The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-10
Wilson Gives Us a Good Word.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The Secretary
Of Agriculture returned this morning
from visit to South Carolina, where
he has studied the conditions of agrl-
culture and Of truck gardening along
the coast, the manufacturing indus
tries, the tea culture, the Agricultural
College Of South Carolina and other
matters Of interest.
In an interview to-day the Secretary
said that South Carolina is making
rapid progress in all these directions.
The farmers are learning how to take
better care of their soil; how to fertil-
ize and cultivate it with more profit.
The Investigation Of crops has not ex-
tended so far as it should or SO far as
it very soon will, but the people are
gradually working to that end.
About one-third of the cotton pro-
duced in the State is manufactured
there, and the most striking develop
ment of South Carolina is perhaps
found in that direction. Home enter
prise, and, to great extent home cap
ital, has been utilizing the great rivers
of the State in the manufacture Of cot
ton through electric appliances. Wires
extend from the rivers as far as four
teen miles, up to the tops OF the hills,
where healthy conditions are found,
[.
and great factories, costing as much as
a million dollars, are located. This
work is going on and will continue to
progress until the State manufactures
all the raw cotton produced within its
limits.
Eighteen years ago, when the atten-
ton Of the South Carolina people was
drawn to the manufacture Of cotton,
S3SO,OOO was paid to cotton mill labor.
Now the State is paying SG,0OO,0oO an
nually, which is about two-fifths Of all
the manufacturing of the Southern
States along cotton liEes.
The Secretary said that with little
exception white labor is being used in
the mills. In the city Of Charleston
the experiment of colored labor is being
tried, and it is hoped the plan will sue,
ceed. 1t is still an open question, how
ever, and is being watched with great
interest. He said that other cotton
manufacturers will have to take note
of the progress made along this line in
the South. They are getting the very
newest machinery; the hands work
probably somewhat longer hours, and
perhaps for little lower wages. The
Southern people seem to be entirely
satisfied with home labor and evidence
no desire for immigration. The farm
ers throughout the State are getting
better markets for their products, re-
ceiving large per cent Of the &c. ,000,-
600 paid to the mill hands. This en-
courages the keeping OF dairy cows,
the feeding Of hogs and the raising of
chickens to supply the demand of the
factory people IN the villages
Mr.. Wilson said the tobacco industry
has been taken hold Of and is making
good progress. The people are study.
ing this plant and it's products in order
to ascertain how they can produce it
more proftably.
The individual farmers are giving
attention to the production of fine
horses, such as bring big prices, and
fine carriage horses, not only at home,
but in foreign countries; gated horses,
and hunting horses. The Southern
people have o taste along this line and
will certainly succeed. There are not
enough dairy COWS in the State. OF
course, but encouraging progress is
being made in that direction also. The
Secretary said they have some as fine
dairy cows as are to be found any
where. They make as fine butter as is
to be found in the North.
."rhey keep sheep in the South, but
not enough said he. "They have not
quite realized that it is peculiarly their
privilege to furnish the early spring
lambs for the Northern markets, where
they sell at a very high price.
"The conditions in the South are en-
tirely favorable to the production OF
the bacon hog. The people in the great
corn belt of the Mississippi Valley want
a market for their corn, and feed the
hog as long as he will make any gain.
The producer OF the bacon hog, how
ever, disposes Of the animal sooner, at
a younger age.
"As soon as the Southern people give
attention to the dairy industry there
will be great increase in its pro-
ducts"
The Secretary made u point OF I'M
pressing upon the people Of the State
the wisdom of increasing theirpastnres,
and of setting their wood lots to work
to produce grass for the colt and the
dairy cow, the mutton sheep and the
hog.
Great progress has been made, he
said, at the Agricultural College. They
are doing work there that is probably
not being done anywhere else.
The department. of agriculture, for
, I. T., &,,,rr