The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-10
THE COTTON CROP.
Its Past, Present, ana Future.

The crop of cotton to be raised in the United
States cannot, tor at least several years, exceed
two and halt million bales, and for the present
year the indications point to much smaller
figure. 1t is an alarming fact that throughout
middle Alabama the planters are from two to
three weeks behind with their work. and the
season is too far advanced for them to remedy
this evil.
On quite large number of the plantations
no hands have been employed, and of course
no work has been DONE while ON q majority of
them the mum Der OF hands employed is wholly
inadequate to the cultivation of the land.
The ire edmen to a very damaging extent have
thus far refused TO contract, and excessive rains
have rendered farm work wholly impracticable.
Under all the circumstances it would be almost
q miracle to see crop OF two million bales this
year.
In view of the future prospect of cotton as
glanced at above, 1t becomes a matter Of serious
interest both TO the producer and customer to
study carefully the ques ion OF supply and de.
mand. The entire Vlsibla supply of cotton in
the world on the 5th of February, 1869, was
300, 600 bales. In 1868 1t was 100000 and in
1867 it was 100000. 1t would seem apparent
fIom the above that while the world has been
producing as much cotton as we can hope to
produce ior at least several years TO come, the
consumption has been continually y gaining upon
production, and, as shown above, caused re-
duction OF stocks to the extent OF 400, 900 bales
in two years.
The American crop of 1867 was say 2. .4OO, 900.
Admitting that the crop OF 1868 sho VS. as many
bales (Which we hold is an error OF 200, 000),
lDe ulHeTeDCe III the weight OF DaleS tliS year
aud last will reduce the estimate about 100, 900
bales
In 1867 the planter had every inducement to
make heavy blles. ln 1868 the case was re-
versed, and the crop OF 1868 viii show a
diminished weight OF at least thirty pounds
per bale.
The spinners at Manchester hold to-day
10000 bales less than one year ago. This re-
duction OF their stock has been caused by their
persistent refusal to enter the markets for
supply. hoping by this means TO force down
prices, but thus tar they have only succeeded
in reducing the price about of penny from
The receipts at the United States ports for the
month of February show a falling off, as CON.
! pared with last year, of say 10000, and this
! disparity will continue. So we naturally con-
/ clHde the entire stocks now held in American
| ports added 10 receipts yet to come in will not
| give an aggregate supply OF American cotton
! OF 900 bales for the remainder OF the year.
We exported last year say l,650, 600 bales.
Thus far this year we have exported say $50, 900.
| II We furnish TO Europe this year as much as
! last, we will have lett Ter American spinners
| less than 100, 900 bales.
From the most reliable statistics we think
| the consumption by American mills, this year,
will reach at least l. l0l 900 bales, OF which not
| more than 500, 900 bales have been taken by
| them. Ii this is true, and the American spinners
! take 500, 600 needed by them, we Will nave nut
| about 350,0L0 bales for export (having $4,000
bales for stock), thus leaving us short III Our
export this year, as compared with last, about
| 100000 bales. This too, in the face OF the fact
that, while we exported last year say 100000
bales more than we possibly can this year, the
| stock IN Liverpool was reduced last year about
| 600 bales, showing that our exports OF
| l,66000O bales last year were, to that extent,
| lnsuhclent TO meet the demand. iC ID nor
claimed by any one that the receipts this year,
from India, Brazil. Egy pit, or elsewhere. VIII oe
in excess OF last year. while from America the
European receipts Will certainly be less BY
| 400 coo bales.
In making the above estimates aud sugges'
| HONS we have taken a Of Gale lla-
ion the popular idea contained in the cotton
circulars usually received as authority. OuI
own oDlnlon Is that the crop OF 1868 Will DC
about 2O0,OOO. This opinion is induced by q
personal knowledge of the almost entire ex
haustion oil the interior supply OF cotton over q
very extensive area OF the cotton region, a:
shown by recent receipts.
The receipts at all the ports this week are
about 1000 bales, against 79 900 for the CORES
pOpding week of last year sho wing a decrease
of q bout SO, 900 for the week as compared witt
last year. All the rivers tributary TO New Or
leans were open to navigation one month earlie
IhIs year Lhan lat, and the eoat.n1ed h'gl