The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-05-02
THE CLEMSON BEoUEsT.

| THE CLEMSON BEOUESE.
A Correction of Alleged Exaggerations
About the Money Left to the Agrlcultur-
al College.
To the Editor of the News and Courier:
I see so many false statements, mlseon-
ceptions and ridiculous exaggerations IN
the public papers about the will OF my
fsther-in-law, the late Mr.. Thomas g..
Clemson, as to the amount of property
belonging to his estate, the terms of bis
will, and the amount that would acrue
to the State of South Carolina for the
purpose OF founding an agricultural col
iege, should Mr.. Clemson's will be valid
aad the bequest accepted by the State,
that I am impelled to make plain and
clear statement of the whole matter, so
far as my knowledge extends.
In justice to myself, to my father-ln-
law, Mr.. Clemson, and as both father
and guardian of my daughter, who is
the granddaughter and only surviving
descendant and natural heir OF MIR. and
Mrs. Clemson, and the great grand
daughter of the late Hon. John G. CAL
houn, 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 I here
endeavor to give as correctly as l can,
was derived from Mr.. R. W. Simpson,
who has had charge of Mr.. Clemson's
affairs as his attorney and legal adviser
for several years past, and who IS sp-
pointed 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" If the will IS not
contested by me, as the guardian of my
daughter, there would be left for the
purpose of founding an agricultural col
lese in the State of South Carolina
probably as follows:
The Fort Hill estate, S25 acres OF
thereabouts, the farming value OF 1t
about $4,000.
Mr.. Simpson informed me that the
personal property, consisting of stocks,
bonds and mortgages and other securi-
ties in his hands, was about S27, 600.
From this sum take the legacies, pay
able in cash, $4,000, and it leaves
$4,000. Mr.. Simpson, the executor and
trustee under the will, is allowed 5 PEI
cent. on the whole amount of the estate
by the will, and also, 1 an told, 5 pc,
cent. by law, making in all 10 per cent.
commissions on the whole property.
This would amount to say $4,000. De,
duct that from the cash assets left Of
$4,000 and it leaves 5000. Then deduct
lawyers bills, expenses OF keeping uI
the house and many other necessary ex'
penses, and I think most people W.!
agree with ne in thinking that there vii!
not be much lett on which to found al
agricultural college except the S25 acres
OF the Fort Hill plantation, with few
dilapidated and partly ruinous buildings
But, even valuing the remainder Of
the estate at SIS, 1000, an extremely hlgt
estsmats, the interest on this sum o:
money az 7 per cent. would be 81, ,050.
Not very munifcent sums these tx
found great State Institution, and Ger
tainly the most incorruptible anG
economical statesmen could rot reason
ably object to the income of The estate
; 81, ,O5O, being divided into salaries ant
paid over to the president, professor
and few practical farmers who would
; also be necessary to carry on the lnstl
. tuition.
In most of the noted colleges in tht
/ United States the presidents get at leas
, eight or ten thousand dollars per annum
and the professors from three to five
thousand. Sill, some patriotic states
meu might be found to serve their State
, from the purest motives, without money
: and without price.
In that case, would suggest that th'
| possible income of the estate should b!
t expended in providing hominy and mill
7 to feed the famishiDg wives and famide
of the president and professors. Th'
students, Of course, could take their owl
> meals from home with them, and thu
, would greatly diminish the expenses o
: the institution.
IF by public clamor and ridiculousl,
exaggerated statements in the papers tn
: Legislature thinking and believing tina
S Mr.. Clemson's bequest to the Stat
2 amounts to 100000, as I have seen