Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1883-03-15
ADVICE TO THE SOUTH.
Hogs and Hominy First-The
Surplus In Cotton.

fiuencing the growth of foot
products in the South the com
ing season:
st. Louis, Mo-, February "a
1883.-To the Merchants, Far
mers, and Tenants Of the Cottor
Belt: The South Is now on tn,
eve of planting another crop
aud after an experience o
seventeen years it seems ad
visable that some change shoult
be made in her manner of farm
ling, and we call your careful ct
tcntion to tho following facts
which are offered with the sin
cere hope that the people viii
give them proper consideration
Your section possesses the
finest farming lands and the
most salubrious climate in the
world aud should be TO-DAY
financially independent instead
of having to borrow on cror
before it is made, should have
her corn-bins and larders filled
before commencing a crop.
| Compare your situation with
the farmers of the North and
West. They, by systematic Ia
Dor, are growing richer each
year, while you with patient toll
and close economy are neither
so thriving nor prosperous as
you should be.
There is q cause for these
troubles and we as cotton men,
whose interest is closely identi.
fed with yours, believe we are
in a position to note many of
the evils that exist, and offer,
without presuming, the follow
ing suggestions:
/. The credit system, as at
present in vogue throughout
the South, is disastrous to the
planters .and tenants, forcing
them to pay extravagant prices
for supplies, and causing their
crops to be forced into market
with such rapidity and in such
quantities as to break prices
almost invariably below cost OF
cotton.
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 interested in
the prosperity of the South to
discourage the planting of q
large acreage this year, and de-
vote 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 in
stance, many small farmers, and
large ones also are so heavily
in debt when their cotton is
ready for sale that they are com.
PEELED to let it go, even though
the price is below its intrinsic
worth; while, if they had sup.
plies at home, produced, and
not bought on credit, they could
hold their cotton until they felt
justified in selling.
The price of cotton to, day is
fully 10 per cent. below the
average of the past five years,
while on the other hand, corn
is SO per cent. and provisions SO
per cent. above the average.
Thus are you losers both ways.
With the production of
enough provisions on each farm,
cotton would become a surplus,
and soon the incubus of debt
would be lifted from your peo.
pie, and each year would re.
cord strides in wealth.
Decreased production of cot
ton, and increased production
of bread, meat and other neces.
saries will bring about a more
prosperous condition of affairs
of the South, and instead of
Sheriff sales to satisfy the mort
cages that the poor laborers
must now give, we would see
grinding poverty banished for
ever, and plenty would pour in
upon you.
We ask that the merchants
and planters of each State, by
a Convention, or in some
practicable manner, agitate this
question until the influence is
felt throughout the entire cot
ton belt.
Signed by the following fac
tOrs:
Gilkeson & Sloss Com. Co.,
Allen, West & Co.,
Humphrey, Malone & Blake,
Tayler s. Bush,
S. M. McCallum s. Co.,
Chas. G. PEPPER & Co.,
Adler, Goldman & Co.,
Wolf Bros & Bath,
Meyer s. ArOnsOn,
Wilson & Co.,
Senter & Co.,
Hill, Fontain & Co.,
Thos. II. Allen s. Co.,
w. F. Obear,
l. M. Wiener s. Co.,
H. w. Brooks g. Co.,