The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-07-31
OBTAINING
RAW COT TON
APROBLEM
OUTLOOK IN REGARD TO FUTURE
SUPPLY FOR THE LANCASHIRE
MILLS A SERIOUS PROBLEM -
DEPENDENT ON EXPORT TRADE

Manchester. England, July 3t -.
Correspondence of the Associated
Prcss) The outlook in regard to fu-
ture supply Of raw cotton for the great
Lancashire mills is serious, according
to Chairman Hutton of the Council OF
British Cotton Growing associations.
Mr.. Hutton says:
"The demand of the world for cot
ton is going to increase, and partic-
ularly from America, which country,
thanks TO the war, is now getting a
very strong hold on the export trade.
This means that every year when sup
plies are short there is going to be n
scramble for cotton and we can be
sure that America will not go short.
and that Great Britain, as the next
largest consumer, will be the greatest
sufferer. The situation Is one to
cause the gravest anxiety. l do not
think one can exaggcrate its serious
ness. Unless we can build up new
supplies in other parts of the world
can see most serious losses facing
the Dagcashire cotton trade, and it
may be that Lancashire will perma-
nently lose a very large proportion OF
our export trade. If that should hap
pen many of our mills will have to
close and large proportion of the
population must migrate.
"The Lancashire cotton industry is
mainly dependent on the export trade
probably to the extent of four-ffths
Of the machinery employed. IL has
to meet the competition of the whole
world and in the past this has been
done by producing articles finer and
superior in quality than our cOmpeti-
tors can produce. For this we must
have supplies of the longer, finer and
better qualities of cotton.
Lancashire is dependent on Amer
ica for S3.7 per cent of the cotton re-
qured for the spindles, which have
increased from 10000 looms to $780,
600 and as America consumes more
every year it means short time and
other difficulties for Lancashire mills
besides shrinkage in exports of cot
ton goods"
Great Britain, according to Mr.. Hut
ton, is not obtaining the same proper
ton of the American crop as former
Iy. In the period 1S90-1S95 Great
Britain took 3G.5 per cent of the Ann
erican crop but for the period 1910
1915 it was only 25.6 per cent This
is accounted for by the greatly in
creased consumption on the part OF
America and if the cotton trade OF
the world is to be in a position to
meet the natural increase in the dc
mand, an increased production every
year of at least 500, 900 bales is neces-
sary.
Regarding the possibilities of cot
ton grown within the British empire,
Mr.. Hutton considers these are good
but the war has set back the scheme
for increasing such growth in various
parts. India grows hardly any cot
ION suitable to the Lancashire trade;
Egypt produces the sort required but
in insufficient quantities; Uganda cot
ton is all that could be desired, but
the trade received severe handicap
by the war. Nigeria shows the best
possibilities, with a production of 20,-
600 bales, but here again the diff
Guilty is to establish good variety
which will make the industry profit
able TO the native.
In urging the government to imme-
date action and TO consider the ques-
ton of grants he says "the Lancashire
cotton trade is faced with most ser
ous difficulties and even with pos
sible ruin, and there is not a momene
10 be lost"
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