Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-25
Esrimatinx the COTTON Crop.

The following article is taken from the
last number of the United States Econo-
mist and Dry Goods Reporter:
The fact that the statistics Of the last cot
ton crop show a falling off as compared
with the crop of 1901 of 1876, 900 bales,
or about SO per cent. of an average years
yield, is naturally regarded as strengthen
ing feature of the cotton market, and this
prospective deficit has been the basis, for
some months past, of an advanced range of
prices and very firm tone. 1t has been
shown, however, that the bales marketed
during the past year were unusually heavy,
and at what is regarded not extrayagant
estimate, the falling off in pounds is not
more than % per cent. of the previous
crop, or loss of per cent. less than the
figures in bales show. This still leaves a
large deficit, but the difference between the
number Of pounds produced, resulting from
figures based upon the bale of average
weight and the heavier bale of IS71-72, is
very material and affects to considerable
extent the statistical position of the cotton
markets for the reception of the new CROP
1t is probable that these heavy bales were
not made with any view to deceiving the
trade as to the extent OF the crop by redue-
ing the number of boles produced, although
such was really the effect they had. Our
daily receipts, exports, and shipments to
home manufacturers are all based upon
bales. So soon after the close of cotton
year as it is possible to compile these re-
turns, an annual statement of the move
ment is published, giving the details in no
more definite form than bales. Later along
in the following year, an approximate esti-
mate of the crop in pounds is furnished,
but these returns invariably come too late
to be of use other than as items of COM
parative interest. 1t is evident that cotton
growers could, if disposed TO do so, run the
weight of their bales up 100 or $50 TBS.
above the average of, say $50 lbs. The eff
feet of such a course upon prices is clear,
and while it is perhaps unjust to imagine
that it is possible for balers to practice this
sort of deception, it would not be an I'M
wise precautiOn for the trade to establish
standard of weight for bales, which, aside
from the protection it afforded them, would
be OF infinite use in compiling statistics of
the production and distribution. The Eng
Gsh trade statistics are kept with more care
and with more regard for details, and are
used for reference here quite as much as
our own figures. This is not as it should
be, and we commend to the several cotton
exchanges of the country the Importance of
taking measures for the adoption of a
standard of weight for bales, and also for
the keeping of such records of the move
ment as will enable those interested in the
cotton crops to arrive with as little delay as
possible at a correct knowledge of the sta
tistical position of the markets. While the
exchanges were devoting their time to the
correction Of evils, they might with pro-
pIiety give some attention to the fragrant
abuses in the classification of cotton In the
different markets. The Providence CLASH
feation is fully grade above ours, and
spinners are loud in their complaints of the
loose manner in which the grading is car
ried on. The cotton trade certainly needs
not only for weight but for the
of grades.