The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-20
THE LONG-sTAPLE CorToN SUPPLY

= II
The New York Commercial has some
doubts about the long-staple cotton sup
ply of the world being equal to the de-
mand, within a few years 1t may not
yet be time for the manufacturers to
concern themselves over the question of
sufficient supply to keep their machin-
cry in profitable occupation, says the
Commercial, but the time is coming when
the worlds area suitable to the growth
of cotton will have to be taken into con-
sideration. For the growth of the ma
terial for the finest manufactured cotton
products there are only two districts in
the world that have shown any natural
capabilities for producing a fibre that
possesses the length and fineness requi-
site for the spinning of the finest num-
bers of yarn; and these districts are found
along the coasts of South Carolina and
Georgia and Florida, and in the north
ern part of Egypt. 1t is for the supply
Of such cotton that the greatest solicitude
may be had by manufacturers in their
efforts to keep up with the progressive
demands OF the popular taste for finer fab
RIGS, such as the increased wealth of
the world will allow to be gratifed 1t is
doubtful if the region along the sea coast
OF the South Atlantic states will permit
much of an increased supply of long
staple cotton such as is now grown there:
and this makes of especial interest the
efforts now being put forth in Egypt for
increasing the cultivable land of that
country for the growth of cotton"
1t is well enough to remark Just here
that 1t is an open question whether the
long-staple cotton acreage of Georgia,
South Carolina and Florida can or not
be considerably increased. 1t is possibly
true that the sea island acreage cannot
be increased TO any appreciate extent;
but sea island is not the only long staple
cotton, although ii is the best The
Egyptian product is inferior to sea ISL
and. 1t may be that in the states men
toned considerable acreage will be
opened up to a cotton that will equal the
Egyptian. All over the three states there
are vast areas of what is known as fiat
woods land. Last year Mr.. d. H. Ar
""iN VI OSietHOfpe county, this state,
planted five acres of FIAT woods" in a
long-staple cotton. The yield was con-
sdered very good. and the staple was
of such texture that he was able to sell
it at or 5 cents a pound above the
quotation for middling short-staple. Mr..
Arnold was so much impressed by his
experiment that he has increased his acre
age for this year. and is looking forward
to the production of staple that will
be second only to the sea island. His
last years experimental crop was better
in grade than the long fibre cotton of
Texas. Should it be demonstrated that
these fiat woods" are adapted to the
growing of fine grade OF cotton, a great
acreage will be made available The lands
are now very low in price. much lower
than the average farming lands.
To revert to the Egyptian cotton area.
the Commercial estimates that. with the
irrigation schemes that are now going
forward, there will be added to the cot
ton area not more than 100000 acres.
Under ordinary conditions, therefore.
Egypt cannot be reckoned upon as being
able TO supply, even when her irrigation
systems are in full operation, more than
1000. 900 bales of cotton of 500 pounds each.
American producers of long-staple cotton,
therefore, have no cause to feel uneasy
with respect TO Egypt.