The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-01-31
For the Times.
"whas are You Going to do sSoa. I.r'

"what are You Going to do about Itp'
Mr.. EDITOR Have the farmers Of our Conn
~ noticed that the manufacturers of what are
called Commercial fertilizers" have held
convention and agreed to advance tho price Of
their compounds?
1t is even so. They have dictated the terms
upon which they will deliver their fertilizers,
and the price they viii allow forsour cotton.
1t is o little singular that this movement
should be made at q time when cotton has run
down to such point that many farmers are
doubling tho propriety Of investing money in
fertilizers at all. have seen no farmer who
does not admit that it is losing business to
raise cotton at present prices. Merchants and
fertilizer men will tell you that there is much
money in farming as ever, because provisions
and dry goods arc SO very low. 1t will be found
to be falacious idea when you come to ana
lyze it, The wonderful improvements in ma
chinery and sharp competition have reduced the
cost of different manufactured goods. The fa-
cilities of transportation aad competition of
different Railroads have revolutionized trade,
and the makets of every nook and corner
of the country nre filled with the products of
the soil and factory. But no corresponding i'm
proyement hos been made, in cheapening tho
production of bale Of cotton. We pay higher
taxes to State and County; we pay very high
for our labor, such as it is /; we ply for money
runious interest, and high prices for all extra
work on the farm. We pay higher blacksmith
bill repairs of all kinds cost more; we have
introduced no labor-saving implements, If we
cultivate moro land to the mule it is done at the
expense of other work, or badly done, and we
pay for fertilizers made at the North (mostly)
that we know nothing about, more money per
acre than our old time farmer was willing to
give for an acre Of land. Very few persons,
when making their calculations as to what it
COSTS to to produce q crop, put in oil the
items. They start out, Us the land belongs to
them and is paid fer, they have the horse,
wagon, &C., oil their own, these items should
not be put on the debtor side. Very few per-
| sons ever think of the amount they ore risking,
when they put on fertilizers.
But let Inc get back to the fertilizer question.
There is only one way Of accounting for this
combination of the manufacturers and that is,
that they think the farmer can't get along with
| out their assistance.
oil the facts Now know how hard it is to get
the freedman to clear heavy woodland. know
| how much easier it is to cultivate thin, poor
land, and how much easier it is to haul out o
few sacks Of fertilizer and distribute it than to
make and haul out barn-yard manure. But is
| it policy to give up so, and confess that we
can't live without paying Massachusetts, or Ne W
Jersey or Connecticut to make our fertilizers;
without depending upon Illinois or Indiana for
our corn and Hour, Ohio for our bacon, Chicago
for our soap, Pennsylvania for our farming inn
plements, and SO on? Are the farmers willing
to submit TO be dictated to by the fertilizer men
or will they set up for themselves and do with
out, sooner than submit {? 1 am gratiied to see
q move has been made in Georgia and some
parts Of this State to assert their rights. I'm.
fortunately very little reliance, ON sorry to
soy, can be placed on farmers resolutions, but
/ would be glad to see them stand as firm on
| this occasions
| STONEWALL