The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1904-12-06
Some Thoughts on the Cotton Situation.

of his thoughts and knowledge toward the solu-
ton of the great COTTON problem" that IS now
under consideration by the cotton growers OF the
South beg space in your most valuable agrl-
cultural paper to spread before my brother cot
ton-growers some thoughts and facts relating to
this matter.
That we cotton growers have succeeded in our
efforts to get the price of cotton on the down
grade the present quotations will prove. How did
we do it? Answer: By planting 100000 acres
in cotton and working ourselves and families like
Trojans to make this years large crop. Of course,
the organized and combined aid of all spinners
have been contributory to bringing about the de-
cline, and will ever be contributory thereto.
What is the sensible and business course t
adopt to put the price of cotton on the upgrade?
Answer: Plant not over 25,000,000 acres next
year. planting the other 100000 acres in wheat,
OATS corn, forage and vegetable crops. In 1898 we
raised II 300 900 bales of cotton and got $350O0O
600 for it. In 1904 we raised TO- 100000 bales and
received $6OO,OOo,OOO for it. Where is the sense
or business in producing large crop and getting
less money for it?
The warehouse system that is being discussed
will only play to the hands of the spinners and
capitalist. How will it do that? we hear asked,
Answer: By the farmer paying storage, insur-
-h;s onttnra and lac
may borrow, which the spinners now pay. With
large crop of cotton stored at the expense of the
grower, which the manufactures knows he will
get during the year, what will the spinner do ex-
cept shut down his mill to make some improve
ment or to adjust some labor trouble as he may
claim, as he did last spring and summer2 In a
few weeks the cotton will tumble out of the ware
houses at greatly reduced price-minus storage,
insurance, interest and loss in weights.
Let us give few facts and figures to see
if the spinners merchants, one or both, are not
making big money out of cotton cloth Cloth is
now being made out of cotton that cost the mills
on average of about ten cents that is, $50 for
500 pound bale. Deducting 12 per cent for
wastage, leaves 40 pounds of manufactured
goods Let this be in cloth that weighs one
pound to four yards, and it costs about thirty
four cents per pound to manufacture, or about
$14.3O for the 40 pounds of manufactured goods.
Add $1430 to $50, the cost of the bale of cotton.
and we have $64.30 the cost of 40 pounds of
quarter pound cloth, minus what the wastage
| may bring them and house rent where it is
charged. Let the consumer of this cloth 90 into
any retail store In Easley, any other place we
presume, and the merchant will charge him eight
cents pei. yard, thirty-two cents per pound for
this same class of goods. Four hundred and forty
| onto thirty-two cents per pound EQUALS S14OSO
| the retail price of the manufactured goods of a
| 500 pound bale of cotton. This we have found
cost $64.30; and $140.SO minus $64.3O EQUALS
$3.50 gross profits some persons have made out
OF bale OF cotton, with the waste and house rent
thrown IN Brother farmers, with all of our la
i Dor and exposure, do we make anythino l;ko +b;s
as profte We wait for an answer.
Let us be up and doing and quit ourselves like
men of sense. FRED WITT TAH1c T ~
| Easley, S. G.