Imperial Valley press., 1920-06-12
WEEKLY COTTON
LETTER, REPORT
Part of Crop Last Year Was
Harvested at a Loss; This
VIII Mean Factor in This
Years Crop: Labor Scarce.
OBy w. w. MORRISON.)


NEW ORLEANS, June 12.-Some
years before the war it was obvious
that labor was beginning to leave the
cotton fields for the factories. Since
the year 1900, particularly, there has
been o very great increase in minor
manufacturing industries in the south.
These industries have required d
steadily increasing amount of labor
practically all of which has come from
the farms Of the surrounding country.
The writer has had many interviews
with the managers and the labor Of
these industries. These interviews
have been charcteristiZed by the ut
most freedom of discussion. In re
Spouse to specific inquiries it was
brought out that the farm laborer was
proving efficient in the factory, which
indicated that the competition Of the
factory for this class of labor would be
permanent. 1t was brought out al
so, that this labor was earning from
three to four times more in the fac
tory than they could earn on the farm
whether through wages the farm paid.
or through what they realized on their
cotton. This latter applies. it should
be noted. to those who do all their own
work whether they are tenants or
small land owners.
Nor was this all: These laborers
stated unequivocaly that their earn
ings at the factory, and the hours of
work, made it possible to provide bet
ter homes for their families, better
outlook fr their children and much
mre time for recreation than was ever
possible on the cotton farm under the
conditions that have existed for many
years. They emphasized that it was
IA hours day or hard toll on the farm
as against eight at the factory. This
statement of the farm laborer is vastly
important, since it lays bare the real
cause Of this dangerous detection,
which must be corrected if the world /
is to escape the consequences of an !
under-production of the vital necessl- I
ties of life.
The experience of the writer while
investigating this labor situation in
its earlier beginnings was recorded in
the letters Of that time, and the sig
niffcance Of this movement of labor !
was also frequently referred to during
the war. When the soldiers failed TO
return to the farm after the arnistice,
this detection and its possible con- /
through frequent repetition. The mag /
nitude of the interest involved, it was
felt. warranted this repetition. Ii |
is perhaps we'll to observe here that,
that, while the discussion of this de- /
fection was confined largely to its eff
feet on the cotton industry, as mat F..
ter of fact, it was, and IS, common 10
agricultural labor throughout the
~ Il
ing into a full realization OF its onll- .
nous significance.
What bearing has this labor situa- /
tion on the outlook for the cotton
industry today? Now, in letter Of Oc-
tober 18th last, the detailed records
were given showing that the reduced /
production Of the last five years was
due more largely 10 imperfect cuItl-
walton and delayed harvesting, the di-
rect effect of the general inefficiency
and the general inadequacy OF the Ia
Dor supply. than to any other cause. /
There has been no imrovement IN these
conditions this year. In fact they
have grown worse. This is shown IN
the rearation for this years crop,
which has been not only much below
that of last year, but its imperfect
character mas Detn common 10 every
part of the belt.
The high cost of harvesting, which
has grown out of this labor situation,
can be expected to have an important
bearing on the final out-turn this year.
You see, all the bollies, snaps and some
Of the lowest of the lower grades were
harvested last year at loss. AS soon
as this was realized all the cotton then
in the fields was abandoned. The boil
lies and snaps last year amounted TO
$4,000 bales. The low grades re-
ferred to were probably as much as
s2seseE--