The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-31
PERU UOFFERS GREAT
POSSIBILITIES FOR
GROWING COTTON
Long Staple Said to Flourish
on Lands Near the
SeacOast
MUST GET SEED FROM
SOUTHERN STATES
Though Industry Is Growing Rapidly
It Is Felt That Peru Will Not
Become Serious COMPETE
tor of the South
by HOLLAND

John Bassett Moore, who is now the ex-
pert authority in the state department
al Washington. was one of the represen-
tatives OF the United States at the GEN.
teflnial celebration which was held in Ar
gentina some three years ago. Moore re-
turned to the United States by way of the
transcontinental railroad which sur
mounts the Andes and connects Chile with
Argentina. He visited such considerable
portions of Chile and Peru as enabled
him to tell his friends upon his return
some highly interesting things. Among
other experiences which he told was one
relating to a demonstration made to him
of the growing and manufacture of cot
ton. especially In Peru.
DR.. Moore might have obtained some of
this information before he departed from
New York for Argentina. The interna-
ticnal mercantile house of W. r. Grace
& Co. has for some years invested capl-
tai in cotton manufacturing in Peru. The
late William r. Grace. who was the
founder of this house, and who was twice
mayor of New York city. was persuaded
at least 20 years ago that the time was
not far distant when Peru would become
q great cotton growing and a great cot
ton manufacturing republic. There were
some obstacles to overcome. Mr.. Grace
used to say to his friends, but these are
not serious. There are millions of acres
OF land in Peru especially adapted to
cotton raising. Many of these lands lie
along the coast. 1t was Mr.. Grace's be-
lief that the great development of cotton
rcising and manufacture in Peru would
be of upland cotton. That is long
fibered cotton and is especially adapted
to the manufacture of muslin.
There is no likelihood that cotton culti-
walton and manufacturing in Peru will
at any time seriously compete with cot
ton raising and manufacturing in the
south. 1t is more likely to supplement
the industry of the southern states and
IL is not improbable that soon after the
Panama canal is open to navigation
american manufacturers may be import
ing a special quality of upland cotton, for
these manufacturers are already COM
PEELED to look outside the United States
Tor cotton fiber of a peculiar quality not
grown elsewhere in this country than
upon the sea islands. There were when
Br. Moore visited Peru cotton factories
at Lima, one at least at Arequipa and
one at lea. The output from these fac
tories is kind of muslin which finds
4 ready market in Peru.
Exporting Cotton Seeds
Il the United States imports cotton of
q peculiar fiber grown in the uplands of
Peru, we may offset this Importation to
some extent by exporting cotton seed to
Peru. There seems to be a popularity of
the Peruvian climate which causes the
cotton grown in that country somewhat
to change its characteristics after five or
six years--that is to say, cotton grown
from the seed OF the cotton plant I'm
Peru. That is a difficulty which is the
least of those which the cotton planters
OF the United States meet with. There
fore, the Peruvian planters, or some of
them, send to the United States for the
purpose of importing cotton seed for
planting in Peru.
One of these planters is now in this
city. He has paid a visit to several of
the states which raise cotton and he has
purchased a good deal of seed. He was
acquainted years ago with William r.
Grace, and it is likely that from him Mr..
Grace obtained his first information re-
srecting the resources of Peruvian soil
and climate so far as these are related
to the cultivation and manufacture of
cotton. Today there are a little over 100
cotton plantations inaPeru, and when they
have a good year, as they usually do.
they raise about Ice. 900 bales In the aggre-
gate. Few persons in the United States
realize that one of our neighbors in South
America is rapidly developing the cotton
planting and cotton manufacturing indus
try. The Peruvian planter who is now in
New York reported that some of the long
staple cotton which is grown in Peru is
bought by American cotton manufactur-
ers. but the greater part of the yearly
product goes to Europe. II Peru con-
tinues to raise long staple cotton almost
exclusively the American cotton planters
need have not the slightest apprehension
that they will be compelled to meet Sc
we're competition. But four or five years
after the opening OF the Panama canal it
is likely that great increase of expor-
tation of Peruvian long staple cotton,
principally to France and Great Britain,
will be reported.
The Peruvian planters find great i'm
provement within the past six or seven
years not only in the American cotton belt
methods. but also in the quality of Amer
lean cotton seed. The planter from Lima
who is now in New York said to his
friends in this city that while in the cot
ton growing states recently he bought
good deal of excellent seed. some Of
which he found in Texas and some In
Mississippi
What the Canal Will Do
This planter is enthusiastic in his fore
casts of the trade relations which will de-
velop between the United States and Peru