Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-02-22

The idea is not to allow student to
specialize until he has sufficient
knowledge to specialize on, thus tend
ing to prevent any narrownoss Of
education, which is 30 likely to arise
from specializing too early in indus
Try.
What will be the effect of tue
establishment of this school?
The growth of this kind of tech
nical instruction will not b. confined
to - chool. Georgia and North
" have already established
similar schools; and when the
good effect of these institutions arc
fully appreciated, the probabilities
are that every Southern State will
have one or more such schools result
ing i'll the expenditure of much
money in the education Of our youths
in textile subjects, and the saving
of millions of dollars to our Southern
country.
Will not this Increased interest in
the manufacture of cotton increase
the production and lower the price,
thus working detrimental to the cot
ton producer?
Yes, and no. There is such a
thing as increasing the production
and lowering the price, not only
without loss, but with actual profit
to the producer. Manufacturing of
cotton must of necessity be the lead
ing factor in the future development
of the South.
Thirty-five years ago the South
practically monopolizcd the cotton
markets of the world. During this
time foreign countries, especially
India and Egypt, have made rapid
progress in the production of cotton
In order to hold the trade against
the competition Of foreign cottons,
it has been necessary for us to in
crease our production to about
100000 bales, while the price has
declined to about 5 cents. In view
of the fact that other countries can
and do supply the worlds demand,
when for reasons it cannot be OBJ
tanned from the South, we must look
for some other remedy for low prices
than the curtailmcnt of production.
India furnished large portion of
the cotton for the manufacturers of
the world during the period of 1861
'G5, when the production almost
ceased in the South. just as the
production is curtailed here it will
be increased elsewhere, thus keeping
the price down except for the year
or two it will take to get the incrcasd
started in other countries.
Estimating the worlds population
at 100000, 200, about 5O0,00O,O00
regularly wear clothing; about $780,
100000 arc partially clothed, and
25o,o0o,0o0 habitually go naked.
The worlds visible cotton crop for
the year 1898 1899 was a iLtlo less
than 100000 bales, averaging 800
pounds each. 1t would require
42,ooo,00O bales averaging 500
pounds each to clothc the entire
population Of the world. The above
figures, taken in round numbers from
statistics, show that over production
of cotton is not the cause of the pre-
vailing low prices. We must look
to some other way OF handling our
vast crop of raw staple than selling
it to other people TO be manufactured
and then sold back to us at three
times it's value, as compared to its
value in the raw material.
The average cotton crop in South
Carolina is about 100000 bales, or
5oo,o0o,o0o pounds. Disposing Of
this 500,000,000 at ccnts-*35, ,OO0,-
600; 500,000,0o0 pounds Of white
cloth at 20 ccnts--$100, 100000. This
would bring an increase OF *G5,000,-
600 into the State in favor of manu-
featuring over the sale of the raw
product. This amount would not 90
to the treasures of the factories
alone, but would be divided among
the farmers, first Of all, by an increase
it. price, which would probably aver
age one fourth Of cent per pound.
In addition to this, he would find
ready sale at increased prices for
wood, butter, chickens, eggs and
many other pcrishablc farm products,
which are now Of small value, owing
to the fact that there is no great
demand for them.
All other businesses would be
stimulated by this increase of cash
earning labor. The value Of all pro-
pcrty would be increased in
proportion to the increase of the