The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-01
Cotton And It's Future.

which recently met lnDiemfhis, says:
The Cotton Growers Association,
which assembled in Memphis on
Monday last, adopted series of
resolutions some of which, read in
the hight of history, are very absurd,
and some of which are quite sensible
and practicable. The following
resolutions strike in the right direc-
ton:
sThis association shall aim. above
all, TO teach American cotton growers,
first. to reduce the cost of the produc-
ton of cotton. (rhey should have
said handling)
"Second-To practice the principles
of thrift and economy, which shall en-
able him to escape debt and make his
cotton a real money crop.
"Third-To make all his own sup
plies at home, TO the end that the crop
when produced may be all his own.
sFuur,b-To hold bis crop each
year until he can sell ii 10 the best adj
vantage.
"Eifih-To build factories ft manu-
factoring cotton goods near The cotton
fields, so that he may receive the larg-
est returns from each annual crop, and
that The home markets may be built
up for all other farm products"
The only criticism is this: That
the scheme outlined requires the CO.
operation of large outside capital and
much time, while the cotton plan
tiers need Immediate relief, which
can only be had by their own exer-
lions. The main point to be armed
at is the reduction IN the handling
of cotton. In an article few days
ago on the low price of cotton we
said:
..The first fact, then, to understand,
if we are going in a practical way TO
do something for our cotton-produ-
cling industry, Is in few words this
"roo many people have been max
ing big wages and growing rich on the
products of cotton and the farmer and
the planter have supported them ALL"
Since the publication of this arti,
Gle friend has sent us copy of the
Baltimore Manufacturers Record
containing a number of articles on
the new process of baling cotton,
written by such experts and statisti.
Clans Edward Atkinson, Mr.. Alfred
B. Shepperson and Prof. Ordway OF
this city. In one of these articles
the same fact pointed out by the
States is stated almost in the same
language as follows:
"Too many people have been max
ing living out of cotton and the pro.
: Queer has had to pay them ALL"
The same writer continues on the
same line as follows:
t "lf he, the cotton planter, could sci
o direct to the consumer without reduc
ton, actual or conventional. he would
q be more likely to get the real value O
his product.
GLarge interests have grown ur
about the handling of cotton, ana u
would be unpleasani-and doubles
injurious TO many people-to have TIT
< succession Of middlemen done ava,
j, with; but, after all, that is the way o
The world. Where process is too ex
: pensive, invention gets TO work Il
J. reduce the cost. and the cylindrical
4 bale machinery is as natural Sc
ouence of expensive and wastefu
Il methods as the typeseiting machine i
Six.cent cotton cannot pay the toll
that twelve-ceni cotton paid. Some
/. thing must give way, somebody mus
90 to the wall-the farmer or middle
> man. If the farmer does, there is N
crop: 40 he is a necessity; he must stay
l. The logic of circumstances forces th
\ .oiddleman out. The cotton facto
has already gone, in this part Of tn
$ country at least. Other middlcme
between the grower and the manufat
turer must go, as the bringing OF III
Y mills to the cotton testities. The fol
ejen consumer must roll all his middle
men into one in order to meet o
II fairly equal terms the manufacture
l. on-the-spot."
o The price of cotton has sunk
"a five cents, and at that price canno
be produced without loss. One G
three things must happen: Eithe
i the price of cotton must be raised
" Whether that can be done or not
= problem of very uncertain solution
e All efforts to bring about restri
r. ton of acreage have failed, and
n they should finally prove success
:. the chances are as a hundred to on
;, that the cotton area in foreign cou'
. tries would be rapidly increase
until the price is restored, or, in II
second place, the cost of productio
rs must be reduced until five cent co
in ton can be produced at profit; o
he thirdly and finally, the cotton grow
ne ing industry must be PRACTICAL
!. abandoned.
:, The idea of abandoning the pr
fo duc,ion of the cotton industr,
IT. valued in round figures at $4,000, 600
Ill 600 per annum, one of the mo-
valuable and important industries {
the country and affecting the trad
in and industries of the world, Is I