New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-19
Cheap Cotton.

William NJ. Shannon, in The South
Cheap cotton would be patent and ao.
knowledged blessing to all the world, save
the cotton producer.
| propose to show-frst, that blessing is
within easy reach of the world; and second,
that the condition of the cotton producer is
such that he will receive greater benefits
from the causes which will produce cheap
cotton than all " the rest of mankind will
from the cheap cotton.
Fiyst-An average crop of about 3, $50 900
bales may be relied on from the cotton
States of the United States, grown on
5000 600 acres, and produced by the labor
of $500, 600 individuals, producing ALSO
however, large previous crops.
This shows a product OF only about one
third of a bale to the acre-nOt one and q
half bales to the laborer Yet on some of
the thinnest soils in the cotton belt, where
intelligence and thrift direct labor, the proc
duct not unfrequently is from two-thirds Of
bale to one bale per aore-etrUu1 four TO
eight bales to The laborer
Within three years the cotton product of
the South could be doubled, 'sitnout adding
an acre to the area cultivated, by the nfu.
sion of better labor. and by aiding the In.
telligence engaged ia cotton cnltuye BIZ
capital SO much needed.
Under pressing embarrassments. it is no
uncommon thing to see the maximum
amount above mentioned produced by pru.
dent managing men, spite OF straitened
circumstances and imperfect means; while
on neighboriDg lands and all other circunl-
stances equally favorable, except industry
and thrift, one bale to ten acres ia the re-
suit. Throughout the; entire South choice
lands are tenanted by freedmen, and their
crops very often do net reach bale to the
laborer. OF course the proprietorS would
rejoice to let much of the lands TO inteli-
i yl,,f.. h.
uuadruple the product and improve their
lands, OF they would gladly cell at low
prices portions of their lands, and the CAPT.
tai thus resulting would enable them 80
utilize their returning lands.
But, If necessary, the area OF culture
could be largely increased, as there are mil
hons OF acres of waste lands thrOughOu the !
South that have been resting for ten or
twelve wears; ard moreover, under our
changed system Of labor and imprO yed cul- /
ture, there is no necessity for the large
quantity Of reserved land formerly held on /,
every plantation.
With abundant capital and sufficient Ia
Dor it wOuld be difficult to place q limit to ,
the capacity of the South for the production .
of cotton. The product could, by intelli- /
gent labor and by capital judiciou-ly used, /,
be doubled on the area now ia cultivation. ,
If need be hat area could be doubled.
Second-The idea of doubling or quad !
rupliDg the crop of cotton at first glance /
would seem alarming, to the cotton grswer. |
but it is only in the seeming. the world ,
will need all the cotton that can be pro- !
duced, aud consumption will grow IS rap
idly as production can be forced.
| am confident Of my patriotism, sure OF !
my devotion to the South, and yet ardent !
ly long for the existence of causes here that |
will secure cheap cotton TO the world. |
Capital aud population will secure that
end, and capital and population are the |
great wants of the South.
The South would have immediate com |
pensation in
l. The enhanced value of land.
2. The escape from the burdens of taxa
ton by the utilization of inert capital