Connecticut western news., 1922-10-26

and thus become a 'one crop coun- try. The boll-weevil is now destroy ing 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 boll-weevil, and science will ultimately find a solu- tion to this problem. In the mean time, 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 manufactured cotton goods for some time to come.
 "Secondly, the South, which has been a 'one crop country, will be l forced to raise other crops and be- come at least self-supporting. In previous years the South has inn ported from the Middle West nearly all the corn and large proportion of the meat which it has consumed. This year the South has raised suffi- cent corn for it's own use. It IS also successfully ridding itself of the tick which is so detrimental to raising good cattle. Herds of fine stock are rapidly increasing, and the South, which has an ideal climate for all-year stock grazing, should soon be one of the most important stock raising sections1of the country. This means that the Middle West will have a serious competitor Tn corn and stock raising.
 "The third factor to consider is that the South will steadily increase it's manufacture of cotton into finish ed goods. Already it is shipping large quantities of these manufac- tured cotton goods into the northern states. These southern mills can produce very economically and are at the source of the raw materials. This means that the cotton mills of the eastern states will have serious competition. Owing to the present immigration restrictions, these nor thern mills will soon be greatly handicapped as to labor supply which fact should also aid the South.
 "A fourth factor is that the southern farmers are employing less labor on their farms than under pre- vious conditions, many of them re- ducing labor one half. The reason is that the farmers are planting ,, larger acreage in corn, hay, and other crops and less acreage in cot ton. These other crops require less labor to work than cotton does. To day there is very considerable Rn- employment of farm labor in the South. This me ans that there will be ample labor for cotton mills and other forms of manufacturing, and for the development of natural ~Es- sources. @ @'-~-.'A -'
 "Fifth and finally, ,r the South is realizing it's need of effort and struggle in order to hold its econo- mic position. The boll-weevil is forcing upon it new economic con dition which it is now bravely struggling to meet. 1 believe it has the will to meet these new conditions, but it needs capital. The South has large undeveloped' resources. It has coal, mineral deposits, and wa ter powers. Its seaport cities have good harbors which are strategically located for commerce with Latin America and Southern Europe. Thus, as the South more fully realizes and grasps the opportunities which it holds, it will grow and develop rap idly into commercial importance. This means that during the next few years the South will offer many very attractive opportunities for the in vestor. Just at present the South is hard hit by the boll-weevil; but this very fact is bringing it to realiza- tion of it's needs and opportunities. Thus, within a few years, a new economic condition should be estab- lished and the South should be more prosperous than at any time in the past"
 The Babsonchart index dropped off one point this week, standing now at 4Go below normal. This recession, however, has no especial significance Further advance should be expected during the coming month.