The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-04
ANNUAL COTTON REPORT.
Interesting Statistics Compiled BY
Secretary Hester.
MILLS ARE MOVING TO THE PRODUCT,
Consumption In the North Has RE-
manned ma Formerly While i'm the
south IL Has Doubled.

Hester's New Orleans cotton exchange an
nual report was issued today.
After stating the cotton crop for 1850
he says that fiye-siAths Of the excess was
In the group of States known as the At
lantic and other Gulf Sta;es. The Gulf
States consisting OF Alabama. Georgia,
| Florida, North and South Carolina in
creased $4,000 bales. and the other Gull
States--Arkansas, Louisiana. Mississippi.
Tennessee. oklahoma and Missouri--6o9,-
600. while the excess in Texas Increased
(includng Indian Territory 2s5.0oo Mr..
Hester puts the average commercial value
of tie crop at s36.76 per bale. against sli 90
last year and $50 In lS94-95. aud the total
value 1921 1926. 00o, against 1924, .oC0 last
lear and $297 .0SS, 900 the year before. show
ing that the South obtained this year uear-
ly $4,000, 900 more than last year and $685.
100000 more than was received for the
1901 GOO bale crop of iS9i-95. He also as
serts that the latter represents much less
than the net gain 10 the grower, consider
iEg the difference in cost Of raising the two
crops, that the past crop cost growers less
than any yet produced.
He reports the total spindles In the South
at S,S5l,H9l, an increase over last year or
los 75S. These include $50 $50 new. not
complete most of which may DO brought
into play early this tall and winter. The.
net gain in the number OF southern mills
over last year has been Z, making the total
number ASP and the consumption Is di-
vided as follows: Alabama 81 SIS. increase
g5TS, Arkansas S26. decrease 1871; Georgia
226,51l. increase 1899, Kentucky "a, III
increase 1896; Louisiana 1888, increase
2623; Mississippi l7,6i2, Increase SCI, Mis-
18th raIf nu
25S, 1923, increase 26.Sbi: South Carolina
327 ,64S, Incl ease 729i3; Tennessee SobS4,
decrease 1888 Texas 1900, increase 1881 !;
Virginia S9107. increase 1928. total South
ern consumption l.0i2,67l, net Increase
OF 1880.
The statement confirms important statis-
ties relating to interference with cotton
consumption by uncertain trade and finan-
cial conditions during the year. and says
that the mill returns Indicate that with
even fairly good trade they would have
used 1910. 900 bales more than they did, In
answer to q direct query, Mr.. Hester re-
piled that from 1892, 900 spindles out o.
total in operation OF 3,i2c, 900 in he South,
111S,000 report that they have not been
unfavorably affected. while 100000 say that
they have. and 327 600 have consumed less,
either by reason of resort 10 inner num-
beers or from sloppagcs for repairs or other
Causes, while 22S 900 have been but slight
ly affected.
In relation TO the crop he shows that
In August OF this year 81 600 bales Of cot
ton were received at the ports, against 1861
900 last year and 10000 the year before last.
the August receipts OF new cotton this year
being larger than ever before except those
OF last year. In reference to the general
cotton manufacturing industry or the coun-
| try and Its comparative. progress North
| and South Mr. Hester says that while the
favorable American
mills. final results indicate that the ex-
| tent OF the depression has been decidedly
overstated In the public prints and other
wise. The takings North and South during
the past year, practically all of which have
been consumed, have been exceeded but
twice In the previous seven years and one
OF those the excess was not quite 10000
bales: that Notwithstanding the narrow
margin for profits. the mills of the North
Rave worked up as much cotton. while
those of the South. as shown. used $4,000
more bales than last year. While 1t is true
some of the mills in the South have done
little better than exchange an old dollar
for new one. 1t might be added that In
the North some have worked nj n positive
loss. These conditions however. MIR. Hes
ter contends, can not be ascribed altogether
to bad trade. They are. he says, the in
evitable results OF sharp competition be-
tween the two sections and the certain and
industry nearer to the source OF produc-
ticn OF the raw material. II Is an economic
struggle with the odds In favor OF the
South and tho superiority OF capital with
the North but the natural protection Of
local trade must end in triumph over tho
constant drain necessary 10 maintain COM
petition under less favorable conditions.
Mr.. Hester gives an interesting table show
ing the progress OF the industry within
the past eight years. and says Ia relation
Thereto OF the eight years domestic con-
sumers barely 30 per cent has been in the
South and over 10 per cent North. while OF
tie more than 80 per cent has been con-
sumed In this country. In relation to this
he concludes as follows:
The change In percentages North and
South during that period are strikingly
suggestive. In 1890 &c 7-13 per cent OF our
domestic consumption OF cotton was North
and % $40 per cent South; In 1897 CO s-10
North and 30 6-l0 was South: I'm other
words. in the former year Northern con
sumption was as IS 10 s. whereas today Il
is as Is TO l0--the North standing today as
IL did In 1890 and the South having
doubled
This. Mr.. Hester saws relates 10 Ameri-
can cotton only. The impHtatia Of for
eien cotton during tho year. which amounts
TO the equivalent of 900 bales Of Ameri-
can cotton. against an equivalent OF 1l2.-
900 last season. all went into consumption
North except about 1900 bales, which were
re-eaported.