The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-03

ly understood that aside from Mississippi
none of the old States will produce much
more than they did last year, some OF
them not as much Hence the question
naturally arises, where is big crop to
come from? We all realize that there is
but little or no top crop in any OF the
States, and that in nearly all sections the
crop is fully matured and opened. Many
fields have already been picked clean, and
the gathering of the crop is rapidly draw
ing to close. Messrs. Scott IL Stringfel-
low, of Richmond, Va, have recently is
sued a circular estimating the yield of
the present crop at 9,771,5Ss biles. their
estimate being based on the government
report issued October 1, 1901. In their
figures they give an increase to the fol-
lowing named States over the crop of last
wear: North Carolina, 1850 bales;
South Carolina, 234 1928; Georgia, $685. 4S;
Mississippi, 231 ,157; Louisiana, 104,712.
Total increase 1,071420 bales for the
States named.
They also figure decrease in the fol-
lowing States: Florida. 1883; Alabama,
5000: Tennessee, e2,512; Texas, 1,317,0SS;
Arkansas. 120,472; Indian Territory, Ok
lahoma and others, col 9O7. Total de-
crease for the States named, 1,724,S32
bales.
Deducting the increase from the de-
crease we have according to their esti-
mate, a net decrease from last years crop
Of 653 Alp bales, which, deducted from the
crop of 1900, which was 10 425 900, leaves
a yield of 9,771, 5SS bales for the present
crop.
My own judgment is that they have
made the increase in the old States too
much, and figured too low on the actual
decrease in the trans Mississippi section
My opinion is that the crop will reach
10000, 900 bales, judging from all the in
formation had UP to date.
Whether or not the crop can be or will
be increased in Texas by top crop if
frost is much longer delayed l put but
little faith in it.
COTTON FAMINE IN PROSPECT.
Mr.. Ellison the statistician for the Eu
ropean Spinners on consumption, has
made the statement recently that the
world will require not less than IL ,500,0 900
bales of American cotton during the next
twelve months to meet the demands OF
consumers There was but little or no
4 good cotton on hand at the opening of
the present season, carried over in stock
Ellison is correct, and he usually is, and
our crop does not yield more than 10000
COO bales, there will be a big cotton fam
inc next year unless trade conditions
should get decidedly worse than they
now are
Quoting from one of my New York cor
respondents, whose letter was received on
October &c. reviewing the cotton situa
Ci,n f,,f, aYyo ST n
New York has been numerically ham
mered the last ten days by Philadelphia
spot people in conjunction with others
for no other reason, the writer believes,
than to weaken the faith of holders in
the South in their staple. Unless all
reports coming into our office are wilfully
and basely exaggerated. which we do not
believe to be the case, this crop of cotton
will possibly be the smallest which has
been made since 1896. In this case cotton
should bring, instead of ~ cents, 12R
cents. We will have next summer, unless
trade conditions are mise able or We
should have international wars or some
great calamity should overtake US, the
greatest cotton famine we have ever
seen in this country or III Europe. The
people who handle the actual cotton are
using every endeavor to get the farmers
production for nothing this year, and
while | do not know how you can pre-
vent it, you should certainly use your ut
most erdeavcr 10 induce farmers and
merchants 60 hol6 the remainder of their
crop for at least legitimate price, which
would certainly not be less than 10 cents
per pound and the writer believes that
it would brine ,o.,oh more later on.
THE market here is being sold now on
big receipts in the South, also on the the
CRY that cotton is making every day as
fast as it did in August and that should
we not have frost for three weeks longer
this will be bumper crop. or course,
this is ridiculous, as we know, but it IS
hard to convince people who know moth
ing of the staple of what are actual facts.
With all of your airing last summer OF
the rules of this exchange, they have
not been changed.
There is considerable truth in the let
ter quoted, as every farmer South VINO is
posted on the situation must admit.
have all the season contended that II we
could get 10 cents last season we were
certainly entitled to it this season
The stock of cotton in New York at
present is quite low, and If the farmers
and merchants should now hold tho bal
ance of the crop and insist upon better
prices we could control the market IN
less than thirty days. If the farmers
will read the daily market reports in their
papers they will see that the only factor
which has enabled the buyers to depress
prices this fall has been heavy receipts.
Cotton has not been bought on OASIS
Of value, but solely on the power 10 die
tate prices on an overcrowded market
during short period of time. We must
study the situation more, have more con-
cert of action and gradually demand what
is our due. HARVIE JORDAN.