Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-05-26
m EDGEFIEED S. C, MAY 26, 1858.

In 1791, the entire amount Of cotton pro.
duced in all other parts of the world was 488,-
600 900 pounds Southern States produced 9,
100000. In 1911, the amount in other contries
had fallen to 475000,000; in the Southern
States it amounted to 80,000,0OO. In 1881, in
all other countries it had iallen to $50, 100000;
in the Southern States it had risen to 10000,
600. In 1884, in all other parts of the world,
it had fallen to 444, 100000. In 1855, the latest
comparative statistics we have, all other coun-
tries imported to England near LAG, 900 900, the
Southern States, zoos, 900. 1t will be seen
by these figures that, while the amount in the
Southern States has gone on steadily increasing,
that produced in other parts of the world has
steadily decreased. The competition has been
too great for them. Our climate is better
adapted to the growth of it. We produce a
finer quality and can make it cheaper than else
where. By referring to the Report of the Patent
Office for 1855, in an article OH the climatology
of the different cotton-growing countries, it will
be seen that our Southern climate is better
adapted to the cotton plant than any other.
And moreover, that the Southwestern States
and Territories enjoy advantages over the east
ern Southern States. This Is apparent too from
the higher prices which Orleans cotton COM
mands in the market. But in addition to the
advantages Of climate, the West enjoys that of
soil also. Give it the labor and it would soon
supply the entire demand for cotton. So great
are the advantages which it enjoys that cotton
can be grown there three cents less than it can
be in the Southeastern States. We see, then,
that the supply of cotton has been so great that
it has greatly limited its production in other
countries. 1t will also be admitted that the
West enjoys advantages over the East both in
soil and climate, which would soon decide tho
contest in favor of the West, should the two
sections be brought into competition, and the
result would be the abandonment Of the cotton
cultivation in the Southeastern States. The
Southern planter has no reason to fear compet-
ton from abroad. His danger is from over-pro-
duction at home.
We have seen low the production has in
creased from the natural increase Of our slaves.
That increase has not only kept up with the
demand, but has frequently exceeded it, and
thus put prices down to all unremunerating
standard; rs for instance, in 1915 to below six
cents, and in 1910 to six and half cents. Cot
ton has not averaged, in any year, twelve cents
since $780, In 1911 it was ut ten cents, but u
large crop in 1912 put it down to eight cents a
still larger one in 1913 put it down to six cents.
In 1914 a short crop putt up to eight cents. In
1916 large crop put it below six cents. So it
has continued to vary down to the present time.
Two successive large crops would put it down,
we have no doubt, to seven or light cents. For
tunately for the planters, unforeseen causes act
ing upon the cotton crop have kept the supply
within demand, and they lave realized good
prices. The figures we have above given, show
the delicate senstiveness Of the price of cotton.
The expectations of 1889, amounting to 49,
100000, sold at little over fourteen cents, and
realized upwards of .S6l 900, ,QO0. 2hrop.nf
1910, amounting to TIA 600, GOO pounds, at eight
and q half realized $1,000, ,00O-but two mil
lions more than that of the preceding year. The
history of the cotton market shows close
struggle between the demand and the cunSump-
tion-sometimes causing large crop to realize
less than a small crop. This was illustrated by
the crops of 1911 and 1872. The crop of 1871
amounting to 53O,OO0,0O0, realized $5i O00, 600,
Willie that OF 1912, amounting to 5S4 100000,
realized but 100000. This increase may
have been produced by the addition of but IT.
0UO slaves to tho productive resources Of the
West. When We remember that in Texas
alone tue increase of slaves from 1856 to 1857
was considerably upwards Of T., 900, and that
the annual average increase in the Gulf States
for the two last decades has been eighteen per
cent, we must believe that, with the natural
increase of slaves and uniformity of seasons,
the production Of cotton would be so great that
its price would be kept down to below eight
cents. As it is, for the seventeen years from
1889 to 1885, the price has not averaged nine
cents. 1t has been too low from the supply
caused by the natural increase of our slaves.
Hence the immense immigration to the more
fertile soils of the West. Hence, too, the con-
slant system of land clearing, which our PLAN
tcrs have been obliged to resort to, to sustain
themselves against Western competition. 1t is
not that negroes have been high, but because
after deducting plantation expenses the receipts
from the crop are nearly all consumed. When
negroes are high, it is evidence that cotton is
commanding good price and that the receipts
are large. We have illustrated this above.
With this knowledge Of the close struggle be-
tween production and consumption, with the
evidences before lis that the latter has so ex-
cecdcd tile former that it has produced grad
ual decrease in the production in other parts OF
the world, and that the planter of Carolina has
had to stretch every nerve to keep up with the
competition, wo arc now advised to seal our des-
tiny by bringing in new supply of labor We
are to challenge the West to competition-for
it will amount to this. Let it not be supposed
that, when the supply Of cotton has been III
creased, and the price reduced to point it will
no longer pay to cultivate it at in the South
eastern States, that the West will then be viii
ling to stop the trade. How could it be stopped I?
With what grace could we ask for such thing
The advocates say it is legitimate trade; let
it be free. If we called for its cessation, they
would not heed US. They would throw our
own arguments in our faces. With all the en-
ergy and desperate exertions which excited
competition generates, they would press for
ward in the race of production. They would
stimulate war with Mexico for fresh land, and
war in Africa for negroes, The price Of his
staple reduced below the price of remuneration
the planter of Carolina would seek the more fer
tile lands Of the West, So far from reclaiming
his worn.out land, ho would find his virgin soil
unable to give him support On him it would
weigh with fatal disaster If ne turned his at
tention to the grains he would fiRd himself un-
able to compete with the Middle and North
western farmers. Neither hemp nor tobacco
would hold out sufficient inducements. His
alternatives would be, either emigration, which
would doubtless he preferred by the great body
of planters, or he might sell his slaves and en-
bark in manufactures. Which, ever alternative
were chosen, the result would be deadly blow
to the institution Of slavery in tho Eastern
slaves States. If, however, the supply be al
lowed to grow with the increasing demand
PRICES may never fall, as general thing too low
for cultivation here, The history of all compe-
TORS shows that while consumers are benefited
by the reduced prices, they never derive as