Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-31
Cotton Area for 1906.

What shall the cotton area of the South
be in 1906? This question can be asked
by anyone. 1t can alone be definitely
and correctly answered by that great
army of cotton growers, who will solve
the problem for themselves and the world
within the next 80 days. The great Cot
ton Convention, which met at New Or
leans, La, January IL to 13, 1905, and the
Executive Committee of the Southern
Cotton Association, which convened at
the same place on January 18th, both,
harmoniously and without dissenting
voice, passed and recommended the fol-
lowing resolution:
duction in cotton acreage, recommended
| and insisted upon by the Southern Cot
ton Association at its meeting at New
! Orleans, La, year ago was eminently
wise and salutary, this committee sug
gests with all the inslstence at it's com
mand that for the year 1905 the Cotton
Association endeavor to continue that
work, to the end that the original %
| per cent. reduction from the acreage of
1904 may be accomplished in the year
1906"
1t is generally admitted that the re-
ductiOn in cotton acreage for 1905
amounted to an average of Is per cent.
The demand for full reduction of 25
per cent from the enormous area planted
in 1904 would mean that we must still
further reduce the area planted in 1906
from that of 1905 at least 10 per cent.
Those farmers who reduced their cotton
acreage 25 per cent last year will not be
| asked to reduce again this year, but they
will be expected to hold their acreage
down to that planted last year. Those
farmers who did not reduce last year are
expected to cut their acreage 25 per cent
this year. The man who reduced 10 per
nnnf lao of 10 Tod k. l.
age another 10 per cent this year. In
other words, it is imperative that the
cotton area planted on every farm in the
South this year shall be at least 25 per
cent less than that planted in the spring
of 1904.
This is easily understood and should
be strictly carried into practical opera
tion if the advice of the best brains from
! leading Southern farmers, the Southern
Cotton Association and the perils of
overproduction are to be needed. The
farmers are generally getting into posi-
tion of thrift and independence. This is
due to the fact that for the past few
years, with but one exception, the crops
of cotton grown, have not materially ex-
ceeded the demands for consumption,
and fairly good prices have prevailed
DIVERsIFICATIoN THE wATCHwoRD.
That the area planted in cotton last
year was too large there can be no ques-
tion of doubt. But for the bad climatic
conditions prevailing in the south western
States we would lave plodnced over
l2,0OO,00O bales and suffered tremcnd-
Gus depression in prices. With the area
: planted in 1905, which amounted to 27,-
OOO,OOO acres, it is easily possible, with
normal seasons, to produce crop of
over l3,0O0,0O0 bales. What is the sensi
BILE thing to do: cut the acreage and hold
production within the limits of consump
tion at good prices or plant largely, pro-
ducc snperabundantly and sell at ruinous
prices This is the question which now
confronts every cotton grower in the
| South. Diversification is the keynote to
the proper solution of the problem.
Plant more land in foods supply crops !;
less land in cotton; live at home, and
sell your staple crops slowly and at
prices showing profit on the years
labor Cotton is to-day the cheapest
commodity on the market, figuring the
true cost of its production.
The true doctrine of diversificatiOn and
| reduction in cotton acreage will be
preached from every hill top and valley
by the officers and members of the South
ern Cotton Association, during the next
so days. The entire Southern press will
be urged to lift its voice, in behalf of
these two fundamental propositions upon
in 1906. The wise man will heed this ad-
vice, and exercise every possible inhu-
ence over any of his neighbo bors who are
not disposed to exercise prudence before
it is too late. Make your farms self-sus
tanning and grow happy and prosperous
AS the markets of the world are gradu-
ally broadened and the demand increases.
then, and not till then, let the acreage
planted In cotton be increased. Regulate
the supply to meet the present existing
demand for consumption, and thereby
have a controlling voice in the prices of
the raw product. No power on earth
can control prices. when the legitimate
laws of supply and demand are recklessly
disregarded. The farmers are the arbi-
ters of their future fortunes. We will
point the way to success. Pause aud re-
fleet before 1t is too late.
Harvie Jordan,
, President Southern Cotton Association.