The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-06
SEA ISLAND COTTON.

The first bale of sea island cotton re-
ceived the past season was on Aug. IS,
about the average date, and about two
weeks later than for the season before.
In consequence of the large reduction
in acreage the crop actually made did not
exceed Il 900 bales. The balance of the
receipts was composed of cotton held over
in the country from the previous crop,
and was far in excess of what it was
thought to be.
The crop of itself was hardly large
enough to supply the needs of the world,
but following the two large record-break
ing crops of the preceding seasons with
large stocks held by all the mills, the syn
dlcate so recently formed determining in
a policy of using up stocks before max
ing new purchases, consequently the large
stocks at the ports and in the interior
carried over combined to give us really the
poorest market ever experienced in sea
islands. The slow movements of the crop
to the ports aud the low basis of figures
ruling however, tended to offset these
disadvantages in a measure, and factors
determined TO wait patiently for a demand
which must sooner or later set an, and
thus not lower values, which, considering
the size of the crop alone, was too low
already. Everything would have come out
as the factors anticipated but for the anx-
iety of several buyers TO get to work and
do some business. Receiving no answers
to their FIRMS offers at market values,
they invited bids and accepted business
ahead at figures much below the market.
This decreased the volume of business
just that much when the demand did set
an, and they were able in dun times, I'M
fortunately, to execute their orders from
distress lots and scattered consignments
around the market.
on account of the defective and poor
stapled Florida cotton of the season be-
M fslseA
better demand for the best grades Of
Floridas than for any other variety. On
the other hand, choice East F1oridas and
the very best grades of Georgias did nos
enjoy as good demand as has always
existed and were somewhat neglected and
slow of sale throughout the season.
The quality of the crop was hardly up
to the average in preparation and bright
ness, but, taken as a whole was very
good as to strength and staple. The poor
cotton of the crop. found ready sale,
though at very low figures. The crop hav-
ing been produced at very low cost and
principally by old experienced farmers
the new blood in the business having re-
turned TO the planting of uplands, rem
dered the selling of the crop at the low
average scale Of figures, fairly profitable
so that collections were satisfactory, both
to country and city merchants. The bal
ances going to the farmers were for The
most part very small, as the cost of pro-
duction and the cash value of the cotton
has been drawn very closely together
Last winter, all of tie factors and In
fact, everyone interested in the sea island
cotton trade, throughout the entire belt
Of Georgia and Florida, made a special ef-
fort TO protect the industry by securing a
tariff on Egyptian cotton. A carefully Sc
lected and intelligent committee visited
Washington and there made personal eff
fort to induce Congress to place a tariff
on the foreign product Although there
were strong petitions presented, repre-