The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-10

production of crop far beyond the
worlds requirements. But for unfa
vorable seasons throughout the entire
belt crop Of twelve million bales
would have been harvested the price
would have gone down to censs pei
pound, cents below the cost of pro
duction, and an irreparable loss sus
tanned. Bad seasons will not always
come to our rescue, next year may be
favorable from start to finish and it be.
hooves every man to think we'll upor
these things before the old year goe.
out and preparations for the next croI
is decided upon.
For three years beginning with 1S9!
has the production of cotton been cut
down to the limits of the worlds re-
quirements by unfavorable seasons The
high prices of last year and the pres
ent outlook for good prices this fall will
unquestionably place our people in the
strongest financial position they havl
occupied in many years. 1t will be
some atonement for the long years OF
reverses in the past through which
Southern farmers have struggled so
nobly and with spirit of determine.
tion which nothing could break If nc
mistake is made in the years to come
certainly there is no good reason why
the agricultural conditions of the South
should not now enter upon the most
prosperous era it has experienced since
ante -bellum days.
GOOD PRICES AHEAD.
In studying the statistical position of
the crop at this time as compared with
crop condition at the same time last
year, we find in the first place that the
total production this season. including
the increased acreage, will not go be-
yond If it reaches that of last year. 1t
is generally conceded that the crop OF
1900 will about reach 10,50O,OOO bales.
This was made possible by the enormous
and unexpected yield of the Texas crop,
which went far beyond the most san
quine expectations of every statistical!
department which figured on the crop.
But the conditions in Texas this year are
almost the reverse of last year. The
long drouth which has hung like pail
over the agricultural lands of the South
west since the middle of last May, and
which is yet unbroken has not only ir-
reparably injured the cotton crop of
that section. but has cut off the yield of
corn from so to rs per cent Not only is
the cotton crop of Texas short, but
through the work of the Cotton Grow
ers Protective Association the farmers
are being kept fully posted of the fact
that they are determined not to rush
what cotton they have on the market
and sacrifice it at low prices, which has
been their policy heretofore.
We will have the active cooperation
of the Texas farmers this year to help
us hold up the market, and it will DE
the most powerful factor which could BE-
brought to our aid and should be a
strong incentive to every farmer east of
the Mississippi to stand firm for what
ne knows to be the value of his staple.
The crop east of the Mississippi has
lost heavily within the past three weeks
from excessive rains, cloudy weather
and storms. Good prospects month ago
have been blighted and cut off beyond
repair. There are but little if any more
good grades of old cotton on hand now
than was the case at the same time last
year. The spinners and spectators