Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-09
World Faces Shortage
In Supply of Cotton
BY Predfric j. HAskia

Washington. d. C., January s.--1'he
world rarely, if ever, produces ~ much
cotton AZ IT needs, and now, with the
Russian crop somewhere around the zero
mark, the Indian crop smaller than usual
and the United States crop depleted by the
summer drought, there is a distinctly-out-
lined cotton situation.
The extent of shortage in the United
States crop IL shown by the fact that
5000, 900 bales were counted upon and
only II 100000 ssrvTved drought, pests
and disease. OF this crop and past crops
the cotton growers are holding between
tour and SIX million bales IN the hope of
securing what they term a fair price for
their product.
The cotton growers attribute their
present situation partly to the govern
rncnt method Of reporting the cotton crop
The growers are firm IN their belief that
no mortal, however much he may know
about cotton, can predict with accuracy
the size of a cotton crop earlier than
September In july, when the Department
of Agriculture looks over the crop and
estimates the amount and value, the cotton
is Young. It has not stood the dry weather
of the later summer. and it has several
months vet to be exposed to the attacks
OF the boil weevil, and all the other in
sects which can, and often do, cut down
promising crop by hall.
RECORD ESTIMATE FAILS.
This year. they point out, the estimate
was sixteen million bales-a greater crop
than the United States had ever pro-
| duced The prospect of so large crop
lowered the price Of cotton in the market,
the record breaking crop did not material
/ ize. and the planters are still holding on.
/ The case OF the southern cotton growers
! is summed up ty them as follows: There
! nave been elaborate rules for price fixing
and distribution of wheat and corn
! crops because of war conditions, and the
success Of these rules has inspired some
officials 10 lit them TO the cotton situation,
without regard Tor the fact that cotton
. is totally different product, produced
under different conditions.
For one thing, say the growers, the cost
| OF growing and picking a bale OF cotton IS
SO much greater than the cost CT raising
| the same value OF wheat, that what would
seem fair price for bale OF cotton IN
comparison with wheat prices IS really d
loss TO the planter 4 statlstician OF the De
partment of Agriculture OF Texas estimates
the minimum cost of raising pound OF
cotton in war tunes at twenty-sIx cents.
This figure. being the minimum, IS not
the average cost of production under
present unfayorablc circumstances.
REASON poR HIGH CosT.
The main reason for the high cost OF
! production is the enormous amount OF
hand labor required in picking and treat
| ing cotton There have been wonderful
advances in cotton machinery since the
| Whitney gin, but no one has ever evolved
an engine with sufficient intelligence 10
pick cotton Other factors making for
greater expense are similar to those eX-
perienced by other industries. such as
higher wages labor shortage and higher
cost OF machinery.
To offset their soaring expenses and
safeguard the demanded margin ot
profit the growers are holding the bulk
Of their crops for minimum price OF
| thirtv-fiYe cents A pound That the growers
ran and will hold the crop until the price
rises there IS not much doubt Cotton,
unlike wheat and corn, is In no danger OF
deterioration, and although II cannot be
eaten by the growers, the support of
bankers strengthens the growers hand
The serious ness of the growers attitude
is indictaed by the ease of an ex-senator
from a southern state who Is holding his
crop for the past three years, and an
nounccs ms purpose to hold out until he
gets what he considers reasonable rate
The result of the cotton growers stand
is that very little cotton is being sold,
while the factories are wor1ng with mate
rial already on hand Part Of the demand
is removed by the ending Of hostihties.
Millions of bales Of cotton have been used
by the government in airplane wings.
tents, uniforms, munitions and auto
mobile tires
The sudden slackening IN the army :
demand for these things is releasing cotton
for civilian use, but unfortunately for
manufacturers and public, the amount
released by the ending Of the war can
not make up for that which is being held
by the owners.
EXPORT sUPPLY Is SHORT.
With not enough cotton in the market
Tor home consumption. the United States
can scarcely expect 10 export in tho near
future the amount Of cotton desired hy
European nations. At present England
Italy and Relgium have no cot ion fol
their spindlcs and the amount of other
countries Of Europe is negligible The