Huntsville gazette., 1894-12-01
grown IN 1882, SID the average OF the gold de-
cade, ending 1890 was 3q4 COO hales

grown IN 1852, SID the average OF the gold de-
cade, ending 1890 was 1884 coo bales.
From 1871 to 1880 the crops more than
doubled, averaging 1885, 900 bales. Notwith-
standing this enormous increase. our crops for
the decate of 1900 show a further increase, the
average being 900 bales, reaching in that
year SoOO,0OO bales, an increase since the war
OF 2s2 per cent, and since 1872, when the first
full records are given, of ZOO per cent.
The aggregate sum of which this raw ma
terial has sold is placed at something over H.
5OO,009,OO0 gold dollars. eight times the as
sessed valuation Of all property. real and per-
sonal in the cotton states in 1880. Hither-
to, consumption has barely kept pace
with the cotton supply. The cotton mills
have drummed every quarter of the earth for
consumers. AS wide as are the markets the
production of the raw material has more than
kept up. A large stock of cotton holds over
from year to year, and in consequence thereof
buyers occupy vantage ground from which
they can regulate the market and dictate
prices. AS I stated above, our crop has in
creased 2S2 per cent. since the war.
During this period the total actual consump-
tion Of the world has only increased III per
cent, or at a rate less than half that at which
our production has increased.
SOUTHERN PROSPERITY A MYTH
The boomers who figure out in glowing ar
ticles the rapid increase OF southern wealth
may doubt that we are poor-they might be
right SO far as mines and factories
and railroads and towns are concerned,
but everyone knows that the farming COM
munltles-those engaged in cotton growing
are getting poorer and poorer year by year.
There are fewer carriages before church doors
on Sunday than there was quarter of a CEN
tury ago. Old homesteadS are falling into de-
cay and stand as gloomy monuments to our
lmprovidence. Our gallant southern boys are
leaving the old plantation homes to the ne
groes, while they seek to mend this broken
fortunes in a more promising field. The coun-
try gentleman Of ante-bellum days is figure
OF the past, and to-day bears restively the
critique applied to Don Caesar de Bazan. -"
who, though bra"e, loyal and magnanimous is
living under the cloud of poverty, and what
was once the nearest approach to an ariStoc-
racy that ever existed in republican form Of
government can not now deny the imputation
cast at them CT shabby genteel.''
How could it be otherwise? Since 1921, for
five out of Seven decades, together with the
constant increase of our cotton crop, prices
have steadily decreased; the exceptions were
the decades from 1851 to 1890 when California
and Australia poured out their streams of gold
and raised f1oodtide of prosperity the world
over. Then cotton obeying the upward ten
dency rose in common with other things.
1.-The other was the war decade, when our pro-
duction was cut off over one-half. and prices
rose as high as S1.50 pef pound In 1870 the
average price of cotton for the decade then
was 4s cents per pound; for the ensuing twenty
years the prices averaged 121s cents. This col
lapse can be attributed TO but one cause. 1t is
this: n 1871 we had 5000 900 acres in cotton,
which produced on an average 209 pounds OF
lint per acre, 1852; steadily. year by year VIC
increased our acreage. until in 1890 we planted
nOn1 1Nn
pounds of lint per acre, worth Sl91i
Here is more than double work done the cost
of wages and material remaining the same, and
the value of the gross product 1861 less per
acre. Fer the last thirty years our crops have
sold for s,05 600 900. The 2.260 0O0bale crop of
1866 sold for s412, PA 900. The 000bale crop
of 1889 brought only SS12 161 000 and the cost Of
production was about the same.
1t is evident that the world has about $780,
900. 900 to spend annually with US for the mate
rial for their clothing.
If we send out 1900, ,OOO-bale crop they will
pay about the same for it and they will COM
pete among themselves for the products
II we send out an 5000, ,000-bale crop they
pay the same sum and leave US to compete
among ourselves for the cash. The average
price in the eight cotton states to produce
IL pound of lint cotton is ~ cents at the gin
house: to transport and sell it at the near
est market town .62; the difference between
the price there and the New York quotation
will not average less than .6S; Sa cents New
York prices is the cost of producing pound OF
lint cotton.
1t will be remembered by all that only few
years ago, coffee was being sold at eight pounds
for the dollar. Now, you will do we'll to get
four pounds for the same money. We are ad-
viscd by one who made a study of this subject
and is in position to know that the downward
tendency of coffee was produced by overpro-
duction. So great was the crop that the mar
ket was glutted and the purchase price did not
pay for the cultivation and handling: as a re-
suit, many became so poor that they were
forced to give it up and many quit on accoun,
of annually losing money; thereupon the pro.
duction of coffee fell suddenly OF and the pur-
chase price doubled in an incredibly short
time.
The convention at Montgomery adjourned to
meet at Jackson, Miss, on the second Wednes-
day in January, 1895. when and where We will
under the namc of the Southern Cotton Grow
ers' Protective association.
The various governors OF the states will be
requested to appoint four delegates from each
congressional district and three from each
state at large. The commissioners of agri-
culture were elected vice-presidents for their
respective states. urge upon all farmers and
others interested in this ovement, to attend
the meeting at Jackson, as it is a question OF
the graveSt Importance to the common country
Most respectfully yours,
HECTOR d. LANE,
President
s~s-