The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-02-20
Good Advice to the South.

At weekly meeting of the national
grange, recently held at st. Louis, 8
memorial to the Patrons of Husbandry
IN the cotton states was presented and
unanimously adopted. 1t is an argu-
ment in favor of mixed husbandry in
the south, instead of expending the en-
ergies of the people in raising a single
crop It says:
'FDuring the past seven years our cot
ton fields have added to the wealth Of
the world two thousand millions of dol
lars anG caused prosperity to smile upon
every one who has handled our crops
save those who struggle for its Produc-
tion annually. The energies of the
cotton planters have been exhausted In
attempting to produce maximum crop
of single staple whilst quite as fre-
quently he has reduced his means in
supplying his necessary wants. A sys-
tenn based upon such policy and pro-
ducing such results must be radically
wrong, and if persisted in will lead to
bankruptcy and ruin. No people can
ever become prosperous who are not
seIf-sustaining. Our exhaustless min
eral wealth, abundant water power, and
generally saIubrious climate, avails us
nothing, If annually we expend millions
for subsistence. 1t is generally cOnce-
de that home grown bread is cheaper
than purchased supplies, and the OBJ
servation of every planter is, that the
southern farmers who live within them
selves are more independent and less
encountered with debs than those who
have relied solely upon their cotton
crop. Were it otherwise, 1t is hazard
Gus for American people TO rely upon
others for supply of those articles
which are necessary for their daily con-
sumption.
It then refers to the famine which
has occurred more than once IN India,
owing to the attempts of the people to
grow cotton TO the exclusion of bread
stuffs, and adds:
"During the past year portions of
Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota have been
invaded by grasshoppers, and they des-
troyed every vestige of vegetation. I'm
agine your condition, should 9 similar
invasion become general in the north
west. Couple with this idea the total
failure of a cotton crop, either from
the worm, drouth or any other unavold-
able cause. Improbable as sucn vista
tions may appear, have we the power
to avert them, and is it wise to subject
ourselves to the possibility of becom-
TlCbGLlS VI SttCA Ca1aEAAbAGo NCuA
wisest and safest policy is, as far as
practicable, to produce at home our nee
essary supplies. Is there farm in the
south upon which this cannot be done,
and at the same time produce an aver
age cotton crop as the net result of the
farmers, annual labor2 We believe there
is not. Annually four millions bales OF
cotton are produced upon southern soil
but what proportion of this vast amount
is returned to indicate our prosperity
One-half of it is expended for neces'
sary supplies, whilst the remainder is
divided between labor and taxes. Hence
the cost of production has exceeded the
value of the article produced. Shall
this policy continue? Extensive cotton
crops have evinced our unity of pur
pose and entailed poverty upon us. Ar
equally unfair adhesion to mixed hus
bandry would secure our recuperation
Cotton is a necessity, and the extent o.
the necessity can be calculated with ex
actness. If 3, 500, 900 bales are grown
they will be consumed before another
can be gathered, and a remuneratiyt
market price will be sustained by the
consequent demands. IF 5, 800, 900 bales
are grown, the large 4 arginal excess vii
control and depTess the market. The
alternatives for success are numerous
but we need to rely upon the single one
of co operating in the determination tx
subsist at home With this end attained
there is no reason why we should not
be the happiest, most Independent and
prosperous people on earth.
The memorial is signed by the mas
ters Of the state oranges of South anG
North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi
Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgii
and Tennessee, and was not o0ly heart
lily approved by the committee on reso
Iutions, but Endorsed by every membel
of the national grange.