The Forrest City times., 1901-11-08
FARMER ANDPL.ANTER,
COTTON IN THE SOUTH.
p,e.idcnt Peters of the Texas Cot
ton Growers Association Pre-
sents a Few Thoughts.

end the IIOuuttAS are tilt SllNtS
,,ade so by their own choice.
We have the greatest agricultural
,,,odnct on earth. a necessity IN eY-
,.,.y corner in the world; can be stored
and kept without deterioration for
Years and yet we allow it TO control
lls.
The history of cotton oates back
for thousands of years. The llindoos
7tsed il 500 wears before Christ. 1t was
introduced into China by the Tartars
when they conquered that country.
Palestine and Egypt produced il when
the Romans acquired that country.
showing that it had been in ise from
time immemorial At the present
time the United States produce about
20 per cent of the worlds coisumD-
ton the south being especially adapt
ed to its production.
The value of cotton when spun in
coarse fabric is double, and tie finer
the weave the greater the value of the
fabric.
The seed are one of the priacipdl
sources of income now to the pro-
Queer. The value of a ton of cott n
seed at present is about ST.. The
mills are entitled To some, and 81
per ton would pay any well man.
aged mill fine profit for crushing. 1t
would pay the producers best 10 feed
the seed if they can not get the value
from the buyers. Hon. Edward At
knson, of Boston, said IF Vermont
could get the value of the cotton seed
alone it would pay them to raise il.
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 condi-
ton, with one exception, in twenty
years. Then why do the prices stay
81 low about two cents lower than
this time last year? One Of the prIn-
eipal reasons is the spectators in
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 baggiHg
and ties on their contracts they are
able 10 keep the prices down, hoping
III The meantime the producer, be
coming tired. will turn lose his hold
ing 10 supply their immediate wants.
Mr. Neill's false estimate on crops
la cost the farmers Of the south not
less than 500, 100000. but, fortunate
II. all have lost confidence in him
nov.
Is remedy, | 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 sub
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 all
sinners, and in their application for
license they should make a statement
OF size of boiler. engine. how many
and what size gin stands they have;
what kind of presses, round or
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 they
should be compelled to make reports
every week on blanks furnished them,
The amount of cotton ginned and com
pare with last season, and other in
qmrles demanded by the government,
with heavy penalty attached for
noncompliance with the law. \ sum
mary of these reports should be pub
hshed Immediately. so that all can
know what amount of cotton is
glnned, and by January l the depart
ment would be able to say how much
The cotton crop would be and not be
compelled to wait eight months
longer TO be attacked by all kinds of
gHeSsers and spectators.
Farmers in the south should de-
mand that their representatives, in
congress work for the enactment of
these laws. 1t would do away with
Neill and all other wild and woody
9nessers, and the mill owners and OBJ
orators could buy their supply, know
ing what the crop would be.
God has been merciful to the cotton
farmer this year-<inder and more
merciful to them than they are to
themselves. He has sent the Mexican
ooll WeeVll and the drought in Texas,
and excessive rains east of the Mis-
slssippi river. That is all that has
saved us from another calamity of
tour-cent cotton.
The way to raise cotton successful-
~ is to, first, make the farm self-sus-
tanning; raise plenty of food prod
uets' not only for yourself, but for
your stock. Keep plenty of hogs
NOW that we have market all the
year round for hogs, we should supply
y. There is no place in the United
states that can raise hogs cheaper
nat TeNas, with good feed and pas
tare all the year round. So plant al
Ial1a and corn. Make improved cattle
ana hogs your staple money crop for
'Ae year, and with the immense pack
buildings nearly established, YOU
VIII md a ready market at profitable