Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-04-08
HITS THE SOUTH
Tariff on Kalnit will Rob Our
Farmers
OF A LARGE SUM

Section of the Country, as Kainit
Does Not Compete With Any
American Product.
Columbia, April IA delegation
Oh south Carolina farmers and COM
mercial fertilizer manufacturers will
probably go to Washington on the
warpath in few days to protest
against that provision of the much
discussed Payne tariff bill, which
imposes duty of 20 per cent ON
potash salts.
Commissioners Watson has inst
received a very strong letter from
Director Harper, of the experiment
station at Clemson, denouncing the
new duty as an outrage, saying II
will take 100000 a year out of the
pockets of the farmers of this State
alone. This stuff comes mostly from
Germany and as there is nothing
In this country 10 compete against
1t the duty is regarded as a double
shane against both the farmers and
the fertilizer people. Charleston
being the centre of fertilizer manu-
featuring in the country, and supply
ing the farmers not only Of South
Carolina, but of many adjoining
States.
Commissioner Watson has sent Mr..
Harper's letter on to Congressman
Lever to say what kind of a delega-
ton would be most effective to come
to Washington on the subject. After
hearing from Mr.. Lever Mr.. Watson
Will probably call on the State Far
mers Union to get together and
name delegation to go on to Wash
ington. Mr.. Harper's letter to Mr..
Watson follows:
Dear Sir: ! understand from the
German kali people that section 3 of
the Payne tariff bill imposes a duty
OF 20 per cent on potash salts.
think this is an outrage. This will
mean that South Carolina will nav
an additional duty to the govern
ment of about 100000 a year.
This will come largely from the
farmers. Most of the potash salts.
which are now in the free list. are
consumed by Southern farmers, as
sandy soils of the South are more
deficient in potash than clay soils.
and most of the soils of the South
are sandy. Something should be
done to let congress know that the
people of South Carolina protest
against any such treatment.
Yours very truly,
y. n. HARPER"
The fertilizer manufacturers join
In the comment of Mr. Harper that
the new duty is an outrage agains;
the farmers Of this State and of the
entire South
When he was shown Mr. Harper's
letter and asked what Infant indus
try in this country such a duty
would benefit or protect. General
Manager C.. FitzSimons, of the South
ern Cotton Oil Company which is
affiliated with the Virginia-Carolina
Chemical Company, said:
None whatever 1t is ia a plain
case of the government needs the
money, | suppose. We own our
mines in Germany and import thous-
ands and thousands of tons every
year, and ii is sold to the farmers
all over the South OF course the
farmers will have to pay the diff
ference, and IL the new duty means
100000 year out of the South Car
olina farmers, it will mean millions
year out of the pockets of tha
southern farmers generally. The
demand for potash has been particu-
larly strong this season in this State
and Throughout the South. 1t is
used in the manufacture of fertiliz-
ers, and the farmers buy large uuan
titles and mix it themselves with
acied phosphate and cottonseed
| meal"
1T is the first have heard Of
the situation" said Mr.. c.. C. War
ing, division manager for the VIC.
people. Il will this afternoon for
ward a copy of the Mr.. Harper's
letter to the Richmond headquar-
ters. l have no doubt but that our
people will join the farmers in a
strong protest to congress-"