The suburban citizen., 1900-03-24
SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.

In whatever direction one may turn In the
South he Is likely to find manifestations Of .
spirit OF optimism resting upon Substantial
foundation Through the Piedmont section
new cotton mills are rising here and there,
and established ones are preparing to en-
large their operations, while mill-building
enterprises are likewise advancing through
the Mississippi Valley into Texas as pros
pect for larger and larger demand In tne
east for Southern-made goods wdenS, IN"
past week has been notable for announce
ments OF this kind In the Manufacturers
Record are noted the determination to erees
q 500, 900 plant Of 25, 600 spindles and about
$50 looms for the production OF print cloths
at Aiken. S. G., plans for a s40O 600 mill near
Columbus, Ga, with 10000 spindles and a
proportionate number OF looms as an addl-
tlon to the enterprises OF the Bibb Manuiac-
turing Company OF Macon, Ga. for SlOO-
900 mill at GoldsbOro. N. c., for $50 QUO
knitting mill at Valdosta Ga, the organiza1
tion Of the Yazoo Cotton Mill at Yazoo Citys
Miss, OF a $10O, 900 cotton company ut Itas-
ca, Texas, and $780, 900 mill ut Hartman,
Tenn. The f. w. Poe Manufacturing Com
pany OF Greenvile, s. c., has decided to
spend neatly $4,000 in additions to its
plant, while the capital stock has been sub
scribed for 100000 plant at Corsicana,
Texas. Side by side with plans for the full
development OF the iron resources Of Ala
bama, Tennessee Virginia and West Virginia
are those for the extension and improve
ment Of tho railroads really confined to no
one section Of the South. The lumber inter-
ests from the Caroiinas to Texas are in
ilourishing condition, while the healthy tone
everywhere is reinforced by activities in tho
oil fields the phosphate mines and other In
dustries which supply the material for man
ufactures. The persistent strength oil the
cotton market, which at present seems de-
stined to be maintained at least until the
movement Of tho next crop Is well under
way, is in itself u promise OF vigor for sew
eral months in many lines OF trade In the
South.
Growing out OF this strength is a tendency
on the part OF some cotton growers to con-
slider favoraby plans for selling in advance
tho crop which they expect to raise this sea-
son. This tendency has assumed one or two
forms. Regarding the proposition that
Southern farmers should sell on a basis OF
New York futures for September and Octo-
Der delivery their crops OF cotton not yet
planted, Col. A. b, Shepperson OF New York
writes in this weeks Manufacturing Record
as follows:
"No farmer could sell his crop on the basiJ
Of prices for September and October deliv-
cry unless he agreed to deliver Il during these
months. He could deliver only a small pro-
portion OF his crop by that time, az picking
usually goes on until December and some
times much later. He could only sell with
safety for delivery In November and Deem
Der, and New York futures for these months
are nearly half cent lower than for Sop
tember delivery. The present price for No
vember delivery would leave the farmer,
after paying freight, commissions and other
charges, about seven cents per pound for
middling cotton. This should not be re-
garded a very tempting price, since 1t has
been exceeded during every calendar year
with only one exception since 1926.
"Should the farmer sell now for delivery
next fall or winter and prices before then
should advance from any reason, he would
have to make deposit OF money equal to
the advance, and the raising OF this money
might prove inconyenient and expensive
II the farmer should sell more than HIS crop
turned out TO be, no would then have to buy
OF his neighbor to make up the quantity. In
the event Of higher prices ruingat that time
than be had sold at, he might thus suffer =
considerable loss, besides having to pRrt Wits
oil OF his own crop at Il lower price than his
neighbors we're receiving.
"If. from the condition OF his crop late in
the summer, the farmer shonld feel reason
ably confident o. making 200 bales OF cotton
it would be wise, perhaps, to sell 70 bales
for November or December delivery ncnlnS
his crop IL the prico was satisfactory. This
would be safe and perfectly Legitimate. ard
IL frequently dono through southern fRctors.
'The old adaRe that shoemaker should
stick 10 his last" though very homely, Is
nevertheless true in general way. the ex-
eeptions hut serving 20 prove the ruiz. A
farmer should not try to ba speculator
His training, his environment and his iaeil-
tiles are all against his success and hNndl-
cap him in the struggle with men OF keeRsE
wits, greater opportunities and less Innate
honesty.
LET the farmer use better and more seleR-
tine methods. studying closely the needs Of
his soil 30 a. TO get the greatest yield at the
least cost OF production. ~,et him buy moth
Ing which can bs produeed at home.
'Thelr careful cultivation and che proper
selection am moro liberal use OF fertilizers
would give iAr better results TO ths cotton
growers than tho large Increase IN acreag~
which Is now 50 generally expected"