The Prescott daily news., 1915-01-25
RETIREMENT OF COTTON SITUA- TrON SHOULD MEAN PROMPT
 PAYMENT OF DEBTS
(From Manufacturers Record)

t rom . ANNNPAN'
 The steady betterment in the whole cotton situation during the last few weeks makes it possible for the South tc largely overcome all of the dis advantages which it confronted in it's financial and general business opera tions early in the season.. Cotton ex- norts to Europe continue heavy, the shipments for the two weeks ending January 15 having aggregated 5S3,- 25S bales against 525,7S2 bales for the corresponding weeks of last year; and on January 15, according to the Commercial and Financial Chronicle, there were on shipboard not cleared 427,243 bales or 200,700 bales more than for the same week of 1914, and just a fraction less than 100000 bales for the corresponding week of 1913. indicating that the exports for this week, as most of the vessels will clear before tie end of the week, will be exceptionally large.
 Foreign exports have now crossed the 3.0000 000-b bale mark, and if all the cotton that was on shipboard on last Saturday is cleared this week, the exports to he end of the week will run to about 3,500,000 bales.
 The heavy shipments abroad and ac- tive purchases at home have resulted in a gradual advance in prices from the low figures prevailing few weeks ago, until cotton is now selling higher than at the corresponding time in 1905 and but little less than at the cores bonding time in 1902 and 1903 It is selling very much above the average between 1894 and 1899, the range of mddling upland at New York on Jan uary l5 this year being 8.10 cents per pound as compared with 5.75 cents on the same date in 1895; S.19 cents in 1896; 73l cents in 1897; 5SS cents in 1898 and 6.06 cents in 1899, according to the Financial Chronicle figures. Since January 15 the price has still further advanced.
 Notwithstanding the fact that pres ent prices are less than the cost of production to many farmers there is such marked improvement over the prices prevailing during the early part of the season that the whole situation ought to rapidly change for the better It IS now possible for farmers to sell cotton and take care of their financial obligations, and honesty demands this should be done. There are many com plants that there is a withholding throughout the South of payments even by farmers who are in a position to pay, and that other people than farmers are withholding payments that they would ordinarily promptly care for, taking advantage of the present situation to delay payments or debts rather than making an extra eHort to meet their obligations.
 There was probably never a time since 1865 when it was more incum- bent upon the South to meet every ooIlgatlon that can possibly be met, even by sacrifice, than the present.
 The financial integrity of this sec 'loh demands that everyone should to the utmost of his ability meet every ihanclal obligation promptly. The reputation of the South would be ser iouSIy injured and its prosperity of every individual if there should be any "''nholdlng of payment for indebted ness by debtors who can even by the Sacrihce meet their obligations.
 Fihanclal honor is too delicate a