The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1886-10-30
Stocks of cotton at the mills in Europe and

| o1ocks OF cOttOn at the mills in Europe and
America, at the end of August, were said to
be larger than at same time last year, but the
price OF cotton is lower, the prospective needs
OF spinners are greater and increased stocks
are warranted by the situation.
With an acknowledged improvement in
general business, small present supply OF
cotton and the prospect Of only a moderate
size crop, the average price of cotton should
be higher this year than last.
There is now, it is true, a somewhat widely pre-
yailing opinion, or rather sentiment that be-
cause wheat, corn and some other great staple
products are selling at extremely low prices prices
that are too low to be renumeratve to the producer
cotton also should go to extremely low figures,
Nothing could be more Sallacious or less warranted
by facts Wheat and other cereals are planted on q
large scale in every civilized country in the world
They require but little attention while growing.
and can be harvested with machines at compare.
lively slight cost. Cotton, on the contrary is grown
IN but few countries, and even in those countries
the area favorable to its growth is oflimited ex-
tent Cotton is sort of monopoly and no substitute o
tof II can be found. Its cultivation s-costly. the
piaht when young, requires great deal of working
and the crop Is subject throughout the season to
great many Vlcssitudes, The gathering by nick
ing OF the matured cotton is very expensive is in
tact, the main expense in the making of the crop
NO machines can be brought into use to lessen the
expense ofpicking; the whole work has to be done
py hahd, 10 produce cotton at very low COST as
grain is produced, four things are essential Cheap
iaDor, cheap, good land, an independent financial
cohdltlon among planters, and cheap provisions
None OF these essentials except the last are found
at present IN the cotton Sta ties. Labor Is high
really good cotton. hands bring higher uprce now
Than at any time in the last twenty-five years. plan
ters as body are far from being in condition to
iasea crop without advances. .fromthe commission
merchant or costly credit from the country store
PROVISIONS are already so cheap that it cannot be
expected that the cost Of raising crop will be
lessened by any further decline in them
All this being undoubtedly true why should
cotton go very low, or why should it be compared
as to prices with grain and other products of the
soil that are raised almost everywhere In the
world? That it should be compared with them is
a mere assumption, a sentiment, not q conclusion
arrived at by considering the comparative cost of
raising grain and cotton, or the comparative de-
mand for them after they are raised The demand
for our cereals is variable it is large or small ac
cording as crops in other countries are good or
bad. But the demand for our cotton is steady
and ever on the increase Asan evi-
ience of this fact, for the last sixteen years the
exports of our cotton to Europe have amounted in
value to $3,22l ,SO4,91.
The future prospects ofthe world touching the |
cotton industry seem favorable. The consumption
las increased, and is increasing largely the price
of the raw article is low, about the cost of produc
ion, and we can see no reason why there should |
'e any abatement in the demand for cotton goods,
which are worn in every civilized country otthe |
1abitable globe, and for which there is no sub |
ttute.
In our opinion there is today no industry that |
better return for capital than that OF
and manufacturing. Business |
prospects. in general, are improving throughout |
he United States, and even the planter should
lave hope of receiving a more renumerative re-
urn for his labor.