The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-02-15

'''N' ~ tttANtAAA al ifAt'iA 49, 80 49,
farm products for which there is Il
ready local market-vegetables.
fruits, meats, milk, butter and
eggs. If, then, the cotton crop is
small or money scarce from low
prices, the planter IS provided for,
50 far as he and his are concerned.
That is not all. The planter can
grew the corn his mules and cattle
require for fifteen cents bushel;
and what does it cost him to bring
It from the Northwest? The Yves
tern farmers price; the commisS-
ION of the elevator, who puts it on
the rail; the railroads charges,
and, finally, the profit Of a second
dealer, who sells it in small guam
titles to the planter-all these
charges bring up the price to fifty
cents, and the difference Of thirty
five cents has to be paid out of the
hard cash received for cotton.
If the first great step is taken in
the diversifying of crops, and each
agricultural community produces
all it requires for consumption, in
which direction is the next step?
The South some time ago largely
gave up competing with the North
and West in mutton and wool Just
as it is now proposed that we shall
make way for our rivals in cotton
production in other countries.
The center Of cereal production
in this country has CLOSED the
Mississippi" and not only has the
North given way to the West in
grain supply, but the Southern
States during the decade ending
with 1890, as shown by the census
reports, have decreased the cereal
area 1,342,6713 acres. We must
expand production of meats, and
not only to meet local needs in
farming communities, but the
South must compete for the meat
supply Of the great manufacturing
centres that are developing
throughout its own territories.
This should be done by the aid OF
improved breeds of cattle and hogs
and especially of high-class sheep.
Sheep not only mean an increase
Of meat, but greater number
spread thinly over the poor lands
resting from cotton growth will al
so give to the South larger share
in any advantages of wool produc,
ton. The increase of animals will
provide home market for great
err production of corn, and meats
offer the best form Of shipment for
Surplus products to distant mark
cts. Products for sale should be
such as will bear the cost Of trans
port. In this respect cotton, even
at five cents, has greatly the adj
vantage over corn, WI ose local val
ue is only one-balf cent per pound.
After cotton, tobacco is the next
great money crop. OF the 4S3,-
100000 pounds grown by this
country last year the South pro-
duced the chief part, Kentucky
and North Carolina lying
three tifths of that amount. The
South can produce more of this ar
ticle, for which the demand is per
manent. North Louisiana is now
g:owing tobacco, and census to-
oacco bulletin states that the av-
erago price for this State i'll 1896
was 25.2 cents, and of four Other
large tobacco States, including
Connecticut. nine cents per pound.
All the Southern States might well
ask for the privileges of Louisiana.
She grows cotton and tobacco; Is
rapidly obtaining the production
OF rice, having increased from
100000 pounds in 1860 to 10,
100000 in 1890, when the total
American product was 12S, 100000
pounds; and she has the monopoly
of cane sugar. We could enlarge
further upon the possibilities OF
Louisiana, but our subject Is the
"Crisis in the South"
6-EFFECTS OF THE MARKET
UPON CURRENT VALUES
OF COTTON,
Gotten, like other industries. is
still under the effects OF the recent
financial and trade crisis. Tne
worlds purchasing power has not
vet recovered A revival of gen
eral trade will favorably affect the