Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-09-18
Inquiry Is Increasing and England Getting Ready
 to Take Quantity.
BANKERS OPTIMISTIC
Pine Bluff Financiers View Future With COnfdence-COunty Turns Down Oifer of 10 l-Sc fer Cotton.
 Some Sold for 12 Cents.

Distinct is the note of confident op- timism regarding the business out look that runs through a letter issued yesterday by the Merchants & Plant CTS bank of Pine Bluff to it's cores pondents:
 ''The outlook is much improved, is the encouraging opening sentence of the letter, which was dictated by President S. C. Alexander after confi- dential reports from New York and other places had been received and discussed by the banks staff.
 There is a market for cotton and the inquiry is increasing daily" con- tinues the communication. "Of course the prices are far below the before the war ideas, but the posi- tion is so much better than twenty to thirty days ago we feel like giving the good news to our friends.
 "The foreign exchange brokers of New York are sending out quotations at $4.93 per pound for sterling and cautions not to buy much expecting to get this high price, because Eng land is getting ready to take cotton and this exchange will drop back to $4.S5.
 'This is good news. We know of several orders received in Pine Bluff this week that would pay 1ac to Sc for the shortest cotton; SEC for 1 1-1G staple; 9c for rivers 1-16 to 1 IS; sac to 10 F for benders; Pc to 1212c for 1 3-16; 13c for 3-16 to IA l3 12c to l4c for full 1 IA staple.
 "A great real of Texas cotton has been sold at 3-4c to 1-4c landed Boston points. This only nets the planter 12c to 1-Sc. But the Tprices given you above means f. o. b. cars at your station.
 "Plck your cotton clean, cheer up sell thirty to forty per cent of your first cotton, then you will be in shape to hold the balance"
 See Prosperity Ahead.
 The present situation and tho out look was discussed briefly by the bankers and others in attendance al tie meeting of the "Buy-a-Bale" clul executive committee yesterday fore noon, and the expressions and opin- ions voiced indicate that the situation is clearing rapidly.
 Jo Nichol, cashier of the Simmons National bank, declared the opinion that the European war will prove the best thing for this country that ever happened; that business conditions Will rapidly improve and that within twelve months there will be in Arkan- sas more German farmers than was ever imagined would locate in a state during one year.
 That the United States will be freely shipping cotton to England within ten days or two weeks, was the view ex- pressed by A. D. Foster, cashier of the Merchants & Planters bank.
 Encouraging statements were also made by M. B. Bloom, cashier of the Citizens bank, and J. E. Boyce. presi- dent of the Cotton Belt Savings & Trust company, both opining that good cotton will be in better demand in very short while and that market prices will increase.
 D. l.. Franklin said he had sold some bottom bender cotton for 12 cents, the staple being 1 IS inches, and some upland cotton for 8 cents. He attributes to the "buy-a-bale' movement an advance of from 1 to 1R cents in cotton prices.
 Refuses 10 Is Cents.
 County Judge c. M. Philpot remark ed that he had refused an offer of 10 Is cents for some bottom cotton in which the county is interested, feeling confident better price may be obtained later. Judge Philoot as- serted also, that he considered it the part of wisdom to withhold as much cotton from the market as possible and that none could better afford to render this service to the South than state and county farms growing cot ton.
 The consensus of opinion was that business conditions will steadily im- prove from now on, and that cotton should be held off the market until this situation obtains.
 OrpheO Monday. L. Rogers LyttOn.