Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-09-18
THE COTTON CROP OF ioO7-1oOS.

Secretary H. G.. Hester, of the
Cotton Exchange, covering in all
details the movement of the cot
ton crop of last year, was made
public:. The leading figures of the
crop were given. ont by Secretary
Hester on the evening of August
81, the list day of the CONNER
cial year, and now all the statis-
tica1 data with much interesting
comment are made public.
Mr.. Hester puts the crop of
I9OT-8 at II, 571 1866 bales, show
ing q decrease of F,939,O16 under
that of 1906-07, and an increase
of 225,97S bales over that of
1905-06. He says the decrease
compared. with. last year has been
entirely in Texas proper and the
group of other Gulf States. The
decrease in Texas under Inst year
was, in round figures, 1880, 900
bales, and in the group of other
Gulf States embracing Louis
lana, Mississippi, Arkansas Ten
nessee, Missouri, Oklahoma State,
Utah, Kansas, New Mexico) 549,-
600, while there has been al i'll
crease iir tie group of Atlantic
States (including North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, FLORIDA,
Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia)
of 440, 900. While the decrease
in running bales has amounted,
as stated, to 1888, 900, if the drop
in the average weight Of 6.35
pounds per bale is considered,
there was actually a. failing off
equivalent to bales, of last years
weight of 2,0S2, 900.
Despite the comparatively short
crop the grade. or rather quality,
was not as satisfactory by any
means as could be wished, owing
to the larger proportion of stained
and! dfscolored cotton than is usu-
ally the case. This stained cot
ton was, however, as q general
rnlb'of good body and fair staple,
and for that reason was q good
spinnable article, and. in strong
contrast to the very undesirable
storm cotton with which the
world was flooded during the pre-
oeding season.
Mr.. Hester says that the year
has been disappointing from start
to finish, not only because Of
acute financial depression, but by
reason Of interference through
legislative enactments i'm many
o.. the cotton-growing States with
modern trade methods, thus add
ing to the distress and uneasiness
IN monetary affairs to an extent
which it is believed has cost the
South many millions of dollars.
The past season. has shown, like
many of it's predecessors, that the
money value of a crop is not
measured by its. size in pounds or
Bales. Mr.. Hester puts the aver
age price per pound Of the crop
Mt 11.42 cents, compared with
1929 cents last season, and the
commercial value of the bales at
$3.50, against $58.02' last year,
and $56.56 the year before last.
Tho money value of the past CON-
mercial crop he states in round
figures at $6z2, 2S5, 00O,. showing
that while the number of bales
marketed was 1880, 900 less, the
tho decrease in money received
was but $44, O67, 600.
Despite the holding back for Is |
cents, which the farmer INDUCED
'n so extensively during the sea-
son, the year closes with actually
less cid cotton i'll the country than,
Mt the same time last season.
There is no doubt that had trade
been normal and con-
sumption kept up at the same
rate as during the preceding sea-
son.. the average price would have
been very much higher than it
was, notwithstanding the handi-
zap of unfa~orable and restrictive
legislation.
Mr.. Hester has issued in this
Tear's report his customary COM
,lete census of the Southern mills.