The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-09-10
Letter From William.

EAST MISSISSIPPI, Aug. -, 1871.
EDITORS CLARION IL had no idea
of writing you another letter before the
middle of September, but Mr.. Jones
came over this morning with his crop
estimate, and said.it was necessary for
The CLARION to publish his views early
In the month, so that the commercial
world may have the benefit of his in
designations In making arrangements
to move the cotton crop. Here are his
| views:
"There is less land in cotton than
last year, by 20 per cent The drouth,
just ended, cut off the crop planted, 338
per cent. Without entering into any
nice calculation to determine the precise
per cent. The growing crop will be of
the crop gathered last year, | decide
that it cannot be more than so per cent
Saying that 1000, 900 bales was raised
last year, we shall this year gather
1866, 666 bales. Taking IA cents as
the average price of the last crop, and
assuming that the stock on hand does not
differ materially in amount from that on
hand September !, 1873, we should ex-
pect to receive 81 cents as the average
price of cotton during the present season.
Factors and merchants have early bills
to meet, and, consequently, some of 9the
crop must 60 off at ruling figures; but the
intelligence of 50 great a deficiency as
now really exists, must make its way to
| the great cotton centers, and, after that,
prices must advance to the figures men
| toned 1t is to the interest of the mer-
holding their crops out of market, until
the true state of things become known.
1t is to be expected that suggestions
OF over-estimating the effects of the
drouth will be INDUCED. The readers
| of THE CLARION, however, will remem-
/ Der that for four years, | have not made
any considerable mistake in foretelling
either the amount of cotton made or the
price to be received. The effects of the
| drouth are under rather than over-esti-
mated. From personal observation,
and a rather extensive correspondence,
| regret to say that the damage done
cotton is unprecedented" / here sug-
gested to Mr.. Jones that he had better
have his views published in some agri-
cultural paper, so that the grangers
might employ his figures in their move
ments to protect the farmers, but the old
gentlemen says that THE CLARION is
regarded in commercial circles as being
among the most reliable of Southern
newspapers; and that his views, while
they are not the views of Maj. Barksdale,
nor Col Power, nor Capt. Barksdale, nor
the joint views of these gentlemen; are,
nevertheless, Mr.. Jones' views, and will
command more attention in the columns
of THE CLARION than elsewhere [
asked Mr.. Jones if hesupposed the comet
ct Coggia, had anything to do with the
drouth. Mr. Jones replied:
civilian, the comet never approached
the earth nearer than about 1000, 900
miles, and it is not easy to conceive any
effect it could have; yet, l am not
prepared to say that it had not some
power in working terrestrial disasters
The populace have always regarded
the appearance of the comets as dire
visitations, and no popular superstition
could so universally obtain without
line of coincidence to support it. You
can call to mind the saying that Jay-birds
90 to the lower regions on Friday and
carry fuel, and no doubt many laugh at
the idea. because our books contain no
allusion to the subject, yet advise
YOU to watch for Jaws ON Friday, and
Judge for yourself where these noisy
birds are on that day. In Georgia In
INV youth, these weekly departures of
iav-birds we're almost matters of religious
faith. Now if jay-birds go to h
on Friday, why not believe the comet
came last month to warn and to punish.
That comet has been wandering in space
since creations dawn, and yet, for the
first time, came near us. 1t may De
one of the great messengers OF the uni
versal spirit of space, sent to the na6lta-
bic spheres, in the great creation OF God'
to warn man of evil results and OF APP
preaching ills, or it may be frelg.hted
with vials of wrath. No man and no
science can speak for a comet. As you
know. my opinion is that the material
universe sympathises with the moral
and mental, and when a country Is
infested with Credit Mobilier and Salary
Grabs and Civil Rights Bills, and all
the denominations Of false swearings, and
official stealing and private debauchery
and moral leprocy, the harmony OF ma
ture is disturbed, and ills come upon the
land. II can account for the dronth, with
out reference to the comet, but the comet
may have been evolved by the throes