May t, 1888.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
721 
THE CEYLON SPINNING AND WEAVING 
COMPANY, LIMITED. 
Under the above heading we welcome the in- 
troduction into Ceylon of a new industry whioh, 
we believe, after the initiatory difficulties are 
overcome, will bo nearly as successful here as it 
is proving to be in India. For many years back, 
at intervals, we have urged the subject of es- 
tablishing a Colombo cotton goods manufactory 
on bucIi local capitalists as Mr. C. H. De 
Soysa. The realization of the long-desired re- 
sult has oomo from another direction, as may 
be seen by the prospectus issued as a Supple- 
ment to the daily papers. We predict a great 
future for the manufacture of cotton in the East, 
and as far as regards the manufacture of fabrics 
lor local consumption, we think the Ceylon Spinning 
and Weaving Company, Limited, has a profitable 
field before them. We have here all the advantages 
enjoyed by Bombay, so far as suitable climate, 
oheap and abundant labour, cheap land, and 
moreover if so required a large number of build- 
ings constructed for carrying on our moribund in- 
dustry which may easily bo converted into cotton 
factories. 
The promoters of the Company have set forth 
in their Prospeotus all the advantages which Ceylon 
possesses for the manufacture of cotton goods ; 
but we would not be doing our duty as guardians 
of the public, if we did not point out, where, in 
our opinion the promoters are somewhat over-san- 
guine. We do not blame them for this, because 
it is not after all a matter of special importance. 
We do not think too much stress should be placed 
on the advantage of tho Colombo climate over 
that of Bombay, nor do wo think that the nearness 
of Ceylon to Tuticorin, or to China, will be 
found to be of much benefit. 
We believe that the chief portion of the 
cotton whioh will be required by the Company will 
have to be imported, not from Tuticorin, but 
from Bombay and Egypt. No doubt the short- 
Btaplod Tinnevelly cotton can be mixed with tho 
longer-stapled Indian and Egyptian products ; but 
we doubt if it would answer to put up machinery 
exclusively for the manufacture of Tinnevelly cotton, 
If Bombay cotton has to be used, our proximity 
to China will be of little advantage. We re- 
commend the direotors of the Company to 
put out of their calculations any benefit 
to bo derived from the manufacture of goods 
for the China market, the spirit of progress is 
brooding over that vast empire, and there is littlo 
doubt that tho example of India will, in time, be 
largely followed by tho awakoning " celestials" who 
havo little to learn in tho manufacturing art. 
Cotton of suitablo quality can no doubt bo grown in 
Bmall patches hero and there in tho island; but 
it is questionable whether Ceylon or its people 
are BUited to its cultivation in sufficient quanti- 
ties to meet tho requirements of tho Company. 
There has always boon a market for cotton hero, 
and if Uio enormous prices paid for tho article, 
during tho American war, could not stimulate the 
produotion, it may bo asked if proBcnt prices can bo 
exjit'otcil to do so ? 
Tho Tamil and Sinhalcso coflee pickers of 
Colombo will wclcomo the now employment, and 
will, DO doubt, in time provo to bo skilful spinners 
nnd weavers ; but thoy will have to bo taught, and 
tho art of manufacturing cannot be acquired in 
limo to influence the first dividonds. The 
Lridiu Companies referred to by tho promotors 
aru now nourishing institutions ; but wo think it 
would havo been moro judicious if comparisons 
hud been inada wilb similar institutiouj whou 
the industry was in its infancy. The prospects of 
tho Company for manufacturing goods for local 
consumption are sufficiently good, to render it 
unnecessary to go beyond them. 
Tho native industry will be protected to the extent 
of 6 per cent import duty, and the Bombay manu- 
facturers' profits and charges. And these should bo 
sufficient inducements to encourage the applications 
for shares ; but we must not shut our eyes to the 
fact that every new industry has to undergo the 
usual infantine troubles before it reaches its 
prime, and Ceylon will be no exoeption to tho 
rule. At the same time, there can be no doubt, 
that, profiting by the experience of Bombay, the 
Coylon Company may escape many of the mistakes 
made in the early days of the industry in India. 
Wo have no hesitation in assuring intending 
shareholders of the soundness of the enterprise, 
and especially in calling upon our native friends to 
subscribe liberally to the formation of a Company, 
which cannot but in time be of incalculable benefit 
to their unemployed compatriots. Even if the first 
returns are not quite up to the more sanguine 
expectations, yet eventually we have no doubt the 
results will be equal to the hopes of the promoters 
of the first Ceylon Spinning and Weaving Company. 
We asked a gentleman of svide knowledge, founded 
on large experience, to give us his thoughts in 
regard to the prospeotus of the enterprise intended 
to introduce for the first a purely manufacturing 
industry on a large scale into Ceylon. The above 
is the result thrown into editorial shape, but, as 
we cannot without qualification adopt all tho con- 
clusions arrived at, we add our own ideas in regard 
to a project which, if successful (and we do not 
see why it should not be), will mark an important 
era in the industrial history of Ceylon. 
We are surprised to see the advantage of our 
contiguity to Tuticorin, the port of the vastly 
extended cotton fields of Tinnevelly, undervalued. 
We had conceived of such contiguity and the large 
supplies of cotton available of a special sort as 
one of the grand reasons why the experiment here 
was likely to be successful. Our only fear was of 
competition in still nearer oontiguity to tho source 
of supply, at Tuticorin itself, where, a reaent 
visitor informed us, a large building intended for 
a cotton factory is being ereoted. On mentioning 
this fact and our apprehensions to a gentleman 
who has taken an active part in starting the enter- 
prise, he made light of the effeot of the Tuticorin 
factory, stating that probably the same engineer would 
be employed on both tho Tuticorin and the Colombo 
buildings. From Tuticorin this authority told us 
that cotton could be brought oyer in an unbaled 
condition in native craft, considerable expense being 
thus saved. He said nothing of our competing 
with the India mill owners for supplies of Dharwar 
and other ootton in Bombay, or in Egypt with 
European! purchasers of the fine cotton of the land 
of tho Pharaohs, but we see that the prospeotus 
contemplates such contingencies as possible. 
As to cotton being locally grown, wo may say 
that it was at ono time (about fifty years ago) 
largely producod in tho north and east of tho 
island for tho numerous handlooms of the natives. 
Gradually British thread and twist came to bo 
used, and, finally, the handloom industry was 
practically extinguished by the superior quality 
and cheapness of Lancashire fabrics. Attempts 
to grew cotton on a largo scale in Coylon 
by European planters, (ailed, chietly, wo believe, 
becauso tho boles ripened and opened in tho height 
of tho monsoon rains, tho wool being thus damaged. 
Hut : • "cl could be own at different ;ea ;nns and 
irrigation could bo ujoJ so as to render cultivators 
