The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-07
COTTON is NOT boarded.

COTTON is NOT HoARDED.
special New York dispatch to The
In cotton. said; The bears were encour-
aged by statement by the Waco Cotton
Ginners' Journal that the crop may be ex-
pected to be 10 600, 900 bales, though posi-
bly, only 9,50o,ooO and that in every coun
ty OF Texas some farmers have on hand
at least half the cotton they raised this
season, and that ginners in that section
say that boarding OF cotton is being prac-
ticed"
The article referred 10 was publisted
in full in recent issue of The Post. In
addition to stating that Texas farmers
We're boarding cotton, the Journal de-
clared I'VE have letters of this tenor
from reliable and intelligent siuners in
Arkansas, Mississippi Alabama, Louisiana.
Indian Territory and a few in Georgia
the cotton situation by paying quite a
tribute TO Mr., Henry Men. a
New Orleans statistician, who has proba-
bly, done moro than any other one person
or agency to misrepresert conditions In
the South and to aid foreign spinners II
their effort TO buy cheap cotton.
The Post does not question tho Cottor
Clint ers Journals right 90 to defand Mr.
Neill, for he is certainly in nesi Of de-
fenss from some source this yeir MOI
Is there any reason why the Journal should
rot make an estimate OF the cotton crop
II II cares to do so. But The Post doe:
question the right of Texas paper TO es-
sert that cotton is being boarded IL Texas,
or any other State. when every evidence
points to the incorrectncss OF the state
ment and when the publication OF such
Misrepresentation is calculated to depress
the price OF the staple.
The Post and other daily newspapers OF
Texas have exhausted every possible
means to secure accurate information IN
regard to the cotton crop OF this State
and the reports from their correspondents
indicate that cotton has been marketed
very freely during the past three months,
and that no more than the usual percent
age is being held. The managers OF ntv-
eral railroads have given out similar state
ments. and some OF these officials dccIai
that they expect to do practically no cct-
ton business after the first Of tho year,
Reliable cotton firms have spent large
sums OF money to discover whether there
is any unusual holding OF cottol in the
ha of to q ,vl
the amount now on farms and AZ small
towns is, II anything. considerably less
than the average percentage on hand at
this date.
Everything has been in favor OF rapid
marketing OF the south's staple this year,
and 1t Is certainly astounding 10 see a
Texas paper aiding the fight that is now
being made on cotton values by declaring
that In every county some farmers have
on hand at least half the cotton they raised
this season"
1T is cotton" tho Journal declares.
which has not left the farms" How does
the Journal obtain such Information? No
other paper or news agency, no railroad
or cotton firm, or any reputable authority
whatever, has been able to find this hoard
ed cotton On tho contrary. all reports in
dictate that the early maturity and the
high prices have forced cotton on tho mar
ket In unusually large quantities, ecnsid.
ering the small crop raised. and that the
movement next spring will show that
stocks have been exhausted from one end
o. the cotton belt to the other.
The fact is that the movement thus far
Indicates a crop In Texas and elsewhere
much smaller than the epinners ard bear
ish SPECTATORS counted upon. and They
are now using every possible effort to OF
set the influence OF statistics that should
bring about even higher prices for cotton
than are now prevailing. In the first three
months OF the season the movement has
fallen over a million bales behind the
same period last year. and II this per-
centage OF decrease Ia maintained Amer
lean cotton viii be a very scarce and a
very high article before another CONNER
cisl year begins. The English spinner has
refused TO buy cotton, believing that Mr.,
Neills big crop was to be forthcoming,
He nov sees the utter absurdity Of chat
gsntlsman's estimate, and is anxious to
purchate hit supplies. ana wants TO buy ~
cheap 4 possible Every method 10 hsina
adopted To bring about Z temporary dsprss-
sion In prices. and such unwsEraptsd aad