The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-10-23

South Carolina Manufactures.
TAMossEE, PIoKENs DIST, s, G.,
October Is, 1867.
To Hiram MiRer, Esq, Ne,D York.
MY DEAR FRIEND: After travelling
through the Western and Northern
States, have been much struck
with the sad contrast presented by
the present condition of our beloved
South. Throughout the entire line
OF my travels, North and West, the
evidences of thrift, enterprise and
progress were everywhere discerni-
BILE. But here, where nature has
been 80 bountiful in her gifts, there
are constant evidences of decay and
dlscouragement, tending to utter
stagnation. It is not my purpose to
allude to the too we'll known causes
of this state of things, but to assure
you that I see the remedy. know
not how to impress my convictions
upon you in more forcible manner
than to relate to you few of the
facts and observations from which I
have drawn my conclusions.
In my travels through the upper
portion OF the State of South Caro-
lima, 1 visited small cotton factory,
about twelve miles from Greenviile
Court House, called Buena Vista. It
was worked by water power, and
employed about thirty operatives,
and, upon careful inquiry, I ascer-
tanned it was very successful enter
prise. Mr.. Lester, one of the pro-
prietors, informed me that during
the war they had worked two sets of
hands, running day and night; since
that time, they have doubled their
machinery, and that one of their
firm was then North, engaged in pro-
curing q still larger amount of ma
chinery. Mr.. Purifoy, the agsnt of
this factory, told me that they could
draw on New York for the full value
OF their yarns upon consignment,
being at oil times a cash article; and
that if they had the necessary amount
of capital, they could increase their
business an hundred fold; that labor
was abundant, the late war having
left the country filled with widows
and orphan children, to whom this
occupation was blessing, and almost
their only resort, next to working in
the open fields. Upon inquiry, Il
found that their wages was So per
week, and the agent informed me
that they expended nearly all their
pay in the factory's store. They fur
nished goods at such prices as made
their wages really nett them fifty
cents per day. This seems like very
poor pay; but, when compared with
the cost OF living here, is, I am sure,
fully equal to the pay of operatives
in the New England States.
There is another factory within q
few miles of said factory, where thew
weave their yarns into cloth, employ-
ing about sixty hands. This is also
in fiourishing condition; and. as
far as l can ascertain, most Of the
cotton factories in the State are doing
well-the one at Pendleton beine
about to double its machinery. From
these and similar facts, I have become
thoroughly convinced that if we Of
the South were but to devote tithe
Of our energy and capital to cotton
and other manufactures, that we
could, with the aid of our great natu-
raj advantages, ere long, wrest from
the New England States the palm of
manufacturing supremacy on this
continent, and render our people in
every way more independent and
happy. 1t is, indeed, strange that
our capitalists have been so long
indifferent to the great natural ad-
vantages we have over New England,
in this powerful, wealth producing
business.
Should it be asked in what do these
advantages consist, would reply:
1st. Is not the cotton grown at our
very doors? Would not all the ex-
penseo of transportation, commissions,
insurance, &C., be saved? "a very
handsome profit in itself.) Cd. Have
we nota market at home and in New