The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-21
What Could ha nnaa.

'his "httie county or Union and we are SAT-
ished that no people upon the face of the globe
have greater incentives to utilize all the natural
advantages within their reach than the people
in the Cotton growing States.
For years the cotton brokers Of the North have
been drawing the strings tighter and tighter
around the nccks Of the cotton planters, until
now they not only so control the price Of cotton
as to keep it below the actual cost of production,
but actually demand that the bagging and ties,
purchased from the Northern manufacturers,
shall be thrown in-deducted from the weight
thereby compelling the planter to incur the ex-
pense Of from 81 to 81 80 per bale, for which
they are to be allowed nothing. The Southern
Merchant, when he buys goods ut the North is
charged for every box in which his goods
packed but the Southern Planter must pack and
conlino his cotton, under railroad restrictions for
| safe transportation TO the Northern Brokers. at
his own expense. The "a ade between the North
and South is n one-sidcd affair, in which, under
the present dependent position of the South VIC
have, apparently, no voice to change.
If something is not done by the Planters Of
the South, and that very soon, they will lind
themselves so completely in the mcshes Of tAa
Northern Cotton Brokers that they will not be
| able to exiricatc themselves. BY little sacr-
fice and q moderate amount of enterprise the
Planters could change all this, and not only be
perfectly independent o. those who are crushing
them, but could secure fair price for the Dle,
and make the Brokers and speculators depcn-
dent upon them for their supply Of cotton.
We speak for Union County, whcn we say we
L..
enable us TO spin every pound of cotton wo
raise, aud secure to tie Planters not only good
prices fov The law material but in addition the
profits which tue Nothcrn Spinncrs now make
upoo il.
They could 10 away with the accumula;iug
costs OF commissions, drayase, storcagc, wharf
age, &C., all of which they now pay, if they
would unite in erecting Factories upon the
splendid and ncxhaustible watcrpowers within
the county. There are the Lockhart Shoals,
Murphys Shoals, Meals Shoal Trough Shoal
and two or three other admirably adapted local
ties for Cotton Factories, from the most extensive
TO moderate capacity of power. 1t is from c,r
less natural advanta ;cs than these that he North
ern Brokers' and Manufacturers oJ.ain their
power to Cypress the cottou Planter. and it is
TO these natural advantages that every Pintcr
must look for redress from the grievances now
expressing him. Ii will not do for any one to
say that lie is not interested, and therefore
should II, be expected to help establish Facto-
ries and build such roads will nsu easy aud
quick access to hem. Every individual in lhe
County is deeply interested in any enterprise
that will contribute TO the prosperity Of ,hc
whole Couay.
We care not how far or how near a Planter
may reside to where a co,ton Factory CA be To-
Gated, in his County, he would receive benefits
| from 1t, ard should consider it duty 10 do all
i'll his power 10 ensure its establishment a.lL
| success.
What Factory at Lockhart or Murphy
Saca's, that would open q market wke Q u
| Planter, .I.o@ Gny pC"; @, iac Co@Iiy, could OBJ
tain almost Charleston prices for his cotton. ;ad
where he could dispose OF his surplus produce
at iair prices Factory OF no benefit 10 a
Planter living ten, fifteen OF twen,y mlca from
it? No man of intelligence and thtiit VIII say so
| unfortunately there are too many men, either
| so parsamonious or so narrow minded that they
will not assist any public enterprise, unless they
think it will benefit themselves fully as much as
| any one else. and is located near their own door,
| They have no idea Of its being taeir duty to
| aid s"ca enterprises, even in proportion TO the
benefits they know they Will derive from them.
! There arc men in this County now-and Union
is not unlike other Counties in that respect
who would refuse to give five dollars TO support
an enterprise that they know would raise the
price OF cotton half cent pound, if that en-
! tePrisc was located ten miles from their planta-
lions. Their sorIid notions Of citizens duly
never permits them 10 contribute q dollar for
the general good particularly ifthey think some
one will make a dollar more than themselves out
OF it. Such persons rctard the prosperity Of
community more than ary ohcr class Of citizens,
and, generally they arc pretty weli-odo in this
| world goods, but al the same time they are the
greatest grumblcrs we have.
The planters can and must begin the work of
eXtricaing themselves from he hands of those
! who are now holding them in commercial bond
age. If they will unite together and show de-
termination to be no longer the "hcwcrs Of wood
| and drawers of water to the Northern Cotton
Brokers, Spectators and Manufacturers, but
commence ut once 10 assist in building Fac.
tories from which to secure all the profits TO
themselves that are made out of their Cotton. by
commissions, freights, wharfage. storage, steal