The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
Building q State.

EDITORS CONSTITUTION: Georgia owes az
much to nature and as little to art as most counriess
Taking all things into acoount--c1mate, waters
waterpower, the fruits Of the soil and the riches
under tiff there be better part of the world
know not where II is.
What are we to do to make Georgia whet shc
ought 10 nef Many things no doubt. One must be
brief in writing for crowded experimentation some
things leaving the fest for others Some things are
set down here that are. must think, worth consid.
ering.
l. The bottom fact is the farm. II farmers pros.
per the state prospers II they fail sooner or later ali
fail.
2. The fundamental conception of rational farm.
Ing s making living. The fatal mistake is to farm
to raise something to sell to buy food To raise cot!
ton to buy food means servitude TO food raisers--
above all to spectators in food "Old Hutch" and
the rest of the pirates, enemies TO the human racey
every man of them.
1t does not answer for one to say, 81 can raise
enough Gotten on one acre to buy the corn l cam
raise on two" 1t Is also q question of freedom IL
another carries the keys to his crib and smoke!
house, the farmer cannot be a free man. He must
do as ne Is bid. Farming that raises food supplies
and has plus for cash sales Is independence.
On our present plan the independent farmer ID
played out II.
3. We need farm products Just now more than
markets; there is more market than product. At,
lanta sells northern and western hay not to city
people only, but to country people also. Once
while living in Oxford had to buy hay in Atlants
to feed COW. Nearly everything we buy comeH
from without, from eggs to locomotives. Here In
Decatur my horse eats corn and oats from abroad
and so helps to support man In the west.
4. We must diversity. All cotton we have
tried-nearly to the bottom. There are
hundred things to do by young men other than
rushing to Atlanta for cheap clerkships. young
white man bossing one ''nigger and mule'-th6
mule bought on credit and fed
on oats bought at credit prices-tnis
young fellow ''cussin' Niger labor" is not q far.
mer. He had better raise turnip green's for AtantS
than buy supplies in Atlanta to raise cotton to pay
for his suppliesl 1t better to lay himself oH
COOLERS or even dig safiras roots
g. Enough has been done to make proof-to get uk
out of theory into facts Round about this town Of
Deeaturthe grape business-acre for acre-beats any
cotton raised anywhere in America costs less worE
and brings more money. score or two are in tho
business hereabouts; they just getting started
but they have done enough to settle three points at
least. 4.
~ The most experienced grape-raiser here says
to me- Outside Of California, there is no better
grape region than DeKalb county"
(2.) II pays. Example,: A young vineyard, five
acres, sold TO Cincinnati buyer this past summer
eight tons on the vines at four cents per pound4
$780, Primus Jones, with his FIRST and "last bag,
cannot touch these figures.
49, The more the better III EACH There is no ex-
baustng the market. hundred vineyards, clos9
by Decatur, would pay each grape grower bettex
than If he were alone. One dealer must depend oH
the local market; hundred have agents from Cid,
cinnati, Chicago and other cities, east and west.
coming TO them. buying the crop and gathering i'll
This is proved already. This seven eight
carloads OF grapes left the Decatur depot If next
season there were hundred carloads for shipmepk
prices would be better, for buyers would como
otus. The demand will not fall nature Is security
the grape caters north of US are millions, and Ga2fg
gia grapes rpeh first Let the CONSTITUTION go on
with its fight for the people. A. g. HAyGooD.