The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-06
The Present Growth and Future supply Of
Cotton,

The Present Growth and Future supply OF
Cotton.
The question of the supply and consumption
of cotton, both in commercial and political
point of view, has for long period engaged the
attention of the civilized world.
England, ever watchful of her commercial and
manufacturing interests has been casting about
for the last quarter of century for some source
from which she could obtain cotton independent
of the United States She was induced, at the
expense of probably million of dollars, to
make the experiment in India, which ended in
utter failure. France has essayed to try the
experiment in Algeria which can only result in
disappointment. Those who entertain the theory
that because a country is sufficiently hot, it
therefore ought. with favorable soil, to pro-
duce cotton, show deficiency of practical
knowledge on the subject.
1t is go arranged, in the order Of Providence,
that the United States possess the only climate
and soil adapted 10 the extended culture of cot
ton to be found probably, on the habitable
globe.
Let us see how this is to be accounted for.
We must understand that there are about
fifty varieties Of the gosypum, or cotton plant,
and that ont of the whole number there are
only about four cultivated for commercial pur-
poses each of which is an annual, and re-
quires replanting every year. The perennial
cotton trees of the tropics are wholly useless,
so far as the quantity of yield or quality is
concerned their pods, or hollis, are small and
comparatively few to the tree, while the fibre Of
the cotton is coarse, harsh and brittle. We must
comprehend the fact that the annual plants Guilt
waited in the United States are only adapted to
climate whess sain and sunshine alternate, with
sufficient heat to mature the plants, and that they
will not stand the extremes of drought and rain
common to all nter-tropical ATTITUDES, where the
only plan which can be employed in rearing them
consists in irrigation method too artificial aud
expensive ever to be employed on a large scale.
Hence, when we hear that India, Africa, Algeria
or Egypt are to compete with the United States,
we know that the thing is simply impossible.
In the Unitsd States the northern limits Of
the cotton culture are bounded by "a to SO
degrees north latitude, emitting intervening
mountainous elevations and strips of sterile soil;
and by the shores Of the Atlantic ocean aud the
Gulf of Mexico (the latter being in ATTITUDES rs
to 80 deTees) on the south. This cotton region
extends around the Gulf of Mexico through Texas
to the mouth Of the Rio Grande on the south west,
and stretches in a northeasterly and Southwestern
~ direction from about the longitude of IS de-
grees 80 minutes to so degrees west of Green
WITCH.
The great cause of the fertility Of the coun-
try thus described is attributable to the great
leo and the Gulf Stream, which passes out
parallel with the shores of the Southern cotton
States. The water of the Mexican Gulf, heated
by the rays Of tropical sun, causes an immense
evaporation, which, in expanding or drifting
north, or towards the elevated lands east aud
west of the Mississippi, is condensed by cold
air, and produces frequent showers during the
warm months of spring and summer, and which is
Che life Of the cotton plants. A similar process
takes place along the Southern Atlantic States
The evaporation from the Gulf Stream is con-
densed by the cooler air of the Alleghanies. Thus
we have an immense region Of cotton lands
over which nature has established the most won
combination with the proper amount Of heat and
richness Of soil. When we consider that these
great ply steal advantages have been united with
enterprise, skill aud slave institutions managed
by ADglo-Saxon intellect all tending to their
Development, promoted by the only fixed
labor suitable to the culture of cotton, we stall
experience bo difficulty in comprebending why
the United States enjoy = monopoly in its pro-
duetion.
And suppose England could overcome the laws
Of nature, and transfer the cultivation Of cotton
from America TO Africa, what would she gain
by the operation! IL she is our best customer for
cotton, are We not her best customers for her
manufactures by changing the culture of cot
ton from America to sem-barbarous regions,
and thus Gripping the industry Of this country,
would she not at the same time injure herself 10
the same extent by destroying her best customer!
In all questions affecting commercial and 90
litical economy, common sense must and ought 70
govern the case. The question at present IS
to the future supply of cotton Is one of labor.
The consumption Of the article and its prices must
be greatly influenced by the supply Of labor. Our
cotton lands, irrigated by the laws Of nature, are
yet extensive enough, If brought into full cult
walton, to produce many more millions of bales
over the present yield just as easy as three mil
lioss Of bales are now grown.
The annual increase in the production Of cot
ton has not been in . uniform ratio. Tins, in
ls20-'2l the crop only amounted TO 100000
bales and in ls26-'27 reached more than double
the quantity, the crop of that year being 49,
Isl bales-the annual augmentation being from
100, 900 to 900 bales The next duplication
occurred in about 1898, when the crop reach
ed 1 sol Az bales. The first year ia which the
crop reached two millions OF bales was in 1889
40 when Il amounted 10 2,l77 ,s3j. From thai
period TO 1851 embraced a period Of commercial
depression consequent upon the commercial re-
act;ov yb;nb r,lIo wad thr rovuIaion ~