The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-03-24

II ~ u - = &<1ys, y, -
~ 6l< cbffez fsr~rs n Ms United stdiu:
Id The disshaFxs ~ the duty imposed BY
The United States Sensts 81 the commifts
on,sExiculture, TO inyestieefe the csuses OF
ths low. price Of eottce and the remedy, !
havo made INSTRUMENTATION which, tbough
@ Yet fnoompiete, authorize me 10 state the
fsljeping conclusions:
There arc causes for this low price COM
mr. from legislation now in force. and there
sre otner causes, coming from nsedful legis-
lstion yet 10 bs enacted. 1t Is certain, how
ever, that these causes cannot DO remedied
Ia tius 10 effect the price of the crop now
about to be planted, even indeed, IL their
force ever cen bs entirely destroyed.
The cotton farmers must, therefore, for
the present, resort to such remedies Or
pslliativcs for lew prices rs may come OF
their own sction independent Of legislation.
The last orep (ls92-93) has brought higher
price than the proceeding enc. This result
sl from the fact that IL was much smaller.
The price would have been higher if
there had not been large surplus
ever the needs Of consumption, coming fron
the very large crop Of the preceding year.
ilS91-Q2.)
The natural rise in the price Of the crop
now being marketed has been largely i'm
pcded by the great strike among operatives
In tho cotton factories of Epglsnd. In this
strike sixty thousand operatives, working
twenty-one million spindl.s, have stepped
work. The effect Of this strike, up 10 this
date, has been to decrease the amount con
sumsd by British factories since September
1st 522, 900 bales, and is likely 10 amount
In the near future 10 be mere than 100000
bales in addition. This decrease in the
demand has by tho certain law Of trade
tat~ AAA H. n,.tA al l.. 10 -
thing, prevented tho full rise which would
otherwise have como from q small crop
American spinnsrs carried over an unusually
large stock OF cotton, having bought at the
low prices prevailing in the spring and
summer, and whilst dsing an exceptionally
good business, they have taken 80 Far 800
900 bales less than for the same period
during the last season. This also increased
the surplus.
The prospect Of another large crop com
ing from increased acreage, ii that should
happen, would not only he an effectual bar
to any rise in the price, but would cause {
still further decline. So that now the cotton
rnissrs of tho South are confronted with
this serious question for solution:
Shall We, by increased acreage in the
crop now being planted, rs compared 10 the
acreage of the last season, raise n crop Of
nine or ten million bales aud thereby glu
the markets Of the world, causing n Tl Ia
the low prices Of 1922, and perhaps even
lower, or vii! we, by reducing tho acreage
10 the exicnt to rnise all our food and forage
crops and work animals, especially oul
meat, corn, hsrscs aud mules. increase th,
price Of our cotton crop and at the same
time diminish the uses of Tho proceeds o
tho crop by larger reduction in the amount
heretofore applied 10 buy supplies?
Al
tion in the minds of thoughtful men. If il
be said that among so numerous n class rs
cotton rnisers 1t will he impossible TO get up
an agreement which will result in combined
action to plant reduced acreage in cotton.
If this be conseded, then the situation ap.
pcals With still stronger force TO each indi
vidual farmer to decrease his own crop tL
the extent necdful 10 raise his supplies, for
in case there shall not he such dimnuiior
in the acreage as to effect materially tn,
price; 80 that the next crop is to be low
priced one, tho advantage TO him who ha
wisely raised HE own supplies will be clea
and manifest. lie will not have to buy higl
priced supplies with the scant proceeds o
low priced cstton. These proceeds viii
then be in the main a surplus, or noarly so
On the other hand, if there shall be sucl
general movement in the direction of rails
ing'a smaller crop as to raise tho price the
%all who contribute 10 it in the manner hereir
indicated will enjoy this increased price a.
the result Of their own wise action and al
the same time be exempt from expenditure
for supplies which they have so raised.
After mnch reflection upon data collect cd
from all countries adapted 10 raising cotton
l am Satisfied Of this painful truth: THAI
we are never, at least in this generation, tc
have generally the high prices for cotton We
once had. Cotton will never, but in sxcep.
tienal cases and for short periods, be higl
enough TO warrant the producer to rely
upon as a means of purchasing supple.
which can be raised at home.
Very respectfully,
j y Cvnprr