The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-07
SEA ISLAND COTTON.

The first bale of the new crop of sea
island cotton received the past season was
on Aug. TO- about one week ahead of the
average dale. Although this would seem
to indicate an early crop, such was not
the case, as the rainy and wet weather
late in the summer retarded the Opening
of the bolis, and the two destructive cy-
clones which visited prime paly the Geor-
gia and South Carolina sea island belt in
the fail. contributed to further delay the
marketing of the crop.
In consequence of the two cyclones it is
estimated that nearly half the South Car
Dina crop of sea islands was entirely lost
say 5,0cO bags and fully The same number
of bales of The Georgia crop, and besides
quite large quantity Of that saved pa
ticuiarly in several counties most exDosed
in Georgia, was very badly damaged ana
injured in quality.
The Georgia farmers made the snistake
of ginning and packing this storm cotton
together with the brighter and better cot
ton, which opened and was picked after
wards, and the trade was almost para
lyzed by the confusion caused by the great
number of badly mixed and poorly assert
ed cotton coming TO market. The country
merchants suffered more than any in The
trade, as many Of these bales were plated
with good cotton on the outer edges.
while in the center of the bales nathirg
but storm cotton was packed, as they id
not have as good facilities for detecting
the fraud as the city merchants.
The country merchants suffered too by
not making enough difference in value he
tween storm cotton and bright cotton, and
nearly ali the early receipts lost to a more
or less degree in weight from dampness
existing in the bales when packed
Pretty nearly an the mills of the world
that manufacture sea island cotton are in
syndicates and controlled by the Coats
syndicate. Their marvelously well organ
lied condition and good business head was
shown last fall, when the extent of the
damage done the crop by the cyclones,
was believed 10 be greater than II was.
when mills with surplus, were furnishing
others that had run out of certain qualities
and stocks were not abundant, no concern
seemed to be felt and the old cotton
brought over from former crops We're free
ly offered by factors for sale at no in
crease in price. Scarcely a sale was made
and the syndicates waited patiently ana
bought only cotton such as they needed
notwithstanding the crop and all the Old
surplus brought over together, was scarce
ly enough 10 supply the needs of consum-
ers. Prices did not harden much. and no
material advance took place until spring.
when most Of the crop had been absorbed
by the synd.cates, and a their own fg-
ures. It has been a long time. however.
since the markets have been so bare Of
stocks, and we will begin the new season
with practically bare boards and very
hIt!e cotton brought over in the country.
The same spectators who discounted
the market the season before, and so sue
cessful'y manipulated the market so as
10 purchase their needs at a profit, were
not so successful this season. and the mar
ket is Indebted 10 them for the only big
hurry experienced during the season, when
getting alarmed they took a large lump