The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-11
LARGER COTTON CROP.
VIEW OF THE BANKERS ON THE
COTTON OUTLOOK.
The Acreage May Be Slightly Increas-
ed This Year Over Last, But not
Over 1904.

Baltimore, April 5.-Summarizing
Is pages of letters on the cotton acre.
age outlook from several hundred
bankers in North Carolina, South Car
olina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tex
as, Oklahoma and Indian Territory,
the States practically embracing the
cotton belt Of the South the Manufac-
turers' Record says this week:
1.-The replies indicate a tendency to-
ward slight increase in acreage for
the cotton belt as a whole, an in
crease, however, not overcoming the
decrease in 1905 from the acreage of
1904, and a tendency to be restrained
by certain natural factors. The re-
plies show steady advance in diversif-
cation of crops, frmer purpose than
ever on the part of bankers and farm
ers to stand together for the common
good and a greater degree Of comfort
among the growers.
There is general purpose appa-
rent all along the line for the bankers
and the growers to continue, even
with greater zeal, the policy of coope-
ration which worked out SO success
fully during the past season. This does
not, of course, imply less acreage as
| whole in 1905 than in 1905, although
such a reduction is promised in
number Of localities. Nor does it i'm
ply that the acreage in some states
| will not be increased. New lands in
Texas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory
and Arkansas, and, indeed, in such
older States as Georgia, South Carroll
| ma and Mississippi, are being opened
| up and are going into cotton. In Sec
tions like the delta Of Mississippi,
| where no fertilizer is yet used, or
| where it is cheaper TO buy supplies,
| than to raise them with cotton at 10 or
IL cents, a moderate increase in acre
age may be expected and many indi-
v'duals will plant from 5 to 10 per
cent. wider than last year. But in the
i main the bankers are not encouraging
| any great expansion, but, on the other
| hand, are standing by the wisdom of
| the past IL months and are receiving
from the farmers hearty support.
Some farmers are still holding. not
because they expect much better
prices, but because they do not need
the money, and those who may not be
satisfied with the price at the time
they gin the coming crop are assured
that they will have no difficulty in oo-
taining accommodations from the
banks and merchants who are back
ing up the growers in legitimate plans
to make their crop a paying one At
the same time voice OF caution is
raised against any combination to get
really excessive prices, that being held
as censurable as are efforts Of Wall
Street bears to depress prices. Here
and there, where experience has not
taught wisdom, the all-cotton idea is
abroad, and some few planters really
/ favor permanent Scent basis for the
staple.
''The readiness with which the
growers favor conservatism in plant
ing this year and their determination
to work along with the banks are due
| to steadily increasing comfort Of the
many The day Of the old credit sys-
tenn is passing, and now the growers
are found in various stages of pros
perity. from ability to pay off to lend
money themselves. Their bank ac-
counts are greater than ever before
and they are investing their surplus
in permanent forms. They are buying
more land and bringing their present
New homes with modern conveniences
are being built and old ones are being
improved. Up-to-da1e implements and
machinery are being purchased, bet
-er grade Of live stock is appearing.
some farmers are investing in town
property and moving in so that their
cl ildren may enjoy better school ia
CITIES the farms being rented. and
more bank stock and cotton mill stock
and cotton seed OIL mill stock are be-
ing held by the farmers. while better
school buildings and better churches
n divers country neighborhood bear
witness to the prosperity growing
out Of better prices for cotton. and to
the increasing ability to maintain
policy insuring even greater prosperity
| in the future.
Necessity to diversity to divert
some energies from cotton-growing in
to the raising Of other crops, is CIV
ing place to deliberateness in follow