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ADVICE TQ FARMERS
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■COMMI.SSIONKII O. li. STEVENS’
SPEECH AT HALKKHI FULL
OK GOOD POINT’S.
HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS
Planter Must Hi* a Good Business Man.
Improved Condition of the Southern
Farmer—Cotton .Mill Industry.
It is a pleasant feature of this, onr
meapii annual gathering, that we meet
in this historic city, named in honor of
Raleigh, the gallant gentleman whose
attempts at colonization on Wokokon
and Roanoke islands blazed the way for
the first permanent English settlement
at Jamestown. His name, and those of
Cavendish, Greenville and Drake, aro
closely interwoven with the early his
tory of North Carolina, whose shores
Were made romantic by the birth of
Virginia Dare, first child of English pa
jrei’tagc born on freedom’s soil. At Alla
toanoe sons of the old North State
poured out the first blood that was shed
In resistance to unjust, taxation, and
from Mecklenburg county went forth
toat ringing defiance to tyranny —the
forerunner of the grand declaration
Which proclaimed the birth of tho gr< at
republic. On every pnge of American
history the name of North Carolina
rfiincs with undimued luster, and the
fume of her hardy sons will never be
forgotten so long as men remember
King’s Mountain, Yorktown, Gettys
burg and Appomattox. The spirit of
enterprise, too, is abroad in tho old
North State, and she walks proudly in
the van of southern industrial progress,
which, in the last few years, has made
Such rapid strides. In such an illustri
ous state, and under such favorable aus
pices, wo have come with ioy to share
the hospitality of your generous sous
mid lovely daughters.
Our last annual meeting was held in
Now Orleans, the greatest cotton port
mid tho fourth grain market in tho world
• tho commercial metropolis of fair Lou
isiana, who 1< ads her southern sisters in
the production of sugar cane and rice,
•it that mooting we spoke of the condi
tion of bankruptcy nnd demoralization
Inin which the farmers of the south have
been aimlessly drifting for years, and I
urged you, the commissioners of the cot
tii growing states, to call upon your
pi ,ip!o to change their methods of farm
ing. Wo stated also that the work of
r onnatiou had begun, and Hint tho
people of the cot ton states were in better
condition than in former years; that
they had lived more on home supplies;
Lad been to loss expense in making their
crops, and liad received much better
jiri. es for tlieir products, bad reduced
their debts uud were more hopeful for
the future. It, was stated, moreover,
that the crop of 1 Si)!) and 1890 was going
to cost more to market it than did the
crop uf 189*-! 1899, and it whs urged that
xi i sound a note warning by tilling
i>!:r farmers to make small bills; liny for
cash, if possible; plant, largely of food
crops, and reduce the acreage in cotton
even below that of last. year. We also
said that, if we would again curtail the
use of fertilizers and the acreage in cot
ton, and produce only 8,000,000 bales
next season, we might expect not s
than 0 cents a pound for opr cotton.
With pleasure was noted the great re
vival of manufacturing interests iu the
south. Tho necessity was urged of
teaching our children in the schools the
elementary principles of agriculture—
facts that have been ascertained by prac
tical tests at efficiently conducted ex
perimental stations.
The improved condition of southern
farmers, reported at our last meeting,
continues with some additional bettor
mout. This is specially true of the
farmers of Georgia, who have harvested
inoro wheat this year than in any year
since 18U0; more, it is claimed, than in
any other three years since the oivil war.
More attention, too, Ims been paid to
raising supplies of meat, and many a
smokehouse, tilled with ham, bacon and
sausage from hogs fed uud slaughtered
at home proclaims the southern farmer's
growing independence of the packing
houses of flic west. The peach orchards
t>. Georgia have this year been a very
helpful factor in that state. Although
the crop, as a whole, did not prove as
remunerative as early indications prom
ised, yet the money which it put into
circulation was of great benefit during
the dull season. It paid many thou
sands of dollars to laborers employed in
gathering, {sacking, canning and ship
ping the fruit. The total number of
carloads shipped this season from Geor
gia will not be far short of 2.MX).
