The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-23
THE INCREASE TOO GREAT
It Is Ten Per Cent Instead Of
Eighteen.
HOW THE MISTAKE CAME TO BE MADE
Farmers Much Encouraged by the Statistical
Situation Of the Crop and by the Re-
cent Rise of Cotton on the
New York Market.


ulated by the State Agricultural Depart
ment, shows an increase of Is per cent
in the cotton acreage, Commissioner Pat
terson considers this is far above the
mark.
Il think the increase will not be more
than 10 per cent" he said yesterday.
THE report for June placing it at is per
cent was given out without my knowl-
edge, and was based on the returns made
to this office without consideration of the
locality from which they came. For in
stance, some counties put the acreage at
2O0-that is double what it was last
year-some at $50, and others at 125.
Now these were all put along in the col
umn and regularly added up and averag-
ed, when the report of IS per cent in
crease was made.
Investigation, however, has shown
that nearly all the heavy increases come
from counties that last year raised very
small crops of cotton. From Burke,
for example, where not more than fifty
bales of cotton were raised last year,
all told from Alexander, where still less
was raised, from Yadkin and others that
ties. Also a number of the tobacco coun-
ties report heavy increase of cotton
acreage.
This of course, could not be accurate.
So the figures have been taken and re-
vised, the locality from which they came
whether from cotton counties or not
being always kept in mind. BY this
method the increase is a little less than
ten per cent. After these figures were
arrived at they were compared and found
to correspond very nearly with the es-
innate of the acreage made in May, also
with an estimate sent out sometime ago
by Alexander, Latham & Co., of New
York.
"a further proof of their accuracy is
found in the fact that the tobacco acre
age has this year been decreased about
II per cent, with slight increase in some
of the other crops"
The reports from the various counties
show that the wet weather in April re-
tarded and so the crop is now behind
the average in growth at this season.
Also, since the wet weather, one section
Of the cotton belt-notably Richmond,
Union and Mccklenburg counties-have
suffered from drought And this accounts
for the fact that the condition of the
crop is now estimated at only so as
compared with the acreage.
There has, however, Commissioner Pat
terson says, been a slight Improvement
in condition during the month of June.
Also, since the returns on which the
June report is based were received, good
rains have visited all sections of the cot
ton belt.
Very little injury by insects is report
ed, though some fears of rust are ex-
pressed if the present wet and cool
weather continues.
few counties report a scarcity of
labor
Altogether, Mr.. Patterson thinks, the
crop outlook now is about what it was
at this time last year with about ten
per cent increase in acreage.
The recent phenomenal rise in cotton
in New York, based on strong Liverpool
cables and favorable news from Pekin,
but more than all on reports of dam
age to the crop in Mississippi, Alabama,
Arkansas and Texas has brought great
encouragement to the cotton planters in
this State.
"A crop is needed of II 900, 900 to H.
500 600 bales to make good the gap caused
by the deficit in the last yield and judg-
ing from present appearances this sea-
sons production will fall very far short
Of the desired figures. though it is true
a marked Improvement in the weather
conditions in July and August or even
September might add materially to the
crop. But the Liverpool stock is nearly
100000 bales less than a year ago, the
stock in license warehouses here is only
SO. 1873 bales, including only 1884 certifi-
Gated and ready for delivery, and the
New Orleans supply is also down to very
low figures.
Cotton is now selling here for 81!
cents. year ago, on this date, it sold
| for cents.
Since last September there have beer
| II ,611 bales of cotton sold on this mar
ket,~ as against 20,973 sold the season
previous.
The sales of cotton here for the las
| four months as compared with the sales
| for the same months last year are: