Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-19
HEAVY t + RECEIPTS.
Wide Difference Of Opinion Re-
garding The Yield.


The receipts Of cotton here to-day
we're 1853 bales, while the telegraph
reports only 1850 bales received at
New Orleans. Our receipts are 1876
bales in excess of last year for the
same day. Seven packet steamers
brought 1908 bales; the NJ. & c. rail
road 2l2 bales; the L. & N. $40; the
M. & I. 1853, and M. & L. 145, and the
e. & 0. 20. This shows a rapid
marketing movement here, the total
receipts since the first Of the month
being 11,674 bales.
This heavy marketing movement of
the staple indicates the crop as among
the earliest on record. Picking is
progressing with rushing rapidity all
over the South. Every field Is white
with open boIls and all available labor
has been brought into reQuisition to
save the yield. The condition of this
years cotton is certain to be much
better than last year, and while the
staple is not quite equal in body and
strength yet it is good and up to the
average. At the same time it is clean
and free from leaf, trash and dirt.
Being dry it gins easily and makes a
sample far superior to last years cror +,
the classification being from $40 to
three grades higher t4an last fall, and
the value being from l to &c per ID
more. From present indications the
yield on the hill lands will nowhere
exceed half Of the usual yield, while
on many farms from one-fourth tc a
third is the best that the farmer counts
on. News from the river valleys is
conflicting as to the probable yield,
but the condition is excellent, and
plantations which in past years sent
good ordinary to market are now turn
ing out nothing lower than middling,
while good middling is quite common
among the fields of the bottoms.
The hot, forcing weather Of June,
July and August has ripened
the crop much earlier than ever
before known, and picking is now far
advanced. The upland or hill crop
will all be housed and ready to gin
before the end of next month, while
long before the midwinter holidays
the bottom crop will be in the gin
house.
AT the present time there is no
scarcity Of labor, and the ruling price
for picking is fifty cents per 100
pounds of seed cotton. Last year
double and in many cases even higher
prices were paid for picking cotton.
The bad weather impaired the ap-
pearance and the value ofthe yield, and
it generally graded low and brought
low prices often barely enough to pay
for picking, ginning and shipping to
market. Much of that sent in sold
from 5 to u cents per pound, while
now it commands from II to II cents
or about $50 per bale.
1t is too carly to venture upon an
estimate of the crop. Last year even
as late as December, according to the
agricultural bureaus estimates the
probable yield was placed at 5,719,29O
bales, while the cotton exchanges Of
the country at 100000 bales, the
former being $4,000 bales short and
the latter over a million and q quarter
under the actual crop yield. The re-
port Of the agricultural bureau made a
few days ago gave the condition. on the
first instant as 10 per cent below last
year, or % per cent below the average
indicating a probable crop of less than
100000 bales. In foreign markets it
is believed the agricultural reports as
to the effects of the drought are exag-
Grated, while among the planters
Of the South it is thought to be far
short Of the actual damage. Many 60
so far in their reduction as to figure
on 100000 bales as the total crop,
while others put it up to $500, 600, and
some, who are neither bulls or bears,
count IN more than the latter estimate.
No matter how much it may fall
short Of last year, however, it is gen.
orally conceded that there will be an
ample supply for the demands of the
trade, and that no cotton famine can
occur. The visible supply at present
is about half million bales more thar
last year at this date, and above three.
quarters Of a million more than the
year before. Spinners at present arr
acting cautiously, and the signs indi
cate a decreased demand in the raw
material for a period.
EXTRAORDINARY SLAUGHTER
oFar ms ant;~a .to,1 90 d.