r$' A99oeiatfon, 

T§Ma$ Sugar P/anisr$' Auocittdon. 

Pttblisbea at New Orlemns, La., evary Saturday if oraing 

BT TBB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
AIANUPACTURBR CO. 

Devoted to I^ouisiana Agricalttire in general, and to 
the Bugar Industry In particular, and in all its 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and ConunerdaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. "W. J. THQMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Poetoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) 19 00 

Foreign Subscription 4 00 

ADVERTISINO RATES. 



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All communications should be addressed to Thi 
L0UI8UMA Plantbr,888 Csrondelet street, New Ortoaniv 

XjB. 

UST OP STOCKHOLOeRS. 



McCall Brothers. 
McCall 4k Legeadfe, 
Leon Oodchauz, 
Janes Teller. 
B. Lsmann 4k Bro., 
Leooce 5oolat, 
Louis Bosh. 
W. e. Brickell, 
W. C. Stubbs. 
Jolm DyoMMid, 

- - ■ tr 



bonpsoa. 
Poos & Bamett, 
H. C. WaroMth. 
Lodos Forsyth. Jr.» 
Bdward J. day, 
Shattuck & Hofteaa. 
Bmlle Rest. 
Thomss D. MUler. 
Schmidt 4k Zlegler. 
T. O. ncLaury. 
L. 5. Clark, 
J. B. Levert, 
Simpson Homor. 
W. BTBIoomlleld. 
W. W. Satdilfe. 
John S. Hoore, 
James C. Mnrphy. 
Jas.Webrs. 



R. Boltran. 

Laden Sonlat* 

D. R. Calder. 

L. A. BUU. 

Hero 4k Malhlet, 

W.J. Behan. 

J. T. Moors, Jr., 

Edwards 4k HMibCKaa. 

John A. MorrU, 

e. H. Cunningham, 

R. Vltcrbo. 

H.C. ninor. 

C. M. Sorhi. 

J. L. Harris. 

J. H. Murphy, 

Andrew Price. 

e.&J. Kodc. 

Wm. Qarig, 

A. A. ITOOOS, 

BradUh Johnson, 
Qserge P. Anderton, 
A. L. ilonnot, 
Richard MHHken, 
W. P. nMm; 
Leiin A. BecnsI* 
J. N. Pharr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



D.R. 



EXECUTIVE COmnTTBS. 

Ikmry ncCaiL 

IV. B. 



Jbhn Dynmnd. PmHtt. 



5om« Surprises of Cane Growth This 
Season. 

Very many strange things have oc- 
curred this season in the cane fields of 
Louisiana. The great freeze of Febru- 
ary 13, 1899, was expected to be disas- 
trous, and certainly thalt expectatix)n will 
be verified in a greater or less degree. 
On the other hand, sugar cane has done 
far better in many instances than seem- 
ed possible under the circumstances, 
and even with the data that we now 
have, the sugar cfane in these instances 
seems to be doing better than in normal 
seasons. In our last issue we referred 
to the laltent life of sugar cane and to 
the possibilit^y that the destruction of 
many of the eyes of the canes this ye^ar, 
both plant and stubble, was compen- 
sated Ito some extent by the development 
of those eyes which had not previously 
germinated, although a year's time had 
inter\'ened. 

It is now found that in many cases 
where cane was windrowed early in 
December, tlie ratoons therefrom are 
very indifferent, while canes windrowed 
later on left stubble that has ratooned 
well. 

Again, ratoons in well-drained lands 
are in some instances very indifferent, 
while the ra»toons in low, black lands 
and in low sandy lands, are both excel- 
lent. 

In the North, where cellars are used 
for the protection of potatoes, apples, 
etc., from freezing weather, it is some- 
times the custom to carry tubs of water 
into these cellars when the weather is 
very cold, experience having shown that 
the presence of these small bodies of 
water in the cellar aided in the preser- 
vation of the vegetables from destructive 
freezing. May it not have been that 
this past winter in the low lands, satu- 
rated with waiter, the latent heat of the 
watei* a/> retarded the freezing of the 



canes in those lands that the stubbles 
were protected, alithough subjected to 
the same temperalture which nearly 
destroyed the stubbles in high and well- 
drained lands? The latent heat re- 
tained by water at 32 deg. F. is very 
considerable, and this would have to be 
evolved before the water could be 
changed into solid ice. It would cer- 
tainly seem that in some instances the 
stubble crop has been protected by the 
wet land. We have in mind a field of 
thirty acres in which the water lay six 
inches deep in ithe middle. The cold 
weather and the fuel panic in New Or- 
leans made it impossible for a few days 
to secure any coal, and during this time 
the great freeze occurred. On a large 
plantation that particular field now pre- 
sents one of the best fir^t stubble crops, 
and, although thoughir to have been en- 
tirely lost, it promises to yield at least 
twenty tons of first ratoons per acre. 

We presume that! these queer expe- 
riences can hardly have any serious 
value to us as we shall probably not have 
another such season as that of '98-'99 for 
twenty years to^come, and yet it would 
seem well /to collate all the data that 
wo can in this direction and to put it 
on record as it may come into unex- 
pected use at any time. The efforts of 
the orange growers to proltect their fields 
from freezing by flooding Avith water as 
was done on the lower coast in at least 
one instance, would seem to have some 
bearing upon this subject. 

In 1876 there were sharp freezes 
on the nights of the Isit, 2d and 3d of 
December. Considerable cane was wind- 
rowed at that time bec^ause of these 
freezes, and the stubble of these canes 
made an indifferent stand of ratoons in 
1877. This seemed inexplicable at the 
time. It was always thought perfectly 
safe to cut plant cane ifk the mill in 
December, the lateness of the season 
guaranteeing conditions thalt would give 



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iVoL XXII, i4o. a. 



good ratoons the following year. Why 
it failed in 1876 was never determined. 
It will be remembered that this season 
it was feared that the grealt freeze of 
February 13th, preceded by the sharp 
freeze of the previous week ,would so 
sour the exposed parts of the stubbles 
th'at the whole wiould suffer by the in- 
cidental fermenltation and thus be de- 
stroyed. Based upon this hypothesis, 
many parties quickly shaved off tihe 
sour tops to prevent the injury to the 
rest; of ithe stubble. Since that time 
these hypotheses seem all to have been 
disproved, and iH has been found that 
canes that were left standing and were 
frozen and soured in the fields, and only 
cut alt a late date to clear the fields, 
have given the best stubbles, as has been 
the former experience from freezing 
weather in Louisiana. It has been found 
again this season that stubbles not shav- 
ed and stubbles deeply shaved have giv- 
en about the same results, the develop- 
ment of the stand of ratoons having come 
largely from the Iftioroughness of the 
removal of the earth and the forced 
development of the plant as is usual in 
our culture. The phenomenon of 1876 
would, Itherefore, still seem to remain 
unexplained. The writer was led to 
believe at that tSme that the canes cut 
and windrowed on the first days of De- 
cember, 1876, left stubbles surcharged 
with cane juice, which freezing the 
same night, produced destructive oondi 
tions, the same as aittach to split- 
ting freezes in canes intended for 
the mill. Canes that are cult in the or- 
din-ary way are not frozen the same 
night, and in the meantime the surplus 
moistiure in the exposed part of the stub- 
ble evaporates and in its drier condition 
the stubble is not liable to that destruc- 
tive freezing which seems m 1876 to 
have so severely damaged the freshly 
cut stubbles. 



Waterini: flules. 

Now that the hot days of June are 
upon us and laying by the cane crop 
will soon be in order, it will seem ex- 
tremely apropos to again call the atten- 
tion of our planters to the urgent neces- 
sity for watering the working mules in 
the cane fields in the forenoon and in 
the afternoon. During the earlier 



months of the year it is comparatively 
safe ito allow the mules to do without 
water from morning until noon and 
then again from noon until night. Ex- 
perience, howover, for quite a number 
of years has sh^own that where mules 
have been watered in the fields in the 
forenoon and in the afternoon during 
the months of May and June scarcely 
any cases of colic have occurred, while 
such cases are comparatively frequent 
when this plan of more frequent water- 
ing is not adopted. It must necessarily 
be that the animals need water in the 
fields as much as the men who work 
there. Their anxiety to get to the wa- 
ter before their turn c?omes indicates 
how much they need it. Many of our 
planters are very conservative and ad- 
here to their old methods, Ithinking that 
the multitude of new suggestions are 
of but little value, but we assure them 
that so far as waltering the mules in the 
fileds is concerned, if ithey will adopt 
this method they will never regret it. 

Mules taking water in the fields in 
this way will drink less when they come 
in iram work, and in this manner are 
rendered less liable to an attack of colic. 
When the weather is very hot it seems 
inexpedient to give the mules over a 
bucket, of about three gallons, of water 
in the field. Many mules, however, will 
drink 1^ to 2 buckets of water in the 
field without exhibiting; any injurious 
effect, but such a large quantity would 
seem rather dangerous in very hot 
weather. 

Of course it is well understood among 
all sugar planters that mules coming in 
from the field at noon and at night, hot 
and tired, should be kept away from the 
water Itrough sufficiently long f^r them 
to have cooled down moderately and 
sufliciently to prevent that engorgement 
with water that so frequently produced 
colic in the paslt. 



Mor« Rice in South Carolina. 

Our South Carolina friends seem to be 
emulating the example of our South- 
western Louisiana rice planters in de- 
veloping the resources of their c^auntry 
by calling in the aid of outside capital. 
It is now stalted that the rice planters 
owning plantations on the South Caro- 
lina side of the Savannah river are en- 



deavoring to form a syndicate, or some 
corporate organizaltion on the basis of a 
million dollars capital with a view of is- 
suing some $400,000 in bonds for the 
purpose of construdting a levee of 
twenty miles or more along the river for 
the protection of the crops from storms 
and freshets. A Boston syndicate is 
said to be ready to finance the scheme. 
The rice planters of SouJth Carolina 
and Georgi'a have thus far apparently 
been taking care of themselves individu- 
ally, and the too often recurring disas- 
ters that have overtaken them seem at 
at last Ito have led to the idea of oorpoi^ 
ate protection along the lines th^t have 
already been so well worked out in 
Louisiana in our various levee districts, 
entirely relieving the individual ripai^ 
ian owners from all responsibility and 
expense so far as levees are concerned 
other tth!an the payment of the necessary 
taxes. This movement on the part of 
the South Carolina and Georgia rice 
men will mean a great deal to the rice 
planters of those states if it c^n be made 
a success and not unnecessarily expen- 
sive. 



The Louisiana Sugar Planters* Asso- 
ciation. 

The June meeting of this Association 
will be held next I'hursday evening at 
8 o'clock at No. 712 Union streeit. New 
Orleans. The topic scheduled for dis- 
cussion is *'How ot Secure the Best Ke- 
sults in the Preservaiti<m of Seed Cane," 
which was to have been taken up at the 
last meeting but was postponed in order 
that the members of the Association 
might listen to Hon. James Wilson, the 
Secretary of the Department of Agri- 
culture, who was present and favored 
them with a short address. All inter- 
ested in the above subject are invited to 
be present, whether members of the As- 
sociation or not. 



The Cane Crop. 

Local showers have favored some 
portions of the sugar district during the 
pas^t week, but they were not sufficient 
in either duration or extent to materially 
ameliorate the situation The cane needs 
considerable moisture and the advent of 
our usual summer rains will be hailed 
with a great deal of satisfaction. While 



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8» 



^ caue resists drought well, and reciipor- 
■atea rapidly. therefrom, it wiU certainly 
be unfortunate if the present- crop, al- 
ready so curtailed, should be subjected 
much longer to ithis very dry weather. 



The. Fcrtlll^cer Trust. 

Thfe news now cotnes from New York 
Ithat a Fertilizer Trust has beeii or^n- 
ized xinder.the title, of the Aniierican 
Agricultural Chemical Co., and under 
a special barter graiiied by the State 
of ConncticuH, ^th an authorized capi- 
tal of forty millions of dollars. The ar- 
gumen)t is that the severe competition 
-between the Northern and Eastern 
manuf actureo^ and their reduced profits, 
the result of this active competition, has 
led these parties to organize with a view 
of forcing consumers to pay higher 
prices, or to force the producers of raw 
materials to sell these to them at lower 
prices. ' 

This new company is composed of the 
following concerns: 

Alexandria FertUiarins and Chemical Co., 

. Atexaadrta, Va. H. J. Baker ft Bra, Brook- 
lyn* JN. Y.; ,;8r«41e3r Fertilizer Co., B.oeton, 

.Ma^s., 4^nd Lo6 Angeles, Cal.; Chemicad Com- 
pany oi Canton, Bailtimore, Md.; The Cleve- 
land Dryer Co., Cleveland, O.; Cumherland 
Bone Phosphate Co., Boothbay Harbor, Me.; 
Ciwker Fertilizer Co., Buffalo, N.' Y.; 
De^trfck Fertilizer and Chemical Co., Bal:ti- 
mope> Md.; Jarecki Chemlcatl Co., Sandusky, 

.0.; lia^retto Guano Co.,. Baltimore, Md.; 
^Ll0bi(g Manufaoturln^ Co., Carteret, N. J., 
and Wilmington, Del.; Lister's Agricultural 
Chemical Works, Newark, N. J.; Maryland 
Fertilizing and 'Alanuf-acturing Co., Balti- 
more, Md.; Michrgan CaiTwA Works, Detroit, 

-Mich.; Mileom Rendering and Fertilizing 
Co., Buffalo, N. Y.; J^brthwestern FertiHz- 
4ns Co.^ Chicago, HI.; Preston Fertilizer Coc, 
Brooklyn, N. Y.; The Quinnlpiac Co., Bos- 
ton> Masfi^; Ilead Fer-tiU^er.Cp., Brooklyn, 

,N. Y.; Tygert^Allen Fertilizer 'Qo., Philadel^ 
phia; Williams & Clark ' Fertilizer Co., Car- 
teret, N. J.; The Ze)d (iuano'Co.,. of B^lti- 
•more'City, Md. '• 

The organization of this immense 
corp>ration has ibeen -financed by ithe 
,bAi^ing: houses of Clark, Dodge & Co., 
of New York,, and Jackson & Curtis 
and Iloi'h blower & W^k^, of Boston. 
It is stated that upwards of. ten millions 
•of dollars of the stock bas been taken by 
-tbe ivendors, and th^ none has been lof- 
fered to tthe. public; tiha.t those who "dte 
in tjie new. company will stay in it, An- 
asBofuchas therfe will be more profit in 
■^e business than eyer before; then 
there will be a big saving in freights, 



the purchase of siipplies, advertising ex- 
panses and. in marketing the goods, leav- 
ing the amourilt available for dividends 
•^even larger than has been indicated. * 

The forty millions of stock has been 
divided into $20,000,000 six per ce^t. 
preferred stock and $2a,000,000 of com- 
mon stock, with seventeen millions of 
each already issued arid three millidiis 
each .to remain in the tr^asury. . 

The people of the counltry must judge 
for themselves as to the expediency of 
countenancing these vast organizations. 
We are gratified to see that none of the 
•W^-Orfetes fertilizing companies -are 
involved in the deat. 



Ainer^can Sugar in Canada. 

^ Tlie exceedlngiy jlow-priceBot refined sugar 
•resuUing from th^e ooiitest bettween the 
American refiners make It possible, in viev 
of the -dra-wback of dvuties allowed on ex- 
{^rted. mercliax»iiBe,.to aliLp American ^ugajr 
to Canada, to a moderate dtegree^.thougb tb^is 
-trade has. not been pushed to any material 
^extent, ^as it meami either seUIng sugar at a 
•loss or.at^an iaflnit^tBimail p^ofiit. There 
has nevertheless been a gradual increase 
in th&.bu3ines3^ and one of the chief barriers 
ta it-^namely a .combination .of Canadian 
grocers (with Canadian refiners against the 
American sugar — has now been removed. 
Thus far.. the exports have been chiefly the 
'product of the Sugar Trust, as the business 
has not been considered sufficiently, impppt- 
.ant to .warrant the trouble of. complying with 
the drawback regulationfl. Kef^rJAg to t^ie 
change, Messrs, .Wjjlett & Gray, in their 
SuganTi^de Journal, say: ;'A notable feSf 
.ture of tha.we.ek is t)\e. opening up of the 
'Canadian markefts to Am^l<^i refined 
sugars by the. dissolution on Tuesday <^ the 
.tirade arran^qients lon^ .ejist^n^. between 
.the 'Guild' of ., Canadian, ^rocg^;^; and the 
Canadian refinery, by whiic)i all limits of pur- 
ch^e a^d sale-prices are removed and gro- 
cers will buy wherevfff they can l>uy cheap- 
^t, at home or a*brQ§^. The American Sugar 
I^efining Company will find herein a place 
foif their sulcus .produjction. The inde- 
pendents are not disposed to compete for 
tl^ trade, on account of the difficulties oif 
drawbacks, ^tc. , Canadian reffiners have 
f^lr^ady ^reduced prices lOc per 100 pounds, 
to sh-ut out American su^pars, but they can- 
not shut out without seriovis ioss to the r^ 
.finers, for the American Sugar Refining 
Con^pany have the advantage of drawbacks 
largely increased by our countervailing du- 
ties on beet sUgara. This will prove an iw- 
iportant new future in the business of the 
•Aqierican Sugar Refining Company of much 
.advajpktage." Willett & Gray also print the 
foUpwing dispatch, dated Toronto, May 23; 
^ lA^reat deal of discontent has (prevailed 



for some time among members of the Gro- 
cers' Guild on account of the increasingly 
large (quantities of American qugar entering 
this territory, and the blame is laid, at th,e 
door of the refiners, the other contracting 
parties to the au^ar agreement, for permit- 
ting this state, of things. To that the refin- 
ers, replied ttiat by keeping down their prices 
at figures which on the even market showed 
.an absolute loss they were doing all that 
could >be expected of them to meet the un- 
toward conditions, and as their net price to 
the trade was, say, 16c per 100 pounds less 
than actual net danded cost oif American 
granulated, they felt that the onus was upon 
the grocers to meet tlie foreign competition, 
as, although our prices were lower at first 
cost than American, yet when grocers* jpfrofit 
was added Canadian sugar was actually 6c 
per 100 pounds dearer than competition. It 
. was therefore hoped tthat a tentative agree- 
ment might be effected whereby the trade 
wouia have been willing to sell sugars on a' 
much smaller margin than they have re- 
cently had under the sugar agreement, and 
to that end a conference was held in Montreal 
yesterday between the refiners and grocers, 
when ways and means of meeting the situa- 
tion were discussed. 

'*The spirit of compromise was not pres- 
ent. As a result the sugar agreement which 
took effect July 11, 1S9S, is now suspended 
indefinitely and prospects of effecting a set- 
tlement in the near or distant future are 
very remote. Sugars will, until further no- 
tice, .be sold by refiners at open prices and 
by the trade in the same way, the lafter onJy 
adhering to the Guild selling terms and dis- 
counts. To-day quotations are as follows: 
Redjpaths and St. (Lawrence granulated, 
4.5&C; Acadia, 4.60c; yellows, equal to No. 2 
standard, 3.75c; all net delivered to Toronto. 
It is a matter of general regret that the 
conference yesterday was abortive, and the 
opinion has been expressed that it will be 
.i^ipossible to restore the old basis for a very 
long time, if ever. Members of the Toronto 
Guild are conferring with representatives of 
Hamilton firms this afternoon In the hope 
of arriving at some temporary settlement" 

American granulated quotations yesterday 
,for exp-ort were, freight prepaid, 3.27c net to 
Montreal, 3.28^ net to principal Ontario 
points, in bond.— ^N. Y. Journal Commerce. 



Pergonal. 



Mr. M. J. Kahoa, the prominent sugar 
planter of West Baton Rouge parish, was at 
the Grunewald on Thursday last. 

Mr. W. D. Calhoun was again strongly in 
evidence at the St. James and Anmaut re- 
fineries of the Miles P. & M. Co., (Ltd., during 
the past campaign. Mr. Calhoun is a valu- 
able man and seems determined to reach the 
top round oif the ladder in sugar planting 
matters. 

Mr. L. F. Suthon, of Houma, La., was in 
the city on a visit a few days ago. He 
registered at the Commercial hotel. 



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ncs tomsu^A ruattm aks sooam lONUiULCTuvn. 



tVoL XXn, Na ft 



CuImi versus Louisiana. 

Siiice my return (from CuImi with the Sec- 
ond Loukiiana Volunteer infantry many in- 
quiries ha/ve been made of me as to th« 
eoil, climate, etc., of Cuba, and prtnciiMdly 
as to the prospects of sugar raising in com- 
petition with lioulflfiana. In my persousA 
opinion, shared by those in Cuba llamiliar 
with existing and probaUe future ooodi- 
tions, the Louisiana planter need have no 
fear of Cuban competition (for the follow- 
ing reasons: 

1. While the island has un^ulhtedly rich 
soil and favora/ble ollmaite, it must be recol- 
lected that the day of cheap labor has c?one 
by In Cuba nerer more to return. Further, 
it takes eighteen months to make a crop and 
transportation ito the seaboard is yery cost- 
ay. 

2. There are very few good titles to land 
in Cuba and no mortgage laws, and capital- 
ists engaging in the business have to furn- 
ish every cent to produce, tnstnsport, store 
and market their crops. Bad titles alone 
will make capitalists cautious and no in- 
vestment of leas than 11,000,000 will be re- 
munerative. 

3. It is so much easier and t»lmpler to 
raise, cure and manufacture tiobaoco, that 
f6r many years this wiH be the ipaln crop; 
in fact, a htrge syndicaite has now control of 
this business with a capital isaticm of |6,500,- 
000. 

4. The 'banking and monetary systems 
are limited and very poor. It has only been 
lately, with the establishment of 'AmericaiL 
banks, {hat a check was used in Cuba. Previ- 
ously all depositors had to draw their money 
.in person. 

5« The ffovernment of the island, either 
as a colony, territory or "Free Oufba" (Cuba 
liibre), is bound to be costly, for the sup- 
pression of brigandage will necessiffcate a 
•large Itorce of military or poiice, wlkich has * 
to be paid for out of the island revenues, 
and as real estate is not directly taxed, the 
produce has to bear the burden. .Again, the 
wharf monopoly and transportation charges 
are so heavy that, with the produce taxes, 
they amount to a very substantial protec- 
tive duty. 

Summary: While soil and climate are 
favorable, ''where every prospect pleasee 
and only man is vile,'* it must be noted in 
adl tropical climates man loses that nerve 
and energy which charactertzes the Ameri- 
can people. So if the Louisiana planters 
will study their prime need, which is a good 
soil, imitating the Cuban soil, which con- 
tains illme in large quantity (due to disin- 
tegration of coral rock) and supply this de- 
ficiency in their own soil by superphos- 
phates, making rich, ripe cane instead of 
heavy tonnage of low grade, the problem of 
successful competition with the iworld will 
be solved. It is the further observation of 
the writer, who has been through Texas and 
Florida, that a strong similarity exists ta 
the -famous oane soils of Oyster Creek, 
Texas, on the plantations of Col. SI H. 



Cunningham (Sugar land), Messrs. U A. 
EUlis A Son (Sartartia), Ball, Hutchings 4b 
Co. (Retrieve), Capt Dunavant (Sagls 
Lake), and many on the Rio Orande, so It 
would seem the part of practical ooi|im<Hi 
sense to study the qiuaAity and hanre an analy- 
sis of these soils, then add to our soils the 
deficiency found, which the writer believes 
to be lime, and further believes the marl of 
Carolina or the phosphate rock (ground) of 
Florida will be one of the remedies. ,,This 
is only submitted for consideratioQ and in * 
the hope of some one trying it on a smaU 
scale, to show the correctness of the con- 
clusion. It is not too late to do so this 
season, say on one cut— John B. CaldweU, 
in Donaidsonville Chid 



Coionlal Suirar and tlM Unitad SUtas 
Tariff. 

A French vlaw of the sugar producing 
capacity of the Hawaiian Islands and its 
probable effect on the tariff of the United 
States is contained in a recent report of L. 
Vossion, French Consul at Honolulu, to his 
government The Consul says: 

For several years the Hawaiian planterK^ 
in order to disarm opposition from the 
Ameilcan producers, liave asserted in pub- 
lic documents which halve been given wide 
circulation, that all the land on the islands 
capable of producing sugar cane had been 
taken up, and that the output of this pro- 
duct could by no possibility ever average 
more than 250,000 tons or 300,000 tons per 
year at the very outside. This Is entirety 
wrong. 

The superficial area of the islands is 1.700.- 
heetaree (1 hectare equals 2.471 acres) « of 
which it is true that about 1,000,000 hec- 
tares of arid mountains, desert, Tolcanoes^ 
and steril lava beds are impossible of cul- 
tivatfion. But of the 700,000 hectares re- 
maining it is very conservative to estimate 
50,000 hectares as adapted to the cultivatiOii 
of cane. Experiments in neariy all parts of 
the islands, even in lAnao. fwlkich is ccm- 
sidered as rather poor in vegetation for a 
tropical island, have given excellent results, 
as is the case at Waianae. Onomea, Wailuku. 
and many other places, in which the plan- 
tations already established are capable of 
coDiBhierable enlai^ment. Tlius if one 
counts on an average production of 12 tons 
per hectare, which is less than the real 
average, it is seen that probably within a 
few years the exports of Hawaiian sugar mUl 
reach 850,000 or 400,000 tons, which may in- 
crease later to as much as 450.000 tons in 
good ysaiB. 

By tirtue of the reciprocity clause of the 
Dingle)r tariff, Cuban sugar wHl at least enter 
the USHed SKates at a reduced fate of duty, 
while that from Hawaii, Porto Rico and the 
PMlippines will naturally enter free, and if 
to this mass thus thrown upon the American 
market, one adds the local production of 
both cane and beet sugar, it is possible to 
(foresee the time, within the flist live years 
of the tjwenttteth century, when the United 



States will import scarcely any foreign sugar 
The Treasury, by the disa^ipearance of its 
chief dutfies will thns lose a considerable 
revenue which it will be necessary to re- 
place in order to cover the deficit It will 
also be necessary to give the American pro- 
ducers some coonpensatlon for the lower cost 
of production, the «preat advantage enjoyed 
by their troplical rivals, and the United States 
will thus be obliged to imiKwe an entrance 
duty on the sugar produced in the extra- 
continental possessions,^ varying aocordlng 
to the countries. — ^The Manufacturer. 



Saccharin in Chicago. 

'^Saccharin is used in ^he preparation of 
fruit sauces, stewed prunes and in filling for 
pie." Such is the frank statement printed 
on the menu of the Commercial Clulb. Many 
of the. guests cannot eat certain articles 
when prepared with sugar without creating 
dietetic disturbance, and therefore saiocharin 
is commonly used as a substitute for sugar 
in all art!i<^es re<iuiring sweetening. 

Would not that same honest policy, if 
adopted by the cann^s and preservers of 
fruits and T^o^bl^* tend to Increase oon- 
Adence in their' prod^^ts? Many consumers 
prefer sacchi^rin to sugar, as it does not in- 
fluence tfhe functions of the human body; 
does not decompose In the body; does not 
engender fat; has no nutritive merits. 
Thetre are, iK>wever, others who have a 
prejudice, oflttlmeiB unreasonable, ag^dttpt 
chemicals of any sort in food, and such 
should be free to elect whether they should 
use fpod containing chemicals or substitutes, 
instead of being made the victims of a paltry 
deception. l«t us have 4}he honebt labeling 
of all food products. Occasionally a manu- 
f^usturer using saccharin states the fact on 
hds label, but the ma<K>iity do not. Why 
not have canddes, jams, preserves, honey, 
and other articles containiuK glucose 
stamped with the fact; each sort of a bak- 
ing powder sold for exactly what it is? U 
this is generally followed, then any unrea- 
sonable prejudice which may exist will dis- 
appear, and consumers win feel as free to 
buy oleomargarine as butter; glucose or 
saccftiarin as sugar; apple jeUy with various 
flavors, as articles true to name. "Hon- 
esty is the best policy" is the .best sort of 
•worldly wisdom. — Qrooers' Criterion. 



Personal. 



Mr. John R. Gheens, of Lafourche parish, 
and Miss liary Oheens, were registered at 
the St Charles Hotel, 6un<toiy last, having 
left Golden Ranch to take care of itself 
for a day or two. 

Mr. PhUip H. Ments. of Franklin, La., 
was in tbe city on a visit a feW days ago. 
He made his headquarters at the Hotel 
Grunewald. 

Mr. Felix A. BonviUain, of Houma, La., 
was at the Commercial Hotel during the 
past week. Mr. A. A. BonviUain, of Glencoe, 
La., was also registered at this popular 
house on Sunday last Both of these gen- 
tlemen are very prominently identified with 
Terrebonne parish's sugar interests. 



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June 3, 1S99.1 



THS LOmSIAirA PLANTBR AKD SUGAR MAlfUPAOTUKBl^ 



S41 



LOCAL LimBRB. 



Asoenjipn. 

(IPICIAL CORRBtPOlfDmCI.) 

Bdiior LomiHana PlarUer: 

The 'weather Is iwarm enough to 6uH any- 
body — even the ice man — and It haa tyeen 
a'bout as dry in most places as iit was warm. 
Such showers ae have flallen were local In 
character, with the result that while some 
plantations and vicinities are not In need 
of rain, many others are suffering for it. 

rrhe general situation remains material- 
ly «incban«red and items of interest from the. 
phkntations are few and jBar between.. Our 
maiM^ers are not so cummunicative as 
usual OQ the subject of 'thedr crop cohditioDs, 
and prospects, and the omen is noit a good 
one, since it Indicates that there isnit much 
to ijiT&g about The few who have fSalrly 
satififlactory ouUooks are In such a minority 
and feel so loath to hurt the feelings of 
their less fortunate colleagues thiat they 
are more reticent than is their iwont. Then 
the ai^prebeosion of having imiputations cast 
upon their veracity probahly exercises no 
little restraining in<fluence, as there is a dis- 
posit^oa in many <idarters to resent I6e 
profKMltion that an(y<b6d3r can have a fairly 
good cane crop this year, and to class any 
man who makes such pretension as a candi- 
date for the distinction of being "the biggest 
liar in the state." Two of our best known 
ptanters have recently professed to regard 
each other as entitled to this de^gnation— 
only 4n a Pickwickian sense, of course. 
When No. 1 claimed an average of over 
142 pounds of sugar to the ton of cane for 
last grinding season his friend tendered 
him the iblue ribbon for* pre-eminence in 
prevarication; and now that iNo. 2 asserts 
tliat he Is likely to make enough cane for 
seed and grind 2,000 tons besides Kahout one- 
sixth of his plantation's average tonnage) 
No 1 wishes to return the d)eooratk>n and 
forego all claim to the ditftinotion which it 
implies. In point of fact, both gentlemen 
are noted for their accuracy of statement and 
excellent capacity fcnr estimating crop re- 
sults, and when the real "Mggest liar in 
the state" is discovered his name will fbe 
very nnUke either of theira and his residence 
will be neither Salaburg nor McManor. 

(Mr. John Reuss, fonmerily one of the best 
known and most successful sugar plantera 
of lower Iberville and upper Ascension, has 
been taken seriously 111 in iOermany, and 
his son, Mr. George B. Reuse, has gone 
across the ocean with his ftunily responsive 
to the old gentleman's urgent cal>legram 
sofmnonlng them all to 4iis ibedside. News 
of the patient's condition is anxiously 
awaited by liis many friends in this section, 
and the hope is general that he may not only 
survive the present attack ibut reaover his 
health completely and be enafbded to carry 
out his recent intention of returning to 
Louisiana. 

4Aseension has ilost another dlstifl«riilBhed 
cTy*ep. m^. iR. N. SJww, ^ }fad}P{p Ifwjrtf 



and pabtto man, and a prominent member 
of the Ascension (Branch of the Sugar Plant- 
ers' (Association, passed arway suddenly the 
morning of the 27th last, in the fifty-ninth 
year of his age. The cause of death iwas 
heart failure, and the end came almost with- 
out premonitW. The esteem in iwhich Judge 
Sims was beM and the sorrow and regret 
occasioned by his death are indicated In a 
(measure 'by the fact that Ms funeral was 
perhaps the largest ever seen in the parish. 

Next Tuesday wiN .be regular meeting day 
for the Ascension Branch, and among the 
•matters to be considered will be that of 
memorial tributes to-iHon. Wm. Porcher 
Milecr/ an ex-presldent of the association, and 
Judge Sims, iwht> 'was a member of the board 
of direotors at the time of his death. 

An invitation has ibeen extended the 
United States gunboat Nashvitie to stop at 
DonaMsonviile on the iway down the rtver, 
and preparations are 9>eing made to give her 
a hearty welcome. A reception at the rooms 
of the "Abapa" and a carriage ride through 
Palo Alto and E>van iHaill plantations are 
items on the program of entertainment pro- 
posed for the edification of the NaehviiUe's 
bfficers. Ascension. 



Il^erville. 

(SPBCIAX* CORRBSPONDBKCE.) 

EdUor Louigiana Planted: 

iElxcepting a light shower on the 23rd In- 
stant the greater part of our parish has 
been without rain for nearly six weeks, and 
while the drouth is not of as long duration 
as last year it lias been equally as far reach- 
ing In its effect, due perhaps to the winds, 
which in no Httde measure have helped to 
evaporate the moisture from the soil. The 
maximum temperature for the week was on 
May 29th when the thermometer registered 
96 degrees. The shower mentioned aibove 
showed a precipitation of .32 inch. Plant- 
era generally have tbeen bringinig the dirt 
up to the cane top retain moistura. 

Some cofn was laid by and peas pkmted 
but uKMt people are >waiting for the rain 
which Mr. Thomas Supple, of Bsyou Ckmla, 
says, speaking from never f4ilhig indica- 
tions, wiU come this week, dome plantera 
think that a good many stu^bbles will be 
brought out during the month of June, with 
favorable weather. 

(Parties from the east bank report magnifi- 
cent crops of rioe at Ehrergreen plantation, 
leased by Mr. Simon LeBlanc, of St Gabriel, 
and at Indian Camp, under lease to Messra. 
Babin Bros., some of the rice t>eing more 
than knee high. 

Messra. Frederic and John Wilbert have 
had a new fence erected on the Kuneman 
front and have pulled down all the old 
tumlile down eyesore shanties. A fine crop 
of corn is coming. lAt Enterprise, the other 
plantation lately acquired by these enterpris- 
ing men, four new caibins and a large tenant 
:house have ibeen added, besides numerous 
r^ialra and additions to the hnlWlUgs already 
<9 ^he j)lac^ fs |«9t 9|f Pif ffH^y ^ 



the spirit of progress and improvement has 
struck the Bayou Jacob section. 

(Mir. Alclde Daigle, of Messra Trahan & 
Daigle, of DorceyviUe, "was at Plaquemlne 
this 'Week and reports their plant cane fln 
splendid shape and that the acreage com- 
pared with last year's shows a shortage of, 
only 8 acres. Mr. Daigle says that while 
rain is badly needed, the drouth is not near 
as bad as that of 1S98. 

iWe had a pleasant visit last FrMay to the 
Milly plantation of Messra. L^Blanc ft 
Danes, on Bayou Plai(iuemine, and were de- 
lighted with the general appearance of their 
crop. Mi'lly has 225 acres of plant cane as 
pratty as can <be, a perfect stand and Mr. 
Danoe says it is sucker ing earlier than 
last year, and more profusely. The stubble 
crop is a good average for the season, while 
the corn crop is beautiful. Scarcely any 
stnbblee came out in cuts whera the cane 
had been planted in the fall of '97 and for 
this rea£on MiiHy'e stubble crop is 40 acres 
short (Last year the place produced 5,000 
tons for the mill and the tonnage will exceed 
tliat by one-third this year. Messra iLreBlanc 
& Danes are among the few who iwill make 
any substantial Improvements during '99, 
and the battery of old flue boi'lere ds being 
torn down to make room for a set of veri- 
table steam givere, now .being ibuUt by 
Messra. M. Zier ft Co., of New Albany, Ind. 

Iberville. 

Wast Baton Rouge. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

>At the time my last letter was written, the 
impmesstlon was general that the rain of 
Tuesday evening was general, but such was 
not the case. It 'was only a local shower 
"wJiich did not extend over two mUes in 
either direction. Homestead and \Ajichor- 
age, with portions of Poplar Orove, were the 
only places where the rain f eH to amount to 
anyihing. Yesterday (Tuesday) there were 
several showera in the central portion of the 
parish, but up to Monday the other sections 
of the parish had 'had no vains and the 
oropb wera suffering very seriously. An 
amusing instance of the perversity of the 
•weather was fusnished yesterday afternoon 
when a heavy rain, lasting half an hour, fell 
on Berthelot Brothera' rice crop, iwhich Is 
abundantly watered' by an immense pump 
from the river, while on an adtioining plant- 
ation, iwhere the crops airo literally pairch- 
ing up, there was no radn. It may t>e re- 
marked, en passant, that the Messra. Berthe- 
lot have the only rice crop in the parish and 
that it Is a splendid one, promising an 
abundant yield. They finished weeding 
several days ago. 

'Although the cane crop is considerably be- 
hind hand, it wlU ibe laid by unusually early 
this year. In the flrat place, thera isn't 
UHich cane to lay by; and, in the second 
place, the dry weather of the past two 
months faAs enabled the plantera to keep 
p^\ 1^ Witft t^^lf 8?14 ffCTfr M^f W 



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TSK LOUISU^^ PI4ANTER A^ .SVQAIirMANVWAGTUJX^f^^ 



[vji. xxn. No.. ^2, 



a Titumber of places, working the cane rwas 
practi-oally dis^contiaiuod severail weeks ago 
•because th€»re was aotlimg further to do un- 
til rain ifell. Then, too, every planter is 
anxious to reduce expenises, and.ithe finish- 
ing touches will he applied to the oane just 
as s<>on as , po^slblei 

So far the ©lanters have had very little 
grass •oc: weeds to contend with. Speaking 
of this circumstance recalls the fact that 
never hefora has grass been so scarce in 
this parish as now. Between the zero tem- 
perature of Feljruary and the subsequent 
drouth, the grass seems to have heern effeot- 
ually killed ouL The levees, wbich are usu- 
ally covered wl«th rank vegetation at this 
season, are as naked as In the month of 
January. Even the ditch banks are clean 

As you are doubtless aware, the Texas 
and (Pacific Raiilroatd iCompany has surveyed 
a line through ithis parish for the purpose of 
exteniding the roaid to New Roads. Polnte 
Coupee. Immediately upon the completion 
of the survey, another pairty of officials fol- 
lowed up the pre.'iminary work obtaining 
rights of way, which in most cases were 
readily grante<d. Only two rights of wajy 
remain to be signed, and as soon as they are 
disposed of. contracts lor the w^rk of con- 
struction will be let. It is expected " that 
trains will be running to N-ew Roads by 
October 1. The extension will proTe of 
some benefit to planters in the central-upper 
portion of the parish, as it will enable tliem 
to ship their crops aoid receive freight more 
expeditiously and at a slight reduction in 
expense as compared with the present 
st£am'boat service. 

Now that June has set In everybody is 

looking for an abundance of rain. If this 

month .proves to be anything like June, 1898, 

thero will be lots of moisture— at least in 

Wbbt Baton Rouok. 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORREC*PONDENCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather has 'been even yet 'warmer 
than usual, several degrees aibove the nor- 
m-al weather for May. The want of precipi- 
tation, however, is being greatly felt, and 
particularly Is this fiact bo be noticed on 
the black lands. This want of rain does not 
apply to all of the iparish, for above iNa- 
-poieonvllle for a mile or two there have Deen 
showers, and near plattenviUe, too^ there 
have been several dust laying rains. Below 
Napoleonville we have mot been bo fortunate 
and ithe dust is getting to be almost Intoler- 
able to those forc^ to travel. The gardens 
show sadly the lack of moisture, and while 
on sandy lands the stubble continues to 
grow yet on most places all of the com 
wouM be better for a good soaking rain, and 
the plant cane would be particularly bene- 
Uted 'by rain. Maoy have deferred p>laniting 
their .peas until we could get rain, foaring 
that otherwise they would probably be 
sprouted by a light shower or heavy dew OAd 
ibeo die for lack of mor^ mai«ture. 



We leann.that Mr. Pugas, of ^weet. Home, 
/will bring his tram at least as far as (Battel* 
vjlle this year, anid perhaps a Idbtde belotw. . 
Oakley is going right ahead on its way to 
the Atbakapas canal, and will try to make 
up for the shortage of crops In the imme- 
diate neighiborhood by sito-etcliiiig a nelgh- 
bojrly hand to the small landholders on the 
Mtakapas canal. Tbe decision of the suit 
Involving the right of way over (Little Texas 
will give the Southerp Pacific an opportun- 
ity to at on<?e push Its road to Napoleon- 
ville and we will have sooii, we hope, daily 
communication via TMbedeaux and a rail- 
road with New Orlea«fi. The action of the 
levee boards at Baton Rouge was very satis- 
factory to the people of 'Assumption, for 
they have no idea of allowing their water 
communication to be cut. off by a dam at 
Donal'dsfonvil le. 

We regTet to learn of th^ serious illness 
of Mr. Charles Matthews, at his plantation 
home In Lafourche, where his brother 
George is also confined by typhoid-malaria. 
We trust Jthat their convalesence can be 
s-oon recorded. The Mi^es Munson have 
return to Glen wood from schgol at Qaa An- 
tonio, and are at home to their host o* 
friends. Mr. Munson went to Texas to at- 
tend the commencement exercises and es- 
cort them hornet - 

The tragic death of MidfifctLei'la I»ik4 oame^ 
as a gi>eat shock to h-eir friends in Ai^sump- 
tion. A runaway horse caused her to jump 
from the vehicle, and death came at pnce. 
Her brothers and slaters have the sympathy 
of the whole community in their sorrow. A 
large num'ber attended the obsequies of the 
late R. N. Sims last Sunday in Donaldson- 
vJlle. He was an able advocate, and was 
well-known in Assumption iboth in a busi- 
ness and social way. Many years of hjft 
early life were spent in this parish, ms 
wife was a native of Assumption* 

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Barton laat week 
took a round^trlp on the Chickasaw, seeing 
the country after an absence of- sereml 
years, and reu'ewlng old friendehips. Their 
many Driends were glad to get even a" glance 
of them but wbuM po'efer a longer visit. 

Last week several ent^rtatnmenrtiff were 
given in honor of Mrs. Ourrie. and all was 
done that could •be to make her visit to 
Assumption a pleasant one. An excursion * 
to Lockport on the Chickasaw wound up the 
courtesies extended to ber. 

In the absence of rain we cannoit report 
that the crops are growing rapidly as we 
would like. A good rain is badly needed, 
not alone for the fields but for the gardens 
and tbe cisterns. One good soaking ralh 
would do for a week or two, but for It to 
do the greatest amount of good it nui0t 
come soon. The iLafourche is still falling, 
but there is stlM fine water for BteanKboat- 
navdgation. The rlcMsrops are doing well, 
and the fields are ilookI:h6 remarkably careen, 
the suve of water ta ib« iiajSMtfche having 
fufnisb^ ample VNiV^r up Ho « i9W 4«|ii^ 



now puanping will soon be t^ie ^4er of the 
day. The crops on the places of th^ Messrs. 
Delaune look p3,Ttj^fsti\^]^ -^i^^h snd fine re- 
sults are proprised,^^. Onpaljpelaune lias 
part of the place in cane, and is doing a good 
deal of ditching, digging a large canal that 
will greatly in^prove the drainage. He widl 
piant cane more extensively another year, 
and finally proposes to make cane almost ex- 
clusively on iti , More Anon. 



Terrebonne. 



.PPECIAL C<»RRE?rONDENCE-) 



Editor LouisUttM Hunter; 

In some sections of the parish there ha&; 
been an entire absence of rainfall during the 
month of May and in others the precipita- 
tions have been light, and in consequence 
crops would >be benefited by showers to thor^ 
out*ly saturd;te the soil. FortunHtely the 
land in general is in excellent conddtion^ al** 
though Somle €iay roilgh fields can be seea 
here' and there; The fiedds are clean of ex-, 
tranoous vegetation and/cfn some places the' 
hoe gang is dispensed with for the'kti^^ be^' 
Ingv The corn t^<i9 pn most platens has ' 
been laid b^ altd-fehe peas planted; and whdre 
the stubble is very defective the fields have' 
received the last working and also seeddd 
with peas. A large acreage ytM be in good 
condiftion for large fall and spring plantingST' 
The cane and corn crops have been retardi6d 
in growth from the want of ad<equa»te mois- 
ture yet they have a much better color 
than expected from the prolonged dry 
weather. It is generally conceded that the 
plant cane and ratoons are suckering prop- 
erly and where examined they are now root- 
ing rapidly. The canes are now In a condi- 
tion to elongate w^h great Vigor when there 
is sufficient humidity in the soil, and not 
an excess. 

Methods of treating the stubble have var- 
ied this season as usual-=-aad the stand is 
very mixed everywhere--Bome .fields are 
promising and othera slsnilarly treated are 
very indifferent, going to prove that the 
vitality of the stumps was a ftitctor of more 
inwportance than the nwth'od of cultivation. 

A recent trip on the line of railroad and 
on the bayou Ohacahoula disclosed a marked 
improvement of the crops 9kxit& last seen. 
Many of the f ronit fields were in cane last 
year and lure planted in corn this seasoii. 
The bulk of the plant cane is some distance 
from the road which did not permit of elose 
li^ection, yet it could be seen that the oolor 
was good. At Hollywood, estate of Hon. 
H. C. Minor, the stubble crop is mixed ae 
eleewhere^ and the manager, Mr. V. H. Kyle» 
informed the writer that eighty acres has 
Qtand enough to make seed for three hun- 
dred acres should the season prove favor- 
able. The fall planting on Crescent Farm 
is a little thin; but more promising than 
was expected after the freeze. At Ellendale, 
of Mr. Ed. McCullaim, the stubble on the 
road l# much above the average for the sea- 
•cm. At Avdojr^f Qi Hon. J. D* fthAffer, 



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143 



there are four hundred acres of plaat ca^ne 
and about one huntdred and twenty-^ve acres 
of good stubble. On Mr. Shaffer'6 EkireKa 
pla(^, managed by M.r. Bd. Thomas, there 
is come hne plant cane and promising atu'b* 
ble. On bayou Chacahoula on the Cedar 
Grove and Poverty Plat places of Messrs. 
McColIam & Oocke there are promierin^ 
ftelds of plant and stubble. At Forest Grove, 
of Mr. C. A. Buford, the stubble is indif- 
ferent In places 'but the two hundred and 
fifty acres of plant cane are a'bove the 
average and the stand will compare with 
average years. The fields are well wofrked 
and the cro«p is In admiraWe condition. 

•Had there ;been adequate moisture in the 
soil the weather would have "been excellent 
during: the past iweek. 

Terrebonne. 



St. Mary. 

■ (SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louiautmi Planter: 

The fields around the immediate Franklin 
section of the parish have not received their 
sbower yeit. and as reported in the last let- 
ter, they are showing the need of a good 
drink to a very discouraging degree; one or 
two showers fell this ^^eek over portions of 
this particular district, but they were too 
light to lay the dust, and every mark of 
them had disappeared within a few min- 
utes. But the (Bayou Sale and lower Teche 
portions were visiited by a drenching shower 
on Tuesday morning of this week; in fact, 
they have had several good showers during 
the last two weeks, and as a result, the 
crops are showing up magnificently. 

However, the planters in the drought sec- 
lion have no good reason to lose courage 
as long as the clouds hang over as heavily 
and threateningly as they have ifor the last 
couple ot weeks, but on the other hand 
should stand in iiourly expectation of a 
shower. 

The Caffery and Alice C, refineries started 
drying out their thirds some days ago, but 
owing to the gum in the sugar, the work 
was abandoned until such time as the cen- 
trifugal work would cheapen itself iby a more 
complete precipitation of the sugar. 

The Franklin refinery started off upon its 
thirds on the 29th and Mr. (Louis Kramer's 
Frances on the a^nd, and both are running 
along yet .very nicely; l)ut the Franklin 
concern came to a very unfortunate sus- 
pension of operations Tuesday evening of 
this week, at about five o'clock in the even- 
ing. A la'borer by the name of Barrilleau, 
while endeavoring to throw a belt around 
a pulley while in motion, somewhere in the 
centrifugal gearing, got his sleeve caught 
over the head of a set screw, whicii wound 
his arm around the shaft with such rapidity 
as to tear it off at his shoulder, and infiict 
painful if not fatal injuries -upon the side of 
his liead. 

Mrs. J. L. Darragh's Justine refinery will 
not ]t>egin the drying out of its rthirds, your 
CQrre0poii4ent has le^rn^, nQtiil yery lute 



in the season, as far, iK>s6l'bly, as the fall, 
owin® to their unfanrorable condition. 

C B. Darrall, Jr.'s Avoca place, near Mor- 
gan City, was the first <in the parish to com- 
mence upon the thirds, having finished a'bout 
a month ago. 

Messrs. Bloch and (Levy, the new owners 
of the C>ote Blanche plantation, intend to 
erect a large corn house and mule sta1>le 
upon the place as soon as work ui>on the 
same be commenced, besides other improve- 
ments and repairs as will be found, upon ex- 
amination, to be necessary. Mr. Bloch says 
if they do well this season, his improvement 
next year will be ti«ch «ts to make Cote 
Blanche a modern, first class plantation 
throughout; "but if not, they wiH l>e less 
exfeeniBive. 

Mr. W. B. Kemper, manager of his own 
Choupique, and of his mother's 0-lencoe 
plantations, says that fifteen acres of his 
cane on the former place, was in very bad 
condition for a time, owing to its having 
been visited "by insects, which stripped off 
the leaves; but that they have now aband- 
oned it. and it is no^^ looking up very 
nicely. Mr. Kemper also complains of a 
sfcarcity of rain. * 

Mr. A. A. BonvMlain, owner of the Home 
and Coteau plantations, also in the Cypre- 
mont district, complains of the scarcity of 
rain, but says that one any time within the 
next three weeks, if ordinarHy heavy, will 
set his prospects up even with tlie actual re- 
sults of last season. 

Mrs. E. D. Burguieres is having the thirds 
on her Crawfoid plantation, in Cypremont, 
run off; it will only require three or four 
days to dry out what is left, while the 
other machdnes in the parish will run for 
from ten to thirty days. 

St. Mary. 



^ Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL C0RRB8P0NDINCI.) 

Editor Loui9iana PUinter: 

The weather is about the same as of a 
week ago. Generally It is very dry but there 
have been local showers which have greatly 
relieved the conditions in some sections. 
In the Erath sectioi^ six mMes east of Afbbe- 
ville there has Ibeen an afbundance of rain- 
fall. So much fell the early part of last 
week that the farmers were unaible to do 
any work for two or three days; then on the 
Coulee Kinney, two miles west of A'bl)eville. 
very fine rains fell. The section of country 
at and around A'b'beville was favored with 
only a very light shower, but it did a great 
deal of good. Corn in this unfavored sec- 
tion is doing very well ^but cane Is begin-' 
ning to need rain badly. The Indications 
now for rain are not very promilsing. We 
have had a stiff wind from the southeast 
for the past two days and the clouds look 
high and dry. A general rain throughout 
the parish now would be welcomed "by all 
classes i^nd conddtions of people and Vfotil^ 
be of untold value to the crops. Cane Is 
locking stroPC f^v4 U fF^Wlllf fOP^ 'l^n!^ 



needing rain, the stubble stiU continues to 
come out ibut it is so late now there is noth- 
ing expected of it. The cane crop is being 
watched very closeHy in this section and 
every effort is ibeing made to push it along 
to a satisfactory maturity. The Ywy short 
acreage and the increased demand for cane, 
with a good season, will certainly show up 
fine returns In tonnage. The cane buyers 
are very thick in this section of the country 
just now. For the past few days it has been 
dangerous to shoot iblack lairds along the 
fence rows for fear that you might kill oi 
cripple a cane buyer. They are all received 
with a hearty welcome by our people and 
the man that pays the best price or gives the 
■best general treatment in prices and facili- 
ties for taking the cane off will 'be the man 
that will get the cane. The crop is short, 
but if the (price is li>ng it will tend to even 
up. Bighty cents net at the derrick is 
about the ^best price offered so far. Some 
offers of 13.40 per ton net have been made, 
bu; were not accepted. Our people are very 
hopeful of getting f4.00. The corn crop is 
very fine and promises a fuM yield. The 
late planting and the transplant is suffering 
some from the birds, "black (birds mostly. 
Cotton is very small and not looking so Well. * 
The weather has ibeen almost too dry to 
sprout the last planting. Unless the seasons 
favor it from now out the crof> will not he 
much. Irrigated rice is very fine, but provi- 
dence rice Is small and suffering for rain, 
most of the providence crop, however, has 
not been planted' yet. The general outlook 
for a full rice crop is very promising. 

The Hose Hill Plantation, including the 
refinery, was sold before the Court House in 
Abbeville last Saturday, the 27tb, and was 
bought in ^j S. Gunrble & Co., for |60,350, 
that amount 1>eing two-thirds of the ef>- 
praisement This sale Included I'OOO acres 
of fine sugar lands, a complete 750 ton mi^ll 
complete, mules, farming implements, rail* 
roads and cars. It is understood that 
Messrs. Oumt>le & Co. will organiie this 
into the Bose Hill Sugar Co., and WMI put 
^ the mill in fir^-dass shape to handle the 
present crop. P. C. M. 

Avoyelles. 

(tPBClAL CORRISPCNDBNCI.; 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

It cannot be said now at the end of May 
that the growing crops are as promising 
as they really should (be at this time and 
date in the season. 

The excessi^ve dry weather is surely "begin- 
ning to show its effects on not a few but 
many places and parts of this and adjoin- 
ing parishes. 

While light showers Tisited some districts 
of this section of the country last week, the 
ground was so very dry and the rainfall 
so light, the 4»enefft derived was Wrely per- 
ceptible. From reports which have been 
receiyed iby the Planter's scrl/be, It is learned 
that tl>e raiplal) of th^ past wt^ wa« betri- 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXn. No. 22. 



est in Rapides from Meeker down to Cheney- 
vllle, a distance ol seme six miles on an air 
line. In iSt. Landry the rainfaW was from 
all accounts greater over the Elm Bayou 
neighborhood than elsewhere in the parish. 
In lAvoyelles a number of places heard from 
report light showers, in some places not 
enough rain fell to lay the dust To sum 
the matter up, it is dry from Lafayette to 
Alexandria. Corn is suffering for want of 
rain. In places seriously so. This drought 
is a serious thing for those (who have late 
corn, which is to-dAy considered past re- 
covery no matter what amount of rain may 
fall from this date through the month of 
June. 

Cane, while differing to some extent for 
want of moisture, has not, I am inclined to 
think, been injured by the dry weather to 
the same extent that the corn crop has. 

Cane is young yet. It is the opinion ex- 
pressed by not a few who have grown up 
with this country that June will, in all prob- 
ability, be a month of excessive rains. If 
such should be the case cane will have ample 
time to grow ami mature in time for har- 
vest. A highly respected cane planter, who 
rwas engaged in cane growing dating prior to 
the late unpleasant war ibetween the States, 
in a conversation with the Planter's scribe 
on the all-i'mporlant subje<yt of dry and wet 
seasons, related that, if I make no mistake, 
1868 was dry from the beginning ot May to 
the middle of July of that year, In Rapides 
parish. After the rains did commence to 
fall during the last weeks of July, continu- 
ing through August and September, they 
(were not excessive, but just enough of it 
to hold the moieture in the soil. The cane 
which had the appearance of having been 
parched before the rain .began to fall, 
started to grow with wonderful rapidity, 
maturing a fair tonnage of cane, yielding, 
when worked through the mUte of that date 
and time, an average of two and a half 
hogsheads of sugar per acre planted. 

With such truthful statements as these, 
I fail to see any real cause for any serious 
kick coming because it don't rain more than 
it has. 

It is noticeable, as dry as it is, that the 
plow does not have to go very deep to find 
nrolsture. This being the case, ^y constant- 
ly stirring the duet, a mulch may be main- 
tained to hold the moisture up to and near 
the surface to- nourish the cane roots and 
at the eame time forward and promote the 
growth of the cane. 

I learn that Mr. C. *F. KnoW, Bunkie P. O., 
is meeting with a fair share of success in 
the cuKirvatlon of his cane crop. Mr. Knoll 
has a large corn and cotton crop. Others 
in the same locality have a;>romising crops, 
but report that they are needing rain. 

Cotton has suffered less than either cane 
or com. The plant, when it receive* proper 
attention, fairly rev^ dn growth during 
periods of dry and warm weather. Gard^nf 
^re 19 bf)^ slMfie for want of ralOf 



'Peas, which have been planted, are not 
likely to come up to a good stand until we 
get rain. •.;' ^' 

The farmers claim that it is too dry for 
setting out sweet potatoe sliq^s and vines 
successfully. Erin. 



Trade Notes. 



Sugar nachinery for Sale. 

Elsewhere in this Issue we print the ad- 
vertisement of Mr. F. W. Nicholls. of Thi- 
bodaux, who has some sugar machinery 
to dispose of, notably a 6^-f6ot pan and a 
Knowles pump. Write him and you will 
find he has a bargain to offer you. 

Reduced Rates for Summer Tripe. 

Commencing June 1st and continuing to 
and including September 30th, 1899, the 
Texas & Faci-fic Railway Company will seAl 
round trip Summer Tourist Tickets to points 
in AlaJbama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of 
iColumbia, ^Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ken- 
tucky. Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Mi6Sissi:>pl, Missouri, (New York, 
•North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, On- 
tario, Pennsylvania, Quefbec, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Virginia, Wtst Virginia and 
Wisconsin, at a considerable reduction in 
rai€3. 

See the nearest Ticket Agent for full in- 
formation; or write E. tP. Turner, O. P. & 
T. A.. Dallas, Texas. 



The Effects of Sorghum in New 
South Wales. 

Every season reports come from the dairy- 
img districts with respect to the death of 
cattle tha;t have either broken into or have 
been turned into the Ifmmature sorghum 
crops. 

Planter's Friend is usually regarded as the 
most injurious variety, probably because 
larger areas of it are sown than of any other 
kind of sorghum. The matter has frequently 
been discussed in the Gazette, and, pending 
chemical investigation of the plant In vari- 
ous stages of growth, the opUnion of Mr. 
Valder, given the Gazette for April, 1897, 
•is reproduced: 

So Xar as I can Judge, death is not due to 
the sorghum, but to injudicious feeding. It 
has been weU known for years pa^ that it is 
dangerous to feed sor^um in its very young 
stage of growth to cattle, especially when 
they have been getting only dry food, or are 
in very poor condition. If they are then run 
Into a paddock of very young sorghum 
naturally they are inclined to eat too much 
of this sweet, succulent food, and therefore 
bad results follow. For the past three years 
the cattle at the Wagga Experiment Farm 
have been fed for fuflly nine months in the 
year on sorghum, either as green fodder or 
as ensilage. During that tltne I have not 
lost a single cow or calf, and our milk yield 
is far above the average. These results are, 
I consider, due to the following: 

1. Tbe cattle are never turned into the 
fiofghum, but a rough calculation is made as 
to the quantity required per diem, and every 
day that quantity is cut and fed to the cattle, 
care being taken that ondr as mndi as the 
pMIs vlU $t^ r^d)iy ^ MirmL 



2. On no account do I allow sorghum to 
be out for fodder till it comes fully intn 
ear. 

Provided these directions were carried 
out, I am confident that such a thing as cattle 
dying from eating sorghum would never iba 
heard nf. 

From experiments carried out here, it has 
<been proved that in a dry season sorghum 
wiU prodoice nearly three times as mnch 
green fodder as maize, and therefore sorghum 
is undoubtedly one of the mo^ valuable fod- 
der plants that can be grown in this dis- 
trtct.— New South Wales Gazette. 



Personal. 

Mr. James >H. Hall, of Kentucky, regis- 
tered at the St. Charles during the past 
week. 

Mr. J. AWen Barnett and Mrs. J. W. Bar- 
nett, of Sbadyside, were in the city, on 
Thursday. 

Mr. F. A. Ames, of Boston, Mass., was 
registered at the St. Charles Hotel last 
Wednesday. 

Col. J. W. Barnett, of the Shady Side 
plantation, Bayou Teche, was a visitor to 
the city on Tue^lay. 

Mr. Julius Strack. a leading citizen of the 
Lower Coast, was a guest of the Hotel 
Gruneiwald a few days ago. 

Mr. Thomas Butler, Jr., of St. Francisvidle, 
La., was in the city during the past week. 
He stopped at the Hotel Grunewald. 

Mr. M. D. Dalferes, wife and famtly, of 
Whitecastle, 'La., were in the city on Wed- 
nesday. They stopped at the Cosmopolitan. 

Col. Lewis S. Clarke, of Lagonda planta- 
tion on iBayou Teche was in the city on 
Tuesday. He stopped at tTie St. Charles 
Hotel. 

Messrs. Charles Boagni and E. M. Boagni, 
of Opelousas, La., where they possess ex- 
tensive sugar planting interests, were ar- 
rivals at the Commercial Hotel a few dxys 
ago. 

Mr. R. R. Barrow, the Terrebonne parish 
financier, was at the Commercial Hoted on 
Tuesday. Mr. Barrow is one of the most 
progressive and enterprisiflg men in the 
State. 

Mr. Thomas A. Badeaux, of Thibodaux, 
La., a prominent citizen of Lafourche parish 
and a successful sugar planter, wfui in the 
city on a visit a few days ago. He made 
his headquarters at the Commercial Hotel. 

Capt. Geo. E. Mann, olf the euocessful 
sugar planting firm of Flower & Mann, was 
in *New Orleans during the past week. Cih[»L 
Mann's place on the Lower Coast has been 
rendered one of the most productive in tluvt 
fertile section of Louisiana through his ex- 
cellent management. 

Mr. Harry L. Laws, of Cincinnati, O., head 
of the prominent firm of H. L. Laws & Co., 
who, besides doing an immense business in 
Louisiana sugars at their New Orleans and 
Cincinnati ofllces, are the proprietors of the 
far-famed Cinolare sugar plantation in West 
Baton Rouge parish, was a visitor to New 
Orleans during the past week, making hi^ 
^^qusrtsrs at the §t Charlss Hotsl^ 



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345 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, May 13, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The weather of last week has been pre- 
don>inantly wet Opening w'ith light showere 
and cool aerial tempenature th« antoist pre- 
cipitation by and by became torrentiaJ rains 
with all their attributes of high water and 
ctejnaging inundations, with consequent In- 
terruption of comttnunications and of all 
kinds of field work. As a favorable 
circumstance it must be mentioned, 
however, that in the second half of 
the (week the temiperature rose to at least 
a normal degree, which to some extent 
proved useful for the beets lately sown. These 
fibow, indeed, a pretty regular coming up and 
it can be expedted, that, if warm weather 
arrives, the beet kernels still to be sown wUl 
find very propitious conditions in the ground 
and as the belt of the moist climatic condi- 
tion is aipparently moving to the East — to- 
wards Russia— it may be safely expected 
that a desirable change of the weather there 
will ere long take place. Such is also the 
hope of Austrian beet growers, who for the 
comptletion of fleldwork and the coming up 
of the sowings are sadly in need of warm 
and dry weather. In France the weather is 
improving it has been during the last few 
days quite favorable for field operations as 
well as for the thriving of the young beets. 
In Bel'^ium and Holland It is dry but cold, 
and in Russia the drought has generally pre- 
vailed, but, as remarked aibove, a change 
seems to be close at hand. 

The question as to the importance of beet 
sowings for the campafign 1899-1900 is no'w 
settled inasmuch as the statistical bureaus 
of tlie European sugar manufacturers have 
held their annual Inquiry and have published 
the results of the same. The principal feature 
of the figures now to hand Is a large In- 
crease of the beet growing surface of Rus- 
sia, forshadowed long ago in these letftere. 
This country (will grow 510,494 hectares of 
beets, as against 438,235 hectares in 1898, 
*which means an increase of no less than 
72,259 hectares or 16.5 pet. As to Germany 
it wWl be remembered that the first pro- 
visional figures indicated a decrease of 2.3 
pet., the definitive results, however, em- 
bodied in the figures of 426,846 hect., as 
against 426,641 hectares in 1898, is a ^ght 
increase of 0.04 pet., the other countries are 
represented 'by the following data: Aowrtrla 
322,200 hect. (or 3.9 ^ct inc.),FVaaice 255,542 
hect (or 7.0 pet. inc.), Bel-gium 58,136 hect. 
(or 8.7 pet. inc.), Holland 46,900 heat (or 5.2 
pet inc.), Sweden 26,418 hect. (or 15.3 pet. 
inc.). The latter percentage is large, but the 
figure in itself Is of no importance as affect- 
ing the whole of tbe acreage, the increase of 
'Which, as compared with last year, amounts 
to 7.2 pet. Thiia ilatter percentage is cer- 
taaly anything but alarming, but It is, never- 
thelBBB, a ldttl« higher than formnljr ^f 



pected and it is very proTyafble that tbe im- 
proved sugar prices, meantime prevailing, 
have caused the producers to grow a little 
more beet than intended from the outset. 

