Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-22
Cotton crop Of 1858 and Cotton statistics.

Cotton Crop of 1858 and Cotton Statistics
As the cotton crop of the country is one of the
great elements Of finance, the balance wheel of the
whole fabric, give the following statistics on this
subject as q matter of interest to our readers. An
Alabama cotton planter, who has carefully examined
the question, says:
Owing to an unusually long continuance Of very
| favorable and sunny weather, during September aud
October and until late in the autumn, there having
/ been no frost in the cotton region worthy Of
notice before the 10th Of November, and none " to
kill " generally until about the 10th of that month,
when the rains in the prospect Of the cotton crop
! in September has been more than realized Instead
! of the crop being about the same quantity last
year. not quite g. 600 bales il seems be aseer-
iained thRt the present crop will range between :
! 500 600 and $4,000 900 bales-good crops having
been made in the States East of Mississippi but in
that State by the accounts Of intelligent persons
who have lately been there, also in Louisiana and
Texas, and some other Of the Southwestern States,
parts Of them, it is believed as general result
not more than half crops have been made, as is GER
tain in many localities. The inundations along the
Mississippi river and Of its tributaries, des
troyed whole crops the last spring. The extent Of
the damsge is not yet known, and is VaTiously esti
mated as is also the general crop.
The uncommon extent Of the receipts and sales at
the cotton markets early in the season, owing TO
the circumstance of its unusual maturity, the bulk
of cotton having gone forward two months in advance
Of ordinary seasons has perhaps led to eerroneous
opinion, especially in Europe, that the cotton crop
OF the present year is much larger than il actually
is Should it even exceed, which does not appear
probable, $500 900 bales, that quantity will be iu-
adequate to the demand This scarcely needs d.
monstrstion.
For several successive years, the crops in this
country have been short, and the agitsted state of
India must have caused failure of the crops there
1t will be observed that the crop in this country
Of 1855 was 1897 $40 bales; and since then, up 20
the present year, has never been exceeded. Last
years crop was 3, ll3 962 bales.
The total consumption in the United States last
year was less than 595 900 bales, while the expert
to foreign ports exceeded 2 $4,000 bales. Only
about 100000 bales, supposed 10 be mostly inferior
and unsaleabie cotton, was left on hand in this
country, the LIST of September, 1858.
These statistics show what will be the probable
demand for the present crop of cotton independent
of the improved trade and the opening Of China
and India to the fabrics Of England and the United
States.
Prices in this country for the present crop, as
paid, have ranged from about eleven to thirteen
cents per pound, huctuating in ameasure according
to the prices at Liverpool and Manchester.
Alabama, it is supposed, will be again the cotton
"banner State this year Her bales it will be OBJ
served, average five hundred and fifty pounds; in
Georgia four hundred. In that State full crop Of
cotton, it is stated, has been made this year that
''Will bring S2l, O00, 900 at present prices"
According to the census Of 1850, the cOttonNgroW-
ing region produced "ginned cotton bales, of four
hundred pounds EACH" as follows: In Alabama,
564 429; Georgia, 49909l Mississippi, 49,, 292;
South Carolina 500, 90l; Tennessee 1914, 432; LOui
sisna, l78 387; North Carolina 73, $40; Arkansas,
65, S45; Texas, 58 O72; Florida, 45,l3I Virginia, g.,
507; Kentucky $50; making total of 2, 1859, O79;
and showing an increase in the product of cotton in
this country in eight years Of about one millions Of
bales, now worth over $4,000, 900.