The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-08-20
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FARM HELPS.
A Former Southern Farmers Talk to
Southern Farmers.


In these days of over-production or
depression in agriculture can the farm
ers, individually or collectively, insti-
tute policy that will help themselves
ms class. From my experience and
travel in the southern states feel conf
dent the great south should be made the
workshop of America. The natural adj
vantages of the country are so manifest |
to me that / can not refrain from send |
ing an article on that much-neglected )
point of advantage. / found in the !
mountains and hills of, my Tennessee
lands, and all over the south, millions
of the very best oak, ash and hickory
trees to make manufacturing of all kinds
of farm machinery both possible and
profitable. The iron and coal de-
posits of the south are inexhaustible,
and every needed element for success
is spread by nature in great profusion
most all over the sunny south. These
resources should be utilized and the
farmers of the great south can do much
towards ii by unity of action and by
combined effort and encouragement; in
duce manufacturing companies of all
descriptions to migrate to their land of
promise and erect the mills and facto-
ries needed to manufacture this raw
material into useful farm implements
and other kinds OF goods. Every little
city of that kind built up in the sunny
south adds to the best home market for
farm products that can bless any coun-
try, and will go very far towards relief
from over-production of cotton. And
that great staple also should go abroad
from there In manufactured goods
more than in the bale.
In my old county of Warren, Tenn,
the days and nights are so much more
nearly equal than they are here in
northeastern Ohio that this advantage
alone would give to any large manu-
featuring industry the choice of the
south for location, all other things be-
ing equal The southern farmers can
make it SO if they will. Daylight in
McMinnville, Tenn, is one hour and
twenty minutes longer than in Cleve-
land, o., in the short days of winter.
1t Is possible in McMinnville, or in that
latitude all over the south, to do the
daylight, while in Cleveland, o., it is
utterly impossible to do so. The cleo
trio spark must furnish the needed light
to accomplish the days work.
Again, the extreme long days of sum-
mer in the south are one hour and
twenty minutes shorter than up here in
Ohio, and that means one hour and
twenty minutes longer night to rest
and refresh the tired laborer. both farm
and shop. No such hot and sultry
nights as we often experience in the
northern states, when it is impossible
to get rest or sleep to recuperate the
wasted powers of mind or body from
excessive or even moderate toll, are
ever known or experienced in the south.
No twilight is there to fool man about
the hour of night or when labor should
cease and rest begin, but the heavy
dews of southern nights and the cool,
bracing air invigorate man, and he
arises in the morning, ready for another
day of toll, with increased vigor, and
viii do more than he can with mercury
above eighty degrees in the dead hour
of night. Milk will not keep sweet
oftentimes up here from night to morn.
ing, If thunderstorm comes up in the
night.
In winter time no such heat is re
quired in the factories of the south tt
make the operatives comfortable as we
most supply here in the north. In al
the great southern water powers below
the Kentucky line, ice will never
bother the mill fumes in the winter
the flow of water is more constant ant
enduring in the streams. Every ad
vantage is i'm favor of the south but tn,
markets for the goods and supplies fo
the mill hands Now, every factory es
Establishment allowed to the south is
conquest of priceless value. 1t insure.
local market for the butter, eggs
bacon, corn-dodgers, sweet potatoes, a
well as Irish potatoes and all othe
farm productions. 1t also Furnishes
work for idle negroes and makes then
safer and better citizens and the poul
try business more secure. Every larg'
factory will spread thousands of dol
lars annually among the farmers of tn,
south, If they are encouraged and in
duced to go there. l now live in tn
midst of factory cities, where farm
lands are made more valuable as the,
are located near them, and all tn
blessings recount to you, farmers her
enjoy.
The truck farming, like berries
grapes, fruits of all kinds, as well a
vegetables. solves the difficult problem
of oyerproduction the most effectuall
of any arguments one can use. In
tensive farming must be the rule 70
the coming farmer. The FRUITS of tn
south will raise more cotton unless yo
furnish them the markets for other farn
crops that will justify greater diver
sity.
What ! say for the south, is in hig
degree applicable to all new countries
encourage manufacturing to the highes