Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-24
BUYING OKLAHOMA COTTON.
German and Japanese Agents Are Bid
dirg fer It.

Guthrie. Okla. Nov. 23.-Although
the representatives OF both Japan ana
Germany are bidding with those OF the
United states for the cotton crop In
Oklahoma yet there is much of the
product. especially in Greer and other
southwestern counties being held for 4
higher price. or for twelve cents. as
the planters themselves admit. After
selling from ten to twelve bales each
the cotton growers Of Greer county are
storing the remainder of the crop and
are able to hold it until it commands a
higher price. The ten to twelve bales
will pay the debts Of the yroWers-for
as a rule the Oklahoma cotton planter
is in good fix financially-and he is
therefore independent regarding the
disposal of the remainder This is
largely the case in Greer county. the
banner cotton county of the territory.
and to some extent the example is be-
ing followed in Kiowa. Roger Mills,
Washita and Custer In the more
northern counties the farmers. as a
rule sell their cotton as fast as it is
harvested. at the ruling price. Gener-
ally the crop is reH:I fur handling in
the bulk about Oct. INIT the crop is
some later this S-.i: ,l Although
there can as yet be nn accurate eSti-
mates obtained as to " total number
of bales grown this N..-r In oklahoma,
the present crop HIS never been
equaled. The acreage. in the first
place was much larger than ever be-
fore and without question the general
results are much better. The only
hoS # i,,,
some localities: this prevails more in
the southern ana southwestern coun-
ties. In these. wheer the negro is not
particularly desired. it appeared for
time that the cotton farmers would
suffer material loses. But in many
cases their antipathy for the negro
was soon overcome by the fear of los
ing their crops. and black piclers We're
solicited. The wholesome immigration
of negroes from Texas into the south
ern Oklahoma counties was never be-
fore attempted until this year. Men
who heretofore have sworn that a ne
gro should not remain over night in the
county. are now employing black men
to pick cotton.
The southern Oklahoma farmers,
early in the season, attempted to i'm
port Greeks and Italian laborers from
st. Louis and that vicinity, but the
Latin railroaders did not take readily
to bending over the cotton stalk. ana
hence the excursions planned by the
railroad compan mics for their Transport
tation fell by the waysde.
Anew feature of the crop this wear
is an excessive demand for linterS
Representatives. of German firms made
their first appearance in the Oklahoma.
field and they have done a good bust
ness; also have the representatives
from japanese firms. The only appar-
net drawback to the German trade is
me fact that shipping rates are higher
than from the Mississippi and Georgia
mills. In view Of this a movement has
been started among cotton men to take
up the matter with the railroad com-
panieS TO secure better rates. Okla.
homa linters have been pronounced
superior to any other in the United
States and the mills here are selling
them at lower figures. Should the
railroads take favorable action there
seems no question but that Eastern
houses would buy largely form this
field. The trade in linters is practi-
cally ne wand has only been introduced
IN America four or five years. In Eu-
rope more Of this class of products is
handled than of the white line, and
there the manufacture of paper mat
treSseS and inferior muslins from the
cotto seed after the ginning has be-
come a large industry. While the Ger
man trade is seeking this product
largely. the Japanese trade is taking
the ginned cotton almost entirely.