The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-18
Feature of the Situation. Apprehension Concerning the
Next Egyptian Crop.
3y Col Alfred B. shepeson Manufacturers Recordl

sharp one. for it must be remembered
that many operators in futures have
large profits. and the attempt to realize
them on Il large scale would likely cause
some decline. The reaction, however,
would probably 30 only temporary, be
cause the advance in cotton rests upon
the solid foundation Of a limited and
diminishing supply, coincident with Il
large and increasing demand.
For some time much apprehension has
existed respecting the next cotton crop
of Egypt in consequence of the extreme
ly low stage of water i'll the Nile, as
Egypt is merely Il plain of desert sand
ard no crop can be grown without irri-
CATION. and plerty of it. Within few
months the price of some grades Of
Egyptian cotton has nearly doubled.
Sir Williams +. Garstin. under secre-
tary Of state for public works and head
Of the irrigation department., pub
lished en- January p, an official circular
on the subject After saying that the
record at Assouan shows lower water
on january i than recorded on that
date for any previous year, he states
that the great equatorial lakes and the
streams which supply the headWaters OF
the Nile are unprecedentedly low. ana
adds that ''it is certain, even should tue
IpriCd Of animal rainfall in A5yss-n.a
and the Snudan be advanced and an
early flood result, that exceptional
scarcity of water must exist i'll Egypt
during the months of April, May, june
and July. The water available III the
river during this period must, under any
circumstances, be barely sufficient to
preserve the cotton crop, and will GER
tainly not suffice for the irrigation Of
rice as we'll
Realizing that it is the most important
crop of Egypt, every effort VIII be made
by Sir William Garstin to save the cot
ton crop by the sacrifice of the rice and
other crops.
4 vaiucd correspondent. who is not
only one of the most intelligent gentle
men. but one of the most prominent mer-
chants IN Egypt land a cotton grower as
welD, writes me from Alexandria on
January 25th, as follows: "The Nile is
lower than it has ever been before and
there is not the slightest doubt that
the next crop will be very short owing
to the want of water. Our irrigation
which cannot be too highly
praised, will do wonders. but, in my
opinion. nothing viii! save the crop from
suffering greatly. Opin' differ about
the significance of Sir William Garstin's
circular. which is being published all
over the country, so that cultivators
may judge for themselves and take their
measures accordingly. | must say.
reading between the Lines. | consider it
very black (discouraging) This is also
the general opinion here, as is proved
by our market having advanced half
dollar today. 1t is very probable that,
owing to the higher prices, an area even
lareer than laSt year will be planted
but it will be absolutely Impossible for
it all to be watercd. Even last year,
with a good Nile, some outlying districts
suffered from want of water"
The present Egyptian crop VIII be
about 100000 cantars. while Sir VIII
liam Garstin states that the crop Of
1SS9-20. which was the last crop with
low Nile. was only 100000 cantars
The exports from Egypt this season Will
be about $4,000 bales of $50 pounds,
but the next crop may easily be 2o0,OoO
TO 800 coo bales less. AS these bales
weigh about half as much again as
Am. ricaei bales the shortage in the
Egyptian crop may prove quite a serious
matter in the European calculations Of
next seasons supply.
New York February Is.