Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-19
astisesllaueuas gsadins.
COTTON CROP SHORT.

COTTON CROP SHORT.
e. D. Smith Says the Staple ls Cheap
at IL 1-2 Cents.
Mr.. e. D. Smith, president of the
South Carolina Cotton association and
field agent Of the general cotton asso-
citation, returned to Columbia last
Tuesday from a trip over the cotton
belt and gave out an interesting state
ment Of his observations. In his opin-
ion, the recent storm, the frosts and
the work of the boil weevil in Texas
have reduced the yield to such an ex-
tent that 1t will not exceed II 1t equals
last years. Mr.. Smith says;
Since September 25th, have visited
every cotton state, winding up at Or
angeburg. s. c., Monday, October 9Th.
My trip, therefore, covered a period In
which the gulf storm that covered east
ern Louisiana, all Of Mississippi Ark
ansas and Alabama, occurred. The
conditions. as found them previous to
the storm. did not warrant the expec-
tation of a yield very greatly in excess
of last year. The effect Of the storm
can never be fully estimated until the
final yield of the crop is known. There
certainly has never been a more dis
astrous storm in its effect upon cotton
in the history of cotton growing. In
the states where 1t ragged worst at least
so per cent Of the entire matured crop
was open; the fields were white from
Alabama to Texas. In the low lands
the cotton was beaten down, and over
large territory water from three to five
inches deep covered the ground and a
great amount Of cotton not yet open
was submerged and all the open cotton
that was beaten out was ruined. The
continued wet weather, subsequent to
the storm, caused a great deal to
sprout in the boil and rotting Of un-
opened bolls. The vitality of the plant
was greatly impaired by the force OF
the wind and the effects Of the rain.
Since then the unprecedented cold
wave, accompanied with killing frost,
has practically covered the entire east
ern half of the cotton belt.
"In Texas and the Territories, where
neither storm nor frost have yet been,
we found that the yield promised to be
in excess Of last year, but even in this
section the final outlook is problemati-
CAL for the reason that boil worm, cat
erpillar and boil weevil have covered a
greater territory than ever in the histo-
ry Of Texas. The entire Brasos valley of
central and eastern Texas: in fact, the
entire cotton producing part OF Texas,
has not made any cotton since the 18th
of September, nor will 1t make any
more, on account Of the boil weevil.
Therefore a frost in Texas would have
practically no effect on the ultimate
yield of her crop. The boil weevil has
extended this year over the entire Red
river valley, in Texas, and into western
and southern Arkansas and into Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory. and Is
now within twenty miles Of the Missis-
sippi, probably having crossed this riv-
er this month. Therefore, in my opin-
ion, the yield of this crop will not very
greatly exceed, II 1t does exceed at all
the yield Of last year. To sum the
whole matter up, the conditions are
these. The weevil has made top crop
in Texas impossible: any citizen OF that
state will tell you that no more cotton
will be made in the cotton growing
section Of Texas this season. East OF
the Mississippi the storm damage and
then in addition to that, the frost, has
cut off any possibility Of any further
maturing and the destruction Of that
that was partially matured. The crop
was conceded by all to be from two to
three weeks late; the frost In from
three to four weeks early. There
fore, taking these conditions all to-
gether, the outturn Of this crop must
be exceedingly small in comparison
with what was expected a few weeks
ago.
1.-THE headlines in one Of the South
Carolina newspapers few days ago
were a little misleading, in that they
made it appear that I advised the far
mers to sell their cotton at 10 cents
pound. What said then repeat now:
That the association fixed the line In
their judgment below which no one
should sell a pound of cotton, at 1O
cents. advised the farmers that from
this figure up, according to the market
if they were under obligations and had
debts to meet, to sell sufficient cotton
to meet their obligations and to use
their judgment, based upon the infor-
nation that we could give them as to
the conditions as to what they would
do with the balance.
81 also said that cotton was cheap
at 12s cents per pound, from the pres
ent outlook. think every conserva-
tive cotton man, both buyer, grower
and spinner. will concede this to be
true. 1t will certainly have to bring
that price If the obligations of the
south, incurred in making this crop, are
met. If ever there was a time when
prospects favored higher prices, this
is the time. And II the farmers VIII
but market their crops conservatively
not rush it to market, in my judgment
they will be richly rewarded for so do
ing"
THE JANIzARIEs.-Thej janizaries are
unique in the history Of the world
Nothing like them has ever been known
in the constitution of any state. we
think Of them somehow in association