The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-06-05
For THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
AN ALLIANCE ORGANIZED-THE
CROPS, &C.
PELHAM. n. c.. Nav 26. 1888

IAAhaM, ~. VI, uud( ~, 1000.
Mr.. EDITOR After a rousing
speech by DR.. Seawell, on the 26th
ult., the Pelham Farmers Alliance
was organized. Considering the short
notice given, there were a good many
at the speaking, of whom twenty-three
joined the Alliance. Nj. J. II. Will
son, n of the wealthiest and most
influential farmers in our section was
elected President, and Mr.. w. c..
Swami, who is one of the best bust
ness men in the county, was elected
Secretary.
With such men as these in the lead
ing Offices, and all greatly interested
in the work, nothing short of great
success can be anticipated. Although
u Alliance is but a few weeks old,
great good has already been accom-
plished. Steps have been taken where
by the members will save a good deal
in the next months expenses. 1t
seems that all the members are en-
thusiastic over the Alliance, and it is
to be hoped their enthusiasm will not
be allayed until they get in perfect
working order: then they can look
back and see what united action a
do. Success in the beginning will be
an incentive to greater undertakings,
by which the farmer, with due energy
may reach the topmost round of the
ladder. The highest object at which
they can aim will be best for them;
for though they fail to reach this, they
will certainly reach higher than if
they had aimed lower.
There are two things essential to
the interest of the Alliance, which
should always bear upon the mind of
the MEMBERSHIP energy to prosecute
with a determination, anything which
may be for their good, and the discre-
ton to work in harmony. At our
second meeting, which was held to-day,
this spirit manifested itself throughout
the entire proceedings. Each mem
Der being willing to make a sacrifice
for the good of the order.
l I'M glad to see the farmers of the
country beginning to look out for self.
Before the Alliance was organized,
there was a Farmers Club at Pelham,
which did a great deal of good.
Although the farmers of this section
as a general thing, are not rich, they
belong to that honest, industrious
class who always have plenty and are
not dependent upon the merchant who
does a credit business and charges
about ten per cent. more for his goods
than one who sells for cash.
l find that the tobacco crop, which
has heretofore been the main crop of
this section, has been curtailed about
one-fOurth, and more attention paid to
other crops. The mount of fertilizer
delivered here this season, being con-
siderably less than usual, shows that
the farmers are preparing to live more
at home in the future than. they have
been doing. When the market price
of tobacco was high they depended on
Armour's smoke-house for meat, and
western granaries for bread; but now
that the price of tobacco is so low,
they cannot afford it. For this reason
the grain crop will be much larger
this season than usual, or rather there
is a good deal more land in cultivation
of this crop. Owing to the recent
heavy rainfalls in our section, it is
feared that the wheat crop has been
damaged, as the force of the wind and
rain beat off the blossoms.
The prospect for the corn crop as a