The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-13
THE DEPRESSION
IN AGR|CUL TURE.
Causes Sought by Industrial
Commission.
MANY REASONS GIVEN
South Scarcity Of Money Figures as
a Factor.
ALSO TIE DIFFICULTY Of BORROWING
Then There is the Decline in The Price cf Cot
Ton, Too Much Labor, Too Little
Labor and Some Other
Reasons.
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Nov. 12.--The industrial
commission today made public it's re-
'viawi 'oil evidence taken Lhfore the
commission on the subjects of agri-
culture and agricultural labor. Among
other subjects discussed is that of ag-
ricultural depression, of which the COM
mission speaks as follows:
THE cause most often assigned for
the depression of agriculture in the
Eastern States is the increased pro-
duction due to the opening of Western
alnds in advance of the natural demand,
especially throughthe agency of liberal
land laws and grant of land in aid of
railroad construction. The competition
OF the West has been rendered especial
ly severe by the policy of the railroads
in making freight rates relatively low
for long distances. The old staple pro-
ducts having thus become profitable in
the East, it has been necessary for
farmers to change their methods and
vary the character of their crops, TAX
ing up especially the culture of pro-
ducts which are not easily transported
long distances. Thus truck farming has
largely superseded cereal growing along
tie Atlantic coast, but farmers in the
North Atlantic States now complain of
the severe competition of States further
South in this industry. and much the
asme may be said of fruit growing.
Even SO perishable commodity as.
milk is transported much longer dis
tances than formerly since the introduc-
tion of refrigerator cars.
Another cause which several wit
nesses assign for the unsatisfactory con-
dition of agriculture in some parts of
the country is the conservatism of the
farmers, their lack of quick adjustment
to changed conditions, and lack of effec-
tive business planning and manage
ment. 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 de-
mand This undue conservatism and
lack of managing ability among farmers
is especially emphasized with reference
to the Southern States, and is given as
an explanation of the too exclusive at
tcntion to cotton production prevailing
there.
Another cause assigned for agricuI-
ttural depression in the South is the
scarcity of money, the difficulty of Sor-
rowing on real estate security and the
consequent high rates of interest. It
seems to be possible, however, to bor-
row money in the South at somewhat
lower lower rates of interest than form
erly. The decline in the price of cot.
ton is of course an important element
III the depression of agriculture in the
South. The inefficiency 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 unfavorable to the sue
cess Of agriculture, because it results
in planting too large an acreage and in
neglect of personal attention by the
planter.
Again, the charge that farmerss are
pnduly conservative is but the counter
cnarge that they turn from one to an
other without sufficient regard to the
suitability of the climate, and soil. and
to the conditions of the market =