The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-10
From DE BORIS Rerier.
The Cotton Interest.

The evils complained Of by the cotton planters
are that the prices Of their staple production are
irregular and too often not remunerative. The
first named evil has at times been disastrously
felt by others than growers Of cotton; and il
remedy can be devised, the good will not be con.
fined 10 the cotton planter.
These fluctuations sometimes cause a differ.
ence Of from thirty TO sixty millions Of dollars in
the sales Of two crops n difference productive
not only Of loss 10 the planter, but which some
times tells with disastrous effect upon foreign
exchanges and banking institutions. These
fluctuations are always in the inverse ratio Of
the production. Thus, while q crop Of only
1900, 900 bales OF cotton will yield 10 the pro.
ducers one hundred and ten millions Of dollars,
a crop Of 100000 bales will pay only sixty
millions; and the bounty Of Heaven, IN the gift
Of good seasons, proves more destructive 10 the
planter than seasons Of drought, food, storms and
frcsts. This loss Of fifty millions Of dollars falls
with lis full weight upon the planter; but II is
also felt by ell engaged in or dependent upon
commerce and they are equally interested in
the discovery Of remedy; yet il is chiefly by
such that cotton planters conventions are jeered
al and idiculed. True il is, that no good re-
suited from the action Of the convention held
in Macon, in 1889, and that az little can be ex-
pected from that lstely held in the same city I;
but Il does not follow that an efficient remedy
cannot be found; Of any rate, the importance Of
the object will justify renewed effort.
The dogma /" that prices must and will be
regulated by the relations Of supply and de-
msnd," IL BY many deemed conclusive refutation
of Ill hope 81 success But the question TO be
solved Is " whether the supply cannot be regu.
lated a. 10 secure regular and remunerating
priccsT n Il can, the remedy is found.
n the cotton crop Of the United States be-
longed 10 one man, remedy would be obvious.
Naming his price, he would sell only 20 much a.
V required for consumption, and leave the resi-
due under his cotton shed, 10 supply deficiency
IN The crop of ext year; and IL The surplus was
large h. would plant less neat year. Such =
course would b. efficient for the object; and the
only obstacle 10 similar sciion by the cotton
planters generally l. The difficulty Of procuring
concert Of aetion. The difficulty Is great, bat ]
think not indispensable.
Besides The los attendant upon a large crop,
W. planter u often subjected 10 loss upon =
small one. because 81 bis ignorance Of The ex-
Ten, o. We crop Of The country. Cotton Is the
agricultural staple Of some eight or ten States,
covering vast extent Of country Seasons are
often fsyofsble IN ssuae districts. and unfsyor.
\ able N others. Dealers w cotton take measures
/ 10 inform thcmsflyrs, with Sufficient accuracy
81 the exient ~ The crop, and are prepssed "a 60
/ into the market with knowledge ~ h. v,lse
u y their interest too. 10 exaggsrsts ia extent
and ihi. y annually done by publication q wha,
purports 10 H. extracts of letters written in cot
Ton States. bot really fabricated for that pur
pose. The planter, ignofsnt Of its real amount
and Influenced By such statements, disposes o
be crop n low prices, before the falsehood j
discovered.
\ For low prices, remedy would be found
~ an agreement 10 plant les. cotton; bu
that would not prevent iTegularity in price
4 because good aud bed seasons would still cause
irregular prodnction; and although remunerative
priues vDuld he ireguln. a bad season NIGH
sslo % reduce The supply, A. 10 throw out o.
emPloymeut large portion Of capital. and Of