Arizona republican., 1918-10-29

the 'ocal situation, it could not antici- pate its purchases, and it therefore be- comes interesting to get an Eastern viewpoint of what these purchases may be and why they have been confined thus far to Sakellaridis Egyptian cot ton or Sea Island, and l again quote from the report of the Merchants Ma tlonal bank of Boston on this subject under date of October 21, as to the probable government requirements:
 One estimate that was circulated through the trade a month or so ago, and which was understood to have come from competent source, was that the governments requirements for balloon and airplane cloth next year would be 40,000,00O yards. It is easy to estimate, -hly at least. the amount of cotton required if the yard age Of the goods is known. Balloon cloth weighs something over five yards to the pound, and airplane cloth weighs ] about four yards. At least one-third waste is taken out of the cotton. As suming that the yardage is equally di- v1ded between the two classes of fab rlc, it may be readily calculated that 1 this quantity of goods calls for be- tween 30.000 and 35, 900 (400-pound) bales of Sea Island, or about 26,000 | (5OO-pound) bales of American -Egyp- tian, or 1S,000 (750-pound) bales of Sakellaridis. As stated, this is not an official estimate, and the amount of goods and cotton required by the gov ernment may prove much larger than this. But this would be sufficient for 10000 average sized balloons and 25,000 large bombing planes, 25,000 two- scatter | lighting planes and 25,000 one-Seater pursuit planes.
 The government allows the mills to use either Sea Island, Sakellaridis, or American Egyptian cotton, provid- ing that the goods which they make come up to the rigid specifications of the signal corps. But as a matter of actual practice, the manufacturers are making almost all of these goods out Of Sea lsalnd. The mill men know for a certainty what results they can get With Sea Island, and they do not feel so sure about the American Egyptian. As to Sakellaridis, there is very little of this cotton for sale in this country and manufacturers cannot be sure when they will receive any that they buy in Egypt owing to government control of the Egyptian cron and lack Of shipping. The mills cannot afford to take many chances of either imper- rections or delayed deliveries on air craft fabrics for the government, so they are making most of these goods out of Sea Island'
 It Needs to Be Known
 "The whole trouble with the situa . tiOn seems to be not the lack of the quality of the cotton grown here, but the fact that it's value is not yet suf- ficiently known among the mills of New England.
 This is no time for the growers to get panicky over the market, but il certainly is time for them. in a defi- nite, clear headed and vigorous man. ner, to outline ways and means for the improvement of the market.
 We have developed here an un- usually fine product. It no- becomes our business, rather than to allow g surplus to accumulate, to bring oul cotton to the attention of the manu- lecturers of fabrics, who can use oul product with more satisfactory results than they have been getting through the use of Sea Island cotton.
 The issue seems clear, and i prompt action is taken there seems nc reason why our market for this produc should not be greatly broadened."