The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-04-28

that should have gone into the
pockets Of our people.
Value Of the Cotton Crop.
The annual cotton crop Of the south
IS the most valuable OF any agrlcul-
tural product grown on the lace OF
the globe. Its annual sales amount
in the aggregate for the raw materl-
al of more than six hundred millions
Of dollars, and when converted into
the finished fabric, will sell for the
enormous total Of nearly two billions
of dollars. It is due alone to the cot
ton crop Of the south that the balance
~k in favor OF the United
States in It's commercial relations
with foreign countries. In 1904, the
exports Of raw cotton amounted to
O than one million dollars for
each Ct the 365 days. And this three
hundred and sixty-hve millions OF
dollars, which was sent to this coun-
try in gold by the foreign spinner,
paid for only sixty-hve per cent. OF
the crop produced, leaving the bal
ance, or thirty-fve per cent, to be
woven into cloth under the roofs OF
American mills.
Cotton Mills in The South.
The enormous increase in the value
of the staple after it has passed
through the loom, presents the high
Isl evidence of the necessity for the
more rapid building Of cotton mills
in the south. and the exporting OF the
FINISHED product from our shores
rather than that OF the raw material.
The export Of our raw cotton an
hually brings more gold into this
! country than the combined exports
of all other agricultural products and
AGRICULTURAL implements shipped from
America to foreign countries. A crop
of such magnitude in value, and one
uoon which the entire civilized world
so absolutely depends, should receive
the immediate protection OF every
business interest in this country. No
cotton grown in foreign countries up
to the present time. can be delivered
at our ports at a less price than II
cents per pound. 1t is generally at
mitted by experts which have lnves-
tigated the efforts made to produce
cotton in foreign countries, that up
to the present time, such efforts have
been a failure, and it is extremely
doubtful if there will ever come a time
when foreign grown cotton can ever
be produced probably in comp etltlon
with American grown cotton.
Our Asiatic Trade.
1t is confidently believed that the
Panama Canal will be opened to the
OF the high seas within the
next ten years. after which time, the
south will be in a position to secure
direct and quick trade relations with
the Asiatic nations OF the Far East.
In China alone, more than four hun
dred and fifty millions of people are
ready and willing to e cloth made
from American cotton. In japan,
more than forty-hve millions of peo-
pie are equally willing to be clothed
from American grown cotton. With
the introduction OF Our trade relations
with three hundreds Of millions OF
people, a crop Of fifty million bales
Of cotton can be consumed with the
same case as is now done with a crop
Of ten millions. among the civilized
nations Of Europe and America.
With these splendid possibilities
! lying just ahead, only waiting for
proper development, the time has
cone when the South must no longer
look to the mere matter Of produc-
ton, but in the development Of our
AGRICULTURAL resources, we must be-
gin to reach out io- wider markets in
order to meet the rapidly develop
ing AGRICULTURAL conditions Of the
south.