The morning news., 1899-01-14
EARNINGS OF OUR RAILROADS..

There is some little complaint by the
railroads which have their Headquarters
in this city, that the earnings thus far this
year are not quite so good from the ordi-
nary business as they were during the
first weeks of last year. The farmers are
not buying supplies as freely as they did
last year. Particularly is this the case in
the matter of commercial fertilizers
There is reason, however, why the move
ment of fertilizers has been light thus far
this year. The season as late, and farmers
are not fully prepared to use
them. Still, it is probable that
the sales of fertilizers will not
be as large as they were year
ago. The fact is the farmers are not as
well supplied with money as they were
last year. owing to the extremely low
price of cotton which has prevailed from
the beginning of the cotton season.
And the outlook for better price for
cotton is not encouraging. Too much
cotton is planted All cotton growers
now admit that the cause of the low price
of cotton is oyerproductlon. Texas, this
year, wall produce almost as much cotton
as the entire cotton belt produced prior to
the war of secession. And cotton can be
produced in that state at less cost than
in the older cotton states. The reason is
that the land is new and does not need
fertilizers. And Texas will be able to
grow cotton prohtably, at prevailing
prices, a good many years without feri-
lzers This being the case cotton grow
ers in this and other states which need
commercial fertilizer for that crop.
ought TO think seriously of turning
their attention TO other crops. Instead
of trying TO induce cotton planters 10 re-
duce the cotton acreage, when they meet
in conventions to see what can be done
towards bringing about an increase in the
price of cotton, they should try to find out
what crops they can substitute proftablv
for It.
In this state there is splendid field for
stock raising. Cattle and hogs would pay
far better than cotton. There is no doubt
that cattle can be raised with profit
Dairy farming and fruit growing would
also pay. 1t is a matter of wonder that
our farmers pay so little attention to
chickens and eggs. There is not enough
of any kind Of poultry produced in this
state to supply the demand of the home
market. And as for eggs, the most of
those which reach this city come from
Tennessee.
There are farmers who think that it is
a waste of time to give attention TO milk
butter, eggs and poultry but that is be-
cause they don't know anything about
that kind of farming As a matter of
fact the farmers who devote their time 10
chickens and eggs and butter and milk are
far more prosperous than those who give
all of their attention to cotton Some set
tiers who have lately come into this state
intend to see what can be done in the way
of stock raising. We predict that they will
be eminently successful. They may make
some mistakes at first, but if they stick
to it they win find themselves pros
porous in the course of very few years
Grain and hay with which to feed the cat
tie can be grown as successfully in this
state as in any other. And in most parts
of the state grass can be grown in abund-
ance.
The continued low price of cotton has
become very serious matter for most of
the farmers in this state and the Caro-
linas. They will become poorer year after
year if they continue to make cotton their