Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-10-04
NO PROFIT NOW
 IN SEA INLAND
Several Causes Combine to Make Growing of This
 Cotton Unprofitable
NO FUTURES MARKET
Cooperation Between Spinners and Growers Essential to Replace In. dustry Upon Profitable
 Basis.

Basis.
 Washington, Oct. 2.-C0-operation between growers of sea island cotton and spinners is urged in forthcom- ing bulletin (No. 146) of the United States department of agriculture as essential to the future fo this import ant crop. In recent years the grow ing of sea island cotton has not been profitable, and under existing condi- tions it is hardly likely that it will be. It is highly desirable, however, both for the farmer and for the spin ner, that this long staple cotton should continue to be raised without any deterioration in it's quality. The department of agriculture has just completed a study of the market and economic conditions in the sea island cotton industry, the results of which will appear in the forthcoming bulle- tin entitled Economic Conditions in the Sea Island Cotton Industry" This inquiry was prompted primarily by the fact that although the crops of 1912 to 1913 was approximately only three-ffths of that of the preceding year, the prices were lower and a much larger stock was carried over. 1 Reasons.
 ] For this condition of affairs the in- vestgators found four causes primar- fly responsible:
 1. A deadlock in the market; grow CTS holding the cotton for higher prices than spinners were willing to pay.
 2. The successful competition against the sea island cottcG of the new Egyptian variety known as Sakel- laridis.
 3. Deterioration in t.e quality of sea island cotton due to the difficulty of obtaining proper seed.
 A. Changes in fashion which have resulted in an increased demand for coarser goods and diminution in the consumption of the longest and finest cottOns.
 No Futures Market.
 The investigators found that the deadlock if 19812-19f3 was due to the fact that in sea island cotton there is no market for futures" as there is for upland or Egyptian cotton. Sea island cotton must be bought outright and spinners do not, therefore, as a general rule arrange for large sup plies in advance. In November, 1912 prices were satisfactory until it was discovered that the crop for the year would approximate 10000 bales. This was regarded by many farmers and 1 d was advanced in consequence. Spin ners, however, were unwilling to meet this advance and turned to other sources. chiefly the Sakellaridis and other varieties of Egyptian cotton The study of available statistics re- veals the fact that although there was decrease from the preceding year of 13,175 bales in the tctal consump- tion of extra-long staple in this coun- try dring 1912 and 1913, there was an actual increase of 21,C0O bales in the consumption of Egyptian cotton. Therefore, it is evident, that both de- crease and icnrease were effected at the expense of sa island cotton.
 Competing Variety.
 In all probability the Sakellaridis variety would sooner or later have come into competition with sea is- land cotton, but there can be little doubt that the deadlock of 1912 ma terially hastened it's coming. This variety is more vigorous and produc- tive than sea island cotton, although the fiber is somewhat coarser and less elastic. Where strength is the quality most desired, as in sewing thread or tire-cloth, Sakellaridis seems to be pre- ferred. but in mercerized goods and high-grade fabrics, hosiery and under wear sea island is still commonly used. The effect of the deadlock, however, is shown by the fact that in November 1912, Sakellaridis was about 2 cents cheaper than sea island; on August 30. 1913, it was quoted at 8 cents more per pound than sea island cotton from Georgia and Florida. Apart from the quality of the cotton itself, market conditions undoubtedly increased the popularity of Sakellar- idis This is sold on the net weight basis and is paid for 10 days after re- ceipt of the cotton. Sea island on the other hand is sold on gross weight with sight draft attached to invoice. In practice this frequently means that it is paid for about 30 days before it reaches the New England spinner. Sea Island DeteriOrates.
 The third factor, the deterioration of sea island cotton is beyond ques- tion, according to the investigators. When the competition of West Indian cotton began to make. itself felt, Caro- lima sea island growers determined not to sell planting seed to anyone, not even to their fellow islanders. The inevitable result of this together with unprofitable prices was that many growers on these islands, as we'll as in Florida and Georgia turned to upland cotton. In few years short cotton was to be found growing in fields side by side with the best long-staple. Through cross-polliniza- ton and other causes a general de. terioration in the quality of sea island cotton followed. At the present time Georgia and Florida growers who find that they can no longer obtain fresh