Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-16
COTTON
now in PROSPECT
Crops Are More Diversified In
South, HoWeyerlnse
Damage Is Great.
ny j. Q. RoYLE.
special. piapatch 3 The e.ar,

4 -
II NEW YORK, July licking Cot
ton. like other crowned heads, does
not occupy the important position 1t
once did. That fact has done much
to assure the prosperity Of the entire
Nation for the next half year, for
diyersification Of crops in the South
Is almost certain to maintain the
buying power of q great section that
once was almost entirely dependent
on that crop.
In view OF the heavy acreage plant
ed and the prospects for huge yield,
some trade factors are going 30 far
as to predict I5.cent cotton before
the end of 1926. Fifteen.cent cotton
In many sections Is or more cents
a. pound under cost of production.
It Is now deemed likely that the
carry-over as of July 81 Will be ap.
pr0xinately 6,25O.OO bales, or 2.860,.
600 bales higher than at the. end OF
last season. Estimates so far this
year indicate crop well over 10000
900 bales. In 1925 domestic consump.
ton amounted to around 6,225 900
bales. Figuring 1925 takings for do.
nestle mills on the sale basis--and
Ghey have been no higher so far this
year than In 1925-that leaves over
15, GOO. 900 bales TO be absorbed by the
remainder of the world.
British Mills Crippled.
The English mills have been badly
crippled by the coal strike and their
requirements are not expected to be
up to the levels Of previous years.
The situation, however. ID not en-.
tirely without its bright side. Certain
grades of cotton goods are in fine
demand The lower prices for goods
are calculated to stimulate demand
and men with their, fingers on the
pulse of retail trade anticipate an
excellent demand for cotton mill prod
uctS.
Then, too, the quality OF cotton
will have much to do with the
amount the planter obtains for his
crop. Experts place world require.
ments at not less than 100000
bales, and bad weather might cut pro-
duction materially In the next few
months. The two most critical
months are just ahead and consider.
able damage IL being done by insect
pests other than the boil weevH. On
the other hand, In Texas, where
drought held down production last
year. there is adequate subsoil mois'
ture.
The South, notwithstanding the
above situation, Is adequately pre-
pared to meet conditions. Fewer
farmers are totally dependent on
cotton than ever before, and the
other crops are yielding fine returns,
with the exception OF sugar In
Louisiana.
The tire trade Ii counted on to
absorb q tremendous amount OF tire
cord fabric, and this will aid many
mills. New England experts say
that while cotton spindleage OF at
least 800. 900 il now offered for sale
or removal In New England, those
plants with sufficient capital reserve ~;
to tide over present conditions VIII
nav their way and again become
distinctly profitable enterprises. pro.
yided dead wood Is shaken out. MOST
Of the mills offered for sale are from
10 10 30 years old ard equipped VAIN
antiquated machinery:
The expected large increase IN acre
age in California this year did not
materiaIize. There are now about
I67 900 acres planted to cotton. az
compared with 10000 acres picked
last year.
q lower level than at any time ~
years, has reached q point where sun
resistance has, been encountered. Ine
response to the sharply lowered. goods
prices named for the Spring OF lDZ1
by the leading interests has been such
as to indicate the bottom has been
reached.
This response 10 squirting consumer
interest. Fall lines recently have sold
more briskiy and mill supplies are by
no means heavy. On the other hand,
Australian production Is estimated at
rs. 900 900 heavier than In 1925. The
domestic clip is large and a consider
able portion still remains to be sold.
SILK goods are moving a trifie bet
ter. but at prices distinctly out of line
with the level Of raw silk quotations.
Manufacturers are hesitating to &C.
cept large orders on the present basis
Of prices and costs,