The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-05-10
The European war.

, war, aiLhougn lG Q0eS not aconeern us
politically, yet Commercially it is of
the first Importance to the people of
the South, 1t is generally conceded
by all that the United States will be
financially benefited by it. The great
demand which will be made pongthis
country for arms and munitions of
war, for provisions of oil kinds, will be
unprecedented, provided sali the sEurb-
poan powers become involved in it
This great demand for corn, -four and
bacon from the groat West, and nee
ossarially at war rates, will prove ad>
! vantageous to the Western States,
and will cause an influx of specie new.
or before witnessed, This prospective
demand has already caused a great
advance in the price Of provisions ev-
erywhere Flour is selling now at
$12 and $l3 per barrel; corn 81 and
$1.l0 bushel. 1t is scarcely neces-
sary to state the reason Of this demand
for previous. 1t must be apparent to
tho most casual observer that if tho
European powers generally are drawn
into this war the amount of these home
supplies will be eneoessarially curtailod,
if not entirely destroyed; hence the
demand upon our country. Now, the
same cause, which creates O demand
for our provisions at advanced rates,
will cause decline in the demanG for
Southern cotton at greatly reduced
rates, if, indeed, the demand does not
entirely cease, which will certainly be
the case il all Europe should become
involved in this war. Tho reason for
this lies in the fact that, in q war gen
orally, and particularly in this, the
consumption of cotton by the manu>
factories will almost cease, the supply
on hand being sufficient to meet, for
o long time, the war demand for cot
ton fabrics. In view of the above
facts, what is the imperative duty Of
the Southern farmer? Will it not
prove suicidal to raise cotton as here
tofore, when there is no demand fol
it, or, if there be any demand, at ruin
ously low prices? Can he afford tc
raise cotton and store it away till tho
close of the war, and, in the meantime
buy corn, flour and bacon at wal
prices to grow this cotton? w.
think there are few farmers in thu
South able thus to do. Would it no
be wisdom and common foresight ir
the Southern farmer to cease TO cult
vatc cotton in the midst OF such un
certainty, and enthusiastically COM
mence the growing of corn, wheat ant
other cereals, and raising his owr
meat? There is a vast deal more
money and certainty in this course
for if the war continue, and it j,
most certain to do SO, nothing will b,
realized from cotton, except what lit
tle is consumed in our own country
The great demand for it will be gone
Would it not be we'll even now fol
our farmers TO increase tho acreage
of corn and diminish that of cotton
a We think, in Wow of the present cir,
cumstances, it would be wise course
Ii the South were not to mako n single
balo of cotton tho present year ant
the war should end soon, she would
not lose anything, for the price would
be 80 much increased that our noxI
cotton crop would realize as much OF
moro than the two crops separately
Hence, the South has no risk to run i
she were not to plant a seed the pres
Ont year. IF the South docs not take
Immediate steps towards raising more
of her own supplies, and this war con.
tintinue, she will be certainly in q
mournful condition with a large sup,
| ply OF cotton on hand without any do
maEd for it, and nothing to eat. The
picture is fearful one indeed. This
purplexing problem is now agitatine
the public mind no little, and we have
therefore, doomed it our duty to bring
the subject fairly before our readers
and before the farmers of Pickons
County in particular, in the way OF
a precaution. We are afraid, howev-
er, that it is too late 10 do them any