Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-24
THE SoUTH'S MONEY CROP.

The one crop which is OF equal impOr-
lance and necessity 70 the farmers. mer-
chants, bankers and manufacturers in
the south Is that OF cotton All other
sources OF revenue pale into insignifi-
canoe compared 10 the value OF our mag
nifcent staple The products OF our cot
ton fields annually amount TO hundreds
OF millions OF dollars, ard they represent
the broad base OF the south's prosperity.
There II no other crop grown in United
States OF equal value compared 70 rel
ative area OF acreage. The Int Is being
woven into the finish fabrics OF cloth, and
its use for different purposes is being rap
idly broadened year by year. The seed,
through the ingenuity OF man. are being
converted into many highly valuable
products which In q few years viii dou-
BE their present worth Prominent cot
ton seed oil mill men prOphesy that the
time IS not far distant when ton Of
cotton seed viii sell for more money than
q bale OF cotton With the rapidly increas-
ing demand for the lint from all parts OF
the civilized world, and the high value
which the seed is destined soon to COM
mand, together with the other magnifi-
cent resources OF the south along agri-
cultural and manufacturing lines, we
have a future coming. TO which any man
in this section may well point with pride
and enthusiasm
New Phases Of Situation.
The Southern cotton producers viii
continue 70 plant. cultivate and harvest
this fascinating and magnificent money
crop on an extensive scale. because Of
The ready market in all local communi-
ties every day in the year The farmers
need no special education or advice con-
cerufng production OF cotton as TO how
hest 70 plant, cultivate and harvest IL.
They already produce more cotton than
the world can consume under existing
methods Of culture whenever seasons are
favorable throughout the cotton belt.
The line along which an active cam
paign OF education should be conducted IS
teaching the farmers how best 70 market
the cotton crop after II has been harvest
ed New conditions have arisen within
recent years which have largely changed
fhe old system OF handling cotton. To
meet these new conditions the farmers OF
the south who grow cotton must educate
themselves TO meet the new situation. so
as to be able 20 protect their individual
ana collective interests
A decade ago the price OF cotton, based
largely upon its intrinsic value and our
home markets. was largely satisfactory
70 the producers
mat was in the days when active COM
petition was the rule which regulated
All the varied avenues OF the trade. At
the interests engaged in any particular
Industry. thereby defeating the good ef-
fects OF competition The price OF cotton
- primarily fixed by the spinners based
upon the cost OF manufacture and the
proftE they desire 10 make in the sale OF
the finished fabric. Between the spinner
and the farmer swarm a horde Of cot
ton buyers and Spectators, who being
IN possession OF the price fixed by the
simmer must buy the cotton from the
farmers at a price that viii pay all the
fxed charges on the staple from the gin
house 70 the factory; also a good margin
OF pronC TO themselves for handling the
staple en- route 70 the spinner. and the
farmers receive the balance.
The question Of prime Importance 70 the
PRODUCERS. IN arriving at fair and legit-
mate price for the raw material al their
local markets. Is 10 determine among
themselves whether they as producers viii
submit 20 the existing state OF affairs. or
whether they viii take hand and voice
IN the price at which their staple shall
Be sold The spinners are now generally
combined and agree upon the price they
viii offer the open market for the staple.
The buyers and exporters are also COM
blned and agree 20 hold the market within
a certain radius during the few short
months OF the fall which witness the rapid
movement OF the crop from the farms. The
SINNERS naturally seek 10 secure the sta
pie at as low figures as possible in order
20 insure large dividends as a result OF its
manufacture into cloth. The buyers are
naturally combined 10 secure as large a
margin Of profit as possible between the
price offered by the spinner and the price
at which they can buy the staple from the
farmers When the producers rush the
STABLE on the market and force its sale
within limited period Of time submitting
20 whatever price is offered the spinners