The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-01-10
md is, in every sense, a proper step

The report or the DoarO OF VlSlIOTS
Of the South Carolina Military acad-
emy-familiarly known to history and
to fame as 1.-The CitadeT-presents
a full synopsis of good work we'll done.
This institution, through peace and
war, has upheld the honor and glory
of South Carolina, and it's years Of
usefulness have given to us many rep
resentatives Of our highest citizenship.
commend it's work, it's needs and
its requests to your favorable con-
sideration.
Clemson college, as the annual re-
port Of it's president and trustees for
this year so clearly reveals, continues
to grow in strength and stature. The
rapid growth and influence Of this coll
lege has already placed it at the head
OF similar Southern Institutions and
has made it the rival, in character and
usefulness, of any college Of its kind.
This report will be read with graft
fication by the friends Of the college
everywhere and has my heartiest
commentator.
Winthrop college, numbered among
| the chief Institutions commanding the
pride of South Carolinians, submits,
through it's president and trustees, Its
usual fine report. An additional ap-
preparation for a model school will be
requested, and I recommend that this
be granted.
The new Carnegie library Is quite
an attractive feature of this inst1tu-:
with it's useful equipment, will soon
be dedicated.
I commend especially for your con-
sideration the work being done by the
State at Cedar Springs institute. The
report made shows how great Is the
work done here in fitting for lives OF
usefulness those upon whom aff1ictlon
has been laid and who are thus de-
prived Of advantages belonging 10
more fortunate ones.
The report of the president and
trustees of the Colored Normal, In.
dustrial, Agricultural and Mechanical
college shows good management and
much work. The attendance is very
large, the pupils have added oy thelr
work to the number Of buildings, and
the president reports satisfactory con-
ditions.
It was a matter Of sincere regret to
me that the compulsory education bill
discussed at your last session did not
| become a law. While I believe tnat
a school house should be within the
reach of every child in South Carolina,
II also believe that all children be-
] tween the ages Of eight and IL years
should be required to attend school for
certain number of months during
each year. The distance from tne
school house to which this law should
apply. is, for the present, a matter
for your consideration. The States
which have not adopted compulsory
educational laws are today the ex-
ceptions, and I feel that South Caro-
lima cannot longer afford to delay In
this matter. 7 recommend that you
again give this your consideration,
with the hope that you will pass a
law meeting the requirements OF the
| situation.
Department of Agriculture, Commerce
| and Immigration.
In my recommendation asking for the
establishment Of this department, to be
in charge of State commissioner,
I was firmly convinced Of the neces-
sity for such official action on the
part of the State. I have constantly
kept in close touch with what has been
done, and with this experience ] am
more firmly convinced than ever OF the
absolute necessity for this work.
South Carolina, as you know was the
first Southern State to establish such
a department, and this has widely ad-
vertised our resources. It has been the
aim Of Commissioner Watson to es-
tabEsh the work on lasting founda-
tions, and believe he has done so.
II we desire foreign immigration 1t
| is absolutely necessary, under the
laws Of the United States, that this
should be done only through an Or
ganized State department.
The development Of this work has
shown that not only were the advanta-
ges and resources Of South Carolina
comparatively unknown at distant
points, bl paid agents wilfully malign-
ed and risrepresented these and our
general Conditions also. The hardest
work his been accomplished by cor
recting these damaging reports by
givins accurate knowledge across the
seas concerning the great advantages
we offer to homeseekers. 1t Is neces-
sa,y to follow up this at once and Wig
srously, otherwise it's usefulness Is
seriously impaired Commissioner
Watson's report will show much
which has been accomplished In the
establishment Of colonies and in the
importation of wage workers. In ad-
dition to this, through water rates
have been secured from ports Of New
York, Philadelphia and Boston to CEN
trail inland points in our State.
The department has reason to think
also that Charleston will soon be made
port Of call for transatlantic liners,
as negotiations are now pending for
this purpose, with every prospect Of
success.
Interested ones beyond the borders OF
our State have had specific information
concerning the value Of our mineral
resources, Of our kaolin and clay de-
posits, and the advantages Of our lands
and climate, from the commercial
standpoint, have been widely adver-
tised also.
| I cannot too strongly commend for
your careful consideration the encour-
aging report Commissioner Watson
will submit to you. You cannot afford
to disregard this report and the intor-
nation it contains, and sincerely trust
that you will look carefully into the
results Of his official labors.
Our National Guard.
The report Of Adjutant and Inspector
General Frost sets forth clearly and
concisely the condition and needs Of
our National Guard. It shows that we
have 1,7S6 enlisted men, including off,
GERS, and it is pleasure for me to say
| that from my own observation the ef-
ficiency Of this military organization
is increasing each year. The reduc-
ton in the number Of compa-
MES made during the past year was
not only .ccessity on account Of the
amounts appropriated by the State and
national government, but considered
from the standpoint Of efficiency, 1t
has proved to be a wise step. I re-
gret, however, to gather from the re-
ports that, in order to meet the re-
uuirements Of the war department,
there will have to be further reduc-
ton, or an Increased appropriation on
the part Of the State will be necessary.