The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-12-15
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NUMBER n.

2 ''A ' S ''iS eS',i oeS' iutilltyy) Dy tne means
then IN use, over narrow and unimprovcd
roads, was attended by an expense off la-
Dor almost equal to its value, aud n loss, of
timc equal at least, to q voyage to Europe.
Inc growth OF cotton usurped its place,
and until within O few years, Charleston
was the only mart dfiid all must ref1aiT3Ii.
Der the time consumed, and the labor md
the money, then expended in its transpor.
tatlon from the interior. Now it finds d
market in Cheraw, Camden, Charleston,
ana Hamburg; and there, too, are re-
celved, in exchange, lie articles wanted
for domestic consumption, not grown or
manufactured in the State. And wbv is
thlsk Obviously because of the improve
ments of the navigation of the water
courses, imperfect as they are, opening
communication ol .tlt between these points and
inc great mart, wholly at the Common ex-
Pcnse, and more recently by the establish
ment OF the Charleston and Hamburg and
Columbia Rail Roads, ut the Joint expense
OF the State and individuals. There is.
perhaps, no means Of asccrtaining prc.
ciscIy what have been the savings, by
these means, in the transportation of pro-
oucc TO market; but it cannot admit of q
question, that Inns been saved in every ar
ticle transported, and that every man in
the State, who deals in these markets: and
who has purchased bushcl of salt or
pound of sugar, has proftcd by it. Push
these improvements further into the inte-
rlor-spread out their arms in sucl, man.
ner as to intercept the mountaineer in his
way to a market, and corresponding re-
suits must follow. These results point
mainly to the agricultural and commercial
interests Of the country. But other into
rests OF cqua! Importance are deeply in
volvcd.
1t Is known that nexhaustible mines Of
iron, mineral worth more than all Others
that have ever been extracted from the
bowels Of the earth, is found in the re.
glon bordering on the mountains-und SO,
too, OF marble and lime, the one useful in
the mechanic arts, and the other not only
necessary ingredient in architecture,
bnt powerful agent in the Improvement
OF our soil, and there they must remain
forever buried, or their benefits limited
10 n small territorial circle, uutil the fi,-
cilitles ei transportation shall enable those
disposed to dcvelcpe those great resources,
to to, send them abroad throughout the land.
he mum OF the spindle and the fitfui
movements Of the shuttle are beginning to
bo seen and heard in the various sections
y! OF the State; but, they will be seen and
heard no more, unless the facilities of
transportation are such as will enable
them to meet the importations from abroad
III common market, and We shall be left
to look abroad for manufactures of indis-
rensablc necessity. The want of the fa-
cllltles of transportation operates us q
chilling and blighting influence on that
portion of the State, by no means the least
Interesting and valuable. where cotton
cai,no! be proftably grown. The soil,
rich and Profuscly productive of oil the
ailments necessary to- tho, subsistence Of
animal life, the inhabitants are content
with their abusdance-the cost of trans
portaton Of any surplus to our cities and
seaboard where they would find market,
being nearly or quite equal to the market
vulllc-and that market is habitually sup
piled.
Quiet and secure from wars alarms
as we now feel, the time may come when
we shall be obliged to buckle on our ar
NOR to repel invasion Of quiet domestic
strife. How important is it, then, that We
should have facilities, which Rail Roads
only can furnish, of cmbodying our uni
ted strength within day or two at the
points where danger threatens.
There is another if not equally impor-
! tant consideration. Men cannot live on
patriotism alone, and however one may
love his country for its own sake, he will
seek that in which he can obtain the crca-
turc comforts at the least expense Of la
Dor and money; and it is to be expected,
indeed we know from our own experience
IN the immense migration of our citizen
to the west and south west some years ago,
they will seek donicil in those places
which afford greater facilities of COM
mcrce and trade. Georgia, independent
Of her facilities Of water Transportation, is
pushing with spirit and zeal becoming
her intelligence AMI enterprise, Railroads
into every portion of her Stnte, and it is
not even 10 be hoped that our citizens
who inhabit the interior, the most beauti-
ful and richest portion Of our State, will
iorcgo these advantages when they can
obtain them by crossing the Savannah ri
yer; and unless VIC furnish them our
State will be depopulatcd ought not
to speak of Georgia alone; most OF tho
nelghborlng States are great way in ad.
vance Of us in these improvements.
The social advantages resulting from
facilities of intcrconmunication, though
not less tangible, ought not to be overlook
ed. A common interest in the advance
mcnt OF literature and science, Of reli-
glon and morality pcrvadcs the whole
State. There ought, therefore, TO be q