University of South Carolina Libraries
The Cotton Acreage. S-; Tbe "Cotton Growers* Associati is again making commendable efib to keep the cotton acreage for tl gtyear within reasonable limits, a with this view, has called three cc ventions of cotton growers, one be held at Waco, Tex , ou Monda i March Sth ; the second at M em pb: Teen, Wednesday, March 10th, ai ;> tba third at Augusta, Ga., Monda March 15th. The first of these forthe cotton growers cf Texas ; tl second for the cotton growers or tl M isa is ss i pp i valley, and the third f those of the South Atlantic States east of the Mississippi. The selection of those points, t distributed io the cotton growin sections, was that the planters migl conveniently attend them withoi incurring the expense of a lon journey. In this way it is expecte that more planters will be able * attend, and-the meetings be prodnc tive of better results, lt might bav : been a good idea if a meeting of th planters of each cotton growin State were called to be held soo after the meeting of these couvei tions to d?8CUS8 abd put into opers tion such plans as may be decide* jtupon by them. In calling these conventions Mi Hector, D. Laue, of Georgia, Presi dent of tbe Association, has issued forcible and timely address giving Ube reasons why there should be con cert of action among planters on th< important subject of'the acreage W< herewith present part of the address issued by a mao who not only com prebends .the situation bot compre hends the remedy and is very eames! ia the effort to have it applied. He says. "That the environments of the cot? ton growers are becomiog more inimi* ; cal to their interests each succeeding season, is discouragingly apparent ; thal the encroachments upon our commercial rights are becoming more piratical in their character, is not only appreciated bot condemned by all rigSt minded men who recognize the right and privi? lege of legitimate commercial meth? ods, aod the obtuseness of the Southern planter in failing io observe, aod his subserviency io submitting to these ills that are being inflicted upon him Hy this scourge io the hands of this reck? less class of speculative gamblers, is encouraging them io their pernicious methods, is rendering him pitiable in the eyes of the world and subjecting him to the obloquy of being both stu? pidly ignorant of his interests and ig? nominiously servile in his forbearance. "As is usual at this s eason the cot? ton 'bear' is again io evidence, hewing down prices to the very lowest notch, using all the sophistry that bis cunning oas devise aod all the artifice that he can so ingeniously iovent to hammer values down to less than living prices. They are thoroughly indifferent to nor? mal conditions and reek little to the common weal. They are sowing the seed of inoipient communism in fields io which it is an unknown and an un? natural growth. They would exult over four cent cotton a 3d would con tribute their active aid in pressing it dowo to the lowest point regardless of the sorrow and destitution that would prevail throughout the South under such conditions .*A* this ti rn ? Int year they were an? ticipating matters by industriously circu? lating reports that it was the intention of the Southern cotton grower to enor? mously increase the acreage whioh they gleefully stated would result ia the production of from eleven to twelve million bale^. Like fabrications are agaio being circulated by them with tb.3 hops of %8h?:iag future values. **Tbe Southern planter has the power to checkmate these reckless despoilers of our prosperity by manly and intelli? gent action. The ooly remedy is to 'fight the devil wich 5re,' meet organi? zation with organization. "Bo not b3 led into the error that you can combat this power without sys teojatic organization. Yon cam deceive the great firms that bay yt product They have their emissar io every town and village ; they ? ever scrutinizing your actions a know more in regard to the gene: I conditions than you can possibly fi j out. "Destroy tbe annual surplus of c< too that is the active coadjutor of t cotton 'bear.* This can be accomplis ed by increasing the acreage of fo crops and consequential the judicio diminishing -of cotton aoreage. Y< will be better off with a seven millie bale crop selling at ten cents, suppl mented by ample food crops, tban wii a ten miUion baie crop selling at fr cents i "Tbe world spends about three bm dred and thirfy five million dollars ai n aal ly for American cotton. If * make a seven million bale crop the mn after us for our product If .** make a ten million bale crop, We fa over ourselves to sell it to them. "Tbe ten million bale crop of.