The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
Our Egyptian Rival in the Cotton Field.

by the stimulus given to foreign production
OF cotton during the American civil war.
II Is question, therefore, of some in
terest, whether the yield of Egyptian cot
ton has of late been stationary or pro-
gressve, and whether its quality and elias
sincation recommend 1t to European buy
ers.
The cultivation OF the mako OF native
cotton first acquired expansion under
MOHAMMED All. Notwithstanding, how
ever, the most scdulous announcement on
the part of the Niccroy and his imme-
dinte successors. the product had hardly
attained in 1858 70 10000 bales, and even
the crop of 1851 was sold for less than
t0OO0,0CO. From this point dates a ire
mendous increase in quantity and value,
the annual proceeds of Egyptian cotton
fields until the end of our civil war hav-
ing averaged $50 100000. At one time
the production reached nearly half
million bales, but it has since declined
TO 10000 exhibiting mean value
OF $40 per bale. That this quantity
will be gradually diminished is the
belief OF intelligent observers who
find the cotton lands of the Nile basin
limited in area, while those sections re-
mote from the main canals require inccs-
SAINT tillage, coupled with wholly made
quatc fertilization, which must eventually
exhaust the soil.
Tho mako ought to rate in Liverpool on
hpar with our Southern uplands. 1t is
supple, fine silky staple, highly appreci-
atcd by spinuers, and hitherto In active
demand, but unlike our sca-island va
ricty, not absolutely Indispensable The
Introduction of the latter species has
been attempted in Egypt at various
times during the last forty years, but
Since the accession of the Khcdiye the
American plant has been neglected, and
survives only in one or two small districts,
under the name of gallin, degenerate
and bastard product Of the imported seed.
Neither has the native plant been fostcrcd
and improved 10y judcous selection.
Those administrative abuses and exactions
which had always cramped the cotton pro-
duct OF Egypt have been multiplied under
the present regime, ana have at last en-
tailed sensible depreciation OF its average
market value. II might not be fair to say
that the intrinsic quality of the mako
grown under favorable circumstances has
deterioratcd. but the supply of bigh-chss
cotton is falling of, white the proportion
of low grades is steadily augmenting.
The defective and often fraudulent CLASH
ncation adopted in Alexandria is the main
cause OF the growing distrlst and discon-
tent on the part of European buyers. Nor
If II easy to find remedy for the impos-
ture under the present system Of CONNER
cial transactions. The export trade OF
Egypt is i'm the hands OF middlemun, who
arc cut of from legitimate profits by the
curious circumstance that quotations of
mako rule higher in Alexandria than on
the Liverpool Exchange. The brokers
have combined, therefore, TO extort adj
vances before shipment, and these sums
are lent TO the producers fellahs) upon the
security OF the growing crop.
The command Of the crude product thus
acquired involves n control OF the ginning
process, and it is not likely that the pick
ing aud cullng requisite to discriminate
the better grades are scrupulously per-
formed, where it is the ginner's interest TO
obtain the largest bulk possible of high
priced cotton. This source Of deception.
however Is insignificant in comparison
with the frauds practiscd at the port Of
shipment, where tho staple is finally as
tNiA'h anu Iti'h'Nl III VA -, anu where
mako Of fine quality Is artfully blended
with the brittle, short fibre of the late or
autumn crop, arthcially dried aud whiten-
ed. The result is that Egyptian bills of
lading have come to be wholly dcusory.
aud that cotton rated fair in Alexandria
cannot be cassCd above middling in Liver
pool.
The damage suffered through this IA
grant breach Of mercantile integrity has
provoked consumers 10 organized resist
nnce. The protests OF manufacturers in
switzerland aud the Alsace have been sec |
onded by the cotton spmners Of Bolton who |
have addressed through Lord Derry Il re- |
monstrance 10 the Khcdive in which il il
plainly minated that continuance of |
such abuses must exclude the mako from |
the markets Of Europe. SO far. however. |
the Egyptian Government has contcntcd |
itself with despatchng a circular TO its en- |
ploytcs, who unluckily are not in the habit |
OF hocdins pro tormd mjunctons.
The figures above assigned to the cotton |
crop OF Egypt will appear trivial compared !
with the yield Of our Southern States.
which for the season Of 1S,2-73 exceeded |
four millions OF bales. But we should re-
member that the amount retained i'm
this country for home consumption |
Is Increasing in formidable ratio,
having trcbled in thirteen years, ana
absorbed in 1873 nearly third of
our whole production. In view of the
rapid development of American manu-
inc'uro- ana The relatively slow expansion
OF our cotton crop, IT is not surprising that
European buyer, should regard with un-
casinos ana concern the shortcomings Of
Egyptian pro luccrs.
The Christian Dread of Death.
The view Of death which prevails among
modern Christians differs widely from that
held in nliuifivo fipos Tbnu ma. ,...., |