The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-15
Richest State In the South.


Atlanta has been for weeks the OBJ
jective point of delegations from the
various States and the large cities Of
the Union, gathering there to witness
the great Cotton States Exposition,
but so for nothing has equalled in
number the irruption of South Caro-
linians who invaded the Gate City on
Friday last, led by Governor Evans
| and Senator Tillman. There were
fully $4,000 Of them, but Atlanta s
generous hospitality was equal to the
task of taking care Of them. The two
distinguished leaders were greeted with
an enthusiasm greater, Governor At
kinson testified, than that accorded to
President Cleveland, and, although
Senator Tillman uttered the first dis
| cordant word Of sectionalism which
has yet been spoken to mar the uni
versal heartiness of good feeling pre-
vailing at Atlanta, his popularity
seemed to cover as mantle Of charity
his lack of tact and lax observance of
the proprieties. The military display
| was especially imposing, and the entry
of no State delegation has aroused
such enthusiasm or been greeted with
such applause as were the visiting
hosts of the Palmetto citizens.
The South Carolina exhibit in the
agricultural building is comprehensive
| and unique, and would be worthy Of
| the largest and most prosperous State
| in the Union. 1t shows variety of
products and an artistic skill in ar
| rangement which is surprising even to
the Carolinians who visit it. Not
only the products of the soil and the
dairy, but the mines, the quarries, the
mills, the forests, the fisheries, the
commerce and the education Of the
State are all illustrated by their noblest
productions.
Few realize that in the intervals Of
the more or less prolonged periods
when she.has been engaged in making
things disagreeable and lively for Uncle
Sam, South Carolina has been taking
seyen-league strides in the march Of
progress and development. The ship.
ment Of fourteen little bags of cotton
from Charleston in 1875, constituting
the entire crop of the State, has swell.
ed until now the State raises one-thir.
teenth Of the entire American crop,
and its value last year was $40, 900, 900.
The handful Of rice from a wrecked
ship, planted in flower garden in
Charleston a century ago, has expand
ed until it amounted in single year
to 1864, 900 bushels. Over II, 800, 900
bushels Of corn were harvested in 1894
ASouth Carolina farmer a few years age
won the 81 ZOO prize for the greatest
yield of corn to the acre in competition
with the entire United States, his yield
having been 254 bushels to the acre
Otherrecords are 180 bushels of oats, 81
bushels of rice and $500 pounds Of
seed cotton to the acre.
Nor is the development Of manu-
featuring in the Palmetto State any
less marvellous than the productive
ness of its soil. In line with hel
sister States of the South, and in ad
vance Of many ofthem, South Caroline
is experiencing an industrial awaken.
| ing which gives splendid opportunity
kfor the development Of her rich re
sources. South Carolina is going
steadily forward building mills. II
1880 there were fourteen cotton mills
in operation in 1887 there were TWEEN
ty-nine; in 1894 there were ffty-nine
with charters issued to the LIST Of May
for five new mills. Her spindles ano
looms now number nearly ae-thirc
of the total number in the South. In
the single county Of Spartanburg there
are sixteen different companies anl
twenty-five separate mills, operating
49O,5 500 spindles and $4,000 looms
consuming annually 100000 bales Of
cotton, employing 5000 operatives
and paying out in wages and for cot
ton nearly $40, 900, 900 year. When
it is remembered that to the 13, ,000,.
900 spindles of the North the cotton
is hauled from l 1000 to 1900 miles, We
can better appreciate the advantages
to South Carolina Of setting up hel
millions Of spindles beside the cotton
fields, and eliminating the heavy cost
Of transportation. It is notable fact
that during all the stringency of the
past three years the mills and factories
of South Carolina found it profitable
to continue their work on full time,
with never stop, and even paid 8 to
to IL per cent. dividends, while the
other mills are to-day enlarging their
plants some so per cent. from the
earnings of the past few years. They
have not only stood the pressure Of
hard times, but have actually made
money, in some instances great deal
of money. The average cost for water
| power has been found to be about $1.70
| in South Carolina, less than any State
in the Union, and varying from IL
| cents upward, rarely or never 80 high
as $40. Water power is more abundant,
more conveniently situated as regards
railroads and markets, and in the cities
electric power may be had at cost Of
less than the fuel that would supply a
steam boiler.
South Carolina will one day be one
Of the most wealthy and prosperous
States in the Union, if it will strive to
attain more exalted standard of po-
litical honesty, turn away from politi-
cal charlatans and demagogues, cherish
the teachings of the Federal Consti-
tuition, and encourage the economic
policies which have made her what
she is to-day in prosperity and sub
stantial Worth.-NeW York M0n and