The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-26
The Coming Price Of cotton.

y
truly says this is an interesting topic
to the farmer who is watching his crop
as it takes on fruit and is maturing
bolls in the latter part Of August.
The size Of his crop will soon become
apparent, and the solicitious inquiry
is in regard to the price. Up to this
time the figures are satisfactory and
promising, and the farmer cannot fail
to be jubilant at the prospect. The
market in futures is revolving around
II 1-2 cents for the present month,
with a downward tendency for the
succeeding months until the end Of the
year 1903, the very months that the
cotton crop is passing through the
hands of the farmer and out into the
arena Of speculation. where the money
kings will engage in bsest.,cc royal over
the II, ,000,0 900 bales produced by the
farmers of the South, the only section
Of the world where the grades OF the
staple can be grown.
1T is estimated that the cotton
crop, including the seed, will bring
not less than $500. 600, 900, equivalent
to $50 a bale on Il ten million crop,
but the entire cr"p II & average ten
cents to realize the amount stated,
and yet eleven m!ll!o;l b1les at 9 cents
would maks the aggregate OF $780,
0O0, 1000. What all enormous sum to-
be distributed in cH>h through ten
States, the bulk vi liic distribution be-
ing made in 90 days. The figures are
enticing and the prospect alluring, IN
spite Of the fact that the men who
raise the cotton do not profit uniform
ly upon their nyeStn. mt Of land and
labor, while every one else who handles
cotton after it leaves the ginnery OBJ
tains a fixed and rcunrrative charge
for his services, including the weigh
ing, the freight and all other expenses
for transporting the r.w material to
the spinner in New England or Old,
England. It matters not whether
cotton brings FIVE or ten cents, the
organized commercial world demands.
and receives stipulated sum for haul.
Ing the cotton crop.
rhe combination is against the
farmers Interests every time, and
every farmer is for himself, while the.
devil gets the hindmost. What is the,
remedy? A single county in any
State, with thorough organization and
compact, intelligent management,
might warehouse its cotton, draw two:
thirds of the money, cut down acreage
for the next year, and create conster-
nation in the commercial world, be-
cause if one county can prove success
full in such methods, all other counties
are able to achieve like results. Or
ganize the farmers on a business basis
in any county and profits DOW going
elsewhere will fall into their pockets.
Doe, the farmer belong to another or
is be able to take care Of himself? OF
course he will meet with opposition,
and derisive remarks will come from
the souces now reaping a profit that
would be diminished, to say the least,
if the farmers were really marketing
their own cotton. Selfish interests
would decry any effort to organize the
farmers here or elsewhere, and past
failures would be harped upon from
Dan to Beersheba, but none of these
things ought to prevent the tAlers OF
the soil from taking control OF the cot
ton market, and debating the prices
at which the crop can be bought here
or Liverpool. Or will they continue
to be 'hewerS Of wood and drawers Of
water?'" This is true, and well
would it be for the farmer and all Of
US If the farmer would act on it.