The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-01-03
COTTON PRODUCTION
SUFFERS BIG SLUMP
DURING YEAR IN
UNITED STATES AND EGYPT.
REDUCTION IN ACREAGE.

WASHINGTON, D. c. World
production of commercial cotton for
1922 was placed at 15,5o3,0OO bales
by the department OF agriculture IN
report just made public. This is the
smallest crop since 1900, the report
stated, and compared with 20,o50,OOO
bales produced in 1920.
Two of the most important cotton
producing countries-the United States
and Egypt-suffered disasters" dur
ing the year, the report asserted, pro,
ducing only OLA per cent OF their total
production of last year or 5000 ,0uo
| bales less than was produced in IVY.
The cotton crop in China, South
America. Mexico and other countries,
while said to be not so important com
Imercially, was reported smaller than
usual Russia, which Immediately be-
lfore the war produced around $780,
1000 bales annually, has practically
lceased to grow cotton, the report
stated.
Prices Forced Down.
Prices for cotton in the United States
were forced down below production
costs last year, the report said, because
| of the forced shutting down OF SPIN
ming and weaving establishments in
the principal manufacturing countries.
Reduced consumption occasioned by
1.-THE inability of Russia, Turkey and
many other countries in Europe and
Throughout the world to buy cotton
: cloth since the war, it was explained,
lnecessitated the closing of world mills
american farmers, confronted with a
large carry over, last spring voluntarl-
Ily reduced their cotton acreage, 1t was
pointed out, and the yield was further
reduced because Comparatively little
fertilizer was used and because OF boil
weevil ravages over practically the en-
tire belt. The American crop also was
seriously hampered by unfavorable
weather conditions over the cotton
belt, the report further explained;
Egypt was said to have been affected
by much the same conditions.
| The production in the United States
for 1921 was estimated at 8,340OO00
bales of 478 pounds net, as compared
with 13,440,000 in 1920, IL AZ, 00O IN
Il919 and 16,131,000 in 1914 For Egypt
the 1921 production was estimated at
$4,000 bales, as compared with l.,
251,OOO in 1920, 1,154000 in 1919 and
1887, 900 in 1914.
For British India the figures were
3,623,000 bales for 1921, as compared
with 2,845,000 for 1920, 4,61,OO0 Tor
1919, and 100000 for 1914. British
African estimates for 1921 were |5,OOO
bales, as compared with 1000 in l9ZO,
10000 for 1919 and $4,000 for 1914. The'
estimates for Russia, however, were
Ionly $4,000 for this year, as compared
with 10000 in 1920, 100000 in 1917
and 100000 in 1914.
The estimated production in 1921 IN
Japan and Korea was 10000, as COM
pared with 10000 in 1920, and $4,000
lin 1914, while for China it was l,650,-
900 in 1921, 100000 in 1920 and 1884,
1000 in 1914.
In Mexico the production was esti-
mated for 1921 at 10000 balls, as com
pard with 205,000 last var, and 49,
1000 in 1914 The production in Brazil
for 1921 was estimated at 560,OOO, as
compared with 431, 900 in 1920, and
AGO. 900 in 1916. In Peru it was $40,
1000 bales for 1921, as compared with
I157000 in 1920, and l07 600 IN 1914,
and in Argentina 10000 this year as
compared with 10000 in 1921 and 4,O0O
lin 1914.
Millions to Grow Cotton in Africa.
Because of the recent gradual reduc-
ed production in those countries known
for wears as dependable commercial
cotton-growing areas the report said
that much interest had recently been
taken, especially by the British, in the
Iopening of new cotton-growing dis
jtricts in different parts OF the world.
The British otton-growing corpora
ton spent millions of pounds OF sterl-
ling in experiments and subsidies in
central and southern Africa, Australia
and other parts of the British empire
during the past fifteen years, it was
said, and the corporation was reported
only recently to have obtained a royal
charter and was now said to be pre-
pairing to spend around five million
dollars annually in an effort to grow
at least a part of the cotton consumed
in the Manchester mills.
The French also were said to. be
planning to encourage cotton produc-
ton in French Sudan and their other
African possessions, according to the
report. South Africa, Brazil and Ar
gentina are encouraging the produc-
ltion of cotton on larger scale and
lin few years, the report said, cotton
will be exported in larger quantities
than at present.