New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08
THE COTTON CROP IN EGYPT.
AMERICANS GETTING UNEASY AT IT'S
RIvALRY-A FINE PRODUCT AT
PRICES

So long has this country been the acknowledged
leader of the world in the matter Of cotton the one
great source Of supply for the looms and mills of
not only her territory. but Of the British Isles
and the entire Continent well. that much atten-
ton is being aroused in the commercial world by
the appearance of strong and promising rival
Egypt. Though in comparison with the total guam
tity grown the yield of Egyptian cotton is small
this years crop being only one-nnth Of what the
Southern States produce. the quality is fine and
the business concerns behind il are so powerful
that 1t sells readily in a fair and square COMPETE
ton with American bales, and is causing much un-
easiness in certain quarters
Cotton growing was never a great success In In
dia for Indian cotton is low grade; but it has been
triumphantly accomplished In Egypt, and this year
close TO million bales will be exported from the
valley of the Nile, more than one ninth as much as
the total American Gotten crop, which Is estimated
at a little more than nine million bales. OF this
Egyptian cotton 100000 bales. II not more. will go
directly to British looms. and most of the rest to
divers ports of Europe chiefly Alsace and Russia:
$1,000 bales of the Egyptian product came here last
year. finding a ready and eager market; and 1t
seems probable that Americans will take before
next summer about one hundred thousand bales
from the Nile. If not more. The mil-owners here
are enthusiastic over the Egyptian product. and,
realizing that few districts in the South turn out
cotton of so good grade. so suitable for certain
work. and that the buying terms are favorable
they are welcoming the cotton OF Egypt heartily
just at this stage of affairs the shrewd English
men who control the Nile cotton are Offering It in
America at fraction cheaper than the domestic
product of the quality. American cotton of
this grade sells for IL cents pound. according to
the market, but seldom below l3-noarly twice
as much in price cotton of ordinary quality
The Egyptian fires run close TO IL cents At
that price the owners can sell at profit. despite
the freights fcllah labor along the banks of the
Nile is pitiably low in price, In addition to this
another inducement is offered for buying Egyptian
Daes me manufacturer purchasing a quantity OF
the American product has TO pay for it on the
presentation of the bills or iading. which come
promptly 10 hand long before tho bales arrive. on
the other hand. the buyer OF Egyptian" accord
ing 10 the custom of the trade now established
ually arrive. and after he has had time examine
them. This means. in the of the year some
saving of interest. and 1t is well appreciated by
the owners of the large Eastern mills
what has given Egyptian cotton its present sue
has been the costly system of irigaon That c b9P
transformed the Delta of the Nile The peculiar
aua ,ns OF TINS soil systematicay moistened and
raj rise and fall of the river unite in producing
rests upon the length of its staple Ordinary cot
ton mas q staple or an ncf % an inch and quar-
ter This sells d in the market at present for over
a staple a full inch and three-eighths in length In
quality II Is much the same as the cotton from the
are not many sections of the South that can pro-
duce such a good article.
Egyptian cotton's main value to-day is in the
manufacture Of fine knit goods and hosiery Al
SAGE, the IN seat OF much Of the finest knit goods
mace, Is using large quantity Of it, and the mills
that turn out the best hosiery In this country are
The finest cotton in the world still comes from
ms country from the chain of islands on the coast
OF the Caronas: This cotton often sells as high as
so cents pound. and is Il monopoly of itself as II
cannot be duplicated a curious fact in reference
to it is that out of pound. which can easily be
be spun wa "a"