The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-02
The Past Commercial Year.

much curtalied. Inc presence OF eiio" iesei AZ
wards of three months at the beginning of the season
operated greatly to disadvantage. The organise
ton of the revenue district in Texas composed of the
counties bordering the Louisiana line, with shipping
points Cypress bayou, and the disposition Of the
revenue officials of that district to throw every obsta-
Gle in the way, another and more serious draw
back 10 our trade. Then, the Southern Pacific rail
road, when most needed was almost, if not wholly,
useless II is the opinion of those who competent
to Judge that at least ten thousand bales Of cotton
diverted from the legitimate channel to other
points, through these causes. With the loss of this
cotton, was corresponding loss Of the sale Of mer
chandse Yet with all these Disadvantages, the close
of the commercial year finds merchants in toera-
bly, fair circumstances. Most Of them are clear Of
debt, with something to commence the new and it is
to be hoped more prosperous, year. None Of the
drawbacks above spoken Of are likely to be among
the contingencies the coming year. though others we
know not of may arise.
The receipts Of cotton At this port for the year end
ing September !, we're s5621 bales; against "a, l4s
bales for the year previous Of this so bales of
the crop to one bale for the year before 4tthe
commencement Of the season we had on storage at
this place e4 bales while there at the least cal
culation 1000 bales in the country which would re-
duce the receipts at this point Of the past years crop
proper, to 81 600 bales which think is very fair
estimate The new season opens with probably less
than 100 bales of the last years crop in the country
The cotton market opened last September dull, with
low mdding quoted at to 20 cents in currency tag
paid by producer, and continued dropping throughout
the month"; closing at to 16 cents The receipts for
the month s21 bales. Gold ranged in the neigh
borbood of 40. Business generally very dull.
October opened under very unfavorable auspices
the yellow fever having been declared epidemic Dur
ing the month but few people from the country visited
the city, and the receipts Of cotton only amounted to
500 bales. Quotations merely nominal low niddling
II to Is cents tax paid by producer Gold $40. Bus
mess very dulin fact nothing doing whatever IN any
department. - - .-F
During November but little or no Improvement was
observable, the yellow fever still raging and the con
try people giving US wide BERTH. The receipts of
cotton this month amounted to 1861 bales Prices for
low middng opened at IA to l41 cents, and closing,
with a downward tendency, at II to 13 cents. Gold
ranged from 40 to 1916 closing at the latter figures
Freight on cotton advanced to So per bale. The ex-
IRENE dulness of this usually one Of the best bust
ness months of the season, was very trying on our
merchants, and many Of them ready to give up
in despair.
December opened under more favorable auspices.
The yellow fever, epidemic had ceased, though
few sporadic to be found throughout the
month, and the country people commenced calling on
us in numbers This month the receipts of cotton
reached 1924 bales. Prices opened for low midding
at to IL !, and closed at 10 tol0a cents During
this month the cotton market touched bottom low
middlng having sold as low ass4 to 9 cents Gold
opened at 1873 and closed, at 100 Freighs cotton
reached 81 80 per bale. A decided improvement in
business observable in all departments.
The overfoved condition of the country and the
failure of the Southern Pacific railroad work up to
time conspred to render January much dGller month
than itwoud otherwise have been. The receipts OIL
cotton this month only reached 1881 bales. Prices
for low middling ranged from II tc Is cents closing
at the latter figures Cold opened at 90 to 100 and
closed 1856 to 1877. Freighs cotton opened 81 so
per BALE and closed at 81 During the last days of the
month healthier state Of affairs was apparent.
February opened bright, and in the snd proved the
best business month of the se4sou. The cotton re-
ceipts reached 1861 bales. Prices opened for low
middling at l64 and during the month touched eli
cents, cosRg at II to III cents Gold opened at 1876
to 3S, closing at lao to 142. g> %
A long spell of wet weather in March, flooding the |
whole country retarded greatly the receipts Of cotton
for this month. A good deal of cotton was hauled
from the Marshall depot to Jefferson this month, the
Southern Pacific railroad not being able to comply
with her contracts. March, which should have been
better month for business than February, was thus
crippled, and her cotton receipts only reached 1882
bales PRICES for low mddling opened at III to 1871
closing at % to 224 cents Gold ranged from ssto
l41, closing at the latter figures. So
April, generally the winding-up month of the bust
less season, proved exception to the rulehis year.
The receipts Of cotton reached 4405 bales Prices for
OF midding opened at 23s, and during the month
eached 3l4 cents, the highest price paid during the
season. Most of the cotton received this month was
old in this market, adding greatly to the sales Of
making it Of the best business
months of the season. Gold ranged from l4o to l42.
For May the receipts of cotton were 1913 bales
Prices opened for low mddling at 80 cents, and dur
ng the month fell to rs cents. This month was the
most disastrous of the season for cotton buyers,
ONE of them losing all they had made during the
eason. The sharpest Of them, however, had drawn
if, and were not caught with any great amount on
and Gold 40 to ~. This month may be said to
ave been the closing of the season, for the re-
eFts of cotton during the months of June July and
august only amounted to 472 bales, prices ranging
q the neighborhood of % cents for low mddling
iod during these noaths varied from i4o to l4e.
From the foregoing, It viii be seen that low mid
ling during the was sold as low as 81 cents
nd as high Sla cents, making difference of %
ents At least 1000 bales Of the crop sold for less
nan 20 cents tax paid by producer Gold during the
ear reached as low as 20 and high l46, mar
in OF IS cents.
The receipts ofcotton the lakes and Cypress bayou
uring the past reached 10000 bales against
5000 bales for the year previous. 1t will be seen
lat the falling off there not in proportion to ours
hich is easily accounted for by the fact that through
auses spoken of above much which should have I
ome to went there. From above the raft only I
500 bales came outb by way of therver against
ales the year before Old river only furnished 1000
ales against $500 for the year preceding. The re-
pts this place and at all points above here for
past year amount to n o61 bales against 1o3 SOL