The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-07-01
sti sgNtiseeaaaepks gAttieles.
The Present and Future Of Southern Cot
ton Production.

The Present and Future Of Southern Cot
ton Production.
It is now generally admitted, {says the
New Orleans Commercial Bulletln) by the
most experienced observers, that the ag-
arerate breadth of land devoted in the
South to the cultivation of cotton the
present wear, is something short OF what
it was last year. This does not result
from less inclination on the part OF plan,
ters to produce cotton, or to less capital
at their command to assist in producing
it. On the contrary. thanks to the remu-
neratlve results, of their last year s opera,
tions, they were in an improved hnanclal
condition and an eager mood OF mlno, sucn
as would unquestionaby have led them to
undertake to plant more largely OF cotton,
but for the intcrposition of single diff
Guilty, that of procuring an adequate sup
SIMPLY of labor. 1t is interesting to ex-
olain, and important to understand, the
Precise nature of this difficulty; ard the
stubborn fact in which it has it's root can
not be too often or two vividly impressed
on the commercial mind.
If cotton planters in general did well
in 1868, the colored employees in general
prospered in an equal measure; and, rela-
lively to their needs and expenses, per-
haps in q still larger measure. In proper
tion as their pecuniary condition was bet
tered they were indisposed to hire them
selves as field laborers, and ambitious to
set up farms of their own, on which little
or no cotton would be grown. or to en-
cage in some business requiring the least
amount of hard work Some went so far
rs to dream of an indefinite vacation from
labor of any sort, period in which they
would abandon themselves to delicious
insouciance in a life otindependcnt leisure.
Here is the secretof the stringency OF the
labor market which was experienced by
planters in preparing for the operations
of the present year; and here is the prin-
cipal reason why it would be rash 10 eX-
pect the growing cotton crop to exceed, or
to reckon with absolute confidence on its
eouainc the preceding crop. And, in the
nature Of things, this shrinkagc OF agrl-
cultural labor, at about the same rate
must go on from year TO year as long as
the bulk of its supply is confined to the
freedman population. 1t is trao that
Chinese laborers may gradually fill ap the
place in Southern agriculture vacated by
the freedmen; it is equally true that white
labor, either native or immigrant, may
succeed at length, by close and scicntlhc
tllagc, in making from much smaller sur
face, great deal more cotton thanl now
produced. But these are remote contln-
IN
tors in determining the actual conditions
of Southern cotton production and The
immediate prospect OF the cotton market
as it may be affected by those conditions.
For present purposes of commercial CAL
culations, it is safe to assume that the
crop of last year touched the highest tidal
mark of production in the pending indus
trial situation, and that the crop OF the
present year cannot possibly, exceed it,
and will, probably fall below it.
And, on the other hand, it would be
quite absurd to construe the state OF
things above indicated as signifying an
absolute limitation to the growth OF
American cotton in the impending future.
The passimist view of any matter is usu-
ally tho unsoundest and most perniclous
of all. The opinion that the magnificent
cotton belt of the South is gradually to
sink into insigni6cance with reference to
the production Of this great, staple, is no
execution to the remark. The waste OF
war, in spite of many needless obstruc.
tions, clear heads, stout and hopeful
hearts; and skilful and dlligent hands arc
gradually and surely repairing; railroads
will soon be traversing the South in every
direction, leaving no productive region,
however interior or remote, without
speedy access to market; and eventually
the necdful labor, attracted by assurance
of profit and facilitated by abundant and
rapid means of transportation, will be
had.