The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-05
~,atIauta Constitution, Oct. so.

at tDe cdplLOl SeSleludS, oAu ui9eu'9Cu
practical questions connected with their
occupation. The Cotton Acreage Con-
gress was the name adopted. The ses-
sions were held in the Senate chamber.
Col. J. O. Waddell, president of the
Georgia Agricultural Society, called the
congress TO order at o'clock. He statec
that the purpose of the convention was
TO devise some plan by which the acre
age of cotton can now be reduced, the
annual crops now being greater than
the worlds consumption. 10 tnls over
supply of course is due the low prices,
and, as every one knows. the planter IS
carrying on an Improbable business.
With him the question is how can more
money be made out OF cotton. Many
believe that the only way is to plant
less and reduce the crop. South caro-,
lina's agricultural society first proposed
that a congress Of this kind be held 10
discuss the reduction Of the number OF
acres planted. Georgia's agricultural
society took up the question and COIN
cided and suggested that such a con
ventiou should be called for Atlanta.
Col. d. 2. Duncan, ofSouth Carollna,
was elected chairman of the congress
and Col. James Barrett, of Richmond,
was chosen secretary.
CO.. Lyons, ,lof Gainesville, opened the
discussion ii Il speech urging reduction
of acreage. 1t would not do to attempt
to cut down 50 per cent. the first year,
he said, but the reduction should be
made gradually and extended over
series OF years.
1,h
in the black belt Of his State it would
be hard matter to get cooperation on
any plan to plant less.
NIr. Smith, of Butts County, made a
short speech advocating the suotrea-
sury plan.
Col. Livingston made the speech OF
the day. 1t was full of good points, and,
although not meeting the views OF all
in certain statements, was in the main
q most interesting and practical talk on
picking and ginning and preparing for
market. "In my early days cotton was
handled better than it; IS now. lhese
days the rule seems to be, pick III a
hurry, gin in a bury and sell IN a
hurry. Payday used to be on the Isl
of January. Then it moved back 10
December 25, after while to Novem-
ber |, then to October IS, and now 1t is
September |. | reckon in five years IT
viii be August l." The president OF
the Alliance accounted for this movable
payday on the ground that shorter
credits are given all around now, and
the merchant has to settle his bills
earlier than in the past.
ni,,,r h. q
this body would pass resolutions COZ
demning public gins. The question
with the public ginners is not how vel
they can gin but how fast. And they
cut so in price that men who know no"
to Gin cannot afford to do 1t.
"Whv, a lot Of these public glnner;
don't know any more about their busl'
ness than hog does.
II have been ginner all my llfe
and my father was glnner before
me.
"The South this year has lost three
fourths of cent on every pound of rot
ton in the handling." Colonel Living
ston traced the usual method OF hand
ling cotton from the picking of trash
ginning while wet, poor covering, rol
ling from the bale into the mud, rob
bing in the sampiing and waste a
every turn from start TO finish. All o
this comes out Of the planter, too. "Ih'
present method of handling cotton L
wicked and outrageous.
"What do you think of p, 900 bale
of cotton from samples in New Orlean
in one season? Why, the handsom'
cotton exchange building in New Or
leans was built from samples"
Colonel Livingston demanded a neV
, system of classification. Instead of nav
, ing from twelve to seventeen classes
four would be enough, he declared, AM
let them be known as first second
third and fourth. The average plante
conpot tell anything about cotton whel
, il goes under middling. More none.
! was made on last years crop than ha
ever been made Oh any other crop
, the war. Why, a merchant III M
town made SIT on one bale. He bough
! it for g. and sent the bale to August
and it brought 10 cents" The speaEe
urged the cotton growers TO get neare
to the manufacturers and to try to sci
direct instead Of through mlddlemet
He stated that be could sell 10 ~
bales right of to.an exporter II the col
ton could he stored and delivered O
> weekly or monthly contracts. Anothe
! suggestion of Colonel Livingston's wa
that the counties have sales days an
that the classification in each county b
done by sworn experts. There is cen
lost in classification, and that mean
$40, ,0U 900 on the crop. 10 empio
disinterested experts in every count
! would cost only a small part OF tina
, sum.
Colonel Livingston went on to sa
! that there is difference of cents be
. tween the price in Savannah and
Liverpool, and the cost of carrying co
= ton from one port to another is only
cent. Somebody is making q cent
6 simply for the handling.
, MIR. Gregg. of South Carolina, intro
dured the following resolutions:
Whereas, The Southern States
\merica have reduced the price Of shol
3 staple cotton below q remuneratlve pr(
duction; therefore be it recommends
; by the committee Of cotton growers.
|. That we hereby pledge ourselFe
:, not to plant more than twelve acres
the plow. -, ,,
, That we will not rent more Ian
!. for planting in cotton than twelve acre
: TO the plow, run by tenants.
3 That we will Use our lndlvldu;
efforts to enforce the above resolution
in our respective States.
After a Short discussion on these rest
lutions, Col. Lyons offered the folio"
ing, W hich was adopted.
:, Whereas, This cotton acreage cor
: vention, assem- bled in the city of a
! lan.a, October %, 1891, realizes the NJ
cessity of taking some action IN regar
TO u reduction of the cotton crop ~ tn
several cotton-growiDg States; there
Resolved, By this convention, tn;
they recommend that each of the cotto
states call a convention in the nee