The Washington herald., 1920-04-17
BY JAMES III. COLLINS.

Lima. Peru. April 1s.-Taken out of
a Boston bank at five minutes no
tice and hustled down to Peru to buy
cotton for a New Hampshire mill.
That was what happened to Clarence
A. FISK when we got into the war
three years ago. He departed with
a beautiful, ignorance of cotton,
Peru and cotton mills. but that was
in his favor. because the business
had to be learned from the ground
Up.
For years the wonalancet mill at
Nashua, n. H. had been buying Pc
ruvian cotton through an agent in
Piura. Because it\had chsfacteris-
tics like no other cotton intthe world
it had become indispensable in its
company's product. There was rea-
son to believe that the concern with
which the mill had been doing busi-
ness in Peru was German. and that
our entry into the war would pre-
vent further dealings. So Harry H.
Blunt. Wonalancet's executive, bor-
rowed Fisk from the bank and sent
him off to establish new connections.
He is still in Peru and his experience
shows the value of direct dealing in
import as well as export matters.
The buying OF Peruvian cotton had
been in British and German hands.
This particular variety brings prices
so per cent higher than our own cot
ton on account of its peculiar quail
ity. Profits tackled on by the buyers
were not only outrageous. but addi-
tional profits were taken by inter
vening middlemen. Through direct
purchases it has been possible not
only to assure plentiful supplies
from the cream OF, the crop. but to
eliminate five different profits be-
tween the field and the mill. We
take about go per cent of the whole
crop of rough Peruvian"-4.ooo.oO 900
to 100000 pounds. England takes
virtually all the rest. While the
Germans were not active as export
ers. they sent hardly 100. 900 pounds
to the fatherland. When you cut
five profits out of a turnover like
that, with the stuff running to 65
cents a pound. it, mounts up into
money.
Many Varieties Grown.
Peru grows several varieties OF
cotton. but Peruvian rough is the
most famous. Our British cousins
are always specific in speaking of
the great American fiber. calling 1t
cotton wool" Peruvian rough is
real cotton wool. because its fiber Is
kinky and woollike. and spinners
find it peculiarly suitable for f1annels
and mixed fabrics. 1t Is the wool
nj - nd
20 per cent Of it Incorporated with
wool gives a fabric Of homogeneous
character. 1t has q staple averag-
ing one and three-eighths inches in
length. a diameter about twice that
of Texas cotton. and harsh quality
like wool. and Is seldom spun in the
United States except as a mixture
with wool. that being its best use.
1t. is almost universally spun on
wAolen machinery.
This was the cotton of the Incas.
native to the country. Other varie-
ties now grown in Peru were intro
duced by the Spaniards. With mil
lions of people to clothe. and abund-
ant labor for farming and irrigation
works, the Inca crops must have
been many times larger than Peru's
whole output OF cotton today. Fa-
hrics made from this staple have
been found in graves in the most re-
mote parts of the old Inca empire.
and after supplying their own needs
the Incas undoubtedly sold cotton to
peoples in the territory
that is now Brazil. Chile and even
Far over on the ANA
zon. in old graves. have been found
wrapped in cloth made of
this characteristic Peruvian cotton.
cutie different to the fine cottons
native to Brazil. and beside them
spindles and shuttles of stone, with
which II was spun and woven.
True Peruvian rough comes from
a limited area in the department of
Piura, irrigated by the Chira and
Piura rivers. and is shipped from the
port Of Payta. When the plant Is
grown in other regions, its charac-
ter changes to the inferior semi
rough. /" which is a shorter staple and
lacks the wiry barshness which