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 
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 but 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 
Canada. 
Mexico . 
Various . 
130,000 bales 
70,000 bales 
35,000 bales 
Total 
15,506,255 bales 
