The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-13
The Cultivation of Cotton.


The Cultivation of Cotton.
As the gathering season draws to close, itbecomes
more and evident that raising cotton present
prices with free labor will prove rlinous business to
the planter We have made diligent inquiries of our
Planters in this section and have yet to hear one Of
them acknowledge that he has the prospect Of paying
expenses-and this by those who the lands they
cultivate. Those who have leased lands will suffer
heavy pecuniary loss say from $4,000 to $4,000,
cording 10 the extent Of planting The present sys
TEN of free labor is altogether too uncertain engage
in cotton planting. Many cotton fields, throughout
the country still white with the staple, owing to
the want of hands to gather it. This state of affairs IS
not confined to this section of country but according
| to our exchanges extends throughout the cotton
States Under these circumstances it is not to be
peeted that cotton growing in the South will be con-
tinued. Free labor restrictions, taxes, and other in
cumblances are death-blow to the cultivation of
cotton in this country. The sensible people of the
North would seem TO be of the fact and antic
pate the annihilaton of cotton cultivation in the
Southern Territories.
The New York Economist in very logical and sem
sble article this subject says 1t is not to be
ceaed that those best acquainted with the cotton trade
j of the United States becoming dubious as to
whether our planters can hold their ground in com
peting with the growers of other countries When
planters could grow cotton at six cents per pound it
generally conceded that we had virtual monopoly
of the cotton trade. We then supplied England with
hreefourhs of her importations of cotton and there
tendency the part of other countries to dis
| n
staple than that of India, and was marketed in much
better condition, and the Eastern product used
only for the very commonest purposes. But all
this is changed The extreme scarcity of American
cotton has necessated the Lancashire spinners and
manufacturers to adapt their machinery to the India
staple, that it is found to be available for many
purposes to which formerly it had been applied
The advanced price has caused greater attention to be
paid to the culture and packing of the Eastern STAPLE
while the handsome profits realised by growers and
factors have induced much larger be planted
and have in every way consolidated and strengthened
the cotton trade of India. At the same time the open
ing OF railroad communication with the cotton region
has placed the planting districts in more direct com
muncaton with the capital and enterprise of the cot
ton ports. India is thus not only in position to grow
cotton as cheaply ever but has the motive and the
means for increasing her crop indefinitely There is
naturally hesitation about largely augmenting the
crop lnthat country until it is ascertaned what is like
y to be the supply from the United States In the
event Of an average crop being raised here the price
OF the staple would be reduced figure which would
involve heavy losses to the growers and the merchants
in India; and this must be regarded as the reason
nj he iaStt Un boop
increased to the extent which might have been ex
pected from the high profits realised upon its culture
Should it appear to the cotton traders of India that
the American crops likely to be permanently reduced
there would undoubtedly be prompt increase in the
India supply; but until the probabilities upon that
question are more definitely developed the India sup
ply is likely to be regulated with caution.
The prospects of cotton growing in the United
States are surrounded with much uncertainty To ask
planter when are you likely to be able to grow cot
ton at old prices? would provoke smile. In the
present condition of things the planter is so far re-
moved from the possibility of such thing that he
scarcely dares to hope for conditions which would en-
able him to grow the staple at the former cost What
may have been the blessings of emancipation it
be said that it has reduced the cost of negro
labor and 1t would be hazardous to predict that this
result will follow hereafter. At present the cost of
growing cotton is enormously increased through the
high prices of all articles of consumption This ne
cesstates high pay to the laborers; it involves the
doubling of all plantation expenses, compared with
former years Animals cost more; implements and
repairs are twice much as in 1860, while the same
rule applies to transportation If therefore, the
of growing cotton twice much now as in 1850
and no familiar with cotton growing will consider
this high estmate-it would follow that cotton cannot
be raised for less than twelve cents per pound
per cent. per month interest on the factors advances
making the cost about Is! cents per pound. The
present price of low middng, which is considered to
represent the average of tire crop, is almost cents
O this price, however, the planter receives only about
l3 cents; Indeed, we learn that in Georgia fair
luality can be bought for II cents tax paid for
here must be allowed for expenses loss of weight and
cost of transportation from the plantation to the inte
lor town four cents per pound. 1t thus results that
It the present price OF cotton, the planter is losing
money upon his product. And if he is losing with
otton at Sd. for middling uplands in Liverpool what
must be his position in the event Of the price touching
anticipated by those most intimately associated with
he cotton trade? As rule the planters have little &
nothing of their to lose. They are planting to
very great extent upon the advanced by the
actors: and in the event of loss the factors must be
uferers, and not likely to their advances for
mother crop with prospect of new sacrifices" d
DR.. STONE ON YELLOW FEVER AGAIN-The follow u
1g Dr. Stones remarks at the meeting of the New
rleans Board of Health the 29th uit, Oh the mo-
on to declare the epidemic at end in that city:
He said that his observations, since his return to the
ty, had proved concusvcly to him that the disease
ad run its course. He met people the streets
very day who had not had the fever and certainly r.
ley, having been here during the entire summer ex- D
osed to the subtle poison which has pervaded the at
losphere liable to contract the fever than ~
nose who have been travelling North 1t was mis- ~
aken idea to suppose that because may have been
bsent from the city during portions of epidemic sea-
ons, that therefore would be apt to contract -
lie fever returning the contrary those persons
no in the most vigorous health able to "
ombat the atmospheric influence and to resist the
sease if contracted. &c
He believed that there but little poison in the sa
hpre and that VIII there ia 1aiv