The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-21
WORSE THAN BOSS CROKER.
EFFECT OF NEILL's ESTIMATE ON
THE COTTON CROP.

Mai. Beirne Gordon Discusses the
Situation in Cotton and Politics At
ter Recent Visits to New York and
New Orleans-NeiITs Estimate Cost
the south $25.OOO, 900 in Three
Days-Has Been Far Wrong in Pre-
vious Estimates and Is Likely to
he in This-The Crop Generally
Poor in All States East of the Mis-
sissippi.
Maj. Be.rne Gordon returned to the city
yesterday from New orleans. where he
had been called by the very serious illness
OF his brother, Mr.. William W. Gordon.
Maj. Gordon left his brother slightly i'm
proved, but stil in precarious condi-
ton
Maj Gordon has been spending the sum
mer with his family in Canada principally
on Prince Edward Island, and reports the
island to be an IDEAL place for a summer
! vacation. Having spent some time recent
~ in New York ami New Orleans he is
prepared TO give information on various
subjects of interest 10 Savannahians. Nat
urally, he found politics and business the
uppermost subjects OF discussion in New
York and the cotton crop and Neills esi-
mate, the chief subjects Of conversation in
New Orleans.
Every line of trade seems 10 be boom
ing at The North. AID The future of the
country seems very bright" said Maj.
Gordon. Usually at this season of the
year money is very tight in New York,
but just now it is very easy owing to the
West sending large balances TO that city.
There seems TO be a surplus of money in
the West although it is about time for
their crop movements to begin"
The politicians in New York. said Maj.
Gordon, ARE as much affected by Boss
Cookers change of heart toward Bryan
as the cotton men are by Gar Neill's pro-
nunciamento that the present cotton crop
viii foot up 100000 bales. Some claim
that Boss Croker feels that Bryan is the
only man for the Democratic party to tie
10. and that he and his Tammany braves
realize that it is time to get on board.
Others claim that Croker is merely up to
his old tricks and that, although he is
pretending to support Bryan at the pres
ent time, a the critical moment he viii
flop and win try to down 16 to /, which,
in his heart, he hardly considers the win
ming card lOr the Democratic party this
time.
"Crokers word undoubtedly does harm
where the country needs clean politics."
said Mai Gordon, but it is only a drop
in the bucket to political affairs at the
North in comparison with the immense
financial loss to the South caused by Mr..
Neills exaggerated estimate of the cot
ION crop The influence of this single au-
thority and his unsupported word has suf-
feed to reduce the value of the South's
cotton crop $25 900. 600 in the course Of three
very eVentful days. What right Mr. Neil
J, oh fraAt HI
see. In the season of 1923 he was 1000
0C0 bales out of the way in a crop of $780,
coo bales; in the summer of 1895 he was
again wrong by 100000 bales on a 1900
0O0-bale crop, and his estimate of 100000
bales on the crop of 1867 was wrong by
/ 100000. This certainly proves that he is
not infallible, and that he is as likely to
be in error on this years estimate as in
those l have just mentioned. Admitting
that his estimate of the present condition
of the crop is correct, it does not neces-
sarily follow that these expectations win
be realized and that it will determine ult-
mate results in regard to prices. Should
any disaster overtake the crop the awak-
ening viii be a most painful one and at
tended with many regrets to those who
have depended upon his estimate"
Mai. Gordon saw MIR. Neill while he
was in New Orleans and found that the
cotton men there are as sore on their as
sociate, as are those of other Southern
cities. Mr.. Neill sticks up for his estl-
mate. however, and claims that il is war
ranted by the prevailing conditions.
1T is very apparent" said Maj Gordon,
that with Nenls assistance, the spin
ners are trying to control the situation,
and that they will continue their endeavor
to hold the advantages offered them of
selling goods at steadily advancing prices,
while biding their time in handling the
neglected raw material This naturally
affords them opportunities for unlimited
profits"
Mai. Gordon took care to observe the
crops in his trip from New York to New
orleans through the states of Virginia,
North Carolina, Mississippi and Louisi-
ana, and from Mon gomery TO Savannah
along the Georgia and Alabama Railroad
on the return trip. The crops throughout
all this great stretch of territory looked
badly scorched and were evidently in need
of rains This was only a view from a
car window. but the large extent of ter
| ritory covered gives some indication of
the actual condition of the crop
The view taken by Maj. Gordon is sim
ply the view taken by all intelligent men
acquainted with the cotton business who
have given the subject consideration. The
cotton men of New Orleans, he said, diff
fer very seriously with Mr.. Nenl Mai.
GordOns brother-in-law. Mr. Richardson
one of the largest cotton planters in
Louisiana, reported that his crops were
very seriously damaged, and that the
yield would be far short of last years
This was only one of a number of similar
reports.