New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-20
COTTON.

|
will pay tenfo1d for the native block o
. ivory and for the naked slave who bore i
1 on his shoulders, and who was resold &
bear back to the interior the glass bead
;; or crimson calico for which the ivory wa.
exchanged.
The expectation of raw cotton 10 by nj
means a commerce so barbarous or al
exchange so unwise. because the profit
upon the fabric is not so great as on the
ivory. but the export Of raw cotton from
the South is more inexcusable than the
transportation or sale Of the unworked
ivory. Why do We make this bold affirm,
alton: Because. while the African has
neither the knowledge nor the needs which.
give value to the product which he ex-
ports. the citizens of the South have both
the need and the knowledge necessary to
increase the value OF the raw cotton " h;ch
they send abroad.
Long before the war there were the
most able and elaborate publications
made to convince the Southern people that
they could add to the virtue of their staple
by the simple process OF manufacturing it
into cloth.
Ii any one will turn to the number Of
OeBos,s Eeri.o- which preceded 1860
| there will be found estimates SO minute
| and demonstrations so conclusive that
| they will turn with establishment from the
continued indifference Of the producers
TO this immense addition to the value Of
their product. There were two causes
which prevented this second step in the
process OF adding to these values. The
opponents OF protective tariff We're
'llogically the enemies Of manufacturing.
1t was an almost invariable addition to an
an:i-taritf argument that manufactures
were demoralizing in their tendencies and
dangerous of Introduction into a slave
holding country. Both these objections
have passed away and been refuted.
The wealth and abundance of the
Southern States enabled the people to
support. by tbs profits of agriculture in
the country. Or the profits upon its fac
forage and representative supply in the
city. all the non -producers Of society.
The situation has changed. Emancipa-
ton has thrown each member of society
upon his own resources. It follows that
the dependent members of society must
still rely upon the sole industry OF
the country. OF five persons, one only
is field worker. Upon him. then. must
rest the support Of the other four. 1t is
heavy burden. Can it be made lighter
Yes. by providing for at least one other Of
the five with employment and wages. The
same abundance before the war fixed the
rate OF mechanical compensation higher
here. perhaps. than elsewhere. Peo-
pie who could subsist without labor re-
luired to be enticed to labor by high rates
IT compensation. The case is now diff
erent. With the decline Of our COM
nerce and the conversion Of our capital ,
'ur people are poor. There is great des-
tuition among us. There is q larger
population in our city shan its business
evenues will carry. There must be an
Increase OF production or reduction of :.
ur census. We prefer the former. And :;
ow for our cotton dealers. The Cotton
Exchange Of New Orleans was founded :,
pom the principle that the producer had y
o share in the representation of their
roduct. \ body OF energetic and skill
IL men could collect and publish statis-
cs Of the growing crop which would :.
rotect the producer from statements doc -
'red for Lowell or for Manchester. Sup D
ose this exchange should 60 further. and =.
Ike measures to employ the material and
Dor OF New Orleans in the manufacture o.,
yarns, cloths and prints. Is it not OBJ ~
Gus that to the extent that this could be
lccessful it will first improve the pros IT,
erity Of New Orleans. and thereby en- J.,
rye the demand for raw cotton? One
'und OF cotton will turn GU. ~
an average nine yards of cloth. y,
Oh yard Of which is worth as much ~
the pound Of cotton. How is -
is immense increase of value caused? Il;
7 the addition of some other elements s.,
this material. Labor. motive power, no
achinery and real estate are constantly p;
lployed to convert our cotton into cloth. III
It us see whether these elements exist wy
long us. and whether they may be SO an
mbined here as to compete with the
ne elements employed fora similar pur- Ia,
Sc elsewhere. ,ct
|. Cotton No argumen: is necessary TO
I'VE that raw material at home is thu
eaper than when transported abroad Of
consumption. Spinning or the spot cal
'es freight. weight and commissions. srs
is is as plain as that q sawmill can be POI
! cheaper in a surrcu nding forest than Rit
ere. the timber must be hauled dis .
ce. There is one advantage not as yet POI
yerted to which New Orleans pos ma
ses over any distan. poip. of int
ton manufacture. Elsewhere the po1
nner is compelled to buy and carry his bro
* with its risk. interest and insurance. wit
il it is spun and sold. Here the spin sells
may make the planter hold his stock leal
il the daily demands Of the spinner Ne'
lired him to 60 into the market and car
ply his mill. Reflection will elaborate ,
inextricable and exclusive advantage. mes
Real estate and machinery. Real dire
te can be had with front uOon nav. coff