In the South, Cotton is King; that is, cotton is by far the most important single product of the Southern States. A glance at the view will give you a notion of how the levee along the Mississippi River at New Orleans looks. Bale after bale of cotton, each weighing 500 pounds, is staked here ready for shipment. In the background lie two large river steamers. The cotton here piled up has been unloaded from such steamers as these. It will be loaded on ocean-going vessels which carry it to the mills of the Middle Atlantic and the New England states, and to England and other countries of Europe. These river boats have likely gathered up a cargo of cotton on their trip down the Mississippi. A large part of the clothing of the people of the world is made from cotton. Our country produces is made from cotton. Our country produces nearly 3/5 of the cotton of the world. On average each year we raise almost 15

000,000 bales. India, the second cotton-producing country, grows only 1/5 of the world's supply; and Egypt, the third country in order, produces only 1/14. New Orleans exports annually about 2,000,00 bales. Other important cities in the shipment of cotton are Galvenston, Norfolk, Savannah, Pensacola, and Mobile. New Orleans has about 12 miles of river front. Eleven railways connect it with other parts of the country. Its ocean steamship lines link it up with New York, the West Indies, Central America, and Europe. Its foreign trade amounts annually to about $285,000,000. Besides cotton, it exports lumber, tobacco, rice, sugar, wheat, and corn. Its river trade extends as far as St. Paul, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. It is the 15th city in size in the United States, with a population of about 350,000.