Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-17
Cotton Production and Consump-

I
ton.
The best estimates made by expe-
rienced cotton men Of the cotton crop of
! lSS4-S5, placed it at $50, COO bales. The
actual crop, according TO the statement Of
/ the Financial Chronicle, was 5,669.02
bales, against 3, 7l4052 bales the previous
year, and 6,992, 234 for the year 1882 80,
which last was by nearly 100000 bales the
largest ever produced in the United
States; the next largest being that OF
! 1S80-Sl, which was {, 1853, 329 bales. OF the
crop of the year 1919 there were $780,
1876 bales exported-2, sS8, 468 bales going
TO Great Britain, the spinners Of this
country took l,6S5,6S9 bales, while the
stock on hand Sept. l, 1885, was only 120,-
539 bales. or the cotton taken by mills
! in the United States, the Northern States
took l, 100000 bales, while the Southern
States took 266, 900 bales.
The falling of in the consumption of
cotton IN this country during the year
ending Sept. l, 1885, was notable, the
consumption Of the year 1883 81, having
been 1,S7T,517 bales; that of 1sS2-S3
2,O6l, 900; that OF 1S91-s2, 1866, 2O6; that
OF lSS0-Sl, 1856, 900; and that of 1879-S0,
1,74O,0O0 bales. This falling off in con-
sumption was the result OF the general
shut down OF American mills during a
part Of the summer. The shut down came
from the depression in the cotton goods
trade, the small profits In many instances
mills running at a positive loss ), and the
unsatisfactory condition of the trade gen.
orally. Besides, an extraordinarily large
cotton crop was almost uniformly pre-
dlcted for the present year (1SS5-S6), and
spinners were not disposed to buy cotton
TO keep their mills running the whole
summer when the prospect was that there
was to be a considerable decline in the
prices of tho raw material as soon as the
crop should fairly begin to come in. 1t
seems that no safe policy was left for the
spinners but that Of mastery inactivity.
The stock in their hands on Sept. l was
only $4,000 bales. This shows that they
were extremely timid, and were deter
mined not to be caught Ia a trap Of their
own building.
The Chronicle takes a very encouraging
view OF the cotton situation at the Open
ing OF the present season. 1t thinks that
no crop ever promised better at the mid
die Of August, but it admits that reports
since that date have shown an almost
universal falling off in the condition and
prospects Of the crop. An increased yield,
however, is considered pretty certain,
after discOunting all unfavorable cOndi-
lions, In almost every cotton State. With
commendable prudence, the Chronicle
does not attempt to estimate the probable
crop Of the year 1886. A month or six
weeks ago the reckless statement was
made that it would be likely to reach
100000 bales. Later estimates placed it
ut 100000, but from present indications
the South will be fortunate should the
yield reach G, 500. 900 bales.
The outlook for the consumption OF cot
ton for the present year is encouraging.
The general suspension of the mills has,
to a great extent, relieved the cotton
goods market Of surplus stock, and 1t is
| more than probable that the demand and
the supply will very soon reach a normal
relation. There is no prospect of boom
or Of any large margins of profit, nor can
the producer expect any very consider
able advance in the price Of cotton in the
near future. II the crop should show in
dicatiOns OF falling far under 1000, 900
bales, steady advance in price may be
looked for later in the season.