New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15
coTr0y IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA.

COTTOV IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA.
one effect of the high prices which resulted
from the snallness Of the American cotton crop
Of 1903 was TO revive and intensity the wish
of Furonean manufacturers 10 achieve indie
randence of this country. At their instgatiOn
the governments Of Great Britain. Germany
and France made elaborate inquiries into the
possibility of increasing greatly the supply or
cotton from their colonies in Africa and the
West Indies Some Of the work thus inspired
has been abandoned for one cause or another,
hut some of il has been pushed with sustained
determination This is especially true Of the
campaign begun under German auspices. A
consular report recently received at Washing
ton gives an indication of the progress made
in the last two years in German East Africa
Judged only by statistics of production, the
movement does not vet seem formidable. About
one thousand bales of h.e hundred pounds
each were exported in 1904 and larger guam
tity was expected last year. though it has not
vet been practicable TO estimate the gain But,
even if a. much as two thousand bales had been
shipped the amount would have been insignia
cant Again the means for Transporting the
cotton from the interior 10 the coast are made
duatc and their imperfectiOns add 10 the cost
of the fibre Still another embarrassment-per-
haps the most serious one-is the fact that the
natives do not yet betray much adaptabihty TO
agricultural pursuits
There is another side 10 the case however. A
commission representing both the imperial au-
thorities and the cotton spinners of Germany
has established permanent headquarters in the
COLONY From that centre several distinct kinds
of ENTERPRISE are conducted Immense quaint
ties of seed are procured for those who are
willing to plant It. New varieties as well as
old are being tested, in order TO ascertain which
is best suited 10 particular soils. Arrangements
are being made for a judicious distribution OF
ginning stations and business firms in German
East Africa have been urged 10 buy the local
product Finally, a school has been opened to
train farm laborers and plantation bosses in
the art Of cultvating cotton, and 1t has fully
one hundred pupils
These are humble beginnings, but. If the
forces now at work continue in operation for
ten years what viii be the result? German
persistence and organization achieve wonders
They promise 10 lessen the present difficulties
in growing cotton. 1t is already beyond doubt
that fibre Of good quality can be had in that
quarter Of the world, and when a number Of
incidental questions that now require considera-
ton are settled the output ought TO increase
RAPIDLY The principal uncertainty to-day re-
Iates 70 the extent of fresh territory in Africa
that can be utilized for this purpose Besides
the one colony just mentioned Germany has
three others there. each of enormous proper
tons. and in Togo and the Cameroons expert
ments have been made, with equally crafty
ing results The same preliminary work has
also been undertaken by British and French
agents on the same continent. These expert
ments encourage the belief that within few
years the new area devoted 10 cotton growing
may he made to yield as much as Egypt does
now and perhaps n great deal more.