Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-01-16
From tho Atlanta Constitution
Thc Outlook of Tho Now Yoar.

The year that has just finished will be to
the present generation rcd-lcttcr one; for
it brongh! TO On end he long aud weary
period Of enforced economy and restricted
business that followed the panic Of 1878,
and put every branch of industry at work
Agriculture was encouraged in the West
and South by good crops and rcmuncrativo
prices, the factoricG received moro orders
than they could iill the railroads were
blocked with freight the mines were pushed
to greater extent than ever, aud all other
Interests were puckcncd towards the end
of the old year ia a way that wac full Of
promise The new year came in just
when all our industries were ahead with n
wonderful momcutum; aud tho most skcp-
t!cal cannot now discover any reason why
the present degree Of prosperity throughout
the country should not be at least maintain
CD. OF course with the revival Of business
came I tendency TO rush into speculative
vcnturcrs and wildcat schcmes; but the
indications now arc that danger is perhaps
passed, and that the greater and better part
Of our rcoplc will content themselves with
tho sure profits of legitimate business.
Nor viii such profits be by any means in
significant in any Lranch Of trade, if We
have another year Of good crops. Our
prosperity rests Of course Oh crops Of
The country--aH real prosperity in business
in this world does. 1t was net John Shcr
man or any other man, or any particular
scheme or fct Of schemes, that made the
past year happy one; it was the wealth
created by the producers of the South and
aud West under tho blessings of q kind
l'rov;dcncc---a wealth that was turned to
good accout in the payment Of debts until
the country found itself in 1879 once more
or its feet. The extent OF this is So great
that it renders the nations Of the world
tributary to us, especially L any disaster,
however slight, ovcrtakcs their food crops.
In 1878 our agricultural productions
amountcd to 81 ASS, ,57Q,SG6. This sum is
almost inconcciyabIc, but great as it is it
was exceeded in 1870 to the extent OF
nearly &ll6O000O0, according to the
latest estimate of the national agricultural
department. TO the czportablc portion of
this immense aggregate t. South contrib
utcd % per cent. although this section
contains less than 20 per cent of the entire
population. Its estimated that tho ball
aucu of trade in 1870 was at least $780,
100000, in favor of tho cotton States.
/ This is solid basis indeed upon which to
expect not only a continuance of the pres
cpt degree Of prosperity in tho South, but
a handsome additional development. There
is, however, one danger ahcud--and only
one. The present high prices Of cotton
may induce overplanting of that staple, and
corresponding neglect of food crops that
would cast wet blanket upon all our
prospects, Such course would be equal
ly dangerous whether tho season was good
or poor one. If a good one, tho oroT
would be so largo that it would throw
| prices below tho cost Of production; if {
poor one, the planter would not be able t
make cnds meet, especially if meats an,
b:caastuils should rule high. If our pco-
pic will, however, mako every effort to pro
dpcc Their own lool, and will maintain tn,