The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-06
successive augmentation of crops


leeS-bb. o,I..'oos
40 Coz
Toia increase in So years 100000
These figures clearly show that the cOnsump-
ton has been steadily gaining on production
Had the full amount of labor been available
this amount of increase could have been greatly
augmented. The consumption in the United
States has been steady and progressive. In
twenty years it has increased from I49, sic bales
in ls26-'27, to 652,739 bales in 1866. The
exports to Europe have increased from 2, Al, GOO
in 1882, to 2,955,000 in 1s555G, of which
Great Britain took 1921, 900 bales.
We thus find the changes in the past four years.,
of what we may call the golden period, have been
as follows -
orops :......................o uioUls a,o1l'oso
Gapsamp 20 10 ,ea, p,a sss aOo
United States. o0a,029 6b2, 739
five suppose the world to continue at peace,
and the gold mines of California and Australia
to continue equally prolific to meet the continued
ratio of increased consumption indicated by the
above figures, in ten years hence the crop should
increase to 2,528,294, or yield total aggregate
crop by the year 1s66-67, of 552s, 294 bales, ana
which may, in fact be nearer six millions Of bales
Have we the elements of labor to produce it!
Clearly not.
The slave population of the United States in
1910 was 2,4s7 ,455, and in 1850, 3,204,3l3
showing in round numbers about 80 per cent in
crease in ten years. While the slave population
in the next ten years can only increase 80 per
cent, the increased power Of consumption, domes
tic and foreign, will require an increase of pro-
duction Of nearly 100 per cent.
And is not the North, and indeed the
civilized world interested in this increase of
production? If crop of 100000 of bales re-
quires the employment of over 1000 Northern
built and Northern owned and manned ships, the
production Of 100000 of bales of cotton
would require the use of over 1000 ships.
Massachusetts,, instead of supplying $4,000 900
of cotton fabrics, might supply S72,000,000,
and every other kind OF trade and business grow
ing out Of and connected with the growth of
cotton at the South, and carried on at the North,
might also be doubled. Civilization would be
extended by the increase of commerce and the
increased supply Of cheap clothing to hide the
nskedness of savages
For ten to twenty years past there has been
gradual transfer of slaves from the grain districts
OF North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky
and Delaware, to the rich cotton districts border
ing the Gulf of Mexico.
In the decade from 1910 to 1850, the increase
of slave population in the States of North Caro-
lima, Virginia and Mary land was only from two to
six per cent while in the Gulf cotton States
it increased from tbirty-ive to iifty-eight
per cent. and in Arkansas the in
crease was one hundred and thirty-six per
Virginia declined per cent from 1880 to 1910,
but increased per cent from lS40 TO 1850. The
District of Columbia decreased II per cent The
drainage Of the slave population from the above
States became so great as to give an enhanced
value to the products of tobacco and hemp in the
States of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia. Hence
we find the emigration from those States to the
Gulf cotton States was checked in the last de-
cade. Virginia, instead OF losing 4 per cent,
gained per cent, while Kentucky gained Is per
cent and Missouri about so per cent.
So that, viewing as we may the question of
labor available for increasing the crop OF cotton
TO meet the increase Of consumption in ten years
to 5,5O0,OOo or to 100000 of bales (near 100
per cent?. yet in no point Of view can we arrive
at the conclusion that adequate labor for its pro-
duction can be found. The question is an inn
portant one both to this country. to Europe and
TO the civilized world. The yield OF gold since
its discovery in California and Australia has
resched about $500 ooO.0 900. The yield last year
was 100000, 900. This year the yield will he
not lese than sl25, 900, 900. At this rate Of
annual supply there will be added to the pre-.
sent supply of gold in the world, in ten years,
the enormous sum OF sl,2j0, 100000 Can any
one suppose that with the dissemination Of this
immense amount OF wealth among the people of
the Old and New World, their power Of consump
ton will not demand in ten years q supply Of
5000 900 bales Of cotton. and which this
country would find no difficulty in supplying or
even augmenting to 100000 Of bales were AZ
rican labor at all available for the purpose.
II should be England's policy TO encourage the
growth of cotton in this country, instead Of vast
isg her mesns and energies in vain attempts to
develope lite impracticable culture elsewhere in
competition with the United States.
We have vast tracts Of unopened rich cotton
lands which white labor will not enter upon and
cultivate, and for the planting Of which we have
no adequate supply Of African labor, and which
is every year becoming more and more expensive.
We sec that all the slaves (some 200 in num-
ber) Of the late George MsDurfe's estate in South
Carolina. great and snail. old and young, were
recently sold together, without separation at an
average Of 500 each. This was an enormous
price
We would simply suggest If it is right aud
feasible TO introduce Coolie labor into the West
Indies and other places, at ss per month, why
not allow ,ke same option to the Africans on the
west coast of Africa, guarded and restricted by
proper legal euactments! Such measure would