The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-07-23

VIII E1gur6S Lie
If they will not, then are we on the
wrong track to prosperity? This is so
with US, at least, who live in the vicin-
ity of Bolivar, and we fear in other por-
tions of our county also. Through the
Politeness of our estimable friend Gee.
n. Dugan, we have been permitted to
examine the books at the depot and
gather therefrom the imp orts and ez-
ports Of this point by rail. This gives
an unfailing indication Of the condition
of our people. If we are selling moro
than we buy, then It is manifest that We
are all right with the outside commercial
world; If, on the other hand, we are buy
ing more than we arc selling from our
exports, it is evident that we are not en-
the road to prosperity. Let US see how
the citizens Of Hardeman county, who
trade at this point, stand in this matter;
and, as Bolivar is only one of the four
teen places that export our productions
and receive the supplies Of. the county, it
is reasonable to suppose that what is
true of her, Is true Of alI-ab uno disco
omnes.
We have taken the imports into BoIi-
var for six months and have doubled
them to get the amount for the year, end
ing August Ist, 1875. OF tue fifteen
leading articles Of consumption by our
citizens, viz : corn, cornmeaI, -four meat,
lard, whiskey, sugar, coffee, moIasses,
salt, potatoes, coal, feed, seeds and to-
baceo, we import something more than
| $4,000 worth More than two-thirds
of this amount, CT S25O,53O, is spent for
the six articles, corn, coTnmeal, -four,
meat lard and tobacco. Don't forget
/ that this exhibit shows what is taking
place in the country adjacent to Bolivar
a small part of Hardeman county, and If
true Of US, must be equally true as to
what Is occurring in other parts Of the
county. Think Of it, farmers, that we,
who ought to be making a surplus of the
six articles above enumerated, and
ought to be putting into oar pockets
from the sale Of the same at least $780,
600, are positively buying from other
people, and paying the expense Of
bringing those articles to us, to the enor-
nous amont of $25O,53O. Do Isay enor-
mous2 1t is immensely large espec>
tally when we consider what part of our
cotton crop (the only item Of export we
haYe,) 1t takes to buy these very arts
Giles that should be produced upon our
plantations.
Let US look at our means for paying
for all we purchase and import yearly
There has been exported from Bolivar
within the last twelve months, 1914
bales of cotton. What was 1t worth ?
At sixty dollars per bale, it brought US
the sum Of S2I8,64O But this is less than
what the six articles enumerated above,
(and which we could and should raise
upon our plantatios) cost US, by nearly
$4,000 Do we export anything else
than cotton Nothing worth estimat>
ing-a pittance from hides and lumber
but not sufficient in amount to bother
about.
| Some may say we cannot we'll make
our chewing tobacco Strike it of, and
how does the account stand The cot
ton Of last year then about pays for the
corn, cornmeal wheat, meat ard lard we
imported, leaving a balance in our favor
of $4,000 or $4,000 This takes no cal
culatiOn Of the sugar, coffee, molasscs,
whiskey, etc, etc, etc,
Citizens of Hardeman county, we can t
live at this rate. We will ave to
change this balance against US to one
in our favor. Look over the list of ar
tiolos for which we have to pay, and say
which of them we viii quit buyin g
Here is the list of only fifteen articles
from which the estimate has been made.
Look over it carefully, and see which you
can, and might dispense with rurchas,
ing: earn, corHmeal, .tzoar, meat Igrd
tobacco, whiskey, sugar, ccFee, noIasses
salt potatoes, coal, feed, /: hay, and
seeds. Rccollect the mosto our money
goes for the first five or six articles.
If, after considering the matter, (and
it is very grave one) We should con-
clude that we cannot get along without
buying bread and meat from our North
ern friends, let us at least quit buying
the corn and get them to send it all in
co2Hmeal, it is so much less trouble to
US, as it saves going to mill.
1t is proper to state that last year was
a very hard one on the farmer, and
that the cotton shipped from Bolivar
was abo1t one-half what we usually
make Let US make a better showing
for the next year, beginning Sept. LIST
1878.