The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-05-15
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
THE OUTLOOK.
Capital at Present Ahead OF Immigration |
In the South

Capital at Present Ahead OF Immigration
in the South.
1t may be said that Northern capital
has but fairly begun in Southern invest
merts. Previously only small amount
OF capital ventured South, but now large
plants and millions of money are being
brought from the North to be invested
South. Capital is ahead of immigration,
as the Northern people are afraid to
venture South until they hear how these
investments turn out; and again, they
do not wish to come in contact and COM
petition with negro labor. But in
short time all such feelings will change,
for where capital settles down immi-
grafton follows. As / said, capital is
ahead of immigration now, and will be
for some little time to come, so in
the meantime a heavy draw will be
made on the negro population by the
iron and other manufacturing industries
to supply their demands for labor; ana
even now the Trans-Mississippi St1tes
are making heavy draw on North and
South Carolina for latorers for their
cotton fields The negroes are also
drifting from the farms, and seeking
other kinds of work All such will
make labor scarce in the cotton States
and hard to procure. In fact, it is al
ready so in some parts of Georgia, par
icularly in the Northern part of the
State. The scarcity of labor must bring
about change of system in our farm
ing, for where labor is scarce, cotton
planting must be curtailed, and grain,
grass and stock-raising enlarged.
Circumstances alter cases. If the
mineral regions of North Georgia are
developed as they are now being done,
and manufactures of various kinds
springing up all through the country, it
will give employment to large number
of people; also bring immigration to the
country. Such opens up a market for
food supplies, an everyday cash market
the year round for meats, bread, vege-
tables, poultry, eggs, milk and butter
and fruits. Such supplies have hereto
fore been furnished the South, and still
are, by the Northwestern States. But
If labor becomes so scarce as to curtail
the amount of cotton planted, then
North Georgia must become grain,
grass and stock-raising country, to fur
nish the mines, furnaces, rOlling-mills
and manufacturers that are among US.
l know of one farmer in this county
that does not plant seed of cot
ton, and with his fruits, grass and
grain crops, makes more money
by his farm than any farmer that plants
cotton. The hands required to make
cotton, their wages and expenses, con-
sumo the profits of the cotton, leaving
the proprietor of the farm merely his
vision crop, and none to spare at that.
whilst this farmer I allude to, pays but
little out for labor, as most of his farm
work is done by machinery. The papers
report this fall, of the large increase of
colts, horses and mules being raised in
Georgia, and still we read and hear of
the unprecedented demand there is for
imported mules throughout Georgia;
the demand is greater than it has been
for several years past, and when the
mules and fertilizers wanted by the
farmers have been bought, it will be
seen that there is nothing left on
their credit sheet in their favor A
large crop has been made, but all gone
for supplies. There is too much routine
farming still carried on in Georgia,
and that is the trouble with US. Cotton
is still the prime crop, when it costs
nearly It's worth to make it, and the
scareer labor becomes the dearer it will
cost. Less cotton, more grain, more
grass and more stock, where machinery
can supplement labor, which reduces
expenses and gives more profit.
There is another matter that should
claim the attention of all Georgians.
Save the timber; it has been so wanton-
ly destroyed, that in many parts of the
State there is not suficiency of tim
Der to fence the farms. The stock law
should be the law of the State; let all
who want to fence their farms, fence
them, but save the timber by making a
general law of no fencing, which has
become necessary in many parts Of the
State for want of timber to fence with.
u. II. Dent, in Southern Cultivator.