Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-02-27
Cotton---Walhalla,

Our article in tho last issue Of tho CouRiER,
upon the trade Of our town and the Importance
OF retaining and onlarging it. did not give
general satisfaction to our merchants. Wo
can at least plead that it was published with
the best intentions and at q time when, by
proper energy in the future, it could do no
harm but much good. who is moro deeply
interested in Wnlhalla than tho proprietors of
tho CoUnIER7 Who has labored moro con-
stantIy and assiduously to build it up, both
by advocating every enterprise of public
chnractcr and by contributing towards what
ever promised q benefit to cur town? Our
property is here. Our business aud our
l. terests are likewise interviewer With
tho prosperity Of tho tow:. Everything
combines to make us we'll wishcrs to Walhal-
ln' tho geograghical and judicial, and. as it
should be, the commercial centro of onr
county. To regain and retain tho latter,
which it onco hold is our highest desire, and
this can be done in tho way indicated. Three
thousand bales Of cotton sold hero would
bring over one hundred thousand dollars,
fifty thousand Of which would be spent with
our merchants. We do not ask or expect
the merchants to bny this cotton for it takes
too much capital and incurs too great risk.
We nro satisfied few, if any merchants, who
bought cotton last season failed to lose money
on their purchases, and if we wcro engaged
in merchandising VIC would buy cotton only
for debts due us or for tradc. While this is
true, why can't wo bny cotton through an
agency and ship it by Charleston directly to
its destination, without the heavy tax of
commissions, &C.. eSacted by the dealers in
Charleston. Water transportation always
has been md always will be cheaper than by
rail, and wo feel sure fair arrangements could
be made to get the cotton to the coast. The
little rise or fall in cotton makes little dire-
renee to the large dcnlers Of the North, and
during the season tho profit and loss are
likely to balance. 1t may be, aud it has been
so said, that our estimate of the cotton bought
here is too small by several hundred bales;
but IL this be granted. I'LL must admit our
cotton trade has annually declined and is not
what it should be. We want to SEQ it revive
and expand until it shall be larger than the
trade Of any place in the county.
We stated in our last article, and we re-: f.
firm it, that for cash our merchants can and
do sell goods rs low as similar articles can
be bought anywhere in upper Curolina. In
fact, we have II number Of responsible and
experienced merchants, who deal literally for
all kinds Of goods. II is natural for all men
to seek the cheapest market. and so well
satisfied have we been with the short profits
charged by our merchants thnt we have not
felt it to Unr interest to trade Mt other points
in TIC county for such articles as can be had
here. While this is true. feeling, rs We do
the warmcst interest in our future prosperity,
we cannot keep silent when We are con,
vinced that our trade is declining and will
decline farther, unless we bestir ourselves to
retain it. 1t little profits man to nattcr
him with assertions that he is looking well
aud hearty, when he is starving. SO would it
littlo profit our town to declare our cotton
trade is large ard annually increasing when
the citizens and tho people Of the county
know better. Men do not close their eyes
and ears when they come to Wahni!a. and
they know we'll yonr trado and tho relative
prices you offer for cation aid other produce.
We do not propose to nnttcr the town ur try
to throw dust in tho eyes Of The public hu
to toll what We bclicvc is our true condition
and how it can be rcmcdicd. So long ns a
man thinks ho is not sick he will not have Il
physician, and so long as community sleeps
upon its highest interest, feeling no fear or
danger in tho future, so long will it not feel
the need Of striving TO better its condition.
Whether we arc in prosperity or whether we
are in adversely. it is always tho part Of wis.,
dom to look our condition squarely in the
face and strive, with tho lights before us, to
enlarge our prosperity Or diminish and mod-
fly our adversely. Our town is to-day pros.
pcring, financially, oducntionally and cons
meroially. We havo room for improvement,
and it is this improvement sc advocate. No
people have been moro liberal and public
spirited than the citizens Of Wnlhaln in all
matters touching the religious and education.
al interests of the town and county. Such
citizenship deserves to prosper and will pros
per with anything like proper effort.
The Census Of 1880.