San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-05
The Daily Eight.
MONDAY, JUNE ., 1898.
KING COTTON STILL REIGNs.
Americas Greatest Single Contribu-
ton to Modern Progress.

Americas Greatest Single Contribu-
ton to Modern Progress.
The development of the prOduc-
ton of cotton in the United States
within a single century, from in
significant proportions to 100000
bales a year, considering all its re-
lations to modern industrial pro-
gress, is without a parallel in his
tory. The facts in this case have
led Mr.. ID. A. Tompkins, an emf
nent engineer, to write for the En-
gineering Magazine, review of
"CottOn as Factor in Progress"
which contains many facts of great
interest, which doubtless will
prove new TO a large number of
readers. Mr.. Tompkins says, in the
conclusion of his article:
The present industrial develop
ment in America, in England, and
on the continent had its beginning
in four events, the absence of any
one of which would have destroyed
the greater portion of the value
of the other three. These were
the invention of the power-spindle,
the invention of the pOwerlOom,
the invention of the cotton-gin,
and the response to these OF the
southern portion of the United
States in the production of the
raw material for the utilization of
these inventions.
1t is not alone Of interest that
the impetus given to the produc-
ton of cotton by mechanical in
ventions has added to the produc-
tive capacity of Southern agricul-
tural and increased the wealth of
an important section of the United
States. Every family in the whole
country has been benefited by the
cheapening of clothing and other
articles made of cotton,b reason of
the marvellous increase in the eX-
tent of production of this fibre.
The manufacturing and CONNER
cial interests of New England have |
been promoted to an extent by the |
same cause, to say nothing of the |
effect upon the cotton manufac-
turing interests in England and |
other parts of the world, and the |
increase in the consumption of |
cotton goods due to the wonderful |
cheapening of their cost. The sim
gle item of the benefit to the ship
ping interest due to the cotton
carrying trade is of great extent.
Cotton, more than any other one |
item of freight, has been the basis
of transatlantic commerce.
Leaving aside these general con-
sideratiOns of benefits at home |
and abroad, to industry and COM
merce, and the increased comfort |
of the human race, we may again |
recur to the Importance of the |
Southern States of the cOttOn-grow-
ing industry in a great variety of |
directions. Cotton is a basis of |
wealth and Of productive industry |
has made possible the growth of
prosperous cities and towns
where at least before the |
development 'Of mineral resOur-
ces in the south, nothing of the
kind could have existed. The cot |
ton interest has contributed to the |
success of all transportation sys-
TENS in the south, whether in the |
palmy days of steambOating or
since railroads have been con-
structed in every state. Even the
development of the mining inter-
ests of the south have been has
tened by the need Of iron by rail-
road companies in preparing for
transportation of the cotton and
in the manufacturing Of
cotton machinery, and the need of
coal for transportation and manu-
featuring purposes, to which cot
ton has given rise. The cotton
growing industry, in short, has
furnished what opportunity has
existed in this large portion of the
Union, for the employment Of en-
cheering and mechanical skill,
contributing thus to every branch
of material progress.