The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-06-09
THE GREAT COTTON EXPOSITION.


opens at Atlanta October 9th, and
closes January LIST. The original in
tentlon of its projectors was to get
up purely cotton exposition-to
demonstrate the staples production
and preparation for market, and
for manufacture, and to show all
the uses to which it has been put, and
all the appliances and machinery
used IN its production and manufac-
ture. These features would cover a
vast and interesting field, but it has
been decided upon, now, to make this
exposition great industrial one,
and to show the people of
these Southern States the inter-
est that may be taken at this day
in thousand and one things that
would build mp the material pros
perity of the South. The purpose is
to bring together the productions
of the cotton fields of America
and all other countries, and the fer
tilizers, implements and machinery
used in the cultivation, handling
and manufacture of cotton, and to
exhibit every known process and
manipulation pertaining to the cot
ton fibre, from the seed to the most
finely finished article. There will
be displays of other Southern sta
Piles, sugar, rice and tobacco, and
also of the products of Southern
mines and forests and plains. A
new era is opening for the South,
which is already begun in Texas,
and the impetus given by this great
interchange of ideas at Atlanta
will tell in manner not to
be estimated except by advance
in the next half dozen years. Tex
ans should especially take a lively
interest in this great exposition. 1t
should be represented as the state
making over one-fiiih of the cotton
crop of the United States deserves
Its sturdy planters and farmers
should be there. Its wool and meat
interest should be represented. PeO-
pie from all over the world should
see that no state can compete with
Texas in variety of production. The
vast natural mineral and agricul-
tural and grazing wealth of the state
should be fully represented. Our
sea-island and long staple and up
hand cottOns should be shown; our
superior woods should lead the hus
bandmen of the earth to multiply
the flocks of Texas; and our
great cattle kings should see that
the long-horns of Texas are
creating more wealth than any other
stock interest in the world. The
vast mineral deposits of the state
represent an undeveloped store of
wealth equal to that of many of the
most noted mining regions of the
world, and they represent a long
list of minerals. We would see
deep interest manifested in this ex-
position, and would advise Texans
who can to visit it. The time and
money so expended will be returned
hundred fold in liberalism in
modes of agriculture and mechaD-
ism. 1t Texas had real agri
cultural and mechanical school,
we would want to see every pupil in
it taken to Atlanta, but to throw
money away on the young gentle
men of leasure who attend at Bryan
would be useless. But all the agri-
culturists and mechanics aud bust
ness men and landed proprietors
who can possibly go should attend.
The South last year turned out what
is called an enormous crop of cot
ton-over 100000 bales. And yet
it will not probably show an average
of more than halls bale to the acre,
100000 bales Oh 100000 acres;
whereas if Southern fields were as
thoroughly cultivated with i'm
proved implements, and as judi
ciously managed in tbs matter ofro-
tation as fields in some countries
are, there Is little doubt that the
crop would have been three times as
Jorge, Southern farming is superb
cial, exhaustive and unthriftv.
1t cultivates too many acres, and
does not cultivate them deep
enough. If the depth of blowing
were doubled the area might be re-
duced One-half, and still the crop
would be the same. There is too
great monotOny in il, too, an un-
ending repetition of the same crop
on the same fields, till the vitality OF |
the soil is exhausted, and the fields |
are worn out. The adaptation of
the cotton plant to the southern soil |
and climate is not to be-overlooked
but the excessive and exhaustive |
cultivation of one crop never can
bring wealth to n country, and if |
the Atlanta exposition demonstrates,
as it will, the value of thorough and |
scientific farming, many hard
listed yeoman will come back pre-
pared in 1882 to inaugurate new |
methods and new practices. It is |
by contact that we are most edue
Gated, and there can never be a bet
ter opportunity, for those interested |
in the rapid development of the |
South, to succeed than through an
interchange of views at Atlanta.
We want to see delegation of |
farmers go from every county in
the state, and especially do
we want Travis county farmers
to take along with them about
fifty of our Austin real estate own
ers and capitalists, that their views
may be, enlarged before they all go
down into the shadow of death, I'M
lamented and with praises unsung.
IT became necessary to dismiss
McGrew & Lelley from the post
Office department, that investigations
as to the star route contracts might
n