The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-18
COTTON BURNED IN SOUTH
Georgia Growers Start Movement to
Destroy 100000 Bales.
BAD Break In the Market-It Follows tho
Government Report That 1~1,S4S,113
Bales Had Been Ginaed.

Atlanta. Ga.-Fearing bankruptcy be-
cause Of the tremendous slump in cot
ton. the farmers and merchants began
taking a heroic measure to prevent a
further fall and to advance the price.
This measure is no less than the burn
ing Of afportion Of the cotton which
has. not been marketed. 1t was pro-
posed that 1000, 900 bales be destroyed,
each State to burn it's proper proper
ton.
:, The burning began in Georgia, and
it was estimated that several thousand
bales Of cotton were ablaze in the
southern section Of the State. At Fort
Gaines alone over 5000 bales were
burned. and other towns report similar
'bonires.
Much ceremony was observed ir
burning the cotton. At Fort Gaines.
farmers came from all over Clay Coun-
ty to join with the merchants. The
cotton was rolled into the Court House.
Square, and after the merchants and
farmers had marched around it in pro-
cession the torch was applied.
In several other towns scenes similar
to those in Fort Gaines were enacted.
1t is estimated that more than $100,00
worth of cotton was destroyed.
It is said that the example set by
Georgia will be generally followed
throughout the cotton-producing States.
The farmers and merchants have de-
cided to set the pace and began NOV
ing determinedly.
Fear Of a decline in the price of cot
ton that will put it below the cost OF
production has caused the movement
to burn the surplus of about 100000
bales above any crop heretofore grown.
in the South. Even at the low prices
prevailing the realization of this plan
would result in the destruction Of up
ward Of $50, 10000 worth Of the sta
Pile. January cotton sold in New Or
leans at $40 cents, which. with the ay-
erage. bale weighing Owe 500 pounds.
would make each bale worth upward
of S32.
Those who have worked UP the cot
ton-burning plan do not propose that
all the burning be done in a few days.
They proposed to have the cotton. de.
stroyed gradually in order to show the
.w0rldithat they are in earnest.
The planters and many of the mer-
chants in. the smaller towns of Georgia
and. the other ootton-growing States
have been rendered well nigh desper-
ate by the slump, and they felt that
they must resort to desperate measures
to cause an advance.
/. Dispatches from Fort Gaines and
other places where the cotton was
burned lay stress on the seriousness
with which the deed was done.
Those taking part went about it as
solemnly as if engaged in a religious
ceremony. At Fort Gaines hymns were
sung and prayers said. There was
nothing riototis aDout5th proceedings,
The farmers and merchants SEEMED to
feel that they had been driven to the
wall and were making a last EFFORT to
save themselves from ruin.
James B. Harrison. one Of Georgia's
leading cotton buyers. killed himself
at. BannesyiIIeN Harrison had 1900
bales of. cotton which he purchased
during the season: He frequently said
that lie expected to hold the cotton un-
til lie got twenty cents. When he
learned of the break in New York he
purchased a pistol. went to his room,
and shot himself through the head.