The morning call., 1894-09-12
The COTTON CROP.

Cotton has always been a leading staple
in this country. 1t is still holding its posi-
tiou remarkably well. despite the great
depreciation 10 the value of the article.
The last crop year was somewhat remark
able along these lines. There was n large
increase in the product, but owing to the
general depression in values the gross
monetary results fell off somewhat. The
secretary of the New Orleans Cotton Ex-
change has recently submitted some statis-
tics in this busi ess which are cf public
interest. He reports the crop for 1S93.94
at 7,549,S79 bales. of an estimated money
value of $2SS. lis, 900. This is equivalent to
$37 so per bale, against $40 80 per bale for
the previous year. The yield last year
shows an increase OF S49, 452 bales over
1928, and yet the aggregate value of the
total crop was 1902. 600 less. But for the
mixture Of other crops along with cotton
planters last year would have ended the
year very poorly. Diversifcation of crops
saved some of them from bankrurtcy.
The home consumption was unfayorably
affected by the disturbed condition of gen.
eral business. Tariff agitation in Congress
also contributed much to restrict the de-
mand. This condition was quite as notice
able in the mills of the South as in the
North. The mills in the Northern States
took less cotton in 1928 than in 1922,
and still less last year. The total takings
by those mills in the last harvest year
were 1,601, 1913 bales. This Is $4,000 bales
less than for the previous year. The in
crease in the number of spndles placed In
the factories at the South gave ground for
expecting a considerable gain in the con-
sumption of cotton. The enlarged plants
indicated an increase of $1,000 bales. But
this expectation was not realized by long
way. In fact, there was considerable de-
crease. The total takings of the mills at
the South in the last crop year were
7l8,515 bales, against 74364S bales for the
previous year. This shows that the addi-
tions were not utilized because of the dull
condition of trade. But the fact that the
mills In the South have increased their
working capacity is good sign and the
new spindles will all be whirling upon the
return Of good times in that section.
Cotton culture is a special feature of less
than dozen States, which belong to the
Southern and Southwestern group.
Though not originally prominent in this
industry, Texas has for some years held
the leading position among whstare known
as the cetton States. There is, perhaps.
100000 acres devoted to the plant In all
sections of the country. Texas and the
Indian Territory are credited with 2,059, 900
bal's of the total product last year. The
next heaviest producer is Georgia, which
is given total Of 1,125,O00 bales. In SIX
other States the yield was from 400, 600 to
935.O0O bales. Tennessee is good for
20U, 900 to 100000 bales per annum, and
little Florida from $4,000 to 75, 600 bales.
There have been some attempts to raise
cotton in California. There are some To-
calities where the success OF such crop
appears to be possible so far as soil and
climate are concerned. The only real dif-
fcultv in the way of developing the in
dustry. to any extent in this State has been
in the cost of production. With good mid
land cotton selling at an average of tx
cents per pound, which was about the
price for the past year, it is found cheaper
10 bring the article in from Texas than to
cultivate 1t in the southern counties of
California. 1t is still, however, among the
possible productions of the future, even in
this State.