Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-18
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
| Petrograd, May Lone result of the
war, in the opinion of economists and
manufacturers here, will be to en-
phasize the value Of Russias native
cotton crop to her cotton manuaetur-
| ing industries, and there will certain
| " be renewed efforts on the part OF
the government to encourage the eX-
tension Of the crop.
The Government already has plans
in hand for extensive developments
in this direction both in Russian
Turkestan and in Trans-Caucasia,
these being the two principal cotton
growing districts.
| In Turkestan, cotton growing is
possible only under irrigation. which
is supplied by a number of rivers
| flowing from the mountains into the
plains. 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 plans for
| further development in this region in
clude extensive engineering works,
which would nearly double the area at
present available for cotton cultiva-
| ton.
The area at present under cotton
! in Russia is estimated at 100000
| acres. The average yield is very high,
being given by one authority as not
less than 800 pounds Of lint per acre,
as against 200 pounds in America and
! 100 pounds in India. The best districts
are said to yield an average Of about
| $50 pounds.
The development Of cotton growing
has been fostered by the high import
duty Of nearly six cents a pound i'm
posed upon imported cotton. The
Russian cotton growing districts are
the most northerly cotton-growing
areas In the world, being five degrees
urther north than the limits Of cotton
growing in the United States. The
native cotton is of rough staple, sim
liar to Indian cotton, but In Russia
as in many other parts Of the world,
the cotton famine caused by the Am
erican Civil War led to attempts to
extend the cultivation Of the plant and
to introduce foreign varieties. Sea
Island seed was the first tried. but
proved unsuitable. Later on trials
| were made with American upland
seed. which proved successful. It soon
became acclinatized. and was gener-
ally adopted wherever possible, on ac-
count Of its superior quality and
higher yield.
The increase in the Russian crop is
world supply that has been made by
sya ~
possible exception Of China, during the
present century. In the further de-
velopment OF new cotton areas, there
are two chief considerations labor
and transportation. The labor supply
is already short and the deficiency
must presumably be supplied by en-
couraging immigration from other
thickly populated parts Of the Rus
sian empire. The immigration is not
likely to be accomplished without
difficulties, for Turkestan only became
Russian about so years ago, and the
mixed population still regard the Rus
sian as an alien conquering 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 Turkestau
and Trans Caucasia. The Russian
government has developed system of
railways, running east and west
throughout Turkestan. linked up with
the Trans-siberian line. Trans-Cau-
casia also has some excellent rail-
ways, with similar connection with the
main Russian system.
The cotton crop Of 1914 in Turkes-
tan and Trans Caucasia IL said to
have been the largest on record.