Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-04-05

FARMERS WILL NOT REDUCE.
Bamberg Planter Says the New Crop will
Break the Record.

The Columbia State printed the follow
ing recently from A. w. Brabham, of
Olar, Bamberg county. one of the best
known cotton planters in South Carolina:
The newspapers and, IN fact, men of
every profession, arc standing open-eyed,
wondering why the receipts of fertilizers
are so heavy. They say that this fertili-
ger is being stored away in warehouses,
and so on. Now, don't be deceived.
Fac.s s.Eo stubborn things; the truth
hurts; but this heavy shipment of ferti
lizers means an increased acreage of cot
ton over last year! am not posing as a
prophet, but under favorable conditions
this years cotton crop is going to break
all records, because the farmers on every
hand are making greater efforts to make
cotton than ever before. This sounds
strange, indeed, but time will tell.
There have been more mules and
horses purchased by the cotton farmers
this season than ever known. This work
stock was not bought for making corn,
hay and other provision crops; far from
it. They were boughtfor making cotton,
and the cotton will be made, provided
we have the sunshine and showers
There never was time when labor was
scarcer than now, which alone shows
that everybody is putting in large cot
ton crop.
The farmers are told that the demand
for cotton is unprecedented, that the
acreage would be cut 25 per cent, fertili-
zers proportionately, and that the cotton
association would force cotton to 10
| cents by June That was enough. Every
farmer is increasing his acreage and
phosphates, while he hopes that the
other farmers, one and all, will stand by
the association and reduce the acreage.
The South will plant 35,O0O,OOO acres
in cotton this year, and under normal
conditions will make 1000, 900 or Id, $780,
600 bales.
The above sounds like circular letter
of Theodore Price, one of the bear
leaders of New York. am no specula-
tor, only plain, blunt farmer, not
afraid to tell the truth at any time or
under any conditions.
| only hope am mistaken, but when
one sees thing, he simply sees it in
spite of himself And see greater eff
forts for monster cotton crop than ever
before. Nothing but the Almighty can
keep cotton above cents by October l,
1905.
am very much afraid that the
Southern Cotton Association will ulti-
mately do more harm than good. True,
it has raised the price of cotton, but go
ing up just at planting time was more
than the masses Of the farmers could
bear. Five-cent cotton at this season
would do more to reduce the acreage
than any pledge, be it ever so binding,
that has been Or may be signed by the
farmers. More than this, the cotton as
sociation has a small enrolment of
farmers. Going over the list we find
more politicians, bankers, editors, doc
tors, laborers and Others not engaged in
cotton culture than farmers, proportion
ately. There are many farmers in this
organization who are perfectly honest in
their convictions, and will abide by the
order, but there are 10 or 20 outsiders to
one in the association who will SO in
crease their acreage as to overlap the re-
duction made by the associations men,
bers.
AS above predicted, look for a mon
ster crop. Everything points that way,
and unless some widespread disaster be-
falls the crop now being planted cotton
will reach rock-bottom next fall. 1
was the first man, either in this country
or Europe, who predicted the rise in cot
ton some years ago, and published it in
the Charleston News and Courier. That
was no divination, but careful study of
the situation at that time. So is this
prediction careful study of the true
situation as it now stands. So far as 1
can see, only the interposition of the
Great Ruler can avert panic among
cotton planters next winter.
Cotton farmers all over the Soutl, are
financially able to plant cotton. and
make it if possible. The game is on,
uchre, possibly doodle-uchre.
Last Hope Vanished.