Arizona republican., 1921-04-29


 sarlous types of long staple cotton. howard M. Peek gave an interest ls talk Wednesday at the monthly luncheon of the Merchants and Man ! nIacturers' association. His address follows.
 In order to understand better my later remarks on the present situa- ton, it might be well to give a short history of long staple cotton coming in competition with our Pima cotton today.
 Sea Island cotton, in which my 25 years experience in long staple was gained, deserves mention because Egyptians had its beginning from Sea Islands and Pima from Egyp- tians- Sea Island cotton was found a native of the West Indies at the time of the discovery of this coun- try. This cotton is now raised on the islands adjacent 10 Charleston, $. C., and on the mainland of Georgia and Florida. The true islands grown on the islands adjacent to Charles ton is superior to that grown in Georgia and Florida. The special crop from these islands supplied to the French spinners for the lace trade (before the German occupation of Lil1e) was the finNst cotton grown. It measured 2 to 2A inches in length and was spun as high as 300 to 340 count. i. e., one pound of yarn meas uring 240,000 to 272,000 yards, or farther than from Phoenix to Pres cott- The demand for this cotton at no time exceeded 1000 to 1,500 bales. Crops from the same planta- tions were shipped to the same mills year after year and market conditions did not effect this cotton as they did the coarser qualities. The Carolina islands also produced about 5000 to 10000 bales of cotton not quite so good. but which were used in the highest numbers of thread and in the best of silks, never in tires. Before the automobile tire the bulk of the Sea Island cotton crop-that raised on the mainland-was used for mak ing thread and in fine goods.
 The advent of the tire brought new uses for Sea Islands. The big thread companies, at one time users of two thirds of the crop. discontinued the use of Sea Islands in threads except for very fine numbers and confined their purchases to the larger crop of Egyptians and American extra staples. The boil weevil has grad uaily reduced the size of the Sea Is- land crop to negligible proportions. less than 5000 bales being raised this season. Recent advices show an increase in acreage this coming season. with a probably larger acreage with any success over the weavil.
 quote Mir. Andres on Egyptians: History tells us that cotton was grown by the ancient Egyptians along the banks of the Nile, probably from seed brought from India or the Soudan, in sufficient quantities to supply their limited needs. In 1922, Mohammed Ali, the first khedive of Egypt, intrusted the work of devel- oping the agriculture of cotton on an extended scale. to Frenchman by the name of Jumel. Jumel was a French engineer who in 1920 recog- nized the commercial possibilities of growing cotton in Egypt through the discovery of a tree cotton which he found growing for ornamental pur- poses in a Cairo garden. The results were so encouraging that the seed of Sea Island and Brazilian cotton were imported and !. cotton distinct ly Egyptian was developed which possessed characteristics of special value. In 1883, Egyptian cotton was introduced to American spinners-
 There are five or more different growths of cotton oi the long staple variety which are in way compet- itors of Pima That IS. they are used for the same purposes In other words. they are interchangeable in various constructions from crochet silks to tire fabrics Understand me, that I am not contending that they all have equal value in the material manufactured, but can be substituted one for the other-
 Pima cotton is the superior of all these cottons at present, but there was time, ten or fifteen years ago when Sea Island cotton grown on the mainland of Georgia and Florida trhat is, the bulk of the crop was superior in all respects to Pima o1 today. I attribute the decline in quality to the increased uses anc less exacting demand. The grower became lax in seed selection, care loss in cultivation, allowed the croI gradually to run down. All tests in comparing Sea Islands and Pima: have been made from the poorer Ses Island crop and the better Pima crop
 The largest Sea Island crop Wa: 1ss.ss4 bales and the average crol around sO,000 to 95.000 bales of AGA pounds each. So you can see tha we have just made up in this countr, for the shortage of Sea Islands.
 The crop which is our nearest com petitor in quality and dependabilit, iS the Egyptian crop. This crop thl season is equivalent to 1,250,0OO bale of 500 pounds each. This crop ha TWO distinct varieties, that of Lowe gcuNpt known as Sakelarides tour nearest competitor) amounting 10 ap proximately S00,090 bales or 50 pc cent of the total. and that of Uppe fxVpt 4s0, 900 bales. 6nown as Up rnr-s This latter cotton Is shorte in staple and comes more in com -.crfffon with our American eXtr Sraplcs- Sak has two advantages over Pima. according to spinners'
 First-It is a crop of sufficient sig to attract a larger use without fea .f sninners being caught by smal s,nolx and the impossibility or get ting the quality desired.
 Second-It is possible to get mor s.,sndaee per spindle from Sax, tha fS. gFeafer vsisssS.se -=====- 4--- long staple variety.
 Ehe Egyptian fellah or farmer 5-, much the same l'redicameht oftr own ranchers: Cost or prouuc t.on vaN above what he can get ou .f ii and no demand. Besides, Ian ,4.n,,s have gone from s4O0 per acf K, 1910 to s2, 900 per acre last yea r-l,a Egyptian government has re .-s,,sl,r agreed Co buy up 100000 bale s,, lots not exceeding 10000 pound F.,,r, small farmers. The price