The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-03
COTTON BURNED lN SOUTH
Georgia Growers Start Movement to
Destroy 100000 Bales.
Fad Break IN the sInrkef--Tt Follows the
Cavern naent Report That Il.sIs,tIa
Bales Had Iseen Ginned.


Atlanta Ca Fearing Bankruptcy be-
cause Of the tremendous stump in cot
ton. the farmers aud merchants began
taking a heroic measure to prevent j
Further fail and to advance the price.
This measure is no less than the burn
ing of portion Of the cotton which
has not been marketed 1t was pro-
posed tina 1000, 900 bales be destroyed.
each State 10 burn It's proper proper
ton.
The Stunning began IN Georgia. and
it WAS estimated that several thousand
bales Of cotton were abIaze ID the
southern section of the State AIT Fort
: burned. and other towns report similar
bonfires,
Much ceremony was observed in
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
10 those in Fort Gaines were enacted
1t is estimated that more than 500 600
worth OF cotton was destroyed
1t lis said that the example set by
Georgia Will be generally followed
throughout the on-producing States.
The farmers and merchants have de-
cided to set the pace ana began mog-
ing determinedly
Fear of decliue 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 1000. 900
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. 000.0 worth Of the sta
ple. January cotton sold in New Or
leans at $40 cents. which. with the av-
erage bale weighing over 500 pounds.
would make each bale worth upward
of 1872.
Those who have worked up the cot
ton-burning plan do not propose that
all the burning be done in few days
They proposed to have the cotton de-
stroyed gradually III order TO show the
world that they are IN earnest.
The planters and many of the mer-
chants in the, smaller towns of Georgia
and the other cotton-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 religious
ceremony, At Fort Gaines hymns were
sung. and prayers said. There was
nothing riotous about the proceedings
The farmers and merchants seemed to
feel that they had been driven to the
wall and were making last effort to
save themselves from ruin
James 3. Harrison. one of Georgia.
leading cotton buyers, killed himself
at Gainesville Harrison had 1900
bales Of cotton which he purchased
during the season. He Frequently said
that he expected to hold the cotton I'M
til he got twenty cents. When he
learned Of the break In New York he
purchased pistol, went to his room,
and shot himself through the head