The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-31
Cotton Prospects in the South

Upon this subject, correspond
ent, writing from Macon, GA, to the
New York Times, says:
Everybody-if present indications
continue going to grow cotton
this year. From the fifteen hundred
bales planter, to the enterprising
freedman, who hopes to raise one
bale, there is general determination
that every man shall have his own
&C. patch" and preparations are
nov ing made all over the State
for tr 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 continual
ly themselves, and whose wives and
children help in the work OF the
farm, will succeed; but that the large
planters, who cultivate thousands of
acres, and employ hundreds Of hands,
entrusting the entire management to
overseers, will fail, partially, at least,
for the reason that the freedmen will
not work in large numbers, under
managers, with the regularity and as
siduity which they used as slaves
under overseers, and which are essen
tial to the successful production of
cotton on large scale.
1t is thought that the old planta-
ton system will, of necessity, be
abandoned after this year, and the
large tracts now owned and worked
by individuals will be sub divided into
small farms unless the present antici-
pations of the results of tho labor
revolution is most agreeabl5 disap-
pointed. The expenses of large
plantation are enormous, and in the
present financial condition of the
country, were n crop to fail they
would prove ruinous. Take a plan
tation of 1000 acres, employing
sixty full hands, with the requisite
number of mules, implements, &c, :,
and moderate allowance for repairs,
casualties and the necessary expenses
for year for wages and sustenance
of hands and stock, and other essen
tial outlay, will amount to at least
S2O, 600. On such plantation, say
half or 500 acres are in cotton. This
will yield half bale to the acre on
an average, or $50 bales of 50Opounds
each, provided the season be favor
able and the full amount of work
done. This crop, at thirty cents per
pound, would yield gross sum of
1877, 500, from which are to be deduct
ed the cost Of rope and bagging, the
expense of moving to market, and
the interest of the capital employed,
which would still be very handsome
return, supposing everything worked
successfully. But should the season
be 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 as it is generally con-
sidered to be prosperous. The above
estimate applies to this year and to
this State, and is made on the basis
of the present absence of ready
money or means of raising it, except
on the security of future production.
The balance of the land in cultiva-
ton over and above the portion in
cotton will raise corn, peas, &c,
which will go to support the plan
tation for the second year, all these
things having to be bought at the
present high rates for this year.
Sanguine calculators believe that
the cotton crop of this year will
amount to 1900, 900 bales, but the
most prudent among competent
judges think that it will not exceed
1000, 900 bales.
According to present indications OF
the good disposition of the freedmen
all over the State, their readiness tC