The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-06
TROUBLES OF THE COTTON SPIN
NERS,

The cotton planter is in good spirits,
but the cotton spinner Is in trouble.
The price of cotton has got beyond his
reach. 1t wouldn't make much differ
enoe to him how high the price Of
cotton went, provided the prices of
manufactured cotton goods advanced
in proportion. The consumer, however,
is averse to paying higher prices for
cotton fabrics. and thus far it has
been found impossible to get prices for
them that would warrant paying the
prevailing high price for cotton.
1t looks as if the mills would have
to greatly curtail production. BY do
ing that the price Of cotton fabrics may
be brought up to a point where the
mills can be run at a profit. The South
ern cotton mill men are to have meet
ing on Tuesday for the purpose of dis
cussng the situation. Their action
doubtless will have controlling effect
upon the action of the New England
cotton mill men. AS the situation now
presents itself it looks as If there would
be a pretty general cutting of wages
of cotton mill operatives and a cur
tailment of the cotton goods output. 1t
is not to be expected that the mills will
continue to be run at a loss.
The impression prevails that the Eu-
ropean spinners are in a better posi-
ton than those of this country for
the reason that they were heavy buyers
when cotton was considerably lower
than it is now. 1t is stated that they
have secured the bulk of the crop that
has been already marketed. If the spin
ners should decide to curtail the out
put of their product would a reduc-
ton in the price of cotton follow? 1t
is probable that it would, though
the chances are that the reduc-
ton would be only temporary. If the
crop is not more than 10000, 900 bales
the demand will be so great that it win
be taken even if the price should be
considerably higher than it is at pres
ent.
The impression is being thrown out
| that the one reason the crop is no
| larger this year is that cotton seed is
| deteriorating. II is true, of course, that
the acreage this year is larger than
it was last, and yet the yield is smaller
but the reason for the small yield is
| readily accounted for. Those who hold
| that the seed is deteriorating do not
! give reasons for their opinion. Still, it
might be well for the Agricultural De-
| partment of the government to look
! into the matter with the view of cor
recting the evil if it is found to exist
| That department is all the time expert
menting with wheat and corn with the
view of securing new and improved
varieties. There is no reason why it
should not do the same thing with cot
| ton.
As a matter of fact the cotton crop
is now more valuable from a money
point of view than the wheat crop Not
only that, but the heavy exports of
cotton this year at the high prices
brought vast amount of money into
! the country and relieved the money
stringency. If it had not been for our
| cotton exports we might have had an
| alarming financial condition. The 2,527, =
COO bales Of cotton exported between
Sept. l and Dec. last year brought
| $SS, 100000, While the 2,763,O00 exported
| during the same time this year pro-
duced close to 100000 900. From this
statement it can be readily seen what
an important factor cotton has become
in the financial situation.