Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-28
THE SOUTH AND EXPANSION.
Sensible, StatesmanIike Discussion OF a
Great Question.

Senator McLaurin in Lcslio's Weekly.
"Ifor the future, national expan-
sion is the hope Of the South. Her
industrial developments will be hind
cred and finally circumscribcd with
out it. With the new markets it
will create and the power it will give
her in all industrial pursuits, it
means the enrichment of the South
and the nation. The people of the
South cannot now fully realize tho
industrial progress made in that sec
ton in the last two decades, nor
properly appreciate tho transcend
ant advantages to grow out of ex-
pansion. The transition from a
condition of business paralysis, pro-
duccd by disastrous war and re-
construction trials, to ono of mar
velous industrial activity and devel-
opmcnt, has been so sudden and un-
expected that it really seems to them
a mirage. When they fully awake
to the true situation and realize the
wonderful advantage made and the
industrial possibilities of the South,
they will be able to see what the
South will gain by national expan-
sion.
"What is the true condition Of The
South, and what is necessary for its
continued Improvement She has
a monopoly of the agricultural staple
of cotton, which is the world wide
influence. No other country has
ever had such monopoly Of any
staple. In 1893 the cotton crop was
1l,274, 800 bales. The cotton grow
ing region measures $4,000 square
miles. With the proper demand and
other favorable conditions, there are
cotton soils enough in the South to
produce 100,000,000 bales. There
are enough horses and mules on the
farms of the cotton growing States
to-day to make Il crop Of 50,000,000
bales. There are 1,500,00O,000 pco-
pie in the world. Possibly 100000
are interested in the growing, hand
ling and manufacturing Of cotton,
with about 100000 more interested
III It's sale. The balance Of the human
family arc consumers. In addition
to this, there are $40, 100000 invested
in oil mills, an industry still in it's in
fancy. Thcre is no bi-product in
the world whose possibilities com
pare with those of cotton seed.
"!he South is making rapid strides
in the manufacture Of raw cotton.
In 1880 she had GG7,0 900 spindlcs
representing a capital of sd 100000
Today she has over 100000
spindlcs and more than &125, ,0OO,-
600 invested in cotton mills. There
arc mills now under construction
representing about S25 5,000,0 900 more
With the same rate of increase 70,
the next twenty years (and it viii
be accclcratcd), the South will have
over 25,000,000 spindlcs, represent.
ing over SG00,000,000 invested. In
1890 her mills consumed about
100000 bales of cotton. In 1920
they will consume 100000 bales
With the advantages of climate
cheaper labor, coal and other sup
plies, she can compete with the
world in furnishing cheap cottor
goods.
"Thc demand for these goods is
sure to grow with civilization. Now
only about half the people in the
world are supplied with cotton goods
made by modern machinery. The
production Of manufactured goods is
now nearly double the amount ncccs
sary Tor our population. New mar
kcts must be found for this surplus
which will continue to increase. Ii
The East is q population Of tocmine
millions needing our cotton goods
which are so well suited to the eli
mate and people. Our Southern
manufacturers have already reached
this market, and with an increase o
our present trade and the opening
OF new markets, we can find an out
let for all our surplus products. Th,
Orient furnishes the only uncxplorct
and undcvclopcd market in tn,
world. The field of trade every
where has been occupied. What
dazzling picture it is to fancy th'
South raising $4,000, 900 bales of cot
ton and manufacturing half of it ant
realizing the rich rewards Of dispOsin.
OF the products in the East.
The South has a workable Goa
field of 1900 square miles, WITH {
development of only about 1,00'
square miles. Tho output at pres
eat is only about iO,000,000 tons
With the entire area developed, tn
amount Of coal produced would b