The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-05-25
RUSSIA ENCOURAGE.
COTTON GROWING
THAT GOVERNMENT PLANNING
EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE STAPLE.
RESULT OF THE GREAT WAR

rbo Area at Present Under Cotton Is
Estimated at 1,25O,OOO Acres. The
Average Yield Is Very High, About
900 Pounds of Lint Per Acre.
pETROGRAD.-One result of the
uor in the opinion of economists here
will he to emphasize the value of
Pnssia's native cotton crop to her
oo+ton manufacturing industries, and
4bora will certainly he renewed eff
forts on the part of the government
~ encourage the extension of the
crop.
The government already has plans
in hand for extensive developments in
+bie direction both in Russian Tur-
tostan and in Transcaucasia, these
boing the two principal cotton grow
ing districts.
In Turkestan cotton growing is
possible only under irrigation, which
is supplied by a number of rivers
flowing from the mountains into the
mains. Irrigation is said to have
been introduced here by the Chinese
in the first century of the christian
era. and some of the old works are
still in existence. The governments
nIans for further development in this
region include extensive engineering
works. which would nearly double
the area at present available for cot
ton cultivation.
Russia's Cotton Acreage.
The area at present under cotton
in Russia is estimated at 1880, 600
acres. The average yield is very
high, being given by one authority as
not less than 300 pounds of lint per
acre, as against 200 pounds in Amer
lea and 100 pounds in India. The
best districts are said to yield an av-
erage of about $50 pounds.
The development of cotton grow
ing has been fostered by the high i'm
port duty of nearly cents a pound
imposed upon imported cotton. The
Russian cotton growing districts are
the most northerly cotton growing
area in the world, being five degrees
further north than the limits Of cot
ton growing in the United States.
The native cotton is of rough staple,
similar to Indian cotton, but in Rus
STA as in many other parts OF the
world the cotton famine caused by
the American war between the states
led to attempts to extend the cult1va-
ton of the plant and to introduce
foreign varieties. Sea island seed was
first tried, but proved unsuitable.
Later on trials were made with
American upland seed which proved
successful 1t soon became acclima-
tized and was generally adopted
wherever possible on account of its
superior quality and higher yield.
Increase in Russian Crops.
increase
the most important contribution to
the world supply that has been made
by any country in the world, with
the possible exception of China, dur
ing the present century. In the fur
Their development of new cotton areas
there are two chief considerations,
labor and transportation. The labor
supply is already short, and the de-
hclency must presumably be supplied
by encouraging immigration from
other thickly populated parts of the
Russian empire. The immigration is
not likely to be accomplished with
out difficulties, for Turkestan only
became Russian about fifty years ago,
and the mixed population still regard
TIE russian as an alien conquerlng
race.
Better transportation facilities are
necessary, not only to bring the crop
TO market, but also to provide wheat
and other supplies for the increased
population. The basis for the neces-
sary transportation is already in eX-
IStence, however, both in Turkestan
and Trans-Caucasia. The Russian
6oFernment has developed a system
81 railroads running east and west
throughout Turkestan, linked up with
the Trans-Siberian line. Trans-Cau-
casa also has some excellent rail
ways, with similar connection with
'ue main Russian system.
Inc cotton crop of 1914 in Tur-
4AeStan and Trans-Caucasia is said to
nave been the largest on record,
amounting to as much as 1900, 1000
9ales. Prices have been well main
ttained, owing to the difficulty of OBJ
ts@lnlng supplies from abroad and the
Increased cost of transport from i'm
pOrtation points.