The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-03-08
ADVICE TO THE SOUTH.
Hogs and HOminy First--The
Surplus III Cotton.

Surplus III Cotton.
The cotton factors of ST. Louis
have united in the following circular
in the hope of influencing the growth
of food products in the South the
coming season:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. "a, 1883.
To tue Merchants, Farmers, and
Tenants of the Cotton Belt: The
South is now on the eve of planting
another crop, and after an expert
ence of seventeen years it seems adj
visable that some change should be
made in her manner of farming, and
we call your careful attention to the
following facts, which are offered
with the sincere hope that the people
will give them proper consideration.
Your section possesses the finest
farming lands and tho most salubri-
Gus climate IN the world, and should
be to-day financially independent;
instead of having to borrow on a
crop before it is made, should have
her corn bins and larders filed before
commencing crop.
Compare your situation with the
farmers of the North and Vest
They by systematic labor are grow
ing richer each year, while you with
patient toll and close economy are
neither so thriving nor prosperous
as you should be.
There is cause for these troubles,
and We, as cotton men, whose inter
est is closely identified with yours,
believe we are in position to note
many OF the evils that exist, and
offer, without presumlng, the follow
ing suggestions:
/. The credit system, as at present
in vogue throughout the South, is
disastrous to the planters and ten
ants, forcing them to pay extrava
CANT prices for supplies, aad causing
their crops to be forced into market
with such rapidity and in such guam
titles as to break prices almost in
yariably below cost of production.
2. After noting for years the effect
of large crops of cotton, we find that
the over production of this staple is
the keynote to the situation, and
we strongly advise all parties inter
ested in the prosperity 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 oil 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 go, even though
the price is below its intrinsic worth !;
while, 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 price of cotton to-day is fully
ID per cent. below the average of the
past five years, while on the other
hand, corn is 33 per cent. and pro.
visions so per cent. above the aver
age. Thus are you losers both ways
With the production of enough
provisions on each farm. cotton would
become a surplus, aud soon the in-
cabus Of debt would be lifted from
your people, and each year would re-
cord rapid strides IN wealth.
Decreased production Of cotton,
and increased production OF bread,
meat and other necessaries will bring
about more prosperous condition
of affairs for the South, and instead
Of sheriff sales to satisfy mortgages
that the poor laborers must now
give, we would see grinding poverty
banished forever, and plenty would
pour in upon you.
We ask that the merchants and
planters of each State, by calling a
convention, or IN some practicable
manner, agitate this question until
the influence is felt throughout the
entire cotton belt.
Signed by the following cotton
factors:
Glkeson Il Sloss Com. Co, Allen,
West & Co., Humphrey, Malone and
Blake, Taylor Il Rash, S. NJ. Mccall
lum a. Co, Chas G. Pepper n Co,
Adler, Goldman y Co., Wolf Bros. &