The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-21
THECAUSE AND REMEDY.
SENATOR GEORSE WIZ URGEtDE-
CREASE IN COrToy AcREA6E.
A Chairman of tho senate subcommittee
He Tells tie Reason OF the Low Price
of Cotton and How to Correct It.

WASHINGTON, -. G.. March @.-The
United States Senate in April. iN2 passed
a resolution instruotlng its Committee
on Agriculture TO make an Investigation
with view OF ascertaining the cause Of
the depression in agricultural products
existing at that time. Senator James T..
George tMiss) was made chairman or
tho subcommittee 20 investigate Gotten.
Mr. Alfred B. Shepperson was made Sec
retary OF Senator Georges committee.
The scope OF the investigation ia very
broad, and covers the matter Of the cot
ton production and consumption OF every
country, with cost OF production. possi-
bilities OF extension OF the culture, etc
The work OF Senator Georges committee
will be completed by the next meeting OF
Congress. ON account OF the grcat IN
terest OF the matter under consideration
10 cotton planters and the people of the
South / have requested senator James
Ii. George tNIss). chairman OF the Com
mittee of Agriculture under the new or-
ganization OF the Senate % prepare the
following for publication. Its pAramouat
importance calls for the widest publicity
and iustihcs its dissemination by the
Southern Associated Press newspapers.
PATRICK WALSH.
To the Cotton Farmers OF the United
states; In the discharge Of a duty inn
posed by the United states Senate on tho
Committee OF Agriculture 10 investigate
the causes Of the low price of cotton. and
the remedy, l have made some investi-
cations. which, though Yet incom-
plete. authorize me TO state the following
conclusions:
There are causes for this low price
coming from legislation now I'm force. ana
there are other causes coming from need
ful legislation yet 90 be enacted IL IL
certain. however. that these causes can
not be remedied In time 20 affect the price
OF the crop now about 90 be planted,
oven. indeed, II their force ever can be
entirely DESTROYED. The cotton farmers
must therefore for the present resort to
remedies or palliatives for low prices. as
may come from their own action indepen-
dent OF legislation.
The last crop Q@2-9 has brought
higher price than the preceding one. THIS
resulted from the fact that II was mncn
smaller. The price would have been hlgh-
er II there not been large surplus over
tho thousands OF consumption. coming
from the very large crop Of the proced-
ing wear QS9l- '92). The natural rise In the
price OF the crop now being marketed
has been largely impedod by the great
strike among the operatives IN me COZ
ION factories of England In this strike
80 600 oneratiyes working q 10000 spindleS
have stopped work. The effect of this
strike up 20 this date has been 10 dr-
crease the amount consumed by hFiNs"
factories since September LIST 5-oVn pales'
and is likely TO amount IN the near ,utui'
to more than 10000 bales IN addition
This decrea sed demand has by certain
la,v Of trade diminished the pflc", Or
which Is the same thing, prevented the
f,lI rise which would otherwise have come
from the small crop. American spihheiS
carried over from last season an nhuon
ally large stock of cotton. having pou~lt
heavily at the low prices pr, talihs III
the spring and summer ana "hlls' eMV'"e M
49,, o,irnentionaIlv good business they have
,alsen so far $50 O00 bales less than Tor thc
sane neriod during last season. This aiso
,,creased the surplus The prospect OF
another large crop coming from lncreaSen
acreage II that should happen Wo"ia ".e
onIv he an efTectual bar to any rise Ia
,ha nr,ce hut would cause stu tutther
decline So that now the cotton rais.tS
Of the South are confronted Win ''''
serious question for solution =. ,,.
Shall we. by Increased acreage W VIC
crop now being planted aa
A
ero, ~ q 0OO 600 or 100000 bales ana
therehv glut the markets Of the worn'
causin1 a fall 10 the low prices oI 1871 ~
ana nerhaps even lower or VIII We pS
reducing the acreage 20 the extent heeeh-
cor, 10 raise all our food ana ,oIase
crons and work antmas-especia"y "u'
meat corn. horses and muies-ihcIedSe '''
nrice Of our cotton crop, and al the saNs
time diminish the uses OF me proc.'us ol
he cron by a larger reduction IN the
amount heretofore applied 70 puy heeeS-
sary supplies2 There can pe put on1
answer TO this IN the minds OF thoush h-@"'
men. II Il is said that amonB 80 NUN
ous a class as cotton ralsefS u "Hi w
impossible 10 get up an agreeineht "n'@"
will result in combined action 10 plant IT,
duced acreage In cotton. anu ,n,9
be conceded. then tho situation appsais
with stronger force 10 each indivldual 10
Increase his own crop 10 the extent need
full 10 raise his supplies, for In case there
shall be not such diminuuon In acreage
as To affect materially the price so that
tho next crop is to be lo~-prleed one
tho advantage TO him VINO mas "ise'.
raised his own supplies Will De cle'I ana
manifest He will not have to buy hisn-
priced supplies with the scdht prvce'us
Of low-priced cotton. These proC"eus VIII
.hen be, In the main, a surplus. or nearly
so. On the other hand, II there Shsii
be a general movement In the direction
Of raising a smaller crop. 80 as 20 raiss
the price, then all who contribute 70 II IN
the manner herein Indicated VIII ENJOY
this increased price IS a result OF thsir
own wise action. and at the same nme pe
exempt from the expenditures Tor tns
supplies which they have 50 raised
After much reflection on the data coi'
lected from all countries adapted 10 rais.
ing cotton, / am satisfied OF THIS painfui
truth:
That we are never at least In this gem
Grafton. to have generally the high prices
for cotton we once had.
Cotton viii never but In exceptionsi
cases and for short periods De high
enough to warrant the producer 10 rely
en- II as the means Of purchasing supplies
which can be raised az home.
Very respectfully
J. z. GEORGE
The Phosphate Industry.
In response 20 a Senate resolution OF
December 4. 1890, the Commissioner OF
Labor to-day sent 10 the Senate special
report on the extent OF the phosphate In
a.m|