Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-08-11

makes? BY his careless tllagc he deprc..
c'ates the land every year, realizes nothing
tor his labor and pays very little rent.
Would he not be better oft if hc received
wages! and would DOT the owner Of the
land be able to give him fair compensation
for his services if he was employed by one
who could direct and utilize his labor in
tcligcntly and apply it where it is now
misdrcctcd through ignorance aud lack OF
means! II the lien law was repealed could
the planter control tho labor and if lie
could, would he DC able to get such ad
yanc2s us he needs without the lien law?
1t occurs TO me that farmer who owns
land, stock and farm implement, could get
credit without this law. The figures men,
toned show that larger number of liens
arc given each year, proving tho increasing
number ol tenants and decreasing the num-
Der OF wage hands. Experience has
taught most Of us that this class of tenants
arc not desirable. The terms upon which
advances arc granted under the lien law
arc such as no business will Justify. and
cannot prosper until VIC u,ukc some change
in this respect.
II the money obtained last year under
the lien law coald have been borrowed at s
per ccnt. the difference in favor of the far
mcr would have been over $1,000, 600.
Jui II Is useless to speak Of this un less We
can offer a rrmcly, but agitation Jt the
subject will do no harm and in the second
there is u possibility Of this being done.
Moncy is abundan; and can he had in The
Northern States at from to 5 per cent.
per annum. Bonds aud stocks that bear
the latter rate sell rapidly for 25 to SO per
cent. above their par value. Real estate is
the best security and ccrtaioiy should easily
command money. Wo have the laud.
Immigration and capital arc seeking our
State aud they will soon cause lands to
arprcciatc in value. Under these circum-
stancca VIC should have no trouble in Dro-
curing what advances We need by mortgage
upon lcnlty have recently seen It stated
that scniloman IN New York had secured
%lOU,OOU lur loans to farmers on real estate
III Georgia and that in short while any
AMOUNT nccd1d could he procured.
1t is urged that thc homestead law In
our State vii! act Us barrier to loans Of this
character here, but thousands of our far
mc,s furnish ample security above md
beyond al! exemptions.
am opposed to any measure that will
work hardship to the small farmer and
Tie L'horiu& map, ior believe that small
,ar,hs pnd thorough cultivation vii! vet
work out tho agricultural redemption Of our
Sialc. The lato,er is certainly culilcd to
our protection and no law should be en-.
acted that would cprcas him. honor a
nan who by his own azcrtions conuucrs the
advcrsi,ios Of life and rejoice in lis pros
poriiy. | would not iayor any measure
hat would rctara the mcrchlntiia business,
for We owe no little to The cntcrpr;sins
merchants Of South Curolina.
But will repeal of the lien law detri-
mcnt any Of the closscs referred to? The
uan who uwns no land could become n
tenant as easily as now: the ouy difference
being that he would look 70 TIC land owner
for advances instead Of the merchant. tic
would secure just as favorable terms flam
the proprietor of the land, aud whatever
profits he earned for Tie land owner would
sc 10 The improvements ul the land, anA he
is certainty Interested in that aud would DC
bcnci!iGl by it. The man who has no
.ncans fol- running iarm would. isappcars
10 me, be norc likely to prosper, il he Iirs.
accumulated sufficient TO stock farm by
workin. Ia. wages; which would be sure
income
The prosperity Of the ,ncrchant depend,
entirely upon The permanent success Of the
asricuItursts \ rcpco Of tha lien law
might reduce tkcir profits while, but it
would ultimately bc retntncd by the mprov.
CO financial condition of TIC farmer The
"umbcr Of persons to whom advances would
b. made night be less, bat the amount
would not DO materially reduced, because
the advances would be larger to those who
would be more able to pay. The great
difference would DC That tho land owner
and the lahorcr in working together could
,calizc better returns Inr their work, would
lave more money TO pny loans with, would
constantly improve tho land, and would
gradually work out Of debt.
have tlrnwn out these crude thoughts
to provoke discussion, believing that out of
it much good will comc. Ilet us give the
matter careful attcntion, and discover if
possible the cause of our troubles. There
must b. something radically wrong with
us. If W. aro growing poorer every year,
living as we do in land that should be
flowing with milk and honey. If it is in
our system of agriculture let US improve il,
If wn lacl; laborcrs lct US bring ia inmi,
cianis, il it is the lion lazy let it be stricken
from the statute book Of the STATE and if
it is the homestead law let it be abolished
Aho'H Si5n,D''Q w"r il Of gods have been
sid at isidgeway on liens this year.
Our best intentions, even when they have
been most prudent!y formed, fail in their
issue.
Mammoth bones have boon found nnnr