The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-13
RACE or FIRST BALES
TWO SEA ISLANDS SHIPPED ON
SANE TRAIN.
VALD0STA AND NAYL0R RIVALS
ONE BALE TO GORDON a CO., ONE
TO HUNTER, PEARCE & BATTEY.

First Bale Four Days Later Than
Last Year-RepOrts Show That
Both Georgia and Florida Crops
Are Spotted and the Cotton Is Next
to "a Failure-Conditions of Doth
sea Island and Uplands Often De-
ereasing-Some Statistics of the
Crops.
Great interest centers in the first
bale of sea island cotton for Savan-
nah, owing to condolences which make
it doubtful as to who will get the dis
tinction of receiving it. Two bales
were shipped yesterday by express for
Savannah, one from Valdosta, from
Lane, Tillman & Co, to Hunter, Pearce
& Battey, and the other from Naylor,
ten miles this side of Valdosta, from
F. l.. Dampier to w. w. Gordon &
Co. Both bales are underst TODD to be
on the same train, and its nick and
tuck as to which will appartly come
under the wire first.
Among cotton firms a business riv-
valry exists in getting the first
bales from the new crop. Aside from
the prestige 1t gives of getting :nto
the procession early the promptness of
customers counts for something in
their favor. Whatever the reason for
wanting the first bale, the desire
among the big firms is no less eager
for it and they work assiduously for
the distinction.
The new cotton arrived by the Plant
IL AI-s-
mains which bale will get on Change
first. The first bale, whichever it may
be, is later than last years first bale,
which was received Aug. by Butler,
Stevens & Co.
From the sea island belt in Georgia
and Florida reports are to the effect
that the crop is very spotted, and
that in some sections 1t will be next to
failure. Writing to Hunter, Pearce
IL Battey the firms travelling man,
who has just been through Northern
Florida and Southwest Georgia, states
that in places the crop Is in bad con-
dition. 1t is seriously affected by rust
and blight. He estimates that in these
sections the yield will be about IS per
cent. less than last year. In some
fields he found the cotton so damaged
that, kicking the stalks, caused the
bolls to drop off.
cotton, either upland or sea island, is
apparent every season." said Mr.. F.
Z. Battey" Our statistics. show that
at times when the prospects are most
favorable the crop is small-looks like
bread, but is in reality a stone 1t
will be recalled that during the early
part of the present season reports from
the sea island cotton belt We're almost
faultless, and there was every indi-
n hot l.
Now the accounts are anything but
favorable, and unless there is a change
from the reports we get, and which we
understand others are also receiving,
the crop is to fall short of what was
looked for at the outset.
Conditions DeceivinE.
"And conditions are at times equally
as deceiving in the upland crop" con-
tinued Mr.. Battey. For instance, in
1862 the cotton acreage was 22,341,-
600, the crop turned out 8,757, 1854 bales,
and with 1877 pounds of lint per acre
In the following season of 1878 the
total acreage planted was 24,071 900, the
crop turned out 11199,994 bales, and
224 pounds of lint to the acre. So far
as early receipts are concerned the
seasons named are somewhat similar
to the present one. In 1867 we re-
~ 'SA liz All 81 DoaC vi IlCW SOllOH Aug,
4, and this season Aug. 5. Conditions
then were very similar to this season.
Yet 1t will be noted the season of
1862, when we received the first bale
Aug. 4, the acreage was large and the
crop small, whereas the following sea-
son of 1898 there was a COMPARE
lively small increase in the acreage
and great increase in the crop"
While in some quarters the cotton
crop is considered as made, in others
doubt still exists as to the outturn. In
the speculative markets this is APP
parent by the indifference shown by
traders, who are holding aloof pend
ing more positive Developments Mean
time, spinners appear eager for cot
ton which 1T is said is needed to re-
plenish rapidly diminishing mill stocks.