Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-07-04
Fran the National Mteiligencer.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO GROW
COTTON z

COTTON
This is a question OF vast importance to
l.e United States. Who can answer ii =!
! Not one in ten of those that make il 'heir
staple crop. | venture 10 say; for cotton
planters are as cureleSs in this respect as
! though they were conducting business Of
cents and dimes instead Of dollars and
eagles.
therefore propose to give you an ex'
tract from my uoles, which l have becn
taking durin. my extensive agricultural
tour the past w'inrr and spring. not only
to show the character Of The Information
that have been gathering, but in the hupe
that il may induce others 10 come oul and
nve mure and and better information, or
pou, out any errurs in my statements.
The Gust of making 3:3l, l3G pounds Of
cotton last year upon one OF the hrsi plan
lalions of South Carolina was Sl7.S04,4S,
or fraction over five cents and four mills
a pound, including lreshtand commission,
as well as interest upon fair valuation Of
property.
The cost, exclusive Of freight anl COM
mission, and including interest. Of making
I2S00O pounds upon the "canc brake lands
of Alabama" last year, was S6.676.@O,
rraclion over five cents aud Two mills a
pound.
This is considered the richest cotton
land in the wur!l; and, although The crop
was called small one, ii WAS probably
about an average one.
The field hands upon this place num-
bered seventy-live, counting all vertwclve
wears old, which give fraction less than
four aud nclhird bales 10 each.
Now this crnp has To be hauled over
about twenty. five miles Of the worst road
in the world, when wei, as they usually
are at the time the crop is ready 10 go tn
market. aud then down the difficult and
dangerous navigation Of the Tolnbisbee
river.
am satisfied that these two crops give
a better showing than three. lnurths Of The
co,tun crops Of the UniIed States. My
own opinion is. that whenever cotton is
below six cents il does not pay interest
upon The capital invested, except perhaps
in sniie few cases.
Below ! give table ofiiems of expense
upon the frs, pIaniainn mentioned This
is owucd by Col. J. n. Williams OF Socie-
~ Hill, and lies upon what is called the
swamp lands Of Tie Pee Dee river. THESE
ircins are necessary 10 show thar I have
not stated the expense too high:
The capital consists of
400 acres land (2.7O0 in cu,ivaiion) at
SIS. Sc, 3,Q0U 0U
25l slaves a, $3.50 each, ave.,
old aud young $4,000 90
60 mules aud mares, aud |
jack. aud ] stud. ave. SGO 5.720 00
200 head Of catIic, al $40 1900 20
500 - hogs. al 81 l.0W 90
23 carts and 6 wagons go 90
GU buil-lunguc pluuehs, GO
shaving do, % turning do.
lj drill do. l5harrows, ut
an ave. of 81 80 each 262 90
All other plaulalinn tools es,i-
mated worth 1000 90
Cash expenses. SlGl, AU2 o.
Interest is only counted on the
(vc frs, ncns. $l5S, ,G2O,
att per cen, li.OO3 90
$3.50 yards Dundee hagsing. at
Ii els Is yds, to "a haIe) 236 so
3lSl Ihs. Of rope. al 6 cents 19I Oh
Taxes on 25i slaves, at 7G els. 1873 Oh
" land ~ Oh
Three ovcrSecrS' wages 900 10
Medical attendance. Sl,25 per
head 3l7 so
Bill Of yearly supply Of iron,
average 100 90
Pluws and other tools purcha-
scG. annual ave-, 100 90
200 pair Of shucs. l75 Oh
Annual supply Of hats, 100 %
Bill Of co,luu and wullen cloth $40 90
100 cotton comorlers, in lieu
of bed blankets 125 90
100 nil>cloth c4pulcs, New
crk COSY 81 so
20 small woolcn blankets for
infants 25 90
Calico dress and har dkerchef
for each woman aud girl,
!rxlra OF other cIo,hiug) 81 90
Christmas presents, in lieu Of
negro crop" US 90
80 sacks OF salt so 90
Annual average outlay for iron
and wood work ior carts
and wagons 100 90
Lime aud plaster bought last
year 1914 90
Annual average outlay for gin,
bells, &c. so 90
400 gallons ul' tnolasses 100 00
3 kegs of tobacco. GO 00
, barrels Of huur III 90
) oil Il cent a pound on cotton
Tor freight aud commission 2,069 GO
S17.s94 as
The crop Of cotton al 6 cents
will amount to 1850 l6
Col Williams has also credited
this place with The adJi-
lionoI items drawn (rDm IT,:
1880 lbs. of bacon, taken for
home place and factory CTS 90
Beef and butter for ditto and
-. 5nn m