The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-14
PUT TO NEW USES
SEA ISLAND COTTON MORE IN
HOME DEMAND.
NOT so MUCH GOING ABROAD
$4,000 BALES THIS SEASONS SHIP
MENTs TO NORTHERN MILLS.

Used in Electric Wire Insulation,
Bicycle and AutOmO bile Tires and
in Goods Requiring Strong Yarns.
The Demand for the Staple Has
Kent Prices Up-CottOn in Ala
hama, mississippi and Tennessee
in Good Condition and Planters
ProsperOus-NO Foundation for the
Fear of Labor Shortage, Says MIR.
w. 1. Morgan, who Has Been
Through the Cotton Belt.
Che consumption of this seasons sea
island cotton crop shows a large increase
in the home demand for the staple. There
has already been shipped 40 Northern
mills something like 1000 bags, with
about 5000 more to be shipped, making
total home consumption of approximate
" $1,000 bags. 1t is currently estimated
that this seasons crop will not turn out
more than 5000 bags, which will leave
the difference exported to foreign coun-
tries much less than it was last year,
when the crop was $4,000 bags. 1t is es-
tjmated that Great Britain received 1900
bags less lHdil ySdAs ullu idhNC AsvVV
bags less.
The increase in home consumption is
due to the many new uses which are
being found for sea island cotton in all
kinds of manufacturing. The staple is
admirably adapted for the manufacture
Of strong yarns, for which new uses are
being found. 1t is used in the manufae-
cure of a material to insulate wires. 1t
also forms the basis for the tires of BIZ
cycles and automobiles, which require
strong, yielding texture. 1t has for long
time played an important part in fancy
goods neokwear and other articles re-
ouiring an attractive finish. More of this
cotton is used for thread than for any
other purpose.
Good prices have been commanded dur
ING most Of the season. Extra choice
Georgias opened last season at 121zQl3c,
advanced to 15c. by which time four-ifths
of the crop had been sold, and later
worked up TO zoe, when the remaining
fifth was marketed This season extra
choice Georsias opened at 20c, then ad-
vanced to 231zc, and later dropped to lSc,
though three-fifths of the crop had been
sold before the low ebb was reached.
There is now said to be about 1000 bags
unsold. The stock is being taken by
the officials of the Cotton Exchange. how
ever. and will probably be made known
shortly.
Mr. w. l. Morgan has just returned
from an extensive trip through the entire
stretch of the cotton country east of the
Mississippi river, where he went as the
representative of Mr.. E. A. Cults of Sa-
vannah. During the inactive season, Mr.
Cults keeps in close touch with his large
clientele in the interior, and it was for the
purpose of looking. after new connections
investigating the condition and prospects
for the cotton crop and attending to 9TH
er matters in connection with the busl-
less that Mr. Morgan has been travelling.
The circuitous route followed by Mr..
Morgan was such as to put him in touch
with practically every section from which
Savannah receives cotton. The trip cover
ID Alabama. Mississippi, Middle and
Western Tennessee, and winding up with
run through the Caroiinas.
The general understanding, of course
is that the cotton acreage is increased
for the new crop" said Mr.. Morgan
While there is an increase, however, the
farmers as a whole have not been forced
10 cucumber themselves to plant largely
for the reason that their profits were
good from the last crop sales,
when high prices were com
handed for that marketed during the
early part of the season. My understand
ing is that conditions are encouraging
among farmers and that most of them
are prosperous.
The crop is in fairly good condition
in all the sections I visited" he SAID.
Owing 10 the excessive rains and the
cold snaps, it was thrown back some,
fully g. per cent of it being from two to
three weeks late. In Alabama and Mis-
sssippi the plant was in very satisfac-
tory condition. In some sections of South
Carolina the effects of too much rain were
apparent, and the crop will suffer a set
back in consequence. Grass is beginning
to show, and much damage may follow
unless its growth is checked by a change
in the weather"
Speaking of labor conditions in the sec
tons he visited. Mr.. Morgan said he did
not think there was any foundation for
the scare which seems to have grown out
of the fear of a labor shortage. While 1t
was difficult to tell whether this talked
of scarcity of hands was to cut any fig
ure in the cultivation of this crop, Mr..
Morgan believed that the reports about
1t had been exaggerated some. He believes
the crop is dependent upon the weather
more than it is upon the labor question.
Mr. Morgan did not find very large
stocks of cotton in the interior, and
states that they are smaller than for this
time last year. The grade is not as good
as the cotton held at this time last year.
This is due to the fact that country mer-
chants and other interior buyers of cot
ton for the past six months have accu-
mulated a large amount of low grades,
Which they have not yet disposed of be-
cause of the wide difference between
these and the higher grades. Holders
hoped that these differences would mar
row sufficiently to enable them to dis
pose Of lows more profitably, and many
are still holding their cotton upon this
contingency.
The purpose of Mr.. Morgan's trip in
yolved the shipment of more cotton to
savannah, and the fact that he found the
outlook favorable for a full maintenance
or the volume of receipts will be pleasing
10 the trade The facilities for handling
mere Is strong argument in favor Of the
port, and Mr.. Morgan did not fail TO EN-
nnasize this fact when the occasion called
for IT,