The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-07
EFFECT or WAR on COTTON.
Merchants want Planters to Put in
short Crop

|
/ Merchants Want Planters to Put III
| u short Crop.
ST Louis Republic.
The prospect of war has caused move
ment TO be inaugurated among cotton mer-
chants, now that cotton planting time has
arrived, 20 try to induce planters not to
put In as much cotton as last year. Clrcu
lars calling attention TO the condition OF
the cotton market, and the prospects for
the coming year. have been sent to plant
ers throughout the South.
| With the oversupply remaining from last
! year, should large cotton crop be made
this year, it is predicted that cotton may
drop as low as cents a pound. This 1t Is
claimed, would hardly pay for raising IL.
| 1t is suggested that as an experiment
every planter put in three-fourths as much
cotton as he did last year. 1t Is argued
that as much would be Melted to the planter
for the three fourths crop as for full
| crop The planter would therefore be ahead
the cost OF planting, cropping and ship
ping the extra fourth crop. In addition, he
could grow corn and potatoes in the ground
which would otherwise be used for the cot
ton. Should the price of corn or potatoes
be good he would make money Should
war be declared the price Of both corn
and potatoes would so UP, it is claimed.
The plan was tried some months ago i'll
some parts of the South on a larger scale,
but it did not prove success. Planters
put in large crops of corn. large corn
crop was made in the North, and the price
of corn went down 10 such figures that the
cotton planters lost money. The memory
of this may have a depressing effect en-
the present effort of the merchants. The
present plan is not on the same lines as
the previous one Cotton, it is maintained,
is the crop on which the South must de-
pend. II is not profitable, however, it is
claimed, to grow more than there Is a
market for.
The plan suggested has been tried to
some extent in the South with much Sue
cess. The idea is to make it universal
Where it has been adopted the condition
OF the planters has been greatly improved,
Notwithstanding the low price Of cotton.
Formerly planters depended altogether OH
cotton, and purchased all of their supplies.
When the price of cotton went down many
of the planters were not able to buy meat
and breadstuffs from the North. Then
they found themselves in the position OF
having TO do without these commodities or
TO raise them. Some chose the latter. The
result has been that those who have adopt
ed the pla. are much more independent
than they were ever before. They raise
corn, potatoes, hogs and cattle in limited
quantities. They raise sufficient potatoes
fer their own use. OF corn they raise
enough TO feed their stock and to make into
meal for bread.
If the year be bad one In cotton, and
they are not able TO buy flour, they Nall
back on corn bread. They thus are assured
of plenty of potatoes corn bread and pork
Each planter also keeps few cows which
supply milk aud butter and beef to a linz
tied extent. The principal drawback in
regard TO meat is the difficulty OF curing
1t on account of the mild climate. They
are learning how 10 overcome this obstacle
however. The most intelligent of them 1t
is stated, manage to save their meat in the
mldet winter. They watch an opportun-
lily when a cold snap occurs and kill their
hogs or beef as the case may be. They cut
up the meat and leave it olrt over night to
allow the animal heat to leave it, The
most danger OF meat spelling is before the
animal heat leaves it. II the meat can be
chilled sufficiently to cause the animal heat
to leave 1t, there is little danger of it's
spelling One night of moderately low
temperature will save hog or beef.
Another Industry which necessity has in
troduced among some of the planters, it
IS stated. is the raising of fowl and garden
SUM The cotton planter who is I'D to the
times is. therefore, in very comfortable
position. With his supplies assured he has
ms cotton crop TO defray his other expenses
which need not be large If he be prudent.
James b. Drury, who has been in the cot
ION business In st. Louis for years and who
mas travelled over the South. speaks very
eheerfully of the condition of the cotton
pian.ef ana his prospects.
Ihe planters said he TO Republic re-
porter yesterday, are in a better condi-
tion today with cotton at cents a mound
than they were when cotton sold for 10
cents pound, Cotton planters as a class
are eStravasant. II they make plenty of
money. they live high In the old times
lney bought all of their supplies they
never thought OF raising hog or chickens
or anything OF that sort have seen !,
PLANTER nave fifty COWS running cut md
wouia not have milk for his coffee or for
NJ children to drink. He would me c,,,
uehsea milk, Then they never thought Of
maklng garden or raising chickens or
the North. 'ppeu from
ZOO remember twenty years ago You would
see s',amDoats leaving St Louis for he |
SCUM 'oae5d With 1900 and 2OOo barrels If
p ps,, New very little pork Is shipped. be-
ehare me south raises its own pcrk. Tho |
,, a has been going on gradually for the
,ass zen years since tic price of cotton bc.