The statistics of cotton production in Brazil are very unsatisfactory and not always reliable, but as nearly as can be ascertained the crop from 1910 to 1915, inclusive, in Brazilian bales (of 176 pounds each) averaged 966,000 bales, the maximum being reached in 1913 with 1,165,000 bales, and the minimum in 1915 with 781,000 bales. On account of the increased do mestic consumption, the exports of raw cotton from Brazil have declined considerably in re cent years. Back in 1872 as much as 173,115, 500 pounds were exported. Nothing like this amount has since been sent out of the country, as the home consumption has continually in creased. The exports in 1912 reached 36,980, 000 pounds, in 1913, 82,504,000 pounds, and fell to 1,960,000 pounds in 1915.
The spinning and weaving of cotton in Brazil has developed to such an extent in the past 20 years that it is now the most important Industry in the country. And it is not only a valuable asset in the prosperity of Brazil, but also a growing factor in its economic develop ment as is evident from the following data very recently compiled by Senor Cunha Vasco, showing the comparative status of the industry in 1905 and 1916: The annual consumption of cotton per spin dle is estimated at 88.18 pounds, from which it is deduced by Centro Industrial, a commercial association of Rio de Janeiro of high standing, that not less than 129,121,900 pounds of cotton are consumed annually. The leading states in the manufacture of cotton, in the order of importance: Minas Geraes, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Bahia and Maran hao. There are from one to a half dozen mills in 10 other states. The goods made in the Brazilian mills are chiefly of the coarse and medium grades. The largest output is of col
ored goods, followed by gray, printed, dyed and bleached, in the order named. Some of the larger mills are manufacturing the finer grades, part of which compare favorably with the imported goods in both weave and finish. The value of the exports of cotton from the United States to Brazil in 1913 amounted to $386,368, and in 1916 to $782,755, a gain of $396,387, or 103 per cent.
General Trade with United The total value of our cotton trade in 1907-08 with all Latin America, and including the West Indies, amounted to $7,366,526, and in 1912-13, the year before the outbreak of war in Europe, to $15,506,377. This was a gain in the five years.of $8,139,851, or 1101/3 per cent. But just two years following, 1915-16, the total exports reached the value of $38,381,074, a gain of $22, 874,697, or a little more than 147 per cent. The statistics contained in the following table give the value of our trade with each country for the fiscal years 1907-08, 1912-13 and 1915-16. It is certainly a gratifying exhibit, every coun try showing a substantial gain, except Hon dtrras, where there was a lois of 25' per Cent. The most conspicuous gains (1913-14 —1915 16) are shown in the value of the exports to Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, the British West Indies, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Of course this was largely due to the total suspension of exports from Germany, and the interruption of the maritime trade of other belligerent European nations. But the American exporter ought henceforth to be pre pared to meet any competition, and not part with legitimate trade he has acquired.