Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-01
COTTON ACREAGE.
A Timely Letter From a Lead
ing Cotton Buying Firm.
LET COTTON BE A SURPLUS.
A Review Of The Situation by Men Fully FamI-
lar with II in Every Every Cot
lon Raiser Should Read and Profit
by the Facts Presented.
LET COTTON BE A SURPLUS.
"a circular letter Issued by billiard X
Colliu of Memphis, Tenn)

CA circular letter Issued by billiard x
Colliu Of Memphis, TennJ
It Is very hard TO say anything rev
and IL Is almost impossible 10 say any
thing impressive on the subject OF d.
ycrsiicd crops verses the all cotton
habit OF this country. II is snhiect so
hackncyed that 1t does not elicit keen
attention; 1t does not call for argument,
for all argument Is net In the outset
by universal admission that the all
cotton plan Is ruinous, and u It dNersi'
fication IS the only escape from ruin,
IL Is fact patent to all In the theory,
failing In beneficial demonstration Only
by want Of practice. But the experience
of the last two years, leading up TO the
present time. has seemed 10 sound this
question louder and louder ia the enrs
of every cotton planter who has ears 70
hear. until IL presents itself not merely
In the light Of cXpediency nor even as
simply wise and commendable policy
but as a necessary course the pursuance
OF which shall sacrifice, not merely MS
credit but his home.
The present is n peculiarly favorable
time for this reform, because the last
two years have been years Of preparation
for II, niiordng In many instances cX-
amples Of its success and giving rise In
many more to those harsh conditions
wherein the only aid is found M n self
ergy born only of necessity. The prac-
teal results of this method are Ia he
seen here and there In every neighhor-
hood. The farmer does not have 20 70
far from home TO find examples of thrift,
but they are the exceptions. when they
should be the rule. The proof is posi-
tive, however aud he kho runs may
read The hard times ApveNnot becn
without their uses, amoiYNbe host salu-
rlry Of which Is the restik2xon Of credit
the abuse of which hadW5ssSi formed a
blessing into curse anA,&st 1he seal OF
poverty and dependence AsS2M hc portals
exceptionally fSTored. iBSgSYn er@ u'P for
though y be trito sayfS&gyorp thread
bare lTm repetition afVfain,ed, with
sell praise, yet y \ not the less a plain
aud hAnest truth that the climate aud
the soil of the cotton belt are friendlier
10 Tue husbnHdhlan than any on the
continent. vHtO, therefore has SO great
a natural right 70 independence as the
Southern fnrmerl That he Is far re-.
moved from ,ths happy state goes With
l'''t----ly ing.(bnt the means nf reaching
= are his If he will but seize ana Use
them.
The remedy will not be found ia plant.
ers conventions, however much we NAV
ana do commend them as agitators md
educatorsi nor IN political bodies. re.
solving this or that yirtuous thing: nor
yet in the law-making power. which
though II may benefit classes shrewd
enough TO point and direct 1t. has never
YET enriched the t0iling multitude. end
never VIII; the remedy will come, II eyer
NJ does come, through individual effort
supported by individual reform: Il will
come when every man takes counsel Of
himself and not Of his neighbors aud has
the courage to stand up aud say: Let
others do as they may. as for me and my
nUnHn "a
taken methods and as rapidly as we can
| proceed TO make the farm store house
ana a granary as well as a supply de-
| pot from which To send out lat times Of
our choosing) the great staple Of the
| South Had one wire man. a skilled
and experienced planter for example. the
| ordering Of the crops for the coming year.
| the power 10 reduce the acreage In cot
ton by one-fourth. and Ia the same pro-
portion promote the food crops Of the
| farm, the planting season would not be
/ over before the benefit Of such a course
seed had sprouted the farmer would
stand on solid ground ~ therefore.
each individual will represent Ia his
own sphere the master spirit taken for
example, the same good end could be at
| tanned and in Il measure can II be- ac-
conplshed just IN proportion as each
| planter acts
There never was a time when the
| land lay more inyihngly ahead. The
| short crop OF the year just gone falls
! dead upon the mgrkets q the world;
here has not been q time for years when
/ cotton was as duh aud difficult to sell
| and whyi Because the warehouses Of
/ England and Europe are crowded with
| the SURPLUS Of the preceding crop, show
ing a FUN supply for the summer, and
consumers. trusting with sublime faith
| IN the folly OF the Americas planter,
/ look for an acreage in this yeas's pnnt-
| ing which shall set al rest all fears Of
short supply npd all apprehension Of a
/ high price Little the average farmer
| Knows how keenly he ig watched while
| ne makes his record on the acreage qnes-
/ ii0n. writing, al Il were, an adverse yer-
/ dict 10 his OWL case, with the point Of
| lis pl0w Ia the furrow, aud he does not
| think as deeply as De 0nght to think
/ that Just a. this record y made dur
l ing the next sixty days will the world
| Dat q price upon bis labor n DC promises
10