The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-27
TOBACCO GROWING DISCUSSED
HON. II. I. MANNING PROMISES
THAT BUSINESS MEN WILL
DO THEIR SHARE.
Sentiment of Meeting That Steps BE
Taken To Organize for the Building
Of Warehouses - Farmers Promise
60 Grow Tobacco-Talk by Hon.
John Mcsween ot Timmonsviile. X.
I. Manning and w. w. Rowland.

The mass meeting of business men
OF Sumter and farmers OF the county
at the Court House Saturday at noon
was well attended by both farmers
and business men. both Of whom
seemed much interested Ia the steps
which, were proposed and both of
whom promised before the close of
the meeting to do their share In the
project which had been set on foot.
An interesting talk on the growth
of tobacco was made by the Hon.
John McSween o. Timmonsville
Messrs. n. /. Manning and w. w.
Rowland also made short talks. All
Of the speeches were along lines of
encouragement for the farmer who
was promised a plank or tie road to
prosperity. IL he converted some of
his cotton land into a tobacco field.
IL was shown that tobacco was q
needed money crop. which would not
Interfere with the growing of cotton
and which would bring I'm money in
betveen seasons. so TO speak, and
which was very profitable and did not
require a great deal of care as grown
at the present time.
The meeting was opened by Presi-
dent Davis ID. Noise of the Chamber
Of Commerce who stated the object
of the meeting. to encourage the
farmers In the growth OF tobacco in
Sumter county, In a few words. He
then introduced Hon. John McSween
OF Tim,nonsville. one OF the leading
men I'm the leading tobacco markets
OF the l'tate.
Mr.. McSween told OF how tobacco
Industry was commenced in Timmons-
Vile and how II gradually grew until
the town now boasted a market, Sec
ond TO none in the State, where a
million and a half OF tobacco had been
sold this season at an average price
higher than on other markets. He
stated that tobacco was easily grown
on clay land with clay subsoil and
that Timmonsvil,c would not become
jealous OF Sumter's engaging in the
industry, as there was always a
steady demand for good tobacco. He
answered many questions put to him
by Hon. X. l. Manning and others.
NIL Of which were OF nature to en-
courage the farmers TO plant tobacco.
He stated that the farmers had OBJ
tained q good price for their tobacco
this year and that he thought that the
price would be as good next year, as
IL had been holding up steadily for
several years. He thought that IL
the tobacco was grown there would
be no trouble In getting a warehouse
and a market for IL.
Mr.. II. I. Manning was next called
upon to speak. He showed the farm
ers the need OF a second money crop,
when a third TO half OF the money
coming from cotton was now being
was a matter OF producing more.
making the soil increase its produc-
ton. There were being made efforts
To change the methods OF farming
and n change from the old method OF
planting only cotton was much need
ed as anything else. He stated that
as Mr.. McSween has already shown
that n steady demand was always 10
be found for the tobacco, he did not
think that the farmers would have
any trouble In iinding a market for it.
He did not believe II a good thing for
the larger farmer. but he did think
IL good thing for the small farmer,
who did not have to deal with negro
labor. but worked his own crop with
his family. and who would be on the
ground at all time To see after the
work. He believed II would be more
profitable than cotton and certainly
IL would require less labor. 1t came
IN at period between hoeing and
cotton picking time. lie called at
tention to the fact that the business
men would do their full share OF work,
pointing out the fact that they had es-
tabiished the compress here several
years ago and kept IL here In order
that farmers might get one-eighth
OF point more for their cotton be-
cause OF railroad rates than at other
points thus saving the farmers about
$4,000 a year. The business men did
not have some ulterlor aim i'm view.
they wanted To see the community
proper and IA prosperous community
would be ample compensation for
them.
IL was pointed out that the boil
weevil would be here in about six
years and that II would bring disas-
ter with IL. II the farmers had not
learned some means OF taking care of