One thing that makes the outlook bet
ter still .s the certainty of another short
canon crop, which promises even better
|" edits during the coming season. There
I.lmsto to g.led r, as n for the hope
th.ii the all-eeiti :■ era, of 1 r-.-t's will not
t . an s< ■ ■ too formers of the south,
m!i i, from sad experience, should know
t t the thing of greatest importance is
t i raise, first of all, food supplies, and
r a; titrate their cotton within a profitable
Hr it. Chir export and import trade for
the year closing June 30. It 00, was the
largest- over known. This is du mainly
to the. increase in exports f maou
|actnr c goo-l* for the domestic pro
onct - >i..otuiis, . m. - ills.-,, ton and
mineral oils exported, the value of
ftiuch wo £.'&>,ihil.TXS, while above
hat of the previous 1*! months, is below
that of 1897 and ls9B, when oar export
of domestic products amounted to $807,-
818,581. In that year we exported tho
prodigious total of $821,700,000 of bread
stuffs, a figure which we have not
reached since. Iu the matter of cotton
exports, however, there has been a de
cided improvement; and it contains a
valuable hint to the south, for during
tho past 12 months we received $241,-
G(!0,105 for our cotton, or $32,053,321
more than for the previous year, al
though we shipped over 2,000,000 bales
less. The farmers got more for a short
crop than they would have received for
a large one, and it is needless to point
out that the cost of harvesting, market
ing and shipping the crop was materially
reduced. 'lbis is on the right line. Our
people should always so manage as to
have tho balance of trade in our favor.
The wonderful progress made by the
south in cotton manufacturing still con
tinues. According to figures collected
by the Boston Textile World, the north
had in 1890 exactly 12,721,341 spindles,
while the south had 1,828,982. Now
the north has 15,242,554 spindles,
while the south has 5,815,429. The in
crease in the south for the last decade
is, therefore, 217 percent, and for the
imrib 19.8 pc; cent. South Carolina
t 0... ••• T T uion, after Massa
chusetts and Rhode Island, with 1,794,-
057 spindles; North Carolina is fourth,
with 1,429.540 spindles; New Hampshire
fifth, with 1,348,923, and Georgia sixth,
with 1,218,504.
If Tho Textile World is correct in its
figures, then South Carolina stands first
among the southern states in the num
ber of spindles; North Carolina, which
we know is first iu the number of mills,
stands second in the number of spindles;
while Georgia is the third cotton manu
facturing state of the south, unles tlie
product of her mills exceeds iu value
that of either of her Carolina sisters,
which was the case in 1890. But what
should especially please every member
of this convention is the fact that tho
whole south is marching on to the goal
of industrial independence. For the sea
son of 1899 iukl 1900 tho south, for tho
first time in its history, fixed the price of
cotton. If the growth of the cotton mill
industry iu tho south continues at its
present rapid rate, with fclio consequent
increased consumption by the southern
mills, we may confidently expect that
the south will henceforth bo able to fix
the price of her own great staple. There
is, as yet, no sign of a check in this de
velopment, which, oven in the time of
business depression, was marvellous. Of
course I am most familiar with my own
state. There the growth of tho cotton
industry since the beginning of tho pres
ent year is beyond all precedent.
Twenty or more new* mills are now in
process of construction. One of them is
the great cotton factory at Gainesville,
Ga., which, when fully equipped, will
represent an investment of $1,099,009.
The possibilities of the soil and cli
mate of the south are such that ours
ought to he the richest section of the
Union. Considering tho overwhelming
disasters that were lhe outcome of the
great civil war. and tho difficulties that
have beset our people since its close, tho
farmers of tile south have done well.
For their long and heroic struggle of 35
years, and for the difficulties which
they ivo overcome they deserve all
praise. But the success of some up-to
date southern farmers, whore the best
methods have been employed, has been
hardly less phenomenal. This is a day
of progress on all lines. Tho farmer
coiiimt afford to be behind the manu
facturer. Old methods must give way
to better and newer ones. When some
enterprising farmer proves that soil of a
certain kind can bo made to produce 40,
50 nnd over (10 bushels of wheat to the
acre, and with u largely increased profit,
after deducting tho necessary expense
of bringing his land up to such a state of
productiveness, no other farmer with as
good soil should ho satisfied to pursue
old methods, or be content with a yield
or from 10 to 15 bushels to the acre.
