The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-13
The South is Solid.

According to the estimate of tn,
Manufacturers Record, the total valu,
OF the agricultural output of thu
South this year will be considerabl.
over $4,000. 100000. That is q stupen
dous total. The gain in value of thi.
years crop over last years is 81 400,
100000. To get an idea of how enor.
nous are the South's agricultural con.
tributions to the wealth Of the nation
consider the statement that this year
they amount to a billion dollars NOR.
than the entire country produced sew.
enteen years ago. The Manufacturers
Record analyses the agricultural out
put of the South for this year as fol,
lows:
THE value of the SOuths cotton
crop Of 1916. including seed, was ST.
S57,SS1. 900. as reported by the United
States Department of Agriculture
The total value of the cotton crop
including seed, for 1917, as reported
by the New Orleans Cotton Exchange
was s1,413,O00, ,000 1t is difficult to
make an estimate which will be con-
servatively safe as to the value Of this
years crop, in view of the uncertainty
as to the yield and the wide fluctua-
tions which have recently taken place
without at the same time minimizing
the great possibilities in the value of
this crop. 1t is, we think, entirely
safe to estimate the value Of this
years crop Of cotton and seed at ST.
70O,OOO,OO0, with the chance Of the
value largely exceeding this. and if
cotton should command the prices de-
manded as minimum by the growers
the total would exceed $4,000, 900, 900.
THE total grain crop Of the South
is nearly 100000, 900 bushels. which
will probably exceed in value 1880
100000.
'The potato crop, sweet and white
potatoes, will figure up between $3.50.
100000 and $200,OOO,OOO.
THE hay and tobacco crop can safe
ly be estimated at between S45O,OOO,-
600 and s5O0,OO0,OOO, but even this
would be a small increase only over
last years value of hay and tobac-
co.
"The total value of the livestock
products Of the South two years ago
was over $1,000. 900, 900, and with the
high prices prevailing this amount
may be exceeded by go to 25 pei
cent.
This section is shipping to the
North and West of potatoes, vege-
tables and fruits. oysters. fish and
other food products over $500, 900, 900.
and the total value Of such diversified
agriculture as fruits and vegetables.
etc.. including these shipments to the
North, will this year be at least $780,.
600, 900.
THUS the grand total Of the South's
output for 1917 will con-
siderably exceed $4,000. 900, 900 and
may easily run several hundred mil.
lion dollars above that figure.
1T is true that the increased cost
OF everything which enters into farm
ing has added largely to the cost Of
raising these crops, but the margin Of
profit is still sufficiently great to bring
to this section enormous wealth.
Last years cotton crop, selling at
over s1.4Oo,OOO,OOO, following crop
of the preceding year valued at ST.
357.O0O,oOO. has put the cotton grow
ing interests Of the South in a stronger
position than in the last 60
years. and added to this unusual con.
dition is the fact that the South has
increased it's corn production by about
800 900. 900 bushels over 1916, or about
one-half OF the total increase of corn
in the United States.
'These figures. Of course, are based
to some extent on the forecast of the
Department of Agriculture for August
and September and there will be slight
when the total yields are
finally reported at the end Of the year.
The difference. however, will not be
great to make any marked
change in the broad survey Of the
situation"
The solid South" has been a poll
tical term heretofore, but with such
crops it will also be financially true.
All that is needed to make and keep
the South the richest section Of this
country is scientific and cooperative
marketing so that the profits of South
ern agriculture come to our farmers
and do not go to explOiters.