Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Week OF The Great Cash Cost sale of all Ctoods in our hou?e on February 1st, will be sold strictly at cost for ea?h only, until February 28th, inclusive. J. RETTENBERG & NEW SPRING ARRIVALS The First of the Season. 500 peices French Percales, 137 different patterns, all new styles, not an old one in the lot, 8 1-3 cents per yard. If?ir is the time to get your Shirt Waists for Spring, First Installment of CALL IN REGULARLY AND SEE THE Gent>s Fine Neckwear has arrived-They are beauties. Catt NEW ARRIVALS AS THEY COME, j and see them' Ties worth W' and 75c ftt 5Q cent^ In Tecks, 4-in-hands, Puffs and Imperials, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23, 1898. The Sumter Watchman was rounded itt 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. jibe Watchman and. Southron now has the combined circulation and influence of hods of the old papers, and is mani? festly the best advertising medium ia -Samter. Gen. Wheeler's tender of his ser? vices to President McKio ley recalls to mind Col. Mobley of the Taledage Light Attillery. Although the Spanish Government may not have been a party to the destruc? tion of the Maine, the United States will have the undoubted right to bold tbat government responsible for it in easo it shall be proven that the vessel was ?reeked by the explosion of a' torpedo : placed* nuder it by some resident of Habana. A demand for reparation and ; satisfaction may precipitate immediate hostilities should this country not take the initiative by sending a strong fleet io Habana at once. This country is on the verge of war with Spain at this mo* ?sent, nearer than at M?y previous time, f the population of the entire country ison the qui vive of expectancy, and it needs bat a tench to arouse ?bern to the fight* 1 iog pitch. The var fever is taking ! hold of the nation and the reports of G sn. Fitxbugh Lee and Commander Sigsbee will determine whether we are , te have war at ooee or con tin ue waiting until the Spanish shall have finished the extermination of the Cohans The General Assembly has adjourn . erl sod the taxpayers are indebted to the law makers to the extent of $5000, if no more, for they could have remain? ed io session five days longer at an ex? of a thousand to fifteen hundred j dollars per day. We thank the legisla tors for their consideration: What inducements will there be to become a member of the Legisla? ture if the merobets are to be pro? hibited from using free passes, when they can get them, drinking dispen? sary samples and patronizing blind tigers ? ? The appropriation of $25,000 for toe South Carolina College was one of the most commendable acts of the Legislature, and no appropriation will be better expended nor bring greater benefits to the State it is, never? theless, little short of disgraceful that the appropriation for the Sonth Caro lina College has to be fought over at each annual session of the General Assembly. The State dispensary will continue in business' at the old stand io the Agricultural hall It will continue famishing as abundant a supply of liquor as heretofore, not to mention scandals and seeds of strife and dis? sension In case of war with Spain, how many of the brave and valorous office hunting statesmen-out of jobs will be sa eager to leave the security cf re- j tirement and charge the enemy on the 1 "battlements of Charleston's Bat tety" as they were a few years ago ? Governor Ellerbe will be a candidate to succeed himself, but at the present time it looks like ho bas no prospect of saeee38. His official record, while not vicious l&e that of his prededeostsors, is weak tod disappointing io the ex? treme. The great expectations with which hit inauguration wis hailed have not beeo realised and be has fallen ander condemnation. His position wai) itiade more difficult oo aaooaot of these very expectations, for too mnob wu ex? pected of him, perhaps, and we have nc doubt that in the coarse of time hit errors and short-comings will be re? garded more leniently, and he will theo receive fall credit for his good inten? tions Hon. George T. Tillman in annouoc jog bis candidacy for the Governorship has responded to a widespread demand of the voters of the state. He enters, -the race with tb? strongest following o? aoy of the candidate, and while be may not have the ?apport of the maohine politicians, the state boase ST? og, the ?ire paliers and the regalar office bant? ers, he hos * safficieot number of ip - dependent and intelligent voters at his bask to off-set the ioflaenoa of that erowd. On general principals he is oar choice for the place, bat we desire to koow more about his platform before committing this paper to his support IQ fact, we do not propose to tie this paper to the Cortones of any candidate, bat will reserve the right to watch the progress of the cam Dai go and support the mao that seems best fitted for the plaee and most likely to make the best Governor of the whole people. The destruction of the war ship Maine in the harbor of Habana is one of the most appealing disasters in the history of the United States navy. Tbs reports received are meagre and unsatisfactory, owing to the late