Part 4 (2/2)

2 179

4 426

7 073

59 1918/19

2 621

3 025

5 646

5 460

48 1919/20

3 062

3 300

6 362

6 131

50 1920/21

1 583

3 771

5 353

4 914

48 1921/22

1 946

4 586

6 532

6 308

50

From these statistics the important lesson to be learnt, is, that America has surpa.s.sed all other countries in the growth of the cotton industry. Fifty years ago, and later, America used only about 30% of the crop for home consumption, while now, it requires more than half.

Equally remarkable is also the rapid growth of j.a.pan. For many decades after 1872, j.a.pan used hardly any American cotton, but in 1913, it took 465 000 bales; in 1920 780 000 bales; in 1921: 600 000 bales, and the estimate for 1922, is 800 000 bales. Besides this, a great many other descriptions are spun there. The use of East Indian cotton is even greater than that of American, and it reached two thirds of East India's consumption, thus placing j.a.pan, after America and England, in the third place of cotton consuming countries. During the first half year of 1921, it has even outdone America and England, because these two countries were in the throes of a crisis.

For many decades, England had almost a monopoly for providing Asia, and the rest of the world, with cotton goods, and required a corresponding amount of raw material, but now, it has lost that position. Grave concern is felt in England, as well as in the whole of Europe, regarding the future of the cotton industry, as it seems impossible to prevent a further expansion in America and j.a.pan, besides that, there is the growing menace of the boll weevil, which many people consider an unwelcome guest, that has come to stay.

Amongst the other cotton growing countries, Brazil perhaps, offers the best prospect, on account of the great interest taken there in the cultivation of the cotton plant, also, the Argentine gives rise to some hope.

BREMEN'S POSITION IN COMPARISON TO THE RIVAL MARKETS.

The following figures are intended to show how the imports of Bremen, and its consequent importance, have grown in comparison to the great rival markets of Liverpool and Havre:

The Import was to

Bremen

Liverpool

Havre

in 1000

in 1000

in 1000

bales

bales

bales + + + 1880/81

452

2 843

543 1883/84

422

2 470

465 1886/87

493

2 694

471 1890/91

911

2 314

525 1893/94

832

2 732

578 1896/97

1 213

2 683

672 1900/01

1 546

2 478

711 1903/04

1 757

2 081

690 1906/07

2 083

3 251

863 1909/10

1 760

2 089

948 1912/13

2 216

3 066

1 001 1913/14

2 619

2 903

1 021 1919/20

385

2 477

555 1920/21

1 279

1 525

583

There are not exact statistics before 1880, however, Bremen's yearly import will have been 2-300 000 bales. From small beginnings, quite a creditable result has been reached, that is worthy of some consideration.

History frequently chronicles the decay of some once flouris.h.i.+ng commercial centre, and n.o.body knows to-day, the exact reason. Was it an opportunity missed? Of such, no records are kept in the book of time.

Should anybody compile a history of lost opportunities, it might easily require a bigger volume, than that needed for the story of opportunities taken at the crucial moment.

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