The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-12-23
COTTON SEED--lrS VALUE TOPLAN-
TIERS.
North Louisiana Journal.l

North Louisiana Journal.l
1t is now about the middle Of Decem-
ber and the bulk of the cotton crop has
been shipped-a short one it has pro-
we'd, which leaves the parish in rather
a Strengthened condition financially.
Occasionally we see a stray bale Of cot
ton passing through our streets, but the
chief en- mployment now is hauling and
shipping cotton seed.
There may be some excuse this sea-
son for the determination shown by all
Glasses to sell seed, as times are exceed
ingly hard, and the little seed money
comes in as u mere drop in the bucket
to relieve present wants.
While on the Plank Road corner on
Saturday last, we saw several teams
passing loaded with seed, and two of
the wagons contained a bale of cotton
each, showing that the winding up of
the cotton crop on the plantations was
at hand. We also observed that these
same wagons were dreadfuliy out of
repair, and the screeching of the axles
gave notice that the article of axle
grease was unknown. In fact some of
these wagons looked as if they might
have been resurrected from the debris
of old wagons usually found about a
plantation blacksmith shop. No one
but Il cotton planter can appreciate the
picture as draWn-some dozens of
laborers following on behind to get
their share of the seed money.
If one will stop and think what it
costs to transport this commodity to
market; the utter decentralization of
the labor engaged in sacking, sewing
the sacks, ETC., to say nothing of the
weak teams as they wend their way
through the mud with insufficient
gearing, and what is more damaging
than all else, with but little to eat, and
their condition shows this-he can but
conclude that the cotton seed trade as
it is now carried on will eventually
help to bankrupt the whole country.
We do not think that it is exaggerat-
ing the matter to assert that every ton
of seed sold at present prices actually
brings the planter and laborer in debt.
For instance, Tensas parish during a
good crop season produces in round
numbers about twenty thousand tons
of seed in excess of what is needed for
planting, &c. This is worth as much
as fertilizer, say twenty dollars per
tOn-that is, comparing it with the
prices of fertilizers used in the cotton
States. This gives us $4OO,O To sell
this same quantity at $40 per ton it
gives just half, say 5000. 200. Deducting
from this last sum the price of hauling
and delivery, we would only realize
about one-half of this. If we could get
$l5 per ton-the real value-we would
receive 100000. Thus we would pay
a tax Indirectly to the oil mills and the
packet companies that would suffice to
keep in repair many of our most i'm
portant levecs. Yet if the planters
should be required to pay the amount
as a direct tax they would consider if
the greatest injustice; but as they pay
it Indirectly to the different packet
companies and to the oil mills, to the
detriment Of their lands, they seem to
remain in blissful ignorance of the fact
that they are being robbed.
These figures may look large and the
values we have mentioned may seem
out of proportion, but there is no deny
ing the fact that the cotton planter is
losing money when he sells seed at the
present prices. We have not taken
into consideration the immense profits
of the Oil mills, which is generally con-
ceded to be about 30 per cent; this is
also an additional tax that mainly
comes out of the planter. The seed
interest is one within the control of
the planters if they will only combine
to control it while in first hands-that
is, on the plantations, and now is the
time for every one to look into the
matter and frame their contracts accor-
dinghy for another year.
1t is we'll known fact that the
ignorant laborers will sell their seed at
any price to get a few dollars; in truth
we have known them to sell in times
past when they would not realize over
two dollars per ton after the expenses
were paid. This is certainly a very
deplorablc state Of affairs and needs a
remedy. The whole planiag commune
ity should combine to stop this whole
sale robbery on the part of the oil mills
and the different packet companies,
and should strive to deprive these
monopolies of their hold on the coun.
try and cause them to cease their un.
scrupu4ous dealings.
A speaker in the recent campaign in
Indiana opened his address in the fol.
lowing original manner: 81 am COM
PEELED to say that 1 am not suffering
with sore throat or bad cold. Neither
boo ,,,,, ,ooapf Spoo jutr brolSop mo I'D