The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-04-22
THE FUTURE OF CHARLESTON.

At the annual dinner of the Board of Trade on
Wednesday evening" says the Charleston Neps, the
following letter was read from Gen. ]. w. Harrison,
one of the most energetic, ar-sceing and patriotic
of the public men of our State:
ANDERSON, April 13. 1868.
Gentlemen: regret that my engagements will
not permit me 10 be present at your anniversary
on the 5th inst. The prosperity of the City OF
Charleston is so intimately connected with that OF
the whole State that every association 10 promote
her prosperity should command the sympathy and
encouragement of every citizen. It's melan-
choly reflection that the people Of South Carolina
seem to have lost, in some degree. their ancient
and honorable pride in The beauty, growth and
weal h Of Charleston. II is great misconccptOn
10 suppose that the people, as individuals or COM
munites can be prosperous, whilst our own prn-
cipal cities are nnguishng and decayng. In pro-
portion as these cities increase in population, in
wealth and commerce, so will the advantages re
sulting from this be reflected back upon The whole
people.
The enhanced value of property md extended
commerce will enlarge the revenues Of the cities
and the State, and thus the general taxation will
bo lighfened, aud each tux payer receive proper
tionate benefit.
Again, there scems to be settled conviction
upon the part of our country merchants that they
cannot purchase their stocks anywhere so cheaply
as in the great cities of the North and yet every
now and then these merchants must be impressed
with the actthat some enterprisng peighbor, who
buys in Charleston, is selling the same style of
gOUds at the same figures, and perhaps little
lower. This is true, and can be easily and salts
factorily explained; still it will require time to
convince our commercial men. well directed
and concentrated effort of the active business men
of Charleston. aided by influential citizens in the
country. will eventually reclaim the trade of our
own people, TO which Charleston is now, and al
why's has been, go justly entitled. But Charleston
cannot become respectable commercial emporium
if she relies alone upon the trade Of own State
and sections contiguous. The area must be en-
largcd, and other States be invited to become
tributary. Charleston must have moro direct
and cheaper communication with the great cities
of the West. This is now within her reach. She
may not have the money within herself 10 accom-
plsh this, but she has active, intelligent, farsee-
ing citizens and by concentrated enOrt the capital
could be induced TO come.
For more than thirty years this enterprise has
been entertained foSto.ed and encouraged by your
citizens, and surely there must have been und is
now great merit and practicabty in the scheme
or it would have been forgotten and abandoned
long ago. What was first. perhaps, State pride.
has become stern necessity, and the active enter
prise Of adjoining States is daily forcing it upon
our view. Then permit me to enreat you to arouse,
not from ApNtHy anu luuihtleiCei puL iIou
intentness upon daily business and avccaiions
which for the success of a.duy or IN hour some
times intcrvcnes and cuts off the most important
prospective advantages If could venture. l
would further suggest that you should use all ef.
forts TO shorten the line Of communication between
your city and the Northwestern districts Of the
State by constructing branch road from Aiken
to New Market, then push forward the road TO
Knoxville, where you will be in direct contact with
Cincinnati and Louisville, Chicago aud other
Western cities-Upun line in which you will have
a great controlling interest, and where you could
at least guard against any adverse restrictions.
Next 10 this, ifnot OF equal Importance, is the
necessity for n shorter aud more direct line 10
Memphis, from which point roads are projected
northward to the Pncic Railroad with such nd
vantage, that Charleston could draw of her pro-
porlionate part of that valuable trnffc.
With these great lines constructed, and the man.
agement properly consolidated Charleston would
certainly be in position where SHE could secure
that pnrt of the commerce of the Wes, India Islands
which her natural advantages of location entities !
her TO.
Permit me 10 add tho following sentiment:
..7nn .-CtlY- of Charleston: Nature has furnished
her beautiful and eligible site upon the great
highway of nations The tact. energy and enter
prise of her cizens must render her worthy off"
Very respectfully, j. W. HARRISON.
CHARLESTON. April 1s-Cottou in moderate de.
mand, and closed firmer, but irregular; sales soS
bales-mddlng 30 to SO3.
NEv> YORK, April ls-Cotton to 1c better; /
.slae aeGN bales ut 2OI TO 21-elosinr frm at 81, |