The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-17
For the Abbeyille Press and Bauncr
A Scheme for Organizing the Abbevillc
Agricultural Society.

DEAR LEE: I promised last week
to propose in to,day's issue q scheme
by which the Abbcvillc Agricultural
Society can be placed upon substan-
ii Il and successful monicd basis. In
venturing upon such q proposition l
feel, that advance no idea that may
not be adopted by any planter with
out dctriment to his agricultural in
terests, and L cycludc all possible OPP
portunity for speculation. a planter,
(and by this word l mean any man
wholly devoted to the agricultural
development and success of his in
vcstmcnts) should never become
specnlator. One may speculate upon
bonds, stock, or cash capital, but spec
ulation upon agricultural Investments
involves the homestead, the family,
and hence infinges upon sacred
rights. ::
Disabused then Of any possible con-
nection with speculation, my idea is
simply this: That the planters Of ALI.
neville District, and all other citizens
OF every. and all professions, unite
and establish by contributions Of mon
ey, (notes or cash,) an Agricultural
Association for the mutual benefit Of
the whole District. Just rs if we
were about building Rail Road from
Abbcvillo G. II. to Savannah river,
let books Of subscription bo opened in
all parts Of the District. Stock will
be valued at ten {sl0) dollars per
share, and every man who is Il life
member Of the existing society will
be entitled to one share. All persons,
white or black, guardians and wards,
widows and orphans, fathers and sons,
mothers aud daughters, and especially
old bachelors, will be invited and ury.
al to buy our stock. This stock will
b exchanged for cash, or notes, or la z
tered for any possible kind Of produc-
tion at the market value and where en-
changed for notes such notes will bear
upon their face an interest Of ten per
cent. per annum. This is reasonable,
for any cash paid into the Treasury
can easily be loaned at an interest of
10 per cent.
[ further propose, that the holder
Of two shares DO allowed to exhibit
annually what he or she plcases. The
holder of one share (male Or felnaIe)
pays in addition one dollar to be er-
titled to the Same privilege! No sim
gle member to be allowed to take
more than ten shares, and an invest
ment of ten shares shall entitle tie
contributors family to all tho privi-
lcges of the Society. Interest upon
all notes given TO bo collectable annu-
ally on the first day of September,
and If not promptly paid to be i'm
mediately put in suit for collection.
Ahnotes given during 1870 will be
expected to pay one dollar on every
ten by the 1st September Of the same
year.
This is the scheme, now for its
practical workings. There are two
thousandwhite voters in Abbevillc
District; there are three thousand
colorcd voters. Suppose two thou
sand OF the whites, Including widows
minors, and orphans, take each one
share, and five hundred of the coloret
take each one share, we will have nj
Agricultural Stockholders Company
Of twcnty-f five hundred persons, eacl
investing ten dollars, or capital ot
twenty-five thousand dollars invested
at ton percent, and of course giving
us annually an$interest of twenty-fiv,
hundred dollars The first year W.
propose investing ono thousand dol
lars OF this amount in premium list
and the remaining fifteen hundred
dollars aa smprovements,upon the Fail
Grounds already purchased and pa;t
for: Thesgate money the first yea
will probably amount to one thousand
dollars, which will be paid back as =,
they 1M4eaHy be ayHae0tS, payine Sut s;k isene me-
cent. ope,their Investment for the bet,
eft Of tie District, and for tho enioy
ment, and advantages Otherwise dc
rived from these annual Fairs. ]
the Fair meetswith7Aoa better sdcugs
the second thai tie RftstS B year, (an
who will dpubsb t'tnatiT wilfsbs ar
nually on the increase ,in ,yelqe, an
imp6taAhcsR) the SAINT 6de 1thno1san
dollars will be paid for premiums, an
the surplus fifteen hundreds dollars {
interest 1accruihg will be added to th
gate money Of one Thousand dollar
and rsttfned II, tito 'stockholder as
aiyidend; 90 that really the stocl