The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-12-03

That cotton will reach 20 cents a pound in less
than a year, ii the present war continues that lcng,
must De conceded by all who know the facts. 1t is
q little strange that so few people know the real
facts which are back of the strong upward tendency
in cotton prices, and yet this advance in price is the
most legitimate and reasonable that has taken place
in many years.
The European war has brought about new
uses for cotton upon a scale never dreamed of by
the most optimistic dealer. In fact the war, which
at its outbreak was looked upon as a death blow
to cotton and the South, is turning out to be the
terrible agent of undreamed of Southern prosperity.
Che movement, developments and demands have
been SO quick that the average citizen has not had
time to realize what it means.
II is impossible to estimate the amount of
cotton now being consumed in the manufacture OF
explosives for the Allies alone. a well known
shipping agent has just told the writer that one big
powder plant in this country is now taking at the
rate of over one million bales of cotton a year-and
this man knows, because he handles the shipments.
This plant is only one of twenty or more now en-
that each of these powder plants is
working day and night, most Of them using three
shifts of workmen, each shift working eight hours
{. the twenty-four. With the Allies calling for
more explosives all the time and the probability OF
the war lasting at least another year, it is easy to
see how quickly our eleven million bale crop for
1915 can be used in that one direction. In fact, it
looks like a shortage now, even in supplying this
new outlet for cotton which did not exist before the
war broke out.
From a New York banker, who is assisting in
lUI tUc S1ISI c1Cu d III Ills COuill y
comes the statement that England will spend about
$40, ,O0O of the loan in the purchase Of cotton
for her own munltlon factories and for making cloth
for clothing her armies, That will mean over two
mi lion bales, which will doubtless be bought and
shipped as sUon as the loan money is available.
As this loan IS not supposed to last but a few
months, another loan is most likely to take a similar
amount of cotton In the early part Of the coming
year, if by chance any cotton be left by that time.
In the manufacture of automobile tires and
cloth and clothing for army use several extra million
bales Of cotton are now required, which demand did
not exist Il year agO-except III a very small way.
Furthermore, cotton growing in all European
countries involved in war has been very much cur
tailed, owing to the withdrawal Of men from the
farms for duty ST the front.
If the war ends In a year from now, all OF
Germany and her allies Will have absolutely no
supply of cotton, a shortage OF cotton goods, and
will be among the large buyers. This will be a
stern necessity, after cotton has been barred from
her territory Tor over a year and a half. Ii fact, ali
the warning nations will be large takers, as their
stocks will have been completely exhausted by war
demands.
So the remarkable situation confronts the
South as to what advantage she will take of this
rare opportunity. The answer is the South will
grow her largest cotton crop next year, perhaps
twenty million bales, if labor can be had, and for
that crop, under present conditions, the price should
be 20 cents per pound. We may advise one way or
the other, but the prospect Of 20 cent cotton will
the planter what he should or should not do under
such conditions. The only question about the size
of the crop is the question of fertilizer and labor.
1t seems a rosy picture and yet the present.
outlook points to its realization, a twenty million
bale cotton crop at 20 cents per pound two billion
dollars for the South from one crop alone. In fact
if the war conditions continue until next September
it is fully believed by experts that this is just what
will happen. What lies beyond that time it is i'm
possible to forecast. ~
One year ago the European war pointed to the
ruination of the South. It looked as if we would
become a bankrupt people. How our business men
stood the jar as well as they did is a wonder. The
depression hung long, but passed, and now the
pendulum of business is swinging the other way
and the war which seemed a curse to the cotton
states has been turned, horrible as it is to others