The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-12-21
SOUTH CAROLINA RICH FIELD.
Commissioner Points Out Advantages
and Opportunities.

world that offer as many and in as
great variety in the same area as the
State of South Carolina. | do not
write this broad statement inadvis-
edly or because l happen to be
South Carolinian in charge of the ag-
ricultural activities in the State. l
write it in the knowledge of condl-
tions in most of the counties of Eu-
rope, and of the soil, climate and
rainfall conditions prevalent in every
other section of the United States,
and because the statement is sustain
ed by an analytical examination of
Federal agricultural statistics.
In elevations the State varies
from 1000 feet above the sea level
to the low-lying coastal plain afford
ing almost every conceivable varie-
ty of soil sloping downward from
the mountain sides to the sea and
abundantly watered by their flowing
streams.
With a mean annual temperature
of 63 degrees, summer mean OF ~
and winter mean of 46, conditions
exactly similar to the famous Riviera
of Southern France and of Califor-
mia in the vicinity of Los Angeles ex-
ist. With an average annual fainfall
of 48.70 inches and summer aver
age precipitation of 1854 inches,
conditions are produced that mean
the growing successfully of almost
any crop. In no soils can better
yields or quality of cotton be OBJ
tanned, in no soils have larger yields
per acre of corn ever been obtained
on this or any other continent, and
in no soil are better tobacco, fruit,
forage, melons or small grain grown.
When am asked about opportuni-
ties usually point to Federal figures
for after all to the man with the
business head it is only money that
talks.
Census Shows Progress.
The Federal census shows the val
ue of farm property in 1900 was
3,591,15s; in 1910 it was $780,
1884, or an increase of 155 per
cent. The value of farm land in
1900 was $99,905,S0O and in 1910 it
was s26S,774,S54, or an increase of
169 per cent. The average value of
all property per farm in 1900 was
1889, while in 1910 it was S2,223,
or an increase of 124 per cent. The
average value of land per acre in
1900 was STA, while in 1910 it
was $3.50, or an increase of 1855
per cent. The value of crops in 1910
was s140,000,0O0 (now more than
$162,0OO,0 and this represents
an increase of 2s.4 per cent in one
year, the greatest increase shown in
any State in the Union. In millions
of dollars this increase in 1910 over
1909 was s31, 100000; over 1906 it
$63, 100000, and over 1900 it was
$ss,6s5,OOO. ."..
In 1910 South Carolina outranked
in volume of production, though her
area was so small, every Southern
State except Texas and Georgia, and
in value per square mile in terri
tory she outranked both Of these
States, her value being s4,518,
against s1,369 for Texas and s3,373
for Georgia. Among all the ranking
States of the Union, South Carolina's
value per acre was next only to Illi-
nois with 1922 and Indiana with
$4,736 None of the Southern States,
except Georgia, came up to the s3,-
900 mark. The fact that a little
State like South Carolina could jump
in 1910 from the rank 21 in pro-
duction among the States of the
Union in one years time, to the rank
of 13, and be one of only three
Southern States standing in the list
13, or better, shows pronouncedly
the nature of the opportunities Of
fered by resources of soil and eli
mate.
War Losses Recouped.
If there we're other evidences
needed to show what South Carolina
can do agriculturaly when she has to
do it, an examination of the results
of her activities at the end of the
year 1915, following the year of dis
aster to cotton caused by the Euro
pean war, would afford that proof.
Notwithstanding the tremendous
losses of 1914 the producing classes
so handled the situation in 1915 as
to recoup most of those losses and be
s42,O00,000 better off than they were
at the end Of 1914. There is scarce
ly country in existence where so