Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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No Future Ahead For King Cotton Says Coker Company. The following analysis of the cot ton situation has been received by The States from the Coker Cotton company of Hartsville: As the staple situation has shown very little change since our letter of December 1, we thought that our cus tomers might like to have us discuss the cost of the productionof cotton and its relation to the present and future situation. We believe that few outside the South, and by no means all in the South, realize the distress ing features of the present situation or are able to diagnose their effect upon the civilization of the South and of the future of the cotton in dustry. A brief consideration of facts however, will promptly convince every one interested in the industry where in the North or the South, that there is. no future for it at present prices and that a continuation of present conditions would threaten the civilization of the South. Government statistics show that the average production of lint cotton in the South is between one-third and four-tenths bales per acre, but in or der to show how impossible the pres ent situation is we are going to first discuss production figures under the ideal conditions of a bale per acre producing at 15 cents-a price above the present market. The bulk of the crop 'of the South is produced on a share crop system, the most popular share contract in this section being one under which the landowner furnished, the land buildings, planting seed and fertilizer and the tenant .furnishes the live stock, tools and labor. Ginning and baling expenses are divided. Land lord and tenant divide the cotton of the seed. Under this plan let us see what would be the returns to landlord and tenant on a 20 care crop of cotton producing one /bae per acre. As to One Horse Farm. The farm will contain about 30 acres including a little woodland and a few acres of corn and other minor crops. If the land is good enough to produce a bale per acre of fair val uation for the farm, including build ings, will be between $6,000 and $10,000. A minimum charge for rent on the cotton land, therefore, to cov er interest, reparis and taxes would be not less than $25 per acre. The landlord -expecting a bale of cotton per acre would buy not less than $20 worth of fertilizer per acre for the cotton, and, as he must exercise su pervision over his croppers, a charge of $5 per acre for supervision should be made. The total of these expenses is $50 per acre. His returns will be one-half bale of cotton at 15 cents $37.50; seed, $10; total, $47.50, less one-half ginning-$3; net income, $44.50. These figures show a net loss , to the landowner of $5.50 per acre. .Some may object to the charging of rent^and supervision to crop expens es. To this we answer that these are necessaiy preliminary expenses for crop production without which capi tal can not be secured. To make this crop the tenant fur nishes a mule and feed costing per year $125; depreciation on imple ments, taxes, etc., $25; hire for pick ing ten bales of cotton, $150; one half ginning, $60; total $360, besides the labor of himself, wife and three children. Receipts from ten bales of cot ton at 15 cents per pound _ $750 Expenses besides labor of fam ily _$360 Balance __ _$390 Divide this amount by 365 and you get the magnificent sum of $1.07 per day with which the tenant must pur chase clothing, shoes and household equipment and must supply a large part of the food for the family and . besides must pay the doctor and the preacher if they are paid. It is true that the tenant raises some corn, a few vegetables and sometimes has a pig or a few chickens. The pitiful poverty under which most of them live, however, keeps them moving from place to place, the average term of farm tenancy being about two years, and it is the exception rather than the rule for the tenant to have any livestock besides his mule or any poultry. Has Poor Chance.. Please note that with cotton at 15 cents per pound, $1.07 is the maxi mum amount that a tenant can re ceive for the labor of himself, his wife and three children in producnig the ideal yield of one bale of cotton per acre on 20 acres and this is a larger acreage that the average one horse crop in this section and must be further curtailed this year. The item for picking ten bales is absolute ly necessary for the tenant and his family can not gather more than half / the crop in time to prevent seri? deterioration of the-grade. Please remember that the avers production in the South is less -th four-tenths bales per acre. The p duction in this state, however, i the past year has slightly exceed one-half bale per acre. Based on 01 half bale per production, the teni farmer's expenses would be reduc by the item of picking-$150 a half of the ginning-$30, making ) expenses $180 instead of $360. ] would receive for his half share ten bales, $375, leaving $185 or cents per day for the sustenance his family. But, at least half t tenant farmers make less than or half bale per acre in,South Caroli; or less than one-third per bale in t rest of the cotton belt except North Carolina. How can these peop keep body and soul together nm less ' maintain a decent standard, citizenship if cotton does not advan materially? During the years 1917, 1918 ai 1919 we had a period of comparatif prosperity in the South during whi< both the landowner and tenant( c?as es made more money than they ev< dreamed of. Many, however, nev< having seen a $100 bill before had v training in thrift and spent the money without thought of the mo: row. Many are poorer citizens toda than they would have been if we ha not had this period of prosperity fe having had a glimpse of financi; heaven and being again plunged int the hell of abject poverty, they ar naturally bitter and discouraged. Acreage Reduction. The only remedy for the presen situation upon which all seem to b agreed is acreage reduction. Mos cotton sections know no money ero except cotton. How can the landown er or tenant figure to keep bod; and soul together on a greatly re duced acreage of cotton even if tin present price is doubted. Yet the; must somehow do this if better price are to be hoped for. What the South needs is a steady price for cotton which will ' allow 1 fair return to the landowner and^de cent wages to the tenant. At th( present costs of the commodities they must buy for crop making pur poses, 30 cents is, we believe, the low est price which the industry should consider. Thirty cents will not paj the landowner or tenant on the very restricted acreage that must be planted this yeal*. It will give the ten ant farmei* producing a bale to the acre on ten acres only a little'over $1.50 per day for the support of his family or about half of this if he makes a normal yield of one-half bale per acre. A few weeks ago the writer was talking with a banker from West Virginia, who