The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-12-28
"Old Timer" on Cotton.

manufacturers. Now don't smile. Yes,
engaged in the most intricate work
| in the world to-day, even the poorest
equipped with his little OK, hitched
| to a homemade plow stock, is as
much of a manufacturer as the Wo-
| man in pioneer days with her spin
ming Jenny and hand loom. The
| farmer takes the soil, prepares it and
sows his seed, and he, out of that
soil and added fertilizer, turns out
cotton, grain, hay, vegetables, and
all food stuffs, to give health and
bloom to cheeks in town, country, or
on the sea. Take other kinds OF
manufacturers, who finish these pro-
ducts ready to feed and clothe, all of
Adams children to-day, from spindle
| to the seamstress, who fits the dress
to adorn one of fashions queens, all
have an easy time compared to the
first, for all the others can and do
regulate the speed, heat, and moisture
and everything necessary to his or
her part of the operation. Not so
| with the farmer, he can neither
regulate heat or cold, drought or
flood, Notwithstanding the products
he turns out are prodigious in the
final estimate, unlike the manufac-
turer, living in great trade centers,
that are trustworthy informed each
day and can shut down mill or shop
in a moment, if an over supply is
made, until higher prices are the
rule. The farmers are scattered
| miles away from the centers and can
only be governed by prices prevailing
at planting time, always better at
that season and he, once his stakes
are set, cannot change them for one
| full year. >Our government at great
expense keeps the world posted how
| the farm factories are progressing,
every drought, every food, or storm
is noted, in fact, all even to the least
item turned out, all for whose bene-
| fit, not the producers of all wealth.
Hence the necessity of cooperation
| among all industries of the South,
especially banks, merchants, and
| farmers. If the farmer fails or re-
| ceives less than the value of his
| products all other interests of his
section suffers. Now, how to COOP
crate. That is left to those who
know or seem to, but an old farmer
this side feels sure that the custom
of making all notes and accounts
| due in the four fall months is large
ly responsible for the condition that
! is prevailing, and that the market
| ing should extend until next August
at least, the ware house system is,
| or should, play an important part in
the issue, every town or city should
have ample storage for all cotton
grown in it's territory, the farmer
| turning his cotton over, receives a
certificate, which is accepted by bank
or merchant in payment for all ac-
| counts due, these endorsed by the
State where grown, which, in turn,
| would make them negotiable any,
where; they to be redeemed not later
| than September the first each year.
Charges should be as low as safe
business will warrant. Next, our
| national government should do all in
it's power to give help to the farmer,
the number of bales of cotton needed
by the world, how much American,
and then do all in it's power to edu-
cate him to the necessity Of keeping
| in bounds his production, and that
twelve million bale crop will bring
more cash than fifteen million, hence
the folly of growing the larger
crops. Cotton is the best money
crop the people of the South can
have when grown in reason, but the
overproduction since the Civil war
has made many a homestead change
hands, boys and girls thrown on
the world uneducated. And better
than the warehouse plan is proYis-
ions, more provisions, cheaper pro-
visions and if our little country
could stand the strain of feeding two
armies in 1865 and lived without
help from any source that year, why
| can't it be done now? These are the
| views of one who pleads guilty of
buying many things that should be
grown, but will next year try to pre-
pare to stay at home and board at
the same place, except luxuries de-
manded by the tender sex of the
home. Don't understand me to say
down with cotton, but more cotton,
better cotton, on each acre grown,
but fewer acres should be the slogan