The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-04-08
COTTON ACREAGE QUESTION.

c mr.. Editor:--Ihe time for plantlp,
G another crop of cotton has arrived an,
: the momentolls question, whether th
outcome shall be favorable or result i,
: disaster, has to be decided now.
Nothing. it would seem is NOR. Ger
i tain. than that the decision is entirel,
within the control of the planter.
Il Ordinary sagacity should prompt
him to curtail the acreage TO be de.
voted to cotton this year at least one.
!; fourth. By so doing, he will insure
the receipt of rem lucrative price for
his crop. But if: unwisely, he should
plant full crop, there can be but one
result, and that viii be in all probable
lily, lower prices than have ever been
known-which added to the three past
| disastrous years, means to many
financial ruin.
/ Nothing but the accident of an mn
favorable year, added to some ~reduct-
ion OF acreage, owing principally to
the impossibility of obtaining the
usual advances-prevented middlma
cotton going begging last year in New
orleans at FOUR cents per pound, or
Just one half it costs in average wears
to make it.
l think every pound of cotton raised
last year on the Mississippi river cost
20 cents.
Everything tends to prove that the
day for big prices for cotton has passed.
never to return. Shall we nor then in
augurate new departure, and for
saking the old ruts that have led ms
SO porllonsly near bankruptcy. (and if
persisted in another year will surely
land many of US there) Cease MAKING
more cotton than the world needs, or
can use, aud start on the rad that
seems so plainly marked to prosperity.
true, IN any general movement to-
wards contraction of acreage. there
will be those who from selfish motives
VIII rather increase than dimish their
acreage in cotton. This cannot he
helped. and the mum Der will be small.
In each neighborhood some one must
make beginning. Let no one wait
Tor his neighbor, but begin himself to
reduce his acreage. That is the only
way to do 1t. The only way to obtain
a living price next fall.
1t was thought cotton would advance
On the termination of the Lancashire a
strike. Why did it notp Because cot
on buyers confidently rely upon an in
,reased acreage all over the South.
should Interpretations prove correct.
hey VIII dictate prices, and the inn /
'ovefished planter when too late, will
iepiore his folly. Texas it is reported
to increase her planting 20 per cent
1t IS true she is to do anything so SUI !,
Idal, SO much the stronger reason we
houid reduce ours. if we regard our
est interest.
The nearly 100000 bales in the Fl
'orlds visible supply in excess of two M
ears ago, has to be taken into ac- "a
punt. Cotton has many enemles-its
'lends are few. Those who, in viewt
the situation. would plant full crop ~
ow, certainly cannot be reckoned =
mong the latter.
Now, suppose every planter through an
1t the cotton belt. beginning with 60
rs year, were to put in cotton but
ie nall the usual quantity. Then in
g half taken from cotton were TO !
ant corn, rust proof oats, grapes. all 20
nds OF forage, with few ten-acre
is fenced off for clover and pastur-
e. Then start with few. hogs. d.
ougil to make meat for the planta-
IN. Then a few brood mares and
Use his own mules and horses and /.
as save and keep at home the inn :,
'nse sums paid each year for mules
d forage.
he cotton made on the one half
'uld sell for as many. or nearly as
my dollars, as the whole acreage S
" does, and he would have saved in his sec
n pocket the cost that now goes to
'icb st. Louis and Chicago. This is {
theory. Every practical planter G,
ows it is the simple truth, Of
few years of this policy would see 80
cotton planters of the South, from
ne almost the poorest, the richest 4
'icultural people on the face of the ,f Sc
BE- Tal
If what avail to us, genial climate, 1
the richest soil on earth, if we fail y
utilise themP =
BUNCH'S BEND. of s
rch 2s. 1898. IS. 4
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Among the personals in recent y
e OF the yicksburg Herald we find Ma
follow reference to two of our Eaf1
ininent citizens: T