Evening star., 1903-07-21
A COTTON FEVER
LARGEST CROP EVER GROWN IN
PORTO RICO.
Best Sea Island Seed Selected-Not
Weevil Eound-Resu1ts Of Ex-
perimental Plots.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN, P. R., July 10. 1903.
Within a month the cotton ginneries be-
ing erected on the water front of San Juan
will be ginning the most pretenttous and
certainly the most significant cotton crop
Porto Rico has raised within the past forty
years. The output will be at least 10000
bales of some of the finest sea island cot
ton ever grown. The best yields will exceed
1900 pounds seed and fibre to the acre; and
of Sixty-eight experimental plots all will
show profit. Nothing but sea island cot
ton has been planted, and the tendency here
is to encourage as far as possible the grow
ing of that grade only.
Within a year, 1t is confidently expected,
the cotton boom in Porto Rico will be at
tracing widespread attention And it is
not improbable that through such boom
the rejuvenated industry will suffer by a
later reaction. The principal promoter OF
the present movement in sea island cotton.
who is now witnessing the successful frui-
ton Of three years hard work. said yes
terday:
Sea Island Cotton.
speaking for our company, all we ask is
to be let alone. We are here to handle all
the sea island cotton that can be grown
In Porto Rico, and we furnished the best
obtainable seed, enough to plant 49, GOO
acres, free of cost to all who would try
growing 1t. We are more than satisfied
with present results and the outlook for the
future. Porto Rico should grow $1,000 bales
of sea island cotton a year. The greatest
danger confronting the enterprise is that
a boom in cotton here will mean the unload
ing of a lot of poor seed and the working
of wild cat schemes to induce the growing
of cheap grades. Then when growers get
little or nothing for their crops because of
poor samples of Porto Rican cotton in the
worlds markets there will be a slump and
conditions will return to their former de-
and Porto Rico cotton will get black
eve.
"a few weeks ago in Washington had a
long talk with Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson, who expressed himself as being
much interested in what we are doing here.
He assured me that so far possible sea
island cotton interests in Porto Rico will
be protected by his department. There
certainly is an opportunity for both the
federal and the insular governments to ac-
complish vast and lasting good for Porto
Rico by a distribution of high-grade sea
island seed, keeping all others out. l also
of island cotton that they will steer
clear Of Porto Rico and let the ones now
working have a chance.
Not Weevil Found.
lone Of the most hopeful signs thus far
is that not a weevil has been found, due
to careful selection of seed If cheap seed
comes in the pest is sure to be introduced
The present crop. where 1t has been prop
erly cared for, will not run below % to 30
per cent silk fiber. and will easily net $50
an acre. If our sugar men clear $15 an
acre they are satisfied OF course. II a
crop Is neglected the profit may drop to $40
We figure the cost of cultivation at $40 an
acre and the picking at 35 cents hundred.
Transportation to the ginneries will vary.
according to locations.
Il believe that if sea island cotton is
properly handled in Porto Rico there will
be no valid reason why a few years hence
there should not be textile fabric mill
here paying well on million dollars capt.
tai and doing it's share toward making
Porto Ricans self-sustatning, intelligent
mill hands"
The recent decision Of President Roose-
welt that 10000 acres of public lands IN
Porto Rico can now be sold leads to the
reasonable supposition that part OF this
land, which will doubtless be appraised at
from "a to SO an acre. will before long
blossom with cotton. At least that's the
talk in San Juan. The cotton fever is IN
the air.