Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-17
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

Washington. ID. c., Feb. f.-Ioui
spring suit of year or two hence, in
stead of being n light wooden, may be
made of the finest long staple cotton
in the world. with dun silken finish
and wearing qualities little short OF
wonderful.
At least, that is what certain grow
ors of the said long staple cotton out
in the vicinity OF Phoenix. Arizonh,
earnestly hope that you Will wear
and they intend 10 do everything IN
their power to realize that hope.
This movement to dress US in cotton
suits is tho latest act in one OF the
most spectacular farming dramas
which ever happened IN America Gen
orally speaking, farming has not bc"n
dramatic and spectacular in America
recently. Tho sudden and striking have
happened in business rather than on
the farm. But the rise, and the tempo
rary fall. of Pima long staple cotton
| is drama IL there ever was one.
That drama began few years ago
when II was discovered that on rich
! irrigated lands OF the salt River valley
long staple Egyptian cotton would
grow just as well II would In
Egypt The Importance of that fact
was not first graspcd by all the salt
River farmers. but gradually a good
Then came tho demand from the MAX
crs of auto tires for all Of that long
staple cotton they could get The price
OF cotton began to rise, and alfalfa
crops of long standing were plouEhcd
under to mako room for cotton,
War stepped in to thickcn tho plot.
Long staple cotton rose to the un-
heard of price of si.15 n pound and
land in the salt River valley sold for
as much as 5000 an acre. Poor farmers
suddenly became rich men. Fortunes
were made by men who sold at tho
right time.
Then camc the lct-dowu. Armisticc
reproduction. dull market. To-day
there arc 5000 bales OF that flno long
staple cotton in and around PpoeniS
and it would be hard to sell any con-
siderable quantity of II for 40 cents
pound. The markots that made the
fortunes are fod-up. And worse yet
Egyptian markets that made the FOR
tunes are fed-ur. And worse yet
Egyptian cotton is pouring in a heavy
and woll-nigh ruinous competition.
B.mped Hut Not Ben,e~
But the salt River folks arc not dis,
coursged. They know that they have
learned how to produce rare anc
valuable commodity with a certainty
lands. They know that the market
will come back and that markets car
he made. Just to show that long stapl,
cotton can be used for something be.
sides auto tires leading citizens ol
Phocuiz arc sporting suits and shirts
of long staple cotton. Tho present
weaving Inachincrysis not adapted I,
handling tho long staple stun, but that
[ Is a detail which will be attended TO.
Tho important fact IS that this cot
I ton when woven, will be a distinct and
valued addition to dress and suit
/ fabrics and woven goods OF all kinds
I II Will be almost impossible TO wear
out, a thought that suggests good
clothes for tho young people. II has a
strength when woven. equal TO 50,
pounds to the inch of width
OF course the farmer and those wht
arc behind his credit are feeling lit.
tic discoura god. They have paid foui
cents per pound to pick the cotton ant
Si.SO per hundred for ginning. \,
thrcc-fourths OF the pick is seed ant
only one-fourth is cotton this bring,
up the picking and ginning cNpcns,
to over Il cents per pound for tho
market cotton. The thousand OF Mex,
leans who do this picking and WORK