No. 4.] FARMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS. 347 



the natives. In Mexico, among the presents he received 

 from Montezuma wore "curtains, coverlets and robes of 

 cotton, fine as silk, of rich and various dyes, interwoven 

 with feather-work that rivalled the delicacy of painting.'' 



In the United States cotton was first planted in 1(521, 

 " and its plentiful coming up," says Purchas's Pilgrims, 

 " was a subject of interest in America and England." The 

 first shipment from this country noted was from Charleston, 

 S. C, to England, in 1748, consisting of seven bags, valued 

 at £3, 15s. 5d. per bag. From that small beginning the 

 product in 1900 was 9,137,000 bales, of which there were 

 exported 6,090,144 bales, of 3,100,583 pounds, valued at 

 S242, 988,978. 



Its manufacture has kept pace with its production, until 

 at this time it enters into almost every article of clothing, 

 the fittings and furnishing of eA^ery dwelling, carriages, 

 railway cars, steamship and sailing craft. In gun cotton it 

 furnishes an agent destructive to life and limb, and in hos- 

 pitals it furnishes bandages and articles of comfort and 

 healing for wounds it has caused, and winding sheets for 

 those slain, through its agency. It is often the cause of 

 destructive fires and conflagrations, which are kept under 

 control or extinguished by water passing through hose com- 

 posed wholly or in part of cotton. And in many other 

 ways has cotton contributed to the welfare, comfort and 

 health of mankind. How should we get along without it? 

 Great, important and of untold value is the cotton crop of 

 America and the world, of which our land produces the 

 major part. 



There are now forty-five States in the Union, while at the 

 adoption of the federal constitution there were but thirteen. 

 Nineteen of the forty-five have since been added from terri- 

 tory acquired by cession, purchase or the spoils of war. 

 And we yet have territory from which other States will be 

 formed in due time, and which do not include Alaska, 

 Hawaii, Porto Rico, the Philippines and other minor island 

 possessions. 



This vast area, with its nearly eighty millions of active 

 and stirring people, produces more than enough for the 



