Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-06
FARM LOAN PLAN
Editor Thinks It's Adoption Would
Abolish Ignorance and Poverty.

Editor Thinks It's Adoption Would
Abolish Ignorance and Poverty.
Fountain Inn Tribune. ...... ..
South Carolina has fallen upon evil
days. We are all of one mind con-
cerning the urgent need Of q physi-
clan and most Of us are agreed con-
cerning the most efficacious course OF
treatment. South Carolina's need Is
broader intelligence, broader con-
ception Of the duties of citizenship
education, but compulsory education Is
bitter to the palate Of the people who
have greatest need OF 1t. '....
I want to propose q substitute 1ol
compulsory education-a plan thai
will inevidentably bring about the re.
demption Of the state; a plan that VII
increase the wealth Of every citizen OF
South Carolina; a plan that will de.
crease crime and grow q finer mora
fibre; a plan that will double the yielc
of crops; a plan that will make two
good country homes blossom where
one ramshackle hut stands now; plaI
that will send our children to school
make our fathers and mothers enthu'
siastic partisans Of the god OF pro
gress and develop our young men into
I appeal to the editors Of South Car
olina and to those public men who are
patriotic and constructive, to considel
the plan on its merits, weighing its
possibilities carefully, and not tc
damn 1t at first sight because 1t came
from a little country newspaper.
The plan, in brief Is this:
Let the state of South Carolina levy
tax Of one mill on all property, tt
create a fund from which qualified
electors whose assessed property valu.
alton does not exceed $1,000 may Dor
row for the purchase Of agriculture
| lands.
Let the maximum sum that can bt
| borrowed by one elector be fixed d!
statute at $4,000.
Let the state, through an officia
elected for the purpose, conclude TIT
purchase of land for all borrowers ant
take a mortgage on the tract purchas
ed as security.
Let the borrower pay to the stat'
annually 3 per cent interest on the LOAF
or deferred payments thereof and
| per cent Of the principal. i-...
1 Let there be provision made for INT
| transfer Of contracts. Let each Dor
| rover be compelled to live upon hi
| purchase during the life Of his contrac
with the state, and In case this require
ment is not complied with, let the lant
revert to the state to be again allotted
/ to some elector willing to take up nj
residence thereon and finish the con
i tract.
Let this one mill tax be applied t
the loan fund for period OF ten years
At the end Of that time the interes
| payments, and installment payment
on principal, will keep the fund at
| substantial amount without further as
sistance from the taxpayers.
A one-mill tax on all property woul'
bring a revenue of about 100000
year. Ten years would produce per
manent fund of $S,000,000, not count
ing interest, and thereafter 200 or NOR
borrowers could be provided for eacl
wear until such time as the system be
came unnecessary, and then the rum
could be diverted to other channels.
After ten years, let the one-mill Ia
revenue be expended by the state an
nually for the building Of permanen
roads.
The plan, at the first superficial
glance, appears too simple to work IN
miraculous improvements hav
claimed for 1t.
| But, study the matter.
moral fibre, but mere solid prosperit
fosters progress, education, worth
ambition, responsibility and clean NOR
| ais.
| A land Of small farms, cultivated b
the owners, Is all and intensively an
intelligently cultivated.
Intensive and intelligent cultivatio
vastly increases the crop production Q
a state and increased crop productio
increases the wealth Of every citizen
the state-farmer, merchant, banker
artisan.
Decreasing the size Of farms In
creases the acreage values. A closer
settled community Of home owners
a community OF high land values.
The ownership of home bring
with It a sense Of solid responsibility
and with this comes respectability an
respect for institutions Of progress.
Il With II also comes a desire for ed
ucation, a thirst for culture an ambi
ton for broader horizons.
i Permanent good roads are an cas-
highway for the wheels of progress,
inducment for the advance of civil
zation.
; And 10! After a few decades we hav
a people little acquainted with po'
erty; a people with high ideals; peo
pie striving to educate the children;
vital, conservative, proud, wholesom
people, and-without fail-a govern
ment of the highest order Of intelli
gence.
Gentlemen, the plan can't fail.
is based on human nature, and the ir
evitable sequence Of acts-and thes
things are bed rock.
Perhaps. in my over enthusiasm.
have failed to see little imperfection
: little impediments. But the one bil
, engrossing fact Is that the thing can b
done. and that it would redeem tn
state.
Will you help to place the plan be
| fore the people? Will you explain an
, amplify 1t? Will you indorse an
champion it?
ask nothing for myself. I al
/ pleading for South Carolina.
: A dispatch from st. Matthews re
, ports the appearance of the army worl