The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-11-26
A Strong Letter.

| SummertOn. >. y. NOV. I1, 19io'
To the Editor OF the Manning
Times:-Several weeks ago, proml-
nent business mao Of the town OF Man
! uing requested the writer OF this artl'
Gle to locase 10 Manning, and advanced
as his reason, the following, to wit:
(a) He claimed that the town OF Sum-
merton is a mere rat-hole and that the
writer is prophet and patriot without
Ihouor in his own couptry and is vast
ling his efforts to promote the common
good
(b) He alleged further that the town
OF Manning is dead and mu"h IN need
of patriot 10 arouse the people from
their ietharsy
| For the benefit of the aforesaid Man
lning citizen, take the liberty OF quot
ling herewith from a letter received
}duripg the present week from prom
linent member of the United States
|S.uate, as foll'ws. II know you are a
lmau of eduratiop. for your letters show
lit, and your name is q guarantee OF
Having been bred with high ideals, and
I am satisfied that you are one OF the
few N. n 10 Sculh Carolina today who
discuss public questions with the
Islightest degree of intelligence"
Now, Mr.. Editor, take it as gener-
ially sdmitted that you conduct the
ablest and most independent county
newspaper in South Carolina. and in
consideration of the statement OF the
Manning citizen and for the benefit OF
the common uplift. ] desire to state
herewith some of the advantages and
disadvantages in residing at Sumner
ton.
Bounded on the north by Sumter,
hnvnded OF the west and south by the
Ssutee River. and bounded on the east
by Manning, the town of Summerton,
South Carolina, is the center OF the
greatest agricultural region or section
iu the world; equally as fertile as the
lands OF the Mississippi valley and as
suitable to agriculture as the lands OF
Marlboro or Orangeburg counties in
! this State, the farming community
around the town of Summerton, sur
passes either of them in the matter OF
variety and adaptibility; mixture OF
clay, sand and lean constitute the chief
elements of our soil, aud peaches, corn,
apples, peas, grapes, pomegranites, to-
matoes and potatoes, each and all OF
them actually grow, tear fruit and
flourish to our satisfaction from year TO
year.
| Without hills or mountains or gull
tleys, without need OF terracing or irri-
CATION, the farm lands within the
boundaries heretofore given, afford
and furnish to the eye one single level
stretch OF welcome; dotted here and
there with small streams or branches
of water, cattle may flourish as though
upon Thousand hills; the hand OF God
fashioned these noble farming lands
and invited the farmers " milk and
honey and green pastures. The moth
er OF several Governors of South Caro-.
lima and the local habitation of some OF
the most intelligent and industrious
farmers of the world; the farming COM
| muni,y around and about the town or
tSummerton invites comparison aud
awaits the comiug Of an equal compet-
! itnr
But with all these gifts of Gs,d and
wi b sl! our prosperity, it bshooves
| th farmers and all OF us within this
favored section of Clarendon County,
to look within and about ourselves,
and take an inventory OF our needs,
lshrrtconiuSs aud Imperative duty DUR
ing these latter days OF the year 1913,
and these shall proceed TO relate, as
follows, to wit:
(l) The people within and about thu
town 1T Summer,on are 10 urgeot need
ut he! ter railroad fa,ilities and con-
! nections; The town of Summerton and
the town OF Manning and the town OF
Pinewood should be connected by an
| electric railway line and there is sufti-
cient water power in the Santee river
to move the machinery; the Seaboard
Air Line Railroad should hasten TO
make proper connection from the city
OF Sumter through the town OF Sum-
m. rton to the city OF Charleston or else
Connect the city of Florence through
the towns of Manning and Summe-ton
with the boat lines now operating on
the Santee River.
(2) The farmers in and around the
sowu Of Summer,on not only neeG, but
demand better credit and banking
facilities; the Bank OF Summerton
located here is a splendid Institution
and stretches every nerve TO meet the
conditions. but many farmers in this
Section wi good collateral must 90 to
Sum er or Manning for &C conmodation,
when the Bapk Of Summerton could
have the business for the asking, If it
would only increase the capital and
assets of the Bank and place itself in
more sympathy with the farmers and
community generally; few bankrupt
and butt meat merchants On the direct
orate will ultimately destroy the use
fuluess of the Bank Of Summerton and
e,trange the progressive element OF the
comlnunity; am satisfied if the capi-
ltalists would establish and operate a
rural bank here with q capital stock OF
100000 and give personal attention to
th. c,,n6ucr Of sume and pet in SYmp8-