The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-01-16

resorted to in those days in the hope
of carrying the southern planter over
the winter-the proposals for federal,
state and mG1icipal loans: the organ
ization of warehouse associations that
would enable the cotton-poor farmer to
? chase seed and support his family
Il he could raise something market
able and, finally, the buy-a-bale move
ment which appealed to the generosity
alike OF the north and the south.
Mingled with all the expedients for
immediate relief, however, were per
gistent efforts to bring the southern
farmers around at length to a reali2a-
ton of the south's great economic
blunder, the single crop Warnings in
plenty had been given them. The very
thing that happened in 1914 had been
predicted. If it had never happened
the fact that the south was making a
great economic mistake by putting al
OF - its eggs in one basket would not
have been affected. For years tho
southern farmers had been raising cot
ton only that they might transfer the
proceeds TO farmers of the north and
west in payment Of other farm prod
ucts which the south itself could raise
equally well, Il it would Cotton had
the attraction, the charm, OF being
cash crop. and despite all arguments
the southern farmer chung to it and,
perhaps would be still clinging to IL
were 1t not for the lesson of 1914.
Then, for the first time. the cam.
paign for diversification began to
make Roadway. Strange to say. even
in the face of indisputable proofs Of
its benefits, many in the South uutsl
quite recently, and some of them from
anything but unselGish motives, have
insisted that the old onc-crop system.
should be adhered to, Cotton. they
have held. Is the south's greatest prod
uct; the south is identified with cot.
ton, 1t should stick to cotton and lot
the rest of the country do the general
farming. But this kind of reasoning
had lost its force in the cotton belt It
had resulted only in choapening the
south's principal product. The farmers
of the section were at last willing to
try diycraification- consider
able cotton still. OF course. but no long
or neglecting to raise all other farm
products The first result of this dc,
termination was strengthening OF
prices for the surplus OF the old crop.
because IL was seen by exporters and
domestic consumers that the follow'n :
crop would be far below the average az
quantity This stilfcning of quotations
has continued steadily until from : the
price OF cotton went steadily upward
until it touched 10 cents. Notwith
standing all external influences and un
oertaintie5. cotton brought highcg
price in 1915 than it had commanded
for two years,
nj the review of business conditions
prepared by experts OF the United
States chamber of commerce and just
made public, after noting the point
that the cotton crop will be the small
est for years, and the further poiu,
that il is bringing ren}9nerauve prices.
the interesting statement is made
that because OF tn unusual diverlf..
cation in the South during 1915 there
resulted the largest grain and forage
crops OF all descriptions ever known
in the history of that section. The
statement goes on 90 say that there
are now more hogs, cate and dairy