The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-04-01
King Cotton

There was much talk of reconversion for industry after
World War II, but little thought given to the problems OF agrlcut
that King Cotton trembes on his throne. The New England Let
ter, for February, published by the First National Bank OF Dos.
ton, contained the following paragraphs OF interest to mississippi
An outstanding example of the trying problems facing
agriculture is to be found in dealing with cotton surpluses.
Many proposals have been made but the only one that will go
20 he ro,t of the trouble is to- shorply reduce cost of production
and allow the price of American cotton to find its w natural
level in the world markets This can be done only through rupid
,rrn.;Hon from the present svstem Il fun modern mechanizo-
.icn with concentration of cotton growing in the Fowcost pro-
ducton REQ in the Mississippi Delta. on the Gulf Coast, and in
Texos The overwhelming odvontoqe of discrimination is evil
denced by the fact that a tworow mechanical sripper Gun
produce and harvest a acre of cotton in six hours in contrast
with hundred and forty hours using one mule equipment
and hond-pickins. It hos been estimated that cotton could be
produced by modern methods for ground six cents a pound.
INFLAMMATION. however. calls for far-reachins adjust
ments as the region east Of the A1eghenies covering the Carol
ins. Georgia. Alobomu. and southern Mississippi is not suit
ohe for modern methods because of the small forms in that
region. To apply modern methods would involve. it is esimot-
ed. shifting about enc half Of the farmers in this area to other
pursuits. The remaining formers in the region, according to
forming. If the Government were to undertake this recover
sion. it would involve q outloy of several billion donns.
While the proponents admit this plan is costly. they contend
it would eventually stop the drain OF the Treasury. Cotton is
On illustration of some of the trying tasks that lie aheud in
the reodjustment of agriculture.
Certainly Mississippi faces a period of agricultural read
Justment which challenges our craftsmanship.
The changing picture in Mississippis economy has already
come home to some of us. Industries established in Mississippi
are already taking their toll of labor from farms. The idea back
of Mississipp1s Balance Agriculture with Industry was to provide
payrons for surplus labor, whether permanent or seasonal. Work,
in particular was to be made available to women in our small towns
and on our farms, who We're unemployed.
This editor knows of one case pretty close to home that
tells the story. A cotton tenant with a wife and two daughters
made no crop His wife and two daughters worked in the factory
and he stayed home and did the cooking.
Countless numbers of cotton farm tenants, in recent years,
have abandoned their crops to enjoy the more lucrative and regu-
lar employment industry provides.
This is one symptom of the drastic changes due to come
to Mississippi in our time. The perfection of the cotton picker and
the mechanizaton of our cotton farms are destined to revolutionize
our economy and our thinking as completely as did Eli Whitneys
cotton gin.
The Dixie Guide