The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-30
COL. KNIGHTS VISIT.
Grand Chancellor of Pythians in Charles
TON.

Col. John M. Knight, the veteran
editor Of The Sumter Hearld and grand
chancellor of the Knights Of Pythias
of South Carolina, who was here
yesterday for the purpose of paying an
official visit to Calhoun Lodge, No.
% of this. city, was royalty entertained
during the day by members of that
Order, and was taken to various
points Of interest that he might be
made to appreciate fully not only the
beauty of Charleston at this season,
but that he might get taste of the
warmhearted hospitality OF which the
people are capable when they set out.
to entertain some visitor within their
gates.
Col knight is. one of those genial,
wholesouled South Carolinians who
make friends of all they meet, and it
was for the reason that he waswnnch
in demand that a representa- eRf
The News and Courier hedss
trouble Ia getting him into a caef.
But when this consummation was at
last brought about the editor of the
Herald was found to be thoroughly i'm
bued with that love Of his native heath
and belief in its possibilities that has
made his hust1ing up-country town
the thriving little city that it is.
Business is just about as good as
it could be in Sumter" said Grand
Chancellor Knight, 'sand everybody
seems to have all they can do in look
ing after their affairs. At this season,
of course, the farmers are using every
effort to get their lands in shape and
the new crop in the ground as quickly
as possible in order that full. advan-
tage may be taken Of the splendid
weather that we are now having.
Fertilizers are being hauled to the
fields in large quantities, and though
the commercial grades are meeting
with the most general use guano is
also being sold to an increasing extent.
The people Of Sumter will increase
the cotton acreage this year and to-
bacco will not be planted so largely as
was the case last year. The low price
of the weed which ruled last season
made cotton a more profitable crop
than tobacco, and it is for this reason
that the latter viii be more extensive
~ planted than was the case last
year.
When asked ahout the emigration
movement in his county, Col. knight
said that the Sumter people were too
busy taking care Of the business IN
sight to bother about this matter much
at the present time, but that the ques-
stion was a live one and was OF deep in-
terest to those in that section OF the
State. It vas one that would be at
tended to at its proper time. The
available negro labor had been greatly
decreased by the fact that the turpen-
tire industry had drawn great many
of these from Sumter to find employ
ment in these fields. In addition many
had taken up small farms and the
scarcity of negro help was becoming
assssserious a question as it was in
other parts of the Satte.
Sumter is situated on the Atlantic
Coast Line and Southern lines, and is
not having any serious trouble With
the railroads, and enjoys good rates
1t is said to be the largest interior
cotton market in the State, shipping
about 80, coo bales of the heecy staple
each year. There are many other
paying industries being carried on
W1Gnin lCS DOEu0rSs d1l III WHICH, are LII
splendid condition and doing
hourishing business.
AS is noted previously Grand Chan
cellor Knight was the chief figure in
the business meeting with it's later
enjoyable social session, given by the
Calhoun Lodge, No. q, Knights of
Pythias at their hall, last night, at
which members of the other local
lodges of that Order were present.
To the regret of himself and his many
friends here he was forced to leave for
Sumter on the early morning train,
it being necessary for him to look
after soma important business matters
which would require, his attention
there today.-Newsl and Courier,
March %.