The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-11
COLUMBIA. S. C.,
Thursday Morning. June IL, 1874.
A Now Departure Indispensable &c
Columbia.


It is difficult thing for people to
realize a thorough change in their
condition. The current of events
sweeps on, wars and revolutions shake
society, bnt the minds of men are in
olined to be stationary, to rest in old
habits. to go along in old rnts. We
have had great change Of this sort in
this whole country. The constitu.
tional government which our fathers
established has been oyerthrown, and
q war between the sections. terminal
ing in disaster. sooner or later to be
seen. beth to viatos and vsnGcished,
has left US of the South with dimi
nished resources Of capital, and with a
disturbed and almost ruined labor sys.
tenn. Notwithstanding all this. we 90
on as if nothing had happened. We
continue the same system of cultiva-
tion-we pin our faith exclusively to
cotton. We are slow to discern that
as times change, we must change with
them. Fortunes we're once rapidly
made in this State by the cultivation
OF indigo. Tobacco followed and be.
came an article of considerable export
as we'll as q circulating medium in
some places. The "Cheraws" were
once famous for the quality and
amount OF bacon exported from that
section. And 80 other kinds OF profit
able business o1oe existed, that are no
longer practicable or thought of.
Not referring here to political
shanges. and narrowing our view to a
single point, let us look moment at
Columbia. In 1926, it contained 1000
Inhabitants and 500 houses It re-.
ceivedo and exported 10000 bales of
cotton by two steamboats, and by bay
and canal boats to Charleston. They
returned with full freight. On this
basis, business was satisfactory for
shs namber Of parsons engaged in it,
and hereswas general prosperity; and
many useful institutions aud enter.
priAes were established. such as the
college. academies and schools, the
asylum, the canal, water works, public
baths, churches, circulating Libraries,
and fine bridge over the Congaree.
As the town grew to 5000 or 10000,
its business in the cotton trade i'm
proved, till just before the completion
OF the railroads which connect it
with the up-oountry and Charlotte,
lao, 900 bales were sold. Afterwards,
this particular trade gradually de.
oiined, but tho city continued to hold
its own pretty we'll. It had some COM
pensation in its more extended trade,
the dourishing schools and colleges,
and in its attractions as place of resi-
denoe and resort. How is it now?
The population is supposed to be near
iS.0oG. The town has been partially
rebuilt. and in good style; but it has
absorbed great deal OF capital. The
wholesale trade has left as, and the re-
tail is getting every day more unsatis-
factory. Hundreds OF young men no
longer throng the college, leaving each
$500 or more year among our trades
men and merchants. Only $4,000
bales of cotton are now received. The
merchant, the artisan and the profess
sional man. all complain of hard times.
Everybody feels the hard times. It is
plain that we have experienced q
change in the condition of the town.
1t has not business sufficient to sustain
it. 1t has nothing upon which it can
feed and grow. We need not inquire
about the causes. Its maximum deye.
lopment has been reached, and tho ut
most that can be hoped for it is, that it
will not seriously decline. What is it
that Columbia must do, then? It
must seek new basis of prosperity, a
new road to wealth, u business which
will be not only highly remunerative
III itself, but which will revive Ian
gushing trade, increase population,
diversity pursuits, and stimulate and
develop the surrounding country. This
business, this new basis, is mauufac.
turing. Another thing it eau do. It
can cause to be- rnada known ito ,,aor