The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-18

ANA Ai'NAS VI TIC Oldlc at the acIudl
cost Of production. The railroads. 1
understand, are hauling the material,
also, at COST. State convicts are used
for the work, and the whole thing is
operated by the department Of agri-
culture Of the state. The deposits
were bought outright by the State
The companies who have been farm
ing the farmer by selling him expen-
sive medicine" for his land because
he knew NJ better than to buy, very
naturally VII try to stop the cutting
Gown Of enormous profits by injunc-
ton, but 10 one seems to fear the
result.
This plan should and ought to be
adopted by the state of South Caro-
lima, where conditions both as TO
volume of present-day expenditures
for mixed fertilizers and as to soil
retrOgression cry more loudly for such
relief than Virginia has ever even
approached
Il would so further inasmuch as
ground rock phosphate, because it is
quickly gobbled for treatment and
mixing for higher market prices, and
in view Of the fact that the State
owns perhaps as valuable beds as can
be found, and urge that the State
with her convicts operate her own
phosphate beds on the coast and sell
ground rock to the farmers on the
same basis as the ground limestone,
i. e., the cost of production. An at
tempt to do this, which is a crying
need, realize, will bring forth a
strong lobby even from foreign coun-
tries and a vigorous fight stronger
opposition than the suggestion as to
limestone, but it should be done.
"Our farmers pay daily tribute to
Germany because of the realization
by that nation Of her potash deposits
and her utilization of them.
Il have not entered into detail into
the scientific facts bearing on the
conditions, which have prompted me
to respectful present this matter
to you, but stand ready to present the
entire situation to any legislative COM
mittee and demonstrate how millions
Of dollars annually can be saved
without decrease Of revenue from
tonnage.
The idea has been generally dis
cussed by thinking men in the State
for some time, and these have come
to me with the request that 1 Off
cially present the matter to the gen.
eral assembly. This do with a sense
Of realization of its far-reaching i'm
portance.
IF action be deferred, l would re-
spectfully suggest that during the
current year the State department Of
agriculture, acting with a joint leg
islative committee be instructed to
carefully look into every phase Of
this matter and report to the gen.
eral assemly at it's next session,
though Virginia's experience with the
plan is avail2ble now as a guide, and
the need for action is great
How great this need is finds illus
tration in the following letter re-
ceived by the department the day
after the above was written in the
regular course Of office business, and
it is fair sample of many of its
kind; it offers such a striking IL
lustration of the conditions referred
to that 1 am taking the liberty Of in
cooperating t in its entirety:
Andrews S. c, Jan. II, 1918.
Mr.. E. j. Watson, Commissioner of
Agriculture Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: Please give me the COM
mercial value Of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash. Where can they be
bought? Can 1 buy these things and
mix my Own fertilizer and save the
fertilizer dealers expense of mixing
and great saving in railroad
freights? l am small farmer.
When l buy my fertilizer from the
local dealer he charges $32 to sac
per ton for c. S. meal and other fer
tilizers in proportion, and can
stand it.
Yours very truly,
&C. w. Harrelson.'
Residing where this man does
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