The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-10
VAST COTTON
ACREAGE MAY
Be ABANDONED
8 to 10 Million Acres to Be
PIoWed Under to
Boost Price.
BY MARSHALL MCNEIL
Times Special Writer

WASHINGTON, June IU-SO tHt
south may profit, eight to ten mil
lion acres Of growing cotton either
Will be plowed under to make way
81 iced and food crops, or aban-
doneu to rot in the boil under the
plan now being considered by the
new farm relief administration.
But farmers, who destroy OF
abandon their cotton acreage, will
receive adequate compensation.
And if the plan works, picking
time may see the higher prices for
cotton that always resuscitates the
south, its people, its employment
its industries.
1t Is for this great stake that the
farm relief administration is play
ing, and if congress and the Presi-
dent agree it will be prepared to put
up S100,000,000
Cut Acreage 20 Per Cent
The cotton plan, said by southern
senators to have been agreed upon
tentatively, would work something
like this
The farm relief administration
will go to cotton farmers Of the
south and propose that each give up
20 to 80 per cent of his acreage, so
that a total abandonment Of from
eight to ten million acres may re-
suit.
The government would offer to
lease the land taken out Of produc-
ton at, say, from So to $40 an acre.
Such a price is estimated to pay
farmers planting costs with a slight
margin of profit.
If he wants to- the farmer may
abandon this 20 to 30 per cent Of his
acreage altogether, or pillow the cot
ton under and replant with crops
that will feed his animals or his
family.
Crops to Be Reduced
Or, the cotton farmer may agree
to take an option on a portion of
the government pool of cotton, set
up from stocks already owned under
the cotton-option phase of the farm
relief act.
If he accepts this plan and takes
the option at, say, cents per pound,
he would receive less rental for his
abandoned acreage, So to 81 per acre,
perhaps.
Under this plan, even though his
cotton is just sprouting. he would
be assured Of a crop-a crop already
in a warehouse.
Then, at selling time, the cotton
from his own acres, untouched by
the relief plan, he would harvest
and sell as he chose; but on the
pool cotton he would receive the
difference between the option and
the selling prices. and the hope is
that the latter will be the larger.
If this plan works, the coming
cotton crop will be reduced by from
100000 to 100000 bales.
Has RoOsevelt's Approval
And if the general business pick
up continues, the result will be
greater domestic consumption, with
the result that the great carry-over
will become less a burden on this
and the world market.
1t will take approximately $780,
100000 to finance this plan, pay land
rentals, administrative costs, ETC..
and an amendment to the national
recovery bill allocating this sum
from the $4,000 100000 public works
bond issue is pending now in the
senate. 1t is said to have President
Roosevelt's approval
Apparently under this plan, the
farm relief administration does not
contemplate putting this country's
cotton production on a domestic
consumption basis. It was warned
not to do so by the colossus of cot
ton, Will Clayton of Anderson,
Clayton & Co.