The Natchitoches enterprise., 1902-07-03
The True cotton Policy.

There has always been Il dispo-
sitiOn among the farmers and coun-
try merchants throughout the
South to endcavUr to control pr
.ccs by curtailing acreage. The
Pic'.yunc has frequently pointed
out that this was Il short-SightCd
and unwlse policy, because what
ever benefit accrued to the produ
GERS from the higher prices was
more than offset by the stimulation
which the higher prices gave to
the cultivation of cotton in other
countries, not to speak of the I'M
favorable effect on consumption of
such higher prices.
1t is not meant that cotton should
be produced at Improbable prices.
IOVerproductiOn is an evil which
will speedily bring its own cure,
but a year of Overproduction does
not do near the harm that Il season
of deliberate curtailmcnt of acre
age would, even where such cur
taiImrnt has temporarily resulted
IN high prices. 1t must be ad-
mitted. however, that despite all
the talk, short crops have been due
in very small measure to curtail-
ment of acreage.
Despite the fluctuations which
occur from year to year the worlds
consumption Of cotton Is steadily
increasing, and it is the fixed belief
of all who cave investigated the
subject that the consumption will
yet reach figures several times
greater than the present totals.
So far this country has furnished
the lions share of the raw cotton,
because American cotton gave the
best quality for the money, as well
as an adequate quantity Of desired
grades. 1t Is important that this
supremacy in the cotton trade
should be maintained.
1t is clear that if the world's
consumption continues to increase,
as the authorities declare 1t will,
this country will have to steadily
increase its production both by an
extension of acreage as well as by
better methods of cultivation. I'm,
less we do this, other countries
where If it is possible to grow
cotton certainly will. Should
American cotton growers. by Il
system of deliberate restriction of
acreage, succeed in keeping prices
en- very high plane, competing
cotton growing countries will be
encouraged to increase theIt acre
age so as to be able to make good
the deficit in the worlds consump-
ton. This foreign competition it
is important to prevent, hence the
worlds growing needs should be
met mainly by increased prOduc-
ton in this country. BY allowing
normal conditions to prevail, we
need have no fear of foreign com
petition, as it is freely admitted by
everybody that this country can
grow better and cheaper cotton
than any other country, hence the
control of the worlds markets
must continue with us as long as
we are prepared to supply the
worlds needs.
The proper policy, therefore, is
for the South to grow us much
cotton as the world will take at a
profitable price. The cost of pro-
ductiOn should be chcapened as
much as possible by intensified
farming, diversiticatlon of crops
and the production at home of the
supplies required. Such Il policy
will keep the extension of acreage
within reasonable bounds without
II resort TO concerted efforts to re-
strict the cotton area. 1t is only
by keeping the price down to Il
figure which will discourage for
eign cotton growers who have less
natural facilities than we have that
we can hope to retain the undispu-
ted control of the cotton market
which we now nO5Sess .-Picavune.
The British government will be-
gin this year to lay the cable