The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-14
From The Rurol Carolinian for March.
How the South can become Manufacturing
COuntrY.

The patriotic editor OF the COLUMBIA caro-
Hnian, commenting upon the able articles of
Col: Aiken and "Rusticus," in the January
number of the Rural C1rolinian, commends the
subjects therein discussed to the serious atten-
ton of the people of our State In summing
up the advantages to result from the more
general introduction of cotton manufacturing
establishments" Col. Thomas says: ITO us, in
a worldly sense, this is the a0ay, the truth, the
life. and honored alike be the pen that blazes
the way, and the hand that hews it out"
Do these expressions accord with the feelings
of our people? If so, why this continued su-
pineness and inactivity Why not inaugurate
a general movement in this direction, and press
it forward to successful issue? Sometimes
we fear our people are like the fellow in the
fable, who, when his cart-wheel sank into the
mire, instead of putting his shoulder to the
wheel and pushing it out, sat down desponding-
ly, and began to whine and pray to Hercules
for help. aBut what can we do without capi-
tai ?" is the universal cry. Now, we believe
this difficulty is rather. imaginary than real.
At any rate, it is not insuperable. We have at
our bidding power that can grapple with and
overcome it That power is combination, By
it, we dare affirm, in less than two years we
can have er 3ugh spindles whirling and shuttes
flying to spin and weave every pound of cotton
grown In Lne OCdVe we Cdu, NC tnihAj pAoIo
the way" and the uplifted hands of our coun-
trymei can soon and easily, if 'they have a
mind to work, )" "hew it out"
A sufficient amount of capital to start fac
tory can be raised in any county, by its land
holders taking stock to the amount of ten cents
per acre'on all their lands.
Suppose, for example, the landholders OF
Fairfield, one of the smallest counties in the
State, would assemble in mass meeting at
Winnsboro', on sale day in April, and organize
Manufacturing Company, elect the proper
officers, and subscribe ten cents per acre on
their lands. There being 495, 200 acres in that
county, this would give capital of S43,52O, a
sum sufficient to build factory that would
spin. if not weave, all the cotton produced in
the county. Besides, we are assured, this
amount would be considerably increased by
Others taking stock, and by many landholders
subscribing larger amount than is here indi-
Gated. e '..-!1 -
The best water-power in the world can be
had for nothing, in close proximity to which
huge boulders of the best splitting granite lie
begging to be used. Nowhere can factory
buildings be erected at less cost than along the
rivers and creeks of Middle and Upper South
Carolina.
We believe it would be difficult to find a
/
sion. who could not invest to the amount sug--
pested. TO carry out this scheme, it would
only be necessary for each subscriber to pay
one-tenth in cash, and the rest in instalments
of one or two cents per acre per month, till all
was paid in. Thus farmer owning 400 acres
of land would subscribe $40. He would pay
81 cash, and 81 per month for nine months. 10
become a stockholder, the farmer of an hum
Gred acres would only have to pay one dollar
per month for ten months Where Is the TAR
mer who cannot do this? BY this scheme ev-
ery county may soon, in years time perhaps,
have its cotton factory, showering material
blessings upon its people.
Edgefeld, with her 9S5, 600 acres, may in ten
months have manufacturing capital OF S90,-
$50, and nobody hurt. Laurens, with her
51S,68O acres, may have capital OF sol ,960,
and so On to the end of the chapter. If the
people of South Carolina really desire her
speedy advancement in material prosperity and
wealth "now's the day and nows the hour"
Surely it is better for as to thrust in our sckes,
and reap the rich harvest that invites our et-
forts, than to stand all the day idle, pouring
our piteous supplications into the deaf ears OF
foreign capitalists If there be IN our people
the will, here is way.
We believe, if few energetic, practical men
in each county, or in any county, will take hold
of this matter, they will have no difficulty in
arousing the people to the working point
Cannot some such men be found in our State
A general movement of this kind would in
fuse n new life into the nsoribund corpus of our
stricken State, and she would spring from her
desolation and misery cas- by the stroke of an
enchauter's wand" An impetus would be
given to the development of all our industrial
1ursuits. Then would immigration, and capi-
tall and skilled labor flow in upon ,; US in ever ,
prosperous condition, pictured truthfuly, we
believe by 'Rusticus" in the closing paragraph
of his article.
Craving, above all earthly blessings, the pros
perity and happiness of the old Palmetto State,
and and feeling assured that this scheme, if carried
out. will place her on the flood tide of material
advancement and industrial development we
humbly commend it to the consideration OF
those of her sons whose approval and advocacy
can breathe into it activity and life.
LITTLE JOHN.
,,oo,l lut l;ttln haro hollow hut