Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-02-01

I
gia farms, lands and their prices, their
advantages, products and general feat
ures; but l said nothing Of Turning, or
the manner of living, in our great State.
In reading these letters, one not ac-
quainted in the State. would come TO the
conclusion that the richest and most in
dependent people in our country occu-
pied the soil Of Georgia. This might be-
the case, but unfortunately il is not The
fault, however, is not in the soil, not in
the farms, but in the planters them
selves You good people in Virginia
would say that there was 4 great deal
lack of common sense, in the way of
doing things here. First Of all let me
say that Savannah is only one of the
cotton marts through which our cotton
reaches its destination 4 large guam
ty is sent through Augusta, direct 10
! Charleston, and even to New York by
rail. Another large quantity. from the
western part of the State Is shipped to
Mobile and even New Orleans. | shall
therefore speak only of the portion Of
cotton shipped to Savannah. Last year
there were brought here and sold 546,-
! 772 bales, and sold for S4S.370,70j
Last year, be it remembered, was a fail
crop. The present year will be much
larger. BY comparison with last year.
we are, at this date, 10000 bales in
advance Our last quotation from this
mornings paper, is 46-.,2S6 bales, and
the daily receipts are from 1900 to GOOO
bales. The probability is that we will
a.h near l,000.O00 bales by the last Of
December. The reconing is from Jan.
lst, to Dec 3lst, and will therefore In
clude this years crop, not yet planted.
We will therefore say, for the season,
6O0,000 bales and We will be within
bounds. BY little figuring you will
find the average per bale, for last year,
to be $SSi. Cotton is equal in price this
year, and in fact little in advance Say
SIS per bale, then the amount sold here
would be $52, ,SJJ0J). We will say in
round numbers S5O,0D0,0OO. This be
longs to the farmers who produced the
cotton But doubt whether $1,000
900 have been carried into the country
or can now be found in the planters
pockets, where it should b..
This brings me to my subject. You
will naturally ask, what has been done
with so much money! Where has II
gone ? The question can be answered
in few words-H is epfen up. 1t was
consumed before it was sent to market,
and the farmer has an empty purse, and
is eating away on the crop not yet plan
ted. You say this is wretched policy.
/ admit it, and none Of the substantial
German farmers of your section would
ever b. guilty of such folly.
went into job printing Offices few
days ago, and saw an order for 800
blanks, from a cotton deher in small
town. Among our merchants these
blanks 90 by thousands These blanks
are intended to be signed by the plant
er for his supplies, either in goods or
money, predicated on his coming crop.
He binds, in these blanks, not only his
crops but his lands, houses, horses,
mules, farming implements and almost
his body and SOUL This mortgage, tor
it is no other, gives him unlimited credit
mp 10 his uaIuation in doiarS and cents.
He keeps no account, but orders and
orders again. His factor however keeps
his eye on his account, and stops him
rhen he has eaten has heat cG BY
this process, in interest and immense
profits, he pays rOundly for all he con
sumes. Our tariff is no circumstance 10
his tax, i'll this aspect. The worst tea
ure is.you cannot persuade him to adopt
a different system. He has been accus-
toned to it from youth, and from his
grandfather down. Our two de
pots are distant about one mile. and the
entire distance between the two points
is redolent with guano and fertilizer 1t
is sent to the country by train loads o"
me grOWng crop-not growmg, but
on the crop not yet planted.
Let me introduce the substance Of
conversation that actually occurred, be
tween two neigbbors, in the country
The one was shrewd German by des-
cent, not born in Georgia. The other
was to the manor born, but no Ger
man III him The first one we will call
g. which stands for German. The other
we will call y. which may stand for ma
tive.
G. Well neighbor y. how much cot
ton did you make this year
y. | made % bales, and it netted me
IS cents
G.. That is singular 1t il just the
crop | made and the price ! received
for it. | put the sl,8JJ on interest to-
day.
\. You put it on interest Why
have not one cent, aud am in debt be-
sides How IL the world did you live
through the year Where did you get
yonr bacon, meat, -four and such like I
g. | raised my own hogs, planted
my own corn, raised my own wheat,
and fed my own cattle from the produce
Of the farm
y. But how about your clothing, cot
fee, sugar and wages for hands 7
q. raised fowls, sold butter, eggs
aud poultry, sold some corn, some half
dozen barrels of syrup, and male these
things pay all my expenses.
\. Well how about your fertilizer :
G. l bought that with my last years
crop and paid S45 per ton. You bought
yours out Of this ! ear cfopand paid go.
y. So did, but few dollars makes