The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-06-30
THE GROWING COTTON CROP.
Tl0coidition of the new cotton
ron IN the South is lust now a mat

JWrcondition OF the new cotton
crop In the South is just now a mat
ter of general and eager. solicitude.
Vast interests on both sid IS of the
the Atlantic are dependent Oh re-
turns, and authoritative accounts arc
looked forward to with an eagerness
anproacbing almost TO anxiety that is
scarcelv paralleled, ia any oinerbranch
of industry. This feeling may be
easily accounted for. A difference
of a cent pound in cotton may inn
psrt activity or dizziness to the mark
ct, aud effect the profits of m anuiac-
, tnrers on both sides Of the Atlantic.
Experience warns us TO receive all
accounts of the condition of the
growing cotton crop with great eau
ton. The area of cotton territory is
so large and so many persons have a
direct interest in spreading reports
with a view to influence prices that,
at this early period of the season, 1t
is very difficult to arrive at anything
like an accurate conclusion. Nor Is
this to be wondered at. Probably
no other product except cotton is so
entirely dependent on, and so lmme-
diately affected by changes in the
weather. Hence, entirely accurate
calculations in May are liable to be
completely reversed a month or six
weeks later by extreme changes in
the weather that cannot be foreseen.
A wear ago the Economist stood
alone i'm anticipating a cotton crop
largely in excess of the preceding
year, and the result showed the cor
rectness of this view. The crop was
nearly a million bales i'm excess of
the general calculation, and was al
most up to the mark of the most
prosperous cotton year ever known
i'm the South. We would desire at
this time to give an equally hopeful
view Of the present growing crop.
But the facts do not seem to warrant
it. Various discouragements are in
operation that are liable to check
production. The greatest drawback
is probabl. the reduction i'm the
price. TheDlanters paid war prices
for raising last years cotton crop.
They are compelled to sell it at peace
rates. An unexpected decline Of 40
Pur cent. annihilated profits, and con-
vertcd the planters anticipated gains
into loss. Cultivators who sold
their crop without finding them
selves in debt for raising it were re-
garded as fortunate. The large COM
mission houses in New Orleans and
other cities that found it to their in
terest to revive the old custom of
making advances to planters on the
security of the growing crops, found
1t extremely difficult TO realize their
money.
The unexpected decline in cotton
affected every interest i'm the South
I'm great or less degree. 1t could
not fail to influence production, and
most seriously. AT the commence
ment of the planting season last year
almost every producer had a liberal
margin Of profit to his credit as a
result of the preceding crop. This
money was invested 10 an extent new
er before known, in fertilizers and
labor saving machinery. The result
was a splendid crop, but one that
broke down prices and swept away
profits. This year the planters are |
obliged to go to work without mon
ey or credit. All the returns of the |
crop, that is still coming forward to |
a market, did not much more than |
cover expenses.
1t will he seen, then, that the fun
damental conditions are changed |
since lastyear. We have taken great |
care to observe special information
on this subject, and all the accounts
concur in representing the prospects
as less favorable than they were a
year ago at this time. There is little |
Or no demand for fertilizers, and this
fact alone will seriously affect the
product. Then again, we cannot |.
learn from any quarter that on in
creased area of land has been been
placed under cultivation.
As a further result Of the decline
in the price of cotton, we learn that
almost everywhere less cotton and
more corn has been planted this year
than last. This is particularly the
case in Texas, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana and Alabama. The weather, too,
has been very unfavorable so far.
There has been much rain and cold,
and in many places the young plants
were killed, and had to be planted
over again or were replaced by corn.
On this point it may be stated that
there is curious superstition in the
South that there never have been two
consecutive years of good crops, and
the data AT hand show that the rule
is only too likely to be illustrated
this year.
The labor market has been seri-
ously demoralizcd by the reduction
in prices. The negroes can scarcely
he brought TO understand why the |
cotton cultivated on shares Yields SO
little money. The planters, also, III
hiring help are unable to pay for
mer rates of wages, and the negroes |
can scarcely be induced to work for
lower prices.
Taken altogether, the present pros
poets in the South arc less favorable |
than could be desired, SO far, at least,
As the probable yield ofcotton is con-
ccrned. From present data, we in
fer that less cotton will be raised this |
year than last. but the amount of |
money realized from it will be great
CT. The consumption Of cotton is
steadily increasing. The consump-
ton i'll England now is at the rate of
100000 bales year, against $780,
600 bales i'm 1S69-70. Contrary to an
ticipation there wasan increased con-
sumption last year on the continent
Of Europe, and the close ofthe French
civil war will add at least 10000 bales
a week TO the consumption. The
low prices have stimulated produc-
ton, and must lead TO n competition
that can scarcely fail TO improve quo
tations. The South may therefore
raise less cotton this year, but it will |
receive more money for il than from
the crop of lS10-7I-U. S. Economist. |
Labor Conducive TO Long Life.