The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-06-07


Ichango in agricultural conditions
Ithroughont the length and breadth of
the cotton states. This change VIII be
more pronounced in the Old Cotton
States cast o. inc NIiasissipi River
Than In the states of Texas ana Okla
Ihoma, especially. The farming class
cS which have moved into the two last
named states arc mostly white and
will more readily solve the problems
which confront thcm. The negro ten
/ ant, mule and the extensive culture
OF cotton on landed estates in the Old
Cotton States east of the MissiSsppi
River is a thing Of the past IN 1865
when the negroes were set free in
those states, they were forced to enter
into competition with their former
white masters in the extensive culture
or the one crop, cotton, (which alone
could be used as q basis of credit for
food and feed supplies from bankers
and merchants Of the East. This un-
economic agricultural situation has
been pursued without change for the
past fifty years. although it forced the
penalty of an uncducated husbandry,
slow progress and a gradual lowering
of the social standard among the
white farmers, because of their in
ability TO maintain good schools, at
tractive homes and first class public
highways.
| The past two years have resulted in
annihilating credits, levied toll Of
debts upon the cotton growers, which
cannot be liquidatcd at face values,
and brought about changes whrich are
far more intense than those which
faced the farmers in the days Of 1865
| While the negroes nOcked to the fields
to produce cotton in their new free
dom in 1865, they are now leaving the
cotton fields in thousands in 1922, be-
cause Of their inability to secure cred
It's and cope with the hazards Of the
en- down never to return. The decline
in prices Of farm products since 1920,
and the widespread devastation Of the
cotton boil wcevil has wrecked what
ever was left Of the old system, which
for fifty years had shacklcd agricul-
tural slavery upon both the white man
and the negro.
White farmers from the North and
Middle-Wcstern states must be induced
to locate in the attractive agricultural
areas Of the cotton belt While the
agricultural South is now in the grip
of death struggle, I believe that it
Is on the eve Of a new birth which will
lrcvolutionizc the experiences and ira
ditions of the past, and start the re-
building Of a more profitable farming
industry for the future. 1t would be
no idle statement to ,prophcsy that the
white farming population OF the cotton
states will largely increase during the
next decade. These changes are des-
tined to develop Southern agriculture
into prosperous industry OF grain
misunderstanding and the expansion OF
great manufacturing enterprises Of va
rious kinds The soil and climatic con-
ditions of the South, together with it's
marvellous undevelopcd water resourc-
emphatic, when the necessities for
their development so strongly exist.
Cotton will continue to be grown, but
under such scientific management as
will intensity its culture on fewer
acres Of land to the plow, and for a
much larger yield Of lint per acre. The
|South will never lose its world monop-
oily Of cotton production, but the pro-
ducers will grow the staple in the flu
turc under changed conditions and on
ly at prices that will pay to them the
cost Of production plus a fair and rea
sonable profit.
What the cotton crop may be this
year no man may forecast but Of one
thing there is surety that the con-
suming world Is destined to yet pay
heavy penalty for cotton goods as a
result of the forces which have COM
bined to so sompletely change the ag-
ricultural industry Of the South and to
strike so severe blow to the produc-
ton of cotton AS the world gradual
ly returns to health and vigor the de
mand will exceed supplies, and when
this happens the growers will then
have the opportunity TO in part at least
recoup the heavy losses which they
have suffered during the past two
years. Higher prices not only this