The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16
Leadsa North Carolina DaiesinN ewsandC Circulation
COTTON CROP OF 100000

; pete with their New England and Euro
pean rivals on equal or superior terms.
These persons who have only vaguely
grasped the fact of the increase Of cot
ton spinning in the South will be sur
prised to learn the actual figures of the
progress made IN the ten wears running
from 1890 to 1900. Alabama has increased
her number of spindles from 1924 to 49,
$50; Georgia from AS, ASP to 969,S64; Mis-
sissippi from 81 ,004 to IS, 584; North Car
DINA from 337, 7S6 to 1865 South Car
oIina from 1872, 1874 to 1,693, $40; Virginia
from "a. 294 to 165, 452, and other states
in similar proportions. The total in
crease in the thirteen Southern and
Southwestern States is from 1,55f0OO
spindles in 1890 to SOIL ,4S7 spindles in
1900, or over threefold. The number Of
mills in operation has run up from $50
to 500. The increase in the number of
mills from 1899 to 1900 in these States
is SO. Alabama gains 6, Georgia Z, Lolli-
siana q North Carolina II, and South
Carolina L.
1t is somewhat singular that the prin-
cipal increases should be in North Caro-
lima and South Carolina. The former
State is not so well adapted to the
growth of cotton as Georgia. Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas, South Carolina pro-
duces much less cotton than Georgia,
Mississippi, Texas. and Alabama. These
last-named States have the advantage of
producing easily the best grades of raw
cotton. and they are also as well situated
in respect to the labor, cheap foods, fuel,
and convenience of distributors required
as any others, but despite all this, South
Carolina and North Carolina have nearly
two thirds Of the Southern cotton spin
dies. This fact speaks we'll 'Or the en-
ergy and intelligence of their citizens.
II is noteworthy that many OF these
mills, though located in cotton growing
States, buy raw cotton largely from mar
kets outside their cwn boundaries T9r-
haps because it is more accessible to
them or of grade specially required
North Carolina mills take from other
States las, 487 bales. but this State con
sumes So per cent. of her own crop, while
South Carolina consumes over "A per cent.
In the year ended June 80, 1900, the
! United States exported 6,201 ,166 bales,
with a value of $241, S32, 1877. We thus sup
ply the world with the best raw material
and more than so per cent. of the tpteunt
our showing is much less favorable. Out
of total of 106 534 900 spindles in 1900
the continent of Europe possessed 2S,
100000, Great Britain 45,500,000, aad the
United States only 20 ,05S 900. True the
United States had the largest increase
of spindles since 1898 With these con-
ditions-Europe using so large an amount
of the American product-cotton, If not
king, is certainly a high and mighty
potentate in the worlds industry. Such
an important and conservative financial
authority as the London Economist com
mented not long ago with uncOnccaled
alarm on the scarcity. of American raw
material, and declared that the consump
ton of this class of cottoDs had more
than overtaken production. Mr.. Thomas
Ellison, of Liverpool, another high au
thority, declared that a crop of less than
10, 250 goo bales of American cotton WOULD
be a calamity" because it would mean
a further reduction in the rate of con-
sumption. Just at this time no one can
surely predict the coming cotton crop,
but its harvest will be as 6eenly watched
abroad as by our citizens a shorS crop
would work dsmay in the manufacturing
centers of Western and Central Europe.