The age-herald., 1900-10-19

northern section of the State, the crop prospects Ire the finest 1 have ever seen there. The plant in many sections is six feet high and literally covered with large round bolls. In other parts of the State round that the plant, while well fruited, was Tn many places attacked by cater
 pillars. They will do no serious harm, as
 they are only eating the leaves and allow ing the fruit to ripen.
 With average weather from now on 1 shall have crop of ten and a quarter mil lion bales That is the minimum estimate. If there are no killing frosts by November the yield will be largely increased. 'l consider this average crop. The main points that indicate that this crop is not a small one, as q great many contend, are these:
 '1 The size of the bolls As compared with last year's il is much larger.
 ''2 The yield of lint per acre is far in ex- cess of last year, as reported from the gin ! houses.
 g The staple is everywhere far superior to that of last year.
 "A The weight of the bales is also much heavier than last year.
 o In spite of reports that some of the planters contend that picking will be over in many sections in the course of a week. I heard a loud cry on account of the scarcity of labor, although farmers were everywhere paying an advance in wages.
 'I could have put higher estimate than nave uDIle Hdu IL 0Ol been TOT the 1uct that all authorities were making lower timates. My estimate is I think, conserva- tive l believe that the farmers will do well to Seh at present prices.
 Last year al this time I found that the plant was brown and many fields were dead. This year 1t is quite the opposite The crop everywhere is green and well fruited
 The bolls this year dre great deal larg- CT than they were last. The reason for this is that they have had plenty of water. Mos- ture always makes larger boil. Last year the crop suffered from the severe drought The only drawback the present crop has suffered is the want of labor. Where the
 fields have been well worked the crop is in 1 first-rate condition.
 prospects in the northern part of Texas are exceedingly bright. l have never seen the outlook there so satisfactory The crop
 is in beautiful condition. I was all at sea
 how to estimate the crop until reached Texas. In looking over the fields | did not
 hesitate to put it down at the figures I
 have mentioned From Texarkana all the way down to Shreveport the prospects are better than ever in my recollection. One thing that impressed me emphati- cally as I journeyed through the various states was the cry, Scarcity of labor. Ev- anywhere I went l was told that the farm | CTS were short of hands; they were even compelled to call on the servants for help l found though that the farmers of Ala bama, Georgia and Texas suffered princi- pally in this respect. I know that great
 deal of labor imported into Texas. for almost every train brought in many per sons who were engaged to work on the plantations.
 "I cannot uderstand the reason why
 there should be scarcity of labor The wages are reasonabe-$3 per day at almost all the pantations-and it is surprising that more people do not take advantage of this splendid opportunity.
 rPriceS are liable to Silffer con Sidara bIa decline, inasmuch the trade can't afford to pay the present price, and the consump ton will be largely decreased. While the crop in India was failure last year. there
 is every prospect of fair yield this sea- son. We must bear in mind, too, that the Manchester spinner is at great disadvan- tage owing to the enormous price he is paying for coal and the high wages"
 The Georgian Says stand Firm Stand from against the efforts that are now being put forth to depress the price of cotton,' says MT. Truitt "It is all a bluff game. Now is the time for the farm CTS, bankers and merchants of the South to show of what metal they are made, and to exhibit their good sense. I am not sur i, prised at this decline in the price of cotton. Who could expect the bears of every color and hue to leave anything undone to force the cotton down at this time, the time when the bulk of it is being gathered and prepared for market. the time when our obligations are maturing? The mill men of the world would move heaven and earth to buy this crop of cotton at the cheapest possible price. They want to buy it cheap and if they can get the bulk of it bought cheap, cotton goods will go up, and you will hear no more of low price cotton until another crop is on hand for their trap This Is as plain as daylight. It is all con summato rot to talk about a 10, 900 GOO bale crop this season. Nine million two hun apad ffNF 1 ss- and conditions must be perfect for us to reach that figure. Now when we face this fact and then take look at the demand side of the condition we see the 10O, 900 spin dleS of the world, with their $2 300, ,O00, 900 of capital right in the touch of want. These spindles must run the people who are hired to work them become paupers and unmanageable; besides the capital engaged takes a nap that makes it very bilious.
 q want to tell the good farmers of the south in stentorian tones hold your cotton for profit l want to say to the bankers of the south, come to the support of the men who enable you to pay dividends on your stock. What would the business of the merchant and the banker be in this south- ern country if not supported by the prod ucts of the planter? We of the south, plant CT, banker and merchant, have furnished the money to make this cotton crop; we did not get our ability from Liverpool. Why can't we continue to use this strength and sell our cotton at a prOnt. IT we use our money, our brains, and our muscle to pro- duce the cotton and allow 1t to pass away from us unprofitably at the all-important moment, the selling time, we place our selves in ridiculous plight to say the least of it, and they who buy from us would have just cause to laugh at our folly.
 'I call upon the merchant and tho banker in the South to do their whole duty at this critical moment. Next spring the banker ard the merchant will have their arms around the planters neck to make the goods move from their stores and the con gested wealth from their vaults in order that the dividends and interest may come in for their investment and labor. Now, MT Merchant and Mr. Banker, Is your heart big enough to stand by and support your best friend? If so, put your shoulder to the wheel right now and We will come to your aid next spring and summer. You will look in vain for any other source of wealth and support. Liverpool and New York don't buy your goods or be rrow your money. They buy our cotton, it is true,