Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-03
Secretary of Agriculture Ends His
Visit to South Carolina.
HIS STUDY OF CONDITIONS THERE
Interesting Observations He Made
of the States Industries.
THE LABOR QUESTION

the coast the manufacturing industries.
the tea culture, the agricultural college of
South Carolina and other matters of inter-
est.
In interview with Star reporter the
Secretary said that South Carolina is max
ing rapid progress in all these directions.
The farmers are learning how to take bet
ter care NJ their soil: now to fertiize and
cultivate it with more profit. The divcrsih
cation of crops has no: extended far
1t should 50 far as it very soon WILL but
the people are gradually working to that
end.
The stat manufactures about one-third
of the cotton produced, and the most strik-
ing development Of South Carolina is per
hapS found in that direction. Home enter
prise. and - 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 far as fourteen miles. up 10 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 pro-
gress until the state manufactures all the
raw cotton produced within its limits. Eish-
teen years ago. when the attention of the
South Carolina people drawn to the
manufacture Of cotton, $isOoeo was paid TO
labor. Now the state Is paying So coo
annually. which is about two-fifths of all
the manufacturing of the southern states
along cotton lines
Trying ColOred Labor.
The Secretary said that with little excep-
ton white labor is being used in the mills.
In the cfty of Charleston the experiment of
C"lOr7i labor is being 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 cot
ton manufacturers will have to take note
of the progress being made along this line
in the soUlh- They are getting the very
newest achinery; the hands work prob
ably somewhat longer hours. and per
haps for little lower wages. The south
ern people seem to be entirely satisfied with
home labor. and evince no desire for immi-
grafton The farmers throughout the state
are getting better markets for their pro-
ducts. receiving large per cent Of the So
Up.Ub paid To the mill hands. This en-
COuragss the keeping Of dairy cows, the
feeding Of hogs and the raising of checkers
u supply the demand Of the factory people
In villages
Mr.. Wilson said the tobacco industry has
been taken hold Of and is making good
progress. The people are studying this
plant and its products, in order To ascertain
how they can produce it more probably.
Horse Breeding.
The individual farmers are giving atten-
tion 10 the production of fine horses, such
bring big prices not only al home, but
il foreign cOunJries-gaited horses, hunting
horses. and fine carriage horses The
southern people have a taste along this line
and will certainly succeed.
IN connection with horse breeding, the
Secretary pointed out. the necessity of pas
lure becomes evident. and the South Caro-
Lnldn Is al This time carefully studying his
grasses and legumes, TO learn which he can
most prOttably raise, and under what
ditiOns There are not enough dairy cows
IN tho state, Of course. but encouraging
progress is being made in that direction
also They have some as fine dairy cows as
are 70 be found anywhere They make as
line butter as Is To be found in the north;
and what one farmer has done another can
do in the same direction This suggests
again the necessity for more pastures.
They keep sheep in the south, but not
enough, said he They have not quite
realized that IL is peculiarly their privilege
10 furnish the early spring lambs for the
northern markets. where they sell at a very
high price. A few enterprislng farmers are
keeping sheep Of this kind, and what one
has done another can and certainly will do.
The south has been famous for long time
past Tor Its nne bacon Housekeepers in the
north who want the fine hams known under
the name Henry Clay and other brands
are well aware Of the high cost of the ar
ticle.
The 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 a market for
their corn. and feed the hog as long as he
Will MAKE any gain The producer Of the
bacon hog. however. dIspnses Of the animal
sooner, at younger age
As as the southern people give at
tention 10 the dairy industry there will be
a great increase in its products. When cot
ton was high few years ago the sollt hern
producer sent north for his bacon. He has
learned today that IL Is wise for him 10
produce his own bacon. and to {. consider
able extent is doing 50. There are probably
not enough hogs In the south to produce all
its meat. hut little increase In pasture
Will enable IL u keep a great many more
The people of the south do not fully realize
"a h-z- al, 10 =, M ~ r.
Of grasses and legumes bic for live
stock. but they are rapidly comPrehending
what their privileges are IN that regard
Increasing Their Pastures
The secretary made point of impressing
upon the people OF the state the wisdom of
Increasing their pastures. and of setting
their wood lots to work to produce grass
for the colt and the dairy COW. the NUT
ton 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. They have miniature cot
ton factory. The student is taught the
sciences relating 10 cotton growing. as well
as the art Then the Very latest and finest
machinery is at hand and the student is
shown and taught by actual practice the
sciences that relate to the production of
cotton goods very superior finished
product in the shape of scientists educa ted
for our factories will be turned out by that
college.
Any one visiting Clemson said he
where the college is located, and seeing
the progress that has been made in filling
the woods there with ClOvers grasses &c
can tell al a glance the direction in which
the south may lay the foundation for great
er prosperity The brushwOod and less
o. valuable trees are removed. and the young
er and more valuable left standing and in
the vacant spaces grass seed and legumes
are SOwu-'
This was really the finest object lesson
the secretary SAYS he saw in his visit. The
process results in a shaded pasture known
as a wood pasture 1t is an open question
or course. how healthily a tree will grow
after forest conditions are destroyed and
pasture conditions introduced; but the great
destderatum for the southern states now
IS the creation Of conditions where animal
Efe can exist cheaply. and Of course the
Tnerest novice in agriculture knows that
pasture Is the great prerequisite for this
Clemson was the son-in-law of John c. Cal
hcun. and the college has 500 acres of the
old estate OF course. to the southerners