The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-02
FARMERS PROSPECTS BRIGHT.
COMMISSIONERS STEVENS ON THE
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.


at the Annual Meeting of the state
Agricultural sOciety-COttOn Men
en- Both Sides the Question VIII BE
Invited TO Express Their Views.
Hon. o. B. Stevens, commissioner of
agriculture, Will leave for Atlanta this
morning. having been in the city since
Wednesday night. He spent part of yes
terday in conference with Mr.. J. P. viii
lams, upon the subject of cotton CLASH
fcation and in visiting the fertilizer fac
tories and truck farmers around the city.
Commissioner Stevens seems inclined to
give Savannah more attention than form
er commissioners have done. and his in
terest is correspondingly appreciated
The commissioner has taken very de-
cided interest in the subject of uniform
cotton classification, and IS emphatically
in favor of bringing this about. He does
not believe ii wise to attempt hasty or
precipitate action, however, and believes
that the best results will be accomplished
after fun consideration and discussion.
My conference with Mr.. Williams did
not bring out anything new" said Mr.
Stevens. THE situation is as has already
been stated. 1 simply wished 10 inform
myself fully on various details. Our plan
of campaign viii be as I have already
stated 10 the Morning News. The ques-
ton will be made the principal topic Of
discussion at the approa ching convention
of the State Agricultural Society at Quit
man. the second Wednesday in August.
Representatives Of all lines of the cotton
business win be invited to attend and to
present their views. We wish a free ex-
preston from all. both those
who favor and those who OPP
pose a standard classification. The
convention will then formulate a plan
which can be submitted directly to the
legisla ture in the fall. or more likely to
convention in which all the cotton state
win be invited to take part To accom-
plish the best results action should be
uniform in ell the cotton states. The re-
form is much needed one, and see no
reason why it should not be brought about
on practical lines"
Commissioner Stevens said that oppos-
ton has already developed to uniform
classified ton He has received several let
tiers from interior buyers and exporters,
opposing the movement and giving rea-
sons to show why it cannot be successfully
carried out. 1t is only natural he said
that those who profit by the present lack
OF system should be opposed 10 any
| change. 49,
The commissioner has given I'D at
tenton recently to the new prd sses of
baling cotton, including the srg8id bale.
and the new standard square bale
The round bale" he remarked has
it's advantages and its disadvantages. The
chief agitation among the round bale peo-
pie at present, however, seems to be on
the subject of freight rates. They argue
that on account of the greater density
and the greater convenience in handling
of the round bales the present rates should
be cut one-half in their favor 1t is not
likely that the railroads will grant this
CONCESSION, as it is not to their interest
to do so. Another drawback to the intro
duction of the round bale processes is the
royalty charged by the manufacturers of
these presses of 81 for every bale turned
| out from the presses The ginners using
the old-sty'e square boxes can afford to
turn out a bale for a dollar. and the
farmer is not likely to be willing to pay
| an extra dollar for the privilege of having
! his cotton put Up in round bales | very
seriously doubt that the round bale will
| save as much in the expense of handling
! as is claimed for il. The tare on it should
| be less, as il only requires 21a pounds Of
! cotton bagging to cover a bale and no
/ ttN0 dit u5ths as against twenty POUNDS
| of ties and jute bagg.ng on the old bales
| At any rate until the manufacturers re-
| cede from their present position of re-
| tanning ownership of all the presses. |
merely leasing them to operators, there is
| little likelihood of the round bale coming
into general use. The standard square bale
| comes nearer 10 meeting the situation at
| present than anything else. It is to the
| interest of the railroads and the com
presses to induce the country glnners TO
conform their presses to the standard,
and l think it would be well for them TO
conduct more energetic campaign on
| this line"
Commissioner Stevens brings encourage
ing reports of agricultural conditions
throughout the state. The cotton crop is
doing nicely, he said. though it is too
early in the season vet 10 make any pre-
dietions. The reports received by him at
! his Office in Atlanta indicate a decrease
| in acreage as compared with last year
of IA per cent, and a decreased use of
fertilizers of about 20 Der cent.
IF the other cotton growing states have
decreased acreage and fertilizers in the
same proportion as Georgia." said the
commissioner, IAN average season should
give us an 100000 or 9O00,090-baie crop.
which should bring prices up to ~ cents
This would mean a godsend to the South"
"Other agricultural conditions are en-
ourasing" said the commissioner. white
the oai crop is a failure, we have an I'M
usually large wheat crop in Georgia, and
Il is showing UP finely. Georgia will raise
more wheat this year than for many
years past. Wheat is now being grown
all over the state. Formerly II was
thought that wheat could moi be grown
| successfully in Southwest Georgia, but
this has been proven to be erroneous and
this year there is a large crop in that
section 1t has heen found that with the
use Of proper fertilizers 20 bushels of
wheat to the acre can be raised in South
west Georgia, and there is good money in
il at present prices
Immediately upon taking charge of
my office I devoted my efforts 10 inducing
our farmers 10 raise their own food nrops.
and l shall continue 10 make this my
chief object. The more land that is put
in wheat the less there will be 10 SUIT in
cotton. and the more wheat md
other food crops raised at home the less
money there win be sent out OF the state
for food nrp1uptg There is very ffs-