Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-21
MISSISSIPPI.
The High water ana the Cotton Crop

Correspondence Louisville Courierl
The present high water is the theme o
general concern and conversation dow
3 here now, and upon its early suO-ldenc'
] depends in a great measure the security
: Of cotton in q large portion OF the Missis
sippi bottom. Owing 20 the large mum
( Der Of break- in the levees admitting tbs
sDreadinp Of the water into she swamps
the river has net attained as great high
as I'm 1852, by two or three feet, but there
is enough water 10 endanger many levees
I still standing, and to submerge nearly al
the lower plantations not protected
Washington county, Mississippi, is gen
[ orally free from water, there being but
! one crevasse, which is IN Miller's Bend
aud which incommodes but few planters.
Bolivar and Coahoma are less fortunate,
and s great deal Of Inconvenience is felt
in the suspension of plantation work,
from the partial overflow Of many large
places. In Arkansas, the upper part Of
Chicot, containing some Of the largest
[ places along the river, is dry; but the
I lower portion, including plantations on
. Grand lake, are 0verfiOwed from an ex-
J tensive break in Matthews Bend. Desba
Z and Phillips counties are in some locali-
/ ties partially affected, but, in the main,
/ are not experiencing much incOnven-
Z ience. The news from above indicates
/ prospect Of an early decline, and the re-
/ ported scarcity Of SHOWS IN the noun
{ tains gives every hope and confidence
Z that there viii be no June rise. At this
I season planters can stand an overflow for
/ q fortnight longer without seriously en-
/ dangering a CROP but should high water
/ come In June the damage would be esti-
[ mated by millions.
Ny observation in al the counties
named indicates very satisfactory pro-
ETess in planting operations. The season
has been favorable for plOwing, and
/ planters are rather ahead Of than behind
[ their work, as compared with former
I years. Planting has begun in Washing
I ton county, and everywhere the fields
cleared Of fallen timber or Of the growth
Of weeds and bTiers during the war give
a happy earnest in their plowed acres Of
returning prosperity and wealth. Every
where is seen evidence Of the energy
which IS reclaiming the country from the
decay and desOlatiJn which has so long
had sway. New buildings TO old chim-
neys, new fences and abandoned saw
mills hard at work, lend a more cheerful
tone to the scenery, compared with that
which greeted the eye Of the traveller six
months since Where I write corn is Up
very finely, and within ten days cotton
will be all planted, except where the less
fortunate viii have to await the receding
Of the waters.
There is much speculation as 10 the
probable yield Of cotton the current year,
the estimates, as observe, ranging from
!, ,2l0, ,00G to 2,500, 900 bales, which latter
are the figures Of the New Jrk specUia- I
tors in keeping down figures DeBOw, 1
observe, gives ], 800. 600 as the number. |
A little reflection viii satisfy almost I
every one that this is rather above than Z
below the probable figures. Without 4
dealing in odd numbers we will say that 4
4. COO 900 bales was before the war more .
than an average crop. Then all the cot I
ton land was in cultivation under an old .
established system OF labor, which pro- /
duced to the maximum capacity Of the
land. Now, on the contrary, the South .
is working with an experimental system 4
of labor upon but a fraction Of the land
which was formerly devoted to cotton.
From the best information 1 can arrive
at, by observation and inquiry, am sat
isfied that not One-fOurth of the cotton
area is in cultivation; while many with
whom I have cOnversed claim that not
more than One-sixtn is taken up. II the
estimate Of the number Of negroes who
TO One-f0urtb of the whole
number, and if consideration is had for
the diversion Of a large number of the
surviving who were formerly field hands,
to other occupations or idleness, It will be
seen that the estimated land in Cultiva-
ton and the labor remaining for it cor
respond 50 nearly as % eutitle my figures
to more than ordinary weight
Taking it, therefore, for granted that
oue-flUrth Of the cotton land Is being
worked; that there VIII be a most favor
able season for the growth and gathering
of the crop; and that the negro viii
steadily and faithfully work from this
time TIL the eEd Of the year, the number
Of bales, estimated upon the basis of
{. 600 900 as above, a full crop before the
war, would be ], 900 600 as the crop for
1866. The contingencies which are requi-
site, the amount Of land in cultivation
being assumed Is correct, 10 produce this
yield, are very full of question and IN
certainty. The danger Of overflow In /,
the Mississippi and tributaries has not
yet passed, and, although the proportion /
1f cotton produced in the bottom was ,
before the war only about 0ue-seventh, ,
yet il must be remembered that il is the /
region in which mole capital has been /
invested than elsewhere, and that its pro-
luct must this year be much more, pro- J
DOrJiOnally, than then.
The question as 10 whether the negro +
will work in hot weather as formerly, is !
considered with much doubt and uncer- /
ainty, and the possibility Of not being !
able TO gather the crop from the same /
,ause, produces much anxiety. So much / I
10 these doubts prevail that, as a general Z
hing, planters do not calculate on more
han half a crop, or five bales to the
hand, instead Of ten, as before the war.
Reductions from these causes would,
therefore, place the cTop far below the ]
Owest estimate. As an offset, however,
% these adverse considerations, should I
be taken into consideration the increased
cultivation Of cotton by white labor in :
ections not devoted 10 its culture before
he war, and by q class of persons who :
leveT before gave their attention TO il.
The amount Of cotton to be thus pro- I
iuced viii be larger than would be at ! J
irst supposed. Z
Basing, however, my estimates upon
he most favorable view, they would thus {
ippear in tabular form: S
crop of 1o5e 600 ISL. 10000
I'D product OF white lab0r-----.-.. f0cOl0
Total crop Of 800 900 bales.
Upon this estimate, with the rapidly !
afral- NON b ~, d..