The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-10

To the Editor Of The Post,
| Rancho. Gonzales County, Texas Jan
| nary ST. ask for a little space in your
| most valuable paper to make few re-
marks regarding the low price OF cotton,
winch Is playing so much havoc amongs,
our farmers. The merchant has also been
struck a terrible blow, us the majority of
the farmers, especially renters, are quite
unable to pay up. The situation is to be
deploIed, ana 1t looks like great suffering
VIII be endured ere another crop is rlar-
keted.
Overproduction, we are told, is the caus.
OF cotton being so low, and | confess IL is.
10 "a great extent, but | claim that tnpre
| are other causes.
DO not strikes, which have become Qulrc
common Of late years, have a most lie
pressing effect on the cotton exchanges
Oh the world? Whether strikes result in
FAVOR OF the worknen or not, the latter
must suffer terribly, consequently they
are unable to purchase cotton goods to the
extent they would otherwise have done
| thereby causing depression In business
circles, for 1t must be admitted that the
working class are the greatest BUYERS uf
cotton goods. Strikes are undoubtedly ru-
sponslple. 10 great extent, for bank.
ruptcles, depression driving trade TO for
eisn countries. and the withholding az
al losgerheads so long will there be a
want OF confidence in the country Their
interest being Identical, see no reason
why they could not settle their disputes
by arbitration, Why should the innocent
De made TO suffer by the action of ihoae
hot heads?
While an cndeayor is being mazda Ia
have disputes. which may arise between
England and this country, settled by ar
pitiauon, could hot some means be de-
vised by which disputes between capital
and labsT might be settled amicably?
cotton factories are certainly needed IN
our State, but the capitalists are not likely
70 rush in here unless some Inducements
are offered Lem.
Another cause for the low price Is Inc
large acreage Who is responsible Tor
this? The landlords who rent their land
for money rent and on the halves hold the
key to the situation
II the money and halves renters baa
worked en- the third and fourth SYSTEM,
venture to say that the present CROP
would not have exceeded 100000 bales.
] viii estimate the present crop at l0.-
100000 bales, and for Illustration will say
that It was produced as follows Third
and faurth system, $500, 900 bales; halves
system, 100000 bales money system.
3,b00poo; total, 10 100000 bales.
say each farmer enliiyatcs thirty acres
OF lard, Eight acres ought to raise sum-
Gent corn for his own use. and four acres
more would pay the landlord his third.
Twelve acres in corn, aud VIII allow
three acres for hay, potatoes. etc. making
fifteen acres, which would leave fifteen
acres for cotton.
A money renter will need eirht acres
IN corn also, and three acres for hay. DO
saioes. etc. eleven acres. leaving ninete n
acres for cotton or four ncres more than
the third ard fourth renter
Tho halves renter generally plarts rs
ne Is directed by the landlord. and the
bulb OF II goes IN cotton
The landlord WHO Hires his land work d
puts the bnlk In cotton also. so win cl.xs
those together.
think fair estimate o. such crops