The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-03
PROSPERITY IS REAL
Southern Development No Longer a
Matter of Prophecy
A MOST INTERESTING REVIEW
The Southern Bankers Furnish the
Manufacturers Record With Facts
and Figures.

past seasons cotton crop. about $780,
900 coo. as compared with the value.
1925 .0N0 900. of the crop Of the season
of lS9S-99. added to the large grain crop
in the South. has placed that section
in better financial shape than eve: be-
fore. K nov has agricultural pros
berity in correction with flourishtns
industrial interests. This is reflected
in a mass O. letters from Southern
bankers published in last weeks issue
of The Manufactures Record in reply
to inquiries made o. the2l for their
views:
~ Ca the general Southern business
situation pTegen. and prospective.
~ On the improvement in agricul-
tmal conditions as tending to place
the farming interests OF the South On
a solid basis for general prosperity.
leSse1ing their dependence upon crop
liens in making the coming crops and
resulting in a decrease OF farmers in
derteGness on personal credit and
mortgages.
| The responses wer prompt and graf
flying. Their general tenor is of de-
cidedly positive character. There is
agreement of opinion that finances IN
the South are upon a most healthy and
| substantial basis Increased banking
capital is recorded. larger deposits than
ever before are shown in national.
State ard savings banks and. at the
same time. much local money is going
into new Industrial enterprises o. into
the enlargement OF existing ones.
Many municipalities have been infused
with the spirit CT progreSSiyeness able
TO find expression in the general finan-
! cial prosperity and on many sides are
definite plans for the betterment OF
city prcrerties and the Improvement
CT streets. schools and roadways.
Prosperity in the South is no longer
a matter Of prophecy. writes one bank
er. Ii is an existing condition which
one may sec and feel or every side
and il is attributed Immediately 10 the
high price for cotton received by the
producer and 10 the immense gains
made by rhe actual holders OF spot
cotton. Back OF it all. though, Is the
wisdom gained by the farmers in the
situation five or six years ago when
much cotton was raised at loss. Then
the farmers were compelled to prac-
tice economy of the strictest sort in
all their methods and to turn their at
tention to diversified crops. Compul-
SIGN in manv instances had become
choice. and, consequently. the opening
OF the season found many farmers
ready to take the best advantage OF
the high prices Of cotton. Now they
are paying cash for their supplies in
stead OF subjectirg themselves to lien
merchants. they have relieved them
selves from their Indebtedness or have
reduced It to a marked degree. they are
swelling the bank deposits and in some
communities the dependence upon crop
lieLs and mortgages to make the COM
ing crop will be confined almost en-
tirely to the negroes and to the less
thrifty class Of small white farmers.
A note of caution. however. is sound
ed here and there in reference to the
tendency to spend the surplus earnings
OF the year in greater quantities OF
fertilizers and a larger number OF
mules, indicating the planting OF
more extensive acreage. in spite OF the
hard lessons of adversely. But the
general situation seems to be well
summed up in a letter from banker
Of the Middle South. who writes:
Municipal improvements in the way
OF electric lights. water-works and
schools arc increasing in all directions,
and planters and others who were
willing a few years ago to live in
houses without any comforts. now re-
uuire all modern conveniences such as
water. gas. electric lights, musical in
strumeEts and intact. everything that
money and culture will demand. This
applies to people in all walks OF life, or
course; however, it Is In proportion 10
their means that these comforts are
indulged in Comparing the price OF
cotton In lSSS-$2U I'D SIo per ooie
with the average price received by the
planter this year-not less than $65 per
bale on an ayeraee-cotton seed bring
ing 81 to Sc per ton more than 1t ala
a year ago. think you can set it down
that the South will realize for heT cot
ton crop and by-products. not counting
the large numbe. OF bales manufac-
tured into cloth and yarns. at least
s1O0. 900. 900. 1t is not only cotton that
We realize upon now. but every manu-
featuring interest that can he Thought
of is at present in the South and the
number Is being increased almost daily.
gi-ing employment to all kinds OF Ia
Dor. Many of these industries aie car
ried on by families. The South has
baen very free from strikes and this
fact commends it to those seeking new
homes. Our schools are on a good
basis. our people law-abiding and the
right hand Of fellowship is EXTENDED to
every one who locates among us. with
or without money. who shows dispo-
sition TO work and help build up this
part OF our great republic