Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-11-22
PRICES AND PRODUCTION.
The Sub Committee On Agriculture
Preparing Valuable Report
On Cotton.


On Cotton.
The Senatorial subcommittee on
agriculture, now in session at Wash
ington, is busily engaged in different
ways in gathering data and preparing
reports upon prices and production
of farm products.
This action of the committee Is in
accordance with a resolution of con-
gress authorizing an investigation Of
this question, and it is probable that
partial report of its findings win he
submitted early in the approaching
session of congress Senators George,
Bate and Proctor are dealing with
cotton and the other part of the com
mittee is composed of Senators Petler,
Roach and Washburne, who have
charge of the grain and live stock
branch of the inquiry. Senator Peffer
has been devoting the present con-
gressional interim to the preparation
of report of the facts for which he
gathered during the recess last spring
and summer.
He collected some very interesting
information bearing upon the depre-
citation of the prices of farm products
in the West and the general condition
of the farmers in that section, and OK
poets to have his report in shape to
submit early in the regular session.
The report upon cotton is not far
advanced. The scope Of this inquiry
concerning this industry embraces
both the farmer and manufacturers
and Messrs. George and Bate are at
present engaged upon the branch of
inquiry connected with cotton pro-
duction, confning their work, as a
matter of course,to the cotton produc-
ing states. When they shall have COM
pleted this line of investigation they
will be joined by Senator Proctor and
proceed to the cotton manufacturing
districts of New England and other
Eastern states. The committee is seek
ing to ascertain the actual financial
condition of the cotton growers, and
making inquiries as to whether they
are i'll debt as class, and if so Wheth-
er to the extent of insolvency. They
are also requested to give their views
on the causes of financial depression
and disasters supposed to exist among
the cotton growers, and state whether
the distress is due to bad management
on the part of the growers or to mis-
chievous legislation.
The committee will also go into the
question of fertilizers and the effect of
the establishment of cotton mills, and
make inquiry concerning the amount
of cotton produced to the acre with
the intention Of determining how
small the production can be and still
remain profitable. The producers are
to be asked whether the area devoted
to cotton growing is increasing or di-
and also whether efforts at
diversifying crop have been made,
and if 80 whether they have proved
beneficial. Cotton manufacturers aud
cotton buyers are to be asked regard
ing the cost of production and request
ed to give their views as to the causes
of tina present low prices of cotton
and the remedy therefor The com-
mittee is also seeking to ascertain
whether there are any customs or
practices of trade in relation to cot
ton which tend to increase or dimin-
ish the price or unsettle and make
irregular this price or the contrary
The report on cotton will probably
not be in shape to submit to congress
for several months as the investiga-
has been only fairly begun.