The Osceola times., 1883-03-10
Advice to the South.
Hoes AND HoNINv FIRsr-TnE
SURPLUS IN CoTroN.

have united in the following Gil cuiar
in the hope Of influencing the growth
of food products in the South the
coming season:
ST.. LOUIS, Mo-, February "a, 1883.
To the Merchants, Formers, and
Tenants Of the Cotton Belt: The
South is now on the eve Of planting
another crop, and after an experience
of seventeen years il seems advisable
that some change should be made in
her manner Of farming, and we call
your careful attention to the follow
ing facts, which are offered with the
sincere hope that the people will
give them proper consideration.
Your section possesses the finest
farming lands and the most salubri-
ous climate in the world, and should
be to-day financially Independent;
instead Of having to borrow Oh 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 Vert. They
BY systematic labor are growing rich
er every year, while you with patient
toll and close economy are neither 90
thriving nor prosperous - you
should be.
There 10 cause for these troubles,
and We, - cotton men, whose inter.
sst 10 closely identified with yours,
believe We are in . position TO note
many of the evils that exist, and of.
fer, without presuming, the following
suggestions;
i. The credit system, - at pres.
snt in vogue throughout the Sonth,
IL disastrous to the planters and ten
ants, forcing them to pay extrava.
| CANT prices for supplies, and causing
their crops to be forced into market
with such rapidity aud in such quan-
titles - to break prices almost inva-
risbly below cost Of production.
2. After noting for years the ef-
feet of large crops Of cotton, We find
that the over-production Of this sta.
pie 10 the keynote to the situation,
and we strongly advise al parties
interested 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 tine to the culture
Of cotton.
This policy will bring good results
in many ways; for instance, many
small farmers, and large ones also,
are 90 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 cot
ton until they felt justified in selling.
The price Of cotton to-day is fully
Is per cent. below the average of the
past Eve years, while, on the other
hand, corn is 8S per cent. and pro.
visions 30 per cent. above the aver
age. Thus you are losers both ways,
With the production Of enough
provisions on each farm, cotton would
become . surplus, and soon the IN
cubus Of debt would be lifted from
your people, and each year would
record 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 10 satisfy the mort
cages that the poor laborers must
now give, we would SEQ grinding
poverty banished forever, and plenty
would pour in upon you.
We ask that the merchants and
planters of each State, by calling q
convention. or in some practioable
manner, agitats this question until
the influence 10 felt throughout the
entire cotton belt.
Signed BY the following cotton
factors:
Gilkeson 4 Sloss Com. Co.,
Allen, West 4 Co.,
Humphrey, Malone 4 Blake,
Taylor & Bush,
s. NJ. McCallum & Co.,
Chas. G. Pepper & Co..
Adler, Goldman & Co.,
Wolf Bros. 4 Bath,
Meyer 4 Aronson,
Wilson 4 Co.,
Senter 4 Co.,
Hill, Fontaine 4 Co.,
Thos. II. Allen & Co.,
w. F. Obear,