Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-02-24
Manufactures.

/ This subject is agitatng the public mind oil
over this and other Southern States. That the
South has many advantages over the North for
manufacturing proftably is seen and generally
admitted, In point Of climate, Of raw material,
Of timber, Of cheapness of labor and living, not
to speak Of the number and accessibility Of
water powers. These advantages have given
rise to much discussion by tho press Of late
years, but the want Of capital has prevented,
what oil admit would be profitable, from taking
tangible shape. The fruits Of these oft repeated
opinions are now taking hold of the public
mind and the manufacturing development of the
South will advance rapidly in tho next ten
years. little surplus money is aooumulating
in every county, which as it increases will not
only seek Investment, but will result in manu-
factories as tho enc most likely to return good
profit. Enterprises Of this kind no longer need
the advocacy Of the press to preserve recol-
lection Of them and their advantages, but
money, self,interest, the motive power in the
material world, has mnde them subject of
public agitation and will soon make them cub.
jeots Of public action. We alluded to This spirit
IN our last issue and published extracts from our
exchanges showing the current of public opi-
mon. The items given below point in tho same
direction and give reasonable hope that the day
is not far distant when by the judicious invest
ment Of the profits of our agricultural staple We
may double or qnadruple its value through mo-
ehinery run at homo and by home capital by
home capital We mean both that created here
and that induced to come here for investment
because OF the benefits promised. Generally
speaking among individuals the rich know and
care very ltlo about the trials and difficulties.
the hardships and sufferngs, the struggles and
failures Of their poor neighbors. They oil
however watch their successes and as man
prospers he finds friends where he never dreamed
Of them and when he no longer needs them.
So with communities. For fifteen years tho
North has indulged in hypocritical cant about
the negro and the proper way to Southern re.
cuperation. The fact is the North prefers the
poverty of the South to its development, and
ii they can destroy confidence in the security
Tor property in our local governments so as to
prevent the influx of capital and can keep our
productions and expenses at level, they CON
still flourish in clover and grow richer. This
however they cannot do, and as the surplus
capital in the South goes into manufactures IL
Will receive large nccessions from Northern
capital. They know we'll and appreciate cur
advantages over theirs and when once tho tide
OF manufacturing enterprise sets fairly in thew
will be among the foremost TO become parlioi
pants in the fruits of it. Until this happens by
our growing wealthy and independent at homo,
their feelings and interests alike withhold their
MD and influence. When under the absence of
usury law money commanded hero from l8 TO
~ per cent. against to per cent. in New
York, it did not como here for loan or investment
on the best Of security. In fact 1t could now be
had here at per cent. moro readily than at 18
then. Wewerc then poor, needy and disressed;
we ore now becoming prosperous and happy; in
fact independent Of tho North and of Northern
capital 90 far as concerns our living and develop
Ing our resources. There is enough work in the
world for oil, and every section can.prosper and
grow rich, but the South hos advantages which
in time will make her not only wealthy but
desirable section to live in. The firm hold tho
idea OF manufacturing has taken in the people
OF this State is seen from the following items:
1t is fixed fact that Camden will in tiuc time
be blessed with cotton factory. Subscriptions
ore being made and It is thought that at least
$50,000 will have been secured by the first dav
Of March next.
THE new cotton factory at Charlotte will
soon be supplied with 5000 spindles, employs
ing fifty hands and consuming Eve bales of
cotton daily.
II as many cotton factories are built in
this State ae are now talked about and
under way, South Carolina will vet be-,
come, 70 large extent, manufacturing
State.
The Langley Manufacturing Company in
this State has declared ze per cent. dividend
out of the profits of the last six months.
making eleven per cent. paid by this com.
pany to its stockholders for the yoar 1880.
The Camperdown Mills, in Grecnyille ara
unable to Gil thoir orders with the nresent
force employed, and the superintendent is
forced to run all night as we'll as all day.
lie has issued circulars calling for two hun
dred and fifty additional operatives to
whom good wages md steady work are
promised.
Tho factory building at Rock Hill has been
finished, and the machinery is arriving and
being placed in position. The Herald sava
large quantity of chatting and number
of cards arrived a few days ago, and will
be put in their proper position at once The
superintendent of the factory is of the opin.
ion that the mills will be in readiness to be
put operation by the last of April.
just now there is widespread and deem
feeling PREVALENT amongst our people
throughout the State to fostor the manufnc-
turing interests of the country. Tho last
Legislature chartered several corporations of
tho kind, and the companies are moving for.