The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-12-13
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA. Dec. |. 1894

1894 finds farmers respondent and dis
contented. This depression rules, not
only in Georgia, but throughout the
country agricultural conditions seem
unsettled, and northern and western, as
well as southern farmers, review the
year just passed with feelings of dis.
satisfaction and neutrality-suspicious.
faction because of the low price Of all
agricultural products, and uncertainty
as to the causes of this depression, and
as to the best remedies for its relief
have, during the last month, attended
three meetings of farmers, one in Ma
con, one in Atlanta and one in Mont
gomery, the last a representative body
of men from all parts of the south.
called together by Agricultural Com
missioner Lane, of Alabama, to discuss.
IL convention assembled, the low price
OF cotton, its causes, and, if possible.
find present means of pushing up the
price.
attended these meetings because of
my appointment as a delegate by the
governor of Georgia to one, and of
special invitations to the others. but
more, particularly, because being placed
by the farmers Of this state in position
to watch over their interests, I felt that
these momentous questions should be
studied from every standpoint, and not
because believed that the price of cot.
ton could be favorably influenced by
any set Of resolutions, or by any con.
ventlon Of men, however earnest The
result Of the deliberations in these con-
ventions has but confirmed my oft ex-
pressed and firmly grounded conviction
that while resolutions and conventions
may accomplish good in more effectu.
ally fixing public attention upon the
mistaken system which has helped to
place US in our present straitened con.
dltlon, the means of lifting ourselves
from our agricultural depression is in
the hands of the farmers themselves.
and each man must be the primary
mover on his own farm In promoting
the industrial revival which is already
starting into life. To be convinced
that this revival is beginning one needs
only to feel the agricultural pulse, to
talk with farmers from all sections, to
near their openly expressed resolve to
plant largely Of provision crops and not
to abandon cotton, but govern it in
such way as will make it serve their
best interests; and then to look at the
successful cotton factories already here
and those projected and now being built.
We scarcely yet realize the important
relation which these factories bear to
the prosperity of the south. AS a
northern man has said: "You have the
streams with the power-the fields with
the staple" These advantages have
heretofore been only partially appre-
ciated.
We have enjoyed the prestige which
our large and, until late years, exclusive
cotton crop gave US, but while we toiled
for this distinction, others have stepped
in and reaped the profit which by right
belongs to US, and which we have lost,
first, from want of means, and second,
from want Of appreciation Of our oppor-
tunity
Millions of dollars have been spent to
transport the factories; millions more
have gone in various taxes, all of which
should have been kept at home, here
among our own people. But at last, the
whole country, and not the south alone,
is waking up to the exigencies Of the
situation. Northern manufacturing cap
ital is seeking an investment on south
ern soil, the capacity of southern mills
already in successful operation. is al
most without exception being increased.
in some instances has been doubled, and
men of all classes are looking forward
hopefully to the day when the manu-
featuring south, as well as the agricult.
ural south, pyofting by advantages SO
lavishly bestowed, will once more take
her place at the head Of industrial ma
tions.
In view of these favorable conditions
it would not be advisable to practically
abandon the cultivation Of cotton, as
some have advocated. A decrease be-
ing demanded, how better can it
be accomplished than by diversity
of crops, itself implying a ne
cessary reduction of tht area usually de.
voted to cotton, and such thoroughness
Of rotation, manuring, preparation and
cultivation as will secure the largest
yield at the lowest cost?
In an address issued by the cotton
growers of Louisiana to the
FACTORS, MERCHANTS, BANKERS, PLANT
ERs AND FARMERS,
occurs the following, which clearly sets
forth the demands Of the present situa.
ton:
Cotton must remain our chief money
crop. Unjust either be raised cheaper
or higher prices must be obtained in or
der to produce a profit to the grower.
Both can be obtained if the co-opera.
ton of the factors, bankers, merchants,
planters and farmers can be secured in
the effort. The old policy of having
our smokhouses and corn cribs in the
west was always bad one, but it is
now ruinous on account of the high
prices prevailing, but particularly in
meat, which, since the removal of the
embargo on American pork in European
markets. has commanded almost pro.
hibitive prices, and that too in the face
of large number of hogs slaughtered.
1t may be positelvy stated that hog
meat will not fall in prices for many
years, on account Of the increasing de.
mand, and that cotton will rarely reach
higher figures than at present prevails.
With these facts before us, it behooves
every planter and farmer to adjust his
crops yearly, so that everything needed