The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-03-30
The Price of Cotton.

aTtlClo OH COttOn ana cotton mdnufac-
lures, from which we extract the fol-
lowing suggestions relative to regula-
ting the price Of the great staple. His
ideas are not new, but are presented in
a somewhat tangible shape. 1t is
strange, but nevertheless true, that
experience has demonstrated that n
large crop of cotton realizes smaller
aggregate than smaller one. Thus,
a crop 2,20O,000 bales yields the
sum Of $4,000, 900, while crop of
100000 bales only yields $780,
100000. Whether the suggestions
made are practicable or not, is yet to
be determined:
The dogma ''that prices must and
will be regulated by the relations of
supply and dcmand," is by many
deemed conclusive rcfutation Of all
hope of success. But the question to
be solved is "whcther the supply can
not be regulated rs to secure regular
and remunerating prices?" If it can,
the remedy is found.
If the cotton crop of tho United
States belonged to one man, remedy
would be obvious. Naming his,
price, he would sell only SO much as
is required for consumption, and leave
the residue under his cotton shed,
to supply deficiency in the crop of
next year; and if the surplus was large,
he would plant less next year. Such
course would be efficient for the
object; and the only obstacle to similar
action by the cotton planters general
ly, is the difficulty ofprocuring concert
of action. The difficulty is great, but
| think not insuperablc.
Besides the loss attendant upon a
large crop, the planter is often subject
cd to loss upon small one, because Of
his ignorance of the extent of the crop
country. Cotton is the agricultural
staple Of some eight or ten States,
covering q vast extent of country.
Seasons are often favorable in some
districts, and unElvorable in Others.
Dealers in cotton take measures to
inform themselves, with sufficient ac-
curacy, of the extent of the crop, and
are prepared to go into the market
with knowledge of it's value. 1t is
their interest, too, to cXaggerate its
extent; and this is annually done by
publication of what purports to be
extracts Of letters written in cotton
States, but really fabricated for that
purpose. The planter, ignorant of it's
real amount, and influenced by such
statements, disposes of his crop at
low prices. before the falschool is
discovered.
For low prices, remedy would
be found in All agreement to plant less
cotton; but that would not prevent ir-
regularity ill price, because good and
bad seasons would still cause irregular
production; and although remunerative,
prices would be irregular. A bad
season might also SO reduce the sup
ply, as to throw out of employment a
large portion of capital, and Of opera
tives now engaged in it's manufacture.
Such state of things would be
deplorable, and in the end injurious to
the grower. His interests, and those
Of the manufacturer, are best sub.
served by regular and reasonable
prices.
The first thing to be done bv
the Convention, should be the adoption
of a plain for asccrtaining the extent of
each years crop. This is essential
to all judicious and efficient action.
propose to effect it by the agency of
Planters Societies, to be organized in
every country in the Cotton States.
BY districting the counties, and dis
tributing the labor among the mem
bers, the crop Of each county can be
ascertained by the middle of January
every year. The county Societies
should Immediately thereafter report
tho amount of the crop to committee,
or some officer, residing at the scat Of
the State Government, who should
report the aggregate crop Of the State
to central committee, to be appointed
by the Cotton Planters Convention;
upon which central committee should
also devolvc the labor of obtaining
all attainablc information respecting
the probable demand by manuf;,ctur-
ers, at home and abroad-the supplies
which may be expected from other
countrics-and, generally, all the
information in its power, connected
with the production and consumption
of cotton.
The information referred to. and the
reports from the State committees,