The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-09-29
IMPORTS OF COTTON INTO THE
UNITED STATES

1t SENS strange to see the greatest
cotton producing country in the
world bringing raw cotton half way
around the globe and importing 1t
for use in her own manufacturing
Industries. It is nevertheless fact
that the United States, which pro-
duces practically two-thirds Of the
worlds cotton, brought from China
during the last fiscal year (1911)
more than nine million pounds of
raw cotton, at cost in that country
of more than one million dollars, and
from India In 1910 ABOUT 53x million
pounds, at valuation of more than
a half million dollars. Other dis
tant sections of the world were, also
drawn upon-Peru, ~ million
pounds in 1910; Dutch East Indies,
nearly half million pounds in 1909;
Haiti. nearly a half million pounds,
in 1911; while other contributors in
clude Venezuela, Ecuador, British
West Indies, Santo Domingo. Mexico,
Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica;
while from Egypt, the chief source
of supply Of long stapled. high grade
cotton, the imports in 1911 were
larger than in any earlier year,
amounting to SSmillion pounds. In
addition to this there was imported
from England about ~ million
pounds, presumably chiefly East In
dian, Egyptian and West African,
since England, of course, produces
no cotton. Raw cotton importations
in 1911 were larger than in any ear
lier year. amounting to 113,768,313
pounds, valued at 23,776,320.
High prices of domestic cotton are
the cause of the large increase in
importation of cotton, especially that
from China and India. The Quantity
Of cotton imported from China never
reached quarter of million pounds
prior. TO 1908. and in 1909 was prac.
tically " million pounds, in 1910
Az million and in 1911, 9 million
pounds. From India the quantity
impofted seldom reached half mix
lion bounds prior to 1908, in which
year 1.-THE total was tht ee 4auartersso
million pounds; in 1870. 5,k mil
lion and in 1911, 2 " millions. ,Tht
Chipase and Indian cottons are d
a rule of SHORTER staple than that q
the United States, and as q conse
Quenee are rated at somewhat low
er price i'm the worlds markets, fac
which accounts for the large growth
in the importation of these cotton
in the, recent years In which .Arneri
can cotton has demanded exceptional
ly high prices. On the other hand
Egyptian cotton which is Of l0nge
staple, higher quality. and Therefore
higher in price than that of the Uni
ted .Saates, still forms q large pro
portion of the imports. the quantit!
imppfted direct from Egypt in 191.
being sS million pounds out of alto
tai Iof ia million pounds imported
in tnat year. and its value 20M mil
lion edollars, out Of the PAX million
dollars worth Of cotton importeds <
Cotton Importation has shown
steady if not rapid growth, special!
during the last 20 years. Priof9 Il
the Civil war the quantity importe,
seldom reached more than one mil
| lion pounds per annum. Duringsth'
war the quantity imported was quit
large, ranging as high, as SO million
pounds in 1865, but dropping to 81.
million pounds in 1856 and less thar
one million pounds In 1867. B.
1870 the total importation OF cottol
was on and two-thirds million
pounds; In 1880, 3h millions; il
1890. 8k millions; in 1900, 81 mil
1890, Sh millions; in 1900, 81 mil
lions; in 1910, Sc millions and ID
1911, 113 million pounds.