Cotton Supply, Demand, Etc. [pp. 562-571]

564 COTTON.
EXPENSES FOR SECOND YEAR.
Hire of fifteen hands.............................. $2,700 00
Blacksmith's bill.............. 75 00
Overseer..........................................1,000o 00
Bagging, and rope and freight...................... 225 00
Tax........................................... 750 00
Commissions and insurance......................... 216 00
Wear and tear, and repairs.......................... 100 00
5,766 00
Sale of 75 bales of cotton........................... 5,400 00
Debt of plantation................................. 366 00
Same result for 3d year............................ 366 00
Recapitulation-Debit of 1st year $5,801 50
do 2d do 366 00
do 3d do 366 00
$6,533 50
INVENTORY FOR GENERAL BALANCE.
Mules $2,400...................... $2,400 00
Plows, tools, &c. (less the wear,)..................... 352 00
Wagon and cart.................................. 250 00
Stock of cattle, &c................................... 500 00
Provisions which the plantation is supposed
to have made and to have on hand at the be ginning of the fourth year..................2,633 50
$6,135 50
Loss.................................... 398 00
$6,533 50
This apparent loss should be more than counterbalanced by
improvements, and enhanced value of land.
The amount of crop is rated low, in consideration that accidents
mnay occur, such as bad seasons, or wornms. But with a little good
luck a somewhat larger crop could be expected, which would depend
much upon good management and diligence.
2. Now let us suppose an owner of a small farm, making his own
provisions and support, out of a variety of products; and suppose
further that he has ready money to make advances for two laborers
more, his expenses would be:
For two laborers.......................................$360 00
Rope and bagging..................................... 25 00
Tax on ten bales of cotton............................ 100 00
Freight, commissions, and insurance................... 38 80
$623 80
Sale often bales................................$720 00
Balance in his favor...................................... 96 20
$720 00