It is estimated that last year’s yield will amount to between 1,400,000 and 1,600,000 pounds, which is greater than it was in 1013; but as the ginning is done very slowly with small machines, not more than 40,000 or 50,000 pounds had actually been brought to the market by the end of the year. None arrived until December and it is probable that the full crop will not be received before May or June. No cotton is being exported at the present time, but last year about $60,000 worth of the 1913 crop went to Russia, and about $20,000 worth to other Provinces of Turkey. About 250,000 pounds of cotton are sold in this Vilayet each year to be used in making rough cotton cloth and native prints. This year, however, owing to the impossibility of exportation and to the difficulty of importing cotton goods, much more than that amount will probably be used in making native cloth. The price of last season’s cotton when it was first received was 20 piasters a batman (about 5 cents a pound). By the end of December it had advanced to 30 piasters a batman (7 cents a pound). The average price here is 35 or 40 piasters a batman (84 to 91 cents a pound).
Production of Silk, Opium, and Fruit.
The cultivation of silkworms is carried on in nearly every village of the district. There are a number of small silk factories and most of the production of this industry is used locally, but usually some cocoons are exported each year to Marseille and some silkworm eggs to Russia, Persia, and Roumania, while raw silk goes to several of the other Provinces of Turkey. Last year there were no exports abroad in this line and very little, if anything, sent to other Provinces. The production of cocoons in this Vilayet was only about half what it was in 1913, amounting to about 100,000 pounds (making 10,000 or 11,000 pounds of raw silk). One-fourth of this amount was used by one factory, the only one of any size in the district, but this is now closed because there is no market for its goods. A small amount was used by a few other small factories and the remainder is on hand. The amount of eggs last season was 30,000 ounces, the same as in 1913, of which 5,000 ounces were used here and the remainder is on hand.
The yield of opium last year was practically the same as in 1913, amounting to about 17,000 okes (47,000 pounds), all of it being produced in Malatia. Only about half of this amount, valued at $75,000, has been exported. The price fluctuated considerably last season, varying from $1.50 to $5 per pound. The average price here is about $4 per pound.
The fruit crop last year was much less than usual, as the trees were badly damaged by hailstorms in May and much of the fruit destroyed before it was ripe. There was only about half an average crop of almonds, grapes, apples, pears, and plums. The price of almonds, however, is only 9 piasters an oke (13 cents a pound), about half the usual price, because none were exported. The crop of apricots was about average, and the peach crop only a little below the average.
Lack of Fuel—Machinery for Artesian Well.
The lack of fuel is one of the greatest problems of this region. The only wood obtainable is scrub oak sapplings, all of which has to be brought here on the backs of donkeys from a distance of two or three or even four days’ journey. The price is advancing each year as the supply is getting scarcer and the wood brought from greater distances. There is no way by which coal or wood could be brought here from other places. The recent discovery of a deposit of coal in the Paloo region, two days’ journey from Harput, aroused hopes that this problem might be partially solved, but the coal has proved to be of inferior quality and hardly worth bringing here.
The machinery for the artesian well mentioned in the last two annual reports from this consulate was recently set up and drilling has begun under the direction of a native engineer, but as yet without results.
WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1915