St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-03-09
COTTON GROWERS.
An INTERESTING LETTER O THEIR
INFORMATION.

lowing is a copy Of q letter written
to cotton growers by Alfred 3.
Shepperson, editor Of Cotton
Facts" and secretary of the SUBJ
committee on cotton of the Senate
committee On agriculture:
Washington, d. c.. March 2.
To the Cotton Growers Of the South
l have no pecunlary interest
whatever in the cotton market, and
it is well known to prominent mer-
chants all over the country that I
never had any. As \ close OBJ
server Of all the matters pertaining
to cotton. l have thought it would
not be deemed out OF place to pre-
sent to the cotton growers Of the
country some facts concerning the
cotton situation.
The price of middling cotton in
New York is now 5 GIG cents per
pound, against Z 50 on March l,
1894, while corn is now As cents
per bushel in Chicago against So
cents a year ago. The decline in
cotton is over 25 per cent. while
the ADVANTAGE in corn is thirty per
cent. The New York quotations
for cotton and the Chicago quota-
tions for corn, however, do not
really present the economic aspect
OF the matter in its strongest light.
as the cotton grower does not re-
ccive the New York price for his
cotton, but actually get, very
much less, as freight to New York
and all handling and selling
charges, and the cotton buyers
profit have to be deducted, SO that
the planter. at present prices only
obtains about four cents per pound,
for middling cotton, and the crop
will not average so high in equality
as tina: grade.
Neither does he get at the CHI
cago price the corn he has to buy.
as freight and charges and usually
a large profit is added to the Chi
cago price, so that to dav the
Southern farmer who buys cor in
stead Of raising it has to pay 65 to
20 cents per bushel for it. Corn is
the most important cereal for the
South, as its abundance and cheap
ness insure ample food for the far
mers and their animals, while an
insufficient sup; " and high price
involve opposite results. The
Southern cotton growers obtain =
large propor.l Of their grain and
meat from other sections OF the
country. Confronted now with a
large shrinkage in the value of cot
ton coincident with a great appre-
citation in the value of corn, the
situation seems to imperatively de-
mand Of the cotton growers a re
duction this spring Of the acreage
devoted to cotton. and an increase
in the acreage gwen to food and
forage crops. The present depres-
sion in cotton is due in a great
part to the very large stocks in
European and American markets
and the fear that the acreage III
viii not be reduced this
year. Notwithstanding the fact
that the spinners have bought much
more cotton than last season., the
in European and American
markets are 400 900 bales more than
at this time last year.
The prize Of cotton is at the low
est point since 1913. and a large
crop this year would undoubtedly
send it still lower. Every planter
that present prices OF cotton
are much below the average cost
Of production. In view Of the facts
l earnestly recommend as
manifestly for the best interests of
the cotton growers Of the country
! very material curtailment Of COT
ton acreage this spring and an in
crease in all food aud forage crops,
mo that greater attention be given
o the raising Of live stock and
materials. Food crops Of
every description should he raised
IN all Southern farms and cotton
be made u surplus OIL money
'rop. 1t is probable that \ moder-
tie cotton crop this year will sell
or actually more money. than =
arge crop. Very respectfully.
ALFRED Is. STEPHENSON.
SpnpraIM tNo<.upcn n nnlneoy ots,&~rAf