Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-05
Sea Island Report
Like Funeral Note,
Williams Asserts

SAVANNAH, Ca, Aug. 4.-''The making
Of the annual report of the 191S-19l9 cotton
year, from the view of the Savannah cotton
exchange, is like writing funeral notice, so
far as the sea island features are concerned"
said W. T. Williams, cotton editor of the
Morning News and publisher of the Cotton
Record, last night on the eve of the issuance
of the summary for the last years crop.
Irregular market conditions, ravages Of
the boil weeyil and weather conditions have
discouraged the planting of sea island this
year. and there will be probably less than
80, 900 bales in all the territory, against
A 500 for the crop just reported; 7S,349
last year, and more than 225, 900 bales only
a compare lively few years ago. The follow
ing were the receipts at the three ports TAX
ing all the sea island which does not go to
the interior mills:
Receipts
Savannah-16,116 bales.
ston-10, 067.
Jacksonville-12,6 7S.
Less than 5000 bales went to the mills in
the interior.
Of uplands, the receipts at Savannah for
the year were 1,134,502 net, or 1,201, S54
gross.
The feature of the year for the territory
centered by Savannah has been that there
was production exceeding that of the pre-
viOuS year, with new high records of prices,
but smaller amount of the staple marketed
than last year or for n number of years.
And the new crop promises a greatly de-
creased production.
Consequences of War
Savannah continued to feel the conse-
quences of the war as a serious restriction
to exports, and as yet has not profited much
from the return of peace. For, as observed
in fromer reviews, Savannah has for years
been the preferred port for exports to Ger
many, and trade with the central countries
has not yet been restored to pre-war con-
ditions. Nevertheless, although a slight in
crease over those of the year before, the
foreign exports show a large gain. 1t is I'M
derstood that the former enemy countries
will require large amount especially of the
lower grades, and it confidently expected
that this demand will center chiefly on this
port for satisfaction.
Th gross receipts at Savannah show a
small falling off from those of the year be-
fore, less cotton having been sent here for
trans-shipment, owing to various considera-
tons of transportation. Receipts have been
particularly liberal during the summer
months, and a virtual embargo lasting for
several weeks and due to the strike of ma
rine workers, has kept exports generally
down and resulted in the accumula ton of
this season of the year. OF course, all this
cotton remains yet to be handled, and it i'm
plies a very active business at a season
when there is usually hardly anything at all
going on.
The great decrease in the sea island trade
is a severe blow, but that is a thing that
cannot be helped. 1t is not to be assumed
that the culture of sea island will be en-
tirely abandoned, although planters may not
unlikely consider it safer to raise the shorter
staples instead. They may divert more
largely to extra staple upland, which can
be grown to almost equal advantage with or
binary short staple. Then it is still hoped
and even believed that some effective way
will be discovered to overcome the weevil,
and make possible the resumption of normal
sea island production.