The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-15
COTTON PRODUCTION
Europe Is Trying to Establish
Its Culture.
WOULD BE INDEPENDENT
Americans Supremacy in Thai
Field Is Resented

|, Washington. D. c., Dec 1.-THE STEADY
reduction in the cotton production of III.
United States in recent years is result
ing in vigorous and systematic efforts b
European countries to establish a cotto.
producing industry in other parts of tn
world which shall render them independ
ent of the United States for this impor
ant staple, which has for many year
brought more money into this count,
than any other single product OF the far
or factory Prior to 1898 the cotton p.o
duction of the United States steadily il
creased, and this country became tn
great cotton producer of the world. SUP
plying fully three-fourths, and in man
cases four-fifths, of the worlds cotton.
In 1885 the crop was the unprecedentel
figure OF 11,1ss,sst bales. and In 1899 had
reached u.eH.s49 bales. From that peric
began reduction of cotton production
the figures for 1900 being 9.fsS.4ls bales.
for 1901. 1885, 422 bales: for 1902, 1o.ssoSo
bales. and the Department of Agriculture
now announces an estimate OF ssse,l0
bales for 1903 The total value of cotton
exported from the United States since
1870 is s7.3Ss. ,Ss2. and from 1880 down
10 the presetn time. 81 .237 .a26os2.
Thus while in nearly all the other great
productions OF the country the years
from 1899 TO 1905 have shown a steady adj
vance. that OF cotton has shown steady
decline. Coal production. for example.
has increased from 22S million tons in 1899
to 261 in 1902; pig iron, from 13 million
tons in 1893 to nearly IS million tons in
1902; steel. from 1917 million tons in 1893
to 10 millions in 1902: copper, from 2s3
thousand tons in 1899 TO 2s6 thousand tons
in 1902; silver, from 20 million dollars
value in 1899 TO % millions in 1902: gold.
from II millions in 1893 to 50 millions in
1909; wool. from 272 million pounds in
1893 to BIC millions in 1862; wheat. from
SAT million bushels in 1889 to go millions
in 1902; corn. from billion bushels in
1899 to 212 billions in 1902; white cotton
has fallen from 11.274. 900 bales in 1899 TO
an estimated 9,ss2 900 bales in 1903.
The effect of this reduction in our pro-
duction of the clothing material for which
the world rules almost exclusively upon
the United States and the consequent
high prices resulting from the DECREASE
Of production has been as above indicated.
vigorous and systematic attempt in the
European countries having colonial pos
sessions in a cotton climate to establish
a cotton-producing industry in those pos
sessions. The English, the French. the
Germans. the Portuguese, the Russians.
the Belgians-in fact. practically all the
European countries having territory with
a climate which suggests the practical
bility of cotton production-are now ac-
lively at work attempting to establish
cotton growing industries in some parts
of their tropical or subtropical areas.
This includes. in the case OF England.
her colonial possessions in East Africa,
India, the West Indian Islands, and her
possessions on the mainland OF tropical
America; Germany. her possessions in
Africa; Russia, her southern territory.
which already produces considerable
quantities of cotton; while the Portu-
guese and Belgian possessions in Africa
are also being subjected to careful ex-
animation with reference to their cotton
producing possibilities
This subject of possible and perhaps
probable serious competition in cotton
production from other parts OF the world
has resulted in the publication by the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor.
through its Bureau of Statistics. OF a
series of statements from the United
States consuis and from commercial. in
dustrial. and agricultural publications in
various parts of the world regarding the
steps being taken to develop and pro-
mote permanent cotton industry in ter
ritory controlled by other countries.
The prime movers in the promotion OF
a inadequate cotton supply outside OF the
United States are the British Cotton
Growing Association the -Kolouial
tschaftiche- Comitee." of Berlin, and
the Colonial Cotton Association" in
France Consul-General Evans, OF Lon
don. reports that the British Cotton
Growing Association is trying TO grow
cotton in West Africa and the West In
dies He says that about oecs acres will
shortly be under cotton cultivation on
the British West African coast where
the Ipovement gives much promise OF sue
cess Free transportation. extensive dis
tribution of seed, and advice Of experts
are among the means employed 20 pro-
mote the industry. Cotton grows wild in
many parts Of the colony. and during the
American civil war large quantities were
grown and sold In England
Consul Hsistead. al Birmingham. also
calls attention TO the conditions in the
Yar1Iba country IN British West Africa
The soil is said to be rich and fertile and I
the labor aps and cheap. al ualimlted
supply being available AZ about IL cents 7
a day. Consul Boyle does rot spsak - i
favorsbly OF the quality OF labor ohtsin- /.
able. but SAYS that the association hopes !
that II will improve with training and
experience. He says that the cotton re- i
ceived from this region Is subsss stisiiy i
equal 20 American. except In color. due !
10 the lack OF skill in picking and hand 4
sns. The area suitable for eO;sou-gF owing 4
IN British West Africa and Nigeria is I
claimed 70 be equal 70 that iR orr south 4
eru states. bit Consul Boyle says this I
lain seems 10 be eytrs~asznt- IL Sierra +
Leone and Gambia the product from ma 4
i've seed seems 20 succeed better than +
from Egyptian or American Ee~d-
The British association is also expert i
uestszg IL British East Africa. Ers,sza 1
Central AfrSea. Rbotesss and the gold ]
sozs4. but not so much progress fsar ben 4
-sade a. In some % the other r~xtezzs 4
mentioned The West indies ard tie col
srses IN Central and South America are 4
Asa receiving shetr shzre 81 attention i
-oazuI Estes. ~ AnriSe&. reports cotton 4
there as1d Cofsnl Boyi~ fn~zts1rs
Jamaica. TrfEi6zd. ~ Chrs<cse>-. ST
I-aclz. Ire Barbados ard the BxhzEazs as
,sacez where ceftoa viii - grovn IL
srSeIy i=crezsea Quantities u thss con-
s4esioa he ros<s that ses szsznd cosron IL
! native 81 Bzrsasos. ard also ssss. NJ