The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-21
THE MORNING NEWS. !
ESTABLISHED 1880. INCORPORATED 1888.
]. H. ESTILL, President.
AWARNING TO PLANTERS
LESS COTTON MUST BE PLANTED
OR PRICES WILL BE LOW.

LESS COTTON MUST BE PLANTED
OR PRICES WILL BE LOW.
Senator James q George Gives a Pre-
uninary Outline of the Result of His
Investigation Into the Causes of the
agricultural Depression in the
South.
WASHINGTON, March 2O-Ths following
Is self-explanatory:
The United States Senate in April, 1892, passed
resolution instructing its committee on agri-
culture to make an investigation with view of
sscertainIng the cause of the depression in ag-
ricultural products existing at that time. Sem
ator James 4. George Of Mississippi was made
chairman OF the subcommittee to investigate
cotton, and Alfred B. Shepperson was made
secretary of Senator Georges committee. The
scope of the investigation is very broad and
covers the matter of cotton production and con
sumption of every country, with the cost of pro-
duction, possibilities of extension of culture.
etc.
The work of Senator Georges committee will
be completed by the next meeting of congress.
On account OF the great interest of the matter
under consideration to cotton planters and the
people Of the south, have requested Senator
George, chairman Of the committee on agris
culture under the new organization Of the SEN
ate, to prepare the following for publication.
Its paramount importance calls for the widest
publicity and iustifies its dissemination by the
Southern Associated Press newspapers.
Patrick WALSH.
To The Cotton Farmers of the United States:
In discharge of the duty imposed by the
United States Senate on the committee on ag-
riculture to investigate the causes of the low
price of cotton and the remedy, have made
some Investigations. which though as yet In
complete, authorize me to state the following
conclusions: There are causes for this low price
coming from legislation now in force, and there
arc other causes coming from needful legisla-
ton yet TO be enacted. 1t is certain, however,
that these causes cannot be remedied in time to
affect the price of the crop now about to be
planted, even, indeed, if their force ever can be
entirely destroyed. The cotton farmers must,
therefore, for the present resort TO such reme-
dies or pslliatives for low prices as
may come from their own action. inde
pendent of legislation. The last crop Q892-'95)
has brought higher price than the preceding
one. This resulted from the fact that il was
much smaller. the price would have been
IL
over the needs of consumption, coming from
the very large crop Of the preceding year
d891-'92).
The natural rise in the price Of the crop now
being marketed has been largely impeded by
great strike among the operatives in the cotton
factories of England Owing to this strike
6OOOO operatives. working 100000 spindles,
have stopped work. The effect Of this strike
up to this date has been to decrease the amount
consumed by British factories since Sept /
$4,000 bales, and is likely to amount in the near
future to more than 100000 bales in addition.
This decrease in the demand has, by certain law
of trade, diminished the price, or, which is the
same thing, prevented the full rise which would
otherwise have come from the small crop.
The American splnne-s carried over from
last season an unusually large stock of cotton
having bought heavily at the low prices pre-
vailing in the spring and summer and whilst
doing an exceptionally good business, they
have taken so far 35O,0UO bales less than
for the same period during last season. This.
also increased the surplus.
The prospect of another large crop coming
from the increased acreage if that should
happen, would not only be an effectual bar to
any rise i'll the price, but would cause a still
further decline. So that now the cotton raisers
of the south are confronted with this serious
question for solution. Shall we by Increased
average in the crop now being planted as com
pared to the acreage of the last season, raise a
crop of 100000 or 10,00O0l0 bales and thereby
Rut the markets of the world causing
fall TO the low prices of 1891 '92, and perhaps
even lower, or will we, by reducing the acre
age TO the extent necessary to raise all our food
and forage crops and work animals, especially
our meat, corn, horses and mules, increase the
price of our cotton crop and at the same time
diminish the uses of the proceeds of the crop by
larger reduction in the amount heretofore ap-
Piled to buy necessary supplies?
There can be but one answer to this question
in the minds Of thoughtful men. If it be said
that among so numerous class as the cotton
raisers it be impossible to get up an agreement
which will result in combined action to plant a
reduced acreage in cotton. and if this be con
ceded, then the situation appeals with
still greater force to each indi-
vidual farmer to decrease his own
crop to the extent needful to raise his supplies
for, in case there shall not be such dfminution
in the acreage as to effect materially che price,
so that the next crop is to be a low-prlced one,
the advantage to him who has wisely raised bis
own supplies will be clear and manifest. He
will not have to buy high-priced supplies with
the scant proceeds OF low priced cotton. These
proceeds will then be in the main surplus or
nearly so.
On the other hand, IL there shall be such a
general movement in the direction of raising a
smaller crop as to raise the price, then all who
contribute to 1t In the manner here Indicated,
will enjoy this increased price as the result Of
their own wise action and at the same time be
exempt from expenditure for the supplies
which they have so raised.
After much reflection upon data collected
from all countries adapted to raising cotton 1
am satisfied Of this painful truth; That we are
never, at least in this generation, to have gen.
orally the high prices for cotton we once had
Cotton will never, but in exceptional cases, and
Tor short periods be high enough to warranl
the producer to rely upon it as means of pur
chasing supplies which can be raised at home.
Very respectfully, ]. L. GEORGE.
NJ A Nh