The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-28
DECREASING COTTON OUTPUT

Inc steady reduction IN the cotton
production of the United States in re-
cent years is resulting in vigorous and
systematic efforts by European coun-
tries to establish a cotton producing
industry in other parts of the world
which shall render them independent;
of the United States for this important
staple, which has for many years
brought more money into this country
than any other single product of the
farm or factory. Prior to 1898 the cot
ton production of the United States
steadily increased, and this country be-
world, supplying fully three-fourths.
and in many cases four-fifths, of the
worlds cotton. In 1898 the crop was
the unprecedented figure of 11,199, ,994
bales, and in 1859 had reached II. .274, $40
bales. From that period began a re-
duction of cotton production, the figures
for 1900 being s,436,416 bales; for 1901.
10,383,4 bales; for 1902, 10,6SO,6S0 bales,
and the Department of Agriculture
now announces an estimate of 1852, 900
bales for 1908. The total value of cot
ton exported from the United States
since 1870 is $7,s3s, ,65s,39 and from 1900
down to the present time, s11, ,237, ,926, ,0S2.
great productions of the country the
years from 1899 tc 1903 have shown d
steady advance, that of cotton has
shown steady decline. Coal produc-
ton, for example, has increased from
226,0O0,00O tons in 1899 to 261, 100000 in
1902; pig iron, from 100000 tons in
1899 to nearly 1S,o60,000 in 1902; steel,
from 1O,5O0000 tons in 1899 to 15,0OO,0 600
in 1902; copper, from 253,000 tons in 1899
to 2S6,O00 tons in 1902; silver, from sew
enty million dollars value in 1899 to
millions in 1902; gold, from
seventy-one millions in 1899 to eighty
millions in 1902; wool, from 272,000,000
in 1899 to 316, 100000 in 1902:
wheat. from SAT 100000 bushels in 1899
to go. 900. 900 in 1902; corn, from two
billion bushels in 1899 to two and one-
half billions in 1902; while cotton has
fallen from 11,274,OO0 bales in 1899 to an
estimated 1852 900 bales in 1903.
The effect of this reduction in our
production of the clothing material for
49, a1r
;ively upon the United States and the
high prices resulting from
he decrease of production has been as
Ibove indicated, a vigorous and sys-
ematic attempt in the European coun-
ries having colonial possessions in
otton climate to establish a cotton
reducing industry in those possessions.
he English, the French, the Germans,
he Portuguese, the Russians. the Bel
ians-in fact, practically all the Euro
can countries having territory with,
climate which suggests the practica-
ility of cotton production-are now 4
ctively at work attempting to establish s
otton-growing industries in some parts s
their tropical or subtropical areas. G
his includes, in the case of England, {
er colonial possessions in East Africa, 6
Test Africa, India, the West Indian ISL g
nds, and her possessions on the main
md of tropical America; Germany, /.
er possessions in Africa; Russia, her !
outhern territory, which already pro- S
uces considerable quantities of cotton; 6
lille the Portuguese and Belgian pos
,ssions in Africa are also being sub, :
cted to careful examination with ref {
,ence to their cotton-producing pos g
bilities. y
f$-