New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-11
COTTON INACTIVE;
CABLES RULE FIRM
Slight Improvement In Early
Trading Not Maintained-EX-
port Relief Talk Stops.

The cotton market was comparatively
quiet yesterday and fluctuations were
irregular within a range Of 10 or IL
points. Relatively firm cables accounted
for an opening advance of from 2 TO 10
points, which carried the active months
into new high ground for the move
ment, with March contracts selling at
l2.85c. or just sbou. s3.35 a bale above
the low level reached shortly before
Christmas.
This improvement was not main
tanned, however. Prices later sold on
10 a net loss Of TO points, with
March declining 10 l2.65c and closing
at 12.59c. The general list closed
steady. net 1 point higher 10 I points
lower. Uncertainty regarding the ex-
port outlet and new crop prospects sp-
peared 10 be restricting general bust
ness, and there was evidently dlspo-
sition 10 await developments in both
these directions. Nothing more was
heard of any intention by Britain 20
expedite the Importation OF cotton from
this country 70 Liverpool either by
turning over freight room or by the
limitation of freigh. rates. on the
contrary, houses wiCh Liverpool CON
nections were free sellers of the later
months here, which suggested that still
wider differences between European
and American markets were anticl-
pated.
Reports from the Southwest said
that crop preparations were well ad-
vanced for this season Of the year. but
also that the Farmers Union and the
state Departments of Agriculture were
urging farmers 20 refrain from in
creaslng their acreage. The situation
.n the Eastern belt is made more un-
certain by the scarcity OF fertilizer and
the spread of the boil weevil The final
attitude Of planters toward their new
crop acreage, as well as that OF holders
Of remaining old crop supplies. may be
influenced TO some extent by develop
ments In the export situation.
The census report, showing 10,6i3,Ts3
bales Of cotton ginned prior 20 January
! this year. comparing with is,443,i4s
20 the same date last season and
1l.0s4.5l5 bales from the growth OF
1910, failed 20 create sny fresh senti-
ment. The figures indicated a ginning
Of 1872 1873 bales for the las, December
period. next 20 the smallest returns for
that particular period on record. and
prevailing views OF the crop az based
on the recent estimate OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Private cables reported very small
offerings in Liverpool. and advices from
New England mill centres also indi-
Gated that, while plenty OF cotton was
available at asking prices in the South.
there was little or no cheap cotton fer
sale. Exports fer the day were 1887
bales, making 2,447,09i so far this sea
son against 2.94s.s46 last year. Wire,
from New Orleans reported continued
hrmness in ocean frcights. and II was
said that a rate Of s. a hundred pounds
had been paid for small amounts OF
room from New York to Liverpool
Southern spot markets were practically
unchanged. The feature OF the interior
movement was the heavy receipts and
shipments reported at St. Louis, pre-
sumably rejecting recent large pur-
chases in Arkansas by a prominent 81.
Louis firm, followed by shipments to
Canadian or Eastern mills.
Range of prices