The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-14
THE WAY OUT

The ManufacturerS' RECORD lew
weeks since, commenting on the wide.
spread evils arising in the South
from the over-production of cotton,
advised that business men every.
where should assist the farmers in
escaping from the all-cotton slavery
In it's last issue the Record empha
sizes its former statement that the
matter of planting less cotton and
raising more foodstuffs is in the hands
of Southern business men. 1t says:
They can control it better than the
planters. 1t is reported from Savan-
merchants of that city will require
farmers to whom they make advances
to reduce their cotton acreage. This
should be done in Every county in the
South. A suggestion has been made
by A. b. Shepperson of New York
that the factors combine to require a
reduction Of 10 per cent in acreage
and that this bs put in corn. 1t would
be well il a larger reduction should be
demanded. The prosperity Of South
ern farmers rests with the business
men who make advances. Will they
rise to the occasion and by prompt
and vigorous ateps secure the planting
of cotton and the diversiflcatiOn of
southern agriculture: Less cotton
will not accomplish the desired re-
suits unless it is accompanied by an
increase in the production of corn,
wheat, oats, hogs, etc. The southern
farmer who diversifies his productions
and makes cotton surplus crop rare
ly fails, while the farmer who raises
all cotton and buys his food stufs
rarely succeeds.
There is a large amount of good,
solid sense in this position, but
it does not go far
1t is true that with
out the help OF the business
men, very many of the farmers will
never be able to extricate themselves
from the all cotton system; but
whether such result can be reached
by the mere fiat of those who furnish
The farm supplies is quite another
matter. The merchant who has adj
vanced his goods to the farmer very
naturally desires to make himself Sc
cure, and is certain to demand an
,verplus of cotton, rather than de-
crease. 1t is the opinion of THE
that a smaller acreage in
cotton may be reached through the
assistance of the business men, but it
will have to be reached in one of two
ways, or perhaps in both together.
One of these is to handle as money
crops a diversity Of farm products,
such as corn, potatoes, hay, honey,
'ruits, vegetables, field peas and beans,
etc. All these articles are capable of
transportation, and bring good prices.
Business men, who could go some
what out of the beaten lines to handle
,hese, would assist the farmers out Of
heir slough of despond, and would
therefore indirectly benefit them
selves. Another means of escape
rom the all-cotton system is afforded
1y the building of manufactures,
wen small and humble ones, which
will give the farmers an opportunity
o raise other products. If the bust
less men of q community should
'uild broom factory every farmer in
he country would gladly put in
ew acres of broom corn. If canning
actory were established think of the
Icres that would be planted in to-
natoes, okra, sweet corn and other
vegetables used in canning; and of
he thousands of fruit trees that
would be added to the orchards every
year. If the business men of the
south really desire to relieve the
armers and themselves from the OPP
,ressive burden of the all-cotton sys-
EN- these are feasible plans, and they
orm the easiest and most direct way
,ut of the difficulty.