The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-13
.FARMSAND FARMLABOR
REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL
 COMMISSION.
Planters Slow to Adjust Themselves to Changed Conditions-Exclu- sive Attention to Production
 of Cotton Detrimental.

Washington, Nov. 12.-The Industrial Commission today made public it's review
 of evidence taken before the commission
 on the subject of agriculture and agri-
 cultural labor. Among other subjects
 discussed Is that of agriculture depres-
 sion of which the comFnissin speaks az follows: 4fa "f -ya
 '"The cause most often assigned for
 the depression Of agriculture in the East
 ern States Is the increased production due to the opening of western lands Tn advance of the natural demand and practically the agency of liberal land laws and grants of land in aid of rail- road Construction. The competition of the west has been rendered especially severe by the policy of railroads in mak- ing freight rates relatively low for long distances. The staple products having thus become unprofitable in the east, 1t has been necessary for farmers to change their methods and vary the character of their crops. taking up especially the culture of products which are not easily transported long distances.
 Thus truck farm has largely super ceded cereal growing along the Atlantic
 coast. but farmers in the North Atlantic
 States now complain of the severe com petition of State further south in this
 industry, and much the same may be said of fruit growing. Even so perisha-
 ble commodity as milk Is transported
 much longer distances than formerly since the introduction of refrigerator cars. ttt
 Another cause which several witnesses assigned for the unsatisfactory condition of agriculture in some parts of the coun- try Is the conservatism of the farmers. their lack of quick adjustment to chang ed conditions and lack of effective busi- ness planning and management. The farmers as a class have not kept up with the times, but have raised the same crops year after year without regard to changes. in supply and demand. This undue conservatism and lack of manag- ing ability among farmers is especially emphasized with reference to the South ern States and Is giving as an explana-
 tion of the too exclusive attention to cotton production prevailing there.
 Another cause assigned for agricul- turai depression in the South is the scarcity of money, the difficulty of bor- rowing on real estate security and the consequent high rates of interest. It seems to be possible, however. to borrow money in the South at somewhat lower rates of interest than formerly. The decline in the price of cotton Is of course an important element in the depression | of agriculture in the South. The inef. | ficiency- of negro labor is assigned as another cause. On the other hand. it is affirmed that there Is too much good and | cheap labor In the South. An abundance of cheap labor Is said to be unfavorabIe l to the success of agriculture because it results in planting too large an acreage and in. neglect of personal attention by | the planter.
 Against the charge that farmers are l unduly conservative Is put the counter charge that they turn from one crop. tc another without sufficient regard to the | suitability of the climate and soil. or to | the conditions of the market."