The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-05-07

] have been watching country life
In the South for many years and have
come 70 the conclusion that the "ad-
vance system" is Just as great mis-
take On the part of the merchant as II
ID On the part 81 the farmer, for the
following reasons
First, the merchant takes great
risks, which, Of course, be tries 70
cover By increased charges. But even
though these charges are Increased,
the staples Of life are not such aFti-
cles az high percentage Of profit will
adhere 70. and the merchant Is prac-
ticalIy trading gold for promise TO
pay. II the crop fails, he IL obliged
70 carry and carry and carry, and
may ultimately, az in thousands of
cases, be obliged TO take farm, for
which he has no use.
Under a cash system there Will be
a great reduction In the sales Of some
staple foods, such as bacon, potatoes,
beans, lard, vegetables. canned goods,
hay, corn, etc. all articles that carry
low profits. The farmer, however,
viii buy with his surplus more dry
goods, clothing. shoes, furniture, etc,
for hts family, better teams, farm
implements. wagons. buggles. etc, on
which there IL a much greater profit
for the merchant than on staple artl-
cles Of food. The merchant can turn
his money In thirty days, instead Of
year. Ten per cent. clear profit
turned monthly is better than I20
per cent. gain received annually.
Again, there Is something about
raising cotton, tobacco or any other
crop, to pay debt, that saps the VI
tally Of the farmer and affects the
quality Of his tillage. II really low
ers the grade Of farming.
II the merchants will join with us
in urging the farmers TO raise ali
their food supplies and try to produce
by better tillage double the crop per
acre they now produce, the result as
II affects the merchant will be that
all business will soon be on a cash
basis and the volume will be three or
four times as large from the farmers
alone. The advent of more money
win bring diversified industries
among the farmers. and eventually
will attract manufacturers to the
market towns.
It there are idle farms in the coun-
try, instead Of calling meetings for
the purpose Of raising funds to secure
immigration. call meetings to encour-
age the farmers who know the coun-
try and are loyal to IT, to universally
adopt the following plan: First, pro-
vide their own food supplies from the
farm. Second, double tho average
product on every acre under cultiva-
ton and let each worker on the farm,
by the use of better teams and tools.
Till three times as many acres as at
present, not In the one crop but in a
variety Of diversified and profitable
crops. This would cause an imme-
date demand for more land and
would provide the money to pay for
It. This makes every man on the
farm more than six times the indus
trial power he now is and gives him
a love OF the farm. This Is better
than to leave him in disbursement
and secure immigrants to come and
buy him out.
It appears to me. therefore, that
the farmer will immeasurably gain
when he produces what he has hith-
'erto bought In the way OF living. He
is not compelled to sell his crop i'm
mediately upon the harvest. When
he does sell he trades for cash. The
greater amount OF money he has is
very helpful TO the family. but the
stimulus to his self respect is perhaps
the most important item to be consid-
cred. The merchant will be equally
benefited by the greater volume or
business and by the quick return OF
his money.
These points should be urged upon
oil the peoples. A. Knapp, Special
agent in charge Farmers Co-opera-
Agent in Charge Farmers Co-opera-