The organization of this association, comprising the most intelligent and 

 progressive men in the cotton trade, was greeted with enthusiasm throughout 

 the country. It became apparent at once that the project would be pushed 

 vigorously, and would redound to the vast benefit of our leading national 

 industry. Following the plan laid down by Mr. Atkinson, the exhibition is 

 intended to represent every thing that concerns the growth of the plant, the 

 fertilization and treatment of the crop, the handling of the staple in every 

 shape, and the commercial disposal of raw cotton ; and also its manufacture 

 in every form, the kind of mills and machinery for such purposes, and all 

 that the most recent invention may afford for the improvement of these pro- 

 cesses. Machinery of all the classes demanded in cultivation first, and next 

 in ginning, baling, packing, and compressing raw cotton, belongs to the first 

 division of machinery exhibits. The machinery requisite for the manu- 

 facture of cotton, with the best form of mills, the most economical applica- 

 tions of power, and all the details of subsequent manufacture, constitute a 

 great department in which there is a world of interest. The cotton plants 

 and fibres of all countries, and the whole line of cotton fabrics, with com- 

 parisons of primitive methods and present improved processes, will form a 

 feature of great interest and value. Intelligence of the utmost consequence 

 upon all these subjects will be imparted. The prospectus will shortly be 

 issued, setting forth minutely all desirable information. 



Many letters have already been received from nearly every part of the world, 

 and the only doubt that now remains is about the probability of having 

 space enough to properly represent all that will be sent to exhibit. 



Such an exhibition cannot fail to do a great service. It will impress forci- 

 bly upon the minds of the world that the South has a great future before it, 

 which, with proper aid and encouragement, it has the enterprise and good 

 judgment to cultivate in a broad and liberal manner. The exposition which 

 Mr. Atkinson has proposed will be an immeasurable blessing to the South ; 

 and it will doubtless stretch its hands out in the liberal course now open to 

 it, becoming prosperous in its own right through a liberal development of its 

 own resources. 



JOHN W. RYCKMAN, 

 Secretary International Cotton Exposition Association. 



The writer may be permitted to submit a few words more upon one 

 branch of the subject of his address, about which there has been con- 

 siderable misconception; viz., his views upon the establishment of 

 the cotton manufacture in the cotton States. His Southern friends 

 appear to have been somewhat disappointed because he will hot 

 commit himself to a recommendation of Southern cotton factories as 

 an investment for Northern capital. 



He would have preferred .to omit all reference to this matter, either 

 in the address or at the present time, had it not been in a measure 

 forced upon him. The editor of a paper in New Orleans desired 

 him to write an article upon cotton manufactures in the South, which 

 he declined to do ; adding that he could not conscientiously recom- 

 mend the investment of capital in Southern cotton mills. This note 

 was not intended for publication, but was published, and caused a 

 good deal of discussion ; the writer's position as special agent of the 

 census on cotton manufactures giving it an undue prominence. 



The proposed exhibition could not have a more urgent reason than 

 but to determine this question. The manufacture of cotton is a unit ; 



