The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1883-03-24
T. GRENADA MISS, SATURDAY. MARCH "a 1913
ADVICE TO THE SOUTH.
Hogs and Hominy First--.The Surplus
in C0ttOn.

The cotton factors otSt Louis have
united in the following circular i'll the
hope OF influencing The growth of food
products IN the South the coming
season:
To the Merchants, Farmers, aud Tenants
of thu Cotton Belt:
The South is now on the eve of planting
another crop, and after an experience OF
ceventeen years it seems advisable that
some change should be made in her man
ner of farming, and we Call your careful
attention 10 the following facts, which
are offered with the sincere hope that the
people will give them proper considera-
tion.
Your section possesses the finest farm
ing lands and the most saiuhrious eli
mate in the world, and should be to-day
financially independent; Instead ol having
ta borrow on a crop before it is madr,
should have her corn bin, and lardefs
| filed before commencing crop.
Compare your situation with the far
mers Of the North aud West They by
systematic labor are growing richer each
year, while you with patient toll ana
close economy are neither so thriving
nor prosperous as you should b..
There isa cause ior these troub les, and
we, as cotton men, whose interest is
closely identeti.d with yours, believe we
are in a position to note many of the
evils that exist, and offer, without pre-
-uming, the following suggestions:
l. Tre credit system, as at present in
vogue through ghout the South, is disas-
trous to the planters and tenants, forcing
them to pay extravagant prices for sup
plies, ana causing their crops to be
forced into market with such rapidity
and in such quantities as to break prices
almost invariably below cost Of produce
tion. -....
2. After noting for years the effect of
large crops OF cotton, we find tnat the
oser"production of this staple is the key
note to the situation, and we strongly
advise all parties interested in the pros
perity of the South to discourage
the planting of large acreage this year,
and devote their labors first TO the raising
OF grain, cattle and hogs, and give the
balance of their time to the culture of
cotton.
This policy will bring good results in
many ways; for instance, many small
farmers, and large ones also, are so
heavily in debt when their cotton is
ready for sale that they are compelled to
let it 60, even though the price is below
It's intrinsic worth; wnite, If they had
supplies at home, produced, and not
bought on credit, they could afford to
hold their cotton until they felt justified
in selling.
The plice Of cotton to day is fully Is
per cent below the average of the past
five years, while, on the other hand, corn
is 80 per cent and provisions so per
cent. above average. Thus you are
loosers both ways. Ga. ..
With the production of enough pros
visions on each farm, cotton woulo be-
comea surplus, and soon the incubus OF
debt would be lifted from your people,
and each year would record rapid strides
IN wealth.
Decreased production of cotton, ard
increased production of bread, meat and
or her necessaries will bring about more
prosperous condition OF affairs Tor the
South, instead of sheriff sales to satisfy
the mortgages that the poor laborers
must now give, we would see grinding
poverty vanished forever, and plenty
would pour in upon you.
We ask the merchants and planters OF
each State, by calling INVENTION, or
in some practicable manner, agitate thi-
question until the influence is felt
through out the entire cotton belt.
Signed by the following cotton factors:
Gilkerson & Sloss Com. Co.,
Allen, West e. Co.,
Humphrey. Malone g. Blake,
Taylor & Bush,
y. NJ. McCallum & Co.,
Chas. G.. Pepper & Co,
Adler, Goldman " CO.,
Wolf Bros. s. Bath,
Meyer & Aronson,
Wilson g. Co,
Senter & Co.,
Hill, Fontains & Co.,
Thos. II. Allen Co.,
w, F. Obear, ...
I. NJ. Wiener & Co.,.
H. W. Brooks & Co,
Sayle. Stngall s. Co.,
Warren, 1--we 4 Co.,
Fisher Bros, & Co.,
A., x. B"nham & Co.