The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-05-06

r..lI.lur-. bankers and manufacturers
... .nu South IS that of cotton. All other
....- OF revenue pale iAto insignfi-
....,. compared to the value of our mag
.......t staple The products OF our
...t5u fields annually amount to hun
...=- of millions Of dollars, and they
...r..unt the broad base of the South's
....-u.rlty. There is no other crop
..ssu in the United States of equal
...re compared to a relative area OF
.raaae The lint is being woven into
t.. lf~hcd fabrics Of cloth, and its use
.. ajnprent purposes is being rapidly
r...u.ucd year by year. The seed,
..-uah the ingenuity of man, are be
m. converted into many highly valuable
r..Gurts which in a few years will
...aI, their present worth. Prominent
,.r.gu ed oil mill men Drophesy that
... r,m, is not far distant When ton
u. cotton seed will sell for more money
-... bale Of cotton. With the rapid
F.. Increasing demand for the lint from
.M parts Of the civilized world, and the
h.af value which the seed is destined
SOON 10 command, together with the 9th
.- magnificent resources of the South
.#u- agricultural and manufacturing
l0.. we have a future coming, to
....L ANY man in this section may Well
..ui With pride and enthusiasm.
NEW PHASES OF SITUATION
Tia. southern cotton producers viii
0.u.mue TO plant, cultivate and harvest
Ills fascinating and magnificent money
..u. on an extensive scale because o.
t.. ready market in all local communi-
Ties ,<cry day in the year. The farmers
t..8 no special education OF advice con
...Hu4 production of cotton. as to now
l-st to- plant, cultivate and harvest it.
Iu.. already produce more cotton than
TIL. world can consume under existing
l..JHol5 Of culture whenever seasons are
favorable throughout the cotton belt.
ih line along which an active cam
ra4l Of education should pe conducted
f. teaching the farmers how best TO
n.lhrt the cotton crop after it has been
l.Ecstel New conditions have arisen
vualu recent years which have large
Iy changed the old system of handling
+ott5u. To meet these new conditions
the farmers Of the South who grow cot
ran must educate themselves TO meet
t-. u,W situation, as to be able to
H.Uurt their individual and collective
a.r..ts.
4 decade ago the price of cotton,
0..o. largely upon its intrinsic value
..- oar home markets, was largely sat
factory to the producers.
That was IN the days when active
...i"tiI.on was the rule which regulat-
d. ID the varied avenues of the trade.
4. be- present time it is popular to COM
"a" 'he interests engaged in any par
."aIar Industry, thereby defeating the
aa effects OF competition. The price
" cotton is primarily fixed by the SPIN
-.ia based upon the cost Of manufac-
'.r. and the profits they desire TO
"" ae in the sale Of the finished fabric
|.f#'cn the spinner and the farmer
"..n It horde Of cotton buyers and
-"ors. who, being in possession of
.- price fixed by the spinner must buy
'.. tttlon from the farmers at price
.|.- VIII pay all the fixed charges on
~t,ple from the gin house 20 the
-.'':N. also a good margin of profit to
.. elFes for handling the staple en-
... 10 the spinner, and the farmers
t"+t"D the balance
he question of prime Importance to
producers in arriving at a fair aad
'-|duate price for the raw material
sa"if local market. is to determine
themselves whether they as pro-
VIII submit to the existing state
affairs, or whether they Will take a
ana voice in the price at which
@lapIe shall be sold. The spinneTs
-'" generally combined and agree
ID" price they Will offer the open
'A.l Tor the staple. The buyers and
.'I7 are also combined and agree
'.1 me market within a certain
'Hrln% the few short months Of
.t "hjrn witness The rapid move
@I Jhe crop from the farms. The
'@ naturally seek to secure the
"| 2s low figures as possible in
r" insure large dividends as a re-
Wy us manufacture into cloth. The
are naturally combined to Sc
81" large price offered by the
and the price at which they can
1'apIe from the farmers. When
''eefs rush the staple on the
ana force it's sale within a
.. rIiod Of time, submitting to
... price is offered the spinnarS
IT'S are left undisturhed to ma
lie market to suit themselves.
PRICING THE STAPLE.
.. N'7 no difference who prices the
vi where that price is fixed so
the margin of difference be
d. '"0 value of the raw material and
.. n'd fabric is equirably adjusted,
u.. -~F profit for handling, less the
IM transportation and manufacture.
... '"'Fs should accuaint the m
5n. 'h all these details as fully as
a.f '""ess. and when the margin of
-..,.. is 100 great and in favor of the
ra. 'h@ Producers should demand
,nr... -'''5 and if necessary combine to
Win, 'A'iH. There is no good reason
cogl.. southern farmers should not