The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-09-30
South Must Raise Cattle.

The continued advance in the price
of meat of all grades and varieties
is matter of general knowledge
and concern. 1t is a fact that enters
into the daily life Of all the people
in every section of the land. and for
many it is a matter of real concern.
There are many, it is true, to whom
he high prices now demanded for
meats is without concern, because
these people are of large means and
accustomed to have everything they
desire in the matter of living. But
for seven out of ten American faml-
lies the situation does give cause for
serious reflection. How much higher
priced will meat be? Is there any
ground to hope for cheaper meats?
These are questions that are discuss
ed in families throughout the land,
and we do not find any one who is
prepared to venture an answer. AS
rule, there is a feeling that prices
for meats will go higher, this view
being based on the steady expert
ence of the past few years. More
than that there is recent warning
to the people from the United States
Department of Agriculture that
prices are likely to go higher in the
immediate future. This admonition
is based on the knowledge common
to all who investigate the subject
that the supply of meat cattle is de-
creasing rather than increasing. I'm
less there should be an early and
material revival of the cattle-grow-
ing industry, including swine with
cattle. how can there be hope for
cheaper meat? To put it plainly,
and if the use of somewhat slangy
words may be INDUCED, our people
are "up against it" as to the matter
of meat unless there should be a
general movement looking to in
crease of the supply of meat cattle
and hogs. 1t is movement that is in
the hands of the farmer more than
any other man, and if it is to have
effect it is by the farmer that the
movement must start In other
words, it is the farmer and no one
but the farmer who can institute
remedy for the situation. 1t is a
wonderful opportunity that is open
to the farmers of the South-the OPP
portunity to put on foot the move
ment for increase of the supply of
meat cattle, to the end that there
may be more meat for the masses, to
say nothing of the profits that will
ensue. 1t will not be movement
for large herds, but rather small
groups of cattle-frOm three to ten
head, according to the means and
facilities of the individual farmer.
And the cattle thus produced will
be a better grade, better adapted to
meat purposes, than those that were
available in the days of the open
range and large herds.
In the matter of agricultural prod
ucts the South is dominant in the
prouuct:on of cotton Nature has
given this section the soil and eli
mate ensuring permanency of the
supremacy thus enjoyed, and truly it
is a benefaction to cause gratitude.
1t has made the South rich. But is
it not a fact that with our resources
of soil and climate we may find
here in the South another opportuni-
ty hardly less important than that of
cotton production? Is it not within
the bounds of probability that South
ern farmers can do more than any
other section of the country in bring
ing about conditions that will open
the way to renewed production of
cattle and swine, and therefore more
and cheaper meat?