The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-11-10

The recent fluctuations ia the
price OF cotton ARE Of great Interests
To tho cotton planter. III. price of
cotton ID now, aud has teen for the
past year, aDnornally low. The cost
OF production has been greater than
ii'c selling price in all seetions Of
the cotton producing district. This
has produced u general atring .ncy ia
basiness circles sad much ua.ncial
embarrassment .nd die.re.s among
the planters. The result Of these
we're plainly shown ~ planting time,
when the acreage sas reduced about
10 PR cent. according 10 reliable c.
t'nates, aud the hard times inllu-
enccd the purchase Of fertilizers TO
such su extent that their usc Is re-
ported TO DO greatly decreased from
last year Consequently there has
bceu less cotton planted, aud what
Mas planted was fertilized less. Add
to this the fact that the season has
Oh the average bceu bad. aud worms
are doing much damage ip some Sec
tons, aud the certainty Of greatly
reduced crop becomes apparent
Last years crop is loosiy spoken
~ 3 100000 bale crop. IL the
acreage has bceu reduced 10 per cent.
the crop if oqual in every other re-
spect to last year, would be only
about 100000 of bales But the
condition Is shown BY official reports
70 be about 100000 bales. In ad-
dition to this, the low price Of cotton
has stimulated the use and consump-
ton Of cotton in new channels, aud
the spinning demand for tic coming
year. IL these figures be true, or
anything near it, the surplus will
soon vanish aud short crop com
mand high price. Spectators are
taAlas bold OF cotton like they be-
licyed ia this condition.
Strikes are reported N the British
mills by the daily pres. 1t is
good time for the spocuh.tor to get
up IA few strikes IN the British mills
If he can, because during the month
Of October and November the cotton
planter markets the bulk of hi. crop,
and If prices can be- kept down until
tie speeulator squcczcs the cotton
ont Of the farmers handa, he vii
get full bcnciit II the rlsc which
present conditions indicate as higl.-
y probable. The condition seems
a. De one ia which the bears are
lgh:ing an inevitable rise III every
possible manner. aud while they lose
ground slowly, the delays are utilized
BY the specuiator in gobbling up
every bale possible.
IL seems, therefore that cotton
must bring II better price later 10 the
srason but the Economist does not
desire TO be held responsible for any
man holding his cotton That is
speculation, and every man must
speculate oil his own judgment.
AZ rule, farmers who have held
their cotton have not been rs we'll
satisfied with their results a. those
| VINO sold on the market as they were
rcady. There is, however, no doubt
! tha: = planter able to hold bis cotton
at home, with lao cxpense for inter-
est, storage, etc, .ho keeps posted
Oh the maj kets aud Uses good judg-
ment aud holds o1ly high grade cot
tons, can make it pas nini well, very
often, to hold sometimes for year
or two. But when a man is in debt
aud paying interest, or when he ID
compelled to hypcthecate the cotton
for money to run on or to pay debts,
and tiieu has storage aud commission
aud other charges to pay, IL becomes
very different question and a very
doubtful policy.
| The prospects of better prices for
ccttcn are good, and IT shouid be re-
me.abered that high grade cottons
are the best to keep because they
have less competition late in the sea-
son. 1t is now u good time for some
intelligent Cooperation among tie
American cotton planters. If the
surplua be absorbed this season aud
the planters can be masters of the
situation for years 10 come if they
will cooperate with the next season
opening short and keep it short all
winter.
The Economist viii make a special
feature of keeping the cotton plan
ters posted, and be as valuable to
them rs Bradstreet's is to the mer-
chant.-Nationai Economist.