Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-26
corrox pnosrncrs IN THE SOUTH.

Upon this subject, a correspondent writing
from Macon, Ga, to the New York Times,
says: fIei 9af % a,
| Everybody. IL present indications continue. is
| going 10 grow cotton this year. From the fifteen
hundred bales planter TO the enterprsing freed
man who Hopes 20 raise one bale, there is a gene
raj determination that every man shall have his
own cotton patch" and preparations are now be-
ing made all over the State for the most earnest
and universal worship Of King Cotton that has
ever been known here or elsewhere.
The shrewd ones believe that the small farmers.
who employ but few hands, and work with them
continually themselves, and whose wives and
children help in the work of the farm will sue
coed; but that the large planters, who cultivate
thousands Of acres, and employ hundreds Of hands,
intrusting the entire MANAGEMENT TO oversecrs,
will fail partially at least for the reason that the
freedmen will not work in large numbers under
managers with the regularity and assidnity which
they used as slaves under oyerseers. and which
ESSENTIAL 10 the successful production of cotton
ON a large scale. M 9la
tits thought that the old plantation system
will. of necessity, be abandoned after this year,
and the large tracts now owned and worked by
individuals will be subdivided into small farms
unless the present antlcpations of the results Of
the labor revolution Is most agreeably disappoint-
ed The expenses Of a large plantation are enor-
nous, and in the present financial condition Of
the country, were y crop 70 fail they would prove
ruinous. Take plantation of 1000 acres en-
ploying sixty fall hands, with the requisite mum
Der Of mules. implements. &e. and moderate
allowance for repairs. casualties. and the neces-
sary expenses for year for wages and sustenanee
of hands and stock. and other essential outlay,
will amount TO ut least $4,000. On such PLAN
tation say half. or 500 acres are in cotton. This
will yield half bale 10 the acre on an average.
O. 80 bales Of 800 pounds each, provided the sea-
son be favorable and the full amount Of work
yield gross sum Of $s7, 800 from which are TO be
pense of moving TO market and the interest
of the capital employed. which would still be
a very handsome return, surprising everything
adverse, or should the work fail and the crop fall
considerably below the foregoing estimate, the
condition Of the now cashless planter would be as
unfortunate a. II i generally considered to be
prosperous. The above estimate applies 20 this
year and TO this State and is made on the basis of
sne present absence OF ready money pF means OF
duction. The balance of the land in cultivation
over and above the portion in cotton win raise
corn peas, &c., which will go to supporting the
plantation for the second year. all these things
having TO be bought at the present high rates for
this year. t.. f.f \
Sanrtline calculators believe that the cotton
crop Of this year will amount to 100000 bales,
but the most prudent among competent judges
think that it viii not exceed 2.000 200 bales.
According TO present indications ofthe good dis
position Of the freedmen all over the State, their
readiness 10 make contracts their anxiety TO work.
the absence of all turbulence or Dissatisfaction,
and the general cheerful willingness of the em-
ployers TO give fair wages and encourage the negro
TO industry and good conduct by generous treat
ment, am inclined to believe that the sanguinc
viii prove to be correct and thAt with
r favorable season. from tive and half to three
millions of bales will be produced and ready for
market by next Christmas, M
From private letter, written TO gentle
man in this city by friend in Bolivar county
Mississippi, we. are permitted to extract the
f-stra
Planters 10 ssis eizhborhood cannot get hands.
know OF 81. sns person beside. myself, So lar.