Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-07-02
What a BIG Crop Would Do.

IeItSIapn ana messenger, iIIn ms.
Cotton tiuctuates and languishes in
the foreign and domestic markets,
with a largely diminished supply and
the certainty that the last crop l. TIN ee
to four hundred Thousand bales short.
The m rket Las DO back bone and is
not likely to have any. The trouble
now is apprehension of an increased
crop next fail. A half million bales
excess over the incoming crop would
undoubtedly diminish the money value
of the whole crop to producers, even
below that of the present crop.
The practical value of propitious
weather to the cotton producer, there
fore, will not insure to him, but to
buyers and manufacturers. And he
Is, moreover, i'll the situation of a de-
fendant prejudged to be guilty until
he has time al opportunity to prove
his innocence.
The world of cotton purchasers as
snme an outside limit of production
until 1T Is apparent that this limit ha.
not been attained. Thus the shadow
of the big forthcoming crop OF 1876
'75-though tile substances does not
exist-though it is as yet, only a crea-
ton of fond Imagination, is thrown
darkly on the little remnant of the in
coming crop and shuts out all sunlig hit
from the market.
Such Is the situation, and the whole
argument would be for short cotton
crop, provided the loss of product
could be equally distributed among
producers. The effect of increase III
product is simply to impose on the
grower the task Of more picking, bail
ing aud hauling, without remuneration,
and indeed, as We believe, at even less
| than diminished product would bring
to the painter.
The interest of the planter in heavy
crop is, therefore, purely individual
and not a collective interest. 1t is an
interest merely to secure his personal
share IN the sum total OF crop money,
which he believes will be endangered
by small yield Oh his particular
farm. II he could be assured that
three bales of his short crop would
bring him just as much money as five
bales of heavy crop, lie would Say
give me the three bales all the tune [
do Lot wish to raise and send two bales
to market at my own cost.
But as the cotton crop covers vast
region and embraces n variety of Gil
matte conditions, 10 vicinage of the
planting interest, and 10 region Of
country feels that it has any material
power ID controlling the grand vol
ume of product. Ii such a power
could possibly be brought into exis-
tence and wisely exercised, the whole
planting interest could be secured
profitable product, by at once reguia-
ting the production to meet the de-
mand of consumers, aud establishing
a fairly remuneratIve price, and con-
dltiOn of affairs i'll which pIopitious
seasons should not work positive in
jury to the planter.
| The nabiiity of the planting inter
est to establish and maintain any con-
| troll of cotton production among them
selves (Which Void be simplest and
most direct remedy for the evils under
which they labor makes 1t clear
enough to our mind that all projected
combinations to control the markets
| aud shipments of cotton III the same
interest, will be equally impracticable
and futile, and the chances that they
will prove disastrus. Men should not
venture beyond their legitimate bust
ness-business which they have been
| trained to and understand in all its
parts and bearings. If they do, they
will blunder and learn experience at
cost of loss and failure.
We see no possible chance of con-
trolling the cotton trade by any COM
binations among producers, especial
in the light of the fact that combina-
tions to regulate cotton production
have been found impracticable. The
| only remedy we can set in the prem
ises is a personal one, and very partial
at that. 1t is for every cotton pro-
Queer to gain pecuniary condition in
| which he will not be forced to hurry
his crop forward at the opening of the
market, but cau choose his own time
for selling.
This will be some vantage 81 hound
gained, though perhaps not very I'M
portant one in respect to mere prices
1t would have made no very material
difference the current cotton year; but
next Fall, if the market opens under
the depressing effects of extravaganza
estimates of the maturing crop. and
the cramp of general dull times, we
can see it would make great differ
ence, should the crop afterwards
prove light, and business revive.