The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-11-18
II, 900, 900 bales and Fl. e. Corst

II, ,00O,O 900 bales and H. C. Gorst,
of Liverpool, on the same date
issued an estimate fixing tthe
yield at II, 100000 bales. Now
let us look at the estimates of
dlsinterested parties. The United
Stated Department of Agricul-
ture on December 3, 1903, issued
it's estimate fixing the yield at
1862, O39 bales. The southern
states commissioners of agricul-
ture in convention at Montgom-
cry, Ala, October 9, 1903, esti-
mated the crop at 1O,471, 900
bales. Now, let us see what was
the actual crop, We find that
the actual commercial crop of
10000 amounted to 1O,O11,374
oales. Note the comparison of
bear estimates and government
estimates. The United States
Department of Agriculture was
under the actual figures only
49, bales. The commission
ers on agriculture overestimated
the crop 100000 bales while
Theodore Price missed it 1, 734 900
bales, and the rest of the bear
element all the way from a mil
lion to a million and a half bales.
MIR. Price is pursuing the same
course this season and calling
upon the farmers everywhere to
dump their cotton on the market
so as to depress prices and let
Mr.. Bear" Price coin his mil
lions at the expense of hundreds
of thousands of producers in the
The recent estimate OF the
southern commissioners of agri-
culture in convention at Baton
Rouge, La, October %, figured
the crop for this season at 10,-
171,O00 bales. Mr.. Theodore
Price and other bear spectators
figure the crop at 100000
bales. The commissioners of
agriculture overestimated the
crop 100000 bales last year and
the indications are that their
present estimate is not far from
wrong. Even if the crop should
reach II, 100000 bales the world
wants every bale of it and the
spinners are better able to pay
high prices this season than last,
because yarns have advanced 3
cents per pound this season and
a heavy demand for cotton goods
exists.
therefore call upon the pro-
ducers throughout the south to
stand firm and refuse to sell their
cotton at present prices. Heavy
receipts depress the market.
The spectators have sold mil
lions of bales for a future de-
livery and they want to buy that
cotton for less money than the
staple is actually worth. The
producers should demand from
II to IL cents for the balance of
the crop. They are in a position
to force prices up by selling the
staple slowly. Debts have been
paid as a rule, and there is no
longer absolute necessity of rush
ing our cotton on the market.
The merchants and bankers of
the south should encourage slow
selling because the prosperity of
the producers makes prosperity
certain in all other avenues of
trade in the south. We will not
make a bumper crop; most of
the staple has been gathered and
ginned. Let us determine to
stand firmly together the balance
of the season and force the bear
spectators to cover. The pres
ent price of cotton is too low and
urge every producer to refuse
to sell until the market properly
readjusts itself. Have no fear
that cotton will be worth less ir
the future than now. Those whC
hold will get better prices wher
the spectators are forced to pay
it. The producers are now stand
ing firm but the spectators ant
spinners hope to break thei
nerve and cause a general rusl
on the markets in the near future
Let us prove to the world tba
southern farmers can assert an,
maintain their rights in the fac