翻刻
壱貫目に付壱分六厘余引候得者七分之価に而も弐割
弐三歩運送之費忽五分七厘程に相付余品と違別而
運送を相厭候義に御坐候
一前顕之懸里往来程近き水車相用可申場所も相見候に付
其ケ所〳〵に而取行候得者運送に費を除且小集商人も
元手薄者共故一荷集候得者担送り申懸に付右弁利も
相兼自然実価相増可申糸機に相携候もの共
中分已下之小百姓第一田畠扣無御坐者又者老幼
病者之類農稼相調不申分専手織仕日々口過をも
調兼候稼に付聊之実価にも相拘申義細ケ布訳合は
先達而申上候様懸に御坐候故小民難渋人江引合私共思慮
右に相准し市中引請一手稼之義煩布奉存候義に御坐候
一御国中之綿実之員数聢と目当無御坐水車数に相成
稼不足仕候而は其詮無之義故去る子年人数御改之
数ゟ積合候所別帋書付之通凡五拾万貫目之積
慥に相見候に付五ケ処に相成候得者壱ケ所拾万貫目之稼に
相当候得者先御試之義故水車ケ所少被仰付候義者
如何分共御堅慮被為在被下度何れ壱ケ所に相約候而は
綿実稼残候姿に而絞残之分運送費而已無御坐尚又
直段景気を落可申乍併
現代語訳
一貫目につき一分六厘余を引きますと、七分の価格でも二割二、三歩の運送費がたちまち五分七厘程につき、余品と違って別段運送を嫌がることでございます。
一つ、前に述べました懸かり里程近い水車を相用いるべき場所も見当たりますにつき、その箇所々々にて取り行いますれば、運送に費用を除き、かつ小集商人も元手薄い者共故、一荷集まりますと担ぎ送り申す懸かりにつき、右の弁利も相兼ね、自然実価相増すべき糸機に相携わる者共、中分以下の小百姓第一、田畠控えございません者、また老幼病者の類で農稼ぎ相調わない分は、専ら手織りをして日々口過ぎをも調え兼ねる稼ぎにつき、聊かの実価にも相拘わり申す義、細かな布の訳合いは先達て申し上げました様な懸かりでございます故、小民難渋の人への引き合い、私共思慮右に相準じ、市中引き請け一手稼ぎの義、煩わしく存じ奉る義でございます。
一つ、御国中の綿実の員数、しっかりとした目当てがございません。水車数に相成り稼ぎ不足いたしましては、その詮無き義故、去る子年人数御改めの数より積み合わせました所、別紙書付の通り凡そ五十万貫目の積もり確かに見えますにつき、五箇処に相成りますれば、一箇所十万貫目の稼ぎに相当しますれば、先ず御試しの義故、水車箇所少なくお申し付けになる義は、いかが分からぬとも御堅慮をなされ下さいませ。何れ一箇所に相約しましては、綿実稼ぎ残る姿にて、絞り残しの分、運送費のみでございません。なお又直段景気を落とすべきでございます。しかしながら
英語訳
When deducting 1 bu and 6+ rin per kan, even at a price of 7 bu, transportation costs of 20-23% immediately amount to about 5 bu 7 rin, making transportation particularly burdensome compared to other goods.
Regarding the previously mentioned locations where water mills could be used at nearby accessible distances, if operations were conducted at each of those locations, transportation costs would be eliminated. Moreover, since small-scale merchants have limited capital, when they gather one load, they must carry and transport it themselves, which combines with the above convenience and would naturally increase seed prices. Those involved in spinning machines, small farmers of middle-class and below status who primarily lack rice fields and dry fields, as well as elderly, young, and sick people who cannot manage agricultural work, rely exclusively on hand-weaving for their daily livelihood, which they can barely maintain. Even small fluctuations in seed prices affect them significantly. The detailed breakdown of fine cloth production involves the same calculations I reported earlier. Considering the circumstances of these struggling common people, we believe it would be troublesome to have urban areas undertake monopolistic operations.
Regarding the total quantity of cotton seeds in our domain, there is no reliable estimate. If water mill operations become insufficient due to inadequate numbers, this would be pointless. Based on population surveys from the recent Year of the Rat, as shown in the separate written statement, approximately 500,000 kan appears certain. If divided among five locations, each location would handle 100,000 kan of processing. Since this is initially a trial, we humbly request your careful consideration regarding appointing too few water mill locations. If concentrated in just one location, cotton seed processing would remain incomplete, and beyond just transportation costs for unprocessed portions, market prices and conditions would decline. Nevertheless,