The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-21

LET IT BE REDUCED.
4 Logical Discussion ny
90. gIccs & c..

The question Of acreage t. be put
into cotton tbs year i one that is now
receiving a good deal Of attention, and
accompanying it tie suicidal theory j.
being advanced that, owing to the pre-
vailine low prices. the amount Of cotton
planted viii BE greater than heretofore
in order @ make up in quantity what
Is lost il price.
It's Of course impossible TO arrive at
any accurate average cost Of producing
cotton In view Of the widely differing
conditions prevailing in different parts
of the South, nevertheless it is hardly
to be disputed. that the cost in the
Atlantic states i over & cents per
pound. AID in Texas, Arkansas, and
the Mississippi bottom lands, probably
not less than cents, or, an average
Of probably net less than 81 to d cents
at the plantations Tor the whole country.
With the quotation for Mddling in
LIVERPOOL , 3l-32d, or roughly convert
ed into American money , 1916 cents
in New York for immediate delivery
- cents. III New Orleans ) cents, and
in the interior towns from ~ to AZ
cents. ii Gems almost grotesque that
arguments should he put forth that the
South can affor! to raise cotton at the
present prices.
Doubtless the theory that one's neigh
Dor will plant less may lead some to
conclude that By putting in more they
Will reap the advantage Of their neigh
bors' contribution to the public good
but hat any such policy should actuate
any grower Of the great staple, under
present circumstances, seems hardly
capable of belief
It is with great satisfactian to be
Observed that the President of the
American Cotton Growers Association
i making ) tour Of the Cotton States
with q Wow Of securing reduction in
acreage 81 n least - per cent, which is
a movement in the right direction and
if is to be hoped that his efforts VIII be
crowned with success.
If, however. 4 large reduction in
acreage is to he made, the question
arises. into what shall the farmers Of
the South pat their land, and out Of
what arc 10y u derive a Livelihood?
Some d those who still retain the feel
ing Of responsibility to those whom
they employ. and who are dependent
upon them arc apt to indulge the Idea
that work must be provided for the
dependent class. and az there is nothing
else they can do but grow cotton. there
fore hey must plant all they can, ire
spective 81 the price it brings
If the figures given as % 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 circumstan-
ces. show . positive loss, it would seem
the part 81 prudence and good judg-
ment If the whole cotton growing com
munity should, with one accord, reduce
their acreage, not - per cent. but 70
thereby Joining in an action to their
own best interest and SO reducing the
supplies Of the world that 10 to ! |
cents pag pound in New York, for four
or five wears 70 come, would be assured
BY 50 doing, thc single season of fallow
land # need be, would be abundantlv
rcc0mpenseti IL the price for cotton t
be subsequently obtained. The South
can well afT1Ti. - do this. even at the
loss that might he entailed by the sup
port. without labor. of those who are
dependent upon them if such an altern
atlve were necessary. as the loss entai!eC
thereby would certainly be no greater
than that resulting from making cotton
amt selling It At the prices ruling il
the world at the present day. The
necessity for this severe contribution tC
the enhancement of the price OF cotton
IN the future is not. however, altogethe
apparent for, while it is true that cot
ton is the great crop of the South
nevertheless. when prices have reached
a level such as the present, the adoption
Of a policy of practically growing OIL,
such crops IS are necessary to sustain