The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-05

through the month, save a beginning of
drought IN Texas, and some complaints OF
vermin in the eastern section. These got
the bureaus July condition down TO ",
and prospects continued. in the main,
favorable for some two weeks longer
Then began an unprecedented spell OF
hot dry weather. People on the southern
sea coast, famed by daily breezes, found
the weather hot enough, but could hardly
realize the terrible, sitting temperature
which, in northern and western cities,
carried off men and animals by hundreds.
But 1t was otherwise in the interior of the
south.
Over the broad fields, unshaded and un-
famed, burned the fierce sun for
week after week, without a let up or
cooling shower. There is no room for ar
mument-no living thing, animal or veg
etable could long endure in such fur
mace. Crops Of all kinds wilted, shrivelled
and died.
BY Aug. l. the bureau stated the condi-
ton had fallen to 80; but the August
weather was worse still. Up to then this
immediate section, Georgia and South
Carolina, had Jared better, and good crops
were still expected the first two weeks of
August, however, changed everything.
The sudden deterioration of the
crop was almost Incredible. The
weather from the middle of July to
the middle Of August unquestonably
y.
at the same time 1t was a blessing in dis
guise; for a crop of 100000 or 11000,00
bales would have been an unmitigated
calamity.
Toward the latter part of August, the
hot, dry spell was broken, and some sec
tons claim to have hopes Of new growth
of the parched plant. Most reports, how
ever, say the relief was too late and that
no material benefit can accrue.
1t is probable that the crop in the sec
ton tributary to Savannah has Jared as
well as any section. Some districts in
Georgia and South Carolina have been
especially favored. and viii probably
make a full average crop; such instances
however, are exceptional. The quality of
the early receipts is of an unusually high
grade. One effect of the extreme heat
was to cause the crop to mature much
earlier than usual, picking was general
almost by Aug. l. Receipts of new cot
ton during August approximated 100000
bales, something never heard of before.
The early Texas receipts were especially
heavy.
While it is still too early to make a def
mite estimate of the crop, the early
maturity makes it possible to roughly APP
proximate the general result.
The condition reported by the bureau
give a decline of over Il points for July;
the decline in August must certainly have
been more-we may reasonably estimate
the latter at not less than Is points. Call
ing, then, the September condition Go
we may arrive at some idea as to the
probable yield.
For the past seven years the crop has
averaged 7,950,0O0 bales, and the Septem-
Der condition 80. Allowing for an acreage
increase of Is per cent. above the normal
Qast year may be called slightly below
the normaD, the probable crop this year
is somewhat below 100000. Deducting
the unusual receipts of last August, say,
10000 bales, we would have only say, Z,
$4,000 bales for the next commercial crop.
Last year the world used about 5000 900
bales of American cotton, at about 8 cents
in southern markets There were. heavy
reserves from which to piece out the short
crop. Now, such reserves are used up.
and there is no likelihood of anything
like 100000 bales being produced. Ger
tainly, therefore, cotton should sell this
year for as much as it did last year,
and it is not unreasonable to look for a
higher average.