Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-19

Items of Interest About II, As
Viewed by Latham, Alex
ander d. Co.

The eighth annual edition ofMessrs.
Latham, Alexander & Co.'s publica-
tion on the movement and fluctuations
of cotton has been issued, and through
the kindly favor of the New York
bankers and cotton commission mer-
chants mentioned, copy has reached
this Office. The work is not published
to be sold, but is distributed gratu
itously among the friends and Gus
toners of the firm. 1t contains fund
Of valuable information in relation to
cotton that cannot be found else
where, and all Of its 123 pages are
exquisite specimens of typographical
skill. The book is both useful and
ornamental in the highest sense of
those terms. The following extracts
from the report are especially inter
esting. "The cotton business Of New
York for the past year again shows an
increase. The total receipts have
been 1,160,987 bales, of which 19l ,8l2
were received from the interior direct.
Sales from the table amounted to
32l, ,275 bales, and deliveries on con-
tracts to 1900 bales. Deliveries on
contracts, or cotton for future deliv-
cry, reached a total for the year Of
over 28,0O0,OOO bales. Present indi-
cations are that business in future
delivery cotton will be very active
during the coming year" In regard
to the future of the cotton interest,
which Messrs. Latham, Alexander &
Co. consider very promising, they say:
"The new cotton year begins with
every promise of healthy and salts
factory business, although we enter
upon the season with an excess of
some 100000 bales over last year,
much of which, however, is low cot
ton. Should the crop prove very
short, prices must greatly advance,
and while many individual planters
will suffer serious losses, the pro-
ducing districts, as a whole, will re
alize substantial profit for their labor.
A full rate of consumption may be
expected throughout the world, for
the manufacturing interest generally
is in a Aourishing condition, and the
natural increase from year to year in
the worlds population renders a cor
responding increase in the production
of cotton fabrics necessary. During
the year English and continental
spinners have experienced an un-
precedented demand Tor goods, and
while the increase this year cannot
be expected to be as large as last, it
may in the end prove to bo consider
able. The remarkable growth and
prosperity of our own country war
rants belief in continued large bust
ness and increased consumption
While the falling off in our crop, on
account of the drought, is a matter of
serious consideration, and may for
time cause a curtailment of purchases
by our merchants, other favorable
conditions existing in the United
States cannot be overlooked, for they
are such as are liable to fully counter
act the adverse influence of a partial
failure of our crop. Stocks of cotton
andImanuiactured goods held by our
mills are small and profits of spinners
entirely satisfactory, the material
wealth of the country has increased
several hundred million dollars within
the past three years, and the con-
tinued influx Of emigrants from all
parts of Europe is much greater than
ever before known, and, consisting in
part of much better class, adds to
our requirements of cotton goods. Our
mills are all running full time, the
number OF spindles has been
increased and new mills have
been built. This is particularly
the case throughout the Southern
States, when there is every evidence
of energy and enterprise, and wher,
cotton spinning is destined to becom,
the leading industry" The prospect
i've supply to be drawn from othe
countries than America are estimated
by Messrs. Latham, Alexander
Co., as follows: From India an