Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-10-16
AHE GROWERS AND sPINNERs.
Hoke Smiths Admirable Address Be
fore the international Conference.
(F'rom the Atlanta Journal. /

Smith, welcoming the delegates OF
the International Conference of Cot
ton Spinners, was one OF the happiest
features Of the first session, and the
y Chief Executive was chcered to the
The opening sentences OF the ad-
dress, In which the Governor said.
we are glad you a.s here and will
De happy to keep you here as long as
visitor shouted his approval.
The Governors speech principally
dealt with the fact thet the South
alone was the cotton land OF the
world. A4e said: 4, Sys
- "Mr. President and Gentlemen of
he International Spinners' Associa-
lion: We welcome YOU to the center
OF the cotton growing belt OF the
United States. We are sure that
nothing but good can come from
closer relations between cotton, spin
ners and cotton growers. This sec
tion raises 10 per cent Of the lint cot
ton that goes, to your mills. You
could not have prospered without
our cotton. Our cotton growers
would have had no market had not
your mills prepared the lint cotton
for practical use. -,
We desire YOU to know our cotton
section. In no way can you under
stand 1t 30 fully as by travelling
through 1t, investigating as you 60.
The States properly classed as
COTTON states cover over seven hun
dred and fifty thousand square miles.
with soil capable of producing,
every variety of food stun. while.
inhabited by only twenty millions Of
people they could support popula-j
tion as dense as that OF Holland.
II settled as thickly as the United
n Kingdom the population of the cot
ton States would be over three hum
dred millions. -
Less than one-fifth OF tho land ts
In cultivation and not more than one
half OF that in cultivation is In cot
ton. More than half of the land Of
this cotton section Is adapted to the
culture of cotton. :, a.. :.
This the Favored Section.
We ask your attention to our
claim that while cotton may be grown
with partial success In many coun-
tries OF the woriu, yet nature has in
tended this to be the favored section
ior the growth of cotton in its per-.
Iection. This is not due to d better
knowledge with reference to the cul-
ture possessed here, but to a combi-
nation Of soil and climatic conditions
that exist nowhere else. N7g.5l
With us only second in imports
ance to temperature is the distribu-
ton OF rainfall among the seasons
suited regularly to cotton culture.
We have two dry and two wet sea-
sons each year and then frost that
kills the plant and ins1res a silky.
fine staple.
"The increased production and use
. COTTON N hfo
parallel. A century ago we exported
( thirty-six thousand bales. Thirty
ive years ago 4,474,00O met the de-
mands or the market. Last year 49,
100000 was none too much for the
mills Of the world. t'yT
Last year European mills alone
took over 100000, bales of South
ern cotton.
This section has produced your
lint cotton and your machinery has
made the finished product leave far
Dehind all fabrics made from cotton's
three rivals-wool, fax and silk.
While the use of cotton has been
increasing 80 rapidly throughout the
world in spite of the increasing price,
u the worlds wool production decreas-
ed from 1895 to 1905 40 per cent.
During the same period the worlds
consumption of lint cotton increased
70 per cent. 20
"The future demand for cotton
manufactured goods should increase,
even more rapidly. Modern ciyiliza-
ton Is advancing through the open
gates Of Asia, and the isles of the
sea, Cotton growers and cotton
spinners may join hands to clothe
the world. You have common des-
tiny. y,
Investigate Capacity.
You can rely with confidence upon
our cotton belt to furnish supply as
permanent proposition to meet your
ever increasing demand. We invite
you to investigate the capacity OF
this section to furnish cotton and
to cease troubling yourselves about
cotton fields In other countries yet to
be found. The cotton States are here
opening their gates for your inspec-
ton. While the crop this year is
last year, the only question about the
quantity offered you during a period
of years will be&the price you are
= ready to pay for 1t. Careful study
EAhrough scientific schools is now be-
Eng given to agriculture in this Sec
ton. ,
"The lands already in cotton can
be made to double their yield and
only limited portion OF those capa-
BILE of producing cotton have been yet
broken by the plow. But the scien-
tific study Of agriculture here has
taught that our soil and climate can
produce many other crops remunera-
tive to the planter besides cotton,
and cotton culture Is not the neces-
I, sity that 1t was In years gone by.