The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-08

teaches us cannot be relied In? Have we not
years ago. and repeatedly heard the same ar
based precisely Inc same ns ai tss
area Of a cotton crop by such arguments ana
appeals9 We doubt 1t. Moreover, are not
these arguments an appeal 10 wrong prinei'
OF com bina tion to reduce areas, smack OF
combination TO put up prices Farmers have
not been slow OF late years TO strongly con-
denim and denounce ail enorts 70 put up tne
combinations, and other forms OF monopo-
lies. Shall we "fght the devil with fire.
return evil for eyil-wroug for wrong-meet
After ali, are high prices an uninixed good
Don't somebody have 10 pay these prices
The cotton buyer and the cotton manu- facture
do pay them. They fall at last, on the peo
pile who consume the cotton goods.
These thoughts are suggestive. Maybe we
are working at the wrong end Of the line.
The effort has been 10 influence market pri-
ces, that are to rule six months, or year
hence. Would 1t not be better TO give more
Intelligent attention and effort at this end Of
the line?
What we want is wider margin between
the cost or making cotton, and the price Wnlcn
the same cotton will command In the mar
So merchant wants wider margin between
the cost Of the goods he buys, and the price at
which he must sell them. But he cannoCin
the lace OF active oompetition-nx an c aroi,
He goes to work OF the other end; he tries
10 buy In cheaper market; he reduces e3-
penses by more systematizing his business
he is more careful about gtving cfeoiti aiec,e ne
Ing and buying. In hundred ways, here u
little and there little. he reduces the cost
Of the goods down TO the moment they are
to undersell his less enterprising and skillful
nelghbor, and still nuke satisfactory prof.
The application is easy. The farmer should
work at This end OF the line; II is the eud he
holds In his hand. His aim should be to make
the largest amount Of cotton at the smallest
possible cost but his main effort should be TO
reduce the cost
next he must concentrate on the smaller, his
skill and Judgment (Which cost him no mon
ey), concentrate the preparation, intensity
the selection Of seed, use none but the pest
implements, IN perfect working order. Then
turn of some OF the expensive laborors, sell
some OF the poor outlying land. This IL in-
tensiye farming in Its analysis. 1t Is TO make
every acre OF land, every mule, every laoor-
er, every plow and machine, everything on
the place, as productive OF results as possi-
bic.
This will, as we have said, Involve larger
reduction In the area, and a greater or less
volye still greater reduction In the cost OF
making the CROP Which is the better result
to produce nfty bales of cotton and sell 1t
for s200O or, to make forty bales and sell II for
s. 400?
In the first case you get eight cents, and in
the second case twelve cents per pound. E.
Without hesitation We say that the forty
bale crop Is by far the most profitable. NOW,
II every farmer could be induced to curtail his
production In the same proportion zone fifth
lessh we believe the price would be one-naii
higher from eight to twelve cents. Gan sucn
a general reduction be effected? We wish II
could.
But suppose anothsr case: instead Of an In
dividual crop OF fifty bales, that sells at eight
cents, suppose the farmer makes only forty
bales at eight cents. The difference In tne
gross returns would be s2,ooO-sl,BgO, or siOO.
Blu, suppose the reduction 10 have been
caused by reducing the area one.third or one
half reducing the number of laborers and the
number of mules by one.third, ana aiding
third TO the amount invested in fertilizers.
He now makes greater plenty Ol corn, OaLS,
bacon and lurd.
There are more of these TO sell, and less to
buy. How far would you go In the reduction
Of expenses before the $500 would be more
not wholly, within the farmers control, II be
controls anything. The enhancement In the
market price next fall, under the plan 10 ire
quently advocated OF reducing the area alone,
other farmer in this broad land.
What we want to impress Is, that hefarmer
should reduce the area In cotton because ne
may then produce cheaper cotton. II he still
makes AZ much as before 1t Is all right-it has
cost him Iess, and his profits will be greater.
II he makes less, II VIII have cost hin pro
portionately less 10 make II: and ne VIII De
safe, with probably more Of food supplies on
hand. SO in any event named he Will be In
as good condition, II not better, tnan that or
his neighbors. Now, suppose every farmer'
or a very large number ofthem. join In tbe re-
duction and concentration plan-the lnten,
sive system. Is it not plain that IN general
all will fare as well as the one individual who
goes II alone" And II the resu be q very
material decrease IN the aggregate producsioll m
each and all will get the additional oenent OF
greatly enhanced market price.
It Is no part OF our desire 70 an:aSon1ze the
policy OF a general reduction OF area. Nor
can II be said that we have endeaSored 10 e1-
pose the essential weakness of the argument,
urged by others in support OF the policy
when such weakness Is 80 we'll understood by
every wide.awake farmer. In the ftlce OF Il
farmers In the adoption OF such policy, how
many thousands-especially among the Dig
planters-would secretly taFe counsel OF their
own selfishness and resolve to plant all crea-
SO lar from combating the movement. we
only seek to add additional, and we think,
more effective arguments, addressed directly
TO each mans self Interest, ana aiming 70 In
duce him to pursue plan and a The es more
better, If everybody adopts the same plan. IL
is sort of covert plea for intensive farming
by extensive numbers. ,,-
II ia q plan that does not necessarily OF
primarily tax consumers for the benefit OF
PRODUCERS. It levies the tax for the payment
Of increased profits on the sunshine. the air
and the soii.upon the SILL anu @ 1adgtnent as m Gnu
sound practical sense, that COST less IN con-
slant nse, than In disuse.
TO reduce areu simply is to orednce:productio
is but temporary eXpedient: It's first sue
cess would be followed by such general oe-
The plan we suggest is nothing new, nor is ~
q Temporary expedient, depending for It's In
dividual sucressful results Oh the co-opera-
tion and good faith Of others.
Merchants had better see our White Goods
when in need. o. T.. Heath Co.
Glnghams-choice styles-G l4c per yard, Mt
o. 7. Heath s. Co.'s
Whbt Free Coinage IN.