Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29
BIG DECREASE
IN COTTON
GOODS
CONTINENTAL COTTON SPIN
NERS SUFFER FROM DISSAT-
lSFACT0RY YEAR IN MANY
IMPROBABLE MILLS.

BALTIMORE, Sept s6-As a result
of investigations during visit to Europe
from which he has recently returned, Col
onel Alfred B. Shepperson, the well known
cotton statistical expert of New York.
is convinced that the year ended August
31st was. as a general rule, far from sat
isfactory to European cotton spinners.
Discussing the situation Colonel Shopper
son writes in this weeks issue of the
Manufacturers Record as follows
1.-The continental spinners have had a
dull season, chiefly from over-production
I'm previous years. The condition is worse
I'm Germany and Russia than elsewhere
owing to the depression in general bust
ness, as well as I'm cotton manufacturing.
In Great Britain there has been some
what more activity, but the profits OF
spinners have been narrow at best, while
some mills have been working at loss
for several months, II being impossible
for them TO convert cotton into yarns and
sell the manufactured product without
an actual loss of a fourth of penny
per pound. These improbable mills have
kept at work, hoping for an improve
ment in the condition of affairs, it being
considered better to work for some time
at loss than to stop working and thus
suffer from the loss of the established
trade for their product and the inconven-
fence resulting from a DISCRIMINATION OF
their force of operatives.
with the final conclusion Of peace in
South Africa and the rather better con-
dition of general business in Germany,
with the gradual restoration of order in
China, there is the prospect of a larger
and more satisfactory business for Eu-
ropean spinners during the new cotton
season which commenced on September l.
The Improvement, however, would prob
ably be checked should much higher prices
rule for cotton than at present, as 1t
would be difficult to obtain correspond
ing advance in the price of yarns and
goods, owing to the full stocks and poor
demand.
IT was IN Liverpool when the figures
of the commercial crop of the season end
ing August 31st were published by the
New York Cotton exchange, making the
crop 1O76S,0O0 bales. was also in the
same great market when the estimate Of
the department of agriculture of the
condition on August 18th, of the grow
ing cotton-miscalled its September report
of conditions-was made public. Never
have seen a greater contrast than the
reception given by the press and public
TO these two reports. There was no I'M
kind criticism of the New York Elk
changes report of the out-turn of the
crop. 1t was acquiesced in alike by those
who had anticipated a larger or a small
er result. For the estimate of the crop
condition by the department of agricul-
ture there was literally none so poor as
TO do il reverence II is stating 1t very
mildly to say that very few in cotton cir
cles in Liverpool gave the slightest cre-
dence to the departments report. The
temporary advance in the market was en-
tirely due to the higher prices in Ameri-
ca. The sales of cotton in Liverpool on
the day the departments report was made
public were only 5000 bales"
After referring TO the departments esti-
mate of December Sd, last, and to criti-
cisms of 1t, Colonel Shepperson concludes
as follows:
ut seems evident, after taking into con-
sideration the difference in the quantity Of
cotton in the interior of the southern
states at the beginning of the season
and at its close, that the growth during
last season was fully equal TO 10,6O0,0 900
estimate of the department of agricul-
ture
THE consumption of American cotton
by the world last season was about TO-
zoo 900 bales, the quantity being the same
as my estimate in an article published
in December last.
ION August 31st the European mills held
about 10000 bales of cotton of all kinds
more than at corresponding time of the
previous year, while the stocks at the
American mills were about the same as
at the close of the previous season. The
mill stocks here and in Europe were very
moderate. 1t is exceedingly gratifying
that the increase in cotton consumption
last season was far greater in the south
ern states than anywhere else. 1t was
about $50 900 bales and this great increase
was the especially noteworthy feature of
the statistics OF the season.
"It is too soon to make an intelligent
estimate of the growing cotton crop, as so
much depends upon the date of killing
frost and the weather conditions to that
time. Many unfavorable reports of the
crop are being received, but IL should be
remembered that the promise early in
the season was most brilliant and the
deterioration has been from an exceed
ingly high prospect. A farmers crop
might easily fan tar below his early ex-
pectations and yet be fairly good yield -
The Manufacturers Record publishes
this week an interview of it's special cor
respondent I'm New York with Mr.. George
]. Could in which the latter expressed
an expectation of very great development
i'm the southwest for some years. and dis
cussed the extension of his road between
Memphis and Kansas City through the
wonderfully rich mineral lands of north
Arkansas. Mr.. Gould said that the work
Of construction would be carried on from
both ends and would be pushed to COM
pletion without unavoidable delay. The
correspondent says: ,
'It is very evident that this new line
of his must be regarded much more seri-
ously than as a local developer. important
as IL will be as such, and that instead of
connecting link between two stations
of lesser magnitude, II is. as a new Kan
sas City-Memphis through line, to be-
come a factor in the railroad situation
in the southwest Mr.. Gould has much
faith in the future of Arkansas, with it's
wealth of timber and mineral resources
and its fertile soil. and he expects to see
a steady development of that section
looks for the swamp lands to be drained,
the country to be more fully occupied by
incoming settlers, the great natural re-
sources Of the state to be developed and
the whole country to be built up and its
prosperity greatly increased. Much in
terest was expressed by him in the bet
terment Of his roads, and he particularly
dwelt on a work being done on the line
from Little Rock south through Pine
Bluff. where a ! per cent grade has been
secured through cutting. filling and rails
ing the track. etc. The road is being
put in the best possible condition to take
care of the extensive wheat shipments
from the fields of Kansas and elsewhere.
which will go over this line for export
through the port of New Orleans"
INTERESTS OF GERMANY