The age-herald., 1901-02-01
HIGHER PRICES
 ARE IMPROBABLE Changed Conditions in the Spot
 Cotton Market LOOKS LIKE A LARGE CROP The Government in November Was Low-The Local Receipts Are
 Short-Some Figures on
 Next Years Yield.
LOOKS LIKE A LARGE CROP

The planters who have been holding their cotton for 101a or Il cents will probably be disappointed. Three months ago there seemed to be good reason for expecting the Even month ago it was thought by many experienced cotton buyers that Birmingham would be paying something like 10 cents by this time. But the statistical position today does not point to much higher prices than the quotations of the past week, 91s to 914c for good middling.
 A delivery squeeze the last of this month might force it up for a day or two, but that would not be of much benefit to hold CTS, for the price would drop back in all probability to present quotations. No con- servative man in the trade thinks good mid ding will rule below Sc. However, every bull and every bear is al liberty to take the statistics and do his own guessing as to what the future may have in store in the way of prices.
 The Government Report
 The United States government estimate of the present crop, based on its reports from the gins on the 1st of November, was 1o,- lVOiUVU pdltS lulS was dNCSplOo Ny tiiS SOAii mercial world as approxima tely right. The bulls insisted on bringing down the figures to g, 600, and the bears said the crop would turn out to be nearer 10,50OOOO bales than 10000, GOO. Now as February is here, no conservative statistician expects to see the crop fall below 10,25O,O00 bales.
 The last crop was 9,436, ,416 bales. The crop of the year before-the record-breaker-was 11,274, $40. The acreage planted last spring was to have produced the largest crop of all, but the rains in June and July cut 1t down.
 It is thought that Alabamas present crop will amount to 100000 bales, probably a little in excess of that number. The year before this State produced 1,044,OoO bales, and in the year before that-the big year 1,159 900 bales.
 The Texas yield year before last was B. 555 900, but only 2,591, 900 last year. It's pres ent crop will run over three and a half million bales. Texas is the banner State. Georgia comes next with 900 bales in 1Sss-19OO and 1,531 ,00O the year before; Mis- sissippi ranks third as a cotton producer, and Alabama fourth.
 Next Years Crop.
 As to the extent of the next crop no one can do more than guess, as so much de- bends upon the season But the planting will be for larger crop even than that of two years ago. The movement of fertilizer indicates a tremendous acreage. But 12,000, GOO crop will not be too large for the worlds needs With this crop of more than 100000 not a bale will be carried over, notwithstanding the fact that China is counted out of this season s consumption Next year China will be buying again and that will mean at least a million bales The world is growing and by 1902 F, 900, 900 bales will be required to cloths humanity And from the present outlook a record breaking crop next season, if it does not bring Sc will hardly sell for less than 71a or cents.
 Local Receipts.
 The two congresses of Birmingham hand led about 115,0OO bales year before last but not quite 9O,0OO bales last year. They will probably handle about the same volume this year last.
 Up to the close of yesterday the Birming- ham congresses had received 6S 497 bales, compared with 71,5S7 bales in the same pe- riod last year. One of the companies had handled exactly 40 bales more this year than last.
 The two companies handled last month 9516 bales and in January, 1900, 9511 bales. The receipts this month will be large; at least indications point that way.
 Of the compress receipts this season about 12,OO0 bales of wagon cotton are included. This wagon cotton comes from Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair and Tuscaloosa Counties. Year before last the local wagon receipts reached A.OOO bales; last year only about 16,000. The estimate for the present crop is only 16,OOO 1sOe0 bales The rest of the cotton that comes to Birmingham is hauled by rail and is drawn from a radius of hundred or & hundred and twenty five