Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-04-29

Central and South America there is
population of forty-two millions, living In
land unsuitable to the production of bread.
stutfs and meat and tho manufacture of
clothing, but producing in abundance
coffee, sugar, fruit, tobacco md other arti-
ccs of almost universal consumption in
this country. They have what wo need, and
we produce what they require. In the
interchange of the products of such coun.
tries for the products of the Northwestern
states Is the surest road to permanent and
progressive commercial prosperity.
The countries we havo described
now impott yearly from Europe and
America provisions and other articles
to the valuo of s356,0OO,O0O. Of
this amount the United States supply
only SCI 100000. The exports of these
countries amount to S43S, 100000 out of
which the United States take and consume
sl50,000,000. Tho United States there
fore, pay to these countries SS0, 100000 in
cash annually as tho difference between
what we buy and what We sell; while
Europe sells these countries every wear
products valued at 1895, 100000 and takes
from them in return their productions to tho
value of s2SS,0O0, 900. What Europe
now does tho United States can aud, We
trust, will ultimately do.
The bulk of the shipments FROM tho
Northwest to Central and South America
and tho West Indies now go by way of
Boston, New York or Baltimore, and our
imports from those countries take the samo
circuitous route. 1t need not be explained
that time and cost of transportation arc
essential considerations in opening channels
of trado. 1n this aspect Charleston has
surprising advantages as q substitute for
Northern ports.
The distance from Havana to Cincinnati
by way of Charleston is 800 miles less than
| by way of Baltimore, 500 miles less than
by way of New York, and 900 miles than
| by way Of Boston. Taking ST. Louis as
| the Western terminus, the gain in distance
is greater BY about $50 miles. Charleston
hns the same advantages as regards the
| whole Of the West Indies and Central and
South America. This, It should be re.
| remembered, is on the bnsis of the lines of
railroad already completed. The building
| of the short links now wanting East aud
West of the Blue Ridge would increase the
| saving in distance more than 100 miles, and
the new lines pnss through tho heart of
| one of the richest countries in minerals in
tho United States region whose resources
arc to day imperfectly known and entirely
| undcvcloped 1t should be noted also that
the completion Of the Carolina system of
Western railroads, whether by the old Blue
Ridge route to WulhulDa and Knoxville or
by the Asheyillc route to Wolf Creek and
Morrstown, will BIZ an extension of roads
running through settled country already
enjoying large and profitable business and
able to contribute to tho support of the
sections of road to bo built, or towards
sustaining the work until completed.
The lines which run from Charleston to
the Northwest do not need Western eonncc.
tons merely to make them profitable, for
their local and through business is already
extensive. Thoy look forward to Western
tradc as the great East and West lines of
the North have done, as means of doub-
line and quadruping their business.
We have shown that it will bo of im4.
mcnse advantage to Charleston to secure
direct connection with the West, and we
have shown likewise that it is to the inter
est of the Western States to prepare at
once to obtain an additional port of entry
and export as q means Of roaching tho
markcts which havo been hitherto practi-
cally monopolizcd by Europe. Charleston,
we arc satisfied, should be this new port,
inasmuch as it has special and peculiar id
vantages over other cities.
The Gulf ports, for example, cannot
compete successfully with Charleston, al
though to somo port on the Gulf tho West
has been accustomed to look for an outlet
for its produce and manufactures, receiving
by the same channel West Iudian and
South American produce. TO Charleston
the voyage is less perious, and insurance
and other charges are much less at Charles
ton than at the Gulf. The West moreover
has large and growing trade with Europe,
and for this trade, ns compared with the
Gulf ports, Charleston has no equal. BY
sailing vessel the usual run from Charleston
to British ports is ten days less than from
New Orleans. This difference alone is
sufficient to make it to tho interest of the
West to trado through Charleston instcad of
sending produce to greater distance to tho
Gulf to mako longer voyage by SEQ.
Charleston has the shorter line both
ways.
For European trade Charleston is upon
as good footing as the ports to the North.
ward, and as tho uso of steamships becomes
moro general any minor advantages the
Northern ports now possess will be done
away with. Inward frcights arc low, mas
much as :ho bulk of the present movement
is outward. Emigrants can be brought
into Charleston in safety and comfort at all
seasons, aud have peasanter as we'll as less
dangerous voyage than by Northern