The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-31
THE COTTON SITUATION.

marks the beginning Of new era In Pensacola, and
the renewed interest in the enterprise suggests the
early close of the subscription lists which. so far
not fully completed.
The stock issue, far, has not been fully SUBJ
scribed, but those at the head of the high density
press have every reason to believe that all subscrp
tions will be taken at early date.
With the completion of the high density press, al
Pensacola, farmers Of Escambia county should give
greater attention than before to the growing OF
cotton Chauncey Smith, Of Atlanta, who for many
years studied cotton and the cotton situation II
the SOUTH has contributed valuable information or
the growth Of the cotton industry, in one OF nj:
papers, recently published in the Manufacturers Rec
Mr. Smith particularly calls attention to the ad
visibility Of every farmer keeping live stock, no
only for the value of the stock in ITSELF but for tht
fertilization of his fields.
Referring to competition and opinions expressed a
the recent New Orleans Cotton Convention, and else
where as to the dependence of the world on Ameri
can cotton, Mr.. Smith says
Suppose last springs plans for restriction of acre
age had been effective and the acreage had been GU
one third, urged instead of 81 per cent tina
was secured What would have been the result
cotton crop for this season of but little 1900
600 bales. 1t would have been a world calamity
do not wish to be understood for moment al
cotton including all the steps of ginning and baling
grading, warehousing and selling. Of sympathiz
ing with bear manipulators of advocating thu
selling of cotton at anything less than its fair
ket value. But its fair market value is that prize
which will afford to the grower using the best
known methods for producing cotton at the loves
cost profit not less than he could get from othe
crops The planter who is situated to be abb
to produce cotton at cost that will give him al
axfr 1rOff4 s- s4l.I4
planter who cannot make a profit at the price tn
market offers had better grow other crop. Thi
is merely another way of stating that the prize
ought to be governed by the law of supply and de
mand. But these attempts to set an arbitrary prize
en- cotton based on cost of production are all bun
combe and do more harm than good for the costs
determined are mere estimates records obtainet
under special conditions, and are absolutely unre
riable. as their extreme variations among themseve
clearly demonstrated AS matter of fact, no on
really knows what the average cost of producing cot
ton is as can be found by inquirng of the agricul
tural colleges and the United States Department O
Agriculture.
By all means let us do everything in our powe
to remove cotton from the influence of the gambler
to provide marketing facilities for crops other tina,
cotton and show the cotton farmer how to rails
them; to enable the farmer to hold his cotton whel
prices are unsatisfactory; to show him how to fine
out what 1t costs him to raise cotton to advise hin
as to conditions and probable trend of future prices
and above all. to produce his cotton economically
bat these campaigns to reduce production are wron,
In principle and imperative in practice and submit
that the time and money spent in carrying them OIL
could be used in other ways I'd the far greater ad
vantage of the cotton producer himself
The fact is that our present methods of produc
ing and handling cotton outrageousIy inefficen
ana costly, and that until they reformed we hav
no right to complain of efforts the part of man
ufacturers and consumers to get cotton at Low
price. The man who tries to make the other fellow
bear the burden Of his own neffciency is entitled f.
no more sympathy than is the cotton bear who en-
deavors by manipulation to beat down the price O
cotton in the market. Let cast out the beam il
our own 1t will then be time to get after tn
mote in the eye of the other fellow
Is there any definite means whereby the cost q
in diversifcation of safe farming" in the increase,
use of fertilizers and particularly in the encourage
ment of dairying As the cotton farmers best assist
ant let us fail back, gentlemen. on our friend tn
cow. The COW can reduce the cost of raising cot
ton to one-third or less of what it now is
Impossible? Not at all impossible, and very easil,
demonstrable
Let us take the figures as to the cost of produc
ton of cotton by Mr.. w. w. Morrison in your issu
vi July OF last year (the cost as reached is prob
ably much toe high but that fact will not affect tn
validity OF this demonstration)
The figures in question give the average cost q
producing pound of cotton at az 3-S cents on th
assumption of one man cultivating 90 acres of cot
ton producing 160 pounds of lint per acre The fig
ures follows:
Rent 20 acres land $50 per acre - si5oo
rent one plow animal ---------.--.--.---..-.. ESQ
feeans one plow animal ~-.--.-.-----....--.- 279O
Ginning $500 lbs. seed cotton, at 3oc per cwt ass
transportation farm products and supplies - 900
deterioration OF farm implements .----.--.----- 200
LABOR one man one year, at s75 per month .- 5000