The Washington times., 1924-05-08
COTTON PRICES
ENCOURAGE
PLANTERS
Prevailing High Prices Will
Mean Larger Acreage Next
Year, Says Williams
By w. s. COUSINS.

Copyright, 1924. by Cosmopolitan
News SerVice.D
CLEVELAND, May s. - Prevail
ing high prices for cotton will in.
duce Southern planters to devote a
larger acreage to cotton next year,
in the opinion Of Carl Williams,
president Of the American Cotton
Growers Association. who sum-
married. for Cosmopolitan News
Service today the principal factors
affecting production and market
ing of the great Southern staple.
Blalnes Cotton Mills.
Mr.. Williams estimates the 1924
cotton crop at slightly in excess of
$4,000, 900 bales, which, he says,
with a moderate carry, over, will
be sufficient for world needs and
give the Southern cotton grower a
fair return for his labor.
THE recent irregularity of the
cotton market" Mr.. Williams de-
clared, "is not due to a cessation
of buying on the part of the public,
but to the backing up of the
market by the hand to mouth
policy of cotton mills. The con-
sumption of cotton goods has not
declined, but millers are taking
leaf from the experiences of Euro.
pean buyers. They realize it is
good policy not to stack themselves
with large amount of raw cot
ton, probably bought at high prices.
1t reduces overhead expenses and
enables them to do business on
smaller capital.
ITO this cause must be attrib-
uted in part the domestic and for.
eign decline of about 90 per cent in
consumption of raw cotton last
year. The shortness of 1922 and
1928 crops are further emphasized
by extremely small carry over.
last years carry over being the
smallest in thirty years. That con-
dition would normally cause very
high prices for raw cotton, but its
effect was nullified by the general
uncertainty Of business this year,
and the poor prospect for business
in the balance of the Presidential
year. The mills are naturally afraid
to take cotton unless they are as
sured they can dispose of it at rea-
sonable prices, their idea being that
there will be enough Of the old
crop on hand to keep them going
until the new crop comes in.
Expect Increase.
The philosophy of the situation"
Mr.. Williams said, lis that nigh
prices for cotton in one year will
be the logical incentive for larger
acreage the following year. But
this is not always the case, for
other important factors enter into
the equation Briefly. these ARE:
Available acreage, financial condi-
tons of the farmer, labor condi-
tons and availability.
Along the northern line Of the
cotton belt, there will probably De
25 per cent increase OF cotton
acreage, but this means little, since
only a small percentage of the
total cotton crop is grown in this
territory. There will be some in
crease in North and South Carolina
and Louisiana, and decrease IN
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and
Tennessee, due to conditions out
lined, this territory in particular
having suffered by negro emlgra-
ton. There will be a big increase
in Texas and Oklahoma. Texas
will add 100000 acres devoted to
cotton, an increase of per cent,
and Oklahoma 100000. increase OF
9 per cent. .. oon ot
leads me to believe the total acre
age in the United States devoted
to cotton this year will be about
80, 500, 900 acres. an increase OF D
per cent over last year. This acre
age under ideal conditions could
produce 1900, 900 bales OF cotton.
There are many things against such
a performance, however, chiefly the
backward weather. labor troubles,
poor financial conditions in parts
of the cotton belt and the infesta-
ton of the boil weevil.
The argument has been made
that, because of the hard winter
and the wholesale destruction of
the boil weevil last winter, this little
pest will not do so much damage
this year. This is not true for the
weevil under normal conditions this
years. will thrive and multiply as
rapidly as before.
Cooperative Marketing.
Il 90 not see now IL Is possible
to produce more than 100000
bales Of cotton this year, but this
amount of new production, plus
carryover. will satisfy the needs
of the world, and assure the South
ern planter a price for cotton which
will cover cost of production, and
add little for profit.
Add to that the influence of CO.
operative marketing, both on basic
conditions and on prices received
in direct dealing with buyers, and
you have a situation which gives
fair promise of making the South
the best buying agricultural section
of the country"
Cooperative marketing of cotton,
Mr.. Williams declared, is now com.
pleting its third year, in the last
two of which it showed a gain of
so per cent over its predecessor in
amount Of cotton handled. It Is
thoroughly organized in all the cot.
ton States, and has its own sales
orQa citations in the princinal conn.