The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-06
LAND SETTLEMENTS In
SOUTH CAROLINA.

SUUlH CAkULlNA.
Clemson College.-Secretary Hous'
bon Of the Department Of Agrf
culture, said in an address recently
delivered to a conference Of editors OF
agricultural journals: 1T would be
desirable to facilitate land settlement
in more systematic fashion. This has
been too long left to the haphazard
Intervention of private enterprise, and
the Nation has suffered not a little
from irresponsible private direction.
I think it is high time for the Federal
and State governments both, as well
a. local communities, to seek to /
a land settlement by furnishing actual
facts, reliable information, and agri-
cultural guidance to beginning farmers,
end 10 promote well-considered settle
nent plans. It is particularly vital
chat the process Of acquiring owner
hip OF farmers be encouraged and
fastened"
These views are also shared by the
Department of Labor and OF the In
terrier. Secretary Lane has associas'
ed With him, some OF the best engi'
naers who have been connected with
Reclamation work Of various kinds.
Tie semi-arid lands Of the West, the
eut-over and swamp lands Of the
South are being visited, that proper
measuree may be taken as soon as
possible to render them fit for the
plow, and open them for settlement.
In these days Of reconstruction,
when industry may be d~isorganized by
he cancellation Of Government con
tracts for its products, and by the
rehabilitation OF large bodies both OF
working men and soldiers, the lane
Seckons to the mar nor INSTANTLY
than ever before. 1t will certainly be
made easier for the mail who wishes to
Swn 8 farm to get it on reasonable
terms. And these measures cure
. far worse evil. They provide the
very best security against the discon'
tent likely to arise from unemploy
ment and a lack of food. The idle acres
can give healthful and profitable en-
.p8oyment to all who can be placed
upon them; but home ownership must
be the goal, and fair annual profits
above a normal standard OF living,
must be the means advanced to Sc
cure these settlers. Almost every
man: can find congeniaa employment
st his home, If he owns it, or is be-
Axomtng the owner OF it. A few acres
win suffice to provide food supplies IN
large part, for the family, and a sur
plus for market Organized methods
OF disposing OF the surplus in any
community will go far towards pro
vding funds for the other n-ecessar1es
Of life.
In South Carolina, there are about
1880, 900 acres. Two-thirds, or about
Is, $780, 900 acres are tn farms. One
third of the State lies absolutely idle
Tor agricultural purposes; it consists
III roads, towns and cities, and worn
ont and swamp wood land. But OF the
fS.500,O00 acres in farms, crops are
grown on less than half. To be exact,
the crops OF 1917 were grown o n $685.
eco acres. Probably at least as much
more can be used tor growing
,erops and for pastures, but let
Is say there yet remain only
100000 acres tn the State fit for
farming. As IS acres is the size OF
the average farm cultivated, there is
room then for nearly $4,000 more farm
hmiaies. What a vast amount OF land
settlement could be done in South
Caroline; what untold wealth could be
added to the property lists, il the local
communities, as Secretary Houston
suggests, should aid beginning farm:
ers!
Federal and State aid in the settle.
ment of large tracts is necessary, but
nothing can be done anywhere unless
The people who already own the land
are willing to sell it at reasonable
priees, and to welcome the new set
ders.
We have perhaps the best all the
year climate IN the whole country, as
is shown by the location Of so many
army camps in the South. We GER
sainly have vacant land in great abun.
dance. 1t is cheap only because OF the
sparsity of our population, and their
use Of poor agricultural methods.
1t is still comparatively cheap, and
at prevailing prices, is in many parts
OF the State, an attractive investment.
But there ought to be in every com
munity, a committee Of the Chamber
of Commerce, or Of the Farmers
Union, or Of self-appointed citizens or,
at the least, one or two men, whose
business it is to find new settlers, to
assist them in buying their farms and
to make them feel a. home among u.s.
1t is not necessary to wait upon
State or Federal movement. We can
begin now by assisting those who have