hour that the disaster occur? ed, and it will be to morrow before details can reach this county. It | may be days or weeks, if at all, be fore it ie discovered bow the explos ion was caused It may have been an accident, or it may have been the work of some desperate and folly maddened Spaniards ; it could not have been instigated by any sensi? ble or responsible person or official connected with the Spanish government As depraved and vicious as the Spanish have shown themselves in their atrocious cruelty to the unfortunate Cubans who have fallen into their power, they would scarcely be so disregard? ful of the certain vengeance of the American people as to destroy a ship and her crew in time of peace by the assassin's method. Should develop m eu ts give reason for belief that the destruction of the Maine and the murder of more than a hundred American seamen last night was the work of Spanish agents, no power on earth could prevent an immediate war of retaliation. Frances E. Willard; who died in New Yoik at an early hour yesterday morning, was really a great woman. She was known and admired all over the world, and for nearly twenty five years had devoted her life to the work of temperance reform, fosses sing the faith of a woman and the zeal of au apostle, she accomplished a wonderful work Not only did she persuade men and women by her labors and example, but she challenged the respect and admiration of those even who were opposed to her and her cause. Miss Willard was weii known in Charleston, where her memory will be most affectionatelycherished We can think of no one who will be able I to -fill ber place-News and Cour- j ier. Ninteen prisoners in jail-four white and fifteen colored Two women and seventeen men.-Darlington Darling? ton ia o. It will not do to measure oar Legis? latura by the gentlemen who have mostly held the floor -Laareos Advcr I tiser Talks Concerniog Farming. BY 8. G. S. TALK NO. 1 Mr Editor: I yield to the oft re? peated solicitations of farmers to sob mit tr print/ what I know about farm? ing, and the practical ose of ferti? lizers. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PLANT FOOD The farmer's "new ground" needs bnt little artificial fertilization ; be? cause io this new ground there are ever present, more or less, the three essential requisites for plant food, viz; nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash After continuous cultivation for years these life properties become extinct and the soil thereby becomes impoverished But the wise farmer readily sees the necessity of replen? ishing his land by restoring, to it these essential ingredients by artifi cial fertilization. For in our Southern farms, especially in Sonth Carolina, we cannot rely upon domestic ma? nures, as the average farmer keeps only the necessary stock about his premises needed for farm and do? mestic purposes, consisting of a one to a four horse farm. Hence he can? not rely on atable manure and leaf mould with which to replenish his worn lands This fact compells him to look elsewhere for relief. Just here comes in the old, old maxim, "the demand suggests a supply," and science placea at his command in easy reach an abundance. of these identical essentials, nitrogen, phos jphoric acid and kainit, also ammonia, nitrate of soda, dried blood, bone and many other varieties at very rea? sonable prices COTTON. I heartily join the universal hue (md cry tor reduction in cotton acreage But I cannot close my eyes to the fact that this old pride of the south so long known and honored the world over as "king cotton" is now as ever essentially the poor man's crop No. longer can the farmer of Sumter County practice his ante bel lum custom of a large acreage in rice, corn and the cereals for market. To see a rice field or oat patch now on a farm is more an exception than a rule ; and as a general thing the negro farmer is an absolute failure as a corn or grain or potato producer, and still more so as a vegetable and meat raiser And as nine tenths of i;he farm land in Sumter County are in the hands of the negro farmer, it behooves him to baudle just such ?products as be can best and surest pay bis rents and liens with This crop is the cotton crop A bale of cotton will bring $25 or $30 dollars lapotcash any where in Sumter County. Thi* is not the oase with any other farm product. Of these nine tenths not more than two thirds ever rise to the aversgs standard. 