Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-01-20

ons of recent years. that the biggest crop on record
fell far short Of producing such results for the pro
ducers the volume of cotton actually marketed in
1903.
The caIander year does not afford very accurate
or satisfactory comparison for cotton statistics as
the cotton year does not coincide with the calender
year, bnt where statistics are available, as in the
matter Of exports, for instance the record OF 19O3
the year just closed, has made most extraordinary
showing.
From 1883 to 1908 cotton exports averaged little
more than three iourths OF million dollars day.
In 1903 they averaged more than one million dollars
in value per day; in the last three months of 1908
they averaged more than two and half million dol
lars per day. Exports of cotton in December, 19O3
show a greater value than in any preceding month in
the history Of cotton expectation, the total being
vr seyenty.twO million dollars, and thus averaging
two and half million dollars for every day of the
month.
OF course, there is a great difference between the
volume of the cotton exported and the value of the
exports. Thus the largest amount of cotton export
ed in single calendar year was in 1898, the amount
being 13 per cent greater than in 1903 yet the value
OF the exports of the year just passed exceeded that
of 1898 by nearly $3.50, ,O00, 900, OF considerably
more than third greater This was, of course,
due to the very high prices which have prevailed
for cotton during 1908.
The value of cotton exports from the United States
as shown by the Department of Commerce and Labor
through its bureau of Statistics, was 1878 00O, ,O0O
These are the preliminary figures, but will not be
materially changed by the revised statement to be
issued later in the present month The total value
of the exports exceeds by $64, ,OOO 600 that OF the
preceding record year; 19OO when the value of the
cotton exported was S314, OOO, 600. The value Of
cotton exports reached the three hundred mill
lion dollar line except in the years 19OO 1901 and
1908. In 1900 the total was S14 millions in 1901
3O4 Millions and in 1908 $40 millions Of dollars.
All the countries OF Europe have been purchasers
Of American cotton during 1908, in other years,
and Japan, British America aud Mexico have also
taken fair amount. Great Britain has continued to
be our best customer as has always been the case,
although Germany was good second. France and
Italy are the other large purchasers. Germany,
however, has increased her takings more than any
other Power in recent years.
Although we exported more cotton, as far as value
is concerned in 1903 than ever before the cOnsump
tion of cotton in the United States also broke all
records. It might reasonably be expected that with
such a demand for export would have increased
our exports at the expense Of domestic consumption
but this does not appear to have been the case last
year. The tendency is Enthusiastically to increase
the consumption Of cotton at home and to export in
the shape Of the manufactured product rather than
the raw material, European users Of American
cotton have discovered this tendency and have be-
come quite alarmed about it, aud are earnestly
advocating the increased production of cotton in
other countries than this.