The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-19
WEST INDIES COTTON INDUSTRY
Now Yields Steady and Regular In
come-Somc OF the Obstacles
Overcome by Those Who Made
Gotten Ginning and Man
ufacturing Possible.

Gotten Ginning and Man
ufacturing Possible.
The cotton industry Of St. Chiisto-
pher and Nevis can now be said to
have passed the experimental stage
and to have reached the point where
it produces a steady and regular in
come. reports United States CONNER
cial agent Joseph Emmerson Haven
It has taken several years to convince
the estate owners that, with proper
care and attention, the cultivation of
sea island cotton can be made a fnan-
cial success, and much credit is due to
the Department Of Agriculture Of the
West indies for its accomplishment.
During the past five years the depart
ment has conducted experiments or
most of the West India islands.
In 1902 sugar sold at about s24.33
per ton, giving little or no profit to the
producer, and owing to the continued
depression of the market and its in
defniteness for the future it became
necessary to seek some other product
suited to the climate and soil. The re-
establishment of the cotton in
dustry appealed favorably to the
planters; hence the first gin operated
by steam power in the West Indies
was started at St. Christopher in that
year. The first shipment Of cotton
from this factory comprised $4,000
pounds of lint, which brought 81
cents per pound in the Liverpool mar
ket.
In~1eO3 the cotton industry on this
island was not a success financially,
the worms having attacked the plants
before the cotton ripened. However,
some excellent cotton was grown,
which was valued in London at from
% to % cents per pound. In 1904
there was marked increase in the
production, as the growers had gained
mo-. knowledge Of the cace ard culti-
walton of the plants and of how to de-
stroy the various forms of insect pests
To II "a
December 81, 1904, the export reach
ed 55,625 pounds, all of which sold at
an average of so cents per pound, al
though in Nevis cotton Of extraordina-
ry fneness and length of fiber was pro-
duced which sold as high as SO cents
per pound.
The remarkable growth Of the in
dustry can best be shown in the ex-
port for the quarter ended March 81,
1905, viz, 111,S41 pounds, or more
than double the export for the pre-
ceding year.
The total area devoted to the cult.
vation Of cotton in the West Indies in
1904 was 1851 acres, 7,243 Of which
were devoted to sea island cotton. The
imperial commissioners Of agriculture
for the West Indies in addressing the
fifth West Indian agricultural confer
ence, held in January, 1905, said:
"It is now recognized that West In
dia sea-island cotton is an article in
good demand, and the industry shows
every promise of being established on
renunerative lines. It is probable
that the crop of sea island cotton to
be reaped from now to May next will
reach about 5000 bales Of $50 pounds
each, worth s4S6,s50."
The British Cotton Growing Asso-
citation has rendered valuable assist
ance N making grants of both money
and machinery, in receiving the ship
ments of cotton, and in finding the
best market for it. In the latter part
of 1904 the association arranged for
visit to the West Indies by com
naittee of cotton experts who rendered
great service by explaining in detail
the requirements Of the spinners in
regard to uniformity in length OF sta
pie, color, and fineness. The commis-
sioner further says:
'The cotton industry, equally with
the cane industry, employs a large
amount of labor; but no expensive
buildings and machinery are required
to prepare cotton for the market
while the waste product in the form
of cottonseed may be utilized for the
extraction of cottonseed oil and for af-
fording a valuable food for stock and
eventually, for fertilizing the land. Al
attempt has been made to ascertain
what is the cost Of producing one
pound of the best sea-island cottor
J;pt op6 p1a cino II on the mark eft Sew.