The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-12-01
THE PLANTERS OF THE SOUTH.
Il GdTHERTNG OF PARMERs IRON
ALI TTE co TTDN 6TATEs.

1hs Vital Issues OF Agriculture In the
south-The Cost OF Cotton Production
What the Young Men are Doing-Gen.
shernan'n Visit Co Atlanta.
ATLANTA, November 1s.--It Is note.
worthy and encouraging fact that tho man
agement OF the Cotton Exposition is almost
wholly in the hands of young men. There
are comparatively few gray.heads among
the exhibitions, and the oldest of the number
OF those directly in charge of tho Exhibit.
lion is probably not more than fifty years of
age. The success that has attended their
efforts is due to the wonderful activity and
energy they have brought to bear in the
discharge of their cxactng duties. The
great political leaders of the country arc
young men; the press the pulpit and the
bar have their most able writer's, eloouent
speakers and learned advocates among tho
young mon; the most intricate and valuable
inventions are the creations Of youthful
brains. All these things prove tho worth
and capacity Of
THE YOUNG MEN
Of our land and the wide fell for tho em.
ployment of their noblest energies. Tho
Cotton Exposition shows that they have not
been unmindful Of their opportunities.
From tho fellow standing under the glorious
folds OF tho country's flag. discourang to
gaping rustics FROM early morn to dewy
eve upon tho virtues of n patent potato.
pcelcr, on up through all tho intricate eyo.
lutons of tho Willimantic looms and spin.
dies, the machinery is guided by the intclli.
gent direction of young men. Nothing
could be more gratifying than the rapid pro.
gress made by tho South during tho last few
years III the inventive arts, and yet wo hayo
not learned the first letters Of the alpha.
net: The man who makes machine that
Will tighten labor, decreasing tho cost of
production, and ut the same time advancing
the interests of civilization, is a public bene.
factor. Formerly in tho South mon sue.
ceeded to ancestral estatos and living was
easy Now tho conditions are changed, and
no avenue Is closed to ambitious youth. Tho
Dement'S OF the revolution are to bo seen on
every hand, and the opportunities for deycl-
opmeht were never surpassed in any country
in the world.
This has been an evcntful week in the
history OF the Cotton Exposition. Thousands
OF thoughtful men aud women from
EVERY SECTION OF THE sorrH
have been in daily attendance and the dis
tinctivc lessons Of tho great Exhibition in
tneir bearing upon Southern economies arc
taking deep root. Tho cultivation and man
uiacture Of cotton occupy of course the most
prominent position, aud tho benefits that
Will necessarily result from their associated
study are incalculable. do not know
rightly how to estimate their great value
but tho planters anu manufacturers SEQ In
the Exposition tho grand possibilities of tho
~
been so deeply impressed with the import.
ance OF fully developing tho manufacturing
growth Of tho South that already it Is pro.
posed to establish in this city n technical
school for tho training Of Southern youth in
the manufacturing industries. especially in
their relation to tho principal Southern
staple. This establishment will bc furnished
with all tho improved machinery for the
manufacture of cotton goods, and, under tho
direction of competent managers. our own
people will be trained to tho practical appli-
cation of science that has rcvolutionized
tho commerce Of the world.
The meeting of tho Cotton Planters Asso.
ciation on December 9 Is ANTICIPATED with
great interest. 1t will bring together plan.
ters from all tho Cotton States and crystaIizc
into tangible results tho suggestions of tho
Exposition. The Association is broad and
liberal in its ideas, mover touches on politi-
cal questions, is not secret organization In
any respect, and Is Intended solely to advance
the planting interests of the South. Its
membership is not limited to tho cotton
planters alone, but tho paramount object of
the organization is TO inculcate
THE DOCTRINE OF DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
In tho pursuit Of which Is to DO found the
only salvation Of Southern agriculture. Mr..
+. =. Morohead, president of tho Association,
aud editor of tho PanferS Journal is now in
the city making oil the preliminary arrange
:aGI;S for tho Convention OF tho farmers.
lie has urged the Governors Of all the cotton
States to appoint three delegates from evcry
county In their respective States to attend
the Convention, and it is expected that there
Will be very large attendance. Cheap
rates will be made by all the railroads and It
Is safe to predict that the Convention will be
the largest and most representative body of
southern farmers ever assembled. Tho in.
tcrest ef the exercises will be greatly in
creased by tho presence and active co-opera-
tion OF the New England and Southern
manufacturers associations. One of tho
special features Of the occasion will be q
competitive trial Oi all the cotton gins and
cleaners on exhibition, in which eyery
farmer is directly concorncd for, although
the South grows more and better cotton than
any other country In the world, our best
farmers have great deal to learn about tho
cultivation and preparation OF the crop for
market. This will come from comparison
OF notes, and tho actual test of the different
processes of saving the precious staple.
Another question OF the highest import
ance that will be discussed by the Conven.
tion willbc the subject of diversified farm
ing. In an address delivered before tho
Mississippi Valley Cotton Planters Associa-
tion last May, Mr.. Morehead showed that
under tho present
ALL'COTTON System OF FARMING
even If tho production should increase until
1t would reach 100000 bales q year, there
would not be sound planter financially
lett in the country. An increased cotton
crop under this systom means lower prices
to the planters and ifpersevered in will end
in universal bankruptcy and financial ruin.
Prices are not materially lessened to tho
T!anters for anything, and on the contrary O
big crop means to all the world who sell to the
planter big prices for their goods. no one
counting its suicidal cost, and all believing
that such crop must render the planters
rich and prosperous. In 1870 the excess in
the consumption of grain, in wheat, corn
and oats, over the production in tho cotton
States was 2S869s,632 bushels and of nav
4,Oll,150 tons. This deficiency represents not
exactly what the Sonth consumes but what
1t would consume lift were properly fed, for
owing to tho great cost Of those supplies
neither our laborers or stock are given tho
liberal allowances they would receive
moiO snSSo PiouuCtS IaiSeu In the
South. Under the all-cotton system
the planters proits amount to less than ono
per cent. on his total investment If ho
would make cotton q surplus crop. raise all
his own supplies at homo and diversity his
agricultural operations ne would make ono
hundred per cent. on his cotton crop and
soon get oven with tho world. BY reising
tho provepder for their teams the farmers of
the South would add $4,000. 900 to their div
idends, and If enough Were saved to nav one
half of the present yearly expenditure for
tho feed of the laborcrs they would add
100000 more to their dividends, and If
they would only raise enough mules to keep
up their present supply, say twenty per cent.
OF the number used, they would add $780,
100000 moro to their dividends. In order
to decrease tho cost of production the farm