400 pounds of peed cotton to the acre, and nix bushels of oom to the aore. The relative market prices of the??e products average $25 p r bale of 500 pounds lint, and for corn 80 cents per bushel spot cash-both orop? placed in dine market in the Fall. h rtquirrti four ?ores to make $25 in cotton ; but the same amount of land makes only $7 20 in corn. As an offset to the fodder and peas we have cotton seed The difference therefore is about $17.80 cents in favor of cotton If. therefore, tho best of these Sum? ter County farmers average only one bale to four acres, or twenty four bush? els of corn to four acres, is it not more than probable that the primary secret of all our financial distress right here in Sumter County exis?s in agricultural ignorance? Presuming this to be true, and knowing that ignorance cannot stand the light of sciance in any de? partment of knowledge, 1 will offer a few salient points to tho landlords and tenants of Sumter County through your valuable columns; relying upon a forty years' experience in "soil cul ture" and a sincere anxiety to see a healthier eyetem of farming and a hap? pier ooodition of our people generally, as well as the kind solicitations of friends as an opology for so doing. TALK NO 2 Mr. Editor : It iii readily seen from talk No. 1, that ? place soil culture at the basis of our financial system, aud opoo our financial system depends the stability cf our political, commercial and social welfare The intelligent reasoner therefore readily comprehends the logio of the syllogism that farming is the \\h of our financ?e, oar finances constitute the backbone acd artery of oar government; therefore farming or agricultural science is the chief corner? stone of oar governmental fabric Sorely when resui:s of so great magni? tude spring from such evident natural causes is it not the doty of tbe trae patriot, as well as the intelligent husbandman to develope these secret germ* and thereby, from a humanitarian stand point if from no otha? considera? tion, coot ribo te to oar fellow laborer-? who are less favored the fall benefit of oar experience and opportunities. THE FIRST STEP io this grand work is soil preparation This sb'ouid propeily be commenced iu the fall and winter ; on this point I ?ill elaborate later on, as toi? tal* DOW is for present ase. Therefore tak? ing the average farm as I fiod it io Sumter County I must say that no in? fallible rule oao be laid down for guid? ance in the selection of cotton and coro lands, nor would a raie be followed if given. Oo this poin<- the farmer relies ?poo his' experience and the nature.of his land Bat as we oao never expect to find oar farms made to order much af the responsibility for short crops may be lodged anon an injudicious selection of land for cotton and corn As al) know that cotton flourishes best in a highly fertilized subsoil land ; while the oom luxuriates io moist lands irres? pective of a clay or sabsoil base. Avoid deep plowing after January for corn ; bat after thoroughly breaking op my 3oro land with a Dixie or other taming plow I have foand the following formula ejood : Stable manure, 650 lbs jreen cotton seed, 650 lbs Acid phosphate 14 per cent. 600 lb* Kaioit, 100 lbs One too. 2,000 When thc above ingredients are os?d mix the manare and seed together wet ind mix thoroughly ; after a few jays add to the mixture the aoid and kaioit. Apply 500 pounds io drill per acre, cheok deep and plant the corn two grains to the hill It is better to thio oat than replant. By checking deep, after drilling the fertilizers, the corn grains will not 'como to contact there? with and be iojurod Com to stand foor and a half feet between the rows sod three feet apart in the drill. Sim? ilar mixture for cotton exoept tn pro? portions somewhat altered. Stable manure, 600 lbs Acid phosphate 14 per oeofc* 600 lbs Green cotton seed, 600 lbs Kaioit. 200 lbs One ton, 2,000 lbs 600 to 800 lbs io drill per acre ?s the land may demand. The first year shows a decided improvement in fruit ; while the same proceas kept up an nually with rotation of orops when the soil permits witi be attended with vastly ! increased results Io case commercial j fertilizers have to be re;ied on only for j cotton this is a good compound Acid phosphate 14 per cer.fc, 1,200 lbs j Cotton seed meal, 600 lbs j Kainit, 200 lbs j _ I One ton, 2,000 lbs Apply 400 lbs per acre for corn. Acid phosphate 14 per cent. 1,000 lbs Cotton seed meal 800 lbs Kaioit 200 lbs One ton. 2,000 Apply 400 pounds in drill between bills, avoiding contact of corn grains with fertilizers. it is a common remark by observing pei SODS thai the drainage of farm lands is greatly neglected, while another ; source o?' damage is prevalent here of! running the rows of cotton and oom j too steep, aDd every rain carries ol? whatever vege'able manure aod com mercial fertilizers may be applied for cultivation It has been remarked by ao able writer on faro sewerage tbat tbe lands are more impoverished by was hf a and leaching than by the annual re? moval of farm growth. TO BE CONTINUED. Prances E. Willard. In the death of Frances E. VVil lard there died a leader whose personality and influence have been mighty forces for the ad? vancing cause of truth and morality Her life work, embodied in half a century of unselfish indus try I'B behalf of social progress and practical Christianity, has a place of its own, both large and unique, in tbe history of missionary effort Miss Willard was at once an evan gel and an agitator. She was both teacher and silo dent. She was an organizer as well ss an advocate, and under her gentle yet resolute leader ship the uplifting influences of Araeri can womanhood have accomplished their highest achievements Her un? dertakings appealed to the moral in? fluences of society She had neither time nor taste for the methods of sen? sationalists or politicians, bot with an abiding faith in tba inherent vir? tue of human natute she appealed to the heart and