The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-23

PSA oNiS 10 cApSCecu. Inc planting
is done in March and April and thu
growing crop is irrigated four or FIVE
time during the season. The cos
per bale, up to the time of picking
averages SIS. The cost of picking
is SIS per bale. This work is done
by mixed races of people, and the
indications are that sufficient of such
will be available. Adding to the above
figures 50 per bale for extras gives
a total cost per bale of $35. During
most of the season of 1909 the cotton
was marketed at $40 per bale, which
made net profit of $35 per bale
II these figures are maintained this
year and the yield reaches an. aver
age of two bales per acre, the hand
some net profit of $40 per acre will
be realized.
The cotton planted in 1909 was of
standard southern short-staple varie-
ties and the quality produced was the
very best The fiber is stronger than
that of similar varieties grown in the
south and the spinners report that il
will spin thread SO per cent longer
than the usual southern product. But
experiments conducted by individu-
ais and government experts show that
Egyptian or long-staple cotton can be
successfully grown in the Imperial
valley. Up to the present no other
place has been found in the United
States which will grow this variety.
This country imports annually $751;
100000 worth of Egyptian cotton for
particular uses to which the short
staple variety is not suited. An in,
creasingly large acreage will be plant.
ed to this variety from year to year,
as acclimated seed can be obtained,
and the growers expect that in the
comparatively near future this $751;
100000 will be diverted to the I'm
perial country.
There are over 100000 acres in
Imperial valley, about one-half of
which is available for farming pur-
poses when irrigated. Practically all
of this land will grow cotton and most
of it is the richest n the world. For
countless ages the overflow of the
muddy Colorado river deposited it's
silt and formed soil to depth not
yet ascertained, although borings of
1000 feet have been made. To this
richness of the soil is added an in
exhaustible supply of water for irri-
cation obtained from the Colorado
river.
The Imperial valley, moreover, pos
sesses several distinct advantages over
other sections in producing cotton.
There is no excessive or destructive |
rainfall to stain the bolls or beat |
hem down into the dirt. The crop
N every process of it's harvesting can
be handled in the open field and the
expense of buildings to protect the
,rop is practically eliminated. There
S no early frost to retard the ripening
Dr. stop the picking and the most i'm
oortant of all, there is no boll-weevil
% prey upon the crop and there never
will be any, as it cannot exist and
propagate itself in the dry climate.
The conditions which so often mean
allure for cotton growers in the
south are unknown in the Imperial
yalley.
The capital necessary to finance
his new enterprise in southern Cal
fornia is being supplied as the in
lustry developes. Capitalists in sew.
sral sections are watching the cotton
PRODUCTS of the Imperial valley with
treat interest. Not only have COM
jdIllcS uccu OISdulZcu W plduI duu |
row the cotton but mills have been
established to handle the manufacture
if cotton and its by-products. Out
tide dealers and manufacturers are
eported to be negotiating for pOr-
ion of the crop, some of them as far
Instant as Japan and Germany. There
S an almost unlimited demand for
otton and cotton-seed products. Los
Angeles alone at present consumes
800 carloads of. cotton-seed oil an
lually, for which it pays million
lollars 1t is said that the world
reeds today 100000 bales more
If cotton than it did five years ago,
because of the many new uses to
which cotton has recently been put.
f the whole Imperial valley were
,lanted to cotton it would not materi-
lily affect the cotton markets of the
world, as the demand Is SO great.
With a ready market, therefore, in
yb ;oh RI dicpoco ~ tho oron tho non