Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-05-11
WILSON GIVES Us A WORD.
THE RESULT or THE sECRErARVS VISIT
TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
ABOUT CLEMSON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Says that we Can and Should Raise Spring
Lambs for tho Northern Market.

| w HohlNSloNS huY W. Ho oeofc-
tary of Agriculture returned this
morning from visit to South Caro-
lima, wher. he has studied the condi-
tions Of agriculture and of truck
gardening along the coast, the manu-
featuring industries, the tea culture,
the Agricultural College of South
Carolina and other matters of inter-
est.
In an interview to-day the Score
tary said that South Carolina is max
ing rapid progress in all these direc-
tions. The farmers are learning how
to take better care of their soil no "
to fertilize and cultivate it with mere
profit. The diveroiiioation of crops
has not extended so far as it should
or so far as it very soon will, but the
people arc gradually working to that
end.
About one third of the cotton pro-
duced in the State is manufactured
there, and the most striking develop
ment of South Carolina is perhaps
found in that direction. Home en-
tcrprise, and, to a great extent home
capital, has been utilizing the great
rivers Of the State in the manufac-
turc Of cotton through electric appli-
anccs. Wires extend from the rivers
rs far rs fourteen miles, up to the
tops of the hills, where healthy con-
ditions are found, and great factories,
costing as much as million dollars,
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 atten-
ton of the South Carolina people
was drawn to the manufacture of
cotton, S380,000 was paid to cotton
mill labor. Now the State is paying
S6,000,000 annually, which is about
two-fifths Of all the manufacturing
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 Char
lesion the experiment of colored
labor is being tried, and it is hoped
the plan will succeed. 1t is still an
open quesvion, however, and is being
watched with great interest. lie
said that other cotton manufactures
will have to take note of the pro-
grcss made along this line in the
South. They are getting the very
newest machinery; the hands work
probably some what longer hours,
and perhaps Cor little lower wages.
The Southern people seem to be
entirely satisfied with home labor and
evidence no desire for immigration.
The farmers throughout the State
arc getting better markets for their
products, receiving large per cent
of the %G,000,000 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
the villages.
MIR. Wilson said the tobacco in
dustry has been taken hold of and
is making good progress. The peo-
pie are studying this plant and its
products in order to ascertain how
they can produce it more profitably.
The individual farmers arc giving
attention to the production of fine
horses, such as bring big prices, and
fine carriage horses, not only at home,
but in foreign countries; gated
! horses, hunting horses and fine car
riage horses. The Southern people
have a taste along this line and will
certainly succeed. There are not
enough dairy COWS in tho State, of
course, but encouraging progress is
being made in that direction also.
The Secretary said they have some
as fine dairy COWS as are to be found
} anywhere. They make lis fine but
ter as is to be found in the North.
"rhey keep sheep in the South,
but not enough" said he. "Thoy
have not quite realized that it is
peculiarly the privilege to furnish
the early spring lambs for the North,
, ern markets, whore they sell at q
very high price.
"The conditions in the South arc
+ entirely favorable to tho production
l 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 viii
mako any gain. The producer OF
the bacon hog, however, disposes OF
the animal sooner, at younger age
/ "As soon as the Southern people
8 give attention To the dairv industry