The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-03
9notrsoyl yntelligel1eer.
The Central Mountain Region of the South
BY COL. LEWIS NJ. HATCH.

Perhaps there are at this moment few more
prosperous parts Of oDr country than upper
South Carolina, those counties lying along the
base of the Blue Ridge through which the
Piedmont Air Line Railroad passes. 1t may
seem strange in view of the misrule of the
State that they should be so.
We have no doubt of the fact, and it may be
we'll to consider some of the causes, for some
of them tend towards great changes productive
alike of good TO the South, North and West.
In the first place let US remember that these
counties lie along the southern circumference
of the most healthy region on the continent.
If YOU will take Asheville, Buncombe county,
North Carolina, for centre, and with radius
of hundred miles draw circle, you enclose
q country unsurpassed for climate, summer or
winter, for scenery. beautiful and grand, for
minerals, timbers, water power and soil. We
named Asheville, because It is we'll known as
the centre; but the Black Mountains, the
highest east of the Rocky, eighteen miles from
Asheville, show why it is real centre, between
the lakes and gulf, the Atlantic and Mississippi,
the water running from near them in every
direction,
1t is geographical centre in the heart OF
the States bounded by the lakes gulf, &c, ia,
vorable for intercourse in every direction, and
centres, not seaports are looming into view as
the coming points in the future. Then this is
centre with COOL temperate climate by virtue
of its elevation, we'll down among the semi
tropic state, and near to the West Indies:
Across it will soon pass one of those north and
south railways, on which men can forever ex-
change the products Of different climates.
The East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad goes
through the northern part of the circle. The
Piedmont road along its southern line, and
with direct communication to the ocean at
Charleston, makes it accessible to New York,
New Orleans, Europe and South America.
Energetic men are at this moment, in spite of
the cloud that new railroads are under, work
ing towards the mountains, looking towards
Chicago.
By the aid of Charleston fertilizers, cotton
is now raised to the very base of the noun
tains, adding this crop to the old time farming
crops. Factories are paying, new ones are
going up; that this will be q manufacturing
country admits of no doubt The winters be-
ing mild, say like November in New York,
field work is never hindered save by rein; cold
never stops it, and continuous movement is
at this time going on of those who can see no
chance for work north or west this season.
IF capitalists would study this thing as do
the intelligent workers who are moving, how
much could be DONE The Southern man
would sell part of his lands on favorable terms.
A little active capital could come in secured
equally with the land, and something better
than soup kitchens would be the result. At
this moment capital waits for safe and prohta-
bic opportunities, and some of our best work
ers are drawing near to their last saving, wait
ing for employment
TO those who know this country we'll, its
future is as clearly before them as its past.
Such a opulation-mainly English, largely
Scotch and Scotch-Irish, tried by war, tried by
worse than war, the peace the lamb has when
the jackal picks his bones, tried but not cast
down, with the Northern element about to flow
in on such soil, with such surroundings and
resources, what will they not accomplish.
What does not such a country offer alike of
security and profit to the capitalist!
The educational advantages of this section
are not to be passed over. Greenville and
Spartanburg are alike deservedly noted for
their schools of high order. AS a father said
of Wofford College, from which his son had
Just graduated, young man leaves there more
moral than when he enters. There never was
much cant or hypocrisy among the people of
this country, but their solid, religious senti-
ment will not be moved by the disturbers of
other mems minds. We are just old-fashioned
enough to think that this counts for some
thing, either to emigrant or capitalist, when he
considers the future of a country. Railroads,
schools, churches, society; what these things
mean are solidly established, they have the
full yigor of maturity about them. Yet so far
cerned, amid struggle and strife, with pain and
anguish, a new birth has come. The new life
is full of hope and promise, and as the rising
sun first greets the mountain tops of this re-
gion, so along their base shines out the earliest
signs of an Industrial future.