The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-26
New Wheat and Cotton Fields.

ments of our time on the part OF the prin-
cipal industrial and commercial nations
Of Europe are their efforts to free them
selves from dependence on outsiders for
their food supplies and the raw mate
rails for manufacturing. Chief among
these are wheat and cotton, and the two
countries that are giving the most atten-
ton to the subject are England and Ger
many
For some time India afforded a re-
spectacle supply of cotton. To increase
the revenue the Indian Government
put an import duty of per cent. on
manufactured cotton. but the outcry
raised in Lancashire brought pressure
from the British Government, and a
per cent export duty was imposed on
lndian-made cotton with disastrous re-
suits to the Indian cotton-mill owners
many of whom have had to go into liqui-
dalton. The increase Of raw cotton ex-
ports from India il, therefore, probable
The British Colonial Office has been
turning its attention to cotton growing
in its east and west African Crown Colo
MES, in all of which the conditions for
the production of that staple are emf
nently favorable. Then, on the Nile
great expectations are formed from the
exploitation of the new territory to be
brought under irrigation through the
new dam at Assouan, and to assure that
the outflow of raw cotton from Egypt
shall not be diverted an export duty Of
3 per cent. on manufactured cottons has
been imposed by the British-Egyptian
administration, the duty on imported
cottons being the same. The export
duty on raw cotton is per cent. Lord
CROMER in his statement on the subject
said that the decision to follow the prece-
dent set by the Government of India
had his full concurrence, AZ it was not
desirable to imperil the considerable
revenue derived from the customs duty
on cotton goods imported.
Then as to wheat, it is anticipated that
Egypt will become a prominent factor
in supplying the English market Sir
WILLIAM GARsTIN, reporting on the
capabilities Of the Upper Nile country,
which is under direct British control,
wrote that the soil of the immense tracts
on either side OF the Blue Nile, known az
the districts Of Ghedaref and Ghezra
much resembles that Of those parts OF
India that produce the finest wheat
These new wheatfelds ire not, however,
the only ones about being developed
under British control Since 1891 the
British Political Officer directing the
affairs Of the Shan States in Northern
Burma has introduced the cultivation
Of wheat into that region, where the gra in
was previously unknown. The result
has been so satisfactory that the ques-
ton of building railway to convey the
wheat to Rangoon is being discussed.
Turning to Germany, we find the Ger
man Government giving serious atten-
ton to cotton growing in its West and
East African colonies, witha view to their
development, as well as having it's own
supply of raw material for it's home in
dustry. The Turkish policy Of Germany
is mainly directed to the obtaining con-
troll, through German-built railways, OF
the wheatfields Of Asia Minor. whose
cultvators, in their turn, would become
customers for German goods. A not
inconsiderable part of the immense
areas of Asiatic Turkey, now lying waste,
is also susceptible Of cotton production
whenever fiscal stability and order are
established over the country.
This, however, depends very much
on the existence of good relations, in
respect to that part Of the work between
Germany and Russia. OF that there
seems better prospect than for some
time past. There is reason to believe,
according to statements from Berlin,
that the financial agent Of the Russian
Embassy there who has just returned
Emperor WILLIAM, carries with him
notes of treaty between the two coun-
tries Of a far-reaching scope CONNER
cially az a result Of improved political
relations. The result of such treaty
could not fail to be felt in the trade be-
tween this country and Germany, espe-
cially that in cereals and cattle products
The impulse which will be given to agri-
cultural production in Russia by the
newly organized agricultural societies
under the presidency of Prince STEHER-
BAToFF, will call for an expansion OF the
Russian markets. In Germany there is q
consumer right alongside with whom
Russian products of all kinds can be ad.
vantageously exchanged for machinery
and other things Russia needs The
obstacles that have hitherto existed
between them have been largely of q
political character; as they are smoothec
away the difficulties in the way Of eco.
nomic Cancellation will tend to dis.
appear.
To our American cotton and wheat
growers these movements of Germany
and England to obtain their supplies Of
those staples within their own terrific
ries, or more advantageously elsewhere