Since about 20 years the questlion of the 
purification of the effluvia of the sugar fac- 
tories has caused eome excitement amongst 
the nuanufacturers, for occasionally land or 
'mill owners adjacent to the rivers or other 
public waters, comt^lain tof an undue deterio- 
ration of the latter, by means of letting in 
safid effluvia. The question is. Indeed, a 
very knotty one. Cities, villages or any 
kind of communities have no doufbt a right 
to demand that their public waters should 
not be made improper for human use, whilst 
on the other hand the factories are not able 
to i-eturn the water they have used as pure 
and clear as they have gotten it, but it is 
eviident that something must be done so as 
to left off the waters as clear as possible. 
This the factories willingly admit, but the 
queStJlon presents many difficulties. The 
best results have been obtained by the irri- 
gation or inundation system wMch consists 
in preparing large bodies of water by some 
chemical treatment The water leaking 
through the soil -loses thus the greatest part 
of its impurities and arrives in a purified 
state at tlhe rivers, etc. ThAs process Is em- 
ployed by many German factories, though 
as remarked al)ove, the original purity of the 
water is not restored .by means of the same. 
But quite apart from its efficiency it can be 
only established where the factories dispose 
of comparatively large amounts, which, by 
no means, is everywhere the case. The efflu- 
via question .is at present again on the order 
of the day because of some complaints 
brought againi^t a couple of factories, ibut 
also on account of the government having 
redommended the introduction of a certain 
process of purification. Such a regulation 
from the "green taible," as we say in (Ger- 
many, when the magistrates decdde without 
due regard to practice and local require- 
ments, is likely to prove very dangerous for 
the factories, whose physical situation and 
conditions are aio very different, that it is 
next to impossifble that one process will be 
applicable and useful for a num'ber of es- 
tablishments. Besides experience has shown 
already, at the expense of the factories, 
tbat the meddling of the government in 
these matters, particularly by directly pre- 
scrFbing the introduction of a certain process, 
is far from being a step in the rigiht direc- 
tion. A great many factories who had in- 
troduced a purification process according to 
decree of the authorities, had to do away 
witli it because of its inefficiency, and thus 
'laUge sums of money were lost. 

The markets being almost fully in the 
hands of large speculators, move now In 
afbrupt and sometimes very wide fluctuations 
and there is hardly any point to get hold of 
for the purpose of telling What tlie course 
of the market may be, even in the very near 
future. The statistical position is acknowl- 
edged on all bands to be exceedingly favor- 



able, but this could not prevent, last week, a 
■heavy fall of prices and a weakening of the 
tendency all around. And what had arrived 
to cause this panic-like movement? Noth- 
ing at all; only French operators thought it 
opportune to realize on a large scale, by 
•which means prices, particularly in the 
terminal markets, were pressed down. In 
acftual sugars business was almost nfil, aad 
no quotations are given at Madgelberg for 88 
pet. sugars; at Hamburg, delivery May is 
worth M. 11.00, asagainst M. 11.47 a week 
ago. In refined little doing at unchanged 
prices. 

ROBT. Hek.nio. 



Havana. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

"Sugar Market. — ^Adviices from abroad hav- 
ing continued unfavorable, the demand at 
this place has totally su'bsided and the 
greater part of disposable parcels being held 
by speculators, prices are firmly supported, 
despite the withdrawal of purchasers, quota- 
tions retaining their former nominail tone, 
at from 2 13-16@2% cts. lb. for 96/96% deg. 
good centrifugal sugars. 

Business Outlook. — Prospects for the 
forthcoming summer months are not at all 
encouragiing, owing to the unsettled condi- 
tion of the country, and the lack of lal>or, 
consum^ption, even of articles of prime 
necessity, is rather limited, as yet, and, the 
worst of the case is that it is not likely to 
improve for some time yet to come. 

This, which is bardly noticeable at Ha- 
vana, is plainly iperceptible at all other 
places and more particularly in the 
interior of tbe island, where suf- 
fering is greater. On this account, 
business is at a complete standstill 
and no improvement In same is bo be ex- 
pected until the culture of the fields be re- 
sumed with increased vigor and native prod- 
ucts come to market in larger quantity than 
heretofore. 

Crop Reports.-^Several cane fires, sup- 
posed to have been set by the bandits, were 
recently reported from the province of Ma- 
tanzas, and plantations "Amistad," at Gua- 
maro, "Angelina," "San Jose,'* "San Fran- 
cisco," "San Antonio" and "Galindo," at 
Corral Nuevo, have, on this account lost 
several hundred acres of small cane, wliich 
had been planted last .winter. These fires 
are likely to be the last ones of the year, 
since the rainy weather has already set in 
and copious showers have lately fallen, both 
in the Interior of the isdand and at this 
place. 

Owing to the bad prevailing weather, the 
few plantations which were still at work, 
in the principal producing districts, have 
been compelled to extinguish their fires at 
once, whereas the important factory "Na- 
tividad," at eanctinSpiritus, l)elonglng to 
Mr. Francisco del Valle, commenced its crop • 
on the 12th ln»t, bat it is generaUy anUcl- 



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[Vol. XXII, No. 22. 



pated that owin^ to the bad prevailing 
weather, it will soon be also compelled to 
stop, as all others. 

Factory "Natividad," wbich Is, probably, 
the largest in the province of Santa Clara, 
is the first one, since ithe termination of the 
war, that has put its machinery in move- 
ment in said province. 

Scar<»ness of Oxen.--One of the most seri- 
ous difficulties planters have had to con- 
tend with, duiflng the past icrop, "wais the 
lack of cattle to haul the cane. Of fhe hun- 
dreds of thousands of head formerly em- 
ployed on the larger plantations, scarcely 
any have survived the war an4. in order to 
supply their most pressing want, all thtoee 
who could dispose of some cash money, im- 
ported a certain mimber of yokes, from the 
neigh'boring countries and with the object 
of overcoming this difficulty next year, it 
is said that the Board of Planters has passed 
a resolution to the effect of requesting the 
government to supply them with a sufficient 
number of oxen to cultivate their fields, 
since the precarious situation in which they 
are placed, does not allow them to acquire, 
on their own account thos^ they are in 
need of. 

It is doubtful whether the government 
will acquiesce to this petition howsoever 
well founded it may be. 

iLands Bought by Americans.-nlt is said 
that the representative of the powerful New 
York syndicate, whose arrival at this place, 
was reported in my previous letter. Is in 
treaty for the purchase of several large 
sugar plantations, which he offers to pay 
cash for, after redeeming all mortgages 
tfhereupon attached. To other parties, who 
are as yet unwilling to part with their prop- 
erties, large advances are made them, on 
Ikberal terms, on produce of the next crop, 
which remains affected to guarantee pay- 
ment of advanced money. 

Another syndicate is buying up all lands 
to be acquired along the Jucaro-Moron rail- 
way and the ancient military trocha, wifth 
the avowed purpose of carrying thereon 
sugar culture on a very extensive scale. 

Another American company is being 
spoken of, that intends to Invest |1^ 000,000 
in the purchase of 100,000 acres of land. 
Which will be colonized by American emi- 
grants, who are sanguine dl making for- 
tune, growing, besides sugar cane and 
tobacco, all sorts of tropical fruits, for the 
Northern markets. 

(Sugar Refining.— The owners of the five 
sugar refineries existing on this island, con- 
template to impart a strong impulse to their 
production during the fortlicoming montha, 
operating them to their full capacity, which 
is as follows: That of Oardenas, which can 
refine yearly 200,000 lihds. sugar; that of 
Rabell, at same place, 60,000 do.; that of 
Ponce Horta, in this city, 45^,000 do.; that 
of "Providencia," also at Havana, 45.000 
do.; and that of Liana, at Matanzas, 20,000 
do. Although tli^ total capacity of above 
named five refineries,, adds up 360,^000 hhds. 



they turned out last year, only 35,000 hhds. 

Disbanding of the Cuban Army.— It is re- 
ported that the Cuban troops, encamt)ed up- 
on various estates in this province of Ha- 
vana, acting under instruction, have with- 
drawn from these properties, without men- 
tioning the reason why. 

TheXuban soldiers employed in policing 
the city of Pinar del Rio and Port of Coloma, 
requested to be mustered out, without fur- 
ther delay, in order to be able to resume, at 
once, their former agricultural pursuits, and 
their commander, finding it usless to en- 
deavor any longer to keep them in ranks, 
resigned his post. Before starting for their 
home, some of these soldiers deposited their 
arms with friends In the city. 

In a meeting, recently held at Alqui»ar^ in 
this province, the cliiefs, officers and soldiers 
of the "Maceo sharpshooters" battalion, re- 
s61ved to dissolve, without more proceed- 
ings, each man going peacefully home, with- 
out waiting any longer for the changes i/he 
Americans may wish to give to the already 
bothersome affair of the three million dol- 
lars. 

The Cuban forces encamped near Sanoti 
Spirltus, have decided by a vote taken in the 
camp, to ac<^pt, at once, whatever amount 
be offered them of the three millions, break 
up ranks, and immediately go to work. 

(General Brooke's long anticipated decree, 
to muster out and pay off the Cuban soldiers, 
has been, at last, puWished and as already 
said, several corps 'have already disbanded 
and the men composing them quietly re- 
turned to their homes, either taking away 
their arras with them, or entrusting them to 
the care of some friends in the localities 
they abandoned^ rather than deliver them 
over to the parties appointed by the govern- 
ment to receive them and give them. In re- 
turn, a receipt on whose presentation they 
are to collect the $75.00 allowed to each sol- 
dier on being mustered ouit But, as only a 
very small number of these soldiers have 
shown willingness to accept this money, it is 
likely that only a very small part of the 
$3,000,000 sent from Washington will be dis- 
posed of in this manner. 

All the Cuban generals who had been ap- 
pointed to intervene in t?he distri'bution of 
the money having resigned, it is anticipated 
that considerable difficulty will me met with 
in the paying off of the Cuban soldiers. 

T. D. 



Barbados. 

The fortnigbt's weather has been favora- 
ble to reaping — dry, hot and fairly breezy, 
although on some days the winds have been 
rather too light and shifty for windmills; 
however, progress Is being made, and sugar 
and molasses are steadily gravitating to- 
wards Bridgetown for shipment or sale; the 
worse is there is not enough of it. There 
might be an infinitesimal increase la the 
yield here and there, and some favored and 
sheltered spot undeluged "by storm water, or 
lightly touched by the tempest may be giv- 



ing two tons to the acre, thanks to such ex- 
ceptional circumstances; but we are sorry to 
be obliged once more to record that splen- 
did canes that ought to be yielding three 
tons to the acre, are in reality only giving 
1^ tons; there we stick and cannot budge. 
It is very fortunate that there is a ^ight 
advance in the price offered for sugar this 
year without which transient luck, we should 
indubitably perish and die with the la»t 
cane cut this season. 

The young plants, although the earth is 
cracking with the dry heat, still look flour- 
ishing, and very promising indeed; night- 
ly showers to Wash the leaves and moieten 
the roots would be very beneficial, had we 
but that irrigating watering pot which 
the cane plant more than any other econ- 
omical plant on earth so constantly needs. 
For without a due and regulated supply of 
water we cam never aspire to the big crops 
with which Hawaii is blessed; with us it is 
either too much or too little, over-swamped 
valleys, denuded hills, or earth dry, and 
cracking under tropical heat. The "variety" 
question Is just now very much exercising 
the planter mind, it is very difficult to get 
a variety, which like the old Bourbon, can 
adapt itself to any and every environment, 
and gather sugar equally well, In soil black 
or red. In midland valley or on salt aad 
sandy coast; for the old Bour'bon, intent on 
its single sugar making duty, never bothered 
itself much about soil or situation. But the 
new varieties are hard to please, and varia- 
ble as the shade, as if they had loo muca 
femininity in their composition, and could 
never, for two years together, settle dowa 
steadily to any locality. The White Trans- 
parent did pretty well last year, and at one 
time promised to settle down as an all 
round cane, but at present it is not scoring; 
while No. 147 seems to be edging its way 
to the front as a general favorite. No 
doubt we have some very fine, and promis- 
ing locally raised seedlings too numerous to 
mention, all of which require to be carefully 
put on their trial like young colts. It re- 
quires a certain amount of patience and a 
modicum of enthusiasm to carry on seeding; 
experiments, but he work is of such vast 
industrial importance, that it is matter of 
regret that planters do not more frequently 
engage in it, and reap the reward that Na- 
ture will be sure to bestow. We have had 
the opportunity recently of inspecting two 
magnificent specimens of seedling canes from 
Sandy Lane plantation, St. James, which the 
enterprising proprietor* of that estate are 
carefully and Judiciously propagating. 
These canes are Bourbon in type with the 
rich yellow ripeness of joint, characteristic 
of that cane. So far, experiments carefully 
conducted, seem to place them far and away 
ahead of the Transparent variety. No 
doubt these experiments when perfect- 
ed will be published pro bono put>llco. But 
It should be carefully laoted that the work 



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347 



which is being done at Sandy Lane in seed- 
ling experimentation ought to be going on 
on,, every estate througlrout the island. The 
fieedling that costs nothing to raise, may 
tu^n out to be the very thing wanted, and 
become the backbone of our sugar industry. 
Nature has surely some splendid seedlings 
hidden away, and if we want them we must 
take the trouble to search for them; and 
when that sugary reed, on which at least the 
sugar industry of Barbados may safely lean 
is at last discovered, the acme of our de- 
sires will assuredly be found to "be of Bour- 
bon type; for the real sugar cane has a pale 
green rind tuniinig to a rich, golden, invit- 
ing yellow when ripe. The Transparent 
dark-skinned type is deceptive, even the ani- 
mals know the difference, and prefer the 
true green top to munch. — Agricultural Re- 
porter, April 29. 



Barbados. 

"The. fortnight's weather has been on the 
whole favoral^le lOr reaping whiich is now 
being pushed vlgoro^^sly — winds, perhaps 
at times lighter than could be wished, with 
an • occasional trash-spoiling drizzle, "but 
April has so far behaved very well. From 
the i5th of ^April on to afbout the middle of 
June is the sugary time when the loaded 
ceWs burstdng with rijpeness, yield up their 
saccharine 'with greaiter neadineas. So far, 
however, although now hordering on the 
supreme period of fitness, there has (been 
Ifttle or no improvement in the yield o»f the 
canes: The most favored districts are giv- 
ing no more than the 1^ tons per acre re- 
ported in our last; here and there eome 
most favored place is said to be yielding 2 
•tons, but if so, it is only an index of what 
might possi^bly (be o'btained in the riper 
month of "May. Some of the very finest 
canes we have ever seen as regards growth 
are giving 1V6 — oanes that in other years 
would at deast have been good for 2^. The 
effects of the storm are now <being really 
felt to the tune of one ton per oicre, a loss 
which- spells ruin for many a struggling 
man, and .which is enduralble only by reason 
of the little advance in prices. The iworst 
of it is, there is so little dependentee to be 
placed on the sugar market; an Invisible 
hand pulls the string and prLces vary froan 
day to day, and that is all the helpless 
planter knows or, ever' will know unless he 
bestirs himself to know. Molasses is 
t)ough't for shipment at Bridgetown at lie. 
or 12c. and if of good quality is sold at Hali- 
fax for 30c. fiurely cost of transit does not 
absorta the handsome difference, a large por- 
tion of which ought to go into tlie unfor- 
tunate planter's pocket, but never will until 
he rouses up, and looks more after his own 
interests. In our last we drew attention to 
the fact that the molasses yield tliis season 
although scant was of exeeptionally fine 
quality, and ^haraicterizdd it as thiek and 
syrupy » buti 'by sozxm i>riixte^ Ofrori thick 
VM «liaDC«d to tblft^ 7or«i«n I'fUdtrfl .wiU 



piease note and correct the little error, iwhich 
is too small we hope to affect buyers, who 
will readily see through so transparent a 
mistake. 

Valleys from all aocounts do not appear 
to (be doing so well as slopes and ridges, 
thufc reversing the order of things. No doulbt 
the storm water had a most injurious effect 
on lowlands, and the iwater-logged canes 
have not yet had time to get rid of the new 
and sappy growth, but may improve under 
the influence of ripening suns. Another 
phenomenon of the season is the abundance 
of megass on some estates while others for 
want of it are compelled to purchase coal, 
so various and so injurious hiave .been the 
effects of the recent storm o^ the crop now 
being reaped. Fortunately for. us the fer- 
tility of the soil has not been washed 
away, perhaps new virtue has been instilled, 
for the young crop is exceptionally fine, 
healthy, vigorous and in many places liter- 
aWy green to apparent blueness. So luxuri- 
ant are the plants that on many estates it 
has 'been thought expedient to check their 
exuberant growth with the knife and cut- 
ting out of forward shoots has "been exten- 
sively practised; some, as we have before 
noticed, have cut ^ack rather freely. Al- 
together the promise for the new century 
is .bright and hopeful so far as nature and 
art can make It; but what 'bears and bulls 
wire-pullers, ibounties and the like may do 
with it is quite another question, for the 
modern agriculturist and especially the 
cane grower is at their mercy. 

iField operations are now confined to 
cane cutting, weeding, and trashing; the 
last should 'be very carefully done, as young 
•canes are very easily injured, and recover 
slowly under the hot suns. As one of the 
primary objects of trashing is protection, it 
ought only to he entrusted to careful hands, 
but too often It is so roughly done as in 
great measure to neutralize its good effects. 
— ^Agricultural Reporter, May 16, 1899. 



British Quiana. 



The weather continues dry, and is mak- 
ing its long-continued dryness seriously felt. 
Up to a fortnight or three weeks ago, though 
iianes jwere making no growth to mention, 
they had not ibegun to go l}ack; these same 
canes are suffering now, and going back. 
'Colored canes are still holding their own, 
making nothing, but not revealing yet that 
they are losing, but all of the Bourbon 
progeny have owned up to not being equail 
tc the occasion. Canes of this (breed that 
started weU, showing a fine tillering, have 
now taken on a sickly hue^ aad are showing 
evidence of rapid decline. If rain had fallen 
with the new moon all would have been well, 
but the shower that occurred at that time 
proved only a will-o'-the-wisp to those whose 
expectations wwe greatest, the ibelievers in 
the fatuo'is fortune that the moon's change 
heralds. 

Oa Tt»ur«A*y Aifbi, iMt wmSi^ ip% mu 4ii- 



covered in a canefield on Pin. Waterloo, 
which, after strenuous efforts on the part 
of the estate's staff and laJborers, was sub- 
dued; aiot, however, l>efore one and a half 
acres of canes were burnt. This is clearly 
the act of an incendiary, and, would that the 
dejnon be caught and l)rought to justice. 

Happening at a time like the present when 
there is no wate.-, J hear that the manager 
has ieciled to let the canes spoil, rather 
than injure his machinery with salt water — 
to the great delight of the 'Badians!— Ar- 
gosy, April 29. , 



Cuba and Poi^o Rico. 

If Cuba and Porto Rico ultimately be- 
come a part of the United States territory 
and the products of those countries be ad- 
mitted free, as they have good reason to be, 
it will meaji the death of the ;beet-sugar in- 
dustry in the west. A tremendous effort 
will be made, no doubt, at the next session 
of congress to have the West Indian sugars 
admitted free of duty. A special agent sent 
by the United States government to Cuba 
and Porto Rioo has just retum&d and says 
that from 'his observation it is clear to him 
sugar can be made down there for two cts. 
per pound, as there are as many as eleven 
crops from one planting of the cane. The 
first crop is forty or fifty tons per acre, and 
ordinary crops average twenty to twenty- 
five tons, owing to the phenomenal fertil- 
ity of the soil. Unskilled labor in Porto 
Rico costs only 30 cents a day, American 
money and the help board themselves. 
"^Half the people on the island live on five 
cents a day, and when the sugar factories 
feed their own hands they allow only seven 
wcents a day per man for that purpose." 

Now, the Cri'terion would ask in all good 
reason, how can Aimerican farmers, factories 
and laborers compete with these countries if 
the figures given above are correct and no 
means are taken to prevent the free import- 
ation of West Indian sugaiis? The beet' 
sugar producers might as well quit, close up 
their factories, abandon their stores and go 
out of business. — Grocers' Criterion. 



Trinidad Sugar Crops. 

In a late issue our contemporary pub- 
lishes a paragraph that the "Burnley Es- 
tate's" crop will be about the same as last 
year's, and that* the "prices got" (hardly any 
of the sugar can yeft be sold) will just be as 
much as will recomp expenses of manufac- 
ture, which, if true, is certainly not reassur- 
ing. 

We are not aware of the source of our 
•contemporary's Inspiration, but we much 
dou'bt the accuracy of the statements made, 
and although we have no special informa- 
tion as to those estates. Which represent a 
very important interest abikwid, we feel im- 
pelled in the interest of the sugar industry, 
and of the colony at large, to protest against 
What W0 tonc^ive to be aiv^rdgiiig afid 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII. No. 22. 



culated a!ln*oad. As said, "we have no speciad 
iDtormatioo as to tlie ''Burnley Estates/' 
we base our protecTt on what we are advised 
is tJhe general proeQ;>6ct of the suc^&r crop, 
In <|uantity and the market value. 

Since the campaign beigan we have heard 
nothing to speak of but the moat satisfac- 
tory reports as to the canes, the rtohness of 
JuUce, good yield, and excellent quality of 
sugar; and our reports indicate that the 
out-turn will be considerably above the 
average of recent years, and more than last 
year. We dould name factories where the 
crop wiil be 25 per cent over last year's, 
and it is common report that the "Big Boss" 
of (Naparlma is likely to beat its own last 
year's crop, a record one, by some 15 per 
cenL We have heard of cane disease, and 
t^^o or three estates have suffered rather 
severely, still we understand even they wi41 
U^ last year's crap. But the disease has 
not been general; outiefide of one district it 
is hardly known, and looking to the general 
out-turn we think there has been too much 
heard of it as having lessened crops. We 
cannot crediit, therefore, that the important 
bh>ck of the "Burnley Estates" will not, like 
othera, turn out large crops. 

But our unbelief applies more to the "ex- 
penses of manufacture," or, to use the bet- 
ter term, "oo«^t of production." The offal 
crops are sellinig well-^molasses fetches 
more than diouible last year's prices, and rum 
is worth from 20b. to 30s. more per puncheon. 
These items, comibined wath full crops, indi- 
cate a material reduction of the cost of (pro- 
duction of the staple sugar, and anyone who 
reads the dally market quotations in Lon- 
don and New York can see that crysltals are 
worth from £12 10s. to £13 10s. per ton 
net, or quite £2 to £3 more than last year. 
We have been accustomed to hea^ cost of 
production as roundly £10 per ton; this year 
we know some efiTtates wiU show much below 
that figure, and we could name one wliere 
the manager is confident it will not exceed 
£8 but probably under some exceptional 
Condi tflone; and we cannot but think the 
statement that any estate wtill, ithis year« 
only meet expenses of manufacture, is mis- 
chievous, and does not represent the condi- 
tion of the sugar industry at this time. 
The "Furnley Estaites" are second to non.e 
in productiveness and equipment, and when 
some can produce sugar at £8 per ton, we 
can hardly doubt that under the present en- 
lightened and scein^tlfic administrator, and 
with all the advantages of the improved ap- 
pliances and processes he has introduced, 
the benefits of which .were made evident in 
*hi8 comimunications to the (Agricultural 
Society, it is more likely the cost of produc- 
tion will be reduced to £7 10/- per ton. 
We have heard it stalted he considered this 
was qoiite practksable and ought to be 
reached.— -Trinidad B. W. I. Mirror, May 9. 



tria and the Mediterranean provinces have 
teen found most suitable for the sugar beet 
culture. Owing to the high protection af- 
forded the sugar Industry by tftie Spanish 
government the production of sugar has in 
ten years increased from 7,500,000 pounds to 
80,000,000 pounds. Since the total consump- 
tion of ^ain is only about 150,000,000 
pounds, it will be seen 'that in a few years 
Spain will not only produce sufficient sugar 
for her own consumption, but wiH likely be- 
come a competitor for the world's trade. 
The protective duty on sugar is much larger 
in Spain than in any other country in Eu- 
rope. — ^Beet Sugar (Gazette. 



Sufar Production in Spain. 

lEIven Spain is :beginning to develop the 
beet sugar industry on a large tfcale. Ans- 



Beet 5us:ar in the United States. 

According £o Henry T. Oxnard, in a laite 
interview, and he is in a position very close- 
ly to follow the devedopment of the Industry 
in this country, there are now 24 beet sugar 
factories or mills in the United States. 
Twenty more are projected, seven of tbese 
being in the State of Micftiigan. The Ox- 
nard plants, now combined under a common 
management, are four in number and include 
the two plants In Nebraska, at Grand Ts- 
land and Norfiolk, established in 1890 or 
thereabouts, the Ohino plant in OaJifomia 
and the new plant at Hueneme, in the same 
state. The condi*tions at present seem to be 
bright for a general and rapid development 
of this business in all parts of the Union 
where climate and soil favor the crop. Full 
tests have been made by chemists and other 
experts wil'h respect to a great many locali- 
des which are widely separated in point of 
distance and geography. A vast amount of 
missionary work has been done among the 
farmers and they are ready enough to co- 
dperate once the initiative and capital can 
be found to start the mills. The tariff seems 
now to be about right to give the industry 
•necessary protection and encouragement 
and the manufacture of beet sugar in the 
United States is getting such an Impetus 
that there sfhould soon be no need of going 
•to Germany after millions of doMars worth 
of this article every year. 

In connection with the development of the 
beet sugar indusiry in the United Steites it 
is of interest lo note to what a degree our 
refineries have relied of late upon Burope 
for supplies of the raw ar4;icle. The ship- 
ments vary greatly from year to year on 
different accounts, the chief being changes 
in American tariff legislation. In 1890 the 
Imports of beet sugar from Germany 
reached an aggregate vfiilue of ^16,000,000, 
having I'isen from about 16,000,000 the year 
before. In 1894 the imports were |11,000,- 
000, in 1895, $6,000,000; 1896, $10,00o;- 
000, and in 1897, 127,600,000! This great 
4otal was made up of antici^patory importa- 
tions to so large a degree that in the entire 
fiscal year 1898, Germany sent us only 
$2,600,000 of raw beet sugar. The trade is 
now beginning to assume natural propor- 
HoM again and for t|ie iilfie mc^bSi eodin^p 



March, Germany's contribution to our re- 
fineries attadned a vahie of $11300,900. Of 
the other beet growing countries in Burope, 
Austria and Belgium are, the principal irtiip- 
pers to the United States, but both taken 
together send us a very SQiall part as com- 
pared with the German Shnpire, in which 
country the Industry has attained « very 
hdgh state of development Russia, HoUand 
and France also send us an occasional cargo. 
If this sugar can be produced at home it 
will be a very satisfactory outcome from 
every point of view. — ^Manufacturer. 



Sugar in London. 

The speculative market has i>een < unset- 
tled, fiuctuations being sharp and numer- 
ous, but prices close dearer than those of last 
week. Some purchases of beet on behalf 
of American and Canadian refiners are re- 
ported, and are of sufficient Importance to 
cause a renewad of cofiflidence. The landings 
of sugar in the United SUtes are again 
rather heavy, and, consisting chiefly as they 
do just now of cane sugar, it is notewMthy 
that their refiners are still oom^eUed to 
support the European markets by purchases- 
of beet The stocks of tile latter at Ham- 
burg again show a marked increase, and 
compare unfavorably with Ia9t year^s figures. 
As regards the new beet sowings, the esti- 
n^tes of the Statistical Association point to 
a general increase, but in Gennany and 
Austria, the two chief producing countrtes, 
llctle extra acreage will be sown, while the 
exports of Russia, where the principal in- 
crease is expected, are too small and irregu- 
lar to be of much value to the general posi- 
tion of the available supplies next season. 
No cane sugars have been offered at public 
sale, and only a small business has been 
done privately in both refining and grocery 
sorts. The latter remain dull in the ex- 
treme, and alitfhough the merchants may 
plead some justification in keeping uip prices 
here owing to the bigh rates paid for West 
Indian sugar in America, it would seem that 
they do not sufllcientiy realise the fact that 
the effort to restore crystallised raw sugar to 
its noiunal consumption in this country is 
being delayed by the present policy of hoM- 
ing their sugars for what can be truthfully 
described as fancy prices. The dealers view 
the position with considerable adann, and 
fear that if the present process be carried 
to a much greater extent the distrubtion of 
the sugar in question will prove to have 
been permanently and disastrously dimin- 
ished. The Imports ol crystallised raws to 
London for the week ending 18th InsL, 
amounted to 1,676 tons, and for this year to 
17,508 tons as against 12,981 tons in 1898.— 
P. M. Review, May 20. 

Texas Rica. 

The Trinity Rice, Land and Irrigating 
company of St Louis, capiUl $260,000, has 
bought 1F,000 acres of land in Chambws 
county, Texas, on the line of the Gulf and 
Interstate Railway, and will at once put 
fsurvc^ors in the field to estalblish a canal 
line about 20 miles In length, the water to 
be taken from Turtle bayou. It Is said that 
tenant c'>ntracts enough to occupy nearly all 
Che land have nlrcady been made bj tlia 
company.— T^xas f^m fnrWt 



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Jone t. ISddJ 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFAOTUBBIL 



349 



BIOS. 



Talnuifit on tlw Ric« Market. 

The week has been aaxxmalous aad irregu- 
lar, not ag to pricM ibut in the movement 
At the opening there wa6 a marked falling 
away In the demand hut mldsweek there 
came a sharp inquiry and the lai^ half made 
amends for the deficiency in the earlier 
•days. The caU is ateut evenly distributed 
among the resi>6ctive sorts with perhaps Java 
slightly in the lead. Deaders generally are 
optimistic, clainving that stocks throughout 
'the country are light and every assurance 
therefore, of at least seasonaibte demand. As 
to the situation, markets abroad are harden- 
ing on styles suited for the United States 
and prices current here are %-^c. under 
present importing cost. (Advices from the 
Souith note that its markets liave had eKpeii- 
ence similar to those prevaiUng here. Prices 
pule easy on parcels which are off-grade, 
either seedy, morwibumt or out of condi-tlon 
but firm on that whtch is sound, uniform and 
fresh miil^ed. Cables axyd correspondence 
from abroad note wholesome activity in all 
styles and markets advanced on higher 
grades.* 

Talmage, Nerw Orleans, teileigraphs Liouisi- 
aoa crop movement to date: Receipts rough, 
703,985 sacks; ladt year (inclusive oif amount 
carried over) 536,131) sacks. Sales, deaned, 
(Est) 173,600 barrels; last year, 120,785 bar- 
rels. Demand steady; limited. 

^ahnage, Charleston, telegraphs Oarolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
36,890 barrels. Sales, 34,190 barrels. Fair 
inquiry at former figures. 



RIcs nnU All Over the Country. 

When we began a#tating the planting of 
rice in Manatee county, our dream of the 
importance and extent to which the busi- 
ness would attain was great, but, we have 
to confess, that already there is promise of 
grea'cer magnftude in acreage to be planted 
this year than we expected for two or three 
yeailB. One firm whose name appears in our 
rice list for ten acres has decided to plant 
sixty, and many others will enlarge their 
acreage proportionately. ^ 

Another evidence of the great popularity 
of rice culture among the farmers, comes in 
the shape of a statement from a prominent 
citizen of the upper end of the county, to the 
effect that nearly every farmer in that sec- 
tion will plant rice exftensively, but have 
not sent in their names for publilcation in 
our Hst, for the reason tliat they thought to 
do so, would, in a measure, pledge them to 
•bring their rice to the miU of Mr. Jasper 
Harris, at firaldentown, therelby lessening 
tlieir chance to secure mills in their oiwn 
GODununities. 

Puttfing all the information which we have 
been able to gather on the subject together, 
we are fully convinced that there will be no 
less than five hundred acres planted in the 
.county this year, with a probabidity of its 
reaiehing one thousand acres. Thib is, in- 



deed, gratifying to us, and all who are truly 
interested in the welfare of the farmers and 
the general proepertty oif the county, which 
can alone be advanced by the introduction of 
new indusrtries which can be made prafitaJ>le. 
dn this connection we are pleased %o call 
attention to the announcement in another 
column of Mr. Harris, in which he states 
that he will have a rice mill in every sec- 
tion of the county for cleaning the present 
crop.— Braldentawn, Florida, News. 



Another Money Maker. 

A letter has been received from Kansas 
City in wthich an inquiry is made for rice 
roots. A sample wisp of the fibrous root was 
inclosed in the letter, which states that the 
roots are shipped in such bun<yhes. The firm 
making the inquiry manufactures brushes 
and the roots are used in that business. 
Great quantities are used and the company 
announces tha^t it would buy tons if that 
quality were availajble. 

No prices are quoted in the detter, but at 
a fair price the rice faitmers could make a 
substantial profit after the crop is off. If 
those who are interested will call at this 
, office "^ey will be informed f urtJher concern^ 
ing the matter. If the prices quoted wiU pay 
for gathering, preparing and shipping, a 
splendid industry may be buiH up here. — 
l«ake Cliarles American. 



The New Orleans MilU. 

There is going to be an interesting fight 
on the coming season among the rice millers. 
In a recenit issue the Signal called attention 
to the fact that the New Orleans miUs had 
formed themselves into a comfbine to reduce 
the price of rice and* control the market 
•of Boufthwest Lfouisiana. IBeyosMl the con- 
trolling of prices a very deteitmined effort 
will be made to run the country mills out 
of business. 

A short while ago a large number of the 
rice growers, espedialiy in the eastern part 
of the rice country, signed a petition to have 
a forcible reduction of freight rates on rice 
into New Orleans. They do not seem to 
"have realized the ultimate end to which the 
cJty mills are working in this combine. 
That there are mills in the country to-day 
is due solely to the fact that the New Or- 
leans mills were extortionate in their prices 
and sucked every .bit of blood out of th« rice 
(grower, until as a means of self -protection 
the country mills were erected. 

The forcKble reductSiion of freight rates 
means purely and simply that the city mills 
are preparing for a grand effoi^ to crush the 
outside mills. iLiong ago people found out 
that the mills in the city do not look for 
legislation that will aid the planter. They 
say "the rate 1b too high and the grower 
does not get what he should have for his 
rice in the city." 

True enough, when it comes to wtiat the 
grower gets, but the worst thing tliat could 
be done for the grower will be a reduction 
in the rate. Such a reduction is wanted as 



will enalble the city mills to oveilhid the 
country mills for a short time. This will be 
kept up until the coun;try mills are crushed 
out of existence. 

Once this is done and the Netw Orleans 
mills will then commence again beating the 
price down umtU the saone contUtlcm of 
affairs will eilst that was prevalent before 
the erection of coun:try mills. 

A short time ago several articles appeared 
in the Signal looking to the organisation of 
the country mQls and planters for the pro- 
motion of mutual interests. All the country 
mills in this section replied favoraA)ly to the 
idea, as did also several pdanters. 

The Picayune tiook the matter up and the 
followdng extract appeared in an editorial: 

"(Several such comlbinnations were actually 
formed, and, if our experience can be of any 
benefit to our country friends, it is well that 
all should know that all such combina^tions 
proved dismal failures. Instead of bene- 
fiting the planters, they were so oppressive 
that the legislature passed a law to prevent 
all com'binations to control prJfces. Our es- 
teemed contemporary, the Crowley Slgnail, 
should not lose sight of the fact that act 
90, x)f 1892, is still in force, and that, ac- 
cording to the Siit, all combinations to con- 
trol the price of any agricultural product are 
unlawful. Our contemporary should also 
consult artiicle 180, of the new constitution, 
which for'bids comlbinations "to force up or 
down" the prices of any agricultural pro- 
duct 

The experience of the ^buMness men of 
New Orleans with comibinations has ibeen 
that they are aU disastrous to the best in- 
terests of the producers, whetlier of rice, 
sugar or any other product" 

Ju£^ at present, however, the Picayune is 
saying nothing on this subject Tiie coun- 
try mills have been tiie salvation of the 
paanter and now comes the opportunity for 
the planter to stand by their home mills. 
If the reduteed rate is secui^, the price may 
go up temporarily Ti)ut it will stay up only 
as Iiong as it takes to crush the country 
mills,— Orawley Signal. 



Foreif n Rice. 

There arrived in New Orleans last Wed- 
nesday a cargo of rice which was a large 
Importation for that city. There were two 
steamers, one from ix>ndon and one from 
Liverpool, and they were botii loaded with 
foreign rice aggregating together 20,000 
bags. Some of tThis rice was in the unclean 
state and was for the National lUce Milling 
Company. The balance was clean Bassim 
or so called Java rice. In speaking of the 
matter the presKdent of the National Rice 
Milling Company stated that they had 40,- 
000 bags of Japan rice coming to tiieir mill 
in Brooklyn, N. Y. These heavy importa- 
tions, together with those of the Talmages, 
and O. A. Jahn & Oo., all of New York, cure 
going to cut quite a figure at the opening of 
the new season for rice.— Crowley Siigpal. 



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850 



THE! tOmSIANA PLANTER AND StJGAll iAAJttXJPACWlCEk. 



[Vol. JOtlt, Ho. 



June 2. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Starict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common 

Common • • • 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Granul'ed 
Off Granulated . . . 

Choice White 

Off White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow — 
Prime Yellow .... 

OilYeUow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 
O. K, Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Sirict Prime 

Good Prime .... 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

C-';od Common 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 



Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 
Good Prime ... 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

^YRUP. _ 



May 27. 



May 29. 



May 30. 



May 31. 



June 1. 



June 2. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



- @ - 

- @ - 
-@ - 

- @ - 
_ (d - 

451(5-4(3 
4|J@43. 
4^^^4U 
3 (§43.^ 



c 



g 

o 

c 
o 

'A 



(^ 


16 


c^ 


15 


c^ 


13 


c^ 


11 


c^ 


9 


(a> 


8 


(^ 


7 


C'^ 


6 


@ 


6 


o 


— 



- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- (^ - 

- @ - 

4i5@4H 
4H@4J^ 
4>^@4|1 
3 @4% 






a 
o 



@ - 

@ 16 

@ 15 

(S 13 



11 
9 
8 
7 
6 
6 



(3 



- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



4H@4J^ 
4Vij(a^4}} 
3 %^}^ 



-1.3 



o 



- @ 

- @ 

- @ 

9 @ 
- @ 



14 

10 

8 



- @ T 



- @ 



- @ - 

- (^ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ — 
4H@4ii 
4{i@4^ 

4>^(a4H 
3 @4>^ 



(0 



c 
o 
Z 



-@ 14 

- @ - 
9 @ 10 

- @ 8 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ 6 

- @ 6 

~ @ - 



- @ 

- @ 



4J?(^4];j| 

4fJi(^4^ 
4>^(^4i4 

" @4?8 



3 



73 

§ 



4> 

O 



- @ - 

- @ 14 

- @ — 
9 @ 10 

- @ 8 

- @ - 



— @ 6 

— @ 6 



- @ - 

- @ - 



4p@4iii 
4H@4J^ 
4>^@4U 
3 @4% 



73 

g 



4> 



- @ — 

-@ 14 

— @ — 

9 @ 10 

- @ 8 
-@ - 



— @ 6 

— @ 6 
_ (a - 



- (^ 



— (ff — 



- @ - 

- @ - 

- (B - 

- @ - 
4A@4i.< 
4>4@4Ji 
2>^(53J8 



§ 

2 

Id 



o 
o 



12 @ 13 
12 @ 13 

— @ 11 

— @ 10 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 

— @ 7 

— @ 6 

— @ 5 

— ^ 5 

— (® - 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



Dull. 



Dull. 



Dull 



OTHER MARKETS. 



New York: 
SUGAR. 

Fair Refining, 89^^ 
Centiifugal8,96''.. 

Granulated 

Standard A 

Dutch Granulated 
German Granul'td. 

. MOLASSES. 

N.O. Choice 

N. O.Fair.... 

London: 

Java, No. 15 D. S. 

A.* G. Beet 



— @ - 

-(g)- 

— ^5.08 

— @4.96 

— Ca'5.25 

— (^5.20 



139. Od.- 
lls.l^sd. 






HOLIDAY. 



O 



HOLIDAY. 



— (0)5.08 

— (fl^4.96 
-- @5 25 
— . @5 17 

- @ - 

- @ - 

13s. Od 
lis. %d.. 



— @ - 

— @ — 

— (§5.08 

— (§4.96 

— (§5.25 

— ^5 17 

— @ - 



138 Od. 
lOs. ^d. 



— @ _ 

— @ - 

— @5 08 

— @4.96 

— @5 25 

— (§5 17 



13s. Od. 
Us. l>^d. 



- @ 

- @ 

5.08(3 
4.96(§ 



- @ - 
-@- 

128. 6d. 
9s. 9d. 



Raw— Firm-; good 
demand; Jittle of- 
fering. 

Refined — Fair de- 
mand. 



Cane^Steady. 

Beet— Firm and ratber 
dearer. 



NEW ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candy A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



- @5?8 

- @5)t 

- Ccb5{7 

- @ - 

- @5>^ 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



- @^h 

- @5-58 

- (^5It 

- @ - 

- (s^'A 

- @- 

- (§ - 

- @ - 



@5J^B 
(§5fT 
@ - 
@5>^ 
@ - 



@5% 
@5% 

@ - 
@5K 
@ - 
@ - 

(^ — 



- @5% 

- @5% 

- (§5It 

- @ - 

- @5K 

- @ - 
-@ - 
-@ - 



@5% 
@5^ 

@ - 
@5K 
@ - 
@ - 
@ - 



@5?i 

(§5 44 
@ - 
@5 32 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to May 24 Tons 245,456 

At fcur ports of Great Britain to May 20 " 5Jl,000 

M Havana and Matanzas to May. 23 " 78,000 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 



Received . 
Sold 



June 3, 1899. 
' Sugar 

Hhds. 
26 
26 



Barrels. 
8,091 
9,397 



NIolasftes 

Barrels. 
2,880 
2,880 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September i» 1898, 
to June a, 1899. 
Sugai 



Hhds. """"barrels. BarrdL. 

Received 10,259 1,247,202 238,590 

Sold 10,259 1,240,656 286,500 

Received same time last year 23,370 1,464,703 183,448 



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June 3, 1899.} 



THS LOUISIANA PLANTfiR AND SUGAR MANUPAOTURBR. 



851 



June 2. 






WBBKIiY MARB:BT REPORT, 






1889. 


RICE. 


May 27. 


May 29. 


May 30. 


May 31. 


June 1. 


June 2. 


Same Day Laat 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 


Rough, per bbl... 
Clean, Ex. Fancy 


Nomimal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


— @ — 


"null 


6>i@63^ 


I 




6>^@6Ji 




6>i(S63i 


~ @ - 




Fancy — 


6 (B^h 


\ 




6 @6>^ 


, 


6 @6>i 


^H@^H 




< ooice. . . 


6>^@53i 


\ 




5)i@53i 




6J4@63i 


bX(^e^ 




Prime... 


^h@hH 


\ 




43i@6i^ 


; 


4^@64 


6>^@5% 




Good ... 


4>i@4^ 


I 




4>i@43^ 




4>-4@4^ 


5.?i@5>^ 




Pair 


3?^@4^ 


t 




Sh@Ji'A 




3^@4>i 


5>i@5% 




Ordinary 


3 @33^ 


1 




3 @3^ 




3 @3S!i 


4?t@43^ 




Common . 


2K@3 






2>i(@3 




2ki<s3 


4^@43| 




Screenings 


2 @2^ 






2 @23i 




2 («2% 


— @ - 




Inferior . . 


13i@2 






13i@2 




13i(«2^ 


— ^ — 




No.2 

Bran, per ton.... 


'K« 


^ 




'!!%« 


■ M WV 


^^^^ 


12 50@t3 00 


Better feeling. 


Polish, per ton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


16 000 - 




ReoeipU ai 


Ml 3ale« at N«w 
Jun4 


OiieuM for ttM week ending 
I a. 1899. 






Racelpta M 1 


Mew Orleeos from Aug. i, 1898, to June a. 1899. 
Bomiwred with last yev. same tlnw. 






Sacks Rough. Qblk 


CLBAlf. 








SACirfl Rough. Bi»t.«. r^iAH 


ReceiTod 




138 8fi.^ 1 


This 


VAAr 




689ftni Q7;ft 


Qold 




ft17 ? 


)39 1 


Last year 




4( 


57.565 8,081 













Sugar. 

The sugar market was quiet and 'barely 
steady at the end of the week. The demand 
sufficed to readily absorb the receiipts from 
the country. 



Molasses. 



No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals dudl. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

Offerings of botli light and clean rice were 
very light at the end of the (week, arrivals 
were small. 



Barbados. 

Intensely dry and "hot weather with figlit 
and shifty breezes that, lazily turning the 
windimills. rouse themselves up occasionally 
to play with the road dust and whirl it up 
in (White clouds has prevailed .throughout 
the length and breadth of the island during 
the emlAre fortnight under review, and the 
sum total of its record is, dryheat.' It goes 
without saying that the young canes are 
suffering, many fields, as one may observe 
from the roads, are becoming wilted and 
shrivelled in a4)pearance; those early 
trashed are holding on to belter advantage. 
The utility of early trashing is nover more 
observable than when the soil is* cracked and 
paric'hed by drought, the mulch j)revents eva- 
poration, and not only tends to conserve 
moisture, and keep the roots cool, but also 
prevents the heat rays from penetrating too 
deeply into the soil-cracks, and so killing 
the tender, imperlfectly rooted plants. Many 
of the late supplies, in the untrashed fields 
especially, are being killed off In this way. 
But on the whole, notwithstanding even the 
effects of the intense suns, we have a fine 
young crop on the land, and the recuperative 
power of the cane plant is so remarkable 
that the first soaking shower will surely take 
all the wilt out of the leaves, and paint them 
magically with vivid green, (while regularity 
can be ensured by filling the dead holes with 
stump plants which grow rapidly in wet 
weather. The real cause for anxiety is the 
fodder question. Without rain there can be 
no imphee or guinea corn ready to take the 



place of the daily diminishing supply of 
green cane fodder, ajid the poor beascs will, 
unless we get timely rain, be reduced at the 
end o»f the crop to the dry cane tap, a poor 
diet which will have probably to be ex- 
pensively supplemented with oil meal. 
Ground provisions, too, iwill probably be 
scarce by and by; sweet potatoes have all 
along been very cheap and plentiful, but 
the existing supply is being regularly dimish- 
ed, and without rain there will be a break 
in the continuity of the su(pply which will 
be severely felt^ for nobody ever appreciates 
the real value of sweet .potatoes until they 
become dear and scarce. Not only Is rain 
very necessary to us now for the welfare of 
the young crop, and urgently neci^ed for 
establisbing fodder and provision crops, but 
the old canes themselves would be none the 
worse for refres'hing showers to improve 
and dilute the viscid juice which although 
It cannot ripen and gather carbon without 
plen'ciful sunlight yet must "have rain water 
enough to swell and burst the cells, and so 
wash the sugar from the pith when crusbed 
in the mill. We have heard old planters say 
that 'cut canes lying at a mill door are often 
refreshed and improved by a timely shower 
of rain. 

The remarkable thing about he crop now 
being reaped is the disproportion between 
the tonnage of cane and the yield of sugar. 
Canes that ought to be giving three tons to 
the acre are still barely affording one and a 
half; more pith than juice, and that juice not 
of a very sweet quality. We can hardly 
with justice grumble at the White Trans- 
parent cane. It yielded very weld in 1898, 
nor was it its fault that the price was then 
so low; but certainly t'he conditions in- 
fluencing the present crop have not been 
favorable, nor has th-e dry and hot weather 
prevailing so unifcirmly for the past month 
tended to Improve matters to any very ap- 
preciable extent. When -told, the sum of the 
crop will, we trust be not less than 1% tons 
to the acre; but as tbe 'Northern Districts 
are apparently only getting 1^4, <we shall be 
lucky if the average yield is no worse, but 
notwithstanding the reported spurt of two 
tons from some sheltered or favored spots, it 



cannot possibly be more, and, we venture to 
prophesy, will not be more when the crop is 
closed, and the tale made up. The sugar 
made is of good strong quality, and the 
molasses though scant is exceptionally 
good, and, we are gdad to add, in demand, 
the price 17c., although only a modest frac- 
tion of the value across the water, is quite 
phenomenal and encouraging on our side, 
quite an agreeable change from that 
wretched six cents far which during past 
years we have been: forced to give it away. 
It is refreshing therefore to find that good 
old supply and demand has not been quite 
killed by artificial trade, and that she has 
ventured to raise up her sick head a little 
bit this year especially in the molasses trade. 
— Agricultural Reporter, May 13. 

Trade Notes. 

SUuffer, Esbleman & Co. 

Elsewhere in tUiis issue we print the ad- 
veiicisement of this {prominent firm. They 
are devoting considerable attention just now 
to the sale of their Western 4- wheel, all 
steel, reversible road machines, a large num- 
ber olf which are already in use in this state, 
and (for which they claim advantages and 
improvements possessed by no other make 
ever introduced in this section. They ^e 
also anxious to direct attentiti to their im- 
proved Daisy 2-wheel road machines, manu- 
factured expressly for them, fifty of which 
have already been sold in the parishes of 
St. Mary and Iberia, where they are consid- 
ered indispensable on a well regulated sugar 
plan:ation, and where they are utilized in 
field as well as road work. The reputation 
of the firm of Stauffer, Bshleman & CJo. is 
a guarantee of the quality of the goods they 
handle. 



Vermilion. 



The rice fields are looking fine, and the 
planting never was surpassed in the number 
of acres planted. The early planting is 
peculiarly promising and thrifty in its 
grow.th and stand. On the Lower Vermilion, 
the Hall and Slutz plantations now have 
their big pumips vigorouady at work throw- 
lag a small river over their broad acres. 
They completed their canal last week and 
now will be able to water all the land in 
cultivation. These men widl make it tMs 
year. H. P. Porter is their engineer for the 
season. A wise selection. — Republican Idea, 
May 25. 



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THiB LOUISIANA fLANTJSft AND SUGAR MANUPACTaHER. 



tVol. XXII. No. ^. 



WANTS. 



We will publish In this column, free of charge until 
further notice, the applications of all managers, over- 
seers, engineers and sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions in the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 



WANTED— A position as Bugar boiler. FIrbt-class 
^^*fft^ence8 fu^ni^'hf»d. Loiik experionce. Careful, 
Hteady man. Address GEORGE, 47CO Tchoupttoulas 
street, New Orleans. 6-27-99 

WANTED— Accountant and book-keeper wishes po- 
.sltlon on plantation; uddre&s M., 1328 Louisiana Ave- 
nue, New Orleans. (J-1-&9 

WANTED— Position by a man of family as second 
en«ineer, to live on plantation. Al references. Sot- 
Isfactlon guaranteed: address Sugar House Engineer, 
Hox 43, Wbilecastle, La. tf-l-lK) 



WANTED— By a first-class mechanical engineer and 
practiCiil sugar boiler, position as chief engineer, or 
sugar boiler or superintendent of sugar house for com- 
ing season. Twelve years of steady, practical expe- 
rl»?nce In modem plantation sugar house management. 
Gilt-edged references from past employers. On ac- 
count of freeze was released from sei-vlce with last 
employers after a steady service of four years. Ad- 
dress Sugar Exi»ert, Box 431, Now Orleans. 



WANTED— Situation by a lady of experience as a 
teacher; ol-Jcct. a good home with small salaiy; ad- 
dress A. W., care Mississippi Packet Co., New Orleans, 
La. 5-lD-W) 



WANTED— Position as stenographer or book-keeper 
by a young man. (Jan give good references, and have 
no bad habits; address L. J. Carter, care Draughon 
College, Galveston, Texas. 6-2-M)9 

WANTED— By a flrst-cla».s vacuum pan sugar maker, 
a position for the season of Ihlrt), either in Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico; Is a close boiler of firsts and sec- 
onds; is strictly tpmpcraic^ and reliable and can fur- 
nish the best or reference from pa.st employfrs as to 
character and ability; speaks Spanish and French. 
Address J. W. F.,42;U N. Peters street. Now Orleans, 
Li^ 

W^ANTED— Position as go\ernes8 or teacher; sum- 
mer or session. Best references furnished. Address 
Miss Mary Siith, IHO C'amp street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
machinist and engineer for repairs and all-around work 
in beet sugar factory. Position permanent If satisfac- 
tory. Addr>.'ss, with references and salary expected, 
C. A. Zimmerman, Box Ds, Eddy, Now Mexico. 



WANTED— by a flr&t-dass vacuum pan sugar boiler 
and clarlfler with IS years experience, expert In hand- 
ling gref n cane, a crop for the coming season In Louis- 
iana, Texas or Mexico. Best of references furnished. 
Makes no use of Intoxicating liquors. Address Wes- 
ley, 218 Canal street, New Orleans. 6-H-iiU 

W.\NTKD— Situation by a young man 22 years of age, 
with gilt edked references, as clerk In country or city 
store. Five years experience. Can speak French and 
English. Address Aguinaldo, Soulouque, La. 
5-17-99_ 

WANTED— Position for the MM crop as book-keeper 
or assistant. Can give best of references. Twenty- 
two years old and a graduate of a good business col- 
lege; address A. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 5-9-99 

WANTED— A, flrst-class and competent assistant 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season. Best 
references furnished; address Proof Stick, Box 62, 
Donaldsonvlllft. La. 5-6-99 

WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
as overseer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantation work. Eighteen years experience and can 
furnish best of references; address A. C, care this 
office. 

WANTED— Position ly a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best of reference; address Arthur, 
care P. M., Ltitle Cypress, Ky. 6-10-99 

WAN! ED— Situation by an experienced n^achlnlst 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly sober and at- 
tentive to business. Would like to secure work the 
year round If possible at reduced salary, or take re- 
pairs and crop on very reasonable terms. Good refer- 
ences furnished; address P. H. E. Fngineer, 7Z\ Fern 
.stfe(t. New Orleans. 5-10-99 

W.-VNTED- A middle-aged German man for yard and 
to make himself generally useful. Address Mrs. J. L. 
Darrahh, Justine Plantation, Centervllle. La. 6-11-99 

WANTED— Position on a sugar plantation as black- 
smith, wheelwright and horse-shoer; address Sidney 
G. RoussELL, Edgard, La. 6-1-99 



WANTED— Position as time-keeper, oyerseer. clerk 
or general office or store work. Can g^ve the best of 
city and outside references; address A. H. Noeninger, 
care of Room 200, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans. 4-28-99 



WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, cdllege gradu- 
ate. Have aone some work In sugar analysis. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 33, State 
College, Pa. 4-28-99 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
dations, desires to secure a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., care General Deliv- 
ery, New Orleans. 5-3-99 

WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 
gar maker, bva man of large experience, either in plan- 
tation sugar house or sugar refinery. Can furnish good 
references. Would prove a valuable and all-around 
faithful man In any sugar house. Address P. R., c»re 
Louisiana Planter. 4-28-99 

WANTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk (K>wsand make himself 
useful about a place. First-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1428 St. Ann street, New Orleans. 
4-21-99 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experionce as head chemist in Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. A 1 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; address L. G. Leler, care M. E. Sepp, 2583 
8th .\ v enue, New York. 4-14-99 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldsonville, La. 4-13-99 



WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
P'rench chemist, 10 years of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Boys-Bances, Apartado 
715, Havana, Cuba. 4-17-09 

WANTED— On a plantation, a cyompetent blacksmith, 
one who thoroughly understands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt & Ziecler, Nos. 428 to 438 South Peters st. 

4-13-99 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collin.s, Sartartis, Texas. 4-19-99 

WANTED— Position by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give flrst-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S., care this office. 

4-19-99 

WANTED— Position as plantation oook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Glllis of Poydras 
plantation, and others; address Mas. S. Terrelle, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-99 

WANTED— A position by a first-class, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced in sugar mill and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4—11—99 

WANTED— For the coming season, aposltionas sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Felix Oubre. 
Edgard, L a. 4—12—99 

W^ANTED— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming si ason in Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
address J. H. F., 727 Lowerllne street, New Orleans. 
4-5-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young <nan as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he c^n 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in general merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F,, Union P. O., St. James; La. 



WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, d^.'sires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of running the factory, or 
as sugar maker; address R. R., care this office. 

4-6-90 

WANTED— By competent man with flrst-clasa refer- 
ences a position as ist. or 2nd overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation; address S. 29 this paper. 

W.ANTED— Married man, German, desires a poaition 
as yard or sUbleman; address Philip Braun, Gibaon, 
La. t-TI-n 

WANTED— Position by a man 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Bebthelot, box 101, 
Welsh, La. • 3-23-90 

WANTED -Position by a flrst-claas vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first and molaaaes su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crj'stalllzers. Best of references! 
address H., care this office. 3-27-90 

WANTED— Position by a first-class sugar house en- 

Sneer, good machinist, 18 years' experience In some of 
e best sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, this office. 3-2&-90 

WANTPn-Sitnatlon bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island ; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 3-20-90 

WANTED— Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 8. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 3-23-00 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, in the country; good references; ad- 
dress Alphonse Buck, 2714 Second street, city. 
'_ 3-18-00 

WANTED- By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico; address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
433, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-00 

WANTED— Position as gcnaral helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years In same; 
address J. M. S., Fletel, La. 8-15-00 

WANTED— Position by a young married man as 
chemist, book-keeper or general statistician on sugar 
plantation. Ten years experience; best of references; 
address A., care this office. 3-15-00 

WANTED— In first- class sugf r house in Cuba, Mex- 
ico or Louisiana, position as sugar boiler or chemist, by 
man of experience; satisfaction guaranteed; address 
Martin, 6041 Laurel street, New Orleans. 3-8-00 

For Sale Cheap. 

One 6| foot Vacuum Pan, with almost 
new Knowles Pump. Has taken ofif 
crop of 1,750,000 pounds sugar. 

Address F. W. NICHOLLS, Ttibodan, La. 



The Lima Locomotive and JVIaGtiine Company, ^'h"?^: 

Geo. H. Marsh, Pres't. 

T. T. Mitchell, V. Pres't. ^ 

W. C. Mitchell, Genl M'g'r. 

D. E. Harlan, Sec^and Treas. 

I. P. Carnes, Superintendent. 



WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the services 
of a competent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
references, will please address Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street. New Orleans, La. 6-11-99 



The Shay 
Locomotive 



is especially deMgoed for iMe on lieavy grades and sharp curves. 
Freight Cars, Logging Cars, Car Wheels and Steel and Iron Castings. 



We 
CorrespoDdenoe solicited. 



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DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. ZXII. 



NBW ORLBANS. JUNE) 10, 1899. 



No. 28. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 

AMP 

SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THB 

UyiMina Sugar PkuiHn' A—oeiaiiM, 
MM^nt'on Branch Sugar Hant9r%' M$$oemtron, 
Louhkum Sugar Ch9mi$t$' A—oeMwi, 
iaimm Sugar ^rtirtrt' 4$$9clathnp 
T§Ma9 Sugar Pkuit^rM* Amoaathn. 
PuiaulMaiitNcwOrlMas, La.,«Ttnraatiirdaxlio»>Bff 

BT TBB 

LOUI8IAHA PLANTBR AND 8UOAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

DcToted to I«ovMn« Aiik B ltfe in men!, 4Wd lo 
the Suffar Indnstrjr in particular, and in all ita 
brandiea, AgdouUnral, Mechanical. Chem- 
ical Political and ConunerdaL 

BDITOKIAL CORPS. 
W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPflON. 

W. "W. FUGH. ^HN DYMOND. 

B^MNd at thePoatomoe BtNewOrleaMaateoond-daia 
^^•^ maU nutter, Julj 7, 18BB. 

uMmumm^>^$ — * » Per annum 

Terms of SubecrlptUm (toolnding poatage) » 00 

Foreign Subaortptlon , * w 

ADVBRTISmO RATES. 



Space 



1 month 



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An oommiiBloatlona should h^ addresaed to Tn 
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McCalt BreCbers, 
McCall 4ILegeMfe. 



STOCKHOUMiRS. 
_R. Beltnui. 



Teller, 

B. Leoiaaa 41 Bre.. 




Pms AJ^sraett. 
M. C. WarBMtli. 



, Lerert, 



D.R. 

L« A. L.....F 
Hero 41 Mslhlet. 
W.J. BehMi.. 
J.T. Moore. Jr.. 
B«wwda 41 HauMnw, 
jolM A. MorrU. 
B.H. C w iM i fg lM Wi . 
R. Vlterbe. 
H.CsniiM»r. 
C. M. Sorta. 
J. L. Itorrls. 
J. N. Mnrpby* 
Andrew Price, 
B.4IJ. Keck. 
Wm. Oarlg, 



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B.trhMilit. 



The IrrifBtiofi of Sugar Cane in 
Loutoiana. 

Tlie drought that prevafled during 
May of this year, and which at pres- 
ent promises to extend through June, 
brings very vividly to the minds of su- 
gar planters interested in the question 
of irrigation, the possibilities of utiliz- 
ing it in cane culture in Louisana. As 
will be remembered by our readers, the 
Louisiana Planter has been rather an 
earnest advocate of the application of 
irrigation to cane culture in this state. 
We still believe that we shall learn how 
to promote the growth of our cane crops 
by irrigation at the proper time, and 
without the injurious effects that might 
come from the excessive use of water. 
One (if our most distinguished corre- 
epondents, who writes over the signa- 
ture of Ex-Sugar Planter, has taken 
issue with us in this matter, arguing as 
he does with eminent accuracy that the 
chief trouble in Louisiana has not been 
to secure a supply of moisture, but rath- 
er to get rid of that excess of water 
which has generally done so much in- 
jury to our cane crops. When we re- 
call, however, the fact that the year 
1890 was phenomenal in its yield of 
sugar, nearly doubling the crop of the 
previous year, and this not on account 
of the high temperature of that year, 
but rather on account of the distribu- 
tion of the rainfall throughout the sea- 
son, which occurred in ju»t such a way 
as to develop the very best agricultural 
results, we are led to hope that similar 
results could be brought about by judi- 
cious irrigation, and that such irrigation 
could be so arranged as not to inter- 
fere with that drainage which is so es- 
sential to the proper growth of su^r 
cane in all of the cane fields in Louisr 
iana. 

This season something is doing in 
the way of experimentation apart from 



the work done at the Sugar Experi- 
ment Station at Audubon Park, where- 
in irrigation experimraits have been sig- 
nally successful, as reported in the past 
by various bulletins issued from that 
station, l^ssrs. Oxnard and Sprague, 
of the Adeline Plantation, in tfce Par- 
ish of St. Mary, have this year erected 
a large pumping plant and arranged 
conduits for the transference of the 
water to the various fields which it may 
be desired to irrigate. We have no 
news as to the success of this venture, 
but presume that it is now in operation 
and that latw mi we shall learn as to 
the value of the results diere secured. 
Gov. Warmoth has stated that he in- 
tends to arrange for irrigation for the 
coming year, which can readily be done 
at his place during the early months of 
the year by the use of syphons, as is 
done in rice irrigation on the lower 
coast, the river standing generally 
above the level of the land from the 
first of February until nearly the first 
of July. 

At Poydras Plantation this^ season 
considerable water has been syphoned 
into the field and apparently thus far 
with very satisfactory results. At Be- 
lair a large quMitity of wafer has been 
syphoned into the field, with se^ningly 
satisfactory result^ the irrigation still 
continuing, and it is thought that ben- 
eficial results therefrom are already 
seen. 

It certainly seems to be a pity that 
in a country where water is in such am- 
ple supply, our leading crop should 
suffer from the^ droughts. Along the 
Mississippi river a large part of the nec- 
essary irrigation could be accomplished 
by syphons, and the water that might 
be needed the rest of the year, when 
the water had fallen below Uie level of 
the land, could readily be pumped to 
the syphons 90 that these latter could 
do their share of the ^ork. 



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THB LOUISIANA PLANTUt AND 8UOAK MANVTAOTDBBL 



[Vol XXH, Ho. tZ. 



May Weather in St. James. 

