The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-05-03
Mr., Gideon Lee and the Agricultural

49, 20 tHC IdL6kVyEV Gso @teUoe" sS'
Isee SO many false statements, miscon.
ceptions and ridiculous exaggerations in
the public papers shout the will of my
efathersin.law, the late Mr.. Thomas G.
|, Clemson, as to the amount of property
belonging to his estate, the terns of hi5
will, and the amount that would accrue
etothe State of South Carolina for the
purpose of founding an agricultural
college, should Mr.. Clemson's will be
valid and the bequest accepted by the
State, that I am impelled to make 9
plain and clear statement of the whole
matter, so far as my knowledge extends.
Injustice to myself, to my father.in.
law, Mr.. Clemson, and as both father and
guardian of my daughter, who is the
granddaughter and only surviving des-
cendant and dinatural heir of Mr.. and Mrs.
Clemson, and the great granddaughter of
the late Hon. John @. Calhoun, am
induced to take this course, for the reason
that frequent inquiries are made of me by
numerous friends of my daughter and her
ancestors in South Carolina, BY some
of the relatives of Mr.. Clemson, who
live out of this State, and by friends and
acquaintances of my own.
Most Of the information, which here
endeayor to give as correctly as can,
was derived from Mr.. e. w. Simpson,
who has had charge of Mr.. Clemson's
affairs as his attorney and legal adviser
for several years past, and who is appoint
ed by his will his executor and trustee,
and of whom he speaks in the will in the
highest terms as his trusted friend and
adviser" Ifthe will is not contested By
me, as the guardian of my daughter, there
would be left for the purpose of founding
an agricultural college in the State of
South Carolina probably as follows:
The Fort Hill estate, 825 acres or
thereabouts, the farming value oft about
$4,000.
= Mr.. Simpson informed me that the
personal property, consisting Of stocks,
bonds and mortgages and other securities
in his hands, was about $27 900.
From this sum take the legacies paya.
BILE. in cash, $4,000, and it leaves $4,000.
Mr.. Simpson, the executor and trustee
under the will, is allowed 5 per cent. on
the whole amount of the estate by the
will, and also, / am told, 5 per cent. by
law, making in all 10 per cent: commits.
sions on the whole property. This would
amount to say $4,000. Deduct that
from the cash assets left of $4,000 and it
leaves $4,000. Then deduct lawyers
bills, expenses keeping up the house and
many other necessary expenses, and /
think most people will agree With me in
thinking that there will not be much left
on which to found an agricultural college
except the 825 acres of the Fort Hill
plantation, with few dilapidated and
partly ruinous buildings.
But, even valning the remainder OF the
estate at $4,000, an extremely high
estimate, the interest on this sum of mon
ey at 7 per cent. would be 81 1850
Not very munifcent sums these to
found great State institution, and
certainly the most incorruptible and
economical Statesman could not reasona.
bly, object to the income of the estate,
s1,05O, being divided into salaries and
paid over to the president, professors and
a few practical farmers who would also
be necessary to carry on the institution.
In most of the noted colleges in the
United States the presidents get at least
eight or ten thousand dollars per annnm,
and tha professors from three to FIVE
thousand, Still, some patriotic states.
men might be found to serve their State
from the purest motives, without money
and without price.
In that case, I would suggest that the
possible income of the estate should be
:e1pended in providing hominy and milk.
70 feed the famishing wives and families