The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-17
The Cotton Trade,

For several weeks past cotton has
been pouring into the seaboard mar
kets at rate that has astonished
even the advocates of the largest
crop figures. Planters have taken
advantage of the fine weather and
improved roads to haul their re-
naming stock to the depots and
landings, and the movement has kept
up so long in excess Of the figures of
last year that the leading markets
have been demoraliZed and prices
have been shrinking steadily.
The increase over last year in port
receipts is now 100000 bales, and
while there is some little deficiency
in the overland movement direct to
mills it is not sufficient to materially
affect the result of this great gain
upon the minds of consumers.
Something like 100000 bales have
been counted thus far, and if to this
be added the Southern consumption
for the year it makes total within
10000 bales Of the entire crop of
1879 so.
1t seems therefore that much
large proportion of the cotton was
saved than was regarded as possible
with such an unfavorable picking
season. 1t is true an extraordinary
proportion of the crop is of very low
grade, and at the prices now current
there cannot be much, if any margin,
over the cost of production. The
Liverpool quotation is now a penny
per pound cheaper than at this date
last year, and yet spinners at the
moment do not seem to consider the
present rates entirely safe.
Our own port, however, has not
participated in the boom in receipts
to any great extent. Though we
have received some $4,000 bales of
Texas cotton over Morgan's railroad
that is this ear counted rs net, the
receipts proper fall nearly $4,000
bales short of those of the CORES
ponding period last year. The
amount shipped in by the Missis-
sippi river and from the lower small
tributaries is deficient 10000 bales.
The bottom lands suffered severely
from the prOtracted wet weather of
the fall and winter, and the year was
Il disastrous one. The hills, which
suffered so from the drought last
year. will make up aportion of their
losses this season.
1t is gratifying to note, however,
that the rate of consumption has
kept pace with the increase IN pro-
duction, and there Is no probability
Of an excessive accumulation of sur
plus stocks to carry into the next
season. American spinners have
been buying freely, and the Europe
an requirements are the largest ever
known. The looms and spindles of
Great Britain and OH the Continent
are now using 10000 bales per
week. America and Europe are
consuming at the rate of 100000
bales per annum,
While India has set out $4,000
bales more since January LIST than
last year there is a deficiency in the
shipments from Egypt of 10000
bales The gain Of 100000 bales in
American receipts is yet mostly in
the visible stocks throughout the
world, which are now 2, 854, 1913 bales.
against 2,483,034 at corresponding
date in 1880.
Preparations for the next crop
have been progressing quite favora-
bly, of late, and the work is now pref
tY well advanced. On the Atlantic
coast it is said the area will be en-
larged, and sales of fertilizers are
on an unprecedented scale. There
is no reason to suppose that through
ont the South the same policy which
has been followed of late years will
not be adhered TO this spring, and
the planting be all that the labor
supply will admit of.--N o. Plea
yu3ie.