The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-12-07

ZerS, the culture OF frult6, ana o1
the grape, and the formation Of
roads.
/ recommend that a liberal ap-
preparation be made to be distri
buted in premiums as prizes for
excellence in agriculture and the
mechanic arts among the several
counties and the State Fair at Co
lumbis, with the understanding
that an equal amount from private
sources, be raised for the same
purpose by the State Fair and
county fairs, respectively.
tnospHATEs.
Attention is called to the elabo.
rate and suggestive report of Pro-
fessor Charles u. Shepard. Jr., In
spector Of Guano and Fertilizers.
1t presents in most forcible rs.
pect the magnitude and Importance
of this new field of enterprise and
industry, it's rapid growth and
probable extension. In this con-
nection, your attention may be
usefully given to the law of last
session, granting to certain parties
therein named the right to dig and
mine in the navigable streams of
the State for Phosphate. The re.
ceipts thus far to the State from
that Company have been nineteen
hundred and eighty-nine (S1.9S9)
dollars. In my Judgment, further
Legislation is imperatively required
to protect the interests of the
State in this matter. 1t is believed
that with moderately efficient ad.
ministration Of the affairs of this
valuable property, q sum may be
realized to the Treasury sufficient
to pay the interest OH the debt of
the State, or its equivalent. The
O. Institution provides for a uniform
and equal rate of assessment and
taxation, and that only the pros
cveds of mines and mining claims
shall be assessed. The i quiry
may be suggested, whether the
present mode of assessing the
Phosphate lands is the most ad.
vantageous to the State, and equi
table to the taxpayer, and whetl,.
or some change is not demanded.
TIE LAND COMMISSION
Was, undoubted, one of the wisest
and most benificent projects of the
State; but, from the odium which
has been brought upon it by
charges, freely made, of pecula-
tion. and personal purposes in its
administration, the results have
not been commensurate with tic
sagacity and philanthropy of its
objects. About 100000 have
been expended, and thousands of
acres of land have been purchased,
but up to this time only compar.
atively small portion of the land
has been sold to actual settlers
and the tardiness of the Commits
sion should be subject of inve4ti
CATION by the Legislature. This
investigation should be thorough
and searching, by intelligent and
honest men, who should examine
fairly and fearlessly into alleged
abuses, which have excited wide.
spread comment and denunciation.
Desiring to investigate these al
legged abuses myself, I applied to
an eminent law firm, in this city,
but was informed that, owing to
the imperfect Legislation which
characterized the Act. my power ov-
err the matter was very limited and
questionable. Whatever abuses
have characterized this agency and
paralyzed its usefulness, are main.
" traceable to its organization, by
which its authority was delegated
to five Commissioners, and by it's
divided responsibility, in constitut-
ing any three of them, whose as.
sent, obtained either Individually
or i'll the aggregate, quorum to
decide all questions brought before
them. l will make no recommen-
dation upon the subject of modify
inc these provisions, but would re-
spectfully ask that the Executive
be relieved from his share of the
control and responsibility of the
of it's affairs, of which
he is entitled, under the law, to
one.fifth, while, in public estima-
ton, he is held responsible for all
the faults and abuses connected
with its entire supervision. He
would take the liberty, however,
of suggesting the entire separation
of the Commissioner from politics,
and restricting him to the direction
Of it's Legitimate operations. Your
attention is called to the fact, that
from the money already received
for the lands sold, as we'll as those
which are to be sold hereafter,
there is no provision made for it's
safe keeping, other than the per.
sOnal responsibility of the Gon.