The Planter has received from Mr. E. 
Cherbonnier of Helvetia Plantation, 
data covering the weather in St James 
during May, 1898 and 1899. As the . 
drought of 1898 was so severe, in fact 
continuing until July, a comparison of 
conditions" now and then will be of ex- 
ceptional interest, the drought this sea- 
son being nearly as severe as that of the 
last 

In May, 1898, on Helvetia the aver- 
age maximum temperature was 87.5 
degrees F., and the average minimum 
temperature 62.5 degrees F. We find 
that this year the average maximum 
temperature has been 94.2, and the av- 
erage minimum 65.5 F. We herein 
find indicated an average maximum 
temperature of nearly seven degrees 
above that of May of last year. This 
will indicate a cause for the rapid; re* 
eovery of the cane crop which our cold 
April seemed to render^ almost impos- 
sible. The average minimum temper-, 
ture for May, 1899, was three degrees 
higher than that of 1898. The rainfall 
during May, 1898, was three quarters 
of an inch, while May, 1899, gave 
seven-eighths of ,an inch in the last half 
of the month. 

The month of May has been very 
favorable to the growth of sugar cane, 
its high temperature promoting the de- 
velopment of the refractory eyes, ajid 
had we had seasonable rains the crop 
WQuld have done still better, but the 
common report is that the conditions 
are now even better than were generally 
expected at the beginning of the month. 
The Planter is under many obligations 
to Mr. Cherbonnier for his interesting 
data. 



June Weather. 



The Weather Bureau of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture has issued 
its synopsis of data of June weather, 
covering the observations made at the 
Xew Orleans station during twenty- 
eight years. The average or normal 
temperature has been 81 degrees F. 
the warmest June, that of 1881, with an 
average of 85 F.; the coldest June that 
of 1889, with an average of 78 F. Dur 
ing these 28 years the highest temper- 



ature recorded in June was that of 9& 
degrees F., on June 21st and 22nd, 1897, 
and the lowest that of 58 F., on June 
1st, 1889. 

The average rainfall for June is 6.51 
inches, with 14 days averaging .01 
inches, or more, while the greatest 
monthly precipitation was that of 12.05 
in 1883, and the lowest was that of 
2.71 in 1882. The greatest rainfall in 
any twenty-four consecutive hours was 
5.48 inches, June 29-30, 1887. The 
prevailing wind^ are from the south- 
east. 

Reverting to these data we note that 
the warmest June, that of 85 degrees 
F., in 1881, was in a bad sugar year, 
the snow and ice of January, 1881, 
having done much injury to the crop 
of that year and the hot weather of 
June failing to redeem the situation. 
On the other hand, the coldest June, 
that of 1889,' with an average of 78 
degrees F., resulted in another crop of 
sugar considerably smaller than that of 
the year which preceded it. So that 
the temperature does not seem to be a 
very close guide so far as crop results 
are concerned. 

The least rainfall rcorded in Jn 
was that of 1882, which was an excel- 
lent cane growing year, and the heav- 
iest rainfall was that of 12.02 inches in 
1883, an indifferent sugar cane year. The 
greatest precipitation recorded in any 
twenty-four consecutive hours, 5.48 
inches, June 29-30, 1887, was in one 
of the best sugar years that we have 
had. 

It is difficult to review these data and 
determine their application. to our cane 
crops, as their evidence does not ?eo' 
to be very conclusive. Of course, the 
temperatiure and rainfall are the chief 
factors in producing the growth of su- 
gar cane. The year 1890 stands par 
excellence as the year wherein the rain- 
fall was the most evenly distributed, and 
as the year in which the very best agri- 
cultural results known in Louisiana 
were realized. 



ceived interesting data concerning 
Porto Rico weather, compiled by the 
Porto Rico section of the U. S. Departr 
ment of Agriculture. 

The prospects for ithe Porto Rico 
cane crop are generally favorable, al- 
though there are indications that the 
yield of sugar will be less thka that of 
last year. The season has been too 
dry, but recent rains have been bene- 
ficial to the standing crops. The ^rrind- 
ing season is about finished. 

Rice seems to be quite a considerable 
crop in Porto Ricoy and its condition 
is reported good, excepting in some lo- 
calities wherelt has been atacked by an 
insect and this, it is thought, will re- 
duce the, actual crop acreage to a less 
area than that of the previous year. 

In the same sections cane planting is 
going on, the rains now falling proving 
very beneficial. 

Qms Ciif ines. 

A practical hand book on Thfe Care 
and Management of Gkis Engines, by 
O. Lieckfield, C. £.> has been translated 
from the German and published by 
Messrs. £. & F. N. Spon, Londim, and 
can be procured from Spon & Chamber- 
lain, 12 Cortlandt St., New York, at 
the publishers price of $1.00. This is 
a valuable hand book of about 100 
pages, and discusses the care and man- 
agement of gas and gasoline engines. 
The increasing popularity of these en- 
gines is leading to their use everywhere 
that a moderate amount of power is (o 
be applied, and it would be well for any- 
one interested in gas and gasoline motors 
to study this hand book with a view of 
securing a better compi:ehension of the 
underlying principles incident to the de- 
velopment of power by these machines. 



Porto Rico Weather. 

Through the courtesy of Section Di- 
rector W. T. Blythe of the Louisiana 
Weather Bureau, the Planter has re- 



Allen's Coame^dal Orfenlc Aoely^to, 

Messrs. P. Blakiston's Son & Co. have 
recently publihed 'Allen's Commercial 
Analysis a treatise on the properties^ 
proximate analytical examination and 
modes of assaying the various organic 
chemicals and products employed in the 
arts, manufactures and medicine. This 
is an extremely valuaUe publication 
and Vol. 1, is i>f especial value to the 
sugar industry peoause a large fraction^ 



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June 10, 1899.] 



fift toimt^J^ fLurrBK am ftuctAR ttANurAertnaDL 



;«56 



. some 100 pages, of the book, which is 
ft fine octavo, is devoted to the sugar 
industry, taking up in detail there the 
eonatitirtion and classification of sugars; 
the relations of the sugars to polarized 
light; the specific gravity of saccharine 
solutions; the action of strong acids on 
sugars; the action of dilute acids on 
sugars; reaction of the sugars as reduc- 
ing agents; recognition of the principal 
kinds of sugar, cane sugar, sucipse 
sugar;.aiajt sugar, maltrose; milk sugar, 
lactroeeigliKiQ^es. 

About fifty pages following are de- 
voted to starch and its isomers, and this 

. 150 pages constituting nearly one^third 
of the volume, will gi^e to those inter- 
ester in the sugar industry the latest 
data availaUe on its analytical side. 

The book can be procured from 
Messrs. P. Blakiston's Son. & Co., 
Philadelphia,- and 4i^^published at $4.50^ 

X . 
Tht Louisiana Sugar Planters' Asso- 
ciation. 

''' The June meeting of this Association 
{^ wifr-held last Thursday evening, at. its 
rooms on Union street, New Orleans. 
Th^re was a very good attendance, 
among those present being Messrs. Emile 
Legendre, J. S. Webster, <}. Q. Zenor, 
John Dymond, Henry Tremoulet, H. S. 
Crozier, Victor Meyer, J. W. Gleason 
and others. President Emil^ Eost was 
in the chair, knd Ite reading of the min- 
utes of the previous meeting having 
been dispensed with, he stated that 
* Messrs. John A. Wogan, G. W. Sentell, 
' and G. S.'Piferson were candidates for 
membership in the Association. They 
we^ all unanimously elected. 

' The next business before the meeting 
was the topic for discussion, '^ow to 
SecTire the Best Results in the Preser- 
vation of Seed Gaiie/^ The only paper 
which had been prepared was a brief one 
by CoL Q. G. Zenor, which was as fol- 
lows: 

To secure the best resuUs in tli« preser- 
vatrion of seed cane Is in my humMe Judg- 
ment, ito d!« it tbp 1>7 the roots and plant It 
dn the !teU. If the^ «^Kmnd is pcrop^rly pre- 
pared, weU drained, And the cane covered 
4 or 6 inches deep, its keeipin« Is iwell as- 
sured. However, cUnnatic conditions may 
occur that ^otdd preiyent planting the en- 
Hire crop. Excessive drouth, or rains, in 
Septamibef or Octdber 'WonOd defer a full 
planting, !bat we rarely have such an ex- 



cess of either, fltmt that at least one-half or 
more oi the crop ceuld Ibe plants before 
or during the grinding season. 

ILands lying so low that they are liaible to 
be flooded by heavy min (fall during the 
Winter, and not readily drained, might be 
(better to jpflant after the ooM season haa 
passed. If eeed must be saTed, select the 
etraightest stubble, dig it up !by tSie roots, 
put It in windroWj, with tops down hUl, 
carer (well and open quarter drains below 
the middles and if it don't keep, ask Dr. 
Stu3)tb6 for a remedy. ' 

The advantages of fall planting iwere so 
clearly, (fuaiy and forcibly elucidated by Dr. 
iStubbs in a paper read before this associa- 
tion May 12th, 18^, and publdshed In the 
Louisiana Planter of May 14, that I couki 
add nothing to it and would say to tliose 
who have not read it that tt would well re- 
pay perusal. 

On motion duly made, Col. Zenor's pa- 
. per was received with thanks and order- 
ed published. Considerable discussion 
was then had relative to the matter of 
preserving seed cane, which was partic- 
ipated in by Messrs. Dymond, Zenor, 
Gleason, .H. S. Crozier, H. Tremoulet, 
Emile Legendre, Burguieres^ Webster, 
Meyer and others and of which a full 
stenographic report will appear in our 
next issuei The views of those present 
having been thoroughly ventilated, the 
chair stated that the selection of a topic 
for discussion at the next meeting was in 
cmier. On motion, the selection was left 
to the President. The meeting then 
adjourned until the second Thursday in 
July; 



The Cane Crop. 

The prevalence of occasional showers 
throughout the sugar district has sei-ved 
to mitigate the drought situation to 
some extent, though they are neither 
extensive enough nor heavy enough to 
give satisfactory relief. They have, 
however,given some,and in places, con- 
siderable assistance to the cane, which, 
while suffering badly in some places, is 
generally holding out very well, though 
checked in growth from lack of suffic- 
ient moisture. 

The prevailing hot weather and the 
increasing f requncy of th showers seem 
to promise relief oon. 



Rainy Season In Cuba. 

The station, at Havana, of the IT. S. 
Bureau, has just published the follow- 
ing: 

The rainy seaaon (begins in the 'latter part 
of May and the first part of June and ends 



with October, during 'whkSk tlme'^aboat 63 
per cent, of the mean annual ralnl&ll oc- 
curs. 

The mean anngal rainfall cpn^dled from 
a 30 years period, for May/ Is 4.47 inches; 
«:reatest monthl;^ iraintal^ 17.51 inches, in 
1890, and aee^t monthly rainfall, 0.33 inches, 
in 1897; average numiber of days iiHIh rain, 
9.3; igreateet ntim(ber of days with, rain 19 
in 1886; least, 3 in 1889. 

For Joine the average monthly rainfall 
is 7.16 inches; greatest monthly rainfall, 
17.S6 incflMB, In 1892, and least, iJil in 1865. 
Aiverage num'ber of dayis with radn, 12.8; 
greatest number of days with rain, 21 in 
1897, and the least, 4 in 1872. 

One inch of raHn equals 22,^24.04 Imperial 
gallons, or 113.31 tons of water, per acre. 
On Th^iraday aftemocm last. May a6th, 1.21 
inch Gf rain fell in 59 minutes. 

The mean temperature, 1(F years period, 
for May is 78.8; maximum was 99.0 in 1895 
and minimum 64.4 in 1889. 

For June the mean temperatuce is 8145; 
maximum 97.7 In 1891 and minimum 69.1 in 
1888. Wm. B. Stockston. 

Forecast Official and StaUon Director. 



Sufar in flexico. 

Fi^om a recent issue of Modem Mex- 
ico we leam that Chiapas has 244 su- 
gar plantations; Nueva Leone, 226; 
Vera Cruz, 106; Yucatan, 94; Mich- 
oacan, 82; Oaxaca, 75; Qarero, 72; 
Pueblo, 67, and Jalisco, 63. 

Suf ar ms Food. 

'tA. dump of sugar represen/ts alx>ut as 
much nntrimeot as mi ounces of potato, tMit 
•while the potato iwiill he eaten, only because 
hun«;er proxnsptts, the sugar, iheoause of its 
taste, may. ibe taken ^when the appetite has 
been ifuUy satisfied. 

'^6ugar Is a cisefiil and Taluable food. It 
must, however, be arememibered that it is a 
concentrated food, and therefore j^hould be 
eaten In moderate quantities. iPurther, like 
other concentrated foods, sugar seems best 
fitted for assimilation by the bodgr when su4;>- 
plied with other matariate which ddluite it 
. or give it the necessaa^y bulk. 

"Persons of active haibits and good diges- 
tion wUl add sugar to their food almost at 
pleasure nn^thout im^onvenience. while those 
of sedentary life, of delicate digestioQ, or of 
a tendlency to corpulency would do hetter 
to use sugar veiry moderately: It is gen- 
erally assumed that four or. Ave ounces of 
sugar per day is as much as it is well for 
the average ckdult to eat under Ordinary con- 
ditions." 

So says :F>armer8' Bul-letin No: 93, entitled, 
"Sugar as Food,' 'prepared by Mrs. Mary 
iHitnman Abel, imder the superviaion of the 
Office of Experiment 6tation8. This bulletin 
shows that the English-'Speaking i>e<^le are 
the largest consumers of sugar. It also 
treats of the chemical camposition of su- 
gar, its food value, use in dietaries of adults 
and children, and the soui«es of cane sugar. 

The above budletin ds for free distribu- 
tion, and may be obtained of senators, repre- 
sentatives or delegates in Congress /or iby 
appldcation to the secretary of agrictklture. 
One co(py only is mailed to each apq>llcant.— 
American Grocer: 



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THS £0UI8IANA' FLANTBR ANB BVOAM MAKOVAOTUlMiL 



[Vol. nOI, Kd. 21 



The 5ufar BMt versus the 5ugar 
Cane. 
Editw lAmiHana PlanUr: 

la the North American Review lor Marcli, 
Dr. Cliartes A. Graaniptoii iwrdtes on, ''The 
Op4portiittiit7 of tAie Sufgar iCane loiKMAry/' 
an^ Sives anything ai)ut a bright outlook for 
our future. Dr. Crampton, I presume, is an 
eminent authioirity on the heet sugar indus- 
try, but I regret to saor that be does not seem 
BO weil (posted on the great strides of im- 
iprovement that have loeen made in the cane 
su«ar LndAistry of late years. He has made 
aomestat0ineiits and drs/wn some conclusions 
"which are not warranted iby the facts, which 
if allowed to go undisputed wiould give the 
worW at large a false Imjpresaion of the real 
piogross made in the sugar cane industry. 
His assertioiia, even if true of the PhUips>ine 
Islands, India and a few other benighted 
places, are not true of the Hawaiian Islands, 
Cuha, Louisiana, or even Australia. The 
following are a few of the most objectiona- 
ble remarks: 

**in the beginning of .tJhe century su^ar cane 
iwas supreme, but now nearly two-thirds pf 
the world's consumiption of sugar is ob- 
tained -from the beet root How the victory 
has been won is explained . in one wo^d, 
Jwains." -' 

Again, after showing the cuivancement 
made in the beet industry. Dr. Crampton 
says: 

'In the meantdme the siigar cane Industry 
records absolute sitagivation in the liactory, 
no improvement not borrotyed from the beet 
trade,' and. no advance in the fledd. The 
sugar came is probably no richer in sugar 
now than it was In Its 'Wild state.'' 

Now, If these statemenw are true, we are 
not only courting, but deserve ruin and ex- 
tinction. Fortunately, however, we can 
PQint to a very difCerent state of things. 
For instance, take the improvements made 
in came crushing plants during the last 
twenty years. We find that we hitve ad- 
vanced from the three-roUer mill to the ndne- 
roller, and from the two expressions to six, 
and from an extraction of 60 per cent to an 
extraction of d5 per cent of the contained 
Juice. Can the 'beeit manufacturers record 
anythix« to surpass this? It is true tliat 
we did not imake this ad^vance at one bound: 
First, the two-roMer mill was added to the 
t^ree-roller, making a ftve roller plant; then 
two rollers more were added, making a 
. seven-roller ii^ant; then another iwas added, 
ani finally the nine-roller mlU was con- 
structed all on one /oundation, which is one 
of the best designed, as w^ell as tne strong- 
est machioies that can be made for the pur- 
pose. 

Besides this we have the cane cutter, the 
cane shredder and the Kraje^ski cane 
crusher tK> aid in crushing the oane. We 
have also maceilation and nurmerous other 
m^inor Improvements, iln our ibest mills 
we have the Krajewskl crusher and the nine- 
roller midl, eciuail to seven expnessione, and 



it is doubtful if any method can be devised 
that <wiu sun^ass these mills ia efficiency 
in extracting juice from the cane. 

Again, take the tbagasse, which with the 
old tbree-roller plant had to be taken to the 
bagasse house, or grounds to dry and thea, 
stUl more Aabor and expense (were req^tirdd 
to bring it back to the furnaces fop-ibum- 
ing. With the nine-rdiiler mirll the trash or 
bagasse is carried direct to the furnaces 
by a system of carriers. The Improvement 
in l)agasse furnaces, in ftring and in the 
make and setting of steam boilers is also 
very marked and has called florth number- 
iless iaventioQs. effected an immense ^saving 
in fuel and in increasing the efficiency of the 
hollers. 

iBoilers, too, are now set with a view to the 
perfect combustion of the fuel as well as 
for superheating the live steam: Superheat- 
ers are also constructed for the purpose of 
superheating the exhaust steam with the 
waste gases of the smoke stack. Engines 
are diesigned and valves are^ set on scien- 
tific dines and eversrthing is done that th9Ught 
can suggest or ingenuity devise to insure the 
efficiency and economy of the entire plant 

If we follow the juice into the boiling 
house ws shaU also find improvement in 
every st^ of its transit. We fihd the 
old vertical juice heater that was seemingly 
designed to clog in the tubes, discarded for 
those of new design that clean themselVee; 
the old system of clarification is replaced 
by the new method of st4>ertieat clarifica- 
tion. The old cleaidng omuis «re discarded 
and precipitatars have taken their place. 
Open pan evaporation has given place to the 
triple and quadnvie effect, and the open 
train to the vacuum pan. 

There is also the new method of crystal- 
•lization in motion and the improved flJter 
iprocess, ^d the new methods of manipulat- 
ing them iwhereby the loss in the press cake 
has ibeeti reduced from 12 per cent to 1^ 
•per cent 

These are some of the improvements that 
have been made in the boiling house, and 
though they are not all that m^lght be de- 
sired, or equal 'to those made in the crush- 
ing of the oane, we stSU can report pro- 
gress along the right lines, and we do not 
think it can be said with any manner of 
fairness, tliat the sugar cane industry is 
stagnant. 

In regan^ to the field, I would sa7 that the 
improvements there are almost ka evident 
as those in the factory and not ilong ago ac- 
tually surpassed them: Again, so far from 
the cane in its <wild state being equal to 
the cultivated varieties, there is no fnore 
comparison between them than there is be- 
tween chalk and cheese. The steam and 
the disc (plows find better methoda of cul- 
tivating and ferti-Uzing the soil and care- 
ful selection of the seed cane have wrought 
wonders in the cane field, so that better 
crops are now derived finom old land' than 
were formmily got from virgin soil. The 
following brief statement is the aveiuge for 



the crop of 1896 aad -will give some idea of 
the richness of the csne and the purity <tf 
the Juice on one Of the plantatloiis la Hi^ 
wiail: 

Average Density JSO.OS Brix 

Average IPolartsation 18.9 <Brix 

Which may ibe conetmed the aterage re- 
sult of the sugar cane, and it is probably 
higher than the average sugar content of 
the >heet root. 

T)iese statemnents, I think, win prove taat 
■oine Improvement is being made in the su- 
gar cane industry and that utter stagnatioo 
is not exactly truly descriptive of its situa- 
tion. 

I would further like to remairk that tte 
Sarge output of beet sugar is not so moch 
due to (brains^ as It is to the sugar bouatgr 
system of E urope and to the jwar In Cuba. 
Had. these two factors been wanting. It Is 
safe to say there would have 1>een a very 
different state of affairs, for with fair odm- 
petition .the sugar cane will always be al>1e 
to hold its own against all comers. 

George OsBoKiirB. 

Rukatau, Hawaii, May 19, 1899. 



TnMie Netae. 

Wdi^ Yonr 'sUgmt Cmm, 

We believe that any planter produtdfig 
more than one hundred acres of sugar cane, 
will find that it will pay to erect scaies to 
weigh even a small crop, because of t»6 Ih- 
creased amount of work tliat wHl toe done, 
when It is thus put under daily messme. 
Wherever cane scales have been erected .they 
have given satisfaction, exact weii^ing of 
sugar cane becomes almost imperative in 
order to insure aocui^y in the record. 

The Osgood Scale Oo., m Central Street, 
•Blnghamton, N. T., ^vertjse their ' U. 8. 
0taAdard s^les in this issue, and our readeii 
win do weU to write them^lf or prlceii, fund 
for their large illustrated catalouge, -Which 
will be sent free on request 
An Attante Brilacli. 

The LftdgeFWOod M^. Oa, New Tork, meiL- 
ufacturers of improved hoisting engines and 
suspension cableways, have recently estab- 
lished a hranch at Atlahth« Ga., with offi4sea 
in the Priidential Building. 

This is the finest Office building in kUIanta, 
If not indeed in the entire South. The iM- 
lanta (branch will be io charge of Mr. J. 0. 
Dickinson, C. JS., sales ag^nt 

Summer Todiist Tlck«U'. 

lOommencin^ June 'let Siid conthMiing to 
and including September. 3etk, i899, t^e 
Texas A Pacific iRiailway Company wiU mfl 
round trip Summer Tourist T^kets to points 
in 'Alahama. Colorado, District of 0>hu9i- 
•bia, Qeorgia, Maryland, Hiassachusetto, Mich- 
ligan, Minnesota, Mtssiasii^pi, New Toi9c, 
North CaroMna, North Dakota, Ohio, ODtuOo, 
Pennsylvania, Quohec, Sooth CaroUna, TeOi- 
nessee, Virginia, Weet Vltgftnla void. iWlscOki- 
sin at a consideraible ^pedoictlon tn ratal. 

See the nearest ticket agent for fall 1i^- 
foransft^on, or write .B. P. Ttim^r, (t K ^ 
T*. A., Dallas, Texas. 



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Tta LOUISIANA PLANTER AND 8UOAR MANUFAOTUBnt 



t57 



JjOOAL lbttbrb. 



Afcension. 

(tPICUL GORKBlPOIfDIIfei.) * 

Editor I^^i9iana Planter: 

The cbxnith is tbelng •broken or relieved 
in apote 4>y local ahowers of greater or leas 
Tplttme— oBosUy lea^ but up to tbis writiui: 
a majoritj of Ascension looanties can boast 
of little more tlian enouig^h moisture to lay 
t^0 dust DonaldsonTUle bad a nice Uttle 
sipwer Tuesday morning* measurln«r quarter 
of a^ inch In thickness, according to Local 
Obeerver Park's official «auge. Two or three 
yety slight showers followed on Wednesda][, 
and whUe much more rain Is badly needed, 
the tttUe that has been vouchsafed enoour-. 
^4B9fi the hijfpe of larger favoris shortly to be 
enjogred^ 

fThe Belle Helene Oonypaay's Bowdon phui- 
tfttion is one of the few that have been 
pai^cularily fortunate in Wng visited by 
frequent shoiwere. A fine rain visited Her- 
mitage plantation and its neighborhood Ma^ 
22, and Mr. W. D. 'Miae^nis reported the 
ground still moist from its effects near tbe 
latter part of last iweefc. The crop outlook 
there has lmprovsd.>con«ider«fbly. 

Local ObiBervter Park's meteorological rec- 
ord for iUy shows M cleiBir land 6 ^yartliy 
doody daifs with a naftnfaU of only 0.06 of 
an Qncb. The mazAmum temperature was 
^. ^f^grees, on the 14th day of the 'month, 
and the minimum figure <M) degrees, on th^ 
first. The l^i^ifest temiperaituire so far. re- 
corded in June is 93 degrees, on the second 
and fifth insts. 

iAscension Branch of the Sugar Planters' 
Association held Its monthly meeting Tuee- 
dBQT. Hon. Henry McKJaU iiresidln(g, Hon. 
Paul Leche offlciatlng fui minute clerk, and 
the foHowing memlbers present: 'Dr. W. M. 
M<^}alttard, vlce-ptresldent; F. B. iLemann, 
secretary and treasurer; B. H. Barton, R. 
Henry O. ^Braud, Paul Leche a^ 'L. E. Bent- 
ley. After the HAaor minutes had l>een read 
and the treasurer's re|»rt had been road and 
adofpted, the follorwing standing committees 
•were seleeted: 

ILevees-HHemry HcCall, ex-offlcio, Richard 
McCsll, (Penry C. Braud, Jas. P. Kock and 
W. L Barton. 

y«*t3i«r-^Dr. W. M. MoOamard, J. S. St. 
Bftartin and Dr. John D. Hanson. 

im^i^vements In Oulttire and Manufacture 
of Sugar— Henry MoOall, ex-offldo, B. H. 
•Barton and Jas. P. Kock. 

Billiairds-^Dr. John D. (Hanson, C Kline 
aod Richard McCall. 

Growth and Oulture of Orops-^-W. 1. Bar- 
ton, Richard HcfCall and Jiaoob 'Lcibemrath. 

Parochial AJfaltra— ^ttcbard McOal>l, B. N. 
J*vtgh and Henry iC. Braud. 

vHouse Commlttee^Dr. W. M. MoOalllard, 
Dr. John D. Hanson and O. Kline. 

The vacancy in the board of directors 
caused <by the de»th of Hon. R. N. Sims was 
fined by the election of Mr. Henry C. Brand. 
The ooagtitiitional nm^idni^nt proposed Hi 



the last session, restoring the does of full 
membeni to $24 per anmtm, was unanimously 
ado(pted. The secretany was authortzed to 
renew the subscriptions to the newspapers, 
magazines, etc., receiived In the reading 
•room. 

President McCbll spoke in feeling and sf)- 
propriate terms of the great loss recently 
eustiaaned by the comimunity In the death 
of ;two of its most emiinent citizens, Hon. 
Wm. Porcher Miles and R. N. Sims, the 
farmer an ex-(president and the ^tter a 
charter memft)er of the association; and Mr. 
McCall suggested the appointment of oom- 
mlittees to frame resolutions exlpresslve of 
the sorrow felt by the members becanse of 
the ipassinjg away of these distingulslied gen- 
tlemen. Th^ suggestion was adopted and 
the followting committees chosen to prepare 
suitalble memoiHals: 

' On the death of Mr. Miles— Heniy. C. 
Bk'audi (L. B (Bentleiy, Paul Leche, Henry 
McCall and F. B. (Lemann. 

On the death Of Judge Sims— <!. KSine, 
E. IN. Pugh, W. I. Ballon, Heni^ McCall 
and F. B. Lemann. 

The' association then adjourned in respect 
to the memories of the lamented dead. 
' Ascension. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL OORIiraPONDBNCE.) 

EdUpr Louisiana Planter: 

Tl>e (weather fans 'been sufficiently warm 
during the past week for all crop purposes 
as may be seen from the maximum readings 
of the thermometer at the U. 3. \E>n«:ineer's 
office: May 1st, 94 degrees; June 1st, 90 de- 
2nd, 94 degrees; 3rd, 95 degrees; 4th, 94 
degrees; 5th, 96 degrees, and 6th, 93 de- 
g^rees. A ^endid rain fell on bayous 
Plaiquemine and Jacob on the <6th inst and 
on the next day the town of Pilaauemine 
and that iMurt of the parish on the rlirer 
al>oTe 'Plaquemine reoeived fts quota, and 
never was it more welcome. Imonense good 
wW result We are sorry to say, however, 
that the rains have been very partial and 
thai the.ilaiver part of the parish is still 
exceedtegly dry. Owing to the long dny 
spell the cropB are clean and well worked 
op and are In a. condition to receive much 
beneltt from any rains that may come. 

Mr. Thomas Su|pi^ of Bayou Goula, was 
in attendance on the Police Jury Mondiay, 
a.nd reitemted bis former dakn that their 
pAaoes would <make as many tons for 4iie 
miill this year as last Mr. Supple says they 
are breaking out the^ir middles with, four 
mule ploi^ and so far their crops have not 
suffered on account of the drouth. 

Mr. D. H. Wadsli, of Plaquemihie,. manager 
of Union reports his crops as growing finely, 
and says he keeps his mules moving all the 
time, Mr. Walsh sidd rain was ibadly needed, 
but be has since received a fine one. The 
new amw mill lately erected by Hon. Andrew 
H. OsQr, back of bis Union plantatidn, will 
start under full heiBMlfway in a few devys. It 
is right In the mldgt of % toe c/press brakfs 



and there are plenty of saw loga on hand. 
The mill will pro^U)ly cut 20,000 feet per 
day. 

(Mr. John Koblnson, one of the managers 
of the Oaklawn pdantatl<m of Messrs Weems, 
et ale., on Bayou Teche, in 6t Maiy psrish, 
was a visitor to our parish during the week, 
and after seeing some of the crops on Bayous 
Jacob and IVaquemine sakd he was d^lgfaited 
.with IberviUe and ^at St Mary had noth- 
ing (better. 

Mr. L. B. Hart, of Plaquemine, proprietor 
of the fHart Well Oompiany, with one of his 
assistants, Mr. James F. FerreU, is sinklnir 
an artesian well at Oolfax, in Gstuit' parish. 
^Natural gas was recently struck wliieh Mr. 
(Hart says -would be sufficient to ligUt the 
town and supply heat for a battery of boUers 
of 100 hoTBo jpower. What a saving in cost 
of light and fuel this wouhl be for a factory 
oTsome sort, and we hope it will be utilised. 

The Rtverview homestead of Mrs. Rosa 
Gourrin will be sold at public auotion by 
the BlierifF on July 1st Rlverview was form- 
erly a part of the York plantatton frqm 
which it was detadied some twenty years 
ago. 

Mr. Adolph Hebert, an old and .esteemed 
citizen of the Fourth ward, was buried last 
week. Mr. Hefbert was in his 7Srd year and 
was connected with many of the best laniilies 
on the ea^ bank. 

Mr. 'ESdiward B. Scliwing, one of Plaque- 
miine*B rising young men was married this 
week to Miss Jane iHhorer, daughter of Mr. 
John Rhorer, of bamothe, a prominent 
planter of Rapides parish, 

IBBIWILLB« 

Terrgbonng. 

(liPSCUL CORRBtPONDBNCB ) 

Editor Loui9(ana Plants: 

•But for several distant, aod apparently 
light showers, the drouth oontinnes over the 
piarish and aU'are <damoriiig for ratal* not 
only those who are^ engaged in agriculture 
but others, as the roads are diea«reesl>ly 
dusty, drinking water is scarce aod tlie gar- 
dens are suffering. The com is feeling the 
effects of the dry weather more than the 
cane, wblch is generally rooting and sucker- 
ing well and of good color. 

The crops are generally well worked with 
the land in good condition and free of grass 
and weeds. 

The corn planted between the stubble 
stumps ds generally more promi^ng and of 
a better color than where the land was 
ploughol for com,^ although the spring has 
been tinusually dry. 

TMs year's experience may in some mea- 
sure revolutioniize the method of preparing 
the land for com, as fine com can be raised 
without destroying the stubble. Stubble can 
he barred on one furrow — shaved deep and 
the land fertilized as for cane if desired. 

Two heavy furrows can then be thrown 
to and over the stubble if possible and then 
the middles can be ploughed out; after 
which the com can be planted and covered 



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THB L0UI8IANA PLANTER AND SGQAiSa MAt^UFAOTURBI^ 



[Vol XYTT, N<>. 28. 



with the terrow or disk ciritiyator. Thfi 
etirbble %111 tfbt Interfere wiith the cultiva- 
tion and the land will not pack around the 
, oofm roots. The acrea^ to be laid by la 
smaHer than usual at this season of the year 
and the fields are generally in good shape to 
receive the last working. 

A amiall planter who has albout the best 
crop (prospect in pilant and sTuibble (stand 
enoqglh of the latter to make twenty-4ve tons 
per acre) the (writer has seen this season, 
whien looking over his fields recently re- 
marked: ^'Who would have expected such 
a show for a crOp two days after the freeze." 
The 'ItfudfaB are sandy and weU drtiined, and 
the canes were cut late for the midl and 
wiodrowinfi: was not resorted to Bi any time^ 
during the cainpai^n— consequently the 
«:rouiMl was kept cool, and but little or no 
tendency to enlargement of tlie eyes in the 
sou prior to the advent of low temiNerature. 
On the adjoining;, property where early 
windrowing was resorted to the ratoon crop 
is meagre. On some places where the cane 
tops were bumel as soon as dry enough the 
stand of ratoons i# not as good as when 
th€y^rentained lonigrer on the ground. Some 
have already decided to ipull the tope on 
the .ridges as <a precautionary measure, and 
propose to ileave them until a^t^ the mid- 
dle of Februarr'.^" In ante-belhmL days the 
tops were carefully placed on the crown of 
the ridges by the cutters to cirotect the 
Btu'bble from heat and cold and penult of 
the rapid egress of the water from the fields. 
•Last week at Arg^le iji the Messrs. BonvU- 
Jain Bros, low i^rade sugars were Ming dried 
aiMl this .week they started ttt Southdown, 
the estate of H. C Minor. The extremely 
low co-eflicient of {Mirity of the Juice during 
the last camipaign precludes the possibility 
of oibtaining the usuad amount of low grade 
sugars* .Probaft>ly in many instances the 
output will not exceed six pounds of sugar 
per ton of <iaxye of thirds. 

Terrebonnb. 



5t. n«ry. 

(BnClAL CORBISPONDBNCB.) 

Editor Loui$ian€i PtanUr: 

St Mary is receiving a raiofal-l by degrees, 
which degrees aire reckoned exclusively by 
territoiiy; but while good showers have been 
falling in 'different portions of the parish for 
the last three or four weeks, none seem to 
be reporting an over supply, but, on the con- 
trary, it is not enough, owing to the long 
drouth which just preceded them, and which 
is being broken in the parish piece meal. It 
has been several times predicted during the 
last month that this season would be a 
repetition of the last, in this parish, which 
•was alniost an unbroken drought from Fefb- 
Tuary to, June of 1898, (which is the most 
important period of the growing season,) 
and from June the 1st unto the end, and up 
as far as March into the present year, of 
the heaviest rainy season known here in 
fifty years; but the first of June for this 
year harViig passed without any indications 



of a successive rain period, that much, at 
least of the prediction is lost. Mr. Lunny's 
plantation, on the lower portion of the 
Bayou Sale ridge, had water in its furrows 
several inches deep a day or so ago, having 
been visited by a drenching jain, but North 
Bend and Midway p>lantations, on either side 
of him, owned by the estate of S. M. Swen- 
son, only received a heavy sprinkle, w4iich 
is demonstmtive of the strangely local, char- 
cu;ter of rains this season. 

The ci^)ps in the Cypremont section, con- 
sidered as a whole, are very regular, but' 
small and not of a healthy color; but the 
com is Caring worse tha^ the cane, the lat- 
ter being a hardier pHant In either extreme- 
ly dry or wet weather. ^* 

Mr. W. B. Kiemper's Chou]^ique plantation, 
in Cypremont, received a fl^plendid shower 
on the 6th, of .which lie was sorely in nXNd; 
and the edges of it spread out as* iiar as 
Dumesntrs on the one side and Darbor's 
bridge on the other, which covers a smaOl 
portion of the cane region. Coming over 
to the Teche district, there wtas a good raHn 
fell at the Alice €., Fmnces and Garden City 
places yesterday, and another on Messre Un- 
derwood & Co.'s (Bel'leview and Crawford 
•Bros.' Oak Bluff. They are all hailed 
throughout the parish with good cheer at 
this particular time, because, owing to the 
present condition of the ground aiMd its crops, 
a good rain is more Important than the 
bulMUng of a mill or the' reoilamiation of sugar 
fields, to the sugar industry of St Mary. and 
its immediate dependencies. 

Mr. Dolsier (Bodln, on his 'Ida plantation, 
intends remodeling 'his draining machine 
system; all the arnangements are miade, and 
the work wot:k)d have been fairly under way 
at this time, but for the threatening condi- 
tion of the weather and his fearkvg tbtoit a 
heavy rainy season would' catch his water 
wheels crippled and out of service. 

Senator Oaflery, on his Bethla place» is 
making important cfhanges in 4iis sugar 
house. The rear mill, of a set of three, wUl 
foe brought forward, and conv^eited into a 
crusher, and the front mdll will be carried to 
the rear to take its place. The foundations 
will also be changed, so as to admit of a 
change of gearing from the present single 
!princlple of mill gearing to that of the 
double, and the new and extra machinery 
necessary to the change will be constructed 
for this purpose att the foundry. 

The process in this parish of converting 
mills into crushers has ibeen very successful, 
so tar as pmctticed. The top roller, of a 
set of three is grooved lengthwise, present- 
ing an end view, when completed, resembling 
a ratchet, as distingiiisihed from ordinary cog 
grooves, or the angular grooves of the 
Krajewski-Pesant crusher; this pattern of 
groove presents a sbaip edge to the cane, as 
it is about to pass between the grooved rol- 
ler and those beneath it, which not only 
begins taking a hoM upon the cane as the 
groove itself increases its proximity to the 
rollfr bsnaatli in the courBe of its revcHu- 



tion, /which 'draws tlie cane between them. 
but finally cuts the stalk entirely In two as 
\t recedes from . the base roller. These 
crushers ar^ now in use on Mr. T. J. Shaf- 
fer's Annia plantation, Messrs 'Foster and 
Bents' AUce C.» and Hon. Walter O'NieU's 
'(Linwood, but the Llnwood crusher Is a lit* 
tie (different from the others, having grooves 
like screw threads, ibesides straight ones. 
running from end to end. 

'Mr. (Ernest Prevost, of the Alexis planta- 
tion, in <3yipremont, says he wlU not be ready 
to run off his thiids until about 'August, as 
hisk sugar is settling very slowly. The Oaf- 
fery refinery, which closed down, a few days 
ago, because iinecipitation was nqit .sutficieiit- 
ly QEMlvanced to render the diprifii;. out pro- 
. cess economical, will begin agedn next weeik, 
your , correa(pondent has been told; tbs 
/wagons stored in the iK>t room dried rerj^ 
well, but those kept elsewhere, on account of 
a scarcity of stonager capacity in the baild- 
ing, did not 

8t. Mart. 



St, Mary. 

Mr. A. A. iBonvillain, one of Cypremort's , 
prosperous plaq>ters was with us on Tuesdaj 
' of this week. (He had >l]J0ea to New Orleans. 
'^ on business and stopped here on his way 
home. He reports that the crops are bold- . 
ing up splendidly under the pressi^^e of the 
drouth, but that they cannot stand It^much 
longer is a well-known fact /iin- v 

.Mr. Henry SarriUeaux met with a panful ^ 
accident a^ the Franklin Refinery last Tues- 
day eveiMng. He was engaged in dryli^ 
out some sugars left over in the tanks, when 
a belt slipped off one of the machines. As 
be attempted to replace it without stop- 
ing the maichinery, he was caught by the 
belt and permanently crippled. Kia left arm 
was ground to a pulp, and. the onfortunate . 
gentlsman received injuries about the head 
and face. As we go to press he is reported 
to be doing very well, considering his serious 
wounds. 

If we do not get some rain soon, the crojps 
win be shorter than th^ i^romdss now. 
It will certainly be terrible If we will be 
compelled to go through the same season as 
last year. When it did cooomence to rain, 
it did not stop from the first day of June to 
the same day in March. The cane crop was 
kept green by the incessant rains lutil the 
appearance of the severe cold, and instead 
of riipenlng, the bud was killed, thus destroy- 
ing the development of saccharine in the 
plant The planters lost money last season, 
and every branch of it feels its bligbMng 
touch. If that experience is to be repeat- 
ed with similar results, land owners iwUl 
be poorer than ordinary lalborers, and their 
poverty will be a IttUe too much for ex- 
pression in words.— Vindicator INews, June S. 

Vermilion. 

(SPBCIAL COBBBSPOIfMlfCI.) 

Editor Loui9iana PUmlsr: 

The ^weather still continues dry, thoniii, 
at this writing thm» is mme umvMom of 



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Jane 10, 1899.] 



THS LOtnnAWA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER 



S59 



rakL The signs for en early laiii are more 
favorable than th«y have ^been for the past 
six -Weeks. Cro'iM are suffering f6r rain and 
have been for the past ten days and the ab- 
sence of teAn for ten dagrs lonfi^ would inrore 
rery dahnagini^. In some sections com -is 
sttffepin^r verylndly for rain whUe in other 
MctfcMM that were favored with Uerht rtiow- 
ers the latter l^rt of (May it is growing very 
nicety. Oane looks heatlthy and does QOt> 
show the effects of the dry weather save that 
it is not growing aay to speak of. Cane 
generally is very small for the time of year 
Und stttbTxle eapeciailly. The cah6 crop wHl 
be short In this section this year and a large 
per cent erf ft -#111 be kept for seed which wMl 
mean biit very iHUe for the mill. Tne cot- 
ton 6r(H> Will be very poor Judging from the 
present outlook. The acreage is short and 
the crop is very backward. It has been 
fairly well worked, as has bU other crops, 
slnoe the rain tn April. The crop in general 
is in Une condition to receive a rain as It has 
been tharbughly worked and all the grass 
and weeds taken out slnc^ we have had rain. 
The rice crop hlong the irrigating canals is 
finis «but the Providence crop is very poor, 
in fact there had been but llttte IVoVidetac^ 
rice (planted yet it* was too ^rly to plant 
Providence rice durin/ April and before the 
farmers couKl prepare their land for plant- 
ing after the. rains the last of April the 
ground /Was Uh> dry to put the seed in, conse- 
quently tliey are wqiltiiig for radn to be ab.le 
to SM^ their lands. There is quite a differ- 
ence in planting rice where you can have 
access to all the water you want and plant- 
ing it where you have to depend on the rains. 
If you plant on a canal and the ground be- 
comes too dry to germinate the grains aU 
you have to do is to open your siphon and 
let on sufficient water to dampen the ground, 
which will often germinate the seed and 
bring the rice up large enough to be fiooded. 
There Is still an increase in the fiacUities for 
irrigating rice and the outlook is that it will 
•be very much extended in the Western part 
of the parish during the present summer. 
The R. fl. iMilb canal has been completed 
and Mr. Milia will put his pumps to work 
ttcHday and wi>l furnish the planters along 
the Hne of his canal wltb water within a 
few days. He hae a ibeautiful canal three 
and a half miles long and forty feet wide. 
At the mouth of this canal he has a sixteen 
inch Ivens pump, driven by a one hundred 
and twenty-five horse-fwwer engine. Mr. 
Mills has a large territory to operate in and 
though he wUl not irrigate more than two 
thousand acres of rice this year, next year 
l)e can easily irrigate from five t6 ten thou- 
sand acres. The extension of the Hall- 
Sluts Irrigating €k>.'s canal has been com- 
pleted and they are busily engaged in put- 
ting in a relift pump this week. They have 
been flooding rice on their old canal for 
severatl weeks. Mr. O. B. Gammill, manager 
ISor the (Hunter Cantal Oompany» infofmed 
4fie Planter correspondent a few days ago 
that he would break dirt On the large canal 
to run from the Vermilion river to Gueydao, 
ft 4MFtahce of twen|y mi|ee, dne di^ this week. 

P» Cr M» 



Avoyelles. 

(SFICIAL CORRISPCNDINCB. i 

' IMitor LouiHana Planter: 

All prospects and indications for rain have 
seemingly blown from the skies, though now 
and then a cloud is seen to pass over and 
shade the earth from the sun, for a few min- 
utes, permitting man and beast to catch a 
cold tbreeze and rest from the hot scorching 
sou. 

it ts not unusual now-a-days to find the 
mercury along afbout one o'clock up to 96 
degrees in the shade. Fortunately tor all 
who have to toll in places exposed to the 
sun's scorchdng rays, tlie south-'Wlnd blow- 
ing from off of the Gulf of Mexico, tempers 
the heat, making it possible to perform cUl 
needea work on field and plantation. 

the Powhontas plantation's superintenleut 
Mr. C. G. Pusille^, was the first and only 
man known in this parish to the planter's 
scribe who made a rever falling practice to 
wat^r his teams regularly 4pUiring the warm 
reason of the year, at about nine o'c1o;k A. 
M. 91^ at three o'clock P. M. The ro^alts 
ohtafned by the humane acts are decidedly 
beneficial to the plantation's work-teams. 

There is less UctLess and derangement 
and less fatigue obfiervable whdle at 9Rr«/ice. 

The planters seen^ to think it is possible, 
if li would rain during this week, to .succeed 
in making an average crop of corn. 

Messrs. Chas. Knoll and R. Wood cf 
Shirly and Ellen Kay plantations caHed by 
for a moment on the first of this week, and 
informed me that the crops on these two fine 
places were very promising. Cane was do 
ing A^ well as the nature of the weathvr 
would permit 

Mr. C. F. Knoll. Bunkie P. O., the pro- 
prietor of the above places, through the loss 
of seed cane was somewhat against his will 
forced to plfnt some 460 acres dt cotton. 
He has a large corn and pea crop. Mr. R. 
Wood, Mr. Knoll's manager hsforms me 
that all the crops on both places are excep- 
tionally fine, considering the drought which 
has prevuHed for the past six weeks. 

I have been infoitmed that the corn-crop 
on iBarbredc plantation where it has been 
irrigaited, is rich in its color and growing. 
I have not to date learned what success has 
been met with there In irrigating oane. 

In the locality of Oheneyville, Rapides, the 
crop prospects are reported as good, but 
nee^ng rain. Oane is looking well and 
aibout all that is now wanted is a good soak- 
ing rain to nourish the roots of the cane and 
promote its growth. 

It was my pleasure to meet with in Hann- 
ville on the 5th inst Mr. lioon Wolf, presi- 
dent of the Washington. La., State Bank. 
Mt. Wolf informed me. that the prospects for 
building im Immense irrigating plant and 
canal, conamencing three miles afbove Wash- 
ington at the function of Bayou 'Boeuf with 
Bayou Cooodri. were decidedly flattering; 
the Sast and complete survey on which the 
project will rest is now being made by the 
engineers. 

The supply of water is ample for all prac- 
tical purposes. 

The canal will extend in a westerly course 
through St I^ndry parish, a Stance of 
some 20 miles, to a point near the Town of 
Eunice. 

A large area of the best rice laods in the 
State will 'be watered by this canal »nd 
"bring about a new and better method for the 
farmers to grow rice than heretofore' has 
prevadled. The people along the line of the 
projected canal are said to be enthusiastic 
over the foossibility of its early comiDletioo. 

Mt. Wolf stated to the planter's scri1>e that 
the crop proiq[>ects in his looality were as 
good as could be ei^peoted to %V% mbSMice of 



rain for a month or more past. 

Reports from Bayou de Glases, this par- 
ish, indicate bad stands of cotton and want 
of rain. 

(Leinster, Bunkie and iE^ve^green are re- 
ported to be needing rain, more so for oane 
and com than cotton. 

(Since commenciDg to write ttie clouds have 
gathered off in the West and the low mutter- 
ings of distant thunder are heard, but as I 
close for the mail I find that the clouds have 
passed away, leaving to us a dry clear sky. 

The old settlera of the country place their 
hopes for rain on the 8th of June. Not 
being a native I have only to say that I- 
hope the 8th will not bring t)n a deluge. 

The cotton patera are aU smiles over 
their fine prospects. Erin. 



5t. James— Left Bank. 

iSrSCtiL OOaUBSPOICBBfCI.) 

Editor LouiHana Planter: 

The drouth which has been strongly felt 
for quite a while seems of a longer dura- 
tion than what we have every year at this 
season. Barring a few local showers of very 
slight importance our parish has not been 
Tisited by a rain for seven weeks. Our fields 
sfre parched, the crops are almost at a 
standstill aod as they were very poor from 
the freeze they did not need the drouth to 
set them further back. 

The corn crops, which are remarkaibly 
lange in acreage' though they suffer aleD 
from the prolonged want of moisture are at 
a very (fine stand and more com wirll be 
made this year than ever 'before.,^. 

The warm weather has set in Quite early 
this year and for tho past montih the tem- 
perature has been as sultry as the warmest 
summer months. 

The cane fields in our section though 
rather bare now compared to other years, 
are slowly improving and in some places the 
crops pre[|ent a- pleasing aspect.. Some of 
the planters at the Grand Point settlement 
report their crops as promising as any othter - 
year. The Hester plantation^ adso, for in- 
stance, of the Oramerey IPlaating Company, 
ihas a very good stand, and does not thinik 
the results wiU differ very much /rom those 
of the past year. On the Helvetfa planta- 
tion of Mr. E. Oherbonnier, in the upper 
portion of the parish, the stubbles es^e doing . 
very well whilst the plant Is very poor, 
whilst on the adjoining Rapidan plantation 
of Mr. E. Bourgeois, the plant cane has a 
good stand iWhile the stubbles are notUng 
much. 

The rice fiekls of our dfetriot present a 
verdant aspect, and althou^ the planters 
haive not tbe good duck to water their fields 
from the natural fiow caused by liigh water, 
still with a little ipumiping evierything is 
working in fine' fitope. 

Mr. Feliden Waguespack, owner of the ele- 
gant Golden Orove property and adjoining 
Sport plantation has been in New Orleans 
for two weeks, accompanied ^y his chlaim- 
Sng wife. Mr. Waguespack has gone there 
to recuperate from a reoent fall which he 
sustain^ at hie plantation home. 

(Sympathy has been 'expressed throuith- 
out our parish ait th)e great loss caused by 
the death of Hon. R. N. Sims, of DonaM- 
sonvllle. Mr. Sims was a regular practition- 
er at our local bar for many yoiars past, and 
was for years an associate of the well-known 
firm of Sims and Boche, whese career wi41 
always .be remembered. At the time of his 
death he was a partner of Mr. (P. M. Ijaml>re- 
mont, a weH-known lawyer of Convent. 

Messrs L. Jemsen, C. S. Dixon and O. 
Moos, of New Orleans, were visitors at the 
Rapidan reehlence the first of the week. 

Convent. 



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360. 



THB LOmSIANA FLAlfrBR AND BUQAR BgANUFACTPlUnt 



[Vol. XXH, No. 23. 



F09BIGN LBTTBR8. 



Havana. 

(SraclAL OOKKBaPOin/INCB.) 

Havana, June 5th, 1899. 
Editor JxmUiami PlatUer: 

Owing to ^tbe sam« causes previously 
stated, t<his pj^riket tas oontftnued quiet and 
prices rule akoc^ether noonilnai on the basis 
of 2% @ 2% ct«. per lb. for good centrifu- 
sated fiugare 96/96^ test Stocks being 
rather limited and the best parcels held by 
Bpeculators, no hurry for sale te being no- 
ticed and a^ parties are expecting an early 
impax>vemeait in quotat&ons. 

At Sagua la Grande, about 200,000 bags of 
sugar :were manufactured this year and ow- 
ing to low places oftered at said place, the 
greater paK was sttil^ed for thiis port and 
sold to local .'q[>eculatorB. 

•Planters in sadd loca/lity, in 0pite of having 
been compeliled to grant for the cane a larger * 
quantf-ty of sugar than in imy previous years, 
to pay ' for oxen at exorbitant prices and 
to incur heavy expenses for repairs to their 
factories and macMnery, are not in :the least 
discouraged, inasmuch as the average prices 
of 2% cts. per lb. for 9^ deg. centrifagated 
sugars and 2% cts. do. for 89 deg. ^molasses 
sugars at whicb their last crop was dis^ 
posed of, proved to be rather remunerative. 
It is an linduceanent for Ctiem to persevere 
mamuflactuifing sugar, wlhich ithey expect to 
be ttble to 'io tiext year under better con- 
ditions than the ones wbicb have prevailed 
duifing the last campaign. 

•Planters in the district of fTrinMad seem 
to (be aiwaking .to activity, since tt is re- 
ported that tbe tplowlng and cleanincr of the 
fleldb, which are to be repCantcil as soon as 
the raii^y season be over, h*ave recently been 
resinned on an extensive scale; ftictory 
"TMidldad," after completing its crop, has 
retained all Its bands and set them to work 
in the fields, for whose culture it is said 
«A>out 200 more are needed and the scarce- 
ness of "good 1aiborerB.it to-day the prln- 
ciEP^J, drarwback pilanters in that locality hanre 
to contend with. 

The manager of the San .Manuel factory, 
at Puerto del !Padre, !n the province of Por- 
to Prlnolpe, was recently kidnapj;>ed by a 
gang of bandits who exacted from bis family 
the aum of $1,000 as ransom tor bis life. 

The proprietor of plantation fian Bernardo, 
at Minoas, in the same province and which 
was raided and looted by bandits a f^ow 
days ago, has since been murdered together 
wfith one o^ his eimployees on Ms plantatioii. 
These noBsdeeds plainly !ndlca<te the lack 
of security as yet prevailing in some lo- 
calities, owing chiefly to distress and the 
small number otf rural guards to support 
order, and it is said that he imliiEtary oom- 
mander of the province, General Carpenter, 
has ordered several detachments of Amer- 
ican troops to be staUonsd at tbe places 
ftfbove named. 
ULooordHog to recent reports from 9%i^nA 



localltaee, it would seem that country peo- 
plle are «ast returning to their former homes 
and a^gricultural pursuits are being resukned 
at fmany points, though a laiw number of 
persons still remato. in the cities and towns, 
as If awaiting for the final sohittton of the 
profelem and as ratiions ore as yet easily crt)- 
tattned at most of the pdaces garrisoned by 
American troops, the dCaflnilles, tberein con- 
centrated, show no hurry ito leave and set 
themselves to work. 

As anticipated, the attempt to pay the 
Cuban soldiers bas, so Car, proved a falllure, 
the number of those wbo hartre claimed the 
176 allowed by the Uitf ted States government 
being qulite limited; on tbis account, mer- 
chants at Santiago de Cuba, Guantanako, 
Manzanttllo and other places in the eastern 
<*»Partment of the Island, are raising funds 
to assist and supply those who iwish to de- 
vote themselves to agricultural pursuits, 
with oxen, implements, seeds, clothing, pro- 
visions, ete. All civil employees of the gov- 
ennment of Intervendon, provincial and mu- 
E^cipal and the majority of those of the 
Custom House, have agreed to contrfbute a 
small part of .their monthly salaries to the 
relief of the natives anxious to resume wortt 
in the fields of above named province/ 

General Brooke has aQso telegraphed 
PrefiWent McKlnley, recommending him to 
send to aU the Cuban provinces Bim>li» of 
agricultural Im^ements, seeds and tools 
most necessary, similar to the assorted cai^o 
recently cleared from New York for Ma;tan- 
zas, by the Cuban Relief Assocdation. 

Sr. Mendez Capote, insular Secretary of 
State, has in a like manner suggested to 
General Brooke the advisability of author- 
izing the municlipalitles to assume the Initl- 
aMnre In all matters connected wltb the 
reconstructlion of the rural districts, grant- 
ing them, if necessary, power for said pur- 
pose. 

The representattve In Cuiba of the "Cuban 
Industrtaa Relief Fund," also requests the as- 
alstance of the government to supply the 
poorer termers in the (province of Havana, 
with such seeds and Implements as they 
may be. in need of to renew their former 
agricultural pursuits. 

And flnaaiy. General Wilson, Military Com- 
maniler of the province of Matanzas and 
Santa Clara, has Just allowed to the Com- 
mercial Club of IMatanzas, the sum of 125,- 
000 monthly, to be expended in the purchase 
of plows, catWe. eto., to be distributed among 
needy agricultorists of that province. 

Owing to the activity wblch is being dis- 
played in most of the sugar producing dis- 
tricts on .this island, some parties already 
predict that the number of factories in fit 
conditdon to be run next year, iwill not be 
sufficient to grind the totality of the cane 
grown, and plans are already being made to 
export the prime material, through suitable 
arrangements, to neighboring ports in the 
United States and thence to factories in 
Louisiana, along the Mississippi i^er, which 
friad tbd otM and convert It into suvar. 



One of tbe districts (wbilch hivve suffered 
the most, on accoont of the war, is tha;t of 
Canasse, in the province of Matansas; of 
the eighteen sugar plantations that f<»mer- 
ly existed in that loca;i!ity, Dwo only remain 
•standing, "Elena,*' that belongs to 6r. 
Grande, and ''Viaiareal," to 6r. iPemandes 
Blanco; all the others are in a more or less 
ruined condition and from 6,000 souls be- 
fore the war, its population has dwindled 
down to about 800. digns of ruin and deso- 
lation are perceptffMe' everywhere, iwbereas 
none towaids reconstruction are as yet to 
•be discovered. 

On Thuraday last, the Pten;tere' Creditors' 
tCommittee 1^ for Wartdnigton, with the 
purpose of getting .the mortgage extonskm 
decree modified. They intend to present to 
President McKinley cerMh phases of the 
question, whicb the government attention 
should have been previouiAy called to. 1>a- 
day It as rather probable the cporemmeiit 
will not conai£ter it' advisable to introduce 
any change In the existing- order, though it 
is generally acknowledged that it is detri- 
mental to a certain portion of the people in 
general. T. D. . 



Berlin. 

(8pbcia;< COasaSPONDBNCB.) 

Editor LouMana PUinter: 

After some days of variable weaibher, whlo|i- 
in their course brought also a few more or 
less violent thunderstorms and sluy^enJof 
rain, the weather grew dry, sonny and waanu 
Qirite against the rules of temperature, it 
.has not cooled down after the electric phe- 
nomena, and so here, as well as in the gen- 
eradity of beet districts, the finest imagliia- 
ble weather has prevailed. The aerial 
warmth even rose to rather summerlike de- 
grees and as tMs Warmt^i was preceded by 
a period of copious rains, the meteorological 
conditions can be said to have been very 
favorable to all kinds of vegetaCIon. 
There were some little drawbacks, con- 
sisting, for instance ,hi the hot sunr 
shine havdng set in too quickly, baking this 
wet ground, so that a formation of crustB 
is compliained of, which caoses a delay of fbe 
coming up of the recently sown beets. Bat 
otherwise, beet growing, both with regard 
to the fieldwork and to the develcHnnenits of 
the plant themselves, has made notable pro- 
gress. The beet fields show generally a full 
and regular stand, and altbough some pieces 
will be resown, the condition is shnost eiF- 
erywhere satisfactory. Such is also, with 
slight modification, the tenor of the r ep o r ts 
from abroad, and the condition of the crc^ 
which had become rather precarious in AtUH 
tria and France, opens there now mo^ 
favorable jprospects. In (Holland they are 
said to be now highly $atisfactocy, wbllst 
In (Belgium they leave sCbU somewlMt to 
desire. In Rusalla the necessary moist pf«- 
cipitatioQB have not yet set in, but as the 
wet sphere is moving, a change in the right 
direction may take place there toa The 
Riitfllan Afttres oC tl^s best fr^rflof mm^ 



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361 



have been correotecl la some aidasiure, so 
that the eiltlre beet sowliigs of Europe are 
cfaian^ed to a surplus of 6.7 pet. inetead of 
7.^ imt. as I wrote you a week ago. 

In Italy four l>eet sugar factorlea» Sinig- 
agTia, Savigliano, Rieti and Legnaao worked 
last year and thetr total production amount- 
ed lu 1897-98 'to 6972.3 tons as against 
3877, tons 4n 1896-97. As formerly tnen- 
tioned, there is In Italy about the same beet 
sutsar fever as to now iprevailing In the United 
States* and seven new (factories are either 
'bul^ng <»* to .be ibuHt in the very near fu- 
/tufe. The home-made sugar is paying 20.80 
fmnes pr. 100 kilos leas duty tlian the Imiport- 
ed, and the protection to of couirse a great 
stimulus for the propagation of the t>e«Bt 
eugar industry in dtaly. Besides the above 
production, 71,932j5 tone were entered for 
oonsumiption as against 75,582.6 tons, and the 
conBtHnption has been 77,904.8 ton^ as 
against 79,459.5 tons, so tihat the regretiafble 
fact remains that the oonstimption, "which is 
attyhow of the lowest, hem decreased' to the 
eztenf of 1,555 tons. The real <!oneumptlon 
may be, however, somewhat higher as con- 
, sequent to the excessive Mgh taxation — 
francs 99.^or refined sugar— a good deal of 
ebgar is supposed to be smuggled In. But in 
general ,thito hi«^ tax to in itself a serious oib- 
slacle against the developmeat of the con- 
BUDiption, as it endears the.aitlcle and makes 
It for the poorer claseee a luxury, ^which it 
htts ceased to l)e in almost all other civi- 
lised countries. As soon, however, as the 
beet sugar produotiion increases so much as 
to be ahle to cover the greater jpairt of re- 
quirements, it may be safely supposed that 
the competitloii between the beet sugar fac- 
ftories will exercise a cheapening Influence 
on the market; the more so, as the lower 
tax of the home-grown sugar will have to 
^ given up partly to the consumer. But 
then the questkm arises whether the €k>vem- 
ment of Itady wlU not try to recover the loss 
of duty, by raising the iniland tax. The pxin- 
oipial country importing into Italy to Rus- 
sia. Of the albove named tc^al consump- 
tion 41.04 pet. were in 1898 drawn from Hus- 
sla; Austria folilowirwlth 18.94 pet; France 
with 16.80 pet; Qermaay participated in the 
Italian import only »wlth 7.71 pet. 

iCeriain German brewers circumvenfted the 
newly .passed saccharine law, which forbide 
the use of saoch)axine for Industrilal purposes, 
by giving smaM quantities of the stuff to the 
ii^vers of beer wagons, iwho then on de- 
mand furnish it to the saioion keepers for 
i^eetendng the >beer. This inrterpretation 
of the law has not ^been approved by the 
courts. Who recently pronounced sentence 
on a brewer ifor violatickn ot the adultera- 
tion law. Speaking of saccharine, I should 
mention that the stuff and its use is relent- 
lessly persecuted in IRussla. The directors 
of the large Rusaiaai society oi sugar manu- 
dGacturers have proposed to the council of the 
City of Moscow to organise « servios for ithe 
defooMoa at siteHeretikm 4^ m«asui of sac- 
pjMMrlna, the use of w9»^ to p^n^ to Inoisait 



to the disadvantage of the popular health, 
of the Imperial Treasury and of the sugar 
industry. The maimfacturers of sugar sug- 
gest that articles of food and drinks should 
be analyzed as frequently as possii>le with a 
view to take to task the person guil-y of 
adulteration. At the same time the sugar 
manufacturers offer to >bear part of the ex- 
penses caused ^by these proceedings. 

The sugar flaotory at Friedland worked 
in 1898-99, 45,999 tons of ibeet as against 55,- 
529 tons 'hi the last campaign* and these 
figures plainiy show that the secison in 1898 
was not JavoraJble for 4>eet growing. Tlie 
fieMs grown for the factory have 'l>een also 
exposed to a haJitetonm, which caused a loss 
of quftUty, the latter 'being 13.48 pit. sugar 
In the fresh cuttings as algalnst 13.93 pit. In 
1897-98. The production of the foctory 
amounted to 5075 tons, first runnings; 030 
and 116 tons second and thiid runnings, re- 
speodlvely. Besides 900 tons of molasses have 
been turned out. The financial result has 
been, iu spite of the unsattofactory ibeet crop 
and the proportionately laiger expenses, 
better than last year, Which of course to 
due to the -better prices of sugar. After 
writings off, omoun/ttng to H. 33,884— Ha clear 
profi^t of M. ^27,80^ as against M. 186^90-^n 
the campaign of 1897-98 to shown. 

The market underwent tost week frequent 
fiuctuations, of course much to the detri- 
ment of bonanflde hujrers and holders. The 
opening was quiet, then the tendency abrupt- 
ly strenigthened, but weakened again ittter 
on, whilst the close, on ^uxx>unt of some 
sales to America, Is reported to be Arm. In 
Germany actual business was much restrlot- 
ed, ibut prices on account of some purchases 
^by .reflnera advanced a little; later on, how- 
ever, the gain was nearly lost again, 88 pet 
rendement being quoted at M. 12.05, only 
5 pfennigs higher than at the opening. De- 
livery May at (El^m'burg to worth M. 11.255 
f. o. b. In refined small ibusioess at un- 
changed prices. 

ROBT. HENIflS. 



Hawaiian Commsrce of iSgS. 

Wr, William (Haywood, late consul-general 
at Honolulu, sends to the department of 
state a report comparing the official state- 
ments of the collector-general of customs for 
the years 1897 and 1898, which makes inter- 
esting reading, especially in view of the fiact 
that tlie Hawaiian islands are now United 
States territory. 

