The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-27
Letters from the Country.
WEST POINT, GEO., August 23, /

Mr.. Editor:-The prospects of trade from the
northern part Of this State with our city, are Hat
terinc, and if our merchants, factors and bankers
do their share in providing facilities cotton will
20 to Charleston from all places their lines OF
Railroad. It will not do to send out prices cur
rents and caryls-but there must be actual con-
tact, man with man. The country merchant
wants to see the city merchant and factor, and one
such interview is worth dozen visits from
subordinate. Rome, Gainesville, Marietta New
nan, Granville, Augusta and West Point, all will
be filled with cotton, and are scant OF goods. lt
is as natural for this part OF Georgia to trade
with Charleston, as it is with Savannah or Au-
rusta. And from the former city q vast amount
of merchandise ought to be supplied to these places
os well as to many other towns. 1t ID amusing
to see how the intelligent merchants regard the
efforts made by New York houses to procure buy
ers through "prices currents and "circulers."
For instance, the other day met resident
merchant of one of the towns have mentioned,
and he laughed heartily at a "circular he had
lust received from !" Cotton House" in New York.
This 8: circular" undertook to tell him and the
South, generally, chow the negroes we're work.
ing" how much rain had fallen, and how the cot
ton was affected by it, what the effect OF guano
was on corn and cotton, &C., and gave quotations
of prices for week past, the writer forgetting
that the telegraph wire carries to every Southern
merchant who deals in cotton, the prices at
Liverpool, New York, Charleston, Savannah, &C.,
of tho day before. Within twenty-four hours cvery
one is posted of any change in any market in the
world.
Let me once more recur to tho subject OF Ran
roads for the purpose Of urging on our citizens,
tbe proiect of the AIilen and Salkahatchie Rail-
road. Gentlemen, one and all just spread Q map
of Georgia before you and examine it as pro-
coed. o. line drawn from Newman to Griffin forms,
with the Railroads leading to Atlanta from those
towns, a triangle. Around that triangle up to
Atlanta, all the cotton and merchandise, fromiof
to, West Point Lagrange, Newman and the interme-
date points, must pass at presopt. But Railroad
is now being built from Newman to Griffin, which
saves farty-seyen miles and turns all this trade
| perhaps toward Savannah. Now look at the map
and sec how the road from Augusta to Columbia
cuts across your line of trade, and opening short
route to the great Northern CITES from the taf
South. 1 would not oppose the building OF that
road or any other. 1t is not our policy so to 40,
There are only two things required to build any
where railroad. First, the demand OF the peo'
pie, ami, second, their ability to pay for it, The
Columbia and Augusta Bead ought to be built and
will be. But what should we OF Charleston do
Look once moro at your map; glance Your eye
from Pocotaligo to Nillcn, space OF sixty miles
close that by rail-aDd thence your eye rum
along over nearly straight nS OF railroad TO TINT
Mississippi, and even beyond. You have Amos
| nm air line to Macon, Columbus and Vicksburg
making the shortest possible route from New Or
leans to New York, and opening np vast countr.
to the trade OF Charleston-a country destined tt
be the very garden ef the South. Is there moi
energy enough in the old city 70 take hold OF tins
work ? 81 200. QUO would build and equip the road
which, when completed, would increase our busi
ness one hundred per cent. If that road was nov
buit am sure there would be sent over 1t this sea
| son 200 900 bales of cotton. This Is no exaSgera
ton. Georgia and AlatasE8 are full OF Cotton
Good Judges arc placing the crop Of Georgia
alone, at 65O,OOO bales; and in few years e'i
State, under the improved husbandry Whlcn
being introduced, and about which have some
thing to say by and by will produce R'llilon AM
half bales of cotton, and provisions enough
feed her people besides. Looking at the rallroa
routes as now completed, and as suggested al!
surveyed, am painfully convinced that fhe ous'
. ness salvation Of Charleston depends upon the IN
, mediate building or the Salkahatehie ana Mile
Road II we do not build tins road, there mus
be, by and by, road built from Millcn tG Erailcn
vile, and then farewell long farewell" to oil I'll
commercial prosperity of our good old, but sorel
ofBictod CITY A. B. G.