The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-03-21
work hardship upon some. But
what stared the south in the face?
Production and Consumption.

Production and Consumption.
In 1904 the figures gave the south
100000 acres planted in cotton.
The yield last year from these 32,-
100000 acres was more than 13,ooo,-
600 bales. Everybody remembered
the disastrous drop in the price of
cotton when it became known I
the yield exceeded the consumption
BY about 100000 bales. The con-
sumption was about eleven and a half
million bales. If the south planted
a full acreage again it would make
more than enough for consumption,
and this excess, added to the surplus
OF last year, would make burden
which he did not believe the south
could bear. If the farmer COUNT
pay his debts out Of his crop, t
merchants, the banker and all busi-
ness and every industry suffered.
Many Solutions Suggested.
There were good many plans
talked about and many sources sug-
gested from which the farmers should
look for relief. He referred to the
tariff question, the question of the de-
velopment of foreign markets, the
question of establishing warehouses
so as to market the crop slowly and
judiciously all of which were of i'm
portarce, but questions which could
not be solved in day. The question
Of warehouses was second in impor-
tance only to reduction in acreage.
But time was necessary to perfect
and to carry out this idea.
Reduction of Vital Importance Now.
But if the question of acreage was
delayed 90 days the crop would have
been planted and no one was going
to throw away any cotton after 1t was
grown. So that a reduction in acre
age-a radica: reduction-was the
crust OF the whole matter, and he did
not believe twenty-five per cent. re-
duction was one iota too much. If
the farmers failed to make a radical
reduction. no sooner would it be
known than the steady decline in
price would continue
The importance of this matter, SEN
ator Manning said, he believed to be
vital even if it required a sacrifice, he
believed the reward which would
come not only this year, but in the
years to come, would be greater than
even the most sanguine dreamed Of.
If the movement was successful he
believed it would bring a yearly pros
perity, making the south independent.
If the proposed reduction was made
the acreage would be reduced 70
about 24,ooo,ooo acres, which would
yield between 100000 and 100000
bales. The 100000 surplus from
1904 would give between 100000
and 100000 bales to be marketed
during the coming season. This
would be about the consumption, and
there would be demand for cotton
such as the south had scarcely ever
seen.
He. felt constrained to adopt the
idea that there was only one side to
this question and the thing for the
farmers to do was to sign the pledges
and let it be known that they were
united and had the solid backing OF
every industry of every business and
of every profession in the south.
Diversification Of Crops.
The advantage in diversification
would be almost as great, though
not as immediate, as the advantage in
a reduction in acreage. The Southern
farmers would not only be indepen-
dent of the crops of other sections,
bur diversification would work
great improvement in Southern lands,
because it would prepare the lands
for a quicker rotation OF cops. The
whole matter amounted to this. A
reduction in acreage would mean an