The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-06
Puts Cotton Crop of 1SO2-3d 1O,729,559 Bales, an h.
 crease of 46,879
TEXAS AND THE TERRITORY
 DECREASES 16O,OOO BALES
Atlantic States Have Also Fallen of Some, But Other Sections Made Up the Difference-Con-
 sumption is Greater.

New Orleans. September 5.--secretary Testers annual New Orleans Cotton ex- change report was issued in full today. He puts the cotton crop of 1902-03 at 10,- 727559 bales. an increase of 46.s7s over that of 19o1-O2, an increase of S44137 over that of 19OO-19O1 and an increase of 1,29l,- 143 over that of 1S99-19O0.
 He says that compared with last year, in round figures. Texas, including Indian Territory, has decreased 162,Oc bales; the group known as other gulf states, con- sisting of Louisiana. Arkansas. Mlssis- sippi. Tennessee, Oklahoma, Utah and Kansas. has increased 363,OOO, and the group of Atlantic states, Alabama. Geor- gia, Florida, North Carolina, South Caro- lima, Kentucky and Virginia, has fallen off 154,OOO
 Figures Ly States.
 MT. Hester's report on the cotton crop of the different states is given as fol- lows. in thousands of bales: Alabama, 1850, against 12O0 last year; Arkansas, 1000. against S2O last year; Florida, 55, yainst 54; Georgia, 1470, against 1895: Louisiana, SS4, against sSO; Mississippi, lfo4 against 1875: North Carolina, 575. against $50; South Carolina, 950 against 925; Tennes- see, etc., 509, against 359; Texas and In- dian Territory 2S3l, against 2993. Total crop 10. 72s against 10,6S1
 He makes the actual production of In- dian Territory 4lS.453, against 369,S94 last year; of Oklahoma lSG,323, against 1So,- SIP last yes5. and of Missouri S59o6. against, 31.d2 last year; the two last be- ing incyided uneer he head ,t Tennes- see. etd" lie N the aycN'sd commea* cal Yalve of tbk years Nros .es stt--55s2, agani s4i.0l last year. si7.6aAne year bel fore ayd $SS 55 in, 1S9s-1S99, and the total vah.e the cropl at siS0, 77O gS2, against s4ssQl4ps7 last yeAr and s49i5e7,549 the yeat before.
 Crop Brought Good Returns.
 In reference to the total value, MT. Hesr ter says that while t..e crop as a whole- brought a good return, notwithstanding the high prices during the latter part of the season, the outurn has been great as was expected. The total value, care- fully figured out, is in round figures $f2,- 7560 GOO above last year, but it is less than year before last, when the crop was 3440OO bales under this year by nearly $l4, ,O00, GOO.
 grhe cause" he says Twill be made ap- parent when it is stated that in the crop of 19OO-l90l September averaged 103 per pound and that from October to February the monthly averages ranged from 9.59 in October to 92t cents in February, or stated in bales from S5247 in September to s4742 in February. This year the range from September to January leverage monthly yaues) was 7.S3 cents to S.6l, the .nriee of cents not being touched until hs bruary. when nearly S0O0,00O bales of thes crop had been marketed, the month- ly s.erage sales of which were from $40 to as tile over s44 per bale.
 N. Unusual Rains.
 Another Important feature that affect ed values Ihcre or less was the result of the unusuA and long continued rains which reduced . grade of the Texas crop and of the secuN tributary to New Orleans. Other sectios' were more or less affected from this casse but not to so great an extent. MT. HAter puts the average reduction of the gracM of the crop at from lie to "a. '' E-ar
 Further referring to crop values, he says: When 1t is considered that the combined values of the past three crops resulted in payment to farmers, common carriers. merchants and other handlers of over s1 ,413000,000, their importance as the great factor in the prosperity of the south may be fully appreciated"
 He makes the actual growth for this season as 10. 7O9,O00 and remarks that the commercial crop more nearly approxi- mated the growth of the season than ever before
 He puts the total spindles in the south at s24S275, an increase over last year of 735.293. These include l1S4,245 in new mills not yet completed. The net gain in the number of southern mills over last year has been 24 making the total now 40. Of these. 65O are in operation 8 are idle and 51 are in course of erection.
 Cotton Consumption.
 The consumption has been divided as 
 Alabama, 211,sO4. an increase ct 12.793; Arkansas 29f5 an increase of 452 Geor- gia 425.e99. an increase of 22s2O; Ken lucky. 2l.366, a decrease of 4240; Louisi- ana. 1S,O03 decrease of IA Mississippi B. 9s1, an increase of 4207; Missouri. 4723. an increase of 394; North Carolina 551,s02, an increase of 23.3l4: South Carolina. Bl3275. decrease of 7sO; Tennessee. A. 506. decrease of 1f17; Texas, 2S.6o7 an increase of 6274; Virginia, 42,04S. q de- crease of 1885.
 Total consumption of the south. 2O00,- 
 g. 758, and over year before last of 379.- 79s
 In reference to the general manufac- turing 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 nave partly used every bale they could obtain and the limit to their consump- ion has been due to the scarcity of the cotton. This applies to the mills as a whole In the larger number of estab- ishments. north and south there have been many exceptions where short time md partial or temporary suspension has been due to high prices for raw mater al without corresponding improvement n manufactured goods.
 Not Enough to Go Around.
 The fact is. he goes on to say, that 'o far as domestic mills are concerned here has not been enough cotton to go iround. The season has and has not been satisfactory. Most of the mills