The Forrest City times., 1892-02-05
FIGUHEs FOX FARMERS.

The convention the Cotton Growers and Merchants association held in Memphis on January 8 brought out some startling facts in regard to the production of cotton and it's relative price. The address of J. R. Goodwin, president of the Mercantile bank, is especially instructive, and it would be well for our farmers to study the fig ures carefully. We append as much of Mir. Godwin's address as our space will permit:
 Whether there Is some unknown and hidden fascination about the cultiva- tion and production of the Heecy sta pie; whether it is the peculiar condi- ton of labor, the much talked of diff iiculty of obtaining financial aid to produce other indispensable crops. or whether it is simply the force of habit, are questions about which many of us differ in opinion; but one thing we do know and are all agreed OH, that from some cause the size of the crops have increased and the price has decreased until there is d wall of financial dis tress from one end of the cotton belt to the other, which places the cotton grower before the world in the strange and somewhat ridiculous attitude of being ground down and poverty-strick- ell by having too much Of good thing. With view to and the hope of throw ing some light on this subject, 1 have looked up as carefully as possible the statistical history of cotton production and consumption for the past twenty five years. In doIng so, have con suited only the most reliable and trust worthy authorities on the subject, and will give the results in ts concise form as practicable.
 The total crop in the Southern states for lS66-7 was ? 233 900 bales. Aver. age price in New York for the season was 3la cents per pound; in Liverpool, II pence. Total value, S2y7 SIC, 900. Total number of acres planted ill cot l ton. estimated, 6 6.22l ,76S.
 Four years later, in lS70-1, the total crop was 4,347 .3l7 bales. Average price in New York r cents; in Liver pool 8a pence. Total value of crop, S330.1 600. Total nnmbsr of acres planted, S,666 ,227.
 Ten years later, in 1SS0-l, the total crop was 6.605,7 ,750 bales. Average price in New York forthe season, HE cents, and in Liverpool, 6i pence. To tai value of crop. s356 ,525 900. Acres planted, l6,000.0O0.
 Ten years later, in lS90-1. the num- Der of acres planted was in round mum bers, 1000 900. Total alnumber of bales produced, S.652 GOO. Average price in New York for the season, 9 cents; in Liverpool, 4 pence. Total value of crop, S429. .792 900.
 The consumption of American cot ton as given by Shepperson for the year lS66-7 was, Great Britain, l.2l6,- GOO bales; the Continent, 34l 900 bales; Northern mills, 573 900 bales; South ern mills, l50,000 bales.
 Four years later, in 1S70-l, Great Britain s takings were 2,36S GOO bales; the Continent, SO0 900 bales; Northern mills, I,072 eco bales; Southern Ills. 9I 900 bales. Of this crop (4,3i7 900 bales). ,33l 900 were taken by manu facturers, leaving only le,0OO bales in stock in this country.
 Ten years later, lSSQ-l, out of a crop 6,6O6 900, Great Britain's takings were 2,se 900 bales; the Continent, l.733. OOO bales; Northern mills. 1.7l3,OOO bales; Southern mills, 2S0,O00 bales. thus leaving 9S 900 bales in the hands Of the producers.
 Ten years later, in lS90-l, out of a crop of S.652 ,000 bales, Great Britain's takings were 3.346 900 bales; the Con tinent, 2.446,0O bales; Northern mills. 2.O27 900 bales; Southern mills, 62O,0OO bales, thus leaving in the hands of the producer, 236. 900 bales.
 These figures tell the story of in- creased acreage, increased production and decreased price in such a plain, simple way that the most ordinary in- telligence can comprehend and appre- ciate It.
 The fact is admitted that one year compared with another will show vari- atiobs in the size of the crops accord ing to favorable aud unfavorabe sea sons. The same may be said of the price, which fluctuates up and down at different and irregular periods of the year, influenced by bad or good reports of the growing crops, or the uncertain- ty of the out-turn during the gathering and marketing season, but these changes in the market values are always based upon the supposed abundance or scarcity of supply at the time, and whether the market is influenced by legitimate demand from spinner9 or manipulated by speculation, makes no diffefenee. Supply and demand is the foundation for either or both, and when we apply the law of average for periods of five or ten years to these varying crops or the fluctuation in rice, the result is invariably the same; therefore, if we would increase the price permantly, we are obliged to de- crease the supply. To decrease the supply means not to depend OH some calamity in the shape of widespread drouth, destroying insects, or early killing frosts, but to plant fewer acres in cotton, and more acres ill something else. What that is to be must be left to the judgement or inclination Of each individual. All food and forage crops grow to great perfection on aver age soil with proper tillage anywhere in the cotton states, and yet. strange and unaccountable as it may seem, many growers of cotton are so welded to that particular staple, that they are compelled to buy almost everything they consume at their homes except water and air.
 The question is asked, how much would you reduce the production ot cotton, what per cent of acreage wOulG you leave offY My answer IS p per cent, and 1 will prove to you py a