Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-11-16
Although peculiarly blessed in th'

Although peculiarly blessed in the
matters of climate, soil, an abundance
Of good water, and natural resources
without limit, the greatest asset OF
York county is her splendid citizen
ship. Of course there are all kinds
of people in the county, including
some who are not especially desirable;
but the average is high, as high as Is
to be found in any county In the state,
in the south, in the Union. We are
not saying this merely for buncombe;
but rather because we believe it to be
true, and because we feel it is some
thing to be proud Of If we should
undertake to give a list of our best
and most useful men according to our
estimates, that list would be a long
one, and it would include good many
names about which there would be a
difference Of opinion. In fact we are
not right sure that we would mention
a single name about which there
would be complete agreement; but as
to that we have neither time nor incli-
nation to quarrel. All Of this is pre-
liminary to a few words of commenda-
tion Of Mr.. J. M. Cherry Of Rock Hill,
more particularly because Of what he
is doing for the farmers Of York coun-
ty and Of South Carolina. 1t Is not
our purpose to refer to Mr.. Cherry as
a Santa Claus philanthropist or any
thing of that kind. He is good man
all right-broad minded, generous and
liberal-as good as the best of them,
here or elsewhere, and no doubt sub
ject to some Of the faults that are
characteristic Of the worst Of US; but
that is not the point. Mr.. Cherry is
a man Of considerable means. How
he acquired those means, we do not
know, except in a general way; but
we do know that he acquired them
honestly, and that is about as far as
anybody has any business to inquire.
The point of interest here is what Mr..
Cherry is doing. First, we will say
that looking ahead to the future
growth and importance Of Rock Hill,
he bought big body Of farm land on
the northern boundaries of the town,
extending far into the country toward
the river. His idea, according to our
Interpretation, was that some day this
land would be in great demand for
town lots, ETC., and he would make
big profit on his investment There is
nothing out Of the ordinary about that.
Almost any man with surplus money
is liable to invest in land that he has
reason to believe will increase in value.
But having bought the land and real
izing that it would be a while before
he could take down the profits he ex-
pected from 'unearned increment
Mr.. Cherry set about to earn the in
crement, and the plan was that very
common and prosaic one Of farming.
He was laughed at all right. Farm
ers laughed at him and good business
men laughed at him. About the time
of the purchase of the land, one of
the best business men in Rock HILL
said to the writer hereof, with a good
natured chuckle: Cherry bought that
land at high price because he did
not know what else to do with his
money; but he has found a place now
where he can dispose Of all the money
he has and a little more" And the
writer was in complete agreement
with this comment. But we have been
glad to see that it has not turned out
that way 1t is true that Mr.. Cherry
began his operations at a rate of ex-
pense that seemed to give certain pros
pect of the early fulfillment of the
general prophecy. He spent his mon
ey in a way that seemed to make all
hope of immediate returns absurd.