The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-06
OBJECTS to CLAIMS
MADE IN THE NEWSPAPERS BY
OVER JEALOUS FRIENDS
Of Congressman Lever That He is
Entitled to the Credit for Soil
Survey of This State.

Survey Of This State.
Congressman ID. Wyatt Aiken
takes Congressman Levers press
agent to task for giving the, credi:
for the soil survey in South, Caro-
lima almost entirely 10 Mr.. Lever,
and thoroughly shows up the false
ness Of the claim. Here is Congress
man Aiken's letter, which explains
itself.
To the Editor Of The State:
In an article which appeared in
The News and Courier of the 21st
inst. we note the folloWing:'- a"H.
H. Bennett, general field agent Of
the United States bureau OF soils,
was in Columbia tooay, and Will
very probably attend the conference
of sol! experts il Lexington county
during the week with co lsressnlan
Lever, to whom the credit OF the soil
survey Of South Ca.)iina rhou'd be
given.' Then again, in the same
article, the following appears:
Congressman Lever, whu is a me;o-
Der of the agricultural committee
of the house of representatives, has
done more towards securing rsoil
survey of the State than any other
man, and it Is largely through his
efforts that the federal government
has taken 30 much interest"
Then, O few days later, VIE note
in The State: MIR. Bennett has just
had a conference with Director Har-
per of the State experiment station
and leaves today for Lexington for
a conference with Congressman Lew
er, who had the soil survey, work
started in this, State and who haa
done much toward its establishment
upon practical basis, not only in
South Carolina but throughout the
United States" .tF'&' - : '.e'' .
These statements 60 too far in
claiming for Mr.. Lever, and In reaii-
ty, are calculated to do him injury:
1t Is certain that Mr.. Lever would
not claim as much for himself. Tn.
fortunately for the force OF" the
statements made by the correspon-
dent to The News and Courier; he
published in the same article a'tahn-
lated statement. showing the, work
that has been done entirely In the.
matter of soil survey In this, state.
and the dates Of the surveys. This
shows that the surveys, known as
the sAbberille, Anderson and Ocones'
surveys, embraced almost entire1ythe
Third district which have the honor
to represent, covered an area of; 81
40S square miles. The survey OF
Orang elburg, Lee and Sumter; all
the work done in Mr.. Levers dis
trict, covered ,1.707 square miles.
II this matter has been left eXclu-
sively to Mr.. Lever, as his friend
would do him the injustice to init
mate, would the initiative have been
taken outside Of his district and
would he have favored other sections
rather than his own? The first sur
vey made in Mr.. Levers district was
The Orangeburg survey, made In
1904, and the two other surveys
were in Lee and Sumter in 1907.
The survey in Ahbeville county
was made in 1902, while Senator
Latimer was In congress, and before
Mr.. Lever was a member of the ag-
ricultural committee. The surveys in
Darlington and Horny were made the
same year, while Mr.. Scarborough
was in congress. These men had
been serving for some years when
the surveys were made, and both OF
them were known to be active and
able representatives. Mr.. Lever was
then a new man in the house, and
1t is unreasonable to suppose that
these men OF longer service would
appeal TO him, even before his ap-
pointment to the agricultural! COM
mittee, to have surveys made IN their
respective districts.
Without assuming to speak with
reference to the surveys made IN
Lancaster, Cherokee and York, Mr..
Finley's district, which, to say the
least Of it, he was competent to have
secured on his own motion, l may
and do speak definitely Of the sur
veys in Anderson and Oconee. !
know that these surveys We're made
upon my request direct to the de-
partment, and not through anybody
as intermediary.
There were surveys at later dates
in the Districts OF Messrs. johnson
and Lcgare. They would probably
want some credit for having them
made
This Is written in no unfricndly
snirit for Mr.. Lever, who | esteem
highly as a personal friend, and ap-
prcciate as an able and faithful pub
lie servant. And do not believe
that Mr.. Lever would himself do
Injustice to his colleagues; but his
friends, in this wholesale claim for
him, have oTerstcpped the bounds
OF reason, and do injustice both TO
Mr.. LIVER and his colleagues. 1t
yr,nr