Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-28
THE NEXT COTTON CROP.

Inc com I'D unlCaIlOu ITOIu WI. y. ~.
Scoggins, of Warren, in another col
umn, deals with a matter that is of
vital interest to the people of this Sec
ton, and the subject is one upon which
it is difficult to expend too much
thought.
THE ENQUIRER agrees fully with
Mr.. Scoggins in the desirability of the
end he seeks to attain, and also as to
the effectiveness of the means he pro.
poses were it practicable to make the
means operative but here we are al
most completely lost. We feel as
sured that judicious reduction of
acreage throughout the south would
put more money into the pockets OF
cotton producers everywhere; but
from past experience we fear that it
will be long time before this judicious
reduction is realized.
The present high price of cotton is
due more to a combination of favora-
BILE natural causes than to any judi.
cious manipulation or restraint upon
the part of cotton producers. The only
reason why the crop of 1899 did not
amount to 100000 bales instead of
from 100000 to 100000, is because,
on account of unfavorable seasons, the
earth was not as fruitful in proportion
as during the year before, and this
again will be the principal reason if
the crop of 1900 fails to break all pre-
vious records in cotton production.
1t is now an undisputed fact, backed
by all the statistics of cotton produc-
ton, that a small crop brings to the
producer more money in the aggregate
than a large crop; but it is also fact
that whether the crop be large or
small, the individual who has the most
bales gets the most money; and as the
key to the problem lies in individual
action, here comes the principal trouble.
Every individual farmer, as well as
every other individual, from South
Carolina to Texas, is trying to get
ahead of every other individual, and
this fact furnishes a situation that is
practically impossible of change by
any agreement that depends for suc-
cess upon the unanimous good faith of
all cotton growers. There are those
in every neighborhood who believe
that their best interest calls for free &C.
tion independent of the control of COM
binations by which they expect to be
benefited, and the attitude of these
independents necessarily tends to the
defeat of the ends that are only posi-
bic through universal cooperation.
Under the circumstances, there is, in
our opinion, but one safe rule of indi-
vidual action, and that is for every
furmer to continue to consider his cot
ton crop only as a surplus. Let him
so pitch his other crops that no matter
how much or how little cotton be may
make, the yield will represent so much
clear money, whether the price be 10
cents pound or 5 cents pound, and
then whether the aggregate American
yield be 100000 bales or 100000
bales he will at least continue solvent
and independent.
Although this is the only safe line
of action under all circumstances-al-
though the farmer who would be sue
cesful must follow it to the end-even
in connection with any other general
plan it may be deemed advisable to
pursue, it is not tho only hope for bet
ter and more stable prices. We do not
think any reasonable individual is
going to dispute with US in our conten-
ton of the impracticability of restrict
ing production-or limiting the supply
of cotton. Even if we should succeed
in limiting American production to an
extent that would materially affect the
price, that fact alone would eventually
stimulate production elsewhere sutii-
GENTLY to counterbalance the effect,
and the only other remedy looking to
higher prices is the very natural one
of increasing the demand.
Although not generally realized yet,
it is, nevertheless, fact that the pres
ent tremendous demand for cotton
products of every descriptions de-
mand previously unequaled in the his.
tory Of cotton manufacturers due
more than anything else to the expan-
sion that has taken place during the
past few years in the worlds markets
for cotton goods. This increased de-
mand comes principally from China
but numerous new markets are devel
oping elsewhere, as the result of the
efforts of commercial experts, backed
by intelligent cooperation of the gov
ernment, and from all appearances the
work has only just commenced. To.
day cotton manufacturing in the south
offers greater inducements even than
does gold mining in Alaska or else
where, and the present stream of capi-
tai into cotton manufacturing is larger