Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-18
CURTA|LMENT N1919
COTTON CROP URGED;
FOODSTUFFS NEEDED
South Must Keep Production
of Staple Within Probable
World Demands, Warns
Government Official

Southern bankers, merchants and
farmers who coSoperated in response
to the patriotic call to grow bumper
war crops will face financial ruin in
abled to keep the 1919 cotton crop
within the limits of probable world
demands.
A study made at the department
of agriculture which indicates this
crop will probably far over-shoot
the worlds needs.
Financial disaster for southern
farmers will have its effect on the
entire country, experts say.
The southern Cotton Growers as
ISOLATION, whose members are en-
deavoring to reduce the 1919 acre
age, are under fire of Governor AL
len, of Kansas, and others who de-
mand that the department of justice
prosecute the southerners under the
sherman antitrust law.
Clarence Ousley. assistant secre-
tary of the agriculture department,
who yesterday characterized the
prosecution demand as absurd"
made the study on which his de-
ern farmers. The department is
advising them to plant more corn,
feed and other products needed on
southern farms. This, officials adj
nit. would automatically reduce the
1919 cotton acreage.
Supply and Demand
With an acreage equal to that of
1918. Mr.. Ousley's study indicates
the yield would be about $1,000, 900
bales. This is approximately three
million bales more than was produc-
ed last year, But last year the crop
age because of a drought in Texas
and Oklahoma, which states are ex-
pected to increase their crop this
add to this 10000 oo-ba1e crop,
5000; 600 bales Of the 1918 crop
at the end of the cotton year, July
81" said Mr.. Ousley. 1.-THE total
amount Of cotton on the market then
would be 100000 bales.
Can the world use that? To the
initiated it might sem so. The Ger
man market will be open, it is ar
gued, and Germany before the war
was one Of the big cotton manufac-
turing countries. There's no doubt
that Germany needs every bit Of cot
ton she can manufacture.
But Germany will not be able to
take Immediately and manufacture
the 100000 bales a year she bought
annually before the war. Some of
the best informed observers who re-
Gently visited Germany declare her
industries will not reach SO per cent
of their normal demand within a
year. This will not be in time to
help materially on the 1919 American
cotton crop.
According to recent figures total
cotton takings of American northern
spinners plus southern consumption,
plus total exports has aggregated
only 7,569,428 bales since August /.
This is less than a million bales q
month for eight months. At this
rate the distribution of cotton for
the twelve months ending Angus l,
1919. will be slightly below 12,000,-
total 1918 crop.
12,5oo,ooo Bales Needed
although American manufacturers
may increase their demands in time
for the 1919 crop, there is a strong
probability the whole demand for
American cotton. foreign and domes-
tic. for the 1919 crop will not ex-
coed 12,500,000 bales. And yet if
the 1919 acreage is equal to that
available 1S,0OO,00O bales. That
Cotton farmers have not been so
blessed by tremendous war increases
in price as is popularity supposed,
Mr.. Ousley emphasized. Cotton was
selling for "a. 5 cents a pound at the
farm April l, he pointed out. This,
he said, represents an increase of
206 per cent over April 1, 1914, while
wheat has advanced 259 per cent and
hogs 205 per cent. At the same time
ceiving on an average of $40 per
cent more for their goods, which
tops the increa sed price paid the cot
ton farmer bV "a per cent