The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-03-24
FARMERS TAKE HEED.
To Me Cbroa Farmers Of TIE Uniitd Sta

FARMERS TAKE HEED.
Ts ne Clifton Farmers Of the United States:
In the discharge Of the duty imposed by
the United States senate on the committee
on agriculture, to investigate the causes Of
the low price Of cotton and the remedy, |
have made some investigations which, though
rs yet incomplete, authorize me TO state the
following conclusions:
There are causes for this low price COM
ng from legislation now in force, and there
arc other causes, coming from nsedful legis-
lstion yet to be enacted. 1t is certain, how
ever, that these causes cannot be rcmedied
In time 10 effect the price of tho crop now
about 10 be planted, even indeed, if their
force ever can be entirely destroyed.
The cotton farmers must, therefore. for
the present, resort to such remedies or
pslliatives for lew prices as may come Of
their own action independent of legislation
Tho last crop (lS92-93) has brought q higher
price than the preceedlng one. This result
Ell from the fact that it was much smaller.
The price would have been higher if
there had not been large surplus
over the needs of consumption, coming from
the very large crop of the preceding year
(lS9l-92)
The natural rise in the price Of the crop
NOW being marketed has been largely i'm
peded by the great strike among operatives
in the cotton factories OF England. In this
strike sixty thousand operatives. working
twenty-one million spindl.s, have stopped
work. The effect Of this strike, up 10 this
date, hos been to decrease the amount con-
sumsd by British factories since September
!st 522, 900 bales, and is likely 10 amount
In the near future 10 be more than 100,0 900
bales in addition. This decrease in the
demand has by the certain law Of trade,
diminished the price, or, which is the same
thing, prevented the full rise which would
otherwise have come from q small crop
American spinnsrs carried over an unus usually
large stock Of cotton, having bought at the
low prices prevailing in the spring and
summer, and whilst doing an exceptionally
good business, they have taken SO far 350
900 bales less than for the same periot
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 be on effectual bar
TO any rise in the price, but would cause o
still further decline. So that now the cotton
raissrs Of the South are confronted with
this serious question for solution
Shall We, by increased acreage in the
crop now being planted ms compared to the
acreage of the last season. raise n crop of
nine or ten million bales aud thereby glut
thS VI tne WVTln Causing II 10
the low prices Of lS9l-92, and perhaps even
lower, OF will we, by reducing tho acreage
10 the extent to raise all our food and forage
crops and work animals. especially our
meat, corn, hsrScs aud 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 applied 10 buy supplies?
There can be bu, one answer TO this Ques-
tion in the minds of thoughtful men. If it
be said that among so numerous class us
cotton rnisers it will be impossible to get up
an agreement which will result in combin ed
action to plaut reduced acreage in cotton.
If this be conceded, then the situation ap.
peals with still stronger force to each indi-
vidual farmer to decrease his own crop to
the extent needful 10 raise his supplies, for
In case there shall not he such diminuiiou
In the acreage as TO effect materially the
price; so that the next crop i. to be low
prlcod one, the Advantage 10 him who has
wisely raised his own supplies will be clear
and manifest. lie will not have to buy high
priced supplies with the scant proceeds o.
low priced cstton. These proceeds viii
then be in the main a surplus, or nearly so
On the other hand, if there shall bo such
general movement in the direction of rails
ing q smaller crop as to raise the price the r
-~all who contribute 10 it in the manner herein
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 collected
from all countries adapted 10 raising cotton
am satisfied Of this painful truth: Tha,
care never, at least in this generation, to
have generally the high prices for cotton we
once had. Cotton will never, but in sxcep-
tienal cases and for short periods, be high
enough to warrant the producer to rely
upon it as means of purchasing supplies
which can be raised at home
Very respectfully,
j. Il. GEORGE.