New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-31
CHANGES IN THE SOUTH.
INDUSTRIES OF THB COTTON BELT.
,,.op,,,pAy HABITS ~ THE NEW sOrTH-RE-
.,,DKABI.E DEVELOPMENT OF COTTON
MANUFACTURING - PROTECTION
GAINING GROUND.


NANUFACTURING - PROTECTION
GAINING GROUND.
,.yov . STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
cb,r,eston s. c., Dec. 26-Poltical feeling is So
,.orso in South Carolina that II is almost i'm
,.,,cahle for a stranger from the North TO hear
la laarn about anything else. If conversation
:. atv,riei II other subjects momentarily, the
,si,., viii be short one, and the train will
.nooa,.y be trundling along on the main track
,dc~ full pressure Of steam. Tillmanism is de-
..n,o, nv its advocates with fanatical ardor as a
...,cl of social regeneration, and its leader is
oues with rampant hcro-worship as a tribune
= ,,, Main people, who ha. founded new order
., democratic politics. Tnlmanism is denounced
-, conservatives with equal passion as central
tod despotism. as demagogue Socialism without
= rodecming trait and as a bligh, upon the honor
/and prosperity Of the state. Men are so deeply
,irred bv the frenzy Of politics that they are in
capahle of talking about anything else: and the
ororossing passion is stimulated by phenomenal
legislative industry. A single months session Of
tho LEGISLATURE has been occupied with projects
for radical election changes salary reductions,
run;cjpal police reorganization dispensary
amendments judiciary reform, educational meas
ures and innumelable social and agrarian
forms,
language on the streets the extrpsxion of foxes
IN their holes There has not been dull hour in
sou;b Carolina politics since Governor Tnman
came n the front His most uncompromising
enemy must at least admit that he has deepened
nublic interest in questions of the day.
Il is not OF Tillmanism. but Of the social prog
ress and the industrial movements in the State
that am trying to write to-day. Any one who,
Wis tod in
eighteen years Witnesses most astonishing
change in the appearance Of the cities and rural
communities and in the habits and spirit Of the
neope The land was never under more thor
ough and systematic cultivation than Ii is now.
and with all the lamentations over scent cotton
and ruinous conditions of agriculture there have
never been mole signs of thrift and prosperity.
Manufactures are to be seen in the upands and
IN the lowlands, and warehouses have multiplied
IN the large cities. There is hustle In the streets.
with a general sense of brskness activity and
buoyancy Ancestral pride is now remns-
cence. Sef-respecting labor is badge OF dis
tnction which the sons Of the first families d.
not disdain to wear. They are taught TO earn
their own living in counting-room. Office or fac
tory as a matter Of course. because work IS non
orable and lack Of it is degrading. The social
atmosphere promotes business activity in every
craft, profession and station. Men are proud Oh
their success and ascribe it to their own working
capacity. The new South is a workaday South
following the best fashion Of a toilsome centui..
Columbia is no longe, dreary idle and des-
olate town but an activ, commercial centre, and
beautiful residence city. The enterprise re-
Quired for building a spacious and cont or'ao'e
hotel for tourists and invalids is alone lacking
to convert il into sani'arum for il Is Duiit
the range of hills as Aiken. and mas a
climate equally hea.thful There are few finer
drives In the South than those over the hillsiGes
Of Columbia, where broad prospects and long
vistas are constantly opening. As for Charles
ton, shabby, diapidated and wa-nigh aban-
doned after the war ii has renewed its youth
There are many handsome new structures in the
main streets. and hundreds of beautiful resi-
dences have been built during the last ten
years lnnumerabe as the signs of com
mercal activity in the business quarter. the con-
servatism Of the people has been safeguard
against changes radical as 70 trans. I'm the
identity Of old Charleston. dear always u the
Souherner's heart. The historic forts are in the
harbor the Battery. with its seawal. well-kept
green and stately mansions has been preserved
and beautified: 81. Mchaers graceful spire re-
mains one Of the best models Of the architecture
OF the Colonial period: Calhoun sleeps under
magnolia in ST Philips churchyard; the famous
portraits ara in the Council. Chamber Of the City
Hal; and fine old houses. rivalling in comfort,
adaptability TO climate and representative char
acter the more preentious residences Of tn,
last decade, are TO be seen al every turn II IS
not strange that the younger "a well as the
older generation loves Charleston. II is one Of
the loyeliest Of Southern Cites with strong char
acterstics Of its own and a distinguished air OF
high bred conservatism. where the young men
whose blood is pulsng with the energies Of the
South not ashamed to say: We are
what we are because or fathers were here be-
fore us"
Charleston has been surpassed as cotton port
by New Orleans, Galveston, Savannah and Nor
folk, but the completion Of the jetues with
twenty-three feet Of water on the outer bar
promises to aid it in regaining it's commercial
supremacy. 1t already boasts Of having an an
nual trade Of over $70.00000O and Is rapidly be
coming manufacturing centre. While the Gull
tivation OF rice has declined in the low country
and Savannah has diverted the old-time trade IN
naval stores Charleston IL keeping well abreast
Of all rivals in the industries which are
transforming the character Of the South. In that
respect IL is the eye and the brain or the Sou'h
now il has been in the past.
South Carolina is already in the lead among
Southern competitors In cotton manufacturing.
being surpassed in number Of mills by North
Carolina but cxceng both that state ana
Georgia in the number Of spndes ana looms, ana
In product. capital invested and labor employed
One OF the largest Of these mills Is In Charleston,
but they scattered all over the state. AZ
Spartanburg there are az many as twelve. ana
at Columbia. Greenvie. Abbeville. Bath. Gait
ney. Camden and other towns. spindles ana
looms are in motion. a large proportion OF the
cotton raised in the State is now consumed by
these factories; and with the projected mills IN
the towns already named and in Clifton, Chester,
Newberry Batesburg, Granitevllle, Backsburs,
Lockhart Shoals and other points ii Will not be
long before the whole crop Is used. While some
Of these factories have been built with New
England capital. nearly AL are In operation in
consequence Of the enterprise OF South Carolina
investors. At first only the cheapest yarns and
fabrics were manufactured, but finer goods are
already rnade--nriuf cloths ginPEans and shirt