Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-22

his ldSt taDle lS, OF course, an ap-
Proclamation, since final values are de-
the size Of the American cotton crop,
(D Visible and invisible supply Of
raw cotton;
(2) Stocks held by manufacturers
and jobbers;
(2) Stocks held by retailers:
(G Size Of crops Of other coun-
in all of which an intensely acute sit
uation is supposed to exist.
Accurate data of these details are,
however, lacking, and 1t is not our
purpose to discuss them here.
Just what constitutes the dividing
line between large crop and a small
one, is the all important question Of
the cotton trade. 1t Is evident last
years 12-million bale crop was not
considered large one, although as a
matter Of fact it was the fourth largest
In history, but present predictions OF
Is and 16 million bales carries us into
untried fields.
It Is evident that should any such
crop result, the south has been un-
wise, and nature would be prodigal
indeed. and that for the consequent
low prices for their product, the south
would have none but themselves to
blame in the over production.
It must be evident that a crop Of IL
million bales would have brought them
5000. 100000 more than a crop of Is
million bales, or that a crop Of 13 mil
lion would have been worth nearly one
hundred million dollars more than IA
million bale crop, had the south been
wise enough and fortunate enough to
have limited their acreage to such a
size.
Such an idea is, of course, utopian,
but even though the present crop were
is, 900 900 bales, the south by refusing
to market more than IL million bales
(or by holding one bale in five) could
sell that IL million bales for several
hundred million dollars more than they
would secure should they attempt to
market all their crop, and in addition
they would have left behind three mil
lion bales as a reminder against over
production in 1912. The immense i'm
portance Of cotton as a creator Of
wealth for the whole United States, as
we'll as local Importance Of cotton COM
mercially, to the south, Is our warrant
for these suggestions against hasty
marketing. Speculative, we have no
interest in the market values Of the
coming crop and no fixed views as to
its size.
We do feel, however, that the spin
ming world needs the first three or four
million bales Of the next crop so badly
that hysterical and reckless selling af-
ter so large a decline Is wholly unwar-
ranted.
Export Value Of Cotton.
Anything that brings Foreign gold"
to our shore Is a creator Of national
wealth.
Cotton brings more foreign money
to the United States than all her other
exports combined; the money thus
brought over, unlike that which comes
over for investment in stocks or bonds
or real estate must remain here per-
manently and pays no interest or div
idend charges.
Beginning in 1871 Europe began
paying US nearly two hundred million
dollars per annum for cotton alone.
During the past ten years Europe
has averaged paying US more than
four hundred million dollars per an
mum for cotton. The value of each
decade is shown in the following:
Total export value Of cotton.
From 1871 to 1880, $1,946, ,000, 100000
From 1881 to 1890. 2,207 ,000,000.00
From 1891 to 1900. 92,000,000.00
From 1901 to 1910. 3,915, 100000
The figures for the year ending Au-
gust 31st are not yet obtained, but they
will approximate "a millions Of bales
at an average Of about $3.50 per bale
or above $3.50, 200, 100000.
Those whose minds are "conserva-
tive" rather than destructive" would
serve their fellow citizens, the cotton
producers, we'll indeed If they would
aid him in securing the highest price
for a product which Is so well hinged
to national prosperity itself, and to
persuade him, If possible, to better his
own condition and the condition Of the
whole country by moderate crops and
deliberate marketing methods.
Should the nine million bales, which
we will export during the coming sea-
son, only bring $50 per bale (10c per
lb.) our seasons exports would only
bring $3.50, 5000 in aggregate.
Should we secure SIS per bale for
that cotton it would bring an aggre-
gate of $675,O00,OOO for our exports,
thereby increasing Americas wealth by