The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
IS COTTON STILL KING?

COMPARATIVE RESULTS OF SLAVE AND FREE
THE COUNTRY LIEs-THE COTTON CROP on
THE woRLD-ITs COST AND USES
To EDITOR THE HERALD
In the year 1861 pamphlet written by tho
undersigned upon 'Cheap Cotton by Free Labor
In which attention called to the excessive cost
of slave labor and the economic failure OF the system
OF slavery An instructive chapter in our industrial
history might well be written at the present time
under the title of "Cheap Labor and Free Cotton"
1t will be more consistent with the space that tho
columns OF newspaper afford to submit state
ment OF facts and few questions
The crop of cotton of 1873 and 1879 was the largest
raised The ten crops of 1852 to 1861 inclusive
being the last crops raised by slave labor numbered
81 40 bales. The ten crops OF 1870 to 1879 incu
elusive. being the ten last crops raised by labor
numbered 41.454.743 bales. The excess of the ten
years OF free labor amounts to 6.459.3G3 bales The
value of the ten last crops. OF which about two
thirds have been exported, has been not less than
$4,000 100000. and has probably amounted to
$1,000 The increase is progressive. the ex
of the i've last crops the five crops i'm
mediateiy preceding the war has been 3.932.4l5
bales.
WHO RAISED THE CROPS?
1t was formerly alleged and currently believed
that the free negro would not and that tho white
man could not work in the cotton field. Who.
then. raised these last crops? II it is the negro
has done the most Of this work. then is he not the
financial power OF this land by whom specie pay
nent has been restored? The negro population OF
| the south, which may have diminished or kept
stationary In point OF numbers during the first few
years OF freedom, III which they adjusting
themselves to the care of their families now
rapidly Increasing. The improved methods of cul-
tivaon aud the use of various kinds manure have
caused the crop of cotton of the more northern
cotton States to mature about one month earlier.
have made it more capable of withstanding drought
and worms and have greatly improved Its quality.
| THE COST OF LABOR.
| II the cost of labor be measured by it's efIec.
tiveness as well as by the measure OF the money
with which it is paid is there any place in world
where effective an amount OF manual labor can %
procured ut little cost in the employ ment Of
negroes upon the cotton fields of the South? The
price of bacon and gauges the of cotton.
Eaten together they are digestble ana nutritious
eaten separately, quite otherwise. They constitute
the food that the negro field hand freely chooses
| Three and one-half pounds of bacon. one peck Of
meal and one quart OF molasses syrup constitute
the weeks ration of an adult man or woman. This
ration has been lately and can be supplied at q
cost OF thirty to forty-two cents per week.
cents or less per day. The plot or sweet pota-
toes and fish from the ponds and rivers for tho
rest
| The South then possesses the control of crop
which commands the gold of the world. and force
of laborers easily and effectively directed by
I those who manage them with justice and tact than
potent than the bayonets of the North the shot
| guns OF the South? Can States capable Of produce
ing this CROP which is now or is rapidly becoming
salable surplus permit their laborers to be abused
cheated? VIII not State presently find its
own interest in keeping the peace by it's own con-
stables assuring justice by its courts and pro-
noting economy and thrift by its own methods.
and will not such action compel neighborirg States
| to go and do likewise?
| THE WORLDS COTTON CROP.
The worlds crop of cotton is now equal to ten to
twelve million bales OF the weight of Amer
lean cotton. probably the latter. or this quantity
ve million bales raised in the United States and
between six and seven million bales spun aud
woven upon machinery contained i'll large factories
| in Europe and America. The rest is spun and
woven by hand, and there is probably larger por-
ton Of the population OF the globe still INSULT
GENTLY clothed in hand made goods than are
clothed i'll those furnished by the factories Of
! Europe and America combined The average work
| OF one operative working one year in Lowell will
supply the annual wants OF 1.600 fully clothed
| Chinese 5000 partly clothed East Indians. No
country in the world, except Egypt, produces any
substantial quantity of cotton we'll adapted TO
work upon modern machinery as that of the South
States. Nearly one-half the world romans to
conquered by cotton and commerce. To the cotton
fields and factories of the United States will not the
increase surely como slowly but surely
| opens the way'
| CAPABILITIES COUNTRY.
The whole cotton crop OF the world could be raised
on u section of Texas less than one-twelfth OF it's
area; could DO divided between any two of the
other principal cotton States without exhausting
onehalf their good lands. it could all be raised
| on less than one-half the Indian Territory that
| is not yet occupied at all. Are not these
| yield or by which they Will be destroyed?
Will not free labor and tho spelling book presently
bury tho misrepresentation of the 'ost cause" in
obscurity? Are not tho Southern leaders of the
these forces are in action and preparing to guido
them in the direction OF peace. order. stability and
prosperity? Are not these but examples of the great
underlying forces by which nations really gov
erned, to which ordinary men are blind. but by
means Of which statesmen rule and are ruled?
Z. A.