Lot us hope for active, vigorous, persist
ent competition on this line among all
the farmers of tho south. A friendly
rivalry will do much to increase our ag
ricultural products, and build up tho
wealth of our section. In nearly all
sections of the Cotton States the greater
proportion of the beef and butter con
sumed in our towns comes from the
north and west. So long as this is the
case, there will lie an urgent cell for
improvement.
lit view of the fact that the per capita
production of tiie farmers of the south
is only $177. while in New England it is
$317, and in the west $519, wo venture
the suggestion that then must be some
thing in our system which needs im
provement. Might not some changes in
our farming methods bring about cite
raising of more grain and grasses, more
vegetables and fruit, more and better
beef cattle, more milk, butter uud
cheese, more pigs and sheep, more ready
money in the jwokers of our farmers,
more prosperity to the agricultural
classes: lienee more plenty, contentment
and happiness among all classes of our
population?
Active, continuous, inreligent super
vision of all the labor on the farm is
neeessiry to sr.oc >ss. Every farmer
s ! nail t-.vj. an mvoaot with his land,
r; . - ;ii up wir .i all that it c *s:s him,
and giving it credit br all .(bar it, nays.
' a -.oce CHS..;, ss sc -iio i- XVhi-. a make
the successful merchant or manufactu
rer, wui make the successful Liraier.
No bank stock or railroad shares, city,
state or government bonds, will pay
such heavy interest on. tho investment
as a well managed farm. One of the
great need* of the day is the formation
in every county of a farmers’ institute
or club, iu which may be discussed the
best methods of agriculture, tho latest
gnd best machinery for labor-saving,
and other things of interest and profit
to the farmers. Industrial education is
as necessary to the farmer as to tho me
chanic. Nature studies should form a
prominent part of the cirriculums of our
public schools. From the kindegarten
to the university, the pupil should be
taught to know something of nature’s
w*ays, and in special schools the farmer
should prepare for his profession, juntas
the physician, the lawyer, the preacher
or the mechanic does for his. This is a
day of machinery, the proper handling
of which demands education. Nowhere
does machinery pay better than on the
farm, provided it be wisely bought and
judiciously managed.
There is a much more general use of
farm machinery in the west ttiau in the
south. This ought not so to be. A farmer
can no more afford to be behind the age
than can a man engaged in any other
business. In the physical as well as in
the spiritual world growth is life, stag
nation is death. The old methods will
no longer do. If southern farmers know
not tho methods by which tlieir breth
ren of the north and west grow prosper
ous and rich, then must they learn. If
capitalists from the outside should come
into any large section of the south aud
buy up onr lands and rent them to our
people, those sections would be in the
condition of Ireland. To yon, Southern
Commissioners of Agriculture, I appeal.
Let us urge the farmers of our respective
states to work upon strict business prin
ciples, to live within their means, to
shun debt as the open door to ruin, and
to feel that it is their duty to their fam
ilies, to their country and to their God
to improve the opportunities given them.
The farmer serves his generation best
win > brings his land to tho highest state
of fertility and productiveness, and will
be praised accordingly as he makes it
yield 80, 90 or 100 fold. Let us impress
upon them, also, the important truth
that variety of products means increase
of wealth. In the great cotton bolt, es
pecially, do they need to bo warned
against putting all their trust in one
crop and neglecting others. If vve were
called upon to point out the state whose
lands command the highest prices, wo
would put. our finger on those whose ag
ricultural products and occupations aro
the most varied; where stock farms,
dairies and creameries abound; where
all the grains and grasses give food
to man and boast; whose market gar
dens, truck farms and orchards supply
the great cities of our country with veg
etables and fruit. Those states in which
lands sell at lowest figures are the ones
in which King Cotton, with despotic
sway, throttles all other crops aud in
dustries. And yet when the farmer
raises his own food supplies of every
kind, and plants liis cotton on a
well calculated basis of supply and de
mand, it is tho greatest money crop in
the world, a gift of God, which, right
ly managed, will make its poople rich,
and bless the land that gave it birth. So,
whatever our greatest crop be—sugar
eano, rice or tobacco —let us add thereto
all tho cereals and grasses, the raising
of the best breeds of stock, that our
horses and mules may be strong to la
bor, our cattle such as yield the best
beef and milk; onr other farm animals,
sheep, goats, swine and poultry in good
condition, to supply the varied wants of
limn. Then, with dairies to supply the
richest milk, and oreamories to turu it
into butter and cheese, woof tho south
shall have the greatest farming country
iu the world.
