Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-09
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION,
MI IL M u HIS
Friday evening, April 8, 1875.
THE CROP PROSPECT.
April Report of the Committee OF
Statistics ana Information.

April Report of the Committee ON
Statistics N Information.
The committee or statistics and infor.
nation made a very interesting report
yesterday to the Memphis Cotton Ex-
change in regard to the crop prospects
of the year. The substance of the re-
port is derived from 1873 responses to in
terrogatories issued on the 18th ultimo;
of these 81 are from West Tennessee,
81 from North Mississippi, SO from Ar
kansas, and % from North Alabama.
The aggregate of the answers are thus
summed up:
l. OF 1888 responses, 80 $40 per cent
less number of bales of cotton were pro-
duced in this district than in 1873
2 The facilities financially fur
nished in aid of producing the crop
we're 20 per cent. less than.for 1873
B. 1t is estimated that 81 per cent.
only of the crop remained unmarketed
on the 23d ult.
4. There has been an increase of Ia
borers in this district of J per cent.
since the contamination of last years
crop.
5. Preparations for crop planting are
5 per cent. ia advanced condition, as
compared with the spring Of 1874
6 The increase of acreage by new
cleared lands is 3 per cent. wei 1874.
The prospective decrease in acre
age Of cotton planting from that of 1874
is estimated TO be 5 5 per cent.
8 Laborers are accepting OF work
with alacrity, 36 per cent, TOR wages, 45
per cent. for shares of crop, and 10 per
cent, are renting lands, The general
tone of compensation to laborers indi-
Gates a decline of about 10 per cent, as
compared with the past two seasons.
8. There is indicated an increase of
acreage in small grains over the average
Of past two seasons Of 6S per cent.
10. There is a prospective increase of
acreage in corr planting ever acreage OF
past two seasons of II per cent.
IL: OF 1873 correspondents, 65 per
cent. report great improvements in
fences, II per cent. moderate improve
ments, and Is per cent. none; so per
cent. report material improvement in
out buildings, and 40 per cent. report
improvement Of homes.
REMARKS.
The remarkable Improvement in
fences and general repairs indicated by
answers to interrogatory IL, our CORE
s%pondents attribute almost entirely to
INDECENT condition of laborers lowing to
the excessive short crops of all kinds the
past season., forcing them to this work
for subsistence. Many predict that the
result in protecting crops will have a
lasting and beneficial effect upon labor.
ers.
The deficit in acreage in cotton
planting may be almost entirely attribut-
ed to poor condition of working stock.
Many express doubts of their ability to
give the planting al ordinarily generous
cultivation owing to this cause.
The general tone ofour correspondence
indicates a fast approximation to wages
for farm labor. 1t has been
much retarded with the inauguration of
the present season, by a fear on part Of
planters for the stability of laborers, and
lack of ready means to meet payment;
while they can obtain supplies from
their factors to feed
S NJ. GATES, Chm,
W, A. GooDwYN,
G. I. Curtis,
J.. R GOODWIN,
7. S. ELY,
GEO WINCHESTER,
HENDERSON OWEN,
on Statistics and Informa-
- ton.
OHr neW'spriDg silks, soc.
KAuN q. E~pEIREnR