conscience of the world insnpportof truth and purity. With her zeal and industry, her courage and sympathy, and, above all, with her sweet simplicity cf character and purpose, she conquered the admira? tion of mankind and gave a higher dignity to woman's influence as a factor in the civil problems of our time. The example of this noble wora?n is an in8pation to her sisters through? out the world. She taught and ap? plied the tender gospel of love and charity, and her name is written in lasting letters upon the roll of those who have lived for the good of their fellows, and who left the world bet? ter than they found it-New York Mail and Express There'll be 3,150,000 Bales of Old Cotton on Hand Sep? tember 1 Next. New Orleans. Feb 18 - M j. H M Neill, the well known cotton statisti? cian, to day issued a circular as to the probability of consumption of American cotton for the current sea son After reviewing the results of previous seasons Mr. Neill says : In America the southern mills are doing well and will probably consume 100, OOO bales more than laut year. But the reverse is the case with the north? ern mills With these promises we may now form a fair idea of the actual con? sumption of American cotton during the year ending the 1st of S^Dtetnber, 1898 Now as to supply, European and American mill stock Sept. 1 1897. 400,000 ; visible supply Amer? ican Sept 1, 1897. 800,000 ; crop of 1897-98, 11,000,000; total supply of American for the year 12,200,000 From which, deducting total con sumption of all countries 9,050,000, and you have left with visible and spinners' stocks 3,150,000 against visible 800,000 and spinners 400,000 last year, 1,200,000 Visible and in visible excess at Sept 1 over last year, 1,950,000 While I have need the figures of 11,000.000 bales in these calculations it is quite manifest from the move? ment that the crop will be considera? bly more The Clarendon delegation did a wise thing and showed Soe foresight when they voted for * Lse county," and now that ' Lae couDty'* is a fixed fact Clar? endon need hare no fear of being tam perpd with, but had "Lne county'* fail? ed, ?be next thing would have been an attempt to dismember Clarendon and cut off from us tbe most valuable por? tion of our ennoty -Manning Times Copt John Black, of Walterboro, ba?* deoided to go before the voters of the ?tate thin sommer a* a candidate for adjutant sod inspector geoeral. Hon. G Walt Whitman Oat for Governor. Mr G Wal; Whitman ha9 an? nounced himself as a candidate for governor in a characteristic note to the pabiic, which follows : Jonesville. Feb 17. To the Democrats of South Carolina: In response to what I know to be the real interests of tb* whole people and in advocacy of that policy which I have time and again pointed ont ; and in de? fense of the dispensary law as original? ly projected ; in perfect harmony with Tillman's leadership and in defence of the integrity and perpetuity of the farmers movement ; and in disgust of those who seek only for peace and har? mony (really pease and bomony for themselves) and who never tell the peo? ple what they think for their best in? terests until they are ready for office, I declare my candidacy for governor (G. WALT WHITMAN. . Mr Whitman, it wit! be recalled was a candidate two years ago, and his speeches were "hot stuff1' as the slang bas it. His candidacy was cot re? solved seriously, however, and be poll? ed very few votes He assailed the Dffice holders rignt and left and greatly relieved the drear? monotony of the iiscussion of 16 to 1 and like subjects. Bock Hill. Feb. 18.-^Th? Piedmc?t Fobaceo fa tory was bumed early this norning The fir? was dioovered at 10 minutes to 5 o'clock io the middle )f the third story and' had made but jule headway. There being consider ible inflammable material in the build? ing it was destroyed io a very short ?tm?. During tb& past few days the so? has appeared to observers in these parts like a great ball of blood. It [s to bs hoped that it is not an ornea :>f war. We are reminded, by th? way, that it presented the same ap? pearance white Sherman was match? ing across the State, the cause of th? phenomenon on both occasions being the same-the presence of a larg? volume of smoke diffused in the low er atmosphere.-News and Courier "Rust," the dread of the cotton grower, can be prevented. Trials at Experiment Stations and the experience of leading growers prove positively that Kainit is the only remedy. Wc will bc glad to send, free of charge, interesting and useful pamphlets which treat of thc matter in detail. GERMAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau St., New York. : ? Order Your PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES FROM iSO. W. STEFFENS & Wholesale Agents, Charleston, S C -Agents for tfOTT'S CLDEB BED SEAL CIGARS, AND DOVE HAMS ro all and Singular the Creditors and Debt? ors ot tbe Estate of W. Smith Andrews? ALL PERSONS boldiojr claims against tbe Estate of W. Smith Andrews viii present the same to me properly proveo, ard iii persons ia ?ny way iodehOd to said Estate ire rrqutred to raak? inamec'iiite settlement 5f same at my office in Sumter, S C SHEPARD NASH, C C CP 46 S, Feb 19-3t Ada intstrator.