Progress must be the watchword of
the farmers of the forth, and progress
consists in finding out the best methods
and adopting them. Let the farmer
diligently give attention, aud what he
has learned for himself let him teach
his children at home, and then send
them to school, whore that odnoatiou
can be continued and enlarged. Uo
other profession brings man into such
close communion with nature, aud
through nature man can best look tip to
nature’s God aud hold communion with
the source of all light and life.
General Phil Cook, one of the most
gallant of the heroic men who, in the
times that tried men’s souls, so nobly
illustrated Georgia on the sacred soil of
the Old Dominion—a man who had been
farmer, lawyer, soldier, representative
in congress and secretary of state of
Georgia—when asked what line of busi
ness required the greatest exercise of
intelligence, unhesitatingly* replied:
“That- of the farmer.” Oicero, the
great Roman orator, senator aud far
mer, considered agriculture the noblest
occupation of man. Indeed, the first bus
iness to which the Creator Himself ap
pointed man. was farming: “And the
Lord God took the man and put him
into the gardeu of Eden to dress and to
keep it.
A high calling is ours, farmers of the
south Our land, the fairest that e’er
the sun slionc upon, with beautiful di
versity of mountain and valley, hill aud
dale, watered by noble streams, with
uplan Is cook'd by r.i 'unt.iin zephyrs,
and e ;m. temp red by breezes
from the A antic and the gulf, is great
in her deve .op v -d resources, greater in
her possibilities of soil, climate aud
varied productions, but greatest of alliu
KIMBALL HOUSE,
Pearson, Ga.
C. F. Holzendorf, Prop.
RATES, $2.00 PEII DAY.
Special Rates by the Week or Month.
Livery in Connection.
Stylish Rigs Furnished at any Hour
S’>7's SiwiKSSSrSilrSk
| PROFESSIONAL CARDS. %
JOHN 11. O’QUINN,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
DOUGLAS C,A.
Office near Bank Building, opposite
B. Peterson’s brick block.
H. O. SNOW,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
DOUGI.AS, GA.,
callspromptly attended.
Office Sibbett Drug Cos.
quincey & McDonald,
Attorneys at Law,
Douglas, Ga.
Offices in Bank Building,
THE CITY BARBER SHOP,
ARTHUR BROOKS, PRO.
In front of Bank Building Douglas, Ga.
Carries a nice line of cheroots, cisr;iß,
Ac. Everything clean and cool. Your
patronage solicited.
•L R BBADFIELD, GKO. M. RICKETSON
BRADFIELD & RICKETSON.
Physicians and Surgeons.
Broxton, Georgia.
W. F. SIBBETT,
Physician And Surgeon,
Douglas, Ga.
Calls promptly answered day or night
WARREN P. WARD,
Attorney At Law,
Douglas, Ga.
Will practice in all the courts of Coffee
County and elsewhere by contract.
F. WILLIS DART,
Attorney At Law,
Douglas, Ga.
Office in Court House.
R. A. HENDRICKS,
Attorney At Law,
Willacoociiee, Ga.
Collections and Criminal Laws a special
ty. Office hours in Douglas, Ga., from
• a. in. to 5 (i. m. Third Monday in each
month.
C. A. WARD, Jr.
Attorney At Law
Douglas, Ga.
Prompt attention given to all busines
Placed in my care. Office in court house.
LEVI OSTEEN,
Attorney at Law,
DOUGLAS, GA.
Solicitor City Court.
Office in Court House.
All business entrusted tome will be
promptly attended to, receiving most care
ful attention. Special attention given to
collections.
DR. J. A. MONTGOfIERY,
Dental Surgeon.
Office in Bank Building .
Will gladly advise with
those desiring dental w'ork.
'Both operative and prosthetic
work guaranteed.
i
Rule Ni Si.
( Foreclosure
Miss Bell Graham J of mortgage
vs. (in Coffee Su-
Fannie Googe A W. R. Gorge ( perior court
• March term
( 1900.
