The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-01-09

tereSt to the prellmlnarles as well as
the active operations of the next
Presidential campaign. ."-Columbis
Register.
The News and Courier's cores
pondent from Summerton sends sc
that paper the following statement
Of the condition of the farmers il
this county:
Summerton, Clarendon County
December 31.-Special: Farmers be
were able to fertilize and work their
crops as needed have made fair crops
The farmers who were not able to
fertilize and cultivate properly have
made very poor crops. Cotton,
though suffering from both drought
and rain storms, yielded fairly well.
The farmers generally worked well
and did their duty in the making OF
the crop 1t might safely be said
that the cotton crop brought about
half what it did last year. Some far
mers in setting their crop at plant
ing time figured on cotton bringing
six cents. Putting the shortage and
low price together the value shrunk
at least one-half. It does not take
long to see in what condition this
puts the farmer. Last years balances
are still unpaid and there is barely
enough to cover expenses of this year,
and in q great many instances not
enough to dc this.
The cotton crop has gone to pay
debts as far rs it would. Could we
find sale, at a price other than, 'cui-
cidal, for corn and other produce, e
great many could help themselves in
this way. The poorer class OF far
mers are being closed out, and settle
their debts that way. As it is gen.
orally understood, when a man is
broken up, bis debt is paid. Really
this class is better off than the more
responsible class, az they are allowed
to 90 on, and the balances grow Big
ger each year. 1t would not be un-
safe to say that we are in WORSE
fix than ever before. Last year was
bad enough, but, taking all things
into consideration, the situation has
has not improved. A great deal is
being said about fine hogs in the pa
pers. More attention was given this
industry about here, and a great
many hogs were killed. What is
wanted is not 3 few isolated big hogs,
but droves of nedium-sized ones on
every farm.
The condition of the merchants
those who do a credit business
already told in that of the farmer.
They support each other and have
fallen together. The lien merchants
are in bad tx. There is no use in
beating about the bush. They
drew iu their business considerably
last year, and now they are closing
out all the negroes and a great many
whites. They can find no sale for
stock taken in, and soon the small
amount of provisions taken in will
be fed away, and then what will be
done no one knows. On question
ing the merchants as to their condi-
ton they are very respondent and
anxiously await the new year. Sew
eral merchants in this community
who have made money out OF the
lien business have now lost it all and
more.
Those who worked for wages feel
the oppression least. The negro
ploughman made more money pro-
portionately than his employer, The
clerks received their salariea while
the merchant lost money. There
ought to be great amount of labor
next year, as those the merchants are
discharging will have to work some
where. Some negroes say they are
going to quit working for themselves
and hire ont. Now who is going to
be able to hire them?
Trade as usual frightened up as
cotton began to open, and while cot
ton picking lasted trade was good.
As soon as this work grew light trade
felt it, and as picking died out trade
followed. This cause and effect has
never been so marked before. It
shows absolutely in what crop our
whole interest and apparent welfare
lies.
There has been larger acreage OF
oats planted than before, and the
disposition OF the farmers is to plant
more grain of all kinds, If the price
of cotton will only stay down till af-
ter planting time; but ifit gees up a
great many farmers cannot be trusted,
but will continue our present cotton
acreage. A good deal is being said
about smaller quantities of CONNER
cial fertilizers being used and more
attention to be paid to homemade
manure. If the volume of fertilizers
is reduced it will cut down the pro-
duction some, for farmers cannot
make enough home manures-at least
great many cannot. But this re-
duction will be only temporary, as
farmers cannot afford to let their
lands go down. This they will surely