The Washington union., 1857-05-12
COTTON.

satist and claims his most deferental regard to the
stricest accuracy in attempting to trace its peaceful
march among the kingdoms and inhabitants Of the
civilized world From time to time we amused
with the marvellous accounts of increased produc-
ton in the cotton fields of India and the soon-t be-
realized adequacy of supply from that quarter of the
world for the almost limtess demands of British
factories. Again the successful efforts of the wild,
untamable and indolent Arab, of the shivering,
aguestrieken colonist in the parched plains of AL
gera to compete with the United States, and already
as says the Moniteur, 'to have equalled us in two
important ponts-qualiy and quantity, according to
the space occupied"-are pompously heraded In
the newspapers of both hemispheres. Still, we find
that despite those gigantic cotton fields an type
notwithstanding the vaunted annually growing indie
pendence of France and England-their supplies
from the United States, and their demands upon
the soil and toll of the southern planter are an
nually increasing, and must continue to increase
so long as Natures God and Natures laws shall
continue to rule the universe This may appear
a phenomenon in the industrial and commercial
world but in the natural world it is fixed, mmu-
table fact; and neither all the gold in the British
exchequer, nor all the bayonets in the arsenas of
England can so far control and change the natural
laws which are imprinted the soil, the climate,
the physical confgnraton and the geological struc-
ture of India as to alter even modify this funda-
mental fact. AS respects Algeria, the attempt to
convert into cotton beds isolated patches here
and there partially reclaimed from the inherent
aridity of that region Of country by ftful riv
ulet which, stealing away from the parent fountain,
soon disappears amid the burning sands, has proved
so decided failure that the conscientious committee
charged by the Emperor with the distribution of
some eight or nine premiums among the planters, for
their crops of 1856 withheld all but two which, per-
haps through courtesy to the Emperor, were award
ed to two competitors whose specimens were not
total failures the Algerian newspaper the "Akhab"
informs us the with the others.
But the best illustration can present of the re-
liability Of these semi-annual cotton bulletins, which
30 regularly of late appear in the Times and Moniteu,
win be found in the sober, matter-of-fact columns of
figures unostentatiously arrayed and so thorough
ly prepared for active service, in our own Treasury
Reports on Commerce and Navigation. How stands
our cotton trade with all nations but
pecialy with England and France, in 1856, compared
with the year 1855, or with any given series of pre-
| ceding years?
Exports of cotton from the United States to all countries
in 1856 1851 ,43l 70l pounds
Exports of cotton from the United
States to all countries in 1885, zoos, ,424 col "
Excess in 1856 over ls55------ 343O07, 100 :"
Total value of cotton exported from the United States to
all nations in ls5G-------- -Sl2s, 1892, ,35l
Total value of cotton exported from the
United States to all nations in lS55---- 49, 1884
Excess in 1856 over ls55 4o, ,2ss, ,5O7
Average per pound of cotton exported from the Uni
ted States to all nations in 1850 40 cents
Average cost per pound of cotton exported from
the United States to all nations in ls55-s.H g
Excess in price per pound in 1856 over 1866 rs
The above excess of cotton exported from the Uni
ted States to all nations in 1856 over 1855 would dis
cover rather umeghborly selfshness in England
and France if their in the cultivation OF cot
ton is at all commensurate with the vauntcd boast
ings of their respective organs for it does not ap-
pear that they diminished, in any sensible degree,
the necessity which supplies the looms of the world
! from the cotton fields of the South, and gives 80
much profitable employment to the tonnage of the
North
But let examine to what extent the cotton OF In
dia and Algeria affects exports of that article to
France and England. We will take the same years
for comparison:
Cotton exported from the United
States to England in 1856 -S99, ,327 1888 pounds
Cotton exported from the United
States to England in ls55---- 673, ,498,2 ,259 ("
Excess of cotton exported from United
States to England in 1856
1855 225, ,s29,72
Cotton exported from United States to
France in 1856 5s-------------- 22l, 767,6l1 pounds
Cotton exported from United States to
France in ls55----------------- -2IO, 800 :"
Excess Of cotton exported from Uni
| ted States to France in 1856 over
1856 1858, ,S02 {"
|
Total value of cotton exported from the Uni
ted States to England in -Ss5, l79 l43
Total value of cotton exported from the Uni
ted States to England in 1856 57,6l6 I49
Excess in value in 1856 over 1855 27, ,562 1874
Total value of cotton exported from United
States to France in 1866 81, 1876 546
Total value OF cotton exported from United
States to France in 1856 l9,O35, ,423
Excess in value in 1856 1S55--- 2,l60 l23
What boots it to u.s. with such results the fore
going before our eyes, if the whole of the Brit
ish East India possessions, from the Himalayah
range of mountains on the north far away to the