The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-26
GOV. EEYWARD TALKS.
Of Conditions Existing in South Car
olina-Not Interested in Poll
tics, He Says.


rier's Washington correspondent
sends that paper the following inter-
esting interview:
"Conditions in South Carolina are
very satisfactory Oh the whole. VI
course, the prevailing stringency III
the money market Is felt there as
elsewhere. and on that account the
banks have had some trouble III Sc
curing money for the farmers on
their cotton. The farmers III our
state. YOU know. have the best cotton
crop in the south, as the government
reports show. ald under normal I'm
ancial conditions should be II posi-
ton to do a lot Of bushes this fall.
The general prosperity Of the coun-
trv. and of the south particularly, naS
resulted in tying up a great deal OF
money in investments, and the str1n-
gency is not therefore OF so serious
a character as to cause alarm. Many
Of our farmers have asked loans on
their cotton, desiring to hold 1t tor
a better price, and as am interested
both in the banking and warehouse
business am in a position to know
that it is the desire of the banks to
assist the farmers in this effort as far
as possible.
"In order to meet the demand for
currency the banks in Charleston,
Columbia and several other South
Carolina cities have issued clearing
house certificates, and these nave
found general circulation, so that the
trouble has been greatly allevlated,
and I believe will eventually be en-
tirely remedied by natural causes.
The situation illustrates very forc1-
bly, the need for changes in our bank
inc system. Of providing more fleS-
ible currency and the action Of con-
gress will be awaited with great IN
terest, especially by the people OF the
south.
''There aas been no legislation or
AGITATION in South Carolina recently
to frighten off capital or to alarm
investors. We are railroad builders,
not railroad haters, in South Caro-
lima. Within the last few months
several new lines have been project
ed or begun, and as far as possible
our people are putting their money
into such developments. Take Salu-
da court house for instance; the on
" court house town in the state
which has not a railroad. The people
of that section have gone to work IN
earnest and are now preparing to
build a railroad from that town to
some point on the Southern, and 1T
should be from the start a paying
proposition, because it passes through
a splendid country. Then it IS only
q matter of time before there is an
other line across the mountains to the
coal fields. The South and Western,
it seems, will eventually come
through to Spartanburg and then to
Columbia and Charleston. trust.
"All such new lines will receive
not only a warm welcome: but fair
treatment in our courts and IN our
legislature.
"The railroads are not afraid to
trust our courts aad the people have
the same confidence IN the South
Carolina judges and juries. The leg
islature at its last session appointed
a committee from both houses to IN
vestigate railroad conditions, with
especial reference to the alleged dis
examinations against Charleston, and
this commission has been doing its
work quietly, without any grand
stand methods or brass band
display. It's report will doubtless be
helpful to all Interests.
"There was some talk Of reducing
passenger fare at the last session, but
the commercial travellers who were
pushing the bill agreed tq let it go
over, hoping that the railroads would
improve their facilities and endeav-
or to make their schedules. There
has been a great improvement in the
last twelve months in respect to
schedules; the roads heightened
their schedules and the trains now
arrive on time more frequently. To
nv mind that is, what the people
want. It does not make much differ
ence to the average man whether he
pays three cents per mile or 2 IL
cents, if ne can be sure that he Will
e,,s1-o Of his 1o-tin t;on whe-7 11e