New-York tribune., 1922-09-17
Cotton Mill Men
Worried Over Short
Crop Possibility
Interest i'm Raw Cotton IL
Greater Than Amy Time
Since Las, Fall: Goods
Prices Are Ri. ing
spec.qi ps3posea 10 Tho rr.em.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. Sept. is.--
| Interest broadened in all markets in
the cotton manufacturing industry the
last week. Tho largest inquiry de
yeloped in the raw cotton market, in
terest surpassing anything since the
fall Of 1921. Wide variation in prico
ideas restricted the buying Of cotton.
The finished goods wer more uniform
in selling strength, compared with the
inquiry.
The new crop has timulated the raw
cotton market. and has reached into
the other market The trade general
ly is viewing the crop condition with
more concern than few weeks ago.
i The extreme predictions Of short
crop are secuted. particularly. when
they drop as low rs 100000 bales,
such as WAS made in private forecast
this week. But the mills accept the
situation ct best as being serious
enough to require the utmost vigilance.
Even with part OF The mills of New
England closed from six to eight
months the consumption OF cotton has
increased over last year. The consun-
ing powers, once the strikes are set
tied, Of all mills on top of another
short crop is a factor that cannot be
overlooked.
The Staple Cotton Growers Co.
operative Association issued its first
quotations Of the new crop year during
the week. They were interesting as
RI; ;er,la " Iva t,, y
prevailing between the South and the
mills. They were certainly not con-
ducive to sales. The brokers referred
them to the mills as matter Of in
formation rather than from any iden
commitments on this basis would be
made. The association quotations were
one and oae-eighth inch, 323$ cents:
one and three sixteenth inch. 33as
cents; one and one-Quarter. 37M cents.
and one and ilve-sixteenth 39M. The
cotton quoted is trict middling, Cor
good middlng. the lengths were one
and one-half cent higher: for middling.
one and one-half cent lower. New
Bedford market ideas were one to one
and half cent below these prices.
Prices in all markets have been firm,
but actual advances have been re-
strieted. Print cloths were freer in
hNN oNN @'lSC. hC DQYCiS LitI lUG DTlut
cloth advances in the several conatruc-
tions where they took place. This
trading has emanated largely from the
big operators.
The breakup Of the New England
strike has been final this week, and has
followed the accepted order after the
capitulation in Lawrence. 1t termi-
mates the most costly and longest
strike in the history of the textile in
dustry. The part the mills in which
settlements are going forward are to
play in the immediate future of the
markets is cause of widespread con-
cern. Will they be able to regain the
trade that meantime has gone to other
centers? Will they enter the cotton
market soon? Or have thev some cot
ton supplies? These are among the
more significant questions.
What the restoration does definitely
settle is that cotton goods will not be
cheaper. Instead. the trend will be
upward. Raw cotton gives little prom
Use Of being lower. With all possibil-
ity OF cheaper labor there is no chan
mel left for lowering goods. The re-
alization of the meaning Of the end of
the effort to reduce wages by many
converters and wholesalers undoubt-
edly led to some buying Of goods.