The Feliciana Democrat., 1857-11-28
ONE PHASE OF TIE COTTON QUESTION.

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the seed is placed within the EARTH speculation buscs
itself with conjcciurcs as TO the weather. and its in
llucncc on the anticipated germ When the plant
shows itself above the surface, ten thousand vgant
eyes are watching its growth and looking to its care
tul nurture. The same untirng zeal and patience
attend its progress from the unfolding of the tender
bud to the complete development of the ilcccy cap
snlcs: guarding ii from the sharp frost and withcrng
heat from rot and rust from boworm aud cater
pillar. When the gathering of the crop begins. every
planter every merchant, and almost every one else
are anxious to learn its extent. to approximate its
value. and to ascertain the probable prices it will
command. The article enters so largely into the
consumption of the world in the shape of fabrics
woven for garments. that none other could possibly
answer in its stead If every silk-wor were cxtcr.
minated and every blade of lay destroyed we might
be sorcly inconvcnicnced, but would still find Il
substitute in cotton but arrest the growth of this
precious fibre. and how would the great mass Of civil
lied humanity supply It's place!
The two countries most deeply interested In the
cotton culture are America and England the former
rs the producer of the raw material and the latter
as lis principal purchaser. The demand for cotton
has been steadily increasing in Great Britain for scy.
cral years while the production Of the plant appears
TO have nearly reached its limit in America. in con
sequence of the impo.sibty of procuring the rcqui.
site supply of labor The British journals begin 10
complain that Manchester and other manufacturing
towns cannot obtain our cotton as fast or in rs large
quantities rs they desire; and moreover they have
discovered that America is working NJ Il portion OIL
It's own raw material. and that the manufacturers on
the continent Of Europe are coming into the market
~.
with more considerable demands than in times past.
These weights, says the London Times thrown into
the scale tend Of to the further depression of
the balance. and the Manchester people asks what l.
10 be done il America can hardly supply her present
customers and is likely enough to have more:
The prospect Is gloomy for Great Britain vet
we have not heard the worst writer in the Ma
tiona Intclgcncer refers prominently to Major
George G. IIcnrys invention Of an improved comb-
nation Of machinery for manufacturing seed cotton
into yarns on the plantations of the South This in
vcntion received the special attention Of a committee
Of the American Institute Of the late fair in the Crys
tai Palace and elieited an elaborate aud interesting
report, with the award Of large silver medal. The
writer says
The machine upon which this award has been gycn
has been in practical operation during the prorros.
OF the fair. and has attracted great attention II /.
" ~ '"hNi III lew uiNS anu Slttu To George
>. lcrger, Esq well known and extensive planter
OF iazoo county Mississippi upon whose plantation
II Is TO 90 at once into operation Major Henry ha.
contracted with Mr. Y. to spin bis seed cotton into
yarns to the extent of four hundred and sixty bales
per annnm for five years. In order to give The plan
ters Of the South generally the early use of this most
valuable invention, 1t s proprosed. understand TO
form joint stock company, under the general las
OF Virginia or some other State. with capital Of
Tour millions Of dollars. in shares of one thousand
dollars each. This company will contract with thc|
planter to furnish him the necessary machinery and
10 spin his cotton into yarns charging 40 profit on
The machinery Itself, for which every planter must
pay the actual cost, but requiring tariff of probably
one fourth OF the of profit between the price OF
the raw cotton and the spun yarn. II seems 10 lie
admitted by those whose opinion il worth any thing
That, by the introduction of this Improvement on
what is there called the plantation the revenue Of the
cotton'erower will be increased nearly ii not quite
one hundred per cent large number Of planters
have already, | am informed expressed a wish to
follow Mr. lerSers example and have the benefit of
this important machinery without delay.
If, as there is strong reason TO believe. Major Hem
ry's machine should prove entirely successful. its
adoption on every large cotton plantation in tie
south will follow as matter orcoursr. II would be
a curious solution Of the cotton problem IT, in the
course OF five or ten years. the manufacture of yarn
should be transferred from the ennes of Manchester
to the cotton fields Of the Southern States Yet such
an event is by no means impossible II the supply Of
cotton does not now satisfy the demands Of the Brit
Ish manufacturers, what would they say Il they were
completely ent off from the raw material? There is
food for anxious reflection in this view Of the subject
England would pursue wise policy were she to pro-
vide in season for the coming evil by withdrawing
her squadron from the coast Of Africa and restocking
her plantations in the West Indies and Guiana with
sturdy field hands, whose labor would tend to make
her partially indifferent to the threatened deficit in
the supply of American cotton.--N n. Bee
- IILNIs