Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-07 00:00:00

JAMAICA A COTTON FIELD

In continuation of the article on the above subject, the
Manchester Examiner has the following:—" Your corres-
pondent, A. Stranger,' has very ably pointed out the
practicability of obtaining from Jamaica large quantities
of cotton, and has furnished statistics which will be found
correct. He, points out that the great obstacle is the want
of capital. Surely, if the Manchester merchants and
manufacturers are in earnest in their desire to obtain an
increased supply of cotton, they will take his statements
into consideration. Three or fonr wealthy men could soon
analyse his propositions, and obtain from the Cotton
Supply Association further information on the subject. I
hear from another source, that there are large districts of
cotton now growing in Jamaica, whioh cannot at present
be gathered fur want of capital to engage the labourers ;
and I am also told that there are many thousands of free
blacks in Canada who would be glad to emigrate to
Jamaica to labour in the cotton fields, and who have had
the advantage of having undergone a cumpulsory appren-
ticeship •in the culture of cotton in the United States.
The Glasgow merchants have already projected and
formed a company for the production of improved cotton
from India, and are asking what Manchester is going to
do as her share; therefore, let Manchester men bestir
themselves, and, if upon investigating A Stranger's'
suggestions, they find reasonable hopes of success, let
them band together to develope the cotton resources of
the West India Isles, whilst the men of Glasgow attend
to the East Indies. I would, however, point out one
error in A Stranger's' statement, where ho supposes
that the probable value of the,cotton from Jamaica will be
led per lb. The bulk of consumers in this country want
cotton costing from 4d to 6d per lb, and wilt be content
with a staple equal to middling American, as their
requirements do not need so long a staple as Egyptian.
The fallacious idea of growing long-stapled cotton at a

high price in preference to a larger quantity of shorter at
a low price, has been the stum3ling block of many culti-
vators of cotton. INVESTIGATOR."

The cotton referred to as having been picked from stray
trees in Jamaica, in your paper of Monday, has been
examined by numbers of gentlemen connected with the
trade on Monday and Tuesday. Two able articles on
" Labour in Jamaica," and on the " Necessity for New
Cotton Fields," have also attracted very considerable
attention, and no doubt the interest excited in the
subject is daily and hourly increasing, not only in Man-
chester, but amongst all reflecting and patriotic men
throughout the district, who are frequently asking them-
selves and one another the question, " What will be done
if the price of cotton should rise much higher, as the
result of _increased demand and diminished supply ?"
The answer is plain and direct. Look out for other
cotton fields, and let them be as near as possible to the
market. Do not wait for the result of conferences in the
cabinet, and at the East India Board, and parliamentary,
discussions, but inquire, examine, experiment,' and com-
bine. What would thirty thousand pounds be to the men of
Lancashire ? They might rase it in a day. And if, as has
been asserted, it should turn out that at least 20 per
cent may be made for capital directed to this object, why
should not a trial at once be made ? Is there no man of
spirit and wealth sufficiently courageous and patriotic to
lead the way ? The path has been indicated, the facts are
incontrovertible, the danger isiapparent, delays are dan-
gerous. Any day, we may hear that the American slaves
will not work v ithout wages, and then what would cotton
be sold at ? How many mills would be stopped ? How
many workmen throws out of employment ? How many
women and children starved ? And then what would those
men think of themselves, who now fold their arms and
say, " Come what will, we will incur no risk !" The risk
is already incurred. Capital to an immense extent has
been already shut up to manufac' uring cotton yarns and
goods for the world, and what would be the result of
the stoppage but fnr a single month ? A STRANG ER.