The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
1902 CROP OF COTTON.
CENSUS OFFICE PUBLISHES
FINAL FIGURES FROM RE-
PORTS or GlNNERs.
Mere Than Eleven Million Bales Ginned
During the Last Year.

During the Last year.
washington, May 5.-The census
Office today made public the final
figures Of cotton production obtained
from the reports of cotton ginners. The
quantity Of cotton ginned from the
growth OF 1902, exclusive Of linters,
amounted TO 1l,07S, SS2 running
bales. Bales as pressed at the GIN
neries are equal to 1850, ,945 bales OF
sDo-pound standard, OF counting
round bales. as half bales 10, 5SS, 25O.
During the four years covered oy the
ginning reports of the census Office the
average crop, exclusive of llnters,
has been 9.9O2,277 bales of 500 pounds
The crop of 1902 shows an increase OF
T2s, ess bales over this average. While
the crops of 1899 and 1901 show de-
crease of 556, 1856 and 1872, 532 bales
respectively For the crop of 1902 there
has been a general increase IN all the
States, both east and west of the
Mississippi river, with the exception
Of Alabama and Texas. Drought in
Alabama and the boil weevil in Texas
are responsible for the losses in those
States.
The report contains many interesting
details concerning the variation OF
production in the various sections OF
the country. For instance, attention
is called to the degree OF compensation
which has beer maintained for the
past three crops between the divisions
of the cotton belt as made by the Mis-
sissippi river. East of the Mississippi
production decreased in 1900 313, 256
bales. This was more than Offset by
the increase west Of the Mississippi
river Of l.890, 1892 bales, or 25.7 per
cent In 1902 the territory east OF the
Mississippi increased It's production
in manner which largely conpensates
for the material loss west of the river.
The per cent. of the country's pro-
duction grown in 1902 east and west
of the Mississippi was $50 and 46.4,
respectively, against 47.2 and 52.S In
1900. 10 show the extent of the re-
duction in the cotton crop in Texas 1t
is shown that whereas in 1900 that
State produced 81 per cent. OF the en-
tire crop Of the United States, or
about one-euarter of the cotton supply
of the world, in 1902 the Texas pro-
duct was only little over % per cent.
of the entire product of this country.
The States showing the most notice
able increases IN production IN 1902
are Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and
Mississippi.
The increase in Arkansas is remark
able, being s64,622 bales, or more
tnan 81 per cent. over the total re-
ceipts for the smallest crop-that Of
IsS9-and 157, ,221, or over 10 per cent.
over that of 1900, tthe largest crop
prior to that Of 1902. There was also
a large increase in the production, of
indian Territory and Oklahoma. The
combined crops of these territories
for 1902 were 545, 1882 bales, as com
rared with 2l5, 591 bales for 1899, an
increase of 329, 79l bales, or l53 per
cent.
! The figures on the ginning industry
show that there are 30, 94S glnnerles In.
the United States. The average num-
ber of bales ginned per active estab-
lishmeut in Texas was 563, IN Indian
tgrritory s55, and in Oklahoma 993,
aoainst 254-in Alabama 292 in Georgia
and 2O6 in North Carolina. This
GREAT difference in the average NUMBER
Of bales of cotton handled per establish
nent is due to the extensive employ
rnent in the newer cotton producing
States of modern methods OF handling
seed cotton and more general en-
7,loyment OF round bale presses.
The value of the crop for 1902 is
estimated at S5O1, s97, l34, making it
the second most yaluble crop OF the
United States, corn taking first rank
and wheat third. The value of the
raw cotton exports for 1902 is given at
1920, 65l, SO giving that article the hIst
place IN value in American exports:
The export price for 1902 was about l
cant Der pound less tahn that OF lSOl.
The value of the cotton crop OF 1902
in the States included in the Louisiana
m chase is given at S113, $50, ,044, or
more than $1,000, 900 more than the
original price paid to France for that
tsrritory with interest at 2 per cent.
compounded to the present time.
The rapid development OF the cotton
seed oil industry is represented as
annually increasing the quantity OF
short cotton saved 10 the commercial
world by the regiuulng Of cotton seed
for oil extraction. A canvass of this
Industry has developed the fact that
40 cotton seed oil mills have been
one onerated during the season of 1923
and that they have obtained from the
rgginning of seed of the growth OF
1862 linters amounting to 1856, ,223 bales
of 500 pounds each.
Cotton bulletins are promised at
more frequent intervals in future
wears. The first report for next season
will cover all cotton ginned OF the
growth of 1908 up to Sept. /: the
Second, to Oct. lS; the third to Nov.
ls: the fourth to Dec. 10; the nth
will be the final report, and will cover
the total growth of the year.
Several of the newspapers are
lamenting the recent death by fal! OF
1oon tho Io0p artist.