The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-09
Whst to do About Cotton.

Without entering into full discussion
of the subject, "Shall the South abando.
the culture of cotton, or how can farming
be made remunerative?" I reply by
saying that if the farmers Of the cottor
growing States were to diversity thei:
crops, plant Is per cent. less cotton, and
that rs per cent planted in provision
crops. more money would be realized,
and at much less cost than is now realized
from the area planted in cotton. Besides
this, the 25 per cent. additional to what is
now planted in provision crops would
make the country self-sustaining.
The depression among farmers extends
over the whole country. but were they
not in debt the grounds for complaint
would be less real than otherwise. In
nv Judgment, over-production of crops
of the civilized world, In the cereals, is
apparent from the prices Of these pro-
ducts. It must be borne in mind that in
1898 the surplus production Of wheat In
the principal wheat growing countries Of
the world reached 381, 1880, 900 bushels !!
Russia, the United States and India alone,
among the many wheat producing coun-
tries, Show surplus of rs, ,S93, 900, 69,51S,-
600 and 42, So, 900 bushels respectively.
Such an excess of breadstuffs on the
Eastern continent for several years past,
where formerly there was very large
demand from the United States at re-
munerative prices, is the cause of the
depression in grain growing States a
failure of provision crops in Europe
would naturally force these countries to
draw their supply from the United
States, and at such prices as to make the
growing of wheat remunerative to the
wheat growing sections of this country.
Flour Is to-day sold in the market at
price below the cost Of production. The
Southern farmers imagine that it Is
cheaper to buy their -four than to grow
the wheat. Theoretically this may appear
to be true, but practically it Is delusion.
Every farm should be selfsustaining,
where it is possible to be so.
1t must be remembered that the pro-
duction of cotton is on the increase in
countries where formerly very little was
raised. Egypt, India, Asia, South Amer
lea and other countries are formidable
competitors with the United States, the
more formidable from the fact that
laborers work for from S to 10 cents per
day!
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893,
and of cotton for the ten months ending
June 30th, show an enormous decline as
compared with the preceding year. The
total value of the leading articles for the
time mentioned was as follows:
1892. 1893.
Cotton. $3.50 OBS, 1893 $3.50, III, ,042
Breadst7tfs... 2S8, $685. 900 1S,S9S1, 900
Mineral oil. ......... A, 19l,OOl 4l,550,0OO
A decrease in the exports Of these arti-
cles OF S173, 100000.
The only solution that I see In the
present embarrassment of the South il
for the farmers to raise their own pro-
visions, to diversity, raising all the crops
to supply the wants Of man and beast,
and to reduce the area in cotton to the
extent of at least 25 per cent. 30 that the
production will not exceed 6,OO0, 900 bales.
Cotton can not be grown at 5 cents per
pound to buy provisions, and the sooner
our farmers realize this fact, the better
their condition will be.
IF the South continues In the courso
now pursued bankruptcy will follow.
Our land owners, to large extent, will
become tenants of capitalists, and thua
destroy the manhood Of our people,
people chvalrous, hospitable, prosperous
and contented. Thomas ". Holloway.
IN Southern Cultivator and Di1ie Farmer.