The total receipts from customs were $896,- 
975.70 in 1898 as against $708,493.05 im 
1897, or an Increase of $188,482.65. Mr. Hiay- 
wood flays: 

■Few persons who have not lived^here can 
fully appreciate how much the genernl pros- 
perity of these islands depends upon the 
sugar market. Bxcepting the transients, 
everyone makes or loses aocoi^dlng to the 
profits of the plantations. With annexation 
came a feeling of security of a market, and, 
when you add to thto an abnonnally large 
crop with hich prices, it to not surpilsing 
th»| psw plantations tls^^uM i^ fromotal 



These plantations are capitalized for amounts 
varying from fl,000,000 to $3,500,000, every 
cent of which wHl be expended before any- 
thing is received from the sale of sugar. A 
great .part of thto money goes toward the 
purchase of amachloieiy and supplies. Of 
this money; I should say that 75 per cent to 
spent in the United Skates. In round mtan- 
•bers, probably $25,000,000 is invested in su- 
gar, practically atll of. which is owned here. 
The stock of these plaatations is held by 
an classes. Bvery cent not needed in ibusi- 
ness goes into sugar. Those who bof^t 
sugar stock Oast August will be alble to read- 
iae by August next 100 per cent profit on 
their investment 

The following shows the value of imports 
in 1898 from the countries ntomed and the 
increase from eacli oyer the imports of 
1897:' 

Country. Value." Increase. 

United States $8,695,591.08 $1,895,563:29 

CJreat Britain .... 1,287,726.67 421,945.42 

Germany 352.043.66 159.111.46 

Brittoh colonies .. 481,768.01 300,639.90 

•China ... ^8,851.87 68,434.47 

Japan 354,324.98 62,008.64 

France 43,655.59 12,658.23 

Pacific islands ... 7,292.12 1,428.08 

Other countries .. 99,636.33 •114.965.81 

^Decrease. 

Of the importe, $1,282,076.72 w»w specie of 
United States mintage. The large increase 
from the British colonies was ooalfor the 
use of the United States. j%rmy and navy. 
Nearly all the coal of the latter country 
is in the eastwn part. 

The exports for the year ampounted to 
the total sum of $17^346,744.79, as against 
$16,021,775.19 for 1897, an increase of $1,- 
324,969.60. The ports of Honoludu Wid 
Makukona fell far Ibehind their 1897 exports; 
while Hllo and Kahulul forged^ ahead. 

Mr. Haywood also adds that: 

The prosperity of these Islands depends 
almost entirely upon its one great staple- 
sugar. Any cause which lowers the price 
of sugar will make everyone hete poorer. 
By the annexation of Hawadi the United 
States gained territory with a popudatlon, if 
we except the Asiatics, as rich per capita 
as one will find in any place in the world. 
In their present prosperous condition, they 
are good ciwtomers of the mainland.— iBut- 
letin Bureau, Camimercial Republics. 

Personal. 

Mr. W. R. Hawthorne was at the Commer- 
ciad hotel last Tuesday. He registered from 
the Oora planbation. 

Mr. T. H. Benners, one of the hi^ officials 
of the Birmingham Manihine and Foundry 
Oompany, of ©irmingham, Ala., was in. the 
city last Monday. He stopped at the Hotel 
Orunewald. 

Mr. Adam Short, oae ot tbe ownem of the 
faanous Beilavlew plantation in St Mary 
parish, left during the pa^ week for a trip 
to the North, where he will recuperate for 
some weeks. 

Gov. H. C. "Warmoth, Birs. Warmoth, and 
their young son. Master C K. Warmoth, of 
iMsgnoUia pOantatiion, lower coast, were 
in the city last Monday. They stopped at 
iha 8t Ohartot l^ot^, 



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TEOS LOUISIANA PLANTER As«l SUGAR MAJOTFiCTPRBaL 



[Vol. xxn, No. a. 



BBBT SUGAR. 



Carlsbad, New Mexico. 

(mnClAL OOMIBtPOIWINCI.) 

Carasfbad, Eddy P. O.. June {Ut, 1899. 
EdUor Louitiamt PlaiUer: 

The name of. this actire towa ims chaoeed 
1>y a ^popular vote a few days since from 
Eddy to Oai>len>ad. The latter name was se- 
lected as a tribute to a mineral spring in 
the nelsh'borhood, wMch is fast becomin«r 
famous in the medical world. 

Since the sugar 'beet piantinig commenced, 
a large number of now comers liaye engaged 
in its cultivation, smore than in any pre- 
vious year. The area pdanted will therefore 
be largely increased from that estimated a 
month ago. lAt that time it was thouig^t that 
1600 acres would the aljout the ntnaber plant- 
ed and that 16,000 tons of beets would 'be 
raised. "Now it Is certain that something 
over 2300 acres will be planted, from which 
a crop of 20,000 tons and over will be de- 
livered to the factory this fall. TWs amount, 
estimating the camipaign to last 120 days and 
the capacity of the factory to ibe 200 tons 
dally, comes within -less than 4000 tons of 
giving the factory its full quota. 

This, in view of the above facts, will 
without doulbt, cause the factory people to 
greatly enlarge th*'«ai?icity(bf their pilant 
in time to hamUe the crop of the ensuing 
year. 

There is mtle question now but that this 
vaHey will receive this faiU a vast influx of 
immigration, and It is aleo clear that three 
fifths of those who come intend«ng to en- 
gage in agricultural pursuits .wiM turn their 
attention to 4:he growing of the sugar beet. 
It has T)een demonstrated that the result of 
one acre of "beets pcoperiy cared for is. after 
deducting every expense, «20 an acre profit 
to the cultivator at the very least, and- many 
farmers wlU market a crofp that wiill far ex- 
ceed even that generous estimate. 

The factory now proiposes paying 14 76 a 
ton for beets delivered at the factory, and 
14.26 ait all lUstant iioints on the railroad 
This has, of course, greaUy stlmutlated plont- 
iog in this neighborhood. 

The dry season which has iprevaUed 
tiwx>uighout .the Southwest, in many sections 
bas not as yet had any evil effect on farm- 
in* interests in the vaU^. as the storage 
*akes oonUln water enough to last for aU 
purposes fw two or possibly three yeare- 
but Its continuance may possfbly curtail the 
number of ]am»bs and mutton fed this fall 
at the factory pens on pulp. 

Carlsbad. 

Be^ Sufar Imports. 

The following table shows the total im- 
ports of beet sugar from all countries, yeare 
ending June 30: 

QuanUty.. 
1MQ ^^^odB. Value. 

\l^ 2i3,473,m $6,967,88S 

]lf, 60l;il9,476 18,348,417 

]l^ e68.994,380 18,232,377 

*9»« ,,.f .,., ... 293434,2$1' P,081,170 



1893 , 436.333.843 

1894 610,360.276 

1896 ; ... 347,376,782 

1896 604,686,986 

1897 1,866,577,496 

1898 140.641.486 

1899 569.674,042 



12,846,609 
15,793,041 

6,993,282 
14,048,914 
d3,689,158 

2,717,965 
11,832.631 



Figures to March 31, 1891, inclu(}e aH beet 
sugar not above No. 13, Dutch standard in 
color; since that date, not above No. 16.— 
Manufaoturer. 



Qov. Warmoth on Beet Sugar. 

Ex-Governor Waraioth, of lioulsiana, de- 
claa-es the development otA'^e beet sugar in- 
dustry In CaJifomia as "simply marvelous." 
He <^alms, however, that IiOuie4asia cane su- 
gar is better than beet sugar. He believes 
that Louisiana wiil be able to hold -her own 
in the sugar cane section of Ihe country, 
producing a kind of sugar that the beet 
ilon't <make. He says: "The leet is sweet; 
it will supply very many of the demands 
that are made for sugar, but there are many 
that it will not supply. I don't kno^ whether 
it was because the people out <there in Cali- 
fornia got on to the fact that I was enga^^ed 
in cane culture, but even the iwaiiters at the 
table, as they would hand me tl^ 'siigar, 
wouM remark: 'This is not as swert as 
cane sugar; you will have to tak>6 a littie 
•more of it.' Such was tHe Imp^ression 
throughout that c6untry-4hat the beet su- 
gar is not as sweet'as the oane sugar. The 
people want cane sugar, and they are go- 
ing -to have it more and more as they get the 
beet su®ar. They are going to mix it with 
the beet su^par; and therefore we have no 
anxiety about the success of our agriculture 
and of our manufacture of sugar In this 
country because of the wonderful progress 
that is being made by the beet people."— 
•American Grocer. 



Eddy, New Mexico. 

fieet planUno: is in full srwing down the 
valley >ust now. Over 1,700 acres are alreiady 
pkanted, many of the fields showing: beets up, 
and wfithin the next liwo i^eeks, or by the 
middle of June 2,500 acres wi^U be seeded. 
Good stands are reported, and i«ipdantin« 
h!as only been necessary in a very few in- 
stances. This season the factory furnished 
the very best German seed that Money could 
buy and delivered it to the farmers at ac- 
tual cost, and the result is ixrovins tnost 
saUsfactory. The increase In the^price per 
ton for beets has added greater stimuluB to 
the farmers, and every indication points that 
the factory will begin the fall campaign with 
a supply of beets that will In every way 
satisfy the factory nuuiagement. Every 
farmer in the valley should plant beets, and 
many eastern farmers, did they know of 
the exceptional oipportunlties existing^ iiere, 
'Would only too gladly come in and avai^l 
taiemselves of the certailnties which the su- 
gar factory bas made possible to the tarm- 
ers of the Pecos > yailey.-HPepoi^ Valley 
Angus, Jun^ 2, 



Tlie Tulane University. 

We print below tiie xrrogrann for com 
mencement week af this great institution of 
learning.^ Our sugar^ planters are iXarticakyr- 
ly interested in Tuaane eince the inaugu- 
ration of the excellent department of sugar 
chemlstfy and engineerdn^ under the euperr 
Tision of Prof. WUiklnson, a-nd doubtless 
many of them mlU be vres^nt at the exer-* ^ 
cises enumerated below: 

Smadmy, Jamttr, 
Baccalaurefite Sermon, by Rer. Cterles C 
Wells. Ph. D., S. T. D. (Newo^ma^CoMege 
Chapel, 4:30 .p. m.) . .^^.^ 

noacay, Jhm nm* v.'j ; 
Caass Day Exercises, Newcomb W. (New- 
comb Hall, 8 p. m.) 

' THMday, Jute*, i j. 

i01osin« iBxereiaes ^ of «Newcomb Higb 
School. (>NewooTOlbf,«Hal.l, WaaWn^ton Ave., 
10:30 a. m.) . ;,, ./ 

Contest for Oiarnot litedal (Tulaae). Sub- 
ject for debflii^^^'Is the 'Franco-Russian Al- 
liance the moiit judicious possible f of tlie^ 
French R^mWjc?" (Gtfbson HJall, St Charley 
Avenue, 8 p. ap.) 

y: lo . W«?p««Uiy,^iia« 14. ^ 

lOommencement of iHs .^SoiWe Newcoaiiy. 
Memorial College. . . . ^ 

Report of the President of the College, 
•Baccalaureate Decrees. > ^ 

Alumnae Addsress by Bsther FioJay Har- 
vey, A. B., '96. (Newcomb Hall, 10:30 a^m.). 

Cl«fl8 Night. Tulane. '99. . (Tulane HalL,, 
University Place, 8 p. m.) ^^' " 

JhurMtay^ June ■«. 

Commencement of College of Arts and 
Sciences. College of Technology, and Uni- 
versity Department. 

Degrees Conferred by Wm. Preston John- 
ston, LiL. D-, President of Univendty. 

Alumni Address by John WildianL Pearce, 
Ph. D., 1891. (Tulane iHall, University 
Place, 8 p. m.) 



Sufar Patenti. 

Patents of interest to tbe sugar industry 
Issued June 6, 1899. Reported specially for 
The Louisiana . Pllanter by R, , w. Bishop, 
Patent Attorney, Washington, b. C, who 
will furnish complete copies of patents at 
the rate of ten cents each. 

626,292. Process of manufacturing gran- 
ulated augir from beets. J. G. Oxnard and 
Wilhelm Baur, New York, N.Y.; assignora 
to the Oxnard Construction Company, of 
West Virginia. 

62tJ 6iG. Press for expresadn^ liquids from 
solids. Lee Baggett, Jackson, Mies. 

Trade-mark 33,031. CandBes. Mary S. 
Cutt;n«, Bast Orange, N. J. The words 
"Maple Nut Fudge." 



Trade Notes. 

riratation ScirfM. 

Mr. F. F. Bradway, whose advertisement 
will be found in this issue, desires to call 
tbe attention of sugar plantere to hOs stand- 
ard (Plantation scales fbr welts:hin« sugar 
c^e. The scales are Jow in fli«t cost and 
of the bi^hest standard, as to acounMr awl 
^uraMhtj. Write him for ^rticulars. 



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36S 



RIOB. 



Talnuif* on the Rice Market. 

Th«re Is sood denDAad in aU Btytee oi 
Foredgn, tbe (movement <tultie ahead of any 
equal period the current month. Adricea 
iram the South note sluggiiffli conditionB hut 
with light stocks, insufficient to meett knorMrn 
reqtdrements until new cro5>, holders ore 
appiU^ntly inddfferent and like the old maid 
in the song, are "willing to wait.** Former 
prices are firmly mainitained, even slight 
concessions not listened to, when such would 
assure jhusiness. (RefK>rts concerning the 
new crop ^are Mrly encouraging. A>looig~the 
Atlantic Ooavt it Is seaaonaUy advanced in 
spite of the cold epiteg. 

Caterpillars a^e^ however, unusually preva- 
lent, and fiekle have to he frequently flooded 
to drown out ithese pests. In liouisiana many 
of those who planted ^early have been com- 
pelled to replant owinr to the eippearance 
of red rice, hut the "second Seeding" Is look- 
ing ilne. New irrigating compaaies are 
forming in every direction, and these with 
the old, will insure the cro(pe In a very ex- 
tensive territory heyond a p^radventui^. 
Calcasieu is In the lead eAtf^^oet of her 
fleldiB are flooded; With further favorai^lir 
growing and harvesting weather. Southwest 
tiouibiana and 'Bastern Texas wUl give a 
yield that will "astonish the natives." Ca- 
hdes and correspondence iSrom ahroad note 
steady enquiry as regards spot stocks, Irat 
flrm florward prices on cargoes on account of 
an Increased demand ftrom the Brasils and 
the (Levant. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Louis- 
iana crop movement to diate: Receipts, 
rough, 704^793 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amount carried over) 636,729 sacks. Sales 
cleaned (est) 174,822 hanrels. 

Talmage, Charleii^6on, telegraphs Carolina 
cro4> movement tp date: Reoeii^to. cleaned, 
37.102 iharrels. Saies 34.973 barrels. Steady 
movement 



charge, the stream of water was thrown 
out a distance of 12 feet, the stream running 
away 6 inches deep, 3 feet wide and mov- 
ing at a rate of eight miles per hour. Fump 
men and farmers who were present ex- 
pressed the helief that these two wells will 
furnish water sufficient to properly irrigate 
200 acres df rice. This set of deep wells are 
certainly a success. After noon the elhow 
of the pump was removed and the water shot 
straight up to eight feet. Owfng to the rain 
the helt slipped and normal speed could not 
he attained. It was freely admitted that 
with dry belt the water would he shot up at 
least 12 feet"— Gueydan News. 



Deep Weil Irrifatlon. 

(Irrigation by means of deep wells seems 
to he gaining ground in Southwest Louisi- 
ana, and the News thinks it only a question 
of a short time until every planter who owns 
a farm will have wells put down and irri- 
gate his own crops. Speaking of the success 
of the wells the Jennings Times of last week 
says:i . 

" A. Brechner made a test ^Monday of the 
two 6-inch deep weUs recently sunk on S. 
(L. Cary ftjSons' land in the west part of 
town and a crowd of people went out to see 
the sight The two wells are connected with 
a T joint the Van Wle pump being set haif 
way between the twa The pump has «-inch 
suction and ^inch discharge, and is driven 
with ease bjr a «- H. P. engine, ^ft^jeeded to 
600 revointions per minute, the pump throws 
a atrong stream of clear water, estimated 
at ibebween 1,200 and 1,400 gallons per min- 
yte. Wfth an elbow attached #t tt^ 4i«- 



Irrifatinr Canals. 

Crowley, La., May 18.— Mr. Sam 8. Hunter, 
of Shreveport, was here yesterday and to- 
and to meet and confer with Mr. Gamble, 
who te his manager, in building his South- 
western Louisiana irrigating canails. Mr. 
Gamble returned to-day to Gueydan, and Mr. 
Hunter to Shreveport. This canal enterprise 
of Mr. Hunter's is looated in Vermilion 
parish and to head on the Vermillion river 
near AhbeviUe, running in a westerly direc- 
tion toward Gueydan, and is to be twenty- 
' three miles in length, including lateral and 
tributary canals. ^The main line is to bMW- 
feet wide, making it the largest water service 
heretofore afforded the rice planters. It will 
be of immense beneilt to the rice iprowere oC 
Vermilion parish. 

Mr. Hunter is the president of the Houston 
river irrigating canal in Calcasieu parish, 
which is thirteen miles in length. This 
Shreveport capital and business talent is 
much appreciated here, where push and en- 
terprise is always welcomed. Mr. Hunter 
is a wholesale merchant of Shreveport and 
has been an active worker in securing rail- 
roads for that city, and is a large real estate 
owner and a firm supporter and backer of 
any business enterprise calculated to help 
his state. 

Irrigating canals were started in a small 
way in this section in 1800 by C. C. Duson, 
but did not amount to much until 1894, whea 
the Abbott Bros, put in their canal, which 
is now 40 feet wide for fifteen onlles in 
length, with ten miles of laterals, 

iThis was followed by the Crowley canal, 
which is now 35 feet wide for eight miles 
in length and has ten miles of lateral lines. 
The Rlvereide canal was the next in the race 
and has miles in operation. These enter- 
prises have grown steadily until there are 
now nine in Acadia parish, with approximate 
lengths as follows r 

Abbott & i)u8on canal, 35 miles; Role 
canal, 25 miles; Terre canal, 18 miles; MU- 
ler-^Morris canal, '20 miles; Midland canal, 
12 miles; Green it Shoemaker canal, 6 mUes. 
There are several smaller canals and 
others being built, approximating 200 miles 
of irrigation canals in Acadia, posslMy with 
an average cost o^ 14,000 per ^)X%^ 



or about «|800,000. There are six or seven 
such canate in Calcasieu and one in -Cam- 
eron, and one large canal, the Vermilion 
•Development Company's canal, in Vermil- 
lion, which is twenty-five miles long, and 
with those of Mr. Hunter, wiU probably be 
twenty in number, representing possibly $1,- 
500,000 Investment, and bringing a large and 
profitable crop of rice to this section annu- 
ally. The building of canals has necessitat- 
ed rice mUls, which have greatly increased 
the price of rice, and some of the mill stock 
Is worth -$4 for >L Any capitalist looking 
for a splendid investment will find it in this 
section.— Picayune. ^ 

Rice ProspecU. 

Mr. J. Bf. Booze, a prominent rice gr6wer 
of Roanoke, La., arrived in the city last 
night and. is a guest of the Grunewaid. He 
is here for the purpose of furthering the 
plans for the Ibuildlng oif a rice mill at 
Roanoke, and says the plant will be in 
operation in time for the .coming crop. Mr. 
Boose is enthusiastic over the prospects of 
the coming crop, and thinks the outlook ie 
very flattering. la 1895 the rice crop handled 
at Roanoke waa «500 sacks; in im none at 
all was handled there; 8000 sacks came in 
in 1897; 12.p00 in 1808, and 25,000 sacks are 
expected this year. ..ilrrlgattoo J#, w:orking 
admirably. The new mill will be only a 
smaU one. but fully cai>aWe of earning a 
nice dividend out of the big crops antici- 
pated thia year and after. Mr. Booze favors 
the reduction in freight rates asked by the 
Bureau of Freight and Transportation, be- 
cause, in his opinion, the present rate places 
the city mills at a disadvantage, and l^e 
thinks all miaia should be given an oppor- 
tunity for fair campetitlon.-^lme6-Demo- 

crat. May 18. ■ - 

More Rice Mills Needed. 

It has been stated to the Record by lead- 
ing citizens that there Is an ojwning for 
another rloe anlil In Jennings. The trutih 
of this statement can be verified by a care- 
ful investigation of the facts before us. More 
than 260 car loads of rough rice was shipped 
from this station the past season and aOl 
know that the rice crop was quite short last 
year on account of the great ^tamage done t>y 
storms. We also know that even with the 
short crop the Jennings rice mill was kept 
running almost full time. 

(With the great Increase in acreage this 
year over last, and with a moderately good 
yield, the production wlU »be nearly douibdod. 
This will give us a surpdus of fully 800 car- 
loads or 150,000 barrels of rough rice with- 
in reach of Jennings, after #v4ng the pres- 
ent mill all tt can do, end wild be sufficient 
to keep another good mdU engaged through 
the efttire millinsg season. The Record is 
informed that ample capital Is at hand for 
the erection of a first-olass mill, provided 
it can ibe shown that the Investmeot would 
iprove profttaible. 

There oain he no question as to the inveet- 
ment being a good one and we hope that the 
parties who have the matter under advise- 
ment ^widl show u?p in the proper li«ht. By 
aH means let us have another ric9 mill.-« 
Bont)iem Recosd, June 8, 



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THB LOUISIANA PLAMTBR AND SUGAR MANITFAOTURBIU 



[Vol. XXII, Now 23. 



A Central Factory lor Westmoroland. 

The Oorn'waU Herald states UteaA Duncan 
Sterwart, Esq., of Glasgow, Scotland, has in- 
timat^Kl this wiaiin^ness ejQd readiness to 
advance £260,000 for the establishment of 
a central factory in Westmoreliand for the 
manufacture of sugar and rum, on conditjLon 
that the planters and others will take shares, 
and fi^uarantee 5,000 acres of cane which be 
will huy at 10s. -per ton. The company will 
also buy canes at the same price -from the 
smalil cultivator. 

The Herald adds— To «ive some Idea of 
the magnitude and costliness of 43ie enter- 
prise we may state that the treble crush- 
ing mUi tb be used! will Itself cost £80.000. 
It is proposed to maaufocture globe suigiar, 
refined loaf sugar and goJden syrup. The 
compaoiy hopes tAso to be able to msLke apirits 
which wm seU at the low price of 6d. a gal- 
lon. It is expected that the venting will 
realise over £86,000 a year. 

Mr. B. J. Sadtor Imeui cbai^e of the matter. 
—Jamaica CMeaner, BCay 20. 



Rttmored Combim Which Will Unit« 
all tha 5ufar Interasts. 

OWicago, Jutie «.— The Record to-morroiw 
will Bsny that negotiationfl . .lare JUi progress 
looidbi«; towards a mammoth sugar consol- 
idation. This ds now admitted (by one of tiie 
mem most interested. It is asserted that the 
deal on hand at present is in tangible shape. 
From widely d&fferent sources to-day came 
reports of a undon of the American 8u«ai> 
Refining Company and the Glifoose Sugar 
Refining Company, with the suiwequent ab- 
sorption kty purchase or oth^erwAse of die 
•pQants owned by the lArbuckie interests and 
the Doscher refinenies, wilth perhafps thbit of 
other comlpeting plants. 

'1 caa m9 nothloe: deffinite at this time," 
said one of the head men of the recent con- 
ferences. '1 am in a oonfldentflail position 
with reference to ithe matter. But I am at 
liberty to say that there is a 0ood deal moi« 
fn the proposed comftjttnatioa of the si^ar 
Interests tb£ui is genenaliy credited. Nego- 
tlatkma are in progress on the general liines 
Indibated, but I cannot speak toore apedfi- 
oslJy."— Pklayune. 



Practical Studies In Fermentation. 

The Kyw prices that have prevailed for 
molasses during recent years have attract- 
ed more than usuaJ attention to the uses of 
molasses in other directions than for im- 
mediiaite human conenmption. 

Messrs. B. & F. N. 0pon, ^London, repre- 
sented by apon A Chamtoerlain, 12 Cort- 
landt 6t, New York, have published Prac- 
tical S^tudsles in Fermentation, heing contri- 
'butions to the life bistoiy of micro-organ- 
isms hy tB5mil Chr. Hansen, PH. D., which 
is translated into English by Alex K. Mil- 
Jer, iPH. (D,r jP. LKX, F, C. S. This work of 
I>r. (Hansett's is considered the best modem 
>work on fermentation for industrial pur- 
|K)see tiMtt if »pw ^n>cural>l^ pr, Hi|nm» 



discusses pure cultures of systematically se- 
lected y«asts in the fermentation industries; 
wherein the new advance consists; his 
methods of pure cultivation; conitribuitions of 
previous investigators; the ^practical results 
which had been achieved:* the prepai^^tlon 
of pure cultivated yeasts on a large scale. 

In the second chapter on the researches in 
yeasts he discusses the characterlcs of sac-^ 
charo m-ysetes; high and low yeasfts; inves- 
tigations on low fi&fmentatlon yeasts which 
have been tested in' practice; on variation 
and oh the main result. In chapter 3rd, the 
practical examination pt beer in. storage 
casks with reforence to its statoility is con- 
sidered. Cha5)ter f otir- is oi%, ; the technical 
analyei.s of air an4 fwater for micro-or^gan- 
isms, which is followed by chapter five on 
what is the pure yeaat of Pa^rteur. Chapteir 
six, investigations of diseases of beer pro- 
duced by alchoholic ferments. Chapter 
seven, on the present position of Dr. Han- 
sen's system of pure yeast culture, in which 
he discusses low fermentation ^breweries, 
lilgh fermentation brewerl^, dd^iUeries and 
yeast factories, wine, eider and iiritit Jnico 
fermentations, with a retrospect and oon- 
cluiding remarks. The .work caii Jbe oibtained 
from Messrs. 9pon ft Cham^berlain/ 12 CqjA- 
landt St., New York, It is an ocUvo vcrfume 
of nearly 800 pages and is pul>iished at ^.00. 



Tlie Late Leon Qodchaux* 

An earnest friend of Protection and a de- 
vot-ed member of the American Protective 
Tariff League, •LeoiTtlodchaux, of liouisiaaa, 
died May 18, at his home in New Orleans, 
at the age of 76 years. iBy birth a French- 
man, Mr. XSodchaux located in Louisiana 
^fifhen quite a young man and eot^aged in 
mercantile business. iHis experience as a 
sugar planter dates 'back to 1860, when he 
■became the proprietor of the wid^y known 
Reserve piantation in St John parish, where 
he ibutit the Reserve Central Factory, said 
to be the finest sugar making plant in tbe 
state. (Later he became ihb omnw of other 
sugar properties ,iA(4udAng'the Bhn &al\ and 
the Raceland teuctorkm on Bayou La Fourche. 
AAtbgether tfome fourteen sugar plantations 
are merged In what are known as the God- 
chaux properties. 

Mr. Godehaux was an active member of the 
Quigar Planters' 'Association, was one. of the 
founders of tho Sugar tExperiment Station 
and of the "Louisiana Planter and Sugar 
Manufacturer." In the words of that excel- 
lent Journal, LouisKana doses tn the death of 
Leon Godehaux "its greatest sugar planter, 
one of its largest merchants, one of its best 
men and an excellent citizen. The planters 
and the people of the state deplore his death 
and sympathize with the memfbers of his 
family in their irreparaible loss."— ^Amer loan 
Soonomist, June 2. 

Sufar in London. 

Owing to the holidays and consequent clos- 
ing of the Continental markets for even a 
lon^r imiod tbn our (>wii, tuBlness htm 



been restricted. Less specutetioa ia heet 
has been indulged in« aof thoug^i at one 
time prices looked like goinig higher . the 
advance was soon lost, and, owing to sell- 
ing orders from the continent, a slight de- 
cline on the quotations of the previous week 
is now sho:wn. . The American 'markets have 
remained Arm, although the weejdy receipts 
.were much lieavier than the meltings by jp^ 
firuers, so that the stocks show a further in- 
crease. Tilpe -general position, however, 
steadily grows in strength, as th^ decreaae 
in stocks from January 1st to t^e present 
time amounts to 753,762 tons,. as compared 
with a reduction in virtuaJlgr the same period 
in 1898 of 568,639 tons, and in 1897 of 692,- 
646 tons. Considerable arrivals of cane su- 
gar have lately taken place in London, 
chiefiy of low refining kinds and groceiy 
onystallized, but the scarcity of good med- 
ium diescriptions continues, and firm prices 
are obtainable |or the few lots on offer. (No 
public sales of crystallized raws were held 
until Friday Jast, when about 1,000 tons 
were offered, which were partly sold at 
a decline of 1% to 3d per cwL The Impofte 
of crystallized raws to London for the.wertc 
ending 25th inst. amounted to S,765 tons, and 
for this year to 21,273 tons, against l<2,d81 
tons in 1898.— Produce ^Market Review. 



Austria. 

■We have to report a number of ibrig)^t and 
sunny days, which have been favom-liie/both 
for the development of the beet roots and 
for the necessary work in preparing the 
fiieMs. The average temperature in Vienna 
was 17.4 deigrees <9. as againat a normal 
temperature of 15.8 degrees €. The beet 
crop is about a week beihittd,^1}ut is generally 
considered to be in a satisfactory condition. 
The only oomplalnt is of the superabundance 
of weeds. Canker worms and wire worms 
have frequently been, olbserved in Bohemia. 
Summer-like weather is reported from Ger- 
many, and this ds farocabily influencing 
vegetaUon, which i# making good, progress. 
In France much radn has continued during 
this week. Dry land warm rweather wookl 
not only be advantageous fior the dtsvelop- 
ment of beet root, but it would also oiake 
possible the thinning <^ the roots, bi lUis- 
sla dry weather oontinmes^ whicAi has al- 
ready caused apprslhensions, as under 
sucU circumstances injurious insects 
usua^lly make their appearance. If 
rain does not set in soon it wtti the neeesr 
sary to replough and «ow mtaoy fleMs over 
ag>a>in.— Vienna Merktbertcht, May 2S. 

How to Feed Our Horses. 

The wisdom of the Admigbty Creator has 
provided animals with stomadis of different 
kinds suited to their food and habits of life, 
dome chew their (food aiMl then swaUew it 
while others swallow it first, aod then maa- 
ticate it over at leisure. 

Bheep and oxea, for instance, being aatnr^ 
ally a timid and v^sry dstfeooeless order <A 
aniioajs, are provided with a stomach dlvld- 



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€d imo four commrtanentB. By means of 
this tbey ftre esabled, wliea they fneet wHh 
r good piece of pasture* to crop it hastily 
and swallow it almost whole; it then, paflees 
into the lirst diivlBloii of the stomach. When 
the feeding is completed, a portion of this 
substance is passed fTom the first to the 
second dirision of the stomach; here it is 
rolled Into the lonn of a bcUl end rettuiMd to 
the mouth to i>e ground smadler. After this 
(process, it is onee i^ore swaHowed, and 
passes into the thin) division of the stomach, 
and fi^om tliat to the foutfa; By tMs err 
rangement, these timid animals are enabled 
to gather and' swallow their food wheneror 
they hare an opportunity, and to chew it over 
at their leiilurel 
The stomach ot the horse is small in pro- 

• portion to Ms si2e. It is considerably less 
in proportion than man's; he te cdnsequentOy 
unable to take much foo^ at a time. He re- 
quires to be more often fed; but by this 
means he is almost always eoalblod to (be 
at his master's service, as iwe shaH presently 
show. 

<f o explain, it Is sufllelent to say thait the 
front of the horse's chest contains his lungs, 
by which he breathes. (BeMnd them, sep- 
arated only by a thin, wide muscle that forms 
a pairtition, is the stomach destined t<$ re- 
ceive aiMl digest t^e food. iBach of these 
organs ibecomes larger when in use; the 
aungs occupying moi>e room when the animal 
is mbvlAg about and breathing more quick- 
ly. The space they occupy is then so filled 
that onJy ome of them can be distended at a 
(time. The horse can distend his lungs, and 
breathe hard, trot or gallop fast, provided 
his stomach be empty; he can fill the lat- 
ter with safety, when at rest, or nearly so, 
ti^M the food is dtigested. But if they are both 
full, the greatest danger is to be apprehend- 
ed; the horse is sure to be '''blown" almost 
immediately, 4>eaa«se he has no room to 
"breathe, and aj;ra^lexy or rupture of the 
stomach may causey th6 anhnal to drop dead 
in a minute. 

'We have mentioned that the horse's 
stomach is small' comipared with his size, and 
from this we may leaim that he is not olble 
to eat much at a time, without iniiury to 
himself. He is apt to do this sometimes, 
especially wheti he has <been keQ>t long at 
work without bd^ supplied with food. 
When .brought hoo^ his small stomach Is 
crammed full before any of the food is 
turned into healthy nourishment to. recruit 
his e]^austed frame; ^ continues eating on, 
a^Kl the disease called the staggers, megrims 
or a(poplexy are the dan^rous and gener- 
ally fatal results. 

<So horse should be allowed an unlimited 
supply of food. A proper quantity shouM 
be givto and no more—enough to satisfy his 
requirements, and then allow proq;>er time to 
digest it Many .a horse has been killed from 
a IK ^rov^ht on by the oat-i>hi having been 
left open at night, glying him an oppertu- 

-«lty to gorge -htms^ to death with the 
temt^tlng food.. 



rtSM t6vtstA»x tLAimsk Aitb st/dAft lofft^ACirniatt. 



s«g 



'Horses that are obliged to be aft work for 
a Jong time together, as is the case with 
carters', ploughmen's, carriers' or cab owil'^ 
ers' horses, should never leave the stable 
without nose-l>ags and the materials to fill 
them. When the horse stops for awhile, 
the <bag js put on, and lie is encubled to eat 
a few mouthfuls— enough to prevent his be- 
coming exhausted. His strength is kept up; 
he is not afble to eat much, so as to hinder 
his capacity to work and the danger of his 
over-igorging himself in the stable is greatly 
lessened. This useful implement has, Drom 
the above causes, saved the lives of thousands 
of horses.— Humane AAliance. 



Susrar PmUnts. 

P>atents of interest to the sugar industry 
issued May 30, 18»9. Reported specially for 
the [Louisiana 'Planter by R, W. Bishop, 
Patent Attorney, Washington, O. C, who 
will furnish connplete copies of patents at 
the rate of ten cents each. 

025.877. Evaporative condenser. H. J. 
Fraser, Ix>ndon, Bhigland. 

626.036. Molding sugar. Joseph Putseys, 
Hougaerde, Belgium. 

626,086. Syrup Jar. John Omerod, New 
ork. N. y. 

Trade smrk ^2,986. Maple syrup. Arcadm 
Maple Company, Kansas City, Mo. The 
words "Canadian Club." , 



Tr«d« Notes. 

The Denlnff Superheater. 

Mr. B. W. Demlng, whose appanatus for 
superheat clartfioation has met wiUi such 
unquailified success in all sugar producing 
countries bas just received the following let- 
ter from one of the laitgest of the su^ar com- 
panies of the Hawaiian Islands: 

Hawaiian Commercial ib Sugar Co. 

Plantation at Spreckelsville, Maui, H. L 
Offices 421 Market Street. 

Scm Francisco. Cal.. May 29, 1899. 
Mr. E. W. Deming, 
New Orleans, La, . 
Dear Sir: 
'We enclose herewith New York (Bxchange 
for the ^um of forty-seven hundred cmd 
thirteen (|471^.00) dollars. >being the final 
payment on our account 

We have iust received a letter from our 
manager, Mr. W. J. Lowrie, wOio saiys that 
the superheaters have 'been running for over 
thirty days and have given thorough satis- 
faction, ^nd that he is very h%bly pleased 
with the results. 

Regretting the delay in making this pay- 
ment, we fre 

Yours truly, 
Hawaiian Cqmmbrcial and Suoar Co.^ 
Gbo. M. Ralph^ Sec'V. 

Tfhis concern operates an Immense plant 
with a oatMtcity of 1600 to^is of cane per 
day. Mr. Deming has a very interesting let- 
ter from their plantatfon manager also, 
which he will be gHad to show to anyone in- 
terested. 

^me time ago, throq^rh his advertisement 
iO this Journal, Mr. (Dicing sold one of his 
qMObinss in Tei^l, IsJapd of Java, and he 



has Just rec^ved the following e&blegram 
from that far distant country: 

I 
"Deming, 

New Orleans, La:< 
'Works splendid. Sure sole agency. Wire 

Db8tubb8.»» 

Mr. De Stuers was evidently so well pleased 
with the apparatus that he could not refrain 
from sending the a2>ove cablegram, at a 
prdbalble cost of twenty-five or thirty dol- 
lars, to express his satisfaction. There seems 
to be considerable Interest mhnifeeted in the 
machine in Java, where, as our readers know, 
a lange number of finely equipped sugar es- 
tates are located. 



Oil and SUfar. 

The Plnaincial News of Boston says it 
decided at a meeting of prominent capital- 
ists that th/ei' iAmerican Sugar Reflnlng Com- 
pany Should be reorganised witAi a cagiital 
stock of 1160,000,000; tl^e present capital 
stock is 175,000,000. It is the Intention to 
dispose of the stock to the present hoMers 
at par, and 'to use the increase in purchasing 
the Arbuc^le. Mollenhauer and twt> large 
foreign refineries. The outcome of the meet- 
ing indicated that the Standard Oil -Com- 
pany Iras -in -^^ntrol. This mixing of oil 
and! sugar will make tet^ nauseatinlfbompoufid 
—Valley of the Teche. 

Personal* 

Mr. ThcB. D. Kent, a well-known and 
highly respected citizen of Thfbodaux, La., 
was in the city on a visit a few days lago. 
He m&de his head^iuarters at the OoamopoH- 
tazu Mr. Kent is a valued memiber of the 
Board of Commissioners of the Ijafourche 
levee district 

Dr. H. J. Sanders, of the Teche countiy, 
who, as everyfKydy kno^ws. Is imaHkr engaged 
in keepii^ St. Mary ito the front as a su»r 
producing pailsfa. was in the city during the 
ipast week, accompanied by Mfs^ Sanders. 
TheQT were guests of the St. Charles. 

Mr. C P. Munson, of Assumption partoh, 
was in the eity last Satufday. fie reports 
that what cane he has Is doing splendidly. 
He hiad a good shower on his place and it 
was highly ibeneficial. 

Mr. M. Cambon, a leading sugar planter 
of Terrebonne parish, .was a guest of tfie 
CoBasnercial hotel last Tuesday, 

CoL. John A. Krels, of the C^ncflnni^ti firm 
of EHiinkle, Wilson ft Krels, was at the St. 
Charles during the weeiL Col. Kr«ls has for 
years been a prominent figure 0|i fihe supr 
levee during the crop season. 

Mr. J. F. Casey, of Chattanooga, TsnA.^ a 
member of the widely known boiler maiking 
estsibllshiment of the Casey and Hedges Co., 
was in the city on a visit a few days agb. 
He put up at the Hotel Oninew'sld. 

The old rellalble Joe Tucker is stiU boss 
of the rancdi at the St. James and Armiuit 
places of the celebrated "Miles Group.'* The 
promineot place attalined by these estaliss is 
langely due to the efllcienoy of Mr. Tucker. 



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THS lOXnSlAirA PLANTBE AND SUGAR MAKUFAOTCSBK. 



[Vol. XXII. M&. n. 



June 9. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 

Prime 

Fully Pair .... 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common. . 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrlfusa^- 

Plaat'n Granul'ed 
Off Granulated. . 
Choice White.... 

Off White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow... 
Prime YeUow ... 

Off Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open KetUe. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime — 
GN>od Prime.. .. 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair............ 

Good Common. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime.... 
Gk>od Prime .... 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

- Good Common. 

Common 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



June 3. 



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Steady. 



Firm 



Dull 



OTHBB MABKBT8. 



Nbw Yom: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining. 80^ 
Centrifugals, 9G^.. 


-8 - 


-i-^ 




-@ - 


-@- 


-a - 


— @ — 


Rww-Strons; good 
demand; liMeot- 








-0 - 


^®,-:u 


^1 — T 


Granulated 


— 86.08 


- 85.08 




- @6.08 


— @6.ao 


— (§6.20 


5;5}|z 


ferins. 
Itefined— Quiet. 


Standard A 


- @4.96 


— 84.96 


>* 


- @4.96 


— (gft.OS 


-@6.08 


Dutch Granulated 


-86.25 


- 85 25 


< 


-(86 26 


-@6.26 


— ®i» 


— ® — 




German Oranul'td. 


-85.17 


- 85 20 


-@6ao 


-«6 20 


— @5X0 




. • 


MOLASSES. 






n 










♦ 


N.O. Choice 


— 8 — 


-8 - 




-@- 


— ® — 


— @ — 


-«- 




N.O.Fair 


*— 8 — 


-8- 




.-«- 


— ® - 


— 8 T- 


-e- 




London: 

Java, No. 16 D. S. 


138. Od. 


138. Od. 


HOUDAT. 


138. Od 


188 Od. 


138. Od. 


-8- 
128. 6d. 


eye . Staadj; little 
fully nuunuinad. 


A.&G.Beet..... 


lis. i}i± 


lis. IMd. 




Us. 3d. 


lis. 2}ii. 


ll8.Sl^d. 


ai.93ia. 



NBW OBLBAN8 BBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf , 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candr A ..... 

CrTBtal Extra C. 
Royal Ex C 

SYRUP. 



-@6H 

-@ - 
-®6}i 



@6% 

@ - 

@ - 
® - 

®- 



-®t>% 

-®4t 
-@- 
-®6H 
-®- 
-®- 



-®6h. 
-®6h 
-®6H 
-®- 
- ®6h 
-®- 
-®^ 

-®- 



-®lh 
-®6h 

— ® — 

-@- 
-@- 



@5» 

@m 

®6H 
® - 
®6S 

®- 

® - 



85 44 

8 — 
85 32 

8- 



Very strong. 



STOCKS. 

At four porta of the United States to Uaj 31 . 

At four ports of Great Britain to May 27 

At Harana and Blatanaas toMay. 30 



. Toofl 
u 



271,286 
55,000 



Receipts and Sales at New Orieaos for the week endiof 
June 



Received. 
Sold 




MolMi 

Barrels, 

4,620 

4,820 



Receipts and Sules at New Orleans from 
to June 9t ■999« 

Hhds. *** Barrels.' 

ReoeiTed 10,448 1,265,774 

Sold 10.448 1,249,137 

(laslyear 23,370 l,4Sl,28i 



241,220 

241,220 

U0i^480 



Digitized by V^OOQ iC 



^iiii« Id, im.i 



Vn lOOtBLLSA PLAKTElt AMD SUGAR MAltVVXtmjmSSL 



i6l 



June 9. 



WBBKLY MARKET RBPORT, 



RICE. 


June 8. 


June 6. 


Jane 6. 


June?. 


June 8. 


JuneO. 


Same Dey LiMt 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
aoae of Week. 


Rouea^per bbl... 
ClJUN, Er. Fancy 


Noinimal 


Nominal 

1 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 




Dull. 


Fancy.... 




{ 


t 


[ 






63i@6J^ 




Choice... 




I 










6^(g6^ 




Prime.... 




\ 


I 


( 


( 


1 


5><@5^ 




Qood .... 




\ 


\ 








bH@^^ 




Fair 




L 


L 


\ 






5>i@5>i 




Ordinary 




\ 




\ 






^h®^H 




Common. 














4^@4j^ 




Screenings 




\ 


^ 


\ 


' 




— @ — 




Inferior . . 














t2 1@!3 00 




No.2 




1 




' 


' 






BRAN^per ton.... 






' 






AM W 


Better feeling. 


Pouffli, perton... 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


16 00@ — 




ftMtlpto m 


ti A«tac ■( Hum 


OrliMi tor tht wMk mmmg 






Reeilpta ■( 


New Ofkeoe fre^ K»%. i. iS^.-te Jum 9. ■•99. 




Jvn 


B9 ■••♦. 




' 






rewpefei with tasi year, wtam thae. 






BACKtROVOH. BaUI.CLlAJf. 1 








SacuRouov. BnLi.CLaAii 


ReceiTed . .; 






09 372 


This 


year 




08^870 10,298 


RoM 


■•:•-. . 




207. 


Last year 




408,254 8,081 



Sugmr. 

The local sugar market was firm at the 
end of the week, and the moderate receipts 
'were readily efbsorbed. 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals dull. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

The rice market was very dull at the end 
of the week, the trading in l)oth rough and 
clean being very meagre. Receipts from 
the country /were small. - 



A D^fsnse and Eulogy of Sugar. 

'KJhildren all over th^ world and all the 
keepers of 'sweet slufT shops, says Kuh- 
lows, ought to join in a testimonial to the 
learned though anonymus scientii^ who 
publishes smitte, but much more as a 'nah- 
rungsmltter glorification of sugar. Not on- 
ly as a genus-smlttel, but much more as 
'nahrungsmitter sugar Is almost the most 
valuable tbing which enters the mouth of 
man, woman or' child. T^^re is scarcely 
any other equally important feeder of mus- 
cle power. The lalborer can do nothing bet- 
ter than keep a few lumps of sugar in his 
pocket The negroes in the sugar planta- 
tions renew and quicken their weary bodies 
by sucking the sugar .canes. Sugar is a 
fine restoratlTe for soldiers. A Dutich army 
surgeon asserts that during an ei8>edition 
in Sumatra he found that the best means 
to maintain the soldiers in vigor and fresh- 
ness, not only during the march, but dur- 
ing the fight, was a generous allowance of 
sugar. Bach man was served with a hand- 
ful at a time. The Swiss chamois, hunters 
bear similar evidence to its marvelous pow- 
ers of sustenance and of recuperation after 
exhausting fatigue. 

'The writer gives an account of success- 
ful experiments made with sugar as food 
^or athletes by jifiveral of the Dutch rowing 
clubs, by pedestrians, by cyclists, and others 
whose bodily powers need a rapid, iK>rtable 
and innocent stimulant! Sugar is coming 



more and more into use in Holland in the 
course of training for contests, and It is as 
good for beasts as It is for men. The poor 
hardly realize as yet, or only realize un- 
consciously, what a treasure they possess in 
cheap sugar. Its value in fever has been 
emphasized by Hupeland and others. That 
which is supposed to injure the teeth in 
the consumption of 'goodies* is not :the sugar 
but the soH^alled fruit acids' which are in- 
troduced to fiavor the sugar. Negroes who 
devour sugar in so huge a quantity have the 
best teeth in the world."— American Grocer. 



Lakeside, La. 

The town is run mostly by the ladies 
througb the day, the men (being out at 
work in the nice fields. Rice. Bverythiog 
smacks of rice. In the fielids that are green, 
it is rice; where the ground is gray and 
smodfhly barrowed, xilce bias been Boiwn 
where plowinjs is going on it is for rice; if 
you see a man running a seeder he is sow- 
ing rice; and everything you see suggests 
rice; those great canals of water and the 
numerous pumping plants cure to fiood it, 
and the enormous quantities of wood and 
coad are to run these puonps. 

iWe spent a few days at O. N. Aylswort'h's, 
who is farming the Blose place this year. 
Although he got a tete start he is getting 
on quite well and will get in 1^0 acres or 
more. In going and coming we got a sight 
of the big canal. It starts from the Mer- 
<mentau river just a^ve Lagonda planta- 
tion running east five miles, althougb count- 
ing anigles and turns it traverses about^ 
seven miles when It reaches the company's 
mammoth (pumping plant. The canal has 
a depth of Hye feet at low wat^r mark, and 
small tugs run up wltb barges of wood and 
other supplies, and after harvest carry ofP 
the crop. The only obstruction is a draw- 
bridge at Col. Clay's (Monroe) plantation. 
I did not stop here, but noticed that it is an 
extensive farm with a (pumping ipUuit of 
large oaipacity, aod the water suipply comes 
f r^m this canal 

The (Lakeside IrrigatdDg Go's punning 
pl|Mit Is situated at the east end of the canal. 



consisting of two pumps, run by two 80 
horse-power engines and boiler, capacity 
3,000,000 gallons (per hour. The lift here is 
seven feet into an upland canal throned 
which the <water fiows for many mUes, count- 
ing latterals, and from these, smaller ones 
go to feed the different fields. The comipany 
has a good warehouse 112x40 feet arranged 
conveniently for teams to drive alongside 
on the land side and load rice into barges 
on the oth«r. A year* ago last January tftie 
first lick was struck here on tfiid enterprise, 
and now it is a surprise to see the vast 
change tbat has been wrought in this vicin- 
ity. Houses have sprung up all around and 
other 'buildings are going up an4 various 
improvements going on. The com^Moiy 
has a dwelling at the pumip for the pqcs 
that operate it, and a hotel and iboardlng 
house near by for the accomrmodatioli of 
Dheir army of eikiployees; also bams and 
other buildings to fill their needs. M.N. Urn- 
bocker occupies the old Bourriague place, 
whicli he bought, and which is the only old 
farm near by, and he -has a beautiful home 
and productive farm. 'He gets water from 
the big canal.— C. F. Miller, In Bouthern 
Record, June Z, 



Personal. 



Mr. C. G. tESlliB, at one thne the owner of 
the celebrated Southdown {place on tbe upper 
ooaet, but who has now concentrated his 
sugbor interests at Sartartfla, Texas, In the 
valley of the Brazos, was in New Orleans 
last Thursday. (He was accomipanded by 
Mir. J. S. Collins, iwho was also at one time 
engaged in su^par culture in this lE^e. T^y 
were guests of the Hotel Grunewald. 

Hon. Henry MdOall. of fivan Hall jHanta- 
tion, parish of Ascension, was In the city 
last ThuiBday. 

Mr. Henry Ayres, of New Orleans, w^s tbe 
engineer during the last campaign at the 
fine Ashland place of Messrs. OaOTlouet ib 
Maginnis, in Terrefbonne parish. Mr. J^qipee 
(was at one tlm« the englLneer of the UoflA' 
ban factory and he is thoroughly vetfied in 
Ma business. 



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86$ 



THE liOUISIAKA PLANTBK AND SUtfUR MANUPACfttTXML 



[Vol. X±n, l»lo. 21 



WANTS. 



We wHI paMlth hi thto cotomB, ffre* of charge iiatll 
fartlMr notloe, the appHcatloiis of ell ouuiagen, oyer* 
<eer«. eaflneert and eugar-makera , and othera who 
■My be leeldoff poeitloiis hi the country, and alto the 
wants of plantsn deeirinf to employ any of theae. 

WANTED— A situation on a Lonislana plantation at 
Junior oyerseer, by a young man who naa been aiz 
months on an estate In the weet Indiea. Address C. 
K., oare this office. 6-7-M 

WANTED—Posltlon as goremess by a young lady 
who can furnish best of references Address Miss 
Bessie Hall, 2410 St. Charles ATenue, New Orleans. 

WANTED— A position as manager or OTerseer on a 
sugar plantation. I am 88 years old and have been In 
the business 15 years. Am a man of family and can 
furnish the best of references. Address A. C. Buoo, 
Lutcher, La. * 6-8-90 

WANTED— A flrst-class and practical all-around su- 
gar boiler wishes to secure a position for the coming 
season, or as asslstait on some large place. Best of 
references as to character and ability . Terms reason- 
able. Address Walmer, 1019 Galennle street, d^. 

WANTED— A position as sugar boUer. First-class 
references furnished. Long experience. Careful, 
steady man. Address Gbobgb, 47ao Tchoupitoulas 
street, New Orleans. 6-27-90 

WANTED— Accountant and book-keeper wishes po- 
sition on plantation; address M., 1828 Louisiana ATe- 
nue, New Orleans. 6-1-90 

WANTED<-Posltion Iqr a man of family as second 
engineer, to llTe on plantation. A 1 references. Sat- 
Isfaotlonguaranteed: address Sugar House Engineer, 
Box 48, Whiteoastle, La. . 6-1-90 

WANTED— Bt a flrst-dasa mechanical engineer and 
practical sugar boiler, position as chief engineer, or 
sugar boiler or superintendent of sugar house for com- 
ing season. TweiTe years of stea^ practical expe- 
rience in modem lOAntatlon sugar house management. 
Giu-edged Ireferences from past employers. On ac- 
count of freeze was released from senrlce with last 
employers after a steady service of four years. Ad- 
dress SuoAB Expert, Box 481, New Orleans. 

WANTED— Situation by a lady of experience as a 
teacher; object, a good home with small salary; ad* 
dress A. W., care Mississippi Packet Co.,NewOrieans, 
La. ^___ 6-10-00 

WANTED— Position as stenographer or bo<^-keeper 
by a young man. Can give good references, and have 
no bad habits; address L. J. Carter, oare Draughon 
College, Galveston, Texas. 6-28-00 

WANTED— By a flrst-claes vacuum pan sugar maker, 
a position for the season of 1800. either InLoulslana, 
Texas or Mexico; Is a olose bcnler of firsts and sec- 
onds; Is strictly temperate and reliable and can fur- 
nish tlie best 0£ reference from past employers aa to 
character and ability; speaks Spanish and French. 
Address J. W. P., 4281 N. Peters street, New Orleans, 
La. 

WANTED— Position as governess or teacher; sum- 
mer or session. Best references furnished. Address 
Miss Mary Btltl^, 1446 Camp street. New Orleans. 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
machinist and engineer for repairs and all-around work 
in beet sugar factory. Position permanent If satisfac- 
tory. Address, with references and salary expected. 
C. A. Zimmerman, Box 06, Eddy, New Mexico. 

WANTED— Situation by a young man 22 years of age, 
with gUt-edged references, as clerk in country or city 
store. Five years experience. Can speak French and 
English. Address Aguinaldo, Soulouque, La. 
■ 6-17-00 

WANTED— Poaition for the 1800 crop as book-keeper 
or assistant. Can give best of references. Twenty- 
two years old and a graduate of a good business Col- 
lege; addreas A. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 6-0-00 

WANTED— A flrst-dass and competent assistant 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season. Best 
references fomlahed; address. Proof Stick, Box 62. 
Donaldsonvllle, La. '_ 6-6-00 

WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
as overseer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantatloi) work, eighteen years experience and can 
furnish best of references; address A. C, care this 
oCflce. 

WANTED— PoslUon by a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best of referenoa; address Arthur, 
care P. M., Llitle Cypress, Ky. 6-10-00 

WANTED— Situation by an experienced machinist 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly sober and at- 
tentive to business. Would like .to aeoare work the 
year round If possible at reduced^Waiy.:^ or take re- 
pairs and cr(H> on very reasonable terauL -Good refer- 
ences furnished; address P. H. B. Fnoinbbr, 724 F^m 
stfloet, New Orleans. 6-10-00 



WANTED— Poaition on a sugar plantation as black- 
smith, wh6elwr|riit and horae-shoer; addreas Sidney 
G. Roussrll, Bdgard, La. 6-1-00 

WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the services 
of a competent and sober mechamcal engineer, with 
references, will pleaae addreas Engineer, No. 4721 
Magaxlne street. New Orieans, La. 6-11-00 

WANTED— Poaition as time-keeper, overseer, clerk 
or general office or store work. Can give the best of 
city and outaide references: address A. H. Noeninoer, 
care of Room 206, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans. 4-2B-00 

WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by yowag man, aged 24, college graau- 
ate. Have done some work in sugar analyslB. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 83, State 
CoUege, Pa. 4-28-00 




WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 

Sr maker, tar a man of large experience, either in plan- 
Ion sugar nouse or sugar refinery. Can furnish good 
references. Would prove a valuable and all-around 
faithful man in any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-28-00 

WANTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do oarpentrv, painting, milk cows and make himself 
useful about a place. Flrst-class references; address 
Chas. Trepaonier, 1426 St. Ann street. New Orleans. 
4-21-00 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experience as head dhemlst in Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. A 1 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; addreas L. G. LELER,oare M. E. Sepp, 2688 
8th Avenue, New York. 4-14-00 

"\^ANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boller,<n eagage- 
me|it for next season's crop. Best of refereaoes aa to 
experleioe, capacity and character; address M. S., 
oare of The Chief, DonaldsonvlHe, La. 4-18-00 

WANTED— An engagemeut for the coming crop by a 
Frenoh chemist, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Bots-Bancbs, Apa^Udo 
716, Havana, Cuba. 4-17-00 

WANTED-On & plantation, a competent blacksmith, 
one who thoroughly understands norse-shoelng; apply 
to Schmidt ft Zieolrr, Nos. 428 to 486 South Peters st. 
4-18-00 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwrl^t . State wages ; ad- 
dress J. S. COLUNS, SartartiaTTexas. 4-10-00 

WANTED-Posllion by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give flrst-class references, totahe charge 
of a plantation store. Is a nian of family and is anxlcQs 
to make himself useful; address S., care this office. 
4-10-W 

WANTED— Position ab plantation cook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillis of Poydras 
plantation, and others: address Mrs. S. Tbrrellb, 
2221 Erato street, New Orleans. 4-17-00 

WANTED— A position by a flrst-dass, alround ma- 
chinist: experienced in sugariLllland looomotlve work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4_ii_ge 

WANTED— For the coming season, aposltionas sugar 
boUer by a comjoetent, sober and reUable man. For 
references and other particulars, addreas Felix Oubre, 
Edgard, La. 4—12—00 

WANTED— By a flrst-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season In Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
addresa J. H. F., 727Xowerline street, New Orleana. 

4-6-00 



WANTBD--Sltiiatlonbyayoiingmaiia8 store otert, 
book or time keeper, or any poaiUon 1« whksh ha can 
make himself senerally useful. Eight jreara experi- 
ence in general merchandise bnainaaa. Good iocodat- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, atriotly aober. beat 
references as to aiMblllty integrity, etc. Addreas J. 
P., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, #itii the hi^est 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capar- 
ble of takins entire charge of running the factoiy. or 
as sugar maker; addreas R. R, oare this office. 



WANTED— By competent man with flr8t-<daaa refer- 
encea a poaition as 1st. or 2nd orerieer oh a augar plan- 
taUon; addreas S. 20 this paper. ^^ 

WANTED— Married man, German, deairea a poattkm 
as yard or stableman; address Phiup Brauh, Qibaon, 

]± i-Si-m 

WANTED-Posltton by a nuof 80 years old, of aober 
habita. with good references, as derk ln.s«naral mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can alao 
do some office work. Speaka French. Salamnot so 
much an object; address J. Bestbblot, Bq|l iOl, 
Welsh, La. > S-'d-OO 

WANTEDz-Position by a first-dass vacuum pan aa- 
gar boiler. Is a dose boiler of first and molaasea au- 
gars, and thoroughly versed In refinery and beet augar 
and the boiling for oryatalllMrs. Beat of referancee! 
address H., care this^ffloe. t-27-00 

WANTED— Position by a first-class sugar houae en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' expertenci^ in some of 
the best sugar houaes in Louialana and Texas ; addresa 
F. O. Walter, this office. 8-25-00 

WA NTFD— Rttuatlon by a middle-aged, alngle Ger- 
man, to do plain family oooking and make himaetf gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; addresa E. 
Gorman, oare Louisiana Planter. 

WANTEI>-Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position aa au- 
perintendent or managar of a sugar plantation In Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; Is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, Sure 
this oflloe. o «k «» 



WANTED— PosiUon by a mechanical dranghtaa«n. 14 
years experience, practical and theoreUcaL ss chWor 
assistant engineer. Have, been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar relUiery : ad- 
dress Drauobtsman, leiO 8. Lawrend^ itreet, Fima- 
delphla. Pa. 8-28-00 

WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasaee or 
sugar barrels, in the country; good references: ad- 
dreas ALPBOifsi Buck, 2714 Seoond street, city. 
a-16-00 

WANTED- By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boOer, a crop to take off next season, neferonces 
furnished. Will accept a crop either in T i^ wi lfftans. 
Texas or Mexico; address Sugar Makbr, Lock Box 
488, Eagle Lake, Texas. »-22-ao 

WANTED— Position as general helper in maohineir. 
lUve been working for the past twelve years in same: 
address J. M. S., Pietel, La. »-lfr-00 



F. F. BRADWAY, Agent 

— POR— 

STANDARD SCALES. 

Railroad and Plants -ion 

wrtt« tor price.. Tispawrost.. NnOiliiit 



The Lima Locomotive and Machine Company, ^^ 



Oio. H. Marsh, Pres't. 
T. T. Mitchell, V. Pres't. 
W. C. MiTCBSLL, Genl M'g'r. 
D. E. Harlan, Sec^aad Treaa. 
L P. Garnbs, Boperintendent. 



The Shay 
Locomotive 

Is espedaUy deatfoed for nee on heary grades s 
Preiffht Cars, Logfliiff Cars, Gar Wheels and St^ i 




sliarp carves. We 
I Iron Castliifa. Carrasp 



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r H XKDieeblT^ IRewspapec, 

^DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR. RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



VollXXH. 



NEW ORLEANS^ JUNE 17; 1899. 



No. 24. 



:35it= 



t»:>i.3;ai. 



THE LOUISIANA-^-PLANTER 

SUGAR MA:NUFA'CT©RfiR, 

. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

• Louiaifiipa Sugar Planters* Association, ^ 
Ascfnsi'on Branch Sugar Planters' Associatr'on, 
Louis/ana Sugar Chemists' Association, 
ICansak Siigar Growers' Association^ 
Texas Sugar Pfantsrs' Association,.' 

' PobUsheaatHew Orleans, La., ev^rySatuilday Morning 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to I^ TAllh i a pa Agriculture in general, and to 
, the Sugar ludiictry iu particular, apd in all its. 
brauenes; Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and CommercisU. 

BPITORIAL C0HI*8. •_ , . 
W. C..STU5B&, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 



W. W. PliGH. 



JOHN DYMOND. 



• Entered at the Poetoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mail matter, July 7, 1888. 

Perannum 

Terms of Subscription (including postage) $3 00 

■ Foreign Sub^cripuoh 4 00 

ADVERTISmO RATES. 



Space 



linch 

21nch 

3 Inch..:.. 

4 Inch 

6 Inch .-'.... 

6 Inch 

7 Inch 

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Incb 

10 Inch 

Half Page. 
Full Page. 



1 month 3 month 6 month l^month 



$600 
060 
14 60 
19 00 
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100 00 



$12 60 
24 00 
38 20 
47 60 
68 76 
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00 03 
: 9600 
100 00 
160 00 
^00 



$ 18 76 

38 00 
54 40 
71 25 
88 16 
106 00 
121 75. 
136 00 
142 60 
160 00 
226 00 
400 00 



$25 00 
48 00 
72 60 
06 00 
117 60 
140 09 
183 60 
180 00 
190 00 
20O0O 
800 00 
60O00 



'All communications should be addressed to The 
LOUISIANA Planter, 830 Carondelet street, New Orleams 
La. ■• ' * 

LIST OP STOCKHOLDBRS. 



McCalt Brothers. 

McCall & Legendre, 

Leoh CJodchaux, 

James ■ Teller, 

B. Lemann dc Bro., 

Leone? Jonlat, 
' Louis Bush, 
. W. e. Brtckell, 

W. C. Stubbs. 

John Dymond, 
' Daniel Thompson, 

Poos 6t Barnett, 

H. C. Warmoth, 

Lucius Forsyth, Jr.*. •• 

Edward J. day, 

Sbattuck dc IfoflMfMi, 

Bmlle Rest, 
, Thomas. D. Miller, . . 
' Schmidt ^Zlegler, ' 

J. B;L0v«rt, 
. Simpson Homor, 

W. §: Bloomfleld, 
' W. W. SutciUfe, 

John S. rioore, 
, James C. Murphy» 

Jos.Webre, ^ 



R. Belti^an, 
Luclen. Sonlat,. 

D. R. Colder, 
L, A. EIII9. 
Hero A Mklhlot, 
W. J. Behan, 

• J. T. Moore .Jr., 
Edwards dc Haubtn:ai 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. Cunningham, 
R. Vnerbd. 

H< C. ninor, 
C.M.SorIa, 
J»L.« Harris. 
J: H. Murphy, 
Andreiw Price, 
|.&'J. Kock. 
Wm. Qarig, 
Adolph Meyer, 
A.A.Woods, 
BTradisii Johnson^ 
Qeorge P. Aodeetim, 
A.L. nonnot, 
Rlchardlniinken, 
W/ P. nites* 
Lezin A. Becn^ 
^.KPhkrr, 
Jules J; Jacobi- 



. EXECUTIVE COMMITt^. 

; Uenry flcCall'^ 
:.u€l«n 5oblat. W. B. Schmldit; 

'D. R. Cidd4r, LbnUBttsh, > . 



Sugar and. CljI^Mfie^^as Stock Feed. 

