The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-20
Room for Settlers.
Columbia State.

In South Carolina there are great
many tracts of land suitable for the
settlement of kolonies of people from
| the crowded north and from the west.
| They are now undeveloped and in their
virgin state. Many of these lands are
capable Of a high state of cultivation
and it only requires the people to set
tie upon them to increase the taxable
property and general prosperity of the
Stat, to a large extent. In recent
years practically nothing has been
done in the line of acquainting people
in other parts of the country with what
this State has to offer in the way of
good lands for settlers. There is alb
solutely no information in readable
form that can be mailed to those who
are constantly making inquiries. So
far Pickens county is the only one in
the State that has issued anything Of
this nature.
Col. JamesG Gibbes, the State land
agent, talked most interestingly yes
terday about the matter of inducing
settlers to come to South Carolina,
particularly from the west and north
west. He said it was one that should
receive immediate attention. Sister
States are losing no time in establish
ing colonies. He says that the State
has large tracts Of lands available for
rapid development that can be secured
as cheaply as any in the south.
Colonel Gibbes. said yesterday that
he was thinking of arranging for big
sale of such lands in December or
January, if private parties, owning
large tracts that they desire to sell
will cooperate with him. His idea is
to get up brief descriptions Of all
tracts, State and private, and have
them printed for distribution, have
the sale advertised freely in northern,
western and northwestern newspapers
and get the railroads to offer home
seekers excursion rates good for a
certain period at very low rates. This
has been the plan worked successfully
in several States and excellent results
have followed.
Colonel Gibbes requests all parties
in the State who have tracts they
would like to offer at such sale as
that outlined to correspond with him
at once.
The following letter from the register
of the United States land office at Los
Angeles, CAL, received yesterday,
Colonel Gibbes says is a sample Of the
letters he daily receives from every
part Of the country:
United States Land Office,
Los Angeles, CAL, Sept. 80, 1897.
To the Honorable Secretary of State,
Columbia, S. G.
Dear Sir: After the expiration Of
my term of Office Febuary next) ex-
pect to visit your State with view to
selecting location for permanent
home.
Iwish to locate in healthy part Of
the State, in live town County seat
preferred) where my fanny can have
the advantage Of schools, churches,
etc., and I an opportunity Of securing
employment, clerking, bookkeeping OF
other work, while I am bringing into
profitable cultivation a farm which ]
would wish to purchase near said
town.
Said farm to consist Of about 300
acres, about half cleared, ready fol
| general farming or fruit growing the
balance to be heavily timbered with
oak, hickory, gum, beech, walnut.
magnolia, etc., the whole to be vel
watered with running streams OF
II
springs, but not subject to destructive
overflow.
Wishing to learn if such place car
be had in your State, and being anx
ious to be posted as well as possible
before making the trip, would respect
fully ask that you please give me such
information as you can regarding the
general character of the State, as tc
its topography, climate, healthfulness
rainfall, soil, timber, fruits, farm
products, dairy interests, stock raising
etc.; also kind Of nut, fruit, berry auc
most bearing trees, shrubs or vine!
found growing wild, and kinds Of
game and fish to be found.