The Southern herald., 1895-02-22


81 cents, in New Orleans 5 cents,
and in the intsrioF towns from AZ &c
a cents, il seems almost grOIsseas
that Arguments should be put forth
that the South can afford 70 raise
cotton At the present prices. Daubi-
less the theory that ene's nsighbOr
will planl less may lead some to
conelu that By putting 10 more
they viii reap the advantage Of
their nsighbors' contribution to the
public good, but that any such
policy should aetuAts any grower
Of the great staple, under pressn.
circumstances, seems hardly csps-
ble Of belief.
II, however, large reduction in
acreage is 10 be made, the question
arises, into What shall the farmers
Of the South put their land, and 90,
Of shat are they to derive livel-
-hood7 Some Of those who still re-
tain the feeling Of responsibility to
those whom they employ, and who
are dependent upon them, are apt
to indulge the idea that work must
be provided for the dependent olass,
and as there is nothing else they
can do bat grow cotton, therefore
they must plant all they can, ire
spee,ive Of the price it brings. II
the figures given as to the probable
cost Of raising cotton are correct,
and which, even under the most
favorable circumstances Of growth,
show no profit, while, under less
fortunate circumstances, show q
positive loss, it would seem th'
part Of prudence and good judg
msnt II The whole cotton growing
community should, with one &C
cord, reduce their acreage 30 pei
cent, thereby reducing the supplies
OF the world SO that 5 TO 10 cents
per pound in New York, for four o.
FIVE years TO come, would be as
sured. The South can we'll afforC
to dOthis, even at the loss that nigh
be entailed by the support, withou
labor, Of those who are dependen
upon them, if such 40 alternative
we're necessary, as the loss entaileC
thereby would certainly be nc
greater than that resulting from
making cotton and selling it at th'
prices ruling in the world at tht
present day. While il is true thai
cottos is the great crop Of theSoutb
nevertheless, when prices have
reached a level such as the present
the adoption Of a policy Of practi
cally growing only such crops as
are necessary 10 sustain life ii
certainly reasonable one and tbs
doing Of which does not necessari
| ly argue that efforts in this direction
must be confined to corn and meat
There are many other articles whict
contribute to support life that nigh
be grown with net return to th'
planter at the end Of the year. l
is to be hoped that this view Of tn,
case may be impressed upon th,
agricultural communityoftheSout
and that the preparations for th'
next crop will be on very largel.
reduced scale as compared will
that made within the past few years
for, unless something approaching
to this in its radical nature is done
There is no reason 10 expect u ;
even present prices will be main
tanned. Already Liverpool, wbicl
market after all is the maker o
prices for cotton, being the larges
consumer, is selling the next Crol
deliveries at3 3-32 d, or 6 3-16 cts.
which means no more than a cent
al the plantations and which pric,
is justified and viii continue, will
possibly even still lower prices
unless the outlook for future sup
plies gives promise Of very mark
ed reduction. Nor is the makinI
Of this price the work of gambler
and therefore Of public execratiOn
live are to hayeanother ten million
bale crop, 8 3-32 d. in Liverpoo
/ for OctobeT-Eovember delivery i
not unreasonable. tits because o
growing feeling that cotton can b
made and cold At 5 cents yielding
Erohs and that the South will planl
"a much 81 mofsshls year than last
that frch rTioss eEe pa0e,