The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-03
BENEFITS OF CaEAp COTTON.
From the New York South.l

CAMDEN, 8. G., November 16.
Cheap cotton would be patent and &C.
knowledged blessing to all the world cave the
cotton producer.
I propose to show, arst-that blessing lie
within easy reach Of the world; and, second
that the condition of the cotton producer ia
such that he will receive greater benefits from
the causes which will produce cheap cotton
than all 1.-THE rest OF mankind" will from the
cheap cotton.
First. An average crop of about three and
fourth millions of bales (3,250, ,0O0) may be
relied on from the cotton States of the United
states, grown on nine millions OF acres, and
produced by the labor OF some two-and-a.half
Millions of individuals (2.5OO, ,0O0,) producing
., however, large provision crops.
,is shows product Of only about one
THU of q bale 10 the acre-not one and q
half bales to the laborer. Yet on some OF The
thipnest soils In the cotton belt, where intel
ligence and thrift direct labor, the product
not unfrequently is from twC-thirds of bale
to one bale per aore-trom four to eight bales
to the laborer.
Within three years the cotton product Of
the South could be doubled, without adding
an acre to the area cultivated, by the Infusion
engaged In cotton culture by capital 30 much
needed.
Under pressing embarrossmpnts, 1t ls no
uncommon thing to see the maximum amount
above mentioned produced by prudent man.
aging men, spite of straltened circumstances
and Imperfect means; while on neighboring
lands and all other circumstances equally
favorable, except industry and thrill, one
bale to ten acres is the result. Throughout
the entire South choice lands are teDanted by
freedmen, and their crops very often do not
reach q bale to the laborer. OF course the
proprietors would rejoice to let much Of these
lands to intelligent, industrious white men,
who would auadruple the product aRd. I'm
prove their lands, or they would gladly sell at
low prices portions of their lando, and the
capital thus resulting would enable them TO
utilize their remaining lands.
But, II necessary, the area of culture could
be largely increased, as there are millions OF
acres oil waste land throughout the South that
have been resting for ten or twelve years;
and, moreover, under our changed system OF
labor and Improved culture, there Is no neces.
sity for the large quantity of reserved land
formerly held on every plantation.
With abundant capital and ef1clent labor 1t
would be difficult to place limit to the capa-
city of the South for the production oil cotton.
The product could, BY Intelligent labor and by
capital iudiclously used, be doubled on the
area now In cultivation. II need be that area
could be doubled.
Second. The idea of doubling or quadru-
plIng the crop of cotton at first glance would
seem alarming to the cotton-grower: but II is
only In the seeming. The world Will need all
the cotton that can be produced, and con-
sumption will grow as rapidly as production
can be forced.
am confident of my patriotism, sure of my
devotion to the South, and yet l ardently
long for the existence of causes here that will
secure cheap cotton to the world. Capital
and population will secure that end. and capi-
tai and population are the great wants OF the
South.
The South would have immediate compen-
sation in
lat. The enhanced value of land.
I'd. The escape from the burdens OF taxa
tion by the utilization Of inert capital.
Sd. the infusion of vitality into lands now
waste, retained By proprietors, which would
be the recipients of the benefits OF the capital
resulting from the lands sold.
4th. The diversity of agricultural products
resulting from and rendered profitable by In
creased population.
ready market, the farm and family expenses
could be paid from these sources, leaving the
cotton crop net profit.
9Th. Commercial, mechanical and mauufac-
turing pursuits would be 80 Increased as mol
only to create demand for all agricultural
products, but would give employment to all
the more artificial calliDgs now laDgulshlng
throughout the South. And,
Lastly. The social, moral and political
blessings we would escape, would cause us 10
rejoice over the pscuniary sacrifice, were
there any such, though am well assured that
the possession of our waste places by good
Immigrants from the North would rebound as
much to the pecuniary advantage OF the South
as to It's civil, moral aad social advancement.
VIM NJ. SHANNON.