Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-02-09
TIME HAS COME FOR ACTION.
Farmers Must Reduce Cotton Aero
ago Or Suffer Consequences.

; the time has come when the truth
regarding the cotton situation must
be driven home to every farmer in
the State, the South Carolina division
Of the American Cotton Association
has issued statement appealing to
every organization in South Carolina
to assist it in its efforts to secure
an acreage reduction in the State
this year.
Statistics are given which tend to
show that on the first Of next August,
before a bale Of the 1921 crop is
picked, there will be on hand a sur
plus Of over 100000 bales, or al
most Il one-third crop. 1t is declared
that the planting Of anything like a
normal acreage in cotton this year
will be simple suicidal business
policy. not alone for farmers. but for
! every business interest in the South.
For this reason it is declared that
the business and professional men
should be active in the movement to
secure acreage reduction.
"The gravity Of the situation con-
fronting the South as regards the
planting Of another cotton crop, and
the apprehension on our part that
there are thousands Of people in our
State who do not comprehend just
what we are up against. impels us to
issue this appeal to the farmers, to
the business and professional men Of
South Carolina says the statement
issued by the Cotton Association.
we feel that 1t is our duty to place
tho facts sQuarely before them, as
startling as they are. in order that
every organized agency in the State
may join with us in our efforts to see
to it that no farmer in South Caro-
lima plants over one-third Of his cul-
tivated land in cotton this year. To
do otherwise will be to invite dis
aster and financial bankruptcy.
"One Of the most alarming fea-
lures Of the present situation is that
there are so many who contend that
they cannot meet the requirements
Of the association that they plant
only one-third Of their land in cotton.
| that 1t would perhaps be better that
| they plant no cotton at all than TO
| plant u and be forced 10 sGl next
/ 5all @' price far DaIuw Lne ansr Of
. - hi
. VIII surely have n do if ovcl. = ono
half crop is raised this year. To
those who still have their last years
crop on hand we would say that the
present indications are that they
would profit by not planting a bale
because a half-crop this year would
mean that they would get more for
last years crop than they would get
for last years crop and next years
crop combined II over a half-crop is
planted this year.
Now, what arc the facts about
the cotton situation? Here they are
| and we hope every farmer in South
Carolina, white and colored, who can
read, will read them, and that some
body will read them to every one
that cannot read:
ION Aug. 1, 1920, there was sur
plus OF American cotton on hand, ac-
cording to Hester, Of 6,086.000 bales
"The ten-year average amount O..
American cotton On hand Aug. Is
100000 bales.
ut is thus seen that the surplus
on hand last Aug. was almost six
times larger than the average amount
on hand at that time.
"The probable amount OF surplus
cotton on hand Aug. I, 1921, Is esti-
mated by those who are in good po-
sition to know, at over 100000
bales, or almost one-year crop.
"The greatest consumption OF
American cotton ever known in one
year was 100000 bales. Ten-year
| average OF consumption OF American
cotton prior to the great war was
100000 bales. With so many OF
the foreign mills shut down you may
figure yourself as to how much will
be consumed this year.
"The American crop OF 1900, 900
bales this year indicates a world SUP
ply Of all kinds OF cotton, including
American. Of 29,00O,0O0 bales.
"The world carry-over, including
American cotton, may reach total