The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-04
FORECAST OF THE FUTURE.
what the Construction of The Panama
Canal Means TO the South.

Mr.. Editor: From the recent pro-
ceedings of Congress, it seems more
than probable the Panama canal will
be built. The construction Of this ca
nal will unquestionably benefit the
whole country. But the South will
be the great beneficiary of this stopen-
dous enterprise. TIE commercial i'm
portance will be wonderfully enchanced,
and southern development greatly ac-
eeIerated in every department. When
her genial climate, healthy location,
her undeYeloped resources, her rich
and cheap lands, her agricultural posi-
bilties, her abundance of raw material
for manufacturing puposes, her forests
of timber, her coal fields, her mineral
wealth, her churches, her schools, her
splendid institutions, her cities and
towns, her rail road facilities, her
navigable rivers, and deep harbors SO
faTorably located to the great cont
mental centers of population, the II
vigorating and fe-giying air of her
beautiful and romantic hills, the sub
lime and inspiring scenery Of her lofty
mountains, her moral, intelligent,
polite and hospitable people shall be-
come known las they certainly Will
the great tide of emigration which has
swept by her very doors to the West,
viii turn to the South, and thousands
of families will find happy homes IN
our Southland. This viii produce a
tremendous ind1strialism in which the
husbandman, the tradesman, the manu-
fac5urer and labor in allits branches,
will prosper. Cities will be, built
rivaling those of the North. Trade
will be diverted. and she will be the
center Of population, wealth and IN
telligence, the market place Of the
western hemisphere, and the envy OF the
world. These being facts, tnan which
It seems to me no speculative proba-
bility could be more self-eVident from
environing circumstances, ought not
the enterprising citizens Of the grow
ing little city Of Sumter to look we'll to
her mooring, take advantage of these
conditions and establish enterprises
shat will add wealth, and prosperity
to the community. Mr.. Editor, will
vou allow me to suggest but one of her
Opportunities. Over thirty thousand
bales of cotton has been bought IN
this market this season. On an aver
age Of forty dollars per bale this would
smount to over million of dollars.
This cotton if manufactured into cloth
would be doubled aud thribbled IN
value, thus Increasing the business OF
the town one or two millions Of dollars.
Is not this immense increase in the
volume Of business not worth the
serious consideration OF every lntelll-
gent citizen Of Sumter? What reason
can be given for this cotton being sent
to Spartanburg, Greenville, Camden
and other places to be manufacturer
instead of here? Have they more capl-
tai? are they more thrifty? are they
more enterprisings If SO, why so?
The city of Sumter lies in the midst
OF ona Of the finest cotton sections in
the State, fuel is cheap and abundant.
1t would give employment and conse-
ouently contentment to the working
classes, more to the capitalist and
general prosperity to the town and
county. Yet Sumter quietly sleeps
over this golden opportunity, lets other
people become tee recipient OF this
great financial boon, which IS the
natural, might I not say inalienabie,
right of her. own people. Nature has
certainly given the South the monopoly
IN the production of cotton, and cotton
goods II all probability will always be
used and in demand: hence in the
erection Of cotton mills yoI not only
establish a business;for the present,
but business which will be the herl-
5age of generations to come. But leav-
ing out the benefits which would
naturally accuer to those investing IN
this profitable field Of industry, / ask
If it is not the patriotic, philanthropic
moral and religious duty OF those able
: 60 do so, to establish these mills, not
only for their own gain, but to give
EMPLOYMENT to the poor, thus enabling
them to support their families, rather
than stand idly by and see them pass
into other hands.
Then let the enterprising citizens Of
Sumter at once organize and build
cotton mills to manufacture every
bale of cotton brought to this market.
It might be said they have not the
skilled labor or means. Do as Romu-
lus did when he founded Rome. In
vite population, invite capital, invite
brain, invite Drawn. If this was
systematically and inteiligently done
under the auspices Of some properly
constituted authority, rest assured 1t
would not be long before the smoke
of the furnace would be seen, and the
hum of the wheels would be heard Of
another factory, the hearts of Nthe
people would be made glad, and the
material prosperity Of Sumter would
be wonderfully and permanently en-
hanced. Let them but remember the
adage, ce nest que de PRIMER pas
que coute.
Nj. Editor, population, patriotism,
intelligence and wealth, and not
square miles make great people. Iu
substantiation of this proposition let
me bring to your attention few hist
orical facts with which all your readers
are familiar.
Egypt with her learning, her arts,
her pyramids, her sphinx, her lab
arynths, and her populous cities only
extended along the river Nile few
hundred miles.
Palestine where transpired those