The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-20
CHI ARLE ES TON.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1889.
No Resurrection for South Carolina.

No Resurrection for South Carolina.
We have shown in previous article how
little truth there is in the assertion made
, by the Westminster Review, that throughout
this State "abject and recoverable pow
"erty reigns." We now take up the asser.
J tion made in the book under review-thai
"South Carolina is utterly and helplessly
"crushed."
As general proposition it will, we pre-
sumo, be admitted, that the prosperity of a
country depends upon its natural advan-
tages and resources, and upon the charac-
ter of its people; it being conceded that
healthiness Of climate, fertility Of soil,
abundant mineral wealth and command
ing position on the highways of commerce,
are only valuable in proportion to the skill,
energy and perseverance with which the
soil is cultivated, with which the hidden
mineral is brought to light, and with which
the current of trade is made profitable and
advantageous. And in connection with this
there will arise the consideration whether
there is anything In the political or social
condition of the people which should pre-
vent them from resping the abundant har-
vest of SUCCESS which our Great Mother
offers to all her faithful servitors. The
whole subject, then, has these three gene
raj divisions. l. Our natural advantages
and resources. 2. The character of our
people. 8. Our political and social con-
dition.
l. The natural advantages of South Car
olina. This State has seven climatic divi-
sions. 1st. The sea islands. I'd. The tide
water region. Sd. The belt of about fifty
miles between the tide-swamp and the sand
hills Of the upper country. 4th. The sand
hill belt of about thirty miles. 5th. The clay
belt of about twenty miles. 9Th. The granite
belt of ninety miles. 7th. The mountains.
Without attempting detailed description
Of these different sections, We may say that,
in addition to the well known long staple
cotton, there may be produced on the sea
islands corn and wheat in abundance, while
nearly every semi-tropical fruit will grow
there luxuriously. Olives, oranges, bananas,
theE sparto grass, ramie, all may be grown
on the sea islands, and there is no reason
why there should not also be seen aocks Of
sheep and droves Of portly cattle. In the
tide-water region the cultivation of rice is
carried on with great success, and it may
be mentioned here that rice is now again
being raised in the inland districts, it being
found that the grains are larger than those
Of the tide-swamps, although the yield to
the acre is much smaller. Throughout the
upper sections of the State TIE short staple
cotton is the principal crop, but tobacco and
indigo may be cultivated to advantage. In
certain sections the grape is grown in abun-
dance, and the peaches of the State are too
we'll known to need our praise. Generally
it may be said that there is no valuable
plant, fruit or vegetable which cannot be
pro6tably produced in South Carolina.
Nor have we any reason to avoid speaking
of our minerals. We have gold in Spartan
burg and other districts in considerable
quantities, and we learn that in the fifteen
months preceding June l, 1858, the mines Of
Mr.. VIM. Dorm, in Abbeville and Edgc6eld
Districts, yielded gold of the value of $780,
900. But, more important than gold, we have
iron of fine quality and lead in abundance
Besides this, we have the kaolin clay and
buhr stones finer than those imported
at heavy cost from France. And last and
most important of our subterraneous treas
ures, are the bone deposits or phosphate
beds which spread over many miles Of coun-
try. One company alone owns &c, 900 acres
of these lands, and similar land in England
has been let for two thousand dollars in
gold per annum. 1t is the South Carolina
phosphates which are expected to take the
place of foreign guanos, when the supply
of these shall fail, or when their price shall
put them beyond the reach of the ordinary
consumer Several companies are already
engaged in mining the phosphate rock and
preparing it for consumption. Its reputa-
tion is spreading rapidly, and tens of thou
sands of tons have found ready market.
And there is nothing in our climate which
should make our fruits, our plants, our
cotton aud rice, our minerals and our phos-
pilates, extremely difficult to work or pre-
pare for sale. According to the census of
1860, the deaths per cent. in South Caro-
lima were 1.41, against 2.O6 in Arkansas,
Las in Kentucky, Lie in Louisiana, 76
10 Massachusetts, 1.35 in Connecticut and
% in New York. This is the general per
centsge; but in Charleston, the principal
city in the State, the deaths are much less,
for the tables of mortality show that the
deaths per cent in this city are less than
in either of the principal cities of Europe,
or, with but two or three exceptions, in
either of the Northern and Eastern States
Without, then, making any exaggerated
statement, we may say that we have vast
| nsturs! ~ esources, and that there is nothing