The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-05-12
PLEASED IN SOUTH CARO-
LIMA.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
Reports his Observations i'm
the State.

secretary OF ASfIcuItufc "hSoh
Reports his Observations in
the State.
Washington, d. c., May 5.-The
secretary of agriculture returned this
morning from visit to South Caro-
lima, where he has studied the condi.
tions of agriculture and of truck gar
dening along the coast, the manufac.
turing industries, the tea culture. the
agricultural college of South Carolina
and other matter of interest. In an
interview today, the secretary said
that South Carolina is making rapid
progress in all these directions. The
farmers aro learning how to take bet
tor care of their soil; how to fertilize
and to cultivate it with more profit.
Tne diversi6cation of crops has not
extended 30 far as it should, or so far
- 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 in that direction.
Home enterprise, and to a great ex-
tent, homo capital, has been utilizing
tho great rivers of the State in the
manufacture of cotton through electric
appliances. Wires extend from the
rivers as tar as fourteen miles, up to
the tops of the hills, where healthy
conditions are found, and great fac
tories, costing as much as 100000,
arc 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
tho manufacture of cotton, S3S0,000
was paid to labor. Now the State is
paying $6,00O,000 annually, which is
two-6fths 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 Charles.
the experiment Of colored labor is be.
ing tried and it is hoped the plan viii
succeed. IT.. It is sfl}s sfle said that ether
cotton manufacturers will have to take
note of the progress along this line in
tho South. They are getting the very
newest machinery, the hands work
probably somewhat longer hours and
perhaps for little lower wages. The
Southern people seem to be entirely
satisfied with homo labor and evince
no desire for immigration. Farmers
throughout the State are getting better
markets for their products, receiving
q large per ce 1t Of the s6,000,OOO
paid to the mill hands. This en-
courages the keepias Of taflfglSg" of
chickens to supply the demand 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 aud its pro.
ducts in order to ascertain how they
can produce it more proiitably. The
indiyidual farmers are giving atten-
con to the production OF fine horses,
such as bring big prices, rot only at
home but in foreign countiies-gaited
horses, hunting borses and fin, car.
risge horses. The Southern People
have taste aloag this line and will
certainly succeed. There arc not
enough dairy cows in the State, of
course, but encouraging progress is
being made in that direction also, Tie
secretary said. They have some as
tine dairy cows as are TO be found any
whore. They make as hue butter as
is to be found in the North.
They keep sheep in the south, hut
aot eaoush," said he. They have not
quite realizsd tina. it is peculiarly
their privilege to furnish the carly
spring lambs for the Northern mar
,kets, where they sell a. u very high
price. The conditions in the South
are entirely favorable to the produc-
ton of the bacon hog. The people
in the great corn belt of the Missis
eppi valley want e market for their
corn, and feed tho hog as long as be
viii make any gain. The producer
of the bacon hog, however, dispcses Of
the animal sooner, at ycanger age.
AS soon as the Southern peoplo give
attention to the diary industry there
rHl be great increase in lis produces.
Tbs secretary made point Ct in-
crossing uncn the people Of the state
the wisdom ofincreasiug their pastures
and of setting .seir wood lots TO WORK
In YVNn HsynA Il a..