The age-herald., 1900-03-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

''Farmers in the cotton belt are in better spirits now, are more cheerful than they have been at any other time in a great many years. possibly almost three de- cades,'' declared Luke Williams, of Elmore. who personally knows hundreds of farmers, is a close and intelligent observer, and is himself largely interested in planting. "The farmers are whistling as do not remem- Der to have ever before heard them whistle. That is a good sign-farmers whistling. They come into town whistling, whistle on the streets, drive home with their loads of fertilizer whistling; whistle in the fields, In the woods, in their yards and gardens, horselots and cowpens, and almost every hopeful and good They received a great deal better prices for their last years cot ton than they had a right to expect; but at the same time they didn't get their req sonable share of the general rise in prices, for the reason that they were forced to sell too early. The chief part of the higher prices falls to the big planters, the factors, warehousemen, and purchasers generally. But the farmers believe that they are cer- tain to receive from eight to ten cents for this years cotton If they can rush in their crops to market early; so they are prepar- ing for increased acreage. and are working far more faithfully and better heart than for many years past"
 Mir. Williams's honored father, former Congressman Thomas Williams, of Elmore, one of the largest producers of cotton on the Coosa river. is convinced that good prices for cotton will prevail next season, and possibly for several seasons. He bases llis opinion on the remarkably short stocks now on hand in this country and in Eng land, France and Germany. the great man. ufacturdng countries of the world The stock dn Liverpool alone Is about one mil lion two hundred thousand bales short of what 1t was at the corresponding date last year; and American and foreign experts openly discuss the possibility of cotton famine" throughout the world and specu- late as to its effect upon industry and prices. Colonel Williams believes that the world will require big crop and be pre- pared to pay good prices; but he scarcely expects an extraordinary yield this year, since he looks for drought this year simi- lar to that which prevailed in 1899.
 
 Morton Kirke Moore left the infirmary for a short time yesterday and was greeted down town by numerous friends, who re- joiced to see him convalescent after his o1a feeble. but happily he can leave his bed. As is well known to the local public, MT. Moore has been for about three weeks very perilously i'll of apendicitis; his life being despaired of for time. The earnest sym pathy of the people generally went out to him, and his release from danger will give great satisfaction.
 J. H. Pullen, of Eutaw was in town yes- terday.
 Dr. Jane Vincent and Mrs. Hill, Pitts burg; E. Luck, New York; L. P. Serom, Cincinnati; H. Jonoc, Philadelphia; R. G. Thorne, Nashville; William Jule, St. Louis and William Mornington, Paducah, are amongst the late arrivals at the Morris.
 
 c. R. Robinson. of Concord, N. H., is in town.
 Probate Judge Hudgins, of Pickens, is in town.
 Professor Engene A. Smith, state geolo- gist, was in Birmingham last night.
 
 Warren F. Dent, of Montgomery, repre- senting tihe drug house of Brunswig, New Orleans, is at the Morris. MT. Dent who has been for many years a member of the Montgomery Drug company, has sold his interest in that business and will travel for the house of Brunswig.