The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-23
Building up the South.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 11-That the
railroads are giving much attention tc
the upbuilding of the South is evident to
all who have given the subject consider
alton. Necessarily, the work OF rail-
road company who does not possess q
land grant must be general in It's scope In
order to serve all the districts it's lines
represent. The recent campaign OF DR..
S. A. Knapp, OF the Federal Government,
which was made under the auspices OF the
Southern Railway Company, is but one OF
the many moves made by that company
looking to the betterment Of farm con-
ditions in the South. The lecture tour re-
ferred to comprehends more than Is gen
orally supposed. Every Southern State
reached by the Southern Railway was
visited, and the several mastery, pract-
cal talks made by DR.. Knapp, will be far,
reaching in their effect. Many thousand
| farmers and others in the States visited
were reached either directly or indirectly,
to practice better methods Of farming.
Mr.. M. V. Richards, the Land and In
dustrial Agent of the Southern Railway,
who suggested and organized the tour,
in discussing the purposes and effect OF
the trip, said:
"The Southern Railway Company has
for years endeavored to do its part IN
promoting the further development Of the
country along its lines. Its policy is to
treat all sections alike, cooperate with
the people in every county In their effort
sections have not been overlooked. The
Railway Company realizes the value OF
a full development of the rural districts
in order to obtain the best development
OF the towns and cities which serve the
country"
Mr.. Richards rightly advocates the i'm.
portance OF the town people and the coun'
try people standing close together If the
best results for all are to be obtained, and
this recent trip tends to bring closer har'
mony between all classes. The merchant
manufacturer, and farmer alike, were in.
terested in the talks made during the
trip. Mr.. Richards says that while the
towns have powerful attraction for the
people on the farms he believes that that
feeling is at minimum in the South, and
that his Company, especially, has in view
promoting a sentiment among the people
to stick to the furm." He argues that
home section of the United States. The
South is the ideal large and small farm
home region; the standard of comfort and
happiness is found to be higher and more
general in the South than elsewhere on
account Of the attractive features Of the
rural home surroundings, when once de-
veloped, commensurate with the posi-.
bilities of that part Of the country. Only
those who have had to do with the practi.
cal side Of promoting the development OF
the South appreciate the obstacles which
have stood in the way Of advancing the
best interests Of those already established
in the South and drawing others to that
section. We desire to inculcate in the
minds OF every young farmer in the South
the IDEA that he should buy piece OF
land and intelligently and industriously
work his own holdings; that he should
also be impressed with the Importance OF
cultivatipg we'll a small area rather than
farming poorly large place.
"The avenues are numerous for obtain
ing reliable information concerning how
to farm and make profit. 80 that un.
successful farmers in the South should be
the rare exception"