The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-14

one hundred and thirty. three stores. In
these is employed a capital of about ST.
100000. The general condition of mer-
chandising has been somewhat disturbed
during the last year on account of the
cry against towns raised in the campaign
of 1890 and the effort to centralize trade
into Alliance stores, as they are wont to
be called, aud also on account of the un-
settled condition Of the country and the
failure of crops. However, it is to be
hoped that ere the trade of 1892 opens
up confidence will be restored and things
will again move forward smoothly.
Unfortunately for all concerned the
credit system prevails in this County, but
not so extensively as it did few years
ago. Some, and not a small number,
either, of our most successful and pros
porous farmers pay cash for supplies,
even if they have to borrow the cash.
But for the lien law it seems almost i'm
possible for the poorer classes to secure
credit at all, and, consequently, on ac-
count of the unfortunate credit system
of living year ahead, would not be able
to secure at first the necessaries Of life.
This operates against the interest of both
the merchant and his customers. But at
present it seems from the merchants
standpoint a necessity for the poorer
classes, still its repeal to take effect q
year ahead might work we'll, but even
then, with the homestead laws as they
are, it would deprive most of the poorer
people of credit, and hence would force
some, and perhaps great many, to be-
come laborers or choppers, and thereby
place them entirely under the control Of
the landlords, who would have to supply
everything needed. This is thought by
a great many of the landlords to be the
better plan, but there is difference of
opinion on this point And, then, again,
not all of those who have land to be cul.
tivated by others are able to furnish
their troopers.
We next come to speak of the condi-
tion of the farmers who, according to
some croakers, have been getting poorer
and poorer every year. While we do not
believe such is the case, still we are quite
sure that the condition of the agricultu-
rists at the close of 1891 is not very good.
Our people are discouraged at the low
price of cotton. There were good many
of our farmers who held their cotton
of 1890 under advice of the Alliance,
hoping for better prices which did not
come. A great deal was lost to the far
mers in this way. Under the same hope
of forcing up the price of cotton great
many farmers planted large cotton crops
and contracted large debts in producing
and gathering the same; but the crop
has been so short and the prices so dis
tressingly low that their condition is very
unfavorable. Also, the cost of producing
and gathering was greater in 1891 than
usual. Our people live too fast and spend
too much.
If, however, there had been full crop,
the people would have been in condition
to stand the low prices, but such short
crop with the prices so low rests heavily
on the poorer classes. Notwithstanding
all this, Anderson County has the most
prosperous farmers TO- be found in the
State. These things will probably work
out for the veal of our people after all,
for they now seem more determined than
ever to try new crops and increase the
acreage of corn and small grain. More
oats have been sown than usual, and
more rye, barley and clover patches
planted. The cotton acreage will be
considerably reduced. Farm labor seems
scarcer than usual, many of the poorer
people having moved to the towns and
factories and some having gone West.
However, our farmers do not make their
contracts so early as this, and it may turn
out that they will be able TO get as much
labor as is needed, but it does not seem
80 now.
The farmers regard the lien law as q
necessity, and really it seems to all under
the present condition of affairs, but some
think it would be 8 blessing to repeal the
lion law, provided the homestead is also
repealed
There are four banks in this CountXg
The Bank of Anderson, witl<a1a +
100000, the Farmers - ~ !.
Bank With cap'An E S &
Bank OF Pend!bioosa
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