The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-05-10
SOUTH CAR0LINA
TO THE FRONT.
SEC'Y WILSON GREATLY
IMPRESSED BY HER
PROGRESS.
Predict Our Mills Will Soon Uti-
lizs the Entire Raw Cotton
Product Of Carolina.


Washington, May 3.-Tbs secretary
of agriculture returned this morning
from visit to South Carolina, where
he has studied the condition of agricul
ture and of truck gardening along the
coass, the manufacturing industries,
the tea culture. the agricultural college
OF South Carolina and other matters of
interest.
10 an interview today the secretary
said that South Carolina is making
rapid progress 10 all these directions.
The farmers are learning how to take
better are of their soil how to fertilize
and cultivate it with nore pro-
6t. The diversifcation Of crops
has not extended so far as
it should or go far as it very soon
will, but the people are gradually
working to that end.
The State manufactures shout one
third of the cotton produced, and the
most striking development of South
Carolina is perhaps found in that
direction. Home enterprise, and to a
great extent, home capital, has been
utilizing the great rivers OF the State
in the manufacture of Gotten through
electric appliances. Wires extend from
the rivers as far as Il miles, up to the
tops of the hills, where healthy
conditions are found and great foctories
costing as much as million tiollars are
located. This work is going on and
will continue to progress until the
State manufactures all the raw cotton
produced within it's limits. Eighteen
years ago. when the attention of the
South Carolina people was drawn to the
manufacture Of cotton. $3So,0O0 was
paid to labor. Now the Stats is paying
$4,000. 600 annually, which, is about
two-ffths OF all the manufacturing of
the Southern States along coston lines.
The secretary said that With little
exeeptioa white labor. IS being used in
fshe mills. In the city Of Charleston
the experiment of colored labor is
being tried and it ia hoped the plan will
succeed. 1t ia still On open question,
however, and is being watched With
great interest. He said chat other
cotton manufacturers vii! have to take
note OF the progress being made along
this line in the South. They are
getting the very newest machinery; their
hands work probably somewhat lor ger
hours, and perhaps for little lower
wages. Tie southern people seem to
be entirely satisfied with home labor,
aud evinee 90 desire for immigration.
The farmers through the State are
getting better markets for their
products, receiving a large per cent. of
the Sc, ,O0G, ,00G paid to the u,ill hands
This encourages the keeping of eairy
COWS, the feeding of hogs and the
raising of chickens to sapply the
demand Of the factory people in v;l-
lagos.
Mr. Wilson said the tobacco industry
has been taken hold of and is making
good progress. The people are stndy.
ing this plant and its products, in
order 70 ascertain how they can produce
it more pro6tably.
The individual farmers are giving
attention to the production of 6ne
horses. such as bring big prices, not
only at home, but 10. foreign countries
gated horses, hunting horses. fne
carriage horses. The southern people
have 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 10 that direction
also. the secretary said. They have
some as foe dairy COWS as are to be
found anywhere. They make as 6ne
butter as is to be found in the north.
"They keep sheep in the south, but
not enough" said he. They have not
quite realized that it is peculiarly their
privilege to furnish early spring lambs
for the northern markets, where they
sell at very high prices.
''Tbe conditions in the south are
entirely favorable to the production Of
the bacon hog. The people in the
great corn belt Of the Mississippi valley
want market for their core aud feed
the hog as long as he will make any
gain. The producer of the bacon hog,
however, disposes of the animal sooner,
a. younger age."
"As soon as the southern people give
attention to the dairy industry there
will be q great increase in its pro.
ducts"
The secretary made point of i'm.
pressing upon the people Of the State
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