The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-03-28
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

dFGlC4e On depression and
the causes, written by General Rufus
Barringer, of Charlotte. General Bar
ringer writes well and has contributed
some pointed articles to the columns of
this paper. We are always glad to
publish his articles because he has no
axe to grind and writes what he be-
lieves. He is a professional man and a
capitalist, but carries on extensive
farming operations and observes every
thing closely.
The article in question contains
much that is good, but we beg to diff
fer with the writer in a few particu
lars. We believe with him that the all
cotton plan has hurt many Southern
Farmers. Raising any II crop
to the exclusion Of others will
effect ruin sooner or later. Our
farmers North, South, East and
West can improve their own cOndi
ton materially 5y changing this plan
at once. However, this agricultural
depression is felt as distinctly in every
part of the Union as it is in the cotton
growing States. In the Northeastern
States the farmers are mOr thrifty,
thorough and economical, but with all
these virtues and the many advantages,
numerous markets, etc, they are sore
ly pressed. All cotton does not do the
work there because not a stalk is raised.
The all wheat or all corn plan may
hurt in the West, but the crops in the
Northeast are more diversified, yet real
estate mortgages are as common in the
Northeast as in the West, as statistics
show. But chattle mortgages are
thicker in the South than North or
West. Statistics show fully as many
real estate mortgages in Northeastern
States, according to population, as in
any section of the South. This is nc
proof that all cotton is not injurious,
but is indispUtable proof that it is not
all nor even half the trouble. But so
far as the n crop plan does hurt, the
to use for their own bctterment. We
have urged them to bring about the
change gradually. Last year a begin
ming was made and the cotton acreage
ard guano bills were much less. There
has been no great visible change for
the better, but if the same course is
pursued this season and next our farm
erS will be decidedly better off. If they
tall back int the old ruts again the
effect will be disastrous. So, while
agreeing with Gen Barringer that too
much cotton is hurtful, we do not lay
as much stress on it as he does. AgrI
culture is depressed in England, Rus,
STA and all other countries where not q
pound of cotton is raised. If cotton
would bring 20 cents per pound al the
time the one crop system of farming
would be unwise. Yet, if the option
dealers and others did not rob the
farmers of the South and everywhere
else, they would be much better off.
| General Barringer will not deny that
the cotton mills Of the South are pay
ing handsomely. They do not diver
| sify." They manufacture cotton exclu
| sively. They do not run railroads, corn
mills, moIasses factories or blacksmith
shops in connection with the cotton
mills, yet they make a profit and that
is what the cotton farmer ought to
make. and would but for the man
schemes to rob him of all profits.
Gen. Barringer refers to the fact
that sixty years ago the people of the
South were skilled in the art of max
ing their own clothes and many
other things they now buy. That is
true, but in this progressive age, with
unlimited facilities for manufacturing,
shipping, ETC., our people cannot afford
to go back to that age. 1t does look
absurd for a farmer to buy a chUrn or
axe handle made In Massachusetts,. We
have the material for the manufacture
of all such articles all over the South.
Yet a farmer can buy a machine-made
handle or churn for less than he can
go to the woods, get out the timber and
make the article, provided you. value
time properly, and if he is paid for his
time, even as a 'one crop" farmer
ought to be, he ought to make more in
the same time than he will to make
the handle by hand. The proper solu-
ton Of that probably is that the fac
tories for making such things ought
not to be confined to Yankeedom, but
distributed over the country. Then
the money would go to a manufactures,
but would stay athome. The remedy we
would suggest for this is that more men
manufacture in the South instead of so |
many following merchantiIe, profes-