The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-18
Liberty Locals.

lluefGy, =. w., June OIn 1SUo.
Dry weather has passed away and
plenty OF rain has fallen and crops
are greatly improved. General green
will claim the farmers attention for
awhile now.
Wheat harvest is in full blast with
ordinary yield of grain while only
light crop was sown.
DR.. G. E. Robinson has been quite
sick for several days.
The brick is being placed in the
wall in the addition to tho cotton
mill.
j. F. jennings has moved into his
new store and dwelling.
j. e. Parsons, ST., of Pickens, and
B. Il. Parsons, jr., telegraph operator
at Flo cry Branch, Ga. were much
in evidence here Sunday.
Miss Aania Watts, music teacher
Of Orangeburg, is ut the Brown
House for awhile giving music les
soAs.
For the past few days the railroud
has been the worst crippled since it
has been built, 80 far os running
trains are concerned, owing to the
great flood in Spartanburg county.
Liberty has circulated petition
for subscription to the Gainesville
sufferers and collection was taken
at the Baptist church Sunday.
Two aged negro women died here
last week, Martha Ellis, aged 80 and
Minnie Jones, not quito so old.
We had little over two inches of
rain last Friday night, while places
near here report moderate rains, but
good seasons.
About one,half of tho cuvton crop
has just como up to stand. @.
Mr.. Editor There is q very i'm.
portant problem presenting itsolf to
the farmers Of the upper part Of the
state to solve, which is, how shall the
bottom lands Gas they are called) be
saved from the destructive overflow?
It is very evident that the constant
cultivation Of the hillsides in cotton
is filling up the streams with sand
and causing very many acres of the
low lands to become 80 wet that they
are being abandoned for corn. Just
after the war tho Twelve Mile River
bottoms were noted for large yields
of corn per acre. Cotton cultivation
being clean and late cultivation
during a heavy rain causes tho dirt
to flow in the streams faster than
they can carry OFF the washings the
result is overflowing the bottom
lands.
There must be remedy applied
quickly or cease planting the bottom
lands in corn, and if the bottom lands
are given up for producing corn that
means they are unfit for grass for
stock. An animal will not eat vege-
cation that has overtlown with dirt.
The present system of terracing has
proved insufficient to hold tho water
on the hills of this country.
After giving this matter some
thought it has occurred to your CORE.
spondent that it would be benefic;ent
to the low lands if every land owner
was required by law to allow strip
Of land adjoining his bottom lands to
grow up, ns we say in this country,
allow strip so yards wide parallel
with the bottom from the edge of tho
bottom lands to be cultivated or pas
tured so that the vegetation and roots
of the timber would restore the rapid
flow of soil and water from the fields
then the creeks and rivers could car.
ry off the wator very nearly as rapid.
ly as it flows in. 10 make the law
effective a heavy penalty would have
to be attached for it's violation. Some
thing must be done before it is too
late. Those directly interested
should seriously consider this matter
and furnish some effective remedy,
The plan I have suggested may not
be possible,
j. III. NEWTON.