Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-04
NO. 90.

ton in Sierra Leone was a failure
last year. and the American seed has
not proved q success so far. It Is es-
timated that under the most favor
able conditions Sierra Leone could
not produce more than 100000 bales
Of cotton and the production during
any one Of the next ten years OF 5000
bales will be the utmost that can be
expected. This last figure will not be
reached under present conditions, and
a great deal of money will need to be
spent upon roads and transport ar
rangements before II Is realized.
any appreciable effect upon the
worlds cotton market, Northern Nige-
ria Is the only colony capable Of effect
ing the desired end. 1t has a large
population, variously estimated at
about 100000, and Its people are
undoubtedly more intelligent than the
majority of West African natives. The
great drawback to the development
Of the industry Is lack Of transport.
This can only be remedied by the
help of the Niger river, railways and
good roads. Horses and cattle live
well in nearly every district, and roads
should be easy to make In the thick,
ly populated provinces. A good
necessary II cotton is to be success,
and great deal Of money will have
to be spent before large quantities OF
cotton are produced.
Most of the country Is without the
palm oil tree belt, and, given cheap
transport and suitable seed, Northern
Nigeria could produce all the cotton
required to prevent a repetition OF
last years cotton crisis, but II will be
slow work for many years, and mil
lions Of pounds will have to be spent
upon the country. Railways, not one
but several. will have to be construct
ed before the country is opened up, and
until such railways are built and RI
yer transport made easy West Afri-
ca will be of no Importance to the cot
ton producing world. iEH
The colonies Of Lagos, Southern Nj
eeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and
Gambia, under the most favorable
circumstances, I. e., good roads, trans
port facilities, central buying and GIN
ming stations, and financial assistance,
will not be capable of producing more
than 350,000 bales, and these figures
will not be attained for many years,
II ever. A production Of 100000 bales
need not be expected for at least
eight years. This against the Ameri-
Cdn CIOp VI ilOfC tidH 10 Vvv,vvV 40
a mere drop in the ocean, and cannot
be expected to help spinners or In
fiuence prices In any way. In most
Of the colonies Id. per pound for seed
cotton will have to be paid to induce
the natives to plant taui 1aisae!
This is equal. owing to the present
heavy West Africa steamer freights
and inland transport charges, to a
landed price In England OF from 3D. TO
5Ad. per pound lint cotton, and. IL
even moderate quantities are to be
shipped, both the natives and steam
ship owners will have to accept lower
rates In order to compete with the
American article. Much of the cotton.
exported this year from West Africa
has been sold in England at a loss OF
Id. per pound, and such state or
affairs cannot continue very long. The
lack Of population, the competition OF
the natural forest products, palm oil,
rubber and mahogany, and the mining
industry Of all tend to make the cul-
tiyation Of cotton difficult and OF minor
Importance to the majority Of the ma
tives.
Last year II was stated In public
that the output from West Africa In
Ave years time would be 100000 bales
Of 400 pounds each, but 1t Is impos-
sible to secure information supporting
such an estimate, and II by the end
of 1909 the years figures are to read
10000 bales, tenth part Of such es-
innate, the economic conditions or
Lagos Sierra Leone, Gold Coast. Cam
bia and Southern Nigeria will have
to change very rapidly. The produc-
tion this year will be about 5000 bales.