Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-19

xUUIucuCo OCCuIbs
z WILL THE FARMER CUT HIS OWN
THRoAr7
In the Language o. the street, the
making or breaking ~ the farmer Is
IN his own hands. Whether he win
commit agricultural suicide or profit
by his opportunities remains to be
seen. i.aa
Right now is the critical time.
Today he is settling the question Of
acreage for each crop. 4oi $50
whether 1t will be On overwhelming
cotton crop with low prices, or small
crop and high prices. rests with the
farmers and the farmers alone.
The following from the Fort Worth
Record. based on remarks by Colonel
Clarence Ousley. head Of the exten.
sion department Of A. and M. College.
IL here given space as the Eagles
final plea for a small cotton acreage
and a large food and feed acreage:
In 1916 the American crop. includ.
ing linters. passed the ~ million bale
mark. In 1914 bumper crop Of 10
million bales flooded the markets OF
the world that were open to the com.
merce Of America.
Now why should another bumper
crop be produced In 1917? w
Why should the acreage be increas
cd? Why should farmers 60 mad be
cause Of 1S-cent cotton and $50 seed
Why play into the hands Of the mer
Of millions who dominate the finances
Of the world?
There is more money in an II mil
Non bale crop than there is in !;
million bale CROP
Clarence Ousley Is the director o.
the extension department of AgrIcul
tural and Mechanical College. He fig
ures that in an average year with ~
cent cotton. $50 bale can buy s.
bushels OF potatoes at 20 cents; 75l
pounds Of lard at s cents; 22 barrels
Of flour at $3.50; 375 pounds OF bacoI
at 16 cents; 100 bushels Of corn at 81
cents; 8 tons Of hay at $40; 30 pair
Of shoes at 81, and 100 yards OF cot
ton goods at 1-3 cents.
Cotton sold as high as 20 cents thi
year.
Now with 20-cent cotton a 500 bal
can buy a bushels OF potatoes a
$2.25; BOB pounds OF lard at IS cents
10 barrels Of flour at $40. $50 pound
Of bacon at 30 cents. SO bushels O
corn at $i.20. 8 tons OF hay at $40. 2
pairs Of shoes at IS. and 666 yards o
cotton goods at Is cents.
These figures should appeal to IN
man who tills the soil. This compar
son Of low price cotton and fair pric
cotton and what bale can purchas
In the way OF necessities OF life shout
cause him to do considerable thinl
ing and this thinking may lead I
beneficial results.
Peace isn't In sight.
There is TO be another year OF IN
carnival OF blood.
There is to be another year OF N
reign OF the cannon. the rifle. N
torch and the grave digger.
There is to be another year give
over to the humiliation OF huma
life. the destruction Of property an
the devastation of the fields Of r.
rope.
There Ia TO be another year II
America TO feed the people OF Euror
as wen as her own people and fee
stutfs and foodstuffs are certain 10 |
In greater demand at higher prlc,
than ever before unless the farme
OF America. and especially those
the South. devote larger acreage
the production OF food supplies.
They should feed themselves
They should feed the non.produc,
IN the cities and towns OF the co,
monwcalth. They should raise a larl
surplus for sale abroad. These Al
the conditions which they must NEE
Cotton should continue 10 be n
chief money crop Of the South.
A II million bale crop Is certain
bring a fancy price.
A 70 million bale crop win pla,
more than a billion dollars IN n
pockets OF Southern farmers.
A ~ million bale crop win s,rl,
the shackles OF the credit system frcl
the limbs Of the Southern produc,
Of raw wealth.
But the foodstuffs and the fee,
stuffs must Be grown. There shoul
b bumuer crunn NJ fhona tn. c,,,,,