The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-01-27
COKER COMPANY DISCUSSES
SITUATION FRANKLY.
Get Little Return
Farmer Merely Eking Out Existence
Under Present Prices-Ten-
ants Hit Hard.

WV
ton situation has been received by
The State from the Coker Cotton
company of Hartsville:
AS the staple situation has shown
very little change since our letter
of December l, we thought that our
customers might like to have US dis
cuss the cost Of the production of
cotton and it's relation to the present
and future situation. We believe that
few outside of the south, and by no
means all in the south, realize the
distressing features of the present
situation or are able to diagnose
their effect upon the civilization OF
the south and the future of the cot
ton industry. A brief consideration
of facts, however, will promptly con-
vince every one interested in the in
dustry, whether in the north or the
south, that there is no future for it
at present prices and that contin-
uation of present conditions would
threaten the civilization of the south.
Government statistics show that
the average production of lint cot
ton in the south is between one-third
and four-tenths bales per acre, but
in order to show how impossible the
present situation is we are going to
first discuss production figures under
the ideal conditions of bale per
acre producing at Is cents a price
above the present market.
The bulk of the crop of the south
is produced on share crop system,
the most popular share contract in
this section being one under which
the landowner furnishes the land,
buildings, planting seed and Fertilizer
and the tenant furnishes the live
stock, tools and labor. Ginning and
baling expenses are divided. Land
lord and tenant divide the cotton
equally, but the landlord receives all
of the seed. Under this plan let us
see what would be the returns to
landlord and tenant on 20 acre crop
of cotton producing one bale per
acre.
AS to One Horse Farm.
The farm will contain about 80
acres including little woodland and
a few acres of corn and other minor
crops. If the land is good enough
to produce a bale per acre of fair
valuation of the farm, including
buildings will be between $4,000 and
$4,000. A, minimum charge for rent
on the cotton land, therefore, to cover
interest, repairs and taxes would be
not less than S25 per acre. The land
lord expecting a bale of cotton per
acre would buy not less than $40
worth of fertilizer per acre for the
cotton, and, as he must exercise su-
pervision over his croppers, charge
of SIS per acre for supervision should
be made The total of these expenses
is $50 pr acre. His returns will be
one-half bale of cotton at Is cents
$3.50; seed, $40; total, s47.50, less
one-half ginning-S3; net income,
S44.5O. These figures show net loss
to the landowner of $3.50 per acre.
Some may object to the charging of
rent and supervision to crop expenses.
To this we answer that these are
necessary preliminary expenses for
crop production without which capital
can not be secured.
To make this crop the tenant fur
nished mule and feed costing per
year s125; depreciation on imple-
ments, taxes, etc., s25; hire for pick
ing ten bales of cotton, $50; one
half ginning, $50; total, $3.50, besides
the labor of himself, wife and three
children.
Receipts from ten bales of cot
ton at Is cents per pounds750
Expenses besides labor of fami-
ly ---- ---. -.-. --.. .- - 1880