Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-20
COTTON.
The Sources of SuppIy-rhe Present
Prospects, etc, etc.

From the New orleans COmmerciai Bulletin.
The cotton product of both East India
and Egypt, before the war, was, compara-
lively but trifing in extent. During the
war, however, through the e3ertions made
by both nations, the annual crop of each
was greatly increased. An idea may be
had of the extent of the exertions put forth
in this direction by both powers, when we
state that, in 1865, the cotton yield of
Egypt was one thousand per cent. greater
than before the war, and the East Indian
yield nearly two thousand per cent. This
result cannot be a subject of marvel when
we reflect upon the potent influences
brought to bear upon Its accomplishment.
The attention given to the subject, and the
patronage and protection lent by the Brit
ish government; the powerful private or
CARNATIONS and immense capital invested
the strenuous efforts Of the owners of those
then silent mills all over England, upon
whose stills the grass fairly grew the in
fusion of British skill, means, energy and
enterprise into tardy India and undeyel-
oped Egypt, are among the many combi-
nations that were then made to improve to
the uttermost the golden opportunity pre-
scented to GUST the United States from her
control of the cotton markets of the world,
while war compelled her absence from
them. How well they succeeded may be
seen from the fact that all the leading cot
ton growing countries have for the last five
years far outstripped the United States in
the supply Of the staple In 1859 England
imported 1,250,000,000 pounds, and con-
sumed in that year, of this supply, over
nine hundred and seventy six million
pounds. Of this consumption, according
to reliable estimates, four-ftths was Amer
lean cotton. In the following year this
country produced nearly five million
bales a sufficient quantity to have sup
piled all the looms of the world, without
recourse to other nations. In 1868 Eng
land imported nearly two million bales
from all sources, and of this supply Amer
lea furnished only one hundred and thirty
two thousand bales, Brazil about the same
quantity, East India over one and a third
million bales, and Egypt and other coun-
tries about two and three quarter million
bales. In 1860 the cotton production of
this country was estimated to be nearly
ninety per cent. of that of the whole world.
In that year there was a large surplus,
with prices ranging from ten to twelve
cents pound in New York for middling,
and from fourteen to fifteen cents in Liver
pool. The average per centage increase of
consumption in Europe, for the ten years
prior to 1860, was somewhat over six per
cent. The increase for the single year
1858was eight and three-quarters per cent.
for 1859, nine and half per cent.
and for 1860, ten and a quarter per cent.
The average annual increased consump-
ton in this country from 1850 to 1860
was about equal to that Of Great Britain.
These figures will serve to show the
status of the cotton interest Just prior to
the war, and are certainly calculated to
extend encouragement as to what we can
do toward securing our old control of the
markets, provided we put forth due exer-
tons. There is every reason to believe
that this country possesses insuperable adj
vantages over all the cotton-growine
countries. 1t is estimated that, even
though cotton kept at forty cents a pound
for the present, Europe would take from
us, probably two million bales and at
twenty-five cents, probably three million
bales. This means from three hundred to
three hundred and twenty millions of
treasure for the South, and all the plenty
and prosperity that would follow in its
train. Under such a prosperous reign.
ruined fortunes would soon be rebuilt, and
war-banished comforts would be brought
home again. 1t is indeed fortunate for
the South that she holds the power of so east
ly and so rapidly retrieving her immense
losses. liz less favored regions, repair of
such vast disaster as hers could only be |
attained through long and severe labor
and trial. But blessed as she is by NUM- |
ficent nature, she has but to plant and be- |
hold her crops brought to perfection, with |
one-fourth of the labor required else
where. And Of those crops, one consti- |
tutes the most important item of commerce
among nations, the general market for |
which she can permanently command if |
she but wills it So That she may will it |
so, is the earnest desire of all, and is of |
great importance to the commerce and |
manufactures of this country. We have |
had accounts of exhaustion of cottons |
producing lands in some parts of the South. |
1t can scarcely be believed that this exists |
to any serious degree. And if it does, re- |
course can be had to fertilizers; some of |
which have been proven to be greatly re-
look at the experience in the use of these. |
ten years ago, on the exhausted soil of |
Georgia, South Carolina and North Caroa |
lima, by which that soil was rapidly restored |
to productive power, equalin quality and |
quantity to that of fresh soil 1t may be |
that the guAno-grown cotton |
Of North Carolina held high rank in the |
markets as strong, excellent fibre, speci- |
ally adapted for use in those manufactures |
requiring strong cotton. 1t has been held |
that one pound of guano will produce from
a half to three.quarters of a pound of cot |
ton and if it could be proftably used, as
it certainly was before the war, at cost of |
three cents a pound, when cotton brought |
but ten cents, it is but reasonable to sup |
pose that the profit of use now would be |
equal to the ratio of increase of prices.
From the National Intelligeneer.
Accounts from the cotton region of the
South concur in the estimate of the Agri- |
cultural Bureau as to the probable cotton
crop for the present year. The crop is es-
timated at eighteen hundred thousand bales |
as the minimum. 1t may, under very ia
vorable contingencies, exceed this quanti-
ty by several hundred thousand bales. The
last years crop fell considerably short of |
estimates made at this stage of the season,
in consequence chiefly of unfavorable
weather. This season labor is more ex-
pensiYe and less reliable than it was last
year. The freed people, who work on
shares, demand one-half of the crop, and
are not easily induced to work even for that
portion, The planter encounters the risk
and expense of a cultivation, including all
the fixed capital, the land, stock, etc., and
then the labor takes one-half the product,
while the government lies in wait to seize
upon another portion, through the cotton
tax, as we'll "a through the tax which the
planter pays indirectly upon every article
Of his consumption. Cotton planting was
not highly remunerative last year, and this
season it has been, so far as is now known.
conducted at positive loss to the planter
The political engagements of the freed
men this year will distract their attention
from field labors. If they give their time
to Radical politics they are promised re-
wards, and If their employers should not
pay them for the neglect of their work,
then the planters land and other property
will be confscated and given to the negro
voters. This last decree Of the Radical
powers was made recently by the great
cOnfiscator Mr. Stevens and has already |