The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-30
Richard H. EdTnOndS Says It
Is Worth a Billion Dollars
NEW MARKETS ARE CREATED
The Old World Has Not Made Progress
In Growing Cotton While the De-
mand For American Cotton Is
Constantly Increasing


Atlanta, August 29.-(Special )-Richard
H. Edmonds, editor of the Manufacturers
Record, while in Atlanta today gave the
following interview on the cotton stua-
tion: IF this years cotton crop does not
bring to the south 1000, 100000 southern
farmers will not receive the amount to
which they are justly entitled by reason
of the abnormal condition throughout the
cotton-consuming world.
Last years crop, including the seed
yielded, according to the estimate of Sec
retary of Agriculture James Wilson, made
public yesterday, $S5O0Oo,O00. In view of
the decrease in the worlds stock of cot
ton by reason of last years short crop,
even full crop should this year COM
mand high prices and 81, 900, 900 at least
ought to be realized by southern growers
for their cotton crop of 1910.
1T is true that this years crop has
been costly to produce, because of the
shortage in the grain crop of the south
last year. During the winter and spring
southern farmers have had to buy many
millions of bushels of corn from the west
in excess of what the south usually buys.
because last years corn crop in much
of the south was very short. We always
at home. Fortunately an increased acre
age in corn and other grains and the as
surance of better yield per acre will
give to this section very much larger
grain production than last year. 1t is
alleged, and is probable, that the grain
crop of the south for 1910 will exceed
1000, ,000, 600 bushels, an increase of from
1500O0,0o0 to 200.0OO0OO bushels in excess of
last year.
There is no other agricultural product
in the world so carefully watched by the
financial and manufacturing interests of
this country and Europe as cotton. Upon
1t rests the prosperity of the greatest
manufacturing industry in the world ex-
oept iron and steel, the output of which
slightly exceeds the output of cotton
goods, measured in dollars.
ut is estimated that 2o,0O0OO0 persons
in Europe are absolutely dependent upon
the cotton industry, for which the south
furnishes the raw material. In the United
States there are about 27.0o0000 cotton
spindles, of which the south has about
100000. In the rest of the world there
are over 100,O10,0OO spindles which must
look mainly to the south for their raw
material.
Above all other products of the soil
or factory cotton holds the dominating
place in the foreign trade of the United
the financial interests of the country
must look for the balance OF the trade
in favor of this country upon which its
prosperity so largely depends. 1t is a well
known fact that notwithstanding the
enormous increase in the worlds gold
production of recent years, the value of
our cotton exports exceeds the total out
put of the worlds gold mines. In other
words, Europe could gather every ounce
aF eraII t,,tna In oy,d
into the south and 1t would not quite pay
for the south's bill against Europe for
its annual purchases of cotton from this
section.
Product UnUeveloped
1T is true that the south has not yet
in all the ramiflcations of its business life
won the full potentiality OF its cotton.
More and more, however, as the cotton
crop increases in value by reason of the
better prices ruling of recent years,
by the better marketing of cotton in
stead of its being rusned to the market
during the early fall months. this sec
ton is annually getting a better return
for the work of it's cotton growers. The
men who have shrugged for years to
supply the worlds requirements for cot
ton are at last beginning to come into
their own. Holding at this time practical
ly natural monopoly on the world S cot
wi pioduNtioii II 10 justly citititd W
larger profit on cotton than is made on
any other great agricultural crop of this
or any other land.
Southern cotton growers ought to be
financially the most Independent farmers
in the world. The proEc from this crop
ought to make the south the richest agr-
cultural region in the world. With such
a foundation, dominating as cotton grow.
ing does much OF the worlds commercial
and financial interests, the south ought to
the utmost of its ability cooperate WITH
farmers in securing the best prices for
cotton. The effort of bear spectators in
New York and in Europe, the effort of the
cotton spinners of Europe to beat down
the price OF cotton ought to be fought
by the united south with unceasing Wig
ilance
THE reports. constantly circulating
from abroad and in many northern pa
pers, that there Is danger of the south
losing its monopoly of the cotton trade
through the development, of cotton grow
ing In other sections is the veriest bosh.
The increasing demand for cotton will
take care of its increasing production,
in this country or abroad, but
nowhere in the world is there in sight
any serious competition with southern
for the next quarter or
a century
New Markets Created
'"rhe development OF the business in
tcrests of the world, every line of new
established, the advance of civil
ization in the east, all combine to create
new markets for cotton goods. Only a
few weeks ago I was told in Boston by
the agent of some Georgia mills that he
had just sold 100000 yards of cotton
duck to one manufacturer of automobile
tops. The development of the automobile
is creating very great demand
for cotton, both in manufacturing tops
and in making tires.
THE development of the cement in
dustry, the marvel of the industrial world,
is creating new demand for cotton for
the making of bags in which cement is
packed. The same Boston man who told
me of the sale of 100000 yards of cotton
duck stated that the cement to be used
in the construction of the Panama canal
would require the making into bags of
20G 900 balees of cotton. These are only
Indications of the new uses to which cot
ton is being put.
Increasing diversity or uses means a
broader markte for cotton and ought to
insure a permanency of higher prices.
1.-THE fight for high prices for cotton Is
not simply fight of tie southern farm
ers. The growers are themselves not
more deeply interested I'm good prices for
cotton than is every business interest in