The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-09-07
state OF the Cotton Question.


lffVhA 't hrtN A'N NtNss
The great question of the supply OF cotton is
steadily acquiring the important Dimensions
which We have prepared our readers 10 look for:
especially now that the defeat Of tho Federal
army has occasioued n more serious appreciation
Of the probable duration OF the national struggle
N America. We invite attention to the state of
branch ui trade, which exports 55, OOO. OON #
manufactures annually. and furnishes subsistence
to iOur millions Of persons IN this country. Dur
lng tue past week, owing tu the result Of the
lHttln In America, there has been a renewal Of
excitement in the Livcrpo0l cotton market, and a
fresh advance in prices. As compared with last
year. the price of "middling" American cotton
is now fully 80 rer cent. dcarcr, whilst tho risc
IN East India descriptions L. equivalent to no
less than 30 per cent. The general public have
no conception of the anxiety, emhauassmcnt
and incouv, nieuCc which this remarkable move
mcnt in prices, combined with the prospect OF its
further dcNcl pmcnt, has inflicted upon our
greatest manufacturing interest.
The conclusion at which the most sigac' lus
persons in the manufacturing districts have ar
rived l. stmpy, that the sooner a general re-
duction in tho consumption Of cotton take,
place the better 1t will be, under present crcum-
stances, Tor that great trade itself, and for the
country at large. The commodity does not eN-
IL IN any quantity except in America, AMI can
u bc called into existence as swiftly as we ru-
q ire IT, Short time is alrridv being ndupted
l's more general adoption will bo promoted by
TIC difficult position in which spnncrs and man
u,acturcrs already find themselves placed.
u he computed stock Of cotton at Liverpool on
q Friday evening was gS9, ,O10 bales, cquu to
u out 20 weeks consumption at the rate lL,el,
'ucsscd.
II would bc wrong 10 omit from the account a
number II points fiyOring the presumption that
We shall vet tide quietly over u considerable
pcrOt hciurc we arrive at the much dreaded
cotton scarcity, which seems to be gradually
"rrcping nearer aui nearer
lu,tead oi producing coarse heavy goods.
which require an immense quantity uf cotton
many manufacturer, are now turning their at
,cntiun to lighter and thinner fthric- Then
. 'he higher Prices rise at Liverpool, tn, moro
impressed will the spcculators bee, me with the
poril of their position, the moro caictally will
they watch for the least sign that may affect it,
ind the reader will they bc to sell and take their
profit.
Next, under the powerful influence of n rise
Of - pr cent. in the price since last year, India
Is strdning every nerve to serve u. This, It is
true, requires much time, but the prospect is at
least frightening. FBtiy, Il must b. borne ~
mind that, hpUgi ~, are told ts usvR sYpply
ft0m ir'ti,d Is Hpi ~ b. p',miI,itp cOme JDr-
rtrd, II vW n"' b, nUhh,H hi, scd,on, ~
kdI, M,oUgh tack ofH, driicie. Cutton-crow-
ing IN America is still being carried on yigur-
ou,ly, and the alycos irom the South speak
well ol the growing crup, II is very import
ant element in the whole question, that the
supply, the want of which pinchc, us will stil
exist there. What quantity of cotton will ran
the gauntlet Of the bockading squadron p
Gir,n n srdr,iy othf article and n hiyL pri ~
at Ijcvpooi and WJHchssi,T,W Hdrrr anil HR-
hpus, mg,ih,j rih dH 0juEi,mi WpDly ~ n,
Cmf,d,rdc Stdf,s E. and irtW w'H b. Me fssW ?
These ara a class Ol questions ia, solution OF
which rests with the future.