The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-04
COKER APPROVES TRIP TO BOIL.
wEEVIL SECTION.
Gives Views IA to How Best to Make
Use Of Prosperity This Fall.

South Carolina State Council of De-
Tense. to Mr.. A. c. Phelps. president
Of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce
and chairman of the Sumter County
Committee Of Public Safety. should be
read by every business and profession
al man and farmer.
The Sumter Chamber of Commerce.
at the suggestion of Mayor L. d. Jen-
nings. of Sumter. began last Decem-
Der to plan for number of Sumter
county farmers and bankers and mer-
chants to visit the boil weevil infected
sections Of Georgia and Alabama this
summer.
This crowd of Sumter county men
known as the Sumter County Boil
Weevil Commission will leave Sumter
on or about August 9Th. travelling in
autos for the very reason suggested
by Major Coker. that is in order that
the members OF the commission will
be able to stop at the farms and talk
with the farmers Of and see actual
conditions caused by the boil weevil.
President Phelps and Vice Presi-
dents e. s. Booth and w. Percy Smith
OF the Chamber OF Commerce are q
special committee to induce bankers,
merchants. lawyers. doctors. manufac-
turers and others to accompany the
farmers.
Farm Demonstration j. F. Williams
Of this county Is In charge Of the ar
rangements for this trip.
Major Coker's letter follows
Mr.. A. c. Phelps. Sumter. s. C.
My Dear Sir: I have just noticed
In today's State that a delegation sum-
ter farmers and business men will take
a trip to the boil weevil district, start
ing August 5th.
This is splendid move. and If
properly conducted will result in
awakening the farmers of your coun-
ty to the necessity for promptly pre-
pairing for the boil weevil.
wish. however. to suggest that
your party do not entrust itself ex-
clusively to the direction of town
boards Of trade and government off,
cials. You can, believe, get the
complete story only by stopping along
the roads and talking to the landown-
ers. tenants and laborers themselves,
thus getting first hand the actual ex-
perience of the people. Particular at
tention should be paid to seeking out
the small homecoming farmer and
tho tenant farmers. both white and
colored. who are successful under boil
weevil conditions. and finding out how
they have managed to combat the
pest.
Mr.. L. f. Floyd of Chipley. Ga. has
done more to prepare his immediate
section for the boil weevil than any
other man in the whole South that 1
know of, and should advise you 10
go to Chipley to see Mr.. Floyd and
find out how he has managed the
proposition.
He has put in a very large grinding
plant and grinds all kinds Of feed and
forage for the farmers at very rea-
sonable toll rates. He has induced
the farmers to plant largely to velvet
beans and corn. and I understand is
grinding these crops In bulk for them
to fine feed which is practically a
complete and balanced ration for
stock. Farmers cut their whole crop
OF velvet beans. corn and all, and the
whole thing is ground up making a
tremendous amount Of fine, we'll bal
anced feed.
expect to go to Chipley. Ga. my
self or to send one of my best men to
look into this proposition. We have
already placed an order for a mill
similar to the one used by Mr.. Floyd.
1t seems to me IL even fair crops are
made this year and present prices are
realized our State will be In far bet
ter position than any other State has
ever been I'm to prepare itself for the
boil weevil invasion. Our farmers will
be able to pay Off a great volume Of
their debts and lay aside reserves to
meet future contingencies. They will
have money to make the changes and
improvements necessary to combat the
weevil conditions.
| Unless intelligent advisors Of the
people. however, bend every effort to
induce them to save and properly util-
lie the great surplus which will prob
ably be left after debts are paid this
ta