The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-24

economic significance. There are several
causes for it, the most noteworthy being
the simple fact of the Southern prosper
ity induced by high prices for cotton.
This is inducing the increased building of
mills. factories, etc, the construction OF
new electric roads and street car lines,
every enterprise absorbing hundreds of
negroes that have hitherto served as
farm laborers. For instance. a company
has recently been formed by leading men
Of this city and some Indiana capitalists.
for the purpose of constructing a trolley
line between Jackson and Vicksburg, and
the route for this is now being surveyed,
Its construction. to be begun in a few
months, will literally deplete the cotton
fields around here of workers. Why do
the negroes rush from the farms to these
jobs? Perhaps because TIL pay is a few
cents higher and more promptly paid. or
even if there is no wage advantage. the
laborer works in a gang rather than
alone. and therefore finds even more ar
duous labor less irksome to his tastes.
Il is too early to hazard even a guess
as to whether the season OF 1904 will be
favorable or otherwise 10 the cotton crop.
April l to ), according to locality. and
continues for about three weeks, or long
er If interrupted by rains. The essential
thing is TO delay planting until all dam
ger Of even slight frosts is passed. since
the young cotton plant is very sensitive.
Last year the spring was late and cold,
and painting was backward through the
entire cotton belt. This year the season
X
as and Louisiana. whore planting begins
usually in March. young cotton IS al
ready marking the rows. and all proba-
bility Of frost is held to be quite gone by
In this season the planting has not yet
begun. the season of cold-though not
frosty-nights still continuing. The young
cotton plant makes no growth until the
warm season is fairly well established
As for the rains that for over fortnight
have hindered the preparation of the
fields. these do not yet bode Ill. for they
We're needed To store moisture in the
ground for the growth Of the rlant. The
rainfall during the past winter was I'M
usually light. and prophets Of calamity
FOR these are found even in this cheerful
cotton country-base predictions of aa IN
favorable season on this fact
Meanwhile. however the elation OF
southern people over the great advance Of
cotton during the past year does not di-
minish with the vicissitudcs Of the year.
I have heard the Sully failure discussed
by many citizens. clesr-s5shted business
men, editors, and Planters. and have been
struck with the extremely calm view
which all. without a single exception.
take OF it. It is nothing of Importance.
they say. 4 mere passing rufTle on the al
ways troubled sea OF speculation: it can
have no lasting effect on the price Of a
staple whose value IS assured and world
wide. Apparently. one reason for this
difference i the fact that the true south
erner lives mentally as Wen rs physically.
in the south only. What occurs here IS
vital 10 him what occurs elsewhere can
not concern him. ask him. what il the
Sully affair causes annoyance. a feellnz,
Orleans exchange. Al, that would have
been a different thinC. But coIlapse % a
New oYrk cotton speculation brought
about by an uaholy combination Of rival
s2eotlators-weI. the deal Sirnrlv met
the fate that Il deserved The observer
can hardly fail tn notice that with many
people in tbs district. reference to the
Suiiy affair causes annoyance. a feeling
apparently Induced hy an uaformulated
idea that this manipulation OF cotton
prices By ring Of outside Spectators
was more than an imperJinsnce. Under
existing circumstances. it was 4 species
Of sacrilege.-Correspo Of New York
Post