The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-01
Egyptian Cotton in Arizona.

A dispatch from Phoenix, Arizona, to
the New York Sun gives information of
interest to the South:
Experiments at the Government sta
ton are proving, without a doubt that
Egyptian cotton can be successfully
grown in the Southwest. An acre plant
ed at the experimental farm near
Phoenix is producing a crop of unexpect-
ed luxuriance, with fibre that is long,
silken and strong, and a much stronger
and better staple than the American cot
ton of the Southeastern States.
The experiments have been made under
the direction of the Department of Agri-
culture, in conjunction with similar work
in Florida, Mississippi Louisiana. Ala
bama and the Carolinas, but reports re-
ceived at the local station say that IN
no other place, except on small tract
in lower Florida, has any success been
attained. So successful have been the
results with the experimental crop here
that paintings will be made next year In
a score of places in the Southern part OF
Arizona and New Mexico. In Old Mexico,
too. much interest has been aroused,
and the Government will make trials with
it in the State of Sonora.
The conditions of soil and atmosphere
in the extreme southwest are very sim
liar to those existing in Egypt, and the
only difficulty will be the scarcity of
water for irrigating in some localities.
With the crop here, however, no trouble
of that nature has been experienced, and
in fact the experimental crop of cotton
has not displayed as much thirst for
water as does the alfalfa, now the main
product OF this country. So far as is now
d;scernib!e the only difficulty in the
profitable culture of cotton in the South
west would be in the procurement of Ia
Dor at price sufficiently low to permit
competition with Eastern growers. Mex
leans and Indians to a limited number
could be utilized and in fact such an in
dustry would open chances for giving en-
ployment to many idle Indians, but it is
likely that a certain number of negroes
would necessarily be brought in from
the Southeast.
1t is we'll known that Egyptian cotton,
Notwithstanding it's dark color, is be-
cause of the fineness, length and silken
quality Of it's fibre, greatly in demand by
certain classes Of manufacturers and is
consumed in large and increasing guam
titles by American mills. For the rea-
son that the importations have grown
rapidly in the last few years the fear
has been expressed in some quarters that
the competition Of Egypt would be felt
injuriously in the South; but there is no
practical basis for such an apprehension,
from the fact that the Egyptian cotton
belt is of very limited area and the crops
raised thereon cannot be greatly in
creased; and the further fact that Egyp-
tian cotton has distinctive and limited
field of usefulness.
But IL this report from Arizona be war
ranted by the facts, there is an oppor-
tunity for creating a greater Egypt IN
the arid plains of the Southwest With
irrigation conducted on an extensive
scale these alkall wildernesses could be
converted into well watered tracts OF
rich lands, corresponding in great degree
to the region of the lower Nile. And the
production OF Egyptian cotton could De
carried on to an extent SO great as 10
seriously impair the market value OF
that white cotton which is the grea'
staple of the South.