Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-19
Flood and Weevil Really Spell
Prosperity for Cotton Growers

Notwithstanding the great flood, the
boil weevil, unfavorable weather and
other ills, the cotton country which
was able to produce at all is happy
and hopeful over prospects for a rela-
lively profitable season. Rising prices
following the Government report indi-
eating reduced crop brings satisfac-
ton to the grower If not to makers
and big consumers Of textiles.
What this actually means to the cot
ton-growing States Is discussed by the
Birmingham News, with the statement:
1T means that thousands Of families
actually in need of life's necessities
may be soon relieved. It means that
farm mortgages in great number may
soon be lifted. 1t means probable re-
stimulation of life in rural communi-
ties where cotton Is grown. 1t means,
not unimportantly, a better chance
for the body, mind and spirit Of cot
toms most constant friend-the black
man of the South. To the Industrial
and financial life Of the cotton-grow-
ing States this good news brings cheer,
relieving apprehensions that had be-
come Of late somewhat acute"
1T is argued that, with consump-.
ton Of cotton increasing and produc-
ton off several million bales" remarks
the Chattanooga Times, prices of cot
ton are bound to go higher" And con.
sidering the probable increase in value
by many millions of dollars over last
year, the Times concludes: IAN of
which would seem to indicate that the
South is scheduled to experience
period of still greater prosperity than
it Is now enjoying" The Shreveport
Journal feels that 'it promises much
alike: indirectly, it augurs well for the
public generally; with fairly high
prices obtaining, business in all lines
will be stimulated"
Y II
An added wealth producer that Is
pointed out by the Texarkana Gazette
is the lower cost of this years crop:
Because Of inability to borrow. it was
necessary that the farmers produce
their crop at a lower cost. This gives
them a bigger equity in the crop than
they have had in previous years" The
Houston Chronicle calls 1t ridiculous
situation that despite the bad crops
and the great loss due to the weevil In
festation, the cotton farmers probably
will get great deal more for the short
crop than they would have gotten for
a bumper crop"
Judged in the light Of pure eco
nomics," according to the New York
ld-Tribune, lit might be said that
the loss to the world of 100000 bales
Of cotton constituted something of a
national disaster. From the standpoint
Of the prosperity of the industry Itself
no such conclusion is justified. For
the cotton grower. the advance in
prices more than counterbalances the
decrease in the estimated production"
The Asheville Times directs attention
to 1.-The extraordinary hazards and the
contradictory conditions with which
the Southern cotton planter has to
contend" and suggests: IF the disas-
tiers of bad weather, red spiders and
weevils comes upon his acres, then he
will see all the worlds markets bid
ding frantically for his product"
Conditions in the cotton belt this
year." observes the Providence Jour-
nal, demonstrate anew that the boil
weevil remains one of the greatest fac
tors in the industry. Here certainly
Is a problem that still affords an I'M
usual opportunity for cooperation be-
tween science, agriculture and indus
try" The Wall Street Journal, assum.
ing that 'at present much of the belt
is under weather conditions that favor