Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-26

! ~ LIlOSO lOLS olCp "a oSHOSS WI
rect, nigh. we'll ask if any one could be
induced TO break up here and emigrate to
the West for such a prospect Of oettering
his fortu les 7 1t may be said that if the
value Of hand is, by the simple fact, of re.
moval to the West, enhanced 25 per cent,
tits not proper 10 charge that enhanced value
to the aggregate Of capital there, and re-
quire interest on it, when compared with
capital here. When planter remains here
aad expends here the produce Of his capital
there, it would appear as though there W re
some reason IN the objection. grant that
if an owner can remain stationary, and by
simply removing his capital, can increase
it largely and make it produce as safely and
as certainly there the same interest upon
its increased tha, it did here on its original
value, he would be a gamer. But there
are many difficulties in the way of this view
ofthe matter. First, The expense Of getting
the capital there. Secondly, the large ex.
pendture in provisions, mules and Utensils,
necessary to put his plantation in operation
all of which | have embraced under the
head of annual expenses, and not added to
the capital by my calculation above. Third.
ly, the great loss Of time that must occur
before land can be opened so as 10 make
full crop, even when fair settlement has
been purchased in tine first instance and
fourthIy, the great risk. not only in remov.
ing, but in keeping negroes in cline no:
toriously uniavorable to their health, and
where the mortality among them exceeds
what it is with US, probably the ful! amount
of rs per cent. These difficulties are great
drawbacks on the gain by the mere trans.
fer of property, and think would entile me
to pass over that point altogether; but let
me add that shall by no mt ans allow nett
profit of $l65 per hand for an average OF
years at IL cts. for cotton to planter resi-.
ding here, and trusting his hand to mere
overseers in The west. Iwould neither give
them 1000 lbs. ear, nor would | pay their
expenses for S75 per annum. In short, l
believe all will agree with me, that the idea
ofliying here and planting there with no
other dependence than hirellng manager,
is perfect fall,cy. 1.-THE planter removes
with his hands, then the true measure OF his
profits is the rate Of interest they produce
him on his capita! estimated at its value
there, where its proceeds are to be lad out
| either in increasing his property or admins
tering to his comforts. And here let me
say, that the increase Of one half OF one per
cent. will bear no proportion to the increase
| Of his family expenditures, and that with
even a plantation of fifty hands. his addi.
tional income of $3.50, or at most 1878,
will fall short of his additional wants. Not
| only will he find every thing much dearer'
but the style ofliving, SO far as mere show
and style are concerned, is far above ours.
There is another drawback that have not
estimated, which subtracts largely from the
profits of the Western planter. | allude to
the Inconvenience and heavy expense o.
getting his produce TO market, and the en-
ormous charges Of all kinds upon it. This
is heavy ltem--but one which | admit Is
disappearing with the advance OF improve.
ments--at least so far as the facilities oi
getting to market are concerned, but not, |
believe, as regards The charges IN the n ark.
ct,
In answer to all this, however, We are
pointed to persons who are said to have
made immense fortunes by emigratIng to
the West. How easy it would be to point
in reply to the numbers who have done the
same by remaining here? But have these
fortunes been made by planting alone2 In
few or no instances think may freely say,
almost all the nabobs of the West have dip.
ped into land specula,ions, stock.jobbed'
or shaved paper. A more searching CUES
ton, perhaps, would be,--Havo these for.
tunes been really made at all Or do they
exis, only in imagination, or at least on
paper? Is the money realized I Is il
safely locked up in the Sub.,reasury--
even in bank bills, bad as they are in
the West? Or is it still afloat in the
| credit currency of other shavers, jobbers
and speculators like themselves. There
are few, / fear, who would like 10 give
sincere answer to this question.
In short, Mr.. Editor, every thing consid'
cred, | canno: but regard the whole scheme
Of Western fortune.hunting as a splendid
de|usion, and | trust that may have con-
vinced some others Of the same opinion
| Many worthy and industrious citizen en-
igra,es thuher, encounters all the dangers
and difficulties of the pioneer, fells the tor
es;s, opens the fields. t:ls the rich soil viii
unwearied care, and sends its ample product:
TO the markets. Ills fortune grows apace
yet, looking around and comparing him
self with others, he does not find that he
approaches that immense wealth which ne
anticipated when he left home, friends ano
The charms of civil zation for the western
wids. Nay, returning to his native coun' %
try, he finds many who have increased the''
stores as rapidly as himself, and some ever
| -, ,,,,etrinned him in the