The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-04-20
LAND WANTED FOR SETTLERS.
Commissioner Watson Is Sending Our
Circulars TO Land Owners.

Commissioner Watson Is Sending Our
Circulars 70 Land Owners.
Commissioner of immigration Wat
son has pre- pared two circulars for dis
tribution among the people OF the
State giving information as to how
they may assist in the work Of his
department. The first is to land
owDerS desiring to sell tracts for SET
Element and the second is to CONNER
cial organizations and real estate
agents Of the towns.
Mr.. Watson says that he is conf
dent there will be no difficulty at all
in securing settlers, in as large num-
hers as may be desired, if suitable
land in sufficiently large tracts can be
secured. TO get this land at reasona-
bic prices is his first problem. 1t IS
for this purpose that he has issued his
first circular. as follows:
Circular, No. l.
TO the Laud Owners of South Caro-
lima:
Immediately upon assuming the du-
ties Cf commissioner of agriculture,
commerce and immigration, realizing
fully the necessity for speedy action
looking to the highest development of
the States agricultural interest
through Investigations in the east OF
the methods employed by the differ
ent States Of the union in securing
the best types OF immigrants now en-
tering the United States in greater
numbers than ever before in the coun-
try's history. I have been fortunate
in pursuing these Investigations and
in making arrangements whereby we
can secure excellent labor and settlers
upon very much the same basis as
those States which have been reaping
the harvest resulting from purchasing
settlers, the intensified methods OF
farming employed by the foreign Ia
borer, and the consequent building up
waste places and increase of taxable
property and increase Of production
and wealth.
The office now needs to be advised
at once of the location Of available
lands, and needs further tc know I'M
mediately the wants OF the farmers of
the State complaining Of the lack OF
intelligent farm labor. We need to
know also of the location and value OF
our undeveloped water powers, clay
beds, mineral deposits, and have the
owners list them upon the register in
the office with prices at which they
will sell. We need to know likewise
of available large tracts suitable for
the location Of successful colonies.
The act creating this department
requires the commissioner to act with
out fee, as the agent Of the citizens
of the State who wish to meet the
excess expenses of bringing desirable
immigrants to their farm or other
lands, and directs him to secure those
who desire to purchase homes, become
citizens of the State and build up the
agricultural interests. The act fur
ther proves: That he (the commits
sioner) shall also collect from the farm
ers and land owners Of the State and
list information as to lands, stating
the number of acres, location, the
terms upon which they may be
bought, leased or shared to desirable
settlers; that land registry shall be
kept, and in connection Herewith.
from time to time, publication shall
be made, descriptive of such listed
agricultural mineral, forest and truck
ing lands and factory sites as may be
offered to the department for sale or
share, which publication shall be in
attractive form, setting forth the
county, township, number OF acres,
names and addresses Of owners and
such other information as may be
helpful in placing inc liring home
seekers in communication with land
owners
TO this end several forms of blanks
have been prepared and will be furn-
ished all land owners and farmers upon
application to this office. They are:
First. For those wishing desirable
farm labor.
Second. For these wishing tenant
settlers.
Third. For those wishing share
settlers.
Fourth. For those wishing to offer
lanes to purchasing settlers and large
tracts for colonization purposes, as well
as to offer water powers, kaolin beds:
mines, etc.
For the information Of the land
owners it is stated that the prevail
ing custom in securing farm laborers
and even purchasers from among those
who come across the Atlantic to these
shores, no matter what amount they
bring with them, is for those who
want them to prepay their passage,
and Incidental expenses OF transfer at
New York, the steamship lines
furnishing tickets, before departure,
through to destination. This is con-
sidered an earnest of the good faith
of the people among whom the settler
is to live, and saves much trouble at
the port of entry. OF course the re-
fund of the amount thus advanced is
secured. At the present exceptionally
low rates prevail over all rans-Atlan-
tic lines. For the movement OF SET