The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-29
PRICE ON COTTON.

Mr.. Theodore H. Price to-day issues
the following circular regarding the
cotton crop:
New York, Jan. 25.-The emergency
of opinion with regard to the present
cotton crop still continues. 1t has never
previously been so wide, or projected SC
far into the season. Never previously
have so many experts" been brought
into public notice by their estimates.
Within two weeks we have had Messrs.
r. T. Wilson & Company's estimate of
s,445, 7O4 and Mr.. Neilrs of 11.25O,OOO.
The difference between these two fig
ures is the difference between famine
and abundance; between low prices
and exceedingly high ones. The con-
troVersy has in fact attained almost
to the dignity of an international issue.
The three leading proponents of the
large crop theory are Englishmen. or
resident in England, who do not hest
tate to say that American predictions
of a small yield are the result of mis-
representation inspired by self-interest.
On the other hand, the American
prophets of a large short crop point to
a no less responsible indorser that the
United States government, and suggest
that the attitude of their trans Allan
tic friends was explained in
anticipation centuries ago by the
rroverb, sit is naught; 1t is naught,
saith the buyer, but when he is gone
then he boasteth." In this situation l
have determined to make another eff
fort to get at the truth, and the re-
suit is herewith submitted. 1t COM
prises the result of inquiries addressed
on Jan. 8, to representative business
men in every town of over 300 inhabi-
tants in the cotton producing section
of the South, including each of the 768
cotton producing counties reported by
the census. One Thousand six hundred
and ninety-seven replies of am average
date of Jan. Is have been received from
1,060 towns in SIC counties. The coun-
ties heard from produced last year 80
per cent. of the entire cotton crop, and
of the 1877 counties not heard from IS
produced last year less than 5000 bales
each. The parties addressed were care
fully selected by their commercial
standing and are classified by their
business as follows:
Alabama-Bankers, II; cotton buyers
and merchants, IS; cotton manufacture
ers, 5; cotton ginners and warehouse
men, 8; oil millers, -; general mer-
chants, &C.; planters, lawyers. etc, 3.
Total, 11S.
Arkansas "a; cotton buy
ers and merchants, 21 cotton manu-
facturers, -; cotton ginners and
warehousemen, 4; oil millers, -; gen.
eral merchants, 81; planters, lawyers,
etc, 6. Total 1872.
Observation-Disclosures, Sc; cotton buyers
and merchants, 80; cotton manufactu-
rers, 4; cotton ginners and warehouse
men, IA; oil millers, -; general mer-
chants, 1874; planters, lawyers, etc, 5.
Total 249.
Indian Territory-Bankers, 10; cot
ton buyers and merchants, 4; cotton
manufacturers, -; cotton ginners and
warehousemen, 4: oil millers, -; gem
eral merchants, 26; planters, lawyers.
etc, 2. Total 46.
Observation-Disclosures, IL; cotton buy
ers and merchants, /; cotton manufac-
turers, -; cotton ginners and ware
housemen, /; general merchants, SO;
planters, lawyers. etc, 4. Total 20.
ssissippi-Bankers, a.; cotton buy
ers and merchants, IS; cotton manu-
facturers, g; cotton ginners and ware
housemen, 5; oil millers, 4; general
merchants. 81; planters lawyers, etc.
s. Total Ill.
North administrators, 81: cotton
buyers and merchants, q; cotton man
ufacturers, 81; cotton ginners and
warehousennen, 3: oil millers. 2; general
merchants. 80; planters, lawyers, etc.
2. Total 49,
Oklahoma Terfitory-Bankers, IA:
cotton buyers and merchants. g. cot
ton manufacturers, -; cotton ginners
and warehousemen, 2; oil millers, -;
general merchants. TO- planters, law
yers, etc. j. Total 81.
South Carolina-Bankers, 20; cotton
buyers and merchants. %. cotton man
ufacturers. q, cotton ginners and
warchousemen, 9. oil millers, 2, general
merchants. 76; planters, lawyers, etc,
~. Total. i72.
Tennessee Bankers. IS. cotton buy
ers and merchants 8; cotton manufac.
urers. 2. cotton glnncrs and ware
housemen, 4, oil millers, -; general