Year: 1873

8.


REDEMPTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.


lfr. Editor Good, intelligent and industri-
GUS farmers to settle on the thousands upon
thousands of acres Of good farming lands now
lying in South Carolina, is what we need to
redeem our State from its present inactive and
poverty.stricken condition. If we could, by
any means, double the number of our farm.
ers, we would thereby enhance the value Of
our farming lands at least threefold, which
would be virtually enriching our farmers to
three times their present worth, besides the
many other advantages which would result
from the increase Of population. By doub-
ling the population of our State, the circula:
tion of money would be doubled, and We could
then raise the same amount of money that we
now do for the support of the government, by
each taxpayer paying only half the amount
he now pays. Every enterprise of every kind
would feel the animating influences of an in
creased population. The mills Of the country
would have double the quantity of corn and
wheat to grind country merchants would sell
twice the quantity of goods that they now do; /;
lumber merchants would find an increasing
demand for their lumber for building pur.
poses; labor would become plenty, active and
reciprocally remunerative we would be able
to establish more and better schools than here
tofore, which in the course Of ten years, would
show their happy influences; and even minis
ters of the Gospel would find their focks en-
larging, which would encourage and enable
them to work more zealously in the great
cause of religion and its happy influences
Railroads would find it necessary to double
their transportation facilities, would make
great deal more money, and great reduction
in the rates Of transportation would follow,
which would result in good to every class Of
our citizens. Our city merchants, by cheap
rates of transportation, low taxes and double
the trade they now get, would be able to sell
goods much lower than they now do, and at
the same time make more money. These are
only few of the many advantages and good
things that would follow such an increase of
population of the State, and certainly, then,
no person or persons, who possess the means to
do so, will refuse to aid in bringing about this
much-desired state of affairs.


The question now arises: How can we in.
duce the class of persons desired to come and
make their homes among us?


Mr.. Editor, here is the plan agreed upon
by number of large land-holders, which, if
carried into effect, will in the course Of few
years, accomplish all, if not more, Of this
much.desired object. To illustrate: Suppose
ten farmers to own each eight hundred acres
of land they each propose to run off one
fourth of their lands, each furnishing four
tracts of fifty acres each, making forty home
steads and homes for forty families and per-
haps two hundred laborers. They now pro.
pose to give these lands, free of charge, to
such persons as shall be deemed to be the class
of citizens desired, upon condition that they
become actual settlers, by going to work and
building upon these places. :.


They shall, however, not be allowed to sell
or dispose Of or leave the lands thus given
them under ten years; and if they attempt to
do so, they shall thereby forfeit their right to
the land, together with all the improvements
put thereon, and the land shall revert to the
original owner; but the expiration of ten
years, with a continued residence thereon,
their right and title to the land shall become
absolute. The people Of the State must be
unanimous in this matter to accomplish the
object. 1t would be foolish for few persons
to thus give their lands away, as only slight
increase in population, would not produce the
desired object. We, therefore, respectfully
solicit correspondence from farmers, mechan.
les, editors, lawyers, doctors; ministers, and
every other person or persons who may favor
its accomplishment. As has already been
said, this plan has been agreed upon by a
number of land.holders, and as soon as suf-
fcient number of names are received, "a good
ly number are already on the list) meeting
will be called and an organization effected to
fix details.


To this grand end, we feel sure the entire
press of the State will aid US land-holders will
give their lands away; banks, merchants and
all professional men will contribute money to
pay incidental expenses in securing this i'm.
migration, and all the railroad companies of
the State, as always, will not be backward in
doing their part, and the country thus united
will easily accomplish that which must result
in great good to all and while we thus ap-
pear to be giving our labor, lands and money,
we will in reality be enriching ourselves.
Then delay not, friends of the State send US
your names at once, and let US 60 to work.
Let none excuse themselves; all are equally
interested. Every paper in the State is re.
quested to publish this communication, and
keep it before the people. All papers pub.
fishing will please mail us copy Of such pa
per. Until State and county organizations
are effected, all communications must be ad-
dressed to A FARMER,


Box 20, Columbia, S. G.