The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-30
.2e,18e,ooo bales

1917. .20,19e,000 bales
1918. .1z701, 600 bales
It is our unanimous opinion that
the above figures are conservative:
that it will be necessary for the mills
to curtail production, in many cases
cloge down, before the 1920 crop be-
comes available; and that we are
facing a cotton famine.> We have
rendered the above report upon true
condition and facts, and without bias,
it being our sole purpose to render
a correct statement.
Cost Of Production, 1918 Cotton
Crop: Expert representatives Of the
department of agriculture. employed
for the purpose of making an esti-
! mate of the cost of production of the
1913 cotton crop. find that this cost
is in excess of thirty cents per pound
basis middling. The cost of produc-
ton Of the 1919 crop. that is the grow
ing crop, will be far in excess of the
1913 crop.
We are now engaged with the best
experts obtainable in preparing
statement showing the cost of produc-
ton Of the present growing crop
This statement cannot be compIet-
ed until the season has become tar
enough advanced to ascertain approx
mately correctly the production, which
will probably be ascertained the first
part of September. at which time a
statement showing the cost of pro-
! ducing said crop will be completed.
! We are conducting in every section Of
/ the belt a thorough and painstaking
| investigation. SO as to show the abso-
lutely correct cost. With information
before us, however. we find that this
cost will be far above the cost of the
1918 cotton crop.
Worlds Needs for 1920 and Estab-
| lishmcnt of Minimum Price for Which
Cotton Will be Sold: We are also
working with leading experts in pre-
pairing a statement as to the worlds
needs for cotton for the year com-
mencing August 1, 1920 These esti-
mates are being made for the purpose
of establishing a minimum price for
which the growing cotton crop will be
sold, and also for the purpose of de-
Gliding upon the acreage to be planted
in cotton in 1920. Cotton will not be
sold below the minimum price agreed
| upon. nor william acre: be planted in
excess of the acreage recommended
A mammoth meeting Of the Amer
| lean Cotton Association, with repre-
sentatives from every county in the
cotton belt will be held as soon as
these reports have been rendered. and
at this. time a minimum price at
which cotton will be sold. based upon
these reports. will be agreed upon. To-
tai acreage to be planted in 1920, bas-
| ed likewise upon this information, will
be agreed upon and not pound Of
cotton will be sold below the mini
mum price so established and only
the acreage agreed upon will be plant
ed
Many of the European countries
consumed every pound Of cotton avail
| able during the war. Germany even
used all mattresses, cushions and ev-
erything containing cotton. and Ger
many is today in the market for re-
gins and linters to help replace this
shortage and help fill her great de-
mand for cotton. However, there will
not even be enough re-gins and lint
ers. which went begging and which
we thought valueless. to anything like
fill the demand.
Cotton is worth. basis middling, Is
cents FER porrd based on the price
for the man. actured product. Based
on supply and demand as shown
above it will be worth highest price
it has sold for since the war between
the States 1t will prove a wise busi-
ness policy to hold your cotton until
it brings price based on these con-
ditions and to plant your lands in food
and feed crops which require much
less labor and which crops are bring
ing very profitable prices Do not