The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-21
STEPHENSON TELLS OF
 COTTON IN THE EAST

m the five years ending August 3lst, 1s6O the average proportion was S4 1-2 per cent The nigh prices resulting from our CIvI war ana the disorganization of the aeri- culturaI interests of the South which com. 'lhued TOT some years there after induced such an Increase of cultivation in other countries that 1t was not until 1SS2 ue furnished as much as 75 per cent of the total consumption of the mills of Eurone and the United States. For the five veors ending with 1890 we furnished within a traction of n per cent; in the five years ending with 1895 we had increased ou, proportion to 79 1-2 per cent. and for the five years ending with 1900 We had fur. nished to the mills of Europe and America cotton. VI
 We have now regained our absolute supremacy in the field of cotton produc- uon and an impartial consideration of the entire situation fully justfies the belief that We will retain 1t indefinitely"
 Dealing with our chief competitors in cotton production for the European mar kets, India and Egypt. Colonel Shopper son. after analysis of crop figures, says:
 There is In India an abundance of suitable land which could be added to the area now devoted to cotton, and While some extension of cotton cultivation may be expected. 1t seems quite evident tIle'' tilF lutIedSeu pTOQucIOn VIII De fully absorbed by the growing requirements of the Indian cotton mills. The general uncertainty in regard to the rainfall and Its actual insuff1ciency in many sections or India are serious drawbacks to any considerable increase in cotton cultlVa- ton, especially when 1t Is considered that the average yield per acre is only about 10 pounds of lint cotton of a quality and market value much lower than Ameri- can cotton"
 He sketches the possibilities of the cul- tivabie portion of Egypt and regarding recent engineering feats for irrigation in that country. says:
 The chief purpose of the new irriga- tion works was undoubtedly to safeguard the crops of the land already under cul- ttvation There will be some extension of acreage. but this will be chiefly in Upper Egypt, where the cotton is much inferior to that of Lower Egypt, and brings a considerably lower price. The best opinion is that the increase in acre age will be gradual as 1t will depend upon the construction of canals to take the water to the new fields. As suming, however, m increase In the acreage of 100000 acres and that cotton will get d third of It, or oOOOO0 acres this would add about 250, 0OO bales to the present cotton yield of Egypt. This would probably mark the maximum of the Egyptian cotton crop for some years tC come, and it would not be so large ir the seasons when other crops promised a greater profit"
 Colonel Shepperson gives a comprehen. sive survey of the cotton possibilities of China. Turkestan. German East Africa Brazil, etc, and in conclusion says:
 Except for a small increase iron | EgS pt no greater contribution to tn, cotton supply of Europe can be expected than at present. It is quite possible tC grow cotton in many countries in whi-f | 1t Is rot now cultivated, but whether ] can be produced in large .quantities anC | at lew cost and as profitahly as the othel cropa we9ch 1t would replace is verS