The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-02-10
Cotton Area for 1906.

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 Cotton Convention,
which met at New Orleans, La,
Jan. lib. 1906, and the Execu-
tive COMMITTEE of the Southern
Cotton Association, which conven-
ed at the same place on Jan. 18th,
both. tremendously and without a
dissenting voice, passed and recon-
mended the following resolution:
believing that the Is per cent
in cotton acreage, recon-
mended and insisted upon by the
Southern Cotton Association at its
meeting at New Orleans, La, a
year ago was eminently wise and
salutary, this committee suggests
with all the insistence at its COM
mand that for the year 1906 the
Cotton Association endeavor to
continue that work to the end that
the original Is per cent reduction
from the acreage of 1904 may be
accomplished in the year 1906"
1t is generally admitted that the
reduction in cotton acreage for
1905 amounted to an average of Is
per cent. The demand for a full
reduction of Is per cent from the
enormous area planted in 1904
would mean that we must still fur
Their reduce the area planted in
1906 from that of 1905 at least 10
per cent Those farmers who re-
duced their cotton acreage Is per
cent last year will not be asked to
reduce again this year, but they
will be expected to hold their acre
age down to that planted last year.
Those farmers who did not reduce
last year are expected to cut their
acreage Is percent this year. The
man who reduced Is per cent last
year is expected to cut his acreage
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 prac-
tical operation if the advice of the
best brains from leading Southern
farmers the Southern Cotton AS
sociation and the perils of over
production are to be needed. The
farmers are generally getting into
a position OF thrift and independ-
ence. This is due to the fact that
for the past few years, with but
one exception, the crops of cotton
grown, have not materially exceed
ed the demands for consumption,
and fairly good prices have pre-
vailed.
DIvERsIFIcATIoN THE wArCHvoRD
That the area planted in cotton
last year was too large there car
be no question of doubt. But fol
the bad climatic conditions pre-.
vailing in the southwestern states
we woold have produced over H..
100000 bales and suffered tire,
mendous depression in prices
With the area planted in 1905
which amounted to q, 100000 acres
it is easily possible. with norma
season, to crop of over IL, 900, 0Ot
bales. What is the sensible thing
to do; cut the acreage and hole
production within the limits of con
sumption at good prices, or plan
largely, produce superabundantl.
and sell at ruinous prices? Thi
is the question which now con
fronts every cotton grower in thu
south. Diversifcation is the key
! note to the proper solution of tn
problem. Plant more land In food
supply crops; less land in cotton
live at home, and cell your stapl
crops slowly, and at prices show
/, ing a profit on the years labor
Cotton is to-day the cheapest com
e modify on the market, figuring tn
Il