The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-08
From the Southern Watchman.
The Chicago and South Atlantic Railroad.
FRANKLIN, n. c., Dec. 1st, 1873.


ters, but there is one question so vital TO all
Eestern Georgia as we'll as Western North
Carolina, that beg of you to allow me to pre-
sent few suggestions through your paper to
the people interested in it.
attended, with other delegates, the railroad
convention which met at Chicago on the 9Th
of October last, the object of which was to con-
slider the practcability Of constructing great
trunk railway from the North eastern Lakes to
the Southern seaboard. The project is certain
ly one of much interest to both sections, be-
cause it involves the development of mutual
interests and mutual resources. l think L see
in it the dawning of a better day both to the
South and to the West. At least the facts so
present it to my mind.
The people of the great agricultural States
of the West are constantly subjected to ruinous
revenues levied, by middle men and specula-
some instances, amount to as much as two
hundred per cent. OF this the consumers Of
the South pay large part. This enormous
sum goes to build up Northern and Eastern
monopolies, and only tends to weaken and i'm
poverish the West and the South. Justice, as
we'll as self-protection, demand remedy for
these evils and direct commercial relations,
by the shortest and cheapest route, between
the immense grain depots of the West and the
principal planting region of the South, would
in great measure relieve both sections from
this oppressive extortion. 1t would also fortiiy
these two sections against the monetary and
stock gambling which so often derange and
oppress our commercial transactions. AS
things now stand, these stock jobbers and
money gamblers control and ship all the gold
from the country, and at their will drive the
currency from circulation. By such policy as
this they frequently force good deal of cot,
ton upon the market at one-half or One-third
its intrinsic value while their agents buy it In
and amass immense fortunes in single season.
Such is at least the result To prevent the
frequent recurrence of evils so fatal to Southern
commerce strong, practical measures ought to
be adopted by the planters of the South and
the farmers of the West; and if they apply
themselves with hearty goodwill to this
great railroad scheme they can accomplish It..
There is another point in this subject worthy
of serious consideration. The West and the
South once united by strong commercial inter-
ests and freed from the burdens imposed upon
them by the North and the East, would be able
to establish, on firm basis, direct export and
import trade with foreign countries. Our cot,
ton, which must always command gold, would
bring that gold to the South and the West,
where it would enter into legitimate CONNER
/
| ling. This would render these Southern and
Western sections independent of New York
and New England speculations So long, how
ever, as we remain in this state of subjection
to souless monopolies Ne never can rise to
that commercial and social status which our
natural and productive resources would, under
other circumstances, warrant.
There is another view of this question full of
significance The present low price of cotton
is not due to any falling off in the demand for
it. There is not such supply III excess of the
demand either in Europe or in this country as
to depreciate its value. Nor have cotton
fabrics so diminished in price as to require a
reduction in the value of raw cotton. 1t Is the
result of stock and commercial gambling by
an insolent and inflated monopoly. 1t is in
deed, one of the means resorted to to sustain
the waning fortunes Of New England manu-
facturers, and supply them with cheap stock
for their mills for year to come. And to me
it seems significant fact that on the heels of
this jug2lery cry is raised for specie pay
ment. This is a very cool and bold stroke of
policy welding two fatal clubs-the one to
secure cheap cotton for home consumption, and
the other to absorb the gold which the re-
mainder brings into the country. BY disabling
the Southern planter it affects tho Western
producer, and they are made mutual victims
of an unholy passion for gain. This view of
the question suggests the promptness with
which we should unite and strike for CONNER
cial independence in direct expectation. |
know of nothing 80 we'll calculated to emanci-
pate the South and West from this ruinous
monopoly and establish uniformity in the price
of cotton and Western products, as this union
of commercial interests by grand trunk rail-
way, and through the power of combined cap
ital establish an overwhelming direct trade
with foreign nations.
There is yet another point in this question
vital to the future prosperity of the Southern
and Western States. l hope you will bear with
me while alude to it. The day is not very
far distant when large portion of our staple
must and will be manufactured in the sections
where it is produced. While there is rapid
progress in the arts there is also rapid progress
in the knowledge and development of the laws
of physical science. There are certain physl-
cal laws to which our cotton staple owes its
superiority and observation as we'll as investl-
CATION have long since convinced me that the
same causes which produce this superiority arc
essential to the highest perfection IN its manu-
facture. These natural forces will necesstate
large manufacturing establishments all over
the cotton growing region of the South. we
shall then be able to furnish the West with
superior yarns and domestic fabrics, ana on
better terms than they can be furnished by
New England II must then be the manifest
interest of the Northwest to bring their pro-
ducts to our doors, and take our cotton and
manufactured goods in exchange. [ have
scarcely doubt that our yarns will also be in
demand in European markets. and will enter
largely into our list of exports.
The considerations I have stated, I think,
are all directly connected with this grand pa
triotic scheme for building a railway from
Chicago to some good harbor upon the Atlantic
seaboard.
In order to make the enterprise success,
good harbor must be secured and reached by
will insure the greatest number Of valuable
connections, 80 that these connections shall be
both cumulative and distributivc to the main
line, These can only be secured through Ra-
bun Gap.