Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-08-06
COTTON CONDITION is o7.1,
according to Government Report
A. @. A. Figures 81.

| Iho AoliOWluS statement.
The government report shows
GIL per cent. The American Cotton
Association report shows 81 per cent.
this report being the only correct
report issued of all private reports.
"Our association is in recent of
flood Of kilograms from every Sec
ton Of the country and every phase
of cotton trade, from the producer
to the manufacturer, asking for de-
tailed information. 1t being aDso-
lutely impossible to reply to all Of
these inquiries, however, the follow
ing statement Is issued:
| In Poor Condition.
The general trade has no concep-
| tion Of the condition Of the growing
crop. 1t is two to four weeks late;
1t has diseased root system, no
tap root; has less fruit than has
ever been known in the last 20 years.
Even with ideal Seasons, and with
out insect damage and late frost,
only moderate crop can be made.
With adverse seasons we are facing
crop calamity. On account of the
sappy condition Of the crop, the late
ness of same and the above condi-
| tions, 1t offers an inviting field to
insect damage. Caterpillars would
bring complete crop disaster. With
either adverse season or insect dam
age there would be more suffering
on account Of the need Of raw cotton
than resulted in England during the
civil War. In reply to inquiries con-
corning supply, cotton experts are
now working on the cost Of produc-
| tion, supply and demand. With the
| information before us we find that
the cost of production will be at
least one-third more than last year.
Profit for Producer.
"a minimum price will be set.
based upon supply, and demand, that
will bring to the producer profit in
line with the profits being made by
the manufacturers, who are buying
cotton at the present prices and are
manufacturing It into cloth and yarn.
The manufacturer VINO postpones
hug ing 0tt9n siind erf these conditions
I'will find that he has adopted an ex-
tremely poor business policy. He
will never live to see the day when
he will have the opportunity OF buy
ing cotton as cheap as the prices now
prevailing. The minimum prices Of
the American Cotton Association will
be far in excess OF the present prices.
Beyond question Of dOuDtetne cost
OF production has greatly increased.
Preliminary Report.
The American Cotton Association,
Is now making a preliminary condi-
ton report, showing condition of
cotton since July 25 up to date. This
condition indicates a still further
deterioration. Under these condi-
tions it would be absolutely impos-
sible with even normal weather con-
ditions and insect damage from now
on, to produce crop in excess of
100000 bales. The demand from
the world for raw cotton will be the
greatest ever known. 1t will exceed
supplies now on hand, plus the yield
from the growing crop under nor
nal conditions, by at least 100000
bales. Where will this cotton come
from? The spinners found, when it
was too late, they could not spin an
| imaginary surplus of long staple cot
ton. They will again find out, when
too late, that they cannot spin an
| imaginary surplus Of short staple
cotton. We state most positively
that long staple cotton the world
| over has been absolutely exhausted.
The manufacturers have an enor-
nous amount of goods sold, based
| upon being able to buy long staple
cotton. This places them in {. di-
lemma, as the purchasers refuse to
| cancel. They can blame no one ex-
cept themselves.
Concerning Short Staple.
Concerning short staple cotton:
Included in the amount of short
staple cotton carried over on August
], Is an enormous amount Of bolls
| which are worthless, and in addi-
| lion to this an enormous amount Of
| rotten cotton. Our experts show the
amount Of rotten cotton is the largest
! on record. In addition to this many
| people are being confused by these
figures, not realizing that they in
clude linters and regins. A man who
actually has spinnable cotton, If he
sells it at present prices. is a living
illustration Of a fool and his money
parting. Two Of the leading manu-
facturers in the cotton trade have
just informed me that they can use
cotton, basis middling, at from 70
| to rs cents per pound and make
a profit. In addition to this, one Of
the leading manufacturers informs
me: Il have decided to accept your
judgment. | feel convinced that you
are correct, that man who has
short october cotton occupies a very
dangerous position: that for the first
time ever known in this cotton trade
those who hedge their cotton on the
exchange are faced with the cer-
tainty Of enormous losses. The pur-
chasers Of these contracts for the
first time will refuse to cancel. They
will demand white cotton under the