The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-10-05
President Lane Predicts Higher
Prices For Cotton.


Hon. Hector d. Lane, president
of the American Cotton Growers
Protective Association, under date
of September 2sth, has issued the
following circular to cotton grow
ers:
Twenty days ago, in advance of
the bureau report, l issued circu-
lar stating the crop conditions and
warning you against a hasty disposi-
ton or marketing of your cotton.
The cotton buyers and "bears, J"
spectators, ridiculed that circular,
but when it was more than confirm
ed by the government bureau, they
began 10 have some respect for my
investigation.
Since that time the crop has
deteriorated to such an extent as to
amount TO a disaster. No such
weather has ever before been seen
in the cotton districts. The worms
have continued to do great damage
and even from districts like the Tai
lahatchie river in Mississippi, where
the crop was said to be good, there
comes information of a forty per
cent deticiehcy. The best authori-
ties put the Texas output at 1885,
600 bales, or less. The cotton plant
is now practically dead throughout
the South, and frost tonight would
do, but little, if any damage. In
my opinion this crop cannot exceed
$500, 600 bales, maximum.
Even Mr.. Neill has been CON-
PEELED to reduce his estimate to
maximum of 1880, 900 bales, with
possibilities of much less. What
he termed possibility when his
circular was issued, is now an estab-
lished fact; and 1T is difficult to see
how Mr.. Neil as statlstician, can
fail to recognize this fact when he
issues bis next circular.
The situation as to the price of
cotton Is plain. The European
manufacturers relying upon mistaken
information given them about the
size of this crop, and not realizing
i'm time that the world is on trade
boom, have sold manufactured
goods ahead until July of next year.
To make these goods they must
have your cotton, or ruin themselves
by violating their contracts. They,
as we'll as the American spinners,
ave caught in trap. This crop is
too small for all of them to get their
full share. America, Mexico, Cana
da and Japan viii consume mini
mum OF 5000, 900 bales. This will
leave $500, 900 to be distributed be-
tween G reat Britain and the CONT
nent, against $500, 600 bales last
year. This will wipe out the visible
supply and create a panic among
cotton buyers. The price of cotton
has come to stay, and to go very
much higher.
Last year the manufacturers
reaped a golden harvest by buying
five cent cotton. 1t is now your
turn. They know that the crop IS
all open and can be marketed be-
fore December lst. They expect
you to bite at the bait held out by
the present so-caIled "great rise"
and rush your cotton forward and
press it for sale. They will then
stay out of the market hoping that
the weight of the cotton offered
would depreciate the price. | i'm
plore you not to do this. Sell, as
they try to buy, from hand to
mouth, and before January you will
have the American, English and
Continental buyers out-bidding each
other for every bale of your cotton
you have to sell. Do not be
deceived by the advice of New York
s.bear" circulars disguised under a
sbuIl's" hide. Under present crop
and trade conditions, your cotton is
worth lO1 cents. Do not sacrifice
it because last year it sold for five
cents and now is selling for eight
and one-half cents.