The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-09-12
A Substitute for Cotton.
Nc,cS and Courier.

COLUMBIA, September 10.-Governor
Tillman did not bother himself to-day
with politics. lie did incidentally ask
about the report of the Murray confer
ence, which he saws was unfounded, but
he spent most Of the time answering an
accumulation Of mail. Among tho let
ters was one from Mr.. II. f. Ferguson,
of Chicago, which was given prompt at
tention and which he hopes will amount
to something. If Mr.. Ferguson is not
able to 90 anything maybe some one else
who has the requisite capital will be able
to see things as he does and develop the
beet sugar industry in this State. The
entering wedge has been given. Will it
amount to anything?
The letter from Mr.. Ferguson reads as
follows:
S74 WEST POLK STREET,
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Sept t, 1894.
Governor Tillman, Columbia, S. c.
NV Dear Sir: From careful examlna-
ton of the formation and soil of South
Carolina as given in book published by
the State board of agriculture of South
Carolina, I believe you have one of tie
hest States in the Union for the cultiva-
ton of the sugar beet and the manufac-
ture of beet sugar. 1t is fact that the
cultivation of the sugar beet under the
scientific method necessary to its success
increases the productiveness of tho
ground for other crops. It is also par
ticularly hardy plant, adjusting itself
without difficulty to conditions of soil
and climate with extreme tenacity of life
and succeeding where many other agri-
cultural products would under the same
conditions he total failure. The sugar
beet would average in most parts OF your
State fifteen tons per acre ana would sell
for 4.50 to IS ton at the factory. Fac
tories could be established on your navl,
gable rivers and railroad lines and Located
so as to be convenient to the largest
number of beet sugar producers.
write you because have been deeply
interested in your Administration and
the able manner in which you have con-
Quoted it and because like your State
and want to see it prosper. How is your
State board of agriculture formed? Do
you appoint it? Could you secure me
position to experiment with raising
sugar beets in your State know the
introduction of sugar beet Culture and
the manufacture of beet sugar would be
of the utmost value to your State. and l
would be pleased to have your personal
views in relation to the same. Take your
coast counties from Beaufort 10 Horny;
then the next tier from Barnwell to
Marlboro; then the next from Aiken to
Chesterfield; and next Edgefield to Lam
caster; all possess the soil suitable to
sugar beet culture and would produce
the best results, making from $50 to 500
per acre clear profit, and sure crop, no
danger of failure. Ifyou can inaugurate
this new source of wealth it will be ht-
TING crown to your Administration.
Will YOU kindly let me hear from you ?
I will furnish you satisfactory references
if there is chance for business.
Respectfully yours,
r. Fl. FERGUSON.
Governor Tillman replied as follows:
COLUMBIA, September 10, 1894.
R. H. Ferguson, Chicago, Ill.-My
Dear Sir: Your letter of September 4 has
been received. In reply would say
that experiments in the cultivation OF the
various varieties Of beets, including the
sugar beets, have been made in this State
time and time again, and there is no
doubt whatever as to our soil and climate
being we'll suited to beet. culture. The
difficulty which I foresee in developing
the sugar industry here will be lack OF
capital to manufacture the beet and the
sugar. The production Of the beet IN
paying quantities will be easy. The
skilled labor, confined mainly to super
lQC6QQSQCG, Cbu UO pooiiy 49,
Europe. The question is, who will fur
nish the machinery to make up the pr
duct?
I Iam particularly interested in develop.
ing the production of any new crop that
will take the place of cotton in our agri-
culture, and will be glad to have you
give me, if you are familiar with the sub
iect, estimates on the cost of plant to
manufacture beets into sugar. We have
large areas of very fertile, cheap lands
now devoted to cotton culture. Our
farmers can supply all tho beets at prices
as cheap as they can be produced any
where in the world. The time is propi-
tious for enlisting their support to any
new agricultural production which prom
ises profit, as cotton at present prices
Yields none. We have no State board OF
agriculture at this time, but you might
correspond with the director of the ex-
detrimental station located at Clemson
College, but as have already told you,
if somebody will buy the sugar beet at
the prices you name our farmers will
contract to cultivate them according to
the instructions and to deliver any guam
tity.
/ shall be glad to hear from you fur
ther on this important subject.
Respectfully,
B, r. TILLMAN.