The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-03-12
Lrowers of the South /:
..npinrv ~intnrnst uhnt.var

.
.ouniary interest whatever
luton MARKET and 1t is well
N to prominent merchants all
Sr the country that | never had any.
Cs a close observer Of all matters
pertaining to cotton, | have thought
1t would not be deemed out of place to
present to the cotton growers of the
country some facts and suggestions
concerning tho cotton situation.
The price OF middling cotton in New
York is now 5 GIG per pound, against
Z So cents on March l, 1894, while
corn is now As cents per bushel in it's
Chicago, against 35 cents u year ago.
The decline in cotton is over % per
cent, while the advance in corn is 30
per cent. New York quotations for
cotton and the Chicago quotations for
corn, however, do not really present
the economic aspect Of the matter in
stron ycst light, as the cotton grower
does not receive the necessary price for
his cotton, but actually gets very much
loss, as freight to Now York and all
handling and selling charges and the
cotton buyers profits have to be de-
Quoted, SO that the planter at present
prices only obtains about 4 cents per
pound for middling cotton and the
crop Will not averages so high in quality
GO ohho = ouC. tNClUliCE uOSS no HCU III
the Chicago price the corr he has to
buy, as freight and charges and usually
as large profit are added to the Chicago
price, so that to-day the Southern
farmer who buys corn instead of raising
1T, has to pay Is to 10 cents per bushei
for it.
Corn is the most important cereal
for the South, as its abundance and
cheapness insure ample food for the
farmers and their animals, while an
insufficient supply and high prices
involve the, opposite results. The
Southern cotton growers obtain a large
proportion Of theirSgrain and meat
from other sections Of the country.
Confronted now with a larg&shrinkage-
In the value OF cotton, coinci3ent with
q great appreciation in the value of
corn, tho situation seems to impesa-
lively demand OF the cotton growers q,
reduction this spring of the acreage
devoted to cotton and increase in tho
acreage given to food and forage crops.
The present depression in cotton Is due
In q great part to the very large stocks
In the European and American
markets and the fear hat the acreage
In cotton will not be reduced this year.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
spinners have bought much more cot
ton than last season, the stocks in the
European and American markets are
100000 bales mor than at this time
last year.
The price of cotton is ut the lowest
point since 1848, and a large crop ibis
year would undoubtedly send IL still
lower. Every planter knows that pres
sent prices OF cotton are much below
the average cost OF production.
In view of the facts stated, | earnest
ly recommend as manifestly for the
best interests OF the cotton growers oil
the country q very material curtail-
ment of cotton acreage this spring,
and an increase in all food and forage
crops, and that greater attention be
given to the raising of live stock and
farm animals. Food crops OF overy
description should be raised on all
farms and cotton should be made a
surplus or money crop. 1t Is probable
that a moderate cotton crop this year
will sell 10 r~actually moro money than
O large crop.
Very respectfully.
ALFRED Ii. STEPHENSON.