Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-03
HON. JAMES NJ. SMITH.
A Startling Letter from GeOrgis's Great
Fsrmer-PrOducing Cotton ut a Loss of
100 Per Cent


issue of March y l notice a letter, dated
Lexington, Ga, March %, 1886" and
signed ''Oglethorpe," which, without cor
rectiOn, will create wrong impressions
The author Of that letter is, doubtless,
friend of mine, and wrote it with pure
motives. The public Will, without infor-
nation to the contrary, believe that the
letter was written with my knowledge
consent and approval, and so believing,
MANY Will consider me full Of vanity.
The farmers of this section, one and all,
are in deplorable condition, and
no amount of finely written articles pub
lished in the newspapers can change 1t.
"OglethOrpe" represents me in Ga flour
ishlng condition, when, in truth, | never
was in a worse condition, so far as farm
ing is concerned The country is grow
ing poorer ali the time. Without some
great change for the better, | see no hope
for that who are trying to make living
by farming. My friend "OgethOrpe" is
correct when he says the convicts at the
camp are well fed, clothed, worked in
moderation and humanely treated, and
whoever says to the contrary does not
tell the truth. "0glethorpe" is correct
when he says that | have a cotton seed
oil mill in operation, which, together
with some other machinery, is run by
large engine. The cotton seed oil mill is
very small affair, but large enough to
work up all the cotton seed l have. AS
to making guanO for sale, do not think
l will be able to do anything at 1T this
season. How much | will save by max
ing my own fertilizers is an unsolyed
problem.
"Oglethorpe'' is in error when he says
| contemplate building railroad at my
own expense. Railroads cost a great deal
of money, more than l ever expect to
have. A railroad from WinterYille to my
place, to be extended to Elberton or some
point on the Elberton Airline, would be
of considerable advantage TO Athens,
Winterville, Elberton and the country
through which it passed, and | am
willing to help build 1t, and hope
some day to see it built. But the greatest
error in "OglethOrpe's" whole article is
when he says | raise annually 1000 bales
of cotton, and the proceeds thereof is about
clear. If "OglethOrpe" will give the
country recipe for raising 1000 bales of
cotton. or even a smaller number, without
cost, he will have accomplished a great
feat. Those who do not raise cotton are
very prone to under-rate the cost of pro-
ducing it.
"OkIethorpe'' is again in error when he
says l have paid one firm in Athens Sl5,-
| 900 for supplies bought since Christmas.
1t is true | have bought great deal since
Christmas in the way of supplies. 1t is
my misfortune that had it TO do, and 1t
is a much greater misfortune that | was
not able to pay cash tor these supplies, but
had to buy them on time, like too many
other OF my brother farmers. There is no
money in raising cotton now, no matter
what kind of labor you work.
! Every bale of cotton l raised last year
cost twice what it brought. Like too
many other farmers, am in debt, and am
| obliged TO have something that will bring
| money in the fall. Since it has become
| necessary for the public TO know some
| thing of my private business, prefer that
they know more and know it correctly.
My losses for the past twelve months have
been greaU-beyOnd beief-mOre than
| can ever stand again. Let me give you a
| summary of the principal ones: In
| the falls of 1884 and 1888, L sOwed
each of those tails about 1900
bushels of oats. In both cases the oats
were all killed. | also fertiliZed the
| oats. In January, 1885, hauled to rail-
road and shipped 90 Atlanta about 400
tons of cotton seed, all of which were re-
| jected on account Of being damaged.
| sold them in Atlanta for mere pittance,
and did not get enough for them to pay
| freight, trackage and commission
! hence the seed were clear loss,
as was also the hauling of them
nine miles on wagons to the railroad.
! First and last, in 1888, [ lost over 800
! head of hogs with the cholera. In
| June, 1885, lost 81, 900 in fight with the
! Governor and penitentIary officials to
| disprove false charges brought against
me by these officials and to prevent them
! from making political capital for them
selves at the expense Of my honor and
| good name. In the above $1,000 is not
| included my own time, which in that
| particular time of the year was worth a
! great deal if could have used it in look
| ing after my legitimate business; hence
| charge $4,000 cash loss in a fight with
! opium eaters, drunkards, political aspi-
rants and eaters OF public hash. | miyht
| have settled this case with some less ex-
! pense by bOotlicking, fawning and sur
rendering principle.
With 100 cOnYlcts / only made 200 bales
| of cotton aud 1000 bushels of corn. The
cotton | sold for $4,000. To make the
above crop fed, clothed, guarded, and
was at all expense OF working 100 con
victs-furnished plantation tools, wag-
Cns, gear. fifty head of mules and feed for
them, and used 100 tons guano. This crop
cost $4,000 more TO make 1t than it was
worth hence | charge up $4,000 loss on
convict farm. Here is a table Of my prin-
cipal losses
| 2 300 bushels of Oata sown in fan 1854