The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-28
nine Cents COTTON
PROMINENT GINNER PREDICTS
MUCH SMALLER CROP
HAS TOURED THE SOUTH
Says 1915 Crop Will be Considerably
Below Government Figures-Es6-
mates Cotton Stored at 2,751, 600
Bales-Thinks Government Should
Take Some Action.
Take Some Action.

The 1915 cotton crop will be the
shortest in the last decade-consid-
erably under the government esti-
mate made last June-according to-
Weigh Cockrum, Of Memphis, presi-
dent and general manager OF the Ma
tional Cotton Ginners' association,
who arrived in Atlanta Thursday.
Mr.. Cockrum spoke after he had
completed tour of virtually every
cotton state N the South where there
have been held in the last ten days
state meetings of the cotton ginners.
He said he based his prediction on
the low estimate for this years crop
on the confidential report received by
the national association from the sew
enteen thousand ginners in the South
ern States, and gave these significant
reasons why the country may look for
one of the shortest crops in the his
tory Of the South's chief product:
First-The uncertainty Of the
international situation arising from
the embargo placed on cotton by
the British government and the
American governments subsequent
demands for a removal Of the en-
barge or modification Of the Brit
ish order in council.
Second-the dawn OF a new era
in farming in the South out OF the
growth of the gospel Of diversif-
cation which he said has taken a
firm grip on the planters.
Third-A reduction in the yield
per acre, owing to the climatic
conditions which have prevailed
over the cotton belt since the gov
ernment's June estimate was sent
out from Washington.
After a survey of the general cot
ton crop conditions Of practically
every cotton-growing state, Mr..
Cockrum said the following compos-
ite report would give an idea Of the
crop as it is in it's state Of production
to-day:
The Texas acreage will be greatly
cut by the floods and the drouth
which preceded the heavy rains; in
Alabama the condition is fair; Ar
kansas, the yield is good, but the
acreage cut; Oklahoma, the acreage
will be off considerably; the Missis-
sippi Delta section, fair; Louisiana,
normal; Tennessee, light crop, and
South Carolina, fair.
The condition of the crop in Geor-
gia, Mr.. Cockrum said, he could not
speak Of, having failed to receive re-
ports from the states ginners. He
said, however, should cool weather
continue long the crop would be seri-
ously menaced.
He declared the 1915 crop, taking
all conditions into consideration as
they are to-day, will sell for about
nine cents. He assigned the reason
for the low price to the surplus on
hand from last years crop and the
uncertainty of business conditions in
the next twelve months.
There are 2,751 900 bales Of cot
ton in warehouses in various parts Of
the South, Mr.. CoclTum said, being
held because Of the impossibility OF
the expectation of the product abroad
to neutral ports, on account OF the
British embargo order.
''This surplus Of last years CROP"
he explained, "will. Of course, make
our crop for this year, in the aggre-
gate, considerably higher than we es-
timated some months ago. 1t is a
serious situation the country Is fac
ing, and especially the South, when
we are forced to hold this product
here until another nation sees fit to
permit US to send it to the foreign
markets.
"The United States government ap-
pears in a dilemma as to what to do
at this moment with Great Britain on
this embargo question. In my opin-
ion, it is either go to war and run the
risk of being able to hold our own or
sit still and take the medicine as it is
now being offered US. It is my per-
sonal pinion that the United States
should demand its right of freedom
of the seas for its International ship
ping"
Mr.. Cockrum represents 17,461
ginners in the South, who operate
twenty-seven thousand gins, about
four thousand of which are controll-
ed nv linseed oil companies, the re-