Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-20
THE SEMI.WEEKLY JOURNAL,
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20, 1852.
THO. J. WARREN. Editor.
True Independence.

True Independence.
The true policy of our State is to make all we can
out of our rcsourccs-tum every dollar Of available
capital into some useful and profitable enterprise
Within the borders of our State may be found large
quantities Of pine and other valuable tmbers, into
which the woodlands axe has scarce been put. What
valuable products these may bo madei and all that is
required to turn our intermnabc pine forests into rea
dy money is a little energy and some effort.
When we see fellow-citizen, or several Of our ct
zens uniting their efforts for the improvement of the
means which have been placed within their reach, we
obliged to admire to some extent at least the spirit
Of Improvement which is manifested by them. We
venture there no District in the State with greater
diversity Of sol-and consequently better adapted Tor
carrying on large lumber busness-than ours, and
yet how little arc the blessings priced which enjoy?
Until within year or two such thing as steam
mill was altogether unknown in our District and even
now we have only one in operation, and another near
ly ready to be worked The first belonging to the
Mcssrs. LOVE- has been in operation about two years:
the other in progress Of erection by the Mcssrs TRYoN
will be ready to saw before long. We are always glad
to see any kind of public spirit amoEg our citizens
Steam mills We believe have proved very profitable
in every section of the State and there
is no reason why they should prove otherwise with US
The great advantage they possess over other mills
is that they not dependant upon good head Of Wd
ter or rain for running they also be removed to
another locality when timber gets scarce and thus they
may be regarded very profitable. The time will come
when people will see where they have been in their
own light too long, by not giving greater attention to
such matters Our planters, particularly the largest
have been too much absorbed with the idea of making
tremendous cotton crops to the neglect OF other inter-
ests less prominent, but Of equal Importance There
is scarcely any business where man may not make as
much clear money with the same labor, as i'll that OF
raising cotton. 1t seems fatal error Of the cotton
growing States that each one engaged in the culture
of the staple tries to how much they can raise; IN
this way an overwhelming crop is commonly produced,
and the Northern and European markets are orersock
cd. They have the game then in their own hands,
and the producer at their mercy receives about enough
to pay expenses and perhaps little over We do not
expect every planter will quit making cotton and 60 to
making steam mills, and all that-somebody must raise
coton but why raise it to the exclusion OF other and
more valuable products? The idea we are afteris this:
Let our farmers look more to the substantial and Ger
tain products which are valuable in themselves and
good for use at home. Cotton is only good to SELL its
value to the Farmer is only where he can scllit We
believe there is too much ado made about coton-lct
our farmers make themselves as nature intended them,
happy by rcaping the fruit Of their labor in those things
intended for mans immediate use and comfort. Make
sure of an abundant provision CROP and let cotton come
in as a secondary consideration The past years eX-
pcrcnce Of all classes bears atestaon to justify what
we have said and yet, if cotton opens in the fall at
twelve or fifteen cents how many will regret that they
did not plant more, at the risk of paying one dol
lar per bushel for corn Such is human naturc SIp-
pose every planter this year. had planted as much cot
ton as usual and no more corn, what would become OF
us? We might entertain very srrious apprehcnsons
for the coming year. We hope the experience of the
past will suffice guide for the future. We believe
Dr. JOHNSON made the remark, that "Eyperence is the
best teacher and that some will learn by none other
The old gentleman might have added that some never
will learn even from this severe instructor