Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-11-06
The sunnIY Of Cotton.


"a Liverpool Merchant has tho following re-
marks in the EoHdoa Times
Your leading artieleson theinmease ofthe man
ulactuang article on the increase of the manu-
featuring power now in progress in Lancashire
and our neiehborhood has been peruscd by the
commercial community of this town with all the
care and attention which your remarks always
merit
While you successfully rebut the opinions
which suggest themselves, as to an inadequate
supply, of labor, you have not, however,aluded to
the question which naturally arises on review
of tie subect--What arc the prospects of a sup
ply of the raw material 10 meet this rapidly IN
creasrg consuming powerl Youa are well aware
that the American cotton season Of Is51-52 has
just closed, the total growth being 100000
bales, and that sucha a crop is without precedent
in the history Of the cotton trade being about
900 bales in excess Of the previous season.
The causes which have assisted to produce such
crop are well known to those acquainted with
the Gotten growth; they are chiefly to be attribu.
ted to an almost uninterrupted season of iine
weather, and the ability to pick cotton up to a
longer period than ever was known as the result.
ltmight be assumed that such asupply would
at least leave us in the Liverpool market stock
in excess Of the corresponding period Of 1851,
but such has been the enormous consumption OF
1852, that allowing for some probable excess Of
raw cotton in She hands Of manufacturers, our to-
tai stock this day is below that of the same date
last year.
Looking at the gigantic interests involved, tho
Importance of an adequate supply, and the welfare
Of the masses dependant on the cotton manuiae-
ture we may well look with deep anxiety TO eve
ry report which arrives from America as to the
position and prospects Of the growing crop, at q
moment, too when the critical stage Of that plant
renders it 50 susceptible Of injury from rams or
any contingencies of irosts or worms.
In tracing the cause of our rapidly diminish
lug stocks, both Of cotton and manufactured
goods; we can only arrive at one conclusion, "the
cheap loaf has done it al' for it is clear that 10
the increased ability Of the laboring and industri-
al classes to purchase better clothing and more Of
it, and not 10 any large increase Of export'
must be attributed the facts ! have mention
ed. We'll might ii be for the prosperity OF
ourgreat manufacture could we anticipate anotb-
er growth of three millions Of bales in America
this season. few, however sanguine, now expect
such yield When prices are forced up by the
expectations Of short supplies, much is said about
fostering the growth Of cotton in Africa, Austral-
in and India; the subject was never more momen-
tous than at this hour. What has been done In
carrying out these theories with n view Of rem
derng us as q nation more independent in some
small degree on the American planters
The signs of thetimes foreshadow the growing
importance of this subject, and my object, will
have been accomplished should you allow the
question to be brought home in quarters from
which some practical results may be anticipated.