Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
COTTON FOR BRITAIN
PLAN TO SUPPLY OWN RAW MA
TERIAL TO THE MILLS.
Countries / n Which the Cultivation
of the Fiber Might Be
Successful.
From the London Mail.

Next to agriculture. cotton is the greatest
industry of England. The mills of Lancas-
shire represent capital of hundred mill
Hon sterling. they produce ninety million
pounds worth of goods every year and ex-
port seventy millions. while three millions
of people are dependent directly on the
prosperity of the trade. On what sort of a
basis does this prosperity rest? The whole
cotton trade of the world as a Manchester
man said the other day, depends absolutely
on the success or failure of the American
crop. which is being more and more absorb
ed by the American manufacturers.
The worlds demand for cotton is increas-
ing year by year. and in some foreign coun-
tries at a very rapid rate; but the American
supply is not keeping pace with it. AS the
United States supply so per cent of the
whole world crop. and as the price is SO
largely affected by the reports of the ex-
ports and of the government bureau (Which
have a singular habit of being pessimistic),
the New York Spectator practically COM
mands the situat ton. The effect of the
shortage of supply and of the manipulation
of prices consequent upon that situation has
been abundantly evident in Lancashire, and
it is estimated by those in the best position
to judge that the workmen have lost e, Co.,
600 in wages in the last year.
In Lancashire.
While Lancashire-which owns half the
spindles and third of all the looms in the
worlds thus hit. the Americans are push
ing on the manufacture of cotton in the
southern states by the erection of mills near
the cotton fields.
Lancashire depends on the cheapness of
American cotton for the bulk of its great
export to India. When the price of raw
cotton goes beyond Sgd. per pound. it is
difficult to sell the finished article at a
price which the native of India can afford
to pay. The spectators have left that
price far behind. and as the available
American export diminishes they will tight
en- their grip
The. men of Lancashire have resolved to
balk them in this design by growing the
fiber they require in the colonies of Great
Britain. They have met with encouraging
success; they have sent out experts to the
colonies to teach the natives the cultiva-
ton of cotton, and they have proved be-
yond doubt that large proportion of our
requirements. If not indeed the whole, could
be supplied from our own possessions. On
the west coast of Africa are millions of
acres of land suitable for the growth of cot
ton. The climate is favorable and labor
can be had in abundance at sixpence per
day.
Northern Nigeria.
From northern Nigeria a sample has
been sent to Liverpool, with the intimation
that it was produced for penny per pound.
The reply was that If it could be delivered
In Lancashire at five pence the demand
would be large and constant. Experts have
proved the possibility of growing cotton at
a profit in Lagos, and 10000 acres are being
cultivated. On the gold coast, in Sierra
Leone, in South Nigeria and in Uganda the
same results have followed experiments.
To Gambia and the Soudan the missiona-
ries of commerce have gone and in the Sou
n thnxy how fa,,,,1 hot t1-
to Egyptian can be grown over an immense
area of the territory which has just been
rescued from barbariSm. The railway from
the Nile to Suakim will open up this coun-
try and provide cheap transport. 1t has
been promised them that the work will be
pushed on with all convenient speed Only
the other week a sample of cotton grown in
the Soudan was valued by Liverpool ex-
pertS as being worth from Cd to 9kd per
pound. ...-,. -s --.. .-..-...s
The West indies. as
One of the most splendid fields is the West
India Islands. Barbados is the home of the
priced sea islands cotton, whose long staple
and fine texture make 1t the most valuable
of all. A sample which was brought to
England recently was declared to be one of
the finest ever seen in Liverpool. and it
was valued at the astonishing price of Is.
4d. to Is. Cd. per pound. Honduras has been
developing on this line. Jamaica has all the
islands in the Caribbean are trying cotton.
So general has been the movement, and SO
evident the value of it, that in the coming
year 10000 acres will be under cotton in the
islands.
With all these opportunities why should
our greatest industry remain at the caprice
of the Spectator. the planter and the man
ufacturer of the Un.,ed States? Evidently
we can grow all the cotton We want within
the empire. By doing so we shall be devel-
oping the huge este we have acquired at
enormous cost, we shall be helping our fell
low subjects and at the same time opening
up new markets for British manufacturers
The wealth that will accrue to these COL
onies, to black and white population alike.
will mean greater poteniality for the pur-
chase of goods and We may expect that
these will be British. So we shall, or ought
to, gain both ways. Besides the evidences
are that in many parts of Africa we should
be able to produce cotton even cheaper than
the Americans and in that way Lancashire
would be armed for the international strug-
gle which lies ahead.