The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-02
Our Charleston Correspondence.

CHARLESTON, 5. u, July 18TH, 1911.
-Agreeably to promise made few
days since, l nov resume my correspou-
dence for the columns Of the Watchman,
and will give its readers in this letter
some general and special views concern
ing business and the prospects of she
trade 10 Dry Goods in this city, follow
ing them in q second letter with remarks
that will embrace au account of the
condition and prospects for the coming
season, of our Grocery trade. These
views may be relied on, as they are
based on data furnished from sources
entitled to the highest credit. The
prospects of the Dry Goods trade for
the coming fall are fully fair, and much
brighter than they we're year ago.
To substantiate this assertion 1 would
give several reasons, which will, upon
reflection, be apparent to every observer
who is able to appreciate them. Above
all them, it is the rise in our main
staple, Cotton, which will bring more
"hard cash" and consequent prosperity
to the whole South, aud of course also
to US, as "part of the family" The con-
sequent rise in goods has also the
additional advantage Of stimulating
trade. Eee,yJody wants to buy when
the market rises, but hold off when it
falls. Whenever the consumer gets
hold Of the fact or notion, that goods
are falling, he, especially, holds of,
sometimes supposing, perhaps, in his
uncertainty, that they may be had for
mere song after awhile. Such state of
matters, to some exten: at least, We ex
perieuced in the FIRST half Of the last
year, particularly as Tar as imported
Dry Goods were concerned. But We, Of
Charleston, have another-a special
reason-for pronounciug our prospects
for the fall trade in Dry Goods as fully
tau. This is the bright prosperity Of
our Sea Island fields, which, under
continuation of favoring circumstances,
and further exemption from the always
dreaded caterpillar, will yield largely to
our Industrious and perscveriug, but
la;,erly very unfortunate planter neish>
bors. And not only that, the Sea Island
planter, accustomed as he is, to not only
the necessities but also to all the com
forts Of a Southern family home with
full supplies, will this year 6ud ready
market abroad for his beautiful ."long
fleece" France is not now blocked up
by stern war as she was last year, but is
busy with all her looms, trying to make
up for lest time, and 10 raise money out
OF her manufactures and the factories
also in her lost territories on the Rhine
will not suffer and languish either under
the ucw rule, but on the contrary, will
increase their resources and usefulness
at least, if not their number, under the
fostering care of Williams the conqueror
and the great Bismarck. In saying a
word or two iu regard to the business
Of Charleston during the past two or
three years, l am permitted to do so
on the authority of a successful mer-
chant friend, Wm. Ufferhardt, Esqr.,
whose opinion and experience Of thirty
years in business in this city, should be
regarded certainly as entitled to the
highest weight. Mr.. Utfrrhardt gives
i; as his opinion backed BY good reasons,
that, upon the whole, the business Of
Charleston has been such, as to leave no
solid reason for complaint, at least not
more so, if indeed not less, than Of any
other city within reach Of our observa-
tion and information. There is certain
quantum of commodities needed and
sold here every year, and, 10 some way
or other the people nre able, aud do pay
for the same. The auctuation in the
amount OF business, particularly in the
Dry Goods trade, is not so large as to
make it either really bad, or on the
other hand au rr',u gou'i businefs, and
is not the golden middle road generally
said to be the sure. though slow road
TO fortune?
Charleston suffers and has suffered
much since the war from the croakings
of people who, ruined BY the result Of
the war, DO not aud oannot recuperate.
And why? Simply because with their
former easily made aud quickly lost
fortunes, they unfortunately have ulso
lost all their energy, thrift aud business
habits. Iu croa..ing about Charleston
going down-being not what it was and
never going to be- better to go away
anywhere else-run to-well never
mind where; these people in this way
really hurt the place far moro than