The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-16
The Cotton Crop. How it is to be Moved
and Where it is Consumed.

The cotton crop of 1879, thus far the
largest ever grown, amounts to $751;
1877 bales, according to the Financial
Chronicle, which is usually accepted as
the authority on that matter. Its annual
review differs less than 5000 bales this
year from the official statement of the
National Cotton Exchange, which re-
ports crop of $500. 131 bales. In any
case, the crop was much the largest
ever produced IN this country, for, even
after making allowance for Southern
consumption not then reported, the
largest crop before the war was less
than 5000, 900 bales, and the only other
crop exceeding that quantity was that
of 1873, VIZ, 5,073,53l bales. This
year, too, the quantity taken both by
Northern and Southern mills has been
larger than ever, 1924, 805 bales by
Northern and 179, 900 bales by Southern
spinners. 1t is estimated by the Ctron-
tcte that the consumption in this coun-
try reached 1,760, 900 bales, and the cal
culations of that journal indicate that
the profit of manufacturers during the
year has been about one cent on print
cloths and about 1.60 cents on standard
sheetings per yard. The advance in
price, however, though beneficial to the
manufacturer as respects the goods sold
in this country, has apparently checked
the exports of cotton goods, for the re-
ported exports for the year ending June
30 amounted to 106,579,723 yards,
against 129, 1887 yards for the pre-
ceding year.
The exports of raw cotton, however,
have been exceedingly large, notwith-
standing the advanced price at which
a large part of the crop was marketed.
In December, 1873, low midland up
lands sold at eight seven-eights cents
per pound, and large part of that
crop was sold at prices ranging below
ten cents, but the price was above twelve
cents from December l, 1870, until
the middle of April, 1880, when a
great part of the crop had been
sold, and did not drop below eleven
cents until the latter part of July.
Yet the quantity exported from
the crop of 1879. according to the
Chronicle, was 1866, 500 bales, against
3,467, 500 bales for the year preceding
an increase of nearly 100000 bales,
or ia per cent. The increase in do
nestle consumption, as estimated, was
only 1856, 900 bales, or 8.3 per cent, but
the increase in quantity taken by Ameri-
can mills was over Is per cent. 1t is
possible that the estimates of consump-
ton are too low. The value of the crop
reported was about 1912, 900, 000-a sum
which has been largely exceeded when
smaller quantity was marketed at a
higher price. The value of wheat and
flour exported during the year was
1925, 879, SOP, so that cotton is no longer
king, though it contributes very largely
to the national wealth. Another item
of interest in the annual report con-
Germs the route by which cotton is
moved. Five years ago only 461, ISL
bales were moved overland by rail,
or about one-eighth of the crop.
During the past year 1,181, 147 bales
have been moved overland, or more
than one-fifth of the crop. This
freight is peculiarly desirable and valu-
able for the railroads, and competition
in securing it has been very sharp. AS
the overland movement increases stead
lily and rapidly, it is probable that rates
tOL VI COLlOu may uOTG-
after be considerably reduced. especially
if an unusually large crop causes
further decline in price.
The crop of 1880 promises to be even
larger than that of 1879, although it is
by no means out of danger as yet, and
the weather has been unfavorable in
some sections of late. From the acre
age and condition some weeks ago, it
was thought that an increase of about
10 per cent. in the yield might be ex-
pected, but later news has inclined
dealers to look for somewhat less lib
eral yield. There are some who doubt
the production of 1879 will be
but the general opinion APP
pears to be that the crop will hardly
fall below six million bales, and may
largely exceed that quantity. - Neio
York Tjjb7f0e