The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-10
THE S TORY OF THE
COTTON CROP TOLD
Hester Gives Statistics
of 1904-5 Crop.
DETAILS OF PRICES
How the Crop Was Handled, and a
Threatened Crash Avoided. Growth
of Manufacturing in the South.
Consumption of the Staple.
Two Years Compared.
(By the Associated Press.)

New Orleans, Sept. S.-Secrctary
Hester's annual report was issued in
full today. He puts the cotton crop
for 19O4-19O5 at 13,565,SS5 bales, an
increase of 3,554,511 over that of
190S-19O4.
He says that compared with last
year, in round figures Texas, includ-
ing Indian Territory, has increased
70S,000 bales. The group known as
other Gulf States consisting of Louis
lana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee
Missouri, Oklahoma. Utah, and Kan
sas has increased 100000 and the
group of Atlantic States, Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Kentucky, and Vir-
ginia has gained 1,741,000.
He puts the average commercial
value of this crop at $46.31 per bale,
against $616S last year and the total
value of the crop at 1928, 1853,
against $617.501,54S last year and
$4S0,770,2S2 the year before.
Referring to values he gives de-
tails of prices showing that taking the
cotton belt as a whole, the highest
figures for middling was 1 3-16c per
pound at the opening of the season
in September and the lowest IL
cents on the 10Th of December, but
says that the crop as a whole aver
aged strict middling. and that the
average value per pound was 98-100
cents compared with II 1900 last
year
In reference to weight he puts the
average per bale at 515 $500 pounds
showing Il gain over last year of
Z $1,000. This crop, he says is the
heaviest in weight per bale of any
recorded, the best previous weight
having been 513.96 in 1S98-'99 the
year of the largest previously report
ed crop.
Mr.. Hester remarks that while each
and every crop has had its distinctive
features, the story Of none is fraught
with circumstances so peculiar and
interesting as the one just marketed.
1t is not to be wondered at that when
in December last the Agricultural De-
Eartment put forth an estimate point
ing to more than twelve and a quar-
ter million bales, a feeling akin to
panic was felt in every section of
the cotton growing States.
Handling the Crop.
Mr.. Hester recites the manner in
which this monster crop has been
handled; how it has practically all
been marketed avoiding a crash
which seemed at first inevitable, and
says this fact Will remain lasting
monument to the conservatism and
cooperative power of the Southern
people. In this great economic strug-
gle. all elements joined for the vic
tory.
Mr.. Hester makes the actual growth
for the season $4,000 and says that
the recent report of the Census Blu
reau of cotton ginned does not cover
the entire growth; that all of the
years growth has not been ginncd, or
ii ginned, full returns therefor have
not been made. Mr.. Hester pays
high tribute to the Census Bureau
methods. saying that it affords d mass
of invaluable information to the cot
ton world superior TO any that has
ever been put forth, and that he is
quite certain from his own private in
VeStigatiOn and consultation with Di-
rector North, that in another season
the bureau will be able to give almost
an exact showing of the actual growth.
He puts the spindles in the South
at 9.205,949, against S,615,3 last
year. The net gain in the number of
Southern mills over last year has been
fifteen. making the number III. OF
these 709 have been in operation dur
ing the year. 80 are idle and 80 are
in course of erection, Is old and out