Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-17
The SOuthS advancement.

tons welfare is subject of an il
Illuminating editorial in the Manufacturers
Record that is likely to attract
nationwide attention. The data gath
cred by the Baltimore publication leaves no
doubt that the South has come into it's own.
According to the compilation, based upon
the reports of the United States Department
of Agriculture, the estimated value of all
crops in the South for 1919 was $7,O22,O12,-
900, and for the rest of the country outside
the South, $S,76S,277, 900.
In a word, the South, the last year, pro-
duced A per cent of the entire crop values
of the United States. 1t is small wonder
therefore that the eyes of the nation are
upon the South and that industrial and COM
mercial enterprises are looking to this Sec
ton for the expansion of their business.
Of the crops produced in the South, cotton,
and cotton seed alone yielded to $2,O45,
100000. Nearly $4,000, 100000 was derived
from diversified crops 1t is we'll to remark,
in this connection, that these enormous re-
turns do not take into account the value of
the live stock produced in the South. The
figures relate wholly to crop values.
The significance Of the foregoing state
ment is apparent The South is no longer
but contton is not the sole money crop of the
South. Southern farmers have learned the
value of crop diversifcaton. The effort of
the government to encourage the production
of corn and wheat and oats has met with sue
cess in this region.
Last year, outside the South the combined
producer of corn, wheat and oats decreased
236,O0O,O00 bushels, while in the South the
production of these grains showed an in
crease of 335, 100000 bushels. In the mat
70 nf fhn
ed 2O7,1OO,O0 bushels, and in oats the gain
was S2,OOO,O00 bushels. The value of the
Souths crops, in money, increased S1.166.-
100000 over 1918, while the total value of
the crops of other sections of the country
showed gain of only $529,00O,OO
The percentage of gain in the South was
tnree tunes as great as in the other sections
OF the country-19 per cent against per
cent.
averaging fve-year period, 1913-1917
hcluslVe-the value of Southern crops in
creased $3,6O3, $4,000, or los per cent as
against gain of $3,794,212,000, or rs DER
cent, for the rest of the country
Discussing these gratifying figures. the
Manufacturers Record we'll remarks: eft ia
important that it should be emphasized and
re-emphaslzed that while there has been q
considerable increase in the value of cotton
t1e great increase in diversified agriculture
IN the South is responsible for a verv largo
III is a startling fact in connection with the
grain production of the country that there
was decline of 236,000,O0O bushels in the
rest or the country last year in contrast with
gain Of 335, 100000 bushels In the South
ern states. Not only would it be disaster to
the South and to the country, but a disaster
to the world if the South, tempted by the ex-
pectation of full prices for cotton, should les
sen its grain production. If during 1919 the
South had made no gain in grain production.
un n1II how
net decrease for the country of $4,000. 900
bushels, which would have meant very much
higher prices for corn and meats than we
largely depend whether during the next crop
year we shall face something of a food famine
or not'
1t would be disastrous, as the Record re-
marks, for the South to increase it's cotton
is to be hoped that Southern farmers are
not mislead by those who are clamoring for
the production of more cotton next year.
The Southern farmers should give no atten-
ton to those who criticize them for
curtailing. their cotton acreage and entering
more extensively upon the production of
corn, oats, wheat and live stock. More cotton
means cheaper cotton and less food supplies,
I with higher prices for the necessaries of life
The United States Department of Agricu1-
ture has issued table of what it calls
Hypothetical values of farm products"
showing the aggregate value Of crops by
states, for 1919 and for the fve-year aver
age, 1913-1917, inclusive, which we publish
herewith: