Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-01-08
LAND SETTLEMENTS IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.

ton, of the Department of Agri
culture. said In an address recently
delivered to a conference Of editors Of
agricultural journals: TT would be
desirable to facilitate land settlement
in more systematic fashion. This has
been too long left to the haphazard
intervention OF private enterprise, ano
the Nation has suffered not Qittk
from irresponsible private direction
Il think It is high time for the Fedora!
and State governments both. as vel
as local communities, to seek to aid
in land settlement by furnishing actua
facts, reliable Information, and agri
cultural guidance to beginning farmers
and to promote welconsidered settle
ment plans. It is particularly vita
that the process of acquiring owner
ship OF farmers be encouraged and
hastened."
These views are Also shared by the
Department of Labor and OF the In
terror. Secretary Lane has associas
neers who have been connected with
reclamation work Of various kinds
The semi-arid lands of the West, the
cut-over and swamp lands q tho
South are being visited, that prope,
measures may be taken as soon al
possible to render them fit for the
plow, and open them for settlement
: In these days OF reconstruction
when industry may be disorganized BY
the cancellation of Government con
tracts for its products, and by the
rehabilitation of large bodies both o.
working men and soldiers, the land
beckons to the man more insistantlJ
than ever before. 1t will certainly bt
made easier for the man who wishes ts
own farm to get It on reasonable
terms. And these measures curt
O. far worse evil. They provide the
very best security against the discon
tent likely to arise from unemploy
mea: and lack OF food. The Idle acre:
can give healthful and profitable EN-
ployment to all who can be placed
upon them; but home Ownership mus
be the goal. and fair annual profits
above o novmal standard OF living
mast be the means advanced to ee
cure these settlers. Almost every
man can find congeniaq employment
at his home. If he owns 1t, or is be
coming the owner Of It. A few acres
will suffice to provide food supplies fr
large part. for the family, end a sur
Plus for market. Organized methods
Of disposing OF the surplus in enJ
commrn4ty VIII go far towards pro
vids1sg funds Cor the other neeessariet
OF life.
In South Carolina, there are abor
10, 500, 900 acres. Twothirts, or abou
1s.5o0.00 acres ere IN farms. One
third OF tho State hes absolutely idh
for agricultural purposes; it consist,
Of roads, towns and cities, and worn
out and swamp wood land. Bpt>pf TIN
1880 900 acres in farms. croast
grown on less than haff. To be exact
the crops OF 1917 were grown on 6.1ss,
900 acres. Probably at least as much
more can be used for growtni
crops and for pastures, but le
us say there yet remain onl!
1000, 900 acres in the State fit fo'
farming. AS 35 acres Is the size o.
the average farm cultivated. there Il
room then for nearly $4,000 more farm
families. What vast amount Of LAM
settlement could be done ia Soutl
Carolina; what untold wealth could b
added to the property lists. If the loca
communities, as Secretary Houston
suggests. should aid beginning farm
ers!
Federal and State aid in the settle
uaant OF large tracts Is necessary, bu
nothing can be done anywhere unless
the people who already own the Lana
are willing to sell 1t at reasonable
prices. and to welcome the now set
tiers.
We have perhaps the bent ali tht
year climate in the whole country, al
is shewn by The location Of so many
army camps in the South. We Ger
tainiy have vacant land in great abun
dance. 1t is cheap only because Of tbs
eparsity Of our population, and theiI
use OF poor agricultural methods.
n "a still comnaratfyely cheap. end
at prevailing prices, is in many Dartt
Of the State. an attractive investment
But there ought to be in every com
rnunity, committee OF the Chambe.
OF Commerce, or Of the Farmers
Union, o; of ssh-appoiated citizens, or
ct the leaat. one or two men, whose
business it is to find new settlers, t.
assist them in buying their farms ant
70 make them feel at home among US
Il is not necessary to wait upos
Stata or Federal movement. We car