The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-04-21
COTTON AND
ITS NEEDS. !"
Interesting and Instructive Address
Delivered BY N. T. Blackwell.

N. r. Blscxwsll, editor Of the Cotton
and Cotton Oil News, Of Dallas, Texas
delivered an address at the Court
House last Thursday.
The crowd that gathered to hear the
address was not large one by any
means, but it was composed of men
who are largely interested both in the
cultivation and sale Of cotton, and the
address was listened to with attention
throughout.
Mr.. Blackwell is an easy and forceful
talker. His handling Of the subject
demonstrates that he is throughly
posted in al matters concerning cotton,
and has mado special study Of the
methods employed by the enemies Of
! high priced cotton In their efforts to
break the infue. co Of those who boost
1t to higher levels.
In substance Mr.. Blackwell's adj
dress was as follows;
address you as cotton farmer and
small one at that. There are many
things you should know because your
interest in your cotton ceases when
you throw it off at the cotton ware
house. He plead for soil conservation
and diversification as the only hope
for the continued prosperity Of the
South. He called attention to the
waste In burning cotton stalks which
contain 80 per ton Of potash and
phosphate which should be returned to
the soil.
Continuing he said the present pros
perity and independence Of the South
are dne more than anything else to di-
versiflcation, which, Of course, has
been at the expense Of the cotton acre
age. 1t is staggering fact, but a
fac3 nevertheless, that a 1,000,0 900 bale
crop at IS cents per pound will bring
$685. 100000, while 100000 bale
crop at 10 cents per pound will bring
only $70O,o00,0O0. Every farmer knows
that it will cost fully ss000O,00 more
to produce the extra 100000 bales,
which would reduce the net price re-
ceived for is,0Oo,O0o bale crop to even
$700,0OO,OOO
Not only this enormous sum would be
lost, but corresponding reduction In
grain, potatoes, vegetables and other
agricultural products must give way for
$4,000, 900 bale crop, and would there
fore be lost entirely. cotton-planters,
p,nder these figures and diversity.
He urges his hearers to even plow up
cotton and plant things to eat II they
had neglected to plant scme in the
beginning.
He also called attention to the care
less slipshod method of covering cot
ton, suggesting that same be carefully
and fully covered with heavy iute bag
ging and properly cared for after it
comes from the gin to avoid damage
and the consequent troubles arising
over such damage. He advocates to
the State and National governments
cooperating to the extent Of establish
Ing q cotton grading school In the high
school at each cotton county In the
South.
He then went into q lengthy discus
sion OF the legitimate American cotton
exchanges. claiming that the passage
Of the Scott bill or similar measures
would destroy the hedging feature at
present absolutely necessary to carry
on the spot cotton business Of the
country, which would destroy the
the hedging feature at present absolute
ly necessary TO cary on the spot cotton
business Of the country, which would
destroy the American changes and built
speculation in America while 1t could
never lesson speculation In Europe,
and that such legislation would
l. Unsettle and completely revolu-
tlonize cotton prices ~ making Liver
pool the ruling cotton market Of the
world.
2. That BY depressing cotton values
corresponding depression would take
place In all Southern values, especially
land values.
3. That it would require ten times
the banking capital available at the
South to move the crop.
4. And finally that IL would result
in the Capitalization Of the cotton traf-
fic Of America to the great disadvan-
tage Of the cotton producer.
He read from the Official record Of
the Congressional investig ig alton show.
ing that the cotton spicaers ars back
Ing the Scott bill. and that the same il
Lars legislation in that it applies Ii
cotton and not to grain and other agri
eaitural commodities.
Mr.. Blackwell was given close atten
tIcn throughout his address.
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