There is but little doubt but tha't the 
short oane c«)p this season will inspire 
our Bugar planters with- a proper regard 
for economy in every direction^, and 
doubtless much molasses will bo re- 
sei^v^ed for mule feed, it having now 
been found to be a first-class food ar- 
ticle, many mules- on some of our sugar 
plantations having consumed ten pounds 
per day throughout the entire year/ and 
this for a period now exceeding four 
yoars. • Those who were skeptical of the 
value of molasses for mule feed some 
few years back have now generally come 
over to its use and such use has become 
almost univei"sal. As so much of our mo- 
lasses has gone to Europe to be used as 
stock feed there, after paying the cost 
of cooperage, tranportation, etc;, Jt 
would seem queer that we at home 
should not develop equal intelligence 
and equal appreciation of the value of 
this foodstuff here, especially when we 
are such constant buyers of mule feed. 

It took a long time for the people of 
Louisiana to appreciate the value of rice 
bran as a stock food article. Twenty 
.years ago some of it was thrown away, 
owing to the inability of the rice mills 
to find a market for it. When we shall 
learn, to use all of these articles at home 
to their best advantag:e we shall be the 
better able to compete in sugar produc- 
tion with the outside world. 

We are led to these statements by 
reading in the Stable Book, written by 
John Stewart of Glasgow, Scotland, in 
1838, his views at that time upon the 
relative merits of various articles used 
as stock food. After discussing quite a 
number of articles that are occasionally 
used as stock food, Mr. Stewart refers to 
sugar and cites, as his authority Mr. 
Black, a yeternary surgeon connected 
with the English army during the Penin- 
sular war,1808-14:, in which an excel- 



lent test was made of sugar, it to take 
the place of grain, and the results seem 
to have been very satisfactory. No 
statement is made as to how 90 consider- 
able a quantity of sugar became availa- 
ble for the use of the horses of the 
armyj but that it was a war incident is 
evident from the. fact that the use was 
discontinued with the termination of 
that campaign, and that efforts were 
made to prevent misappropriation of the 
sugar and the retention of its use for the 
food of the horses. Mr. John Stewart 
was an eminent authority in his time 
and was veterinary surgeon and professor 
of veterinary medicine in the Anderson- 
ian University, Glasgow. The American 
edition of his work was edited by Mr. A, 
B. Allen in 1864, at that time editor 
of the American Agriculturist. From 
these data we may see that the refer- 
ence to the use of sugar is based upon 
good authority. 

Tn his discussion of feed for horses 
and referring to sugar, Mr. Stewart 
says: 

Siigaa-.— -Mr. Blaxjk, veterinary supgeon of 
the 14th Oght Dnaigoons, Informed me that 
su^r was tried as an article of borees food 
(Turing the Peninfltilar war. The exqeriment 
was made at the Brighton deipct iKpon tea 
horses during a period of three. montlis.Bftch 
igot eight pounds «per rday at four iratk>i]0. 
They took to fit very readily and it was re- 
■mairked that itheir coats ibecaime fine, smooth 
and glossy. They got no igrain, and oMy 
seven (pounde of hay, dnetead of tb© ondln- 
ary allowance, which is twelve (pounds. 
The sugar seemed to 6u.p(ply the place of 
grain so well, that it would probacy have 
been given to the Uoraes cubroad, buit peace 
came, and the eirciwnatancefl «whlch render- 
ed the use of suiga^ for grain desirable, 
ceased The horses returned to their reg- 
ular diet; yait several of those fwtio were 
the sulb>ects of this experiment ibecame crit) 
'bfiters. (fiugar wants nitrogen, fbut abouudfl 
in carbon. It .would not, flierefore, answer 
as horse food. The food must contain nl- 
trogea to form muscle.) 

That the sugaa* might not ibe apiproprlated 
to other pujiposes it was slightly eceated 
with asaafoetida, which did not iprodiice any 
effect upon the horses. 



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i^oouulKa ni4!mR ii» bwuh uAxufAtrmam. 



[VoL XXSi, Kq« M. 



ChartNifi* 

As charbon and anthrax has prevail- 
ed to a ccxnaiderable extent again in 
Louisiana this season^ remedial^ or pre- 
ventive measures excite • oon^Sderable 
interest. The common belief in Louis- 
iana is that the only satisfactory relief 
secured thus far has been by vaccina- 
tion, 'and in this way preventing any seii- 

' ouB attack of the disease. Prof. R. R. 

^^ Dinwiddie of the Arkansas Station^ in 
)>ulletin No. 51, pages 35-46 writes of 
cause and origin of communicable 
diseases, of farm animals, discussing the 
cause and origin of communihabte 
diseases, methods of p^vention and 
control, inoculaiticHi agaii}st anthrax or 
chiurbon and prevention., and control 
of Texas cattie fever. He believes that 
the mtethods of control are mch as should 
readily suggest themselves to intelligent 
owners of livestock, but they are gener- 
ally n^lected, or carried out in a half- 
hearted manner, and arel tlierefore inef- 
fectual. Writing from an Arkansas 
point of view he says that anthrax is 
not thought to be endemic in that 
country and that inoculation against it 

. if9 not regarded with faVo^, sinoe there 
seems to be danger of (XMitinuing the 
disease by this means. 

Prof. Dinwiddle here raises a very 
interesting point The claim made by 

. the friend of inoculation for charbon is 
thai the virus is so attenuated as to ren- 
der the ^ect of the inoculation compar- 
atively harmless and at the same time 
giving immunity from the disease for 
at least one season. As such a large por- 
tion of Arkansas is swampy, or low 
lands, we had thought that charbon 
would prevail there as likely as in the 
northeastern parishes of this State, 
hence the opposition to inoculation com- 
ing from Arkansas is singular and in- 
teresting, and we shall be glad to learn 
more about the matter. 



The C«n# Cr»p. 

'We are able this week to chronicle a 
general rain of some 48 hours duration 
over all portions of the sugar district. 
The eflFeet of this rain has been to won- 
derfully invigorate the cane crop and 
with the hot weather which has prevail- 
ed since it fell the growth of the cane 
has been vigorous and rapid. A contin* 



nation of such f avoirable conditions will 
bring the results at harvest time up to 
a degree of excellence that will be sur- 
prising to our pessimists. 

The fields everywhere are in splendid 
tilth, free of grass and w^eds, and in 
such shape as to reap the full benefit of 
the welcome wetting which they have 
enjoyed. ' 

CukM Weathtr. 

The U. S. Department of Agricul- 
ture, Cuba Section, in its weekly bul- 
l^n dated Havana, June 6, reports the 
weather for the week ending June 3, as 
generally clear, with some well distri- 
buted shower9 in portions of southwest- 
ern Santa Clara, northwestern Matan^ 
zas, Pinar del Bio and southwestern 
Santiago provinces. The showers were 
very beneficial, but more abundant and 
general rains are needed. Grinding is 
Ujearly completed in Santa Clara. The 
maximum temperatures vary from 84 
deg. F. at Havana to 97 F. at Santa 
Clara, with minimums of 63 F. at 
Banaguises to 78 F. at Hanzanillo. 

Cane planting has been retarded on 
account of the light rains, but a con- 
siderable quantity of land is being put 
in condition for cane planting as soon 
as the weather becomes satisfactoiy. 



Steam Boiler Practice. 

If there be any one feature of the 
sugar industry that interests the aver- 
age sugar planter, it is that of steam 
bailer practice in its relation to fuels 
and th^ir combustion and the economic 
results obtained with various methods 
and devices, these being the title and 
sub-title of a valuable hand book by 
Waltei B. Snow, member of the So- 
ciety of Mechanical Engineers, recentiy 
published by Messrs. John Wiley & 
Sons. , 

The whole subject matter of steam 
boiler practice is very extensively con- 
sidered, chapter one taking up the 
requisites for steam generartioi^, the ul- 
timate efiiciency of a steam boiler, pri- 
mary cost and fixed charges, qua ntita- 
tive efficiency, operating expenses, etc. 

Chapter 2 discusses waiter and steam, 
their composition, weight and bulk, ex* 
pansion by heat, the absolute zero, spe- 
cific heat, the unit of heat^ mechanical 
equivalent of heat and latent and sens- 



ible heat. Chapter 3 discusBCs combus- 
tion, ks definition; carbon, os^gen, the 
atomic theory; union of carbon and oxy- 
gen, the combustion of fuel, air re- 
quired for combustion, air for dilution, 
analysis of fiue gases, calculation of air 
gi^^-lv fropa- gas analvsis^ measure- 
ment of air supply by aneometer; heat 
of combustion, and the ideal tempera- 
ture of combustion. Chapter 4 defines 
fuels, including natural fuels, artifi- 
cial ftiels^ wodd, straw and tan bark, 
bagasse peat, coal, lignite, bituminous 
coal, semi-bituminous coal, semi-an- 
thracite coalj- geographical classifica- 
tion petroletfm, natural gas, artificial 
fuels, charccgl, coke, fuel gas and pa- 
tent fuels. In chapter 5 the efficiency 
of fuels is taken up with the measure 
of their efficiency, the unit of evapor- 
ation, relative efficiency of various 
coals, the influence of a^, the influ- 
ence of the size of coal, the influence of 
the frequency of firing, loss on account 
of moisture iif coal, loss on account of 
smoke, loss on account of carbonic ox- 
ide, admission of air above the 'fire, 
loss on account of excess of air, sum- 
mary of influences affecting the effi- 
ciency of fuel, 'commercial efficiency of 
coals, influeno^ of mechanical draft and 
the preventionr of smoke. 

The succeeding chapters treat of the 
efficiency of steam boilers in various di- 
rections, the rate of combustion, the 
question of draft which is divided into 
chimney draft and mechanical draft, 
concluding with an appendix giving 
rules for conducting boiler trials. 

Every one identified with the sugar 
industry and interested in producing 
steam from any kind of fuel, will find a 
great aid to them in a careful study of 
this valuable book. It can be had 
from Messrs. John Wiley & Sons^ Ifew 
York, and copies may be had at this 
office. Price, $3.00. 



Oxnardt California* 

The rainfall of Wednesday night, as 
measured at th« factory, ^waa .69 Inches. 
Its general effect is variously commented 
upon* according to the crop In which par- 
ties are interested. Undoubtedly some hay 
that was out, suffered. ? 

It •will make some additional expense In 
the beet fields, but Mr. Hers of the agricul- 
tural departmant, estimates that it means 
10,000 tons more beets which wlU give in 
round niUDbem, 150,000 more for the lieet 
raisers of the Talley.— Oourier June S. 



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JxMUb 17, 1899.] 



r1f3^.xpvls^^A..wi^^^ Aif» sn<um UAmwJ^iorrvmnL 



171 



5uf«r Qrowlns: id Queensland. 

The £ane sugar industiy la QiieniiBlaiMl 
has mode enormous strides in late years. 
Unlike the West Indies, In many of 
YtfAoh islands the metliod of gnming and 
manufacturing Is dMud, we Und In lAustralia 
the most akilled and eoonomioal systems ore 
employed — ^In fact, unless this were so, the 
colony would lose her Australian market, for 
beet sugar from Oermany is exported to 
Melhourne and Sydney tn some quantities as 
His. 

The coast plateaus of NoPth Queensland 
for hundreds of jniles are emdnently suited 
for cane cultivation, and the limit of sugar 
productfton is the mailcet for the manufac- 
tured art&cHe. 

. The Industry has had its ups and downs in 
the Codony. laStiorefn froim the Pacific Is- 
lands, Indentured under the moet strlngeolt 
conditions to the planters, are used for field 
work, Ibut are not allowed to attend to any 
other hradich. 

The sudden restriction of the importation 
some twelve years ago, gave the Industry a 
terrible blow. The same minister who stop- 
ped the introduction of the Sout^ Sea Island 
era, seeing the impendlnir ruin of the sugar . 
trade, removed the interdict some years 
later, and from the ^beginning of this decade 
sugar has waxed marvelously. A cat>legram 
Just to hand rea;K>rts that the 'production of 
sugar for the 1898-9 season. Just over, 
amounts to 1M,000 tooa, from 82,000 acres, 
an Increase of 66,000 toa» on the year. This 
production of sugar is more than eqiml to 
the export of the two most Jimportaat 
sugar-producing districts of the West In- 
dies—British Ouiana and Trinidad. 

(In the old day« of sugar planting, grow- 
ing cane and making sugar were one in- 
dustry, but iwithln the last fefw years a 
system of central millls has sprung ni>,under 
which cane cuHivatlon and -the crushing 
and making into sugar are distinct process- 
es. Manx, of the large plantartftone have 
been cmt up, and tiie Industry haa passed 
into the hands of the farmeiB, who only 
iwaat protectioci from (bounties to find in 
it a most iirofltnlUe employment Tbe 
working acoouoi of one of these central 
mills to last December -gives the following 
particulars:' 

Ton. Cwt 
ATORuge <iuantity of Cane to 1 

ton Sugar manuCaetured ..8 10 
Avera^re value ai Sugar eoUl 

per ton £8 9 6 

Average coat of Cane (per ton 14 6 

It should be borne in mind, however, that 
the.'^ugar growers referred to enjoy the 
protectiion of yery high knport duties, and 
factories. Tlieir great success, theratore, is 
not so much a matter for sinpriae.*-Pro- 
duce Market Review. 



Cane 5ufar as a Factor in American 
Expansion. 

''The Opportunity of the Cane Sugar In- 
dustry" is the stiggestlve title of a eontritm- 



tion to the North American Review, by Dr. 
C. A. Orampton. Though not ddstdnguished 
by much ori^nality of idea, the article is 
on the whole an intelligent rerieiw of -the 
possilbUitles of the eane sugar situation. An 
American writing tor Amenicans, Mr. 
Orampton naturally devotes most attention 
to the new United States' possessions in 
the Oarrn>ean. He enlan*ges upon the ca- 
pacity of Cuba and Porto Rico as sugar- 
producing countries in terms quite charac- 
teristic of the sanguine inhabitant at the 
temperate zone, and by natural cradatdon 
he arrives at the conclusion that America 
before 1od«, instead of sending abroad over 
eighty million dodlars annually for si^gar, 
w4H be in a position to place the product 
htgh on the list of the nation's exports. Mr. 
Orampton starts off with the not very dis- 
criminating remark that the solution of the 
profblem of succeasfud Colonial expansion by 
the United fiUtes "will be found in the re- 
habilitation and deveHopiment of the tropical 
sugar cane industry." There is, of course, 
considerable scope for development in the 
direction suggested, but It Is quite impossi- 
ble to allow the hypotheais that the success 
&t America's Colonial- i^llcy is bound up 
wit^-any particular industry, > .more espec- 
ially the production of cane sugar. An as- 
Biunption so eweeping indicates a very fee- 
ble acquaintance with the real facts relating 
to the cane sugar industry in the We«t In- 
dies. If the writer had pn^erly understood 
the causes that have led to the present eco- 
nomic conddtion of all the sugar producing 
islands in the Carrfibean Sea, no matter to 
what nation they owe allegiance, he would 
harve modified his specious statement In 
faet, its Inadmisstbility is proved in a sub- 
sequent sentence by Mr. Orampton bimself. 
The United States Government, he wrtttes, 
has for many years been fostering the do- 
mestic production of eugar; but, he adds, 
the srowtb of domestic production "has been 
slorw and unaatisfaotory, and promises llttie 
better. for the immediate future." Notwith- 
standing the obvious moral to be derived 
from thia experience, Mr. Orampton in as 
many words invites the Government of 
America to sacrMlce every other industrial 
interest in Cofba and Porto Rico for the ben- 
efit of sugar. He ventures to prophesy that 
sucli a policy would in a few years result 
in America being able to meet her own do- 
mestic necessities, and therefore to dispense 
with the limportation of the raiw product. 
It is in the highest degree probable that in 
the course of a decade or more the require- 
ments of the American sugar market will 
be entirely supplied by the indigenous arti- 
cle. The restoration of peace and order in 
Cuba will give a stron«r stimulus to the sugar 
indufiCtry, the output In connection with 
which fell during the war from a mlUion 
tone in 1896 to a miserable tmo bundred 
thousand tons In 1896; and in Porto Rico 
also we may anticipate a eorrespondinir re- 
vival. But to promote the cultivation and 
manufacture of sugar In tlie two islanda i^ 



tbe expense of those ^other agiicultural pur- 
suits now being carried' on, would blind 
repetition of the economic enx>r that has 
caused the depression noiw obtainHnir la the 
West Indian sugar-produclag possessiODS of 
Qreat Britain,. Cuba as weU as Porto Rico 
•possesses an agricultural adaptaibiil(ty un- 
equalled perhaps In the entire hemisphere of 
the iNew World, and to stultify the possiibil- 
Hies of the islands In the (way suggested 
would be an act of the gravest unwlsdDm 
on the part of the autboritles of tbe Repub- 
lic. The mistake dn makin^r the prosperity 
of a country dependent on ttie prospeilty of 
a single industry is so weld understood now- 
adays that no Intelligent section of a com- 
munity would be misled i^to its comanission. 
Besides the powerful sugar interests of (Lou- 
isiana would have something to say on the 
subject, and we can well conceive what in- 
dDcrnation would be aroused In the Bouth if 
the product of the newly-acquired Colonies 
were to be apedaiily flavored by the United 
States Government We think it improba- 
tble for theee reasons that one of the ways 
aad means recommended by Mr? Orampton 
—the grant4ng of "some measure of pro- 
tection to colenial eugar"— will for many 
years to come be g4iven effect to by the 
American Senate. The protection that the 
author of the article recommends against 
all cane sugars imported from other coun- 
tries than Cuba and Porto Rico. Half a 
cent p^ pound as a dUfferential rate would, 
Mr. Orampton thinks, be "no more than 
fair for the new possessions." Such a tariff 
would effeotualdy shut out (BHticOi West In- 
dian sugars from the American market. We 
do not believe, however, tht^t the British 
Colonies are In any immediate danger of 
loDlng, throu«:h the operation of a differen- 
tiating tariff, the only field now open to their 
produce. The second scheme of ways and 
imeans .that Mr. Orampton advocates is to 
our mind the more dangerous. It is sug- 
gested thiat American capital be applied to 
establ'lsh agricultural experiment etationa, 
to Improve the methods of manufiaksture, 
and to develop the traneportatlon facilities 
(Within the islands themselyes and between 
the vaifious sea-ports and the American 
mainland. The writer discusses the varioug 
points here raised in a clear and sensiblf 
fashion. The supremacy of the beet, he 
states in effect, has proceeded along two dis- 
tinct but parallel lines, the agricultural and 
(mechanical; whereas it was only when the 
existence of the cane sugar induetry was 
threatened with extinction that the proprie- 
tors stirred thema^ves to action and aban- 
doned their primitive processes; and even 
then the improved methods of manufacture 
were simply borrowed from the beet sugar 
producers. The con4>arison is etill more 
diecrediUble in the field. "The cane is 
probably no richer in eugar than It was In 
lU wkld and primitive sUte." In these di- 
rections, Mr. Orampton states with 2>erfect 
acouiaoy, the future of the cane 0U«ar indiia- 
^ is principally bound up. ^e Is^oonftdeat 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUPACTUMat 



[Vol. xxn, No. 24. 



that the application of scIentHflc ideas to the 
tropical product will eventually restore It 
to the <positijOin it occujpied in the world's 
markets iprior to the early 'eighties, when 
beet secured the ascendancy. We fear, how- 
ever, that the economic problem as found 
In the British West Indiles will not wait for 
soilution untiil the advent of that hapipy time. 
— ^Demerara Chronicle. 



The Su^ar Industry of Mexico. 

iA.>ocording to the lEconomisba Mexicano, 
the tRepu'blic of Mexico is producing at the 
present time from seventy to ninety thous- 
and tons of sugar, "vhlch Is entirely con- 
sumed by her 14,000,000 inhabitants. Sugar 
cane is being cultivated in about 2800 ha- 
ciendas and ranchos, which produce sugar, 
"panocha" and aguardiente; in Cuba, on the 
other hand, 500 plantations have produced 
1,000,000 tons of sugar. In other words, in 
Cuba four and a half times less of places 
of production, produce more than tweJve 
times the quantity produced.ln Mexico. 

Sugar planting is carried on in Mexico to- 
day Xor the most part as it has been for 
centuries, cu5Cording to the most antiquated 
and traditional systems. In a few planta- 
tions of greater Importance, a combination 
of old and modern methods is employed, but 
all these plants are situated in regions that 
have an altitude of from 100 to 800 metres 
above the sea level. The conditions existing 
in such altitudes are unfavorable ones (or 
the raising of the sugar cane and are making 
its propagation dilfflcult. 

'In close proximity to the coast, on the 
other hand, the climate is both bot and hu- 
mid, no irrigation Is ever Tequired, the cane 
gnows rapidly, is ripe for cutting In less 
than one ^^ear, and' during from eight to fif- 
teen years vigorous sprouts can be obtained 
from the origiinal planting. 

In the relatively high altitudes where 
sugar oane is grown, wood Jtor fuel is scarce, 
of poor quality and expensive, which practi- 
cally limits the fuel the planter can use to 
the **bagazo" (what remains of .the cane after 
grinding). The oane is moreover very hard 
and the percentage of sugar is small. 

On the Blast, fuel is to be had in abund- 
ance and its cost does not stand in the way 
of the employment of the most perfect pro- 
ceedings for the extraction of the juke. The 
climate makes the cane very soft and by 
using the system of diffusion, it will yield 
from twelve to thirteen por cent, of sugar, 
or when a good system of grinding only is 
employed, fully 10 per cent, which is the 
average yield from the Antilles.— St. Croix 
Avis. 



Trade Notes. 

Boileri for Sale. 

IPeople who contemplate purchasing bodl- 
ers, or people who believe in getttiing hold 
of a bargain wben they see the chance, 
should write at once to Mr. Geo. P. Ander- 
U^n, 412 Hennen BuHding, for 'imfoirmajtion 



concerning the boilers wbich he advertises 
for sale elsewhere in this dssue. These boil- 
ers are admirably adapted for use at a su- 
gar plantation, saw mill or other steam 
plaint and the opportunity will well repay 
investigation. 

rir. T. S. flcLouKhlln. 

We are pleased to extend our felicitations 
to Mr. T. S. MclvOughlii\, the well-known 
electrical contractor, whose advertisement 
we carry in the Planter and who has done 
considerable work on the sugar .plantations 
of this state during the past few yeai;s,, As 
is j)retty generally kncrwn, Mr. McLoughlin 
has had more or less trouble with the Under- 
writers Inspection Bureau, who In many 
cases declined to approve work done by him 
for certain reasons. Being convinced of the 
fact that his work was always done proper- 
ly, and in the manner in vogue in other 
large cities, Mr. Mol^oughlin proceeded, in 
almost every case where the Bureau would 
not approve his work to take the matter 
into court. It is said that he had some 
thirty or forty cases in all, and that in every 
single case a verdict was renderefl in his 
Uavor. The following notice is now ap- 
pearing in the morning papars, which 
speaks for itself and is a complete vindi- 
cation for Mr. McLoughlin who has had a 
hard row to hoe, and has made an uphill 
but very plucky flght for what he considered 
his rights: 

UNDERWRITERS' INSBEiCTION BUREAU 
OF NEW ORLEANS. 

All matters of difference between the 
Underwriters' Inspection Bureau and Thom- 
as S. McLoughlin, electrical contractor of 
this city, have been satisfactorily adjusted. 

All installations heretofore made by him 
are approved and passetl, practical experi- 
ence having induced the Bureau to waiive its 
contention againgt his interpretation of cer- 
tain rules of the bureau in respect to sucn 
of his Installations as have formed the sub- 
ject of contention. 

Underwriters' Inspection Bureau, 

Clarence F. Low, Chairman. 
Chas. Janvier, of Committee. 

Those of our sugar planting friends 
who have had work done by Mr. Mc- 
Loughlin, will be glad to hear of this set- 
tlement of a troublesome question, and as 
it now appears that he can have no more 
trouble from the Bureau, doubtless his bus- 
iness will grow at the rapid rate which he 
crj*talnly deserves. 

Weisrhlnsr Sugar Cane. 

Now that wagon scales are so cheap, weigh- 
ing sugar cane should be the rule in Louis- 
iana, and not, as hitherto, the exception. 
Even those who 'are shipping cane to other 
.points would do well to weigh their own 
cane at homo, in order to thus have a con- 
stant check on the amount of work they 
are doing dally. The returns from the fac- 
tory hardly get back again In time to give 
that satisfaction that comes to everyone 



from knowing each day the work done on 
that day. Any cane grower delivering 40 
or 50 tons of cane per day will find that 
the check that he would obtain by weighing 
the cane will pay for the scale in one season 
by the resulting increase of work. EJvery 
cart driver is led to carry large loads when 
he knows they will be weighed and led to 
carry small loads when he knows there is 
no check upon the quanti-ty he carries. The 
unquestioned saving that thus results in the 
ordinary daily cost of the cane harvest to 
all who weigh their canes more than pays 
the cost of the scales in one seafion. 

Mr. F. F. Bradway, who for many years 
has been identified with the scale business, 
Id this season making a specialty of planta- 
tion scales and invites anyone interested lo 
call at his office, 715 Perdido street, or to 
write to him for particulars as to how he 
<an supply their wants at prices that defy 
competition. 

Semibronze Packini;. 

The manufacturers of this packing, of 
which a small advertisement appears else- 
where In the Planter, write us as follows: 

^'Semibronze packing is composed of the 
(best materials obtainable in the market, no 
cansileratlon being given to the matter of 
price The core, which is the foundation 
of the paclcing. Is a lubricator reserveir, and 
Is composed of loosely spim asbestos 
thoroughly saturated with high grade cy- 
linder oil. pressed into the desired sbaipe and 
coated with graphite lubricator. The cov- 
ering 13 of alternate strands of hemp and 
asbestos all loosely spun, and eacli braided 
over with an open net work of very fine 
semibronze wire. 

The lubricator in our packing flows as read- 
ily to the piston rod as the oil in a lamp* 
flows through the wick to the flame. 

Semibronze packing has long since passed 
the exipermientai stage, and its value hafl 
bcr2n fully proved by actual practice in hard 
servdce. 

It is now being used by the Government 
la .several branches of their service and toy 
some of the largest manufacturing oonceni* 
in this country. The manufacturers will be 
pleased to send samples to anyone interest- 
ed, and will place it on trial with any repu- 
'table concern. The advantages claimed for 
It are as follows: 

Low cost as compared with metallic pack- 
ung In general. 

Combines all the advantages of ftbrous 
packlug3 with those of the best metallic 
packings. 

Will not scratch or groove the piston rod. 

Requires no special care or attention in 
use. 

As easily applied as any ordinary fl^brous 
packing. 

Is practically frictionless. 

Has been thoroughly tested, and Js war- 
ranted to give satisfaction, or no pay. 

Made in all regular sizes fron. % to 1%". 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



S7I 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDEN'CE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

AMer a dry period of seven weeks, we are 
deQjghtei to report splendid radne, just such 
as would have heen ordered throughout the 
entire parish, an.d everybody feels greatly 
relieved. It is thought a goad corn crop will 
yet be made and that cane will improve and 
grow rapddly. The rice crop Is looking well. 
Same planters are putting in a good many 
sweet potatoes In the hope of making a 
little something. 

From Mr. Bernard Haydel, of Plaquemine, 
manager of Mei3srs. A. Adler & Co.'s Re- 
becca plantation, we learn that the Rebecca 
factory will not turn a wheel thiis year. In 
fact, mechanics are now at work putting 
things away and painting parts which other- 
wise miight rust during the long period of 
non-use. Rebecca Will just about raise siif- 
floient seed for its next planting, and the 
cane raised on the Ben Hur pilantation of 
Messrs. A. Adler & Co^, in East Baton Rouge 
parish, which heretofore has been ground at 
Rebeoca. beyond that required for seed, will 
be sold by the ton. 

Mr. FraJerick D. Robertson, of Plaque- 
mine, one of the best planters of Bayou 
Jacob, has gone to Florida for a faw weeks 
of needed rest and recreation. 

The following excerpt istaken from the 
official proceedings of the police jury of 
this parish: **Mr. L. E. Woods stated that 
complaints had "ben made to Mm of the bad 
condition of the railroad crossings over the 
pubUc roads throughout the parish, he hav- 
ing fixed with dirt some of the crossings, and 
the dirt having been removed by the railroad 
»comj>any. The road contractor was author- 
ized- to communicate with the ralilroad offi- 
cials and to give notice that all cross/ings 
must be put in order at once." Mr. Woods 
is the contractor for the (parish roads, and 
we trust that when the existing condition 
of the road cros9inss is ibrought to the 
knowledge of the railroad officflals, they will 
have the matter remedied without del a;'. 
We know from personal expejilence that 
some of the crossings are bad, and very 
few communities would be as patient as ours. 
Iberville perhaps contributes more to the 
Texas & Pacific's treasury than any other 
parish on the line, and deserves better treat- 
ment than she receives. 

The contract for digging the canal in 
Bayou Plaquemine to give the necessary 
channel from the locks to deep water was 
awarded last week to Messrs. Clarke Bros., 
and it begins to look as if better progress 
would be made on the locks. 

Master Robert M. Walsh, a young son of 
Mr. D. H. Walsh, of Plaquemine, the popu- 
lar manager of Hon. Andrew H. Gay*s Union 
Plantation, was buried this week. 

Most Bev. P. L. Chaippelle, Archbishop of 
New Orleans, q;>a8«ed t/hrough the parish last 



week, having been brought 'down from Bru- 
le Landing to Plaquemine in a carriage by 
Hon. V. M. Lefebvre. His Grace was high- 
ly pleased with the work now in progress 
on the Catholic Church and wiU return in 
the fall to bless the same. 

By a slip of the pan last week, the name 
of Mr. E. B. Sehwing's bride appeared in the 
Planter as Rhorer Instead In Hickman. 

Iberville. 

West Baton Rous:e. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Eklitor Louisiana Planter: 

At last this parish has been visited by 
splendid rains which have been of incalcu- 
lable benefit to the parched crops. While 
several showers had fallen some time ago in 
tho central portion -of the parish, the up- 
per and lower sections were literally burn- 
ing up. Last Saturday mornrng a slight 
sprinkle set in, changing later into a heavy 
rain which lasted all day. Occasional show- 
ers fell CSunday, but it was only on Monday 
that our best rains came, continuing with 
intermissions until late in the afternoon. 
We have, had enough moisture to last a 
week or more. It .Is almost impossible to 
estimate the good these rains will do the 
crops. In some sections the situation, as 
stated ab^ove, had become serious. All of 
the crops are from two weeks to a month 
lato. Cane is particularly backward, as its 
grow:h was checkeJ during the protracted 
droa'h. On si jnie places much of the early 
cotton had not yet come up while corn Is not 
what it should be. With the late rains and 
the intense ht.at now prevailing, there wdll 
soon be a general and decided improvement 
all along the line. 

There is a painful dearth of interesting 
items from the various plantations. Per- 
haps ' the best news that has come to this 
scribe's ears during the past two 'weeks, Is 
the statement that one of the largest plant- 
ers In the parish, who had a month ago 
given up hope of having seed enough for 
next year, now believes that he will have 
enough seed for that purpose. Otherwise 
the situation remains practically unchanged 
in 

Wbst Baton Rouok. 



Lafourche. 

(SPECIAL CORRB8PONDBNCE.) 

Editor lAJuisiana Planter: 

In common with the other parishes in the 
sugar section of the state, 'L#afourche has 
suffered from the effects of the freeze in the 
winter, and then, from the consequences of 
the prolonged drouth. Cane is considered 
about a half crop on the average through the 
parish, while corn is in a very backward 
condition. 

L.ast Saturday morning the drouth was 
broken by a copious rain, which fell lust in 
the right way, and cheered the hearts of all 
engaged in the agricultural industries of the 
parish. Sunday, another copious rain fell. 



and the indications at tha present wnlting 
are that we shall have a continuanee of rain^ 
fall. It may be that we shall have too much 
moisture, and that we shall all 3>e glad to 
see a stoppage of the flood-«;ates of iheaven. 
However the future may be, there is -eo 
gainsaying the fact, thait untold good has 
been done to the growing crops by the •rains 
we are baving, and that v^etation has 
taken on a new lease of life. 

While there may ibe some who see no fu- 
ture in the sugar Industry, there are others 
who have faith that it wdll be always & 
profitable occupation in which to engage, 
and in which to invest capital. For instance,- 
last Saturday, the Coulon Plantation, opc>o- 
site the town of Thibodaux was soW to 
Messrs. Eugene G. Robichaux and ThomB» . 
H. Roger for the price of fifty thousand dol- 
lars, of which eighteen thousand dollars 
were paid cash, and the rest was represented 
by notes, bearing seven per cent and paya- 
•ble in one, two and three years, or, to 
'be strictly accurate, the first note is made 
.payable on the 10th of January, next, and 
the. two others in 1^01 and 1902. The cropi 
of the present year consisting of five hun- 
•dred acres of fine rice was not reserved and, 
consequently, goes to the purchasers, who 
will have very little more expense connect- 
ed with it than to harvest It ILast year, 
the crop on Ooulon sold at four dollars and 
a quarter per barrel, and the crop of the 
present year is said to be equally good. The 
active and energetic purchasers of this fine 
plantation are to be congratulated on their 
bargain. Mrs. Justilien Foret and her eon, 
Mr. Davis Foret, who were the owners of 
Coulon, are well saitlsfled . with their bargain 
in having sold the place for so good a flg- 
ura 

Next Saturday, if nothing intervenes to 
prevent it, the undivided half of Abbey Plan- 
tation will be sold under the Sheriff's ham- 
mer. This too is an excellent Investment 
for some eniterp rising sugar planter. 

Lafourche. 



Terrebonne. 

vPPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

In some sections of the parish the recent 
precipitations were all that could be desired 
and in others -the rainfall was somewhat in 
excess of crop requirements; nevertheless 
acceptable and timely, after the drouth of 
some weeks duratiion. A good corn crop Is 
now assured, although the rains came some- 
what late for the early plantings. The 
crops are now making rapdd progress and 
the rooting of the canes should be profuse, 
as the lands are in aiJmdrable condition for 
t'heir development. With favorable weather 
for the next three weeks to lay by the cane 
fieldla in good order, w^here there, is two- 
thirds of a 8 .and, even the plant cane ton- 
nage may yet (be equal to that of last year, 
and the sugar content per ton Icirgely in ex- 
cess of the output during the last cam* 



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374 



TKB LOUISIANA PLANTEll AND flUyoAH jkAiftt^ACTUKBtL 



« [Vol. Xtn, Na 24. 



paign. Ttte caiw fieNte ai% genemlly of good 
color «nM tbe pflantMV only dread fs, too 
nMftdi radn, wMcb would tead to compact the 
«oil atnd- retard the laylnc: hy of the oase. 
The «u^rease pilaiited In peas is lar^rer <Aian 
usual; and the crop has been immensely !)en- 
efited l>y the cQ(piouB showers. On some 
pl&cee, parttculidrly In the upper portion of 
the parish, the 0tand of stubble being meagre, 
this fall recourse wilil 1>e ibad to some plant 
cane for seed for the coming year. Canes 
on eandy land Should be selected and laid 
by wWtk that oblect in view, and in conse- 
quence the ridges should l>e made only mod- 
erately Mgh, as deep waiter furrows in wet 
winters tend to injure the butit of the cane 
windrowed for seed. But little plowing will 
ibe done ithis week, as the soil was thorough- 
ly saturated, and the evaporation has (been 
retarded <by the fortunate doudinesB after 
the i>ains. Much injury can be done a;t this 
season by plowitig fields when too wet— the 
tilth will be dosireyed anitf the crop will suf- 
fer in oonsequen<;e. 

From what can be learned from those w*ho 
have traveled ov^r this and the other su- 
gar parishes, the cane ere?) in Terrefbonie 
Ukes h^ rank this season^ partJcuiai'ly 
•that portion neai*est .the g^f; ^ut it is ques- 
tionable if even there, rod Joints will be seen 
the first week Jn July as usual. It is re- 
ported fhat the plant cane cix>p is bo prom- 
isln;g on Du Lac that the owner, Mr. T. 
Lottin«:er has decide/d to erecft a sugar house, 
and has recently purc/hased the necessary 
machinery — the major portion of it from 
some pdace on the' river. 

(Recently the oyster factory of Mr. W. 
Qaldry, bdow Houfna, was pumhased and a 
shrimp canning fac'tory is <to be put in oper- 
ation this fall. 

On Wednes^day of last week, local radns; 
Tlvnreday, tog, hot and partdalTy cloudy; 
Friday, cloudy atfd warm; Saturday, show- 
ers began about two o'clock in the evening 
and fell at intervals during the day; Sunday, 
rain at eigrht and during the day unAdl noon; 
Monday, cloudy; Tuesday, favoralble, and 
'Wednesday morning, clouds and sunshine. 

TmiiiMiafg. 



St. Mary. 

(8P1CUL C0RBE8P0NDBKCB.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The long looked for rain has at last come. 
conunen*cing last Friday. Since that time, 
showers hav>e fallen .both day and night, at 
tVmes, until now the earth appears well sat- 
urated; but the planters say it is not enough 
that after a few days of sunshine ,the earth 
will have consumed it all. and that a week 
or ten days of rain added to what we have 
already received, would not go amiss, owing 
to the extreme dryness of the surface at the 
conclusion of the drought 

But be that as it may, the rain was gener- 
al, and H was needed, and that sorely, upon 
every |4anUtion in this parish, and since 
iU coming, nature is greener and fresher, 



and vegetation is growing Tn every quarter 
as it hfiU3 never grown Ibetore this season. 
Though it has "been said that the rain came 
too late for the early corn, which had tas- 
seled, because its growth ,at this particular 
stage of . maturity, is very near complete; 
but as the larger i>ortion of the com is of 
an almost ordinary size anyway, the short- 
age by reason of the lateness of the rains, 
will be very HtUe. 

As regards the cane, its proapects upon 
every side are saiid to be splendid; being a 
stronger plant than corn, it was in peitect 
readiness for the radn period, and during the 
last three or four days, has grown to a r^ 
markable extent, being clear of grass, wi^h 
clean middles and ditches. 

Planters are fond of iboasting of their cane, 
it seems, and every season the prize stalk 
come9 out on exhibition, with the stamp of 
its owner attached to it, in some conspciu- 
ous place, and the information is indirectly 
conveyed to the observer, in most cases 
that the particular stalk on show is the 
smallest in the field. But while Messrs. 
Bloch & Levy, the new owners of 'Cote 
Blan<;be, l^^ve nQ^^jprfssented a cane^/or ex- 
hililtion so j^r,.jthey claim that theii|s^ is 
above .four feet tall, and % Jointing; and 
your correspondent is of the jbelidf that this 
is the largest in St Mary. Qn the Cote 
Blanche plantation, together with several 
other places, it is clawed that the stublyle 
is nmch the most advanced, and what there 
is of it, is healthier looking than the plant. 

The speciai election cailled by the newly 
constituted "Franklin Drainage District," 
created for the purpose of digglnir the canal 
from Bayou Ohoupique to the high seas, 
came ofP on Tuesday, the l^th. There were 
one h-undred and twenty votes polled by the 
land ownens, (to which class of property 
holders the right of franchise is restricted 
for this purpose) and their votes were unan- 
imously in favor of the levying of the tax 
and the cutting of the canal. The assessed 
valuation of tiieir property, under their sev- 
eral affidavits, sums up. In the aggregate, to 
$171,842, and being none against the propo- 
sition, in number, there could not have been 
in assessed Taluation. Bvery one knew that 
the result would. ibe practically unanimous, 
so' very few troubled themselves to the ex- 
tent of going to the polls. The assessed 
valuation of the property actually situated 
•within the lines of the drainage district ks 
a million dollars; and the election authoriz- 
ing the levy of 2H mills extra taxation, the 
revenues will aggregate two thousand, five 
hundred dollars a year, and the canal itself 
will be paid for at its approximate cost cA 
fifteen thousand doHars, in six years, less 
the two or three per centum interest that 
the bonds will draw. 

It is. said the work will begin as soon as 
a clear course can ;be laid out, as the one 
first arrived at will be opposed by contigu- 
ous landowners, by injunction. There will 
be no trouble about launching the bonds, ae 



several bond companies arc^now bidding for, 
them, having satisfied themselves of tbe ser 
curity. 

This is one of the most important joiove- 
ments the planters have ever gone into for 
their mutual benefit, as tlie proiKved canal 
will drain one of the most fertile and pro- 
ductive basins in this parish. 

Mr. J. B. Brown, general manager of Mrs. 
iBmest Burguieres' Crawford, lyanhoe, Rich- 
land and Alice B. plantations in the C^pre- 
mont section, was in Franklin the other 
day, and says that he considers his crop as 
good as that of any of his neighbora^-not 
a good crop, however, 9>ut much better than 
he had reason to expect Mrs. Burguieres, 
aSforesaid, is one of the most extensive sugar 
planters, your correspondent toeMeves, in this 
portion of the state. 

Mr. James W. Barnett's Shady Side has 
laid iby its fifteen hundred acres of com, sad 
all of the cane. Shady Side, as now com- 
posed ,is the largest plantation in this sec- 
tion, embrajcing the Dancy, Sinette, Shady 
Side and the Baker place, the former home 
of Gov. Joshua Baker. 

MTn^Warren Foster's Alice C, is said to 
4iave the finest general crop on the Teche; 
this is due to the fact that the drought af- 
fected all others more seriously than it did 
him. His rains were more regular. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRSSPONDSKCI.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

It is very gratifying to be able to asinounce 
in this letter "to your most valuable paper 
that the long drouth in this section of the 
country has been suoceadfully broken. On 
last Saturday morning, the 10th Inst, a slow 
rain hegan to fall throughout Venmilion par- 
ish, wliich continued aU day Saturday and 
very near all ni«hit Saturday night.. It came 
down steadily and quietly, no downpours, no 
wind, no thunder, no nothine: .but a most 
glorious rain, that was very much needed 
and that was of untold ^benefit to the par- 
ish of Vermilion in dollars and cenU. The 
farmer who wore a long, serious face last 
weefk is now smiUn«: and ateppin«: around 
with the assumed j^omp of a king. It rained 
a little Sunday and yesterday, and to-day has 
brought us several good showers and prom- 
ises to brtag more before it closed. There 
is a stiff wind blowing trom the southwest, 
which may avert a downpour of rain. There 
has been a thorough soaking throughout the 
parish for all kinds of crops and a repeti- 
tion of Saturday's rain would mean too 
much. Some of our people who believe hi 
the 8th of June superstition-^that lif it rains 
on that day it will rain 40 days, and if not 
that we wHl have a 40 days* drouth— looked 
down in the mouth when the 8th parsed and 
no sign of rain, but old Jupiter Pluvius must 
have been mustering his forces and forgot 
that the 8th had passed, for on the. 10th he 
came at us and gave us what we needed. 

Cane is looking splendidly since the rain 



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JiHM 17, 1S99.} 



m LOmSUHA PLIVTBK AHD 8UOAR MANUFACFUnDt 



175 



and though small for the time of jrear, the 
pnx^ectB are* brighter now for an arrerage 
crop than ten days ago. The sti]ft>ble Is stiU 
coming up and hopes are entertained that 
it will mature. The plant oane Is veiy prom- 
ising at present Corn Is simq^lj line; the 
dry Weather did not seem to in^re it rery 
much and the water that is in the groimd 
now, will make the old com and will put 
tha teat ^lanthig 4n silk and tassel The 
com crop in VermiHon this year will be one 
of the largest that has ever be^ raised in 
tlie |>arish. Biost of the first planting of 
com has heen laid by and was in fine sfaaf>e 
for the pain and the last planting was only 
waiting for a rain to <be ploughed for the 
last time. Cotton is very sorry. The stand 
•is poor and the plant that did come up looks 
weak and is very small. Many fields were 
planted that did not show up a third of a 
stand. The cotton crop will 'be short in 
Verlniilion this year. Rice is very fine. Ir- 
rigated rice could not /be better and the 
Pilin that has 'been falling thrdughout the 
parish Hor the {nst few days will reviye the 
providence crop and with a few more good 
rains it will betirsit-class. The aereage of 
providenc.e rice is very large tfiis year and 
the present (prospects are very good for A 
fair crop. The different pumps In the par- 
ish have been running night and day since 
irrigatiiig began to keep the Udds flooded. 
The j\ice crop will, from the present outlook, 
be very heavy this year. In fact all crops 
look promising except cotton. : 

Charbon has broken out in this parish 
again and many stock are dying from it. On 
the Hall-eiutz Canal, twelve miles south of 
Abbeville, a numfber of iDules and horees as 
well as cattle have died and other sections 
of the parish report its presence. P. C. M. 



Avoyellaa. 

(trseui. coaaasroifssifca.) 
BdUor LovMona FtanUr: 

The drought whdksh innevailed over the 
greater part of this and adjoiiring parishes 
for the past forty-nine days was^nmiiiated 
by rain oti tlie 10th, llth, Idth and 19th Inst 
Every one is now feeling better. The' Urn- 
perature since the rains set in liaa been 
€rom 15 deg. to 20 ^eg. lower tlian it was 
dtxring the first daors of the month. It is 
now m«oh more pHeasant and agreealble to 
move aftKHit. We no longer ha^ve dust to 
lyreathe, hut a clear atmosphere— slatmp but 
more pleasant for man and beast It will 
reituAr« much more ra4n than fhaa io-date 
fillen to fully satisfy all the wants and de* 
dnands needed fbj tA&e farmers and tilanters, 
bat evary one to now filing truly grateful 
for the rains which have ibeen falling for 
tlie past four days. 

The corn crops and prospects will now be- 
gin to improve if the rains continue to 
f^ll at intervals during the next three weeks. 
Mucb of the late planting of com wiH malLe 
an average ydeld of grain, hut soiQie of the 
first planting of com ofi tblp fod]s t» qow 



past recovery no matter how heavy It may 
rain, which should be accepted as a lesson 
to ail wlio are engaged in planting. 

Beep fall and winter plowing has shown 
its beneficial efteiots irince the droueht bet- 
gan to develop in ^pri\, the lands which 
were so treated, hoWng ttorei moisture 
whdch is to-day manifetfted in the greater 
development of plant Ufe. 

The late rains have •t>een a decided bless- 
ing to the growing cane crops. One thiog 
noticeahle thds season is, that tlia oaneli 
ha^ not seemingly sufFered to the same ex- 
tenVfrom the drought as they did during 
the dry season of last year. 

Tet much of the plant cane when planted 
this spring did not apparently have sufficient 
life in ^he stalks to sustadn an eye if it 
should live to get through to the surface. 

When irrigating such crops as corn and 
cane, the obiiect sought for, as I udderatand 
it, is not to ftood t)y any means the land 
upon wlvich the crops are planted and grow- 
ing, but to gituge the water so that the fiow 
will be even and enough to flow tiirough, 
not over, the plowed BOil to toften and dis- 
integrate dt. Water tends to percolate out 
. and up and wiH, when properly Sfiiplied to 
the sodl, soon (find its way to the surface 
and top of the cane and com rows to bene- 
fit the planted crops. 

The cotton planters of this and the adjoin- 
ing parishes are now buoyant over their 
prospects. Most places report fine staskds. 
The weed is now growing and beginning to 
bloom. 

Peas wbttch have been prtanted, are report- 
ed to be coming up to good stands. There 
are some who waited for rain befiore plant- 
ing peas ,and they will no^ plant as fast 
as the weather permits them to do sa 

Present indication are for heavy pea 
crops. 

Grass plote and paetiire lands have heen' 
greatly benefited hy the late rains. Sorghum, 
mil-let and alfalfa will Improve and grow 
under the infiuence of the present spell of 
moist weather. Oaidens and truck patches 
have ibeen i>enefited; sweet potato plants 
may now be transplanted from the hot beds 
to the fields and other such work can now 
be carried forward to completion. 

filRIN. 



St. Jamefi— L«fl Bank. 

Editor LottMana Fianier: 

The strong protebHity of an oi^fproach- 
ing rainor spell wldch changctsrised a griMt 
part of last week, has matfrtaliied lAto the 
most t>eneAolAl and fw^loome ruHl-Ml our 
kHssAitj has asperienoed within tlie paat fchv 
months. As I have previously stated^ dry 
weather had been r«lgnlng for seven con- 
secatlve weeks. On Sstunla(y morning the 
4tmospfhere was remarkably heavy And the 
entire heavens were covered with dark 
clouds. A slight drixsle soon set in and 
then canve a steady rain, wihicfti fell for 



t>wenty-four hpnrs wfthont an tetervaL 
■Sunday we had local showers the greaier 
part of the disband the enUre n^tght Since 
Monday evenln|r. thougb, the weatlier seems 
a little nK>re fairly disposed and we are bet- 
ter able to appreciate this great CkMl-senid> 
whioh has conie so approprlateAy. The dust 
had so settled:, jipon. everything thiat one 
couU barely dietingolsli the color of any- 
thing, whUst '^now eversrtJliling bae been 
cleansed t>y tftia falling water. The growth, 
of the com cro^ since, is somefthing notice- 
aai>le, and the ocirn flekte now present an as- 
pect rare In iMiuity, as every stage of the 
crop is to be 4een from com a few weekii 
old up to the odes already in full flower. 

The fact thik- the cane crop is so very 
poor generally ^his year is quite Influentiai 
upon plantatioh repairs, as at this tflme of 
the year, all we -usually see and hear is the 
teaning down of such a building and the 
construction of^such another <me. This year 
no one moves a nail or a |>lank, but under 
pressing neoesi^ty. The only ropadrs going 
on in our pari& are connected with the re- 
construction of- the St Klmo eugar house, 
which httlldittg'was totally destroyed by fire 
during the past Deoemlber. The work is be- 
ing done quite^fast and tlie entire frame Is 
now put up. - 

The entire bnikHng anfd contents of tlie 
store of MessnI. Gauthreauz and Htmel, on 
the upper iine *bf Union plantation, were de- 
stroyed by Are during the past weeic. The 
whole tiling wis insured, but for w^Mit sum 
Is yet unknown. 

Mr. P. M. Lambremont, of Con.vent, has 
formed a partnersh^^ with Mr. T. J. Keman, 
of iBaton Rouge, for the practice of law. 
Mr. Keman is an able and noted terrister 
of our Capital City. 

The prdbafbility is that we shall have more 
rain shortly in our vicinity. 

Convent. 



St. Charles. 

The crops of corn are splendid and the su- 
gar cane promises to surprise many, who 
thought it would turn out an utter failure. 

The road machine was put to work dur- 
ing the week, and the road put into good 
condition.— ^Herald, June 10. 



Personal. 

Mr. Li. Oeiskar, of Oeiamar, La., iwae 
among the arrivals at the CosnHipoUtan hMBt 
Monday. Mr. Oeismar was accompanied by 
his wife. 

It is undenstood that Charles F. Thomp- 
son, secretary, treasurer and director of the 
Lane ft Bodley Company, of Cincinnati, C, 
has resigned his position in those capacities 
to take effect iJnly 1. Mr. Thompson has 
i>een with iihe company 35 years. It is not 
as yet known who will be the successor to 
Mr. Thompson nor has Mr. Thompson made 
up his mind as to what he will do in the 
future. 



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THB 3;iOmSiANA PLANTER AND^ SUGAFt MAN^i^AGTPCiffik- 



fvei. xxn, S«.^ 



FOBBIGN liETTBRS. 



Havana. 

(8PI0IAL CORRfe^ONlJENCE.) 

Editor Loui$U}iia pUinter: 

fThe - sagar market coBrUnues * quiet and 
steady, the ^mall stocks ^ desiralble class 
for «x»porfeatio!i, being now helil .by ispeculatrs. 
ors, wbo ^rmly maintain their pretensions, 
in the belief that prices will soon improve 
and alloiw them to dispose of thek parcels 
in a more advantageous manner thaa. they 
migkt at the present moment. 

According to official jretupns. this year's 
crop^ aggregatefs 307»903 tons, against 232,- 
000 tons, last year, there haing in Xavor of 
the one just ov«r, a differenxje of 75.903 tons. 
No estimate has as yet been made regarding 
the probable ascendency of that of 1899-1090. 

The weather, generally speaking, has been 
propitious to the growing cane, though 
water is still needed in several localities, 
especially such as produce tobacco. It has 
rained this year in a very irregular manne*-, 
and whilst the quantity of water fallwi in 
some parts of the island has been quite suf- 
flcitnt to insure the good ^result of crops, 
complaints in others against the prolonged 
drought are rather bitter, and the corn crop 
has been lost on this account at several 
places, especially along the northern coast, 
from Gagua to CalTsarlen. 

Owing to the large investments of the 
English in tobaceo speculation, from the 
very moment hostilities were suspen/Jed, the 
crop this year will be exceedingly large and 
according to all probabilities the leaf will 
also be of very good quality, with abundance 
of the finest grades, which will fetch high 
prices when brought to market; as the en- 
tire world is anxiously awaiting tlie Cuban 
leaf of • which the production gradually 
dwinidled down to next to nothing during the 
four past years. The market is expected to 
open extraordinarily active as sooa as the 
leaf be In fit condition to be handled. 

American capitalists seen to have at last 
determined to invest heavily in Cuba, fol- 
lowing the example set them 'by the English. 
The majority of the Americans who came 
here last winter were, as stated in one of 
my previous letters, people without means 
who were mere bargain seekers and actempt- 
aJ to purchase property at a great sacrifice, 
being utterly mistaken about the situation, 
there being in the island, despite the war 
and the Intervention, more local capital than 
•is generally understood in the states, and 
whenever a desirable property is offered 
for sale it finds ready buyers at home at a 
remunerative price, without ibeing compelled 
to sell it to any American adventurer who 
generally offers |100 lor what is worth $1000. 
It Is foolish, altogether, to think that anyone 
may eome here and cheat the natives, as It. 
is the -practice In Africa where the Europ- 
eans exchange with the negroes their gold 
dust, lion and tiger skins, eleohant teeth 



and.. other valuable articles, for a iew. yards 
of calico,, two or three bottles of poisonous 
.br^^dy ,or half a dozen strings of ^lass 
■beads. ..Cuba is an old /lountry that has 
sustained . important mercaatile relations 
wjth all the . most, civilized nations of the 
world,, and her inhabitants are well posted, 
not only about all the commercial customs 
of ibuslness men abroaid, but also know ex- 
actly the real market value not only of all 
the products of the island, ibut also of all 
the foreign articles. 

In the presence of the bold attitude of the 
British capitalists who came forward and 
commencel to buy up at full prices sugar 
plantations^ cigar and cigarette factories, 
real estate and invested heavily in railroads, 
the most lm.portant lines having already 
passed under their control, the Americans 
who were waiting for the United States to fix 
a definite date for the occupation of Cuba, to 
warrant their investments in this island, lost 
the .best opportunities to advantageously 
place their capitals and were left out of most 
of the big deals lately carried into effect 
in this country. 

in the interior of the island there are as 
yet large tracts of uncultivated land, ,whkh 
may 'be acquired at comparatively low fig- 
ures; but in the larger cities and along 
the existing railway lines real estate is held 
at high prices, and as it finds ready buyers, 
there is no reason to /presume that the price 
asked will he reduced to any consideral)le 
extent, and whosoever wishes to buy it, shall 
have to pay for it what It is worth; and the 
adoption of this policy has allowed the En- 
glish capitalists to secure so much valuable 
.property in Cuba, «whereas the American fi- 
nanciers are still wondering about which 
might prove the most profitable Investment 
for their money, and others are reaping the 
.'benefits of the United States sacrifices in 
men and money. 

Among land purchases recently reported, 
I can mention one tract of about 30,000 acreJs 
on the Bay of Nipe, on the northern coast 
of the islan'd, in the province of Santiago de 
Cu*ba; another of 27,000 acres, near Neuvi- 
tas, In the same tprovince, which were ac- 
quired by an American syndicate for the 
purpose of colonlztlon amd If possible, to 
found a city in the American style, on the 
bonders of the Bay of Nlpe, which, is an ex- 
cellent harbor. The land bought near Nue- 
vitas will be entirely devoted to fruit grow- 
ing, and that near Minas to sugar cane. 
The new proprietors contemplating to estab- 
lish thereon two or three large central fac- 
tories, of a capacity of 100,000 @ 125.000 bags 
of sugar each. 

According to recent reports from the mu- 
nicipal and provincial authorities relative to 
the preliminary census, the present popula- 
t:oa of Cuba is about 1,318,000 souls, and 
as- the number of those who died on account 
of the war and Weyler's reconcentration or 
left the country and have not as yet returned, 
the one that has taken off this year the 



results, that the total .population of Cuba 
when the last insurrection <broke out, was 
2,918,000 souls, an-d not 1,650,000 as repeated- 
ly stated by the Spanish goTemnaent 

The toial indebtedness of the island com- 
prising chiefly municipal liabilities ,amounta 
at the present moment to {5117,701,575. 

About five hundred Cufhan soldiers, recent- 
ly disbanded at Cienluegas, obtained Imme* 
■^l^te employment on some of the neighbor- 
ing sugar plantations; none, of them gave 
up their arms, and few only have shown 
willingness to accept the J75 offered them 
by the American Government ,a8 relief. 

'Mining business In the east is last reviv- 
ing, and amongst the large number of mines 
recently registered at the government of- 
fices, there are four gold ones, *'Nuevo Po- 
tose," "Holgerinera," *'Nene" and "Non plus 
Ultra," situated at Agnas, Claras and Guaja- 
bales, near Bayamo, iji the province of San- 
tiago de Cuba, which will' be handled «by an 
American syndicate, whose capital is sup- 
posed to be hall a million dollars. 

A fire, started by lightning, recently de- 
stroyed 500,000. arrobes, about 6,250 tons of 
growing _ cane 'belonging to factory "Santa 
Lucia" at Gibara, which Is the largest in the 
province of Santiago de Cuba and probably 
the one that has taken off tills year the 
biggest crop. 

Owing to efforts which the New Orleans 
business men are said to he making to control 
the Cuban trade, the Morgan steamship line, 
between that port and Havana, will probably 
perfect their service and run between tooth 
ports some new "boats instead of the old 
crafts they now own, or else they wUl expose 
themselves to the danger of seeing a new 
line, that of Ward, for instance, compete 
with them to meet the needs of the increas- 
ing trade, which they shall (probably lose 
through their own fault and ^^ice. 

' ; ' ". .T. D. 



Berlin. - '-'•v.^' r^ 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE-)"* >^ "*• • 

Editor Louisiana Planter: -^ 

The first days of the week undSr review 
were cloudy and sultry, foreboding a change 
of the weather in an undesirable directtoo, 
which, in fact, soon enough set in. There 
were at first some thunder storms and on 
Whitsuntide holidays It rained very hard. 
At the same time, the temperature sank as 
low as 5 deg. Cen. and the month of May, 
which for about a week Tiad ^eeJn Warm and 
dry, bade fair to end dn the most inclement 
manner. This, however, has not come quite 
true. On Wednesday, the sky cleared up and 
the temperature fose a little, ibut the follow- 
iug day it rained again so that the week 
closes in a naild and wet meteorologioal con- 
dition. Although a couple more of dry and 
warm days would have been preferred, the 
weather was for the crops in general and for 
the beets in particular, not altogether unfav- 
orable. The moisture no doubt -has acceler- 
ated the germinifttioxi and oominip iip of tM^ 



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tttk LOUfSlAKA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



377 



lately sown beets anJ the young plants on 
the parched and crusted fields, were also fa- 
vored In their developmenc; the only draw- 
back was the cold and the dlflaculty of do- 
ing the necessary field work, especially the 
weeding, which has "become quite urgent. 
But as a rule, the condition of the crop 
does not give any cause for serious com- 
plaint, and if warm and seasonable weather 
soon arrives, the prospects will continue 
satisfactory. Such is ajbout the ease also 
in the other beet-growing countries of Eu- 
rope, except in Russia, where they are still 
waiting for copious rains. 

In the foreground of general d'iscussion 
stands now the organization of the so^alled 
cartell. The idea is to place the German 
sugar industry on a firm and safe basis. The 
situation is to-day certainly not unsatisfac- 
tory; the prices are not high, l>ut they leave 
a modest margin for the producer and things 
would be all right if a longer duration of the 
present condition of the markets could with 
any amount of certainty be relied upon. 
But there are too many reasons <to appre- 
hend in a more or less near future a change 
for. the wors3. Bes-ides, it must not be for- 
gotten that the bettea* prices now Obtained 
for sugar in the open market, are pocketed 
hy speculators or dealers and only a small 
part of the improvement can be considered 
as a benefit for the faT:)ricants or the sugar 
grower. But to insure to the producer a 
modest profit on one side, and to "be pre- 
pared for the reappearance of baid times, 
which in all probability is only a question 
of time, partly on account of the feverish 
increase of the number of ibeet sugar fac- 
tories i-n almost all civilized countries, part- 
ly in view of the re-establishment of the 
sugar industry of Cuba and the Philippine 
Islands ,which will t>e brought about with 
the. help of American capital, it is an act 
of caution to call into life such an institu- 
tion so that when these 'bad times set in 
the industry need not be afraid of being 
placed in a critical position. However, In 
order to refich the desired aim, it Is neces- 
sary that the fabricants and the refiners ad- 
here to the plan harmoniously and almost 
unanimously, and the difllculty of establish- 
dng that harmony is the greater as three 
agreements must be concluded — ^first among 
the refiners, secondly, among the raw sugar 
fabricants ai^d thirdly, between the two 
groups. The conditions of number one and 
three are achieved, and number two, the ad- 
hesion of the raw sugar factories, Is also 
nearly effected, but on this liead the work 
advances slower, "because of the greater 
number (about 400), and because of a great 
part of the factories being based on the co- 
operative system, a circumstance which, as 
a matter of course, is not appropriate for 
faclMtatlng resolutions and decisions of any 
importance. The working plan of the Cartell 
is to fix an inland price for raw sugar, which 
the refi-n^ra pay for all sugar which they use 
for «upplyin|; the hotne market. The rate 



for export sugars has nothing at all to do 
with the cartell. The inland price is com- 
posed of the general market price and the 
additional cartell margin; in case, however, 
that the general market price attains the 
parity of the proposed inland price, the ad- 
ditional amount ceases to be paid. This im- 
plies of course a raising of the price of sugar 
to the consumer, but this amount asked in 
excess of the market price is very modest 
and as it is limited, it cannot exercise a re- 
stricting influence on consumption, and on 
the other hand, it cannot cause a suitable 
increase of production. By certain persons, 
it is objected against the plan, that part 
of the gain made in the home markets will 
be given away on the quantities exported. 
This may be true to a certain small degree, 
but this -depends on different other circum- 
stances, which it is hard to foresee in their 
consequences. Defensive measures of the 
kind proposed, especially if they are not in- 
tended to squeeze heavy profits out of the 
public are fully jus-tified, for nobody has a 
right to ask to get any article cheaper than 
it costs the grower himself. 

The statistical situation of three princi- 
pal beet countries of Europe, Germany, Aus- 
tria and France is embodied in the follow- 
ing figures, those in parenthesis being the 
data of last year. Production of 1898-99, 
3,466,392 tons (3,367,341); importation, 70,- 
067 tons (81,000 tons); exportation, 1,537,- 
361 tons, (1,434,575 tons); consumption, 1,- 
304,096 tons, (1,206,540 tons; final stocks, 
1,441,913 tons, (1,560,020 tons); the de- 
crease of stocks amounted to 251,798 tons, 
(221,168 tons). From these data it ap- 
pears that the sitatistics of the three coun- 
tries have continued to Improve. 

The markets continue In a Tery unsettled 
state, as almost only speculators are .buying 
and selling. At the commencement of the 
week rumors were afloat that the American 
trust had bought 30,000 tons of beet sugar. 
The fact, viz., the purchase, was true, but the 
quantity was much exaggerated, of course, 
for speculative purposes. Therefore as It 
came to light, that only 10,000 tons had "been 
taken for the American Sugar Refining 
Co., prices which on the terminal markets 
have quickly advanced, receded quite as 
quickly. Business in actual goods was quite 
unimportant and prices in Magdeburg close 
about on the same level as a week ago that 
is at M. 12.05-12.15, and at Hamburg deliv- 
ery, May is quoted at M. 11.26 f. o. "b. Ham- 
burg. Refined are quiet and unchanged. 

RoBT. HiNmAi 



Bayou Caney, Texas. 

f SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Wharton, June 8, 1899. 
Editor Louisiana Planter: 

We have had no rain here to speak of in 
seven weeks, and ten days later, the com 
Will !be ruined. This »oil holds its 
moisture remarka'bly well. With a 
good rain now or this week, aa abun- 



dant corn crop will be maiie. It is 
showeiT now, and we look for a trash mavsr 
in a day or two. Cotton is looking very fine. 
The cane crop is doing remarkably well, 
and ronsidering the dry spell, it is sucker- 
ing very nicely. We will make enough this 
season here to plant 1200 acres this fall, and 
with this acreage we are ready to contract 
for a sugar mill to be erected next spri r . 
Capt. William Dunovant, of Eagle Lake is in- 
clinoJ to want to extend his road from 
Bonus, 16 miles west of Wharton, to Wharton 
this fall, and we do not thi?ik any doubt 
need he felt on that score. This road dov.n 
Cauey when completed, will traverse the h i- 
est farms to be seen any where, and wo now 
anticipate that the entire valley will be in 
cane within ten years. 

