Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-17
Cotton Crop.


is no foundation in fact for the report.
Cotton Crop.
Information entirely reliable from many
parts of the South reports the present
crop of cotton less than has heretofore been
supposed would be raised. The late Spring,
The intensely dry Summer, the caterpillar,
and lastly the rust, caused by the recent
cool nights, have materially cut short the
actual amount produced. The two great
cotton growing States of Mississippi and
Texas will, in the very heart of the pick
ing season, be engaged in heated political
contest. Every one knows the injury
which will befall the planters from want of
labor to gather their crops, owing to the
negroes being called of by politics at this
critical juncture and we do not think we
shall exaggerate the loss in these two States
n putting it at less than fifteen or twenty
per cent. In this State and South Carroll
IA the crop has certainly been injured from
twenty-five to thirtyt three and perhaps
fifty per cent We know Of not single
county which will make Il full crop. We
have thus stated why the crop cannot be
large. 1t has never been estimated at over
three millions OF bales. II 1t reach two
million five hundred thousand that will
De the very outside figures. The planter
should know what he can calculate on. He
is the sufferer whenever there is mistake.
For some months cotton has iuctuated In
price in New York from 81 to 30 cents per
pound The factories both in England
and this country have been running On
short time for almost the whole Of
this period Recently We have received
vague reports from Egypt that the crop
there is very fine. Similar ones como
from India. The latter staple cannot com
pete with American cotton, but oven It 1T
did, we ought not to be blinded by these
rumors, spread by spectators Mt home AMI
abroad, for the plain purpose OF reducing
the price Of our Southern cotton. The
simple facts arc that we can now command
the markets. We say to our people to use
their power. orr own merchants should
now step boldly to the front and pay the
planters what their crops are worth. 1t is
alike due to themselves and to the plant
ers. Why will they stand i'll their own
light, and be parties to aiding distant cap
italists to their own injury and that of
their Immediate friends and supporters :?
We trust that the planters may be in a
condition to protect themselves but the
home merchants should do all that broad
views of trade, iberality of spirit, and ade-
sire to rebuild the agricultural interests of
the South dictate and demand. Let the pro-
Queer feel that he can find here fair mar
ket, Just and generous factors, and the
seaports OF our own region will acquire
that prominence TO which their positions
sntitle them, oar planting interests will
b6 improved and protected, and our own
people will reap fair portion of the
fruit of their labor. We repeat, the cotton
crop will not be over two million FIVE hun
dred Thousand bales--we ought to control
the market, and our own merchants, in
our own ports, should see that the planters
DO not fall victims 10 Northern and Eng
Ish spectators and manufacturers
THERE is not Railroad i'll North Car
DINA to which the State has not con
tribnted largely IN lis construction This
assistance was given doubtless with a view
to develop the resources of the State
1t was given by the State for the benefit
Of the State and its citizens, and although
the State may have ceased to be part
owner in one or more of these works, the
people who live upon them, and who have
paid directly and in taxes fer their con
construction, have right to expect thai
the roads shall be managed so as to be 8
benefit and not an injury to our own peo
pie. The people dc look for such action
on the part OF the railroad authorities a.
will in every reasonable and proper way
aid our own producers and help build ur
the commerce of our own ports. Miscon
ceived policy and inisapplied energy may
result disastrously to the pecuniary pros
poets of the stockholders and to the hopes
and positions of the managers. 1t is i'm
possible for corporations or indi.
viduals to ignore the interest of those Will
whom they live and from whom they draw
their support. Our people can have nc
sympathy with those who can use us fol
their own profit, coldly calculating selfish
ends. Such management may appear tc
prosper. but it will be repudiated and its
authors with it,
AT NEW ORLEANS is the Headquarters Of
the Southern Historical Society, organ
lied for the purpose of transmitting to pos
terity the truth relative to the action O.
the people of the South during the nation
ality of the Southern Confederacy. 1t il
time that all interested in faithful record
OF the facts should 50 dispose Of then