The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-10
sAvANNAH,s oorroN RECEIPTS.

SAVANNAH'S COTTON RECEIPTS.
It is the opinion of those engaged in
the cotton business in this city that
! Savannah's cotton receipts this year
Will exceed those Of any previous year
| Cotton is arriving in unprecedented
quantities, considering that We are
| practically only at the beginning Of
the cotton season. The season is. of
course, an early one. and that ac-
counts to some extent for the large
| receipts.
There is no doubt, however, that
the farmers are hurryns their cotton
to market, believing the price is as
high as it is likely to be. and know
ing that, if later on it should become
apparent that the volume of the crop
had been underestimated, there will be
a decline in the price.
In all Of the territory from which
Savannah draws cotton the crop is re-
ported to be above the average.
Weather and insects have done it some
damage and doubtless will injure it
Il great deal more Still, there will be
enough remaining to make at least
100000 bales, and probably more, in
this state
Savannah is making additions to her
cotton territory every year, and it is
the understanding that the cotton of
this new territory averages higher in
the quantity per acre than that of her
immediate territory. 1t wouldn't be
surprising therefore If Savannah
should receive more than 500 600 bales
this season. Some of the cotton men
here think the receipts will be 1,6OO,-
600 bales or mora. That amount of
cotton in one year would give Sa-
vannah a big reputation both at home
and in other countries.
The brokers who are handling the
free-on-b board cotton are very enthus-
iastic relative to the prospects for a
good business season. One of them
said yesterday that he had done 80 per
cent. more business this year than he
had done in any previous year.
In some parts of the cotton section
letters are being written to the local
papers urging the farmers to hold their
cotton. 1t is not probable that many
of them will be guided by the advice.
Whether the price of cotton will ad-
vance or decline in the near future de-
ponds upon the size of the crop. and
what it's size will be no one can tell.
1t is thought to be pretty certain
that it will be as much as II 900 600
bales. If the cotton experts should
become convinced that the crop will
be 100000 bales the chances are the
price would remain about what it is
now, but if it should develop that it
is considerably larger there would be
marked decline in the price
Farmers as a rule are taking no
chances. The present price of cotton
is very attractive and that is why they
are rushing the crop to market as fast
as they can. The probability is they
are showing more wisdom than are
those who are holding for a better
market.
After all the farmers must decide
for themselves as to whether they
will hold their cotton or send it to mar
ket as fast as it is ginned. No doubt
those who advise the holdings of cot
ton mean well, but as their Judgment
in the matter is no better than that of
farmers of average intelligence who
keep posted as to acreage, weather
conditions and other things which help
to determine the yield. there is no good
reason why the movement Of the crop
should be affected by what they say.
From the volume of cotton that is COM
ing to this port it would seem as if
the farmers had decided to sell at the
present price.