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Story
May 21, 1904
The Progress
Ocean Springs, Jackson County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
Article advises Southern cotton planters to avoid overproduction by limiting cotton to 10M bales and focusing on grain/meat crops, using turpentine industry's price recovery as example to prevent financial ruin.
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OVER PRODUCTION.
A Course That Will Ruin Any Business-A Hint to Southern
Cotton Planters.
Several years ago spirits of turpen-
tine went down to 24 cents. Naval
operators were doing a losing business.
They called a convention, and resolved
to curtail the next crop of boxes 25
per cent. The naval factors served no-
tice on all operators that unless they
complied with this agreement, no finan-
cial aid would be extended them. The
result was spirits of turpentine went
up to 35 cents the next spring. It has
been going up ever since, and the naval
operators have grown rich.
This ought to be an object lesson for
the farmers right at this time. It
teaches that over-production will ruin
any business in the world. It applies
as much or more to cotton than any-
thing else. The farmers have had les-
sons along this line in the years that
have gone by.
Many of them were bankrupted, and
all suffered great pecuniary depres-
sion. They are just now recovering
from the effects of their own folly. If
the reports which reach us from all sec-
tions be true, they are preparing to re-
peat history. As Sam Jones would put
it, they are preparing to "act the fool"
again. Fifteen cents cotton is causing
them to lose their heads.
The farmer who plants a large cot-
ton crop and a small grain crop, and a
small grain crop always means a small
meat crop, is going to "hit the grit,"
and hit it hard. There is but one safe
rule, raise an abundance of hog and
hominy and a moderate cotton crop.
Keep the cotton crop inside of 10,-
000,000 bales, not over 10,500,000 bales
at the outside. Do this, and they will
live at home and obtain fancy prices
for their cotton next fall.
Every individual farmer has a part
to play, namely, plant all the corn that
he can fertilize and
cultivate well.
Save all the hay that grows on his
farm. Make potatoes and everything
else that will feed man or beast, and
be sure to keep his cotton crop within
the proper bounds. A blind man ought
to see it. Cor. Southern Cultivator.
A Course That Will Ruin Any Business-A Hint to Southern
Cotton Planters.
Several years ago spirits of turpen-
tine went down to 24 cents. Naval
operators were doing a losing business.
They called a convention, and resolved
to curtail the next crop of boxes 25
per cent. The naval factors served no-
tice on all operators that unless they
complied with this agreement, no finan-
cial aid would be extended them. The
result was spirits of turpentine went
up to 35 cents the next spring. It has
been going up ever since, and the naval
operators have grown rich.
This ought to be an object lesson for
the farmers right at this time. It
teaches that over-production will ruin
any business in the world. It applies
as much or more to cotton than any-
thing else. The farmers have had les-
sons along this line in the years that
have gone by.
Many of them were bankrupted, and
all suffered great pecuniary depres-
sion. They are just now recovering
from the effects of their own folly. If
the reports which reach us from all sec-
tions be true, they are preparing to re-
peat history. As Sam Jones would put
it, they are preparing to "act the fool"
again. Fifteen cents cotton is causing
them to lose their heads.
The farmer who plants a large cot-
ton crop and a small grain crop, and a
small grain crop always means a small
meat crop, is going to "hit the grit,"
and hit it hard. There is but one safe
rule, raise an abundance of hog and
hominy and a moderate cotton crop.
Keep the cotton crop inside of 10,-
000,000 bales, not over 10,500,000 bales
at the outside. Do this, and they will
live at home and obtain fancy prices
for their cotton next fall.
Every individual farmer has a part
to play, namely, plant all the corn that
he can fertilize and
cultivate well.
Save all the hay that grows on his
farm. Make potatoes and everything
else that will feed man or beast, and
be sure to keep his cotton crop within
the proper bounds. A blind man ought
to see it. Cor. Southern Cultivator.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Moral Virtue
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Overproduction
Cotton Planters
Turpentine
Naval Stores
Agricultural Advice
Where did it happen?
Southern United States
Story Details
Location
Southern United States
Event Date
Several Years Ago
Story Details
Naval operators curtailed turpentine production by 25% to raise prices from 24 to 35 cents, enriching themselves. Cotton farmers should limit crop to 10-10.5 million bales, plant abundant corn, hay, potatoes, and raise hogs to avoid bankruptcy and achieve high prices.