The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-05
THE COTTON CROP.
Final Government Report on the Pro.
duct Of Last Season.
South Carolina Increased Its Pro.
duotion Over Proceeding Year
by Nearly 40 per Cont.

/
by Nearly 10 per Cont.
The bureau of the census has lust
issued the final report on the cotton
crop grown in 1904 The statistics
for 190fare accompanied by compare.
tive statistics for the crops of 1900,
1901, 1902 and 1908. Six preliminary
reports were issued during the gin.
ming season OF 19O4.5, showing the
quantity Of cotton ginned to specified
dates. The final report aggregates
the quantities included In each of the
preliminary statements, and com.
pletes the sixth consecutive crop year
for which cotton reports have been
published by the census bureau.
The crop Of 1904, as returned by
the ginners, and including linters, Is
l3, 584, 457 bales, of 500 pounds 1t
exceeds the crop of 1903 by 3,491, 1856
bales, or 35.4 per cent. The largest
crop produced in the United States
prior to 1904 was that OF 1898, which,
according to commercial returns,
amounted to 1885, 600 bales or Is. 8
per cent. less than the crop Of 1904
The average crop for the five year
period ending with 1903 was 8, 1872, ,O47
bales, or 25.9 per CENT. less than the
crop Of 1904.
Among the cotton producing States
Iexas has held the first rank for twen-
ty years Its production in 1904 was
3,134,677 bales. Georgia, with pro-
ductlon of 1,9e0 Isl bales, was second.
having passed Mississippi, which held
the second rank in 1903. Mississipni
Is third and Alabama fourth. With
the exception Of Kansas, Arkansas,
and Texas, all the cotton producing
States show larger crops for 1904 than
Tor any other year in which these re.
ports have been issued. The States
which show the most notable increases
compared with 1908 are Alabama.
Georgia, and South Carolina, the
largest increase being found In Geor-
gia, where the crop exceeded that OF
1903 by 6l2, $50 bales, or 48 per cent.
The increase In Alabama is 46 5 per
cent, In South Carolina As par cent,
and In Texas 81 per cent. The larg
est crop ever grown in Texas was that
OF 1900, when the State produced
29S, $40 bales more than In 1904. The
Increase IN the combined production
OF Oklahoma and Indian Territory
over 1908 is 72 per cont.
The numb,r OF local cotton weigh.
ers who reported to the bureau O. the
census was 1872. Much care has
been taken by the bureau OF the cen.
Sus to secure accurate average bale
weights, and the returns have been
compared with computations made
by Mr.. Henry G.. Hester, secretary OF
Tho New Orleans Cotton \ Exchange.
,@bo com npntstf StlsA rage ae, eiif OF |
commercial bales, marketed between
August 81, 1904, and March 1, 1905,
at 519 81 pounds while othe average
weight OF the bale exported was
516.96. The adoption of the aver
ages compiled by Mr.. Hester would Of
course result In some variation in the
total number Of bales produced.
The sea island cotton crop of 1904
amounted to l04,3l7 bales, equal to
Al, l,1SO,434 gross pounds, an increase
I vor the crop OF 1903 of "A 8 per cent.
This increase Is distributed b.tween
three States which produce this cot
ton-Fiorida, Georgia and South Car
olina. The average crop of sea island
cotton for the five. year period ending
with 1908 was "a 100 S44 pounds. The
crop Of 1924 IS 2O.7 per cent greater
than the fiGeyear average, and Is che
largest crop ever grown in the United
State7, the next largest b3ing the crop
or 1902, when the production reached
40, 413, ,053 pounds.
The total nunbar OF establishments
which ginned some part of the crop OF
1908 was 80, 337, Or 90 3 per cent OF the
total numUer Of ginneries reported.
three States reported ovsr 900 &C
tive ginneries-GeoIgla, Mississippi
and Texas. The total nun ber or the
active ginneTies in the States men
toned was l3,490, or 44.4 per cent of
the total, ana they Ginned so 8 per
cent OF the total cotton production in
the United States for 1904. The cen.
>us figures shoH that the average
number OF bales ginned by active es
adjustments was AS, compared
with 33S In 1908, and 359 In 1902
Tne cotton ginning industry is much
more developed west Of the Mississippi
river than east OF it. Texas, with
IA per cent OF the mum Der OF Itio on
ginnefies, ginned 23 5 PER cent Of the
Total pro1uct, while Georgia, with
1864 per cent of the total active gin
neries g!nned but 14.l per cent. Tha
crop or 1904 was ginned in $50 coun
les In sixteen States or these coun
Ties 739 were canvas ed oy 667 lacal
agents OF the census bureau, and 90 5
ger cent OF the total crop Of 1904 Wa,
ginned In the territory thus canva,sed.
Ninety one counties were canvassed
by mail, and In these we're located
loi active ginneries, which ginned
but one-half OF l per C MT of the or o.
Ihe average cate OF the completion of
the final canvass was March 10, 1905.
Inc SIX preliminary reports VI the
quantity OF cotton ginued, issued by
the bureau OF the census during tile
)as5 seGson, cover the quantity OF cot.
on ginned 10 September l, October
lS, November II, and December 10,
1904, and January 16, 1905 The
hral report now lssucd in Bulletin 10
ote.enis the total quantity ginned
iurins tie season.
a fsatIre CT much interest discuss
I'd In tais bulletin Is the growth of
ne cotton seed INDUSTRY, Indicated in
me iupplem2ntal report OF the Inter
oroHuc5 ol tho cotton Seei oil mills.
Ene number cf these mills has In.
creased f.on 357 in 1900 to 7l5 in
| 1904, an incre3s. OF 100 per cent.
! Tae bulletin just issued comprises
42 pages OF text and tables, in addi.
| nr 6 n cd