The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-31
FACTS VS. FANCY.

The Herald and News has been to
some trouble during the past few days
to ascertain the number of liens given
in this county for advances on the
crops and the amount of the same.
We have also ascertained from the
officers of the Newberry National
Bank the amount of their loans and dis
counts to the farmers of the county.
These figures may he Of interest to the
farmers Of this county at this time, es-
pecially so as the politicians and office
seekers are talking Of repeating the
lien law, and are busily engaged abus-
ing national banks and endeavoring to
instil in the minds of the farmers that
both these institutions are the worst Of
enemies to our farmers. These argu-
ments are the fancies of those who
make them, without any intention,
possibly, to deal in localities that can
not be realized, but at the same time
making war on two institutions that
are largely used by the farmers of this
county, and without which, no doubt,
they would find it inconvenient to Sc
cure the necessary means to make
their crops, unless these men would
offer them substitute that is better.
The sub-treasury bill does not meet
the case, as under it the government
does not propose to loan money until
the farmer has the produce to put in
the warehouse, and when he has this
he can get the money for it without
the warehouse or suh-treasury either.
70 abolish the lien law, according to
Capt. TilIman, would be to take away
from the small farmer his only basis Of
credit, and force him to work for the
landowner for wages or part of the
crop, and thus tend to build up a
landed aristocracy, the worst and most
oppressive we could possibly conceive.
But what are the facts and figures in
the case. We have endeavored to get
the number and total amount of the
liens indexed in the Clerks office up to
date for advances. According to the
figures thus obtained there are l,S3l of
these liens and the total amount is
1888, 1885. This makes the average
about 500 each. The largest lien in
dexed was for about $1,000, and the
great majority is for small amounts.
The total amount of loans to farmers
by the Newberry National Bank is in
round numbers $3.50, 900 to date this
year, and to all other persons, 100000.
Which shows that the farmers patron
ize the Newberry Bank more largely
than all other citizens.
This makes in round numbers $780,,
900 advanced to the farmers of this
county oy the use of these two sources
before the crop is made.
We have not the figures Of the prl-
vate bank at Prosperity, but we would
suppose that at low estimate they
loan to farmers $4,000 or $4,000 to
help them make the crop.
Now, how the sub-treasury is to
take the places of these two is beyond
our comprehension, and we admit that
we are unable to see how it will help
the cotton farmer at all.
Under the sub-treasury bill the gov
ernment proposes to loan the farmer
money to the amount of so per cent. Of
the value of his cotton, deposited in the
government warehouse, at one per cent
But when the farmer has his cotton he
does not need to borrow money from
any source because his cotton is money.
The remedy wanted is some plan by
which the farmer can set cheap money
to help him make his crop, or bet
ter still, some plan by which
he can make his crop without
borrowing money or getting supplies
from any source to make the crop.
We just put out these facts and
figures for the consideration Of our
farmer friends and trust they will give
them some study.
The total cotton crop of Newberry
County will not exceed $4,000 bales,
and high estimate for it is one million
dollars, and fully two-thirds of it is
spent before it is made. The remedy
most needed is some plan by which
this can be reversed, and then the farm
ers can hold the cotton to suit their
convenience.