Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-07-17
The $ lE{ty Of Money. Mon

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Not feY forsons attribute the scarcity Of
money aud hard times to the low price OBJ
.!tgihed for tho products Of our soil and ellege
that cotton at ond 10 cents is not remunera-
two. That this is an error, observation anG
experience aliko prove. Before the va,
cotton for years osoiliated in price from 81 te
cents, rarely reaching the last figure. Corn
prior to the building Of tho Blue Ridge Rail
road, varied in prico from 25 to 40 cents pol
bushol; wheat was worth from rs to 81 per
bushel; aour from SIS to So por barrel; pork
from 81 to cents gross; butter from to 10
cents; aud eggs from Ave to o;,ht cents. All
ti'eso farm products are now sold annually on
un average Of from 33 to SO per cent. above
the prices formerly obtained for them. We
gradually increased in wealth at these anto-
war prices and had accumulated large per-
sonal property in money, stocks, chattcls and
negroes. Why, thea, with better prices now
than then do We fail to grow rich2 We ccr-
agriculture. On the contrary, our people
have progressed rapidly in the science Of
farming and in the number and value of our
products. In fact, wo believe tho gross pro-
ducts Of tho farms Of this county for ono
year is equivalent to their products for
five and perhaps for ten years before the
war. This, then, oannot 30 tho cause.
failure to prosper to deficient labor, for tho
amount and valuo of labor can best bo osti-
mated by its products Besides, though, not
80 reliable rs before tho war, labor is bettcr
distributed and really less expensive, rs the
negroes Of tho county raroly realize as wages
above scanty support, while before tho wal
they woro we'll fed and clothed and nurscd in
sickness by their owners. Is it duo to the
higher price exacted for such comforts and
neccssaries rs wo arc compelled to buy7 1t
is we'll known that calico and all kinds Of dry
goods, sugar, molasses, salt aud all kinds Of
groceries, except coffee aud RICE iron, nails.
plows and farm tools generally, and in fact
nine-tonths of all articles the farmer is com.
PEELED to buy, arc lower in pricc nov than
before tho war. On tho side Of increascd
wealth We have larger crops and better prices
tor what we make. and on an average loss
prices for what we are compelled to buy
These arc faots within tho recollection Of
many OF OR rendere, and why then is money
scarce aud commanding reinous rates of
interest, whilc before the war 1t was readily
borrowed Mt seven per cent AS We said ia
previous article, it is not the amount OF
money made, but the amount saved, which
brings wealth and prosperity to community.
Wo would not advocate pcnuriousness, but
Jud'clous saVing and a judicious investment
OF our savings. Wc should save by making
many things we now buy, as our fertilizers.
meat, -four and corn, and by raising our own
horses and mules. The balance thus rcsnlts
ing in our favor would 10 few years become
quito sum. This kind of saving would not
only retain among US much money now sont
abroad, but would permanently improve our
lands in the use of lasting n,anures. 1T tho
farmers of country, specially adapted to the
growth Of grain and stock, do not sell bu,
buy these articles, who can ever expec,
to sell them? Who should mako thom to sell
but the farmers. and what farmers undo,
ordinary circumstancos,l can consistently
become purchaser Of these articlea;
In q recent conversation with, Col. Howard
native Of this county, but row q citizen o
Cartersvilc, Georgia, he said it ought to be-
disgrace to farmer to have to buy meat
corn or flour, unless under peculiar circuns
stances, and that no man or community coult
!, prosper and,grow rioh whilo such articles n
could be grown well at home were bought
lilo said he know well and loved this hi
native land, and considering tho low price 0
l.. L.. Al
this could and should be section of erea
wealth, predicting all that can mako q pcopl
independent Mt bome;at the same time tha
ityieldcd generous crops of tho great staples
cotton and tobacco. While. however, os i,
the past, orr population bought supple
abroad and expended largo sums in tho pur.
chase Of fertilizers, no real wealth or pros
perity could be expected. Speaking Of hi
his own experience in farming, lie stated tha