The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-01
SEA ISLAND COTTON.
Prices Showed n hardening Tenden-
cy After the Season Opened Up.

Prtces showed n Hardening Tenden-
cy After the Season Opened Tn.
The past year goes down as a salts
factory one for the sea island cotton
farmers of Georgia and Florida, who
market much of their cotton through
Savannah. The prices were considered
good by the trade, and planters were
satisfied. The old season did not take
all the old cotton with it, however, as
there is now on hand a stock of 4,217
bales with which to begin the new
season. What effect this will have, if
any, upon prices is to be seen. Its eff
feet will be especially interesting in
view of the probable early receipts of
new cotton.
In October the demand in the Savan-
nah market was not active, and there
was every indication that spinners
were again to adopt their pet policy of
buying only to the extent of their
actual requirements, allowing holders
to carry the cotton until the mills
needed it. During October East Flori-
das were around Pig to 22c, Extra
Choice to Fancy Floridas 81 to 21hc,
Fancy Georgias zoe, Extra Choice
Georgias 19c, and Choice Georgias 1Sc
During November and later spinners
continued indifferent By January the
market had taken on new life, the de-
mand was decidedly improved from
both eastern and foreign consumers,
and prices of Fancy East Floridas had
UnTEnd II n IN 10 1ld To
Georgias to 22c, around which they
have continued without radical change.
During August little was doing owing
to the desire among consumers to
await new crop developments, which
is until yet an uncertain quantity.
Probably never before have reports
from the Georgia and Florida belt
been so conflicting. The crop is what
the farmers call spotted" with one
field ruined and the adjoining one
promising a full crop. In the absence
of trading prices remained unchanged
during most of August, with Fancy
Floridas % to 23kc, and Fully Fancy
Georgias 211ac (old CROP. During the
last week of August new crop Fancy
Georgias were reported sold at zoe.
In South Carolina, where the finest
sea island staple Is produced, prices
were maintained. The old crop will
be short of that of 1901, as is the case
in Georgia and Florida. The outlook
for the new Carolina crop Is proms-
ing, with an absence of any serious
complaint.
The acreage for the new crop was
about the same as that of 1901, with
about the same amount of fertilizer
used. A spotty condition exists, how
ever and doubt prevails as to the out
turn. In well-informed circles reports
of damage are not regarded as eXag-
gerations. The damage results most
ly from rust, shedding and black
blight.
The first twin bales of Georgia sea
island cotton were received at Savan-
nah Aug. Is. one by w. w. Gordon &
Co, from Nayor. Ga. and the other
by Hunter, Pearce & Battey, from
Valdosta. The first Florida sea island
cotton was received Aug. 81 by w. w.
Gordon & Co.
The total gross receipts of sea ISL
and cotton at Savannah for 1901-02
were 55,S15 bales. against about 81. 900
in 10000. and the total net receipts
So. 322. OF the receipts there came from
Florida by rail $4,000, and from all
other sources 1885. The average
weight of sea island bales was $50. 20
pounds. and the average value $7S5S.
The total exports for the season were
81, 9S9. of which 3496S were coastwise.
going to Brunswick, 1929; New York.
20. 1871; Baltimore, 2,450. and Philadel
phia. As. To Great Britain, II. 046. of
which Liverpool got 4941 and Man
chester 7,105. Havre got 1888 The
continent got 1872, and there were re-
shipped inland south of the Potomac
and Ohio rivers 1894