The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-12
TIE DEAD SCI IN GEORGIA.
A Conlmon-Scnsc View.
Georgia letter 10 the New York Times

A Georgia letter 10 the New York Times
says:
Within q few months, Mr.. C. W. Howard, OF
Kingston, Ga, q gentleman OF high standing,
acknowledged skill as geologtSt, and OF superior
intelligence, made minute examination VI tne
mineral region OF Georgia and Alabama; at the
request OF Mr.. Hubert, then superintendent OF
the Western and Atlantic Railroad, 1.-THE property
or the State,) to whom Mr.. Howard made very
able report OF his Investigations, showing beyond
q doubt the eXteut and ralne OF tile mineral dc
posts Of the country to which J refer. Had
similar report from an equally high authority
been made about Montana. idaho, or the coun-
tr; adjacent 10 tile highest peak OF the Rocky
Mountains, nonn OF =; emigration & nm, MOULD e,,,
panies would have been forhhed, with sales OF
stock at fabulous prices. But here at their very
doors, within fifteen or twenty miles OF several
that the "rchest copper known 10 the miner,'
some Of "the richest and most valuable iron ores
OF our Western mountains" and tlat the nnest
coal i'll any quantities, are within their reach
with mo difficulties to overcome, and the infor-
nation is as little needed Us if they had been told
one OF the least probable tales Of the authoreSS or
'Vasllti." Since the publication VI Mr. How
ards report, to which Mr.. Hubert gave q very
wide circulation, l do not know Of any organi Zed
effort having been made, nor do believe that
any has been made TO make this mineral treasure
available.
COTTON MANIA.
One OF the Chief causes OF this strange apathy
Is the cotton mania. Every energy is bent to
raise cotton. There is no lime and no means to
engage in any other enterprise. ave are an
agricultural people ~ it il said; do not uader
stand ANYTHING else. We have plenty OF land, and
we eau raise plenty or cotton and sell 1t q: twen-
ty.tive cents d pound. We cannot go into any
business that will pay as well rs that" Nobody
seems TO remember, and few to know, that
diversified industry aud 4 concentration o! capt.
tai are csscntalt 10 the material prosperity or Il
people; that IL depends altogether upon single
product OF the soil, Is fatal falacy III the long
run: that cotton crop exceeding TWO and nall
millions os bales will result in bringing the price
countries and communities Which are the most
prosperous are those whose Industry and produc.
lions are the most diversified. Had Mr. Howard
told of the existence Of mine OF guano, super.
perphosphate, or other fertilizer for cotton, there
;;oud have been n rush 10 the "dlggingS" equal
tu that to California In the widest time OF the
mining excitement. Every individual believes
that he will raise at least bale TO the acre: that
the crop can never again be a large one. owing TO
the scarcity and inrcriority Of labor and that
never again can cotton fall ''much below ESQ.,
While this idea prevails land notwithstanding
the plain undeniaUle truth that cotton now, to-
day is not worth more than 2lc. in any part OF
the Interior Of the State, few believe that the
market will no. rise 70 25 and soc. J cotton VIII
command all the available sinew and money Of
the pcople 10 the exclusion or every other lldus
trv. Time and rude experience Will correct this
error 10y exposing the deluslon; but in tie mean-
time the people must pay SIS ton FOR coal. and
depcnd On other States for every pound OF iron
they consume.