The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-18
4 York Farmers Splendid Crop.

lorkville, November 5.-Occasion
ally stories come out of the West as
to how farmers receive cash cquiva-
lent to the value Of their farms for a
single crop of wheat or corn, and as q
result OF reading these stories it is
probable that many thousands Of farm.
era living il other sections of the
country have been induced to sell out
aud go to the States where the phc-
nomenal results were attained.
Yesterday your correspondent learn
cd of somewhat similar experience
by York County farmer this year,
the only difference being that his
crop was not wheat or corn, but cot
ton, and has decided to tell the story
for the information of any who may
not already know that no section Of
the; United States surpasses South
Carolina in opportunities for the ener.
gctic, intelligent farmer.
For more than twenty-five years Mr..
G. Scott Cobb cultivated land which
he rented from Mr.. W. S. Wilkerson,
near Hickory Grove, in this county.
He always made good crops of corr,
cotton, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, etc.,
and raised all the pork necessary for
himself and family and usually, after
paying the rent and meeting other OBJ
legations, had cash balance 70 lay
aside.
Last year what was considered a
very ordinary farn in tho neighhor-
hood was offered for sale. There was
something over 300 acres in the tract
and the owner agreed to divide it into
three parts. Although Mr.. Cobb had
been on Mr.. Wilkerson's place for
many years and was most valuable
tenant, the latter felt that so good a
man and citizen should be land own
er and not a tenant, and, after much
persuasion, succeeded in inducing
Cobb to purchase one Of three parts Of
the tract above referred to.
There were about 145 acres and the
price paid was $3.50 the acre. Cobb
and his family moved to the farm at
the beginning Of the present year.
All the family are workers and they
are able 10 cultivate two-horse crop.
The cotton crop this year was twenty
large bales, averaging 500 pounds each
and was sold for 81 900, and the seed
isiworth 1926, making total of 81, 1875,
while the cost of the farm was 81 ,O87-
so.
In addition to the cotton 300 bush
els of corn, fine crop of sorghum, an
abundance of potatoes, meat, forage,
and in fact everything necessary for
the material comfort of man and beast
or 6 farm was raised, the actual cash
value Of the whole being considerably
over $1,000.
It is needless to say that Mr.. Cobb
is pleased with his venture, especially
in view Of the fact that since he
bought his farm one year ago it has
actually doubled in value, as he has
recently been offered 915 the acre for
it, but it is not for sale.
Mr.. Wilkorson is one Of York' larg.
est land owners, as we'll as her most
successful and publio-spiritod citizens.
he is intensely practical and, while
he has made all he has with his own
brain and muscle, he has 20 ambition
to own the whole world, and has al
ways been disposed to aid any of his
neighbors who were disposed to help
themselves, and with this idea in view
he never loses an opportunity to try
to induce those around him who do
not own land to become freeholders.
He contends that If he can sell all the
land he now owns, except about 200
acres, and get his neighborhood set
tied with families owning from Is to
15G acres each, hs will &c &c cae &C
the most prosperous and desirable
sections Of the South, and he is work
ing with that end in view.
Taking into consideration the nu-
merous advantages peculiar to the
Piedmont section Of South Carolina,
the low price and easy terms on which
land may be bought at present, it is
truly marvellous that literally thou
sands of intelligent, energetic farmers
are each year seeking homes in the
West and Northwest, instead Of the
South, and particularly the Piedmont
section. Perhaps, though, the fault
is ours. South Carolinians have made
very little effort to let the outside
world know what they have 70 offer,
s,kslo L. UYo,s