Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-01


portance to society at Large.
Upwards Of 100000 workers are now
employed ID onr cotton factories, and it
has been estimated that It least 4,0OO,-
600 persons in this country are depend
ent upon the cotton trade for subsist-
cnce. A century ago Lancashire con-
tanned population Of only 5000 per-
sons; i now numbers 100000. In
the same period of time this enormous
increase exceeds that on any other equal
surface # the globe, and is entirely ow-
ing to the development Of the cotton
trade. In 1856 there were, in the
United Kingdom, 2.2lO factories, run
ming 100000 spindles and 100000
looms, by 10000 horse power. Since
that period a considerable number of
new mills have been erected and extern
sive additions have been made to the
spinning and weaving machine Of those
previously in existence.
The amount Of actual capital invested
in the cotton trade Of this Kingdom is
estimated to be between f6O,OOO,OOO
and f7O,0OO,00O sterling.
The quantity Of cotton imported in
this country in 1864 was 1872 million
pounds weight, the value OF which at
Cd. per ID. is equal to f3O,O00,O00 ster-
ling. Out Of 2,s29,llO bales Of cotton
imported into Great Britain, America
has supplied us 2, 066,34l, that is 5-7ths
Of tho whole. In other words, out OF
every lib. imported from all countrie'
into Great Britain, America has supplied
6lb, India has sent us about 100000
bales, Egypt about 100000, South
America, $4,000; and other countries
between 5000 and 5000 bales. In
1859 the total value Of the exports from
Great Aritain amounted to $3.50, $685.
of which EAT, 100000 consisted of cot
ton goods and yarns. Thus, more than
one third, or 81 out of every f3 Of ou'
entire exports consists Of cotton. Add
to this the proportion Of cotton which
forms part Of 50 900, 900 more exported
in the shape of mixed woollens, haber
dashery, millinery, silks, apparel, anc
slops. Great Britain alone consumes an
nually 24,OOO,OOO worth Of cotton goods
Two conclusions, therefore, may safely
be drawn from tho facts and figures nov
cited-frst, that the interests of every
cotton-worker are bound up with 81
gantic trade which keeps in motion az
enormous mass Of capital, and this cap
ital, machinery and labor depend fol
ivc-sevenths of its employment upor
the slave States of America for prosper
ity and continuance; secondly, that il 8
war should at any time break out be
tween England and America, a general
.insurrection among the slaves, disease
sweep off those slaves by death, or thu
cotton crop tall short in quantity, wheth
er from severe frosts, disease OF the plant
or other possible causes, our mills woult
be stopped for want of cotton, EMPLOY
ers would be ruined, and famine woul,
stalk among the hundreds and thous
ands of work people who are at presen
fortunately well employed.
Calculate the consequences for your
self. Imagine a dcarth Of cotton, a
you may picture the horrors Of such !
calamity from the scenes you may pos
sibly have witnessed when the mills have
only run on "short time" Count up al
the trades that are kept going out of tn
wages of the working classes, independ
ent of builders, mechanics, engineers
GOLFERS, &C., employed by the mill own
ers. Railways would cease to pay, ant
our ships would lie rotting IN our ports
should scarcity of the raw material fo
manufacture ovcrtakc u..-London Cot
tom .Supply Reporter, FEB. 3.
CURIOUS LAw.-There is 4 law il
Pennsylvania, which requires that al
wills which contain requests for charita
bio and religious purposes shall be mad
twenty days before the death Of thu
tes,ator. 1t will be remembered tina
ex-Mayor Gilpin, who died recently il
Philadelphia, bequethed large sum 0
money to various charitable and literar,
societies. The munificent intentions o
Mr.. Gilpn are likely to fall through le
gal defect in his will, which was mad
only twelve days before his death.