Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-02-23
EDGEFIELD's PROGRESS.
Progress Made in Twenty-Five
Years. Area Greatly Re-
duced. People Buoyanty
Hopeful For Future.

On TlQdy, February 10, Be
State published a splendid edition
celebrating the 25th anniversary of
its founding. A valuable feature
of the edition were the articles
from all parts of the State rejecting
the progress that has been made
along all lines by ali of the coun-
ties. The editor of The Adverti-
ser, The States Edgetield CORES
ponden t, sent the following con-
cerning the progress made in this
county during the past % years:
Edgetield county has undergone
some very marked chankes since
The State came into beinks 25 years
ago. Then Edgefeld ranked among
the largest counties in the State,
while now it., properly belongs
among the smallest. In the early
ZOOS the entire area of Saluda coun-
ty " as taken from Edgefeld and, 3
few years later the Did mother coun-!
ty contributed considefa Bic pore
tion toward the formation of Green
wood and during the past few
weeks the proposed county of Nc
Cormick has reduced Edge6eld to
the minimum area under the con-
stitution, 500 square miles. How.
ever, this periodic dismemberment
has never checked the true Edge.
field spirit. Proud of the heritage
and achievements of the past, the
people look hopefully and conf
IDENTIFY to the future.
One of the most notable changes
in Edgefeld during the past two
decades and more has been the i'm
provement in the respect for law
and the obedience to the laws of
the land. Unfortunately in the
years gone by Edgefeld had a
blood-stained record, but now all
laws are respected, and probably
no other county in the State has
fewer homicides. This suggests,
TOO, that the moral tone of the citi-
zenship is higher.
Another marked Improvement has
been in education and in the school
system of the county. The school
terms are longer, more efficient
teachers are employed and paid
better salaries, school buildings
have been improved and supplied
with more modern equipments,
and it has been the policy of the
county superintendent for some
time 10 consolidate small, weak
schools into strong neighborhood
school.
The Improvement in the church
buildings throughout the county
reflect improved conditions religi-
ously. Country churches have ser.
vices more frequently and pastors
are better paid. The old once-a-
month service is the exception now
rather than the rule.
While not very marked, yet there
has been a steady Improvement in
the condition of the 1900 miles of
public roads of the county. The
coming of the motor vehicle has
stimulated road provement, there
being now 278 cars in the county.
Edgefeld has never undertaken the
building of modern, scientific roads
the issuing of bonds but
with the limited funds and crude
means at hand the supervisor has
made steady progress as the years
have passed. '
The improved condition of the
roads and the establishment of the
rural mail service, there being now
about 20 routes in the county, have
rendered rural life more attractive.
And in proportion as rural condi.
tions have improved real estate has
enhanced in value. While agri.
cultural lands in this county are yet
cheap, as compared with similar
lands in other counties, there has
been an average increase inprice of
more than l00 per cent. during the
past % years.
Edgeield is distinctly an agri-
cultural county and very marked
progress has been made in farming,
resulting in larger and more profit
able harvests. The services Of the
county demonstration agent, i. N.
Lott, have been of great value in
causing farmers to catch a new Vi
sion, having their eyes opened to
the almost limitless possibilities of
agriculture. There has been a de-
cided improvement in farm lands
and farm equipments. More i'm