San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-27
Effort Is Made to Interest
Foreigners in Expand
ing Acreage.
BRITISH In THE FIELD
Textile Companies Would
Aid as Means to End
Dependence on U. S.
BY CLAUDE O. PIKE.


and the Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1924.
Rio Janeiro, Brazil, April 26.-That
British capital is taking a lively in.
terest in Brazilian cotton growing is
shown by the organization of a syndi.
cate of British capitalists to undertake
on an extensive scale the cultivation
of large tracts in Northern Brazil. The
Dumont Coffee Company, a syndi-
cate that owns and operates a huge
coffee plantation in the state of Sac
Paulo, is interested in the venture.
Stock is said to have been subscribed
by several English textile companies.
The British financial mission that
came to Brazil on the governments in
vitation recently to examine into Bra
zil's finances in connection with a. pro-
posed loan of about f140,000,00O in
vestigated the possibilities of cotton
growing here. British spinners are
particularly keen about new sources Of
supply of raw cotton, first in order to
become more independent of the
United States and secondly because
of the falling production of cotton
throughout the world.
British spinners seem to be con-
WINGED that the rayages of the boil
weeyil in the American cotton grow
ing states will continue and make it
necessary to find new growing areas If
the price of cotton is to be kept within
reason.
Opportunities in South America.
South America seems now to be the
best hope of the British spinners. They
are doing what they can to encourage
cotton growing in Argentina, Brazil,
Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Brazil,
by climate and situation, is peculiarly
adapted to cotton growing. 1t is
claimed cotton will grow anywhere in
this country. and when one realizes
that Brazil is larger than the United
States it is easy to see its possibilities
in cotton production once it under
takes to grow this crop in an intelli-
gent manner.
But while the attention Of the Bra
lillian farmer is being turned to cot
ton growing and he is fascinated by
the promises of big prices Brazil can
not become an important competitor of
the United States in cotton production
until it builds railroads to open up
the inland territories. At present Bra
Ills increasing cotton area is along
the coast, where the crop can be
packed to the seaboard.
Wonderful cotton can be grown in
Brazil, experts in some state claiming
, to produce a long staple fiber the
equal Of Egyptian cotton. Wages are
lower here than in the United States.
but so is the intelligence of the work
ers. Too little care is given to selec-
ton of seed and cultivation of the
crop. The yield varies greatly and is
often unsatisfactory. The cotton is
not carefully sorted. is badly cleaned
and ginned and its baling is bad when
the native farmer is left to his own
resources. However. where cotton is
grown under intelligent supervision
and proper conditions the yield per
acre is said to vary from two and one
half to three times that of the United
States.
Government Concessions Granted.
Following the survey of Brazils
| financial and economic condition by
the British financial mission, the gov
ernment issued decree laying down
certain favors it is willing to grant
to those who will help to make Brazil
cotton growing nation. According
to the decree. persons or companies
going into cotton growing here may
expect favors from the government
somewhat as follows:
Companies legally constituted in the