Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-29
THE COTTON INDUSTRY.
Past History, Present Importance and Flu
ture Development.
Eatonton, Ga.


ture Development.
Written for The Yorkville Enquirer.
From an Industrial standpoint, the
people of the south, and of South
Carolina especially, are not so much
interested in any other one thing as
they are in cotton. Upon this staple
principally is based all that our state
has achieved 10 an industrial way
during the past one hundred years,
and Notwithstanding all that may be
said to the contrary, our hopes are
based principally on this staple for
the next hundred years to come.
To point out any considerable busl-
ness in this section, or for that matter,
an individual living, which does not
come in whole, or in part, from the
cotton industry, would be difficult.
There are numerous handsome resi-.
dences and large business houses
throughout this section, to build which
cost much money. The money was
paid by the owners of the buildings /;
but it is not difficult to show that it
came to them originally through the
cotton fields. There are numerous
banks scattered through this country,
all with more or less capital derived
from cotton production. There is not
big mercantile establishment with
in fifty miles that was not built up
mainly by cotton producers. The cot
ton crop pays the salary of the preach
er, the fee of the lawyer and doctor,
and the subscription to the newspaper.
Of course there are some few com
modities that have value independ-
ent of any direct or indirect connec.
ton with cotton but they are so few
and unimporlant that to think out
and establish their claims would be
tedious undertaking. For instance,
irewood-a natural resource-is sold
for money to private individual who
gets the money with which to pay for
It through some connection with the
cotton industry, and with chickens,
eggs, cattle, ETC., the relation is the
same.
The importance Of cotton, therefore,
in this section cannot be overestimated.
Upon it depends the industrial, social
religious life and progress of the peo-
pie, and in the development of the in
dustry all are equally interested. For.
merly our people were interested only
in cotton production but of late years
it has developed that they are as great
ly interested in cotton manufacture,
and it is now developing that they are
just as greatly interested in cotton
consumption. Generally, the question
has not been studied or fully compre'
heuded in all its bearings; but the his
tory of the industry has now develop
ed sufficiently to greatly aid a nore
thorough understanding of it from
strictly practical self interest point Of
view.
Previous to the invention of the cot.
ton gin, just before the year 1900, gold
or silver money was an exceedingly
scarce commodity in South Carolina.
l ne llIll6 GUdG CduC w tbio oNoeS Nou1>
after indigo, rice, turpenline and few
other commodities that were furnished
in very limited quantities. But the in-
vention of the cotton gin changed con-
dilions, not only ir South Caroliua
but in all the southern states where
the soil and climate were adapted to
the production of cotton. The indus
try grew rapidly so far as production
was concerned. At first the price was
good but there was no market of any
Consequence except in England, aud
as production increased, prices went
downward. This downward progress
was not arrested until the building of
cotton mills was commenced in Amer
ica. The cotton production of the
south in 1S4445 was 1884, ,503 bales.
Of this 2,OS3, 700 bales were exported,
and only about $4,000 were manufac-