Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-06

objections, and in order to meet further state
ments made by that paper, will refer to the
subject again.
THE FINANCIAL PANIC.
Notwithstanding the many assurances we
have had from fnanciers at the money centres,
and many of the influential papers of the
country, that the worst features of the panic
had long since been over, we fear that from
present indications the worst has not yet been
realized. The strongest and wealthiest firms
of the country are failing and reported to be
failing; mills, factories and workshops are
closing, or working on short time and at re-
duced wages; and all transactions are con-
Quoted with caution which plainly indicates
want of confidence, if not degree of mis-
trust. This is not healthy sign, nor is it the
part of wisdom to disguise the truth. 1t has
already been seen that one heavy failure in
New York has affected every branch of bust
ness and industry throughout the entire coun-
try; and as failures of wealthy firms and sus.
pension of work in extensive factories contin.
ue, so must the consequent stringency caused
thereby be felt by all classes. Our own Sec
tion is exclusively an agricultural country
but the low price and slight demand for our
staple production is already working serious
Inconvenience, if not hardship. If our farm
ers had full granaries the case would be diff:
ferent. Then their surplus of cotton would
be as so much gold but, unfortunately, cotton
is not healthy article of diet, and much Of
the present crop, we fear, will have to be sac
ri6ced to purchase food for man and beast.
The cause and cure of the impending evil we
do not attempt to argue here. We deem it
only necessary to point out the facts and give
our opinion as based upon events transpiring
daily. With all the facts before us, to lull
ourselves into fancied security is not the part
of wisdom, while it behooves all to look the
danger squarely in the face and take precau'
tions against the worst. Even could public
confidence be restored to-day, and business at
once resume its wonted channels, the evil al.
ready done would cause hard times through
| the entire winter.
OUR WANTS.
There are in York county, in round num-
bers, twenty-four thousand inhabitants
| Twelve thousand of this number are females
one.third of the remainder children. The fe
males, only in few isolated cases, do not Ia
Dor in the field. The children, from age, are
incapacitated for such labor. Of the remain.
ing eight thousand, two hundred and fifty are
engaged in merchandising, mechanics and the
learned professions. How many gentlemen
of leisure there are, it is difficult to say. Per-
haps there are thousand who have no visi'
BILE means of making livelihood. This sleaves
six thousand seven hundred and fifty to sup
port the whole.
In York county there are, in round num-
bers, four hundred thousand acres of land
One hundred thousand acres are cultivated,
and the remaining three hundred thousand
acres are not in state of actual cultivation
The fourth Of the land in the county is prac'
tically valueless. From it no income what
ever is received, and the only use the owners
make of it is that it is so much dead capital
upon which they are called upon annually to
pay tax.
In York county there is water power sufh'
cient to manufacture at least twenty thousand
bales of cotton. This is more than three
times as much cotton as is annually produced
in the county.
There are several mines of iron ore, at least
one copper mine, and in several places gold
is found. There are several quarries Of fine
building stone. In view of the above stated
facts, it is easy to say what our wants are.
We need twenty thousand more good indus
trious farmers to bring into cultivation the
three hundred thousand acres of land that is
atpresent lyingidle. We need atleast enough
of machinery and sufficient number of men
to manufacture six thousand bales of cotton
the number of bales annually produced in the
county. We need sufficient number of
miners to develop the mineral resources Of the
county. Last, but not least amongst our
pressing wants, we want to swap thousand
idlers for FIVE hundred good laboring men and
women.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.