(TO THE EDITOR OP TEE " SpzenToR.9
Spit,—Your article on the cotton troubles is most valuable owing to its suggestiveness, but if I may be allowed, I should 14ce to point out a feature which has been overlooked, viz.,
that Great Britain uses only a dwindling proportion of the American crop, our average takings from the States during the past five years being about one-third of the total growth, the remaining two-thirds of the yield being consumed in America and on the Continent. As a matter of fact we spin less of this class of cotton than the States, and also less than the Continent. If you had space I could show the important extent to which the cotton-spinning industry has recently developed in foreign countries, especially in America. All agree with you that trustworthy reports on the size of the crop should be got as early in the season as possible, but in any plan of reporting an international agreement would probably have to be arrived at. The Washington Commercial Bureau has for a long number of years back issued periodical reports, and though its figures have just lately come out fairly correct, this department does not seem to command full confidence on either side of the water. Last season was a most exceptional year in many respects, the like of which we hope not to experience again in Lancashire.—I am, Sir, &c., 22 St. Mary's Gate, Manchester. WILLIAM TATTERSALL.
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