The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-18

Col. T. G. Bush of Birmingham was in
PRODUCED by President Jordan.
Colonel Bush discussed Higher Prices
for the Growers of American Cotton"
He said in part:
las much as we talk and boast of the
mineral wealth and industrial develop
ment of this county, these great interests
are of minor Importance compared with
the products of the soil. Nothing so in
terests and affects the business world
as the crop question from year to year
so much so that the railroad companies
bankers merchants and manufactures
lay their plans for the future based upon
the outlook and prospective value of the
growing crops-and If these crops reach
maturity without disaster 1t takes no
prophet to foretell that business of all
, kinds will be active and the country
prosperous. This fact is evident when
we leek back over the year just past
and realize that the value of the pro-
ducts of the soil was something like So
900, 600 000-thus adding so materially to
the wealth of this great country. The cot
ton crop stands along with the two other
great crops-corn and wheat but serves
the country in one respect to a greater
degree than corn and wheat inasmuch
as it contributes so largely in affecting
the trade balance in favor of this country
! much of ii is exported to foreign
$500 100000 worth Of cotton per annum-
whereas, the wheat and corn crops are
very largely consumed at home. Cotton
exports the past year were equal to corn
wheat, oats and other grains and dairy
products. So important a part does cot
ton play in the export trade that upon
it the wealth of Great Britain and the
continent depends-that is to say, that
the investment in cotton manufacturing
enterprises In Great Britain and on the
continent is greater than IN any otner
enterprise-and in each of these countries
there are at least 10,0OO,oo0 people de-
pendent for their livelihood on the cot
ton industry Mr. Richard III. Edmonds,
of the Manufacturers Record, in his ar
ticle on 1.-THE South's Amazing Progress"
calls attention to the signifcant fact that
of the 1lO0OOO00 spindles In the world,
which represents a capltaiization or "
600 900 900, the larger percentage is in for
eien countries, there being in the south
III mills with 100000 spindles. repre-
senting an invested capital of $225. 900 900,
and i'm the New England mills 100000
spindles, with capital of sSoO,0O0,oO0.
We Have Small Percentage.
1--WE then see how small percentage OF
the number of spindles in the world are
in this country. 1t is a significant fact,
as indicating the continued interest and
faith of the English people in the cotton
months Manchester, England, has COM
pleted and has under construction mills
to have an aggregate of about 6,00C,C00
spindles, or nearly two-thirds many
as the entire south has today, or, in
others words, Manchester has done in a
little over twelve months two-thirds
much as the south has done to date in
the development of the cotton industry.
1t is reported that about one-half of the
new spindles of Manchester are for Amer
lean cotton and the other half for Egyp-
tan cotton. The matter of great interest
TO the southern people in the question of
quantity of cotton produced and manner
In which it is sold is appreciated when
we understand that the south supplies 80
per cent of the worlds output of cotton
and. therefore. monopoizes this wonder
ful product which is of world wide in
terest Not alone is England and the
Continent interested in this great trade,
and enlarging their facilities for manu-
featuring cotton goods but the question
is receiving increased attention in the