The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-28

d. d CiIIllACE auO douAidUly auS TCi .
this purpose. There are also the rich
est deposits of bone fertilizers to be
found on the continent. These de-
posts extend over many miles, and
range in thickness from 6 inches to IL
feet, and in some cases from 500 to
1, 900 tons are found on a single acre.
There is large amount of capital in.
vested in the development Of these de-
posts, and the output in 1870 was
valued at 81, 100000. There are also
rich deposits of manganese, and pot
ash can be cheaply made in the for
ests. Among other sources of wealth
is the lurpentine industry. There are
many turpentine stills in operation,
and the value of the annual product
of this article of commerce, which is
used for so many purposes is s3,OOO,-
600.
ADVANCEMENT IN MANUFACTURES.
AS to advan cement in manufactures,
the State of South Carolina ranks
among the first in the South. The
census shows that the increase in
South Carolina during the period from
1870 to 1890 was very marked, being
as follows: Capital invested in these
industries in 1870, SIS, 400, 41S; in 1890,
$29, ,276, ,261, or nearly 900 per cent. in
crease. In number of hands employed
the increase was over 400 per cent, in
the amount paid for wages, $50 per
cent, and in manufactured products,
$31, ,926, ,6S1, or about $50 per cent.
Since 1890 all manufacturing indus.
tries have increased very rapidly.
Our principal manufacturing cities
in South Carolina are Columbia and
Spartanburg. Columbia, the capital
of our State, is beautifully situated
and rapidly becoming :an important
commercial center. Eight railroads
concentrate here and bring cotton
from all parts of the State to the very
doors of her mills, some OF which are
themselves almost surrounded by cot
ton fields. 1t is a curious fact that the
CRANKY mill was built in a cotton
field, and its brick foundation in.
closed patch from which cotton was
picked while the walls were going up.
The Columbia Canal, built by the
State at cost of nearly 81, 900, 600,
furnishes one of the finest water pow
ers in the South. It is estimated at
over 10000 horsepower, with more
than IL, 900 developed. A power plant
developing 5000 horse power has just
been completed for electrical trnsmis-
sion. This is one of the finest plants
in the country, and the second largest
operated by water power in the Unit
ed States.
Columbia has four cotton mills-the
Columbia, with a capacity of 1000
operatives and $4,000 spindles; the
Richland, with 500 operatives and 27,-
600 spindles; the CRANKY, with 800
operatives and $4,000 spindles; the
Congaree with 200 operatives and
1000 spindles. These mills consume
$4,000 bales of cotton annually and
furnish labor for a large number of
people. The Columbia Hosiery Mills
consume about $50, 900 pounds of yarn
annually. The Allen Batting Compa.
ny consumes about 1900 pounds of
cotton daily. Taken as whole the
cotton manufacturing interests OF Co.
lumbia are highly satisfactory.
Among the other industries are cotton
seed oil mills, phosphate companies.
brickyards, ice factories and many
other minor establishments. In fact,
Columbia is fast making her mark as
a business city as well as being the
capital of the State.
COMPETING WITH THE WEST.
There are many other manufactur.
ing establishments in other portions OF
the State, of which I have not time to
mention. In fact, the State is being
thickly dotted with them, and in al
most every case they have become
profitable to all concerned. Within
the narrow limits of speech it is i'm
possible to touch upon every point,
and while I have omitted many such,
it is not because of a want of interest
in their success. I will make this f.
nal statement to all who may feel in
clined to make a personal examina.
ton of the resources of our State, that
in my opinion the real situation is far
better than I have given. To us South
Carolinians the memories of onr State
are very dear. The record of its
statesmen and soldiers are kept bright
and fresh in our minds. We remem-
ber it was the home of Calhoun,
Hayne and McDuffe. 1t was the
birthplace of Marion, of Morgan, and
of Sumter. Its soil has been drenched
with the blood of the Revolution as
we'll as that of the war between the
States. The bones of its brave sons
have bleached on every battlefield
from Bunker Hill to Appomattox.
Amid it all the people of South Caro-
lima have shown a courage, tenacity
of purpose, and devotion to their
State well worthy the emulation of all.
The great West is no longer the
promised land to the swarming mil
lions of the North and East. Its op |
portunities and advantages open to |
the ordinary individual are nearly ex-
hausted, and the stern logic of events
have shown that at first many were
more apparent than real. Not that I
would attempt to injure or take from
those brave men and women who
faced hardship and danger in settling
that portion of our country even a |
fraction of the credit their due, yet I
can not escape the conviction that had
the time, labor and money practically
wasted or lost in the West been d.
verted to the South it would have
made that section the paradise of
America. As it now stands, immigra
ton has reached its limits on the North
and West, and the home seeker must