It appearing and being represented to
tlie court by tlie petition of Miss Behe
Graham that on the first day of July 1897
Fannie Googe and W. R, Googe executed .
and delivered to said petitioner a mortgage
note on certain real estate lying in said
county described as follows, one dwelling
house and lot, situated in the town of
Broxton, Ga., and known £ml described
as follows, bounded on tlie north by road
leading from Ilaz’ehurst to Broxton and
on the east by lands of Jesse Lott on the
south by lands of Jesse Lou on the west
by Broxton and hhepherd load. For tlie
purpose of securing the payment of a cer
tain mortgage note for the sum of one
hundred and eighty-one dollars and nine
teen cents $181.19. Executed and deliver
ed by the said Fannie Googe and W. R.
Googe to said Miss Beil Graham on the
first day of July, and due on the first day
November 1897", stipulating for interest
from maturity at the rate of 8 per cent per
annum, audio per cent attorney fees.
It is ordered that the said defendant do
pay into this court by tlie first day of the
next term, the principal including attor
ney fees interest and*cost due on said mort- :
gage note or show cause why tliev should ;
not pay tlie same, or that in default there
of tfie aforesaid raor gage note be fore
closed anti tlie equity of redemption of tlie
said defendants, therein forever haired,
and that service of this ride be perfected
on said defendants according to law.
This March 29th 1900.
JOSEPH W. BENNETT.
Judge Supr. court B. C.
D. W. GASKIN'.
Clerk S. O. C. C.
CITATION.
GEORGIA—Coffee County.
Berry H. Tanner. Jr.. Executor on
the estate of Penelope Davis
late of said county, deceased, having
filed his petition for discharge, this is
to cite ail persons concerned to show
cii.Lse. if they can, way. said pe
.i.uu should not be granted as asked
for at my office on the first Monday in
November, 1900. This Aug,bn,, 1900.
-■Oils THOMAS YOUNG Ordy.
Wanted!
All people to come and have a look at onr work, and to give us
their orders for any kind of Picture they may desire.
We make Small or Large Photos, also do Enhtrgin OUR
PRICES are as REASONABLE AS FAIR WORK WILL PERMIT,
and you would not find it necessary to go to a larger city to get your
BABY or FAMILY PORTRAITS taken. As long as there are any
babies to make pictures from as long will that be our specialty. We
also are prepared to give lessons in drawing and painting.
Respectfully,
CREEL & JANTZON. '
DOUGLAS, - - GA
A WORD X
* t So Vow, listen!
Do you want some GOOD PHOTOS MADE? If
so, you are the one this is for. I want your trade, and if
COOD WORK, low prices and PROJTPT ATTENTION
can secure it I am O. K.
PlkKDtos. fm Fifty
Larger Sizes Equally as Cheap in Proportion.
ALL PICTURES GUARANTEED.
You will find me at Post Office.
J. H. BOONE, HAZLEHURST, GA.
Nichols Bottling Works,
D. W. Johnson, Manager,
NICHOLS, - - - GEORGIA.
Soda -water all flavors. Ginger-ale, Goco
cola, and Iron-Brew. Good service, prompt
ness, fair dealing and special attention to
mail orders.
Way cross Clothing
4- STORE ♦
Way cross, Ga
The best place in Georgia for Clothing, Hats
Shoes and gents’ furnishings.
♦ Good Reliable, Goods at Prices to Suit tlie People. *
When you go to Way cross be sure and call at
The Wajcross Clothing Store
Way cross, Georgia*
Builders’ MarduJareT
We buy our HARDWARE in the Builder’s
Line Direct From One of the Leading
Manufacturers, and we can certainly
Save you some money, (besides give
You better goods than you get
Elsewhere) if you will let
us figure with you on
THAT BILL.
SS sS Sit O
DON’T Buy
It By Piecemeal,
Know you never in
tended to, but figure up just
What you will need to complete
the job, and we will make you a
RATTLING GOOD ESTIMATE.
JUST Remember that we carry a full s-ock of the
Best White-Pine SASH, BLINDS and DOORS.
WAT T-IT A RLE Y HARDWARE CO-,
Plant Avenue, - - Waycross, Georgia.
at> 9Tlacf\h\e TOorfe
S’o CD. Syjfarn Proprietor.
rass ©asting a Specialty,
Special Attention to Boiler -Work,
All Kinds of Machinery Repaired.
JLoccrr\otWes Sckuft an<3 fß.epatre<S,
Good Second Hand Saw Mill Machinery for sale.
Reasonable Prices Paid for old Iron and Brass.
9c>riu\eff Street, Qa.