The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-16
The Cotton Planter

In conversation with two prominent cot
ton planters of the Yazoo valey, repre-
sentative OF the Nashville American was
struck with the earnestness Of remark
made by one Of these gentlemen, in which
he gave free expression to the opinion that
all the southern country was prospecting
except the cotton belt. This remark was
followed up with;
ITO what do you think this state of
things is duef"
ITO two things particularly the cost OF
raising cotton, AMI the excess OF cotton
planted. The planters cannot sell cotton
for nine and ten cents pound gross which
costs them often eight cents net to raise.
The planters in my section of the country
must handle from 5000 to $4,000 each
year to make each years crop. They have,
as class, no money themselves, and must
rely upon commission merchants, usually
at New Orleans. for advances. Suppose /
want to buy 81 900 Of mules. | 30 to my
New Orleans commission merchant, and in
order to obtain this am forced to pay him
in the first place, q cents commission, and
then 8 per cent. Interest, and after that q
which must send to him. Or, suppose |
want means tor general expenses on my
place. l ask for an advance OF 81 600 with
which am to feed my stock and hands for
certain length Of time and replenish my
stock OF implements OF agriculture. He
| gives me, say, 800 in money, and | am
forced again to buy out the remaining $500
| in goods in which he is generally dealer.
BY the end Of the year ! find have paid 4
cents q month for the bare money / have
had to borrow to raise my crop. Then
comes the loss account by unre liable labor,
accidents and overflows, glutted market,
is heir to. Beyond and above all this, too
many people are raising cotton. Texas has
gone into 1t, and Is swelling the stock OF
cotton in the world perCeptbly."
us Texas cotton as good as that of the
Mississippi valley?"
mo, sir. The staple is not so long as the
other, but 1t Is not appreciab!y of so much
less value as not to be a formidable obstacle
to the Yazoo valley planter in placing his
cotton well in the market"
"Why is not bold effort made to get
out of the hands of the commission mer-
chant, and why does not the southern
press make true exposition of this species
OF slavery of the planter to his merchant,
by the determined and combined effort of
the planters, may gradually effect a change
in this condition Of affairs?"
I'VE are enslaved, as you say. But it
will be long before the planter will be in a
position Of independence that will enable
him to rectiiy this serious hindranCe to his
success. We are slowly approaching cri-
sis, and the development the south is un-
dergoing ut the present time will serve only
to hasten Its elimination. We cannot 60
on under the present system Of credit large
acreage and low price Of cotton, and the
planter. in my opinion, must inevitably 20
to the wall, AZ least In my section, unless
there Is providentially change for the bet.
for thirteen years paid 1000 per annum in
terest on loan Of 100000. Think, If you
can, what the aggregate burden of the
southern planters must be when single in.
stances Of this magnitude may be men,
toned"
"Grain may be and is raised in certain
parts Of the Yazoo country, but there are
other parts where the soil is totally unfit
for grain Of any kind. Our main trouble
isthe credit system. You may say, without
fear of contradiction, that the southern
planter who Is 50 fortunate as to have his
business upon cash basis has clear fifty
per cent. cash advantage over his less for
tunate neighbor."
Gan not you agree among you that, II
those sections where grain can be raised
! the soil and energy will be directed to grow
and supply those who must plant cotton
instead of sending north for such grea
quantities Of corn and other grain?"
"Oh! When you get southern cottol
' planters to act In concert you have solve,
the problem. Whatever our financial dis
tress at present, 1t is largely due to a lac
OF forethought aud harmony of actio
D among us. fear the present generation c
us will never be able to extricate ourselve
? from our embarrassments as a people,"