The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-26

anxious to prevent cotton from reaching
the territory of its enemies? Some have
said that 1t is for commercial reasons.
that the government Is actuated by a de-
sire to depress the value OF cotton in or
der that British spinners may obtain their
stocks at a low cost. This theory does
not stand in the cold light of reason.
Modern science within recent years has
caused cotton to become the basis of
the explosives which are absolutely neces.
sary In modern warfare. Cotton is used
In the manufacture of smokeless pow
der and In the production of the high
explosives used by heavy field artillery
and by the great guns on the mammoth
battleships of the navies of the present
day.
THE statement has been made that
every time a hattleship of the class of
the Queen Elizabeth goes into action that
II bales of cotton are consumed. 1t is
impossible to form an estimate of the
amount of cotton that Is used in the man.
ufacture Of explosives. Belligerent ma
lions guard this secret closely, but our
own government. through the census bu-
reau. is making careful Investigations and
/ understand that as soon as possible
an estimate will be made public, giving
the amount of cotton consumed for war
purposes. including not only that used
In making propulsive explosives, but the
amount required lot ot1pT purposes Oh
war. such wearing apparel for troops.
for tents and for hospital and Red Cross
uses.
Unofficial Estimates
Many unofficial estimates have been
made of the amount of cotton used for
these purposes, but they are practically
of no value. as the estimates for explo-
sives alone vary from 100000 to 3,000,0O0
bales a year. The figures that have been
available so far relate to the ordinary
commercial consumption of cotton and
are somewhat misleading. The amount
of raw cotton in sight, when considered
as a factor In the determination of prices,
must be supplemented by knowledge
of the stocks of manufactured goods on
hand and by spme idea of the amount of
clothing, made entirely or partly of cot
ton, on the backs and In the wardrobes of
the ultimate consumers. My information
Is that at the present time manufactured
stocks In the hands of merchants are
small and In view of the severe econo-
mics that have been practiced through
out the world during the past IA months
1t Is reasonable to assume that supplies
OF clothing in the hands of the wearers
are not large. The very uses to which
cotton is now being put, which have re-
suited In its being declared contraband.
Indicate a consumption of cotton which
is of great Importance in estimating the
worlds requirements.
while the cotton used for clothing and
other commercial purposes is not finally
consumed until the goods wear out, in
volving a period sometimes of two or
three years, the cotton that is used In ex-
plosives goes up in smoke forever the very
instant a gun is fired. There is reason to
believe that both the Germans and the
allies are watching keenly the present
cotton situation-that Germany Is as anx-
ious to have cotton as the allies are to
prevent her from obtaining 1t, and 1t is
not inconceivable that there may be EVIL
dences before very long of international
for the possession of the
sonth's great staple. 1t Is at least posi- |
bility that cotton will be purchased in
large quantities for foreign account and
stored in the warehouses of the south, to
be shipped out as needed and as oppor-
tunities for shipments arise. No one has
ever accused the Germans of being lack
Ing In far sightedness. Their ability to
look into the future and to provide for
every contingency Is marvellous. They are
already looking forward to what will hap |
pen when peace is restored and that they |
will make supreme effort to recover
their lost trade with other nations can |
not be doubted. Is 1t reasonable to be- ]