Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-22

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Thee The sGoyernor1ext takes up taesubject o
4 Agriculture, and urges our farmers to take
progressive steps in the way of diversified
; kcropsiand improved implements ofhusbandry
I with the proper use Of the best fertilizers; in
stead Of concentrating SO large a portion o.
labor upon cotton, as heretofore has been the
policy Of the people of the South.
The Governor, suggests the importance Of
the passage of an act creating q State Board
! Of Agriculture and Emigration, to consist ol
4 atdeast three capable persons, one of whom
should be o practical chemist; and says:
-" This Board should be charged with the
dnty of investigating and making Known to
the entire country the agricultural resources
of the State, and should be reeuired'to make
san Gnnual reporNto the'LegIslature. embody
the: results of their labors, and recommend
such improvements as they may deem neces-
sarY in the. system of cultivation now prac-
T tieed among our people, and such improved
agricultural machinery as to them may seem
mostproper, together with the value and mode
of using fertilizers. They should also set
forth the attractions that our soil and climate
andsmineral resources offer to the thrifty ag.
.,ricultnrists, mechanics and miners of our
Northern States, and to those of Europe.
They should also present tables showing the
costof liying, the rates of wages, the number
zand$eiass of mechanics needed in the several
counties, land the price-ofland, and the terms
-npon which it can be rented Their report
should, be furnished to the trades unions of
this country. and Europe. ~
This information, if properly distributed,
will, I feel assured, start q tide of emigration
thatswill flow into and greatly enrich the
State. The German and French grape. grow
fers viii find our upper tier of counties d soil
and climate as genial to the grape as their
,own:yine clad hills, being precisely on the
same parallel of latitude as the great wine.
making districts of Spain and Portugal. The
Swede and the Dane will find apple scope
and verge for their talents. for mining in our
gold and lead regions, while even the Hollan.
der may exercise his cunning in draining the
marsh lands of our low country, which he
may got almost for the asking. Our rivers,
aboundiDg with noble falls, arc running to
waste, when they should resound with the
hum of thousands of busy spihdles. These
invite the manufacturer of the North, who
will labor among US abundant and cheap, and
naySlook from his own door upon fields
white with The cotton that supplies his mill"
The Governor ems-muchinterested in the
building of Railroads in this State, and says:
81 would recommend the fostering of these
great aud beneficent public enterprises by
the State, so far as may be consistent with
the proper maintenance of other important
public interests. At the same time that rail-
road corporations should be generously, lat
judiciously, fostere1, yet suitable laws should
be enacted TO regulate their tariff of charges
for freights and passengers, or otherwise they
may oppress all classes by their excessive
rates, and check the trade aud enterprise of
the}peoplc Railroads are the main arteries
of commerce. They stimulate production by
bringing the market within reach of the pro-
dueer. They give an impetas to every branch
of trade, while they promote unity and good
will among great populatlUnS, Dy enuoitH5
f"fhe N 70 crFcufErc freely among each other"
He especially recommends the easily COM
plction of the Blue Ridge Railroad, and is in
favor of the State furnishing all possible aid
towards the prompt building of this impor
tant link to unite our people, and cur COM
mercial emporium, with the great West. He
further says:
"In view Of tie great commercial impor-
tapce OF the Blue Ridge Railroad to all Sec
lons OF. the Ssate, aud of the large amount
Of its stock that the State already holds, l
recommend that your honorable bodies will
take into your earnest consideration the ex-
pediency Of furnishing the company such
timely aid IS will secure its speedy completion.
The Blue Ridge Railroad when completed
will give us a direct connection, upon the
shortest line, with The great West, with all
lis inexhaus,ible supplies of pork, beef, corn
and wheat, and will ihES cheapen many ofihe
necessaries Of life to Our people, and at the
same time furnish u valuable outlet for our
products. The city of Charleston is the
nearest of all the Atlantic ports to the great
States of the West, and by the construction
o! this road the wealth of that imperial region
will be poured into her lap.
She may then cast off her widows weeds
ard b9eOns again tue queen City q the
Sonth.".
I will hereafter submit, for the considera-
tion Of the General Assembly, plan Of State
aid 'for-this road, differing somewhat from that
set forth by its president, based upon the pro-.
pvsals Of the most competent railroad men.
pENIrENrIAgY AND JAILS
i invite your attention to the condition OF
the Penitentiary. Building, and recommend