The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-21
COTrON'S DEPRESSION.
Plans of the Congressional Commit
tes of Investigation.

WASHINGTON, April 90 Elaborate ar
Isngements have been made by the SUB
committee Of the Senate committee on
commerce. of which Senator George is
chairman. to investigate during the sum-
mer the depression that exists in the cotton
Industry and to provide remedy for the
alleged existing evils Preliminary thereto.
the state department. last August sent to
each United States consul in countries where
cotton is either grown or manufactured,
u circular calling upon them TO secure the
foreign statistics necessary for complete IN
standing of the subject. Many OF these
officials have responded, while Others are
derelct. A supplemental circular has been
issued and it is thought this branch of the
Inquiry will soon bs completed. Among
the data to be gathered are the following:
The area devoted to the growth Of
cotton; the quantity raised both in
gross and per acre; the amount consumed in
the couutry where raised and the manner
Of consumption; the quantity exported and
where; the quality grown, consumed and
exported mode OF cultivation, harvesting,
marketing etc; the cost per pound Of pro-
duction and any other Information bearing
upon the subject.
In tie matter Of cotton consumption the
cousuls have been asked to look into the
Importation and expectation OF
raw cotton, thread, cloth and
Ebers tending 20 display cotton; how far
such displsyment extends aud what means
should lie taken to substitute cotton for such
tibers as wool, hemp, jute flax, etc. This
inquiry is to extend from 1860 down to the
latest year accessible. The oommittee Of the
Senate has requested the governors of each
OF the cotton states TO divide the states
into districts and appoint some grower as a
representative to furnish this committee
with the information 1t desires in conform
ity with the circulars the committee sends
out The queries sought to be answered in
these circulars are as follows: Financial
and material condition of the cotton raisers
in district, whether III debt or not, il so TO
what extent and the proportion Of solvent
70 insolvent. Companions are asked be-
tween the present condition OF the
cotton raisers and their condition
three, ten and twenty years
ago. Each correspondent is request d to
state his views Of the depression and hoRn~
c1al distress, the average production of cot
ton per acre and whether diminishing or
increasing, tho cost OF raising, gathering
and preparing for market a given quantity
of cotton, and at what point Of reduced
production per acre does the raising OF cot
ton cease 60 be profitable.
The inquiry. which ID greatly elaborated
COuCluueb Win au inquiry as 10 WDeLner Lno
low price of cotton has caused attention to be
paid to other crops, aad il so, to what ar
tlcles, TO what extent and with what result
Lastly, whether the establishment or in
crease of cotton mills in the state has tended
to increase cotton culture aud caused better
home prices to the producer
In addition to this the committee has sent
to experts long circular, In whichthey ask
opinions as to existing causes aud remedy,
what action congress should take, whether
there is real overprodaetion OF cottoa in
the sense that the worid's needs are fally
supplied and if there are obstacles to the
spread Of needed consumption, how may
they be removed. This circular is very
voluminous and deals with every conceiva-
BILE phase OF the case
The committee has employed A. b. Shep-
person OF New York, compiler OF an IAN
nual" devoted to cotton, as an expert to assist
in this investigation. Later In she year the
committee will visit New York, New Or
leans, and some manufacturing points in
New England, and will take testimony
bearing on the production and manufacture
of cotton. The report Of the committee
will not be made TO the Senate until late in
the coming session.