The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-10-31
A WORD TO FARMERS.
One Who is Their Friend Points Out the
Way for Continued Prosperity.

facts wl.ich hope they Will a. least
consider.
Few Of us ever again expected to
see ten cents cotton. We have seen
it this fall, and in my opinion will see
it again before the grass begins to
grow. Neither the Mckinley admin
istration nor the intelligent, united
action of the cotton raiscrs is rcspon
siblc for the advance, but to an all
wise God is due all the credit. lie
sent the drought and caused other un-
favorable conditions from human
standpoint-which resulted in har-
vest Of at least onc.thirl less than it
would have been had condi ions been
as "favorablc'' a. we horcd for; and
as a result, Instead Of selling our cot
ton at six cc ITS, We will receive nine
to eleven &C ats, and possibly more.
The farmers now have absolute con-
troll of the situation and can keep it if
they will, but the chances are that
they will noe.
The opinion is abroad in the land
that the world actually needs at least
1900, 600 bales Of cotton and that
the South can produce that many or
more next year and get from eight to
ten cents for it. 1t is my purpose to
try, while it is yet time, to show the
readers Of the News that the PROPOSE
ton is absurd.
For the sakc Of argument, wc will
admit thct 1900, 900 bales Of cotton
are necessary annually to clothc the
world: but while VIC admit it for the
reason stated, still We arc not sure
that SO much is required.
The reason why cotton has been
selling at less price than the cost Of
production for the past several years
vas not because of excessive produc-
tion, but because the world knows the
conditions under which cotton is pro-
duced In the South, and that under
our credit system not less than three
fourths of it must be sold by Novcm-
Der Is Of each year, and that although
it may be worth 10 cents pound to
the manufacturer, he can buy it at
five and, therefore, will not pay any
more. No sensible business man will
pay 81 90 for an article that he knows
he can buy for so cents. II the far
mcrs werc in position to hold their
100000 bales of cotton and only
sell when the price was satisfactory,
why then they could get 10 cents
every year, because the world is com
PEELED to have the cotton.
Cotton is high this season because
the Lord has not allowed full crop
to be made. There is not enough to
go round, and those manufacturers
who fail to buy all they need to keep
their mills busy during the next
twelve months, or until another crop
is made, while it is in sight, will be
forced to close down during the latter
part Of next year. The manufacturers
appreciate the situation and the wise
ones, not only in the South, but all
over the world, arc buying every bale
that is offered. There is no doubt of
the fact that the condition Of the far
pers in Greenville and Pickcns coun-
ties, and in fact throughout the Pied
mont section, is more favorable than
it has been for years past. This is
not due to 10 cents cotton, but is
attributable in great measure to the
fact that during the past Few years
they have been living on home. raised
hog and hominy and have been more
economical generally than for several
years previous. Last fall they sowed
larger area Of wheat than ever be.
fore, and as result hundreds OF them
have not only been living on home.
raised bread since the bountiful har.
vest of last summer, but have been
able to sell thousands Of bushels Of
surplus wheat at almost identically
the came prices as prevailed in Chi
cago, and by this means have obtained
supply Of ready cash ct season O
the year when it is calculated to b.
especially helpful on the farm.
The writer urges every farmer il
this section to SOW larger area il
wheat and oats this fall than last
Sow at least ten acres 10 every ploy
and SOW it on good ground and put j
in properly. Discard the lick-end-a "A
promise methods that have been il
vogue with us so long in regard to pre-
pairing land, fertilizing and seedin
everything except cotton. Prope
preparation Of good land, literally fer
tilted and sowcd with good seed, vii
nav as we'll with wheat or Data as Wit