Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-04-20
Is Cotton Kings

II NAV be matter of some interest for agri-
cultural readers just now, to look at the possible
hearing of any disturbances in the South which
NAV interfere with the usual supply of cotton.
As it is claimed that Cotton is King" we ought
to know its pedi gree and legitimate claims Qf 1t
have AMY to bear its name and sway. Or the
inheritance and value of cotton as textile fab
ric there can be no doubt. But it should be
borne in mind that tibrOus plants are very numer-
ous and that the Almighty has not shut us up to
one source important as it may be, TOR our supply
of vegetable clothing. There are probably hity
different species of plants which yield vegetable
fibre in such form as to be useful in some degree
and under favorable circumstances, for the man
ufacture of cordage, paper and cloth. In addi-
tion to this we have the wool and hair of differ
ent animals, either domestic or capable of being
domesticated. We have the various variety OF
the silk worm some of which, like that lately
introduced into France from the East, can DE
cheapy fed and reared, and made TO produce
coarse fabric suitable in point of cheapness Tor
common wear. II may be said that one OF these
have been proven equal in cheapness and excel
lence to the cotton. But it may be answered
that no man can predict the effect of the appllca-
ton of scientific and inventive intellect to the
general subject of textile ibres under the impulse
of necessity. The inventions of 1argreaves and
Arkwrght, in England, and of Whitney, in this
country, actually created the cotton culture IN
the South and the cotton manufacture i'll En-
gland 1t is unsafe for politicians or economists
to presume on peculiar advantages which the
Creator has given to any one country or climate
There is a law of compensation which presldes
over all Gods blessings. 1t may be doubted
whether cotton is King" at all, and with still
better reason may il be doubted whether the cot
ton of the Gulf States of North America Is
King"
Let us look at the matter few moments
Cotton grows freely in almost all the warm coun-
tries of the globe In almost all these countries
it may be supplied to an indefinite extent The
Limitation upon its production is either the lack
of civilization, aud government which cannot
protect regular labor, as in Africa or in the
means of transporting it TO market, as Ia india.
1t is well known that half Il century ago India
was the great cotton growing and manufacturing
country of the world. Our older readers can re-
member when India Cottons" were common IN
our own country. What has changed all this,
and enabled Old and New England to carry cot
ton fabrics to India 1t is not that India has
ceased to raise cotton, or weave it, for hundred
millions of people are clothed with cotton OF
their own raising 1t is simply because Engllsh
and Amerch,l talent has applied machinery TO
clean. and spin. and weave the cotton, 80 that by
these means thew are able to enter into success
full competition even with the marvel0usly cheap
labor of the relocating natives oi ihula ana oh''
ma In this way England Hersei'' nus NV i"
her fabrics made of American cotton into lndia'
and by reducing the demand of raw cotton .here'
has reduced the amount grown. haw cottot ID
easier obtained from America than from lhdia'
for want of the means of transportation over 'he
immense distances between the cotton fields anu
the India sea ports. The quality OF the Ameri-
can article is better, but this depends in great
measure on the skill of the cultivator. The rail-
road system of the English in India is now about
coming into activity. and this will enable the
natives to reach a market with all the cotton
they may have demand for. 1t may be safely
said that in five years time India may be made
to supply a very large part, if not the whole of
the English demand for raw cotton.-Rural Nev
Forker.