CHAPTER XIV 



OUTLOOK FOR THE COTTON INDUSTRY 



SOME apprehension has been expressed con- 

 cerning the future of the cotton industry 

 in the United States. The high prices of 

 recent years and the demoralizing and de- 

 structive effects on the crop in some sections 

 by the boll weevil, have created uneasiness 

 in the minds of the spinners. It is only natural 

 that the spinner should desire a sufficient supply 

 of cotton at moderate prices. Several European 

 countries have spent large sums of money in 

 efforts to grow cotton in their colonial pos- 

 sessions that they might become independent 

 of the American crop. They employed high 

 salaried experts and expended millions of 

 dollars; but so far have been unable to produce 

 cotton of the desired standard and in competi- 

 tion with the American crop. 



The Southern States have had a monopoly 

 of cotton production, and it is probable that 



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