The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-03
COTTON IS WORTH OVER EIGHT CENTS.


The Agricultural Department of Geor-
gia estimates the crop at 60 per cent. of
an average crop, and puts its maximum
at one million bales, In 1883 the crop
I'M Georgia reached AS, 900 bales, and
the previous year it was 1,445,O00. In
texas last year the crop was 3,l43,o0o.
This year all reports agree it wild be
from 100000 to 100000 less. Similar
reports come from nearly all the cotton
States In some sections OF North Caro-
lima the crop is not more than one-thdrd
an average crop. In Wake county it will
not exceed one-lralf. In other sections it
is a three-fourths crop. ON the whole
it is safe to say that North Cardinals
crop will be about sixty-fve per cent.
of last years crop.
The Agricultural Department estimates
the crop at 100000 bales. and this is
perhaps fair estiAate. Many farmers
think it Will be below 100000. Last
year the total crop was / go, 600 bales,
out of which the stock ON hand on the
first of September was only 392, $50. The
world needs eleven million bales .f cot
ton. With the increased consumption il
could use twelve million bales. At the
least it will be short two million bales
of the worlds Demands
The question for the farmers of the
South to decide is whether they will de-
nnand a fair price for their small crcl
of cotton. They planted fer an eleven
million bale crop. They purchased ferti-
lizer seed, and paid for the planting and
cultivation of large crop. If the crop
had been large, the price would Rave
been between FIVE and six CENTS Owing
to floods, droughts and bad seasons the
crop is very short. In the natural work
ings of the law of supply and demand
the farmers ought to get much larger
price for their cotton than they obtained
last year. Those who sold early sacri-
feed their cotton to the blunder or crime
of Neill. Those who read the true re-
ports and held, have gotten an increase
of about nine dollars per bale for their
cotton.
The condition of the cotton farmer is
not good at the best. He has received
none of the increase i'm profits which
the more prosperous days have brought
to others. Almost alone, the cotton and
tobacco farmer continue to toll, receiving
little more than the cost of production
for their crops. The present rise in
cotton does not give the farmer any new
measure of prosperity. 1t merely saves
him from ruin. 1t the crop had been
large at present prices, with the pros
pects of an advance in price, the farmer
would have shared with the mannfactnr-
ers and others in better day of betfa'
prices. The present rise gives him. y
his crop is one-fourth short, just The
same money a large crop would have
brought him. and in addition the 81 per
bale cost of picking and ginning. If his
crop is one-third short, he is worse Oft
than last year If his crop is half off,
his condition is deplorable.
Since the recent rise i'm cotltonl criticism
has been made of farmers who have held
their cotton. lit has been said that they
have taken advantage of consumers TO
force a price higher than the spinners
could pay The farmers are merely try
ing, by wisely refusing to glut the mar
ket, to get enough for their cotton to pay
for the cost of production, and small
profit besides. The whole South is inter
ested to see that he gets it, because upon
him more than any other single man
rests the growth and prosperity of the
South. lf the cotton grower, with his
present short crop, should fail to receive
a better price than with last years big
crop. it is difficult to see how he would
subsist for another year.
Nobody cam be certain about the price
of cotton. 1t has in times past fooled
the best business men. Every man must
study the conditions and determine for
himself. The editor of this paper has re-
ceiyed many letters and messages from
farmers thanking him for urging the
farmers to hold their cotton. on
have saved me $40 writes one" An
other says But for your editorials,
would have lost nine dollars bale on
all my cotton" 1t is gratifying to re-
ceive such letters. The editor has pre-
tended to no knowledge that was not in
the possession of every man who read
the papers, kept up with the crop reports