New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-17

COTTON RESOURCES OF THE S0UTH.-Nefy stflk- |
ing views of this subject are presented In paper
prepared by Mr. Atkinson, Of Massachusetts,, for
the American Statistical Society OF New l ork, |
and published in De Bows Review for August |
Mr. Atkinson shows that the South can dety the
connection of the world in cotton growing, ana
that ts former ascendency in this respect will be
maintained and advanced under system OF Tree
labor. ,.-,-,
The great basis Of the cotton culture is land,
The South has the peculiar soil and climate mat
are best adapted to the cultivation. Having the
land it is only necessary TO apply to the culture
capital and labor The slave labor was the poor
est and dearest that could be employed, put was
the only labor that could be obtained. In the
hands Of more experienced planters, slave labor
was iudiciOusy employed. But, in general, the
rule prevailed which was so well stated IN an eX-
preston by Gov. Wise, VIZ: me negroes sAin
the land and the white men skin the negroes.
Still the cotton growers could produce five mil
lions Of bales Of cotton-enough for the supply OF
all the mills in the world-atth the cost of five cents
apound. Still, this price lett such PrpLL 5 sLiaG
the planter could afford to pay from two hundred
and fifty to three hundred and fifty dollars year
for the hire Of hand, assuming all the cost Of
finding and clothing, and risks OF sickness, etc.
The planter could after acrop, pay the h9h price
of twelve hundred and fifty to fifteen hundred dol
lar for field hand. How large, then, was the
nroft? Large enough to intoNicate the whole
cotton growing community with me lqea thaI
cotton was, politically and commercially, king
The whole world must, as Mr.. Atkinson argues,
be hereafter, as it was heretofore dependent upon
The Southern States for its cotton supply. COTTON
can be made Of a third or a fourth OF the present
prices The natural or normal costot raising cot
ton is not as Mr.. Atkinson contends, more than
eight cents pound.
Now al to the labor question. me suddenly
emancipated blacks are not expected Inmeulatey
to produce FIVE millions of bales of cotton, either
for themselves or as employees upon wages or
shares The cotton planters themselves were not
prepared with proper seeds, with gins gin-hou$es,
indictments capital, ETC., to commence planting
on the former scale. But this season will show a
croD Of at least two million of bales, n0twith-
standing the fast that in the early part of it the
weather was unfaVorable With good season
and good seed the crop would have equalled the
estimate of MIR. A. H. Stephens-three and hait
millions of bales. Nearly one-half OF TINS pro
duct as we learn from various sources, Will be due
to white labor, which is destined to become the
chief element after the land itself, in the cotton
product The labor of the freedmen will also be
Commanded for the good reason that Its results
"a Mr. Atkinson says will induce the planters &c
cherish and encourage it. But new reliance fol-
an ample supply of labor will be found in the
white inhabitants who will cultivate from five tt
fifty aud hundred acres of cotton in the more
heathful districts of the cottonregion. Were the
Sea Islands and all the unhealthy districts aban
dOned it would cause no visible dimlnuuon IN ta'
quantity and value of the crop. 1t would onl.
disturb the manufacture Of some cotton product
of French looms.
Congress and the radical policy can disturb ant
agiate the South and that alone can possibly lont
repress the cotton product.
TWashn Int