The Washington herald., 1907-09-05

By FREDERI
Charlotte. n. c.. Sept Aft Cotton is
still king. he owes his continuation in
power to his new prime minister. Garden
Truck. The revolution worked in the
social life Of the people who I've gone
TO work in the cotton mills o9ene Caro-
linas H no less remarkable than the
change which has come into the lives OF
those farmers who stiI till the fields The
Carolinas have a great area Of fertile
agricultural lands. For more than cen
fury these lands were devoted to the cuiu-
walton Of cotton, tobacco, and rice, with
Just enough wheat and corn to supply
local and Immediate needs.
To-day North Carolina has 100000 few
pr acres IN cultivation than 1850. Yet
North Carolina farmers are in better con-
dition than they ever were. and raise
larger crops. although the State last year
imported Sc, 1900 worth Of agricultural
products which might have been pro-
duced at home. South Carolina also has
felt the drain Of the mills upon her farms,
and its total cultivated area is less than
1t formerly was. Yet South Carolina
last year got more money for its cabbage
and lettuce crop than the total revenues
Of the State amounted to when It seceeded
from the Union in 1861.
Fifteen years ago a small farmer made
ten bales Of cotton on his place. He
raised enough vegetables and corn to
supply his family with all necessary
food except sugar and coffee, He bought
his implements, his mules, and his fer
tnizers, as well az clothing ana everything
else he used from time supply store.
When his cotton crop was ready for mar
ket he hauled il In. two bales at a time.
ever a bad road to the town. The ten
bales brought him $500. If he happened
to be thrifty and careful the bill at the
store would amount 10 $295 Then he
would get his S. in cash, and that would
be all the money he would handle from
one years end to another. II he was
careless and thriftless, the store bill prob
ably would be S315, and there was nest
egg Of a SO debt to start the next years
bill.
Take this same farmer to-day He still
raises but ten bales Of cotton, but, with
his foodstuff, he raises other things on the
same piece 3f ground. The cotton mill
has brought a big buying population TO
the nearby town. Good roads have been
built-by convict labOr-and il is easy
for him to go to market. He has planted
him a truck patch, and the truck patch
has freed him from slavery to the "store." ."
Fifteen years ago there was no one 70
buy the truck, no way to get il TO town,
If there had been a market. Now a boy
or girl can carry a load Of vegetables or
chickens or eggs or fruit into town with
put any trouble, because the roads are
good.
The weekly or senli-weekly trips 10 mar
ket with garden truck in the summer,
and poultry, even through the winter,
bring in enough money 10 keep the ex-
penses Of the household going, to buy
clothing and pay incidentaIs When the
cotton is ready for market the farmer
takes in his ten bales at one load and gets
for 1t, not $500. as he did fifteen years ago.
but twice that amount. He probably
owes $3.50 for fertilizers and implements
pendent basis. The Increase in price Of
cotton alone would not have done this
for him. If he had depended altogether
on cotton. as he used to do, the ten bales
would have brought him twice as much,
but Of the $500 he would have owed $3.50
TO the store" and so would have been
his cash return on the years work. Such
is the fate Of those who have not taken
advantage Of the newly opened markets
for truck"
The factories have done all Of this.
practically all within the last ten years
The hUmming factory towns were then
sleepy country places where all the
truck needed was grown in the gar
dens behind the bouses-colonel Judge.
major, or negro, It was ali the same.
Chickens were town broke and fed on the
Streets while hog meat fattened on wa
termelon rnds left on the ground at that
forum Of the people-the courthouse yard.
The same town now has 1000 min hands
who must be fed from the country. A
commission merchant is there 10 buy
truck to ship North, for the factories
have made better railroad facilities.
Whatever can be raised on the little
farm may be sold, and whatever is sold
for cash is, under the circumstances.
almost clear profit. It may be seen from
this statement OF conditions why il is
that the small farmer is not enthusiastic
about encouraging immigration He has
seen gOOdly number of the farmers 90
into the mills. and that reduction of
competition has had It's share in the
increase Of the price Of cotton, he thinks.
Some great hnanciers agree with him.
He Is too glad to have a steady market
which viii give him the necessary cash
to meet daily expenses 10 contemplate
with pleasure any system which IN the
1aintest way suggests a return 10 the
slavery Of the longtime credit store.
An interesting feature Of the revolution
being wrought by the industrial move
ment in the Piedmont section Of the
Carolinas, Virginia. and Georgia IS the
passing Of the old credit system. In the
old days Settlements" were made from
Christmas 10 Christmas. and the heavy
hand Of debt was laid upon every tiIIer
Of the soil, be he small farmer or large
Planter. The typical condition OF q
small ten-bale farmer under. the old sys-
tenn is sketched in the foregoing. Fifteen
years ago the large employing planter
Jared but little better. He hired negroes
and white men TO work bis fields, paying
from s to $40 a month, with bushel of
meal, twelve pounds Of bacon, and gal
lon Of molasses for "rations" All of
this came from the store. When he sold
his cotton his store bill would practically
always cover nearly the whole amount:
often would exceed il. Many a man who
had a great plantation has been ruined
by this long credit system. necessary as