Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04

September. 1885, Have lived as hard here
as when in the Confederate army. Am
now getting my heels under me- AS soon
as frost falls will kill a little hog. But
what l started out to say was in regard
to what our (disinterestedD friend, Mr.. A.
J. Buston, of England. says about the
cotton crop Of 1902 as he saw ii from
Pullman car as he rode over the cotton
belt.
If I am correctly informed. he owns
large interests in manufacturing plants in
Manchester, England, and stock in TWEEN
ty oil mills in the ten cotton states of our
union. Therefore he could not be other
wise than the cotton growers friend.
He estimates crop of 1902 to yield IL 100000
bales, and if no frost before the 18th of
November il will largely exceed that. In
a letter in the Semi Weekly Dallas News
of October 81. 1902 Colonel e. s. Peters,
president of the Cotton Growers Protec-
tive Association of Texas, pays his re-
spects to Mr. Buston. You should read
this letter. The colonel puts his estimate
Of our present crop at $4,000 bales. His
estimate on last years crop was 9,6l9,OOO,
overestimating it 17O,255 bales. Very
close.
II. c. Jordan. president of the Cotton
Growers Protective Association of the
Southern States, in an article in The At
lanta Semi-Weekly Journal of date Oc-
tober %, 1902. says in part: 1T must be
patent to every producer of cotton
throughout the belt this season that the
prices paid for the staple have been regu-
lated by the daily receipts on the local
markets. and that legitimate demand for
consumption has had nothing whatever to
do with the price. 1 have talked with
many leading exporters and large cotton
buyers on the subject, and they all, with
out an exception, admit that heavy re-
ceipts have more than all things else reg
ulated the price of cotton for the past two
months" He gives a remedy, towit:-
Farmers build fire proof warehouses and
store their cotton and put 10 per cent on
market monthly. A SO-bale warehouse in
Georgia costs about $50.
I disagree with him. I say we should
cooperate and together build a ware
house in each local cotton market in the
ten cotton states, each warehouse to be
absolutely fire proof We can build one
in Coleman to hold the crop marketed
there annually for the next ten years at
cost not to exceed 81 per bale for the
first two years. And 4. the round bale
people would pull the trust features out
of their presses the cost of the warehouse
could be reduced % to so per cent. Santa
Anna wants her warehouse. Talpa hers,
etc The farmer takes his cotton to
market. 'All right" says the farmer,
and drives to the warehouse. The peo-
pies expert classifier and weigher weighs
his cotton, classes it, gives the ticket to
the farmer. The farmer takes the ticket
to his banker or merchant and tells him
to hold for 1Oc and warehouse charges,
ard only sells one-twelfth of his crop
monthly.
Now five, the cotton growers from the
Rio Grande river to the Atlantic ocean,
has done this this season on or about
the 18th of October there would not
have been a bale of old cotton in fac
tory in the world or in the hands of a
Spectator, that is If Secretary Hester Of
the Cotton Exchange Of New Orleans
gave a correct report of the bales in
stock the world over on September /, 1902.
Then we would be in the shape of our
mercantile friends-we could price our
stuff to the buyer.
was looking over the stocks Saturday
wanted a pair of pants, need 'em. was
! offered TSP 1-2c for a bale of strict mid
ding cotton, but left in the yard and
gave the ticket to the banker. believe
now our merchants have over-cropped
themselves on pants, and I've conclued to
wait and see, but I am fearful now that
they will form a merger" like the rail-
road kings and unanimously agree that
you and 1 have got to have them pants
, and will wait gently for us to come and
take them at their price.
1 want to see the farmers institute or
ganized that is being agitated but / also
want to organize the Cotton Growers
Protective Association in Coleman coun-
ty. All citizens are entitled to member
ship except the colored brother
D. R BURROUGHS