Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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LONrSMEJ^IflN UK. K. H. (OOKKR AI>Y<M ATI * showing it i\ giWTi rv. Set* t\>rth In in Interesting Letter the I ? 111.11111 for the l "im Staple and Kcuhoiim for Growing It. - Editor BattffMIl Messenger, Hartsville, H. C. Dear Sir; The recent depression In the price of long staple cotton has seemed to upset many of our farmers very mmh and I Judge, from the fre? quent requests for advice as to planting staple varieties ithis year, that many are considering seriously the question of dividing their acre? age between short and long cotton thN season. Before deciding this question 1 think it would be well fur the farm? ers to review the record of the new staple cottons in this section for the past few years. (By the new staple cottons I mean the Hartsville. the Webbec and the Goodson-K.ee nan varieties.) Them) varieties have been plum? d in Increasing quantities in and around Hartsville for the past three or four years. Before 1912 practi? cally without exception, those rais? ing these varieties made greater yields of lint cotton per acre than with the short varieties they tested against them. In my own experi? ments here t he v considerably out ? I I I the large number of short staple cottons tested against them, while *he old varieties, I'lora lora and Allen, yielded very much less ? '< la short cottons. In 1912. owing If the extre nely dry weather in August the late cot? tons were somewhat at a disadvant? age and consequently the new sts ple varieties were dlghtly less around Hartsville than the extra early short cotton. I am advised however, by parties In the lower pan of this country where they had some rains during August, and also by friends In Marlboro I ounty that they made fully as much with these cottons in 1112 as with short cot tons.' In mv own variety test of thirty seven varieties, in 1912. Hartsville fto. 7 made a little more than the average of the ?h?rt cottons tested, and Webber and Keenan made slightly less than the average. It seems, therefore, that the aver? age esperlences of the many who have tested these cottons In this' section for several years proves that they can be counted on to average greater yields per acre than short varieties. My own opinion on this subject Is positive and is based on experiments wh'ch 1 know to hav been conducted with absolute accu? racy and fairness. The above seems to dispose of the question of comparative yield and only leaves for consideration the question of comparative market pi l i' to this year the new varieties of staple cotton. (Hartsville. Web? ber and Keenan ? b.odson ). have on K been sent out of our own Stute i In very small quantities?the bulk of the crop previous to 1912 being need by South I arollna mills. My own firm has, previous to the past fall, made very little effort to estab? lish a staple business in New Eng? land or on th.- eth)St side of the At? lantic. Realising the necessity of broadening our market, however, We have during the past cotton sea? son, mude sti?.ng efforts to place our Mtapel in old England and the New England States and have met with considerable success In inter? esting mills in the cotton. Nutur slly the mills have not wished to buy large quantities until they were able to test Its general character and spinning quality, but I am proud to say that we have, not only had no complaints from our 1912 shipments but have re< elved much praise for the quality of our cotton. I have no reason to anticipate. therefore, thrt we will not be abb* to place \ei much larger quantities of cotton next season in New England ami Old England than formerly, and I se?? no reason why farmer! ghenlsl be fearful about placing the entire staple crop of this section next son. Staple buyers from the West and I i r ' < ' filing in?.-rested . I our new *ottons and many of them alreuds r?<< oantse their merit. A number of these buycrr operated in this territory lust season and I haVI re.is.in to >.<lie\e that many none will buy lo re m xt season. i nir new staple industry Is .lust getting upon its feet. The world is just learning that we are growing a most excellent staple cotton In eastern Carolina. Th" work of in? troducing our i otton which has cost so much time, labor thought and monev has SjgsMK been u< ? omplislo d The farmers In this section should en Joy the full fruits of t us long and arduous . amp iign Ar we going to unit Just when we have made a suc ? e?u?? Are we going to let the pres? ent depression in staple cotton (Which seems to be caused by the un? ? rlalnt> , over UM tariff situation) keep US from re aping p.otlts which have been pra? - t n .illy assured ? In not - or even I sent p? r pound extra profit Induce ntent snough to keep op this Indus tr\ <>m eent per pound OB the aver? age cotton crop of Darlington coun? ty means nearly one quarter of a mil- ; lion dollars per )? ai Ms own view is that ore Should abandon stout cotton entirely In this lection, 1 cannot conceive of a sit? uation arising which would cause good long staple cotton to bring less than short staple and 1 do not expect good long staple to bring less than 2 or 3 cents per pound premium next season. Hut you must be sure to hove good cotton, raised from pure pedi? greed seed. Lots Of the Staple seed in the county are becoming badly mixed and eotton from suc h see d may may be very difficult of sab- and bring very Ion prices, Besides, seed Of the Old, small boiled, non-produc? tive staple varieties ottered under va? rious name s. These cottons were for? merly