Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-04
From Other Viewpoints
The World IL Cotton Hungry.
DI CLARENCE oNsLEY.

In the importation Of cotton from the United
states English manufactures. full year
after the aTmis;ice. were only 60 per cent os
the rfe-war normal. Tho percentage now Is
mrch lower in continental Europe. but unless
,n-'e IS further collapse Of European credit
our exports should increase from year to year
as they have Increased during tho last fe y;
months
Before tho war Germany and Austria took
approximately 100000 bales year From
1915 70 1915 Inclusive they took none; they
WIZ not reach pre.wa1 normal for several
c-oase. .-"
Japan's tak:ngs have grown from ass44o in
l'ti TO s"'.ai3 in 1919. Japan is expanding
c'nn.y IN cotton manufactures. ms In other
industries. and ~ selling her goods in Eastern
trrfiior' s.erh'otoTe controlled by England.
Our normal prcwar exports may be rourn-
- rccEoned n. 100000 to 10. 00O 900 bales a
year Th"y dropped during the war until they
reached the minimum of f.iGl.0p0 bales. Per-
maps IL VIII he five years-poss;hiy longer
before they get back TO the pre-yar normal
and during this period American manufacture
ers have their opportunity
In 1913 81. Charles Macsra presiaent NJ The
Master Cotton Sp!nners' Federation satd that
there we're 10000. os0 people in the world half
clad and 100000 900 no, clad nj all The war
put more In rags. 1t would seem ficf1cult un-
der present European indust rial conhitjons 70
Inrnish Irore dry goods th1n she world needs
me iimt Is tho ability 10 bu?. That really is
n serious question $500 80
with the European world impoverisbed
prices are an important factor in cnus,iJoo,ion
Our e.52l.ooo bales o. exports in iai1 bronrht
us S6i0.0o0.o00: our 5.525o00 bales In 1aIa
brought us 1878 900. 900. hut out da of Jruron
there is comparative prosperity instead Of
poverty. go -
With England ma nufnc.rrink n tbIrd ,.ss
l'"n normal with Germany rnanutoc,urinp
none for export Japan In making Y.rioi,. in
roads upon Europc's cotton goods tr,da In
ASIA and II wonld seem to bchoove American
innnnfhctusers 10 look to the South hmerjcen
he'd. There is no need to be afraid OF Iack
oi supply os raw cotton. ~
! our Increase OF active spndlcs far IN. ~,
years following the outbreak Of tho E,rrn,a,,
war was not so great az for the nve vcar.
precc"ihR' In the first five year nerIoS v.n
Increased from 2B.0lS.360 TO 32I0I 10. "a ~.
second period from 32.io1..72 TO 31.Slo nm
forciEn spindlcu increased during ,bn a,
I'VE ye.rS from l12i9s.3sG to lIS.32II o on
mat our gam VAS much the Erentcr or coursa
u was diihcult 10 get machinery dur,ne
inc war. aad until the lost year or 40 marc
was more or less uncertainty as to Eu-nnn..
hha' condition and ultimate recovery
Ana yet the cotton planter has NOT nros
pered s" much ~ the uniformed would IN ,sr
from the advance OF IL I-3 cents nnurh g.
1919 to approximately 40 cents /, povnn ~
1919 Tine ratio OF advance In dry goods ha |.
been Greater. and the rnlnufpcturr- has no,de
larger proht upon his capital than III. cot .
ton producer has made. Upon the cor,,.r.
lively small average Yield in 1919 (du4
u unfavorah!e wnkther) the cost OF nroduc
ZION was very high. Cotton picking fharye,t
ins) alone In large part last year cos, aroun5
cents pound. The producer who raised no