The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-03-24

culture to investigate the causes OF
the low price of cotton and The
remedy, | have made some invest.
cations, which, though as yet IN
complete, authorize me to state the
following conclusions; That there
are causes tor this low price, coming
from legislation now in force. aud
there are other causes coming from
needful legislation yet to be en-.
acted. 1t is certain, however, thai
these causes cannot be remedied in
time TO affect the price of the crop
about now to be planted. even, in
deed, if their force can be entirety
destroyed. The cotton farmer.
must, therefore, fof the present
resort to such remedies or palIiatlves
for low prices as may come from
their own action, independent OF
legislation. The last crop (1892~93)
has brought higher price than the
proceeding one. This resulted
from the fact that IL was smaller.
The price would have been higher
if there had not been a large surplus
over the needs of consumption COM
ing from the very large crop of the
preceding years 1881 92). The
natural rise in the price of the crop
now being marketed mas been
largely impeded by the great strike
among the operatives in the cotton
factories of England. In this strike
$50, 900 operatives, working 21 900
splndles, have stopped work. The
effect of this strike up to this date
has been TO decrease the amount
consumed by British factories since
September l, $4,000 bales and Is
likely to amount in the near future
to more than 100000 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 tu!l rise which would
otherwise have come from the small
crop.
"Amercan spinners carried over
from last season an unusually large
stock of cotton, having bought
hea Willy at the low prices prevail
ing in the spring aud summer, and
whilst doing all exceptionally good
business they have taken so far $780,
900 less than for the same period dur
ing last season. This a so increased
the surplus. The prospect of an
other large crop, coming from In
creased acreage if that should hap>
pen, would not only be an effectual
bar 10 any rise In the price, but
would C fuse, a still further decline.
So that now the cotton raisers of the
South are confronted with this Sc
rious question for solution: Shall
we, by increased acreage in the
crop now being planted as cOmpar>
ed to the acreage of that last season,
raise crop of nine or ten million
bales and thereby glut the markets
of the world. causing a fall to the
low prices OF 1891 90, aud perhaps
even lower, or will we by reducing
the acreage 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
aud at the same time diminish he
uses of the proceeds of the crop by
a larger reduction III the amount
heretofore applied to buy necessary
supplies?
There can be but one answer to
this question in the minds OF
thoughtful men. 1t it be said
among 50 numerous a class as cot
ton raIsers 1t will be impossible to
get an agreement which will result
IN combined action 10 pant re-
iuced acreage IN cotton, aud ii this
be conceded then the stu alton ap
peas with still stronger force to
each individual farmer To decrease
his own crop to the extent needtul
to raise his supplies. For is case
there shall not be such dimInutiOn
in the acreage as to affect materi-
ally the price, sn that the next crop
is 10 be low priced one, the ad
vantage 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 cot
ton. These proceeds will then be
In the main surplus OF nearly SO.
On the other hand if there shall
be such general movement in the
direction of raising a smaller crop
as 10 raise the price, then all who
toward it in the manner
herein indicated will enjoy this in
creased price as the result Of their
own wise action, AMI at the same
time be exempt from the expendi-
ture for the supplies which they have
so raised.
"After much reflection upon data
from all countries adapted
to raising cotton, | am satisfied OF
this painful truth. That we are
never, at east in this generation, tn
have generally the high prices for
cotton we once had. Cotton will
never, out in exceptional cases aud
for short periods, be high enough To
warrant the producer to rely upon
it as the means of purchasing sup
plies which can be raised at home.
- VERY Respectfully.
u. L GEORGE
Given Away!
/ have for sale the celebrated