Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-04
COTTON.
Production and Consumption
of the WOrId.
Facts and FiguieS by the Manchess-
ter Association.

We commend the sutjoined article,
from the New York Dry Goods Reporter,
to the careful perusal Of our cotton and
business men generally:
The efforts of the English government
and cotton manufacturers to obtain sup
niles of cotton from other sources besides
the United States, have by no means
absted since the close of our civil war
and the opening of the Southern pcrts.
On the contrary, the exertions in this di.
rection have been pushed forward, II
ANYTHING, with renewed energy, ana
every year exhibits increased supplies
from other countries. The supplies from
India have increased at an immense rs
ito. In 1857, so per cent. OF the cotton
used in Lancashire was American. They
now use only forty per cent. During the
first week in August, OF the present year,
of a total OF AZ, All bales consumed, only
20, 800 bales were American. VI the
balance. l., 900 bales were derived from
India. It will thus be seen that We are
still far from recovering our su.
premacy in the cotton trade that
was lost during the civil war.
At recent meeting Of the Manchester
Cotton Supply Association some impor-
tant facts were elected in reference to
the supply and consumption OF cotton.
Great apprehensioRs were expressed rel
stive to anticipated shortness of supply,
consumption being still considerably IN
excess of production. Production had
not kept pace with consumption. Eng
land consumed thirty per cent. more cot
ton than she did ten years ago. On tbs
continent OF Europe the increased con-
sumption was on . much larger scale.
In 1860 America produced 4. 500, 600 bales
of cotton. The supply since the close Of
the war averaged 900, 900 bales year.
During the next three years it was esti-
mated that not more than :, ,225 coo bales
would be produced. There is deficien-
cy. therefore. of 2 500 900 bales, as COM
pared with 1850, that must be met from
other sources.
1t was agreed that India was the chief
sou-ce for the supply of the American
deficiency. Upon this subject the statis-
tics were reassuIiDg. In the three years
before 1851, India only sent to England
AIS, 600 bales a year. During 1S62-63-64
she sent ] 200 900 bales per annum; and
during the three years ending 1857, she
sent SOC, 900 bales year. To stimulate
the supply in future it was stated that
English capital should cooperate. The
to employ capital in production as well
as in consumption. Immense losses had
been experienced by manufacturers, Ow-
ing to the want of sufficient supplies.
Since 1850, the mills had not run full
time. In 1881, they only ran 81 days a
week; in 1862, q days; in 1853, q days
in 1854, davs in 1865, days; in 1865,
days; in 1867, 81 days. During the pre-
sent year, the average would be only 81
days. AS it was necessary to run the
mills full time in order to realize profit,
the losses to the manufacturers, il con-
sequence of the short time movement,
arising from deficient supplies of cotton,
must be estimated by scores OF millions
of dollars. To the operatives the losses
and privations were most serious.
From these facts and figures it will be
seen that the English cotton manufac-
turers rest under serious apprehensions
respecting the future supply Of cotton.
The efforts of the Supply Association in
this direction have been unremitting. 1t
has labored to stimulate the production
of the staple in every country where it
can be raised. But it was generally felt
that in the future Indian production
should be stimulated SIS much as possi
BILE. This could be done by the dissemi-
nation of information, and, more psrtic-
nIarly, by irrigation and the extension of
railroads. The present railroad system
of India had been constructed in refer
ence to military rather than CONNER
cial wants. The great liDes did not ira
verse the chief cotton districts. The to-
tai extent of Indian railways now open
amounts to 3943 miles. The length re-
naming to be finished is 1865 miles. By
the construction of branch lines to tap
the cotton districts, it was estimated
that the supply of cotton could be doubled
and trebled in q short time. The Gov
ernment, it was stated, was willing to
cooperate by guaranteeing certain pro-
portion of the capital necessary for the
construction of the new lines.
From the views and efforts OF the Eng
lish Government and capitalists to OBJ
tain supplies OF cotton from other sources
besides the United States, Americana
will be in position to understand the
necessity of lending every exertion to
secure at least share in the profitable
trade in which they so lately enjoyed
monopoly. IL is for our capitalists as
well as our statesmen to consider how
this great end may be bsst effected. 1t
is evident thSt labor must be more thor
oughly organized in the South, and that
the essentials Of-peace and order must be
secured in order to attract eapi-
tai to that section. No petty considera-
tions of jealousy should be permitted to
retard this great work. The loss even of
the fragments that remain of the cotton
trade would be national calamity. To
all classes in the South it would be an
immense loss if we could not compete
with foreign producers. To the blacks it
would be a sentence of doom to lose the
only profitable occupation with which
they are familiar and to the whites the
consequences would be only less disas-
trous than 70 the blacks. Every consid-
Grafton of sound policy and statesman
ship demands that no effort should be
spared to recover our prestige in the cot