The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-30
INDUSTRIAL SITUATION OF
MISSISSIPPI.
THE CAUSES OF DISTRESS AND
THE REMEDIES.
BYA MISSISSIPPI IA XPA YER.
WHAT THE PEOPLE MAY DO TO HELP THEM

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WHAT THE PEOPLE MAY DO TO HELP THEN
SELVES
What government may do to relieve
people in debt, beyond atfording stabl
and sufficient currency the opportunitie
of buying where they can buy cheapest
and selling where they can sell for the most
by the operation of free trade and ligh
taxes-is very little. Beyond this, relic
must come from the people themselves.
This relief can only come by energy, good
management and economy.
AS one of the most fruitful sources O.
our troubles is the unwise and ruinoui
credit system which now prevails, of course
nothing can be done unless that is abandon
ed. When profits to the amount of from
30 to 100 per cent. are demanded, there
must be no purchases except absolute neces.
saries Absolute necessaries are included
in the raiMent and food essential to health.
If farmer has been 80 negligent as to
have failed to raise his meat and bread, OF
course he must buy them. But domestic
economy will find many ways from the
dairy, orchard and garden, in which the
farmer, really in earnest in his determina-
ton to keep out of debt, may lessen his
accustomed purchases of supplies; and
there are few families who, inspired with
the same determination, cannot stretch the
| old wardrobe over one short season, SO as
to enable them to make new purchases for
cash, and at cash prices He who has in>
| dulged his fancy or humor in the purchase
of unnecessary articles, will find it difficult
to restrain his desires in that way and to
cure an habitual extravaganza. But real
determination will win. The experience of
the late war teaches us how we may do
without articles once thought to be abso-
lutely essential to comfort. A few months
of self-denial will bridge the difficulty and
bring him who has determined to be free,
to the condition of independence. The
cash will buy twice as much ordinarily as
credit based on lien on the crop.
The difference between the farmer who
owns his crop and the one who has spent it,
and moro, is SO great that no man need to
be urged to make the effort to secure inde>
pendence.
1t has been urged again and again that
our farmers should diversity their crops
raise more of the comforts and necessaries
of life at home, and buy less. The answer
to this appeal has always been that the
farmer was too much in debt to do this
he was obliged to raise cotton to meet his
engagements. But this emancipation when
once attained puts the farmer in the condi-
tion that he may follow his own inclination
and judgment. 1t is sad thing that our
farmers should lie in that condition which
demands the exclusive culture of one crop
because the money return from it, however
small, is yet certain and speedy. 1t is sad
to know that only annual crops can be cul- |
tivated-that the pressure of debt is SO |
hard and capital SO scarce, that nothing |
can be invested which will not make its full |
return at the end of the year. This is one I
Of the best countries In the world for rails
ing stock of all kinds, yet our farmers can
make no investment in that way because
there can be no return for at least three
years. A system which places the farmers
in that condition cannot be a good ono.
will assume that period has arrived
when farmers as general rule, are eman>
cipated from debt, and are left free to fol>
ow their own inclinations as to the mode
II which they shall invest their capital and
abor-that they are no longer under an
necessity to plant and cultivate
uch crops alone as the supply-man shall
lictate. The opportunity for advancement
nd progress is then offered. How this
nay be done, and at the same time more
Igreeable and less exaoting system of agri-
ulture may be inaugurated, deserves con-
liberation.
1t is evident that the great scarcity of
abor in agricultural pursuits is mainly at
to the kind of crops which are
aised. We have, as yet, not ascertained
nd developed the capacities of our soil
nd the suitableness of our climate for
rops not requiring annual planting and
ontinuous cultivation. We have no grains
'hich when once seeded will give us returns
or years, either in pasturage or hay. We
ave not, to any considerable extent learned
o raise grains which require no other culN
ivation than preparation and sowing, and
rhich may be gathered in few days by
le use of agricultural machinery. We !
ave not availed ourselves of the enormous
lvantages of our climate and soil for the I
of fruits and grapes, Our sys-
em has been to spend all the first half of
le year in cvltivating with manual labor c
ded only by implements of the simplest a
ld most primary character, and the last Il
alf in gathering by manual labor a crop q
lus raised. The exhaustive demands which 0
is system makes on the time of the farmer Q
aves no opportunity for improvement, g
Or the saving and spreading Of fertilizers. c
be result is every where seen in worn and 6
arren fields which have everywhere been q
to sedge- grass. a
This system must be changed, or the Il