The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-11-24
no More High Price Cotton.

We truly rympaihize with our Far
mers, and do not wonder that they feel
discouraged at the low price Of cotton. Under
ton Of the cotton belt. esrecial,iiyy, .he
present price will do but little more than
pay the expenses Of producing IT, But our
Farmers may as we'll make up their minds
q, once to the fact that the days Of high
priced cotton have passed, and II they ex-
pee. to make IL profitable money crop
hereafter, instead Of sitting down and CAL
culatiDg how much cash il takes 10 raise o
bale Of cotton, they must turn over q new
leaf and calculate how many pounds Of ba-
con, bushels Of corn, wheat oats and other
supplies they will have to raise to produce
bale Of cotton.
Until they get out Of the delusise notion
that the cotton crop is the only cash crop
on the farm and take the more rational bus-
ness view that every dollars worth Of sup
plies they raise wiM the cotton crop, Is SO
much cash 10 their pockets when they sell
their cotton, aud farm with that 10 view, there
will be no money for them in raising cotton.
The present low condition Of the cotton
market, (poitical demagogues to the contrary
notwithstanding,) is mainly the natural
result of "supply aud demand" and cannot
legilimately be traced &c the ~ egSo's of any
laws Of the country now in force, or the de-
inand for laws Of relief. 1t is simply this
When the market opened this year there was
not only mn overplus of cotton on hand, but
n large stock Of manufactured cotton goods,
both in this country and England, conse-
quently the mill owners were in no hurry
10 buy, unless at the lowest price; and know
| ing that the new crop would soon be forced
upon the market 10 pay the debts incurred
for s",";"'>, :" ""tc Z, we're III u condition to
dictate prices. II is much like q farmer
with his cribs full of corn attending Sher-
iG's sale where lot of corn is put up.
he has enough corn "to do him." and don't
want any, just them but if he can buy il loo
dozen he makes the purchase. 1t is au every
day occurrence right here among ourselves,
and We cant expect anything better from
strangers
We often hear Farmers say, "Oh, we
must raise cot on TO got money to pay debts
Now, we contend that n man who raises say
bnles Of cotton and enough supplies to do
him, will have more money to pay his debts
than one that raises 10 bales and buys his
supplies on credit The great trouble is,
while every Farmer grumbles when the
cosh * LeIuv,ru rrvm his cotton money, to
pay for the years supplies, but few seem to
take into account the fact that home raised
supplies arc as much cash to the farm as
cotton.
Another important fact should not be for
gotten: In Texas aud Mississippi they can
raise cotton on their rich soils at 30 per
cent less expense than we can in Union
county, S. G.. The amount of cotton they
produce is so large that the condition of the
cotton crop in those two States has as much
influence on the price as the condition OF
the crop in all the other cotton States put
together. We hnvc been told by intelligent
Farmers th,t in large sections .: those
Hhic d buck" against them and the cotton
spccultors, by swelling the total cotton
crop beyond the demand and thereby low
cring the price to less than the actual cost
of production here, under the system Of all
cotton farming, depending upon home stores
or State exchanges for supplies, to be paid
out Of the cotton money.
To us it seems sclfevdent that until our
Farmers change their schedule of farming
to "lcss cotton and more supplies" they will
neither get better prices for cotton, make
| any moncy, ncr get out of debt.
Legislation will not help in the present
| depression The great boon we were prom
| ;,od IVY ~" ~orenl &C the silver purchasing
farming interests Of the country than pour
| those who help themselves.