The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-04

Statistics are dry things al best
but with the attention or the entire
population OF this country turned 20
the cotton growing industry, because
OF the prevailing low price OF the
staple due to the European war and
the accompanying financial distress In
the southern or cotton producing
states, a brief history OF the indus
try In the Imperial valley OF Calf.
fornia. will be OF general interest.
IL may at the same time offer a pos
sible remedy for o recurrence OF the
present deplorable condition by slim
ulating the growing OF the long
staple or Egyptian variety.
For the information OF the unin-
itiated, II Is we'll TO explain that the
Imperial Valley proper comprises that
stretch Of country, extending, from
the main line OF the Southern PACING
railway on the north, some ~ odd
miles to the Mexican line on the
south and on down into lower or
"Baja" California, province OF our
neighboring republic.
IL Is bounded on the west by the
Sierra Nevada mountains and on the
east by the Colorado river, with an
average width of approximately 6o
miles.
That portion In Mexico is included
| In what Is termed Imperial Valley.
II is practically all below the sea
level and the water for irrigation pur.
poses Is supplied by the Colorado
river flowing down from the Grand
Canyon OF Arizona.
Now q word as to the long staple
variety of cotton. While the war has
greatly reduced the expectation OF
cotton, yet 1t Is the short staple pro
Queer who has suffered The common
law OF supply and demand has played
havoc with that variety.
The largest cotton crop ever pro
duced In the United States was
ginned the past year. With our for
eign market, which consumes annual
! ly about 55 per cent OF our cotton. cul
of, disastrous low prices were In
cvitabte.
| The supply of long staple cotton
however. is not as great as the de
mand. Our finest materials arr
made from that variety. The United
States cannot supply It's own demant
and this gives stable market a
home Independent or foreign conditions
! The. raising OF cotton In the I'm
perial Valley really dates from abou
1908. In the spring OF that year Ira
Elton planted Ave acres just north o.
FL Centre, the yield averaging a bale
to the acre. From that small begin
ming the cotton industry grew II
leaps and bounds as the following
figures will show.
/ In 1909, $50 bales were produced
In 1910, 1000 bales; In 1911, 800,
bales, the latter on an acreage o
12.OO0 acres. Next year the Durango
long staple cotton attracted the at
ltention OF experienced growers ant
experiment with that seed followed.
But $500 acres were planted II
l1912. but the yield totaled 1900 bale.
ginned Almost bale to the acre o
a long staple variety commanding I
better market price because OF Its
finer quality. As the acreage produc
ton increased, II seemed to. OFFER con
elusive evidence to other prospective
settlers OF the possibilities OF the cot
/ ton industry.
| Result---a total acreage OF 21,50'
acres in 1918, and production o
81 900 bales. II was OF a quality fal
above par and the crop represented
a value of about s2,5O0.000 to the I'm
perial Valley.
Sit up and take notice. you blacl
land cotton growers of North Texas
A bale to the acre grand average ant
Is cents or better for your product.
The past year. 1914. there was So.
900 acres in cotton In the Imperia
Valley--2S.0 900 or IL In the United
States. and approximately $4,000 JUS