The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-26
SHORT CROP PREDICTED.
Spectators Say There VIII Not be
Enough Cotton.

New York, May 21.-Spinners may
not care to buy cotton but the spec
ulative world does and prices have
further advanced with May and July
the leaders, on the proposition that
there is likelihood that the next crop
viii not reach the required size. If it
Is $4,000 900 bales it will be regarded
as almost a failure That is how the
bulls look at it. Bears assert that
even such a crop would be large
enough, seeing that the last one was
in their opinion nearer 10000 bales
than the bulls are willing to admit.
end that good surplus will be car
ried over to next season. But the be-
levers in higher prices contend that
the consumption is likely to be larg-
est on record or certainly very much
larger than that OF last year. Texas
they think, has comparatively little
moisture in the ground after the win
ter and spring drought and unless it
has good soaking rains at short inter-
va's it can not raise more than O.
10000 bales If it can Go that much.
Some parts of that state recently had
beneficial rains. but the western sec
tor is supposed still TO need a good
soaking. Meantime Louisiana and
Mississippi have had, if anything, TOO
much rain. Certainly some portion Of
the late advance was Cue to the fact
that the delta has had what looked
tn many like an excessive precipita-
tion. In fact the whole eastern sec
ton Of the cotton belt during much oc
the past 80 days has had rain SO
frequently as TO make it look like a
wet May, 'nething supposed TO be Of
bad omen. for the crop TOO much
rain is supposed to interfere with
gcImination and to necessitate re-
Ilanting. indeed. some contend that
higher prices will be due more to ad-
verse conditions in the eastern sec
tion of the cotton country than ir
Texas itself, where they think that
the outlook has notably improved
But nine out OF 10 scout the idea that
anything like bumper crop or
even satisfactory crop can be raised
under existing conditions. keeping in
mind the winter and spring drought
i'll the Southwest and the fact that IN
any case two big crops are not apt to
come together.
Liverpoors spot market has been
active If the spot business in this
country has been slow.
Manchester has reported a BIG de-
mand, especially from China Mean
time, however, the receipts IN tois
country continue large, spinnery have
fought shy of the market ana some
think there are too many butts.
Chicago, Wall street and the South
have sold freely. The most ORTHODOXY
bulls have latterly been looking fol
d reaction and have advised their fol-
lowings TO take profits. They .ouk
Tor at least a tenn Corary setback after
the recent advance and think that the
market would thus be put in all tie
better condition. Fears contend that
'he bulls are. going ahead too fast:
that they are ignoring the legitimate
side ci the cotton business. They lay
stress on the slOwness Of the cotton
goods business in this country and the
sluggishness in trade in the actual
cotton at the South. But it must lie
SAID that the dominant sentiment is
bulli'h. Most people look for small
er moderate crop, big consumption
and a further and perhaps material
rise in prices this summer.
The government report to be issued
June IS very generally expected to
be tuIi!sh, especially as its data will
come down no later than May 25.