The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-01-17

larger than those of otPr countries, our advance
has been still greater. Ind our rank still higher,
than these figures indiate.
II the table of consumption (table I'D be
examined, it viii appear that our progress is
none the less rapid il comparison with other
countries. In the sane twenty years, the de-
iiveries to our manufactures nave advanced
425 per cent, viz: 'FRONT.' 900 bales 10 $4,000;
While in the came tine the advance of Great
Britain has been only D5 per cent, VIZ. from
$4,000 bales to 1,47e, 900. In each one of
these periods, our rah Of progress has been
more than twice as rapid ashers: and though
the absolute amount Of our consumption is yet
TAR below that consumed by the English manu-
iHctnrers, yet in the last FIVE years, our increase
has been 10000 bales, whie theirs has been
only 10000. AT present oar consumption is
81 per cent. of the English, while twenty years
ago, it was only 10 per cent
France. during all this priod, has remained
nearly stationary. Twent years ago her con-
sumption was 257, 900 baes-now. it is only
$4,000. In the last fw years she has gone
backwards, the decline hiying amounted to 56,-
goo bales From 1926 10 1880 the deliveries
10 her manufactures wFe double those OF the
Uuited States, now ttey are 35 per cent less
than ours. Her ank, compared with Great
Britain, and with nearly every other country in
Europe, has also declined.
In Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany and
Russia the increase has been nearly as rapid as
in the United States In the last five years
their advance table III has been 46 per cent,
ours 49 per c.. Their rank in the cotton cor
sumng countries is yet low, but their rapid pros
gress will soon bring them to a more important
position. At present their consumption is "a
per cent Of that Of Great Britain, and the time
is not far distant when, taken together, will
equal her.
Twenty years ago the comparative rank of
the United States, Grea! Britain, France, and
the rest Of the continent, was in proportion TO
the numbers IL, So, %, and II; in the last FIVE
years the per centage of each has been l9, 81,
Is, and II. If France be LETT out Of the com
parison, the rank Of each, twenty years ago, was
as 10, 10, and II; now, it's as 81, 80, and 90.
Although Great Britain requires for her man.
nfactories more than half Of all the cotton
worked up in Europe and America, the amount
actually used by her people, including all that is
exported TO India, British America, Australia,
and all the colonial dependencies of Great Bri-
tain, is less than ihe amount used IN the United
States This has been shown to be true for the
last four years, and the present year. although
il exhibits an apparent decline in our Eome con-
sumption forms no exception TO this result.
The enlarged imports Of cotton goods imported
into our seaports, compensate in part for the
falling off of the wants of our factories.
If we compare the progress in the demand
and supply, it will be seen that during the last
five years the consumption has increased much
faster than the prodnction-the one having ad-
vanced I9 per cent, and the other only nine.
This might be inferred from the decline in the
stocks, but it will be more satisfactory to consid-
er the average production and consumption OF
the last ten years. The average amonnt taken
by the manufacturers from 1870 TO 1915 was
2,4l4,0o bales, and from l845 to 1850, 1885,
600 bales, showing an increase Of 455, 600 bales:
while the supply advanced from 1851 ,OO0 bales
to 2,79l 900, with an increase OF only 100000
bales. When it is remembered that the last
period embraces the year l847. when from the
revolutions in Europe, the consumption declined
over 100000 bales, and the years l845 and
1916, when the American crop so far exceeded
its usual average, this result will be more stri-
king and important. The table Of stocks (table
Nv } confirms and establishes this same result.
At the end of 1914 the cotton on hand in Eu-
rope was 100000 bales; at the end of l849 it
was only $4,000 hales.
1t may be further observed that the increase
in the supply during the last five years, has been
slower than the natural increase Of laborers.
The advance in the one has been only 9 per
cent, and in the other IL or 8. As many new
hands have been brought to the Southern States
during this period, the rate of increase in the
working force Of the cotton growing States has
been still greater than - or 3 per cent. This
excess has occurred at no former period. From
1925 to 1850, the increments for each period of
FIVE years have been Is. 80. 80 and per cent.
always above the iucremeBts OF population.
except in the last interval. 1t follows from this,
that labor and capital have found other modes Of
employment more attractive and profitable than
the raising of cotton. It is well known that
this has been to some extent true in the United
States, but it has been more evident and striking
in India and Brazil. In these countries the crop
has declined / 5 per cent. in the last five years.
From Brazil il has declined regularly for the
last twenty years, and the recent advance in
coffee will tend TO divert still more labor from
the production of cotton. The abolition of the
discriminating duty in favor Of East India Cot
ton7hy Sir Robert Peel, and the very low prices
which have recently prevailed, have not only
stopped any increase in the imports OF Surai
aud Madras, but turned the current in the op-
posite direction The advance in the fifteen
years before l845 was 10, 69-and so per cent
ineach interval Of FIVE years. but from l845 to
1850, the decline has been "a per cent.
1t may fairly be deduced from this that the
| prices of The last Eve years have not afforded
| sufficient encouragementtop production, and thai
the planters may now took for permanent i'm.
provement in prices. The table Of prices (table
W shows that for the last FIVE years the average
price at the seaports of the United States mas
been seven cents and three mills, and it may
be expected with confidence that they will mol
merely experience a temporary rise, as if caused
by the short crop ard The small socks Of the
present year, but permanent and continued
advance.
| The table or stocks liable Nv J represents the
amounts on hand in the seaports Of Europe
continually increasing from 1910 to l845, while
during the four years ending in 1849 they have
been nearly stationary. Comparing them with
| the wants OF the manufactures, as is done In
the column which contains the number of weeks
that the stocks would supply the consumption
of the factories, the supply was trifle lower al
the close of l849, after the receipt Of the lar
gest crop ever brought to market, than it had
been during the last ten years. The number o
bales was little greater than at the close o
i I848, but the time this stock would supply the
wants Of the manufactures was little less.
After this review of the history of the trade