Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-10-16
tinct. is that Union for which it murderously
sacrificed million lives and stepped the peo-
pie in hopeless debt?
Cotton.


Cotton.
The recent very great decline in cotton was
unexpected as il is most clearly without just
cause or reason. We had anticipated g slight
check-perhsps slight falling offin price
when the glowing accounts of the crop pros
pects which we're SO industriously circulated
here in August, reached Liverpool and Man
chester. We were we'll convinced at that
time that our planting friends were over es-
timating the product Of the crop, and giving
too much prominence to the, at best, but fair
prospects which the month Of August seemed
to indicate. These accounts, highly colored
.as they were, have been very greatly eXag
gerated in the interest Of spinners and spec
uators, and, combined with other causes,
have produced such decline in prices as to
leave the price to-day barely remunerative to
the planter. Indeed, we do not believe that,
under the present system, the ruling rates of
cotton to day are more than sufficient to pay
the cost of production. The expense in the
way of taxes, freights, commissions, insu-
rance, storage, tsc., will ll-amount to at least
four or FIVE cents per pound. This taken
from the present price, say l9 cents for Mid
dlings, would leave but IA or Is cents net
per lb. In goli be but about the old price
received before the war-say ten cents per
pound.
The present crop has been raised at a rate
of expense much higher than any ever here.
toiore made Provisions have been from six
ty to one hundred per cent. higher than for
merly. Large sums have been expended for
.Guanos and other fertilizers, while the cost
of labor has been very great, amounting in
some instances TO one-half of the crop. Ten
cents in gold will not more than pay the cost
of production unless very largo crop is re-
allied We have ceased to hope for even q
moderately fair crop. The continued rains
of August and September, have caused the
late fruit to shed, and thousands Of acres have
been destroyed by rust, boll-worm, rot, and
the caterpillar. We doubt very seriously
whether the crop will be much larger if any
than that of 1866.
Under the present circumstances, there
seems to US to be but one course for the plan
ters TO pursue 70 force the price up to re-
munerating figure. They should hold their
cotton, until at leas. the later and more cor
rect estimates Of the growing crop can reach
the European markets and produce the prop
er effect there. BY holding the crop now
they will give additional force to the gloomy
accounts which have gone forward within the
last two or three weeks. The price cannot 20
lower unless the planters choose to cooperate
with spinners and spectators by rushing their
crops rapidly into the markets.
We earnestly inplore our planting frlends
TO send no more cotton to market now than
will pay for tue advancemens which their
factors and merchants have made them. These
adyancemsnts should be paid promptly for
TWO reasons: First, because tho planter
honor and good faith is involved and pledged
To such early pa,ment. Second, because IL
they are not promptly paid it will be difficult
if not quite impossible, 10 obtain such ad
v4nees IN futureif. they should be required
Honesty, honor and interest alike require thst
81 sufficient amount OF the present crop should
be sent forward to pay off to the utmost fsrth'
irg all advances which have been made ior
its productian.
Having acquitted themselves of these obli-
cations, duty and interest require that the
balance of the crop should be withheld from
the market until q reaction takes place in tie
price. This, if the planters aoH 1t, will take
place by or before the first Of November-in
ample time for them to sell at least quaint
ty sufficient to pay cf their laborers before
the end OF the year.
We again urge our planting friends to de-
mand in every instance gold for their crops.
Let each pla ter make it rule to carry
home, after selling their cotton, no,hing but
coin. This will not depreciate. There is no
discount on gold. Texas planters have never
yet sold u bale of cotton for currency"
Cold is the only currency there. We should
learn rom their example. No fluctuations
Of the market-no European complications
No Wa,l-street panics-no robbery of the
Treasury vaults can lessen the value OF gold.
1t is good noc, will begood next month, and
will be better still next year.
In CONCLUSION, then, we repeat-pay, up by
sale Of n sufficient quantity OF your crop, the
advances which you have received-devute
your whole time aud energies in picking out
and neatly cleaning and preparing for mar
ket the crop now in the fields--hold on to
your crops until an advance i'll price takes
place, and when you sell r,it g0M in you;
pockets.-Chrol;0le y Sentinel