The advent of the Mexican l>oll weevil 
again this season so early, will hasten the 
cane planting. The weevil is here in great 
numbers, and will ba apt to destroy the cot- 
tjn, now looking so fine. Sume planters are 
having the fallen squares picked up as they 
fall each day, and they lv>pe to stay his rav- 
ages in a measure till the bolls are hard 
enough to resist his bill. I send you somo 
of the fallen square 'by mail to-day. In tiit^ 
box, you will find him in all stages, from the 
egg gtate to the full grown weevil. In from 
five to ten days, they are hatched and ready 
for business. The forms drop a day or two 
after they are punctured, and the grub from 
the egg eats out the form and develops the 
weevil after the form is eaten, and the new 
weevil then goes to work on his rounds, 
puncturine every form he comes to. He will 
insert his long bill in:b clie heart of the 
young blooms before taey open; then turn- 
ing around several times, (his bill being in- 
serted all the while) as an auger does in bor- 
ing a hole, he makes a round hole, and then 
deposits his egg, and the form drops in a 
day or two, and the worm goes to work on 
it, as you will see 'by investigating the forms 
senr. you. This weevil is the greatest cotton 
(Ustroyer that I ever saw, and his habits 
are such that you can't destroy him. You 
raay put him between two cakes of ice for 
half a day, and the imn will warm him into 
life. He is very tough, and hibernates in 
winter like a snake. His history is that, 
when once introduced, he is satisfied, and 
will never leave the country. No poison 
can reach him, and so the farmers haf; just 
as well make up their minds to quit cotton, 
when thty once find the w^eevil. This is 
what South Texas is forced to do. If, how- 
ever, it forces us to cane, he as a blessing 
after all. Caney. 



Hon. John J. Shaffer, of Terrebonne parish, 
was a guest of the St. Charles during the 
past week. 

Mr. John R. TodJ, a genial gentleman and 
successful sugar planter from the Bayou 
Sale section of St. Mary parish was among 
the recent visitors to New Orleans. He made 
his h^adquartera at the Commercial. 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER ANO SUGAR MANUFAOTURnL 



[VoL XXH. No. 24. 



BIOB. 



Talinag^ on the Rice IVlarket. 

The demand of the wee^ shows B]!i€>M en- 
largement over the preceding one and as a 
result prices liave hardened a fraction on 
all styles. Stocks at this port are llt>eral 
liut under any ordinary <;all should be ex- 
hausted long before new crop will come for- 
wand in Yolume sufficient to meet usual re- 
quirements. It migbt also be ren&arlked of 
present holdings that the assortment was 
never flner, embracing every possible varie- 
ty in sort and grade. Advices from the 
South note quickened demand and eviden- 
ees promising further increase. Stocks are 
at low tide, the amount inconsequent and 
as the impression prevadls that it is scarce 
up to local requirements of the next few 
months, liolders are heady, insie^ent on se- 
curing "the uttermost farthing." Cables 
and correspondence from abroad note 
steady demand, generally strong conditions 
and quotations relatively higher than those 
prevailing here. 

Talmage, New Orleans, telegraphs Loui- 
siana crop movement to date: Receipts, 
rough 712,580 sacks; last year (inclusive of 
amotint carried over) 537,550 sacks. Sales, 
cleaned (est) 176;222 barrels; last year 121,- 
865 barrels. Increased enquiry; market firm. 

Talmage, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: Receipts, cleaned, 
37,188 barrels. Sales, 34,624 barrels. Offer- 
ings ilight; demand moderate; enlarged en- 
quiry. 



Big Profits in Rice. 

iProf. W. O. Steams, .principal of the first 
district (Rosentoerg) school, was asked this 
•morning if the big rice canal built by Bank- 
er Davidson of Beaumont to open up an im- 
mense rice territory in Jefferson county was 
proving a success. iProf. Steams owns a 
rice farm over in that neighborhood and bas 
raised several orops of "Provddance*' rice. 

"The Davidson canal is, to the best of my 
knowledge, a success," said the pnotessor. 
""It (has been completed from Pine Island 
bayou to ^Nashland, a distance of eight or 
ten miles, and afbout 6000 acres ^w4U be irri- 
gated from tt this year. The machinery 
is ah built for the pumping of the water 
and everything is dn sha^, <but there lias 
been no need tbus far of flooding the rice 
fields by artifi^cial means. The rainfall so 
far has been sufficient. The canal i>eople 
are ready to supply the water whenever It 
is needed." 

The professor was asked U the Canal com- 
pany was charging two sacks of rice per acre 
for Its "water service. 

He replied that the (Davidson people would 
get more than that. They bad gone in eariy 
and imrchased a great deal of the land trib- 
utary to the caiuil they were to budld and 
now, instead of sSmply selling water to the 
rice growers, they are renting kunds and sup- 
plying water besides. Tbis oprfng iHiey have 



been busy fencing tracts of land, building 
levees, erecting houses, etc., for setUers, and 
they have rented out a good deal of their 
land at the rate of four saicks of rice per 
acre. 

As rice is generally figured as worth about 
$2.50 or |3 per sack, this would mean that 
the Canal company "will, Lf everything goes 
well, get |10 to ^12 per acre from the land 
they have rented to settlers. 

iProf. Stearns does not think there is any 
doubt of the Davidson canal being a success. 
It is built exactly Hike the Crowley, (La., plant 
he says, and that has been in successful op- 
eration for years. — Oalvestqn Tribune. 



How to Secure the Best Results in 
tlie Preservation of 5eed Cane. 

(Disoussion by the Loulalana Sugar PlaliterB' Assooia^ 
tk>n, Tharaday, June 8, ISOy. Psssidbnt Emile 
Host in the Chair and Sbcbbtart Rboinald 
Dtkers at the Desk.) 

Chair: The topic selected for dlscussioo. 
this evening is, '*How tx> Secure the Best re- 
sults in the Preservation of Seed Oame." This 
subject liad been selected for the Icwt meet- 
ing of the association, but at that meeting 
w<e had the pleasure of ibeing enteirtained by 
the Secretary of Agriculture, hence the dis- 
cussion was (postponed from the May to the 
June mfietl-ng. Ttbe secretary was (instructed 
to ask the preparation of fpaipers on this 
subject. The secretary Informs the Chair 
that althoug^h several parties bave been writ- 
ten to, tha;t he has received no papero; and 
unless some of tlbe gentlemen x^rescmt have 
something to read the Chiadr knows of no 
1>aper havi-ng been prepared. The chair 
would ask the secretary to state rwhat answers 
be received, if amy, from the parties ad- 
dressed. 

Secretary: There were a good many 
answers received. I sent out six or seven 
letters. The general tenor of the replies 
was that althougb they at one time thought 
they knen^ something about the preservatton 
of seed cane, that the experience of the past 
few montl» liad convinced them that they 
knew littfle about it, and did not care to 
have anything to say on the sui!>JeGt. That 
was about the gist of the answers. 

Col. Zenor: It seems there ore no pampers 
prQ|>ared, so it gives me an opipoitunity to 
burden you iwith a very long, tedious har- 
angue without any opposition or comlpetit&on. 

Chadr: Tou ore very welcome, sir. 

Col. Zenor: Hf you can endure tbe af- 
fliction, so much the better. 

CoA. Zenor here read his paper which 
was published in our last issue. 

On motion of Hon. Jno. (Dymond, the thanks 
of tbe association weo^e tendered Col. Zenor, 
and his paoer was ordered printed among 
the proceedings* 

Chair: The subject is now open for dis- 
cussion fOr Col. Zenor has opened the matter 
by referring to the paper read before the as- 
sociation by Prof. StubdNi. Prof. Stulbbs' 
paper twas mostly an argument In favor of 
fall planting as prefeHable to spring plant- 
ing. It did not bear directly upon the ques- 
tion of the preservation of seed cane. ^Ite 
question that was selected for idiseusstai 
reads: **The Preservation of Seed Osne," 
wlkich would inddoaite that the proposer of 
that question referred to tbe preservation, 
through tbe winter-HEUfter the iwlnter — and 
that has been the great difflcuKy tbe plant- 
ers have bad to contend with. We bave 
seen seasons — soma seascNis ni^bere we have 
taken the U9ual precautions aod have Cdl- 



lowed the usual methods — ^where the seed 
cane kept perfectly sound through Jana- 
ory, Febi'uai'y and March. I have known 
cane "planted in April to give as «ood results 
as cane planted 4n January. I have, on the 
other hand, known cane planted on the 1st 
of IFsbruany, to give no stand at all. The 
question is: Is that due to cHmatIc condi- 
tions: is it due to soil condition^ />r is it 
due to the metbods adopted? T^wse re^ 
suits are so various thai I can well under- 
stand that tbe gentlemen who toaive been 
written to-, to express an opinion on tbe 
subject this evening, after their experience 
last winter, are afraid to express -apy opin- 
ion at alL In mty own experience I bave 
found that wherever the cane was thoiough- 
ly drained, the seed cane, wbere it was wcfll 
covered, wbere it bad been cut not before 
the ISth or 20th of October, or even before 
tbe 1st of November, ( better still, on the 
1st of November) that the chances of the 
preservation of that cane were far greater 
than wbere the cane was cut eartler, wbere 
it was not covered deeply, and where it 
was not particularly well dradned. Tbese 
three conditions, 4n my opin!ion, are essen- 
tial for the preservation of seed cane If 
the cane should be cut even a!f)ter tbe 1st of 
November — say about the miSddle of Novem- 
ber—before the first killing fnostfl Should 
come, that would help it stiU more; for 
it is a notorious fact that all the stubble cane 
that we^ have is much bettirr where it comes 
from cane cut late in the season- than tbe 
stubble which comes from tbe cane cut In 
the ibeginniing of tbe season. That is a dif- 
ference that is notable and pladnly seen, 
I suppose, on every place. I know in my 
neighborhood that is very plainly* seen to- 
day. Tbe best stUUble is Crom the latest 
cut cane, and the best plant cane to from 
tbe seed latest put down. (Mr. Dymond, 
will you please give your ext>erlence. 

<Hon. Jno. Dymond: (Before discussing the 
matter generally, it occurred* to me that it 
would be fwise to get Ool. Zenor to discuss 
more at length tbe plan suggested in bis 
paper; i. e. digiging up the stubble by the 
roots and saving ift in windrow. There was 
a gentleman living in Bt Mary, Mk*. D. C 
Wilkins. I thdnk, who exploited thi« suibjeet 
in tbe early years of The Ixmisiana Planjter. 
He seemed to have been an overseer in St 
Mary in olden times, and to have had quite 
a knowledge of the sugar industry. He re- 
commended that sugar cane shoutd be saved 
for seed An Just the ivay Col. Zenor brougbt 
out to-night. 'Now tbat point bas seemed 
impracticable ^nce the war; and: yet Col. 
Zenor comes here to-ndgbt and recommends 
it. Ttierefore be may bave done At; be may 
know its cost as compared witb other meth- 
ods, and as a good deal of discussion may 
come of it this evening it would be disira- 
ble of the Colonel would take the floor and 
elaborate that whole scbMne, because it to 
one of great .importance. It Is certainly a 
fact that we leave in tbe fields with tbe 
stubble, ordinarily, perhaps one-tenth of tbe 
crop. 

Col. Zenor: (Why is digging up by tbe 
roots impracticable? iNty ^per covers ev- 
erything. It Is short, but to the point 

Chair: (Mr. (Dymond says the plan pro- 
posed by you in your paper bas been con- 
sidered impracttcable since the war. WHl 
you paease'^take up that point? 

Col. Zenor: The question to, wby to it im- 
practicaft>le? 'Because we do not require tbe 
manager to bave it done as we know H 
ought to be done. Mr. X«. 6. ICHarfce^ mho 
was a new comer in our state since the war, 
and w^bo bad no expertonee in' tbe cuHnre 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTBB AKD SUOAX lIAinTVAOTUXXR. 



379 



of fiugar cane, had to depend upon the 
knowledge and azipeineiioe of othero. Be 
em^ployied a manacjer mho badi cai^ du^: up 
1>7 Che roots tar seed* and, saya 9ie» ''my 
cane was invariably «ood as <kyiig as we did 
that, Init alfter tha)t manager left, and t)he 
other managers came in, they became care- 
less in regard to doing little things." I refer 
to Mr. Clarke because be is known to be one 
of the most senislble, poracticaible men we 
have, or to be found anywbiere, and that Is 
bis oibservatiion based upon the experience 
be bas bad. Wby, it Is a very simple thing, 
Mr. President. Wby iias sugar cane kept 
better wbeo nkig up ft>y the roota We know 
if you cut sugar cane dn two that you in- 
jure it to a certadn extent; we all know 
th&t. We know, if you cut off, say, even 
^ith the surface of the ground you leave 
/within the ground, as Mr. Dymond has Just 
said, about ten per cent df tbe eyes. There 
is a loss right off, in addition to the injury 
that you do the cane, if you cut off above 
the ground. Is there any reason in th»t? 
None at all. I am satiefied df you heard 
the expression of opinion of nine-ienths of 
the planters in the State of iLouislana you 
would be oonvinoed that the only proper 
way to lEeep your seed cane, I don't care 
whether yxiu plant in the fall, or wiiether 
you put tt down in windrows, as stated tn 
my article, is to dig it up by the av>ots. I 
consider this absolutely essential. I ^don't 
mean to say iby tjiat, that cane wiU al^i^ys 
spoil if 70U dont't dig it up by tbe roots; 
but you are taking much more favorable 
chances for its preservation wben you dig 
it up by the roots, as irell as adding large- 
ly to the amount of seed cane secured. A 
moderate estimate of the amount of seed 
cane you would lose on one aKare, by cutting 
it even with the surface df the ground would 
be ten per cent. 

<Now, the reason, andf the only reason, that 
I can see, that can be advanced why cane 
is not universally dug up by the roots is 
because the people who have charge of it 
become careless; it reguires a little more 
labor, 3>ut very little more expense. We do 
it in what we call our "dlip-shod" manner. 

•Hon. Jno. •Dsrmond: How do you do it. 
wHh a spade, plow or hoe? 

Col. Zenor: I have done it with a sipade, 
but that is raither a slow process. There 
is a certain nind of grulbbing hoe thai 
answers the purpose, and while it is a little 
heavy, a man with the pvtiper length of 
handle ^can dig up the cane by the roots, 
cleanly and nicely, without luijury to the 
cane. 1 bave bad it done, and so have many 
other planters; but we get careless a/bout 
these things, and do not have them done 
as we know they ought to be done. 

iChair: I wouid ask Col. Zenor, if you 
have tried it practically, because I know 
we bave enough trouble in getting rid of 
what we call the Stubbie, that remains after 
the cane is cut at the surface. When we 
want to remove that we bave to use the 
special methods, special a;ppliances, special 
implements, to split these stubbles; and even 
after splitting with lihe Idster plow, or 
some other impSement, when that stuiM>le is 
turtoed out it sometimes forms a mass almost 
as bi«: as the head of a barrel. How about go- 
j-nir ^hrnf11•ef^ the mass after the cane has 
rsacbed its full growth? How would you dig 
qp ttw MM wiCliioaf ootHng down below the 
smfaice? How would you dtg <9 the^oota. 
imd bow iwoqM •yon IVMiiSle It tn moving 
•Iboat firom one p}mim to tuoMierr 

OoL Zetan IW^ f hum seen it done; 
iMm done At monNlIt itart dfe ftt np, sndf tt 
tbs dUti pM^iaret, mhibh H doe*, Just «prss4 
Ui friBt ^Q<^ this di^ aw^ fftj/m it ' Thlii 



will take a Iktle ttoie and pains, but tbe 
cane that you will save will pay for the 
laibor expended ten-fold. I am satisfied of 
tha;t Mr. President 

iOhalr: You stated you would lose one- 
tenth of the crop; bow do you oallculate that? 

Col. Zenor: (Why, .there is a muchi flareer 
number of eyes on the cane that ds in &e 
ground, in proportion to the length, than 
on the cane above. We all know that We 
have eyes on the cane bedow the ground any- 
wheres from one-thaJf inch to an inch and a 
half. In fact I have lieard people say (I 
have never taken the pains to count them 
very carefully) there were a/bout as many 
eyes below tiie ground as above it. But of 
course ^ey are very much closer together, 
and it is not to be presumed that this cane 
would support all these eyes that come &x>m 
below the ground if every one was to fiH>rout 
out. That is not reasonable. But for the 
length of the cane below the ground, whfdh 
we call, ordinarily, the stubble, we get a 
much larger percentage of eyes than we do 
on the other canes^ 

Hon. Jno. (Dymond: We have a gentle- 
man 'here, who bas had long experience in 
thria matter, Mr. J. W. Gleason, from i^cen- 
sion 

Mr. J. W Oleason: There is very little I 
could say on the subject I came around to 
leam about it 

Chair ^ We want a practical tallc: we don't 
want any speeches; just what a man knows 
from his own experience, and your state- 
ment will be a veiy valuable one. 

Mr. Gleason; I don't know anything about 
H at all. 

Chair: The answers made by tbe corres- 
pondents who declined to prepare papers In- 
dicates that they bad reference to the laslt 
season; that this last season> had proved 
proved that they knew nothing about 
thel preservation of seen cane. I am 
of the opinion that the past season 
did not establish any definite or absolute 
rule, with regard to the effect of the season 
on the seed cane, for tbe simpile reason that, 
as already stated, in certain localities the 
seed cane kept a great deal better than in 
other localities. I don't 'believe that the 
intense oold of February last (the stubble 
was killed on February 10th and l^th) af- 
fected the cane equally throughout the state. 
I believe that the damage that was done at 
that time was done as much perhaps by the 
rainy weather we had during that season 
as by the intensity of the cofld. I would 
like to have the benefit of your opinion, gen- 
tlemen, about that matter; whether the in- 
tense winter, intense cold of last winter has 
established anything new with regard to the 
vitality or the preservation of seed cane. 
Col. Zenor, how is tha;t in your section? 

Col. Zenor: It is bard to determine that. 
As these correspondents, whom Mr. Dykers 
has just referred to staited, the expeHence 
oif last season has upset all previous the- 
ories, because we found, and I have beard 
a great many planters express the same 
thing—I find it the case myself thttt on lands 
where we ordinarily expedited seed to keep 
perfectly, i. e. on high, well-drained, sandy 
land, the seed cane is badly spoiled, and the 
reverse is the case on lands where we rarely 
expected to put down seed cane; tbe latter 
turned out to be line this season. That is 
emphatically the case on my place. You see 
the ccnditione upset. (Now, I will refer to 
another season that acted the oontrary to 
all experience in the preservation of seed 
cane. You remarked that the canes cut 
late showed the best stubble this year, and 
tbat has been tbe experience for yMuni. Yet 
baok In tbi^ ITlo*^ of 1876, po^ (i^Qie ^tupe, 



some oliunatic condition we &>und (I did— 
that was my experience) that the stubble 
wihich followed this wiinter, tbe stubble of 
77 we might term it, was much better where 
the canes were cut earlier, while the stub- 
ble from the cane that was cut laUe was 
very seriously injured. 

Chadr: WdU you allow me to say ibhat the 
cane cut late was tbe cane that gave us so 
much trouble in the sugar house. Tbat cane 
that was trozea early in December, and 
whdch cane inverted about the middle of 
December. That cane soured in December 
and was in bad condition. 

Col. Zenor: a am not alluding to '76. I 
had standing cane that made beautiful sugar 
in January. 76. I am alluding to our bal 
stubble, Mr. JPresldent— the stubble from the 
canes that we cut very late in the season 
of 76 ( some were cut iln January.) These 
sttfbbles were almost entirely worthless in 
many plaices. 1 can recollect that because 
the crop oii 77 was almost ddsastrous in 
some sections of the state. Some planters, 
in 77, commenced grinding, and the julice 
was so green that it would not granulate— 
would not cryfiftallize— they bad to stop and 
wait for it to mature. About the time they 
commenced to make sugar a heavy freeze 
came— the last of November— and destroyed 
the crop. But it was the stubble I alluded 
to specially, which was contrary to all past 
eiq>erienoe8. 

Chair: That is tbe only exception you re- 
member? 

Cod. Zenor: That is the only one I re- 
member particularly. 

(Hon. Jno Dymond: The matter brought 
up by Col Zenor lis rather foreign to the 
discussion to-night, but still very interest- 
ing Canes that were cut cm the first, second 
and third days of December, 1«76, made 
very bad .stubble In tbe beginning of that 
month there was a particularly^ sharp 
freeze and there was some loss of cane. 
The cane harvested for the mill was cut dur- 
ing those days in Deoemiber, 76, and was 
put down ^in windrow, and the cane out on 
those days made very bad stu1>ble. It was 
an extraordiinary thJ^ for the month of 
December. Now, the investigation of Dr. 
Stubbs recently, into the condition of some 
of our canes, seems to reveal the secret of 
that great injury. I will add another point: 
Mr .RichaTd McCall declared at one of these 
meetings that he found tbat .the beet seed 
was the poorest and meanest stubble he 
could get llecent investigationf of Dr. 
Stubbs has shown that the eye of tlie cane, 
where it is so bard and dry, has very little 
moisture left in it, and, therefore, if It does 
freeze, and in htmdreds of instances this 
year, where it was thought tbe cjanes were 
frozen, there was not enough moisture at 
the germinal point iftyr freezing, and the 
canes were ndt frozen^ and have* germinated 
to the astonisbment of many of tbe plant- 
ers. Now. on these days in 76 (I think Mr. 
Gleason will probably remember them) a 
very large quantity of sugar cane was cut 
and put in windlrow, as was then the cus- 
tom. The canes were frozen each night— 
the stumps were frozen each nUght. They 
must have been full of juice, and a large 
amount of moisture in these stubbles. They 
froze each night, and it would seem that 
though cut late they were full of juice to be 
more liable to freezing than usual. (We bave 
not had any such experience since. Oanea 
in 76 that were cut t^o weeks eartler made 
•better stubfble, and canes cut two or tbree 
weeks later, in many cases, made ibetter 
stuWble. 1 thought that perhaps Col. Zenor 
may bave forgotten that fact; but canes 
t\M mm cut 4uripf the flnrt week of De» 



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380 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 24, 



cember, 76, made poor stubble in the crop 
of '77. I asked Mr. Ben Tureaud in '78, 
why there were certain gaps in his field on 
the upper coast. He said it was the result 
of ibad stubble of the year before. I asked 
him in 78 — it was then second stu'bble. The 
canes were cut in 76 (I think the year was 
78.) They were cut in 76 and were first 
stuibble in 77, and very ipoor stubble in 78. 
From that point (it may bave 'been 77 that 
I was on Mr. Tureaud's .place.) He referred 
to that fact, but could give no cause for tliat 
•peculiar phenomenon then visible. It is a 
veiT interesting thin'g taken together with 
Dr. Stubbs' recent invesitigations. 

•c:^l. Zenor: My experience is exactly t'le 
contrary. 

!HOn. Jno. Dymond: If you will read the 
4ata of the times you will see all 1 have 
aiid v^^rlfied in ©ouchereau's book.^, and veri- 
fied .by the conditions of the following crops. ^ 

iCol. Zenor: In relaticai to ttiat very fact, 
rthe point Mr. Dymond has ma.la. when the 
freeze came in 76, acting under the advice 
of my friend and neighbor, Mr. Stout, who 
had 'been planting cane many yeare longer 
than I had, I commenced to windrow the first 
morning of the freeze. I wlndrowed fully 
two-thirds of my standing cane, which to^k 
in those days that Mr. Dymond alludes <to: 
'cuud if it had aeteJ on 'my sUfobles. as from 
what he states, it seems to have acted on 
other stubbles, I would have had a very poor, 
short, stulj.l)le crop in 76; ^but from whatt 
others said who saw my crop, and from tha 
rcsuRs, I made to the acre one Of the finest 
crops made in the state that year— 1877. I 
was one of a very few who made a crop 
that mighrt: 'be conslc'^ered sati5factory, and 
my stubljlft in 77 was exce.ptionially e^ood. 

Chair: If Mr. Gleason will favor ,the as- 
sociation with his opinion on the subject of 
what he knows, from the effeots of last 
reason and his exjperienc.e of previous 
seasons, the Chair would be very glad to 
hjear from him. 

Mr. Gleason: I do not It now anything 
«/ba»uit last season, as I was sick all winter, 
aad had no experience. As to the exper- 
ience of 76, I can recollect that all the 
oaiie that was wind rowed on Belair was 
good stubble; thatt which was left standing, 
was not. 
Chair: In 1877? 

Mr. Gleason: In 76. All that was wind- 
rowed right away was good. That is my im- 
pressJion. The stubble of the following year, 
all that froze for three or fouT days, was 
•bad- That is my impression. 

iChaLr: The stul)ft)le of the following year 
was bad. Mr. Zenor states that was the ex- 
oeption to the rule; that good stuil>ble is 
always found where the cane was cut late; 
'but that year the earlier cut cane gave bet- 
ter stubble tho following season than tbe 
hist cut oane. 

Mr. Gleason: In *85, I think It w^as. we 
had sometbing of the same experience. You 
remember the winter of '85? 

Chair: You found that the earlier cut 
cane was l>etter than the later cut cane? 
Mr. Gleason: Yes, sir. 
lOhair: . That is a question that Interests 
all the nlanters. 

Mr. H. S. Crozier: As Mr. Gleason seems 
to be a little mo-dest about expressiner him- 
self, I will relate a oonversa;tion T heard in 
hig T^ro^e-nce. In resrard to putting uro seed. 
Mr. Gleason said there was onlv one rule 
to keep good seed that he kne'w of. That 
wa.s to nut fpl^ntv of came in the row. which 
would necessitate plenty of dirt, keep the 
heat, rain and cold off. cover well and put 
plenty in the row. 



Mr. J. W. Gleason: I always believed in 
that, in a big windrow. 

Mr. Crozier: In connection with what 
Col. Zenor says, I think his plan will be 
largely adopted this fall, for this reason: 
Lt Willi be easy to grub it this year because 
there is so little of it. Now the manag«er 
of the Mary plantation, where I am inter- 
ested, four years ago had soma cane that 
was a good deal like the cane of this year. 
He went and planted it on the same ground, 
and to get rid of the rools, why he grubbed 
up the cane, .planted it this way, and made 
a firno stand of fall cane. It made for two 
or three years fine stubble. Barred off, 
pulled out by h')?s, spread into stalks, and 
rolled it well. lit made a magnifirent crop. 

Now. in connection with tha question 
you a.sk(d Col. Zenor a while ago. Mr. Pres- 
ident. I tliink that every condition that led 
np to riper cane show^^d us very plainly 
that was the 'best seed cane this year. Our 
black lands, badly drained, always produced 
the straightest 'cane, amd always the swe.t^t- 
est cane and while a good deal of that kind 
of cane was put up this year, that was the 
best. I heaid of a case on Bayou Teche. 
w'lere they fertilized with 900 pounds of 
r\Y'.\\ on sti?;bble cane. Every one of the 
tenants made magnificeo.t seed. Now, I 
liAvc travelled around a goad deal, and I 
hav^ found that the ripest cane made the 
bc^.'^t seed everywhere in the -estate; the tops 
of the cane gave the hest see^l. Prof. Stufbbs 
referred to the tops producing the best seed. 

Chair: lie recommended the tops, but not 
for preservation; he recommended them for 
plau'Mrg at once, but did not recommend 
them for late spring planting. 

Mr. rrnzier: There was a gentleman from 
Tr)orvilie. Mr. Tiindry, who never plowed out 
the miildle of the row; he put his seed cane 
in and alwa\^ left it that high, and T have 
heard it said -by a good many that he never 
failed; the spring cane was the richest cane 
he had; that was his manner of putting it 
down. 

Chair: Will Mr. Tremoulet favor us with 
his experience ? 

Mr. Henry Tremoulet: It would he hard 
to say what my experience has "been. I 
know nothing of mv own knowledge. 

Mr. Burguieres: Well, I am a good deal 
like Mr. Tremoulet. 

Chair: Will not Mr. Legend re tell us 
what he knows a1>out the preservation of 
seed cane? 

Mr. Emile L/egendre: I was not in the 
business last year, and have just got in 
^2rain. However, from what T saw this year 
on the place I bought, black land, I find 
the black land gave* the best seed. 

Chair: That was your exnerlence? 

Mr. T>egendre: On the land with the 
sandy ridge the seed was bad, while on the 
low piece of ground i-t turned out to be 
about the hest. 

Chair: Was all the seed put up in the 
same manner? 

Mr. iLeig^ndre: All in about the same 
ma?nner. The se^d put down latest, of 
course, turned out to ibe the he&t: the later 
the canes were put down the better was the 
seed. That was the extent of ray exper- 
ien<'e this vear with seed cane. 

Chaiv: T>oes thai: agree with your expar- 
ienre Jn former years? 

Mr, I>egendre: iN-r>. sir: it is just th<^ o-n- 
posite. as a rule The results were lust the 
onm^'tp as fir ns seed Ik crvncopned. When 
riiif rin-wn late, extremely late, it made quite 
a dlfPer^nce. 

Mr. Victor Meyer: I have no practical ex- 
perience at all. 



Chair: Can you state what you have 
heard— from hearsay? Has there been any * 
particular cane that kept .better than other 
cane; and if so, why? 

Mr. Meyer: Our neighbor^ ,our nextdoor 
neighbor. General Behan, claims that his 
sir I is as good as ever, as good as any 
fc':i:-on he ever had, probahly attrihutable 
to the fact that he had a great deal of short 
ca.ie. 

Jh-air: Ripe cane? 

M \ Meyer: Ripe cane. I have n&ver seen 
his can<?, but this is what I heard. I under- 
stand that his next-<lr>or neighbor, Mr. Ware, 
has very pjor results this year — ^a very ^poor 
crcip — 'but I don't know anything aiiout it 
pariJcularly. .On our places we found the 
s rubble crop on the front place unexpect- 
edly gjod, by comparison with others, and 
on the back place, under the same manage- 
mput, quite bad. It was cut albout the same 
time. The back place was subjected to 
ve:y much colder weather than the front; 
the temp-^rature is several degrees lower than 
on the front The front is protected by the 
river, perhaps. That is about the only way 
we can account for it. 

Member: Perhaps the back place is 
sandier than the front 

Mr. -Meyer: They are both sandy places. 
Chair: Have you found a difference he- 
tWG.n tlio seed on the front and hack place, 
a.id- also on tiie stubble; particularly the 
stuv'ble Which gave you the best stubble? 
The front place? 

Mr. Meyer: Yes, sir; the front place. 
Chair: The sandy ridge does not give as 
good 

Mr Meyer: That is sandy. Our manager 
cliiirns that we have about three-quarters 
stiJljble crop on the front place and about 
thirty- three and on et bird per cent stubble 
crop o:i the back place, so that is a very 
remarkable difference. 

Chair: Was there as much difference as 
that on the seed? 

Mr Meyer: No, sir; I don't think so. al- 
tMnn.:j:h the canes on the front place were 
bftter than on the back placa 

Mr. Crozier: My neighbor, Mr. Tuttle, I 
un.le?stand had a rule for windrowin^ that 
the butt should toucTi the ground. I would 
like to know if any other planter present 
has had any experience of that kind— with 
that method. He certainly was a very suc- 
cessful man, and every one knows he always 
had a good stand. 

Hon. .Jno. Djinond: I always heard Mr. 
Bowes defend that system; that tiie butt of 
the cane should be stuck in the groimd, 
foricd in the ground. 

Chaiir: The rule is that the feutt should 
always stand on the ground, get the l>utts as 
near as possible. I have never seen the cane 
penetrate the ground. You should lay ttiem 
together as close as possifble. The plow 
comes alon? and brings the d>irt all around 
it. TIk^ h ts are closer to wliatever moist- 
ure settles around the cane than the tops; 
the butt is always supposed to be down in 
the bottom of the furrow. I have heard of 
another system which perha^w some of the 
other members have heard all about — it is 
another system of putting up seed. I have 
never hoard of its being used on a large 
scale, but small planters have told me that 
they liave used it successfully. That is; in- 
stead of wind rowing or matting it 00 .we 
used to do twenty-five years ago they take 
the cane and cut as for windrow, laying the 
butts down in a ditch, and the ditches tiave 
a fall from one point to another, the ouie 
laying this way (indicating,) and then wben. 
they iflll up one acre or two acres with cane. 



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June 17, 1899.] 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



381 



there is jiisit enough dirt around, or thrown 
over, the 'butts so as not to interfere with the 
dnainage, and they claim the cane rarely 
sr>oils when put down in that way. Mr. 
Dymond have you ever heard of the ditch 
system? 

•Hon. Jno. Dymon-d: I have heaind of it, 
and practiced it frequently, thoutgh only for 
temporary purposes. Wo usually <lo it when 
we ibegin fall plowing in September. We 
then put the canes in a ditch, but take them 
out in four or five weeks. This was prac- 
ticed on the lower coast this last winter, 
and ithe results were very interesting. The 
canes were all lost. 

I think Mr. President that nearly all the 
leading points in the sugar Indus ti-y that have 
been -discordant can readily Toe reconciled. 
The vagaries, if wa may so call them, of 
last season, so far as the preservation of 
see.:! cane -were cancerned, are explicable 
by the peculiar condiition of the cane crotp 
owrin'g to the six months rain, from the mid- 
dle of July to the middle of Jaoiuary, or the 
four months rain that came from the mid- 
dle of July to the middle of Novomiber, hav- 
ing its effect upon the canes when saved 
for seed, we will say, in November. We 
have not had many such experiences as this 
since 77, so far as the killing of the cane 
is concerned. Almost every cane had sprout- 
ed at the eyes. The eyes were polnttxl; were 
sharp — many were sprouted slightly, some 
were sprouted considerably. That was the 
case in *77. That year, however, we had a 
great storm, if you will recollect, in the mid- 
dle of September when all the standing can*^ 
was blown -down. The previous year as taltd 
by 'Ck>l. Zenor had 'been a comparatively 
short one for the cane crop. While not 
large, it was sweet. This was the result of 
the winter of '75, When we come to the 
winter of '77, a great many planters began 
grinding early. Some stopped owing to the 
peculiar condition of the cane. They found 
it difficult to make sugar; some could not 
make sugar at all. At that bime we were 
not so learned; we did not lime by rule as 
now; we did not clarify as we now do. The 
result was the whole business was done in 
an empirical mannpr and many planters did 
very little in the month of November — very 
Little In the last days of that month. The 
year of 1877 stands as a black letter in the 
calendar of sugar makin-g in Ijouisiana, and 
It was one of the most d/isastrous that ever 
occurred in Ijouisiana. Now, coming tx) 1898, 
twenty-one years later; owing to the con- 
tinuing rains throughout the entire season, 
that is continuing ra.Ins throughout the last 
half of the year, the cane crop was in this 
peculiar condiitlon: The eyese were pointed, 
they were very much as tliough peas had 
boen grown with them — as cane Is ordinar- 
ily when it Is planted with, peas. Now, cane 
In thait condition could hardly be expected 
to keep under the conditions we ordinarily 
preserve it, and therefore many par- 
ties in answering your inquiries have stat- 
ed they do not know anything about It; 
but really I think most of them do recog- 
nize the fact that the canes having been 
sprouted, the ordinary methods of saving 
failed this year, and will fail every year In 
the future under the same oond<itions. Now 
the thing that we should investigate and en- 
deavor to recomcile ourselves to is, why some 
canes have kept well. Mr. Le.^endr? refers 
to certain canes on his property, in low 
lands and In black lands, that have kept 
well. We know that ordinarily canes keep 
better in other lands than these; but, as 
sta.te(l. these oajies were nrobably shorter 
and strai'gbter. The indifferent conditions 
under which that cane grew produced short 



and straight canes, and these canes this year 
kept. 

Member: There is no doubt about that, 
Mr. President. These canes <were very short 
in the black lands. In the sandy lands they 
were tall and crooked. 

Chair: Being short, they were riper. 
iMr. Dymond: Wa have learned a great 
deal concerning the keeping of seed cane 
in the last twenty years. It used to be tne 
custom for nearly a 1 the planters to be- 
gin grinding about t.'ie middle or the last 
half of October, and to put their canes in 
windrow earlier than that. It has bec^n dem- 
onstrated time and a-^aln since that time 
that canes put In windroiW later, when the 
vegetative life cf the su^ar caaa had been 
rt'Jucea by the cold, when tha can?s were 
comparatively dormant, so to spe-ak, that 
these canes would do better in windrow 
than when put d^wn In their full vegetable 
activity. There was less liability to heat, to 
decay; there was less water in the canes 
thomselvos, so to speak. Or, you md.^ht say, 
they were richer in saccharine and less ricn 
in water. Latterly the custom of puttiag 
f'own canes at the latest da to thought safe 
has prevailed. That one piint is worth^y 
of consideration by every sugar planter, and 
the other one is that the hardier and the 
woodier the cane, the less moisture in the 
cane the greater the proba1>llity of that cane* 
r^c^isting adTerse coaditions. When I heard 
Mr. lliichaixl McCall enunciate that proposi- 
tion some years back, it seemed to me al- 
most shocking; and yet it *was unquestion- 
ably the truth; it was the result of his ob- 
servation — the result of the observation of 
almost every on-?. It was simply shocking 
to me, because it seamed unwise to endeavoi* 
to produce a valuable crop from imperfect 
plants. It has always been stated that we 
should select tl 3 be:st seed, and in selecting 
seed canes o^."' w.:uld think we should get 
the largest and finest specimens and save 
those for seed. While perhaps Mr. McCall 
would ad'mit that pioposltiou, he would hold 
that we should, on the other hand, that the 
dangers or liability to lose these canes was 
so g'reat that he would prefer the hardier, 
woodier, drier canes that would not lose 
their vitality. Now some seed canes doubt- 
loss this la.-t winter were injured in wind- 
row, but that d:)«s not seem very likely. 
I don't think the disaster occurred in that 
way, very much, but the i^anes were lost in 
windrow because they were sprouted a/nd 
the ey^s were not in condition to resist the 
ordinary exposure that cane In windrow re- 
ceives. 

Chair: In other words, the damage was 
due as much to the condition of the cane 
as to the condition of the weather? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: So, if we should go 
ahead in the fall and save straight cane, 
in sandy land, covering it immediately upon 
being wi'udrowed, as discussed before this 
association repeatedly, saving It to as late 
a day as Is safe, and then Immediately 
cover it thoroughly, and not delay; having 
the holes closed up with hand hoes, and 
having the land properly quarter drained, we 
shall find such cane will almost Invariably 
kprp. If it did not keep under thes3 con- 
ditions last winter. It was because the canes 
were started to aprout when put in windrow. 

Chair: You speak of the practice twenty 
vca^^ ago. cf putting cane in windrow be- 
fore the grinding season commenced; of put- 
it down early until it was proved conclus- 
ivf'y thnt it was an advantage to put it 
down later. 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: Yes, e'lr. 

Chair: Thpre is another molnt I wish to 
Qsk a'bout If not tweaty years ago, a few 



years before that, it was an open question 
whether cane, or »eed cane, ought to be 
put in windrow, or whether it would not 
be better to divide it, -putting a poi'tion oif 
it in windrow and a portion of it in mat- 
tre.-ses. I have seen 8e>cd cane put up in 
mats after the war — no, not after the war — 
and that coiiitiuued for several years, and 
then the system of mat-laying cane disap- 
peared altogether. Have you any recollec- 
tion of that? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: I was told by the 
late Dunian F. Kenner, who was the first 
president of this aa^.Dciation, about our 
losses In cane.5 that were in mats. On the 
lower coa.=,t we &M11 put up cane in 
mats to a greater or less exteu/t, but that 
is in very low land. It is a rule that could 
not well <be made a success owing to the 
physical conditions there prevailing. We 
believe that canes In mats are more liable 
to die than cane In windrows; that there 
Is a greater liability to freezing and a grreat 
deal of liability to dry-rot. This winter; 
however, with the temperature down to 10^^, 
we found the canes In mats did not freeze. 
Chair: Last w.inter you did have some in 
mats? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: A great deal of it. 
Chair: We wull be glad to have your ex- 
piMienee with mats. 

•Hon. Jno. Dymond: We thought the mats 
weie frozen, but found the canes sprouted 
in the mats and died of dry^ot. 

Chair: Did the cold penetrate the sur- 
face at all? 

Hon. Jno. Dymond: No, sir; the canes 
died in the mats, probably early in Decem- 
ber. The canes I have in mind were put 
in mattressots the last half of November; 
bu': being in this peculiar condiitlon they 
could not rei>ist the disposrtlon to dry rot, 
whu'h is far greater In mats than in wind- 
rows. 

Chair: How is it In your section, Mr. 
Gleason? 

Mr. Grleason: We gave it up many years 
ago. 
Chair: Not In use at all? 
Mr. Gleason: 'No, sir. 
Chair: How about your past experience? 
^Mr. Gleason: Seed from second year 
stu'bble will generally make better seed than 
seed from first year stubble. 

Chair: If there be no further discussion, 
a motion to adjourn will be in order after 
selecting a subject for the next monthly 
nifoting to be held in July. 

Th3re being no further discussion, a mo- 
ti'on to adjourn was made and carried — the 
subject for discussion at the July meeting 
being left to the president. 



Personal. 

Mr. J. B. Lyon, of Chicago, who possesses 
extensive I^uisiana interests was at the St. 
Charles on Wednesday. 

Major Tho3. D. Kent, of L#afourche parish, 
a prominent and highly esteemed resident of 
that locality was in the city on a visit a 
few days ago. Mr. Kent stopped at the 
Cosmopolitan Hotel. 

H. P. Bougere, Esq., of St. John parish, 
was in town during the pasit week He stopp- 
ed at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. 

Mr. M. M. Bosworth, the popular young 
representative of the Gulf Bag Co., and who 
Is a son of that prominent sugar planter and 
sterling gentleman, Millard Bosworth, Esq., 
of Cypremont, Is absent at present on a busl- 
ne,ss trip to Savannah, Ga, 



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S8t 



THE LOUISIANA PLAMTES AMD SUOAE MAKUFAOTtTREK. 



[Vol xxn. -^o. 24. 



JUNB 16. 



WESEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Pair 

GtoodPair 

Pair 

Good Common — 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant'n Qranul'ed 
Oft Granulated... 

Choice White 

Ofl White 

Orey White 

Choice Yellow — 
Prime Yellow .... 

OffYeUow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Pancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Qood Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common... 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common... 

Common 

Inferior 



SYRUP. 



June 10. 



4 9*>i 

8^94 

33i93?i 



-9 - 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 
- 9 — 

4>i943i 

3 ®m 



^ 



Id 

a 

§ 



-®- 
-@ 14 
-@ - 
9 @ 10 
-@ 
-@ 



8 



-@ 



8 
6 



-@- 



June 12. 



— @ - 
*)i@*A 

4 @AH 

3Ji@4 
3%@3?i 
33i@3% 
-@ - 



-@ - 
-@- 
-@ - 



43i@4f| 
4H@*3i 
3 @4^ 



1 



I 



i 



-®ii 

— 9 - 
9 9 10 

— 9 8 
-9- 
-9 - 
-®- 

— 9 6 

— 96 
-9 - 



June 13. 



June 14. 



June 15. 



3^@4 
37i@4 
33i@3% 



_@_ 
-@ - 
— @ — 
4Ji@4U 

4)l@43i 
3 @4>g 



I 



1 

iz;- 



-@ - 

-@ 14 

— @ — 
9@ 10 

— @ 8 
-@- 
-@ - 
-(8- 

— @ 6 

— (g 6 

-0- 



4>i@4)i 

4 @4^ 

3^@4 

3?i@4 

3^@3Ji 

3^@3^ 

-@ - 



-@- 
-@ - 
-@- 

-e - 

— @ — 

4X@4k 
3 @AH 



I 

J3 



.3 
i 



— @ — 
-0 14 

— @ — 
« @ 10 

— <8 8 
-@- 
-@ - 
-(8- 

— @ 6 

— <8 6 



— a - 

4>i@4A 

4^d4k 

4>i@4^ 

4 ®lh 

37i@4 

37i@4 

3h@9% 

3h®3h 

— « — 



-@ - 
-@ - 



4)i(84k 
3 ^4^ 



I 



.9 



— @ - 

— @ 14 

— (g — 
9 @ 10 

— @ 8 
-@ - 

-e- 
_@ 

— (g 6 

— @ 6 

-@- 



June 16. 



-(8 - 






4%«4. 

4)i@45 
8 ^4^ 



•9 
I 



.9 
I 



— d 14 
-@ — 

9 (3 10 
-« 8 
-@- 
-@ - 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 

-@ - 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



Tone oi ICaikek at 

Glodng of Week. 



-@ - 
-@- 

-@- 
4^@4A 



I 



s 

o 



12® 13 

i2@ la 
-@ 11 

-@ 10 
-@ 9 
-Q 8 

-® 2 

-8 6 
— (8 6 
-@ 4 



Steady. 



Quiet. 



DnU 



OTHBB MABKBTS. 



Nkw York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining, 89^ 
CentrifugalB,98^.. 

Granulated 

Standard A.. 

Dutch Granulated 
German Granul'td. 


-9 - 

-§5.20 

- 95.08 

- 95.25 

- 95.20 


-9 - 

- 95.20 
~ 95.08 

- 95 25 
-95 17 


— 95.20 

- 95.08 

— 95.25 

- 95 17 


-9- 

— 9 — 

— 95.20 

— 95.08 

— 95 25 
-95 17 


-9 - 

Zi5l0 

— 95.08 

— 95 25 

— 95 17 


— 9 — 

— 9 — 

— 95.20 
-95.08 

— 95 85 

— 95 17 


5.089 - 

4.969- 

-9 — 


Raw-Strong; hold- 
ers ask higher 
prices. 

Refined - Pair de- 
mand. 


MOLASSES. 


















N.O. Choice 

N.O.Fair 


-9- 
-9- 


z|z 


-9- 
-9- 


-9=^ 


-9- 
- 9 - 


-9- 
-9- 


-9- 
-9 - 




London: 














-9- 




Jara, No. 15 D. S. 
A.& G.Beet 


138. Od. 
Il8.2>:^d. 


138. Od. 
lis. l>^d. 


138. Od. 
Il8.1>iid. 


138. Od 
lis. l>id. 


138 Od. 
Us. IHd. 


138. Od. 
lis. IH^. 


128. Od. 
9b. 8)^d. 


Cane— Qnlet 
Cully niAliitafned. 



NBW ORLBANB RBFINBD. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Rosetta Extra C 

Candj A 

Crystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



-953i 

- ®m 

-95X 
- 9 - 
-95A 
-9- 
-9 - 
-9- 



95^ 
9 - 
95A 



-9- 



-®m 

-953i 
-95% 
- 9 - 
-95fT 
-9 - 
-9 - 
-9- 



-9% 

- 953i 
-95« 

- 9 — 

- 95f, 
-9- 
-9 - 
-9 - 



-953i 
-95« 
-95X 
- 9 - 
-95tT 
-9 - 
-9- 
-9- 



- 95X 
-95« 
-95X 

- 9 - 
-^ 95A 

- 9- 

- 9 - 



- 953i 

- 95 44 

- 9 - 

- 95 82 

-9 - 
-9- 
-9- 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to June 6 
At four ports of Great Britain to June 3 — 
At Havana and Matanzas to June 3 



Tons 279.182 

. " 8o;ooo 

** 78,500 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
June 1 6, 1899. 



Received. 
Sold 



' Sugar » 

Hhds. Barrels. 

46 6,982 

46 6.982 



Molattet 
Barrels. 
4,378 
4^8 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from September 1, id^S* 
to June 16, 1899. 

Barrels.' Bamls^ 

1,282,756 SI5«68e 

_. 1,256,119 mCm 

time last year 23,370 1,496^ 19^800 



Received 

Sold 

Received 



Hhds. 
10,494 
10.494 
23,370 



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Jon* 17, 1899.] 



no LOUISIANA PLANTBR AKD SUGAR MAKUVAOTUBBft. 



i6t 



June 16. 






WBBKLY MARKBT RBPORT. 






1899. 


RICE. 


June 10. 


June 12. 


Jane IS. 


Jane 14. 


June 16. 


June 16. 


Same Daj Laat 
Ye&r. 


Tone 14 Market «t 
OoM Of Week. 


RouoHyper bbl... 
CiAUfy Ex. Fancy 

Fancy.... 

i}]M>lce... 


Nomimal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 




Nominal 


64^6^ 


Dnil. 


Prime 

Good ... 

Fair 

Ordinary 
Common. 
Screenings 
Inferior . . 
No:2 

B&ANyper.ton.... 

PousH^perion... 


Nominal 


-Nominal 






Nominal 


Nominal 


12 66@t3 00 
1«0Q@ - 


Better feeUng. 


ReoelTod 


Mi JalM at Htm OfUtau for «m wMk Mid|i« 

JiiB# lOt ta^9* 

BAOBIIIQIIM. BBLa.OLlAJI. 

4fl7 


This 
Lart 


Reotipts at New OrleMs frea Aag . i, iS^S. 

8AO 

vear / ft 


89.400 SIOSI 


«oid ...":: 






1 


165 1 


year 




... 4 



Sugar. 

The local augar market was quiet at the 
end of the week. The receipts from the 
country were moderate and were readily ai>- 
sorbed. 



Molasaes. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifugals dull. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

iReceipts of rough were Tery moderate at 
the end of the week and but little business 
was reported. Clean rice was dull but steady. 



Literary Notes. 

Andre Bellesort's '^A weeik in the. Philip- 
pines/' which The iLiving Age has trans- 
lated from the Revue des Deux Mondes, ie 
the more interesting because this spright- 
ly Frenchman eaw the islands in November, 
1897, before they had assumed any interest 
to Americans^ but (while the Filipino In 
surrection against Spain was in progress. 
He writes of them grafihically and with a 
Frenchman's oharacteristic lightness. 

"The Etchingham iLetters" are concluded 
in The Laving Age for June 3. The next 
aerial attraction in that magasine will be 
"•An Old Houee," a romance from the Ital- 
ian of "Neera." 



Personal. 



Mr. R. R. Barrow, of Terrelbonne parish, 
came to the city during the past week on one 
of his frcQuenit triips and pat up at the Oom- 
mepclid. He was aecompaoiied by Mr. Baston 
Duval, of Houma. 

At the Grand Bay plantation of Mr. Arthur 
V. Robertson, the sugar iboi>]er during the 
past grinding season was P. OS. Triche, £3sq. 
Mr. Triche is well posted on the art of su- 
gar boihng and is a man of oonalderable 
experience in that line. 

That well-known agrkniHuraHiet. Mr. A. W. 
Norman, than whom there is not a mora 
pn)flcient sugar plantation manager In the 



THE CUBAN SUGAR CROP OP iSpftrPP. 

Statement of the Exports and Stocks of Sugar May 31, i9t9, and same date last year. 



Harana. 



CATd^nM 

Cienfaegoe. . . 

8t#ia 

Caibarten. ... 
Goantanamo.. 

Cuba 

Manianlllo. . . . 

Naevitas 

Glbara 

Zasa 

Trinidad 



Havana. 



Cardenas 

CienfaegOB... 

Saflroa 

CaHMirten 

Guantanamo. 

Cuba 

ManzaniUo... 

Nnevitas 

Glbara 

Zasa 

Trinidad 



i8oe. 



Bags. 



66,973 
280,014 
387,236 
381,^ 
141,780 

46,082 
1,600 



37,767 



1,301,830 



06,500 
282,901 

25^ 
14,500 
18,777 



800 



62&,721 



Hogsheads 



Tons. 



180,164 



86^ 



1890. 



Bags. 



70,871 
164,825 
271,136 
886,106 
100,882 

76Ut75 

84,666 
4^442 

31,786 
118,028 

tt,270 

87>48 



i;>0>i617 



11IMM4 

110,624 

171Ai2 

74,884 

80,627 

60,926 

16,446 

•44 

6,600 

680 

7,320 



607,866 



Hogsheads 



Tons. 



181,228 



84,066 



liOcal oonsumptlon, 4 months. 



Btook of old crop, Janoarj 1. 



266,750 
20,600 

287,360 
1,616 



Receipts at aUportsto May 31 286^44 

NOTB-Bags,3101bs. Hogsheads, 1,660 lbs. Tons, 2,240 lbs. 
Havana, May 81, 1800. 



^^ 



280,666 
JOAQUIN GUMA. 



State, was in charge during the last cam- 
jpaign at the fine OUarkland place of Meears. 
MttlMken & Farwell. Mr. Norman was tor 
many years at the Hope plantation in St. 
John parish. T. O. CUynn, Esq., late of the 
Sugar Experiment Station at Audiu'bon Park, 
hail charge of the vacuum pan on Clark- 
land and added to his already excellent repu- 
tation as a careful, paiinstaking and highly 
successful sugar boiler. 

Mr. J. A. Daspit, of Houma, La., was In 
the city last Sunday He stopped at the 
Commercial Hotel. 

Mr. Chad. B. Maginqjis, of Wooidlawn plan- 
tation, acocmpanied by his wife and 
daughter was a guest of the St. Charles 
Hotel a few days ago. 



(Mr. S. Abraham, a leadttng mercbMit and 
sugar planter of Lafouxiche parish, nwa a 
guest of the OosmopoO^ttan Hotel last 
Wednesday. 

Mr. X>u*roll iBarbon, of the far-famed Mag- 
noMa plantation in Aasumfxtllon iparish, was 
in the city during the past week. He 
stopped at the Cosmopolitan. 

Mr. A. li. Keller, a large lice planter ii^pee 
place is near the town of Hahnvdlll^, was 
an arrival at the Grunewald (Hotel last 
W€(ine!3day. 

Mr. M. J. Kahoa, of AUendale plantarion. 
West Baton iRouge parish, was in tlM city 
on a visit during the past week. 

Mr. J. B. Brown, af Ivanhoe plantation 
was at the Oommerciali Hotel on Wednesday. 



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3.S4 



THE j:..OUlSIANA PLANTER ANR SUGAJR MANyFACTQJlER. 



[Vol. XXII, No. 24. 



WA^iTS. 



Wo will p'jbibh in this column, free of charge until 
further ntlJce, the appllcutlona of all managers, over- 
seers, eir.rlneers ami suRar-fnakers, and others who 
may be sjekin;jr positSons In the country, and also the 
wants of planters dtslrlng; to employ any of these. 

WANTED-A {)(.-:. ion a.s sii«ar boil^T hy n tlrsl elass 
ni:'ii who ihof.vu:;,iy aipl.-rstaiHis th-' <-lai iTc tloii of 
ca v j'Tifi*. i:>^liri'. 11 y- a's' t'\])(-r'HH.c(-. .M ^k^.s no 
uso oL' I'.toxic;! a ^' ]l«|fiors. Addrptfj W t;si r.v. F*. O. 
]^>x i:ntl, Xo\v (\1. ai:.-.. 0-12 d'j 

WAXTi-.O— A >Uua»irai as sui^nr nia!:i.-r on a planta- 
ti ».i ',.,^ng a. St.- 1 n liaai at"j c'^nr r,ra'_;al-. Was ent- 
IK'oy.-d r./r Ihf pasr t^i^'ht sca.^t.ns to tuk'=' ot'l tlv nmp 
(til ( ;ioi.>ir^l*a T'l.iatu: i<jn,<)t Mr. Cu'ur^f Sal l)V. Addivss 
.Jr>-iiN h.MiiN. Kac Jand, I. a. ' O-M !K) 

\VAXri-a>— l\<r '"orr.in;^ .soason, a position as eii;xi- 
ncer, ass.-staat (M.^ii'-'a-i or In Ip.-r !n soin" faj^ra-ity in 
n-..'<'haiii'-al «lena! taaait (,t ,sat;ai- fH*'t''iy, hy an ori^in^'f^r 
or rcMasI'lcralli' .!:vporn-a( ■ in c-uristrnc ta:;), invtion 
aMfL :. aai; franco of various kirid> (;l niaoiiin<'i'y, but 
I'o rxpiM it^ra'-a Virh su;^ar laa-hln-Ty. O'^i t is to 
l»'af;n sn^rar I: ;a'hin«^rv. Addnvs.s j. K. Gin hkist, S. 
/aincsA iilc, <). * «-iO-i>i) 

\VANTF.i:)-T{y a \vill>K. ir (hi Prions and sf-ady 
n^an, wi'n f\\['M't*»a('c '»t' r ]>'iiiatIo:i.s a: d in Mn;a'" 
Imh.-'^ M, a T' --irlivi, p.^r.. a'l.ait, if pu'^.-^it-I*'. with a 
^■W'i'jV pia'!'i!!.i' -'lai n-i,.M' '.'•tnj'iriLi; f onT-aj y. Pi'< niN" 
fairliinl :.ts.";t .-»,> to it;!.' r--^i.; of finploy-'i' iir^t.. Main 
c,S . "t u - 'f.' : t-.rr . wirh t iinas* to woi k aj*. < "an lan^p 
pr.n u! t^ Of IfH-Iv a:'.-r UJ' r. 1' '."la^ncos fnrnisl"" d., 
,\d''.r" n A. L'-. W'., >ar- ia'i'isiANA I'i.axiek. 

V.'AX ri:i)— Positkm ,1^ cl»i!c in plania-ion sloro by 
a si' ;-'lc n\.ii'. •'?*' v^ais oi aj^''. Xjno y,'ars' f-xporioice 
ill i{'n. 'I :il .M )•■«•.. '-d can Turr l>li bt -.t cf i> iV-n ina-s. 
Add r.'ss !•:. 'l\.Bi.M., ()ondMsOn\ illf, La. €-i.">-yO 

"VVAXTKD- A si;uati<.m on a Louisiana plantation as 
jiinn r ovto-^' t r, iy a j'onni: naati wluj ha^ b^'on six 
nnaiihs 015 an '-^lai-' in tii^ West Indies. Addn-ss C. 
K., faro this (,!il( < . ri-7-l>0 



WAX'i 1".D- i'r.oijaj as ^'ov rno^s by a yonni; lady 
who can u;i-.'Ohn b*.-t ol r«;b*r''nras A«fdr(-.ss Mis's 
BESsif-: Hai.!., 2Ji') SL. Cliarlo:, Avonuo, Ntw Oilean.s. 

WANTED— A pusiMon as i-ptoiaK'*r or ov(^rhO(„>r on a 

siu^nr plantoti n. I ai:i •!«; Y'MTs (>!d and have b''"n in 
tin- ^•u-;l,• ,> . 15 y^-ars. A:ii a. n:.;n ot laaily and can 
t^.no.sh th" b^-st'.jL r.d' rt':a-.?». Acdro;,^ A. C. 1U'(;o, 
Lutain-r, La. O-s-bO 



WAXTi-M)- A UiHt-cl t.s< and piad'oal : 11-aronnd su- 
f,ar bo I-t"!' \V!-Les to ^cinr^" a p oUi(M! bo' the coining 
season, cr as a.s-^;-tOit oi •■. -n:.' l-''^,''' pia( o. IJi-st ol 
rob rt.-n; ("- as to t i ar." te;- .ind a:^ -ly . 'I'-aans roason- 
ablo. Adduss ^\ AI Ml U, idj'.t (biiv n'nlc str>H;t, citv. 

WAX! ED- A position as .-ii^^'ar l^(»ilf»r. Fir.st-elass 
n^tVrrno-h Lumihlii d, L( ai;: • xp<o i«'nc(^. Careful, 
so.-ady man. A<i'ir<^>.s (.tioKriE, 4VoO Tehonpitoulas 
slrcii , New Orb^ans. _ 5-27-9li _ 

WANTED— Accountant and book:-k'^*cp(^r wishts i>o- 
sition on plantation; address M., l'42ii Louisiana Ave- 
nu(\ Now Orleans. 6-l-t^9 

WANTED— Positioti hy a man of family as second 
cnmnrer, to livtMjn plantation. Al references. Satr 
i<b.ction Kiiarant'M'd: address Sugar House Engineer, 
Box 13, WL'irrcafctle, I^. 6-1-90 



WANTED— By a flisl-class mechanical engineer and 
prut'ticr.I snjjar eoil(^r, posr.iori as chivf engineer, or 
sui{ar IioiUt or sup-rinlentl* i.t of siig-ar house for (roin- 
int"s'a.K>n. Twelve yeais of --ifaoy, inr.ctical expe- 
riei..'eln modern plantatiun sii^uar huusf nianagrment. 
(iilt-ed^td rf-t«-ieiiCH.s from i>ast en.ployers. On ac- 
. count ot freeze was reltased from tt-ivico with last 
ornploy^rs after a steady .'■ evvicf- of four years. Ad- 
dress SitiAR Exjr'Eiii, iiox i'Sl, New Orleans. 



WANTED— Situation by a lady of experience as a 
teacher; o!je(,t, a K''o(al tiucie with small salary; ad- 
dress A. W., care Mississippi Packet Co., New Orleans, 
La. _ 5-19-99 

WANTED— Position as stenographer or book-keeper 
by a youriK' man. Can give ^'Ood references, and have 
no bad hatolis; addr«^ss L. J. Carter, care Drauj^hon 
Coileije, Galveston, Toxas. 5-2;i-99 



WANTED— By a flrst-cla^s vacuum pan sup:ar*maker, 
a po«,ition for tiie season of )K');j, either in Ix)uisiana, 
T( xas or Mexii (•, is a cl..se boiler of firsts and soc- 
onds; is slrn ily l« n:r;ei-aie and reliaole and can fur- 
niotj the l)est 01 Kierenc.' from past employers as to 
( haraeb'r and aba ly; sp'^-ks Spanish ana French. 
Addr> ss J. \v. I'., i/.u N. I'etcrs i-tnn't, New Orleans, 
La. _ 

WANTIOD- A Mioiou'al^ly comjtf tent and f yperlenced 
*rn ir-ninist and nni.:ir,eer fr)r repairs and all-around work 
in b»'et s'li^ar fuctoi-y. Position permanent if satisfac- 
tory. Address, wiih r'^ferences and salary expected, 
C. A. -Zimmerman, Box 9N, Ed.dy, New Mexico. 



WANTED— Position as governe.as or teacher; su"^' 
mer or s<"^slon. Best references fiimisbed. Addres^ 
Mi.ss Marv .Siith, 1 DO Camo street. New Orleans. 



WANTED— Situation by a youn:( man 22 yoars of age, 
with gilt-edged ivferences, Hs clerk in country or city 
stor(>. live yoar> pxperi«'n( e. Can sp^ ak French and 
English. Adiir. sb AtiUiNALDO, Soulou<pie, La. 

; 5-17-99 

WANTED- Pn.vi! Ion for the ]m) crop as book-keeper 
orassntaiit. Can give b»'-«t of references. Twenty- 
iwoy^arsold and a y:radnato of a good business col- 
lee,-; addre.s^, A. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 5-0-99 

WANTED — A fir.'-t-cla'-s and compet'^nt assistant 
sugar b«ji!er wishes pf»siiion for coming season. Bo^t 
r-r-ietices f-arnisti d; uddn^ss Proof Slick, Box t>2, 
DonabisoiiMlle. l^i. 5-Q'M 



I 



WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
ns oversoer. Experiencod with teams and general 
plantation work. Eighteen years experience and can 
furnish befet of refnrencos; address A. C., care this 

Olllce. _ 

WANTED— Po.■^it ion by a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best (')f reference; address Arthir, 
care p. M., Lktle ( ypross, Ky. 5-10- 09 

WANTED— Situatiim by ar. evp.-rienced machinist 
and .sugar plantation engilus^r. Stri^jlly sober and at- 
tentive to business. Would bke to 8»''curt^ work the 
year round If possible at reduced salaiy, or take re- 
pair-, and crop en very reasonable t.tMiiis. Go(*d n fer- 
*^nfps furnished; address P. H. E. Fnci.neer, 724 Fern 
stiVet, New Orleans. 5-10-19 

\T.\X TED— I^osition on a sugar plantation as black- 
smitii, wneelwiight and horse-saoer; address Sipney 
G. Kot'ssr.Li,, Edgard, La. 5-1-99 



WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the services 
of a corijpetent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
rnfert nces, will please address Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street. New Orleans, La. 5-11-99 



WAN ri-:D— Position as time-keepep, overset^, clerk 
or geneial ofJice or store work. Can give the best of 
city and ontsid*^ references; address A. IL Noeninger, 
care of Room 20'j, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans, 1-23-90 



WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or timo-ke^p^r, i-y yo'ing mati, ag(*(i 21, college gradu- ' 
ate. Have uono soiiie work in sugar analysis. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 3^J, State 
College. Pa. 4-28-99 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recominen- 
d aiior.s, desires to secur*^ a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., care General Deliv- 
ery, Now Orleans. 5-3-99 



WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 
gar maker, by a man of large experience, citherln plan- 
tat ion sugar house or sugar rellnery. Can furnish g(X)d 
ref^ rences. Would prove a valuable and all- around 
faithful man in any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-28-99 

W-XNTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk cows and make himself 
useful about a place. First-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1J2H St. Ann street, New Orleans. 
_ _ _ ll^l"^ 

W.'VNTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years exp(M'ience as head chemist in Germany, and also 
able to siipc rvise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references, (an speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; address L. G. Leler, care M. E. Sepp, 2>)?3 
Sth Avenue, New York. 4-14-99 



WANTED - By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldsonvllle, La. 4-1.3-99 



WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop bj' a 
French chemist, 10 years of age, with long experience 
and good reforenees; address Boys-Bances, Apartado 
715, Havana, Cuba. . 4-17-99 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blacksmith, 
one who thoroughly understands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt & Ziegler, Nos. 423 to 136 South Peters st. 

