The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-24
COTTON.

New York, Aug. 2S.-On the 2nd of
August 1 advised the world to buy cot
ton irrespective of the showing made
by the government report. Since that
time the market has advanced a cent a
pound l again urge those who are
likely to need cotton during the next
six months. to secure their supplies, if
practicable, on the basis of present
prices. The fall of Port Arthur is i'm
minent, pacific Intervention by the
Powers will probably follow, and the
impulse thereby given to the world S
industry and the American British ex
port in trade cotton goods particularly
will prove the most important since
the resumption of specie payment by
the United States in 1879. Meantime,
the condition of the crop is rapidly de-
teriorating, in my opinion the condition
is no better than it was at this time
last year, and allowing for the reported
increase in acreage, the indicated crop
at present is hardly over 100000
bales. 1t is generally admitted that a
moderate crop will pass into consump-
ton on the basis of IL cents a pound,
and that a short crop means a repeti-
ton of last years wild speculations
The depredations of the boil weevil
which infest a larger area in Texas
than ever before. account in part for
the rapid deterioration, but equally
important is the insufficiency of labor
in the South for the cultivation of the
crop. In the past fourteen years, the
increase in the cotton acreage is report
ed by the government to be SO per cent.
The crop of 1901 was S,600,000 bales.
The crop of 1904 is 10000, 900. The in
crease in production, therefore, is only
about 16 per cent. There is no possible
nrospect that the coming crop will
show an increase over that of 1890
commensurate with the increase in
acreage in the South for the past four
teen years has been IS per cent
The increase in the negro population
of the South during the same period
has only been "a per cent. and in Tex
as. Oklahoma and Indian Territory the
increase in the acreage since 1890 is l24
per cent, while the increase in the ne
gro population is only As per cent. Elk
perience has proved that under the hot
South sun the negro alone can be used
for the cultivation of cotton and the
rapid industrial development of the
South has drawn heavily upon the ne
gro population for labor in its mine.
lumber camps and railways. 1t is
probably true that against an increase
in cotton acreage in the South of 60
per cent. in fourteen years the increase
i'm negro labor availa BILE for its culti-
walton has not been over II per cent.
Those facts which are taken from the
United states census point Individually
to only one conclusion, the South has
for the past five years been planting
more common acreage than can be cul-
tivated by the labor available, and the
rapid deterioration in its condition now
being reported. and which for the past
four years has generally commenced to
develop about this time, evidences this
lack OF cultivation. During the early
months Of its growth il needs but little
care. Without care during its critical
period. il IS hound to deteriorate.
II may as we'll be accepted, I'm my
opinion, that the maximum cotton pro-
ductive capacity of the South was
reached FIVE years ago and cannot he
again attained until the disproportion
between its negro population and it's
acreage shall have been adjusted No
such readiustment seems possible with
in the present generation
Spiuners OF cotton and consumers of
cotton will do we'll 10 ponder and 10
heed the significance OF these facts.
/ shall appreciate II II my friends in
the South will continue TO advise me by
mail or telegraph as 10 the outlook OF
the crop IN their locality kilograms
not more than ten words in length may
be sent at my expense. Theodore II.
Price.-ad.