Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-06-05
agricultural 2epartlment.
From the Atlanta Plantation.
MATTERS FOR REFLECTION.

MATTERS FOR REFLECTION.
So much cotton-planting South prevents cap
ital and immigration coming into the country.
A. few days ago there was party from the
North prospecting North-Alabama and Geor-
gia, examining the iron ores, water-power, and
the general features of the country. They
liked the ores, were pleased with the water
power, and also liked the climate and country;
but came to these conclusions, that, eff they
had to import all the hay and grain, and bread
and meat, and other supplies necessary for
their operatives, in making iron, or manufac-
turing, it was decidedly best to ship the ores
and cotton North in its crude state, and there
manufacture them up, where provisions were
bountiful and cheap"
Twas struck with the force of their remarks,
for what they said was but too true. For
how can manufacturing be carried OH in any
country where there is no food for its opera
tives, and where even the farmers have to i'm
port their provisions, for man and beast, to
make their cotton crops? Such system,
pursued by the farmers of any country, pre-
cludes manufacturing For the manufacture
er seeks the country where provisions are most
bountiful and cheap and if they cannot be
supplied with provisions from the country in
which they design operating, they must re-
main North and import their ores, and lum-
Der, and cotton, where they can procure food
from the farms adjacent to them.
Daily, now, are the cars passing, freighted
with ores and lumber for Northern manufac-
turing establishments, and returning South
with Northern corn and bacon for the laborers
getting ores and lumber, as we'll as to feed the
hands an animals of our Southern farmers
What reflection all such is on Southern
farming, for it is but draining the South of all
her wealth and money. Her raw materials
are taken and paid for in provisions and man.
ufactured supplies, whilst the money is retain
ed North.
The boast of the South is in its fine climate
and generous soil, and its adaptness for diver
si6ed crops and there is no exageration in
such boasting, if we planted the variety of
crops that would grow to perfection. What
are they? Why, corn, wheat, oats, rye, bar
ley, rice, potatoes, in fact, all the root crops,
as we'll as clover, the grasses, and fruits of
all kinds, as we'll as vegetables and cotton
And with climate and soil that produces all
such crops, we import our provisions from the
North and the cause for so doing, is merely
because our people will plant cotton to the
exclusion of grain, the root crops, and all else
for our own use. And why such policy is
pursued we cannot understand, for instead of
making our people rich, they are becoming
poorer day by day. We were greatly in
hopes that manufacturers would come into the
country and establish manufacturing among
US, that would have encouraged the raising of
provision crops. But if they conclude to
transport the ores, lumber and cottons to their
factories North, where food is plentiful, we
can see no future prospects for the South but
to labor for Northern benefit. We become
then merely an agricultural people and con-
fined to the production of one article, which
is cotton, and losing all the advantages of
manufacturing among US, which would create
a diversity of products and pursuits, so essen
tial to the welfare and independence Of any
people and country. In strictly the cotton
belt, there may be some excuse for the plant
ing of cotton to large extent, for their eli
mate is not so favorable for grain and clover
and the grasses But in North Georgia, AL
ALBANIA and Mississippi, where, from its late
springs and early falls, cotton becomes pre-
carious plant, there is no excuse for neglecting
the grain and grass crops, and planting so
largely of cotton as has been done of late years.
In short, a fine grain, grass and stock country
has been given up to cotton-planting; and to
the farmers living in our up-counties, the
greatest censure may be bestowed, as it is in
their section of country where the ores are To-
Gated, and where manufacturers are prospect
ing for locations; hence it is they who are do
ing the South the greatest injury in causing
provisions to be imported from the North.
There is an area of country in North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississip-
pi and Tennessee, if properly cultivated in
grain, grass, and stock-raising attended to, to
supply the whole South with all the provis-
ions, without calling on the North for one
cents worth of her supplies and would it be-
come the policy of the farmers in that area of
country to pursue such system, soon would
be seen manufacturing towns springing up
throughout that whole section, and make it as
selfsustaining and prosperous, as much so, as
any portion of the Northern States. Enter
prise is what we need-that enterprising spirit
to benefit the country, for in beneftting the
country the individual is benefited the fate
of the one is the fate of the other, and such
thoughts should begin to occupy the minds of
our people. JNO. II. DENT.
1VupN cunI1T n E.pMER SEJI pROnT1rF