The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-15
OUR COTTON CROP.
why 1t Would BE Better to Reduce
the Cotton Output.

! Cordele Feb. 12.-Editor Morning News
! Half of our crops in cotton at 10 cents per
pound would give us more money than
| 4-5 of our crops in that product at cents
| per pound. We could get 10 cents If none
! would plant in cotton more than half the
land they cultivate, but IL all Plant At
of their land in that crop the lower grades
| could not be sold. IL is not necessary for
us to agree what the remaining half of
our crops should be, only not cotton. All
know that farmers are badly demorallzed,
but that will not excuse any one for not
doing his duty. When there has been no
general effort to reduce the crop the acre
age has invariably been increased. We
had about 24OOO,OOO acres in cotton last
year. This year the opening of new farms
and the increase in the acreage of the old
ones will give us rs. 100000 acres in cotton.
We frequently make 200 pounds lint per
acre. and this would give us 1880 600 bales
of 400 pounds net cotton which Is S25 900
bales more than was consumed last year.
The consumption of cotton from other
countries is from 100000 TO 100000 bales.
with such prospects is II strange that
cotton is low? But If we determine that
we will not raise more than 100000 500
pound bales. not a man on Wall street
would dare TO sell cotton at anything like
present prices, and in less than 30 days
cotton would sell for 10 cents. Cotton would
be cornered I'm the fan and the mill would
be glad to contract for 10 0O0,0O bales Of
cotton al a figure that would allow the
cotton planters TO live. But II we persist
in Cutting the market, Wall street cannot
put up the price Of cotton. Europe has sold
down this crop. We are told that the occult
law of economics fixes the prices Of all raw
material at price that will allow the la
borer only enough 10 keep him in physical
cult for Il proceeds from the
throne Of darkness, and Is
I'm direct opposition to Jehovah's COM
mand or in thou shall not muzzle the OK
that treadeth the corn This Is coeval
with the decalogue, and equally as bind
ing We will soon decide on whose side
va WIN enlist. IL will be either for God
liberty and a prosperity that man has not
enjoyed since he left the garden Of Eden
or Tor the devil and oppression. Every
physician who practices. IN the rural dis
tricts knows that while our laborers have
enough TO keep them in NJ physical con
dltion 10 labor when we'll but that when
sick many die for the want OF suitable
nourishment and medical attention. Brave
men know how 10 die for their loved ones.
But IL Is hard for them 20 see them die by
inches for the want OF necessities when
they have been deprived Of the
means Of obtaining them. Cain
aid not bein escape PBgoiis%snt koeG by
or. Nor will those Of the nineteenth cen
tury The men who are wrecking the
south are not ignorant. But. like saul OF
Tarsas are blind to their interest and duty
and the interest OF the country. They
read the daily papers and regard the Pres
ident and congress as their servants. They
are good and true men. but take too mar
row a view OF their situation. The press
OF the south can easily unite the farmers
on producing only what cotton they can
sell for a fair price u II viii try. IL Is the
interest Of all TO unite regardless OF their
surroundings or circumstances. Nldette
-s-e-s-
An Old School Gentleman.-"col. Bar
leigh IS an I'D beat. but somehow / en-
10Y listening TO the old fellow talk"
so do ]. His sentences are as n0rl
as his nose and as polished as his clothes"