The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09
THE CROP OF isO2-03.
Secretary Hastef's Interesting An-
nga! Cotton Report.
Significant Figures as to Manu-
featuring in the Countrywide
Southern States in the Pic
ture.


Southern States in the Pic
ture.
New Orleans, Sept. 5.-Secretary
Hester's annual New Orleans cotton
exchange report was issued in full to-
day. He puts the cotton crop of 1902
1908 at 10, 727, $50 bales, an increase OF
46, 979 over that of l901-l902. He
says that compared with last year, in
round figures, Texas, including IN In.
dian Territory, has decreased l62: :0oC
bales, the group consisting of Louisi-
ana, Arkanssa, Mississippi, Tennes-
see, Oklahoma, Utah and Kansas, has
increased 1863, 600, and the group OF
Atlantic States alabama, Georgia,
Florida, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Kentucky and Virignia),
has fallen off 154, 600.
He puts the average commercial value
of this years crop at S44. % against
s4l.o1 last year, and the total value
of the crop at $3.50, TO, 2S2 against
s43S, Ola, 697 last year. In reference to
the total value, Mr.. Hester says that
while the crop as a whole brought q
good return, Notwithstanding the high
prices during the latter part of the
season, the out-turn has not been as
great as was expected. The total value,
carefully figured out, is in round
figures s42, $50, 900 above last year.
This year the range, from September
to January, of average monthly values,
was 1888 cents to S.6l, the price OF .
cents not being touched until Feb
ruary, year the range from September
to January when nearly 5000, 900 bales
of the crop had been marketed, the
monthly average sales of which were
from $40 to little over S44 per bale.
Another important feature that affect
ed values was the long continued rains
which reduced the grade of the Texas
crop and of the section tributary to
New Orleans. Mr.. Hester puts the
average reduction of the grade OF the
crop from l l-16.to ! 1-S.
Further referring to crop values, he
says: f" When it is considered that the
combined values of the past three
crops resulted in payment to farmers,
common carriers, merchants and other
handlers of over 81, 413, 600, 900 their
importance as the great factor in the
prosperity of the south may be fully
appreciated.
He puts the total spindles in the
south at 6,248,275 an increase over
last year of 735, 293. These include
1,1S4, 245 in new mills not yet COM
pleted. The net gain in the number
of southern mills over last year has
been "a, making the total now 740.
OF these $50 are in operation, 80 are
idle and 81 are in course of erection.
The larger consumers have been Ala
bama 2l1, S04 an increase OF l3, 1873 !;
Georgia 425, 500. an increase Of %, $40 (;
North Carolina 551, ,602, an increase OF
%, 3l4; South Carolina 61a, ,275, a de-
crease of 100; Tennessee Al, 506, de-
crease of 1.317; Virginia 42, ,049, de-
crease of 1885.
Total consumption of the south
200. 729 bales, an increase over last
years of 81, 1853.
In reference to the general manu-
featuring industry of the country, Mr..
Hester says that Notwithstanding the
endless discussion of stoppage Of mills,
short time and interference with con-
sumption by high prices. American
mills have practically used every bale
they could obtain and the limit to their
consumption has been due to. the
scarcity of cotton. So far as domestic
mills are concerned there has not been
enough cotton to 60 around. Most OF
the mills bought or contracted for
their supplies early and as the rise IN
price for raw cotton to 9 cents and
above did not take place until nearly 10
per cent. of the crop had been market
ed, they were actually in excellent
shape. In the south from 100000 to
$50 600 bales more would have been
consumed had conditions during the
latter half of the season been normal
as to supply and price and in spite OF
speculation at no time in the history
Of the staple have values been governed
so thoroughly and completely by supply
and demand.
The details of the visible supply, he
says, show with startling clearness
the reasons for most Of the short time
and partial stoppages of mills within
the past few months. At the close Of
August 1902, there remained of cotton
visible in the United States in round
figures but 177,OO0 bales, in Great
Britain 17S, 600 and on the continent
153, 600, at total of 1000, with a late
crop coming of which only 1,300 bales
were marketed in August against ST. Coo
last year.
The total consumption of American
mills was 4,017, 900 this year against
8, 9SS, 900 last year, al increase OF 70, 0oO
bales.
The use of foreign cotton by Ameri-
can mills has decreased materially.
Thirteen years ago the north took 1871
per cent. and the south 23.3 per cent.
Today the percentages are, north 49.
SO; south 50. ~.
With the new spindles in course of
erection the capacity of the south
should be nearly 2,36s, 600 bales.
One of the most interesting features
of the report is the showing OF the
worlds consumption of American cot
ton of the past season, which is put
at 10, s59, 900 bales against 10, 657, 600
last year, gain of 202, 600. He quotes
an eminent English authority for the
statement that the surplus stocks III
+bo mills of Furone at the close OF