The Van Buren press., 1897-11-06

land in the state and encourage pr
anction. There is always market ioi
cotton at some price, but Tor ifu,ss'
vegetables and berries, all perlshaole
nroducts, the producer must depehe
ON local demand which small over.
plus overstoelss, leaving him win
load of perishable property 10 eu'
home II he chance to be toe late IN the
field. The same rule applies in meas,
ure To poultry, eggs and produce. II
the demand of the home market can
not be enlarged by shippers, the heA'
source of relief is found in the estao,
hshment of manufactures when VIII
bring consumers to the towns anu
cities of Arkansas. The raw mateflai
of the state should be converted lh.o
finished product here, and until II Is
done there can be no permanent pros
perity. Newcomers who enter the
field of agriculture and become com
petitors of those now engaged are de-
sirable as factors in the development
of soil resources. but the need OF the
state is the manufacturing classes VINO
will build shops aud factories to draw
money into the state and improve the
home market for home products py
increasing the number of consumers
Under existing conditions cotton grow
ing is necessity. 1t is useless to argue
that other crops are more renumera-
tive, SO long us thore is no means OF
getting such crops to market Home
market is the best, but when home pre-
sents no market it becomes necessary
to find one abroad, and this calls Tor
additional shipping facilities-that Is,
more railroads. The present season Is
called
The Year of Jubilee
by farmers contiguous to market, on
account of the advance in prices for
cereals and live stock, which advance
seems to be providentially distributed
among the producers rather than capl-
talists and spectators. And as the
profits fall into the hands of farmers,
all lines of business are receiving bene-
fits from the general advance of farm
products. 1t is doubtful whether the
farmers of Arkansas would have reaped
harvest of prosperity in proportion to
other sections more forward with
transportation advantages if they had
planted their fields with corn and
wheat instead of cotton. Under these
conditions the only consolation left
them is the assurance of indirect bene-
fits which will follow later on from
the prosperous conditions of the north
ern and northwestern farmers. The
fact that farmers are getting the bene-
fits of the advance in grain affords con-
ISOLATION two fold. They deserve it,
and in receiving it distribution of
money follows, and it is well estab-
lishrd fact that when money cireulates
business expands.
A Hopeful Feature.
While the price of cotton is low, there
is a consideration of great value in the
fact that, owing to the improved
methods, ii is produced now at less
cost than ten years ago. The interest
charges in advance on crop has al
most vanished. Ten or fifteen years
ago neither laborer nor land owner
made any profits, except in rare in
stances, for the reason that interest
charges. resulting from the then pre-
vailing credit basis, consumed all mar
gin, and the complaint was that the
crop was eaten before it reached
market OF late years the interest
charge has been steadily lowered until
production the present season would
baua bnan ,,rof; ta bla ba6 tho orica Of
cotton advanced with cereals and live
stock. A solution of the question, Why
does the price of cotton decline while
that of other products advances? is
interesting at this time and the answer
may be found in the fact that cereals
are largely consumed at home while
cotton is largely marketed abroad.
Only 80 per cent of the cotton crop is
consumed by the spinners of the United
States, leaving 20 per cent to find
market in Europe. 1t may therefore
be accepted as fact that the price of
American cotton is fixed by Europe,
based on European conditions. On the
other hand, most of the American grain
product is consumed at home. 1t hap
pens this year that both Europe and
Asia have a short wheat crop, causing
demand for American grain. Ii
naturally follows that foreign buyers
of high priced bread are forced to
economic in expenditure for clothing
and as a result the price of cotton
drops-in other words, foreign consum
ers of cotton, who are compelled to buy
bread, are eurtailing investment some
what on cotton fabrics.
Important Influences at Work.
Southern seaport cities have mad,
great strides the present year in tn,
reach for foreign trade. Figures ar,
published by trade journals showing
that Galveston export business for tn,
year ended September l, was s27, 200. O0u
more than that of 1895. while that o
New Orleans was $50, ,00O, 600, with
| proportiouate increase of bank clear
ings. While this is true of seapor
towns, many OF the interior cities o
the south. notably Atlanta. Birming
ham and Memphis, have received new
impulse in trade and manufacture
with fair prospects Of increased de
velopment OF railroad energies. Infiu
| ences are at work TO obtain the pro
posed government armor-plate work
for some manufacturing city in tn
south. Representative southern mel
have called upon the government com
mittee on location Of this great work
and invited them TO come south an
investigate the facilities the soutl
presents for plant Of this kind. Hon
Il. Clay Evans, pension commissioner
IS a powerful ally Of the south, who
taking a live interest in the matter. 4
late interview on the subject, Nj