Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-08-08
Cotton Memoranda.


Cotton Memoranda.
II will be remembered that several years ago,
the Chamber Of Commerce ofthe City Of Manches-
ter sent Mr.. Alexander Mackay ~ u special agent
to British India. with Instructions TO investigate
tho capacity Of that country for tho moro extensive
cultivation Of cotton. and to return ~ speedily ~
possible, and make a formal report. Mr.. Mac
kay was admirably qualified for the undertaking,
having previously visited tho United States, and
passed over large number Of tho cotton planta-
tions Of the South lie was, moreover, y gentle
man of education ind attainmenis, close observ.
or, and forcible writer. Unfortunately he was
seized with sicknes soon after he completed his
labors, nnd he died on his return to England
lle had, however. prepared his Report in part
and extracts have recently been published In
these he says:- i.
lam prepared for being mot with the assertion,
that Bombay cotton can be laid down In Liverpool
ut II cheaper rate than Id per pound. How far
that may be tho case W it'll cotton produced in othor
parts Of tho country, am not prepared to sny;
nor Ito | donbt that cotton from Guserat hns beon
frequently imported ut lower rate than that spe-
Gifted. But that entirely depends upon cation be-
ing partod with on tho Bombay Green at u sacri.
fec. If cotton Ia bought there at 10 rupees per
candy. il may be laid down in Liverpool ut Sd per
pound: but were such to continue its prleo Tor
two three consecutive years, cotton would snon
disappear from the Bombay Green M an articleot
in Liverpool ut Sd per pound without entailing
heavy losses upon some or nll Of those engaged in
the trade anocedcnt to tho shipper in l'ombny'--
In such case, tho losses. which might be at first
distributed, would soon he mnde To accumulate
upon tho cultiyator. who would speedily sink nm
der them. unless Government came forward and
shared them by granting him rcmissions Tho
losses Of one year, when cotton soils ut 70 rupees
per candy may be mndo up tho next when It's
price may be from 100 to l20 rupees But un-
less, taking one year with another lin view of tho
ou,uys To which the cultiyator is at present sub
cctod its average price rose to upwards ofVo ru-
pces. the production Of cotton in Guzorat would
speedily be nnn'hilatod"
/ TLs is rather favorable with regard to British
Indiu, but not sufficiently 40 TO mako any material
imprcssio Our Southern friends should, howcv-
err pay tho closest attention to tho movements OF
the British manufacturers, and regulate their crops
according 10 the prospect. not only for ona or two
wears but for much longer period. The chan
ges in tho cotton trade and manufacture have been
truly extraordinary. Little more than century
has gone by since the first cotton yarn wns spun
in England by machinery. My, only II century
ago, viz, in 1856, cotton ycvets and quiltings
were made in England for the first time, while in
| 1901 Arkwright obtained his patent for the spin
| ming llame which he afterwards improved In
| 1855 cotton was imported into England from tho
! United States, and IN 1890 MIR. Slater, nm Eng
lishman built the first American cotton factory ut
| Pawtucket, II. |. In 1892 Mr. Eli Whitney, an
| American, invented tho cotton gin, and In 1914
| the power. loom MAS introduced into the United
States for the first time. 1t WAS indeed, not un.
| til 1897 that American cotton manufactures were
first exported to any considerable extent, while ut
the present time the business il very large.
The entire consumption of cotton in Great Brit.
| ain amounts annually to an average of full two
millions of bales. That Of the coming year will
probably be larger, rs tho cotton crop ofthe Unit
cd States that will soon be complete, is estimated
at three millions and seven hundred thousand
bales-nnd England usually takes about thirds
of the product. Our exports Of cottoDa year
were valued at one hundred ard thirty yono mil
Inns three hundred and eighty-six thousand six
hundred and sxty-one dollars but tho exports
from the United States. Of cotton manu- ujacfured
goods, hardly reached millions Of dollars,
while we imported goods OF that kind during the
previous year. OF the estimated cost ofnearly thir
ty millions of dollars! Thus, while We cultivate
the raw material in quantities sufficient to supply
half the world wo manufacture. comparatively,
little that We can soil to foreign countries. There
is ample room for additional enterprise and i'm
provcmcnt in this particular branch Of textile in
dustry. -Iyiiadelphia Inquirer
~ A