The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-03-23
OUR GREAT STAPLE.
The Future OF Cotton Production I'm the
United States.

Emitted States.
The idea has been very prevalent that
the production of American cotton was
on too large scale, that the market was
! glutted to such an extent that prices
which would remunerate the planter
were not Obtainable, and the southern
press have almost unanimously taken up
the cry, put in more grain, raise your
own supplies, more food crops and less
cotton" and this has not been entirely
without benefit to those for whose advan-
tage the cry was raised, as it has induced
thousands to grow their own breadstuffs
and raise their own meat, who formerly
gave their undivided attention to the
cotton crop alone. But it has not had
the effect of diminishing the production
of the staple; on the other hand it has a
tendency TO increase it, as the more self
supporting the planter becomes as re-
CARDS the supplies necessary for his daily
wants, and the feed required for his teams
and stock, the less money he has to pay
out to the provision merchant and the
more he is able to devote to the i'm
proved cultivation OF such land as is al
ready under crops, to the breaking up of
new ground, and bringing it into state
of cultivation, thus increasing his pro-
ductive area.
That the excess of supply over demand
tends to the reduction of prices below a
profitable figure is undoubtedly true, but
that this excess exists or is likely to exist,
we vcrv much question, and the problem
naturally arises, how much American cot
ton is demanded by the wants of the
world How much can the world ttke
before prices fall below the mark at which
they Weld fair profit to the producer.
Our largest crop on record was that of
1S59-60, but there was a demand for
every bale of it, and it was sold at re-
munerative prices.
Since the war we have averaged large
crops, and for the past three years the
average production has exceeded 1000
900 bales, still the planter has been en-
abled to realize such prices as have
compensated him for his labor. In re-
viewing this question, we must of course
take into consideration the increased
population of the countries using our
cotton, also the large consumption
in our own country, and if in 1860, it re-
quired,-a crop of over 4, 4,500,0 900 to supply
the wants of the world, and the CON
sumption per capita is estimated as on
the same ratio, then We find that some
6 900, 900 of bales would not be too much |
to produce, and realize a profit upon.
There seems to be not the slightest oc- |
casion for us to be frightened that the |
crops in the future will be too large, as |
the consumption is yearly increasing, |
and the time is probably not SO far dis J
tant as may at first sight be supposed, |
when crop of 5,000,0 900 bales of Amer |
lean cotton will be regarded as compare
tive scarcity.
We need not be alarmed, then, when |
we read from day to day of the increased
area which is being put under cotton
wear by year, for we may confidently look |
for the demand to keep pace with |
the supply. We must, however, take |
advantage of all the facilities we pos
sess, and find really profitable market |
for our production, and abolish as i
soon as possible the present anomalous
state of things. Why should our cot
ton have to be sent from the Clubhouse
to the coast, and thence across the At
lantic to be manufactured, and the i'm
ported as fabrics for the consumption of
the very people who have grown the raw
All this transportation, OF
course, entails expense and adds very |
to the price of the manuiac-
luGeu aTllclSJ anu suiclS tueIc - HO dD-
solute necessity for continuance of this
system. That we can manufacture as
well as Manchester is satisfactorily |
proved by the great popularity of our
fabrics. both in the European and eastern
and, in addition to the saving
in freight charges, We have a very de-
cided advantage in or magnificent water
power facilities over Manchester, where
fln-r baua n fsa afaau1 pnVar Of a |
Areatly increased cost, 80 that we ought