The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-30
LESS THAN nine AND
one HALF MILLIONS
The Actual Figures Are
440, 304 Bales.
COTTON CROP ESTIMATE
-
Mr. Theodore Price Presents the Mat.
ter in Detail.
PREVIOUS ESTIMATES ARE COMPARED
His Last Attempt to Get at the fru and the
Results Replies to Questions AZ.
dressed to People in
1860 Towns.
Especial to News and observer)

Price today issues the following circu-
lar regarding the cotton crop:
New York, Jan Is, 1907.
The divergency OF opinion with regard
to the present cotton crop still continues
IT has never previously been so wild, or
projected so far into the season. Never
previously have so many experts" been
brought into public notice by their esti-
mates. Within two weeks we have had
Messrs K. T. Wilson & Co. estimate
of :, 445.70 and Mr.. Neill's of II 250. 900.
The difference between these two figures
is the difference between famine and
abundance, between low prices and eX-
ceedingly high ones. The controversy
has in fact attained almost TO the dignity
OF an international issue The three
leading estimators of the large crop are
EngIishmen or residents in England who
do not hesitate TO say that American
predictions of a small yield are the result
OF Misrepresentation inspired by self
interest. On the other hand the Ameri-
can prophets of q short crop point TO the
endorsement OF the United States Gov
eminent, and suggest that the attitude
of their trans Atlantic friends was ex-
planned centuries ago by the proverb, 1T
is naught; it is raught, saith the buyer,
but when he is gone then he boast
eth
In this situation l have determined to
make another effort TO get at the truth
and the result is herewith submitted II
comprises the result of inquiries address
ed on January TO representative business
men in every town of over 300 inhabi-
in hf
the South, including each OF the 762 cot
ton producing counties reported by the
census. One thousand six hundred and
rinety-seven replies of an average date,
January 18th. have been received from
1000 towns in $40 counties. The coun-
ties heard from produced last year 80
per cent of the entire cotton crop, and
or the 167 counties not heard from SO
produced last year less than 5000 bales
each.
The parties addressed We're carefully
selected by their commercial standing
and are classified by their business as
follows:
Zero Business
Bankers Alabama, II; Arkansas, 81
Georgia, Sc; Indian Territory, 10; Louis
lana. II; Mississippi, A; North Carolina.
81 Oklahoma Territory, IA; South Caro-
lira 30; Tennessee, L.; Texas, 100. Total,
$50.
Cotton buyers and merchants: Ala
hama, $50; Arkansas 81; Georgia, 80;
Indian Territory, 4 Louisiana, /; Mis-
sissippi IS; North Carolina, 81; Okla
homa Territory. 5; South Carolina, %;
Tennessee, 6; Texas, At. Total 1876.
Cotton manufacturers: Alabama, 5;
Arkansas -; Georgia, Il; Indian Terri
tory. =; Louisiana, -; Mississippi, S;
North Carolina, q; Oklahoma Territory
-; South Carolina 81 Tennessee, ?;
Texas, IL. Total 81.
Cotton glnners and warehousemen:
alabama. "a; Arkansas, 4; Georgia. IA;
Irdian Territory A; Louisiana, /; Missis-
Sippi, S: North Carolina, 3; Oklahoma
Territory, . South Carolina, 5; Tonnes
see, 6: Texas. So Total IL.
Oil millers Alabama, =; Arkansas, =;
Georgia, -. Indian Territory, - Louis
lana, -. Mississippi, f. North Carolina,
2 Oklahoma Territory, =; South Caro-
Ina 2; Tennessee, -; Texas Is. Total
&c.
General merchants Alabama, Co. Ar
tory. 2e Louisiana, SO; Mississippi, 81;
North Carolina. 80; oklahoma Territory,
10; South Carolina. 76; Tennessee, Is;
Texas, 2o1 Total S5S.
Planters, lawyers, etc: Alabama, 3;
Arkansas, g. Georgia, s. Indian Territory,
q Louisiana, a; Mississippi, 8; North
Carolina, 9; Oklahoma Territory, /; South
Carolina IL; Tennessee, 5; Texas, g.
Total Sc
Grand total: Alabama. 11S; Arkansas,
i52; Georgia, 249; Indian Territory, 40;
Louisiana, 20; Mississippi, Ill; North
Carolina, 179; Oklahoma Territory, ~;
South Carolina, 172 Tennessee, %;
Texas, 445. Total 1897.
requested in my inquiries a., an ex-
act statement of the comparative stocks
az cotton this year and last in each
town: CD an estimate of the production
OF each county for the present year, the
census production for two previous years
being given; 3D. an estimate as to the
uercentage of cotton remaining in plant
ers' hands in each county. OF the towns
heard from only SCI latter eliminating
the counted" towns), report any cotton
as held there this year or last. The
comparison of reported stocks at the I'M
caInted towns shows that the stocks now
on hand are upon the average only
"a 9-10 per cent of the amount on hand
at the same time last year. The COM
Earison by States is as follows
Alabama-No of towns, 20; stock 1902
sc 553; stock 1901, ITO, 709; decrease
"a 156; per cent of decrease Els
Arkansas-No of towns "A; stock 1902,
81 2ss. stock 1901, 120,62s decrease 1926;
per cent of decrease 1916.
Georgia-No. OF towns u.s.; stock 1902,
II. 766: stock 1901, 1884; decrease 3d.
O6S: Der cent of decrease ILL.,
Indian Territory--No of towns %;
stock 1902 1894; stock 1901, 27.700; de-
crease, Ia 1895: per cent of decrease 51.6.
Louisiana--No. of towns "a; stock 1902,
35 ,0O3; stock 1901, 40.991; decrease 5,9Ss;
per cent of decrease 14.6.
Misslssippi-N of towns 81; stock