Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-25
APPRECIATION OF A NEWCOMER.

Joy OF thy LORD.
APPRECIATION OF A NEWCOMER.
Under the persistent persuasion OF
Mr.. ]. Edgar Poag. the wide-awake
real estate broker. Mr.. Isaac H. Norris,
who came to Yorkville last fall from
Princeton, ILL.,, has written an apprecia-
ton Of this locality as he sees 1t. Mr..
Poags purpose in securing the letter
was, no doubt, to use 1t as a testfmo-
NAL in the northwest, and other Sec
tions, where the people have erroneous
and distorted notions Of the conditions
that exist here, and this purpose was
good. However, the letter contains
suggestions that are likely to prove
both interesting and valuable to many
Of our own people, and for this reason
1t Is reproduced entire as follows:
It would be rather difficult task for
me to give you my judgment on lands,
farming, stock raising and citizens as
I see them In South Carolina. How
ever. I want to say that South Carolina
deserves a better place In the estima-
tion Of people living outside OF her
borders than she now has. To a great
extent my coming here was accidental.
BY that I mean / came here on ac-
count of the statements made by you
as to conditions, climate, health. etc,
In this vicinity ! believe that my best
expression of my experience would be
to say that both the lands and the peo-
pie impress me more and more favor
ably as I get better acquainted. Every
man of standing has extended the right
hand of good fellowship and has
striven to make me feel welcome
member Of society here, and all are In
one accord with reference to immigra-
ton to this state from other states or
foreign countries. They say 80 that
they are Industrious and energetic we
need them, and we cannot get too
many.
The farming conditions are very easy
for any one acquainted with farming
anywhere to adapt himself to. Wit
ness the fact that /, who never saw
cotton cultivated before, have 55 or go
acres Of very good cotton. may have
heen fortunate In my selection but l
have two negroes working for me at
$3.50 per month that would compare
very favorably with the farm hands
one gets in the north. And I want to
say that no one knows better than l
that the best farm hands In the world
are In the north central west, In the
corn and wheat belt Of the world.
believe that to use the same energy
and management down here that Is re-
nuired to produce a paying crop or
corn In Illinois or Iowa, the same man
with the same amount Of stock could
produce so bales of cotton besides all
feed for his stock.
Irasmuch as this country is filled
with springs, It Is the best watered
country ever saw, and 1t looks to me
like a fine country for stock OF all
kinds. Sheep especially should do well
here. have not kept much stock this
year, but intend fencing my entire
place and preparing to handle stock
next winter and on as long as farm,
for I do not believe a farmer gets the
most out of farming unless he diversi-
fies and raises at least some cattle,
hogs and poultry.
That II Is a good country can be
shown In a number of ways. but the
best proof I know Of Is to witness the
hundreds Of thousands Of small farm
ers who are not ambitious Of wealth, and
and who keep themselves and families
supplied with necessities and even lux
uries on a one-horse farm, as they
DESIGNATE Ii. Of from 20 to 30 acres OF
cultivated land. There are rich and
moor farmers in all communities. and
the rich are not always the best satis-
fed with their lot: so 1t Is here. but all
can make money II they desire to do
60 All can increase their wealth II
they try, and II the spirit Of owning
land ever strikes this country as 1t
has the northwest, country land here
will double again and again until II
reaches the level II really should at
tain. There is but one explanation for
cheap lands In a country as healthful
as prosperous, and as good In every
way as South Carolina Is today; that
Is, the tide Of immigration started
west into the old northwest territory
on through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, ever spreading like the ribs
of fan, and as the railroads kept pace
with the opening of the country be-
yond the Mississippi, they made 1t
their business to keep that stream or
settlers and workers and monied men
along their lines of traffic, and the
southern states. just recovering from
the effects of most devastating war
that was ever waged. were left to work
out their own salvation. How well she
Is succeeding can be seen by study
of the statistical tables in the agricul-
tural year book. Also by the eager.
ness with which Wall street buys all
city bonds, or any other kind OF bonds
issued by cities or corporations from
the south. I was born In Illinois and
am Justly proud Of my state. Also l
see nothing to be ashamed Of In the
state Of my adoption. South Carolina.