The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-01
9,800,000 BALES.


Cotton Crop of 1901 and 1902.
In view of the very wide differences
IN the estimates of the cotton crop by
reputable and renowned cotton men.
even at this late day, layman may
venture to put few figures without
being far from wrong. First, let me
state that my business requires that I
traVel all over the cotton raising sec
lloh east of the Mississippi river, and
my entire time is given to the cotton
business during the season, and | have
come IN contact with 1t all my life.
Iexas--As l have not been in Texas
and the territories, we must assume
tnat the information we get from all
sources is reasonably correct, and that
the Texas crop" is short of last year
from 100000 to 1,500, 600 bales" and to
De conservative we take the lowest fig
ure and assume that the Texas CROP
is 100000 bales short, or will be 3,IOO. 900
oales this season, against $500, 900 last
season.
Louisiana-Louisiana is counted west
OF the Mississippi, and it is said she
VIII produce an enormous" crop this
year. 1t must be borne in mind that
Louisiana's largest crop was only about
large amount of 100000 bales last year.
So it is not reasonable to count on
much increase this year.
Arkansas-While Arkansas, which, is
Just above and counted in the Western
group. is said to be 10 per cent to 20
per cent. short of last year, her crop
being very spotted and irregular so we
can reasonably. leave the amounts esti-
mated to these two states remaining the
same as last year. That gives the
states west of the Mississippi 700, 900
bales short of last crop, or an estimated
total production of 4,590,000 bales for
TINS crop. East of the Mississippi river
last crop yielded 100000 bales.
Mississippi-First, Mississippi pro-
duced $4,000 bales, which was a very
small amount as her largest crop was
over 100000 bales, and early in the
season this years crop promised to be
very large one over most of the
state. but the early freeze and unusu-
ally bad weather. before Christmas
greatly reduced the prospect and
causedea heavy loss. This condition ap-
plies to the middle bottom and. river
lands,9as the northern part of the state,
about Clarksdale and extending well
down towards GreenviIle and Indianola.
was, If anything, less and not more
thSh iooI y Crbl. eoO II VIII OILY De Tea-
sonable to allow Mississippi her full
estimated increase of 4OO, 900 bales.
making her crop 1850, 900.
North and South Carolina-Next take
South and North Carolina, where there
is undoubtedly shortage. Last years
crop was large one, and the two
states produced as follows: North Car
olina, 542, 600 bales and South Carolina,
911,OOO bales. This season the eastern
part, or sandy lands, of these states
were almost a failure. l drove a good
deal over the country and made two
trips in South Carolina since October,
and am convinced the shortage will be
100000 bales or more in North Carolina
and 100000 or more in South Carolina,
total shortage of $50, 600 bales,
and leaving a total yield of about 1,200,-
900 for these two states this crop.
Georgia-In Georgia the crop is SPOT
ted, being good in the northern and
middle part of the state, while in the
southern and western part it is sorry"
1t must be borne in mind Georgia made
a large crop last year., 1896 900 bales
out of a possible 1886 and as this
is not bumper" year we will do we'll
to get as much as last and as it is so
close we won't change the figures. Di-
verging a little from the subject, we
SNOW InaI most careful ana cOmp1la-
tion of figures, showing stocks in thir-
ty-five of the largest towns in Georgia,
show the stocks on hand 33 1-3 per cent
less than last year at this time.
Observation-Disclosures largest crop was
only about 1,150,000 bales, while last
year she made the very good yield of
!, 100000, which is a large percentage
and this year the crops in all the black
belt and bottom lands (Which is a very
large portion of the producing
section of Alabama) We're planted over
twice, and over a large section a stand
was not gotten until June, the first
paintings being ruined by heavy rains
freshets and hailstorms. So this crop
was very late, and again damaged by
the early freeze, so that the most pro-
ductive lands were cut decidedly short,
and will decrease the states yield from
5 per cent. to 10 per cent. from last
year SO l estimate Alabama's crop at
950.0O0 bales. Leaving Tennessee and
Florida as small producers, the same
as last year, we have east of the Mis-
sissippi river a gain in the state of Mis-
sissippi of 100000 bales and loss in
the Carolinas and Alabama of 300, 900
bales leaving a net gain of 100000
bales which, deducted from the total
loss of 100000 west of the Mississippi
river, makes the net loss 100000 bales,
or this years crop about 9.S00.000 bales.
Jan. 90 1902. Sterrett Tate.
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