The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
The COTTON CROP of 1ss7.ss.

deal of ground, and includes statistics that
cannot be adequately presented in brief
synopsis such as we propose to make.
The total crop for the year is 7,O17,7O7
bales, an increase of more than half mill
ion bales over the crop of the year previous.
The total receipts at the Atlantic and Gulf
shipping ports this year have been 5,6O2632
bales against 5 1920, 1924 bales last year, and
$500. $50 bales in 18S5S6.
The total amount of cotton carried over
land this year was l ,441 ,020 bales, against
1892 1917 bales last year and ,260,270 bales
the previous year, and the movement direct
to manufacturers this year reaches 81, T02
bales, against 795, 070 bales year ago and
S13 ,529 bales in 1856. This shows an in
crease over last year of 40, T53 bales in the
gross movement, and an increase Of 1862
bales in the net movement.
The Chronicle says that the season now
just closing is likely long to remain con-
spicuous for the results obtained in the cot
ton goods trade of Europe. 1t ranks above
all previous years for large production, both
on the continent and in Great Britain; 1t is
notable for the better margin which has
existed through the twelve months between
yarn and the raw material; it deserves dis
tinction for the regularity with which prices
have been sustained, notwithstanding the
large production; and it adds another year
to the new cycle in the growth of England's
cotton goods export trade.
Increase of population, as a measure of
the worlds growth in capacity for the con-
sumption of cotton fabrics, becomes OBJ
viously misleading and fallacious In the
light of current facts. European spindles
In 1929 consumed only 5,116,000 bales of
cotton, of 400 pounds each; in 1687-S8, fif-
teen years later, they consumed 1851 200
bales, of same weight--that is to say, while
population was increasing twelve to fifteen
| per cent, the consumption of European
| spindles increased nearly fifty per cent.
| In the south the activity and development
| descriptive of the previous year have in no
| considerable measure abated. The best cot
| ton crop ever raised was produced last sea-
son, and fair price was obtained for the
! staple. Railroad construction has kept up
in that section all the time, and very large
part of the total road built this year in
| America will be in the southern states. Be-
sides that, capital is finding its way south in
largely increasing volume and is being put
into industrial enterprises Of all kinds, and
with excellent results. Cotton manufacture
has been abundantly profitable, as
has been generally the case through
out the country; but at the south,
this season has proved the best the
industry has ever experienced. The balance
sheets of the mills show much better than
even the dividends have indicated AS a
consequence, spindles have increased about
ten per cent and are increasing rapidly
consumption of cotton has increased thir-
teen per cent, and will take another jump
this year. For the time being, this industr
is not only growing but solidifying. 1t has
passed its pubescent period.
The Chronicle has continued this year Ia
work begun last Year, to gather full infor-
nation with regard to the operations and
development of southern factories during
the season. Within the last month it has
not only procured from each mill returns as
to the actual consumption of cotton in bales
and pounds, but has also obtained full de-
tails of spindles working, idle, and added,
during the twelve months, as well as the
development anticipated in the immediate
future. The returns have been much more
prompt than they were year ago, so that il
gives the actual condition in these particrl-
lars of almost every factory in operation in
the south and the additions in progress. The
number of mills in operation have been 235,
having /, III, 901 spinning spindles, against
2l9 last year, with 1,096,662 spindles, and
164 in 1879-the census year--with sci, 1850
spndles.
In addition to the foregoing there are now
II more mills, almost completed, and about
40 more actually building, while there are
reported by old mills 100000 new spindles
which they state it is their intention to put
in in the coming year. Taking these fact:
in connection with the figures of actual con.
sumption-443, 3373 bales of 1921 pounds net
weight this year, against 1893, 466 bales Of
450S IS pounds net weight last year and 1885,.
748 bales of 464 pounds net weight the
census year-one obtains an extremely
gratifying exhibit of the progress made anC
making in this industry in the south. The
largest additions in spindles during the veal
have been in North and South Carolina, bu
the largest growth in consumption of cotton
has been in Georgia and North Carolina.
o