Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-15
PRODUCTION OF ALGERIA.


CUluuy VI Algtfla, las TtCtubly duQreSSeQ
the Emperor long report upon the present condition
and prospects of the colonytsm mineral, agricultural
commercial, and industrial resources. The two most
important of heagrcultural productions, Cotton and
Tobacco, are spoken of in most encouraging terms.
As these articles form important elements Of Anne
rican commerce, and are the staple productions of
large regions of the United States in which the In
telligencer circulates extensively, have thought
that the information relative to the production Of
them contained in the French Minister'S report
would be welcome to your columns. do not my
selfapprehend that American production, either Of
cotton or tobacco, will in near or even in dis
tant future be seriously competed with by that of
Algeria The short-saple cotton interest is L feel
quite assured, in no danger whatever. The culture
of the seasland cotton may perhaps be forced into
such development as viii interfere with Southern
planters, unless Gas is probable demand should in
crease with supply. With regard to cotton the
Minister says: r
"The lustrious founder Of the colony of the isle Of
France has said single plant is sufficient enrich
nation This remark, of which the history Of several
nations attest the TRUTH will be again verified in the his
tory Of Algeria The sensation produced in that country
by the unexpected revelation Of the serious results
obtained from the culture Of cotton the marvellous
spring which this culture took in few months, and al
most nstantaneously; that sentiment of the
which is rarely mistaken every thing proves that this
H.
thing than experiments had been made in the cult
walton Of cstton yet England excellent judge Of this
species Of products accorded ct the London exhibition
eleyen rewards to the samples brought from Algeria
nce 1853 the culture defnitively the
try. In order to justify the hopes which have been
founded upon the introduction of the cotton culture into
Algeria and in order to form correct idea Of the inu
which it is destined to exercise upon that country
must call attention to facts and produce here
figures In 1885, little than hundred years ago,
the cotton plant which now constitutes the wealth of
Anna in tha
tai shrub. In 1870 the expectation amounted to eighty
bags At the present day the United States produce
900 bags. One may judge from this simple state
men of facts Of the rapid progress which this culture
has made in North America.
Side by side with the amount Of production in the
United States it viii not be without profit to state the
facts touching the consumption of cotton in Europe They
these In 1853 England imported from abroad total
amount of ITO bags, or about $40 600 OF ko-
grammes, GAO 65l 429 lbs. avoirdupos The importa
Of Franco during the year amounted to 900
bags, about &c. 900 of kilogrammes lab
lbs ayoirdupos.) Other European countries consume
altogether about 100000 bags, 120,o00,0oo kilo-
grammes (264, s57 lbs. making the total Of Eu-
ropean consumption 524 ITO bags 500 600 900 kilo
grammes III, 166, 500, APO lbs.) Such is the market
open Algerian production, OF moment when Am0ri-
expectation is diminishing, for the that the
United States now manufacture those tissues Of which
formerly they supplied merely the raw material, at
moment when manufacturers begin to be seriously
cerned at the rise in the price of coons As though
Providence had designed to be prodgal in the favors
beyond dispute that the two varieties of cotton which
succeed the best in that country precisely that of
which the price is the highest because America cannot
furnish than 10000 bags of it, and that OF which
the crop most luxuran and considerable Algeria has
comprehended the influence which this production is ca
pabe Of exertng upon her destnie Its European and
Arab population have set to work. and in one year the
Department of Algeria has increased tenfd the extent
of its cotton plantations.
is the midst of this general excitement that have
been brought forward those which your Males
ing and developing in Algeria this fruitful of
wealth. Therefore it is that immense cry of graft
tude has welcomed those decrees and most especially
that one by which your Majesty has founded, for FIVE
consecutive years. and independently Of the encourage
accorded from the funds Of my Department pre-
MUM Of 900 francs 4O) in favor Of the planter Of
the three provinces who shall judged have produced
upon the largest scale the best cotton crops This grand
and generous and polite measure has made manifest to
Algeria the interest and with which it should
contemplate the development Of the cotton culture within
its bounds and has augmented the feelings Of gratitude
towards your Majesty which animate its inhabitants"
With regard to the culture Of tobacco the Minister
says:
come of the most curious facts connected with Alge
ran colonization is beyond dispute the progress which
has marked the culture of tobacco these few past years
In 1850 there were but few hundred planters in oil Of
the three provinces; in 1852 their number already
amounted to 1913; in 1858 the number was 1922
ty Of land devoted to this culture has increased yet
rapidly In 1852 the quantity Of land planted in tobacco
was 1906 hectares e. 1863 acres in 1858 it 227
hectares (5626S acres y showing increase Of 1872
hectares 9209 acres, than double in single
year unable to inform your Majesty Of the precise
quantity of tobacco produced upon these 221I hectares
But it may nevertheless be stated that over and above
the supply of local consumption, and and above
quantity remaining in the hands Of the planters we know
that the amount Of 100000 kilogrammes $685. 743
lbs avoirdupois has been disposed Of or this amount
the reggie administration of the State monopoly pur
chased 427, 276 kilogrammes g. 939 bs for the
sum Of ], 303, 900 francs ($243, 66l.
eAnd is worthy Of remark that while production in
percepble improvement is noted in the quality
of Algerian tobaccos Thus while the average price in
1852 Of the tobaccos purchased account of the reggie
was only 85fr 10c. per 100 kogrammes, G. 21O cents
per the average price in 1853 91fr 30c per 100
kogrammcs, G. 710 cents per h. +; increase 6fr lie,
"a cent per lb.) This amelioraon in quality, already
sufficiently attested by the higher prices paid by the
reg is also remarked by the agents Of the reggie in their
reports Your Majesty will permit to lay before you
the following extract from despatch which hos been adj
Algeria. This document appears to worthy Of your
Majestys particular attention: The Algerian tobac-
Co.'S says the despatch, already leave far behind them
those of Egypt Macedonia, and Greece to which org-
nally they had resemblance Hungarian tobaccos
have less agreeable taste those Of Kentucky are neither
amer nor more combustible and, finally, the Maryland
tobaccos characterized by want of elasticity and by
bitter taste that cannot be reproached to those OF
Algeria
The future will decide If the coloniss Of Algeria are
able still to improve the quality Of their tobacco but
admitting that they should not be able to do So
not already matter Of congratulaon to their
auctions classed avoraby than those tobaccos which
while they do not occupy the first rank have still high
tat;n,