COTTON 309 



For last year (1904-05) Messrs. Latham, Alex- 

 ander & Co., the well known New York cotton 

 authorities estimate the consumption of the several 

 countries as follows : 



ESTIMATED CONSUMPTION 1904-05 



Great Britain (500-pound bales) 3,588,000 bales 

 Continent (500 pound bales) 5,148,000 bales 

 United States (500 pound bales) 4,310,255 bales 

 Of light weight bales (averaging less 

 than 500 pounds), the consump- 

 tion of other countries last year 

 was as follows : 



East India 1,350,000 bales 



Japan 875,000 bales 



Canada 130,000 bales 



Mexico 70,000 bales 



Various 35,000 bales 



Total 15,506,255 bales 



EXTENT OF COTTON INDUSTRY IN AMERICA 



Cotton manufacturing did not develop rapidly 

 in the United States until the latter part of the nine- 

 teenth century, when it not only made great growth 

 in New England, but assumed enormous pro- 

 portions in the Southern States, the seat of cotton 

 production. 



In the early days of the industry cotton was 

 carded and spun by machinery out weaving 

 was done entirely by the hand loom. This was 

 true as late as 1815 when the first power loom 

 was installed, and it was a long time after that 



