Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-07-07
E1ettcr from Gh:as. m. FOntsc.
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PIcIiENs DIsTRlCT, So. Ca,
Ootnbnr 1863

OctOOer, lSOS.
10 HIRAM MILLER, ESQ, New York !:
Dear Friend: After travelling IN c Il
through tho Western and Northern States, I
have been much struck with tho sad contrast
presented by the present condition of our be.
loved South. Throughout the entire line of
my travels North and West, the evidences of
thrift, enterprise and progress wcrc tvery-
where disccrnibe But here, where nature
has been so oountiful in her gifts, there arc
constant evidences of decay and discourage
mcnt, tending to- utter stngnation 1t is not
my purpose to alludo to the too well known
causes of this state Of things; but to assure
you that | zee the remedy. | know not how
to Impress my convictions upon you in more
forcibe manner than to relate to you few Of
the facts and observations from which have
drawn my conclusions:
In my travels through the upper portion of
the State of South Carolina, visited small
Cotton Factory, about twelve miles from
Grcenvillc 9. III. called Bucna Vista; it was
worked by water power, and employed about
thirty operatives, and upon careful enquiry
ascertaned it was very successful enterprise.
Mr.. LESTER, one of the proprietors, informed
me that during the war they had worked two
sets Of hands, running day and night; since
that time they have doubled their machinery,
and that ono of their firm was then North,
engaged in procuring still larger amount of
machinery. Mr.. PURIroy, the Agent of this
Factory, told mo that they could draw on Now
York for the full value of their Yarns upon
consignment being at all times cash article;
and that if they had tho necessary amount of
capital they could increase their business an
h,,., roll kIol l,l. Il
late war having left the country filled with
widows and orphan children, to whom this
occupation was blessing, and almost their
only resort, next to working in the opcn fields.
Upon inquiry, I found that their wagcs was
81 per week, and tho Agent informed me that
they expended nearly all their pay in the Fac.
tory's Store. They furnished goods at suoh
prices as made their wages really nett them
fifty cents per day. This seems like worry poor
pay; but when compared with the cost of
living hero, is, am suro, fully equal to tho
pay Of operatives in the New England States.
| There is another Factory within few miles
of said Factory, where they weave thoir Yarns
into cloth, employing about sixty hands this
is also in flourishipg condition. And as far
as can ascertain, most Of the Cotton Faoto-
ries in the State are doing well, tho ono at
Pcndleton being about to double it's machine.
ry. From these and similar facts, have be.
como thoroughly convinced that if we of the
South were but to devote tithe of our ener.
gy and capital to cotton and other manufac,
tories, thnt wo could with tho aid Of our
great ne!ural advantages, ere long, wrest from
the New England States tho palm Of manu-
turing supremacy on this continent; and
render our people in cvory way moro indcpen
dent and happy. 1t indeed strange that.oul
capitalists have been SO long indifferent te
tho great natural advantages VIC have owe,
Now England in this powerful, wcalth.pro
ducing business. ss, i
Should it bo asked in what do these advan
tages consist - I would reply: 1st Is not th'
cotton grown at our very doors; would no.
all tho expenses Of transportation, commits
'sions, insurances, 80, .bo sayedf Ga vor,