told him that he had just 0. k'd. a payroll for a small coal mine and that the average daily pay of the laborers was over $17.40 per clay, remarking that these laborers were working six hours a day but that they were only employed 60 per cent of their time on account of car shortage. I have other evidence to show that the coal miners are. receiv ing at least ten times as much as the cotton laborers who are also paid far less than the "laborers in the Western wheat farms or in the mills of any section of the country. Unfairness to Farmer. Every interest in the cotton trade should recognize the terrible unfair ness of this situation and should re fuse to consent to its continuance. Every Southern interest is bending its energies to restore and maintain a price basis for our money crop which will allow something besides a drear arid miserable existence that will allow us to build and main tain schools, churches, roads and oth er facilities necessary to the main tenance of a decent civilization. Bank ers, merchants, and professional men are cooperating heai-tily with the farmers to protect the basic industry of the South. This is not enough, however,. The whole country is af fected by the conditions of every sec tion. If the South is stricken with poverty its laborers will flock to the cities of the North and West and in tensify their race and labor prob lems. If the Southern farm can not meet expenses for a long period the resulting financial chaos will affect all the money and trade centers of the country. If we do not receive a sufficient money returns to support a decent civilization, the civilization of all sections will be affected. Large classes in thc South have, except for brief periods, struggled along ever since the Confederate war in poverty so abject that decent food and clothes could not be obtained. During the periods when cotton sold for 4% cents to 8 cents many fam ilies had to live on 25 cents per day ar less and right now the prospect for many is no better than then. The understanding sympathy of the nation can not prevent terrific losses to the South nor remove the necessity for acreage reduction and other supply of the staple with the demand. A nationwide and under standing sympathy, however, can and will make it easier for us to get the financial support necessary tb tide over the present emergency and will protect us from the reerection of barriers to foreign trade without which the cotton farm can never thrive. For a Persistent Cough. Some years ago H. P. Burbage, a student at law in Greenville, S. C., had been troubled for a long while with a persistent cough, which he says "greatly alarmed me, causing me to fear that I was in the first stage of consumption." Having seen Chamberlain's Cough Remedy adver tised he concluded to try it. "I soon felt a remarkable cha::r;e and after using two bottles of the small size was permanently cured." Cotton Production Costs Can Be Cut ? In Half By Food And Grain Making And Saving Atlanta, Georgia.- (Special.)-"High j prices for cotton, such as we had a |! year ago cannot reasonably be expect ed for a long time to come. European countries that normally use half our crop are so thoroughly disorganized and paralyzed in a business way that they will not be able to take the J usual quantities and pay high prices j for many years to come," said H. G. Hastings. President of the great Southeastern Fair. "This situation which we cannot control, calls for lower costs of mak-' ing cotton as well as reduction in cot- ? ton acreage. The quickest, safest and most effective way to reduce cot- ? ton making cost is to produce on one's- j own acres every pound of food, grainj1 and forage needed for family, tenants, and laborers and live stock. "The situation requires chickens, hogs, milk cows and acres of corn, oats, wheat, forage and miscellane ous crops from which to feed them. Last, but not least, in importance, is tho home vegetable garden which ls the quickest, and cheapest source ot food in the world. "Most folks here in the South don't take the home garden seriously anet thereby make a great mistake. There are too many of the 'lick and a prom: ise' sort of gardens and mighty few of the real sure enough kind. "We have been told repeatedly by those who plan and prepare for a-real garden, plant lt, tend it and keep it replanted through the season, that it furnishes half the family Jiving at no money cost except tho small amount* spent for the seeds needed. "The garden is, or rather should be, the earliest planted, lt brings food the quickest. It starts cutting store bills for food the first week anythisg ls ready to use. A little later, half or more needed for the table comes out of the garden. "If rightly tended and replanted it Bupplies food all summer and fall, the surplus above daily needs goes into cans or is dried for winter use. Yes, the right kind of garden is a life saver, and we all need a life-saver of this kind in 1921." Auditor's Notice. All persons owning property of my kind whatsoever, or in any ca pacity, as husband, guardian, execu ;or, administrator or trustees are re quired to make returns of the same :o the Auditor under oath within the ;ime mentioned below and the Audi :or is required by law to add a penal :y of 50 per cent, to all property that it not returned on or before the 20th lay of February in any year. All male citizens between the ages jf 21 and GO years except those ex empt by law are deemed taxable polls. The 50 per cent, penalty will ac added for failure to make re turns. For the connvenience of tax pay ers, I or my representative will b cf at the following appointed places on :he dates mentioned to receive tax returns : Ropers, Monday, January 17. Meriwether, Thurmond's Store, Tuesday, January 18. Collier, Wednesday, January 19. Red Hill, Thursday, January 20. Cleora, Friday, January 21. W. R. E. Winn, Saturday, Janu ary 22. Pleasant Lane, Monday, January 24. Meeting Street, Tuesday, January 25. Johnston, Wednesday, January 26. Herrin's Store, Tursday, January 27. Trenton, Friday, January 28. The office will be open to receive returns from first day of January till the 20th day of February, 1921, as prescribed by law. J. R. TIMMERMAN, Auditor, E. C., S. C. ELECTRIC lhe TSative BIFamily Medicine. ss n MS es ? PS ES s?g . Look about your office and see what you n?ed iii ? office stationery. We are better equipped than jp ever to supply your printing n^eds. We have re- g ceived new type faces and carry a well selected as sortment of paper of all kinds. m ' i WE CAN PRINT ON SHORT NOTICE i ? Sk*?? rmi TYPEWRITES HEADS LETTER HEADS NOTE HEADS BILL HEADS STATEMENTS ENVELOPES CAEDS OIECULABS CIECULAE LETTEES MINUTES CATALOGUES BEIEFS M We guarantee satisfaction on every job of print m mg we do. Your money back if you are not sat H isfied.! ? i . Ssa) Mail us your orders or call in person and see the o stock we carry and the kind of work we do. 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