The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-12
THE COTTON SUPPLY.

THE COTTON SUPPLY.
AMERICAN PRODUCTION AND ENGLISH
EFFORTS-THE PROSPECT.
Manifesto from the MCmphis Convention
The late Commercial Convention at Mem
phis had under consideration, among other
matters OF leading interest to the South, the
past and present condition Of the supply Of
cotton. A report has been made on this SUBJ
ject, containing o very complete statement Of
! the wellknown arguments showing ths peculiar
adaptation Of the Southern States Of the United
States for the growth OF the staple, and the
disadvantages which have attended it's cultiva-
ton elsewhere. There is not much that is
strikingly new in this paper, but as an inter-
esting resume Of the points involved in this
important subject, we present the following
extracts:
The report begins by noticing the interest
felt in the future supply Of the staple, and the
efforts that are being made in that direction.
In the East Indies, the most formidable COM
petitor OF this country, whore under the stimu-
Ius Of war prices, the product was forced up to
1,840 648 bales in 1866, the crop has since fallen
to !. .420,576 bales, and promises this year to
decline to ], ,250, 900 bales. The largest yield
OF Egypt was in 1864-65, when 4O4 AL bales
were obtained, but these figures have not
since been equalled. Both these countries
we're somewka at afflicted with famine during
these years Of greatest cotton growth, and
1t is not believed that lands so de 1se-
y populated can devote more than
limited amount of the soil to the cultivation OF
this plant to the neglect of the food crop. In
parts of Turkey where the fig aud fruit trees
were cut down in 1854 to make room for cot
ton, the cultivation of the latter has been in
measure abandoned, and Turkey and Greece
only exported during the past year - 62a bales.
There hos been some increase in the cultiva-
tion in Brazil but it is not sufi oiently large to
be OF Importance. In reference to the present
wants Of the world and the amount Of growth,
the report says:
alone require an annual supply Of over G, 900,
600 OF bales OF cotton to keep their machinery
moving whereas the actual available produc-
year to 5000, 600 Of bales.
Granting that East India and the United
States may make full average crops of cotton
the most favorable production cannot supply
Say for the cotton crop of the year 1869:
East India, more than last year. 1900, 900
Egypt more than last year. 23O.OCO
Turkey Levant, go moro than last year. ). IL 500
Brazil, Peru, and West Indies, game as last
year. g.. T07.B00
United states than last year. 500 900
All other sources. es................ go 600
Making liberal estimate of............ 600, 600
for the production of the world, while the con-
sumption is over 6,000, 900, leaving the appa-
rent deficit in supply in the raw material"
over 1,oO0. 600 bales OF cotton at the END of the
present year.
The cotton crop of the world does not now
amount to four millions of bales, averaging 600
pounds. and exclusive Of the United States,
the available production Of the globe does NOT
much exceed eighteen hundred thousand bales,
of the same average.
One half the cleared lands Of the South are
left uncultivated for want Of labor, and the
suggestion is made that if the cotton supply
associations of England and Annerica would
give their aid in directing suitable inmigra-
ton to the South, valuable assistance would
be given that would speedily increase the
growth of the staple. In reference to the pre-
sent condition OF Southern labor, the report
says: aM
There is o great mistake generally made in
in the cultivation of cotton. When the eman-
clpation occurred the planters made great
efforts to associate the laborers together on
their their large plantations. but the system has
to the squad system" where from two to
eight .hands only work together; in many in.
stances. q siogle family. The .'squad system
than the old system OF ''associated labor, as
there ls no concert of action and fair division of
labor, according to the recognized laws Of po-
The freedman is unambitious Of acoumula-
ton, but shows great anxiety to have his little
nome, with his horse. COW and hogs separate
and apart from others. Therefore, he strenu-
tence Of his family and stock, and only q mod
crate cotton crop. On majority of the planta-
tions, in projecting the cotton crop, the
fesedwomen re. are entirely ignored. and are
except when the season ig very difficult, when
they give some assistance to thelr husbands
and fathers in the cultivation, and also occa-
sona IN the gashering ct the crop This
tion Of the efiicaent labor once directed special
ly to the production Of cotton. Perhaps it is
death in the negro population during the late
war. now variousiy estimated from i've hun-
dred thousand to one million Of souls. The
labor most efficient, and nov most to be de-
habits of industry have been confirmed. The
young negroes growing up since the war are
generally IDLE, fond of pleasure, impatient OF
the control OF their parents, and do not give
promise OF much usefulness.
The report estimates the number Of freed
men engaged in cultivasinR cotton ct 600, 900,
and white at 200. 900, which at three bales to
the hand would give 2,4oO. 600 bales. In regard
to the possible future increase Of the crop with
the present labor system. we are told
No material increase in the production Of
cotton can be expected from the southern
States, unless our supply OF labor Is increased
by Immigration. VI 9gi'. TsET
Notwithstanding the remarks Of the Hon.
Reyerdy Johnson, who recently. in the Town
Lancashire. that when tree labor comes to
be properly developed and organized" Man
chester would rejoice, not only IN four or Ave,
but IN few years, in SIX or seven millions