The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-11-13
The Cotton Crop of 1853.

Says the Louisville Courier: From the
time when the seed was planted, at short
intervals up to the present, the commercial
world has been treated to estimates of the
cotton product of the current year. Some
of these estimates have been made by per-
sons residing in the cotton region; some by
persons residing in places remote-Boston,
New York and Liverpool. The estimates
have widely disagreed. The crop has been
set down at 5000. 900 bales, Q, 500, 900
bales, 1000 600 bales and as low down as
1900, 600 bales. For these estimates vari-
GUS reasons have been assigned, all salts
factory to the writers, we suppose, but gen
orally unsatisfactory to every body else.-
The reported damages by rains. worms and
caterpillars have compelled statisticlans to
modify estimates. and pleasant weather and
| favorable accounts from other localities have
again inspired them, and the first figures
have been reinstated. The ,Apt is, while
reasonable probabilities may be stated, the
extent of the crop is mere matter of con-
| lecture. The danger of over-estimate is
| that planters may be influenced to rush the
cotton to market and sell, believing that
early sales will realize the highest prices;
on the other hand, under-esti mates are cal
culated to influence planters to withhold
their crops in anticipation of high prices.
In both cases the planter is victimized. In
the first place he sells too soon; in the latter
case he holds on too long The query that
| su00eefr ifsalf ON III tbaea oona;os;,r oct;
mates and influences is, what is best? AS
a general thing there is little difficulty in
arriving at proper conclusion. When
the cotton is ready for market, if the price
is fairly remuneratiVe, sell. This is the
strictly mercantile idea, aud in ninety nine
cases out Of every hundred the merchant
who acts upon it is better off than those
who hold off for higher prices and enter the
list OF spectators. Some who take the
chances make money. but the history of the
past is full of warnings against such poll
cy. A writer over the signature of w. To-
ney has recently published in the Macon
Telegraph lengthy communication, n
which be estimates the crop of 1868 at 1 >
100000 bales, and favours holding back the
crop and forcing those who wrnt cotton to
purchase at 80 cents per pound. To the
query, how can it be done? be replies as
follows
"Refuse to sell bale OF cotton-get ad
vances on your crop, thereby pay your
debts, and ship to Europe directly. through
Savannah aud other Southern ports We
have a supply of only l 300, 900 bales; of il
Europe demands 800, 900 bales and the
United States 1000, 900 this year. Both
cannot be accommodated. There are 70O,.
600 bales short of the demand. Let them
fight over it; make the contest between the
capitalists and manufacturers of Europe and
America. Get advances, refuse to sell, and
hold your cotton in Liverpool. This is ca
silly done. I all towns and cities in the
South liberal advances are made on ship
ments direct to Europe.
1--WE have used some repetition to make
this matter of demand, supply and price
clear to planters. If they choose to give
away their crops as they did last year. the
can do so; but if they prefer 80 cents for it
they can get It, Let Georgia, Alabama,
portions of South Carolina, Tennessee, and
the far off Mississippi, forward their cottor
to Savannah, Ga, to be forwarded directly
to Europe, and this result can assuredly be
accomplished. The false Northern and Eu
ropean estimate of Q, 500. 900 bales fixes
false, a too low price for cotton now. Time
and facts will soon correct these errors, i
cotton is shipped and held. and when true
and fair estimate shall be made fair prices
will follow.
''In the interest of the oppressed plant.
ing interests of the South these views ar,
respectfully submitted, before this crop il
sacrificed at prices not remunerative, in thu
condition and relation they bear to all othe
interests. w. ToNEY.'