The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-15
Central Asia's Cotton.


publishes an interesting article, with
illustrations, showing the remarkable
development of the cotton industry in
Central Asia in a realm that fifteen or
twenty years ago was great desert, pro-
ducing scarcely enough to support noma.
die hordes. One Of the pictures shows
the cotton market at Andijan, in the pro.
vince of Fergbau, Turkestan. It is the
central mart of that entire region. When
it is understood that this region now pro.
duces and exports more cotton than all
the rest of Asia combined, the signif.
canoe attached to Andijah may be ap-
preciated.
Andijan is situated, as before stated, in
the province of Ferghan, on the river
Sir Daria. To the north, east and south
of it extend the gigantic peaks of the
branches of the Hindoo Kcosh range,
but to the west stretches away an even
plain, over which the cotton is conveyed
to European Russia, principally to Mini
Novgorod' A feature of the Asiatic cot
ton production, which not only threatens
to, but already does, rival the American
product in the Russian markets, is it's
immense and rapid growth.
In 1871 but 100000 pounds Of Tur.
kestan cotton found its way to European
Russia. In 1881 this had increased to
$4,000, 900 and in the year 1891 the total
amount sent out was SO, 100000 pounds.
While this, when compared to Ameri-
cas- production of 2,S14,OOO,0O0 pounds
yearly may seem but minute, a careful
examination will show that the progress
of the increase Of production is 80 rapid
that it will not be long before this Turk
estan cotton will rival the American pro.
ducts not only in the Russian markets,
but also in those in Western Europe.
Another significant factor is the ex-
tremely low cost of production. It. Is
needless to go into elaborate explsna-
tions on his head. Suffice it to state that,
whereas the average price of cotton in
the United States is about IL cents pei
pound, the Turkestan product may be
bought at Mini Nevgorod for as low as
7 and 8 cents, and even less. Nor is the
Turkestan staple any inferior In quality
to that of America. Indeed, on the con.
trsry, that country is very fortunate both
in its climate and soil as regards the pro
duction of cotton. The climate is soft
and the ideal one for the semi tropical
products. The soil is rich with salt and
supersulphate of lime. These two are
quite significant items in themselves.
Furthermore, the plant, which attaint
in this region some nine and half feet
in height, and thickness of fstalk of two
aud half inches, is singularly free from
the various kinds of worms, such as the
cotton worm, ball worm, etc., which are
accredited with destroying nearly "a pei
cent. of the American cotton crop
While the caterpillar does appear here
it is only toward the end of the summer
and thus does more good than harm
since it eats off the top leaves of tht
plant and thus lets in the sunlight t
shine upon the lower portions of it, q
the time when it needs it most, as tht
crop is gathered in August.
There are at present sixteen cottor
mills at Andian, and, as these have beer
found incapable of anywhere near filling
the demand, eight more are already il
course of construction, and several other
have been contracted for. One of these
present mills is capable of cleaning 2,00(
puds (about 1000 pounds) per day.
Recognizing the Importance of foster
ing such an industry, the Russian Gov
ernment has given it an enormous i'm
petus by levying large tax on the i'm
port of raw cotton, which is at present il
force.