The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-25
N o R T o N
 Second and 20th
SEEKS BETTER MEANS TO
 MARKET THE COTTON CROP
BY HARvlE JORDAN, President Southern Cotton Association,

Atlanta, October 24.-(Special)-A com parative estimate of the aggregated money value of the last two crops of American cotton grown and sold, as as- eertained from the figures of Col. Henry c. Hester, statistician of the New Or leans cotton exchange, make most inter- estlng reading. They bring forcibly to the mind and attention of the southern cotton growers the necessity for immediately devising better ways and means for the systematic and profitable marketing of this great staple crop. Statistics as a general rule may be somewhat tiresome, but when they are based upon facts they should at times be carefully studied.
 Now what are the facts: The commer- cial crop of 1904-05, that is, the amount of cotton placed upon the markets and sold, amounted to 13,565,SS5 bales. This crop sold for $62s, ,195, S59. The crop of last year, fol- lowing the bumper yield amounted to Ill., 345, ,9SS bales and sold in the aggregate for $641, ,720, ,435 The last crop was 2,219, S9f bales smaller than the big crop, and yet 1t sold for SIS, ,525, ,076 more money In other words, under a bad system of reckless market ing during the commercial crop year of 19O4-05. we actually gave away our sur plus, 2,319, ,S9z bales, together with S3,525,- 07e. Now. why in the name of common sense, did we not exercise our brain more and make the buying world pay us as much for just what 1t wanted and made our surplus clear?
 The intelligent, up-to-date, successful business man would have done just that thing. We did well last year, but we made horrible blunder the year before. If we blundered two years ago the sensible thing to do now is to learn a lesson in practical experience and so market the present crop as to make 1t bring Its high est intrinsic value
 There is no denying another important fact and that is. that with the small visible supply of American cotton carried over on September 1, 1906, and the crop now being gathered, there will not be suf- ficient supplies to meet the demand of the spinners during the next twelve months It is openly admitted by conser- vative cotton mill men botlf in this coun- try and in Europe that the worlds con- sumption of American cotton during the next twelve months will be at least 12, 50OO GOO bales if the supplies can be obtain able
 It is now generally admitted by those who have carefully investigated the prob- able yield of this crop. since the devas- tating storms, incessant rains and insect depredations during the past two months. that the total production will be under II ,500,0o0 bales. The average of estimates published recently being about 11,25O0OO bales, while some of the latest estimates go under 100000. If the yield of the present crop, together with the visible supply of S00.000 bales on September 1. should reach 12,000,OOO bales, this would still leave an actual shortage of 500000 bales in needed supplies for the next twelve months, and no visible on the firSt of next September whatever,
 It is well known to the trade that the prices of all lines of manufactured goods are advancing in prices to higher levels. It is well known that the demand for manufactured goods by the jobbing and retail trade is far in excess of the com