The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

Cotton in Am9rica.

In order to pay American debts abroad, people
naturally look to the exportation of cotton, and are
anxious to have the annual cotton crop restored to
its old volume. I have already sent information
abroad on which reliable factors here estimated the
probable crop for 1866 at about 1,800,000 or, pos-
sibly, 2,000,000 bales. In the past few weeks; how-
ever, there has been some revision of estimates, but
I the general tendency among those who have studied
the matter is to adhere to the estimate of 1,800,000
bales. The New England manufacturers, who de-
sire to unduly depress the market, are circulating
reports and estimates that the crop for 1866 will
reach 2,500,000 or 3,000,000 bales. On the other
hand, however, the Secretary of the Treasury, :rho
for some reason, in spite of his error last year, per-
sists in making small estimates, has given out that
but 1,000,000 bales will be raised. He has made
no official statement to this effect, but has permitted
Ithe publication in Washington newspapers of letters
addressed to him from Southern planters arguing
that the crop cannot exceed 1,000,000 bales. The
New York Tribune prints letters stating that the
crop will reach 3,000,000 bales, while the New York
Daily News thinks it will be 2,000,000 bales. The
editor of De Bois's Review, who has just completed
a tour through the cotton States, estimates the crop
I at but 1,500,000 bales, and says :
These figures are not likely to be increased by anything
that is now to happen, and may be greatly reduced by the
ignorance, neglect, or desertion of the labouring forces
iwhich, judging from the experience of all other countries,
is more likely to occur than not, and reduce the crop to
1,000,000 or 1,200,000 bales. No account is taken in the
calculation of the application of white labour to cotton
beyond what was applied to it before the war."

The Columbus Sun, an influential journal in the
interior of Georgia, estimates the crop at from
1,200,000 to 1,500,000 bales. The .New Orleans
Times, the journal of largest circulation at that
great Southern port, estimates that the number of
cotton producers in the South has been reduced by
the fortunes of war from 1,200,000 in 1860 to
485,000, and upon this states the crop at 1,500,000
bales. Messrs. Neill, Brothers, and Co., of New
Orleans, universally regarded as reliable cotton.
factors, in their circular of March 6, consider that
a yield of from 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 bales might,
with average weather, be looked for, and that
2,000,000 bales would not be a surprising yield.
They say the reports from the cotton States are
quite favourable ; that Tennessee and Texas will
raise as much this year as any year before ; and that
the reports from the Atlantic States justify a larger
estimate for them thin has heretofore been made.
In all these statements two facts are observable.
Manufacturers and journals in their interest make
large estimates, because that will depress cotton ;
while, on the other hand, the planters and every
one in their" interest make small estimates, as they
naturally claire to keep" up the price. On the
whole, it appear; that 1,800,000 bales is quite a fair

estate of the crop, and one which will probably
be justified by the results. Congress will, it is
thought, place a duty of sc. a pound upon all cotton
raised, and this may interfere with the production.
The people, however, are against all Government
interference with the great staple. They say the
Treasury agents sent South have already stolen
$100,000,000 in cotton, and are never to be brought
to account for it, and if a cotton tax is collected it
will open the door to more frauds. The United
States have a great desire to assume their ancient
control of the cotton-market, and any measure that
will interfere with production will meet with great
opposition.—Times' American Correspondent.