The Devils Lake world., 1922-12-13
Why Cotton Goods
Prices May Go
Still Higher

that 1lgure, merchants may well won-
der whether there is likely to be any
reaction or whether, on The other
hand, further advance may safely
be predicted.
There are certain facts which are
obvious. One Of these is the practical
certainty of world shortage of cot
ton. The American crop of this year
is authoritatively estimated at not
over 100000 bales and is likely
to be no more than 9,50O00O. This is
100000 bales less thain the average
crop during the nine years immediate
ly preceding the war, and far below
the probable consumption.
According to Census Bureau re-
port, American mills during the first
ten months of this year consumed
$4,000 bales more than in the cor
responding period of last year, or a
total for the period of 4,9s4,6O7 bales.
We have not yet received the figures
OF cotton exports for the first ten
menths of 1922; but in the same per-
iod last year they exceeded 5,0OO,OOO
bales. Assuming that the figure will
be about the same for this year, we
have practically 100000 bales al
ready accounted for.
There was carried over from the
crop OF last year little over 1,700,-
600 bales. In addition, imports of cot
ton may be taken into consideration
through these run only fror 250,OOO
to S350,000 bales in the course of
year. Nevertheless, it is clear that
shortage Of American cotton is i'm
minent.
There is nothing in the worlds cot
ton production to indicate anv Of
fsetting Of the short supply in this
country. This is true of the quantity
as well as of the quality of the cot
ton raised outside of the United
States.
On the other hand, consumption in
other countries as we'll as in our
own is one on the increase. This is
indicated by the fact that our aggre-
gate exports Of cotton are keeping
pace with those of a year ago. In
cldentally, the imposition of duty
on wool under the new tariff is count
ed on to increase the use of cotton
by woolen manufacturers in this
country.
The shortage of cotton in this coun-
try is directly attributable, as the
Dry Goods Economist recently point
ed out, to the ravages of the boil wee
vii. Writing US from Paris, Tex, j..
o. Pirtle, manager of the Hudson
Davis Co, Of that city, declares that
the boil weevil in 1921 cost the county
in which he is located 10000 bales of
cotton and possibly $4,000, and he fig
ures that this year the county lost
$4,50O,000 from this cause. He pre-
diets that the crop of the coming year
will be shorter than ever before.
Mr.. Pirtle's views are undoubtedly
typical Of those held in the South by
careful observers, as also is his opin-
ion that plowing the cotton plants un-
der the soil-where it can be done be-
tween the final gathering and the ap-
pearance of frost-goes to do away
with the insect pest. The remedy,
it should be noted, has been recon-
mended by resolution by the South
Carolina Division of the American
Cotton Association, the resolution de-
claring, furthermore, that practical
experience in cotton culture in boil
weevil-infested areas has clearly de-
monstrated that the ravages of the
insects can be controlled if proper
protective measures are adopted and
eneragetically applied by all the cot
ton farmers in each country"
This is encouraging; it has, never
theless, little bearing on the cotton
price situation of the present, MOI
does it weaken the strong probability
of continued upward tendency fol
some time to come. Edward F. Rob.
erts, editor of the Atlantic Coast
Merchant IA member of the Economist
group Of business papers), who has
just returned from an extension tour
Of the South, reports that manu-.
facturers in that section do not hesi-
tate to speak of Accent cotton as 8
possibility-this although they fea1
that even 3O-cent cotton will have ar
adverse effect on the demand fo,
cotton goods, as tending to check con.
sumption.
Those are facts to which the re
taller ought to give close attention
not merely in connection with buy.
ing, but with selling. In our recent
article on the cotton situation We
advised our subscribers to take steps
ts see that their public was made
aware Of the conditions. One or two
merchants sent US copies of their 10.
cal paper in which the Economist ar
ticle in question was printed in full
This present outline might well b.
used in a similar way. We hope those
merchants who do thus US it, either il
whole or in part, will send US a copy
Of their local newspaper containing
the article,