The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-13
to do the same this, if we judge by ap-

pearances.
Reko Sanders is that big, fat "yal-
ler'' man out on the Camden road. He
is after good things as he takes the
Watchman and pays for it, and has
the largest corn that up to time OF
passing we had seen. He owns the
land he lives on and carries his end
of the stick. All the land between
the big road and Borden is cleared
and were it not for a branch between,
the station could be clearly seen.
How the country is being cleared.
From Borden you look to the north
east 1hree-quarters Of a mile away
and YOU see Sumter's mount towering
NAV I be allowed to say, above the
surrounding country. Well, I have
been there and spent a pleasant half
day with some rollicking school chill
dren. Somehow, as I tread its SOIL,
drank it's refreshing water and look
ed out over the country, feeling OF
awe possessed me. Providence and
Dalzell. My, how the lands have
been cut up by the floods of recent
rain, but withal the crops are clean
and growing.
Progress and development are ap-
parent on either side the railroad to
Sumter. Here are deep bitches
draining large savannahs, now pro-
ducing luxuriant crops, and every
where land that had long lain idle for
lack of proper drainage has been re-
deemed until it begins to look as if ev-
cry foot of Sumter soil will be made
to pay tribute to honest toll.
How land values are going up! I'm
less fellow has mint Of money, so
to speak, he will not try to buy Sum-
ter lirt. After a time the porter, sup
pose I may call him that, calls out
Sumter, and from the car window
behold the livest young city in all the
country. A few years ago the croak-
ers. there is always a crop of them,
said "This boom will soon pass off,
and leave some in q hole The story
don't read that way but this: THE
boom will go on, and some one will
getin a hole.'-the old croaker who
was fool enough to believe his own
word and sold out his holdings to the
wide-awake prospector. Were a
cartoonist would draw him lying
prone upon his back with Oulging
eyes, while the procession passes
leaving him in the lurch. From Sum
ter to Mayesville, from Mayesville to
Lynchburg, crops look SO well as to
bring to the farmer that sense Of sat-
isfaction which betokens good drain
age. Drainage, what may not one ac-
complish if he will but try. I am toli
your dry city was once a fiat with
stagnant ponds about. Certain I am
that much Of the lands around Lynch
burg and extending down the Kings
tree road, none of which can be
bought less than SIS an acre, was a
few years ago in that condition. All
these lands, under the efficient man
agement of such men as Lee Parnell,
r. w. Welch and Manton McClam are
producing the finest Of crops. For
long time I had desired to visit the
Pudding Swamp country, which
privilege I enjoyed when my good
friend of former years, Willie Good
man, met me last Friday at Lynch
burg with conveyance. It was fine
country we passed over, land that
few years ago could have been bought
for song, He and his brother, A. j.,
are doing an extensive business and
succeeding admirably farming anl
merchandising out on Woods bay. I
met the latter and also their aged
father in his four-score years and still
active. These young men want to
keep up with the times, to be up-to-
date, etc and so take the Item and
Watchman. I will get through soon
if I have to jump through. Had
been dropped into Shiloh I would
never have dreamed it, so great has
been its development. Plenty Of peo-
pie here and fine crops, good as any
1 have seen. That corn Of Turner
Player is the best 1 have seen, but
want to look as Mass Bobbie's" r.
r. Tomlinson On the way see other
crops that are fine, crops to be proud
Of but that corn of Bob" Tomlinson,
almost as high as you can reach, as
green as can be, is the largest I have
seen in three counties. Here jump
through because I have not time to do
otherwise.
Hagood, June II.