The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-03
SOUTHERN PROSPERITY.

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|
Prosperity ut last has come TO The
Southern farmer, or at least 1T has
come within his reach. During The
past years of trouble and distress The
Southern farmer has learned better to
utilize the advantages of climate and
soil which he possesses. Ho has
learned that sole dependence. upon
cotton is great mistake. Ile has
! learned that there is profit in cotton
only when it is his money crop. 1t
docs not pay to raise cotton at 4 cents
and buy wheat and corn and food
products even at the low plices prevail
ing duling the past few years. Those
low prices will prevail no longer.
Everything that enters into the con-
sumption of the family or the farm is
advanced in price. 1t costs more to
raise cotton now than it cost before,
and this makes it all the mole ncccs-
sary that the farmer himself should
| produce what he can for homo con
sumption.
1t is all the more necessary that he
should do this, for in this way he can
curtail the acreage devoted to cotton.
Cotton at 8 and 9 - cents is dc
lusion. This is the price of cotton to-
day; that was not the price Of cotton
last October; it will not be the price
OF cotton next October. DO not plant
with the idea that present prices will
prevail then.
No doubt we are entering upon a
series of years OF higher prices for COT.
ton. How long these prices Will pre-
vail will largely depend upon the
amount OF cotton produced. Produce
great surplus again and you may cX-
pcct lower Prices. Avoid the pro-
duction of Il surplus by producing a
larger portion OF your supplies at home
| and the South will soon blossom as Il
| rose.
A new era undoubtedly has opened
fol "thc South" taking the phrase in
| its brOadcst meaning and including in
| 1t commerce and manufactures as well
as agriculture. There has been vast
extension in the cotton factories of
| the South. 1t is one Of the most
significant movements Of recent years.
Capital realizes that 1t must build new
factories IN order to produce cotton at
prices that will yivc the American
factories The command uf the worlds
MAJ lkcts, and to do this the American
needs the latest machinery; he needs
, even improvements on the latest ma
chincry; he needs to build his factories
. anew and many of the wiscst and
most far-sghtcd propose to build these
new factories in the South.
Southern cities, too, are receiving the
benefit OF the general prosperity
Southern railroads are increasing their
earnings, thus bcncliting themselves
and the countries through which they
run. Southern railroads bavc to be
yet extended and largely improved to
make them what they ought to be, but
every year shows 4 marked improves
mcnt in the transportation facilities of
the Southern section Of the country
This Improvement will continue us
long rs tiuesare good.
Thus we look into a few years. at
least, Of general and widespread pro-
spcrity. 1t IS Il prosperity that every
man should share. individuals and
sections and nations have made mis-
takes in the past, and these mistakes
had all to be paid Tor. The mistake
of raising T. million bales OF cot
ton FOR the world when it only wanted
million has been paid for. The mis-
stake of ncglcctlng diversified ayricul-
turc has been pant for. Now let us
look chccrully into the future and
bulld up on our very mistakes, making
them return to us Il handsome income
on the inveStmcnt.-IIon and Ful.nu.