The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-05
(Boston Transcript

manufacturers Record. while in
Boston for a few hours today, IN dfs-
cussing the cotton situation, said:
"A permanently high price for cot
ton is essential to the best interests.
IS NOT To the very life of the cotton
manufacturing industry. The manu-
f~acturers who are anxious to see lower
prices by reason of the p~roDabilitS o.
a large crop this year are shorfslsnt-
ed. Low prices this year would IN
evitabIy drive cotton growers TO otner
pursuits. and the smaller Weld next
wear. with consequent abnormal nigh
prices, would bring back all the evils
from which the industry has suffered
during the last few years in which
it has had to contend with high cost
of raw material and low price OF fin
ished goods.
The world must adjust Itself TO
paving a higher price for cotton goods.
The sooner it is done the better II Will
be for all interests and especially for
the manufacturers. The time mas
passed when Southern farmers We're
compelled to raise cotton. In former
years the were forced by necessity
to raise cotton, and cotton alone.
Conditions have changed. Unless
prices be high, that is, high as COM
pared With former years, they can
make more money doing other things.
There is no moral obligation to the
world to compel them to raise cottotn,
though many people seem to think so.
If New England could turn its
cotton mills into shoe factories and
double the profits on the investment,
and pay better wages to the laborers,
nobody would say that New England
must continue to make cotton goods
a the world needs cotton goods.
Now the Southern farmer can do a
dozen things more p~rofitably than to
80 too -, c~11 Znn4tnn n 1nnv nrJCo
and even 10 and II cents a pound
may now be counted as a low price.
He can do Things that he could not
have done a few years ago. industrial
development is affOrding employment
for thousands who were formerly com
PEELED to raiSe cotton. Urban growth
is drawing tens OF thousands from,
the country into city activities. City
growth and industrial development
combined are making it possible Tor
thousands to engage in diversified
farming and truck growing to supply
home needs.
I'm the last ten years industrial de-
veiopment in the South increased
largely over one hundred per cent,
while it's population increased only
about sixteen per cent. Thus, in
dustriaI activity gained six or seven
times as rapidly as population. The
extension of railroad facilities to all
parts of the South, and the ever in
creasing demand il the North and
West for early fruits and vegetables
make it possible for a very large
number Of Southern farmers to make
more money in meeting these require
ments than in raising cotton, even a.
fourteen or fifteen cents a pound. The
South is now annually shipping to the
North and West Of fruits and early
vegetables over 500. GEO. OO worth.
The development Of transportation
facilities I hrOi1 Oh ont tho South &c
making the extension Of this industry
possible in sections which were for
merry compelled to raise cotton. I'm
der such conditions, the world might
as we'll face the situation frankly and
fully, and understand its meaning.
1t is much safer for manufacturers
to squarely face this condition han
to blindly imagine that We can again
go back to low-pFiced cotton over a
long term OF years. Last Year the
South's cotton crop, the seed included.
was worth 1863, 600, coo. If the South.
by raising a small crop. can sell it
for such d figure, it is certainly not
going to raise two or three million
bales more and sell it at two or three
hundred million dollars less.
Nearly three-quarters of d century
ago a report made TO the British
Parliament advised the spinners OF
England TO do all in their power 10
keep cotton at q low price. because
said this report. the farmers Of Amer
lea woul undertake to 50 Increase
their production when prices were
low as to get as mucfl money in the
aggregate as when prices We're high.
TIL English spinners have always
gone on the principle that BY forcing
prices down they would increase the
supply. T~hree-Guarters OF a century
ago and even up to a few years ago
that vas the case. 1t Is not so any
longer. Conditions have civ
changed Economic development has
made II possible Tor the South 10 turn
its attention to other cronS and 10
other activities which Weld a far
larger profit than cotton. unles cot
ton commands what manufacturers
regard as q high price.
If during the last Pew wears the
cotton manufacturers Of this country
had given more attention to educating