The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-04
47S: in 1898. 500. 1856, 544; in 1899 s17.2 64,
eQ0. in 1ooO GOO OS7 f1o

Japan, nor yet with Europe; and vet the
growth of our exports to these countries
is much more remarkable than its growth
in China Our exports to Europe in 1896
were $773 900, 900 in round numbers; in
1897. sSl3. 600 600; in 1898. 1878 ,000, 000 and
in 1900 81 040, 900 600 These facts. this
remarkable development of our trade
with Europe show that territorial ex-
ransion is not necessary for extensive
trade relations.
I rejoice at any growth in the trade of
our manufactured cotton goods. Consd-
ering the vast quantity OF our cotton
productions. our exports in this branch of
American industry is surprisingly small.
1t is to be hoped that our trade in cot
ton cloth will grow and expand not only
in China, but elsewhere. 1t will grow
and expand there and elsewhere with i'm
proved transportation and when our mills
| and owners have learned to prepare their
product to suit the taste and fancy of
| their Oriental customers. But it's growth
! cannot be made to depend upon terrific
rial expansion.
The agricultural possibilities of these
| islands are l have no doubt, capable of
great development. The lands are gen
! orally fertile. Some of their valleys are
annually inundated and, as in the case
of the Nile, these floods leave rich de-
] post. Even the lands not thus enriched
do not for many years after being
cleared require artificial fertilization.
They are adapted to the growth of to-
| bacco, rice. sugar. and, l have reason to
| believe, to the growth Of cotton.
| These are all staple crops of the
South. 1t is true the archipelago does
not now raise enough rice to supply the
| home demand but before Spain began its
| policy of discouraging this crop in the
interest Of tobaC~o, in which the Gov
eminent had up to 1882 a monopoly, the
| Philippines exported a considerable guam
| tity of rice. They now export consider
| able quantities of sugar. Hon Samuel
NJ. Robertson. of Louisiana. member of
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House. speaking of the sugar production
Of these islands. said, in a speech deliv-
cred in the House of Representatives
| December II, 1901
"In 1893 in addition TO the amount of
sugar consumed in the Philippine Islands,
they exported 523 900 900 pounds. There
! are no statistics as to the amount of
sugar consumed but it may be esti-
! mated that a large quantity of it was
used to SUNNY the demands of the peo-
( pie IN the islands. From these figures it
can easilv be seen that under the most
/ adverse circumstances surrounding the
I production OF sugar-with crude instru-
menrs and the crudest machinery-the
phli"rneG Islands produced more sugar
I in tfat year than was produced bv tho
! Hawaiian Islands in 1899 under free trade
( with The United States and most i'm
1
/ Think. then. of the wonderful posi-
bilities Of production there even under
unfavorable circumstances. In 1000 there
was exported into this country for con-
sumption 4,O1S ,OS6 $50 pounds of sugar.
The domestic production was 50o046,450
mounds from cane and beet. making the
total consumod in the United States in
1900 4.51S 192. $50 mounds. These figures
are taken from the Statistical Abstract.
| 23d numb 1907
Again, Mr. President. even under the
present unfavorable conditions the is
lands are exporters OF tobacco.
| / cannot say with confidence to what
extent cotton would be grown in the ar
| ohipelago, buteI am satisfied that all the
natural conditions for it's successful Gull
| ture exist there. A reliable young gem
tleman of nv State. a graduate Of the
| University OF the State. who Snent two
years in the Philippines in the army.
who was born and reared in one of the
| largest cotton growing counties OF the
State a cotton expert. and who has re-
| Gently have been told. been appointed
| to position as cotton expert in the
| Philippines, In conversation few
weeks ago expressed to me the unduali-
| fed opinion that the undulating and hill
1 lands Of the whole island of Luzon were
| especially adapted to the growth of cot
| ton. For many wears long staple cotton
| has been successfully grown in the many
has been successfully grown in the Is
| land of Ilocos. and there are some small
! factories in this island.
| Mr.. Foreman. in his work on the Phil
ippines. on page 361. SAYS:
"The cotton tree (Gossipium herba-
| ceum) is found growing in an unculti-
waited state IN many islands of the ar
| chipelago. Long stanle cotton was form
erly extensively cultivated in the prov
| irce of Ilocos Norte, whence many years
| ago large quantities of good cotton stuffs
| were exported. This industry still eX-
| lists. The cultivation of this staple was,
| however discouraged by the local COVER
nors in order to urge the planting of to-
| bacco for the government supplies. 1t
| has since become difficult to revive the
cotton production. although an essay. in
pamphlet form (for which a prize was
awarded in Madrid), was gratuitously
distributed over the colony in 1888 with
| that object. Nevertheless, cotton spinning
and weaving is still carried on ON a re-
duced scale in the Ilocos provinces Lu-
zon west coast.)
"Wild cotton is practically useless for
spinning, as the staple is extremely
short but perhaps by hybridization and
careful attention its culture might be-
come valuable to the colony.
'The pod is elliptical, and the cotton
which bursts from it at maturity is
snow-white!s 1t is used for stuffing pill
| lows and mattresses.
at is a common thing to see (Wild)
cotton trees planted along the high road
| to serve as telegraph posts. By the time
| the seed is fully ripe every leaf mas
| fallen, and nothing but the bursting pods
remain hanging to the branches.
/ Now, Mr.. President, wherever the cot
/ ION tree grows indigenously it may be
safely assumed long staple cotton can