Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-02
GETTING DOWN TO BED ROCK.

Georgia, H. G. Hastings, of Atlanta,
speaks out bravely in discussion of
just what our troubles are and how
to remedy them. Mr.. Hastings is a
man whose words are worth listening
to. he is probably the largest seeds
man in the South; is man interest
ed in a number of successful enter
prises; has been powerful figure in
the past in movements to develop
GeOrgia's possibilities. He served
several years as president of the
Southeastern Fair association; he
helped in the activities of the old
Georgia Chamber of Commerce, an
organization which had splendid aims
but did not get far, with the war and
its all-absorbing interests coming just
as the Chamber got under way; and
now he is the president of the Geor-
gia Association, a merger of the Geor
gia Chamber of Commerce and the
LOHdOWnefS association.
Mr.. Hastings says the tenant farm
system is at the bottom of our trou-
bles, instead Of the boil weeviI; that
lard SHINING" for the last fifty or
more years has impoverished the soil,
and that the whole tenant system is
crumbling because the boil weevl has
forced the cotton growing industry
into a decided uncertainty. He de-
clares that of 100000 farms in .Geor-
gia only 10000 are operated by their
owners. Discussing his letter, the
Macon Telegraph says:
"Mr Hastings tells US that the
boil weevil will strike the death
blow to tenant farming in Georgia,
If so, it will prove blessing to the
state. But if the farm-tenant sys-
TEN should be destroyed by the
weevil, what can be done to take its
place? Mr.. Hastings suggests three
things. One is that the owners of
the land go back to the farm and
give his careful attention to build
ing up the acreage that has become
so rundown by cotton, and engage
in Diversified agriculture and
stock raising A second is that the
owner remain in town and dedicate
his farm to the weeds and grasses.
A third is that young farmers Of
the North and Northwest be given
an opportunity to purchase many
of these acres on easy terms.
1T being improbable that the
first of these courses of action will
take place-the prosperous Geor-
gianS seem to want to remain in
town more than ever beforehand
the second course, letting the farms
become idle lands, not being espec-
c;ally attractive, the third is one
that commends itself highly. The
young golks ON Northern farms are
not only thrifty and industrious but
possess Il high knowledge of adj
vanced farming methods. They
would be a large asset to Georgia.
if hundred thousand of them
could be brought to this state. Not
being accustomed to cotton, the boil
weeVl would never worry them"
Presenting his remedy of immigra-
ton Mr.. Hastings says in his letter:
"1he third alternative, is to bring
in, through perfectly legitimate and
truthful advertising and promotion, |
several hundred thousand energetic, |
Young farm raised folks from the
states to the North of us and settle |
the'neon cur unused lands, same being
sold to them on the most favorable |
terms;
"There are in all probability mil- |
lion CT more of these farm raised /
young men. and women who cannot |
pet land owning foothold where |
they are due to high cost Of land and |
the large amount of capital necessary |
to make start These folks are real |
farmers, not simply troopers. Cotton |
means nothing 20 them. Their know |
ledge and interest in dairy and beef |
cattle, hogs, poultry and the hay and |
grain crop necessary to feed live |
stock on. These are the folks that |
nuild up land instead of robbing or |
mining it. They are not ashamed to |
work with their own hands. They |
are q class of people that Georgia has
needed in the past and needs now
worse than ever under the new CON
GiUons that confront us.
81 am and always have beens flat |
ly opposed to bringing to Georgia the
generality of foreign immigrants. |
They do not fit into the general |
scheme of American life in the South.
We do need, however, more people |
of the type populating the farms in |
the states further north, the younger
generation that is looking anxiously |
for better opportunities than their |
present locality affords. 1t is the |
{ a,A,a olaSc of fplkcstba+ CO 1ornaI,y cot |