New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-27
The South,s Great Staple.

The Chicago Republican has the following
editorial, concluding with the remark that
prosperity in the South is Of vital import
ance to the Northwest, and in proportion
as Southern lands are devoted to cotton,
will this importance be increased" We re-
produce the article entire:
All accounts from the South indicate that
the cotton crop of last year was much
larger than has been generally supposed.
Various estimates have placed it at $780,
900, 2.750, 600 and $500, 900 bales. The last
of these estimates was thought to be
very high, but a later one places it in the
neiShbOrhOOd of 4,000,000 bales. At all
events, the yield was extraordinary, and
this comes from better system OF cotton
farming than ever obtained during the ex-
istence of slavery, and, as result OF tree
labor, is a convincing proof OF its superior
| ity. There is a larger breadth OF cotton
| planting and far superior system OF cul-
| ture, owing to the use of fertilizers and to
| other causes.
Labor-saving implements of husbandry
| are being introduced into the cotton States.
| thereby facilitating every department OF
labor. There is greater Willingness to work
on the part Of the colored people than there
was in the days of slavery. They are either
hired and paid for their work, or they de-
pend upon a certain share of the crop. They
are interested in making it success. Their
| interest in some measure becomes the
planters interest. Unless he prospers, they
can not prosper. There is a community of
| interest which never before existed in the
| South. The planters and the freedmen now
! get along tremendously, as rule, and have
reason to be better satisfied with the results
of free labor than with those OF slave labor.
With the increase of the Southern cotton
crop, there is continued falling OFF in the
Indian crop. During the war great progress
was made in cotton culture III India,
under the auspices of British capital
The persistent efforts which England has
made to grow cotton in India and Other
countries has been, so far as the qualify OF
the cotton is concerned, unsuccessful. There
has been found, as yet, no staple III ade
quate quantities that can compare with thai
grown LII the American cotton fields. This
gives to our cotton the first place in the
:. world market. And the bOuntiful crop OF
last year will supply, in a great measure
the place intended for the cotton which
England has endeavOred in vain to procure
from other sources. AT the present prices
of cotton, which will average, Throughout,
the South, over fourteen cents per pound III
gold, it is easy to estimate the financial con
: dltlon OF the Southern people, ON a basis OF
, 4.OOO,00O bales of cotton. Calculating the
| average bale at 400 pounds, the value of the
cotton crop at the above price would reacl
|, the enormous sum of t'ro hund1ed and t,re,,
ty.tour millions of dollars. But this is OF
the supposition that the cotton is sold in it
raw state.
There is, however, a large quantity manu-
featured near where it is grown, and cottol
mills are springing up with commendabl
rapidity. This is one OF the most cheerin,
signs of regeneration at the South. Tn
principle Of saving transportation on tn
. raw material is better understood in tn
South than it was formerly, and hence, il
part, the efforts to establish home manufac
lures. The revival Of the cotton interest
and the astonishing results of last year
culture. will have tendency to enlarge tn
area of cotton planting to its utmost .capa
oity, to the probable augmented exclusion o
other kinds of farming In general, tn
South will grow cotton instead OF food pro
duets. There will thus be broader ant
better market for the commodities OF thu
North. Prosperity in the South is OF vita
Importance to the Northwest, and in pro
portion as Southern lands are devoted tt
cotton, will this Importance be increased.