The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-20
G Fl A r T. e s TON.
SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH 20, 1861
NO Aesurreotion for south Caroline.


No ResurFectton for South Caroline.
We have shown in a previous article how
httle truth there is in the assertion made
by tbs Westminster Review, that throughout
this State ssabjeot and irrecoverable pov.
'erty reigns." We now take up the asser-
ton made in the book under review-that
"South Caroline is utterly and helplessly
"orushed."
| AS general proposition it will, we pre-
sumo, be admitted, that the prosp perity Of
country depends upon Its natural advan-
tages and resources, and upon the oharac-
ter Of its people; it being conceded that
! healthiness OF climate, fertility Of soil,
abundant mineral wealth and conmand-
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. WA. a@ -
1. 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 ffty
miles between the tide-swsmp and the sand
hills Of the upper country. 4th The sand
hill belt Of about thirty miles. 9Th. The clay
belt Of about twenty miles. eth. 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 semitropioal 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 hooks 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 Aere 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 the 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
well known to need our praise. Generally
it may be said that there is 40 valuable
plant, fruit or vegetable which cannot be
proftably produced nSouth Carolina
Nor have we any reason to avoid speaking
Of eur minerals. We have gold in Spartan
burg and other districts in considerable.
quantities, and we learn that in the fifteen
months preceding June1 i, 1868, tho mines Of
MIR. VIM. Dorm, in Abbeville and Edgeaeld
Districts, yielded gold Of the value Of $780,
600. But, more important than geld I'VE have
iron Of fne 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 toms have found ready market.
And there is nothing in our climate which
should make our fruits, our plants, our
cotton and rice, our minerals and our phos-
phates. extremely difficult to work or pre-
pare for sale. According to the census Of
1850. the deaths per cent. In South Caro-
lima were 1.4l, against 2.06 in Arkansas.
1.45 in Kentucky, 1.78 in Louisiana, 7e
in Massachusetts,, 1.85 In Connecticut and
l22 in New York. This 10 the general per
centage; but In Charleston, the principal
oity 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 o. 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 wo have vast
! natural resources, and that there 10 nothing