The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-12-08

IS of great importance to our educa- i
tioual interests that it be restored and
devoted, as formerly. 10 the purpose
Of a State Military Academy.
Part Of the Interest Of the fuod
Donated by Congress- for the maintc-
nance of institutions for instruction III
agriculture and the mechanic arts has
been applied for some years to the
higher education Of the colored youth
OF ;ii' Ste in connection with Ciafn
University. The South Carolina Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arls for the special education Of the
white youth of the State in this con-
uection was opened in October last,
and is also supported by the Interest
OF this fund. These institutions'de-
serve, as an sure they will receive,
the fostering care of the General AS
senbly.
The Constitution Of the State makes
it the duty Of the General assembly
to provide for the maintenance of the
South Carolina University. 1t is rot
perhaps, within our power to renew its
sphere cf usefulness at this time, but
the direction of the Constitution
should be obeyed at as early day
as practicable. 4 university of high
grade. working 10 harmony with the
excellent colleges now in operation in
the State, would have the effect of
stimulating education in the public
schools aud would complete our edu-
caticnal system.
MATERIAL PROGRESS.
During the two months of the re-
cent political canvass, it was my for
tune to pass through every county in
the State except one. Devoted for
the greater part Of my life to agrlcul-
tural pursuits, and familiar with most
parts of the State, I was surprised and
gratifed at the diversified and abun.
dant harvests that we're everywhere
witnessed. Much of this was due to
propitious seasons, but it was evident
that more was due to improved meth
DDS of culture aud the hopeful energy
and increased thrift of all classes of
our people. To one cogDizant only
Of the recent past in the agricul-
ture of the State, some of the
results attained are scarcely credible.
saw one field of three hundred aud
fifty acres which l have since learned
yielded this year: as it had done last
year, three hundred and fifty bales of
cotton weighing 500 pounds each.
Over large area of the same county
the crops upon the uplands were as
luxuriaut as upon the finest alluTlal
soils. These uplands we're of the
character usual throughout the middle
belt of the State, which, in their un-
improved condition, would require
three or more acres to produce a bale.
Our farmers, too, are diverslfylng
their crops ard paying more attention
to live stock than formerly. The re-
suits attained in the small grains
oats partieularly-are equally sur
prisiug. From seventy.fve to one
hundred bushels to the acre on up
lands are credibly reported in many
instances; and the last fair Of the
State Agricultural Society exhibited
the largest and best display of live
stock | have witnessed in the State
since the war. The development
on the sea islands in special in.
stances, by means of the draiDage and
fertilization, in the production of the
peculiarly valuable cotton there grown,
is equally worthy of note. 1t has
equalled four aud five times the re-
suits formerly attained.
Near Charleston four and half
tons per acre of Bermuda hay have
been grown this year upon light, SAN
dy lands especially fertilizcd and in
another part of the State, upon ailuvial
lands not fertilized, meadow has
yielded for three years past an average
of two and half tons to the acre of the
same valuable hay, equal, if not su-
perior, in feeding quality to the best
Timothy, and selling in the adjacent
pvarkets at from twenty to twenty
FIVE dollars to the ton.
This improved condition of our
chief industrial interest is indeed
gratifying, and illustrates the capa.
bili:ies of our favored soil and climate
But our abounding resources will
sadly need development. Our min
eral wealth, our water powers, the
products Of our forests, eur agricul-
ture itself, have scarcely been touched.
The harvest is plenteous, but the
laborers are few" One of the most
pressing needs Of the State industrial.
ly is the advent of an Intelligent and
thrifty immigration commend this
subject to you aud l commend to
your care the recently established
Department of Agriculture, which,
wisely conducted, am persuaded, will
be most valuable agent in advancing
all of the material Interests Of the
State.
CONCLUSION.
These happy rcsults-this restora.
tion of the State to the methods of
good government; this hopeful indus
try of all classes Of our people and
rapid advance iu prosperity, are due,
Under the providence of God, to the
resumption Of the chief control of our
local affairs by that portion Of our
citizens in whom the capacity OF self
government is all Inheritance derived