Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-25
The COST OF COTTON
Problem Analysed by Man Who
Knows the Facts.
LABOR is AT STARVATION WAGES
On Present Basis Of Values K Takes
Not Less Than Thirty Gents Pound

d. r. Coker of Har!svic in Commerce ana
Finance.
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 dag
nose their effort upon the civilization
of the south and the future Of the cot
ton industry a brief consideration of
facts. however, will promptly convince
everyone interested in the industry,
whether in the north or the south, that
there is no future for it nj present
prices and that Il continuation or pres
ent conditions would threaten the civil
liZatiun Of the south.
Government statistics show that the
average production of lint cotton in the
south is between onc-third and Tour-
tcnths bales per acre, but in order to
show how impossible the present situ-
alton is we are going TO first discuss
production figures under the ideal cun-
tlitions Of q bale per acre production
at Is cents; price above the present
market.
The bulk CT the crop Of the south is
produced on Il share crop system, the
most popular share contract In this
section one under which the landowner
furnishes the land, buildings. planting
seed, and fertilizer and the tenant rur-
nishcs the livestock, tools, and labor.
Ginning and baling expenses arc di-
yided. Landlord and tenant divide the
! cotton equally, but the land ord re-
cciycs ell of the seed. Under this plan
let us see what would be the returns To
landlord and tenant on Il 20-acrc crop
| Of cotton producing one bale per acre.
| The farm will contain about 80 acres
! including a little woodland and Il few
acres for corn and other minor crops.
| If the land is good enough to produce
! bale per acre Il fair valuation for tho
| farm including buildings will be be-
| tween $4,000 and 5000. a minimum
charge for rent on the cotton land.
| therefore. to cover interest, repairs and
taxes would be not less than $25 per
acrc. The landlord expecting bale or
cotton per acre would buy not less
than so worth or fertilizer per acre ror
| tn" cotton and, Us he mus: exercise
supervision over his crnpprrS, Charge
! nf s. per ace for supervision should
be made. The total of these expenses
! is $50 per acre. His returns will be
| one half bale uf cotton at ID cents.
$3.50: seed. $40: total. $3.50. less one
| half ginning. So: net income. $4i.5O per
acre These figures SHOW Il net loss TO
! The land owner Of $3.50 per acre. Some
may object to the charging Of rent and
| supervision Ia crop expenses. To this
! We answer that these arc necessary
! preliminary expenses for crop produc-
ton without which capital cannot be
secured.
TO make thi:; crop the tenant fur
ni*hcs Il mule and feed. costing per
year SIZE. depreciation Oh implements.
taxes. etc. SIS: hire for picking ~
bales Of cotton. Sl50: nnchalf ginning.
| 9DU, lDltI 2obp' INHI't''' III. '''''. -.
! himself. wife ana three children.
l,eccipts from 10 bales Of cotton
ut II cents per puInd --.-------...SiaG
EXPENSE; besides labui of family %G0
1;aioucn . ............$3J $3JO
Divide this amount by 3GJ and YOU
get the magnificent sum ur Sl.0I per
duv with which the tenant must pur-
chase clothing. shoes. and household
! equipment and must supply Il large
/ part of the food for the fami:y and be-
sides must pay III" doctor and the
! preacher ir they ar" paid. II is true
| that the tenant raises some corn.
/ few vegetables, .and sometimes has Il
! pig OF. Il few chickens. The pitiful
! poverty under which most Of them I've.
however, Keeps them moving from
! place To place, the average term -!
! farm tenancy being ahnut two years,
iand il is the exception rl!h"" than the
! .'!le for The tenant ~ have any i've
stock besides his male az any poultry.
Pleas. note THAT with cotton at IL
/ ttIliS DCl I'''tilNt' Ti'N' III
! amount that II tenant can receive for
The labor ri himself. his wife. and three
children in producing the ideal yic.1 nf
one bale per acre uu 20 acres ana ln:;
! is u larger acreage than III" average
one horse crop in this sect ana muSt
i,c further rurtailrd this; year. The
item Tor picking II ll!tS is absolutely
necessary fug the tenant ana his family
,.annut gather more Than half Tn" crop
in lime u prevent serious deterioration
of the grade.
Please rrncmhr!' that the nrcrag"
! production in the snuth is less than
fu:ir- lcnt!lS hIlc:; per acre. TIL. pro-
duriiun In this state. however. for the
p#sL yc:ir has slightly rXcCt dch one
.?alf bale pei. acre. IiaSrtl on nIc-l!alf
bale production. the tenant turner's
'CXIr"nSrS would he reduced hy HE item
t.: picking, $l.5u ami liaiE uf til" gin
:!ing. $:.H. making Ills expenses $3.50 i'll
stead u! $:.GU. He wn;I!d receive fu!'
his half share uf Ia bales, $i1;i. leaving
$lS:,. or II cents per day for the :;lIS-
..rl;r!r". uf his family. l'ul. al ir;'':
4 ,l-, -I,.,I a,