New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-16
COTTON AND WHEAT.

Fortune rather than wisdom has given the
wheat growers great advantage over the cot
ton growers this year. There has not been
much Intelligent direction 10 regulate the pro-
dpct,on ~ either. The wheat acreage has been
enormously increased. although the crop OF 1893
was marketed ~ prices which caused wide
spread discomfort among the farmers II was
no. poss'ble for them 10 know that In most Eu-
ropean countries the crops this year would turn
OH, badly. II Is now evident that prices might
haye been as much depressed "a In 1898, except
os affected by the Increase IN domestic demand,
u foreign crops had turned out as we'll as usual.
Tho increase OF acreage materially exceeded any
increase in the demand which could have been
anticipated. but fortune has increased tho DE-
mand and made the venture profitable.
The increase in cotton acreage had somewhat
NOR. excuse. The extensive floods In the Mis-
s,ss,ppI Valley threatened TO cut of consid-
cradle part OF the crop. and IN many counties
did delay planting so long as to endangcr the
Weld. In the expectation that the loss In Hood
ed regions would be much greater than 1t has
been. planters everywhere else seem to have
enlarged acreage without regard 10 the probable
demand for consumption. The area appears 10
he I 400 900 acres greater than that from which
the crop Of 100000 bales was raised IN 1877
although last years crop OF $4,000 bales
brought farm average OF only Go cents
nound Instead OF n consumption increasing IN
demand. there Is some prospect or shrinkage
abroad. and measures for curtailment OF spin
ming are now under consideration here 1t Is
no more than a natural consequence that the
prico falls to 57a cents at New-fork, Dur from
the natural consequences OF a similar expansion
I'm n
PLY released
For seven years the farm price OF cotton mas
never been as high as It was In 1890, when the
Weld. 4 32G 100000 pounds, was scarcely smaller
than in 1896. and the average farm price $40
cents In 1891, with n yield OF 5OS.OOOOOO
mounds. the farm price was 7.3 cents. but rose
to "a cents the next year. with yield OF only
1888. 100000 pounds The depression to cents
In 1899 was partly because OF the panic, as the
Weld was only 3,74S,000.000 pounds but the
next year n yield OF 5,0l0000,000 pounds put
down the average farm price to 4G cents. In
| 1898 there was 4 violent reduction or acreage.
and the yield was only 3,508,OOO,OOO pounds,
| but the price only recovered to 10 cents, ana
| again declined TO &C cents Inst year, with
yield OF 4.3Si 900 pounds. The best results
| to the grower come from crops not much ex-
| cccdlng the worlds demand, Dut Win Hisicnu-
ing official statistics OF acreage and Yield pro-
| duccrs have been In no position to Judge whether
larger or smaller production was required.
Probably they have been much mlsed by the
new cotton mills starting up constantly ut the
South. the spindlcs increasing In that section
! from $4,000 in 1890 to 34J6000 last year. for
so vast an expansion has naturally led to the
| belief that the worlds demand for cotton has
greatly increased. But recent events show that
Increase ut the South, in India and In Germany
has supplied part OF the consumption formerly
supplied by Northern and English mills. The
| total consumption Of cotton has not Increased
10 per cent since $780, and how large part OF
| this represents accumulated and unsod stocks
| OF goods Is not known.
The whcat-grow needs fully rs much the
| guidance OF early and trustworthy information
| in regard 10 conditions In this and other
countries. II does not pay him to raise big
crop II he gets as the average Of all farm prices
only so cents bushcl. In the Ave years ending