The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-13
Our County's Prospects for this Year
..Work and EcOnomy.-Cash Pay
ments.--Ruinous Mortgages.

II the absence from town OF the usual mum.
Der of oilers at this season OF the year means
anything, II is fair 10 presume that work on
the farms Is being prosecuted with more
than the accustomed vigOr. since the great
shrinkage In real csl;fe and the apparent
established low values or the products of the
farm and n corresponding cheapnesS of mer-
chandiSe of every description our people
seem to realize more fully than ever the great
need Of diligent work and strict economy.
Capital Is more scary and perccpttbly. more
cautious, and the imprOvident find 1t harder
to obtain credit. The merchants are selling
their goods at what would have been consid-
cred ruinOus profits years ago while their
advance on cost for goods sold on time to the
most prompt paying customers are in many
instances not more than half the profit that
would have been demanded in previous
years. On the other hand a majority OF pur-
chaSers are much more cautious as to con-
tracing debts. When forced by circum-
stances to pledge their crops or mortgage their
property tor advances TO run the farm; they
arc more particular to- Try the market IN
ntively few instances are they disposed to
buy'eXtravagnntly. The change in this re-
spcct Is %strikingly apparent. and affords the
BEST evidence OF the future prosperity OF
Abbeville county.
While the above is true, our merchants
have been doing an excellent business, par
tieularly IN Fertilizers and bacon "a. Ins "h 10
has induced 81 majority Of those who might
need 1t, during the year, to come TO town ana
make their purchases at cash rates. FOR fear Oh
having TO pay higher prices later In the sea,
son. To supply this demand has required
thousands Of pounds. and accustomed consid-
cradle activity In the stores Of those who
handle thisa article.
In the mule market th.:e has been perhaps
n greater Improvement than in any other
line OF trade, as the drovcrs report their
sales for cash rs about ten times as great
as that of previous years, while there
has been q decrease in the number q! credit
sIlcs. Mules have been sold for cash at per-
haps - per cent. lower than last year, and at
only q slight advance or Western cost and
carriage, but the poor unfortunate. planter
who has been compelled to run his farm
on the capital OF others has had. as usual. to
"pay the piper" In giving his note and mort
gage for Si25 TO secure an SOor u Sn mule.
Owing to the fine crops of last year, ana the
fair area which was Sown in oats. the demand
for corn has not been great, although conSin-
cradle quantities have been bought IN TINS
marx eta much larger proportion than uSual
being for cash. While the low price of corn
would seemingly be of great advantage to
that class OF improvident farmers who neg
lect to SOW barley. oats, and the grasses for
their stock, they are little benefited by such
reduction when compelled TO mortgage. their
which they could buy for s. cents cash, or for
bacon at ~ to 10 cents which the money
would secure at from 6Ia to Z cents. The
credit prices are high for the planter to
pay, but they are not less than the merchant
can afford on the precarious securities.
AS compared with last year, bacon, sugar,
coffee, -four and mOiasses are much cheaper.
Corn too Is somewhat cheaper but doesn't
indicate rs great a decline as the articles
above named. From all that we can learn
the price OF staple goods will rule lower shan
for twenty years. With the above schedule
IN work upon we are satisfied that our plant
crs may enter upon the years labor with
hopeful prospects of Il satisfactory result.