Evening star., 1935-08-31
A Model Negro Farm
In South Carolina

To the Editor of The Star:
have Just returned from q visit to
South Carolina farm which, 1t seems
to me, points the way out Of the Negroes
industrial and economic predicament.
The cities already have as large black
contingent as they can hold in solution
without a dangerous precipitation. At
least there is no room for any further
increase in our urban population. The
country is large agriculture offers at
least subsistence to all willing tillers of
the soil. The occasion Of my visit was
an invitation by Bishop M. H. Davis
of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, whose district includes the cities
Of Baltimore and Washington. Bishop
Davis is graduate Of Howard Univer-
sity and of Drew Theological Seminary
and through conservation, devotion and
intelligence, has rapidly risen to eccle-
siastical leadership in this great re-
ligious organization. Some years ago he
bought the farm near Marion, 8. c., on
which he was born and where his an
cestors and their owners lie buried. His
farm consists of over 600 acres, or l
square mile, the size Of section accord
ing to the land survey of the Western
States. There Is farm population of
Sc persons, consisting largely of the
bishops relatives whom he left behind
when he went off to school 80 years
ago. The farm is equipped with neat
frame cottages, barns, tobacco houses
and sundry other utility buildings. About
half of the area Is under cultivation
The staple crops are cotton, corn, tobacco
and hay, with a splendid yield per acre
in each line. Potatoes, sugar cane. fruits
and garden vegetables are bountiful
The plantation is well stocked with
horses, cows, hogs, turkeys and chickens
The plantation Is operated on the
basis of benevolent overlordship The
fact that the tenants are largely the
bishops own relatives makes the rela-
tionship mutually agreeable and bene-
ficial. The operations are on the cash
basis. the tenants being furnished their
homes with plot of ground for raising
all they need and receive cash payment
for work performed. With free house
rent and fuel they start in with more
than half the wages of the city worker
They all seem satisfied and happy with
their simple rural environment. The
church on the plantation furnishes the
center OF social life, such as it is.
The bishop has undertaken this
project as a social experiment which, It
seems to me, is wisely planned and well
calculated to succeed. In the first place
the soil is fertile, the yield in cotton Is
bale per acre and from 30 to so bushels
OF corn. The tobacco yield is CORE
spondingly abundant There is no need
in planting colony of black folk or
white on thin, unproductive soil. The
enterprise, so far, has paid its own ex-
penSes and has resulted in building up
the soil and equipping and stocking the
place. No one of the tenants is on the
unemployment list or the Government
relief role 1t would be difficult to find
another square mile in the thickly in
habited country, rural or urban, where
there is not at least one Negro on some
form OF Government relief.
The bishop makes occasional visits to
his farm, gives comprehensive directions
TO be carried out by his nephew as
local superintendent The bishop main-
tains the most kindly and helpful rela-
tionship with his white neighbors and
with the officers of the county.
Here is farm community upon which
the Federal Government might keep an
eye as type worthy of announcement
In its comprehensive purpose to relieve
the cities of overcongestion and build
up the life Of the race on a substantial
agricultural basis. KELLY MILLER.