The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-21
HOW STEVENS REASONS 1T OUT
CROP WILL RE NINE OR NINE AND
HALF MILLION BALES.

COmmissiOner Issues an Address to
the Fnrmers-Statistics From
which He Deduces His Figures.
Tells Farmers to Make Arrange
ments with CreditOrs-AdvanceS
His Ideas About Establishment OF
Cotton Wills.
Atlanta. oct 2O.-Hon. 0. B. Stevens.
commissioner of agriculture, issued the To-
towing address 10 the farmers of the state
to-day:
In August, we estimated that we would
make 1900. OO0-bale crop. This was bas-
ed upon the conditions of the crops at that
time. Since then the condition of the
weather has been such as 10 make ma
ferial difference in the prospect.
we believe now, under the existing
state of affairs. that the crop Of the
United States wiz not exceed 5000 coo, or
s5O.OOO bales. We find from comparison
with the years 1896 and 1899, according 10
statistics furnished by the United States
department of agriculture that in 1896
there were 22341.OOO acres planted and IN
1899 only 20,91S,0 900 acres, decrease OF
$4,000 acres. In 1896 the conditions were
reported an average of 6o.7 in October,
while we have 62.5 per cent. for October,
1899, making only Is per cent more favor
able for this season.
This shows but little advantage as to
the conditions. but we have a decrease in
acreage of 1423.O0O acres. and we can read
ily estimate that the crop will barely ex-
coed the crop of 1896, which was S,7l40O)
bales.
Under these conditions cotton should
bring between and cents per
pound by Jan. /. This opinion is
based on the price cotton brought
IN 1895, under like condition. We
do not advise the farmers to hold their
cotton, to the hurt of the merchants and
banks who accommodated them, nor do
we advise them to hold at all but the in
dications are all favorable to better prices.
Go to see the people you owe and consult
with them, as their interests are yours.
Make such arrangements as viii help you
and not embarrass them.
Not n Wise Policy.
I'VE raise 70 per cent of the crop of the
world, and we manufacture only one-slXth
of this staple. We ask if this Is wise
policy? Shall we continue 10 pay freight
both ways on our raw and manufactured
material when we have every advantage?
II believe it to be a wise policy for
factory to be established in each county
that raises cotton where the amount IS
sufficient to run a factory. II has been
proved by experiments in several counties
of this state that small mills that manu-
facture Irvine, rope burlaps and checks
have proved successful and profitable and
there is no reason why we should not
manufacture the finer goods unless il be
that the capital required for these mills
would be more than we are able at present
60 invest.
The small mills once established, can
use their surplus as a sinking fund ana
yet pay a reasonable interest TO add such
machinery and appliances as will allow
us to build such manufactures as will
produce the finer fabrics This necessity
has long been recognized by the farmers
as well as the business men of the South
but the cry of hard times and lack of
capital has prevented the building of such
factories.
The plan Proposed.
Now, we propose a plan by which the
farmers of each county become joint own
ers as well as producers. Let each farmer
take stock in a factory. If he has not
the ready cash, let him subscribe one bale
OF cotton this year and another for the
next year, and thus pay in three or four
years his subscription. 1t is easy to pro
cure advances from capitalists when there
is basis to make them secure at such
rates as viii be easy for the borrower
60 pay back the money borrowed When
this is done, then the farmer becomes a
buyer, as well as a producer If raw cot
ton goes up ne wins, and if raw cotton
brings low price and manufactured goods
bring fair price, he is still a winner II
the stock of the factory pays dividend.
this stock becomes a nucleus, and collat-
eral upon which he can borrow money at
a lower rate than he can obtain it by
mortgaging his crop or lands.
why, then, should we not establish a
system that win prove beneficial 10 the
men who produce the supplies of an the