The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-27

~ bNNH"Shei WI 1910 U. ~ 10
Walkers Report on the Finances That gen.
tleman, then Secretary of the Treasury in
order to collect tangible evidence Of the actual
Industrial condition and resources of the cOun-
try, issued two circulars, each embracing a
long series of questions The first was directed
to the principal manufacturing establishments
10 the several States and the second to the
loading agriculturists. His object in procuring
thus information was to sustain his theories OF
free trade and finance The testimony was
gwen, therefore, without the slightest reference
TO Slavery as a moral or social problem, and
may be regarded as disinterested. There IS
this to be observed, however: The circular was
addressed Unfortunately to gentlemen OF
both parties; and many OF the answers which
this Document contains are from strong tariff
men; whose principles and views of their pecu-
mary interests would lead them to state the
amount of their profits at the lowest figure con-
sstent with truth, and their expenses at the
highest for Mr.. Walkers object was to reduce
the then tariff of 1912, and they supposed that
their interests required high rate of duties.
The sugar planters are nearly.a all friends OF
protection; and, in order to show its necessity,
they would be tempted to exaggerate the ex,
pense of feeding and clothing their slaves so
that there cannot be the slightest doubt that
they have put it as high as the actual facts
warranted | have no doubt nevertheless, that
their statements are perfectly reliable. Indeed,
they appear to be made with great candOr, and
coincide with similar statements from cotton
planters, whose political sympathes may be
! supposed to lean the other way. The answers
to Question 9th are those which are germane
to my present purpose but | quote other state
70 oh tha -nt,tg Of
planters in the South Only two or three
touched directly upon the expense Of maintain
ing slaves; but these statements are Of gen.
eral nature, and will answer for the whole
South.
Question 6-What has been the annual
average price of these agricultural products
and staples during the same periods respective
ly, and what the annual average income per
hand or labOrer, deducting all expenses during
the same periods respectively !-IlS32 to 1912,
and ls42 to ls45.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
p. w. Fraser. The annual average income
per hand or laborer, deducting all expenses
can be easily estimated by the hire, by.which
standard | am disposed to be governed and
consider ful-task hands must have brought an
nually, during those years, sixty dollars per
head, and the furnishing fifteen dollars, leaviuy
s45. Many planters realize 500 or more, but
much depends upon the quality of the soil and
its situation, whether safe or unsafe, old or
new, and many other circumstances
X. p. w, AHston Waeeamaw The annual
average income per hand or laborer, during
the first term OF ten years was about $50; in
1929. $50 in 1894, $96.7l in 1874
-45, SIPS
Edmund Webb, Postmaster, andersen Court
House. About six and half cents per pound
since 1912 and nine cents precediog that time;
and the annual income per hand, deductng
all expenses during the same periods, was about
S35 and $50 respectively
GEORGIA
Jos. Cumming Savannah. The income per
hand or slave has not exceeded S35 since the
tariff of 1912, 1874 and lS45 being assumed as
its demonstrated operstion-S5O to 500 usually
FLORIDA
Samuel ". Spencer, Collector, Appalachtcoia'
The average price of cotton has been -;
the average income per hand was from 1882
to 1885, 500; from 1895 to 1887, Sl2O; and
from 1888 to 1912, SIS
Appaiachicola, Florida Robert Myers,
United States Marshal, says: The annual aver
age income per hand, alter deductng expenses
and making no allowance for interest on CAPT.
tai invested, from 1882 to l842, was about
Sl65; and from 1912 to l8i5, it was about
$50. In the one case he has supposed the cap
ital invested IN negroes aud land to be 81 900,
which, alter deductng expenses, would yield
from II to Is per cent; and in the other he
has valued the negroes and land at $500, which
gives about per cent. He has based his es-
Inmates upon an average crop in both cases, of
four bales to the hand.
LOUISIANA
p H. Rost, Dsareham Place Question A.
own u sugar plantation on Mississippi river
upon which resided. Twenty odd years ago
established cotton plantation on Red river,
and am still interested In its products. The
land OF both is fertile, the climate favorable to
the products raised, and the cultivation equal
to the average Of the cultivation of Louisiana.
Out of the three years last past, two have been
favorable for cane, and one has been untavor-
able. The average clear profit of the three
years on the sugar plantation has been per
cent. upon the capital invested Upon the cot
ton plantation, the crop of 1912 was fair, and
yielded net profit Of six and half per cent,
Notwithstanding the low prices. The two fol-
lowing crops were half destroyed by the over
flows and the army-worm The total income
Of the two years was hardly seven per cent
The present season has been reasonable and
free from accidents The crop, if it can be
picked, will amount TO at least $50 600 pounds
clean cotton, which, at an average price of
seven cents, will produce Sl0,500. rhe ex-
penses of cultivation, balng. transportation, and
sale, will not exceed $4,000 leaving 81 500
profit upon capital of SIS, Ooo-that is, ten per
cent.
Many persons, discouraged at the present
appearance OF the army worm, are leaving cot
ton to cultivate the sugar-cane. Cotton, ut
from six to seven cents pound, is more prof
liable crop than sugar ever can b6.
5th did not own the sugar plantation du-
ring the ten previous years | learn that the
average profits during that time were about
the same, the only difference being in the value
of the currency during the two periods. On
the cotton plantation the average profits of the
ten years should have been over ten per cent
in the currency Of the times. The place was
badly conducted, however and raised bad cot
ton part of the time; hence the small profits.
9th. The annual average income per hand
on the sugar plantation, from 1912 to lS45, has
been Sl75, and must have been the same in the
ten previous years. On the cotton plantation
since lS42 the worm and overhows have caused
in two years the loss of a whole crop; counting
those two years for one, the average would DO
Sl45 per hand and if the crop now on hand
were included in the estimate, the average
would be near 5000 per hand. In comparing
the profits of the two CIVILIZATIONS, it should DO
remembered that the fixed capital on n sugar
plantation working II given number of hands
is much greater than that employed ON cot
ton plantation having an equal number; and
that the difference consists principally in build
ings and machinery, subject to great wear and
tear, 50 that the income per hand in the cult
walton of sugar may be greater, while the profit
on the whole capital is less.
Letter from r. W. Harris and others, in refer
enee 10 The production Of sugar IN the State Of