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

On ACCOUNT Oh the pIdCeo DelHS IOTC0u un-
reasonably high, the demand did NOT
slacken until after Christmas, when the
crop developed such hugh proportions.
The early demand bridged over the time
when the season is usually extremely
dull, when consumers are not ready to
buy, and are waiting for stocks to ac-
cumulate so as to exercise some care in
the matter of selection.
In December the accounts received from
the country all agreed that the entire
crop had been gathered, and that such of
it as had not been marketed, was in the
gins Many advices went so far as 10 say
that the cows had been turned into the
fields. Figuring on the receipts then, and
making every allowance for underesti-
mates for the cotton still to come for
ward, the universal verdict was that un-
der no circumstances could the crop ex-
coed $4,000 bales. AS this became general
ly known to the trade, orders came in
for large quantities. Prices advanced full
~ cent on Georgias and IL to cents on
Floridas, and record breaking business
was done on the advance. The stock was
all swept off the market, down to the
holding cotton. which unfortunately was
in too large proportions, and was carried
over, with the effect of depressing the
price after Christmas, when the trade
was informed of the large top-crop, which
was then being gathered.
After Jan. l, 1896, receipts began to pile
in The trade was not looking for such
developments; it had been informed that
the crop was exhausted. Orders came in
too slowly to absorb the receipts, and
each succeeding order was at reduced linn
it's, so that prices were hammered down.
Sales were small, and receipts very much
larger than sales, so that the stocks con-
tinually increased and the market as con-
tinually slumped. With no cir
Stiffan OriHeE and
factors completely at the mercy
of buyers, the inevitable conse-
quence was a decline from 3 to acc. per
pound all along the line. until bottom was
touched and business resumed healthy
tone. The crop of 1886 was the largest
known, amounting to 92,7l8 bales.
Included in this are about 1000 bales rails
ed in Texas, most of which was sold in
Charleston. Savannah merchants declined
to assist in any manner in disposing OF
Texas sea islands, wishing to discourage
it's growth there.
The fall of 1895 was an open one, with
scarcely any rain during the picking sea-
son in the whole sea island belt. One re-
suit was remarkably fine grade of the
fleece. All of the cotton graded high, and
poor cotton was scarce. In fact very little
poor cotton came to market until January,
1895, when the top crop commenced to
move. Mills that used the lower grades
were greatly troubled over their prospect
for obtaining stocks. Fortunately the later
cotton was pretty much all of the quality
they wanted and there was a great abund-
ance of it, While the prices for Georgias
huctuated but little all through the fall,
the market for Floridas was badly demon
allied on account of large quantities of
Georgias being hauled over the state line
and shipped from Florida points. Much of
these Georgias was vastly inferior to
= Of1f aptnrs' boards I'M
der the classification of Floridas, which
was confusing to the buyers, and brought
considerably lower prices than the straight
genuine article held by other factors Bus
mess is done with such rush that buyers
are compelled often to take the word OF
factors as TO the locality in which the
ton was raised, and purchases are made
often on faith Attention being called to
the cotton raised in Georgia and shipped
from Florida points, the quality being
equal BUYERS do not hesitate to pay as
much for one cotton as the other.
A great deal of attention was paid to
the staple of the cotton during the last
season. Rough, short staples were object
ed to, and were hard to sell. On the other
hand. full staple cotton commanded
premium. To a greater extent this will
be the rule during the coming season.
OF the cotton carried over, while a small
part of IL is Of good quality, the most of
it is very poor quality top-crop cotton.
While the season of 1886 opened withun-
precedentedly small stocks of sea islands,
with the country entirely bare and with
an actual shortage, the coming season will
open with the mills pretty we'll supplied,
and with considerable stock on hand In
connection with this must be considered
the fact that the country is upset with
politics. A Presidential election is at
hand, and there is sope doubt as to what
the value Of the dollar will be after the
election is over. All OF this Is calculated
to make the trade look forward to a dis
couraging opening. The prospect is not
at all bright.
There Is, however. one mitigating fea-
ture of the situation, namely, the uses to
which sea island cotton are put have been
extended. The increased demand ought
to be equal to the increased stocks and
production. Ii may be of interest to note
one of the new ways in which sea island
are used The best makes of pneumatic
tires for bicycles. now use sea island cot
ton as a reinforcing fabric. 1t has been
demonstrated by experience that no other
product makes such satisfactory fabric
for tires as this cotton. The tires have I'M
usual strength and resliency, and wear
longer. 1t is estimated that last year
quite 1900 bales of sea island cotton were
used in pneumatic bicycle tires, and there
are good reasons for believing the demand
will be much greater the coming year.
Manufacturers of the best tires insist up
on having the very finest grades of cot
ton, and they watch the market for the
grades they desire. For there are times
when the quality they want cannot be had
for love or money. The ctmparative re-
auctions in the prices Of SEA islands have