*9 and '95 brought the South in roun numbers two hundred and eighty-nio million dollars. The seven and a ba million bale crop of '93 and '9 brough in round numbers two hendre and ninety-three million dollars. "The seven million bale crop of '9 and '96 brought two hundred an? nioety-two and one-quarter million dol lars, demonstrating the fact that a smal crop brings more money irrespective o acreage used for food crops and th labor and money expended oo a large acreage. "Our only hope of protection lies ii intelligent concert of action. W< should keep ourselves informed of eroj conditions, amount of production, etc, throughout the cotton area. Then bj systematic and judicious marketing o our crops we can realize inestimable benefits that never can be secured per? manently otherwise " The history of the cotton move ment will bear out his assertion that a small crop will bring the planters more money than a large crop, foi every bale raised in excess of the world's demand for consumption ex? erts just that much influence in pull? ing down and keeping d^wn the price of the crop grown. There is, as Mr. Lane says, no use of the planters trying to deceive the buy? ers of cotton, whether legitimate buyers for consumption or buyers for speculation, for in these days of mail facilities and telegraphs they keep thoroughly posted on the acre age, crop prospects and crop move metas and know more about them than 999 planters out of 1,000 do. Through their agents and corres pondents they keep a close watch on the crop while the planters are busy killing grass, and cultivating the crop. They not only keep thorough ly informed as to the crop and crop prospects in this country, but also in other countries, and thus have the world's crop under their eyes Prices are based not only on the cropv in sight but often on the prospective crop, and therefore if a large acreage be anticipated prices go down, and if a small acreage they go up Some time ago it was announced that there would be an increased acreage this year, and prices fell. Let the buy? ers become satisfied that the next crop will be small and the prices will go up, not only for the coming crop, but for what remains unsold of this crop. A seven or a six million bale crop (which would be better than seven) for a few years would make the planters masters of the situation and put them solidly on their feet. But this is something in which not only the cotton growers but the whole South, in fact the whole coun? try, is interested, for if the Southern planter prospers the South will pros per, and every business carried on in it will be benefitted, and when the South prospers then tho North which sells manufactured goods, machinery, &c, to the South, will be benefit? ted. For these reasons we hope that the planters of the South will see it as the Association dees and respond to the sensible and forcible appeal of President Lane, who is leading them io the broad road of independence. ./ Fewer cotton acres and more food? stuff acres ought to be the maxim of every cotton planter, whether he plant many or few acres.-Wilming? ton Star. A North Dako farmer claims that strips of newspaper soaked in sour milk and fed to hens greatly increases their laying qualities. In Boston.-"Browning, dear/' said Mrs Emerson to her husband, "what is a cutaneous pastime?" "A cutaneous pastime, love? I never heard of soch a thing.7' "Well, I beard two men on the street car talking, and one of them spoke of a skin game *'-Brooklyn Life. The governor has ordered the elec? tion for Cherokee county officials and State senator to be held cn the 27th inst. ' This wa? done in compliance to the mandares cf the Constitution and the act recently passed creating Cher? okee county. From what can be beard none of the offices will go unfill? ed for lack of, candidates. Charleston, March 9 -The alleged filibustering steamer Bermuda is sop posed to be somewhere off Charleston, and ir is understood that an attempt will be made tonight to put on board a cargo of arm*, ammuoirion and provi? sions from this city in lighters. A lighter load was expected to be carried out early ro-oight, but thc presence cf the monitors Amphirrite and Terror just off the bar using their search lights is supposed to have caused a postpon ment. Serious riots have occurred in the S'ate of Bahia. Brazil, within the last two weeks, and the rioters have had the better of the encounters with the troops. Gov Ellerhe bas pardoned William Johnson, colored, who was convicted in 1895 and sentenced to fifteen years io the penitentiary for wrecking a train at Kingsville. * The conviction was obtained on the evidence of a private detective who secured a reward. The Judge and Solicitor recommended the pardon Louisville, Ky., March 9 -The rain srorm io this section continues Ad? vices from Bedford, Ind . says the damage in that section wi? reach ?2, 000.000 All the country ronds nave been washed out and bridges swept away. The railroads have suffered in a like ajjiiuer and it will rake 10 days to repair the damage. Farm lands have been so badi? washed that raising crops is out of the question this year. M. Skoutes, Greek minister of for? eign affairs, has sent a telegram in re? sponse to numerous oiFers of Eoglish meo to take up arms in the Greek cause, saying that only Greeks are ad? mitted to the Greek army The N. Y Mutual Life Insurance company ha- purchased ?t par a $1, 000.000 issue, of Georgia Railroad five per "bent bonds Montgomery, Ala , March 9 -On Saturday 'ast, at the home of the Hon. Joshua O Kelly, in Madison Cmnty, by some unexplained way poison got ioto a pot of coffee which the family u?ed for dinner Shortly afterwards Mr. Kelly, his wife, a young man who was present and several negroes were attacked wirh symptoms of poisoning. Mr. Kelly died in a short time, but the balance of tho afflicted ones were not seriously affected . Another unexplain? ed mystery in connection with tbe same affair has transpired. Eleven relatives and friends who spent the day and night with Mr Kelly's remains were taken ill witn spmptoms of poisoning, but none are in a serious conditioo. The doctors are mystified. DELICATE ' Should Use FEMALE REGULATOR. IT IS fl SUPERB TONIC and exerts a wonderful influence in strengthening her system by driving through the proper chan? nel ali impurities. Health and strength are guaranteed to result ?rom its use. My wife was bedridden for eighteen months, after using BK AD FI KL D'S FEMALE REGU? LATOR for two months i* setting well. J. M. JOHNSON, Malvern, Ark. BRADFIELD REGULATOR CO.. ATLANTA. GA. Sold by all Druggists at ?j 1.00 per bottle. THE VALUE cf a NAME depends upon its reputation, won bj deeds, not words The Stitff Piano h?3 received diplomas and awards without number. But it stands to-day, as it has done for or<r OH If a century, upon ns own ro.-rits Ar.d, whiist this has been true, there h*8 been r.o ptfjudice of the makers against new ideas of r?ftl merit. The universal verdict bj those who are tne most competent Jadges is th., it ?3 impossible to ic prove upon the ridmtss of its tone. .STANDARD ORGANS. Terto3 to suit you. S?cd for Illustrated Catalog. CHARLES M. STIEFF, baltimore-9 N. Linerrj ?t. WH;h?DgtoD-52l Eleventh St. N. W. ~':"^??$f?<ti* 50 YEARS' < &... ' .;-V? TRADE MA*?K;S, ' . . . 1 DECORS, COPYRIGHTS Ac. ?-\ . * - < - - '. ? ; ";o-ch ar.d rtss-. r :;-r:on may Q? f-e'a, whether t:i . .vent i on is Pi"';-. 1.> ? Coiua?n:iitia?!aa.; strictly (' . ! : . . J. .* !.-e:.cy for fencer: h ? patents ??' '. ? '<. -VJ V. Wv.1 .. ?. f>iT?CO. ?ii)*... :^'h Sic..: ?z Lu rcceivo M.'-'J ?i;i.-J..:Ljx:?', r:?->.,' . ... .........i^ ]-rr,.-.t; rtrcmiation of r;;/ . . ,.- tveek'y.tc.-jjio.C.'! a year; i>i^wi.i. Mctir.ja. >p?>oi??!<'n conies and ?Li>'D Boo^ cs jfAT?STs seat free. Address MUNN & co., 361 Broadway, New York. Land Surveying. H. D. MOISE, will give prompt attention to calls for survevicg and platting land Can be fouod at bis off.ee, next door to office o Lee and Moise. Sumter, S. C. Nov. 18. BEAUTY HATH CHARMS and all the charms which beau? ty likes best to don are shown in our grand display of fash? ionable jewelry for this season. Jewels like these would en? hance the charms of the most fascinating belle, and surely no fair one would despise such brilliant aids to her beauty. Like personal loveliness, they conquer admiration on sight ; they score new victories at ev? ery inspection. Those who look over our stock do not willingly stop with examina? tion. Beauty may now be made ea'.iiy irresistible by a few judicious purchases from our display of up to date jew? elry. L. W. FOLSOM, Jeweler and Optician, SIGy OF THE BIG WATCH, Oct. 16. D. M. YOUNG, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Prompt attention to all business entrusted to him. Office on Court House >qoarr, in Blanding office SUMTER RESTAURANT? Reduced Prices Regular Meals 25cts, Private Dining Room for Ladies Dec. 30 OOLUMBI?S ?ND VICTORS SIS OND HAND Columbias and Yictors. 1893 models S30 1394 models S35 1835 models $40 to $50 Satisfaction guaran? teed on everv wne.:l sold bv rae. D. JAS. WINN. NEW WHEELS Columbias - and Haitfords. 169G Co! i. a9 $ 85 1897 " sieo ?897 Hartford, $ 50 Satisfaction guarac leed on every wheel sold bv me. Jiffies Change in ?o^?<>K)?<>fco4o++cr^ stationery * Styles Change With the season, and a person may as well wear a last winters style in clothes or hats* this Spring, as to use old style Sta +o+Q+Cr^<>Q*<)+Q<x>t<yw tionery. The Newest Stationery Is the Prettiest and Cheapest Ever offered, and there is no excuse for using old and inferior paper, while a fall stock of the latest papers are always to be had at The Book Store. OFFICE SUPPLIES, BLANK BOOKS, PERIODICALS, ETC. Liberty Street. THE COLUMBIAN CYCLOPEDIA, 35 Volumes 7,500 Illustrations 28.600 Pages, Complete and Up to Date. 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G-arretson, Cox & Co., Publishers, BUFFALO, N. V. For full descriptive circulars and \ mU Pnlmnn?QTl TDrnV Pn \ 81 Whitehall St. terms send to our Southern ?-er,ts / {]% UulUUlUJClli JjlUiL UU., I Atlanta Ga. ^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ ' ? ^ ^^^^ ' Fine Buggies- Surreys and Carriages. Do yon wan't a nie? Vehicle to ride in this Spring. If yon do, call on me and examine my stock, I have a large ?V.d weilseiected Slock of Baggies Sarre?*. Carriages, etc., and my prices are as low as thc lowest. Office at Epperson's Stables. >