The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-10
Our Labor.


country vet 30 strictly agricultural as ourS'
labor is q consideration OF even greater I'M
nortapce than capital, for labor can create
capital. Indeed we might truly say labor iS
capital. The great need OF the State is
labor We have an abundance OF bore'and
muscle the raw material which Will could
convert into labor but does not. The year
ius, gone was prosperous one In the inte-
rior Of South neutrality-suspicious. Tor The
proprietors and their employees. What has
been the resultf The laborers finding them
selves In possession Of a surplus from last
wear, are generally setting up for themselves
as farmers, and the skill, energy and CAPT.
tai OF experienced agriculturists finds itself
crIppled for want OF labor. We know that
this is largely the case In Lancaster, Ker-
shaw and Sumter counties, and judge that 1t
Is more or less 80 throughout the South.
This is really very serious matter.
Ignoring, for the present, the facts, well
recognized, that the coloted people, as labo-
rers, need control, direction and incentive,
it is evident that they commence the strug-
gle under great disadvantages. Inexper.-
enced, thriitless, with very insufficient i'm
plements, horsepower and maintenance,
they cannot compete with the white man as
an independent producer; and he who can
produce, under the direction OF an intelli-
gent and skilled planter, and with the aid of
bis capital, five or six bales OF cotton, as an
independent farmer produces one bale OF cot
ton, and barely ekes out q scanty subsist-
euce. This Is the contrast as to annual pro-
ducts, while dilapidated buildings and fen
ces, filed up bitches, broom-sedge or gul.
lied fields, emaclated horses and mules, and
starving cattle show the permanent effect on
the prosperity Of the country. A large pro-
portion OF the pine lands on the CataWoa
and Wateree, for instance, is now rented out
to the colored people. A glance at the pres
ant condition OF affairs will eoreshsdow
surely next autumn's crop. Six weeks,
most important weeks, OF the new year are
gone, irredeemably gone. On such places
YOU will find nothing done; not fence re-
paired, ditch dug, or furrow rub; no ac-
emulation OF manure-everything waiting
for genial spring. Contrast this with the
few plantations where intelligence directs
all movements, where the laborers are paid
wages, and where just and fair dealing be-
gets mutual confidence. Every building
and fence is In order; bitches and drains all
open; mules and cattle in good order;
small grain showing It's healthlul green
spite OF severe winter; corn land
thoroughly broken up; cotton seed, muck
and acid phosphate ready for applica-
tion as soon as the spring opens, stable
manure ready for use, and the commercial
phosphates hauled home when the land is
not in fit condition for the plough; the Ia
borers all living In comfort, and one months
wages already received and enjoyed. The
happy combination between proprietor and
laborer, not only giving to each much
greater profits than they could separately
reap, but, in the permanent improvement OF
property, adding greatly to the wealth OF
the State. Near Camden, we are told, seve.
raj large plantations have been redeemed
fro1 the pressing evils OF our condition by
subdivisions. At least fifty moderate sized
farms have been created within five miles OF
that town within three years. Their pro-
prletors are all prospering. Some few OF
them are industrious and worthy colored
people, but large msjority are young, en-
ergetic, worthy scious OF our old stock, who
have pulled of their gloves and "gone in to
"win.n This year this tier OF farms is ex-
tending towards Swift Creek, near the Sum-
ter line, and We doubt not ere this decade is
out the whole OF the beautiful table land be-
tween Camden and the "High Hills OF
s'Santee," along the South Carolina Rail-
road, will be similarly occupied. Several OF
the large plantations along this route are
attracting Northern and foreign attention,
and our people are 40 anxious to recon-
| sLruct the State that they all are determined
that any colonies from the North or from
Europe that may establish themselves here
shall be successful, and 10 that end will se.
cure them perfectly healthful localities and
productive lands at cheap rates, and will
cordially aid them In all possible ways-ior,
aside from every disposition to oct fairly,
justly and kindly by all, They know that to
repopulate the waste places from the North
or from Europe, it is indispensable that the
first comers should meet with success.
Bank Consolidation.