The southern press., 1851-09-24

w. NLLIUkE IN INDIA lie
Southern States Of America have increased
their shipments Of cotton 10 this country since
1900, from 100000 pounds TO 60,OOO.OO0
pounds, while British India has but swollen her
exports from 100000 to. $4,000, 900 pounds
We cannot avoid wishing for some explanation
Of the anomaly Capital has not been wanting
in the East, neither has there been any indiffer-
ence to the question on the part Of the aulhori-
ties; yet the real progress made Is wretchedly
small, and we are really at the present moment
obtaining less cotton from India than in lS4l
and 1912. ...
As regards the progress Of the supply Of raw
cotton in British India for local use and export
TO other countries, il is estimated in round mum.
bers to be at the present day 450,000,000 lbs.
annually, Of which fully two thirds are worked
up in the country for local purposes. OF the
remaining one-third, China tskes nearly one half,
leaving about one sixth Of the entire produce OF
the country at the disposal Of Great Britain.
That there are vast tracts Of land in each Of
the three Indian presidencies capable Of being
brought under cotton cultivation. ~ also a dense
population ut disposal for working such lands.
there appears 10 be little doubt; but the real
question to be determined is whether the manu-.
features Of Europe really require in larger quan.
titles such cotton as the natives themselves pro-
duce and use, and which they can most readily
furnish or whether they want some other kind
or condition Of cotton than is at present pro-
duced in India. The result Of the lengthy evil
dence given by Manchester manufacturers, Liy-
erpoo brokers, Bombay merchants, and East In.
dia civilians, before the committee OF the House
Of Commons on the growth Of cotton 10 India,
appears to be, that although lessening Of the
cost 10 the manufacturer Of the present quality
of Indian cotton would to a certain extent ena
bic him TO work OF larger quantities Of il, the
great want is better quality Of artlcle-such
description Of praduce ~ shall enable il TO be
freely worked up in place Of much Of the pres
ent American sorts, and with which il cannot
now compete.
Much has unquestional " been done in the
way Of improving the growth and preparation
Of Indian cotton the East India company has
spent largely in importing seed, implements,
and experienced hands from the cotton growing
States Of America, ms well as in prizes for the
best and largest samples Of tine cotton produced
within the presidencos, for shipment 10 Eng
land. In 1924 there existed difference Of ID
per ID. between the average price Of Upland
American cotton and the average price Of Indian
cotton at Liverpool In 1896 there was dif.
ference of Sd per ID In the sane qualities,
whereas since lsi4 the differences between
them has only varied from 34d TO Id per ID.
So long since as 1888, the court OF directors
called the attention OF Tie Indian government
10 tho cultiyation Of cotton in India, with view
10 its encouragement. Two years later, reports
were received Of the culture carried on, and
seed from the Mauritus aud Malta was distri.
buted throughout the Indian Peninsula. In
1899 and 1900, plantations were formed on The
Malabar coast and in the Circars. From 1901
to 1878, various samples OF American, West
Indian, and Persian seeds were sent out, ms also
improved bins for cleaning cotton. In 1918
four cotton farms, Of 400 acres each, were es-
tlblished at 1'nnivelly Coimbatore, Masulpa.
tam, and Vizagapatam. In 1929, Barbados and
Brazil cotton was grown by Lady Hastings al
Barrackpore. Five years later attention was
again called to The subject Of cotton culture by
Lord Peterborough, then president Of the Ind,