The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-26
Ul}e Nerald ANIL Wewa
K. II. AULL. EDITOR.
THE COTTON CROP.


Mr.. Neill sticks to his first estimate
that there would be another twelve
million bale crop. Suppose there was
the Increase in the demand has been Sc
great that that number of bales viii
scarcely supply it. In this section tho
crop is not moro than onc-half Of an
ordinary crop. We have reached tho
point now where the farmers can tell
what their crop 10. IT is nearly al
open and will soon be gathered. The
receipts have been large because the
crop opened early and many Of the
farmers were obliged to realize money
on their crop to have something with
which to harvest and to meet obllga'
tons. The fact remains that the crop
is short. If there is to be an increase
in the price We want to sec the farmers,
the men who make the cotton and who
need the benefit Of an increase, to get it.
II the cotton growers Of the entire cot
ton belt could and would not put Il bale
on the market for less than cents or
:! cents they could get it in less than
ten days. Under date OF September
22nd we have the following letter from
Il firm of large cotton merchants in
New York:
''t,. II. Aull, Esq, Ncwbcrry, S. c.,
Dear Sir:-Thc spinning indus ~
throughout the world, and especially il
the United States and Great britain
shows an enormous expansion, with
every prospect Of its continuance for
another year. SO far there is every
prospect Of Il moderate crop Of cotton,
and We expect that spinncrs will soon
believe what they have been loath to
do, viz.: that the production this year
IS decidedly less than the consumption.
"Thcy arc already selling their output
for months ahead on the brsis OF II to
s cents for middling cOtt0' and it Is
reasonable to expect that this discrcp-
ancy b tween the price Of raw material
and that Of the manufactured article
will soon be adjusted. In view Of the
condition Of trade the country oyer, it
is hardly probable that this adjustment
will be brought about by amy consider
able decline in the price OF goods
If the mills arc selling their output
on the basis Of :! and cents cotton, it
can readily be seen what Il big profit
they have when they buy their cotton
at ) and & cents, and there is no wonder
that some OF the mills have made such
large dividends. We want to sec the
mills make money. They arc worth II
great deal to the town in which they
are located, and to tho community
around, and to the entire South. And
when We have mills sufficient to con-
sumo the cotton we grow then cotton
planting viii DC profitable because the
demand will so have Increased as to
make cotton growing ono Of the most
profitable industries in the South. The
demand has greatly increased in the
last few years, and will continue, for
new mills are building in all parts Of
the State and the South, and old ones
arc charging, and all Of them are busy
and have orders for months ahead.
We arc glad it is so, but these mills
would be satisfied with Il moderate
dividend OF to - per cent. and be will
ling for the farmers to make something.
There is no unfricndly conflict between
the cotton grower and the manufactu-
rcr. They are both dependent upon
aud helpful to each other, and we want
the mills in the cotton country. They
are good things and helpful rs we have
already said. There should be one
built in every town.
But If the mills are selling goods on
the basis of = and cents for cotton we
want to see the farmers get at least !
cents for their cotton, and We believe
they will get it If it is not rushed on
the market, bcca,s, the crop is short.
The bOrdcd warehouses give the farm
er an opportunity to hold. However,,
We do not advise any one to hold his
cotton. We give You the situation as
we sec it, and you must use your own
iudumcnt