New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-19
law cannot be executed. and second that law
which ia not executed Is ON unmixed evil.
co7roN-LoUTSIANA rERsUs BRAZIL.

COTTON-LOUTSIANA FERSCS bhhzIL
The bulk of tie cotton crop Of 1874 has now
been marketed ut tho shipping ports, and the
broad results can DO as well stated at this time
M when the accurate statistics have been COM
pilcd. The crop will b less by three hundred
tbousand bales than that Of last year, and it is
not unlikely that tho deficiency will be greater
than our estimate. The crop OF the year 1873
was A.17O,O 900 bales, which, added to the
Egyptian, East Indian, and Brazilian pi00uc-
ton, was more than sufficient to supply the
demand for manufacture for the worlds con-
sumption. As consequence, prices this year
have ruled low, and the stock OF raw material
is extremely large.
Cotton, like wheat and gold, Is an article tho
price of which Is the result of the demand and
supply OF the whole civilized world. In other
words, its value is cosmopolitan. The immedi'
ate rivals of the United States for the supply
of the European demand are Egypt and Brazii.
The cotton of these countries Is similar TO
ours and sells in Liverpool at an average price
Der pound little higher than that OF the
United States. The growth Of the plant IN
Africa, India and South America received
powerful impulse when tho supply from the
Southern States was interrupted by tho war.
The start then taken by our rivals
has not been lost, Indeed the cultivation OF
the staple in the countries we have named mas
been steadily and successfully extended, and
the statistics Of the increase are 20 startling
that we cannot omit to give them. For the I'VE
years beginning with 1856 and ending with
1860, the quantity of cotton imported INTO
Great Britain from all countries was 0,Ca4,-
OOO, 900 pounds, of which $4,000, 900 came
from the United States, 11O,OOOOOO from
Brazil, and 179, O00,0O0 from Egypt. Fifteen
times as much cotton WAS then received from
the United States as from Egypt and Brazil
together.
In the five years from 1862 to 1866, inciu-
siye, the supply from Brazil increased to
POI, 100000 pounds, and that from Egypt to
573, 900, 900. This period covered the cotton
famine produced by our war. In the five
years ended with 1874, the supply received
by Great Britain from all countries was
1929, DOC, 900 pounds, and from the United
States, 1907, 100000 pounds, or 2a9,OOO,OOO
pounds less than that for the FIVE years ended
with 1860. Tho supply from Brazil was
AIS, 10000 pounds, and that from Egypt
s74, 200. 900, and from both Brazil and Egypt
combined, 1,2S9, 100000 pounds, or nearly
five times the quantity imported in the
period of five years ended with 1860, and
close on to One-ftird tho quantity received
from tho United States, against only one
fifteenth, tho proportion fifteen years ago.
from these statistics We conclude that 1t Is
important to spare no effort to give the cotton
States good government. Tho operation or
such governments rs those of Louisiana and
South Carolina must tend to increase the cost
of growing cotton, and to give the Egyptians
and Brazians advantages over us which they
ought not to have.
That the production Of cotton, under the
circumstances which have OF late years at
tended It's culture, is not very remunerative,
il Indicated, we think, by the rapidiiy with
which the crop has been forwarded to the
port.. Those who founded their estimates OF
tho CROPS of 1873 and 1874 on the receipts
ut the ports In the first months OF the
season fell into tho error of Overesti-
mating the supply. During the whole of the
current cotton year prices have been low and
unsatisfactory to the planter. Why then did
he hurry his cotton TO the scabOard4 Not I'M
likely because he was poor and in debt, and
was forced to sell. Whom an article Is pro-
duced at loss it il merely question OF time
when the production Of it will be curtailed.
Last year the weather was favorable for max
ing a large cotton crop but We see that the
total yield is three hundred thousand bales
less than that OF 1878.
Whether tho Egyptian and Brazilian plant
ers are better off than those of Louisiana and
South Carolina we have no means OF deciding.
We have before US the accounts Of the foreign
trade of Great Britain for the first two
months OF 1875, from which we learn
that the imports Of cotton from tho United
States woro 2,t51,O0O cwts. in 1874, and
I,s7I 900 cwts. in 1875, falling off OF
$50, 900 cwts. The imports from Egypt wero
401 900 ewts. in 1874, and No. 900 cwts. in
1875. an Increase Of $4,000 cwts; and the
imports from Brazil were 10000 cwts. in
1874 and 132, 900 cwts. in 1875. an increase
of $4,000 cwts. Tho growth of cotton In
Egypt and Brazil Is undoubtedly capable of
great extension, and it is a question whether
Congress and tho Administration have not for
two or three years past given powerful encour-
Argument to tho increase Of planting i'll those
distant countries.