Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-06
RESOURCES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Impressions That Were Made on the secre
tary Of Agriculture.

Impressions That were maue on tne Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
Upon his return to Washington, last
Wednesday, after his recent visit, Sec
retary Wilson gave out to the Asso-
ciated Press an interview in which he
said that South Carolina is making
rapid progress in all directions. The
farmers are learning how to take bet
ter care of their soil, how to fertilize
and cultivate it with more profit. The
diversiGcation of crops has not extend
ed 80 far as it should or so far as it
very soon will; but the people are
gradually working to that end.
The state manufactures about one
third of the cotton produced, and the
most striking development of South
Carolina is perhaps found in that di-
rection. Home enterprise, and to
great extent, home capital, has been
utilizing the great rivers of the state
in the manufacture of cotton through
electric appliances. Wires extend from
the rivers as far as IA miles, up to the
tops of the bills, where healthy condi-
tions 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 attention of the
South Carolina people was drawn to
the manufacture of cotton, $380,0O0
was paid to labor. Now the state is
paying $6,O0O,000 annually, which is
about two.f .fifths of all the manufactur-
ing of the southern states along cotton
lines.
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 be-
ing tried, and it is hoped the plan will
succeed. 1t is still an open question,
however, and is being watched with
great interest. He said that other
cotton manufacturers will have to take
note of the progress being made along
this line in the south. They are get
ting the very newest machinery their
hands work probably somewhat longer
hours, and perhaps for little lower
wages. The southern people seem to
be entirely satisfied with home labor,
and evince no desire for immigration.
The farmers throughout the state are
getting better markets for their pro-
ducts, receiving large per cent. of
the $6,OOO,OOO paid to the mill hands.
This encourages the keeping of dairy
COWS, the feeding of hogs and the
raising of chickens to supply the de-
mand of the factory people in villages.
Mr.. Wilson said the tobacco indus.
try has been taken hold of and is
making good progress. The people
are studying this plant and its pro-
ducts, in order to ascertain how they
can produce it more profitably.
The individual farmers are giving
attention to the production of fine
horses, such as bring big prices, not
only at home, but in foreign countries
gated horses, hunting horses, fine
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 in that direc-
ton also, the secretary said. They
have some as fine dairy COWS as are
to be found anywhere. They make as
fine butter as is to be found in the
north.
"They keep sheep in the south, butt