The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-07

The most veXatious problem that the
planters Of the cotton growing States
have had TO solve during the past decade
is. How can We increase the output of
cotton that we may utilize the vast ter
ritory that is At our command and is
adaptable TO raising the best cotton the
world can produce" They have the
land they have the climate, and are
able 10 plant the whole territory, and as
the governor Of the State of Texas says,
We could increase the output of the
United States TO 25.O0O, 900 bales, worth
over 81, eco 600 goo annually"
That portion of the proposition, how
ever. is easily solved. but when We get
TO that which contemplates the harvest
ing or picking Of the crop. we find ouc-
selves perplexed over what has been,
up TO the present time. a proposition
yet unsolved.
Yet in It's Infancy.
The cotton industry in the United
States al the present time means the
planting OF %, 1884. 734 acres OF land in
a zone and with soil specially adapted
for this particular line of husbandry,
yielding Il. S27 90 bales of cotton, aver
aging 500 pounds each. and worth in
cash. $425, GOO, 600 These figures. while
seemingly large 10 one not familiar with
cotton raising. are really small com
pared with what they should be and
would be II all the cotton grown was
saved and the available area planted.
The only thing TO prevent this is the
question OF means or help for picking
the cotton. AS the matter stands TO-
day. il is impossible 10 secure cotton
pickers in sufficient numbers to gather
the entire crop as it natures. and gooc
authorities say about one-third OF the
crop is lost on this account. which, in
turn, means loss to the cotton growing
States of millions OF dollars annually.
With the question of picking Inc cot
ton solved, the revenues from this srya.
industry could be increased. ih me
United States alone. over 100 pc cent.
or about $500. 900. 900
Blamed for "OveTproduction."
It is claimed by some. in fact BY near
ly all of the big spectators in cotton
that "Overproduction" is the cause Of
the present low prices of cotton. and IN
too many instances, the cause of the
cotton planters poverty. This is strong
~ denied. OverprOduction is declared
TO have nothing to do with it as the
matter stands today. Let the people D.
properly clothed. harvest and save the
whole crop planted; reduce the cost Of
planting, growing, picking, and ginning
. E.~fv-
ent low prices of cotton. there would Ee
a good margin for the planter. Specula-
ton has very much 10 do with the profits
OF the cotton planters. but the picking
and gathering las more
7. J. Watkins, of Poplar Hill. " g.,
man OF vast knowledge. or high stand
ing, and a large planter. suggests that
Congress apply q remedy for the relief
OF the cotton growers. There is yet an
other channel that might give relief. or
rather Will give relief; viz. the invention
or machine that will materially reduce
the most of picking the crop. In many
years gone by, machines for picking cot
ton have been invented, built and tested.
They have. after a fashion, picked cot
ton. not satisfactorily 20 be sure
EdCH an Improvement.
The first machine was, OF course,
failure; the second was superior 10 the
first; the third was better than the sec
ond, and the fourth a vast Improvement
on all others. This Improvement has
been continued as each successive ma
chine was built up to the year 1900. whed
only a few defects remained to be over
come IN order TO give to the planter
perfect working machine for picking cot
ton. Then, who shall say that cotton
picking by machinery shall not become =
fxed practical fact in time?
II was not long ago that some Of our
greatest intellects, mechanics and manu-
facturers. scoffed al any idea that con
tempIated spinning yarn by machinery.
sewing. except by hand; knitting. ex-
cept by needles in the hands Of our
grandmothers, and hundreds OF other
ideas that have since paved the way for