The Bossier banner., 1893-06-01
FARMER AND PLANTER.
TO COTTON FARMERS.

Senator George, of Mississippi, Talks In
telligentIy to the Cotton Farmers OF
the Country.
Senator George, of Mississippi, who
since last April, under the terms OF
senate resolution, has been engaged In
the investigation of the causes OF agrl-
cultural depression prevailing in the
cotton states, has prepared an address
to the cotton farmers OF the United
States. In view of the Importance OF
the question, and its urgency in connec-
tion with the planting OF this years
crop, Senator George has thought
proper to give publicity to the cohelu-
sions he has arrived. They are as toi-
lows:
To THE .CoTToN FARMERS OF THE UNITED
STATEs-In the discharge Of duty imposed by
the United States senate on the committee OF
agriculture to investigate the causes OF the
low prices Of cotton and the remedy. have
made SOME Investigations, which though as yet
incomplete authorize ME to state the follow
ing conclusions: That there are causes for this
low price coming from legislation now IN
force and there are other causes coming from
needful legislation yet to be enacted. IL Is Ger
tain, however, that these causes can not be
now about to be planted. even, lndeeo,
II their force can be entirely destroyed. The
cotton farmers must, therefore, for the present
resort to such remedies or palliatives Tor low
prices as may come from their own action, IN
dependent of legislation. The last crop uoSZ-sS)
has brought higher price than the preceding
one. This resulted from the fact that 1t was a
much smaller one. The price would have been
much higher If there had not been large sur
plus over the needs Of consumption coming
from the very large crop OF 1891 "
The natural rise In the price of cotton now
being marketed has been largely impeded by
the great strike among the cotton factories OF
England. In this strike CO., 900 operative. work
ing 81 600 spindles, have stopped work. Tne
effect Of this strike, up to this date, has been to
decrease the amount consumed by British fac
tories, since September l. sci 900 tales, and is
likely to amount in the near future to more
than 100000 bales In addition. This decrease
in the demand has. by a certain Law OF trade.
diminished the price. or, which IS the
same thing, prevented the full rise
which would have come from the small
crop. American spinners carried over from
last season an unusually large stock OF cotton,
having bought heavily at the low prices prevail
ing in the spring and summer and whilst doing
an exceptionally good business, they have taken
so far $50 00 bales less than for the same period
during last season. This also increased the
surplus The prospect OF another large crop
coming from increased acreage, If that should
happen, would not only be an ef1ectual bar to
any rise in the price. but would cause
still further decline. So that now
the cotton-raiserS of the south are
confronted with this serious question
for solution: Shall we, by increased acreage
in the crop now being planted, as compared to
the acreage of that Of last season. raise crop
of 1900, ,0O0 or 10000 600 bales and thereby glut
the markets Of the world, causing fall to the
low prices Of 1912 and perhaps even lower,
or shall we, by reducing the acreage to the eX-
tent necessary to raise all our food and forage
crops and work aninals-especially our meat,
corn, horses and n1ules-increase the price Of
our cotton crop and at the same time
diminish the uses of the proceeds Of
the crop by large reduction in the
amount heretofore applied to buy nee.
essary supplies? There can be but one answer
to this question In the minds of thoughtful
men. II it be said among so numerous a class
as cotton raisers it will be impossible to get
agreement which will result in combined ac-
tion to plant reduced acreage in cotton, and
If this be conceded. then the situation appeals
with still stronger force to each individual
farmer to decrease his own crop to the extent
needful to raise his own supplies, for in case
there shall not be such diminution in
the acreage as to AFFECT materially the
price, so that the next crop is to be a
low priced one. the advantage to him who has
wisely raised his 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 he in the
main surplus, or nearly so. On the other
hand. If there shall be such general move
ment in the direction Of raising smaller crop
as to raise the price, then all who contribute
to 1t in the manner herein indicated, will
enjoy this increased price as the result
of their own wise action and =at the same
time be exempt from the expenditures for the
supplies which they have raised. After
much reflection upon data collected from all
| countries adapting to raise cotton, 1 am satis-
| fed of this painful truth That we are never
| at least in this generation, to have generally
| the high prices for cotton we once had. Cot
| ton will never, except in exceptional cases and
| for short periods, be high enough to warrant
| the producer to rely upon it as the means OF
| purchasing supplies which can be produced at
| home. Very respectfully.
| G. 2. GEORGE