The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-31
VITAL QUESTION
IN COTTON
Manufacturers Record.

What are the cotton growers OF
the South going to do with $685.
900 bales of the 1914 cotton crop
which have not yet come upon the
cotton market?
A It rests with them largely wheth-
er or not the cotton in their hands
is to bring a price equal to that at
the close of the markets last Satur-
day or even a greater price, per-
haps. If in planting this years
has been an advance in the price of
the staple, all tending to modify the
,densely gloomy outlook of last fall
upon the situation. This is recall
ed by an objection that has been
raised by one of our correspondents
to a statement made in our issue OF
March II, to the effect that the net
or absolute loss to the cotton grow
er of the South on the 1914 crop
might be less than $50,0OO,OOO.
That statement was made in an ar
ticle submitted to us for publication
The critic of it believed that the loss
will amount to $480,000,00O.
We believe that if the estimate of
S5O,OOO,O00 loss errs toward un-
derestimation, it goes no farther IN
that direction than the error in
overestimating the loss at 100000
600. Someone based last fall an
estimate upon the size of the crop
and the prices then prevailing of a
loss of more than S420,000,000, or
rather, as we remember, that
much difference between the returns
from the 1913 crop and those from
the 1914 crop, which did not mean
j net loss. BY net loss we under
stand the difference between what
the crop cost the farmers and what
they will receive for it. The Gov
ernment estimate of the value of
the crop of 1914, made as of De-
cember 1, when but less than 81
per cent of the crop had been mar
keted and the farm price was 6.8
cents a pound, was $52O,000,000.
That was S367,00O,0OO less than
the returns for the 1913 crop. But
since December /, there has been a
marked change for the better in
the cotton markets, and we believe
that the, portion of the crop sold to
date has brought probably $780,
100000. Between 100000 and
100000 bales are yet to be sold.
Should only current prices prevail
and with wisdom in planting this
year that end can be =. approached
a at least 100000 would be add
ed to the total value of the crop,
bringing it up to s610,000,00O, or
100000 instead of s420,000,-
900 less than the value of the 1918
crop. The net loss to the growers
will be the difference between the
value of the crop and the aggregate
cost of making it-a loss much less,
we believe, than the difference be.
tween the values of the two crops.
We hope that final results will
show greater returns for this years
crop than at present indicated. II
is hardly safe, though, to attempt
any reliable forecast, even at this
late date in the season. Practi.
cally everybody has his own view.
point and his own method in making
such an estimate, but we believe
that hardly anyone, in studying the
pTeSSnI COIIOu oAIuoIAoli LII Vic Nooei
and in drawing deductions there
from, is inspired by any feeling
but one of sincere interest in the
welfare of the South, regardless Of
personal aims. For that reason i
would be we'll if every cotton grow
er could read and ponder upon thu
following, in Cotton, published a
Manchester, in the heart of the cot
ton-buying and cotton-manufactur
ing region of England:
Increasing interest is being evin
ced in the preparations for the mex
American cotton crop, and farmer
will ere long have to decide tn
acreage problem.
No amount of figuring will dissi
IL j y