New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-12-23

but is now to a considerable ex
tent grown some distance inland
1t always commands a very mucl
higher price, than other cottons
While this authority notes tn,
great prosperity of the negroes il
the correspondence from Naldosta
he points out the peril that lies
IN their path unless the intelli
gent, thinking people of the South
try to develop among the negroes
as well as among all others. the
habit of thrift and saving and
he adds:
"Out Of this present rush of
money to the South for cotton
great good can be accomplished
Large expenditures can be wisely
made for improvements to farms
and homes in order to make liy-
ing more comfortable and farming
more profitable. But extrava-
gance should be frowned upon
wherever it crops out. The South
is not yet out of the woods. We
know not what may be before us.
There may come times before the
European situation is cleared up
when we shall again have to face
serious complications vitality af-
fecting all Of our business inter
ests, and especially cotton.''
Moreover, Mr.. Edmonds calls
our attention to the fact that
while some sections of the South
enjoy phenomenal prosperity,
others have been so hard hit by
a short cotton-crop, due in part
to weather and in part to the boil
weevil. that this prosperity is like
ly to be spotted, Astounding in
some places and entirely missing in
others, and he adds that this fea-
ture Of Southern life should be
appreciated by the bust
ness men Of the whole South, cor
otherwise some serious financial
bldnder may result"
One striking effect of the
South s year Of plenty on sections
Of the country far away from it is
revealed in press reports Of the
wage increases of workers in New
En- Gland cotton-milIs. Dispatches
from New Bedford, Mass inform
as that on November 90 the Cot
ton Manufacturers Assc,ip:; n
voted a 10 per cent. increese 20
heir $4,000 operatives, to ce ef-
,ective for a period Of six months
December 4. This is
he third advance within the cal
'ndar year, and brings the whole
Use within that time to q IL per
.ent. Never before have the mill
lands received so great an in
crease, we are told, and it raises
he total annual payroll of the
Mills from about II, 100000 to APP
,roximately $19,0OO,OOO.
The South 8 Own Voice.
The peril of prosperity are not
overlooked by the South itself,
'et, if we survey the press of the
line great cotton States, that
'roduce nearly three-fourths of
he world s supply, we find mostly
spirit of rejoicing because the
'outh has at last come into it's
wn commercially and Industrial ,
7. As the Winston-Salem IN. CO.
ournal says. 1--WE doubt whether
he South as ever witnessed such
n era Of prosperity as now pre-
ais" Everybody believes that
otton is up and up to stay. The
armer has been aided in the price
e gets for cotton because the cot .
on-crop is shorter than usual and (
lie demand is larger, and this
aper adds:
"The weather had much to do
18th fixing the size Of the crop,
ut not all to do with it. For the
verage cotton-farmer Of the
outh has seen a new light. He
as discovered that the era Of the
ew freedom so far as he is con-
,rned. lies somewhere just be-
md the goal which he will reach
hen he produces on his own
road acres enough grain, and
Ass, and cattle, to supply the
,eds of his own family. He has
armed at last that it doesn't pay :
devote all Of his attention to!
'tton. It is his money-crop, and
ways will be. but he is not as de-
sndent upon it for a living as he
ed to be-"