Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-02-11

tables were turned, and our OK has
been gored, and in consequence some
Of us are disposed to play Maud
and kick at the bureau for telling the
truth, just as it did last year. but
in the writer's judgment the bureau
Is the best friend and benefactor the
cotton planter has, and it is the duty
of every farmer and ginner In the
South to truly report the facts as
they exist every time they are called
on for information concerning the
cotton crop. If the facts are favor
able to your interest you are en-
titled to it. II against you, you
should know 1t as quick as possible
and prepare to meet it.
with the bureaus report as a guide |
the planters know just what they are |
doing, and by united effort they can |
profit by this valuable information |
by practically fixing and controlling |
the prices of cotton in the markets |
of the worldly keeping the produc'
ton near the consumption.
BY referring to the tables again we
find that in 10000 we planted nearly
29000,000 acres in cotton, and made
practically 100000 bales. In 1904
O5 we planted over 32,000,O0O acres
and will make over 100000 900 bales,
which Is an increase of 100000 acres
over the previous year. AS a result
Of this increase in acreage, and fair
crop conditions, you raised the largest
crop in the history of the country,
producing surplus Of at least one
and half million bales. And this
surplus has caused you to lose all
the way from $500 to $4,000 per bale
on the balance of the ten and one
half million bales unsold at the time
the facts of the bumper crop began
to be definitely known.
This decline corresponds with the
bumper crop of lS9S.99 when cotton
sold at 5 cents per pound and less
| This one and a half million surplus
ia the milestone that now hangs about
YOUR necks, and the best way to get
rid of the burden in the shortest time
| Is the vital question with YOU
Suppose you plant the same number
| of acres this year you did last, under
| same conditions, you will make THIS
year over 100000 bales, and VIII
then have another surplus, which ad'
ded to the present surplus. Will make
a surplus of over 5000 600 bales. NOW,
If one and one-half million surplus
last year sent prices from 10 cents to
6 cents per pound, is it not reasonable
that a three million surplus this year
would send prices this fall to and
cents, and probably lower? Examine
the above table for yourselves and an
swer the question. Should this con
dition of affairs come it Will bring
wreck and ruin to thousands OF now
prosperous and happy homes, and the
cry of hunger and suffering VIII be
heard about the doors Of other thou
sands of tenants, who arc lily pre-
pared for such an ordeal
This calamity can be avoided by
tho cotton raisers ii they will. and in
the opinion of the writer. large re
duction in the acreage is your only
salvation,
Now. how much reduction Of acre
age Is necessary to restore the prices
of the present crop and give you O
10-cent basis for this years crop?
For the benefit Of all "Missourians'
who may be engaged in cotton raising
we will SHOW them the ligures
,, which don't lie if properly made As
above stated, you planted last veal
in round numbers 32,OOO,OOO acres II
cotton and produced l2,OOO.OOO bales
Now, let us figure on 20 per cen
/, reduction and see the result, witt
this reduction we will plant this yea
"a. .0000 900 acres, and figuring on th'
same weather and crop conditions W.
a had last year, will produce 100000
!, bales, to which add the present sur
- plus, and we will have ten and one
= half million bales of cotton to dispos
Of, and according to the admission o
!, bears, bulls, spinners and cotton eA
= perts, such crop under present cor
ditions will bring 10 cents per pount
= and probably more. So Just as sur
:, as you make a % per cent reduction
:, lust that certain (under same weathe
y and crop condtions) you will receiv
" " 10 cents for your cotton. There ar
: some arguments made by both tn
:. landlords and tenants which l desll
y TO here state and then show thei
. fallacy by facts and figures. w
" often hear the landlord say, III co
= ton is low | must make my tena!
- plant everything in cotton, becaus
ret more rent for my land w
frequently hear the tenant say,
>. have to have SO much money to liV
~ on and if cotton Is only worth
=, cents a pound | must raise twice
- much as | did at s cents to make
:, living" These propositions are bot
!" manifestly fallacious when considere
= in the light of reason and presei
conditions. | assert that the intere
. of the landlord and tenant Is ident
;, cal, and what is to the advantage
=, one is to the advantage OF the othe
70 and in support of this assertion
~ again appeal to the facts and figure
% To illustrate; Figuring on the san
j., crop and weather conditions, say II
~ landlords and tenants conclude not
" reduce the acreage from last yea
a and again plant 100 acres, Say
- makes 80 bales; they cannot hope
realize at best more than from A to
:. cents pound. Al : cents the cr'
~ ~ would bring Sl250 Blu, suppose eve
" landlord and tenant conclude to 7
II duce their crop from last year, al
=, only plant 75 acres. and 1t makes 81
~ bales, and IL is worth, 10 cents p
= pound, the crop would bring next IL
p s1,S75.
80 So we see that the rs ocres