The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-02
Some Random Thoughts.

umns the writer has been on an or
sanitation tour of Williamsburg
county. Something like one hundred
and nifty miles by buggy was cover
ed. covering q wide circle OF the
county. and two OF three trips into
the central parts. Some years ago,
when In Berkeley county. the re-
mark was made, 'T do not see
what the United States wants with
the Philippine Islands when the wilds
Of Berkeley are untamsd. Still
less Is there any reason for retain
Ing them when one begins to realize
the undevsloped resources Of our
sister county. In fact. the mother
OF this Black River country. for the
frst settlers stopped mt the Kingstree
where the little city now stands on
the beautiful banks of the toruons
Wee Nee. the Indian name for Black
river. and from that point moved on
MP to Bethel and Midway. Brewing
con and Concord. Salem and Mt.
Zion. as the little colony grew In
numbers and more land was needed.
Some OF the incidents Of land trans
fsrs Of the past thirty years sound
} IKE frontier tales. One tract Of 81
500 acres sold for $50 and the buyer
wan forced to take II against his will
/. by q friend to whom he had loaned
$50. Another OF 5000 acres sold for
$500. one OF 1900 acres for $4,000.
and besides several valuable farms
the timber alone will sell for $780,
600. This tract belongs to the Harts-
Vile paper mill. The Rheims sold
$4,000 acres To the Atlantic Coast
Lumber Company for $4,000. Hav-
ing bought II for less than 10 cent,
an acre In years gone by II looked
like a good sale. but II was not lont;
before az much more would have
been given to cancel the trade.
Along tho Georgetown and West.
ern Railroad there are stretches with
nothing but stumps and a few scat
tering pineA no underbrush. A com.
psny In ditching II aud trying to Sc.
cure settlers A large part Of that
county got rains early In June and
have since had good seasons. some
places too much rain. and the crops
are fine. But In the central and
Northwestern part Of the county
rain Is badly needed.
Some unions were revived and
three new unions were organized
with prospects OF several more In the
next few weeks. The serious con-
difion OF the cotton crop with a bear
raid on prices. is arousing the farm
ers and the business men more than
. thousand speeches could do. A
drop OF three cents a pound In about
Q month Is appalling. There are
some few who still put their trust
I'm the bulls or some disaster to the
growing crop. but most OF them see
that II Is a case OF organization at
once or financial stagnation for the
next year or two.
The State Union.
The meeting In Columbia on Wed
nesday and Thursday was the most
business-like and harmonious In the
history OF the union. There was less
hot air" and more deep thinking
which found expression In sober
words that will lead to deeds, than at
any previous meeting. IL would be
hard to assemble a hundred or more
men Of as much intelligence and
good looks. They were we'll dressed,
and prosperous looking. and what
was better still were calm and dis
passonats In their discussions of the
great questions that occupied their
minds The action of the union on
q great many matters OF public in
tcrest was given To the press by the
proper committee. But matters OF
more importance were sent down to
the county and local unions where
the real work must be done.
Any farmer worth the name of
fsrmer. whether he makes his thous-
and bales OF cotton or more on his
own broad acres. or makes his ten
bales on a rented farm. Is standing In
his own light not to join the union
he Is retarding the prosperity and
growth OF our common country. and
h aiding and abetting the predatory
interests In the warfare which can
only end with us as a land Of slaves
or land OF freemen. The union Is
sending out organizers. as fast as we
can find suitable men and we can pay
them. But there is no need for the