The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-29

hoQo to see tonight. The last under
the immediate direction of Mr.. Smell
Is arranging for the Industrial trip
to Northern points for next spring.
Mr.. j. H. Chandler Committee on
Extension Of Trade Is looking well
after this matter and is arranging
for the bargain day sales and athletic
contest for Thursday next. This
committee has had working In har-
mony with 1t the City Retailers AS
sociation Of which Mr. Julian Levy is
President. or the work Of the
Credit Bureau. a subdivision Of this
last named BODY. President Levy will
speak to you later.
The Co.umittee on Entertainment
with Col. Thomas Wilson at it's head
has not as yet been called upon to
officiate. But the Refreshment Com
mittee presided over by Mr.. Parrott
and ably assisted by Mr.. Reardon
have proven by tonight's spread that
they have not been IDLE.
Tho Committee on Rural Relations
has endeavored to foster friendly
feeling between ourselves and the
farmers of the county. and 1t reports
tho establishment Of rest rooms In
the City for visiting ladies.
The Committee on Farm Improve
nent OF which Mr. H. L. Scarborough
- chairman. believing that It could
dc nothing that could prove more
helpful to the agricultural interests
Of our community has made earnest
efforts to secure the establishment Of
the agricultural experiment station
In Sumter county. We believe that
we have the choicest location In this
section Of the State. one accessible by
railroad and public road and ex-
hibiting great variety Of soil, and
we hope for a favorable report from
the locating board.
The Committee on ENCOURAGEMENT
Of Home Supply with Mr.. Abe Ryt-
tenberg as chairman has canvassed
this matter thoroughly, and now as
sures the farmers that they can mar
ket all home products brought in at
Western prices plus freight charges
The Committee on Education Of
which. Professor Etmunds is chair
man has disposed Of the only matter
that comes before 1t, viz. work for a
county map showing school districts
Of Sumter County and, 1t holds itself
ready to cooperate with the county
organization at any and all times.
This brief summary shows what
We have been able to accomplish in
the past six months by organized ef-
forts and encourages us to hope for
Still greater results In the future. In
expressing such a hope. I am. fully
aware that We are Just now facing a
grave crisis In our business affairs.
The welfare of the City Of Sumter Is
inseparably bound up with that Of her
surrounding farming communities
and the present condition of the
cotton industry means little short Of
disaster to them. The high price of
cotton for the past few years has
gradually weaned them away from
former resolutions Of diversification
OF crops. Easy money has developed
extravagant living. and greater acre
age and heavier fertilization has
brought us an unprecedented yield
that has all but worked their undo
ing. 1 think I am not overstating II
when / say that the fertilizer bills for
Sumter County this year will reach
so per cent Of the amount realized
from the sale Of the cotton crop.
with all other expenses yet to come
out of the remaining 20 per cent.
This movement to withhold the crop
from the market is one move for our
protection. I am proud that the first
practical steps In this direction ori-
ginated here i'm Sumter county be-
tween our Chamber Of Commerce,
and the Sumter County Farmers
Union. I hope that we will realize
much benefit from 1t, but we will
never be able TO hold cotton success
fully while we run our farms on a
credit basis. We have promised
ourselves before this that we would
diversity and rotate our crops. We
will have to diversity now and make
cotton surplus crops. 1 believe this
drop In price to be blessing in dis
guise. Our farms should cut their
cotton acreage down to eight or ten
acres to the plough. and put the re-
rnDinnar nf 20 =,