The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-12-19
COTTON
SHORTAGE
IS SERIOUS

Shortage OF the 1910 cotton crop
conlronts the commercial and indus
trial world with q serious problem,
according to Malcolm Graham OF Gal-
eston, who is making n business trip
through Oklahoma
ITO me the subject Is OF Intense IN
terest, said Mr.. Graham, Involving
as II does, every man, woman and
child in the country. Reduced TO
naked truth the consumption OF cotton
mas outstripped its production There
are many causes for this situation. us
immediate result is dangerous
scarcity OF cotton on the one hand aud
heavy demand for it on the other.
last year the spinners OF the world
made into cloth nearly 250,0l0 bales
more than the planters produced. This
consumption practically wiped out the
eserye or surplus.
THE present years crop Is pltiful-
short of supply sufficient even To
neet the demands, II consumption
$ normal, and It should be greater
han usual, then By June or July Of
his cotton season, there will not re-
laln bale uns1un. Thus will arise
problem that will test the acumen
II the foremost thinkers in the com
aercia and industrial world.
There is no substitute for cotton:
lpon raw cotton England and Ger
nany depend for their industrial pros.
erity and for their commercial life
nd activity more than upon any 9th
r one factor in the equation of their
,xistences Raw cotton is as necessary
Europe, or more so, than to us;
without IT industries employing mil
ions Of people are paralyzed Wa
now too well what a failure OF the
otton crop means to MS. True. TEN
,orary high pri es offset the Ills 0 q
shortage to certain extent with us,
ct It only adds to the terrors of the
situation in Europe.
'ln Texas this season vast areas pro
| luced no cotton on account OF drouth
Louisiana and Mississippi the Dol
veevil played havoc with the cottor
| arms In South Texas II is alm0s
impossible to make the cotton plan
perform its full function, as the Dol
veevil prevents growth OF late crop.
And the most dangerous condition
| rising out of all this speculation. ro
| he first time In many years the farm
J ,r this season has benefited by higl
rices but watch the future and yol
will see the betting rings on the grea
exchanges will run prices into iancl
| iul figures, and a condition will re
suit where smnners will be forced t.
pay enormous prices for the staplf
All real value then ceases to exist
md 1t becomes a matter of wild spec
| llation fraught with no good results
any one Cotton will be out of thu
armers hands. and spinners mus
Jump for II or shut down.
Il look for a very high price for cot
ton The season has been ideal 70
gathering the crop, but do not thlnl
there remains ! per cent unharyesteC
Texas and Oklahoma, and ginnin.
S mighty close to its end haN'
seen more cotton in Oklahomas fields
In February than is now to be seei
iuring the middle of December.
Galveston has done wonderful
business this season in spite OF tht
short crop of cotton. We have han
lied nearly 100000 bales since Sc t
1, which means that we have handled
learly sl4OOOO.OC0 worth OF the staple
in little over three months. The
port has handled 100000 bales more
than New Orleans or Savannah. and
more thar all the other ports com
bined Galveston has handled nearll
one-half OF the port receipts this sea
son. Vessels from every land on earti
may be seen loading at the docks with
products of the soil of Texas and Ok
lahoma.
Galveston is safe from storms; tho
seawall has proven fully adequate tc
meet successfully the strength OF the
heaviest seas For the city and port
! predict a splendid future"