The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-12-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Work of Mr.. Spencer of the
Southern in Developent Of the
South-The Boil Weevil.
Special Cor. Herald and News.

Washington, Dec. ia shadow Of
gloom has been cast over the entire
Southern, community in Washington
by the tragic death of Mr.. Samuel
Spencer, President of the Southern
Hallway. Personally, Mr.. Spencer was
a lovable man and Southern men of
prominence in national affairs were
proud of his friendship. Mr. Spencer
never forgot the section in which lie
was born; first and foremost he was
a Southern man. When he was work
ing for railroads in other parts Of the
country and acquiring the experience
that was to place him in the front
frank of the great railroad men of the
country he was planning the crown
ing work of his life the building up
Of the South and the development of
Southern Industries through the in
strumentality Of great railroad sys-
tenn. His opportunity came when he
was able to interest capitalists in the
plan which he had worked out for the
amalgamation into the Southern Rail-
way of the disjointed lines Of which
it is now composed. Overcoming al
most insuperable difficulties he sue
ceeded in bringing the Southern sys-
tenn up to its present state of eff
cheney and was steadily carrying out
plans that if continued by his success
sor will give to the South railroad
accommodations second to none in the
United States. The keynote Of Mr..
Spencer's success as a railroad man
was his realization Of the basic truth
that railroad can only succeed rs a
result Of the prosperity of the terri
tory traversed by it. The splendid
advancement of the South in recent
years is in large measure the result
of the practical application of this
principle. Considerations of immed-
late revenue for the road were always
subordinated to the policy of enab-
ling Southern products to reach COM
pcting markets on favorable terms.
The establishment Of new industries
was constantly facilitated and the in
vestor looking for an opening or the
man looking of capital for the devel-
opment of an industry could always
count Oh the ready and effective as
sistance Of Mr.. Spencer and the
Southern Railway. There are many
prosperous establishments in the south
today that owe their present success
to the personal efforts Of Mr.. Spencer
to secure funds with which to tide
them over financial difficulties. It is
no exaggeration to say that in the
death of Samuel Spencer the South
has lost the foremost champion of its
material advancement.
Because of the belief Of the en-
tomologists of the Agricultural De-
partment that the Mexican cotton boil
weevil will eventually spread over the
entire cotton belt Of the United States
cotton growers everywhere are inter
ested in the work that is being done
to combat this pest. Secretary Will
sons annual report shows that the
Department still believes that reli-
ance is to be paced chiefly on improv-
ed cultural methods and the planting
Of early varieties. The Guatmalan
! ant which was expected to be Of great
assistance in fighting the weevil
! seems to be complete failure as it
has been found that it can not sur
vive the winters even in the southern
part Of the cotton belt. Insect parasi.
tes are still being sought in the coun,
tries from which the bool weevile
spread northward, but without any
positive results up to this time. II
has been discovered, however, thai
some native insects in that part OF
Texas first infested have become par.
asites Of the weevil and are very
destructive. The Department will en-
deavor to develop these parasites and
introduce them in other parts Of the
infested region. Secretary Wilson
announces the success Of the Depart.
ment in developing variety Of cottor
that natures earlier than any tha
has heretofore been cultivated. The
seed Of this variety will be distributed
in the infested region and it is hoped
that cotton grown from it will develor
so early that the greater part Of the