Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-26
KING corToN sriLL RElons.


Americas Greatest Single Contribution
TO Modern Progress.
The development Of the production
OF cotton in tne United States with
in single century from insignificant
proportions to 100000 bales year,
considering all its relations to mod
ern industrial progress, is without
parallel in history. The facts in this
case have led Mr.. u. A. Tompllins.an
eminent engineer. TO write for the
Engineering Magazine a review Of
Cotton as Factor in Progress"
which contains many facts Of great
interest, which doubtless viii prove
new to a large number Of readers.
Mr.. Tompkins says in the conclusion
Of his article:
The present industrial development
in America. in England and on the
continent had It's beginning in four
events. the absence Of any enc Of
which would haze destroyed the
greater portion Of the value Of the
other three. These were the inyen-
tion Of the power-spindle. tile inven-
/ ton Of the power-loom. 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.
II is not alone OF interest that the
/ impetus given 10 production Of cot
! ton by mechanical inventions has
added TO the productive capacity Of
I Al
the wealth Of an important section Of
the United States. Every family in
the whole country has been benefited
4 by the cheapening Of clothing and
other articles made OF cotton. by
reason Of the marvellous increase in
the extent Of production Of this fiber.
the manufacturing and commercial
interests Of New England have been
promoted to q remarkable extent by
the same cause, to say nothing Of
the effect upon the cotton naaufac-
turing interests in England and other
parts Of the world, and the increase
IN the consumption Of cotton goods
due 10 the woadcriul cheapening Of
their cost The single item Of tho
benefit 10 the shipping interests due
TO the cotton carrying trade is 81
great extent Cotton. more than
any other one item Of freight. has
been the basis Of transatlantic com
merce.
Leaving aside these general con.
siderations OF benefits at home and
abroad. to industry and commerce
and the increased comfort az til,
human race, we may again recur t
, the Importance to the Southern state
81 the cotton.raising industry ia !
great variety 81 directions Ccttol
as basis Of weait5 and Q. proauctiy,
industry has made possib bic the growtl
az prosperous cities and towns where
at least before the development o
mineral resources in the South
nothing Of the kind could hav,
existed The cotton interest ha
, contributed 10 the success OF al
:, transportation systems in the South
whether IN tho palmy days az steam
boating or since railroads have bee
!. constructed in every state.
Even the development 81 the min
!. ing interests Of the South has bee
FASTENED by the need of iron BIZ rail
! road companies in preparing for TIN
transportation % the cotton and j
the manufacture of cotton machlner
! and the need o. coal for transports
tion and manufacturing purposes !
: which cotton has given rise Tn
cotton growing industry, in short, ha
!. furnished what opportunity ha
existed in this large portion Of th
|. union, for the employment of eng
!, neering and mechanical skin, cor
tributing thus TO every branch {
material progress.