The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-12
THE COTTON OUTLOOK.
NIr. Hester OF New Orleans Revlews the
Situation.

Situation.
NEW ORLEANS. Sept. 3.-Secretary
Hester's New Orleans Cotton Ex-
change report on the cotton crop was
issued in full to-day. After stating
that the crop for 1884 was 1,349819
! bales, an excess of 849,452 over last
year, he says: The largest part uf the
gain was in the group
| OF Atlantic States. consist
ing of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and
North Carolina, which ran ahead. The
Gulf States, Arkansas, Louisiana Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee. increased 351,-
coo, while Texas dropped off $1,000.
Mr. Hester puts the average commercl-
al value of the crop at $3.50 per bale,
against $42 80 last year, 80 in 1891
%, and the total value was 1888, ,1l8,OOO,
against 1924, 10000 last year and $685.
$4,000 the year before, showing the
remarkable fact that while tie output
of the last year has been 1892 bales
in excess of the year before, its COM
mercial value is 81 ,632, 900 less.
Mr.. Hester says with an average of
1,2 cents per pound which the crop
brought, planters as class would have
been bankrupt had they adhered to
their old policy OF all cotton and little
food crops and instances the significant
fact that the cotton States produce
over S146,OO0,0O0 of corn, nearly al Of
which was consumed where grown.
In reference to acreage, he says the
published estimates are still Gnsatis-
factory, and comments on the inten-
ton of q change Of the base of compar-
ison on that subject by the United
States Agricultural Department being
first made known through an Eagilsh
source. From this information the
statistician Of the Washington Depart
ment has written to a prominent mem
Der of the House giving as his opinion
that the cotton acreage Of 1893 was
100000 acres, or more than 100000
acres over the heretofore published
estimates. NJ. Hester announces the
result of his Investigations in this
movement under new system, saying
that several hundred thousand bales
have hitherto been credited by the
trade to Gulf States which properly be-
longed to Atlantic States and that facts
show the seat of cotton production has
not been moving Westward as rapidly
as supposed.
The commercial crop in bales is given
as follows, in thousand bales for 1893 =
81: Alabama, 935; Arkansas, 625; Flor
ida, so; Georgia, 1,125; Louisiana, 400;
Mississippi, GIG; North Carolina, 425;
South Carolina, $50; Tennessee, ETC.,
275; Texas and Indian Territory, 2,0o9 l..
Total crop, 7,550,O00 bales.
In relation to American mills, Mr..
Hester says the season has been any
thing but favorable, North or south.
On the heels of their largely decreased
Zakings for1892-93 Northernmills show
a further reduction for the past season
of 86,11 bales. The effect of financial
stringency and delay as to tariff legisla-
tion also decidedly were depressing ins
tluences in this industry, and for the
first time since the war set back is to
be recorded. Instead Of an increase Of
81, bales, which with anything like last
years crop would have resulted from
bringing into full play the new spindles
added in the South at the close of last
year and the early part of the present
season, Southern consumption has fall
en- off 25,333 bales. The total takings
North as shown were 1901, ,173, against
1851, 1856 last year and 2,l90,766 the year
before, while the mills in the South re-
port as their consumption Gncluding
takings from ports) 7l8.5l5, against
743,84S in 1892 93, and 6S6,0S0 in 1891
92.
Commenting on the outlook for cot
ton consumption in the South, Mr..
Hester says with a return to normal
conditions there is promise not only for
an increase of 62,000 bales per annun
in the products of mills now in opera
ton, but tables show twenty-one new
mills not completed with nearly 100000
spindles, besides thirty-six idle mills
with 10000 spindles, good part of
which would be brought into play. In
other words, the South has 2,0W 600
spindles with a.consumptive capacity
of $4,000 bales per annum.