Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-04-21
From the Charleston Mercury.
TRADE AND PROSPECTS OF
n II N(NM

SSs.ss.,-. From the ChQrLeSt0H MeTCW g. -
TRADE AND PROSPECTS OF
CHARLESTON.
~ ~ For the last three years the Trade ol
Charleston has been gradually improving
and within the past twelve months IL mas
increased TO au almost unprecedented ex-
tent. More goods have been sold The pre-,
sent season than any other since 1889, and
with this remarkable difference in the rel
alive pesiods. 10 1889 there was an in
aated currency, aud reckless abuse oil
the credit system; whereas the state ol
things at present is just the reverse. A
more sound and wholesome condition Of
affairs has not existed, within The history
ofihe country, than now prevails. :.
To what, then, il may well be inquired,
are we 10 ascribe the increased trade TO
.Swhich we have referred A good crop has
something TO do with il; The sound con
dillon Of line Southern country has also
much IL, do with it; butlhe two leading
causes Of our prosperity, both presentand
prospective, are 6tsl, the. extended field OF
our operations produced by the Railroads;
aud, second, Ille influence Of Free Trade.
The extension Of Railroads, together with
the modification Of tile Corn Laws in En-.
2Iand, has done more for the Soutti and
sANesiihans all other causes combined iot
the lastifly wears. 5 A few facts 8iiI illus
III ESQ posisfuiis.
Twelve years ago The trade of haries;
ION was confined almost excllsIseiy 70
South Carolina, the western couhties OF
North Carolina, and the old 5couatles OF
Georgia. No business was then transact
cd with the country beyond the Oekmul.
gee river. and the merchants from Alaba-
ma and Tennessee were rarely heard OF
in our city. 10 1869 The area Of trade
was. litile increased, and extended over
the Cha,ahdochie, and some business was
done with Chambers county, aud two or
Three other counties in Alabama, border
rug on the State of Georgia. o. -.
Kowis NOW? Charleston does as much
business with Alabama now,, as she did
with Georgia ten or twelve years ago |;
S aud il is believed there are nearly, if not
quite, as many goods now sold 10 Tennes
see merchants as in South Carolina itself !:
and:no city can desire a'beler or sounder
trade than that of Tennessee IN atl res
pects.
Let any person pass along lIayne-stree,
aud observe the various addresses on the
boxes and packages turned out. and he
will see what widely extended area is
supplied with goods from our city. He
will see there boxes marked for Gun,er's
= Landing. Decatur and Tuscumbia, De-
InopoIis, Pickens c Counly, and other places
in the interior and very western verge OF
s Alabama;s Holly Springs, Pontotoc, and
/ various other places in Mississippi; aud all
East Tennessee, 10 The borders OF Virginia
and West, as far as Memphis, and Mills
Point, on the Mississippi River. Lel,he
| Atlantic; and Western Railroad be pushed
on, FIRST 10 tue Tennessee River, then 10
Nashville; and the Monroe and Macon
Ro.I be extended on to Columbus; both
of which have necessarily 10 be completed
and the trade of Charleston will embrace
all, Tennessee and Alabama. q! large por-
q lion of Mississippi aud Kentucky; while
onthe other hand, when the Railroad
from Camden to Charlotte is completed,
twill. ll.secure aHot North Carolina.
The operations Of Free Trade comes in
10 finish and perfect what Railroads and
other causes have so happily commenced:
Itgives enhanced value TO allrthe asricul-
turaI products Of the rich andferhe regions
] ofthe South and West. which before were
{ almost uselessto the producer. Look AT
the extent of the Corn trade of Charleston
during the present season, "a trade hereto
fore almost unknown,l and which but For
3 the questionable policy Of the Railroads,
in raising the freights. would have beeu
largely increased. Let but a judicous and
& liberal policy be pursued by the Railroad
companies, in providing ample meaas CT
transportation, and adjusting the freighls
at the lowest scale;compatible ~ith the
expense Transportation, and Charleston
will soon be among The great provision
markets Of ,he Union. The amounts OF
Corn, Wheal, Pork, Beef aud olher pro-
ducts Of the fertile Yves, and Sputbwest,
would soon soon make our city the resort
OF foreign commerce. The articles ol
foreigH merchandise received,in exchange
would enable our merchants TO- otter an
abundance aud variety tosthe country
trader; and The ,ireis hts upon The increased
transportation would amply repay III The