The Republican journal., 1921-02-03
KING COTTON.

All our enormous domestic need of this
staple and practically all the surplus
needed by the rest of the world is pro-
duced in eleven of our Southern States.
AS long ago as when Maine became
State, in 1920, these Southern States pro-
duced more than hundred million
pounds of cotton. III the ten following
years the production III creased three fold.
From 1880 to 1860 there was a four fold
further increase. During this last named
period Cotton is Kinb" was frequent
iy seen headline in the newspapers and,
in political sense, that statement was
absolutely true The Civil War dethron-
ed King Cotton, politically, and since
then only MS household servitors have
bent the knee at his political command.
Cotton is wonderful crop. Almost
verybody knows Thu It it furnishes the
greater part of the world's clothing, but
comparatively few know of its great
value as food. The cotton boil when
picked on the plantation contains the cot
ton fibre and the seed of the plant The
ginning process separates these except
that there is left on the seed covering
Of soft fibres known Tin trade as linters
which are removed by a!different process.
The net result is thaf on an average,
fr0m each bale of coiton 900 pounds)
sent to market there ehave been taken
about las pounds of later and about H.
600 pounds of cotton seed. The Inter is
used in making high explosives, in absor-
bent cotton and in the best grades of
cotton batting. The COTTON seed oil, ex-
pressed from the seed; is used as food
in many different combinations. We con-
sumo it in olive oil, which is said to be
genuine, in leaf lard said to be pure and,
more or less disguised, 1--we partake of it
in many other products and find 1T to be
healthful We use it in our soap and find
it TO be satisfactory and sanitary. It's use
today is limited only by the supply.
About 90 per cent of the edible fats
OF oils produced in this country come
from cotton-seed oil. After the oil has
been pressed from the seeds the residue is
put on the market in the form of cotton
seed meal which is extensively used in
feeding farm stock.
In 1919, E, 800, 266, 900 pounds of baled
cotton were produced in the United
States. The average price throughout
the year was 287 cents pound. The
value of this was Sl,813, 897, 342 The
weight of the tlinters was 540,0O0,0OO
pounds, having5sa value of S2l6 900, 900;
the weight of cotton-seed smeal was g.
600, 600 tons, value $l26, 600, 900; the oil
produced was valued at $24O, OOO,O
making a. total. value Iof.four cctton crop,
in one year, little morej than So, $685.
100000.
Our exports of raw. cotton, cotton
manufactures, linters, cotton-seed oil
and meal amount to 81, 1913, 600, 900. In
the year immediately preceding the
World War ten cents W bs considered to
be fairly remunerative price for a
pound of raw cotton. In 1915 the aver
age price for the year was GO cents a
pound and in 1920 the average price was
IS. g cents pound. The United States
has about one-sixteen'k of the popula-
ton of the world, and produces about
two-thirds of the worlds entire supply
of cotton and its byproducts. CONNER
cIally, Cotton is King. His domain is the
world and his throne is established in
the southern part of the; United States.
He rules with the arrogance of despot
and has the conscience of profiteer.