grown in this section in small ciuantlties and no mill man that I have e ver talked to who has used any of them wants to see another bale. It was the bad reputation of these* old staple cottons which made it so hard to convince the spinners that our new staple had any merit. Our ginners are rapidly learning how to handle staple cotton and many of them have their plants ad? justed to run the long rather than the short product. Where? both long and short are planted in (lose prox? imity they will almost surely be? come mixed either by crossing in the field or by mixture of seed at th?' gins. The whole problem of seed selection and ginning is ren? dered immensely more difficult by the planting of several kinds of cot? ton. Instead of turning back to short cotton the farmer should, 1 think, turn their attention to seed se lec? tion, to good handling, haling and ginning, and should bend their en? ergies to sustaining and increasing the reputation we have already Binds for our staple cotton. If they in? sist on planting both long and short OOttog together, or in relntroducing the old discredited sorts; if they fall to pay attention to keeping up the character and quality of our ex? cellent staple varieties; if they al? low short cotton to 0000X00 mixed with their staple at the gins or put up in rough and ragged bales; we will simply lose what we have gain? ed and a promising and profitable industry will be destroyed. There has never bOOfl a day since I have been in business in Harts Vtlle when a bale eel" ge?od hone st cot? ton, whether long or short, could ne>t be sold here at its approximate value. There* has nOVOf been a day when good staple OOttOB WOUld not bring a pr?*mlum over slmrt cotton, and. while I make no promise as to the future, I see no excuse for be? lieving that such a day will ever come*. I do believe, however, that the staple- premiums prevailing next year will be much lower than IhOOO prevailing for the last two years. Tt> those farmers who insist on planting short any way I recommend "Pride of Georgia," "Cleveland Hig Boll," "Joins Hig Boll," and the ceitton called the "Five Hock" and formerly planted extenslvedy around Ashland. While my tests show that they are less productive e?n an aver? age than Hartsvllle No. 7, We bber or Ke-enan-Cioodson. the y are among the best Short cotton I have tested and possess the big advantage of be? ing easy t?? pick. They will all make high grade lint of good I har acter and are much more quickly gathered than small ladled Cottons. Hoping that the farme rs, merch* ants, professional nun and ne wspa? pers in this section will co-operate m maintaining the new staple- in? dustry whic h has alre ady added to profits Of e.ur farmers, and thai you, Mr. Fditor, will give- publicity to this btter, I am, yours truly. i 'n\ iei R, Coker, lo I'HF.SS COTTON oil, CAME. spceiai lassstant Named In Help \u efaoaa in Case Involving Many llMC>.N'S, Augusta. Ha. April I,?Qoorge H Richter ??f WashlngtoB has beea ap? pointed te> assist District Attorney Ale xande r Ake rman In spei uilly as Stgned duties In the- hearing before the federal grand jury at Augusts ? ?t" the trust charges sgainst the Amerl? c an Cottoo Oil Company, Distrnt Attorney A kernten will con? duct the octive preaoocutlon of the ease* ami at his reepiest, Mi. Richter has be e n appointed by Attorney Gen? eral M' Re] tolds as an assist ini The- e xamination by the district at lorney of the Ml witnesses, who will appear before the grand jury begin? ning tomorrow nee eaxttates sn addl tunnel assistant in what Mr. Ake-rmau sayi is tin- most important action evei brought in the Southern State s. Yeui Want GOOd Shoe-.. An<l w?- have- them; why not lei us Sjf The lim- e.f new slippers is eery complete |uet now, Trj I hem please, tfchwartl Bros Advt, DINGLE'S MILL BATTLE SITE IS MARKED Appropriate Ceremonies Mark Lhiveil ing of Tablet on Forty-Eigth Anniversity MEMORIAL TO HONOR CONFEDERATE DEAD Eloquent Addresse Eulogizing Heroes of the Battle Made By Prof. S. H. Edmunds?Unveiling Done By Misses Alliene Harby, Cornelia Brower, Eva Michaux, Marie Lee Cov ington and Pauline Loring Lee?Circumstances Which Made Occasion Possible. Tinier the ?hade, of towering gum trees, many of whoso tops had been , CUt off by cannon halls, a crowd of several hundred persona gathered Wednesday afternoon on the recently hullt up causeway across the Turkey ('leek swamp at. I Mimic's Mill to pay honor to the men of the South who, at duty's call, had responded In de? fense of their homes and with ap? propriate ceremonies to unveil a tab? let marking the site of the battle of Dingle's mil. The oration.of the oc? casion was delivered by Prof. s. H. Edmunds of this city, who jn eloquent and fitting words eulogised the men who had lost their lives In the battle and paid honor to those who bad tak? en part, hut whose lives had been Spared to their country. The occasion was the forty-eighth anniversary of the battle of I'ingle s Mill and had been brought about by the persistent efforts Of the members of Dick Anderson Chapter, United DatlghterS Of the Confederacy, to erect ? Atting memorial tablet at this place to mark the site of the battle and to commemorate the heroism of those who had lost their lives here In defense of their country. Their persistence had been rewarded for recently the county commissioners took up the matter and under the I sii|>er sinn of Prof, St. QoOUe Homes I Of the University of South Caroline, a Concrete and Steel bridge was built over the stream and it Is In one of tiie pests of this bridge that the tab? let has been placed. The bridge Is built for permanency and will probably last for hundreds of years. Supervisor Pitts has added to the appearance of the place and the convenience of the public by raising and widening the old causeway across the swamp, so that it will be In keep? ing with the magnificent bridge which has been constructed. The exercises wore not long, but they wer?