Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-03-03
From the Montgomery Mail.
Gnrn-Rnh Prntnnnts AhnnL


There was never time in our knowledge
when the future was more gloomy in regard to
a suiliciency of brcadstuffs. Already, from
Texas to North Carolina corn is ranging from
$l.25 to $500 per bushcl The wheat crop
of Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia and Ala
bama, is absolutely destroyed and the chance
for oats is slim.
What will be the rcsulto this condition of
things? Why, midsummer corn will be at
an average of $500 per bushel, and in many
parts there will be actual suffering from a
scarcity of bread. At 200 per bushcl even,
u prosperous workman cannot feed and clothc
a family of children But what next? The
present scarcity will turn the whole country
IN on the new corn crop III Scptcmbcr, be-
fore 1T hardens, and whatevor it may be, it
will be diminished one quarter by this early
DESTRUCTION But that is not the worst vet;
for the cotton mania is so prevalent that
short crop of corn will be planted this year;
and a short crop, early attacked, without aid
from wheat or oats, speedily be so diminished
as to make prices intolcrabe. Then add to
this che fact that the oyerplanting of cotton
(we shall make 4,600,000 bales this season,
weather prove favonble,) will reduce the price
of the staple down to about 8 cents Put
cotton at 8 cents and corn at $500 together
and what do they mean but the hardest, the
most doletul times to all who labor for subsis-
tcnce? But is it a true picture Let any
farmer ask himself If the facts are not true.
and if the results We anticipate are not incv-
liable
The scarcity of corn and other grain will of
course be accompanied by a scarcity and hiph
price OF pork. Truly, the contemplation is
dcplorablc, but our farmers and planters will
not allow themselves to be diverted from the
making of cotton, though it is now falling,
under the influence of over supply Next
year it will be far worse--no price for cotton,
and corn scarce and high We predict now,
that if our planters fai' to plant largely of
corn this year, there v Il be more pccuniary
embarrassment by January 1851, than this
country has known since 1887. There is only
ono course of safety and that lies in small
cotton fields and big cornfclds Will not
some of our intelligent planters who can see
through the next six months, endeavor to en-
tighten theirncighbors as to this cotton nsan-
lty? 1t is of vast importance to the coun-
try, that it should be done forthwith The
month of March will determine whether or
not next year shall be one of prosperity or
one of universal agricultural depression and
disaster.
1t is useless to think of the present or the
past prices of cotton being sustaito1. BY
April next, good middlings will probably be
down to cents. The Increased breadth of
land, for the next crop will insure 20 per cent.
increase of production, with an ordinarily ia
yorable season. How can prices range above
IS(1 10 cents with nearly five million crop ?
| In conclusion let us say to the planters,
there is no question now of so pressing an i'm
portance as the corn question. Those who
I shall have TO topurchase for their negroes and
stock, next year, will have to be very stout,
or they will go under There is barely time
yet to adopt q wise policy, IN distributing the
crops of the season. We devoutly trust that
the planters of Montgomery county, at least,
will protect themselves and this community
from the disasters which are ahead.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1S60.-As YOU
have, no doubt, before this received a full ac.
count Of the proceedings on tho Inauguration
l,of tho Washington statue, ksball therefore
not enlarge upon it., 1t was certainly great
demonstration, among tho military, the Sc.
I vcnth Regiment, from New York, amounting
to $50 men, was the observed of all observers
South Carolina had very important part in
the programme-~-the artist, Mr., Mills, halls
from CHS State, and Senator Hammond, as
4 Chairman of the Senate Committee, Mr.. il, VI.
keitt Chairman of the House Committee
had the general direction of affairs under theiil
charge, and their united efforts gave entire