The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-11-02
ROGER ". BABSON

weeVtl, Roger w. baDSOH mas peoh .
asked to make an analysis of the
southern situation as it now appears
from the viewpoint of statistican. .
Mr.. Babson's statement is as follows
"In the so-called cotton belt
which stretches across many OF the
Southern States is produced 60 per
cent of the worlds supply of cotton.
In fact, this cotton crop has been so
important that the south has practi-
cally given it's entire attention to |
cotton and thus become one crop |
country. The boil weevil is now
destroying large percentage OF
this cotton crop, so that in many
sections only one bale of cotton is
gathered where two were originally
produced. OF course, great efforts
are being made to control the Doll
weevil, and science will ultimately
find solution to this problem. In
the meantime however, there are
several factors to be considered.
First, our supply of cotton will be
greatly reduced until this weevil Is
controlled The amount produced
for the next few years may not be
more than half OF the requirements
of former years. This means that
high prices may be expected both
for raw cotton and for all manufac-
tured cotton goods for some time to
como.
Secondly, the South, which has
been a one crop country, will be
forced to raise other crops and be-
come at least self-supporting In
previous years the South has i'm
ported from the Middle West near
ly all the corn and large proper
tion of the meat which 1t has con-
sumed. This year the South has
raised sufficient corn for its own
use 1t is also successfully ridding
itself of the tick which is so detri-
mental to raising good cattle.
Herds of fine stock are rapidly in
creasing, and the South, which has
an ideal climate for all-year stock
grazing, should soon be one OF the
most important stock raising sec
tions of the country. This means
that the Middle West will have
serious competitor in corn and stock
raising.
"The third factor to consider Is
that the South will steadily increase
its manufacture of cotton into fin
ished goods. Already it is shipping
large quantities of these manufac-
tured cotton goods into the north
ern states. These southern mills
can produce very economically and
are at the source of the raw mater
ials. This means that the cotton
mills of the eastern states will have
serious competition. Owing to the
present immigration restrictions,
these northern mills will soon be
greatly handicapped as to labor sup
ply which fact should also aid the
South
"a fourth factor is that the
southern farmers are employing less
labor on their farms than under
previous conditions, many OF them
reducing labor one half. The reas-
on Is that the farmers are planting
a larger acreage of corn, hay, ana
other crops and less acreage in cot
ton. These other crops require
less labor to work than cotton does.
Today there Is very considerable
unemployment of farm labor in the
South. This means that there VIII
be ample labor for cotton mills ana
other forms of manufacturing, ana
for the development of natural re-
sources.
Fifth and finally, the South Is
realizing its need of effort and strug-
gle in order to hold its economic
position. The boil weevil Is fore
ing upon Il q new economic condi-
ton which 1t is now bravely strug-
Cling to meet believe II has the
will to meet these conditions, but
Il needs capital. The South mas
large undeveloped resources, II
has coal, mineral deposits, and wa
ter powers. Is seaport cities have
good harbors which are strageticai-
ly located for commerce with Latin
America and Southern Europe, Thus
as the South more fully realizes
and grasps the opportunities which
It holds, Il will grow and develop
rapidly into commercial impor-
tanee. This means that during the
next few years the South will offer
mny attractive opportunities for the
investor. Just at present the South
Is hard hit by the boil weevii; nut
this very fact is bringing II to