The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-10
To The People of South Carolina.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

IMPAIRMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
COLUMBIA, S. c., April, 1884.
The Worlds Industrial and Cotton
Centennial Exposition, to be held in New
Orleans, beginning December, 1884, un-
der the joint auspices of the United
States, the National Cotton Planters
Association and the city of New Orleans,
will be an event of the greatest conse.
queDce and of vital interest to every
Southern State. All the civilized nations
Of the world have been asked to partici-
pate in this Exposition, and many of
them have already accepted the invita-
ton and have given notice that they
would make exhibition of their products
and representation of their industries.
All the States of the Union will be fully
represented. AS this Exposition will be
held in the chief city of the Cotton
States, the world will naturally expect
that these States will make the most COM
plete exhibits of all their manufactured,
mineral and agricultural products, and
full displays OF all their resources. In
fact, capitalists, realizing the benefits to
come to the South from this Exposition,
and knowing that all of the prosperous
and progressive States will endeayor to
make the best showing, will attend the
Exposition to obtain information that
could not possibly be gotten elsewhere.
We feel that it is unnecessary to dwell
upon the Importance of this matter. Our
State Legislature at its last session, after
full investigation, and appreciating the
benefits to be derived from having South
Carolina properly represented, appropri-
ated $4,000 for the purpose, to be expen-
ded under the direction of the Depart.
ment of Agriculture.
AS this is the Centennial celebration
of the first expectation of cotton from
America, it is the peculiar province
of South Carolina to occupy the
most conspicuous place in the pic.
ture, as the first cotton exported was
sent from Charleston. We have
good reason to believe that the cotton gin
was invented in South Carolina, and we
are now about to give to the world
the first and only successful cotton
picker. These, however, are sentimental
reasons and appeal only to our State
pride; but the practical reasons are even
more forcible, from a business point of
view, than those already given are from a
sentimental. one.
The South needs capital and immigra-
ton. This all will admit How is she
to obtain these? Just as everything else
is made successfully judicious advertis.
ing. What better advertisement can we
get than the exhibition to those who
control capital and those who desire to
purchase homes of the splendid products
of the soil, specimens of our minerals
and samples of our manufactured goods.
In no way can the advantages of the
South be better shown than by such
evidences as such an exhibition would
furnish. And what is true of the South
generally is emphatically true Of South
Carolina. We want to build railroads
and increase our transportation facilities ;
we want to erect more cotton factories,
build wooden mills and establish all the
smaller manufacturing industries; we
want our mines of gold, silver, copper,
iron, &c, developed; we want our waste
lands brought into cultivation, and we
want to increase our population. All of
this can be done only by proper, syste.
matte, determined and continued effort.
The recent publications showing the
wonderful manufacturing and agricultu.
raj progress of the State have attracted
the attention of business men in every
direction, and already men of means
have been here prospecting for solid in
vestments, aud inquiries for information
are coming from every section of the
Union. The good impression thus made
should be followed up promptly and Wig
orously, and we now have the opportuni-
ty to do so successfully.
The amount appropriated by the Leg
islature for making the exhibition is in
adequate for the purpose unless we can
obtain the voluntary assistance of the
people throughout the State. This we
feel sure we will receive, and now con.
fidently appeal to them for their aid and
encouragement.
In addition to the help that may be
employed, representatives of the Depart
ment will be appointed in every Town
ship in the State, who will constitute a
Commission for the State, and who will
be requested to see that local organiza-
tions are perfected; and it is desired that
these organizations will see to it that all
the resources of their Townships are
made fully known. This appeal, how
ever, is addressed to the people generally,
who are urged to take this matter in
hand without delay, and communicate
with the Commissioner of Agriculture
promptly, freely and frequently. The
railroad companies have generously
offered to transport free to Columbia all
articles intended for exhibition. The
cotton manufacturers have promised
specimens of all their goods without
charge, and some have offered to contrib
ute to the expense of making the ex.
hibit; and the press of the State, with
characteristic public spirit, is giving US
the benefit of its vast influence. 1t only
remains, therefore, for the people to do
their part, and South Carolina will make,
as we have promised she shall do, "the
best exhibit on the grounds"
Any information tina: may be desired
regarding the matter will be cheerfully
furnished by the Com missioner Of Agri-
culture.
Very respectfully,
A. P. BUTLER,
Commissioner of Agriculture,