Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-02
The Cotton Crop.
IT'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

The crop of cotton to be raised in
the United States cannot, for at least
several years, exceed two and q halt
million bales, and for the present year
the indication point to much smaller
figure. 1t is an alarming fact that
throughout Middle Alabama the plan
ters are from two to three weeks be-
hind with their work, and the season
is too far advanced for them to remedy
this evil.
On quite large number of the plan
tations no hands have been employed,
and of course DO work has been done,
while on a majority of them the num-
Der of hands employed is wholly in
adequate to the cultivation of the
land
The freedmen to very damaging ex-
| tent have thus far refused to contract,
and excessive rains have rendered
farm work wholly impracticable.
Under all circumstances, it would be
almost h miracle to see crop of two
million bales this year.
In view of the future prospect of
cotton as glanced at above, it becomes
a matter of serious interest both to
the producer and customer to study
carefully the question of supply and
demand. The entire visible supply of
cotton in the world on the 9th of Feb
ruary, 1869, was 100000 bales. In
1868, it was 1900, 1000, and in 1867 it
was 100000. 1t would seem appa-
rent from the above that while the
world has been producing as much
cotton as we con hope to produce for
at least several years to come, the con-
sumption has been continually gain
ing upon production. and, as shown
above, caused a reduction Of stocks to
the extent of 100000 bales in two
years.
The American crop of 1867, was,
say 100000. Admitting that the
crop Of 1868 shows as many bales,
(Which we hold is an error of 200, 600, }
the difference in the weight of bales
this year and last will reduce the esti-
mate about 100000 bales.
In 1867 the planter had every in
ducement to make heavy bales. In
1868 the case was reversed, and the
crop of 1868 will show q diminished
weight of at least thirty pounds per
bale.
The spinners ut Manchester hold to-
day 10000 bales less than one year
ago. This reduction of their stock
has been caused by their persistent re-
fusal to enter the markets for supply,
hoping by this means to force down
prices; but thus far they have only
succeeded in reducing the price about
three-eights of penny from the high
est point.
The receipts ut the United States
ports for the month of February show
falling off, as compared with last
year, of, sly 10000, and this dispari-
ty will continue. SO We naturally
conclude the entire stocks now held in
American ports, added to receipts yet
to como in, will not give an aggregate
supply Of American cotton Of 90O,0 900
bales for the remainder of the year.
We exported last year, say 1885,
900 bales. Thus far, this year, we
have exported, say $4,000. If we
furnish to Europe this year as much
as last, we will have left for American
spinnsrs less than 100000 bales.
From the most reliable statistics,
we think the consumption by Ameri-
can mills this year will reach at least
100000 bale Of which not more than
SOC, 600 bales have been taken by them.
If this is true, end the American spin
ners take 100000 needed by them, we
will have but about $50, 900 bales for
export, (having $4,000 bales for stock, }
thus leaving US short in 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, ssy 4b0, 600 bales more than
we possibly can this year, the stock II
Liverpoofwas reduced last year about
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