The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-25
The Cotton Market.

tons should be addressed.l
The Cotton Market.
Contrary to the expectations o.
thousands OF farmers and many ex
perienced cotton factors, the price o.
the staple has steadily decreased since
the commencement o. the season. Al
that time it was believed that the CROP
would be short over the whole cotton
belt, and it was therefore inferred that
the high opening figures would be
maintained or enhanced. This caused
many to hold their cotton when mid.
ding dropped to 9 cents, believing it
would soon climb up to 10. 1 was one
OF the deluded ones. But prices went
down, stayed down; and there is no
immediate prospect of a rise, in the
face Of official and otherreports, which
show the amount of bales already
marketed nearly 1900 in excess of last
year and estimate the total crop at
nearly 100000 bales.
How far these reports and estimates
are to be believed / cannot say, but
strongly suspect they are not pub
lished in the farmers interest. We
have made fair average crop in this
section, but in many parts of Texas
the yield was very short and even the
acknowledged increased acreage would
not swell the total of the
state beyond last year, while in
other portions of the Cotton
Belt the yield is far below an average.
Subjoined will be found a letter
from correspondent in Tennessee.
He is practical farmer and in po-
sition to know whereof he speaks.
Those who have held their cotton thus
far, cannot suffer by still holding, as
those who have bought on speculation
must soon begin to unload and the
actual proportions of the crop become
known. When this happens, it will
be found that the present big esti-
mates are far beyond the mark. At
least that has been the case in times
past and history will not fail to repeat
itself.
BRUNSWICK, Tenn, Dec. 20.
To the A gricultural Editor of The States
man:
SIR-The cotton crop in Tennessee
is not as yet entirely harvested but
enough has been learned to show us
that we are far short, and all with
whom have talked have been terri
bly, fooled and surprised at the short
age. The most careful observers were
fooled and we amongst them. Ali
concede that such year for farming
they have never passed through. l
should judge the shortage in our
section to be 35 to so per cent in
cotton; corn 80 and wheat 60 to 70.
Luckily the meat crop is tolerably
good. Hogs were plentiful and there
was considerable mast to give them a
share, and what little corn could be
allowed them, put them in very good
condition and those who heve killed
have had favorable weather for say
ing it.
To sum up, will say tt at with
plenty of meat, some corn, some cot
ton, a moderate sprinkle of potatoes,
turnips, etc, | think the Shelby county
farmer will pull through.
They will make greater effort next
season. More fall plowlng has been
done than ever before and they all
seem to realize the fact that they must
do better work and more of it to get
along we'll. H. G. TRoBAUGH.
The Texas farmer, like his brother in
every other part of the world, is apt to
grumble without cause, and magnify
his troubles. When there has been
prolonged spell of dry weather or an
excessive rainfall, both of which con-
ditions sometimes prevail, he forgets
for time the blessings that surround
him and, like the Israelite of old, re-
members only "the flesh pots of
Egypt" He does not know, or know
ing forgets, that since the time that
"Adam delved ar d Eve spun" in Eden
there has been no country perfect
for horticultural pursuits, and
that Texas comes nearer fill.
ing the bill than any other
spot on this terrestrial sphere. This
may appear to be a bold assertion, but
it is no assumption. 1t is capable of
demonstration.
There is no other state or country
on earth where such a diversity of
crops can be raised so successfully and
with so little labor and risk from in
sect pests and climatic influences.
In some part or other of Texas any,
thing that springs from the earth
necessary to the wants and comfort of
man can be grown to perfection, from
the wheat and oats of extreme North
ern latitudes to the tropical orange
and banana.
The fact is, the natural richness of
our soil and genial temperature make
farming so easy that men trust too
much in the goodness of the Lord and
too little in their own efforts.