New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-02

COTTON FACTORS AND COTTON PLANTERS
In tbe structures we have madein our
columns this week upon the expensive man
per of handling The great cotton crop Of !
the South we have intended nothing per-
sonal to the New Orleans factors. We be-
lieye, we know, in fact, that they do their
work cheaper and better and with more ad-
vantage TO the cotton producers than the
cotton factors of any other Southern city.
They do this because they have better ad-
vantages, and more of them; because New
Orleans is the natural mart, the natural out
let for the products of the Southwest be
they cotton, sugar, grain, lumber, or cattle
The idea that we have meant to convey Is
that the whole system of handling the cotton
crop, like the old system of raising cotton
on immense plantations instead Of small
farms, Is wrong, uneconomical, impolitic,
burdensome alike to planters and factors,
and in fact the sooner both Of them are
abandoned the better for all concerned.
We will hereafter expose, or attempt to ex-
pose, the false theories and practices in
vogue in the South relative to labor and
the cultivation of the soil. We can show
to the satisfaction of any thinking man
that these false theories and practices have
caused the absolute loss of at least five
hundred millions Of money in the South
since the war; that they have made bank
rupt the cotton interest, and involved
b 9th planter and freedman in common ruin.
The New Orleans factors who handle the
cotton crop say that they realize no profits
at even the present high rate of commissions
charges, etc. We fully believe them
Neither factor nor planter can make any
money. Therefore we say change the
whole system. We have now to do only
with the cotton factor and the present
method of handling the cotton crop.
The furnishing of Sherman's army with
supplies during his great march was justly
regarded as a triumph of genius in the way
Of transportation. But great and splendid
as was that achievement, how does it COM
pare in magnitude with the annual move
ment of our great crops of wheat and corn
to the worlds markets. 1t sinks almost
into insignifcance.
See what has been accomplished in this
direction. Five years ago the farmers Of
Illinois burned their corn for fuel in order
to get rid of it. Corn is wo:lh no more
now in New York than it was then, but the
farmers of Illinois are now growing rich
from its production. Transportation has
performed this miracle. Practically it has
brought the Western producer and the
Eastern consumer close together. By the
construction Of railroads and canals, and
the improvement of rivers, by the use of
elevators and barges in the place of costly
steamboats,, and all the saving appliances
of human ingenuity, bushel Of wheat,
barrel Of pork, sack of corn is
carried from the farm in Minnesota to New
York for one quarter of what it cost a few
years ago; and all this saving goes into
the farmers pocket. Need we say when
the farmer thrives the rest Of the country
is prosperous?
Now why can not this new system be
applied to the movement Of the cotton
crop from the moment it leaves the planta.
ton to its arrival at the factory! The cot
ton crop is moved now just as it was under
the cid labor system. Every sensible
planter now sees the necessity of abandon
ing the old way Of raising cotton. Why
should he not equally direct his attention
to more economical method of sending
his product to market? Let him bear in
mind that if two dollars can be saved in
the carrying Of each bale of cotton from
his plantation to the distant factory that
two dollars will go directly into his own
pocket; and two dollars saved on the crop
of this year would amount to saving of
nearly five millions of dollars to the cotton
planters.