Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-11
First, Egypt's cost of production IL

First, Egypt's cost of production in
the ratio to the value Of her COM
modify is much lower than Americas.
Secondly, Egypt's output varies but
little from year to year and is capable
Of but slight expansion, and Is, there
fore, more or less fixed factor Of
great economical potentiality.
Thirdly, an influential and predom-
mating group Of large planters are in
cordial sympathy with Americas pur-
pose to establish more intelligent
system Of marketing.
1--WE have reason to hope that
Egypt will join In any effort the cot
ton states may initiate to establish
an interstate and international bureau
of. cotton intelligence for the pro-
motion of more efficient production
and more economical marketing.
Bureau Of Cotton Information.
In this connection we earnestly
recommend that the principal cot
ton states Of the Union create the Of
fee Of cotton commissioner and that
such commissioners together consti-
tute themselves as a bureau of cotton
information, with special reference to
consumption and the extended use Of
cotton goods, and that other cotton
growing countries be invited to have
representation in such bureau to the
end that intelligent information may
be furnished the producers for their
guidance in adjusting supply to de-
mand, and that the demand for our
great staple product may be stimu-
lated. We are confident that such a
bureau would operate as q practical
insurance against either over-produc-
ton or under production and yet pre-
vent abnermally high prices, to the
injury and hardship Of consumers.
."Egypt's comparatively low cost Of
production, notwithstanding her anti
quated methods of cultivation, her
heavy expense Of conversion from
seed cotton to spindle lint, is mat
ter of serious concern to America. for
Egypt is able under present condi-
tions to produce her superior quality
of cotton, worth now 1S to 40 cents a
pound, at about IL "a cents a pound,
compared with American cost Of 10
to IL cents a pound. worth now II to
12a cents" they state.
No Greater than American Cost.
American cotton growers must
face the fact that the Egyptian crop
is produced at a cost approximately
no greater than American cost, and
yet the Egyptian cotton, by reason Of
superior quality. sells for about 8
cents q pound more. In other words,
decline of cents pound below
the current market price would still
leave fair profit to Egyptian pro-
ducers and would not cause any re-
duction in the Egyptian output, while
such a decline would carry American
cotton below the cost Of production,
and we know from sad experience
how difficult 1t is under the present
methods and conditions Of tenant
farming in the United States to ad-
Just supply to demand. Therefore,
it behooves American cotton growers
to reduce the cost of production by
more intense cultivation, by the use
and development Of varieties Of su-
perior staple, and especially by elimi-
mating the waste and graft in Ameri-
can methods Of sampling. baling and
marketing.
But while Egypt is somewhat a
menace in respect to her low cost OF
production, we are gratified to be able
to report a sympathetic attitude upon
the part Of the representative and in
fiuential Egyptian planters and the
British advisory administration OF
Egypt in respect to all the marketing
problems which concern the produ-
GERS of both countries alike, and es-
pecially with respect to securing ac-,
curate information concerning cot
ton consumption"