Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-11
PROSPERITY FOR THE SOUTH
What Mr.. McLaurin Looks for az the
Result of the Great War.

What Mr.. McLaurin Looks for az the
Result of the Great War.
That the south is about to enter
new era Of business and finance Is
the opinion Of John Lowndes Nc
Laurin, former United States senator
from South Carolina, and now chair
man Of the state warehouse commits
sion Of that state. Senator McLaurin
when seen at the offices Of Renskorf,
Lyon & Co., said he believed that in
many ways the European war and the
consequent tieup Of this years cotton
crop would prove a great boon to the
south in that it would cause her to
diversity her crops. In South Caro-
lima, at any rate. he believes that the
law restricting cotton acreage will be
rigidly enforced and hopes that other
cotton states will follow the example.
1.-The law passed in South Caro-
lina," said Mr.. McLaurin, provides
that no planter shall have over one
third of his cultivated area in cotton.
1t further specifies tax Of SIS for
each per acre evasion and the law
makes all sheriffs, district attorneys
and other state and municipal OFF,
cials responsible for the carrying out
of its limitations. AS a result, South
Carolina is already beginning to di-
versify her crops and is now planting
wheat and oats in greater quantities
than they were ever sown in the south
before. The people Of the state are
enthusiastic over it. In some cases
they are not even waiting for the cot
ton crop to be harvested. but have
sown their grain between the rows OF
cotton plants. No one who has not
lived in the south can realize what this
will mean to that part Of the United
States. 1t means that the south is en-
tering a new era. that she will be far
richer in a few years than ever and
that her system of doing business
will be changed from a credit to
cash basis. 1t means that we can
harvest two crops a year instead of
one, grain and cotton, and that with
the grain we raise we can become in
dependent Of the west, where we are
now forced to buy our grain. The
south has never been able to get
away from planting cotton exclusive
ly before and probably would not now
had it not been for the tieup in the
cotton crop owing to the war. In that
way the strife in Europe may even
tually prove a boon to the cotton
growing states.
May Go on Cash Basis.
IT believe that we are going to
shift to a cash basis Of doing business
in the south now. Cotton has always
been an expensive crop to raise. To
gin and pick bale of cotton costs
one-quarter Of what it sells for, out
side of all the numerous other costs,
such as feeding the hands. purchasing
fertilizer, machinery and all the other
things which cost money in raising
cotton. Moreover we are obliged to
keep a large part Of our hands all the
year round. Now, with two crops we
can employ them throughout the four
seasons and make it profitable"
Senator McLaurin believes that
when the war is over, cotton will be
selling at higher price in Europe.
He pointed out that the belligerent
nations were fast exhausting their
supply. as evidenced by prices on the
continent, and said, when the war
is over they will be heavy purchasers.
not alone for their regular supply,
but for their reserve. Now with cot
ton acreage restricted in this country
and already restricted in Egypt and
India, it is easy to see that when the
rush to buy comes the price will soar
higher than it has ever gone for some
time. In that way the south is going
to profit"
The senator believes that it will be