The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-06-13
AGRICULTURAL.
From the NeW York Herald
COTTON PRODUCTION.

From the Nev York Herald
COTTON PRODUCTION.
We published on Monday an inter-
esting account, from the Times, of
India, of the cotton crop in a portion
of the British East Indian Empire.
From this we learn that England has
been making extraordinary efforts
both to increase the production and
to improve the quality of this most
valuable article. These efforts have
been successful, too, in increasing the
production; for it is estimated that
over a hundred and twenty-five per
cent. more will be produced in the
Bombay presidency this year than in
the year before, without taking into
account the increasing production in
the provinces of Berar and other parts
of India. The yiHld of clean cotton
is nearly three hundred thousand
bales, reckoning. as we do. four hun
dred pounds to the bale in the North
crn division of the presidency alone,
for the year 1966-'67. Where thirty
pounds an acre only were formerly
raised seventy pounds are now obtain
ed through improved cultivation and
better seed. But the report of the
Cotton Commissioner states that the
efforts to acclimatizc the Sea Island,
New Orleans, Peruvian, Egyptian
and Dhanwan cotton have all failed,
as compared With the at;@A Il l:sae...a.ss.,- {,
-ha-L-~rrtFBerar. The Commissioner
says that cotton production has al
ready gained such a position in India
as will enable it to bear the full force
of commercial depression and the
lower prices that must come. lie
has "no doubt that well directed
means and energy will prove as sue
ccssful in the long run" as they were
in the Southern States of America.
While we need not be alarmed at
these efforts Of the British to compete
with us in the production of cotton,
and to make themselves indepe! dent
Of US for this prime article of manu-
facture and commerce, it will be to
compare the 'short-sighted and inju-
.rious legislation of our stupid Con-
gress in checking the cultivation,
with their liberal and far-seeing poll
cy in stimulating it. Our war, in
cutting off that supply Of American
cotton from England upon which she
had mainly depended, has been the
chief cause of the attempts to pro-
duce 1t elsewhere so as to make her
independent of this country. She
had, however, for years before the war
been looking for new cotton producing
regions and stimulated the cultivation
wherever there was a prospect of sue
cess. Millions of pounds sterling
have been. spent in the efforts. Brit
ish statesmen are far-seeing and do
not let the petty prejudices of party
politics or faction interfere whenever
national interests are in question:
See how different has been the con-
duct of Congress in taxing the pro-
duction of cotton at time when it
needed all the encouragement posi-
bic; The cotton States had been
desolated by war; their labor disor-
ganized; their capital gone; their
machinery and implements of indus
try worn out; their plantations in
many parts unprotected from river
overfows-yct, with all these and
other obstacles and drawbacks, Con-
gress laid a heavy tax on the produc-
ton. We put a check upon the
growth of an article more valuable to
the republic many times over than all
the gold and silver of all the mines in
the country. To this article we had
to look chiefly for paying the balance
of trade against us abroad, for pay
ing the gold interest on the nationa
debt held in foreign countries, and fo1
keeping specie at home. Nothing
would promote the general prosperity
and commerce of the country or brint
us to specie payments sooner THAI
large crops of cotton; yet our sapien
legislators have burdened and check
ed the production. We know of no
thing in the history of Legislation
more short-sighted and stupid.