The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-01-05
COTTON INTERESTS IN THE SOUTH.

AN'AN'SSNSS
served as Confederate soldier in the sixties and
afterwards amassed fortune in the cotton trade in
Georgia and New York, has written a paper that
will amaze and crafty patriotic Southerners:
Sew of us without studying the question realize
what an important part this staple plays in the
financial and industrial history of the world; and
the South holds the production of this great crop
almost without rival, furnishing nearly 81 per
cent of the worlds consumption. Limited by eli
matte conditions to part of the Union, the cotton
growers of America have the most perfect agri-
cultural monopoly of the world.
"For forty years foreign lands have by govern
mental influence and money, and by private capital
and enterprise tried to build up cotton growing in
competition with the South But the aggregate
foreign caops increase very little, and to supply the
ever increasing demand of about 100000 bales
year for an average increase in the worlds con-
sumption, the world must depend upon our country.
eff we keep out of debt and market this crop
wisely, without the pressure of debt, we ought to
benefit enormously as time goes on from this great
treasure. This years cotton crop, including the
seed, sold for $780, 900. Besides furnishing the
mills North and South with all they used, ex-
ported enough to bring 900 900 in gold to this
country. This is fourth much gold as CAL
ifornia has produced since the discovery of the
precious metal there.
'1Sx hundred and fifty million dollars enough
to buy every bushel of wheat raised in the United
States and leave one hundred and fifty million to
the good. 1t was enough to buy and pay for half
the corn crop of two and onefourth billion bushels
grown in the United States The corn crop is the
only one of the great that exceeds in value the
cotton crop.
''Iowa is the greatest corn growing State in the
world, and produces eleventh of the total corn
crop of the United States; yet this year, after
growing her corn and wheat crop, Georgia sold her
cotton crop for S., 100000, enough to pay cash for
every bushel of corn grown in Iowa.
SIT should encourage us to feel that back of us
we have this Imperial money producing crop; a
perpetual inheritance hedged about by climatic in
fluences and protected from world competition which
threatens the other crops. Once free from debt let
us stay out of debt and control our own product,
and we will see no of or cent cotton crops.
ssThe question may be asked: Why, with such
advantages, why does not Georgia and the South
advance more rapidly in wealth? I reply: Our
people are advancing, and the increase has been
great during the past three years. but this advance
is in the face of tremendous drain which is not
apparent to everyone.
Through the operation of the tariff and internal
revenue, it is estimated that the South pays $780,
600, 600 year toward the government pension bill.
This sum is Except small fracton) transferred to
Northern States and the mountainous districts OF
the South and helps enrich them. Georgia's pro-
portion of this payment is 81 100000, equal to
half the States debt paid every year. Ii it were
paid by the State as direct tax, it would probably
raise political revolution; but this drain goes on
so silently that many not aware of it, and it viii
go on when the last man who fought against the
Union is dead, and perhaps when all his children
are dead.
ssThe defeated in modern wars have usually pals
the penalty; but this is the most ingenious insidi-
Gus, silent and enormous penalty ever laid on de-
feated people-in the aggregate, far greater pen
atty, per capita than Napoleon laid upon those
whom he crushed, or the Germans exacted from thu
French.
3sHad it not been for our natural resources ant
energy, we would never have stood up under it
But, in spite OF all this things coming our way
We are getting out of debt: we are doing bette
farming, more manufacturing, and learning bette
how to market our crops.
"We are manufacturing two millions bales OF cot
ton year, adding easily 100000 to the value o
raw cotton. The future is bright with promises
we are but true to the high character the ndomita
BILE energy, and the great souls of the fathers an
mothers, who coming out Of the most desoiatn|
war of modern history, found the country a deser
and brought it to its position of greatness and
perity.
Brother Dckey in Atlanta Constitution: Ef a
the flowers dat we puts on the graves wuz plante
in the gardens of this life, what happy time We
have!
Baltimore Sun: That Florida Judge who wa
impeached turns out to be Pennsylvania carpet