The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-11-24
COIsUMBIA.
Sunday Moraing. Nov. "a. 1857.
lEaets and Figures for cotto-p,e-.tsz:

enquirer has written series OF
articles to show the cost Of raising
cotton in the South and in India,
and to demonstrate to our planters
the errors they have been and are
still committing in relation to cotton
planting. He begins with an estimate
OF the cost Of working plantation of
1000 acres-500 acres in cotton, 800
acres in corn, &c., and 400 acres in
wood and waste lands. The 800 acres
under cultivation are to be worked
by 500 laborers, cultiyating 10 acres
in cotton, and 6 acres in corn, &c., to
the hand, and using "a mnlea Here
is his estimate:
"Hire of 80 laborers, at average
price per annum, $6,25O; cost Of
bacon, 1872 pounds to the laborer,
9,100 pounds (for SOY at 16c., about
81, $50; blacksmith's work and iron
to keep mp, plows, wagons, &c, in
same good condition as commenced
with; also, for hoes, axes, traces, har-
ness, names, and all plantation tools,
1000; insurance against death and
theft Of "a mules, value 81, 800, at 8
per centum, 1882; depreciation of
mules by age, per annum, valued at
81, ,S00, at 6 per cent, $28S; super
intendence of overseer, his board,
, &c., 81, $50; depreciation of land,
houses, gin, screw, &C., annually,
$500; State and County taxes, 500;
rent of land, or interest on land,
mules, provisions, &C., valued at
$40, 1000, at z per cent, 81, 400; no
estimate for provisions, as it is sup.
posed the 300 acres will replace the
amount consumed; no charge for
bagging and rope, as it will about re-
fund cost. Cost of operating planta-
tion, $12, ,670."
AS lands viii differ in production,
he submits the following as the yield
per acre, 30 that it may be seen what
it costs under different conditions.
He begins with 800 pounds per acre
of seed cotton aud extends it up to
1900 pounds: r
1900 pounds seed cotton on 800
acres yields $4,000 pounds lint, at
$28. 15, gives $12, 667; 400 pounds
seed cotton on 800 acres yields 60, 600
pounds lint, at $21. IL, gives $12, ,672;
500 pounds seed cotton on 500 acres
yields rs, 900 pounds lint, at $500,
gives $12, ,675; 800 pounds seed cotton
on 800 acres yields 100000 pounds
lint, at $10.56, gives $12, 2,672; 1000
pounds seed cotton on 500 acres
yields 150. pounds lint, at So. 45,
gives $40, ,675; 1,500 pounds seed
cotton on 500 acres yields 225, 900
pounds lint, at $5. 63, gives $12, r67."
It will thus be seen that the richer
the land the less the cost of produc-
ton. Land that will not produce
over 600 pounds per acre, the writer
says, had better be left uncuitivated,
as it costs more money to produce it
than the present net price-about
1915 cents-would warrant. The
writer proceeds to show the cost of
producing cotton in India. The cost
of the production of twenty acres in
that country is as follows:
''Labor of cultivating, including
hire of laborers, oxen, feed, &C., 95
rupees-equal each to shillings
sterling, go. 10; local tax to Govern
ment for assessment, &C., 10 rupees,
9l.1S; ginning and packing, 80
rupees, 93; cost of cultivating 20
acres, g14.8."
This produces 1,500 pounds, and
costs, reduced to our currency, about
III cents per pound, while the aver
age cost here, under present circum-
stances, is over Il cents per pound.
We reproduce these figures, sub
mitted by planter of experience, to
show our land owners that they can
not enter into competition with the
Eastern producers-in short, that
they will be compelled to adopt an
entire new system, if they wish to
avoid Inevitable bankruptcy. If the
present price of cotton does not re-
munerate the Southern planter, he
should reflect on the probable still
lower prices which the competition