The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-12-05
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
COTTON IN THE SOUTH.
PRESIDENT Peters of the Texas Cot
ton Growers Association Pre-
sents q Few Thoughts.


We have the greatest agricultural
product on earth, necessity IN ev-
ery corner in the world; can be stored
and kept without deterioration for
years and yet we allow it to control
us.
The history of cotton dates back
for thousands of years. The Hindoos
used it 500 years before Christ. 1t was
introduced into China by the Tartars
when they conquered that country.
Palestine and Egypt produced it when
the Romans acquired that country
showing that it had been in Use from
time immemorial. At the present
time the United States produce about
20 per cent of the worlds co1sump-
ton, the south being especially adapt
ed to it's production.
The value of cotton when spun IN
coarse fabric is double, and the finer
the weave the greater the value OF the
fabric.
The seed are one of the principal
sources of income now to the pro-
Queer. The value of a ton of colt II
seed at present is about $24. The
mills are entitled to some, and ii
per ton would pay any well man
aged mill fine profit for crushing. 1T
would pay the producers best to feed
| the seed if they can not get the value
| from the buyers. Hon. Edward At
| kinson, of Boston, said: IF Vermont
could get the value of the cotton seed
| alone it would pay them to raise it.
This present crop of cotton is ac-
knowledged by all authorities to be
very short; in fact, the present con-
dition is the lowest average condl-
ton, with one exception, in twenty
years. Then why do the prices stay
so low-about two cents lower than
this time last year? One of the prln-
cipal reasons is the spectators III
New York and New Orleans have sold
the crop many times over, and on ac-
count of being able to deliver any
old thing that is wrapped in bagging
and ties on their contracts they are
able to keep the prices down, hoping
in the meantime the producer, be-
coming tired, will turn lose his hold
ing to supply their immediate wants.
Mr.. Neill's false estimate on crops
has cost the farmers of the south not
less than $780, 100000, but, fortunate
", all have lost confidence in him
now.
As a remedy, I would suggest that
the government pass laws compelling
operators on exchange to deliver on
all contracts for agricultural products
the grades sold and not allow the SUBJ
stitution of any lower or inferior
grandes. Then spot cotton will not be
selling in Texas at New York quota
tons and two cents per pound more
than chalk mark cotton.
The United States should license al
! ginners, and in their application fol-
license they should make Statement
of size of boiler, engine, how many
and what size gin stands they have
what kind of presses, round OF
I square; whether they gin for the pub
!. lie or only for themselves.
The permit to do business SHOULD
be small, say 81 per year, but the!
should be compelled to make report
every week on blanks furnished them
the amount of cotton ginned and com
pare with last season, and other in
quiries demanded by the government
with a heavy penalty attached TO
noncompliance with the law. A sum
mary of these reports should be pub
lished Immediately, SO that all ca
!. know what amount of cotton j
ginned, and by January the depart
ment would be able to say how mucI
the cotton crop would be and not b
compelled to wait eight month
longer to be attacked by all kinds
guessers and spectators.
Farmers in the south should de
mand that their representatives i
congress work for the enactment O
these laws. 1t would do away wit
Q Neill and all other wild and wool
guessers, and the mill owners and OF
orators could buy their supply, know
ing what the crop would be.
God has been merciful to the cotto
farmer this year-kinder and nor
merciful to them than they are
themselves. He has sent the Mexica
4 boil weevil and the drought in Texa
and excessive rains east of the Mi
sissippi river. That is all that hs
saved us from another calamity
four-cent cotton.
Il The way to raise cotton successful
| ly is to, first, make the farm self-su
tanning; raise plenty of food pro-
| ucts, not only for yourself, but fl
/ your stock. Keep plenty of hog
Now that we have market all tt
i year round for hogs, we should supp
! it. There is no place in the Unit,
States that can raise hogs cheap,
= that Texas, with good feed and pa
ture all the year round. So plant d
falfa and corn. Make improved catt
and hogs your staple money crop fl
che year, and with the immense pac
cry buildings nearly established, W
will find ready market at profitab
prices for your stock, and your lal
will double in value in ten years.