Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-04
WILSON on SOUTH CAROLINA.
secretnry's study OF Industrial, 'o"
ditions-The Labor Question.

ditions-The Labor Question.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The Secretary
of Agriculture returned this morning
from visit to South Carolina, where he
has studied the conditions Of agriculture
and of truck gardening along the coast
the manufacturing industries, the tea Gull
ture. 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 farm
ers are learning how to take better care
of their soil; how TO fertilize and cultivate
it with more profit The Givcrsiiicauon OF
crops has not extended so far as It should,
or so far as it very soon will. but the peo-
pie are gradually working TO that end
The State manufactures about one third
Of the cotton produced, ana the most
striking DEVELOPMENT of South Carolina Is
perhaps found in that direction Home en-
terprise, and TO a great extent home capt.
tai. has been utilizing the great rivers OF
The state in the manufacture OF cotton
Though electric appliances. Wires extend
from the rivers as far as fourteen niles
I'D 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 VIII
continue TO progress. until the state man
ufactures all the raw cotton produced
within it's limits. Eighteen years ago.
when the attention of the South Carolina
people was drawn 10 the manufacture or
cotton S3S0000 was paid 10 labor. NOW the
State Is paying S6,000O0O annually, when
is about two ffths Of all the manuIac-
turing of the Southern States along cot
ton lines.
COLORED LABOR.
The Secretary said that with little eX-
ception white labor is being used IN tAe
mills. In the city Of Charleston the eA-
pertinent Of colored labor Is being tfleq,
and IL is hoped the plan viii succeed II
is stu an open question, however anu -
being watched with great interest. lie
eaid that other cotton manufacturers will
have to take note of the progress beihs
made along this lire in the South. Ihey
are getting the very newest machinery
the hands work probably somewhat long
or hours. and perhaps for little lower
wages The southern people seem 10 %
entirely satisfied with home labor ana
evince no desire for immigration. nc
farmers throughout the state are getuhs
better markets for their products, rece4V
ing a large per cent or the SoovJ'vV0 laIN
10 the mill-hands. This encourages the
keeping OF dairy cows. the feeding OF
hogs. and the raising Of chickens 10 sup
nIv The demand of the factory people III
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 1t more
profitabiy.
RSE-BREEDING.
The individual farmers are giving al
tention 10 the production Of fine horses,
such as bring big prices, not only az
nome. but IN foreign countries-salted
horses, hunting horses, and me carriage
horees The southern people have a taste
along this line. and will certainly succeed.
There are not enough dairy COWS in the
etafe Of course. but encouraging pro-
gress is being made in that direction,
also They have some as fine dairy cows
&C are 20 be found anywhere. They make
"a fine butter as is TO h found n the
North GO, -.
enough" said he. They nave not qul'e
realized that II is peculiarly their privilege
10 furnish the early spring lambs lot the
northern markets, where they sell at
very high price.
favorable 10 the production Of the bacon
hog. The people in the great Corn Belt OF
the Mississippi Valley want market Tor
their corn, and feed the hog as long as he
will make any gain. The producer OF the
bacon hog, however, oisposes or tAe AMI
NAL sooner, at younger age.
"As soon as the southern people give at
tention TO the dairy industry, there Will
be a great increase in its products"
INCREASING PASTURES.
The Secretary made point of impress
ing upon the people ~ the State the Wis
dom OF increasing their pastures. and Of