Imperial Valley press., 1923-12-08
COME BACK OF
4 KING COTTON"
STAGED In |. v.
Boil Weeyil's Ravages in
South Cause of
Shortage

Were one to ask any of the cold
timers in the valley what to them
is the best proof Of the valleys
recovery from the slump Of 1919-20,
it is almost certain that the answer
would be, ''the present price of
cotton, and the future outlook of
this important valley industry
Following the slump of 1920,
which was caused by a market glut-
ted with cotton goods manufactur
ed during the feverish activities
of war days, many local residents
made the statement, and repeated it
frequently, that the less Imperial
Valley had to do with cotton, the
better off it would be. A few. of
those who realized that the slump
was due entirely to phenomenal and
unnatural conditions, clung to the
belief that eventually cotton would
come back, but their belief in great
measure, was scoffed at.
That these few knew better than
the scoffers, is shown by the
prices being received for cotton at
present. Before the shipping sea
son began, a few bold growers pre-
dicted 20 cent cotton. One forecast
"a to 26 cent cotton, and was laugh
ed at for his remarks. Then when
cotton began to rise steadily, until
it had reached 36 cents, those who
had predicted another cotton fail
ure, began to realize that they had
not been so wise after all.
Crop Fails i'll South
Of course there are some who will
say that the present high price of
cotton is due to the failure of the
cotton crop in the south. Unques-
tionably this is true. Government
estimates, made in the early part of
November, were to the effect that
the crop i'll the south this year
would be 47.S per cent of normal.
The only two states in the south
that have made anything like II
good crop are North Carolina and
Texas, whose crops are respectively
20 per cent and 81 per cent of nor
NAL, according to the governments
survey.
The reason for this state of af-
fairs is laid chiefly to the pre-
sence of the boll-weevil throughout
the south. Not only has the pest
ravaged the present crop, but it
has caused in great measure the
migration of thousands of negro
laborers from the cotton fields of
the south, to the textile and manu-
featuring plants of the north, re-
sulting in the abandonment of
100000 acres of cotton land in
the south, that had already been
seeded. A large percentage of this
labor will not return to the south,
and with cheap labor scarce, future
cotton crops in, the south are bound
to feel the effects in a reduced cot
ton acreage.
AS long as California can con
tinue to keep its cotton crop free
from the boil weevil pest, just so
long will it find ready and pro
fitable market for the crop, is the
opinion expressed by one prominent
cotton grower in the valley, and
there is quite deal of truth in his
remarks.
Carry-Over Is Short
The carry-over of the coun-
try's cotton crop, on July 81, 8
1928, was 100000, quoting
United States Department of
Commerce figures. The estimat-
ed production for the 1928 crop
is predicted to amount to TO-
100000 bales, making the total
supply available, 13,60O,0OO
bsJ.es. The estimsNed daomeE-
tic consumption is 100000
bales, with 100000 more bales
being exported, so that the car
ry-over on July 81, 1924, will
amount to only 100000 bales.
This margin is too small, accord
ing to government experts, SO
that the cotton mills of the
country will face serious sit
uation in August 1924.
These figures are quoted to show
that the present price of cotton is
.not only justified, but that con
tinuation of it can be expected. A
drop in the carry-over from 3,100,-
600 to 100000 bales in 'One year,
best illustrates the failure of the
south s cotton crop, and the OPP
portunity whcih is given to Imper-
ial Valley growers to jump into
the breach, and is one that should
be taken full advantage of, accord
ing TO those who have made an in
vestigation of the possibilities here.
Conservative cotton men feel GER
.4,,; h, -,
inflated, as was the case in 1915-18,
when the cry for cotton was heard
throughout the world, because of
war requirements. On the con
trary they believe it is due to- an
increased demand for cotton goods,
plus an unsatisfactory crop in the
south, a condition that is likely to
remain as ~at present, for several
years to come.