Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-14
The Present and Prospective Cotton
From

IHe KTe6cht anu II0epecAfc. AOkeOn
Crop.
The receipts Of cotton at all the ports
for the week ending on Friday last were
1S7, 755 bales, against 1S2. 4S3 bales the
week previous. and only 1894 for the
corresponding week last year. These
heavy receipts indicate that despite the
approximately severe fall and winter
through which we have passed, the
largest crop ever known in the history OF
the South has been made-a crop which
is now being freely estimated at from
6.25O.0O0 to $500, 900 bales. The large
receipts too are having their legitimate
effect on prices, which have been sink
ing steadily for about six weeks past,
and which will probably continue to sink
until lessening Of receipts gives lndica-
ton that the end has been reached.
That there will sooner or later be a
reaction in prices, however, is very
probable. At this moment the market
is influenced by the number of bales al
ready received and still coming in, and
also by the fact that it is pretty well I'M
derstood that there is still large amount
of cotton in the country awaiting ship
ment. But there is scarcely doubt
that the bad weather Of the
past season must have injuriously affect
ed the staple to very great extent, and
so a much larger percentage of the crop
than usual is poor and damaged cotton.
After while this fact will be ascertain
ed, and then in all probability there will
be decided advance, though how long
before the percentage of damaged cotton
is discovered, and consequently how
long it will be before prices cease to de-
cline and begin to advance, experience
alone can decide.
OF one thing, however, our farmer
friends can certainly rest assured, and
that is that there is danger that the
cotton crop Of the South may be over
done. If in face of the remarkably
bad season, a crop Of very considerably
over six million bales can be made and
thrown on the market. what a tremen-
dous crop can be made, even with pres
emit acreage, in an ordinarily good sea-
sonf And if prices are only kept up to,
their present standard, because of the
known fact that an unusually large per
centage Of the present crop has been
injured, how low would they be if the
amount of good cotton was in its usual
proportion? Yet we see it stated in all
our country exchanges that already
planters are preparing for an increased
acreage next year throughout this State,
and doubtless the same is true of the
entire South. Inasmuch, therefore, as
it is not probable that we
shall experience another such unfa-
vorable season as we have had this
year, it is but reasonable to presume
that the crop next year will hardly fall
short of seven million bales, and the
percentage of good cotton will, as COM
pared with the present crop, be largely
increased. What then will become of
prices2 Is there not danger that they
will fall so low that the farmer will, if ne
does not actually lose money. realize no
profit.
With these facts staring the planters
in the face it seems to US that they
would act wisely if instead of directing
all their energies to cotton, they would
determine to raise provisions necessary
for their farm and household
supplies at home 1t will be
bad enough for them to 0verstock the
market to such an extent as to make
production proftless; but it would be
hundred per cent. worse for them to be
forced to take what money they do re-
ceive from their crops and send it all to
the West for meat and other necessaries
of life.
1t is we'll nigh useless, we are well
aware, to dwell on this subject. The
farmers. for the most part, will continue
to plant cotton to the exclusion of nearly
everything else, and will not realize their
mistake until too late. If, however, any
of our planters will take heed, and de-
termine to make themselves independent
of low prices by raising their own sup
plies, these warnings will be appreciated