The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-28
The Next Cotton Crop.

The Next Cotton Crop.
The steadyand continued decline
in cotton has caused the subject of
the present prices of this article, and
the prospect for the ensuing crop, to
become matters of much interest to
those who have already purchased
and now hold cotton, and those who
are eng Ged in its cultivation
A correspondent Of the Atlanta In
teUigence1 submits some very sensible
remarks upon the subject, from which
we compile few facts.
It was estimated by committee
appointed by the Confederate Con-
gress that the number OF bales of
cotton East of the Mississippi, at the
date of the report, was S75, 900 bales.
This committee had every facility to
enable them to form a correct OPT
Mon, and was composed of intelli-
gent gentlemen.
The report was made previous to
Sherman's advance through Georgia
and the Carolinas, when all crops,
that escaped destruction by Confede-
rate forces, to prevent their falling
into the hands of the Federal troops,
were given to the flames by the order
of that officer and his subordinates,
by means of regular details for the
purpose, and by camp-followers and
struggling incendiaries lowering on
the fanks of his army. As the theatre
of war shifted Northward, the cotton
States were left to the mercy of the
Federal force, and organized and un-
organized cavalry raiders permeated
every nook and corner of the coun-
try, many of which being composed
of men emboldened by, and whose
vindictiveness was increased with, the
waning fortunes of the Confederacv,
delighted in the destruction of pro
perty.
1t would be a moderate estimate to
state the number of bales DESTROYED
by Sherman's army and their cavalry
raids at $780, 900, leaving on hand
725, 900 bales at the time of the sur
render of the Confederate forces. Of
this, 250,000 bales will cover the
number now in the South, that will
be thrown upon the market under
any circumstances, nearly the entire
amount on hand being in the ware
houses of our principal cities.
What are the prospects for good
cotton crop the present year? Pre-
vious to the war, 1000, 900 bales were
considered good yield, and this
number would be fair basis upon
which to make an estimate.
1st By q recent report made by
Gen. Howard. Chief of the Freed
mems Bureau, it is estimated that
100000 able-bodied negroes died
during and since the war.
I'd. Nine out of every ten negroes,
heretofore engaged in the cultivation
of cotton, will not work in the cotton
fields this year. Thousands of them
xe ''enforcing their freedom" by
living in idleness and crime in cities
and villages throughout the South.
3D. The South lost 100000 able
bodied white men by disease and the
casualties of war
4th. Thousands of miles of fencing
have been destroyed, and much is
yet not replaced-gins and presses
have been burned; horses, mules and
oxen have been stolen, impressed,
conscr4pted and claimed by "horse-
details sent out by military authori-
ty; SO that many find it difficult to
cultivate enough soil to supply the
demand for bread.
It will be admitted that nine out of
every ten bales, made prior to the
war, was produced by slave labor,
which would leave 400, 900 as the pro-
duct of white labor, taking 4, 100000
bales as the basis.
If the first and second propositions
be true, then we have 400, 900 bales
as the maximum number that can be
grown under any combination of cir
cumstances by negro labor This
would give us 100000 bales as the
total product of white and black
labor, which must be further re-
duced by the number of bales which
would have leen made by the 800, 600
able-bodied white men who died
during the war. 1t would be low
estimate to fix this ut $4,000, which
4 wonld leave 725, 900 as a remainder.
Many who are acquainted with
the negFog-his natural disposition to
idleness, his repugnance to hoeing
cotton, and the uncertainty of this
class of labor under the present sys-
tenn, would regard it,safe to reduce
.,,,:,,,.,..,,...,,