The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-29

To Raise Cotton in Africa.
We have already noted the fact that
the German government is interested
in the cultivation Of a cotton belt in
Africa. for the purpose o. competition
with the American produce
Officials Of the German government
have arranged with Booker 7. Wash
iugton. principal Of the Tuskegee
Normal and Industrial institute, Tus-
i-e-ee Ala TO send three graduates OF
that institution 10 Togo the German
colony on the west coast OF Africa. Tor
the purpose OF introducing the raising
OF cotton into that colony among the
natives. Two ~ the graduates are
from the agricultural department. and
one from the mechanical department
The latter viii construct gins. houses,
etc. 7. y. Galloway. one Of the in
srr-tCtg-s at Tvekegee. accompanies
the rarity ~ assist in the Inauguration
az the work. The German government
uays he men Z liberal salary as well as
an traveIinr expenses The party sails
from New York November I'd and take
with them from Tuskegee. q full outfit
for cotton raising. including cotton
seed. plov-s. cotton gins, wagons and
carpentry tools.
While this nav appear To initiate
AGAINST the American cotton grower.
We should by 10 means view ii with
alarm. Tor nearly forty years the
English government. acting for the
immense spinning interests Of that
country. has been engaged in the devei-
Cpment o. opposition cotton fields IN
w-e 81 a.
mighty government. by subsidy and
otherwise. has been bent 10 this end
All the self-interest o. the English
spinners has been directed toward rem
dering effective the work Of the gov
eminent. with what result? That to-
day the demand for American cotton
l. greater than ever. and that the Eng
lish mills Will he forced 70 shut down
unless they can get II.
Germany can follow in the wake OF
England cniy. forty years hence. 10
1nd herself whore England Is today.
srill dependent upon the American cot
ton arpwer- Both countries. in trying
-o moHupnli1e tho manufacture OF cot
ton. are going against every ecOnOmi-
sai law. and mUs- fail. let them estab-
Iish cotton fields I'm Asia and Africa,
far removed from the seat OF manu-
facture. ANA where are they2 OBLIGED
10 raise the cotton in one country. and
at great expense To- ship il 10 another
before IL can enter q loom Between
the African COTTON erower ard the Bre-
men manufacture will stand the
army ~ uiIIiemen who viii make the
cotton cost its highest price before it
roarhes It's customer ia the shape Of
fabric. Ia the meantime the cotton
spinner In the field ~ production Will
be- able q paw q higher price for his
ErDirct. and stiu have TO his own
credit large margin 90 the disadvan-
ta-e Ct the spinner thousands OF miles
away.
The condition which the world has
ROW 10 face g. thar OF manufacture at
the seat o. production. The world is
no longer willing 10 pay from 5000
90 1900 miles freightage on IN article
which cas- le rToltahly sold TO il with
OUT this charge. The cotton grown in
Troupe county. manufactured into fab
re az IaGrange. with al tran Dorta-
tion charges saved. can 1e shipped TO
the market town of the African cotton
belt more ehc1piv than .an be done
from some German Town. where COM
missions ard freiEhrages have TO be
added. All " wHich means that the
raw material ana the factory which
stand side ly side must always outst-ip
the rlW material ana the factory which
are widely separated.
There IS only one effect which this
German effort should have and that is
tp stimulate the people Of the south
q appropriate the manufacturing OF
their product as sCon as possible. The
few mills OF Issn. which have grown 20
hundreds in 1890. should swell into
the thousands in 1903. The world is
ours today Il vc viii but take t. The
colossal fortunes Of the next few years
VIII be- Auils up I'm the manufacture Of
cotton In the south. and the men who
20 into ia first will have the advantage
" experience. There IS not a county
site in the entire country but should
have its little cotton mill. Already the
larger mills OF the CarOlinas and GeOr-
Eia have advanced into the higher
grades. and viii continue TO adj
vance until they shall stand at the very
heighth of artistic production. All this
can be accomplished in q very short
time. and when il Is made evident.
English and German spinners will
awake 10 the facts. and invest their
money where success is assured. in
stead OF sending il of TO the swamps
end tundras OF the old world.