The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-30
The Only Way Out.

Mr.. EDITOR: Southern, and especi-
ally Southeastern, farmers are into it,
and there is only one way out. The
very low price of their leading staple,
cotton, will no doubt affect all, involve
a great many and ruin financially a
large number. Well, in view Of this
condition of things, with no prospect
of any Improvement in the future,
what is to be done? What is the way
out of such dilemma? Some say buy
more guano, fertilize more heavily and
make moro cotton to the acre. 1t is
very evident there is no get out OH that
line, but q very good way to make
matters worse. The fact is there is
only one way out, and that has been so
often urged on Southern farmers, and
so little needed, that it is hardly worth
while to urge it again; and that way is
to make every farm self-sustaining.
Do as the great Washington used to
tell his overseers during his absence
from Mount Vernon, "Buy nothing at
all that you can make at home" Ii
the flour, bacon, corn, oats, peas and
hay, purchased with cotton in Ander-
son County could be exactly estimated,
it is possible that the sum would equal,
if not exceed, that Of the cotton crop.
If this even approximates the truth,
how much more sensible would it be to
raise these things and let the cotton
go. There is no use arguing that the
over-prosluction of cotton has nothing
to do with the price, when the ignorant
darlSey i'll the country knows that 1t
has. Such an idea is utterly inconsist-
ent with all the rules of commerce from
Adam down to Mckinley. Supply and
demand have ever been, no doubt ever
will be, the controlling factors in COM
merce.
By producing on our farms what We
consume and thereby reducing the
acreage of cotton, there would be also
a reduction of the amount of needed
fertilizers which is and item of great
Importance. Look at the caught up
condition Of farmer, who this year,
purchased largely of guanos with
the prospect at least Of cents cotton
to pay for them, and now have to meet
their obligations with to 5 cents cot
ton. Can they bear up under such an
unequal burden! They can't begin to
do it-that is just itin Il nutshell. The
sooner they stampede and get out OF so
unequal race the better they will do
and feel. More homemade manure,
less cotton and more home products
must be the battle cry of Southern far
mers if they would hold their own. 1t
they want their children and grand
children to be the future "hewcrs Of
wood and drawers Of water for capi-
talists, they can go on III their present
policy of guano and cotton and cotton
and guano. Thousands Of our North
ern friends no doubt look down upon
us both in sympathy and blame. They
see our suicidal course and are amazed
that we do not see it too and turn from
it. But is there any hope Of Il change! +!
Is there any prospect Of inducing far
mers to change their hitherto policy?
If there is it must be by individual
effort. We have lost all confidence in
cotton or agricultural conventions and
associations. Each farme- must study
the situation for himself and say, Let
others do as they please, as for me and
mine we are going to live at home and
board at the same place. There is no
possible hope OF unity of action. 1t
may be that some farmers are already
planning for Il big cotton crop, expect
ing all their nciglbors to plant less.
and that viii give them a fine oppor-
tllnity tomallc Il fortune. Andif every
man thinks and acts that way there
will be Il 12 OF II million bale crop next
year, accompanied with one of the
greatest MISS fortunes ever befcll any
people. So let every man, in his own
personal character, representing alone
himself, resolve to oturn over anew leaf
in his farming operations, and see if he
can't have something and be somebody.
OCCASIOSAI.