The Greenville times., 1877-03-31
SATURDAY. MARCH 81, 1877,
Cest OF Cotton Production.

NV3E VI vVtAVM llVoaNNboms
Facts bearing upon the indus
trial condition Of the South have
an increased interest, since il has
become apparent that our govern
lnent Is to leave the cotton States,
for the future, free to regulate
their own affairs. This, for obyi-
ous reasons, was necessarily a con-
didon precedent to any general
prosperity in that section. Until,
in fact, this freedom everywhere
exists, and is used and not abused,
. large party in the North will
believe the South only desire 1t
that IL may ill-treat its labor class,
revolutionize governments, and
live in anarchy. Capital cannot
freely Aow South until, by expert
ment, II: Is proved that no such
disposition exists-that life, prop
crty, individual rights, aud liberty
Of opinion even, arc just as sacred
there as in the North. To our own
satisfaction this has been already
proved but II csunot be denied
that d dobt in regard to il widely
prevails (the result Of causes we
need not dwell upon) which moth
ing but the experiment will re-
move. We hail, therefore, AS the
most promising indication Of the
times the disposition our govern
mcnt Is showing to Interfere no
longer In the affairs OF any State.
AT tho present moment, also,
every condition in the South ap-
pears to bc favorable for growth
and development. In an article on
cotton manufactures (Chroniclc,
Feb. 24), we stated facts which
showed the important position
that section holds on that question.
But our object at this time was to
speak especially Of the planting
interest, which has grown into a
new life Of late years. The waste
ful system Of the past had become
almost provcrbial. With cotton
1t 30 cents = pound, the general
response was, there was no money
In Il; and, whom II had fallen TO
70 cents, the absolute bankruptcy
Of tho whole planting interest was
Of course the expected result. And
70 many these descending prices
have proved very disastcrous. In
fact, II Is through these disasters
and tho enforced economy since
1876 that q better basis has been
reached. With tho exception Of n
class Of farmers which have set
tied In the northern portion Of tho
South Atlantic States, very few
planters have made money until
within the last two years. But the
turning point has really como, and
the result Of the last cotton crop
Is less debt than ever before. In
fact the year has proved that cot
ton can be raised proiitably in the
Southern States at present prices.
In proof Of this last statement,
one illustration Is as good as II
thousand. A friend who has Il
plantation In southwestern Gcor.
gia gives us the result Of his years
work. lie docs not live on or ncaI
his plantation, but runs II with M
ovcrsccr; Of course a very cxpen.
sivc and prodigal way. What New
England farm would pay expenses
were the owner TO live in Boston
and let his labor work II! Oul
Georgia friend says that the totaI
cotton crop he raised the last
season was l63 bales, weighing
when sold S2,175 pounds. lie SOLD
carly In the season, and therefore
did not got by llc. per pound what
he could have realized later. But
after paying all the expenses o.
sale, commission, ETC., the net pro
cccds Of his crop were S7,S2S 80
or about 0ac. per pound. The
total cash expenses for the year
Of every kind and description, in
cluding taxes, Ave hundred dol
lars for oycrscer's wages, labor
etc, amounted to $5ilS. To this
should be added 10 per cent. OF
two thousand dollars, the value o.
the mules employed on the planta
tion--as experience shows that pc,
ccntage about covers the wear
making the total cost Of the crol
@531S. This divided by pounds
sold gives 6.60c. as the actual cos
Of the cotton per pound, leavin,
the net profit 2.90c. per pound, ol
q total profit of $2,tl0 so. Hat
the crop been sold later the prof
would have been about $l00'
more.
To really appreciate these re
suits, we must remember that thi
plantation had a non-rcsidcn
owner, and was worked entirel,
by all ovcrseer who was paid $50
4 vcnr wnres. lind the owner liyet