Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-09
Mistellaneons &radins.
WIDE SWEEP IN COTTON.
Year 1911 Saw Changes From IS
Cents to Down Below 9 Cents.

Cents to Down Below 9 Cents.
The history of the cotton market
for the past twelve months has been
an extremely interesting one. The
previous crop, under the searchlight
Of high prices, had been ginned. pick
ed, and marketed with unparalleled
rapidity prior to the first Of the last
January, by which time the fifteen
cent level was current for middling
cotton at practically all southern
market centres. That was the quot
ing price in New York. Beginning in
early January speculation gravitated
market and eliminated in price Of
16.15c-the highest Of the season-on
May 19, from which level, however, a
gradual decline started. brought about
by the rumors Of an increase in acre
age and abnormally good crop pros
poets, until the final collapse Of the
bull campaign in August, which car
ried prices to the lowest Of the sea-
son-11.60c. The crop Of 1909 Of
about 100000 bales and the crop
of 1910 of 100000 bales were con-
sidered wholly inadequate for the
spinning needs Of the world, and DUR
ing both of these years the marked
curtailment and shutdowns were to be
seen in midsummer.
tafn in q
world devoted to cotton was 35,000,-
900, which was Al per cent larger
than in the previous season and about
9. 900, 900 acres larger than any pre-
vious acreage ever planted. In June,
July. August and September the con-
dition figures, as issued by the gov
ernment ranged from one to five
points better than the previous year,
and at no time during the season was
the crop In any serious danger OF
damage. Notwithstanding all Of this,
however, but few Of the trade were
willing to accept 100000 bale crop
ideas until we'll in October, and the
government estimate Of 1885, 900
bales (without linters) was rather
larger than was expected from that
source. To be confronted with a
crop Of 1900, 900 bales larger than any
crop on record was impressive, even
with the famine Of the two previous
years, and while the decline in cotton
from the fifteen cent level to the nine
cent level was a tremendous decline, 1t
was at all times orderly, and at no
time showed any evidence of Distress
ed cotton, either in spots or contracts.
This decline eliminated about Oct. Is.
on which date cotton closed at prac-
tically the nine cent level for all the
summer months. Since that date cot
ton has remained virtually in one po-
sition, although about 10000 bales
of cotton have been ginned and mar
keted since that time, .--ale
The present situation shows the
visible supply" about 100000 bales
larger than last year, about 100000
bales larger than in 1908, and larger
than In any previous year except
1898. A year ago none In the trade
thought that cotton could possibly de-
cline to twelve cents a pound without
a sensational increase in acreage.
That It has done so has been due to
phenomenal yield per acre in the cas-
tern portion of the belt and to a stu
dent of cotton history the Carolinas,
Georgia and Alabama within the last
decade furnish a very interesting and
instructive lesson in intensified farm
ing
Ten years ago, or to be more exact,
in 1900, Georgia was raising only
33-100 Of a bale per acre and the Car
olinas but little better. Alabama only
showed 31-100 Of a bale per acre.
About this time, for the first time in
many years, 10-cent cotton made 1t
possible to begin the proper fertiliza-
ton Of land. For a period OF five
years this fertilization seemed to be In
an experimental stage, but beginning
about 1906 and 1907 the older states
began to make a record production,
until now North Carolina, which was
then counted a state where 100000
or 500, 900 bales might be expected,
raises 100000 to 100000 bales, and
South Carolina, where 10000 to S0O,-
600 bales was a fair crop, can easily
show 100000 bales, and Georgia,
which raised only 100000 to 1,40O,-
900 bales Of cotton, Is now raising q
100000 bales and over. 1t Is from
this section Of the cotton belt that
practically the entire increase in the
cotton crop has been coming, and
their methods, If transplanted into
the western section, may bring that
land back to the fulness Of its fecun-
dity.
Texas. which first raised 100000
bales in 1894, has only been above
the 100000 mark seven times since
then, raising her maximum crop In
1906 of 4,05O,O0O bales. which Is
about a duplicate Of this year
growth. The acreage devoted to cot
ton in Texas in 1894 was only $685.
900 acres, whereas this year Texas
planted 1O,S6S,OOO acres. Louisiana,
which for many years raised from
100000 to 100000 bales of cot
ton. Is now likely to produce only
900, 900 to 100000 bales. and Mis-
sissippi, which has been as hign
as 100000 bales of cotton, prom
ises to be only 100000 bales of
cotton, which is no larger crop than
she raised in 1859, or two years before
the Civil war.
A portion of this lessened yield per
acre is due, Of course, to the boil Wee
vii. but some of 1t at least can be at
tributed to lessened fertility and to
tendency especially in Texas. to en-
deavor to employ practically arid
lands in agriculture. Arkansas SEEM
ed to have reached the million bale
crop which she raised in 1908, and II
requires very good conditions indeed
to expect more than 100000 to 90O,-
tofa