The Atlanta constitution., 1902-11-17

ways and steamships charge no freight
for African cotton"
In this indirect way it will be seen that
an effort will be made :. give British
Gotten, grown in Africa. the benefit that
would result from protective tariff This
phase of the situation may have some ef-
feet upon the industry III this country,
and 1t would not be surprising ii the south
ern states should adopt the policy Eow
pending in the Georgia legislature, viz.
OF eXemptirg manufactures from taxa
ton. This would soon cause the bulk of
the southern crop to be manufactured at
home. and the south would be enriched
before the competition of other lands
could become formidable.
But this is no new thing-this story OF
successful cotton production in other
countries
Egypt has never been a menace tn us.
because her output is limited by natural
conditions which cannot be overc me.
England tried tc force the increase of the
cotton crop IN India during our civil war;
but with with little success.
The entire product cf Japan. China,
Mexico. Central America. Brazil. Africa
and Asiatic Russia has heretofore failed
to shake the south's practical monopoly
/ IN cotton.
Even when southern negroes We're sent
to Africa they did not help the new cotton
territory. What Booker WaShington's :
Tuskcgee inIlust ial missionaries will do.
it is too early to predict. They will need
a few seasons for their experiment.
A few years ago Russia. with her usual
far-seeing policy. sent two experts to the
south TO study our methods of cotton cui-
ture
They were scientists and gentlemen
with credentials from their government
| and their minister at Washington. After
| trayeling through this region. they select
| ed the model plantation of Hon. William
L. Peek, in ROCkdaie county, miles
| from Conyers and made the planters
house their home for two years.
Colonel Peek gave the Russians all pcs
sible help in their work of investigation,
| and under his guidance they became prac-
tical cotton growers Finally, they re-
turned home to apply their newly ac-
quired Knowledge 10 the production Of
cotton on a large scale in Asiatic Russia
This was about seven or eight years
| ago What they have done In their ap-
pOiutei field of work has not been made
known to the outside world. They have
spoken in = confident way of the SUCCESS
ful results expected from their operations
| but yet the cotton grown under Rus
sian auspices has not made itself felt In
I
King Cotton is doubtless a fixture here
! I'm Dixie for mary years TO ccme II not
for al, time. but the efforts made to eX-
tend his dominion in other lands should
receive our close attention.
The disappearance or migration of an
industry. even when apparently rooted
to the soil is by no means an improbable
thing.
The best informed scientists and trav-
elers Of Oglethorpe's day were convinced
that Georgia and South Caroina's silk.
wine. tea and indigo would be highly
profitable in the face of the worlds COM
petition.
For some tire these products satisfied
our colonists. European royalty wore our
silk and the club men Of London smacked
their lips over the Georgia Wine which
was exported TO compete with the vlnt-
age of France and Spain.
In a moderate way our silk pro
were encouraged. The possession of a
certain number OF mulberry trees for the
support of silk worms freed the owners
from taxes rhe prob bition Of rum of
course encouraged wine making.
These industries we're fourishing when
cotton began To loom up as an important
plant. At first its production was con-
fined in the main TO smas potatoes but
it slowly drove out silk For awhile to-
bacco beat il as a prohtabie Georgia pro-
duct but Whitney's invention OF the gin
revOutionlzed everything.
Silk was forgotten; tobacco received
very little attention: wine gave way to
whisky; tea was neglected; indigo vas
given up and the Georgia stock raiser
with his herd of 5000 cattle was a thing
These Industries were abandoned be
cause they were less profitable. compared
with cotton.
in other quarters of the globe make
southern cotton an improbable crcp, and