The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-24

SENATOR
ON COTTON
Worst Famine Of Kind Since
Civil War, and Output Should
Bring Higher Prices.

New York. Aug. A.-General M u
Butler. for a number OF years United
States senator from South Carolina Is at
the Waldorf-Astoria. and will be In the |
city for several days. He goes from |
here to Newport on the invitation OF his
cousin. Perry Belmont.
General Butler has been engaged In cot
ton planting ever since he came OF age
and has owned his plantations for 30
years Since his retirement from the
United States senate he has devoted par
ticular attention to the subject OF cot
ton growing and Is regarded an one of
the most progressive and best Informed
men in the south regarding cotton.
A reporter asked General Butler to-
day, II ne had seen statement from Sec
retary Wilson OF the department OF agri-
culture concerning the advance In the
price OF cotton and containing some Sc
we're structures upon the men who lately
| have been operating In the cotton mar
ket. The secretary OF agriculture did not
| hesitate 10 characterize them as gam
blers and to criticise them severely as
! such.
| "Yes. I have seen what was said to
have been the expression OF opinion OF
| Secretary wilson, said General Butter.
| 'and ] must think that he spoke with
| out correct Information. Indeed, 1 am
bound to say that he seemed not TO know
what he was talking about The gentle
| men 10 whom he refers as gamblers,
Messrs Brown and Hayne. are not only
| among the most reputable business men
| In the country but are personally gen
! tlemen OF the highest character. one
OF them. Mr.. Hayne. Is from my own
state. and j think ne Will stand fair
comparison, as will Mr.. Brown from
! MissIssippi with Secretary Wilson. or
ANYBODY In official or business life.
Tine fact is that Messrs. Brown and
Hayne have done more for the producers
OF cotton, the farmers. In few months
than the department of agriculture mas
done In 10 years. The secretary seems 10
| be particularly concerned about the
operators and the cotton mills; that the
| cotton mills have had to shut down ana
put out OF employment large number
OF employees and that therefore It's n
great wrong upon the cotton mills. NOW
in regard TO that. Messrs. Brown ana
Hayne simply bought cotton from the
bears IN the cotton market and required
them to deliver the cotton and, OF course,
the nrice went I'D The cotton mills OF
the north or the south have not paid
a fair price for cotton in the laet IL
wears and II the law of supply ana de-
mand is TO cut any figure now raw cot
ton ought TO be worth 15 cents pound
think we may safely expect that we
will n, a very few months find a famine
OF cotton manufactured goods In this
country"
what is the visible supply OF raw cot
ton in the market. and about how Ions
would II last?" :.
my information, and think IL IL
s pretty accurate. Is that the visfp.e sup
nly OF cotton today. Is about $4,000 bales
which would be about three weeks sup
e ply for the cotton mills. That Is m,
information"
. "And how long before the coming croI
will begin to come into the marketY
''Well. they are picking cotton now II
q the extreme south. but as a rule cottor
a ought 70 be rushed in in October o.
November. and then. OF course. the miii
> can buy what cotton they want Ann
think 7 ought 90 state another fact
which 7 believe 10 be correct. that w
4. are now having the greatest cotto,
= famine In the country efnce the cfV'
war want to repeat that cottol
, should he selling today for 10 cents
mound n the rule of supply and deman'
: is TO cut any figure.
. CROPS BADLY HURT.
= Austin. Tex, Aug. A-George Fl. Wa
TON statistictan OF the state agriculture
l. department, says that the cotton Do
waev,l has made great inroads on tn
"a cotton crop during the past 10 days an
It that the present prospects indicate ina
a the loss from that source will aggrega'
he nearly 70 per cent. OF the yield that wa
promised early in the season. Accordin
TO reports received by him from All ov'
the Texas cotton belt. the boil weevil
doing great damage in SIS counties ar
there is hardly n county In which IL M
not appeared. The boil worm Is also ra
Ia aging the cotton In many localities
The Texas Boil Weevil commission
now making a tour OF the state exami
ing the injury caused by the boil weeN
IN and testing the several plans proposed 4
n its eradication. II is now at Brenham,
- give the experimenters OF that section
te chance SO far the commissioners are n
n. Impressed with the remedies which Ia
is been proposed and do not believe TN
u they will succeed In the work. thoui
some Of the proposers of the remedies
ts sure Of II. One company has been orga
W ,zed TO manufacture suction mschi
Ia. and two or three others are talked OF
he the same purpose. So far the farme
ay who have been really successful In col
batting the weevil have picked them
IT. by hand. have paid attention To I
a. planting and continued 10 plow up I
no moment picking began.