The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-28
m,ssIssuppr AND COTTON SEED.

The cotton grower now depends
largely upon his Heed to make q profit
at the end of his years labor The
prospect OF loaing any approach
toward fair price for his seed, when
the price is dictated by monopoly
INSTEAD OF the result Of fair competi-
ton in open market, is a cause OF
much anxiety and no little indigna-
ton. We have before us letter
from respected correspondent in an
important city in Mississippi, which
informs us that a strong feeling exists
among the cotton gro wers around that
neighborhocd, a feeling 1t would GER
tainly be to the interest OF the Oil
Trust Company 10 allay both there
and elsewhere. Our correspondent
declares that the farmers regard them
selves as subjected to "wholesale rob-
berry" The prics paid On the river
bank by the company is Sc ton.
Taking the average distsnce, and
back, to the river from plantations
supplying the seed, and the
farmers state that from " Ia 50
is all the clear money that comes to
them, after paying the handling, haul.
ing, and other expenses. Our corres-
pondent asks that this return to the
grower be compared with the profit
made by the mills from the oil, the
lint, The hulis, the meal, and the cake,
made from the seed. The company in
its various operations averages 10 per
cent. upon its transactions. The
grower, turning his capital over but
once in the year, gets 81 to SIS a ton for
the seed whole years toll and outlay
have produced. Is the division of
profits between the company and the
cotton grower q fair and equitable one ?
The action Of the company, which the
planters regard as inimical to their
interests, has the efI,ct of strongly
turning the attention ti cotton cult
va ORB to the value OF cotton segd as a
fertilizer, and they are considering the
question VIII not a ton OF cotton
seed, put into the soil, produce much
more, in the addition made to the
cotton crop, than the mere 81 to ST.
melted for it when sold to the com
pany2 This, indeed, is a question fol
the company az well as for the farmer
and we are hhowingno unlriendly spir
II toward the company in calling III
attention TO the turn Of thought goinl
on among those who produce th'
seed. Without an ample supply o
seed the oompany's business 10 re
stricted, and scarcity Of II would com
pei mills - abandon the combination
or fail to find full' employment 70
their machinery, The Planters Jour
nal, which is the organ OF the Coitol
Planters Association, and whiol
Yields q powerful il Huence anon
the planters, declares that the actiol
Of the combination will prove bless
ing TO the planters by compellin
them TO realizs the great value Of In
seed ss Il fertilizer, and as a food
mingled with other food, for cattle
The considerations cur correspondent
advances touch no less the interest
OF the company thSn The cotton grow
els, II the company choose to act tn
part of . greedy monopoly, bent o
paying low pyicrs 10 the growers
the seed and exRctirg high rates froi
the consumers Of the products, i
b ultimate fate is evident. Division
will arise, the combination will b
disrupted, and the difficulties that le
to the combination OF the mills wi
DO increased to a degree that wi
, bring ruin to many Of them.