The southern press., 1852-01-15
Cotton.

George G. Henry, esq, of Mobile, well
known and eminent statistician of cotton, and
whose estimates for number of years are
found to be as nearly correct as practicable, has
furnished DeBow's Reuiew with an article on
the growth and consumption of our great staple
After reviewing the crops for number of years
plst, he concludes with the following interesting
calculations and estimates
:" In conclusion Of this branch of the subject
supply of cotton--it is be to observed, that the
stock on the first January, 1850, in the foreign
ports, notwithstanding the fulness of the crop
of the previous years, was reduced to an uuusu.
ally low figure, and the quantity in the hands of
the manufacturers very small. The quantity
received in Europe from India, Brazil, &c. has
been larger for the past two years than il had
been previously; but this appears to be in con.
sequence of the important fact that they can
better send their cotton TO England, to be re-
turned in a manufactured state, than to manu-
facture it in their own rude way, as formerly,
just as the old.fashioncd cards, wheels and
looms in the South have been almost totally
abandoned, because we can buy the machine
manufactured goods too cheap to be bothered
with making the wares ourselves. emphati-
cally remark, that there is no indication, from
the ascertaned and established condition of
things, that the annual production of cotton for
years to come, will equal the annual consump-
ton, for the reasons, that no other country is
adapted TO its profitable culture; that it cannot
and will not be extensively produced for sale,
save by slave labor; and that we, having re.
duced all Of our lands very nearly to cultivation
which produces il, cannot extend it proportion
ably to its extending consumption. The opin-
ion have before submitted in a circular, some
years since, appears TO have become fixed fact,
that the production of the limited quantity Of
new lards annually brought into cultivation
did not more than compensate for the falling off
in the old by their deterioration"
"The immense number of factories of every
sort, rail and plank roads, towns and elegant
country mansions, building and going into ope-
ration South, with our largely increasing popu.
lation, is demanding the sowing and planting
Of vastly larger quantities Of bread stufs, than
ten years ago we're requisite. All Of which, by
the Withdrawing Of so much labor from the pro-
duction Of cotton TO the other productions and
industrial pursuits, advantageously operate TO
favor the diminished production of cotton.
"Having considered the subject of supply,
that Of consumption of cotton will next engage
our attention. To my circular Of 81 ST August,
1850, appended tables exhibiting the increase
per cent. Of production well as consumption,
for the two periods Of 1S39-4O TO 1894 and
l844-5 TO l848-9-each of FIVE years The in.
crease per cent. of consumption for the latter
on the former period was 1914 per cent. The
increase of supply or crops Of same period, say
the five years Of 1544-5 to 1889 on that Of
lS39-40 to 1884, was about per cent.
called attention especially 10 that extraordinary
and gratifying particular, that although the annual
consumption was already greater than the annual
production Of cotton, The ratio Of increased con.
sumption was already greater than the ratio of
increased production. This cannot be too strong.
ly impressed upon our minds also called at
tention 10 another fact Of commanding import
ance, viz that in the latter period, 66l 600 bales
of cotton had been consumed, which had not
been reported in any Of the tables had seen or
heard of-where il has been consumed is not
very important for US to know, but it is very i'm
portant TO know that il has been, as IL exhibits
the ratio Of increase in its very proper view, and
IN rather an exciting one, if we properly under
stand IT,
The English circulars, of both last and the
year before, observe that remarkable feature
will exhibit itself on the examination of their
tables of consumption, and that is, that notwith
standing the high prices which had been noted
throughout the year, the consumption had not
only not been diminish, but that the only proba.
bic check would be an insufficient supply. The
consumption Of the present year will be largely
over that Of any other in Great Britain, France,
and the Continent; and the rspidity Of its in.
crease in Russia, Germany, and in the south of
Europe Is highly encouraging. may properly
remark here, that important as Is the consump
ton Of cotton in France, and also in Germany,
that their peasantry have been, and are still rely
] ing on flax and hemp fora large proportion OF