The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-24
COTTON.

New York, Aug 23.-On the second
of August I advised the world to buy
cotton irrespective Of the showing
made by the Government report. Since
that time the market has advanced a
cent a pound. 1 again urge those who
are likely to need cotton during the
next six months to secure their sup
plies. II practicable, on the basis of
present prices. The fall of Port Ar
thur is imminent. pacific intervention
by the powers will probably follow, and
the impulse thereby given to the
worlds industry and the American and
British export trade in cotton goods
particularly. will prove the most i'm
portant since the resumption of specie
payment by the United States in 1879.
Meantime, the condition of the crop
Is rapidly deterioating. In my opin-
ion the condition is no better than IL
was at this time last year. and allow
ing for the reported increase in acre
age. the indicated crop at present Is
hardly over 100000 bales. 1t Is gen
orally admitted that a moderate crop
OF IL cents a pound and that short
crop means a repetition of last years
wild speculation.
The depredations of the boil weevil
which tnfests larger area in Texas
than ever before. accounts in part for
the rapid deterioration. but equally
important Is the insufHciency of labor
In the South for the cultivation of the
crop.
In the past fourteen years, the in
crease in cotton acreage as reported
by the Government. is 60 per cent. The
crop Of $4,000 was 100000 bales. The
increase in production, therefore. is
only about 16 per cent There is no
possible prospect that the coming crop
VIII show an increase over that Of 1890
commensurate with the increase OF
acreage.
The reason for this 10 not hard to
hnd. While the increase in acreage in
the South for the past fourteen years
has been SO per cent, the increase ir.
the negro population of the South dur
ing the same period has only been "a
per cent, and in Texas, Oklahoma and
indian Territory the increase in acre
age since 1890 is f24 per cent. while
the increase in the negro population
is only IS per cent. Experience has
proved that under the hot Southern
suns the negro alone can be used for
the cultivation of cotton and the rapid
industrial advancement of the South
has drawn heavily on the negro popu-
lation for labor In Mines lumber camps
and railways.
1t is probably true that against an
increase In cotton acreage in the South
OF SO per cent in fourteen years. the
Increase in negro labor available for
Its cultivation has not been over IL
per cent. These facts which are taken
from the United States census. point
The South has for the past five years
been planting more cotton acreage than
can be cultivated by the labor available
and the rapid deterioration in it's con-
dition now being reported and which
for the past four years has generally
commended to develop about this time
evidences this lack Of cultivation. Dur
Ing the early months of it's growth II
needs but little care. without care
during It's critical period it Is bound
to deteriorate
1t may as we'll be accepted In NV
opinion, that the maximum cotton pro,
ductive capacity of the South, reached
five years ago. cannot be again attain
ed until the disproportion between its
negro population and Its acreage shall
have been adjusted. No such readjust-
ment seems possible within the present
generation.
spinners OF cotton and consumers of
cotton goods will do we'll to ponder
and to heed the Significance of these
facts: shall appreciate It If my
friends In the South will continue to adj
wise me by mall or telegraph as to the
outlook OF the crop in their locality,
kilograms not more than ten words
In length may be sent at my expense.
adv. Theodore TT Prjce