The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-25
Cotton is Still King.

Mr.. Edward Atkinson in a letter to
The New York Tiibunc ably discusses
tho future ofthc cotton growing sec
ton the United States. In 1861 lie
wrote a pamphlet upon "Chcap cot
ton by free labor" in which he MAIN
tanned the cXprnsivcncss of slayc
labor. After thirteen wears rcalila-
ton ofhis dream he argurs that H. s
former position is fully sustained by
facts. For the bcncG, of our readers
we quote his interesting facts and de-
ductions. lie says:
The crop of cotton Of 1876 and 1879
was the largest ever raised. The ten
crops of 1892 to 1861, inclusive, being
tho last crops raised by slave labor,
numbered 81 ,993,4t bales. The ten
crops of 1870 to 1879, inclusive, being
tho ten last crops raised by free labor,
numbered II ,I5l,7I bales. The cx-
cess Of the ten years Of free labor
amounts to 6,42G,303 bales. The value
OF the ton last crops, Of which about
two"thirds hayo been exported, has
been not less than s., 800, 900, 900, and
has probably amounted to So, 3,OOO, ,UOO,-
600. Th> increase i progressive; the
excess Of the five last crops over the
five CROPS immediately proceeding the
war has been $685., ,ll5 bales.
1t was formerly alleged and current
iy believed that the free negro would
not and the white men could not work
in the cotton field. Who, then, raised
these last crops? If it is the ncwro
who has done the most Of this work
then is he not tho financial power of
this land by whom specie payment
has been restored? The negro popu-
lntion of the South, which may have
diminished or kept stationary in point
OF numbers during tho first few years
OF freedom, in which they were ad.
lusting themselves to the care of their
own families, is now raiiuly incrcas.
ing. The improved methods Of cult.
vation and the use Of various kinds OF
manure have caused the crop of cot.
ton OF the more northern cotton States
to mature about one month earlier
have made IL more capable Of with.
standing drought and worms, and
have greatly improved its quality.
If the cost Of 'Db0r be measured by
its effectiveness rs well as bv the
measure of the money with which il
was paid is there anv place in the
world where so effective un amount ot
manual labor can be procured at So
little cost as in tho emplovment OF
negroes upon the cotton fields of tho
South The price of bacon and corn
gauges the cost Of cotton. Eaten TO-
Gcthcr they arc digcstiblc and nutri.
tlous--caten separately quite other
wise. lhcy constitute the food that
the negro field hand freely chooses
Three and onc~half pounds Of bacon
one peck Of meal, and one quart o
moiasSes or syrup constitute the weeks
lationS OF an adult man or u woman
This ration has been lately and car
now be supplied at cost OF 81 and 4:
cents per week, or six cents or less
per day. The plot Of sweet potatoes
ana fish from The ponds and rivers
! serve for the resi-.
The South then possesses tho con.
troll Of crop which commands thc
gold Of the world aud force Of labor.
ers more easily and effectively direct.
ca by those who manage them with
justice and tact than can be found
elsewhere. Are not these forces moro
potent than the blyoncts of the Nortl
or tho shotguns Of tho South? Can
States capable of producing this crop
which is now so rapidly becoming
saieablc surplus, permit their laborcrs
to be abused or cheated? VIII n0I
ono State presently find It's own inter.
! est IN keeping the peace by its ow,
4 constablcs. assuring justice by lis
own courts, and promoting economy