The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-24

or accidental, there is fitness and strength II
it beyond calculation. The soil on the thirty
second degree embracing some 750 miles, il
] peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of cottor
and corn, yielding in profusion most ofthe fruit:
of the temperate zone, and unsurpassed for the
rearing of cattle, sheep and hogs. The peculiar
ibeneft, however, and most important of all, i:
70 be found in its capacity to grow cotton; ane
as our great southern staple has become one 0
the necessities of mankind, we may be pardon
ed for SO often bringing the subject before oul
readers. With us cotton "is king" and We
cannot pay il too much attention, especially a
/ this time. We know that the cotton crop 0
the United States last season amounted to full
| 8, 500, 900 bales; that at the close of the veal
there was considerably less stock on hanc
/ throughout the world than at its commence
ment; thus demonstrating that the consumption
of raw cotton, last year, exceeded the CROP
This fact makes it self-evident that crop over
| 8, 100000 bales will hereafter be required O
the United States to meet the wants ofthe com
mercial world land the question naturally arises,
what is our ability to furnish that supply? In
the southern States we have 5000, 600 slaves,
Of whom at least 900, 900 are required for the
cultivation of sugar, tobacco, hemp, corn, rice
and wheat; leaving 100000 devoted to cot
ton. This exceeds the estimate made for the
British spinners and factors by Danson,of Lon
don, BY 100000. He is evidently, from the
statistics he furnished, well posted, andIis pro
badly nearer the truth in giving 1,750,o0o as
the number of slaves employed on cotton plan
tatlons, than our factors are in estimating it at
1000, 000 but we are disposed to grant the
utmost extent of labor that can be appropriated
to this branch of agriculture. There are two
ways by which the supply of cotton can be in
creased: first, by an increase of the population
upon the 100000; second, by. exchanging
poor and worn out soils in the other States of
the Union for the fresh alluyial lands of Louis
lana, Arkansas and Texas, within the belt be-
tween thirty one and thirty four degrees, where
only cotton can be grown to advantage. These
two sources constitute the only chances for any
increase upon 3, 100000 bales per annum.-
Then, is it not apparent that the lands on the
line of the Southern Pacific railroad, being the
centre ofthe cotton belt, ranging from 80 to $50,
possess two great monopolies-a natural mo-
nopolv of sun and soil, in the exact location
that yields the largest crop Of cotton known to
man, and the advantage of slave labor to cul
tigate it. While wheat is sown and reaped on
almost every portion of the globe, cotton can be
cultivated with advantage only on belt of FIVE
degrees, and that commencing, practically, with
South Carolina, and extending westward to the
western border of Texas. Here are two great
articles of prime necessity, one to feed and the
other to clothe mankind; and we have appar-
emily reached the maximum of supply Of one
Of them. Looking to other sources of supply
rom without, we find two-thrds of this cotton
belt is water. When we reach India, as We
stated last week, the cultivation of the plant has
ever proved abortive. The same may be said
# Algeria. A good article of cotton is grown
Il Brazil, and finds its way to Liverpool; but
'ugarand coffee are much more lucrative crops, |
md the slave labor of the country is mainly de-
foted to their cultivation; SO there is no reason
o suppose the Brazils will in future supply any
additional amount Of cotton to that of former
5ears. Egypt produces a small quantity of SUI
oerior cotton, which is mostly bought up by
french spinners, to make fine fabrics; but the
"trip of country on which tits cultivated is quite
mall, and the crop cannot be increased beyond
he present annual production. Thus it would
ppear that whatever increase ofthe cotton crop
nay be required to supply the world must
ONE from the Mississippi valley and along the
me of the Southern Pacific railroad in Texas
Having glanced at the supply of our staple,
e may as well next consider its consump-
on by the human family. According to the
fhcal report of the secretary of the treasury
he export of manufactured goods from the q.
tates, as well us Great Britain, has been con-
antly on the increase, and as over four hun
red millions of persons are now using cotton
brIcs, in some way or other, the future calls
II an increase ofsupply to whatever number an :,
crease of population on 400, 900, 900 may
,oduce We find also an additional source of
emand for cotton fabrics in the increased and c
creasing power and wealth ofthe commercial i
GRID. In proportion as nations grow more +
,werful and wealthy, do they consume more {
tie comforts, as well as the luxuries, of life; =
ID cotton cloths are by universal consent one t.
those comforts Previous to 848, the total !,
mount Of gold used as currency on the globe c
d not exceed $25O, OOO,O 600 In that wear d
Id was discovered in California; and subse- n
iently in Australia. In 1856, California II
elded So, O0O, 900; Australia, G63, 600 900: Il
d Russia, S527 900, OOO-making in single t.
az an addition of 8 sc, 600 900 to the circu- IT
ing medium. Gold is the real free trader o
ing allowed to so without hndrance to every D
TT of the globe, and, practically, finds its own
rel. Itsupplies every nation with coin, slim
ties commerce, and is the base for all bank 81
operations. it enlarges the area of traffic II