New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30
rUp cOTJON PLANTERS FUTURE.

TIE COTTON PLANTERS FUTURE.
The cotton region embraces smaller area
than Northern people generally suppose While
North Carolina and Tennessee, for instance,
raise a large amount of cotton, they cannot
be called Cotton States; even Northern Geor-
oia ia not a cotton region. Still, the great sta
nle i, raised so far north as Southern Vir-
pinia. Southern Illinois and Missouri, but
the fields are scattered and small and the
yield is unsatisfactory. The greater part OF
the crop is raised in South Carolina, in three
fourths of Georgia, in most OF Alabama and
Mississippi, in half Of Louisiana and Arkansas,
and in q good portion OF Texas. Ii the whole
of the State of Georgia were in cotton, the
area would be greater than the aggregate cot
ton districts of all the rest of the States. This
shows how limited is the cotton region; but
where soil and climate are specially adapted to
any product, comparatively small area will
furnish full supply. This is notably the case
with corn, for less than 100 counties furnish
the surplus that enters into the commercial
market. Where cotton planting is business,
little else is raised, and provisions OF all
kinds, manufactured articles, and even the
necessary hay and grain. are brought in from
the outside world. North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Kentucky furnish butter, eggs, fruit, and
some -four Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Mis-
souri, send immense quantities of corn, bacon,
lard. agricultural implements, and manufac-
tured articles, all of which are paid for with
cotton.
The disastrous results of this system, after
lapse of more than forty years, are now fully
apparent. A great majority of the planters
I. Ioht ND
seem to be the slightest prospect of their de-
liyerance SO long as the present mode OF
planting is continued. A widespread spirit OF
speculation, or of gambling, by which wealth
ia to be acouired without work, has been the
ont-roNs.h, ef this system. The remedy that
has been repeatedly proposed Is that the
planter shall raise his own supplies, and thus
save the immense sums that now go to mer-
chants. railroads, and middlemen. More corn
and less cotton Is the proposed motto. And yet
but little Impression has been made, for money
must be had to pay debts, or, at least. interest,
and nothing brings ready money but cotton
So more money is borrowed to raise more
cotton; there is no time, no skill, no taste LOT
other crops. Meanwhile the Border States OF
r.. ynnessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky
yyb;e h are tenders to the Cotton States, COM
,Ioin .titterly of the reaction OF these adverse
condtir>,s upon them; money Is scarce anu
hmsin.sa is dull, and those who would seek a
.aa., :, >"eoing Westn are unable to do so
o"' ~ cannot make sales of real estate.
IT., TS."u =; $50 doubt that the system which the
an.taO 49,, shave established is a vicious one
oud that - l. ., Wv question of time as to when
:. shau ho snn-,, seeded by better. Even the
a"aI nrnaLasa of fertilizers for raising cot
49, III =, go cad to wide disaster. There
.on w., - ~ atistics of the millions o.
donars ra;I ar for superphosphate ant
800 is certainly enormous
49, I ~ 49,, a.. immense sum paid 10
supplies. Whether the, 80, !,
place what is distracted. oS '"0 =,
questioned; but the land q oc 80. "oV 81. 49, 90;
and the effect of the fen n'No,o 'N 49, I,n
seems analogous to that of a '0Vo' 80 /,
man system-stimulatng it 81 ooI
greater effort, and leaving it la -, 90 IN,
, " nv "o'0,o VIZ" az wy llv thin. ant