The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-17


planters of the South; and the question
for them to solve is, how shall they
manage this product, in order to keep
a just proportion of its value at home,
and thus be enabled to enjoy the fruits
of their toll and economy.
The first evil to be recognized, as
placing the planter at a disadvantage,
is his obligation to merchants, by
which the control of his product is
virtually taken away from him, and he
is compelled to dispose Of his crop, or
at least a portion of it, at unremunera-
tive prices, at the pleasure of his
creditors, and at a time when his own
ability to refuse to sell, would greatly
aid others of his fellow producers to
secure a fair price, and thus his mis-
fortune, or short sightedness, is visited
upon his friends and neighbors, and
enables buyers to supply their neces-
sites at prices ruinous to all producers.
A large number of producers being
thus under obligation to buyers or
merchants, they may be compelled to
deliver a large quantity of the staple
at one time, and thus fix a price so
low that more fortunate neighbors
cannot sell except at ruinous prices.
The fact that a portion of the cotton
producers are independent of the
merchants, does not protect them
from loss. SO long as there is a sufi-
cient number in the tolls of debt to
enable the buyers to command the de
livery Of a sufficient amount to meet
their requirements at a ruinous rate,
thus enabling them to hold down
prices, until the more fortunate are
exhausted in their ability to hold, and
then they, in their turn, are compelled
to let go at the prices fixed by the
speculative class.
The remedy seems to lie in reliev-
ing the cotton crop of all obligation, if
possible, thus enabling the producers
to command the market and fix prices
at a remunerative rate. The crop
mortgage should be forever abandoned.
The only hope Of escape from this
robbery seems to be perfect and
thoroughly organized co operation
among the cotton raisers; the devising
of such a rlan as will enable all to
avoid any claims to mature upon the
crop. This accomplished, let the &C
tual demand Of spinners for consump-
ton be estimated, and the times of de-
livery Of necessary quantities be
learned. Let the speculative demand
be entirely ignored, and then a fair
and reasonable price be fixed. Let it
be so arranged that no cotton shall be
sold except to supply the actual de-
mand of manufacture, and that only
at the reasonable price agreed upon.
In this way, the quantity annually
held for speculation will be withdrawn,
and the full return of value flow where
it should to the producer. This would
require a system of warehouses, insur-
ance, and a. managing and clerical
force at home. Such expenses. kept
among the producers, instead of being
sent away, the profits enjoyed by the
spectators in other localities, would
swell the net income of the producers.
By such cooperation among pro
ducers, the expenses of handling, gin
ming, baling and hauling of the crop,
might be greatly reduced and various
other advantages gained, which will
readily suggest themselves from time
to time. The great object, however,
to be constantly in view, is the neces
sity of arranging to hold the crop after
it is produced; and a systematic ar
rangement by which the actual demand
for consumption may be known, and
the exact quantity required at proper
intervals to supply the demand.
Estimating the difference between
what the producer receives and what
the spinner pays, exclusive Of freight
charges, at n and a half cents per
pound, we have an aggregate of over
sixty million dollars of which the pro-
ducers are robbed, and which goes in
to the hands of the spectators. Add
to this for insurance, storage, neces-
sary handling, ETC., for speculative
purposes, say ten million dollars more,
and the aggregate saving on the raw
cotton amounts to over seventy million
dollars, which, by the present unjust
and unwise system, goes to specula-
tors entirely.
By this system of handling the
crop, it will be seen that almost sev-
enty-fve million dollars will be re-
tanned at home, in the hands of pre-
ducers, in addition to the amount
realized, even at what is considered
average prices; and the grand total
amounts to over four hundred and
seventy-fve million dollars, which the
producers should receive in cash, and
not in the way of necessities, at exor-
bitant prices, which reduces their &C.
4,ol ~o+,,~o IN q pooro ero o4;or IF wbot