The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-06
our PETERSBURG LETTER.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
aaRxETs-arMAaSs AND Quotations.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. h.>b
PETERSBURG, February 5, 1863.
The buoyancy OF the cotton marke' .ss'
week has not been maintained auLlhs .no
present week up to this time. tu 'a1', VIC
market is decidedly weaker, Win . oeciine
re from three-fourths 70 one cent. Con-
siderable sales have. however, been made,
ond tho receipts continue good. There is
some diversity Of opinion among intelli-
cont merchants whether or not the bulk
Of the cotton crop receivable at this port
has been brought forward. It is thought by
some that not great deal more remains in
the hands Of planters, while others believe
the receipts will be nearly as large as
those of the last cotton year. The total
receipts up to the LIST instant were l., I'll
bales, against 1892 at the same date last
year. At that time we had received about
one-half the crop, with free arrivals. At
the present time the receipts have mate
rally declined from what they were before
Christmas, not quite reaching thousand
bales per week. So far as these facts and
figures are an index, it may be estimated
that twc-thirds Of the crop has been sent
20 market, and that the aggregate can
not exceed 10000 bales, against 25,O0O last
year. And casting our glance onward 10
future years the prospect is not encour-
aging. With total cotton crop Of mil
lion of bales for 1868, the proportion which
this city is entitled to will be very much
diminshed-the more SO, as the culture
may DO expected to recede from the north
ern limits, and confined to those places
where but little else can be prodtably
grown. Our factories, however, will con.
tinue TO require eight or ten thousand
bales O year; and IL is, indeed, the large
quantity necessary for their supply that has
kept the prices here within a cent to cent
and half Of New York prices.
The trade of our city, and doubtless Of
all southern cities, cannot but be very lam
guild between now and next fall. But lit
tie produce of any kind, except tobacco,
is in the hands of farmers or planters; and
while merchants have so many unsettled
accounts it is out Of their power to sell
any more goods on credit. The crop of
wheat has been delivered, and the manu-
facturers Of -four have closed their mills.
At tho same time, as matter of course,
debts are exceedingly difficult, not to say
impossible, of collection. Some relief may
be looked for when tobacco begins to come
III ilccly, dS tuo pliCCo dio hi6h, IuN 'h0
factories are only waiting for an adequate
supply. They, at least, will give employ
ment to thousands who are now reduced
to the lowest straits.
Thefellowing quotations are believed to
be reliable:
Cotton.-Oa Saturday last select lots
were worth III to l71$c. On Monday the
market was affected by unfavorable ad-
vices, and to-day choice samples will not
bring more than l6l@s to 1919. Receipts
good aud sales liberal,
T0bacco.-The breaks are larger, and
prices well sustained. Loose parcels con-
tnue to come in freely, and receipts in
hogsheads are increasing. Lugs, common,
81 to Sc; good, S. so to So; fine, $40 to
$l2; leaf, comSon, Sc to So; good, $40 to
SIG; bright, SIT to $50.
Vheat.-Rcceipts light, with small
stock choice white, $3.50; choice red,
1920.
Flom.-Superfnc, sl2 to $3.50; extra,
Sl3 to Sl4; family, SIS to SIG.
Corn.-Wor,h, Sl.05 to Sl,OS. Stock
light.
Bacon--Virginia hog-round, Is to Ice. !;
western shoulders, II to l2lac.; sides,
1875 to l4c. s.