The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-11-30
Tbs Labor Question.

he represented. in the meeting called for on
Ssici,lav in November, at which tine the re-
Dor. wiil he made the special ordSr. We
urge that tho various clnbs in Tie County
meet prior 70 tho call for Su!c-Gay anu resolve
cu some action f. reference to this report,
ai.i which we publish now that each and
every ore may have the opportunity OF sec
Ing and reading for themselves
70 The Committee appointed to consider tt"
orcScn: distressed condition car people in
e Monetary a:'d industrial point Of r;c" and
10 suggest S,!c;l aciioil rs will I,1c:t likely re.
move our emearra:sn,cntS. a,d LEAD TO mote
prosperous results, beg leave &c report:
That they have had the matter referred
rndec stIeir svfiotS consideration, and are
forced to the conclusion :;:at the embarrassed
condition of the country. in the f1ain, ariSeS
frou fr:,i:lcs. attempt, stimulated by the
recent extraordinarily high prices for cotton,
10 cultivate exhausted aui heretofore badly
titled land-and u>inG means too expensive
70 be warranted by y more reduced market
rate fox tho product. The intl.'ed prices.
Immediately after the wa.-priccs suca rs
The planter received only this one time il IL
his lifc--iuluced the introduction OF foreign
fertilizers and costly maDurcs 10 strengthen
and stimulate the worn out soil in the pro-
duction Of 4 plant, which lu::uatcs in mar
kct more than any Other proluct of ihc coun-
try: and the consequence Of deprecated
market mast necessarily he great pecuul.lry
loss. Il will he remembered. by those who
cultivated cotton in ihis part Of the country,
ior some years preceding tue war, that at the
prices which then ruled, ana which We have
no reason 10 believe viii no: soon rule again,
its prodcc:ion had ceased 20 be profitable IN
comparisou wi. its successful! culture 10 the
fertile lpuis o. tie Southwest. Our lands
a;,,, in Al great measure, become exhausted, +,
ami the low ice< Of co!ton prevented the
u>u ui cosby fertile r, while highly prodnc-
tive fresh lands were continually being orc;-
cd there. every year Increasing tic pEct.itc-
ton and so reducing the market price OF tie
product. l. not this the case now? And J.
il not folly 70 expect 70 compete with the
Southwest. on oar EXHAUSTED lands with
this expensive kind IF culture?
Cotton may De pro:i,ably grown at its pres
cnt ra,c, or even at over price, on rich
lands-l,ur i. cannot be produced ct much
less :nan twenty cents per pound on the
greater portion Of oar up lands fla bale Of
cotton ~. grD@E on one acre, its production
and preparation for market vii! cost about
twenty-five dollars. IF two acres he required
to grow il, it Will cost S45 or $50. If three
acres, not less than SO, and when four acres
are II rgaircd-as is the case with great por>
ton of OUT lands, it will c"s., at least, 500
u loss n prcscn. rEtc Of $50 or s35, PR bale
Besides, rs long rs cotton continues at it
present price, to say nothing Of ! lower ra:c.
We arc at = disadvantage with the Westcrn
planter in competition for labor. As surely
as water will seek lis level, so surely will IL
bo. 20 where il is most profitable. And the
inducemcnt 20 draw labor from US is greater
than sc can hold ont TO retain it. At this
very time, labor is being hunted up in this
district for the Western country-at such
prices as We cannot by any possibility pay
Yle following rates ere Offered: Twenty dol
lars per month. together with board. for eve
~ laborgr tia. Can be procurcd-and the cash
advanced for transportation. Still lDore "a
roraSia Inducements arc offered to families
who are willing so work on shares on lands
producing forty bushels Of corn, or two thoas-
and pounds of cotton pc. sc:s II is clear
that SUCH inducements will deprive Us Of our
most useful and euterpnsing laborcrs. and
leave US only the inefficient and worthless
Tho lsharcrs lming :h1s transferred ~ more
fertile lande the product Of their labor will
&c so much greater than il wouid lie il they
remained on our exhausted lands, that the
production Of cotton vii! contnne to sXece,l
IT'S cOnss np';or. and prices ccntnEe ;Leir
downward tcDGrasy,
Al tsese <hiAgs make against us-for Il
sceirS our present labor cannot be retSined-
a4ii so11e raealls must DC adopted ~ better
our eondition, or cotton planting in this part
os' usr country .:s<t b: abandoned.
II is Yer: difficult 20 suggest 3 remedy ior
- great m cvii-:hc Only Que that is now
xS f,&yrnt Is t6 cGntine the cultivation Ct cut>
ton unv to suck acres as viii produce il
pro:itahly. wi;houi expensive fertilizers For
NC still have lands which arc productive
Abandon the ti;iinS o! exhausted lnuls-
turu them ont to res: and rccgpcr:stc. Quits
ratc Only such spots of i;!siI Is will produce
profitable crops, ifa>cr!c iie lands you
have receive! frcna lour fathers. an improve
!l.c:,i. 81 ~: cshauSt them any more by
continuing was,cfGl mcshod Of tils:e
South Caro'ina hus 4 c,inla.e an6 u variety
of I-oduc iGHs ua<u:p .S>c.! hy any Of The
y.hcr S;stcs We oHly want means 10 MAKE
manifest TIA; there IS li;c in the OH land
vet" Lit Us strive to acquire these means.
Cnltivs:e no lonScr the barren acre. Make
use only, bow. Of those thlt Go pay. Cut
gp tic i,rsc ;r.:c:S into small f,rm>, ana by
proper tli.aSc lT1uea immigration from all
parts uf tl,c world. O; such - gl come ar
settled lands with u, ani become owners Of
t'.e s.il The middle ard upper portions Of
the STATE must, Ike the older i.ec States, be
sc:ilc up by snail farmers. Large planta>
:;ons have had their day. and hereafter in
this State, mus: b. confined to the rec plan
,aiiors and the sea islands. TaoSc who
dc>i-c to contiIu: amongst Us large p!antS>
tiorls may procure Crincse laborers-Yhich
h;.s proved successful in some portions Of the
Country--and II IS believed ri%y be made
very profitable hcrc-IuI this is tho only
WAY by which large plantations can be con-
;;nucd; for it is evident the iahorers We now
have csunot be retained 6y us.
These are the oaiy views your Committee
are capable Of suggesting if Adopted, by
nv. o,ic,I n, ~ - y canfi ]nntIv hniiryIl rhpv