The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-14
Report of the Committee on Change
of System of Agriculture.
CAPITOL GRANGE, No. 10

CAPITOL GRANGE, No. 10,
JAcKsoS, Miss. March r. 1879.
That the agricultural interest Of this State
Is in a deplorable condition no one can deny,
and that other interests and callings are feel
ing the consequent depression naturally flow
ing from their dependence on it, cannot be
doubted.
1t il time that something should be done to
check this downward course that has been in
creasing in volume annually, Notwithstanding
the perseverIng energy with which the tillers
Of the soil have striyen 10 mend their broken
fortunes resulting from the late war To
arrive at the proper remedy We must first
certain the primary cause and follow up its
attending consequences TO the sad result,
which we now experience
Without doubt the exclusive production
OF cotton and the reliance solely upon it, to
purchase all else is that primary cause
Over production, glutted market, and fall
in value below the cost OF production, and
loss, instead OF profit the result the former
aggravated by the absence OF supplies for the
farm in the excessive prices paid for them,
induced By the cotton culturers' large demand
added 10 by railroad freights and merchants
commissions and profits all resulting in the
absolute inability to go on without the asss-
lance TO be only obtained by credit
Then the Agricultural lien law was the only |
resource by which that credit could be had. |
\ large majority OF those who sought its aid, |
have found themselves the bound slaves of the |
money power debating the cultivation OF cot
ton alone "a the terms OF credit which has alb
EOrbed all the product of the tOiling bOndmen.
for less than the necessary food and clothing to
maintain them; few have escaped from it
without serious loss and embarrassment. The
system OF credits under the lien law has so
demOralIzed the labor on which the farmers
had to depend, that they could neither direct
nor control it, and it involved certain loss for
him to enter into competition with the money
power in the employment of labor for which
ne was compelled 10 pay full wages and food
md | 4
price fixed by his competitor, who paid no !
wages and but half maintenance.
Thus we find that the labor of the agricul-
turlst, although producing large amounts of {
money annually, is benefitting but a small [
number OF persons III our State, for il is only G
those who handle the cotton in market who !
make any profit from it; the balance goes to | :
other communities for meat and bread, a few
clothes, and Tor mules, Plows wagons, etc, d
and the State really becomes poorer under t
this annual drain OF the productiveness of its e
soil, just IN proportion To the amount of the e
crop produced from it. -
The remedy for the great evil, evidently is
In change to diversity of crops and the rails 2
ing OF cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and mules d
The money annually sent out of the State for O
meat, bread and mules amounts to more than h
half the products of cotton which if spent at =
home would remain there to circulate among :"
our own people, stimulate business and en- Il
courage home manufactures by the accumula- 81
ton OF It's annual increase and this, too with a.
little II any dlmInutlon OF the amount receiv- ~
ed for cotton a surplus crop, enhanced in =
value as il would be by reduced quantity. ::
To carry this change into effect would neces- III
sarlly require Il subdivision of our lands by
fences, so that we could pasture the large area
not required Tor cultivation, which would add
to the heavy burden of fencing.
which Is required under the present system Of &C
Of permitting all stock to at large i'm
10 avoid this additional expense which sa
would Ia a great extent prevent the beneficial -
'hange, will require legislation to relieve the r
and holder from the necessity of fencing De
against small stock, such hogs sheep etc co
which involves fully half the labor and cost at of
present. Another obstacle TO the adoption of %
ms change IA, that II will require from two to ! -
our years for il 10 begin to make returns for We
he outlay OF labor and capital which again M
an be modified by favorable legislation in re- co
ieving the capital employed, and its imma- We
ure produce from taxation for given time | so
he loss OF revenue from which could and
hOuld be made good by a corresponding, or On
reater tax on cotton seed to the discourage re;
nent of its expectation, and a corresponding ly
Encouragement by its use a fertilizer, to the tn;
doptIon and energetic carrying out this great ~,
needed change IN the agriculture of our ~
tate, the benefits from which viii surely be tu
anticipated in by all classes and calings TO
We therefore recommend that the next me
legislature be appealed to for the prompt adj
nactment OF laws Tor the encouragement of IL,
griculture employing the following sub ~.
scts with such provisions may be proper .'u
Restriction of railroads common carriers Inn
'om any discrimination in charges between wit
ersons or places. hio
The repeal OF the lien law, except the land i
rd and laborer's lien, and revive the act of - .
ebrnarv u, 1910, to provide for the valuation thl
property sold under mortgage and Trust cas-
aeds. for
A law requiring all hogs sheep and other wo
nall stock 10 be kept from running at large h.,
All capital in the breeding and raising of ~
ules and horses, and Its product until avail tila
de for market. 10 be exempt from taxation. the
A tax on cotton seed transported from the be
ate sufficient TO supply any deficiency caused mi,
- 81 - ;It Apu suOh Dt.er tur
agriculture, that great interest on which all Wh
her interests in this State almost wholly gra
pendent, Tor not only prosperity but even ma
,istence itself. SIN
And we desire and request all the good a.
tizens of our State without regard to class u y
calling, to join with US in promoting the the
eedy passage of such laws as are called for G.
the foregoing report. COW