The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-07-22

The Cotton Question I'm England.
In late debate on the Cotton question in the
Rritish fiosse Of Commons, Mr.. Turner, a member
OF the House, who had been connected with the
manufacturing industry Of South Lancashire up
wards OF forty years, stated that 900 600 pounds
were consumed annually In the South Lancashire
manufacturing distriets-7oo. 900 900 Of pounds of
that quality being imported from the United States
Of America. lie (Mr. Turner) believed that about
5so.ooo persons were employed directly. and about
100000 incidentally. In the manufacture Of this
cotton, The amount Of capital invested in the ma
nufaef1re, was, at low estimate f40, 0ooo 600 and
working capital Of about $1,000 600 was employ-
ed In tho prosecution Of the trade In 1856, the
exports Of cotton goods amounted to the value 81
f2soooooo, after supplying the whole demands of
this country. The cotton consumed was z2y000o
bales. weighing eoo.oo0.oao pounds The cotton
trade had heen advancing with such rapid strides
that although the production Of cotton in the Uni
ted States Of America had also made great pro
grass. tn demand had far surpassed the supply
During the year 1sI3. England imported 1875
600 bales Of cotton and In 1856. 2467 100 bales
but while nj the end Of 1919. there were on hand
$4,000 bales. or seventeen weeks consumptinn AT
the end Of 1856 there were only on hand 49, Coz
bales, or eight weeks consumption for the United
Kingdom. He thought these facts exhibited very
serious state Of things and that It was high time
public attention should he directed to the subject
which was one not Of local but of national impor-
lance. II this great branch Of industry. which
was now suspended for number Of hours pei
week. should be suspended a. 1t had been in years
gone by. to greater extent he thought. the Home
Secretary would have 10 look with anxious eyes to.
wards South Lancashire, and would find that the
question was a serious one for the Government rs
we'll as for the cotton manufacturers.
The honorable gentleman then proceeded to in
aure how tlse existing state of things could he
medied. and whether the present supply Of cotton
conld DO relied upon without any danger of dimi-
mutton. He expressed the opinion that there
possibility that. or later, there would be
serious disturbance Of labor in America and
what would be the state Of affairs in England. If
supply of the raw material could no longer BE- Oh
tanned from the United States, (Strange that Bri-
tsk abolition philanthropy should be using the
most frantic exertions TO bring about result 50
disastrous TO its own interests) But even if the
production ofcotton In America increased and Bri
fish consumption increased in greater ratio, there
would be deficiency in the supply, and they must
look elsewhere. He contended that India the
country TO which England mi ht and ought TO look
His firm used at one time 10000 ID. weight Of East
India cotton per week, but il came i'll SO dirty
state that no price could be given for ii approach
ing the price Of American cotton. The supply they
received, was So aduterated that the firm at one
time threw away an amount Of sand and dirt that
cost them no less than 1000 per annum. The cot
ton was conveyed on bullocls' backs to the coast.
and thus drenched with wet, and soiled and da-
mayed The cotton good as that i'll Ameri-
ca and that in DharwaI Of better quality. 1t could
lie produced too at IT.. the acre, price which Ame
RIGA could never stand against. If the East India
Company would Do their utmost to promote this
great national work, Mr. Turner believed it would
De successful.
1t appears from statements made in this debate
that the British Government has embarked upon
The construction OF 40 miles Of railroad in India
and besides the Ganges canal, right handTsd d5id
ion miles IN length had constructed til" Jumma ca
nal, which waters a very extensive tract Of coun-
try America however, need entertain no fears from
India. The whole thing compressed in nut
shell by one Of the speakers, when lac said ''Ihe
contrast between what il done Ia America aud
what is done in India Is fallacious, il no allowance
be made for the energy of the Anglo-Saxon and
the apathy of the India character. II the natives
If India had been vigorous and energetic
we should never have been masters of the country
and As long AS they what they are, they will not
study the price current of Liverpool aud the ex-
rorts Of America"