The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-27
Big Cotton Crop this Year.

Columbia, April 17.-South Caro-.
lima is going to make desperate
struggle to raise record breaking cot
ton crop this year. Every prepara-
tion is being made to plant and ma
ture maximum cotton crop. These
observations are not made with view
Of affecting the cotton market one way
or another and they will hardly be
given more than passing thought.
1t has been my lot recently to visit
very many Of the counties of Eastern
and Western Carolina in connection
with my work for the News and Cou-
rier, and wherever I have gouo the
cotton acreage is the maximum. There
have been warnings time ard again
about OVERRIDING the cotton business,
but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
There seems to be no use to try to
urge farmers not to plant too much
cotton when they sincerely believe the
low water mark of prices next season
will not be under ten cents.
Of course, there is no way of tell
ing what the prevailing prices will be
this fall, but the farmers all seem to
be perfectly willing to take their
chances on prices and the seasons.
They are fertilizing more than usual
and seem to think that it will pay
them in the end.
In great many sections of the
State it is found that the cotton
acreage is restricted by the labor con-
ditions. In other words, the farmers
there are planting all the cotton they
think they can get the labor to cult
vate and to harvest. In several parts
of the State the labor proposition is
really quite serious and the farmers
find that the urban and turpentine
tendencies are playing havoc with the
labor on the farms.
If the seasons prove favorable South
Carolina will have its largest cotton
crop to place on the market.
The impression among .he better
Informed farmers is that the difference
between the average and maximum
crop in this State will be 80 inconsid-
cradle compared with the crop Of the
whole cotton belt as to make no ap.
preciable difference in prices. AT all
events they are taking their chances,
and they argue that, if the cotton mar
ket could keep up under the strain Of
the Sully failure and with the expe-
riences Of the cotton milla this year.
If cotton ever gets around ten cents
these same mills will create such
demand as to keep prices up to mark
that will be satisfactory to the South
Carolina man with the cotton.
MIR. Hugh T. Inman, one of the
largest dealers in the country, in re-
cent letter bearing upon the crop
question, writes:
1tis only now and then that Texas
and the country west of the Missis-
sippi River, make full crop. When
they do so the price is depressed,
from this cause, whether the Atlantic
has full crop or not.
If Texas has a full crop VIC get a
small price, whether we have "a large
crop or small crop. If Texas makes
D short crop we get full price for large
crop or small crop. Hence, I hold
that the Georgia farmer ought to plant
a full acreage and take the chances,
especially as the weevil promises bad
for the Texas crop of 1904. tits true
that with perfect conditions this year
the South will make much cotton.
Twelve millions will be an inside esti-
mate, hn. if cnlS 12,eoo Gee bales arc
produced, the price will rule up to 10
or IL cents. With 10000, ,OOO-bale
crop this year of 1904 cotton is likely
to seli at 20 cents next year, and its
culture all over the world will be
stimulated. There are now 17,OOO,-
600 bales produced and the United
States produces only 10000, 900, so
that yon will see that other countries
cap produce some cotton.
1 would be pleased to have your
views on the ideas I advance.
Very truly yours,
Hugh T. Inman.
Atlanta. Ca, April IL, 1904.
There have been quite number of
South Carolina farmers who have
taken time and opportunity by the
forelook and sold their cotton before
making it. In Camden heard of one