The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-10-02
The Cotton Crop.

Possibly Lhe course Of cotton prices
will serve to convince some Of our fanati-
cal free silver friends that they were
going little too fast in fouting the law
of supply and demand. They will
doubtless be prepared to admit that there
has been no change in the silver situation
to account for the advance in the price of
cotton within a twelve-month from 3
cents to 81 cents; while on the other
hand they behold great increase in the
demand for cotton goods and reduction
of three million bales in the crop, or
thirty per cent. Our farmers need free
dom for silver coinage. A contracted
currency unquestionably necessitates low
prices; but prices would not be so low as
TO be unremunerative if the supply were
not in excess Of the demand.
Neill, of New Orleans, whose cotton
crop estimates have been singularly veri-
fed for the last several years, judges the
present crop to be from 100000 to 1885,
600 bales, and so great is the confidence
in his judgment that prices have again
risen sharply and are now higher than
they have averaged for five years. The
largo purchases of spots in Liverpool at
the advanced price, Notwithstanding the
great stocks on hand, testify to the belief
cf manufacturers in the permanence OF
the improvement. Indeed, the general
belief seems to be that cotton will go con.
siderably higher before it reaches its level
Of value, for consumption is heavy and
constantly increasing with the advance o.
the business revival.
A friend writes US from Memphis:
"My business engagements carry me
into portions Of six States which l have
covered regularly for the last year. l
have Just finished making trip over five
OF these States right in the heart of the
greatest cotton country in the world.
Owing to The very excessive hot weather
the cotton has matured very rapidly and
there is at least IS per cent. OF the crop
open and ready for gathering. There is,
however, an unusual amount Of sickness
among the laborers. Could they have q
fair chance at picking the crop would be
all housed by November l, without
doubt.
"Fair, impartial judges say that in
large sections the crop will be 40 per cent
short on the acreage planted, which is
estimated to be rs per cent. Of last year.
have observed the conditions very
closely, and have no hesitation in writ
ing you, 80 that you may, If you see
proper, advise our farmers as to the dis
position of their crop.
'iThe farmers out here are better fixed
than for many years, in the way of sup
plies, and the business men are all In
good spirits, as they have not advanced
largely this year and will collect we'll
They look forward to a good winters
trade"
The only danger we can see now is that
the unusually rapid opening Of cotton,
and perhaps the necessities Of the far
mere, may force the crop to market too
fast, and thus depress the price. Itseems
to us that cotton oughtto bring over nine
cents before the close of the year if it is
marketed with moderation. That would
be Just twice the price that great deal o1
cotton was sold for last year. For two
weeks last December cotton brought only
Al cents in the local market. Yesterday
1t brought 8 cents. What an infinite
difference in the condition of our people
that implies
We not only have present and prospec-
tive prices which would have been con-
sidered good ten years ago but the cotton
has been made fully 33 per cent. cheaper,
and the farmers have raised their own
supplies. This ought to be winter Of
debt paying and prosperity, teaching 8
lesson Of infinite value to the farmers o1
the South.-C0lun,biG State.