The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-03-14
From the Columbus tGa) sunl
The Cotton Crop oflS66.

Much has been raid anl written res.
psctug the amount Of cotton that would
be produced in the Uatsj States the
present year. Some writers have put Il
as high as tuo-thirds Of a crop, while
others have conten, ed Sb emsslvss with
half a crop. Our estimate is 100000
to 100000 balss-what we term little
over The fourth Of crop-tae fourth Of
the crop Of 1861, which ws Sc, down at
4,soo, 1000 bales. This is high 6gurs,
aud may possibly bs over the mark.
In proof Of the corrsctues, Of our sstif
mate, We will state n few incon testibls
t.cs. Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi,
West Tennessee and Alabama have been
the great co,ton producing regions. They
have'besn relied on for over three millions
OF the crop-we might say, three fourths
Of tie cotton crop. What i. their sondi-
ton no~i 10 the rich and productive
territories Of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missis-
sippi, West Tsnussses in North Alsbams,
what Of African labor was left by the
Federal army i, completely dsmor slizeds
aud 10 composed Of the old, in6rm and
women and children. Tue larger halfof
the labor that cultivated the crop o.
lSCO-GI are absent. Some are deal.
some are ir tho army, and many ba,s
congregsted IN tho towns and cities, seek,
ing smploy'n more agreeable TO them
than fed labor.
|" South Alsbsma, il is ,hougkt, Ahi,
can labor is IN better trim. There tho
absent from f-ld labor ars no, 20 nu-
merous, but from tho beat info, NJ alton We
can gather from tho productive sections
Of South Alabama, African labor i, much
dsmoral'zed, and those who have con-
tracted for plantation service cannot be-
relied upon fer more than half tho sersics
they did. perform while 10 slavery. Even
there one fourth to one.,hirl OF The labor,
srs are absent from plantation service.
In Georgia, We irs satisfied not more
than. tue third Of the crop Of 1861 can
bs relied on. Planters wi, make au
efIr'. aud possibly a large surface will b.
planted 10 cotton, bu, We believe the ID.
Dor .cannot be relied on iE the crisis Of
ths crop. and as con' seuence grass will
bscoms rnsster Of the sirpsIion, aud much
will have 10 be abandoned.
10 South Carolina, AS also in Gsorgis,
the valuable Gss island lands are in pos,
session OF tn, Isgros., and but little can
he expected from ,ha, quarter. Ia the
Interior OF South Carolina African labor
has bssn greatly dsmor.ljz.d by the
presence Of negro troops. 50 much so, that
but little labor will bs 60, out Of ,hoss
even who contract, and but little cotton
can be looked br hom lhs, StSls.
! Tpss are ac's vel known to all who
are acquainted with the condition iu
which the war bad left the cotton region
and the disposition Of tue negro A. . 70.
liable lshorsr under the present system.
We have besn induced to write THE
article from having seen numsrous spscu.
lAuvs opinions sen, abroad Us cosrsspon.
dents and commercial firms whose opin
ions heretofore were entitled to credit.
but whose present want OF kno~lsdgs Of
the situation" to:all, units them to be
reliable advisers. When tho plsnts could
control the labor at command he knew
precisely how many acres of land hs could
plant and successfully cultivate, aud ID
was an easy matter TO estimate from for.
NOR data ('hs seasons being equs) With.
in = few thousand bales Of the amouut Of
cotton that would 10 produced.
Such is not the case under The changed
labor system. We are satisfied that not
only the prospective crop has hssn largely
ovsrestimat.d, but that the stock Of cid
cotton on hand in thi. country has also
5sen over estimated. These are matters
OF serious Import to our people 10 . Pc.
cunisry point. Ever since The enormous
estimates have been going forward cotton
hsi manifested . downward tendency
abroad, and many on THE side Of ths
water have suSt aimed beavv Io..s. W.