The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-11-10
PRESIDENT E. D. SMITH
BACK FROM TEXAS
SAWS THE PROSPECT EVERY
WHERE IS ENCOURAGING.
Gratified by Present Success-Ihe
Report of Crop Conditions Is
sued by Southern Cotton AS
sociation Very Conserva-
i've.

Mr.. E. D. Smith, held agent OF rne
Southern Cotton association, has re-
turned from Texas and gives out che
following statement:
II am just back from tour OF the
vest where I have been IN the inter-
est of the Southern Cotton assocla-
tion to meet the executive committee
of the Texas division. In Atlanta l
was Joined by President Jordan and
we together went via Vicksburg and
Shreveport. This carried US Through
Mississippi, Louisiana and part OF
Texas. Throughout Mississippi the
cotton crop is certainly as short or
shorter than has been reported. 1ihe
frost and worms, so far as our OBJ
servation went, have completely de-
stroyed all prospects of anything like
a crop from the late cotton or top
crop of the old cotton.
"From Vicksburg to Shreveport, be-
tween which two points is the delta
of the Mississippi and Red rivers
and unquestionably the finest cotton
lands of the world, shere will not be
made more than As to 50 per cent, OF
last years yield. Near Monroe, La,
where is the very cream of the delta
there is practically no cotton at all.
Thousands of acres have been aband-
ened and thousands have been only
partially tended, with net result phat
the Louisiana crop is practically
failure.
at Shreveport, where we missed
connection and had to lie over Tor
six hours, we had an opportunity OF
interviewing cotton men and busl-
ness men and they confirmed the I'M
preston that we mad received from
our own observation. From Shreve-
port to Dallas we went through
oortion of the best cotton lands OF
Texas and the same condition OBJ
tained throughout this portion OF the
State. AT Dallas the State fair was
in progress and representatives OF
every county in the State, also the
members of tine executive committee,
were present.
"The facts as stated by these dif-
serent parties are to the effect That IN
The eastern, central and northern por-
tons of Texas the crop was from 80
to IS per cent, short of last year. In
western Texas, where the boil weev1l
IS most numerous, his ravages have
not been so great this year and as a
consequence Lhe western Texas crop
is as good or better than last years,
but it must be understood that this
means a restricted area and the pro-
duction per acre does not exceed
more than one-half a crop this year
as compared with the same territory
without the weevii. I think it would
be conservative estimate to place
The shortage in Texas alone at T.
100000 bales. From Texas we re-
turned via Texarkana and Memphis.
s'This took us through the entire
State of Arkansas where we had am
pie opportunity of seeing the crop in
that State and practically the same per
cent of shortage was evident. 1he
frost in Arkansas seems to have been
more destructive than in any other
State with the exception possibly OF
northern Georgia.
"From my observation of the crop
in every State, for have visited all
save Florida, the estimate issued by
the Southern Cotton association max
ing the crop for this year o,444444,o 900
bales as ginned (which does not in
c1ude of course, linters) is conser-
va:tive one.
A Conservative Estimate.
"Certainly we have succeeded at last
in convincing the world of the short
ness of this crop, hence the price Tx
ed at Asheville has been reached.
do not feel that I have the right to
advise the farmers TO hold beyond
this price, but it is my opinion that