Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-12-01
MORE SHIPS To
BOOST COTTON
BY VICTOR BARRON.


with price movements of more nor
NAL character than for many months,
cotton developed considerable activ-
iry following the Thanksgiving holi-
day, with values suffering severely as
the result of a fresh raid on the mar
ket in the way of liquidating long
lines for both foreign and domestic
spot firms and further hedge selling,
accredited chilly to the South.
Nidweek found futures on the New
YORK Exchange practically unchang-
ed from last weeks closing prices,
but final prices Friday exhibited a
net loss for the week of "a to 180
points in the northern market and
lis to POS points in New Orleans. The
distant months displayed the great
est decline, due principally to spot
firms selling the later positions
against purchases of nearby deliver
les. The tightness of near options
is explained by the extremely strong
position of the spot markets, as the
result Of scant offerings and gen
erai disposition ON the part of hold
eTs 10 tighten their grip on their sta
pie, anticipating materially higher
prices in the not remote future on
the belief that much heavier move
nent is bound to come
The weeks developments mailed &c
divulge anything of bearish COM
rleEion, with the possible exception
Of continued labor scarcity, which is
lettering domestic consumption and
holding investors aloof, who really
appreciate the bullish position of the
market, but still being disposed tc
await some definite developments in
the export and political situation
The break of more than IS a bale
for late months Friday came right on
the heels of a statement from Chas.
J. Brand. chairman of the Cotton
Committee at Washington, to the eff
feet that the war board was not de-
laying the issuance of export Ii
censes to Spain and other foreign
countries. Such propaganda has
been in circulation of late, appar~
emily with an idea of frightening hold
ers of the actual into unloading. But
Mr., Brands statement nailed this
false and misleading report. On the
contrary the War Board, MIR. Brand
stated, was doing all possible to exc
cute applications for licenses as rapid
" as possible as they came in, and,
that when necessary, licenses would
gladly be telegraphed. He urged that
this false report be discredited.
Nevertheless, cotton slumped bad
y. December falling to 1850, jan
Gary $3.50, March 1888, May $500 and
July to 24.75. These levels the mark
the lowest of tn eweek and 20 to 13C
points net down for the day.
Spot quotations throughout the belt
broke in sympathy with futures, but
holders were not dislodged. Paper
quotations do not change the intrin-
sicaHy firm status of the actual
stun
The buiLsh surroundings OF the
ma rk1t we're greatly augmented by
the weeks events. particularly the
offer Of the government to buy the
Mercantile Marine Co. British ships
--&j in number. Those bullishly in
Clined were inclined to cOnstrue this
as helpful to their cause, inasmuch
as it paves the way for increased
tonnage to move both cotton and
other domestic commerce now held
in waiting through the lack Of bot
toms With submarine sinkings
thing of the past; with steady launch
ings of new ships for the govern
ment; with ships no longer carrying
T1unitions, combined with the fact
that the allied countries are bare of
both the raw material and the finish
Gu IlOuuIt anu lilllilOAo VI SJlI-
dies waiting to start spinning again,
the export movement certainly looks
brighter than at any time since early
1914. The war-Tidden countries must
have cotton, must clothe the millions
of men who have worn nothing but
uniforms for years. and these men
must be put 10 work. And, just the
moment more ships are available the
South chief commodity will come
into its own and those who went to
great expense to make and harvest
this years staple will be rewarded
with something more than increasing
debts fer their tiresome labor
The writer anticipates materially
higher prices 80 cents is not ex-
IRENE, for cotton before another crop
is made, through the law of supply
and demand. But, it's up to the hold
ers % stand pat Refuse to part
with what you have on hand! The