The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-09
Sound Advice to New England.

Richard H. Edmonds, the editor of
The Manufacturers Record, in an in
terview in the Boston Transcript,
tells the people of New England a
truth that should set them thinking.
He says that the prices of cotton
must be high enough in future to
give the growers a good profit or
that there will not be enough cotton
to go around-in short, chat though
the Southerners have a monopoly in
the American production Of cotton
they are not dependent upon it, and
that the Planters can produce other
crops at not less profit.
The State, which has battled man
fdlly for fair price for cotton says:
"Mr. Edmonds' remarks are not nov
ell, the same thing has been said in
one way or another by Southern
newspapers that have for years
urged diversification of crops, but it
is a good thing to say it in New Eng
land. In this State this year the cot
ton planter-that is to say, a gentle
man who has long planted cotton
and knows the art-made $4,000
on less than Is acres in peaches.
More than a hundred boys proved
ear that from rs to 22S BUSH
els of corn could be produced on a
single acre in any section Of South
| Carolina, and some Is or 20 years
ago a new industry of tobacco pro-
duction was established in a large
area of the State. The day will
come when spirit of intolerance
that now prevents the production OF
grapes for commercial purposes in
extensive hill regions especially
adapted to it will disappear. The ex-
perts in agriculture gay that the
South can raise the grain and for
age necessary to make it great
meat producing country, and the
shipment of cottonsee1 meal and
hulls to the cattle raisers of the West
will gradually dease-they will be
converted to meat in the cotton land.
f"When the cotton spinners are
pondering the very gradual pace at
which the Southern crop increases,
they may find in it confirmation of
Mr.. Edmonls' remarks. Were
the mind of the South so completely
and exclusively absorbed IN cotton
growing now as it was twenty years
ago, the crop would perhaps be some
millions greater than it is.
"If New England and Europe want
Southern cotton they must be pre-
pared to, pay for it. The South is
prepared but is not under moral OBJ
legation or economic necessity to
produce it. When the cotton spin
ners of the world come to acknowl-
edge this palpable fact, the "bearng"
of cotton prices to an extent in no
way justified by the facts Of pro-
duction will be discouraged, and a
general steadiness of prices will take
the place of the wide Quotations that
distress the manufacturer not less
than the planters. Fifteen cents a
pound Is not q price at which the
farmer obtains an extortionate share
of the worlds wealth, and between
conditions of June, and September
:, 1911, there has been no differ
eace that should cause difference
of fifteen dollars in bale Of cotton.
1.-TWO or three years Of ten cents
cotton would be a splendid stimulus
to corn, cattle, hog, fruit, vegetable
and poultry production in these
Southern States. The Southern far
mers are rapidly learaing that cur
tailment in the cotton acreage does
not enforce idleness upon them and
their labor and the lower prices the
quicker tn, gait at which they ap-
p.oach independence through diver
styling. Tic reign of King Cotton is
in no peril of coming to an end, but
the day has passed when his king
81 ip extends ever the cotton growers.
D. versific llior of crops is making
him the gea4i Of the lamp, SO far as
they are concerned"