Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-17
THE COTTON OUTLOOK.

The September returns of the Department
of Agriculture, which have just been publish
ed, show very heavy decline in the prospects
of the cotton crop in all the States, except
Virginia, where it about holds its own. The
crop of Virginia, however, is too small to ex'
ercise any appreciable influence on the gen.
eral result. The State averages are as follows
Virginia, 50; North Carolina, S7-decline Of
IS during August; South Carolina, S6-a de-
cline of 13 Georgia, 7-decline of II Flor
ida, 77-decline of 25; Alabama, Sl-decline
of 9; Mississippi, 75-decline of IA; Louisl-
ana, 67-decline of 21-Texas, 64-decline
of Al; Arkansas, 47-decine of 40; Tennes-
see, 4S-decline of 35. The leading cause of
the decline is found in the prevalence, over
large sections of the cotton area, of a severe
drought, accompanied by intense heat. In
many localities, hot winds have parched the
crop-in one or two cases, destroying it with
in half an hour. Several counties report no
rain for four or five months. In many cases,
the top crops are entirely destroyed, the bolls
having all fallen; the middle crops were also
badly injured. In few localities, general
rains have made fine crops, but the number Of
these favored spots is very small. In the At
lantic cotton States, cool nights and heavy
rains are alleged in some counties as the cause
of the decline. The drought has prevented
the increase of insects depredating upon cot
ton; they are reported in very few counties,
and have been nowhere very injurious.
In the weekly review Of the cotton market,
the New York Bulletin says:
The movement of supplies on the spot has
again proven comparatively moderate, and
confined mainly to the wants of the home
trade; but the market has, on the whole,
shown pretty even tone, with holders not
greatly inclined to urge business for the pres
ent. The accumulated stock, though fair, is
by no means large, and there is pretty gen.
erally accepted belief that the bulk Of it is
sold against this months contracts, which,
with the chance that arrivals will prove small
er than calculated upon, and almost GER
tainty that spinners' wants will require con-
siderable cotton, induced owners to hold on to
their supplies with feeling of some conf
dence. The purchases made by spinners dur
ing the past week have been principally in
grades from good ordinary to low middling
inclusive, and all orders have called for
prompt shipment, indicating a reduced sup
ply at the mills, and possibly an improving
goods market. The operations of exporters
have been not only slow but quite Indifferent,
and it is probable that nothing was taken ex.
cept as a matter of actual necessity to fill
freight room, &c. Indeed, exporters have
found nothing to encourage them in the for
eign .advices, either public or private, Liver
pool ruling weak and declining and quite dull,
with good stock on hand, and proposition
to reduce the production at the Manchester
Mills indicating nothing very brilliant in the
goods market Exchange, too, has been ad-
verse to movements on foreign account, and
taken altogether, it was impossible to figure
profit on shipments of cotton abroad. The
weather and crop accounts during the week
have contained nothing of a very exciting
character, or calculated to decidedly influence
the marketfor either an upward or downward
turn. We have, up to the present writing,
heard of no new cotton being sold on the spot,
but there is some classes at hand offering to
arrive, with sellers willing to shade somewhat
from current rates.