The New York herald., 1862-01-19
COTTON CULTURE AT THE WEST
OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDENCE.

CAIRO III. Jan. 3, 1862
The Cotton Pro6len-Is Culture the northeastern tates-
The Great Western Cotton Lands-Experimens in Cotton
Ginning Near -aeasuyes Taken to Culirote Cotton
on the Western Prairie-Frince Napoleons Tour Iui-
nois-He Takes Some Of the WesUn Cotton to France
Ffue Millions Of Acres in the Loyal States Open to Con
Cuhtre-GAatemal0 Cotton, dc.
Just there is strong effort being made 70 solve
tho "cotton problem p far it relates to the West
and the evidence coar that, tho present rebel
lion shall establishing radical changes In the
geography and political status Of the country it win also
have effect upon the agricultural interests the les
radical and important "Can cotton be proftaby raised
at the Norh9 is the question, and an Affirmative
swer comes from hundred different localities And why
no2 The great West and especially that part Of
Egypt has millions Of Of the finest lands In the
world especially adapted to its growth and experiments
have shown that the staple here produced inferior
any respect TO that grown in the best cotton producing
districts Of Middle and East Tennessee You will emem
bor that about six weeks ago sent you boil grown
upon the plantation Of Colonel Bird at Birds Point op
poste Cairo also sent specimens to different parties
In New York interested in the cotton trade, with
quest that they would compare with the different quail
ties OF that market and write the result have since
received advices from them and all agree that the speci
sent inferior in respect 10 the best qualities
saving perhaps, the finest Sea Island Colonel Bird
annually several hundred acres and he informs
u
raised at Birds Point, and northward far Hannibal
Missouri what shall stand in the way Of production
question Of slave labor for if the Illinois farmers are able
with free labor TO compete with the Missouri farmer
with slave labor in the growing Of corn wheat other
cereals why shall they NOT compete in tho production Of
cotton with the show for success soil and climatic
considerations being the sameS was shown today a
very fine specimen Of cotton grown IN this State, two
hundred miles north Of here; and that at different
localities the southern portion Of the State and Ind
ana the staple attans growth perfection equal to
| ar 4
the experiment will be tried largely in this vic
nifty the coming year (providins our army opens
up route by which our farmers can procure tho
eeed before planting time commences). A letter
received today from Mr. Osborn President Of the Illinois
Central Railroad that It's introduction upon
praries has been settled upon, and expense will
be spared to procure such result shall relieve the
mind OF the Eastern manufacturer from any apprehen
sons of a deficiency In the Of supply IL is be
leved that IN i've years time Illinois alone will be able
TO produce one million bales annually The political and
moral effect or this agricultural innovation IL not
TO discuss but Of this the public may be assured-and
mark the predicton-nos will yet be Of the largest
cotton producing States in this Union Cottonocracy may
affect to believe the statement chinerca but stern facts
have proved it's feasibility and all that TO
be reduce that possibility to practical issue
Let the cost Of producing the way of labor
Corn raised the cotton producing sections OF Tennes
by slave labor and sells at from fifteen to thirty Ave
per Memphis than II does In Cairo Chca
CO. raised Illinois by free labor. SO with every other
agricultural production incident alike 10 the two locai
ties and that in ordinary seasons and under usual cir
cumsances 60 cotton be raised here in perfec.
ton, why cannot IL be furnished as cheapy produced
Il by Tree white hbOr as II grown IN tennessee By
slave labor, where other native agricultural pro-
ductons from fifteen 10 forty per cent highorf
When Prince Napoleon passed through Illinois he
countered French gentleman long resident In Illinois,
who had then OF cotton In cultivation Tho
Prince much impressed by the facts presented
him that he took Of the plants TO France The cotton
has been since gathered and Notwithstanding unfa-
vorabe season. has proved entirely successful crop
This has excited interest In the West but the
revival merely Of long established successful pro-
duct In Southern Illinois Tho early settlers mostly
Southern people, we're all cotton growers Few
bers and Of small means their crops small 10
enter commerce. but they sufficient 10 clohe
people and left at that time doubt Of tho capacity
the country for the production Of cotton Of good qua
y when the settlers became accustomed 10 Northern
cotton the New England farmers did tobacco much
cultivated early times and very lately revived with
entire success. There are from three TO FIVE million
acres Missouri Southern Illinois and Kentucky adapted
20 cotton SO far as u has been grown the past year IL
has been picked by children. There will be than
thousand planted the coming year, IL seed be
obtained In one state named above. Upland cotton Ia
the cry Let the gove furnish the seed Beaufort
In our hands, King Cotton will be dethroned aad his do
main divided.
Hon. Mr. Blair, Chairman Of the House Committee
Military Affairs recently received two specimens of cotton
from Guatemala. One specimen was purchased in the
plaza of that city II was cultivated, and yields twenty
eight per cent Of cotton The other specimen was
grown ON the south coast Guatemala Its texture IL
said 10 be superior by those who are good Judges
Fpasxs or MsafEps op CoscRE.s -Postmastcrs are in
sructed TO disregard the franks Of members Of Congress
known to be abs from the whee their franks are
fIa fran of no m W q tn