The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-30
THE SOIL SURVEY.
Gard From Congressman Wyatt Al
ken AS to the Work in the 3rd
District.
Abbeville, Nov. "a, 1909.

Abbeville, Nov. "a, 1909.
Editor Herald and News:-In an
editorial the 23rd inst. you comment
on the soil survey matter, to which |
took occesion to refer recently.
You are right in assuming that the
relations between Mr.. Lever and my
self are entirely cordial. In my arti-
Gle, I expressly exonerated him from
any attempt to make unwarranted
claims at the expense Of his col
leagues. Ny regret is, that some Of
his friends have not always been as
considerate Of the rights Of others.
I will gladly join in giving Mr.. Lever
credit for his able and faithful work,
but I do not feel that I am called
upon to acquiesce in unreasonable
claims made for him, especially at my
own expense. No man can be more
loyal in supporting Mr.. Lever IN
such matters as he himself asserts
that he is entitled to credit for, but
when others undertake to speak for
him they should be better informed.
In your editorial you rather bellt-
tie the merits Of the soil survey.
While this is not the point at issue,
I may say that in this, you will find
YOU have judged too hastily. The
United States government has seen
fit to spend hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars on these surveys and certainly
the plan and purpose OF showing
what soils are suited to certain crops
and what are not, which is the ute
rior purpose, seems a wise one. But
I leave this question for you to set
tie with the Agricultural Department.
# the soil survey was thought by Mr..
Levers friend to be Of sufficient
value to make it worth while to claim
the entire credit for it in the State
for Mr.. Lever, then so much OF 1t as
touches the Third district is proper
tionately just that valuable to me.
As a matter Of fact have interested
myself in efforts to secure survey
of the entire State. In company with
Representative Finley, [ visited the
Agricultural Department June lst,
1908, when Mr.. Milton Whitney,
Chief Of that Division, promised" US
that he would make a survey Of the
entire State. / made other visits tor
this same purpose, but I would not
like for any friend of mine to give
me credit for all that has been done
on the strength Of this promise or OF
my frequent visits. -
In response to your inquiry, will
take pleasure in informing you that
the l7O7 square miles spoken Of in
my article, as embraced in MIR.
Levers district, were in Orangeburg,
Lee and Sumter, while the 2,4O8
square miles made up what was
known as the Abbeville, Anderson
and Oconee surveys. If you had read
my article you would have noted that
these facts were taken from the ar
tiele by Mr. Levers over-zealous
friend, and I take it that he has not
misstated the facts. A careful read
ing of my article would have inform
ed you further that I accredited the
AbbeTille part Of the work done IN
the 3rd district to Senator Latmer. |
You ask finally: ''How many
square miles have been surveyed in
Newberry county?" / would answer |
that this work is in its experimental
stage, and only a small per cent. Of
the counties of the State have as yet
profted by it. Sometime ago I re-
ceivsa the assurance that Newberry |
county would be the next county sur
veyed in this district, but I must re-
speetfully suggest that if representa-
tive men like yourself persist in.
throwing cold water on the whole
matter our task is made more diff
cult. Both Mr.. Lever and myself
need the cooperation of representa-
tive men; and if it is left for US to
divide the honors the division will
surely be both agreeable and salts
factory.
Yours respectfully,