Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-15
SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE FRONT
Governor Blease Writes comprehen-
sive Appreciation of Conditions.

sive Appreciation of Conditions.
The editor of Lesslie's Weekly not
long ago requested the governors of
various states to write for 1t state
ment Of how things were going in their
respective commonwealths. The first
three replies, including one from Gov
ernor Cole l.. Blease Of South Carroll
ma were published in the issue Of the
weekly for November IA. Governor
Blease's reply Is as follows:
In the phenomenal material growth
Of the south during the past three de-
cades. South Carolina stands forth pre-
eminent among her sister states, and
yet her wonderful resources have bare
soil has given her g. worlds record,
which she still holds, in the production
Of corn per acre, Notwithstanding her
principal crop Is cotton. The marvel
Gus development Of her manufacturing
interests has placed her second in the
manufacture Of cotton goods. Along
every line there has been rapid and
substantial progress.
With population which, while
proud Of the wonderful traditions of
Its past is busy seizing the opportuni-
ties Of the present and has Its face
turned toward the future, and with re-
sources. the development Of which has
only begun, perhaps more varied than
those Of any other state in the Union,
the outlook for prosperity in South
Carolina today will compare favorably
with the prospects for the future In
any section Of the United States or In
any part Of the world. The farming
lands are. owned largely by the farm
ers who receive directly the benefit of
their labors. Improved farming meth
DDS have been introduced, and diversi-
fed and intensified farming is steadily
increasing the yield per acre and the
returns to the producer. Lands are
we'll cared for, the farmers naturally
taking a pride In building up their
own, and the fertility of the soil is be-
ing increased.
In the manufacturing and Industrial
enterprises Of the state, capital and la
Dor are working hand in hand, and
South Carolina has been singularly
free from the labor troubles which
have disturbed other sections of the
country. The great proportion Of the
toilers In these manufacturing enter
prises are natives Of the state, with
that love for South Carolina and that
Jealous regard for her interests which
have ever characterized our people.
In every department Of activity the
people are contented-not contented in
further progress, for they are; but in
the sense that they realize and appre-
ciate the prosperity with which they
are blessed.
Fine progress Is being made along
educational lines. The common-school
system Is being improved throughout
the state, and the higher institutions
of learning are in -fiourishing- condition.
Sentiment everywhere in the state for
improved highways Is growing and
better roads are being built, bringing
the crops closer to the markets, uniting
closer the people of the rural districts
and in every way making rural life
more attractive.
With her native population, her
splendid resources, her unexcelled cli-
mate and her diversified industries,
South Carolina is an inviting field for
the investment of capital, and the
wonderful development now going on
in the state Is evidence Of the fact that
capital realizes the fine opportunity
ers are being put to work for material
progress, and figures which have been
cited show that South Carolina now
has more than two hundred thousand
developed horsepower Of this kind.
This development continues to go
steadily forward furnishing the power
for new enterprises which are being
built, for the lighting of our cities and
even many Of our country homes. It Is
only recently that the mineral resources
of the state began to attract the atten-
tion which they deserve and that their
development was begun In the manner
which they warrant. Stock raising, for
which South Carolina Is peculiarly
adapted, was long neglected, and even
now the advantages Of the state In this
regard are only beginning to be fully
realized.
The point which want to stress is
that, while South Carolina Is expert
encing wonderful prosperity, 1t is an
advancing prosperity-that the states
various activities are steadily advanc-
ing in almost limitless fields. This
march Of industrial progress will be
given further impetus with the opening
Of the Panama canal, Charleston,
South Carolina's great seaport city, be-
ing recognized as "the most convent
ent port to Panama"
With all her varied and wonderful
material wealth, however, South Caro-
lina's chief asset is the spirit Of her
people, and 1t Is when this Is taken
into consideration that the bright out
look for the future becomes a certain
ty. It were idle in this connection to
recount the struggles of these people
in rebuilding their fortunes, swept
away by the war between the states.
1t Is sufficient to point to the wonder
full new fabric which they have woven
to take the place of the old-a fabric
wonderfully woven In terrible travail
in the days of its beginning. 1t Is that
same spirit with which our people are
imbued today-that spirit which, In '65
made captains Of industry out Of cap
tains of shattered companies.
Strengthened by the trials and en-
boldened by the triumphs Of the past,
South Carolina today looks with assur-
ance to the future. Commercial VIC
tories are being every day achieved by
her people. Her progress Is command
ing the attention Of every section Of
our great country. The National Corn
exposition will soon be held in South
Cardinals capital city. Hundreds Of
people conversant with the resources
and development Of every state In the
Union will be welcomed within our
borders and the Palmetto state will
have no fear of comparison by them Of
will see what a great state has done
and is doing and is determined yet to
do. This national gathering in the in
terest Of one of the country's great
staple products will bring South Caro-
lima closer than ever before to her sis
ter states of the American Union. and
will no doubt stimulate greater friend
ly industrial rivalry.
/ have endeavored to outline briefly
a few of the bare facts upon which ]
have based claim for South Carolina Of
a prosperity which must substantially
increase. 1t Is not given to us to know
the future, but, II we may judge 1t by
the past, believe the facts will bear
me out in the statement that South
Carolina has only entered upon an era
of surprising progress, in which ma
terial development and the continued
intellectual and moral uplift Of all her
people will go steadily forward hand in
hand.
MERE MENTION