Evening star., 1933-11-23

While estimates Of the cotton crop
indicate that it is slightly larger than
last year, despite efforts made to cur
tail under encouragement of the Fed
eral Government, the press voices the
belief that without curtailment the crop
would have been of unprecedented SIZE
and the market for the staple would
have been demoralized Favorable
weather conditions are linked with the
high crop figures.
While stating that "test of the do
mestic allotment philosophy still lies
ahead" the New York Times points out
that part of growing cotton crop has
been plowed under" The Times con-
tinues: 1.-THE result has been to reduce
the indicated crop for 1893 from
II, ,o00. 900 bales to 3,1oo, 900. Mr.. Peek,
A. A. A. administrator, believes that
this means the difference between cot
ton at cents and at 10 cents a pound,
and that $3.50 900 900 has been added
to the value of the crop by the de-
hberate destruction of part Of it. But
1t remains true that, even after the de-
hberate destruction, the present crop
Is about 100000 bales larger than last
years. Accordingly, the curtailment of
production to domestic needs is at
present no nearer than it was last year,
despite the fact that consumers of cot
ton goods will be taxed $110,000,000 in
order to achieve it. What happened was
that the farmer destroyed part Of his
crop; then cultivated more intensively
rhat AA M L. 4 - H.
fact that the estimated yield per acre
this year Is placed at the high figure of
2087 pounds, as against 1888 last year
decade"
Despite this showing, the Fort Worth
Star Telegram advises as to next year
that "the only way the peril Of breaking
prices may be escaped is to hold pro-
duction down to reasonable market de-
mands." The Star-Telegram feels that
cotton growers, looking at the figures
In the final estimates are entitled to
sizeable shudder for a catastrophe mar
row1y averted." That paper offers the
explanation: Had the crop proceeded to
harvest on the acreage actually planted
there would have been the greatest yield
Of Of an time; coming ping on top Of the crush
Of overproduction, the market would
have been as soft as a Trinity bottom
in April. In other words, if the Fed
eral Government had not stepped in
with its plow-up plan and thereby re-
duced the effective acreage by more
than one-foalrth, the cotton farmers
would have been lucky if they got as
much as cents for their 1888 crop.
The yield figures, aside from proving the
value to cotton farmers of the Gov
ernment's efforts in their behalf, DEM
onstrate the absolute necessity Of firm
acreage control next year. The cotton
situation, from the farmers viewpoint.
has not been hettered this year; it has
only been kept from becoming much
worse"
"While the Government was spending
about $ll0,000,000 to curtan produc-
tion," says the Oakland Tribune, ma
ture, with favorable conditions, played
a joke which Is not appreciated by the
experts" The Tribune adds that "the
crop might be taken by consumers de-
mands, were 1t not for the fact that
there Is Q carry-over OF millions OF
bales" That paper concludes that from
all indications, there will be q surplus
next year, and necessity for another de-
cision as to whether or not the Govern
ment should try to limit production"
''To be established on q paying basis,
the industry must be debated perna-
nently." thinks the San Antonio Eve
ming News. giving the advice that "the
farmer mu1t 7And ether uses for cotton