The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-18
Manufactures.

'.There is too much cotton planted" This
is the cry wrich has met the ear, season
after season, Tor the last four years Over
production brings e depression OF prices, and
whenever cotton rules below certain figure,
stated variously at from IL to IA cents, it
ceases to be remdnera.ive. Public opinion
throughout the country has accepted as
fact, therefore, that it is suicidal policy to
plant too much cotton; that in a diversity OF
industry lies the future hope OF the South.
Rice and sugar, we believe, have paid the
producer very well during the last few years,
butthe cultivation Of these staples is con-
fined within prescribed natural limits. Lum-
Der and naval stores, in favored localities,
have given profitable employment to num-
bers So have several other minor indus
tries. Bat, we ore told, this is not grain
country. 1t scarcely pays to plant grain for
home consumption, to say nothing of culti-
vating it for the market. And it may be 3d.
We are not in q position to prove The con-
trary. II, then, further increase in the
production of cotton is undesirable and the
growth of grain and live stock cannot be
rendered profitable, it becomes us to look out
for other avenues of emolument, and turn
our energies and industry into new chan
nels. Manufactures would seem to be our
best resort. TrGe, it viii be'objected, that
we have at ,resenteven no surplus either OF
labor or OF capital; and both are needed
in conducting manufacturing enterprises.
There is, however, no real lack OF either.
| We Know there are always thousands OF per-
sons uuemDloyed; and there is, in the aS-
gresate, large amount of money in indi-
viduaI hands, now lying unproductive and
idle, which, concentrated, and with proper
direction, would go far to the successful in
auguration of manufacturing upon the lar
gest scale. We know how much was &C
complished in q marvellousiy brief space OF
time, in the establishment OF phosphate
works-anl why? Simply because there
was the promise of large profit and quick
returns Nbg,, Il it can be;sho~n that est
ton manufacture is not less profitable, and
far more sure OF steady business, at all
seasons, and year after year, we do not see
why our business men, men OF good, practi-
cal sense, Of energy and capacity, should
not succeed in getting up the necessary
capital, ard multiplying cotton manufacto-
.ries all oYer.t South; bat especially where
nature points out the site in the form Of line
water-power. We have in South Carolina
plenty OF US fine water-power as is found
anywhere in the United States. we have
! plenty OF cheap labor, and we have the raw
material in Unlimited supply, cheaper than
it can be procured by any factory not situa-
ted in the producing districts. We
have the capital also, we believe There is
fine market always for cotton fabrics, both
at home and abroad; and we have az excel
| lent railroad system, connecting with every
part Of the Union, to distribute our surplus
products, to say nothing of our fine lines OF
steamships, regularly plying between Charles
ton end alI the more important seaports of
| the Atlantic.
What then is lacking? Nothing, it would
| appear, Tut the initiatory step-a thorough
Foundation, in the proper organization of
| the movement. And shall it be said that
we have not enough energy or go-aheadlt-
iveness to carry out so promising project?
But is cotton manufacture profitable? We
shull not answer by pointing to the cotton
lords of Manchester, of Elberfeld and Muhl-
house: or OF Lowell and Lawrence in Mas
sachusetts, because, in the first place, we
have not the figures to demonstrate our po-
sition, and because, also, it might be object
ed that the conditions and influences are not
similar. We prefer, therefore, to take as an
illustration the working of this industry in
Augusta aud Graniteville-which have
grown up in our day, and under our own
eyes. OF the former, the Augusta C0ast&a-
| tionaltst. Of recent date, says:
''The success of the Augusta Factory, with
its sixteen thousand splndes and four hundred
looms In full operation all the year round, is
proVerbial throughout the country. 1t is a
model of good management, and attracts the
admiriug visits and compliments of even New
| England splnners. Its profits in past years
| have been somewhat marvellous. After Tree
swaterings' of its stock, it now pays, and has
for some years been paying, twenty per cent.