The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27

The press dispatches stated this morn
ing:
John jacob Astor, of New York.
not content with Offering the Govern
ment free his splendid yacht Normahod
and free transportation for troops and
supplies over the railroads in which be
is interested, has come forward With
notice that be has raised aud equipped
at his own expense battery of artil-
lery, which be desires to offer to the
Government under his own plans for
service 10 Cuba. This offer probably
will be accepted. although the depart
inert has beer deiuged with offers to
raise volunteers 10 this way to the ag-
gregate number Of at least so. 900. "
This shows that millionaire are men
after all and do not hesitate to make
use of their yset wealth liberlally ard
patriotically.
The expected Las come to pass
corn. wheat, meat AID provisions ct all
descriptions tave advanced iu price as
q result Of the war With Spain The
price Of cotton has declined aud the end
is Dos yet; in all truth and earnestnsss
We believe ,bas we are as yet scarcely
at the beginuiog. Provisions are
sure to become dearer and dear
er every week SO loog as the
war continues, while cotton will grow
cheaper each week Should the war
continue through tbs summer acd into
The fall add wiuter the effsc. 90 the cot.
ton market will be vastly more serious
tnen it eau be at the present time. The
acreage estimated 70 be planted in cot
ton this year will prodace, provided
ordinary conditions prevail, ten and
one half to eleven million bales. This
enormous crop alone. following on
the heels of the eleven million bale crep
Of 1897, would be sufficient se depress
the price twenty per cent below
the cost of production, and for the life
Of ns We cannot comprehend why the
men who must bear this loss persist in
increasing the cotton acreage
Added to the evil Of over production
wc uos hare this war With Spaio, the
effect Of which will be to decrease the
consumption Of American cotton to en-
smonnt equal to the annual sakiogs IF
Spanish cotton manufacturers. if not
to 40 even greater extent. All circnm-
stances and coodit;ous are operating
against the cotton producers. and the
prospect is that the crop Of 1898 will
cost more than the average crop and
sell for less. Provisions are advancing
;p price and those farmers who 6od it
necessary to make their crop Oh Western
corn. Wes.ern meat and western Hour
will iad that every pouod of cotton will
COS. them more than they estimated.
There is 20 escape from the seriousness
Of the situation Cor those who have to buy
provisiocs ip order that they may
live until the present crop has
been harvested, but BY forethought acd
prudence they can make provision for
sbe future The man who goes ahead
making large cotton crop to tie neg
leo, of the food crops. expecting to pur.
chase food With the proceeds Of his cot.
ton is recklessly cour:iog foancial dis.
as.er and 10 ting destruction and sui
fering. No oae cen foretell how long
tie war will be protracted DO: what the
consequences will be, bat it is already
apparent the cost Of living will be ma
,eria,ly increased. Therefore the man
who produces the ueoessaries of life is
the wise mau, and be alone will be iu-
dependent Of circumstances. The man
With empty corn houses will be desti-
tute. indeed, even tho be has more cot
too tbao ever before.
Key West. April 26.-The U. S.