The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05
PROGRESS u THE SOUTH
Wilson's Tour
of Inspection.
THE RAPID ADVANCEMENT
Made by This Section in Recent Years
In Manufactures and Agriculture.
The lnvestfgation Confined Chiefly TO
South CaroIina-COttOn Manufacture,
Cattle and Horse Raising-Capable Of
Growing Sufficient Tea for the Ma.
TONS Consumption.

Cattle and Horse Raising-Capable of
Growing Sufficient Tea for the Ma.
tons Consumption.
Washington, May 3-.The secretary
from visit to South Carolina, where
he has studied the conditions of agri-
culture and of truck gardening along
the coast, the manufacturing industries,
the tea culture, the agricultural college
of South Carolina and other matters
of interest.
In an interview today the secretary
said that South Carolina is making
progress in all these directions. The
farmers are learning how to take better
care Of their soil; how to fertilze and
cultivate it with more profit. The di-
versification of crops has not extended
so 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 fourteen miles, up
to the tops of hills, where healthy con-
diti0ns are found, and great factories
costing as much as $1,000, 900 are locat-
ed This work is going on and will
continue to progress until the state
manufactures all the raw cotton pro-
duced within its limits. Eighteen years
ago, when the attention of South
ture Of cotton, $380,0OO was paid to
labor. Now the state is paying $6,00O,-
900 annually, which is about two-fifths
of all the manufacturing of all 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 cot
ton mar 1facturers will have to take
note of the progress being made along
this line in the south. They are get
ting the very newest machinery; the
hands work probably somewhat longer
hours, and perhaps for a 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 a large percent Of the
sc, 900, 900 paid to the mill hands. This
encourages the keeping Of dairy COWS,
the feeding of hogs and the raising OF
chickens to 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 study
ing this plant and it's products, in order
to ascertain how they can produce 1t
more profitably.
CATTLE AND HORSES.
The individual farmers are giving at
tention to the production Of fine horses,
such as bring big prices, not only at
home, but in foreign countries-galted
horses, hunting horses, and fine carri-
age horses. The southern people have
a 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 dlrec-
tion 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, 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 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 val
ley want market for their corn, and
feed the hog as long as he will make
any gain. The producer OF the bacon
hog, however, disposes Of the animal
sooner, at younger age.
LAS soon as the southern people give
attention to the dairy industry there
Will be a great Increase in its pro-
ducts"
The secretary made point Of i'm
pressing upon the people OF the state
the wisdom of increasing their pas
lures, 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.
TO PRODUCE HOME SUPPLY OF
SUGAR AND TEA
The department of agriculture, for