The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-03


of the prospects of the cotton-planters, from q
sanguine believer in the establishment of an adj
vance of prices, and we now desire to call to the
statements it contains the attention of our read
ers, with view to the further inquiry into the
measures necessary to the permanent accom-
plishment of that end. We say permanent
because we regard it as in the highest degree
injurious to the real interests of the planter thai
he should allow himself to be mised by state
ments based upon the idea that lie can derive
permanent advantage from short crops, conse-
quent upon unfavorable seasons or the exhaus-
ton of the land, and to this latter cause is due
the difficulty attendant upon any increase OF
the supply of his great staple. The surface
occupied by the cotton-growing population is
now probably one-half greater than it was
twelve years since, and yet the product has not
increased. The average product of the years
1888 and lS40 was about 2 ,000, 600; that of the
past and present year is now estimated at only
100000; and yet the cotton growing popula
ton has increased at least one-third in that pc
Rod! The reason for this extraordinary def
cheney Of production is stated in one of the
latest Alabama papers to be decline in The
Average product per acre, necessarily conse-
quent upon the fact that of what is taken from
the land nothing is returned to it, which GER
talnly would not be the case if the consumer OF
food could be allowed to take his place by the
side of the producer of food and cotton.
In the article to which we have referred, the
total consumption of Great Britain is estimated
at ,450, 900 bales, ofwhich 450, 900 being sup
piled from other sources, that of American cot
ton would be left at million. The average
consumption Of the latter for the past five years
with large crops and very low prices, and with
all the mills working full time, having been
only ,llS.O00 bales, we are much at loss t.
see how that of the present year, with small
crops, high prices, many mills stopped, and
others working short time, can reach million,
or even 100000. Admitting. however. that it
should prove TO be million, we may advanta-
geously compare ii with the consumption OF
former years, with a view TO see how far the
''free-trade" countries OF the world are now
tending to make market for any increased re-
turn to the labor Of the planter.
The average product of the two years L.
which we have referred was about 1000, 600
the average price was about CID; and the ave
rage British consumption was 5000, being
more than will probably be used in the pre-
sent year
Taking il, however, at a million, we must
now deduct the additional yarn sent to the pro
tected ZoH- Yerein, and the additional cloth
sent to these halfprotected United States
The former had reached a hundred thousand
bales, but as they are every year spinning more
and more for themselves. we will put it al
$4,000 The latter we put down at $4,000;
and, deducting these quantities, there will re
main 925,000 for the unprotected countries,
being 10000 less than the consumption ticeluc
years since, and ninety thousand less should
the actual consumption prove not to exceed
$4,000 bales.
It appears to us clearly obvious that the pow
er of Great Britain, and Of the countries Deepen
dent on her for supplies to pay for cotton, is
steadily diminishing, and yet it is to secure her
market that we sacrifice our own, the growth
Of which. under protection, has always proved
80 immense. OF the crop Of 1919 we con
sumed only 267 900 bales; six years after it
had reached 100000, and at that point it now
remains. whereas, had the tariff of lS42 been
maintained. il would now reach at least 500, 900.
II is time for the planters to reflect carefully
on this subject In the unprotected countries Of
the world, the power to pay for this staple is
undoubtedly diminishing. In the half-protected
country Of the United States it is nearly sta
tionary. 1t increases in Germany, which is
protected. and it would increase here with
twice the rapidity Of Germany, would they only
adopt the measures required to secure to them
selves and TO the farmers Of the Union market
for their products, by calling around them pros
porous workers in iron, and prosperous opera
lives engaged in converting their work into
cloth, thus making market on the land for all
the products Of the land, and enriching the soil
instead Of impoverishing it. They might then
have large crops withoutthe fear of being ruined
by them.