The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-09-05
The Southern Outlook.

have, until within a comparalivel.
brief period, relied almost who'll,
upon agriculture to sustain thei
population. The fact that the crop
cultivated in most Of these State
are limited to a few limited staple.
has also been occasionally referred
to. Hitherto cotton, tobacco, rice
and sugar have been, almost exclu
sively the crops of the Atlantic
Southern and G"lf States, while to
bacco, some Of the cereals, and live
stock constitute the chief industrie,
of others. Grain growing, however,
cuts small figure in the aggregate,
and the Northern States are drawn
upon annually for supplies of corn
-four and bacon. Toe policy has
been pursued of raising such pro
ducts as the soil aud climate ar,
specially adapted to. Cotton ha>
been the great reliance. That it ha-
SO largely monopollzed the land yea,
after year in the Gulf States has
brought disaster in more than on.
direction. Some years ago We reco
lect seeing an address signed by
some of most prominent men in tn
South, if which it was said that tn
horrors OF famine, which have mnr,
than once cursed the people of Ini,,
IN their efforts tn grow cotton to- tn,
exclusion of bread-stuffs aud o,he
food products, would have been re-
peated in the Cotton States of Amer
lev, but that the teming granartes OF
tue North west supplied their wants.
Last year the cotton Gro, of tn.
South was large. and the prices pal
for the staple were fair. Yet the GU,
come was not satisfactory. II is M.
necessary to our present pu pose t..
inquire for the cause or causes II
this unsatisfactory condition oi
things. We do not wish to be I'm
derstood as depreciating the growth
this great staple, but venture to re
peat what has before been susgestei
to-wit, that experience has demon.
strated the wisdom Of a more diver /
sihed system of hastandry. Til.
traditional policy of raising oniv |
three or four leading products j.
fraught with danger. With nough.
else upon which to rely, unfor,uitou~
seasons often bring disaster and
sometimes ruin. Favorable seasons
good crops and prices cannot aIwa,,
be expected; now and then had sea
son will come, aud possibly, two o.
more IN succession. 1t is. Therefore
only following the dictates of pru
dence to plant less cotton and raise
other crops in connection with il.
The Southern States, az a whole
comprise ore of the most av.,eJ
portions OF the earth. Nature has
been generous, to them in The WI,
OF favorable conditions of climate
SOIL. They are adapted to aImos,
everything that grows between tn.
tropics. Cotton, wool, fax. hemp
cereals, fruits, and root.crops are all
at home in The horlers at this favor
ed section. The best gras,e, -four
'sh iuxurlantly, and live stock, in All
departments of that great industry.
may constitute one of her mos, i'm ,or
'ans interests, as it does to no small
extent in Kentucky and Tennessee
But it is not alone in the domain
II rural pursuits That the natural! all
'antages Of the South excel, There
Q untold mineral wealth in her
Mountains, and water power il the
,reatest abundance. With all tbes.
dvantages the South has opportuni .
les that only need 10 he developers.
o place her in position of proper. q
" and wealth second to no other
'oItIon OF the earth of like en,eDt :,
he Initiative has been taken. The g
xposjtion at Atlanta gas - -. =