4-13-99 



W.VNTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartla, Texas. 4-1&-99 



WANTED— Position bv a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give flrst-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S., care thiS office. 

4-19-99 



. WANTED— Position as plantation cook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillls of Poydras 
plantation, and others: address Mrs. S. Terrelle, 
2221 Erato street. New Orleans. 4-17-99 



WANTED— A position by a first-clasB, alroujid m*" 
chinlht; experienced in sugar mill and locomotive work* 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. BROiknrER» 
care Louisiana Planter. 4 — 11—99 



WANTED— For the coming season, aposltion as sugar 
boiler by n competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address FELIX OUBRE. 
Edgard. La. 4—12—99 

W.VNTED— By a flr.st-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for tiie coming 8(^ason In Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
address J. H. F., 727 Lowerline street, New Orleans. 

4-5-99 



WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time kf'eper, or any position In which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence in genei'al merchandise business. Good account- 
anrandtiulck at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. Jame.«i, La. 



W.ANTED .\ sugar house expert, with the highest 
recomm**ndatlons, d -'Sires to secure a position. Capa- 
bb^ of taking (^ntire charge of running the factory, or 
as s'lgar maker; address R. R., care this office. 

4-6-99 



WANTED— By competent man with flrst-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation; address S. 20 this paper. 



WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Philip Braun, Gibson, 
La. 3-27-99 



WANTED— Position by a man :10 years old, of sober 
habit,**, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandis'^ store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Berthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-99 

WANTED -Posltltin by a flrst-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close boiler of first anji molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly vers(*d in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crj-sitallizers. Best of referencesi 
addre.ss H., care this ofllce. 3-27-99 



WANTED— Position by a flrst-class sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' experience in some of 
the l:)est sugar houses in Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, this office. 3-26-99 

WANTED- .situation bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
(ionnan,care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plantation manager, with the highest 
rec ..mmendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or o'hrr West Indian Island;- is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, oare 
this oftlce. 3-20-99 

WANTED-Position by a mechanical draughtsman, 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years as assistant engineer in large sugar refinery; ad- 
dress Draughtsman, 1610 S. Lawrence street, Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 3-23-99 



WANTED— Situation as a cooper for molasses or 
sugar barrels, In the country; good references; ad- 
dress .'Xlphonse Buck, 2714 Second street, city. 
3-16-99 

WANTED-By a temperate and reliable vacuum pan 
sugar boiler, a crop to take off next season. References 
furnished. Will accept a crop either In Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico; address Sugar Maker, Lock Box 
433, Eagle Lake, Texas. 3-22-99 



WANTED— Position as general helper in machinery. 
Have been working for the past twelve years in same; 
address J. M. S., Fietel, La. 3-15-99 



To Sugar Chemists! 

A Hand Book for the rapid 
and accurate determination of 
Glucose in Sus^ars, Syrups and 
Molasses, 

by L. A. Scherck, A. B: 

Price 50 cents. For sale at The Louisi- 
ana Planter office. 



Digitized by 



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The LOUISIANA PLANTER 

AND 

STJC3--A.It DyCJL3iTTJF-A.OTTri2,EI?,, 

H MeeMiP IRewspaper, 

DEVOTED TO THE SUGAR, RICE AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES OF LOUISIANA. 



Vol. XXII. 



NEW ORLEANS, JUNE 24, 1899. 



No. 26. 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER 



SUGAR MANUFACTURER, 

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 

Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, 

Ascension Branch Sugar Planters* Association, 

Louisiana Sugar Chemists' Association, 

Kansas Sugar Growers' Association, 

Texas Sugar Planters' Association. 

Publishea at New Orleans, La. , every Saturday Morning 

BY THB 

LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR 
MANUFACTURER CO. 

Devoted to Louisiana Agriculture in general, and to 
the Sugar Industry in particular, and in all i'A 
branches. Agricultural, Mechanical, Chem- 
ical, Political and CommerciaL 

EDITORIAL CORPS. 

W. C. STUBBS, Ph. D. W. J. THOMPSON. 

W. W. PUGH. JOHN DYMOND. 

Entered at the Poetoffloe at New Orleans as second-class 
mall matter, July 7, 1888. 

Per annum 

Terms of Subscription (Including postage) 19 00 

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ADVERTISING RATES. 



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All communications sl^ould be addressed to The 
LOUISIANA Planter, 838 Garondelet street, New Orlean(\ 
La. 

UST OP STOCKHOLDeRS. 



McCall Brothers. 
McCall & Legendre, 
Leon QodclMuz, 
James Teller, 
B. Lemann & Bro.. 
Lcoace Sootat, 
Louis Bush, 
W. e. BrickeU, 
W. C. Stubbs. 
John Dymond, 
Daniel Thompson, 
Poos & Bamett, 
H. C. Warmoth. 
Lucius Porsyth, Jr., 
Edward J. day. 
fthattuck ft HoHnum, 
Bmlle Rost, 
Thomas D. Miller, 
Schmidt & Zlegler. 
T. O. ncLaury. 
L. 5. Clark. 
J. B. Levert. 
Simpson Homor. 
W. B. Bloomffleld. 
W. W. Sutclifle. 
John S. Hoore. 
James C. Murphy, 
Jos. Webre. 



R. Beltran, 
Luclen Sonlat, 

D. R. Calder, 
L. A. Ellis, 
Hero A Malhlot, 
W.J. Behan, 

J. T. Moore, Jr.. 
Edwards ft HauDtma 
John A. Morris, 

E. H. Cunolngluun, 
R. Viterbo. 

H. C. ninor, 
C. M. Soria. 
J. L. Harris, 
J. H. Murphy, 
Andrew i>rice, 
B.ftJ. Kock. 
Wm. Qarig, 
Adolph Meyer, 
A.A.Woods, 
Bradish Johnson, 
Oeorge P. Anderton. 
A. L. nonnot, 
l^hard MUllken. 
W. P. nHes. 
Lezin A. Becnel, 
J. N. Pharr. 
Jules J. Jacob. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEB. 

Henry JlcCaU, 
Luclen Soniat, W. B. 

P. R. Odder, 



Mr. Havemeyer Before the Industrial 
Commission. 

On June 14, Mr. Ileniy O. Have- 
meyer, president of the American 
Sugar llefining Co., was examined by 
the Industrial Commission in ^Vash- 
inerton in connection with its investiga- 
tion of trusts. Mr. Ilavemyer retain eil 
and exhibited all of that ability, audac- 
ity and, perhaps, rashness that have 
been his characteristices since he 
began selling sugars for his father's 
firm in Wall street over forty years ago. 
It is evident that Mr. Havemeyer had 
intended to make a sensation, from the 
fact that he carefully prepared his 
statement to be read before the 
commission, and in it he cov^ 
ered the whole field of human 
knowledge by his didactic remarks, in 
the end squaring up all things to suit 
his own scheme of life. We are only 
concerned in his references to the sugar 
planters of Louisiana, who, he seems to 
think, are the beneficiaries of the ex- 
isting tariff, as well as of the Wilson 
bill, forgetting, as he seems to have 
done for the moment, the opening line 
of his own paper, ^'The mother of all 
trusts is the customs tariff bill," and the 
fact that had it not been for the great 
ability and untiring and persistent ef- 
fort of other members of his own finn, 
he would scarcely bo in a position to 
make the audacious statements he now 
does. 

In 1869 all ougar not above Xo. 12 
Dutch Standard paid a duty of three 
cents; those above and not above 15, a 
duty of 3| cents, while the duty on re- 
fined sugars was practically prohibitive 
then, as now, the result of the tariff 
conditions of the ci\dl war. At that 
time Mr. Theodore Havemeyer took in 
hand the matter of tariff legislation, 
and the duty on low grade sugars was 
dropped to 1\ cents jx^r pound, scaling 
up gradually, until practical prohibition 



was reached on refined sugars. This 
scale thus secured was so satisfactory 
that when greater reveimes were need- 
ed from sugar, no change was made in 
the scale, but 25 per cent, was added to 
each of the specific rates. There were 
some twenty sugar refineries in Xew 
York, with other largo establishments 
in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston, 
the increasing competition among all 
of which seriously cut down the profits 
of the business, and this to so great an 
extent tliat a number of old-fashioned 
houses were driven out of the trade and 
charges of adulteration freely made 
against those houses, such as Mr. Ilave- 
nieyer's that seemed to have succeeded 
through the actual ability displayed in 
the management of their affairs. There 
were some three or four refineries be- 
longing to separate membera of the 
Havemeyer family, and in the tariff 
controversy in l^ashington these sepa- 
rate branches of the family were, in at 
least one instance, aligned one against 
the other. The.^e controversies brought 
out the ability of Mr. John E. Searles, 
who was in the " opposition to Messrs. 
Theodore and li. O. Havemeyer, and 
doubtless led to his capture by the 
trust in which .he has been a promi- 
nent factor until his recent retirement 
to take charge of the new round cotton * 
bale trust. 

While the necessities of the civil war 
controlled the schedules of tariff legisla- 
tion prior to 1870, since that time no 
agemC has been so conspicuous, nor so 
effective, as the Havemeyer interest, 
when it came to the sugar schedule. Mr. 
Theodore Havemeyer was a gentleman 
of rare ability, pleasing address, great 
tact, and thoroughly familiar wdth his 
business in every direction. His death 
a few years ago was sincerely deplored 
by all who knew him, whether their in- 
terests were consonant with his or not. 
Since then the Havemeyers have been 

Digitized by V^OOQ 16 



386 



THB LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURBR. 



[Vol XXU. No. 25. 



represented at Washinglon by Mr. John 
E. Searles, the secretary and treasurer 
of the American Sugar Refining Co., 
a man of unquestioned ability, remark- 
ably shrewd, and generally successful. 
It was only with the advent of the Wil- 
son bill, in 1893, that Mr. H. O. Have- 
meyer personally appeared on the scene, 
and, perhaps, as he tells us in his paper, 
he was then told to ^*get out," and re- 
ceived no consideration. 

Now, let us see what consideration 
Mr. Havemeyer could want Through 
his partner in 1870 he secured a practi- 
cal prohibition of the importation of all 
refined sugar. When more funds were 
wanted, and 25 per cent was added 'to 
each of the specific duties on sugar, the 
relation of the schedule remained unim- 
paired, and the practical prohibition of 
refind sugars continued. 

When the tariff commission was en- 
acted March 1st, 1883, resulting in the 
collection of an average duty of 2 cents 
per pound on sugars of 90 itest, sugars 
above ^o. 16 I). S. were rated at such 
high rates as to render their importa- 
tion unprofitable, and hence the duties 
were practically prohibitive. Mr. Have- 
meyer knows very well that he himself 
prepared the scale for the purpose of 
making the duties on refined sugars pro- 
hibitive. Under the McKinley bill of 
October 1st, 1890, domestic sugars were 
allotted a bounty and foreign sugars not 
above No. 16 Dutch Standard in color, 
were admitted free of duty, with practi- 
cal prohibition on all sugars above No. 
16, this result of a necessity accruing to 
the sugar refiners, among whom Mr. 
Havemeyer in his paper says that his 
establishmenit stands in the relation of 9 
to 1, or at least, he says he refines 90 
per cent of the sugar used in this coun- 
try. The Havemeyers secured this pro- 
hibition, which under the McKinley 
bill was a half cent per pound duty on 
all sugars above Xo. 16 Dutch Stand- 
ard. Under the tariff commission bill 
of 1883, under which two cents duty 
was collected on 90 test sugar and 2.24 
on 96 test, 13 D. S. paid 2f cents per 
pound, 16 D. S. 3 cents per pound, and 
20 D. S. 3^ cents per pound, certainly 
suflicient to exclude them from the 
country. 

When the Wilson bill was passed by 



the House in July, 1894, with its 638 
Senate amendments, Mr. Havemeyer 
secured the first results of his direct in- 
tervention in tariff legislation, which 
was a differential of one-eighth on re- 
fined sugars. Under the law, 40 per 
cent was levied on all sugars, which, of 
course, gave the sugar trust a prote<ii- 
tion of 40 per cent on the increased 
value of foreign refined sugars over for- 
eign raw sugars. All other sugar inter- 
ests had to be content with 40 per cent, 
on the value of the sugars, but Mr, 
Havemeyer secured in addition a diffei^ 
ential of one-eighth. This continued 
until July, 1897, when the enactment 
of the Dingley bill placed an arbitrary 
duty of 1.95 on all sugar above 16 
Dutch Standard in color and on all sugar 
which had gone through a refining pro- 
cess. If there could be such a thing as 
pure raw sugar, under the Dingley bill, 
it would have paid 1.82^, so that the 
differential of one-eighth of a cent for 
the sugar trust was secured in the 
Dingley bill, as well as the prohibition 
of all low grade refined sugars and the 
prohibition of high grade refined 
sugars, excepting they came under the 
handicap of the one-eighth differential. 
The double protection secured by tlie 
trust in the Wilson bill, that is the di- 
rect differential of oncrcighth and the 
40 per cent, on that part of the value 
of imported refined sugar that repre- 
sented its value over that of raw sugar, 
were thus protected under the Dingley 
bill by continuing the one-eighth dif- 
ferential and a practically higher dif- 
ferential, amounting to prohibition on 
all refined sugars under 100 test. 

Now, let us see what all this has done 
for Mr. Havemeyer. We may see on 
what food this, our Caesar, feeds. When 
* the sugar refiners export sugar, they ask 
the rat urn of the duties paid on the raw 
sugar from which the exported refine<l 
sugar has been made. They claim, 
and in this we believe that we quote Mr. 
Havenieyer's own people, that 100 
pounds of 96 tesit sugar will only real- 
ize the equivalent of 92^ pounds of 
pure sugar. It has been admitted by Ih'J 
members of the sugar trust, time and 
again, that at a margin of a half cent 
between the price of 96 test sugar and 
ithat of pure granulated, refined sugar, 



they can come out even. If $4.25 be 
paid for 100 poimds of 96 test sugar 
and 92i pounds pure, white granu- 
lated sugar be sold at 4.Y5 per 
pound, as the proceeds of this 
•there will be $4.59 realized. The 
sugar refiners hold that it is necessary 
to realize $4.75, hence we see that the 
difference between the cost of the sugar 
and the actual margin between 96 teat 
and white granulated to pay out is .16 
per pound. This is the actual cost of 
refining. While the sugar refiners de- 
cline to state the actual cost of refining 
in their respective establishments, their 
own statements are the data that e- 
volve these figures. Not only this, but 
this has been the case for many years, 
as when the sugar trust was formed 
some 12 or 13 years ago, the margin be- 
tween 96 test and pure refined sugar for 
a whole year was but little over | cent 
per pound. Now this great sugar trusty 
over which Havemeyer presides with 
great ability for his somewhat hand- 
some salary of $75,000 per year, simply 
puts into sugar .16 of one cent per 
pound: For this .16 of one cent per 
pound investment in the betterment of* 
sugar it obtained all the margin possi- 
ble, keeping in view the exclusion of 
foreign refined sugars. The older peo- 
ple now living will remember the old 
Dutch and English loaf sugar in blue 
papers that were offered in every store 
forty years ago. The Havemeyers 
changed all that after the civil war 
and now we have the Havemeyer sugar, 
pure, if not simple. • 

With a cen ta pound margin under 
the tariff in 1870 they had a protection 
of some 500 per cent, on the amount 
that they invested in the betterment of 
sugar. When it came to the tariff com- 
mission bill in 1883 the theoretical duty 
on pure raw sugar would have been 
2.40 cents per pound. All sugar above 
No. 20 was taxed at 3 J cents per pound, 
a difference of 1.10 cents ner pound, 
or about 700 per cent, protection on 
the amount invested by the sugar re- 
finers in the betterment of each pound 
of sugar. Under the McKinley bill the 
law of Octoberl, 1890, with raw sugars 
free and refined sugars a half cent 
per pound duty, we have 300 per 
cent protection on the amount in- 



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887 



vested by the refiners in the betterment 
of each pound of sugar. When we 
come to the Wilson bill the law of Au- 
gust 28, 1894, and the direct interven- 
tion of Mr. H. O. Havemeyer in tariff 
affairs in Washington, we find that he 
did not do quite so well, and with 40 
per cent, on the betterment, which his 
esftimatee indicate to be 16 cents per ' 
hundred pounds, we have a protection 
of 6.40 cents per hundred poimds, and 
12i centa per hundred pounds differ- 
ential, a itotal of about 19 cents per hun- 
dred pounds protection on the better- 
ment which cost them 16 cents per 
hundred pounds, or a protective duty of 
119 per cent. Under the Dingley bill 
the theoretical duty on pure raw sugar 
would be 1.82^ and ithe duty on pure 
refined is placed at 1.95. Mr. Have- 
meyer suffers more under the Dingley 
bill than under any of its predecessors, 
on such sugars as just named, only re- 
ceiving a protection of about 75 per 
cent on. the cost of the betterment ef- 
fected in his refineries. 

We do not say all this in any spirit of 
antagonism to Mr. Havemeyer, but his 
wanton attack on the sugar planters of 
Louisiana in his paper read before the 
Industrial Commission in Washington 
on June 14, would certainly seem to 
call for some answer. Mr. Havemeyer 
knows very well 'that tlie betterment 
that he effects in sugar costs very little 
money. He knows equally well that the 
sugar planters of Louisiana are interest- 
ed in the entire cost of the production 
of sugar, beginning with the plan»ting 
of the cane and going on with its culti- 
vation, harvest, manufacture, delivery 
and sale. The whole selling price of 
sugar is the amount involved, and neces- 
sarily the factor under consideration. If 
Mr. Havemeyer could buy a pound of 
sugar at 4^ cents and at an outlay of .16 
of a cent per pound so improve its qual- 
ity that it shall sell for a half a cent a 
pound higher, he covers his outlay and 
the waste involve'd in the refining pro- 
cess. The sugar planter of Louisiana, 
who sells his sugar at 4^ cents per 
pound, has to produce the sugar cane 
for seed, to plant it, to cultivate it, to 
harvest it and then to manufacture it 
into sugar. There is no raw material 
on which he effects a simple better- 



ment, but he whole mass of work is 
undertaken by him from ithe beginning 
to the end, and tlie relation that it beans 
to the work done by Mr. Havemeyer in 
his refineries is fairly represented by 
the relative figures we shall say of $4.25 
per hundred pounds and 16 cents per 
hundred pounds, or over 26 to one. Mr. 
Havemeyer, his friends and predeces- 
sors have insisted upon a protection 
which in its percenitage puts to blush 
anything else in the tariff list^ and yet 
he now has the audacity to say that the 
sugar planters of Louisiana are treated 
with undue partiality by the national 
government, and that he, the refiner, is 
told to "get out" when he asks for more 
in Washington. 

The American Sugar Refining Co. is 
unquestionably entitled to fair consid- 
eration at Ithe hands of the national gov- 
ernment, and it can do but little good 
for its own cause by attacking tlie do- 
mestic sugar industry of this country, 
which ought to and will survive on its 
merits while ithe exaggerated claims of 
Mr. Havemeyer may turn the tide of 
opinion against him. In fact, he admits 
that such is now the'case and it is to be 
wondered at when with his own data 
we find that he now wants a quarter 
of a cent a pound differential on re- 
fined sugar, he only investing 16 cents 
per hundred pounds in the betterment 
of the raw that he takes in hand, thus 
wanting a protective duty on his own 
work of 150 per cent. 



to" the limit of endurance and increase 
the losses of live stock in such seasons. 
The outbreak of charbon now pre- 
vailing in several sections of the State 
was certainly developed by the drought 
and doubtless increased in its fatality 
by the myriads of flies that have 
been attacking the animals for a month. 
The recent rains have given some relief 
against the fly pest, but stiil more will 
be needed to drown them out and to 
drown out or render inert the charbon 
microbe. 



To Protect Animals From Flies. 

In the U. S. Annual Report of the 
Bureau of Animal Industry for 1897, 
the subjoined formula was named as 
in use to protect animals from flies dur- 
ing the charbon epidemic in Louisiana 
•that year: , 

^ ipound commoa hard soap; 

2 gallons fish oil;* 

1 gallon water. 

Dissolve the soap ia bolHng water and 
while still hot adid the fish oU and agitate 
the whole until thoroughly mixed. For use 
add one part of the emulsion to from 8 to 
15 parts of cold water and apply all over 
the animals. A large or small quan>tity can 
be made proportionately as desired. 

Whether the multitudinous flies that 
always prevail in times of drought do or 
do not transmit charbon from one ani- 
mal to another, it is certain that they 
worry and distress work animals up 



The Rice Acreas^e. 

In the TJ. S. Department of Agri- 
culture crop circular for June the state- 
ment is made that in Louisiana, the 
principal rice-producing State, there is 
an increase of at least 7 per cent in 
acreage. And in every other State in 
which the industry is of sufficienit im- 
portance to be reported upon, other 
than Alabama and Mississippi, there is 
also some increase in acreage. In Louis- 
iana the condition is reported 8 points 
below the average of the last five years, 
but in North Carolina, South Oarolina 
and Georgia it runs from 2 ito 8 per 
cent, above the average. 



The Cane Crop. 

The crop situation in the country 
was of course immensely improved by 
the heavy rainfall of some two weeks 
ago, and the canes are now growing un- 
der fairly favorable conditions, if we 
except the unusually cool weather which 
prevailed for a day or so during the past 
week. Another rain would not now 
come amiss, and those who feared that 
the previous one would be followed by 
daily and too abundant showors have 
had their apprehensions entirely allay- 
ed. 

With a good, normal geason from now 
on, to which, after the eccentricities of 
the last one we should now eeem to be 
entitled by all the laws of com^pensation, 
a better crop will be harvested than 
seemed at all poesible three months ago, 
though a lamentable shortage will still 
be exhibited in many unfortunate spots. 



The Reciprocity Treaties. 

Notwithstanding the stirring events 
of the last year, it seems that recipro- 
city negotiations have been carried on 
actively the whole time. Special Corn- 



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[Vol XXII, No. 2S. 



missioner Kasson having had the nego- 
tiations under way even before ^he be- 
ginning of the Spanish war. 

We in Louisiana are considerably in- 
terested in this whole subject matter 
from the fact that reciprocity under 
the McKinley bill was made to apply 
chiefly to those countries from which 
we were importing sugar, our govern- 
ment asking concessions from those 
countries under the penalty -of a duty on 
their sugai*s should they refuse the con- 
cessions ask(^. Under the Dingley 
bill two years were given under which 
the president could make special con- 
cessions to countries desiring re<npro- 
city relations, and we now learn that 
British Guiana has nearly completed its 
negotiations, which will peniiit some 
hundred 'thousand tons of sugar to come 
into the United States at less than the 
standard rate^ of duty. Jaimaca and 
Barbados are also negotiating. 

Our government is asking conces- 
sions from Brazil, which was 'the first 
country with which reciprocity relations 
were established under the McKinley 
bill, and it is stated now that unless 
concessions are made in Brazil to Amer- 
ican productions, the president will levy 
a duty not exceeding three cents on Bra- 
zilian coffee. It will be remembered 
tliat this was done with Venezuela un- 
der the McKinley bill. 

It is now stated in Washington that it 
is not contemplated to make any con- 
cessions to German or French bounty 
paid sugars entering ithe United States. 
It is gratifying to Icam this, as before 
the Spanish war we understood that ne- 
gotiations were then pending with Ger- 
many having in view reduced duties on 
German sugars from a reciprocity point 
of view. 



May in Cuba. 

The U. S. AVeather Bureau is com- 
piling ^^ome interesting data at the .sta- 
tion in Havana. The report for the 
moii'th of May, covering the range of 
temperature and rainfall, has been re 
ceived, from which wo fiiid that tliere 
has only been one showir of any nuv 
ment in the entire month of May, viz: 
1.35 inches on the 2r)th. On three 
other days a little rain fell, bu'fc none of 
any moment. May ordinarily is pre- 



sumed to wind up the grinding season 
in Cuba because of the advent of the 
rainy season. The reports made up to 
Juno 10 indicate rains in many sections 
of the island, as will be seen in the 
bulletin in another column. 

In Havana the average temperatuire 
for the month of May was 7G.87 F., 
while the average maximum tempera- 
ture for the entire thirty-one days was 
S3.<S4 deg. F., without a single day re- 
cording as high as 90 F. May 11, 89 
F. was reached, and May 24, 88 F., 
with the re^t of the month several 
points lower. The average minimum 
for *the month was 09.84 F, the lowest; 
temperature recorded having been that 
of 06 F on ]^ray 1st and 25th, the lat- 
ter being the day of the only consider- 
able rainfall. The highest minimum 
temperature was that o/ ^4 F. on May 
24 and 31st, with 73 and 72 on* several 
other days. 

We see from this that the month of 
May has l)oen rather cool in Havana, 
and not much unilke the weather at the 
same time in the sugar districts of T^s- 
isiana. As will be seen in our issue of 
June 3, in our report of May weather 
in St. James, compiled from data, fur- 
ni?:licd by ilr. E. Gherbonnier of Ilel- 
veaa x>lantation, we find the average 
maximum temperature for May, 1898, 
was 97.5 F, and in 1899, 94.2 F., while 
the minimum teinperature was 02.5 F. 
in 1898 and 05.5 in 1899. We think 
that the record in St. James was prob- 
ably higher than that of the other sugar 
di.4ricts. According to t he Weather 
Bureau in New Orleans, the mean tem- 
perature of ilay for twenty-seven years 
has been 75 F., l^eing thus very slightly 
under that of Havana, wdiich, as statod 
above, for May, was 70.87 Subse- 
(iucnt data from Havana will enable us 
to make ch>er comparisons between 'the 
temperature there and here, and per- 
haps throw some light upon the great 
eas(^ with which they seem to produce 
sugar cane. 



Charbon. 

The prevalence of charbon in many 
of the parishes of the Sta*te has led Gen. 
Leon Ja^tremski, State Commissioner 
of Agricultur eand Immigration, to re- 
publish an article from the pen of Dr. 



W. II. Dalrymple, which appeared in 
the Picayune of the 15th inst. General 
Jastremski requests the press of the 
State to reproduce this article of Dr. 
Dalrymple's, which will be found in 
another column of this issue, and should 
be very carefully studied by every one 
interested in horse and mule stock in 
this State. 



Cuba. 

(U. S. Bulletin for the week ending June 10, 1893.) 
Haolenda Building. 

(Havana, Culba, June 13. 

iRaiQS of a local character hanre occurred 
at various points throughout the island, .bat 
most correspondents report the areas 
receiving rains (which in many cases were 
light and insufflkjient) very oircumacribed. 
However, in come iplaces the amount of 
moisture now present in the soil is consid- 
ered sufficient 'for the time toeing and — es- 
pecially In the vicinity of Pinar del Rlo-^ 
to'bacco is now sufficiently moist to admit 
of manipulation, which ihas been delayed 
(by dry weather. But around Camajuani the 
continued drought prevents .both pacMttg 
and sowing of tobacco. This crop of tobac- 
co, throughout the district, is considered of 
a very superior quality. 

iJn the country around (Matanzas, Man- 
zanlllo and Santiago de 'Cuba, the weatber 
has been very favorable lor crops. On t»he 
other hand, from the greater portion of the 
sugar raising country the drought continu-ee 
unbroken, and cane, nvhere no't actually suf- 
fering, would be given a great stimulus by 
general and sufficient rains. Stubble cane, 
as a rule, is growing "well, while the spring 
plantings are tardy in sprouting; the latter 
baing attributed <by authorities to lack of 
moisture In the ^ground at and since plant- 
ing. 

Considerable land has been prepared for 
cane and it will be put in just as soon as 
the soil is sufficiently moist. 

Minor crops, except in localities favored 
by showers, are in need of rain. 

The temperature during the week has l>©en 
quite unliform, except in a few •widely sep- 
arated localities ,where rather low minimum 
readings were caused, doubtless, iby thunder- 
storms. 

Personal. 

Col. Le.wis S. Clarke, of Lagonda planta- 
tion. Bayou Teche, was an arrival at the 
St. Charles Hotel last Sunday. 

Hon. 'Charles A. O'lNeiW, of Franklin, iLa., 
was at the Gmnowald (Hotel a feiw days ago. 

We recei'ved a visit last Monday from Mr. 
Peter Albel, the distinguished West Indian 
sugar manufacturer, (who is en route to hie 
home in Trinidad. 

Mr. J. C. Brand, of ThiJbodaux, La., was a 
recent visitor to the city. Mr. Braud arrived 
on Monday and registered at the St. Charles 
Hotel. 



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889 



LOCAL LETTERS. 



Iberville. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

■We liave had a variety of weather lately. 
The beneficial rains retorted last week were 
followed by intensely hot weather, the ther- 
mometer playing u-p near the 100 deg. mark 
for several days and at times jumping above 
it. This hot spell was succeeded by cool 
weather, particularly at night, when the 
temiperature several times went near the 60 
deg. mark. Some were afraid the growth 
of the cane would be checked, "but We think 
not. The work of laying by, ts all the rage 
now. The dry weather permitted planters 
to ^et the!r crops thorouglily cleaned and 
well worked up, so that rapid progress is 
making iJi the finisihing touches. There has 
been a wonderful improvement in all crops 
since the rain. A prominent planter from 
thin parish who lately passed through Iberia 
ard St. Mary parishes thinks the crops over 
there will be much shorter in proportioa 
tliau on the river. 

Mechanics are at work dismantling the 
machinery in the old Homestead sugar 
house, reserved by Mr. Frederick D. Rofbert- 
son, wfho is hauling it to the Hunters' Lodge 
plantation on Bayou Jacob, where it will 
be utilized in enlarging the sugar house on 
thiS plaxie. Mr. Robertson, who leift recent- 
ly on a search for health, has gone on to 
Bdtcle Creek, Michigan. 

The Texas & Pacific Railway people are 
liuiMing a switch from the main line to the 
iMyrtle Grove factory of IJhe Messrs. Wil- 
bert, o'f Plaquemine. This will give them 
luicreased shipping facilities and will effect 
a large saving in the matter of hauling. 
This road is rapidly extending its business 
among the planters, and it behooves the 
river paiej^ets to exert themselves if they 
wish to retain sufficient business to make 
boat runninig profltafble. Our planters tou 
should not forget the old ada^e abcmt com- 
petiiion. 

The contract awarded to the Messrs 
Clarke for dredging the channel in Bayoc 
Plaquemine, was followed <by the award or 
another for putting In machinery and erect- 
ing a power house at the locks. Mr. H. B. 
Worthinigton was the succes^ul bidder on 
the latter, at $96,000.00. The Messrs Clarke 
are under obligations to begin work withiix 
r.lxty days and complete the canal within 
one year. 

IContinued fevers have been prevail in-g for 
some time in the pari^, and among those 
•wno nave suffered from them are: Mr. C. 
E. Brooksh, of the Little California plata- 
tion, and Mr. H. H. Denhaim, manager of 
True Hope. We are glad to report toiprove- 
ment in these .cases. 

The pufblic schools of the parish, after a 
suocessdlul session of nine monihs, closed 
I«9t w^efe Very ^ew parl8fl)^» n^ tbe state 



can boast of as long sessions or better 
school attendance than Iberville. 

Mr. Charles Minn TowTeiS; la n?^?3th year, 
a good farmer of the 4th ward, died at his 
residence on the 13th Inst. The deceased 
was a brave soldier during the Confeaeracy. 

The property of Mr. William Scblater, on 
the river tront at Plaquemine, was recently 
sold at public auction for $780. This sale 
illustrates the fear i)eople have of the Mia- 
isslippi's thieving propensities, for the prop- 
erty was at one time ome of the most valu- 
alble in the town. 

IBERVILLK. 



more or less cotton, one having fully 100 
acres. The experiment will be watched with 
considerable interest by everyibody in 

West Baton Rouok. 



West Baton Rouge. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

A peculiar wave of weather has swept 
over this section during the pist week. 
Ijast Friday .after a day of intense heat, 
a heavy rain set in suboul 2:30 ocljck p. m., 
which lasted fully two hours, decreasing to 
a slight drizzle as the evening waned. 
Saturday dawned lilte a typical fall day; a 
dull, icaden-colorcd sky and a n jrth wind, 
suggesting October, rather t'lan June. By 
Saturday evening light drans were comfort- 
able, and on Sunday morning the thermom- 
eter registered 6G deg. • This abnormally 
cool spell coutflnuod until Tuesday, when 
tlie mercury began to climb upwarl, and is 
now almost the average tfor this date. 

So far the rains have been confined more 
or less to the (central portion of the parish, 
vvhi^'h has had enough moisture to last for 
a week or ten days. In this section, the 
crops are doin,^ very nicely, thoir jjrowth 
being stimulated by the recent rains, which 
came just in the nick of time. In the up- 
per and lower portions of the parish, the 
rains have not been so general and crop 
reports from those sections, with the excep- 
tion of cotton, are not so encouraging. A 
considerable percentage of the early corn 
has been stunted by the drouth, 'but that 
planted later has flourished and promises 
a good yield. There Is, therefore, no reason 
to revise the estimate made in this corres- 
pondence some tijne aince, that West Baton 
Rouge will make a banner cane crop. 

As time grows apace, the freaks resulting 
from the zero temperature of Feb. 11-13 be- 
come more accentuated so far as the cane 
crop is concerned. To attempt to descriibe 
in detail the seed and stubible that early 
in the season promised well and later on 
turned out badly, and vice versa, would ex- 
ceed the limit of this letter. Over and 
al)ove all other theories and conditions, one 
fact stands out in *1>old relief, and that is 
that hereafter, oo matter what happens to 
the cane during the winter montiis, the 
planters will never abandon it until time 
demonstrates ^conclusively that it is dead 
heyond the hope of resurrection. 

Owing to the curtailment of the cane area, 
several of our large planters Ji^v^ put 1» 



Assumption. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The meteorological conditions so far of 
1899 have been a series of surprises. First 
the snow and extreme cold of February, 
then an unusually dry spell followed in the 
spring, winding up in June with a very 
heavy rain. The rainfall ending Sunday 
week was In imany places over eight inches, 
but as it came afcer a very long dry spell, 
and the earth was parched, it did not do 
the damage that it would otherwise have 
affected. To wind up the freaky weather, 
we are now having in June a cooJ snap that 
reminds one forcibly of September 6r Octo- 
ber. The rains came none too soon for the 
early corn. It is wonderful how quickly all 
v£gc rati on regained its color, and how rap- 
idly the cane is growing. The effect of 
the fertilizers is just being felt, and is re- 
flecicd in the dark green glow of cane and 
corn. Planters differ greatly as to ho(W 
backward the cane crop is as compared 
with the average year. One conservative 
planter sud that he did not think that his 
c.iiie was mure than two weeks 'behind the 
average year; this was in reference to 
plant, 'he was unwilling to hazard a guess 
as to stiLbble. Many others estirmate that 
the crop as a whole is from four to six 
weeks beliind. Usually about the fourth of 
July, the patriotic planter brings out his 
red joints, but this year he will have to hunt 
very closely to find one, and we think will 
have t* confine his hunt to new ground 
cane. It is generally agreed that the crop 
in Assumption will compare very favorably 
with that of the rest of the state, the ton- 
nage here will probably reach 50 per cent 
of the usual year, possibly 60 per cent, but 
scarcely 'higher. I mean the mill tonnage, 
for a very large amount of cane will be put 
down for seed to compensate for the small 
planting of this year. The amount of sugar 
tor the ton may make the apparent discrep- 
ancy mn^A smaller, for as but little stub- 
ible will b: ground, the time of commencing 
will probably be very late. 

The amount of peas sewed has been larger 
than in general, much stuibble land having 
heen planted in peas. This ^ould mean 
less fertilizer bills another year, an item 
amounting to considerable in these days ot 
intensive farming, when we want big re- 
sults to the acre. 

Some few people are laying by, but gen- 
erally with the intention of returning and 
giving another working later. Sweet Home 
haa the reputation of having one otf the 
best crops on the Lafourclie. The stubble 
is admitted to be almost penfect. Mr. Dugas 
in ^ n^easure a<^QU»ts for this by ^easQ^ of 



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[Vol XXil, No. 25. 



the fact that the plant cane last year was 
planted very deep, knd was not as mucn 
hurt "by the cold on that account. He is 
hard at work on his railroad, and will lay 
altogether about ei-ght miles of track. 

iMessns. Bergeron and Martin, tenants in 
the rear of Hlmelaya, have some very for- 
ward plant cane, on new ground. They are 
laying it by, and ifrom its size and generally 
thrifty appearance it will gi-ve a heavy ton- 
nage. Mr. Charles Munson, of Enola, lelft 
last week for an extended trip; he will 'be 
joined by his sister, Miss Laurence, now at 
the Conservatory of Music, Boston, and they 
will spend 8ome time touring in the East 
and Canada. Mrs. L#aura Ford has two 
charming young lady guests. Miss Dyer and 
Miss (Maud Williams, of New Orleans, who 
are delighted with the hospitalities of Belle- 
wood. Miss 'Mattie Monnot is entertaining 
Miss Laiira Guyol, of Neiw Orleans, at EJlm- 
fleld. Mrs. William Renaud is visiting rel- 
atives at Ardoth. Messrs. William E. How- 
ell and Taylor Beattie, of Lafourche, were 
visitors to Assumption last week. Mrs. 
Walter Stella, after a short stay with her 
slaters, will leave on Wednesday for Chica- 
go, stopping a fefw days en route in New 
Orleans. 

The present weather although unseasona- 
bly cool, permits of the doing of needed 
work, if or the recent imoisture has not only 
started the growth at the cane, but that of 
myriads Of grass seeds and weeds, and 
prompt attention ia needed to get rid of 
these plant pests. 

Rice crops look flourishing and fine yields 
are promised. The rains were beneficial, 
supplying needed water without the ex- 
pense of pumping, some however, say that 
the rainjfall was almost too heavy to be 
thoroughly acceptable. Miss Anna Fey, hav- 
ing received a diploma at the State Normal 
School Is expected home this week. We 
have only one boat in the trade at present, 
but [plenty of water for navigation. A rail- 
road excursion from Laibadieville to New 
Orleans was given on the branch of the 
Southern Pacific recently built. 

More Anon. 



Terrebonne. 

(FPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE ) 

Editor Lonigianfi Planter: 

Since the copious rains ten days ago, cli- 
matic conditions have been extremely fa- 
vorable for field work in the larger portions 
of the parish; but on the lower Grand Call- 
lou and portions of the up*per Bayou Black, 
precipitations on Friday retarded plowing, 
and on the foraner bayou the wind was cy- 
clonic, prostrated the corn in plaices and 
blew down the old^cane shed on the Cedar 
Orove place. 

Crops, particularly the corn, have im- 
•proved immensely, and the canes "are mak- 
ing good growth, although t!he nights have 
beea •omewbai cool for the seaion. 

PeM thai UlA dormant tu the ground for 



weeks have germinated and are now making 
fair promiise. The recent rains came in 
time to Insure a good corn crop, as the 
acreaige Is mudh larger than usual. The 
stublble and plant cane areas are being 
laid by througfhout the parish as rapidly 
as circiunstances will permit, although the 
canes are someiwhat small for the season. 
It is conceded generally that the canes have 
suckered better than usuaJ, and in plaees 
where the s^tand of plant t^ane was scant 
the canes are bunchy and with a favorable 
season to lay by and later a good tonnage 
may yet be harvested. 

The canes are receiving what will proto- 
ably be their last plowing, with the land 
in most instances, in admirable condition — 
infinitely superior to that of last year. At 
this season last year the rains were almost 
Incessant. At Ellendafle of Mr. Eki. MoCol- 
1am, the rainfall nas already been above the 
normal for the entire month of June — aibout 
6>4 inches, yet.no injury has been done the 
crop owing to the extremely dry condition 
of the soil when the rains began. 

The Argyle factory of Messrs. Bonvillaln 
Bros., bids fair to have a goodly tonnage -of 
cane to grind during the comJog campaign, 
as the canes there and on their Crescent 
and Multbery Farm plantations are above 
the average for this year, and below on the 
Bayou Dularge good fields of cane can 
be seen here and there, notably at High 
Ridge of Mr. T. Cook, who has some good 
stuiWble and sme fine plant cane. Aibout 
three-fourths Of a crop will be harvested on 
the latter place, should the season prove 
favorable; Mr. Cook is determined to resort 
to the old time practice of pullinig the tops 
on the ridge after the canes are sent to 
the mill. Ridgeland, where Mr. A. Bonvll- 
lain resides has an "average crofp for the 
season. On the St. Elole place, the estate 
of the late B. Manmande, the plant cane is 
good and the stubble medium. 

On Wednesday of last week, the weather 
was favorable; Thursday, fog in the early 
morning— very hot with light local showers 
in the afternoon; Friday, heavy local show- 
ers in some of the upper and lower por- 
tions of the parish; Saturday, partially 
cloudy and cool for the season, in the even- 
ing; Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, cool in 
the morning, with brJght sunshine during 
the day, and Wednesday morning, bright and 

favorable. 

Terrebonne. 



St. nary, 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Ekiit<yr Louisiarm Planter: 

The weather Is now gettinig ibaick to Its 
normal self; but the cool spell, which com- 
menced injthis section on Sunday last, the 
l^th, was the most remarkable that our old- 
est residents had ever seen, for this season 
of the year. The thermometer want down 
to one o| tlM ripuli^ M»roh 4efrHf, W 



was up again to the usual mark at -Tuesday 
noon. Of course, the change in the temper- 
ature could not have had an effect upon the 
growing fields worthy of remark, as the 
descent was not sufficient, nor was its du- 
ration long enough to create any appre'cia- 
able change in the condition of the ground; 
but it will undoubtedly produce a great deal' 
of sickness, which wilil be its only effect, so 
f^r as your correaipondent knows. 

(But as cool weather can have no insepar- 
able connection with wet or dry weather, it 
would not be improper to discuss them by 
turns; and, as said in our last letter, the 
crops, while not yet (beginning to suffer, 
could stand another good shower wkh eood 
results. The ground was dry for a great 
depth when the last rains came, owing to 
the long drought that intervened between 
t'bem and the previous rains which fell 
around the middle of March, and, conse- 
quently the moisture was consumed within 
a sfhort time. But the planrters say they 
must have another rain within the next 
seven days, otherwise another portion of the 
corn crop will be lost, as resulted from the 
drought >u8t past, while the cane will sus- 
tain another material back set. 

While the sugar district is not, strfctay 
Speaking, a corn producing country, more 
concern is nevertheless felt for this icrop 
than that of cane, owing to the fact that 
corn is a weaklier iplant for one ^hing, and 
tor a second, because its entire growth must 
soon cease, whetther or not the stalk and 
fruit are mature or immature, iwhlle sugar 
cane has five months yet in wihich to devel- 
o(p iitself. 

The case of Mr. Jannes B. Komiper vs. Mrs. 
E. D. Buitguieres, mentioned in the 6t. Mary 
letter a few iweeks ago, .was decided in favor 
of the plaintiff. Mr. Kemper, the inventor 
and builder of the interchangeable cane rake 
or loarrier feeder, intends now to introduce 
his aipparatus throughout the sugar district, 
and expec?ts to make better progress on ac- 
count of having won at law than otherwise, 
thougfh he (builds under a positive guaran- 
tee. iHe has had made, for the purpose of 
more thoroughly explaining to prospective 
purchasers, a minature rake, the foundation 
of which is aibout one foot wide and four 
feet long. The one erected for Mrs. Bur- 
igruieres was the (Width of the carrier's length, 
and three hundred feet long, one hundred 
and Afity of which were on each side. 

The theory df the apparatus is very sim- 
ple. The place on iwhkh the cane is damped 
from the carts is a "platform on either side 
of the carrier, iwhich slopes towards it; a 
line of posts stand at eadh end of the plat- 
forms apposite each other, and an endless 
cable stretches across them from one side 
of the yard to the other, running through i 

roller blocks attacbed to the tops of the 
posU, whi<Jh latter are of sufficient hei|;5it 
to fttlmit loaded carta to pati under ftttd ^ 
dump. Tbe rake \$ (^ifttned to om o( Uit of i 



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891 



t>le spans iby a chain; the moveonentcxr the ca- 
bles is a«f€ct€d toy a steam "crato," oiperatedby 
a reversi'ble engine situated at one end; the 
prongs and shape o(f the rake are &uch that 
in 'baxiking up against a load of cane, It 
iunii>9 over and takes a hold to the hase of 
the'loadt and 'by a simple reverse o»f the en- 
ffine. starts down the slope towardls the car- 
rier; after reaching the edige o»f the carrier, 
'by repeated movements of the valve lever 
at the engine, portions of the load are rolled 
over imto the carrier, which latter is some 
Indies lower than the edge of the platform. 
After the whole (load is fed away, the rake 
can be moved back and ^brought forward 
again with a se)03nd load of cane to the eidige 
of the carrier in titoe to prevent a skip in 
th-e (feed. The devise has ft>een pronounced 
<by sugar men in this parish, a great lalbor 
saving invention. 

The Kyle liumber Co., and the Albert Han- 
son Lulm.t>er Co., sboth of this parisTi, hanre 
met one of the best himber seasons this year 
ever kncrwn before and as a result of which 
the two corporations are nojw shijipinig from 
sixty to a hundred car loads of lumber a 
week to the northern Qiarket. The lumlber 
industry is one of the most important and 
extensive, outside of the sugar business, in 
this portion of the State. 

St. Mary. 



St. Mary. 

W« have "heard it said that the rains of 
late were million dollar showers. We don't 
know what they are worth, but the crops 
have certainly taken a jump in the last ten 
days. With favorable cultivating seasons 
and good soigar making weather, the cropa 
of this year ought to go above the fifty p3.r 
cent, mark as was antiopiated. The heavy 
freeze was certa>inly a great drawiback, but 
the proper weiather conditions wild recuper- 
ate a igreat deal of the loes. 

We are baving the best sort of crop weath- 
er, but for comfort It is too much th-a other 
way. Yesterday was the warmest day of 
the year. 

It is not very extravagant to say that you 
oan hear the corn "grow «wid hoar the grass 
creep since the fine rains of the last week. 

The phenomenal growth of grass and all 
vegetation since tbe rain is very encourag- 
ing. 'Before the recent showers, even the 
toughest grass was drying up and dying. — 
Vindicator News, June 16. 



Vermilion. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

We are having some very fine growing 
weather at present—dear and warm. This 
setDtion was visited 'by two very heavy rains 
last week. One on Wednesday afternoon, 
the 14th. and one Friday afternoon, the 
16th. The one Friday afternoon was ac- 
companied by a very stiff wind that did 
^ome damaige to the old cgm pj breaking it 



and blowing it about. The stalk was very 
tender and sappy from the rain that we had 
on the 10th inst, consequently it did not 
offer any resistance at all to the wind, the 
damage, however ,was not extensive. Since 
Friday the weather has been very clear and 
bright, but on Saturday night a cool wave 
struck this section which felt more like 
Christmas weather than June weather. In- 
stead of being a cold day in July, it was 
a cold night in June. The weather now^is 
very warm and pretty and the crops are 
growing fine. Corn and cane are simply 
breaking the record growing. Cane has im- 
proved a great deal since the rains. Stub- 
ble, strange to say, is still coming up and 
some of our most hopeful cane growers 
think that it will come to maturity now as 
early as the other cane. Many of our farm- 
ers are laying by their cane this week and 
the bulk of the croip of plant cane will be 
-laid by next week. The tonnage for deliv- 
ery will be short, for the reason that many 
will be induced to go into cane this next 
year on account of the fancy prices that are 
being paid, and seed can* will be v^ry much 
in demand. It will take at least three-elgflits 
or possibly one-haif of the entire crop raised 
in this parls-h this year to plant 'the 1900 
crop. Vermillion, though, seems to be in 
as good shape as regards cane as any other 
immediate section in the cane belt. The 
Planter correspondent took a il'tble drive 
through the country to New Iberia a few 
days ago and Journeyed along the Teche, 
and we failed to find anything either In 
Iberia or St. Mary parishes in the way of 
cane that would conrpare to the Vermilion 
crop in either size or stand. The corn crop 
is very >fine. From the present outlook the 
croip will be so large that many farmers 
will have to build more room to accommodate 
it or leave it in tttie field. The corn crop, as 
a general thing, was never finer in this par- 
Is'h than at present. Most of it is laid by, 
In fact you might consider the entire crop 
as turned off. The pea crop is very fine, but 
owing. to the extremely high price of peas 
this spring there were not many planted. 
The cotton crop is very sorry. It may come 
out, but at present it cannot be considered 
a crop at all. The rice crop i:s simiply fine. 
Irrigated rice was never finer than at pres- 
ent. There are thousands of acres of this 
cereal in Vermilion parish, which means, 
with a fair price, thousands of dollars for 
our farmers and a fine fall business for our 
merchants. If the wea'ther permits the crop 
to be harvested in good shape, there will be 
at least four hundred thousand bags of rice 
made in Vermilion parish tbis year. The 
providence man who had not planted his 
crop before the recent rains has it in now 
and up to a good stand. The oub^ook for a 
fair providence crop is very fiattering. 

P. C. M. 



Avoyelles. 

(SPECIAL C0RRE8PCNDENCE.} 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

The late rains have been so very bene- 
ficial to the growing crops, that acme of 
our fann^er trJendA ^when ^peaikinf ot the 



matter can barely suppress the inclination 
to boast just a bit about their prosipects for 
making heavy yields per acre planted to 
corn and cotton. 

The splendid rain which fell over the pro- 
gressive |>arishes of St. Landry. Avoyelles 
and Rapides on the afternoon of the 16th, 
continuing at intervals throu«rh the night 
and morning of the 17th inst., supplied the 
soil with sufficient moisture to last for a 
week or ten days. 

The temperature was remarkably low for 
the season on the mominss of the ISth and 
19th, at sunrise, the mercury resting at 60 
deg. At noon, same dates, 80 deg. and 84 
deg. in the shade, with the Indlicatlons at 
this writing for warm weather. 

The four principal crops of this part of 
the country, corn, cotton, cane and peas, 
are now making a fine growth. The soil 
Is now warm and moist; it Is pliable and 
easily worked. There is one crap which is 
not given as much attention in this state 
as it ehoujd receive. It is the weed croj), 
and as a rule it is hard to "down," when 
the weather is at all damp for a week's 
time. 

Weeds and tie vines cause the cotton 
planters and agriculturists of this state to 
pay out immense sums of money yearly, to 
hold only in part subjection the noxious 
tgnassea and weefds whfich Infest field and 
farms, covering large districts of the state. 
The weed and grass question Is worthy of 
the attention of the sugar planters' associa- 
tion. 

Mr. Jas. iH. Kennedy, mechanical engi- 
neer in charge of the Bajrbreck irrigating 
•plant, has put the Planter's scribe in posses- 
sion of the facts and results obtained there 
by Irrigation during the drou«^t which has 
just been broken by the late rains. 

Mr. Kennedy says Irrigation properly ap- 
plied to crops is a success beyond doubt 
Owing to haying to lower and reset some 
of the machinery, the irrigating pump 
was not started to lifting water as early as 
It should have been, but the results ob- 
tained were remarSkably good. 

•Mr. R. W. Foster, of the firm of J. U. 
Payne & Co., of New Orleans, and superin- 
tendent of Barbreck and Cumberfland t^lan- 
tations was present and took a lively inter- 
est in seeing that the water wba properly 
distributed from the leading irrigating 
dit>ches to and through the plots and cuts 
planted to corn and cane, both of wbich 
improved d4iring the late drought under the 
inuuence of irrigation. From the results at 
which have been obtained this season at 
Barbreck, it would seem that Irrigation 
need no longer to be considered a mooted 
question. 

Mr. A. D. Havard, of CheneyviUe, has sold 
his fine Ashland plantation, containing 450 
acres tff land to Mr. P. D. Butler, of Ra- 
pides for the Aum of |20J}00. Airiiland is 
situated on Ba^ou Boeuf on the T. 4b P. R. 



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[Vol XXII. No. 25. 



R. some two miles iwest of the town of 
Bunkie. Until recently the plantation was 
planted to cane, corn and cotton. Mr. But- 
ler Ip a progressive planter and will no 
doufbt engage In planting cane on his newly 
acquired Ashland plantation. 

The crops on Shlrly, Ellen Kay and other 
places and plantations in tlie vicinity of 
Bunkie are reported as growing and very 
promising. I have ^been iniformed that such 
crops as -corn, cane, cotton and peas, In 
the localities of Lloyd, Cheneyville, Meeker, 
Lecompte and Lamourie are exceptionally 
fine, consildering the duration of the drought 
which we have just passed through. 

The Planter's scriibe has been incformed, 
that Mr. W. P. F-ord, of Chen-ayville, has 
a splendid crc^ of cane and from present 
indications and prospects thinks lie will 
have at least 1,000 tons of cane to dispose of 
this fall. I have also been informed that 
there is some very promising stubble cane 
growing on one or more places near La- 
mourie. 

Erin. 



5t. James — Left Bank. 

I SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE . ) 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

No special change in the weather has oc- 
curred in our parish within the past ten 
d'ays, outside of a fall in the thermometer 
last Friday evening. The day had been 
very sultry, the temperature being over ^1 
deg., the warmest point reached this year. 
The evening was one of remarkable cloudi- 
ness and light showers soon set in cooling 
off the atmosphere. Saturday was a bright, 
•pleasant day and Sunday was more than 
cool; the therttnometer had then fallen 30 
deg., and fanned by a fresh northerly breeze 
we imagined ourselves away from summer. 

The cane crops <are still the same, with 
but slight signs of improvement as time 
goes on. The pea crop is coming out very 
fast since t'he last rain we had, and more 
peas have been planted this year than ever 
before. 

The rice planters have now all their ir- 
rigating pumps working In full force, a» the 
present state of their crops requires as 
mu<;h moisture as their pumping apparatus 
can possibly furnish. Many sugar planters 
have planted some of their lands in this 
cereal, so more rice crops are seen in our 
district than any other kind. Mr. David 
Duhon, who has a fine crop on the Nita 
lands, has had considera/ble trouble with 
his pump and it was only With help from 
good eng-ineers that they were 8u;ocessjful 
in working the engine at alL 

Mr. E/dgar Bertaut, one of the well-known 
mercantile traders of the right bank, has 
recently built himself one of the nicest and 
cosiest houses in that locality. 

Mrs. Clotilde Bourgeois and sdster. Miss 
Matilda Boungeois are visiting their sister, 
Mrs. L. N. Folse, ot T^xae plantation in 
|!|>eryllle Q^riab. 



Miss Retina Cherbonnier is pending a 
few days in St. James as a guest of her 
uncle, Mr. E. Cherbonnier, of Helvetia. 

Convent. 



St. Martin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Editor JjoniMana Planter: 

A drought of 46 days was broken here a 
few days ago, but not enough rain has fallen 
to be of permanent benefit. 

Last week on the afternoon of the 16th, 
this locality was visited by a small shower 
and a very strong wind prevadled for 15 
minutes, which did considerable damage to 
corn of all sizes. St. John plantation seems 
to have been more in the path of this whirt- 
wind, as your scribe sa'w more Iblown down 
and Tjroken corn there than elsewhere. 

Speaking of St. John plantation, we are 
Informed that the plant cane on this place 
is as good as any in the sugar belt, in fact, 
the stand is almost perfect, though the seed 
was considered very »bad during planting; 
/but no doulbt Mr. Levert would not take any 
chances in the hurry-up way of planting 
with such seed and had it planted slowly, 
•but surely, with a thorough and finished 
plowing, rolling, etc., and in the spring he 
was very careful In barring off this cane 
not too close, and above all never allowed 
any plant or stubble cane to remain on the 
•bar furrow, not even one day. We agree 
with Mr. R. G. Co»meaux, of IberviWe, that 
dirt should be brought back immediately 
after plant cane has been scraped or hoed, 
especially if neither is dry. Col. G. G. • 
Zenor's views about preserving . seed cane 
are very good indeed and we sincerely liope 
some ingenious person may get up a plan 
to dig or plow up the cane so as to get all 
of the eyes and roots as the grub hoa is 
rather slow, though .we prefer feru'bbing it 
in the ground than cutting at the surface 
•with cane knives. The late Mr. R. H. Allen, 
who for 40 years owned the magnificent 
Rienzl plantation in Lafourche parish, 
always had his cane dug up either to plant 
in the fall or windrow for seed, and your 
scniibe having been one of Mr. Allen's over- 
seers for several years can Say there was 
never any bad seed on Rienzl; but on the 
contrary in many instances in the spring 
the windrowed cane had green tops and 
leaves as though it had been growing under 
tbe ground. At this writinjg the weather 
Is all iwe can wdsh for the cultivation and 
groiwth of cane, though it was a little too 
cool Suniday and Monday. 

Hall Clipper. 



Jenning^s, La. 

The new eight-inch deep well on the farm 
of Albert Anderson, 2% miles south of town, 
was tested Saturday afternoon and found 
to be a success. The well is 148 feet deep 
and water raises to wlthla 8^ <eet of the 
Cop. A f i3(-iliofr piunp l8 i^ttaobe^ ai^ ^v^ 



be kept working continuously until his rice 
crop is fioodeJ.— Jennings Times. 

(Rice farmers eouth of Beaumont report 
that caterpillars are swarming Into their 
rice fields and destroying the young rice, 
mowing it down like a machiine. By fiooding 
the rice, the pest is largely overcome, but 
on rice too tall to cover with water, the 
insects crawl to the upper pari; of the stalk 
and work above water. The rain of Sat- 
urday will without doubt stop the ravages of 
the pestiferous worms.— Times, June 15. 



The Saving: of Seed Cane. 

Editor Louisiana Planter: 

It Is very interesting to read the discus- 
sions at the sugar planters* meeting in your 
paper for the reason that no matter on what 
su!bject they apeak hardly any two planters 
can agree. This was tfhe case In the last 
meetimig on the topic of how to preserve seed 
cane. Some twenty years ago an old over- 
seer told the writer that ibefore the war they 
used to take out cane for seed by the roots 
with a grulbbing hoe; not to preserve the 
seed, Ibut to iget that part in the ground for 
seed, as they did not mind the labor in 
those times. However I believe that is out 
of date in this progressive age, except per- 
haps this year where there is not enough 
cane for seed. I don't think there is any 
trouble in saving good seed provided the 
right kind at cane is selected, and put down 
at the proper time. 

While Mr. Gleason and Mr. McCall, two 
good planters, say that the meanest and poor- 
est cane is the ibest for seed, I (bell-eve that 
the (best i^ not too good and would prefer 
good plant cane. The cane should be selected 
at the time when it is to be put down. If 
bhe planters select their seed cane Ibefore It 
is grown, as your correspondent from Terre- 
(bonue advised the planters to do, they must 
expect bad seed sometimes. That seems to 
me like selecting a rooster before the egg is 
hatched. The writer would prefer to plant 
all to be planted In t'he fall, but if that can- 
not be done, then albouf the 1st of Novem- 
ber 1 would go and pilck out seed icane, plant 
cane preferred, and next to that first stu*b- 
ble, straight cane, and as green as possible. 
Put each row to itself and cover not too 
deeply, no matter whether It is black or 
sandy land. If the drainage was (good 
enough to make the cane, it will be good 
enough to save the seed, as wet rot don't 
amount to much, it is only in the people's 
mind. On the other hand, dry rot spoils 
all the seed that is ibad. 

The <jane is growing fast now since the 
rain, but the crop will *be short. One planter 
told me a few days ago he expected to make 
2500 tons this year, and he now counts on 
only 1000 tons, and he speaks very nearly 
for all. 

It will take a large amount olf cane for 
seed as most of the land will have to be 
planted this year. H. M^br, 



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398 



FOREIGN LETTERS. 



Berlin. 

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.) 

Berlin, June 3d, 1899. 
Editor Louiaiana Planter: 

With regard to meterological develoipments 
the week under review can be divided into 
three distinctly different parts: the first has 
•been cold and rainy, the second cold and 
dry and the third warm and dry; so that 
only the latter days answered the present re- 
quiraments of the growing beeto. It must 
be, however, added that the moisture at the 
comunen-cement of the week has been more 
severely felt in the eastern part of the Em- 
pire than In the western provinces, where, 
in certain sections, they even begin to long 
for more rain. The least favorable circum- 
stance has been doubtless the cold temper- 
ature, which prevented the young plants 
from making normal progress, whilst the 
rains Interfered with field work, viz.: the 
hoeing and singling out of the plants. The 
dry and warm weather which now is pre- 
vailing will permit -them to recover the lost 
time, provided that no other climatic dis- 
turbance is in store for us. Besides, a-part 
from the small backwardness experienced 
last week, the situation of the young crop is 
not unsatisfaictory and to all ap-pearanceeven 
a little better than in the other beet coun- 
tries of .Europe. Austria complains of a too 
heavy down pour of rain, and France, Hol- 
land and Belgium are about in fhe same 
predicament, and in all of these countries 
the beets are not quite up to the mark for 
•the season, so that warm and dry weather 
everywhere is urgently desired. In Austria, 
however, the situation has greatly improved 
in consequence of rains fallen last week in 
the principal beet districts of the country. 

The general assemWy of the large beet 
sugar sodiety of Germany, which has been 
held from May 29th-r31st in Breslau, the 
capital of the Prussian province of Silesia, 
has proved a decided success, the attend- 
ance has been lar\ger than on any other 
former assembly, the disicussions, conducted 
in an excellent spirit, were throughout high- 
ly, 'interesting and the resolutions piassed of 
paramount importance. The distinguishing 
feature, however, of the "whole affair "was the 
unparalleled and exquisite hospitality shown 
to the aasemibled sugar fabricants by the 
Si lesion branch society of sugar manufac- 
turers, which contributed to /make the as- 
sembly a festival never to be forgotten. The 
province of Silesia ranks second in the num- 
her of sugar producing precincts of the Ger- 
man Empire, the *ret »being the iProvince of 
Saxony. There are now 69 sugar factories 
in Silesia of 402 existing in all Germany. 
Besides it must not be forgotten that Silesia 
is the cradle of the now mighty ibeet sugar 
industry, the "first beet sugar factories, Cu- 
nern and Krain, havln-g been fbuiXt there. 
Fortherznore, tihe Slle»laxi ^t Is t!ke orl|^ 



inal sugar beet from which all improved va- 
rieties have been derived in the course of 
this century. But to return to the results 
of the proceediings of the societies in ques- 
tion, I am bound to report in the first place, 
tihait the assemibly of the raw sugar manu- 
facturers have with only three dissenting 
voices adopted a resolution, laying stress on 
the necessity of the sugar cartell, of which 
I have given you a more detailed account. 
Another important point discussed was the 
increase of consumption whtoh. would seem 
absolutely necessary in case the productive 
capa'city of Cuba and the Philippine Islands 
should readh or surpass its former height 
The question as to how to dispose of the 
surplus sugar t'hen to all probability press- 
ing upon the market, is a serious problem 
and it is quite a duty of leading sujgar au- 
thorities to face it in time. The means to 
effect a notable increase of sugar consump- 
tion are embodied in the following items: 
First, to set on foot an agitation to popular- 
ize the use of sugar as a wholesome article 
of food. Sugar, even in England and in 
America, where the consumption haa reached 
already a respectal^Ie figure per capita of the 
poijulation, is liked almost exclusively for 
its sweetening power, so that eating of sugar 
stiW remains a matter of taste, whilst the 
hygienic and physiological side of the quefi- 
tion should be Jput iato the foreground. To 
this truth and to the requirements in con- 
nection with it, the German sugar manu- 
facturers are certainly quite awake, for the 
society of beet sugar industry has resolved 
to appropriate for this purpose the sum of 
100,000 marks or 25,000 dollars, so ^that a real 
campaign may ,be opened, a campaign of en- 
lightening the people as to the merits of a 
thorougli sugar diet, to be introduced into 
all classes of the pospulatlon. There is no 
doubt something artifilclal about this move- 
ment, but it is nevertheless usefufl both for 
the sugar Industry and for the ipuiblic at 
large, and if it is successful, the latter is 
certainly the greater gainer. As a special 
means, it has also (been recommended to 
give to the children after mental exhaustion 
sugar in some form or other, which soon 
would refresh the mental capiaoities of the 
young student. 

