Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-04
1864 ,3O9 or 1872 SCI

Our average annual imports from all other places
except the United States during the last five years
1888 bales less than those of the five years which ended
with 1885, and 10000 bales less than those of the five
years ending 1874; whilst exports of the raw mate.
rial during the last five years have increased 81 900 bales
annually This shows any thing rather than an in
creasng independence of supply from the United
States Our imports from the East Indies alone have
fallen of 1000 bales on the annual of the last
five years Our imports from the United States have
increased on the average OF the last five years no less
than 1900 bales
After long array Of figures and calculations. with
which will not weary readers, the well informed
Editor of the Economist arrives at the following con-
illusions:
l. That our supply of cotton ercludiag the United
States has for many years been decidedly though ire
gularly, decreasing
2. That our supply Of cotton from all quarters lin
ctudang the United Statesl available for home con-
SUMPTION has of late years been falling off at the rate
of 1000 bales week ); while consumption has been
increasing, during the period, at the rate of 5000
bales week
g. That the United States is the only country wbere
the growth Of cotton is on the increase and that there
it does rot increase average more than three
per cent per annum, or 80 600 bales annually which is
barely sufficient to supply the demand for its own in
creased consumption and tor the continent of Europe
H. That no stimulus OF price can materially augment
this annual increase IN the United States, the planters
always grew much cotton as the negro population
can pick, and the negro population does not increase
more thar three per cent. annually.
S. Thai consequently if the cotton manufacture of
Great brAah Is 10 increase al ALL 1t can only be
bed to do so by applying great stimuli to the growth
OF cotton IN other countries adapted Tor the culture
The thanges which have taken place within the "ne
mory many now living" says the Economist gin the
countries whence we have derived supplies of cotton
are yey remarkable. In the infancy of our manuac-
ture our chief supply came from the Mediterranean es
pecialy from Smyrna and Malta. Neither of these
PLACES now sends us more than few chance bags occa
siomy In the last century the West Indies We're our
principal source n o In 1856, out Of 2OoOooo0 pounds
imported, 100000 came from SMYRNA and the resi-
fran the West Indies. In l848 we received only about
! 300 bales from the West Indies Brazil began to send
u cotton in 1881, and the supply thence continued to
Increase, though irregulary till 1880 since which time
has fallen oil one-halt. About 1922 Egyptian cotton
began to come IN considerable quantities. its cultivation
having been introduced into that country two wears pre-
vous, The import exceeded $4,000 bales in l845 the
leverage OF the last three years has not been third of
that quantity Cotton has always been grown largely
in Hindostan, but 1t did not send much TO England tl
about thirty years ago In the five years ending 1924
the yearly average imports 80 500 bales; in S4l il
reached 274, 900 bales, and may be now roughly est-
mated at 2O0O0o bal les year." The reason Tor the
falling Oft in the supply OF cotton from Brazil Hindos
tan, and Egypt is said be the depreciation in price,
which, says the Economist els equal 40 per cent since
1897 this depreciation having directed capital and labor
into other channels and prevented so bulky an article
as cotton from being grown forwarded. This is
and carriage form large proportion of the price of
cotton-good roads, convenient vehicles and safely ma
ygable rivers being yet deSderata in the cotton growing
districts of both countries. The West Indies Africa
and Australia are regarded the countries which are to
supply the increasing demands Of British manufac turers
or at least much OF them as would prevent any
serious difficulties in of deficiency in your crop
The Importance OF this subject both countries must
justify us to your readers Tor saying much about it,
Sir Charles Napier has addressed letter to the pub
lie, Which fills tive closely printed columns of the Times
upon the subject OF the navy and It's expenses The sum
ana substance OF what he says seems to be, that we