Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-24
PLANNING To INCREASE
COTTON CROP IN ASIA
Textile Manufacturers in Gen.
trail Asia Planning Enter
prise to Increase Yield

Moscow textile manufacturers are
contemplating a new cotton enterprise
in Central Asia to exploit the valley OF
Shirabad, in southern Bokhara. 1t is
proposed to start with capital Of
$7,5OO.OOO to irrigate the valley and to
adapt it for cotton plantations.
Experiments in cotton culture have
lately been made in this district by en-
gineers, who for this purpose rented
5000 acres from the Ameer of Box
hara, and achieved excellent results.
Among others they experimental with
seeds of Egyptian cotton, and, in the
opinion of experts the product is in no
way inferior to the cotton OF Egypt.
This fact has much interested the Mos
COW manufacturers. Citizens of Mos
cow together with several foreign en-
gineers, visited the plantations and
were favorably impressed by the re-
suits obtained from Egyptian seed.
In consequence Of cotton culture in
the valley of Shirabad. 10000 bales or
cotton will be added to the market ev-
cry year, which will have an immediate
influence on the price and, at the SAINT
time on Russia's dependence in Ameri-
ca. On the other hand, the develop
ment of industrial life in that part or
Bokhara will create a new market for
the sale of Russian goods A sample
of Egyptian cotton plant raised in Shi-
rabad will be received in this city soon
and will be thoroughly Investigated by
the Moscow manufacturers, after
Al
raising Egyptian varieties of cotton
will be finally decided. Besides Egyp-
tian cotton, American varieties have
also been cultivated in this valley and
have been exported to Russia to the
amount of $50 carloads per annum.
BOKHARA CONCESSIONS-EXP
The principal promoter of cotton Gull
ture in the valley of Shirabad has Sc
cured concession from the ameer Of
Bokhara for the exploitation of 200, 900
acres for the period of 100 years. The
concessionaire is entitled to the use Of
the water from the river Soorham Ca
tributary of the ANU Darya) to the
amount of SO cubic feet per second. This
supply of water will, it is thought, bring
new life into the district, :.
The Valley of Shirabad presents most
favorable conditions for the culture of
cotton. 1t is 200 miles south of Ferg-
hama, and, according to the data of the
last eight years, there is an average of
100 cloudless days per annum, while av-
erage in Ferghana is only $50. The
organizers of this new enterprise pro-
pose to settle about 10000 families in
this district, aIlotting Is acres to each
for cultivation of cotton.
It is estimated that the Central Asia
cotton crop for the season 1928 will
amount to 13,425,000 gross pools (4S4,-
800, 500 pounds) OF this quantity s.
500, 900 pools (306, 900 pounds) will
be exported from Ferghana Including
the Inter and the "old"J cotton) 1t is
expected that exports from Tashkend
will aggregate 500, 600 pools (2s,8S9, 600
pounds); from Samarkand, IT'S, 900 pools
(27, $50, 800 pounds; from the Bokhara
district together with the cotton from
Persia and Khiva), 1900, 900 pools (4S,-
1884, 900 pounds.) The Khiva district is
also expected to export $50. 900 pools Co.
416.SOO pounds) via Tashkend. OF the
entire crop it is believed that 100000
pools will pass through Krasnovodsk
and 6,625, 900 pools through Tashkend
The Central Asia Railway states the
amount of cotton exported from Central
Asia last year was 12,300,OOO pools
(444,177, 900 pounds.)
MARKET neutrality-suspicious..
According to telegraphic reports the
total quantity of American cotton that
passed through the gins up to October
10, 1912, was 6,S39,000 bales, or about
600, 900 bales less than in the previous
year. This circumstance gave rise to
the supposition that the entire Ameri-
can crop would not exceed 100000
bales, in consequence of which there
were many speculative transactions in
Liverpool, New York and New Orleans.
The Russian market, however, has re-
Gently been quiet The scarcity of
money and the enormous capital neces-
sary for the purchasing in Central Asia
have caused the dealers to refrain from
further transactions and to quote high
prices to the manufacturers.
The latter, on the other hand, do not
willingly pay a higher price in view of
the situation of the market for manu-
featured goods. According to the opinion
of the majority of manufacturers there
is no reason for haste in purchases, as
many manufacturers are provided with
cotton until Easter, while others have
contracts for Russian and American cot
ton as far as next summer. Prices have
shown considerable variation.
The weather in Central Asia continues
dry, warm and in general exceptionally
favorable for the cotton plantations.
Such a warm autumn has not been OBJ
served in Central Asia for many years.
Under these circumstances the estimate
which places the Ferghana crop at $780,
900 bales will not be an exaggerated
one. In Transcaspia a crop of 10000
bales of fiber is expected.-Texas Farm
and Fireside.