Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-24
The Home supply of cotton.

| The following, which is clipped from the
! Boston Advertiser, will give some idea as to
the extent of the stock of cotton in Northern
| mills, and how much more will be required
from the South before the new crop begins
TO arrive:
The Northern consumption for 18T0-71
was $4,000 bales, in addition to which it
was estimated the mills took a surplus of
$4,000 bales, making 100000 bales taken
from that crop. In the early part of that
year, consumption was slightly impeded by
want of water at some mills; but otherwise
consumption was urged to the utmost by
active trade, low prices and fair profits, and
its total was about fifteen per cent larger
than in 1S69-70. Not many new spindles
were added to the power existing in 1870
Il for work in the current year, and these
were chiefly for print cloths and other light
goods. This year, from the start, the best
profits aud quickest demand were on light
fabrics, until recently there has been better
demand for standard sheetings and other
heavy goods, apparently due to their search
ty from relatively reduced production. In
doubleday the average production OF yarn
has been finer this year than ever before,
requiring less cotton to supply the same
number of spindles. On the other hand,
every mill has been running to full capacity;
some on extra hours. Grouping these sew
erdl elements, full work, additional spindles,
without loss of time or power, and slightly
reduced weights Of goods, we find the result
to be about ten per cent Increase in the
consumption Of cotton. Consumption in
1901, $4,000, add ten per cent, 900;
consumption 1S71-T2 100000 bales, or
AaaTly 10000 bales DER week
On the question, how far Northern mills
are stocked, the prevailing opinion among
spinners and dealers is that they have sup
ply to the LIST of August or later. 1t is GER
tain That spinners have had both strong in
ducement aud willing disposition for buying
freely all the season; and that very rarely
have they held at this period in the season
so much cotton as they hold now. In the
statistical tables Of I'receipts at ports the
market receipts and stocks at Northern
ports include only New 7 ork, Boston, Phil
adelphia and Baltimore. The "stOck in
ports" reported weekly is, therefore, exclu-
sive of the stocks at Providence and other
places which are peculiarly spinners' mar
keis. They make a respectable aggregate
and should be accounted for somewhere. If
reckoned in with the mill stocks, it would
seem to put beyond doubt the answer that
the mills have supply to Aug. 3, say forty
eight weeks from Sept. l, 1871.
Then, supply for As weeks at
10000 per week. 100000 bales
Deduct surplus held Sept. l,
161l................. oO,OOO bales
Taken since Sept. J.........SSO,0O0 bales
Of which from ports to April
l3 (Der CHrOuicLel 600 bales
Secured somewhere else. 800. 269, 900 bales
If it be conceded that there are yet 900
bales due to spinners on time contracts, be-
yOnd the quantity now held in New Eng
land stores by contractors for delivery, then
it is quite evident that 100000 bales must
have come overland to the mills, the re-
ports of railway clerks to the contrary not
outstanding. 1t does not matter that $780,
600 bales or more Of this supply may be at
sea, not yet received at mills; it has been
counted out from Southern stocks, and
stands sta.istiCally as if in the mill store
houses.
For the question, how much more cotton
need Northern mills get from this crop? we
find the answer
Required for the full year. l, 100000 bales
Taken since Sept.
l, from ports and
overland. ....... $4,000
Less-to be imported
for spinners' con-
tracts. 9,0OO-861, 900 bales
Eequired of additional from
port and overland. 800. $4,000 bales
This provides for the full twelve months. |
It is in addition to the $4,000 surplus held
1st of September last, which being amply
sufficient to run to new crop last year,
will doubtless suffice for the same this year.
Whatever of error there may be in the
foregoing figures is involved in the common
assumption that the mills have already Sc
cured supply to Aug. 3. Our readers can
change that and the figures depending upon
it, augmenting or diminishing, as they shall