The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-07-26
MANUFACTURERS,
SALUDA MILLS, NEwBERRY CO.

iNessfs. Editors Il asserted in my
first letter that Massachusetts,, Rhode
1 Island. and other countries were built
I'D by our patronage and produce.
| wish to show in this letter how that
! was done.
Before Independence the British
American colonies were compelled tc
trade with England only; this gave
England the benefit and profits OF theil
trade. She set her own price upon
what she bought from them, as we'll as
upon what she sold to them. and she
sold to advantage to other European
nations. This gave England superior
advantages over her colonies, and other
nations, and she rose with rapid strides
to wealth and power. Not satisfied
with these advantages, she began to
exact tax, or duty Oh her exports tc
the colonies without allowing them
representation in Parliament. This
policy could not 60 on without increaS-
ing the duties and placing the colonies
completely at the mercy Of the mother
country. Then came on the war OF
Independence; and the colonies were
prociaimedfree and independent States.
But this did not change the tide OF
trade materially. Liverpool has been
the mart and emporium of our cotton
trade to this day; and the manufacture
of our cotton, combined with her own
agriculture has made England one OF
| the greatest nations OF earth. She can
| 90 thousands of miles for her cotton,
| and fully compete with any other
country. in its manufacture.
wish to show that TO make coun-
try great and prosperous, agriculture
and manufacture must be combined.
England connected her manufacturing
and agricultural interests, and enjoyed
our patronage and commerce; and she
has done as much as any other coun-
try. if not more, in civilizing and
outstanding the world. The manu-
facturer and agriculturist constitute
the wealth of the country, all others
| are consumers. When the mills are far
from the cotton, there are great
many middle men to be paid-the
merchants profit, drayage, storage,
shippage, insurance and other tolls.
During the first half century OF the
United States. manufacturing by ma
chinery was not much practised, but
was mostly accomplished by hand.
About the year 1928 some OF the New
England States began to turn their
attention to manufacture. Before that
time all the laws conformed to the ag-
ricultural interests OF the country.
The Southern States having the advant-
age in climate, soil and productiveness,
seemed to have the ascendency in the
government during this time; and most
OF the presidents were chosen from
the Southern States. The New Eng
land States seeing that they could not
prosper by agriculture alone, to any
great extent, from their inferior
Climate and soil, turned their attention
to manufactures. There they met a
powerful rival in Great Britain which
had controlled the trade up to this
time. The New England manufactuI-
ers asked Congress to levy protective
tariff on certain imported goods, so as
to let the American manufacturer
have the advantage i'll price. The cot
ion States opposed these measures
with all their might, South Carolina
taking the lead. and in 1888 they nulli-
fed the tariff Act.
This WAS the commencement of
dispute which was destined to do great
evil to the cote Il States. They accus-
ed the Northerh manufacturers of op-
posing free traG ,and States rights, and
impoverishing The Southern producer.
At the same time, New England and
old England attacked African slavery
at the South. III 1860 the dispute termi-
mated in the bloody war of Secession,
and finally in defeat to the cotton
States. The co :troversy had strange
effect; instead Of impoverishing the
manufacturers. it built them up. The
cotton planters were preiudiced against
Southern manu- .acture; they neglected
to support the!.' neighbors, but threw
their patronage in favor of the North,
and built up strong monopolies there.
Ny opinion is that when New England
freed the Souti ern slaves, she killed
the goose that laid the golden egg. If
slavery had continued, the cotton
States would ha re gone on as they We're;
they were salts led to make cotton with
the slaves, and dcXchange it for Northern
| goods. But the Southern people have
opened their eyes. No longer able to
buy slaves, they are investing their
money in factories. If England mas
been rendered so rich and powerful by
combining agriculture and manu-
facture, when she had to send two
thousand miles for her cotton, and
other material to be manufactured,
what ought country to do that has
| the cotton at her doors-without any
expense in shipping or hauling? BY
combining the agricultural and manu-
| featuring interests. as in New Eng
land and old England, agriculture is
brought to the highest perfection the
| producer feeds the manufacturer, the
manufacturer clothes and furnishes
the agriculturiSt. The middle interests
that lie between the two industries, are
what make the difficulties. They are
continually striving for better profits,
better trade, better laws and regula-
tons for their business. This creates
| TAXES, ldTlllS d'lt. ICrTnlc W Dc COllcCl-
ed out Of the ] roducer.
The remedy Tor all this is to bring
the mills to the cotton. Let our farm
ers take stock in factories in their own
neighborhood where the cotton can be
ginned, spun, wove into goods:
| Those goods will find market. and
the ships of other nations will land at
our ports to be loaded with our goods;
and our cities will increase in size and
wealth.
The Saluda Mills site. with its splen-
did water power, is nine miles south
OF Prosperity, twelve miles north OF
| Leesville and Batesburg and thirty
five miles above Columbia, on the
| Saluda River. j. H. B.
Personal.
Mr.. N. H. Gary has gone to Glenn's.
Judge Crawford, OF Georgia. is dead.
Prof. Bittle is srunmering in the
| mountains.