The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-11-02
C Communications

and the man who can set the people
right on them will confer great bles'
sing on the human kind. / will
throw out few hints, as to my no
ton of things, more for the purpose
of drawing out the views of the wise,
/ am anxious to hear these topics
discussed. Almost all tell us that
cotton has ruined us. think this q
mistake, l admit that it has
helped TO bring spirit ot extrava-
gance, and indirectly has been partly
the cause Of hard times, but it is not
cotton Ier-se of its self. Where
men raise COTTON they have to turn
it into cash before they use it, and it
is II settled fact, that nineteen out Of
twenty me" cal not or will nor take
proper care "t cash, out will lAv~
ishly spend ii for gin-craks aud tom
ioolry.
But let rs not blame cotton for our
inprovId~nce. Lot us see what it
cost to raise cotton. To cultivate All
acre is worth Sc, $50 pounds Euano
is worth $3.50, an acre will produce
500 pounds; picking the cotton le
worth 81 81, and this is u!,h, rs the
crop is often gathe ed oy chil1ren,
whose zine is worm but litiic; We
have $13 90 expenses; 500 t,ouhds III
3 cents, $l5.OO-$2 20 clear. 1t is
worth auout 800 to cultivate an
acre Of corn aud gather it An acre
that will make 500 pounds cotton
will make, sa, twelve bushels corn,
at so cents per bushei, 5 cents If tor
haulding to market-and often it IL
worth it; we have 10 bushels ut As cts,
SIS 40, $1.60 loss maintain that
this is fair c ut. Land that will
make 20 bushels corn will make
1000 pounds Of C tton, and often IL
NJ N1ONN; o-UE
WiIl~nE n admit, that cotton for
the last year has been II better price
than cor'2 t. day, II is ut better
price. Men surely have reasoned
Incorrectly, who cay corn will pay
better than cotton. The old crop OF
corn in the West would not sell at
25 cents per bushel; p!o':sy on hand
yet, the new is worth I5 cents. We
cannot compee with them in raising
corn, meet and stock. our climate is
adapted t. cottCn-of course we have
son lands that will only produce
grain.
Let ns look at some other causes,
for our troubles.
Our country is full of Northern
notions. ip the shape Of dumb watch
es, pistols, bedsteads, shot gnns, sew
ing machines, ETC., etc, without end,
which have cost millions. Remem-
Der that buying what you don't need,
causes YOU to need that which you
cant buy.
Look al the time lost hunting, many
men, Loose $50 worth Of time in the
year.
Let us have the courage to ac-
knowledge that we are po,r, and
live as poor folks, buy your provis--
ions first, you can get them tor
cash cheaper than you can raise
them, mind say for cash. For
Gods cake don't buy ON time, if you
do you are gore gone to the vrge Of
starvation, if not farther.
Some are buying -four at $lA per
barrel, four barrels at $66, give a
lion OH. corn crop at 45 cents, 1875
bushels at $56.25 cents--can YOU
raise your children at that; you
wonld eat the -four in two or three
months. All else you buy on time,
is mereiY in the same proportion.
We.Rt the world cheat us ont of
large portion Of our hard earnings,
and hen we go into Messrs. Cham
be"lain & Co.'s tax pr6se, and they
get the last cent.
My tax receipts iust before the