Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-12

H
tide wster-you saw grain fall not long since i'll
Chicago eight or iens times rs much-what differ
ence would make IN the aggregate annual receipts
of producers Only aboat eight million dollars,
namely, four for the grain grower, and four for the
cotton planter. This is irrespective Of the collate-
raj advantages of the plan, such as stability Of
trade, q more wholesome demand and the Ike,
which in commercial affairs always attend accu-
racy of estimate and correctness OF information.
1t appeIs 70 me that in this Bureau you have al
ready at hand all the organization requisite Tor Oh
taining such information without cost and with but
little troubles and all that is wanting is only to put
the machinery OF a statistical department in motion.
Let the Legislature make it the duty OF the SHEER
ifs and their deputies il All the counties, TO make
monthly reports to Che Agricultural Bureau OF the
crop the preparation therefor, according to'ihe
Is the breadth of land in preparation for
any particular staple greater or less than usual
How has the weather been during the month--ia-
vorable or uhfavUrabie!
AT another season. the reports would tell of the
appearance and promise of the crops the rayages
Of insects the damage from unseasonable weather,
and its extent from that or any other cause. In
short the reports for each month would give ex-
actly that sort of information which would enable
the Bureau to state in monthly bulletins the general
result Every newspaper would be glad OF such a
paragraph
No " if this were done regularly, both planters
and merchants would soon perceive that these re
turns coming from the Bureau, would contain the
most reliable accounts to be had of crops; and both
merchants and farmers would go by them, and both,
but esDeciay the latter, would gainsby them. ~
In little while, and as soOnas the plan was fair
ly understood by farmers generally the compulsory
reports of the Sherifs might be dispensed with, the
Bureau substituting therefor the reports of its
correspondents and affiliated societies Other States
would follow
emit True; but it is not so difficult to get farmers
together as it is to have combined action among
sailors :; and yet sailors have showed the utmost
readiness to come forward with daily reports of
wind and weather at sea. The results obtaIned and
the value and Importance OF the Information derived
from these simple reports have astonished all who
use the sea- Make your plan general; press it upon
tine attention of the States; solicit the corporation
of their societies and my word tor it, these month";
" reports will prove valuable and Interesting
to the farmers as the abstract logs have been to
mariners.
1 dwell upon the Importance of every State, or
State Agricultural Society having its statistical de-
partment; because the farmer is not interested in
the crop of his neghbor alone, but SELLER he is
interested in crops in all parts of the cOuntry that
meet him IN market rs compettors-and attach
great Importance to simple returns to formularies
for coOperat0rs which shall be of the most Simple
character calling at first for information only upon
such points as will enable your statistician to an
swer monthly or quarterly, the simple question:
What of the erOpsg 1--a-
Let the beginning be by little and little content
ing yourselves first with afew things and they of
the most obvious Importance. Afterwards. as you
make progress, the scope and aim of the plan may
be enlarged, to include statistics generally and
finally, perhaps, to embrace system of agrieutur-
al meteorological observations in the States also.
There is here a eonvocation of planters from the
cotton growing States The object of their assem-
blage il to take into consideration lust such meas
ures as the one am now advocating; and hope
this Planters Convention will signaze its first
meeting by the inauguration of a Planters Bureau.
or some other establishment, which will keep their
constituents posted up TO the promise and state
Of the cotton crop at least if upon other of the
great staples.
Cotton will BEAUTIFULLY demonstrate the benefits of
the system, for it may be carried out with cotton
better and more conveniently than with any other
staple. I
Cotton growers from all parts of the country
here therefore, say, make it general with cotton
at once, leaving tito this gallant State, through her
admirably organized Bureau to bring up the rear
with regard TO the other staples and other States.
say, moreover, to this Planters Convention.
IN the act of its first assemblage: Look to your
commercial Conventions, and take warning. Keep
men from the political commons out OF your meet
ings and prefer acts to resolutions
By resolutions, your commercial conventions have
ransaekea the world for statistics; but the statistics
would not Gomez nor will they come for you, unless
you will put your shoulders TO the wheel and your
hands 10 your pockets. DO that, and you may get
whatever you choose to call for
As for these statistcstical returns and monthly
reports, tell me the of cotton that is be
produced the United States next year and viii tell
y0upretty nearly what the price will be next season
This cannot be said OF any other of great stapcs
they are not in the markets abroad by foreign
pies of like kind Thus a short crop of wheat in
England and on the continent will give us high prices
tor breadstuffs But England and the continent
compete not with US in cotton. India Egypt, and
Brazil are our only competitors in that staple and
their competition Is almost too feeble to be felt for
we greatly surpass them both in quantity and quail
ity. SIS
The annual production and consumption of cotton
have attained such proportions that the ratio between
that consumption throughout the world and the ur,
lucFon here IN this country determines the price
the raw article in al! the markets of the world.
v e may lay it down a rule, that if when the
cotton crop Is coming forward its amount be over
the producers have to pocket loss in
The aggregate nearly equal in value to the number
1f bales by which the estimated may prove to ex-
iced the actual crop.
Ii is to the interest of the Spectator to buy
0w and sell high BY representing the crop to BE- |
shorter than it really is he is enabled to buy
heap but by representing it TO be larger than 1t
'eally Is, he may be enabled so to buy His inter |
SITS and those of the planter in this respect are
therefore antagonstic. Why should planters leave |
to the speculator to collect statistics about the
growing crop, and then when selling time comes |
% TO him for information, and leave il to him to Iix
he price: If the brokers' estimates he a hundred
thousand bales too high the aggregate receipts
planters will be in money about the value of /
hundred thousand bales too low.
hope that gentlemen will not separate without |
aying provided for an organization it a COM
littee-call it Bureau-call it what you please,
ut let it be a working cOncern-which as the sea-
on draws on, will enable the planter to the
lerchant well and truly next March, and monthly |
hereafter every year, till the cotton is all picked
he question that is ever your tongue and his lips
That of the crops?