The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-12
The Consumption Of American Cotton.

Before looking to other countries we
may consider how far the American
crop can supply the worlds consump-
ton of American cotton. The careful
and searching scrutiny made OF the
consumption last October, leads us to
believe the invisible stock was then I'M
derrated, and that the quantity of
American cotton actually consumed out
of the last crop did not exceed 100000
bales, if it reached that figure. Practi-
cally the last crop yielded q surplus of
800, 600 bales beyond the worlds con-
sumption. The previous n yielded a
surplus Of 200, 900, and we venture to-
say that If the present crop reaches four
and o quarter millions, it will yield a
surplus Of $50, 600 bales, for we do not
think that the consuming power Of the
world will exceed four millions the
present season. To England the CON
sumption will be stationary on the
continent il will increase a little; in
America it will, perhaps, be rather less,
for trade is exceedingly bad there, and
the mills are still working q good deal
of short time.
The result OF three crops in America
will, therefore, be to add about 750, 900
bales to the quantity Of American cotton
remaining in stock at the end Of this
season, as compared with the famine
supply held at the end of the short crop
of 1871-72. Against this, however, we
have to put a large reduction in the
stocks Of East India cotton. Nobody
can doubt that we have q sufficient sup
ply Of American cotton the coming year,
with q crop exceeding z, 900, 600, and a
superabundant supply If it exceeds
1850, 900. The Indian supply has
hitherto been the balance wheel Of our
market. a big American crop and low
prices used to cut off SO much from the
East that the pendulum swung round
and q apparent surplus soon disap-
peared. It seems, however, that lower
prices than We had once supposed will
bring us the full weight of the Indian
crop. At the present moment there is
no sign of q smaller supply from India
next year, the crops in western India
are promising remarkably well. The
OomraWuttee crop is estimated at 10
per cent. larger than last. The Breach
and Dhollerah are expected to be very
good if no mischief befan them the next
two months, and the Dharwar crop is
moderately we'll spoken Of. The Ben
gal crop ID also pretty good, whereas il
was q failure last year. We think India
will supply IS much cotton in 1876 as
in 1874, unless prices fall very low in
deed. Egypt does not promise well,
tho season Was not favorable, and esti-
mates Of decrease vary from 10 TO 90
per cent, say $4,000 to 100, 600 bales.
Tha Brazila IRE expected to give the
same as Last year.
II appears, therefore, that our cotton
supply, 81 4 whole, promises To be- fully
equal To the consumption Of the world,
and there does not appear to be room
for violent fuctuations ia prices.
The most trying period of our market
will be the spring months 4 heavy i'm
port will arrive continuously till mid
summer, the American cotton now due
loses considerably, and IL will need
strong accounts from America TO sus-
tain our market In She face Of this. Yet
il is quite possible that If receipts fell
of unusually fast IN the spring, we
might see such vigorous buying on the
part of the trade as to cause a smart adj
vance, In spite Of the large report. On
the other hand, Il Is eoually on the
cards That such large receipts and weak
ness ia America VIII cause the import
to be pressed on our market and lead TO
very low prices for q time. The next
two or three months viii probably en-
able us to know with tolerable certainty
what VIII be the lowest dip Of the sea-
son, Of whether it IS already past
London Circular.
VINES q Boston man takes 5 Russian
bath he inaparts a dark stain TO sixteen
gallons Of water.