The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-25
COTTON SUPPLY OF EUROPE.
The Supremacy Of This Country
viii be Maintained.
Col. shepperson Says 80 Per Cent
of Cotton Consumed by English
and European Mills Comes
From United States.

BalGlQOIS, hdiCu to.-OOi' -AAiAoS =,
B. Shepperson, of New York, we'll
known as a statistical expert in cotton,
discussing in this weeks issue of the
Manufacturers Record the relation of
this country to the cotton supply OF
Europe, says:
'In England, Germany and France
there is considerable discussion of the
subject and some practical efforts have
been made for the promotion OF the
cultivation of cotton in the colonial
dependencies of these countries.
These efforts have been chiefly made
by manufacturers and merchants, but
have received the active encourage
ment and support OF the respective
Governments.
ssSince October, 1899, middling cotton
in New York has not been as low as
seven cents per pound, ranging from
7 3-1e to ii cents, and being actually
Quoted at II cents On January 2S,
1901, in sympathy with futures for
January delivery, which were 1874
cents on that day. During the two
previous years, from September l,
1897. to September l, 1899, spot cot
ton was continually below seven cents
in New York, except during the first
part of September, 1887.
European spinners having become
somewhat accustomed to the lower
prices ruling for cotton in these two
years, it is not surprising that they
should seek to establish new sources
of production in order to reduce the
cost by increasing the supply.
"Of the cotton consumed now by
the mills of Great Britain, Continental
Europe and the United States about
so per cent is the growth of this coun-
try. In the five years ending August
81, 1860, the average proportion was
s415 per cent. The high prices result
ing from our civil war and the dis
organization Of the agricultural inter
ests of the South which continued for
some years thereafter Induced such an
increase of cultivation in other coun-
tries that it was not until 1882 we
furnished as much as Is per cent Of the
total consumption of the mills OF
Europe and the United States. For
the five years ending with 1890 we
furnished within fraction of n per
cent; in the five years ending with
1895 we had increased our proportion
to 1913 per cent. and for the five years
ending with 1900 we had furnished to
the mills of Europe and America 50
1-3 per cent of their entire takings OF
cotton.
..We have now regained our absolute
supremacy in the field Of cotton pro-
duction, and an impartial consideration
of the entire situation fully justifes the
belief that we will retain it lnde-
fnitely."
Dealing with our chief competitors
in cotton production for the European
markets, India and Egypt, Col. Shep-
person, after analysis of crop figures,
says:
'sThere 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 cultl-
walton may be expected it seems quite
evident that the increased production
will be fully absorbed by the growing
requirements of the Indian cotton
mills. The general uncertainty in re-
gard to the rainfall and its actual in
sufficiency in many sections Of India
are serious drawbacks to any consider
able incrasee in cotton cultivation,
especially when it is considered that
the average yield per acre is only
about rs pounds of lint cotton OF
quality and a market value much low
er than American cotton.
He sketches the possibilities OF the
cultivsteable portion Of Egypt, and re-
garding recent engineering feats for
irrigation in that country says:
.'The chief purpose of the new IT.
rioating works was undoubtedly to
safeguard the crops of the land al
ready under cultivation. 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 considerably
lower price. The best opinion is that
the increase in acreage will be gradual,
as it will depend upon the construc-
tion of canals to take the water to the
new fields. x x Assuming,
however, an increase in the acreage
of 1.5OO, 600 acres and that cotton will
get a third of it, or 500, 900 acres, this
would add about 250, coo bales to tie
present cotton yield OF Egypt. Ihls
would probably mark the maximum of
the Egyptian cotton crop for some
years to come, and it would not be so
large in the seasons when other crops
promised q greater profit
Col. Shepperson gives comprehen-
sive survey of the cotton possibilities
of China, Turkestan, German East
Africa, Brazil, ETC., and In conclusion
says:
Except for small increase from
Egypt no greater contribution to the
cotton supply of Europe can be ex-
pected than at present. It is quite
possible to grow cotton in many coun-
tries in which 1t is not now cultivated,
but whether it can be produced in
large quantities and at low cost and
as proftably as the other crops, which
it would replace, is a very different
matter.
There are vast possibilities for the
extension of cotton cultivation in the
United States. According to the last
United States census there were in 1899
in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas. In
dian Territory and Oklahoma 40, 600,