The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-06
HIT BY COTTON PLANTERS.
Cotton Reduction PnraIyzed the
Phosphate and Fertilizer Indus
From the New York World.

IIOul the NEW lQik Nbii
Behind the present situation in the
cotton market is the partial wreck of
two of the greatest industries in the
south-the phosphate and the fertilizer in
terests So closely allied are these two
Industries, so absolutely dependent is one
upon the other, that they may more prop
erly be called one
The facts in connection with the severe
blow received by the phosphate miners
and fertilizer manufacturers of Florida.
South Carolina and Tennessee has never
been told in print, and the subject has
been studiously avoided by the speculative
leaders of New York and New Orleans.
William +. Lay, president OF the Terra
celia Phosphate Mining Company, OF Bar
tow, Fla, now at the Fifth Avenue no.
tel said yesterday that the planters he
thought had made serious mistake in
their action of one year ago, when they
planned reduction of the cotton crop.
"They could not fully agree upon a
smaller acreage" said Mr.. Lay, so 1t
striction as TO acreage, but that fertilizers
should not be used. Thus the productive
character Of the soil was lowered and a
smaller crop resulted.
1.-The planters could have attained
their end by reducing the acreage, and
that would not have proved so disastrous
to the phosphate and fertilizer interests.
But there was lack Of confidence
among the planters fear that any
compact made for reducing the acreage
might be broken. Besides the temptation
to avoid the outlay for fertilizers had an
influence even though the planters knew
that an expenditure Of $40 an acre for
fertilizer meant an increase of 800 an
acre in their crop. Then, too, it was
felt that the soil could very well stand
one crop without fertilizer, having been
well treated for several years.
THE result of the action was imme-
diately felt The manufacture of ferti-
lizers found no sales in the south, and
hence did not want. phosphate. A shut
down of the phosphate mines followed
the closing of the factories and
thousands Of workingmen were thrown
out and are yet unemployed.
cannot even approximate the loss
to capital and labor, but 1t has been
tremendous. 1t was felt especially in
Tennessee where the phosphate industry
was in promising infancy. The loss
was greatest, perhaps, In Southern
Florida. where the Industry had grown
to great proportions, and IL was a serious
matter for South Carolina, the pioneer
southern state in phosphate mining and
fertilizer making.
''The stocks of phosphate and fertilizer
in hand decreased in value and had to be
Our plant burned during the stagnation,
but we did not take immediate steps to
rebuild, because we could not operate
If we were in shape.
"Of course, the planters will use fertil-
izers for the next crop. The demand as
yet is not great, and there is still q
looking up. All the houses here report
some demand, and IL will grow, for only
a meager crop Of inferior quality can be
raised on the Impoverished ground If
fertilizer is not used"
1t is generally believed among the fer
tiiiZer men here that there is bound to
be another and more disastrous break in
cotton at an early day. They say that
from reliable information received by
them the efforts Of the planters to reduce
the crop was not so far-reaching as in
tended, and that the New Orleans bull
crowd and the eastern Spectators have
skillfuily concealed the truth about the
output. Instead of 6,500O00 bales, as John
II. Inman last figured it, or 100000 bales,
as others have made il. they think 1t
must soon be demonstrated that the crop
was nearly 100000 bales.
The planters are said to be acting upon
advice issued IN September by Hector ID.
Lane, president OF the Cotton Growers
Association, which said:
MY earnest advice is to market your
cotton with reasonable intelligence. Do
not rush it all forward between now and
Christmas. Do not press 1t for sale eX-
cept where absolute necessity compels."