The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-08
Dachman Chapel aad Union Academy Chips

, how do you all feoi9 Bad enough, l
reckon. We can't tell you how we
fccl for studying about the price OF cot
ton.
Mr.. Editor, who are you advising to
go to the Fair and gu study ing about
hard times for day or two? | hOpo it
is none Of us farmers. don't want to
lay anything in tho way of an enter
prise, but for Gods sake, fellow furm-
crs, il you have an extra dollar lay it
away, If you don't owe it. Mr.. editor,
you had better advise economy Instead
OF extravaganza. | never like to write
and talk hard times, for it always
makes depressed set of people feel
moro and more miserable. But the
farming interest Of our country is get
ting in such Il deplOrablc condition un-
TIL we will not only have to talk and
write, but there must be some immcdi-
ate action taken. The bunkcrs, mer-
chants, lawyers, doctors, preachers,
editors, mechanics and all other classes
OF business men under the sun arc call
ing upon the farmers for money. And
here we arc with short crop of cotton
and it going ut s and 6 cents, saying
what must We do to be saved. We'll,
there is no use OF mincing words over
the matter. The present crop of cot
ton ut the present price is not going to
pay the debts. Then the question
would naturally arise: What must we
do? the first thing we must do is to
pay as long us We have dollar to pay
with, and the next thing is to come
down on line Of tho most rigid ccono-
my. We have first got to live more
economical and deny ourselves of many
pleasures that we would like to enjoy.
by SO doing We can make less debts
and raise less cotton. This will give
us more time for raising our home sup
plies. But some will say this is the
same old song that VIC have heard over
and over again. Why don't you prac-
ticc what yOu preach? | will frankly
admit, brother TURNER'S, that | am gull
ty along with the rest. But there is
something staring us in the face now
that speaks louder than any OF Chips
newspaper talk. The old man of all
has come and says We must obey. [
expect some of us have met the old
fellow before. His ramc is "Ncccssity."
call from this old gent is about tho
only thing that will bring us in line.
Yes, three years ago he came, but he
II \, iin u,l hn ,,,ill
this time. Then we wcro forced to
drive of our cotton at 5 aud & cents,
but still we could buy flour ut $3. SO per
bur"cl. 81 pounds of sugar for 81 Loo,
bacon at & cents and all other c0mmOd-
tiles were low in proportion. But now
hour, meal, bacon, sugar and almost
everything has gone up. while cotton
comes down. In the spring of 1893,
just after we were caught in this same
trap, we got right square down to econ
omizing. We went to work with Il
vlm, planting more cora, peas, pOtu-
toes, sorghum and raising moro wheat,
consequently in the fall the farmers
had moro to cat Of their own raising
for number Of years. But We have
fallen from this plan, and it didn't take
long to do it. AS Il specimen, | will
show how fust we have cut down the
raising OF home supplies. Two years
ago we made Il little over 1900 gallons
of molasscs. Last year we made Il lit
tic over 500 gallons; this year about
100 gallons. will give another spcci-
mon which is altogether in another
community. About II week or ten days
ago We met al old darkcy ut Ncwberry
who had Just sold II bale of cotton at 6
cents II pound. He remarked to us:
"L.ook here, Cap, what's II body go
ing to do?"
We replied: "What can you do?
ion had just M well go thank Mr..
lIolmcs for giving you 6 cents; he
could have got it at 5 cents just rs easy
rs at q cents"
Then the following conversation
took place:
"Did YOU farm three years ago?'
"Ics, sir"
"You had just sold your cotton crop
at and 5 cents; what did you do
thcn?"
II found it pretty hard that year,
Cap; couldn't get much credit
"IIow many hogs did you raise that
year,"
six"