The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-12-05
The Abbeville and Anderson Markets.

|
an editorial of the Anderson IntelHgencer in
reply to ours on the above subject. We are
pleased to see that our friend at least has not
| lost his temper. We can assure him too that
our equanimity has not been in the least dis
turbed, and that even if such had been the
case, we could scarcely have avoided following
the example of good temper and good taste
which our friend has so fully manifested in his
reply. If want of temper be evidence ofthe
weakness of ones cause, he at least is not OBJ
noxious to such a charge
| But our friend expresses surprise that the
article of the Medium awakened no response
from us until it appeared in the columns of the
IntelHgencer, and seems to intimate that we
might have some covert reason for selecting
the latter paper rather than the former as an
antagonist in the controversy. The explana--
ton is SO simple and ineligible that we need
not go very far to find it. That article emana-
ted from an unknown writer, and appeared
in corner of the paper, without note or com;
ment from the editors, and hence, perhaps would
not have elected a remark from US, if the
Inteliqencer had not republished it, and by its
endorsement given it currency and impor-
tance which did not at first belong to it, AS
the production of nameless correspondent,
we were disposed to ignore it; but, as the ex-
pressed, and carefully weighed opinion of an
enlightened and influential journal, it denaan-
ded an answer, if answer could be made.
This statement in itself would seem to be
sufficient reply to the answer of the IatetHgen-
Ger to our charge that editorial and communi-
cation did equal injustice to the merchants OF
Abbeville. The IntelHgencer contends that its
editorial made no charge, direct or indirect,
against the Abbevile merchants. But the
communication charged that it was "a shame
and a scandal" that Abbeville farmers had to
sell their produce and buy their groceries in
Anderson, and the Lntelligcncer would seem
to justify the charge by claiming for Anderson
that it is "the best cotton market in the up
country, and furnishes every desirable article
at the lowest prices" Admit that the charge
is not made directly, is it not implied in re-
publishing such an article with such comments! :!
IF town forty miles further from the seaboard,
and with no greater natural OF artificial resour-
ces can paw one half cent more for cotton, and
sell goods cheaper than the other, is not the
latter Justly amenable to the charge of want
of enterprise and business tact? The IntetEa-
qencer would justify the charge by vouching TOR
the facts upon which it is based.
But next, as to the proof of the facts them
selves-the high price of cotton and the cheap
ness of goods in the Anderson market-the
InteH;qencer relies very much on the fact that
Anderson does attract the Abbeville farmer,
and thinks it very irrational to explain this on
the ground of lack of information on his
part, or upon any other supposition than that
he promotes his interests by selling and buying
in the Anderson market. Intelligent farmers
in the upper part of our District have sugges-
ted to us other reasons than the superiority OF
the Anderson market that it has succeeded IN
attracting number of Abbeville farmers from
H. c. Ill of fho
Anderson firms have business connections with
Abbeville, and have made no small effort to
secure its trade, by giving employment to the
elite Of its Young men. Again, Anderson is
equally near the Abbeville line, and more ac-
cessibie than Abbeville, because the roads are
better. The deep mud of some of the Able
Vile roads would be sufficient to turn the scale
against her, where other considerations are
equally balanced.
Admitting that Anderson nominally pays
more for cotton than Abbeville, we gave the
experience of single farmer, in explanation,
without vouching for its general application.
The IntelHgcncer regards that experience as
yery inconclusive, unless the accuracy of the
Abbeville and Anderson scales had been COM
pared and tested. We merely cited the fact
for what it was worth, and suggested how an
increase of price might be more than counter
balanced by loss of weight We certainly
did not intend to impugn the integrity or skill
of the sworn weigher, Mr.. FAINT defect in
the scales would furnish a simple explanation.
To remove all ground of complaint in .Abbe-
vile, it has been deemed proper to discard the
common platform scales, and procure the I'M
proved New York beam scales. Perhaps An
derson would do we'll to follow her example.
In what we said in this connection as not cred
table to the Anderson buyer, we cheerfully
make the amende-our remark was unguarded,
and founded on misapprehension.
As to the comparative cheapness of goods in
the two markets, we would advert to the facts
set forth in our article, and we have the au-
thority of the IntelHgencer itself for holding
that "facts are stubborn things" The bill
which we hold establishes the fact that on the
18th of September, II pounds of bacon were
sold to an Abbeville farmer at 16! cents per
pound, when Abbevlle was selling bacon at
l3} cents The InteNigencer suggests that 1t
was likely country bacon, which brings better
price: but friend tells US that this is too early
in the season for country bacon. Again he
suggests that the extra charge may have arisen
from its being on an account of year or two.s
standing The bill itself precludes any such
supposition. The LntelHgencer states that it
has examined number of accounts, where the
price charged was Is cents per pound at the
date mentioned. But this is higher than the
Abbevile rates.
In conclusion, we would briefly say that if
Anderson pays more for cotton than Abbeville,
the natural presumption is, that as Abbevlle
often pays more than foreign prices warrant,
the Anderson buyer is at least compensated in
an increased price of goods. And this. we
learn, is substantiated by the admission of an
Anderson merchant himself-Abbeuihe Press
and Banner.
ANOLp CHuRcH.-Thc Old South Church,
al Boston, which has stood for one hundred and
s,rtuthree wears and which was saved by the