The Mena weekly star., 1911-09-28
PRICE OF COTTON
 SHOULD IMPROVE
GOVERNMENT REPORT SHOWS SMALL INCREASE OVER
 LAST YEARS CROP.
Indications Seem to Be That Normal Increase of Consumption Will More Than Ofrset-Small
 Supply Held Over.


 parLmen of agriculture today hand- ed down it's report on the supply and distribution of cotton for the cotton year ending August 3i, 1911.
 The report shows that the supply in running bales and including lin- lers, in the year i9l0-ii, was i3655,- 479 bales, as compared with i2,i86,- 02l for the year previous.
 According to the report, ginnings were 12, ,28l last year, as against i0,350,02i the year before.
 The report on the distribution shows that 7,78i,4i4 bales were ex- ported in i9l0-ii as against 6,339,- 02S in i900-i0, and that domestic consumption in i9i0-ii was 4,696- 36 bales as compared with 4,79S,- 953 bales in f909-i0.
 The total number of spindles in the United States on August 3i, 1911, according to the report, was 28,87i,- Si9.
 Hurts Bear Side.
 Viewed from every angle, the re- port issued today by the United States departmeint of agriculture as to the size and distribution of last years cotton crop, cannot but have | bullish effect upon the mar ket, particularly as the bears have been holding up as "bug-a-boo" to the farmers predictions of mon strOus big crop, one of i4,000,000 bales "or moro"
 That phrase "or more' is the key to the bear stronghold may sig nify one bale or 100000 bales, but the bears are taking pains not to specify which they mean when they use it often, almost every forecast from their side of the market end ing with the words, "or more" in the length and breadth of the entire cotton belt, there are a small CT number of farmers this year than for many years, who will be com pelled to market their crop immedi- aicly it is gathered. Conditions with the cotton growers having been far better the past two or three years than for many seasons, and the great majority of them being prac- ticaly out of debt, many even with a little money ahead. Several causes are to be given the credit for this condition of affairs, particular ly the fact that the farmers have not depended upon cotton, but have made use of the diversification plan to greater or less extent.
 Farmers Are Suspicious.
 The farmers, always suspicious of the cotton brokers,are even more suspicious this year. They have learned that the cotton brokers do not care particularly about the man who grows the cotton, and that the product will be bought Gs cheaply as possible, and sold for the highest possible price.
 The official report of the govern ment, issued today, and showing that last years crop was only about 350,000 under the "bug-a-boo" of a ii0O0,000 crop threatened for this year, so far as the farmer will judge 1t, has the effect of tearing aside the mask of the bears, and showing that they have only their own ends in view.
 If the supply last year was as large as the government reports 1t, and the prices were satisfactory, why should an increase of only about 350.000 bales bring about such a reduction in the value oi tsc sic staple as the bears predict in so melancholy manner? The farmer IS wise enough to figure for him. sell that there are more mills, that consumption of cotton is increasing year after year, and he knows