The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-06-22
TEN CENT COTTON.
A League to Unite Cotton Growers ON
Means to Raise Prices.

League to Unite Cotton Growers ON
Means to Raise Prices.
There has been formed in the south
an organization known as the Ten
Cent Cotton league. The purpose of
this league is to unite the cotton grow
ers of the south and by common agree
ment to reduce the crop one-half. The
argument is that if this is done cotton
which now brings five cents pound
will be increased in price to ten cents
and as much money received for the
smaller crop as for the one now grown
with the advantage of the reduction
of expenses by one-half This sounds
well to one who has not looked farther
than the surface. but If we examine
into the facts we shall soon see that
the world is in no way dependent
on the United States for its supply of
Gotten, but, on the contrary, we import
a very large and increasing amount of
this staple. In my opinion the organ
izatiou can not be made operative, be-
cause it will be impossible to unite the
country growers cffectually. Admit
ting that this was possible, let US see
how many pounds of cotton we draw
from Egypt, India and other cotton
countries.
In 1871 we imported ], 196,s40 pounds
of raw cotton, OF which 1864 wSe
for reshipment, leaving but 420,357 of
foreign raw material retained for home
manufactures.
In 1873 we imported 4, 425, SEA pounds,
of which no more than 1874, 64S were re-
shipped, leaving 4.O9o,s76 retained for
home manufactures.
In 1884 our imports on raw cotton
had risen to 7.Ol9, 492 pounds, of which
1908, $50 were retained for home use.
BY 1891 our imports of raw cotton
had risen to 20,90s.s17 pounds, of
which but 447,794 were resbipped as
raw material, 20, 46I, 023 being retained
for use in our factories.
In 1898 we imported 43 ,367, 952 pounds
of raw cotton and used 43,007, 100
pounds of it in our factories, our re-
shipment of it as raw material being
but 800, 1872 pounds
These figures are official and show
that our imports are increasing rapidly
while the amount reshipped grows
less. If it were publicly announced
as it must be, that the growers of cot
ton were going to reduce their output
one-half, the manufacturers would
merely make heavier drafts on foreign
cotton fields and American growers
would be benefited very slightly it at
all.
1t seems to me that cotton growers
| have a better remedy for low prices,
and one that each may put in opera
| ton for himself and carry out success
fully. This is to stop making cotton
| the whole dependence and grow other
| crops. Farm News has been advising
this for long time, and many of our
southern planters are taking heed of
| advice of this kind. There is no cotton
state that will not produce abundant
crops of fruit, grain or vegetables, and
every planter can grow at least as
| much of these as he consumes himself,
thus saving the expense of buying, the
charges for transportation of his prod
net to the market and this supplies
back to his home. This of itself would
be handsome profit to many of them,
| and render them independent, whether
cotton be high or low. Diversified farm.
| ing is as good for the south as for the
| north. and there IS more reason why 1t
should be praett-ed. "A. d. Butler, ~
Farm News