Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-03
RAISING HOME SUPPLIES

There Is no question Of greater import
ance. demanding discussion and thought
on the part Of southern farmers at this
time. than that OF home supplies. The
proposition. m the way OF advice hereto
fore. which has almost been worn thread
hare In the columns OF the press during
past years. has at last resolved itself into
one OF necessity 10 the individual planter
and the time has now passed when the
farmer can glance over the columns OF the
agricultural writer's page. and going con-
trary 10 the advice expressed there. hitch
up his team and drive 10 town Tor his
supplies Of bread and meat. The supply
merchants who. during days OF prosperity
and good prices for cotton are won't TO
meet their customers with smiles and use
every means 10 run up heavy ledger &C
counts. are growing exceedingly wary Just
at this particular time. and are beginning
20 plead financial inability TO run the
man Who has an empty corn crib and
smokehouse.
II il were possible to closely draw the
lines OF credit and have the farmers I'M
derstand that the extensive planting OF
cotton was no longer the best class OF Sc
curity which could be offered for credit,
the Individual and country at large would
soon be in a much more prosperous and
progressive condition
The daily reports coming in from all
chants. varehousemen. banks and fertili-
zer people hy common consent viii under
take 10 draw the lines OF credit tight this
spr1ng and many a man who has been
heretofore buying his corn and meat with
a promise TO give a mortgage on fifteen
acres Of cotton 20 the mule. will have to
hunt other employment. The extensive
cotton acreage plan with nothing else 10
back Il up. Is becoming Unpopular in the
minds Of business men. and the system Of
farming heretofore pursued by so many
men. win have 10 so out OF the business
IL is one OF the strange and unaccountable
things OF this day and time. that so many
intelligent farmers viii make no apparent
effort TO keep ont Of the supply depart
nient OF the merchants store. Even II
they do BY hard work and economy make
both ends meet. when their cotton crop Is
sold in the fall. IL would seem that the
pride an their business and the favored
section OF the country I'm which they live.
would actuate them 10 a higher ambition
Thousands Of farmers do make their
supplies al home in abundance. and II Is
thereby absurd for any man 10 confess
or even imagine that he cannot do the
same IL the effort is made. The effort
therein lies the secret Of the whole trou..
bic.
The Cotton Acreage.
Right now an important matter for So
luton Is that OF the coming cotton acre
age IL Is a problem which We have 10
50 up against every spring. and upon the
acreage planted win largely depend the
price AT which the staple viii sell next fall.
Reducing the acreage by common con-
sent merely TO reduce the output next fall
IS a falacy which has never yet resulted
IN anything tangible. The cotton prOduc-
ers Of the south have no idea Of reducing
the acreage with such object in view. II
fewer acres are planted this year than
last. the cause OF the reduction must be
attributed 10 something else II IL were
generally reported that the acreage would
be reduced 70 lessen the output. II would
doubtless end IN the largest acreage ever
planted Each planter. going upon the
idea that his neighbor would reduce his
own acreage would be voluntarily increas-
ed. and upon that proposition united con-
cert OF action would be overwhelmingly
secured The present restriction OF the
cotton acreage 20 anything like the
worlds requirement for the production OF
American cotton is due solely 10 the ina
hiliry Of the planters 10 secure labor. II
we had the labor and the credit there can
be no doubt that the south would atNonce
undertake 10 produce twenty-five per cent
more cotton this year than all the spin
dies in the world could spin up in twelve
months
do not think this idea Of the situation
would be denied BY anybody familiar with
the disposition Of the average southern
cotton producer. But fortunately for the
individual and for the country at large.
there are two Important elements which
act as q curb on the spirit which so rech-
lessly favors the extensive cultivation Of
cotton. and those are. scarcity Of labor
and inability 20 secure unlimited credit.
AS labor grows scarcer and harder TO
manage. and the limit OF credit is narrow
ed down 10 the man who fills his cribs and
-
price for cotton can be sustained at rea-
sonable figures and the financial strength
Of the south put upon a solid basis II is
a fact which Is becoming more apparent
each day that the merchants are getting
tired OF advancing supplies 10 farmers
who raise but little else beside cotton. and
many supply dealers have already openly
stated that they could not and would not
longer take the risk OF crediting farmers
who had but little or nothing to sustain
themselves on at their homes. This ought
20 be an incentive TO increase the corn,