The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-17
COTTON PLANTING IN INDIA.

That cotton--good cotton-could be grown out
side the Southern States Of this Union, was a
proposition never entertained with the least de-
gree of patience by our people before tho war.
Nor are they yet entirely cured Of this hallucma-
tion Of the alone sovereignty of sMiddhng Up
lands" and '.Middlng Orleans" Had there been
no var, had our industrial system received no
check, amounting almost to an eatire suspension
Of this staple during several years, it might have
been otherwise. India would have furnished hor
hundreds of thousands of bales Of cotton, as she
had done before that period; but there would have
been no monopoly to stimulate to extra produc-
ton. India has made cotton from time lmmemo-
rial. The climate, it may be, is not altogether as
well suited for it as ours; but on the other hand,
labor is abundant and cheaper than it was with us
even under the system Of negro slavery. The
Government, moreover, very wisely did everything
in its power to foster this branch Of industry.
Railroads have been bnit within the last few
years in every direction, and highways construct
ed, canals widenod and reopened, the navigation
of rivers improved, bridges built, and the Jungles
for the first time il history, have been rendered
passable.
AL this the English Government did to stimu-
late the growth and cultivation of cotton. The
Marquis Of DALHoUsIE, Goyernor-General OF In
dia, in 1860 and 1861, inaugurated the extensive
system Of internal improvement; which was to en-
able the people Of Hindostan to compete with
America for the cotton trade OF the world. 10 ef-
feet this object great exertions we're required.
The most favorable cotton regions Of India were
inaccessible for want of proper facilities for COM
munication. In order to get the staple to market
it was necessary to carry it by man and horse
power over vast tracts OF Jungle across mountains
and ravines, and forry it over great rivers. 10
obviate these difficulties the railroad movement
inaugurated was of the most comprehensive char
acter.
From recent article in the Commercial and
Financial Chronic!e, we have some interesting
facts concerning these railroads J:
Four thousand six hundred miles of railroad
were to be built at an estimated expense of $780,
600, 900. The credit Of the Imperial Government
was granted to private companies, guaranteeing a
certain amount of interest on all money invested
in Indian railroads. Last year several Indian rail-
Ways exceeded the per cent. guaranteed interest
During the half year ending December 3lst, the
East Indian and the Great Peninsular railroad
companies were able to declare surplus dlvldends.
Half the amount OF surplus income was devoted to
the repayment OF FORMER ADVANCES ior ih'oto
the government, and the other half was divided
among the stockholders. The net amount OF
guaranteed interest paid By the government dmm-
ishes every year. In 1865 the amount was FL 45O-
600; in 1866 it was fSQ0,OO0, and this year only
f6OO 900 was required. These figures Indicate the
profitable character of these Indian railroad en-
terprises.
is of the highest importance as affecting the cot
ton trade. Formerly we enjoyed monopoly OF
~. .l.ot. npn-half Of the cotton
manufactured in England is derived from lndla
alone. late Liverpool circular estimates the
quantity of American cotton now on hand and to
arrive before December 31st, 1867 at 6SOOO0 pales
while the supply of India cotton for the same Pc
riod is estimated OF 925, 900 bales. Without e1-
messing any opinion as to the correctness OF these
figures, the more important fact for US to remem-
ber is that the manufacturers Of England have 30
altered and improved their machinery as to be
able to use, in much larger proportion than for
mery the shorter India staple, while, at the same
time the quality OF cotton fom that country has
been decidedly and steadily improved. and is be-
ing more carefully prepared for market. Judging,
then; OF the future from the past. it may be ex-
pected to equal the American article q. no distant
period.
Tho establishment Of railroads in India removes
the chief obstacles to the growth of an almost qn-
limited supply Of cotton. The country Is admirably
adapted for it, and tho teeming population mas
long been familiar with the staple, and exhibit
gions have not yet been opened to the world; the
ONLY facilities for reaching market being the slow
and expensive process Of cattle teams. The new
railroads, however, will convey the products OF
these regions to market cheapy and expeditlously;
And it is noticeable feature Of Indian railroad
companies that their revenues are derived from
goods rather than from passengers. Or sS5, ,oOo,-
0OO income Of Indian railroads during the three
wears ending june 1856, two-thirds were received
from merchandise traffic.
These facts throw considerable light ON the
future of American cotton trade. They indicate
That American cotton will henceforth be subject to
Keen and active competition. The cheapness3 OF
labor in India will also tend to place us ut dis
advantage as it is doubtful whether the freedmen
can work as cheaply as the Hindoo, who lives on
handful of rice day, and whose clothing consists
of yard of calico year. 1t is evident, there
fore that the trade in our chief staple will be sub
iect in the future to new conditions that may serl-
ously affect our entire country In this view 1t s
of the utmost importance that every facility
should be extended to the cultivation OF the staple
in The Southern States, and that every obstacle
should be removed. The injudicious cotton tax,
that operates as direct bounty to foreign pro-
duction, should be instantly repealed, and new
eapital should be tempted into tho production OF
the staple by the indispensable guarantees OF
security and political quiet,