The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1905-01-19
A GENEROUS PROPOSITION.

The Virginia Carolina Chemical Co.,
of Richmond, Virginia, writes the fol-
lowing letter:
Richmond, Va, Jan. 9Th, 1905.
/ To the Division Sale Managers,
Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company,
Mr.. F. B. Dancy, Mgr. Ga. Sales Div,
Atlanta, Georgia.
GENTLEMEN The Treasurer of this
Company is having SO many requests to
extend the notes of some of our custo-
mers and patrons who have not finished
paying their bills, and who desire to
hold their cotton-stating that they
believe they will get more for the cot
ton later on-that this company has
concluded to issue general letter on
| the subject, as follaws:
In case Of any farmer or merchant
who may be owing your division money
and who has cotton he desires to hold,
you are at liberty to extend his note
for him for six months from January
lst.. with interest at the rate Of per
cent per annum, provided he will de-
posit in any reliable warehouse suffi-
cient cotton to pay the note, and will
| turn over to you warehouse receipts
| for same. You are authorized to paw
! the insurance on said cotton and make
no charge against your customer for
| this item.
| a In Drr- IA.
our customers to hold cotton, but we
do intend to offer them every facility
and accommodation in our power to
hold their cotton, if in their good judg-
ment it is best. Whatever inures to
the benefit of the agricultural classes
in the South is to our benefit our in
terest is identical with theirs We are
more closely and intimately connected
with the cotton grower OF the South
than any other dozen concerns COM
Dlned. They are our customers in the
purchase of fertilizers and we are their
customers in the purchase of cotton
seed. We both sell and buy of them
and deal in every cotton growing coun-
ty from Texas to Virginia. Therefore
anything that will improve the agrlcul-
tural conditions or help the farmer
must necessarily benefit us, and, if
holding their cotton will be benefit
to them, it is our desire to aid them in
this as far as we can.
Other farm products, aside from
cotton, appear to be selling at very full
values, and we believe it would be wise
in the farmers to sell any of their other
surplus farm products which would
materially aid them in holding their
cotton.
We also are of the opinion that the
acreage last year devoted to cotton
was too large, and that it never could
have been cultivated in anormal season
The good weather during the spring en-
abled the farmers to cultivate every
acre they planted; consequently the
tremendous big crop of this year. As.
ordinarily, it would be impossible to
cultivate such an enormous acreage.
we believe it would be wise in them
this year to materially decrease the
acreage If it was decreased 10 per
cent 1T would mean a reduction of
more than million bales next year.
even If the crop should yield as much
per acre as it does this year.
It strikes us that what the farmer
wants is to make his cotton at the low
est possible cost. The profit derived
from growing cotton is not so mach the
price as the cost at which the crop has
been grown. Mules and horses are high
much higher than a few years ago
and the price of farm labor is high and
scarce. Therefore every acre cultivat-
ed means large expenditure. 1t costs
more to cultivate an acre of land grow
ing quarter of bale of cotton than
one growing a bale. In the latter in
stance the plant soon grows up and
shades the land and consequently the
grass does not grow so rapidly or lux
uriantly.
The cheapest item that can be used
in the production of cotton is CONNER
cial fertilizers, used literally. With a
liberal application of fertilizers the
farmer can grow a bale of cotton where
he has heretofore grown a half a bale.
and do it with the same cost of mules
and labor. and the additional quantity
OF seed will more than pay for the extra
amount of fertilizers used. Therefore
encourage your customers to reduce
their acreage sand to increase the
amount OF commercial fertilizers per
acre, believing, as we do, that this is
the way, and the only way, to raise
cheap cotton.
The South must continue to produce
around eleven million bales of cotton, !
or she will find in a year or two, the
balance of the world competing with
her in growing the staple, and our
foreign market largely supplied from
sources that now produce but a limited
quantity.
Wishing for you happy and pros
porous New Year, and also for our Gus
toners and patrons, am,
Yours truly,
S. T. MORGAN, President,
Virginia Carolina Chemical Co.