The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-10-30
Our Manufacturing Facilities.


"Undcr this caption" says the Charles
ton Courier, eve publish al exceedingly
interesting letter from Mr.. Charles IL
Fonde, of Mobile, TO Mr.. Hiram Miller
Of New York. in reference TO the advan-
ta@cs possessed by the South, and more
especially this State, for the manufacture
of cotton. We direct to it the thought
ful attention OF our readers. Never has
there been II time in the history OF our
afflicted laud when q greater necessity
existed for opening new, and enlargnS
old fields OF enterprise. Cotton, facetious-
" but appropriately designated, the gay
dccciver,' promises in It's mere produc-
tion but IL poor support for the CONNER
cial needs of the State, and unless we can
employ the abundant facilities for Its
manipulation. which nature has generous
)y placed ut our disposal. it may be requl-
site, before many years to abandon It's
sovereignty" and use the ploushsharc
exclusively for the increase OF cereal
crops. 1t some Of the capita now flood
ing tho North could be brought to our
aid, from mountain to scaboard the air
would be made merry with the hum OF
the spindle and loom, and prosperity
abound in the State Energy, intcili-
gcrce and perseverance, alone can accom-
nish this result, and we hope that these
clements q; success will be enlisted at no
distant day"
The letter referred to appeared orgi-
nally in the Pickens Courier, and is as fol-
lows.
TAMossEE, PlcKENs DISTRICT, S. c.
To Hiram .Hilcr Esq, -New York.
DEAR FRIEND: Alter travelling much
through the Western and Northern States
| have been much struck with the sad
contrast presented by the present condi-
ton ct our beloved South. Throughout
the entire line of my travels North and
West, the evidences OF thrift, enterprise
and progress We're everywhere discer"a-
bic But here, where nature has been so
hountilul in her gifts, there are constant
evidences of decay and encouragement
tending to utter stagnatlon. 1t Is not
my purpose to alIudc to the too we'll
known causes of this state OF things, but
to assure YOU that | see the remedy. /
know not how to impress my convictions
upon you in Il more lorciblc manner tlian
10 relate to you few OF The facts and OBJ
SrrvalonS from which | have drawn my
conclusions
In my travels through the upper por-
ton of the State OF South Carolina,
visited small cotton factory. about
twelve miles from Grccnvillc G. H.. called
Bucna Vista it Was worked by water
power, and employed about thirty opera
tivcs. aud upon careful enquiry. | asccr-
tainrd It waS Il very successful enterprise
AIR. Lester. one OF the proprictors, III
formed me that during the war they had
worked two sets of hands, running day
aud night since that time they have dou-
blrd their machinery. and that one Of
their iirm WAS then North. engaged IN
procuring still larger amonnt of ma-
chincrv Mr. Puritoy, the agent OF this
factory, told me that they cuald draw ON
New York for the fall value OF llcii.Nvaln>
upou con>iSnmcnt being at all times Il
cash article and that if lhcv had the ne
ccs>ary amount OF capital, they could IN
crease their business an hundred told (;
that labor WAS abundant, the late WAL.
having LETT the country filled with widows
pation WAS Il blessing. and almost their
only resort. next to working in the open
fields. Upon enquiry, found that their
wages was 81 per week, and the agent
informed ne that they expended nearly
all their pay in the factory store. They
furnished goods at suc! prices as made
their wages really nett them fifty cents
per day. This seems like very poor pay,
but when compared with the cost oi liv
ing here is, am sure, fully equal to the
pay of operatives in the New England
States.
There is another factory within !. few
miles of said factory, where they weave
their yarns into cloth, employing about
sixty hands; this is also in q houri>hiny
condition. And us far as | can asccrlain.
most of the Cotton Factories in the State
are doin. well. the one ut Pcndlcton be-
ing about to double it's machinery From
these and similar facts, have become
thoroughly convinced that if we of the
South were but to devote Il tithc OF our
energy and capital to cotton and other
manufactures, that we could, with the aid
of our natural advantages ere long wrcs!
from the New England States the palm
of manufacturing supremacy on this con-
tincnt; and renrcr cur people in every
way more independent and happy. 1t is
indeed strange that our capitalists have
been SO long Indifferent TO the great nat
ur,l advantages we have over New Eng
land in this powerful wcallh-producin-c
business
Should it be asked in what do these adj
vantaycs consist, would rcly-lst Is
not the cotton grown at our very doors
would not all the expense of transportn-
ton, commissions, inSuranccs, &c, be
saved? (a very handsome profit in itself
ID Have we not Il market ut home, and
in New OrIcalls, which could be supplied