Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-07-17

worn out lands with that most valuable
fertilizer at comparatively small cost
Large shipments of this fertilizer are now
being made from Charleston to Northern
ports, and which might be manufactured
here, and sold cheaply to enrich the poor
lands Of our own State.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
invite your attention to Section 9,
Article 10, of the Constitution, which
directs the General Assembly to provide
for the establishment of an Agricultural
College, upon the basis set forth in an Act
OF Congress of July 2, 1862, providing for
the endowment of Agricultural Colleges
IN the several States. The act provides
! that each State and Territory shall receive
thirty thousand (s0,oOO) acres of public
land scrip for each Senator and Represen.
tat've that It may have in Congress
Under its provisions South Carolina vii
he entitled to eleven hundred and twenty.
five pieces (H25) of 100 acres each, rep
re'enting one hundred and eighty thousand
Iso,ooo) acres Of public land, worth in
tho market at present about one dollar Der
acre, or one hundred and eighty thousand
(ls0,00o)t )tdollars.
This scrip may be located in any State
or Territory having public lands subject to
sale, at one dollar aud twenty five cents
(sl.25) per acre. This act also provides
that the money arising from the sale of
such scrip "shall be invested by the State
'n public stocks, at not less than FIVE Isl
per cent. inter est, aud the interest shall be
appropriated for tho establishment of at
least one college, where the leading object
shall be, without excluding scientific and
classical studies, or military tactics, to teach
such branches as are related to agriculture
and the mechanic arts."
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND Ex1-
GRAFTON
A celebrated statesman has observed
that "Agricultu. e feeds us; in great
measure it clothes US: without it we could
not have manufactures, and we should not
have commerce; they will stand together,
but they will stand together like pillars, the
largest in the centre. and that is agricul-
ture.' Agriculture is, indeed, the life of
nation-its very existence, depending upon
the annual production of its soil. In view
OF tho vital Importance of this subject, and
of The vast amount of arable land in the
State now lying wild and falIow, or at best
poorly cultivated, I respect fully suggest the
passage OF an act creating State Board
OF Agriculture and Emigrati on, to consist
OF at least three capable persons, one of
whom should be practical chemi.t
This Board should be charged with the
duty Of investigating and making known
to tue entire country the agricultural re-
sources OF the State, and should be re-
qu'red to make an annual report 10 the
Legislature, embody the results of their
!nbors, and recommend such improvements
as they may deem necessary 10 the system
OF cultivation now .practiced among our
people, and such improved agricultural
machinery as to them may seem most
proper, together with the value and mode
Of using fertilizers. They should also set
forth tie attractions that our soil and eli
mate and mineral resourcss Offer to the
thrifty agr:culturists, mechanics and miners
Of our Northern States, and to those Of
Europe. They should also present tables
showing the cost Of living, the rates of
wages, the number and class of mechanics
needed in the several counties, and the
price Of land, and the te:ms upon which
it can be reated. Their report sho6ld be
furnished 10 the trades unions of this couu.
try and Europe.
This information, il properly distributed,
will, feel assured, start tide of emigra-
ton that will flow into and greatly enrich
the State. The. German and French
grape-growers will fludin our upper tier Of
counties soil and climate as genial to the
grape as their own vins.clad hills, being
precisely on the same parallel of latitude
as the great wine making districts Of Spain
and Portugal. The Swede aud the Dane
will find ample scope and verge for their
talents for mining in our gold and lead
regions, while even the Hollander may
exercise hi. cunning 10 draining the marsh
lands Of our. low conutry, which he may
get almost for the asking. Our rivers
abounding With noble falls, are running 10
waste, when they should resound With the
hum. Of thousands Of busy spindles. These
invite the manufacturer Of tho North, mho
will Aud labor among ua abundant and
ebesp, and may look from > Ais ovu door
upon fields white with the cotton that sup
Plies his mill
* ..,:> RAILROADS. -. ~,
;. According, ,toAlIs eighth census of the
United States, there were sine hundred and
eighty .ssvss, (ss7) miles Of railsosd in
\ soath Carolina Al the close Of the year
|lseo. 5uiIs 81 . coat Of twenty-five min.