As usual, 'I extract some details from the 
annual report of the suigar factory Koer- 
bisdorf, for the season 1898-1899, In the 
first place, it must be noited that the agri- 
cultural result has been less satisfaicttory tJhan 
in the preceding campaiign, partly becBAise 
of the beet crop being short, and because of 
the lower prices for cereals. The factory 
cworked last year, inclusive of a certain 
weight bought from the farmers, 47,329 tons 
of beet as agadnst 51,820 tons in 1897/98. 
The average price of the raw material was 
about 18 marks (|4.50) per ton, and the 
lyield of sugar 12.10 pet. sugar and 2.23 
pet. molasses as against 11.80 and 2.18 pet. a 
^ear ^o. The factory owns also % coal pit 



and a 'brick factory and the press profit of all 
these establiishments amounted (to 436,322 
marks ($109,080), of which after the usual 
deductions, a net profit of 216,000 marks 
(i$50,400) remained, so that a dividend of 8 
pet. OS against 6 pet. in 1897^98 oould be 
paid to the shareholders. 

The markets are now quiet and fairly 
steady, but it does not look as 4f a renewal 
of activity was close at hand, at least wlien 
no fresli arguments for a bull movement 
come to stimulate it. For the moment, the 
French speculators, who of late have handled 
the market at their own sfwe^t will, keep 
aloof, ibut it seems improbable that for the 
present campaign the Paris operators should 
Jiave spoken already their last word. Ac- 
tual 88 pet. sugars have !been quoted only 
once at Magdeburg, Viz., at M. 12.15^. and de- 
livery May- June brought at Ham>burg M. 
11.15 f. o. b. Refined continue quiet at un- 
changed prices. 

lloiT. Hbnnto. 



Barbados. 

Only one inch of radn in April and 56 parts 
in May, "hot suns in a brazen sky for nearly 
two months. have bold severely on the young 
canes; they have endured hravely, Ibut the 
breaking point, at all events with many 
fields, is being reached, aaid unless we get a 
soaking Toiin and that quickly, there will 
be a great deal of dead material to cut out 
ami dead holee to supply witli stumps, when 
the rain comes. Already planters are search- 
ing for and cutting out shoots Infested fwdth 
mothborer, many are •burning the diseased 
shoots as fast as they collect them; this prac- 
tice ouight to be more general. The hot 
suns are ploughing the ground, and the deep 
cracks are all agape to idylnk in the ferti- 
lizing raiin water when At falls. Now and 
again a Itttle shower falls over some fav- 
ored spot just to rem1«nd us that it has not 
forgotten how to rain; one of these refresh- 
ing sporadic showers passed ovsr Ohriet 
Church, and another over the lower part of 
St. Michael during the fortnight, and now 
au'.l again here and there a passing cloud 
sprinkles a few drops, hut on the whole 
there are slight indiioations that the little 
spell <rf drought which appears to bave been 
pretty general throughout the West Indies 
is coming to an end, and the welcome rains 
OS we hope and pray not far off. In droughty 
seasons in Barbadoes everybody knows, and 
has known fromi time immemorial, that 
when the clouds hank fhoavy In flPenny Hole, 
rain is surely coming, every eye knows ex- 
actly where to find Penny Hole on the hori- 
zon. Be this OS it may, every planter's eye 
burns daaly to Penny Hole wistfully hopiiig 
to see the welcome banking up of the raia 
clouds in that quarter and to hear the Joy- 
ous roar of the waves as they break on the 
southern coral reefs, for then, and not till 
then, he knowA that the dry spell is oysr» 
tj^a •oaking rain li at luad, amd that Nature 



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THE LOUISIANA PLANTER A n O SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol XS3II, No. 26. 



will quickly repaint with vivid green the 
sered and yellow leaves of his eun-bumt 
nurslings. 

Although severe on the young canes, the 
hot suns have been beneficial to the old 
first crop, ripening it up, and improving the 
yield of some of the dast reaped fields. The 
second crop of oourse has also suffered. It 
seems to be pretty generally conceded thait 
the low yield of sugar of 1 to 1% tons per 
acre from splendid canes which in other 
years would easily have given 2% to 3, has 
been largely due to the immaturity of the 
canes checked untimely in their growth; had 
it been -possible to put off reaping, probably 
results would liave been better, but unfor- 
tunately 'we could not; our only consolation 
is the extra penny o* price for sugar and 
molasses, which has acted somewhat like a 
buttress to a bulging wall. 

Still not «being able to control events, or 
hurry up the day when common sense puts 
in the counterpoise to the Bounty and re- 
stores the Free Trade balance, our plain duty 
is to endeavor to grow the very best pos- 
sible sugar cane. Dr. Stubbs' experiments 
prove clearly that the sugar cane is essen- 
tially a nitrogen-loving plant, and must have 
an available supply to enable it to gather 
canbon ^r sugar from the sunlight;. It is 
very much to be feared that much of the 
artificial fertilizer now supplied is too de- 
ficient in the nitrogenous element, and that 
the stimulants which grow a big cane too 
often leave out the valuable sugary juiciness. 
The canes this season have been very fine 
in appearance, but all too dry, plenty of 
megass but too little sugar, and wherever 
there is an exception to this general rule, Pt 
wiil be found that a late dressing of sul- 
phate of amimonia or nitiate had been ap- 
plied. It Is worthy of remark that a fine 
estate in "this island when treated with Pe- 
ruvian G^uano, and sulphate of ammonia in 
combination, used to give on the average 3 
tons to the acre from first crop canes, while 
now under a diifferent manurial treatment, 
its average lias sunk to 1^6. Dr. Stubbs* 
recommendations with regard to the cotton 
plant deserve the most, careful consideration, 
our planters are slow to take up a new thing, 
but as we have .before pointed out this is 
no new thing with us; the cotton plant is 
a native of our island, the former richness 
of wbich was perhaps largely due to cotton 
seed (nitrogenous) manuring, and in these 
days whan big crops are a necessity, and 
cotton seed meal as Dr. Stubbs tells us the 
cheapest way to procure the essential nitro- 
gen, it might be well to consider :the subject 
practically and remedy the one crop evil by 
dovetailing with an industry w»hich feeddn^ 
the cattle fattens the soil, and at the same 
■time yields 'two marketable products, the 
fibre, nothing but carbon, and the valuable 
oil; an all-round plant, which taking notliing 
from the sugar industry, increases the out- 
put of sugar, and add^ to the exports of the 



Island. There Is nothing like an old fniend, 
and our native Sea Island has been annually 
dropping its seeds and biding Its time, a good 
friend indeed. — Agricultural Reporter, May 
27. 



Havana. 



(SPICIAL CORRESPONbBNCE.) 

-Havana, June 19th, 1899. 
Eklitoi' LouiMiaiui PLunler: 

The expected change in consuming centers 
has at last taken effect and aJbout 120 to 125 
IhousanJ ibags iwere disposed cf at constant- 
ly advancing prices, say, at from 2.72 to 2.95 
cts. lb. for 95^/95 teat good centrifugals, 
sellers 'pretending to-day 3 cts. for same 
grade and a fraction more for higher polar- 
ization, at iwhich quotation market closes 
strong .in spite of shippers reluctance to 
yield to holders* pretensions. 

Oreatcr activity is being noticed, especially 
in the province of Havana, Matanzas and 
the districts of -Sagua, Remedias and Clen- 
fuegas, in planting cane fields, and planters' 
exertions in this direction are limited only 
by the lack of oxen, the n-umJber of la)bor- 
ers, owing to Uhe recent disbandment of the 
CuJban army being now sufficiently large 
and obtainable on reasonable terms to meet 
the requirements of agriculture. 

Plantation '*Natividad," at Sanctl Spirltus, 
which, as announced in one of my previous 
letters, commenced grinding towards the 
middle cf May, was compelled, after making 
atoout 200 bagd of sugar, to stop, owing to 
frequent disarrangements in i*i? machinery. 
The director of the Santa Clara Observa- 
tory just issued a report in which he states, 
among several other things, the following: 

'*The general feature of the weather, tlhia 
year, is not in the least adjusted, as far as 
the rainy season is concerned, to the results 
attained, through observations during the 
past years; though copious showers have 
fallen during the past month of May in 
several localities, they lacked t/he extension 
of spring rains, and they have heretofore 
been altogether local. 

*'iAccordlng to all appearances, a certain 
evolution is noiw taking place in the atmos- 
pherical conditions of this island and such 
evolution, whioh commenced to toe noticed 
In 1890, consists In the gradual postpone- 
ment, later and latar, each year, of the open- 
ing of the rainy season, which, If no change 
occurs, will coincide wlt'hin a few years with 
that of the stormy season which generally 
commences between the last part of August* 
and the Irst of Beptemiber. 

*'The weather Is exceedingly hot and ac- 
cording to all appearances a hurricane is be- 
ing formed at the south of Cutoja, which will 
likely determine ere long a rain storm." 

Nevertheless, the ibackwordness of rain 
causes great damages to crop of all sorts; 
tboufgh a fair area of ground has been pre- 
pared for spring cane planting, it could be 
effected on ft Tcrpr limited acftJe pnlp^; lang© 



firos in the fields are daily reported, and 
though there are strong desires to resume 
agricultural <pursults In most of the produc- 
ing districts, the persistent drought is a 
drawback to labor In the fields. 

A great hail storm, which struck tha Cuban 
coast last week, destroyed a large portion of 
the banana plantation and injured other 
crops at Sanla and Gtbara, in the province 
of Santiago de Cuba and at Baro, In that 
of Matanzas, tlie hall stones stripped the 
cane of all Its leaves. 

Bandits are again making themselves 
spoken of; farmers at several places are ter- 
rorized by cattle thieves, and a cerUln num- 
.ber of them at Gulnes and Manzanlllo, have 
ben warned to abandon their fields if tihey 
wished not to be murdered; the small towns 
of Mar lei. In the prpvlnce of Plnar del Rio; 
SeJba Mocha and Nueva iPaz, In that of Ha- 
vana, were raided and looted during the past 
week; a large numlber of country stores 
were also pillaged by ibandlts, who also 
committed several murders in the provinces 
cf Santiago de Cuba, Porto Principd and 
elsewhere. 

In cDnsequence'of this condition of affairs 
in the country, repeated appeals have been 
mad3 to Governor General Brooke to place 
small garrisons of American troops in all the 
s.mall towns and villages to avert the repe- 
tition of the scandalous deeds lately report- 
ed; t'aoiigh General Brooke finally decided 
aglnst the organization of a rural guard to 
be sustained by the government of the is- 
land, planters and owners of rural property, 
as well as small towns and villages, have 
•been authorized, through the civil governors, 
to organize, In onier to protect their lives 
and Interests, a certain number of armed 
men to whom a limited police authority 
will be granted and whose equipment and 
maintenance will be for account of those 
who utilize their services. 

Governor General Brodke has recently is- 
sued anoUher decree which modifies to a 
certain extent the first one, on foreclosures 
of mortgages on real estate; although the 
extension of time (2 years) rmains the 
same, several exceptions are toade. 

•Mortgages on city property or rural prop- 
erty, In condition of normal production, are 
granted only one year extensions, at the end 
of which suit may toe Instituted under the 
mortgage and property of bankrupts, or of 
parties who made assignments prior to May 
16th, 1896, shall not ibe exempt and neither 
shall be property that has been atoandoned 
and remains uncultivated. 

Planters* creditors and morgagees in gen- 
eral, are not as yet satisfied, and urge their 
commissioners at Washington to endeavor to 
obtain the law modified in a manner still 
more favorable to their Interests, than the 
decree just issued toy Governor General 
Brooke. 

There Is no doubt that the Cuban cust^om- 
lipuse i9 jrieldlw enoroiouBljr, elnc^ a#ter 



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395 



meeting all the demands iqpon the Island thad established a monopoly in the instru- 
treasury, for the quarter just closed, includ- jnentalitles and agencies of Inter-state 
il.^ !TT^ incurred into for pi^blic im- ^n^^erce, there was evidence that it had 
'provements and special advances made to . ,.,. ^ , . , . ^ . , . 
needy municipalities, covering amounts of established a monopoly in industrial pro- 
pay rolls of government, civil and military "ductlon. But as the power of Congress to 
employes, the excess remaining as a (balance regulate commerce extends merely to inter- 
on haild, exceeds 1^.600,000, (one million gtate distribution and not to manu>factur- 
six hundred tfhousand) in (American gold. , , ,, . , , ^ - u. *. « 
The population and toUl amount of puhlic ^°« a>roductlon, which must toe a subject of 
•wealth in Cwba, onlst of January, 1>895 and ^^^^e control alone, the court held that the 
1899, respectively, compare as follows: kind of monopoly established by the Sugar 

Decrease. 

1896 1899 1899 

Population 2,018.000 1,318,000 700,000 

Sugar Plantations 1,369 526 843 

Totoacco Plantations 9,487 * 1,250 8,237 

Coffee Plantations 998 115 883 

Cattle Breeding Farms 9,889 9,889 

Ve«etable and Fruit Farms 128,840 9,500 119!340 

Cattle, Horned, (Head) 890,799 25,000 865,799 

Cattle. Horses, (Head> 86,250 5,500 80,750 

Cattle, Mules, (Head) 9,536 2,150 7*386 

Cattle, Hoge, (Head)- 618.960 8,500 610460 

Cattle, Sheep. (Head), 54,914 4,500 50*414 

Commercial Establishments and Factories, 

iDivers Classes 22.156 13,500 8 656 

Buildings 68.380 58.150 10*230 

Sugar Crop, (Tons) 1.150.000 300.000 850*000 

Total Value of Exports $100,000,000 $20,000,000 $80,0001000 

T?he total value of property lost on account Trust was not o^bnoxious to the provisions 

of the war is estimated at 500 million dol- of the Sherman Act. 

lars, in round numbers, and the Island will The same curious lack of ability to grasp 

need, even provided foreign capital comes to the essential facts relating to his own 

it as abundantly as previously, six or eight .business is manifest in Mr. Havemeyer's 

years to retrieve ita former prosperity. statement that the Trust has lowered the 

T. D. price of sugar to the consumer. The simple 

fact is that the Trust was formed to de- 

5ug:ar Trust Fallacies. prive the American consumer of the bene- 

The essay on the trust system fwhich Mr. ^^^ ^' ^^^^ ^^^a'"' ^^^ that while the 
H. O. Havemeyer submitted to the Indus- ^^^^^ ^^ ''^^ sugar has gone steadily down, 
trial Commission in Wa^ington the other ^^^ margin between raw and refined 
day was more remarkable for originality ^^' "^^^^ ^^^^^ recently, been maintained 
than exactness. In dealing with this mib- ^^ ^ P^^^^ considerably higher than it was 
ject, exactness has never (been Mr. Have-' ^^^^^^ ^^^ organization of the Trust. The 
meyer^s forte. When the legislative com- combination among the sugar refiners grew 
mittee was Investigating the trust system ^"^ ^ ^^^ impossiibility experienced by the 
in this city, Mr. Havemeyer made this very owners of old plants and antiquated pro- 
positive statement: "I am saying what I ^^^^^^ ^^ competing with their more pro- 
know to toe a fact jfrhen I state that the sressive and better equipped rivals. 8o 
Supreme Court of the United States has de- ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ economies of refining been 
cided that the Sugar Trust is not a mo- carried in the newer establishments that in 
nopoly." It happens that so far from decid- ^886 one firm sold at a profit for export at 
ing anything of the kind, the opinion of ^^^^ 100,000 tons of standard granulated 
the Supreme Court, as delivered (by Chief sugars. As Mr. John^ DeWitt Warner has 
Justice Fuller, contains these explicit remarked: "U was evident that the Amer- 
statements to the contrary: **By the pur- i^an people were in actual danger of hav- 
chase of the stock of the four Philadelpiila in« cheap sugar, that the owners of anti- 
reflneries with shares of its own stock, the quated refining plants might, in a few 
American Sugar Rcffinlng Company ac- years, be compelled to charge them to 
quired nearly complete control of the profit and loss, and that, unless something 
manufacture of refined sugar within the was done even the Havemeyers would 
United States. ♦ ♦ ♦ But the monopoly soon be dbliged to content themselves with 
and restraint denounced by the Act are tihe such returns from capital as in a fair com- 
monopoly and restraint of Inter-state and petition with an equally enterprising re- 
international trade or commerce, while the finer they and he might fix." The Trust 
conclusion to be assumed on this record is was organized in August, 1887, and in the 
that the result of the transactJion com- year before the margin between raw and 
plained of was the creation of a monopoly refined sugv was at times below 60 cts. per 
in the manufacture of a necessary of life." hundrep pounds. In the year after the 
In oth«r word«, the court decided that average margin was $1.26 per hundred. 
mW$ tfttw m$M 09 prWW^c^ tb»t tlie Tnut UQder the preosur^ of Philadelphia compe- 



ti'ion the margin went dcwn in ISOO to be- 
tween 60 cts and 70 cts., but after the ab- 
sorption of the Spreckels refineries in 1891, 
it quickly recovered, and in 1892 the average 
margin was again over a cent per pound. 
Till the recent renewal of competition the 
average margin of that time has been 
pretty successfully maintained. 

3ir. Havemeyer's characterization of the 
tarift as "the mother of all trusts" is not 
strictly accurate. It may be admitted that 
the artificial stimulus given to industrial 
production by a high pro:ective tariff 
created conditions of unpralicable competi- 
tion, which it was the purpjse of the Trust 
system to correct. In so far as articles 
suibjGct to Trust regulation are protected by 
higli import duties, the tariff undoubtedly 
serves to exclude foreign competition, aal 
so assists the Trusts in retaining tlie con- 
trol of prices in the home market. BuL the 
tariff has not the slightest Ibearin.i? on the 
reroni groac combinations in the iron and 
stoel industry, nor would the repeiil of thi 
whole iron and s.eel schedule of duties 
tend in the least to weaken these combina- 
tions. The great original Trust — the 
Standard Oil Company — is quite aujiepend- 
ent of the tariff; so is the Tobacco Trust, 
the cotton seed combination, the copper 
syndicate, the car trusts and a number of 
others. In short, while a revision of the 
tariff could be so effected as to abridge the 
opportunities for creating a monopoly in 
certain manufajctured articles, it would not 
seriously affect the Trust system as a 
whole. 

In regard to the relations between the 
sugar refining industry and the tariff, there 
are some points which Mr. Havemeyer ap- 
pears to have forgotten It is a matter of 
evidence that as long ago as ISSO the 
Amefrican refiners had so improved their 
processes and utilized machinery as to be 
able to refine more cheaply than their 
European rivals. This fact was admitted 
by Mr. Theodore Havemeyer in his testi- 
mony before the Ways and -Means Com- 
mittee of the House of Representatives. He 
.\yas asked the following question: '*Speak- 
ing of the competition between the refining 
interests in this country and the English 
refining interests, would you be able to 
compete in the business market if there 
.was perfect free trade in sugar?" To this 
Mr. Havemeyer replied: "We would beat 
thom. We can refine sugar here more 
cheaply than they can in England." Again, 
testifying in 1881, -Mr. Havemeyer said 
that the exports of his firm for that fiscal 
year would probably amount to $250,000. 
The matter under discussion was the in- 
corporation in a bill then pending of a pro- 
vision for t'he free import of sugar under 
bond for the purpose of being refined and 
afterwards exported. Being asked how 
much sugar he thought his firm would be 
aible to export under such a provision, Mr. 
Havemever replied that he did not see why 
under free trade in su§ar they could not 
supply a very large portion of the world s 
consui#ption. This scorns a somewhat 
more direct method of fos^.ering the in- 
dustry than that followed by Mr. H. O. 
Havemeyer, and it completely disposes of 
the claim than, on the ground of labor cost, 
ther id any need to protect the American 
rfirfluer affalntt hla Buropc^an compotltor.— 
Now York Journal Commerce, June 19. 



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[Vor XXII, No. 25. 



BEET SUGAR. 

Lehj, Utah. 

Superintendent lA-ustin returned on Tuesday 
from his 'Colorado trip. He is very much 
pleased with the country around I^ovelan-d 
and says they can raise good beets there. 
They are working hard for a sugar factory 
and 'Will Itkely secure one. At Orand Junc- 
tion, some of the fbc,«>ts are up and thinning 
will commence in a week or ten days. The 
machinery has ibegun to arrive at the fac- 
tory. Mr. H. P. Dyer returned with him and 
will figure on the machinery tD ha put in 
here next year 

The five inch special pipe for the sugar 
company's pLpe line to Springville is being 
manufactured and shipped from Pittsburg 
as rapidly as possible. Six car loads were 
isdipped on May 23 and seven cars Itft there 
three days later.- Banner, June 3. 



-Chino, California. 

There is no dry year in evidence about the 
sugar factory now. Work is progressing as 
rapidly there as it can be pushed, with about 
90 men on the rolls, and some departments 
working at nights. Manager Pardonner tells 
us that the factory will be in complete read- 
iness to commence slicing beets by July 1. 
The o.pening of the campaign will depend 
somewhat, however, on weather and crop 
conjiitions for the next four or five weeks. 
It is the present intention to open the cam- 
paign not later tha-n July 15. It is expected 
that with the Oxnard beets to be shiipped 
here for working, the campaign will be four 
to five months long. 

• The acreage of good stand of beets at the 
present date on the Chi no ranch, Mr. Par- 
donner says, is 3500. From 1000 to 1200 acres 
are poor to fair stand. On some of the latter 
a light yield may be harvested, as a result 
of yesterday's rain, but not much is expected 
of it. ' 

Tha big settling reservoir below the fac- 
tory is completed, ready for the refuse lime 
of the campaign. 

The large vertical kiln has been relined, 
the old lining having been burned and 
broken out. — 'Champion, June 2. 



A Beet Harvester. 

At one place In Michigan says the Sugar 
Beet two men were engaged on the same im- 
.plement unknown to each other. The local 
paper says of the coincidence: 

"For months Mr. Par1?er has besn con- 
sidering the advisability of making a ma- 
chine with which Michigan's great sugar 
crop harvest might be facilitated and had 
just about perfected his plans when Mr. 
Thompson came to his foundry for ths pur- 
pose, of securing gears for an loLplement to 
do the same kind of work. They carefully 
questioned each other aqd it developed that 
both were working on the same identical 
principle and had the same ideas in regiard 
to the general working plan of the machine. 



Of course they readily saw that one of the 
two machines could not be patented hence 
they pooled issues and put up something 
emibodying principles which are the out- 
come of t-wo practical minds. The gearing 
is simple having a chain from the axle to 
a ipulley which sets in motion two saw- 
edged disks th'3 ©iges of which pass over 
each other and revolving as they do just 
above the ground cut off the tops of tiie 
boets. Just back of these disks are two 
pwuliarly shaped shovels which extend into 
th? grc'iind from either side of the row and 
lift the beets out of the dirt. After this has 
bean done the work of gathering the sac- 
charine vegetable is easily comipleted." 



RICB. 



5u£:ar in London. 

After C3n.3lderab]e hesitation, the market 
has shown renewed firmness on a resump- 
tion of buying by French operators, who 
still seems to hold the key of the situation. 
The present promise of development was 
cc-rcainly unexpected, the more so as the 
American figures for the week were decided- 
ly unfavorable, and it is upon this some- 
svhat slender reed that the Frenchmen are 
basing their cavculations. The strength of 
the situaDlon, however, remains undeniable, 
and it was only the fear that the recent spell 
of speculation had came to an end that pro- 
duced a leeling of quietude here earlier in 
the iweek. A^ stated previously, the receipts 
of sugar in the United States for the t>ast 
week were unexpectedly heavy, and for this 
rearion the market here took a somewhat 
gloomy view of things, but it is still hoped 
that at least 100,000 tons of beet wiM be re- 
quired by the American refiners later on 
when the cane supplies which they are now 
receiving have been aibsorbed. The stock 
of cane refining kinds available here contin- 
ues extremely limited, and owing to scarcity 
some very high prices have been paid for 
the small quantity of Muscovado sugars 
•which have recently arrived, but as regards 
crystalli^d grocery sorts, the demand has 
been as paor as ever, and were it not for 
the tenacity displayed by holders, prices 
would certainly not remain at their present 
high level. The few sales made show a 
fractional decline, only those lots which re- 
tain a semblance of what crystaiWzed West 
india used to be being taken by' the dealers, 
while the long array of pale dry samples on 
show are neither wanted nor suited to the 
requirements of the present day. The im- 
ports of crystallized raws to Ivondon for the 
week ending 1st inst. amounted to 3,151 
tons and for this vear to 24,424 tons against 
13,543 tons in 1898. 



Trade Notes. 

Babcock & Wilcox Bolters. 

Mr. H H. Meadows, manager of the At- 
lanta office of the Babcock & Wilcox Com- 
pany, reports that tbey will install their 
water-tube boilers in the new cotton mill of 
the Beiinettsvilie Manufacturing Company, 
at Bennettsviile. B. C, aad have also taken 
a second order from the Sumter Cotton 
Mills, Sumter. S. €. The Macon Electric 
Light & Railway Comnany. of Macon. Ga., 
has just installed 500 horse pow-er of Ba»b- 
cook & Wilcox boilers, and the now street 
rai/lway company of Spartansiburg, 6, C^, yrW 
Install about tb^ pam^ pqni^er» 



Talmage on the Rice Market. 

The market continues active at recent ad- 
vance and holders urge that there will be 
fui'cher improi/emenit until values reach a 
retlative parity with those abroad. The de- 
mand in the main runs on the foreign styles 
and pretty evenly distributed, Patna, how- 
ever, receivin'g enlarged attention. There is 
also revived iaterest in ordinary Domestic, 
as prices thereon are far and away below 
the cost of importing an equal grade in For- 
eign. Advices from the South note steady 
demand and firm prices. Stocks in every 
quarter ar?. down to small proportions and 
by 'many thought inadeq'uate to meet re- 
quirements until new crop, hence manifest 
indiffereace whether such move fast or slow- 
.ly. Cables and correspc«ndenc3 from abroad 
note quickened demand and advanced values. 

Talmage, New Orleans telegraphs JL»ouisi- 
ana crop movement to date: 

Receipts, rough, 714.090 sacks; last year 
(inclusive of amoun-: carri:d over), 570,100 
«acks. Sales, cleaned (es-lj 176,222 barrels; 
last year, 122,500 barrels. Fair enquiiry at 
vformer range. 

Talmaige, Charleston, telegraphs Carolina 
crop movement to date: 

Receipts, cleau'Sd, :J7,838 barcls. Sales, 35,- 
505 barrels. Demand fair, principally local. 



A Rice mil for Eunice. 

The Signal has^ been in correspondence 
with parties representing large capital who 
are desirous of (putting up a large rice mill 
at some point in this section that is not 
now occupied, making' special inquiry rela- 
tive to Eunice and Gueydan as a possible 
location. It is the desire to erect a mill 
and have it in operation for the present 
season's crop. 

A good mill will do more to build up 
either of these towns than any other en- 
terprise they can possibly secure and if the 
citizens are as anxious as they seem to se- 
cure a mill they c^an well afford to offer lib- 
eral inducements. We are adrvised that one 
of the parties interested will be In Crowley 
in a few days and will possibly visit other 
podnts in this section while here.— Crow- 
ley Signal June 10. 



Canal fleeting:. 

A conference of all persons interested in 
the canal to connect Calcasieu and Mermen- 
tau rivers will be held in Lake Charles next 
Saiturday night. 

The im^portance of this enterprise cannot 
be readily computed. Besides "glvliig an out- 
let for rice to a poinit that mills a large 
amount of rice — 'Lake Charles — ^it will also 
give transportation competition. This will 
apply equally on lumber, coal and all other 
commodities, and will net a decided fi^nire 
in the freight question. Then there is a 



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tHtl LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



397 



through to Vermilion bay, which will give 
direct inland water communication with 
JNew Orleans. So it will he seen that the 
project is one of the greatest iimportance 
to all southwest (Louisiana. 

The estimated cost of the first canal is 
$15,000. It will 'be seen that ithe project is 
easily within reach. 

There ought to be a large delegation from 
this eection at the Lake Charles conferenco. 
— ^Jennings Times, May 25. 

Charbon. 

From several of the parishes we hear re- 
por'ts of charbon amongst the live stock. 
It is to be hoped that a more correct knowl- 
edge of this fatal malady Is possessed by 
OUT farmers and siock owners than has been 
the case, wrth many, in times pasf, allow- 
ing the disease to spread far and wld-e, and 
dc'pondlng entirely on some quack nostrum 
or other or the application of some barbar- 
ous external remedy (?) for relief, instead 
cf adopting meth<5ds which science had 
wrought out and which are Ibased upon a 
faimiliarity i^ith the exact nature of the 
scourge. Experience goes to show that a 
cure for charbon has yet to toe found; by 
this we mean a specific agent that will rem- 
edy the disease in individual cases. In fact, 
animals frequently die so rapidly that treat- 
ment is unavailing. 

Charbon, being due to a specific germ or 
ofiganiam, has, to "be dealt with toy sanitary 
measures. Prevention is the treatment, an.i 
iwe bave the means within our power, that 
it adopted and carefully carried out, will 
control and eventually eradicate the trouble. 
Sinoe the immortal Pasteur discovered that 
a vaccine could be prepared which if Inocu- 
lated into the healthy animal would prevent 
that animal taking charbon, preventive In- 
oculation has been practiced in Europe with 
gratifying results. But we havei not to go fur- 
ther than our own state to be convinced of 
the efficacy. In previous years, of preventive 
inoculation. This, horwever, although of 
great importance, is only part of the treat- 
ment. Charbon is spread for great distances 
through the careless disposal of the carcass- 
es of the animals that die of the disease. 
This is a very Important point to remem- 
tber. Every dr^op of blood that comes from 
the carcass of a charboaous animal is simp- 
ly teeming with germs, and when a cadaver 
is allowed to remain exposed to the attacks 
of carnivorous animals and carrion toirds, or 
where surface water wasihes the tolood into 
running water, the infection may be carried 
all over the country. Besides, When healthy 
* animals are permitted to graze in the neigh- 
toorhood of the diseased body, they are in 
danger of getting the germs on the grass 
or herbage. Another danger which may re- 
sult from the exiposed caTcass is, that flies 
that have been feeding on the diseased tolood 
may carry it and inoculate healthy animals. 
We have no hesitation in saying that char- 
bon is spread more by neglecting to properly 



dispose of .the charbonous carcasses than by 
almost any other cause. From the experi- 
ences of the past, we would suggest that 
all healthy stock — and all kinds cf stock are 
susceptible — should be inoculated with an- 
thrax vaccine, which, up to the present, is 
the best known means of prevention. Di- 
seased animals should not be removed, for 
the reason that whenever an animal, espe- 
cially horse and mu!e stock, havlnig the di- 
sease is rc^Tioved to another place it makes 
another diseased center or fo-is. Charbon- 
ous carcasses should, where al: all practica- 
ible, be- burnt. This will destroy every ves- 
tige of infec:ion fr:ija I'tie inJivIdual body. 
Where wood is scarce ,as may be the case 
in some sections of the state, deep burial, 
with plenty of lime, should be adopted. All 
accumulations in the stables and lots occu- 
pied by the sick animals should be heaped 
together and burnt. If carcasses have to 
be hauled any distance to be burnt, they 
should be placed on a rough wooden slide, 
so as not to allow the escape of any dis- 
charges from the tocdy, and iwhen the slide 
is done with it, too, should be burnt up so 
as to destroy the infective blood and other 
discharges that may toe on it. Men who are 
attending on the sick stock should not be 
allowed to come in contact with the healthy 
ones, as th-ey are liaible to carry the conta- 
gion. Where blood-sucking or other files 
are numerous, seme agent should toe used 
to drive them away and keep them off the 
stock. There is no "charbon fly," as is 
caoaght by many. AH varieties may be 
charbon flies during the existence of the di- 
sease, by carrying, the contaminated blood 
from the sick to healthy animals. 

TO SUMMARIZE: 

We would suggest the inoculation of all 
animals as a preventive. The burninig of all 
charbonous carcasses. The clearing up of 
all litter, etc., where the diseased animals 
have been. The use of some agent, flsh-oil 
emulsion, for instance, on the stock to ward 
off flies. The disinfection of stables, lots, 
sheds, elc, whijh have been occupied by af- 
fected animals. 

For the information cf citizens of for- 
eign toirth who may not be k'amiliar with 
the disease unde-/ the French name, char- 
bon, which is the common term used in 
this state, we will mention that this trouble 
is known to the iGermans as miltabrand, the 
Latin name used by most English-speaking 
people being anthrax, while Italians are fa- 
miliar with U as carbon, carbonjhio, fuoco 
de San Antonio. The measures suggested 
above for the control and extermination of 
this disease are similar to those adopted by 
European countries which suffer from its 
ravages. In England this disease is con- 
trolled by the government, it 'being one of 
the scheduled diseases under the contagious 
diseases animals act, so that when a case 
or an outbreak occurs it has to be imane- 
dlately reported to the authorltiee, undeo: 



penalty of heavy fine and Imprisonment for 
neglect, its chances of spreading being 
there!by reduced to a minimum. We men- 
tion this fact to show the gravity with 
which it is looked upon in other countries, 
and the necessity for its toeing controlled toy 
sanitary science undui' the control of the 
proper authorities. 



William Porcher Miles. 

. (Special to the Times- Democrat.) 

Charlestoi, S. €., June 16.— lAt a meeting 
of tlic C.ty CouncLl, a tribute was paid to the 
memory of Ihr. late WilMam 'Porcher Miles, 
fjimc. ly mayor of Charleston. 

Alderman Rhett offered the following res- 
olutions, which were adopted: 

"Whereas, the Late WMllam Porcher Miles, 
mayor of th-a -City of Charleston for two 
years, from 1855 to 1857, departed this life 
in Louisiana on the 11th day of May last: 
be It 

"ResolV'ed, That the news of his\death has 
been received by thfs body with emoldons cf 
deep regret at the lass of so distinguished 
and useful a citizen, and of sincere sympathy 
for the members of his family. 

"Rcsoavcd fuiithcr. That this Council holds 
in grateful rememtorance the name of Wil- 
liam Porcher Mika as that of one who added 
new dustre to the office of chief magistrate 
of the City of Charleston, and who, in dis- 
charge of the duUcs appertaining thereto, 
rendered this community public services 
which have naver been excelled in measure 
or efficiency. 

"Re-olvcd furthiT. That a page dn the min- 
utes be inscribe! lin his memory, and that 
these resolutions toe published in the daily 
papers of this city, and a copy, properly en- 
grossed, toe transmitted to his family." 

The Council then aduourned as a special 
mark of respect to the ex-mayor. 

Plantation Sold. 

The Coulon plantation, just above Thlb- 
odaux, on the opposite bank of the Bayou. 
last Saturday became the property of Mr. 
Eugene Robichaux and Mr. Thomas H. 
Roger, they having purchased it from Mrs. 
J. Foret & Sons, for the sum of $50,000. 
Hon. Thomas A. Badeaux was th« notary be- 
fore whom the sale was passei. and he tells 
us tha-c this is the largest sale that has 
taken place in this parish since the Internal 
revenue stiianp law has been in force, fifty 
dollars worth of stamps being required for 
the transaction. 

Besides buying the land and improvements, 
Messrs. Robichaux & Roger also purchased 
the crop, which is composed of some cane 
and 500 arpentis of rice, the whole place be- 
ing compose! of nearly 2000 arpents. 

The new purchase .makes Robichaux the 
individual owner of practically 2000 arpents 
of land, and it makes Mr. Thos. Roger's in- 
dividual land intereats amount to between 
1200 and 1500 arpents.— ^Lafourcbe Comet. 



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398 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER AND SUGAR MANUFACTURER. 



[Vol XXII, No. 25. 



June 23. 

SUGAR. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrifugal 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Prime 

Fully Fair 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 
Plant*n Granurec 
03 Granulated. . 

Choice White 

Off White 

Grey White 

Choice Yellow 

Prime Yellow — 

02 Yellow 

Seconds 

MOLASSES. 

Open Kettle. 

O. K. Centrilugal 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

O M),i Corumon.. 

Common 

Inferior 

Centrifugal. 

Fancy 

Choice 

Strict Prime 

Good Prime 

Prime 

Good Fair 

Fair 

Good Common.. 

Common 

Inferior 

SYRUP. 



WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. 



1899. 



June 17. 



~ (a) — 

4iHC'i4^4 
4 {a^^^ 
3J8(^'4 

3.^8(54 

3?4\^if3.'8 

- (w — 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- OP - 

- (B — 

- (o> — 

4^8 (^4f^ 
4^(^'4|;1 

3 'iB^H 






•S 
o 



- @ - 

— ^; 14 

— (o; — 

9 (d 10 

— @ 8 

— @ - 

— @ - 

— (w - 

— (^ 6 

— @ 6 

— OH — 



June 19. 



- (^ - 
4>4(«'4A 
4>8(^4i4' 
4>t(«'4f4 

4 (s4it 

3%^4 

378(5^4 

3?4(s3^8 

- (^ — 

- @ - 

- (CO — 

- (S - 

- (B - 

- Qv - 
4.^HCa4|S 
4?4^(^4|il 
4>^@4% 
3 iB^H 












- @ 

- @ 

- @ 


14 


9 (^ 

- (^ 

- @ 

- @ 


10 

8 



- @ 6 

- @ 6 

-@ - 



June 20. 



June 21. 



June 22. 



- @ - 

4>4(S4A 
4Jb'«4V4 
4^8(^4V4 

4 (£^4>8 

3%(54 
3J^8('^4 
3^,(a^3J8 
3i*^(s3J8 

- fe - 



_ @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 
45l(a;4% 

434@4|)| 

^%@^% 

3 @4^^ 



43 



C 
O 



- @ 14 

- @ - 
9 @ 10 

- @ 8 
~ C^ - 

- @ - 
^@ _ 

- @ 6 

- @ 6 

- @ — 



- @ - 
4}4^4A 
4>8@4i^ 
4J8(S4>4 
4^ ^4>^ 
3%(a;4 
3J8(s4 
3^4(a3J^8 
3J^(af3>'8 

- @ - 

_ @ - 

- (5? -. 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 
4!f5(r]^47'8 
4^^4}| 
4>^(^4% 
3 @4.^ 



O 
43 



a 
o 



— g 14 

— @ - 
9 @ 10 

— @ 8 

— @ - 

— @ - 
-@ _ 

— @ 6 

— @ 6 

— (^ - 



- @ - 
4>^4(S4A 

4/i@444 

4 (a^4A8 

3%^4 

3Jg(a;4 



.J3^ 
(S — 

- @ - 

- @ _ 

- @ - 

- @ -■ 

- @ - 

4fJ@4% 
4^@4{3 

3 <g4.^ 



i 




— @ 




- @ 
-.@ 

9 @ 
-- @ 

- @ 


14 

10 

8 



— @ 6 

— @ 6 

— @ - 



Jun6 23. 



Same Day 
Last Year. 



4M(^4A 

4>^@4>i 

4>6@4>4 

4 (B^l4 

3Ji(^4 

3J8@4 

3?i^3% 
- @ - 

-@ - 



- @ - 

- @ - 
4Ji@4% 

ih(Bm 
4>4@4?i 
3 (§4% 



a 

43 



0) 

a 

o 



-@ - 

— @ 14 

— @ — 
9 @ 10 

— @ 8 



- @ 6 

— @ 6 

-@ - 



- (a4 

3}J@3[ 
3|3(a3' 
33i@3 . 
3,^,@3^ 

3A@3>^ 
3A(s3>^ 
3 (&3H 



- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 
4A@ - 
4A@3ii 
4>^@4,^ 
2>4@3% 



.a 






0) 

a 
o 



12 @ 13 
12 <§ 13 

— @ 11 

— @ 10 

— @ 9 

— @ 8 
-@ - 
~@ 
-@ 
-@ 



Tone of Market at 
Closing of Week. 



Quiet. 



7 
6 
5 
4 



Dull. 



Dull 



OTHER MARKETS. 



New York: 


















SUGAR. 


















Fair Refining, 89® 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


-@ - 


~@ - 


- @ - 


-@ - 


Raw— Steady. 


Centrifugals, 96*".. 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 






Granulated 


— ^5.20 


-- (55.20 


— ^5.20 


— (g5.20 


— (§6.20 


— @6.20 


6.08® — 




Standard A 


— (a.5.08 


— @5.08 


— (©5.08 


— @5.08 


— (g5.08 


— (§5.08 


4.96(§ - 


Refined— Dull. 


Dutch Granulated 


— (w6.2b 


— (0/5 25 


— (^5.25 


— (a)5 25 


— (§5.26 


- (§6 26 


— @ — 




German GranuPtd. 


— @5.16 


— (^5 15 


- @5 15 


- (s5 15 


— (§5 12 


— @6 12 






MOLASSES. 
















* 


N.O. Choice 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


- @ - 


— @ — 


- @ - 


- @ - 




N. O.Fair 


- (B - 


- @ - 


- @- 


- @ - 


— @ — 


~@ - 


-@ - 




London: 














- @ - 




Java, No. 15 D. S 


13s. Od. 


13s. Od, 


13s. Od. 


138. Od 


128 9d. 


128. 9d. 


12s. 6d. 


Cane— .Dull. 
Beet— Dull and declin- 
ing. 


A. & G. Beet 


lls.lj^d. 


10s. lOi^d. 


10s. 9d. 


10s. 9d. 


lOs. 9d. 


10s. 9d. 


9s. 6d. 



NB^W^ ORLEANS REPINED. 



Cut Loaf 

Powdered 

Stan'd Granula'd. 
Uoiietta Lxira C 

Candy A 

(^rystal Extra C. 
Royal ExC 

SYRUP. 



- ^5.^4 

- ^5^ 

- C^j^h 

- @ - 

- @5A 

- @ - 

- @ - 

- @ - 



- @5>4 

- (B^K 

- (s5^8 

- (a) -- 

- ^5A 

- @ - 
-@- 
-@ - 



@5^4 
@ - 



@ - 



- @5^ 

- @5% 
~@ - 

- @5{b 



— (§ 



- @5^ 

- @6?i 

- @ - 



-@ 



- @6% 

- @5H 

- @ - 

- @6A 



- @ - 



- @6i4 

- @ - 

- @6 32 



Steady. 



STOCKS. 

At four ports of the United States to June 13 Tons 281^098 

At four ports of Great Britain to June 10 " 60,600 

At Havana and Matanzas to June 13 " 60»500 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans for the week ending 
June, 23 1899. 

' Sugar ^ 



Received . 
Sold 



Hhds. 
10 
10 



Barrels. 

6,827 
6,434 



Molasses 

Barrels. 
4,002 
4,002 



Receipts and Sales at New Orleans from S^tember i, 1898, 
to June 23, 1899. 

Hhds. barrels. Barrels. 

Received 10,604 1,268,583 249,570 

Sold 10,604 1,262,666 249JI9D 

ReceiTed same time last year 23,465 1,611,772 20^00 



Digitized by V^OOQLC 



June 24, 18d9.] 



Tfifi LOUlStAiJA J»LaM*ER ANt> SUGAR MAiTUF'ACtURfiR. 



39S 



June 23. 








WEFIKT.Y MARKET REPORT. 






1899. 


RICE. 


June 17. 


June 10. 


June 20. 


June 21. 


June 22. 


June 23. 


Same Day Last 
Year. 


Tone of Market at 
Close of Week. 


Rough, M£ bbl... 


Nomimal 


Nominal 




Nominal 


Nominal 


I 


Nominal 


— @ — 


Dull. 


Clean, Ex. Fancy 


i» 1 y^- no y 


/» 1 V ^ r«« ^ 




L 








— @ — 


Fancy.... 


• 














6>^(a6^ 




rhnice. .. 








i 








63i(a6 


« 


Piime.... 


1 






1 








6>ijfe5% 




Good ... 








\ 








5%(^5>^ 




Pair .... 








^ 








5^«5% 




Ordinary 
















4^-8 @4^ 




Comroou . 
















4>^@^>^ 




Screenings 


2 (c.23^ 














- @ - 




interior . . 


IH(&2 








Tj^i'i " 






— (a? — 




No.2 


^h^^ 








ihQtm 






12 50(^13 00 




Fran, per ton.... 


12 00 






^^ 


12 00 





«M W 


Quiet and steady. 


P'^KHH, per ton . . . 


Nominal 


Nominal 




Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


Nominal 


16 00^ — 




RcceipU ■■ 


m 5mi9» at New 


OHauij for 


tte week eadliif 






ieece<pu et Neiv Orleaiu troji 


Auff. 1. 1898. to June aj. i«99« 




June 


aa 1«09. 


BAors Rough. Bblh 


ri.nm,ii. 






compered witb lei 


It year, same time. 


Receired 






15)7 1SQ 1 


Thi8 


year 




683,427 10,585 

469.713 8.081 


Pold 








450 212 1 


!.»»• 





Sus:ar. 

The sugar market was Quiet and steady 
at the end of the 'week, receipts from the 
country beimg only moderate- 



Molasses. 

No open kettle goods in first hands, 
trifuga'ls dull. 



Cen- 



Rice. 

Receipts of rough rice were very lig^t at 
the end of the week and practically no busi- 
ness was reported. Clean rice was steady, 
with trading light. 



Price of Sug^ar Cane in Vermilion. 

The Cane arowers Association met at the 
courthouse last Saturday to receive a prop- 
osition from the 'Roee Hill Sugar CJompany 
for their cane. Mr. Von Tresckow, who 
represented the company made the offer of 
80 cents net, for all cane delivered at the 
mill or at the established river landings. 
The "net" offer means, to the planter, no 
freights, no derrick or scale fees. The "80 
cents,'* means eighty cents .paid for every 
one cent prime yellow is worth dn the mar- 
ket at the time of the delivery of the cane. 
For example, when he delivers his cane at 
the mill or landing, and sugar is worth 4 
cents N. O. market, he -will get 4x80 cents 
per ton or $3.20, without any re1)ate what- 
ever, a proposition the planter ought to 
be satisfied with, or quit the buainese. — 
Republican Idea, June 8. 



New Reciprocity Treaties. 

Washington, June 5.— Sir Cavendish Boyle, 
Government Secretary of British Guiana, 
was presented to the Secretary of State to- 
day by the British Charge d'Aflaires, Mr. 
Tower. Sir Cavendish has just arrived froim 
London, and his special mission is to assist 
in negotiating a treaty of reciprocity for 
British Guiana. Commissioner Kasson and 
Mt. Tower have already made conaidera»ble 
progress on the treaty, and Sir Cavendish 
will now bring to the negotiations the ben- 
efit of his intimate knowledge of the com- 
merce of Guiana, as well as the views lield 



by the Colonial Office on trade exchanges. 
The meeting to-day was preliminary and 
SDoial, and arrangements were made to 
have 'Mr. Kasson. Sir Cavendish and Mr. 
Tower proceed with the business next week. 
iMr. Tower has also received word from 
the British Foreign Office that a commission 
from Jamaica had been authorized to come 
here and aid in framing a reiciprocity treaty. 
Tills clears up a matter which was Involved 
in considera^ble doubt. Mr. Tower will repre- 
sent fhe home Government, while the Ja- 
maicans will give the aid which their per- 
sonal familiarity with the island's affairs 
will make -effective. At the same time, Mr. 
Tower will conduct negotiations for a treaty 
for Barbadoes, so that three distinct treaties 
are hoped to come out of the present ne^- 
tiations. The exipectatlon of the officials, 
•both at the State Department and at the 
Em'bassy, is that the treaties will be com- 
pleted within the next few weeks and be- 
fore the summer exodus from Washington 
occurs. It is said that the negotiations are 
simple and no obstacles are antici,pated. — 
N. Y. Journal Commerce. 



Personal. 

Oonigressman R. iB. Hawley, of Galveston, 
Texas, who is extoasively interested in su- 
gar planting and who is a valuable ally of 
the domestic sugar industry in the halls of 
legislation at Washington, iwas in New Or- 
leans on a visit a few days ago. Mr. Haw- 
ley stopped at the St. Charles "Hotel. 

Miss Kate L. Minor, the talented and dis- 
tinguished sister of the late lamented H. C. 
-Minor of Southdown plantation, was in 
New Orleans during the past week. She 
stopped at the St. Charles Hotel, and was 
acocmpanfed by Miss N. Minor. 

Mr. B. W. Cook, one of the foremost sugar 
plantation managers im the state iwas an ar- 
rival at the Hotel Grunewald last Monday. 
Mr. Cook 'has been managing a large sugar 
plantation In West Baton Rouge parish for 
many years and Is thoroughly exipert In all 
that pertains to sugar planting. 

Mr. C. S. Mathews, of Raceland, La., was 



at the Grunewald Hotel during the week. 
Mr.Mathews has 'been quite sick recently. 

'Mr. lE. F. Dickinson, of Lafourche parish, 
'Where he is connected with one of the larg- 
est and best plantations in that section of 
tne state, was a guesc of the Hotel Grune- 
wald last Monday night. 

Mr. Wibray J. Thonvpson, of Calumet plan- 
tation. Bayou Teche, stopped at the St. 
Charles Hotel last Thursday. 

(Mr. Louis Kramer, of Franklin, La., was 
in town during the past week. He regis- 
tered at he Commercial Hotel. 

Mr. L. F. Suthon, lawyer, sugar planter, 
and genial good fellow, of Houma, Terre- 
bonne parish, came uip to the city on one of 
his frequent business trips last Monday and 
registered at the Cosmopoditan. 

Dr. H. J. Sanders, Of Bayou Teche, came 
up to t'he city last Tuesday. He stopped at 
the St. Charles as usual. 

Messrs. -H. F. fiiprague and R. H. Sprague, 
of the cel-ebrated Adeline Central Factory 
were at the Cosmopolitan Hotel last Satur- 
day. 

A. L. Keller, Esq., of HahnvIUe, La., regis- 
tered at t'he Grunewald (Hotel last Wednes- 
day. 

Mr. Ben. H. Prlng, of the fine Oneida plan- 
tation. In St. James parish, came down to 
Now Orleans laat Wednesday and s-pent a 
while pleasantly, mingling with 'his friends 
and transacting business. He stoipped at the 
St. Charles Hotel. 

Mr. Geo. Hill, the prominent West Baton 
Rouge parish sugar planter was a guest of 
the St. Charles one day during t'he week. 

U. S. Senator Donelson Caffery, of St. 
Maiy, -was In the city on a visit a few dajrs 
aero. The Senator's Bethla plantation Is one 
of the best places of Its size In Louisiana. 

Mr. L. A. Blouln, the Lalfourche parish su- 
gar (planter, was among the arrivals at the 
.Com.mercial Hotel on Wednesday. Mr. 
Blouln had his sons with him. 



Sugar Patents. 

Patents of Interest to the sugar industry 
reported specially for The 'Louisiana 
Planter by R. W. Bishop, Patent Attorney, 
Washington, D. C. who will furnish com- 
plete cojziies of patents at the rate of ten 
cents each. 

626.759. Evaporating device. O. T. Jos- 
lln. New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to 
Black & Clawson Comipany, Hamilton, Ohio. 

^6.760. Apparatus for treating sugar 
Juices. J. E. Kohn, Cleveland. Ohio, assi^gn- 
or of one-half tto J. F. Kllby. same plaA;e. 



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400 



THE LOUISIANA PLANTER ANB SUGAR MANUPACTCRER. 



[Vol XJCII, No. 25. 



WANTS. 



We will pttbllth In this column, free of charge until 
further notice, the api>llcatlon5 of all managers, over- 
seers, engineers and sugar-makers, and others who 
may be seeking positions in the country, and also the 
wants of planters desiring to employ any of these. 

WANTED—Positlon through grinding as weigh man 
In scale house, or book-keeper on plantation. Best of 
references ana experience. Address T. C. Hammond, 
Albla, Iowa. 6-19-89 

WANTED— Situation in a blacksmith shop. Have had 
two years experience In a general repair and shoeing 
shop. Address Olando Cobb, DonaldsonviUe, La. 

6-17-99 

WANTED— By a first-class sugar maker, a situation 
for the coming crop. Refers to B. Cherbonnler of St. 
James, Henry Tremoulet of New Orleans, and J. P. 
Kearny of Ptequemlne. Address E. Chauvin, Union 
P. Or, La. 6-2i)-99 

WANTED— A first-class sugar house engineer; must 
be a thorough mechanic and furnish best of references. 
Address John R. Gheens, Gheens, La. 6-20-99 

WANTED— Position by a young man 25 years old as 
book-keeper or clerk or both. Have had seven years 
experience In office and store. Thoroughly competent, 
and satisfactory references furnished. Address N., 
care P. M., Gueydan, La. 6-22-99 

WANTED— A position as sugar boiler by a first-class 
man who thoroughly understands the clarification of 
cane Juice. Eighteen years* experience. Makes no 
use of Intoxicating liquors. Address Wesley, P. O. 
Box 1896, New Orleans. 6-12-99 

WANTED— A situation as sugar maker on a planta- 
tion using a steam train and centrifugals. Was em- 
ployed for the past eight seasons to take off the crop 
on Glendale Plantation, of Mr. George Sarpy. Address 
Justin Babin, Raceland, La. 6-14-99 

WANTED— For coming season, a position as engi- 
neer, assistant engineer or helper in some capacity In 
meohanical department of sugar factory, by an engineer 
of considerable experience In construction, erection 
and maintenance of various kinds of machinery, but 
no experience with sugar machlneiy. Object is to 
learn sugar machinery. Address J. K. Gilchrist, S.- 
Zanesvllie, O. 6-10-99 

WANTED— By a willing, industrious and steady 
man, with experience on plantations and In sugar 
houses, a position, permanent, if possible, with a 
sugar planting and manufacturing company. Promise 
faithful attention to Interests of employer first. Main 
object a good start, with chance to work up. Can keep 
accounts or look after labor. References furnished., 
Address A. C. W., care Louisiana Planter. 

WANTED— Position as clerk in plantation store by 
a single man 36 years of age. Nine years' experience 
In general store, and can furnish best of references. 
Address E. T. Bial, DonaldsonviUe, La. 6-15-99 

WANTED— A situation on a Louisiana plantation as 
Junior overseer, by a young man who has been six 
months on an estate In the West Indies. Address C. 
\C., care this office. 6-7-99 

WANTED— Position as governess by a young lady 
who can furnish best of references Address Miss 
Besbie HALLt 2419 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans. 



WANTEI>— Situation by a lady of experience as a 
teacher; object, a good home with small salary ; ad- 
dress A. W., care Mississippi Packet Co., New Orleans, 
La. 5-19-99 

WANTED— Position as stenographer or book-keeper 
by a young man. Can give good references, and have 
no bad habits; address L. J. Carter, care Draughon 
College, Galveston, Texas. 5-23-99 

WANTED— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar maker, 
a position for the season of 1899, either In Louisiana, 
Texas or Mexico; is a close boiler of firsts and sec- 
onds; Is strictly temperate and reliable and can fur- 
nish the best ot reference from past employers as to 
character and ability; speaks Spanish and French. 
Address J. W. P., 4231 N. Peters street, New Orleans, 
La^ 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
machinist and engineer for repairs and all-around work 
in beet sugar factory. Position permanent if satisfac- 
tory. Address, with references and salary expected, 
C. A. Zimmerman, Box 98, Eddy, New Mexico. 

WANTED— Position as governess or teacher; sum- 
mer or session. Best references furnished. Address 
Miss Mary Stith, 1446 Camp street, New Orleans. 

WANTED— Situation by a young man 22 years of age, 
with gilt-edged references, as clerk in country or city 
store. Five years experience. Can speak French and 
English. Address Aguinaldo, Soulouque, La. 

5-17-99 

W.A,NTEI>— Position for the 1899 crop as book-keeper 
or assistant. Can give best of references. Twenty- 
two years old and a graduate of a good business col- 
lege; address A. E. Smith, Ozan, Ky. 5-9-99 

WANTED— A first-class and competent assistant 
sugar boiler wishes position for coming season. Bast 
references fumlshea; address Proof Stick, Box G2, 
DonaldsonviUe, La. 5-6-99 

WANTED— Position as manager or first assistant, or 
as overseer. Experienced with teams and general 
plantation work. Eighteen years experience and can 
furnish best of references; address A. C, care this 
office. • 

WANTED— Position by a young man as time or book- 
keeper. Can give best of reference; address Arthur, 
care P. M., Little Cypress, Ky. 5-10-99 

WANTED— Situation by an experienced machinist 
and sugar plantation engineer. Strictly sober and at- 
tentive to business, would like to secure work the 
year round if possible at reduced salary, or take re- 
pairs and crop on very reasonable terms. Good refer- 
ences furnished; address P. M. E. Fngineer, IZi Fern 
str^tt, New Orleans. 5-10-99 

WANTED— Position on a sugar plantation as black- 
smith, wheelwright and horse- sheer; address Sidney 
G. KoussELL, Edgard, La. 5-1-99 

WANTED— Any sugar planter requiring the services 
of a competent and sober mechanical engineer, with 
references, will please tddress Engineer, No. 4721 
Magazine street, New Orleans, La. 5-11-99 

WANTED— Position as time-keeper, overseer, clerk 
or general office or store work. Can give the best of 
city and outside references: address A. H. Noeninoer, 
care of Room 208, Board of Trade Building, New Or- 
leans. 4-23-99 



WANTED— A position as manager or overseer on a 
sugar plantation. I am 86 years old and have been in 
the business T6 years. Am a man of family and can 
famish the best of references. Address A. C. Buoo, 
Lutcber, La. 6-8-99 

WANTED— A first-class and practical all-around su- 
gar boiler wishes to secure a position for the coming 
season, or as assistant on some large place. Best of 
references as to character amd ability. Terms reason- 
able. Address Walmer, 1019 Galennle street, city. 
6-8-99 

WANTED— A position as sugar boiler. First-class 
references furnished. Long experience. Careful, 
steady man. Address George, 4730 Tchoupltoulas 
street. New Orleans. 5-27-99 

WANTED— Accountant and book-keeper wishes po- 
sition on plantation; address M., 1328 Louisiana Ave- 
nue, New Orleans. 6-1-99 

WANTED— Position by a man of family as second 
engineer, to live on plantation. A 1 references. Sat- 
IsfactlongUAranteea: address Sugar House Engineer, 
Box 48, Wbltecastle, La. 6-1-99 

WANTED— By a first-class mechanical engineer and 
practical sn gar DoUer, position as chief engineer, or 
sugar boUer or superintendent of sugar house for com- 
ing season. Twelve years of steady, practical expe- 
rience In modem plantation sugar house management. 
Gilt-ed|[ed references from past employers. On ac- 
count of freeze was released from service with last 
employers after a steady service of four years. Ad- 
dress SUGAR Bxpbbt, Box 431, Ncw Orleans. 



WANTED— An engagement for the coming crop by a 
French chemist, 40 years of age, with long experience 
and good references; address Boys-Bancbs, Apartado 
715, Ilavana, Cuba. 4-17-99 

WANTED— On a plantation, a competent blacksmith, 
one who thoroughly understands horse-shoeing; apply 
to Schmidt <fe Ziegler, Nos. 429 to 436 South Peters st. 

4-18-99 

WANTED— An all around good plantation blacksmith. 
Also a good plantation wheelwright. State wages; ad- 
dress J. S. Collins, Sartartia, Texas. 4-19-99 

WANTED— Position by a reliable and experienced 
man, who can give first-class references, totane charge 
of a plantation store. Is a man of family and is anxious 
to make himself useful; address S. , care this office. 

4-19-99 

WANTED— Position as plantation cook by experi- 
enced widow. Can refer to Mr. Gillls of Poydraa 
plantation, and others: address Mrs. S. Terrblle, 
2221 Erato street, New Orleans. 4-17-99 



WANTED— Position as assistant chemist, book-keeper 
or time-keeper, by young man, aged 24, college gradu- 
ate. Have done some work In sugar analysis. Have 
some knowledge of German; address Box 33, State 
College, Pa. ^ 4- 28-99 

WANTED— A thoroughly competent and experienced 
sugar plantation manager, with the highest recommen- 
dations, desires to secure a position as manager or as- 
sistant; address Manager H. A., care General Deliv- 
ery, New Orleans. 5-3-99 



WANTED— A position as superintendent or head su- 
gar maker, by a man of large experience, either in plan- 
tation sugar house or sugar refinery. Can furnish good 
references. Would prove a valuable and all-around 
faithful man in any sugar house. Address P. R., care 
Louisiana Planter. 4-2S-99 

WANTED— Position by an all-around handy man: 
can do carpentry, painting, milk cows and make himself 
useful about a place. First-class references; address 
Chas. Trepagnier, 1426 St. Ann street, New Orleans. 
4-21-99 

WANTED— Situation by an expert chemist. Three 
years experience as head chemist In Germany, and also 
able to supervise the culture of of sugar beets. Al 
references. Can speak German, Dutch, English and 
French; address L. G. Leler, care M. E. Sepp, 2583 
8th Avenue, New York. 4-14-99 

WANTED— By a vacuum pan sugar boiler, an engage- 
ment for next season's crop. Best of references as to 
experience, capacity and character; address M. S., 
care of The Chief, Donaldson ville, La. 4-13-99 



W.\NTED— A position by a first-class, alround ma- 
chinist; experienced In sugar mill and locomotive work; 
good at vice, lathe or bench; address Jas. Brommer, 
care Louisiana Planter. 4 — 11—90. 

WANTED— For the coming season, aposltion as sugar 
boiler by a competent, sober and reliable man. For 
references and other particulars, address Felix Oubrb. 
Edgard, La. 4—12—99 

WANTED— By a first-class vacuum pan sugar boiler, 
a crop for the coming season In Mexico, Cuba or the 
Hawaiian Islands. The best of references furnished; 
address J. H. F., 727 Lowerllne street. New Orleans. 

4-5-99 

WANTED— Situation by a young man as store clerk, 
book or time keeper, or any position in which he can 
make himself generally useful. Eight years experi- 
ence In genertU merchandise business. Good account- 
ant and quick at figures. Married, strictly sober, best 
references as to capability, integrity, etc. Address J. 
F., Union P. O., St. James, La. 

WANTED A sugar house expert, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position. Capa- 
ble of taking entire charge of running the factory, or 
as sugar maker; address R. R., care this ofi^ce. 

4-6-99 

WANTED— By competent man with first-class refer- 
ences a position as 1st. or 2nd overseer on a sugar plan- 
tation ; address S. 29 this paper. 

WANTED— Married man, German, desires a position 
as yard or stableman; address Phiup Braun, Gibson, 
La^ . 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a man 30 years old, of sober 
habits, with good references, as clerk in general mer- 
chandise store, plantation store preferred. Can also 
do some office work. Speaks French. Salary not so 
much an object; address J. Bebthelot, Box 101, 
Welsh, La. 3-23-99 

WANTED—Positlon by a first-class vacuum pan su- 
gar boiler. Is a close lx>ller of first and molasses su- 
gars, and thoroughly versed in refinery and beet sugar 
and the boiling for crystalllzers. Best of referenoest 
address H., care this office. 8-27-99 

WANTED— Position by a first-class sugar house en- 
gineer, good machinist, 18 years' experience In some of 
th3 best sugar houses In Louisiana and Texas; address 
F. O. Walter, this office. 3-25-99 

WANTED- Situation bv a middle-aged, single Ger- 
man, to do plain family cooking and make himself gen- 
erally useful, or as yard man or gardener; address E. 
Gorman, care Louisiana Planter. 



WANTED— Thoroughly competent and experienced 
West Indian sugar plintatlon manager, with the highest 
recommendations, desires to secure a position as su- 
perintendent or manager of a sugar plantation in Cuba 
or other West Indian Island; is thoroughly equipped 
for the work in every particular; address Cuba, care 
this office. 8-2IK99 

WANTED— PosiUon by a mechanical draughtsman. 14 
years experience, practical and theoretical, as chief or 
assistant engineer. Have been employed for last six 
years p*' asilstant engineer In large sugar refinery; ad- 
drep« Dea'JGHTSMan, 1610 S. Lawrence street, PhUa- 
delihU, Pa. 8-23-99 



FOR SALE CHEAP. 

One 6 Roller Hill. 4 and 4^ feet. 
One Battery 4 double flue Boilers. 
One Knowles Duplex Pump, 10" suction, 8" discharge. 
Apply to B. A E. B. LaPloe, 

Lauderdale, La. 



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