The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-23

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try is controlled by rings, steam
boat rings, railroad rings, cotton
seed rings, cotton press rings, dray:
mans rings, aud commission merchants
rings, who figure how much the planter
can stand to a dot. While the planter Ia
figuring for the negro TO have bread and
meat, the commission merchant is figuring
with more eRrnestness how to keep the
planter in subjectiou. There is not crop
raised under the sun that would stand such
eXactueas as the cotton and sugar crops OF
the South. Ny opinion is that the negro has
the advantage in all the figuring, for he
does the work and must not be ecrowded too
much or business would come to stand
still.
Last winter read some letters published
in your paper from this country, making
comparisons OF the manner in which susl-
ne9s was done here and at the North, and
noting what large rates OF interest were
paid on capital to produces the cotton aud
sugar OF the Sonth. 1t Is the wonder OF the
world that a country that underwent such
radical change in all their institutions and
labor could In less than eighteen years &C.
complish so much, especially when We take
into consideration that almost all OF the
capital 10 produce these results had to be
obtained fom the North, and at u much
higher rate OF interest than prevailed
there. In round figures the Confederate
States lost in capital, counting the four
millions Of negroes set free, loss Of houses,
tenements, stock and deterioration Of the
value OF real estate caused by the war,
not less than one thousand millions oil dol
lars.
How THE SOUTH HAS RHCUPRRATRD.
Now think that in less than twenty years
this country has recuperated and now pro.
duces, as the figures will show on the first
day Of September next, tthe beginning Of
the fiscal year for this country that the
crop Of cotton alone produced for the year
ending Sept. /, 1888 will be seven millions
and fifty million dollars. Now take into
account the sugar, rice, tobacco, hay and
cereals produced in one dozen States OF the
late Confederacy, and the footing will
show favorabiy with the product in dollars
and cents, with any country in the world.
Still the inhabitants Of this section OF our
common country are frequently represent.
ed in Northern papers as wanting in
energy and enterprise
The city Of New Orleans, with popula-
ton OF 2l6,000, with banking capital OF
less than twice the amount OF the capital
OF your prosperous city Of Wheeling with a
population of not more than 85, COO, does a
commercial business, internal aud external,
Of value OF over $500,000,000 annually.
Capital comes here iron the North and
Europe to move the crop and for six months
in the year it either remains idle or is re-
turned TO the North. This il the cause Of
the eGorbitant rates charged by the mid
die men or commission merchants, who
make the country pay tribute to them.
Were 1t not for the occasional visits Of "yel-
low jack" New Orleans would be the
largest and best business city on this CONT,
lent, s.. "Ig' l...-.
Many Of the business men come here
from tho North and remain a portion OF
the year. The city is not benefited dol
lar; SO fur as its Improvement is concerned.
Every dollar they make instead OF being
invested here in enlarging and be4utiiying
the city, is sent north, east or west for in.
yestment and the improvement OF that sec-
ton.
could mention many names OF mer-
chants, cotton factors and sugar brokers,
who have made large fortunes in New Or
leans and sent every dollar for investment
to St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville and
Baltimore, while some have invested in
improved farms in Kentucky and
Missouri. Inc city Of New Orleans has
not hecn benefited dollar by their pre-.
aence, only 90 far as their board is con-
cerned, and the money expended for IN
occasional cigar. 1t might be said OF New
Orleans US was said OF one OF the old cities
OF the far east, that she will continue to
thrive and prosper Notwithstanding "law.
yers, highwaymen and commission mer-
ehsnls.N
Ccsr OF COTTON AND SUGAR PRODUCTION.
1t might be Interesting to soms ofyour
agricultural readers to know the cost OF the
production OF cotton and sugar, the yield
per acre, the amount OF seed per acre, sc.
On the river bottoms bale oil 500 pounds
10 a good crop. Occasionally thefe is
larger yield, The proportion OF seed to
lint is two to one-cr in other words it will
require on an average fifteen hundred
pounds OF cotton in the seed to make i've
hundred pound bale OF lint, thus leaving
one tnoussnp pounds or oneshalf o ton pf
seed for each acre cultivated. The crop OF
seven millions OF bales OF cotton would
produce about seventy million bushels OF
seed; weight Of seed 2S 10 so lbs per pnshel.
0i course some managers will cultivate and
gather cgop at less cost than others, hut
the average cost Of production at the pres-
ent rate Of labor, is from u to s cents per
pound.
In short, a plantation can produce one
bales OF cotton OF an average OF
400 pounds, say for from twenty.eight to
thirty thousand dollars. This includes
merchants charges, interest on
and all cost. Cotton will more
than probably start OF in price this year
at about ten cents per pound for low mid
ding, Thirty years ago whep the crop
was only about three millions OF bales the
price was aB low as six and seven cents.
But then with negro men selling at five
hundred dollars, women ut three hundred,
mules at from S45 TO $G5 per head, plows
from So so TO $500, mess pork at from at
IS 10 SO per hundred, the production did
not cost so much. II is evident that the
OF cotton has increased more
rapidly than the production. New
With seven millions oibaes produced the
price is some three cents per pound better
.han when the crop only amounted to three
millions Of bales.
rho augar crop is an expensive one and
only large capitalists can handle 1t sue
The yield last year was from
one to three hogsheads per acre. A hogs
head Of 1900 pounds per acre is a moderate
crop. The vacuum pans, contriiugals and
in short all the machinery necessary to the
production Of refined sugar, is very ex-
pensiye. When The crop Is spccesa the
returns are great, some sugar estates hav.
Ing princely incomes. For instance the
a 4 =.