- verj impressive. Mr. Perry Moses, commandant of Dick Ander? son Camp, U, C. V., presided. The exercises were commcnc-d by a selection from the Bumter Hand, Which was followed by a short, but beautiful prayer by the Kev. J. B. , Wilson. Another selection was ren? dered by the band and it was while the band was playing this selection that the tablet was unveiled. Tho girls who performed this part of the ceremony w? re: Miss Altene Harby, a niece of Mr. A. J. Moses, one of those who took part in the battle; Miss Cor? nelia Brower, a granddaughter of Col. J, l >. Graham, another participa? tor in the battle; Miss Marie Lee Cov ington, and Pauline Loring Lee, great granddaughters of Col, G, W. Lee, who commanded the Confederate forces in the attack made upon the enemy at this point; and Miss Eva Michaux. a granddaughter of Mr. M. I J. Michaux, one who took part in the battle. \\ ben the drapery was drawn back by these little girlj the marble tab? let was relieved, The inscriptions read: "This tablet marks the site ol the Battle of Dingle's Mill, fought April 9th, 1866, between Potter's Brigade and the Reserve South Caro? lina Militia, C, s. a. Erected by Dick a nderson (Jhapter, U, J?. c." Following the music, Mr. Perry Moses introduced the orator of the occasion. Prof. S. H. Edmonds then made bis address Whloh was short and to the point He spoke of the circumstances which had caused the battle and of the battle itself. In olo i|ii< ni words he paid honor to those who had taken part in the battle, those w bo were left, as Well as those w bo bad fallen, The address was as follows: We stand upon hallowed ground, hallowed, because luiptlxed with our brother's blood, it was here thai the gnllanl McQueen fell; ht re thai Pumparc) from Louisiana, in Stiin ter on it sich furlough, brave almost to boldness, sind his life's bb.od, while eheerlng his comruds on; here fell also Thomson( Long, Heeder, and Harbin, Why'.' What occasion de? manded that these men brave and true should die? Because they heard the ?all to duty, lho> heard the voice of |o\e summoning them to the de? fense of their homes and llrei hies, and the) wet?- not disobedient In the call. On the 7th of April, I86&, urdei No, was issued from the heudtpiat i tera of t Ii?* 20th Regiment S. C, M., .it Bumter, which read aa follows: "The regiment will assemble at this place immediately with throe days' cooked . tions to repel a threatened raid of the enemy. The men are etarnestly requested to mount them? selves if possible and arms will he. furnished them here. By order <>f Col G. W. Lee. T. i!. Praser, Adjt." To quote from Col. Leos' official re? port: "In the evening of April 8th the enemy entered tin* town of Man? ning and during the night repaired and crossed over the bridges on Pocotaligo %t Manning which had been destroyed by the clarendon Militia under Col. Connors. On the 9th they advanced rapidly on Up? town of Bumter by the way leading by Dingle's Mill. Our forces were as follows: Col Pressley's command. lad Col. Caldwell'a command., .. 120 Lt. Col. Brown's command.. .. 60 Capt Colclough'S command.. . Ian Lt. Pamperey's command... . 15 Lt. McQueen's command. . . 15 Bergt. Durban's command. . . i"> Lt. McGregor's command. . . . 30 M Regt. Col Connors. ,4 . . . 40 IQ Regt Col Lee. SO Total.57T. Col. Caldwell coming up later and being the senior officer, assumed com? mand. The force of the enemy con? sisted of two regiments of white and three of negro troops, with two pieces of artillery and some cavalry, num? bering in all about twenty-live hun? dred men. "At three o'clock P. M. the enemy's wind?- force presented It Self at Dingle's Mill and a sharp action commenced, which continued until nearly six o'clock p. m. A Ranking party of semn- four or five hundred men made their way across tin- swamp, about three- hundred yards on the right ?>f the mill and were- met by about fifty e>r 60 me n under my command com posed mostly of the militia of my regiment. They resisted the enemy until overpowered by superior num? bers and then fell back te? their orig? inal position at the mill. The artillery ami Infantry supports finding the po? sition had been turned, bad retired and my small command was nearly cut off and captured; but the- same coolness which tiny h id displayed in mee ting the enemy, saved them from being made prisoners. j take pleasure in being abb- to say that em tin- judgment of veteran of? ficers, the conduct of all the* troops at the- mill was as good as COUld be expected of any troops, and the militia especially fought with the determina? tion of men who tight for their homes and families. Tin- le?ss of our pe? sltion at Dingle's Mill compelled us te? evacuate the town of Bumter, ami the enemy took possession immediate? ly. Tin- loss of the enemy, according to our best information, was 13 kill? ed ami 26 wounded, The- railroad de? pots at Bumter, the jail, ami a few out-buildings were burned by the enemy. The damage to privat?- prop? erty, except in a few 'eases, was less than was expected." Thus reads an extract from Ced. Le-es official report and this, with of? ficial order No, 2, explains our pres? ence- here today and shows why these he-roes obedient t<> duty's clarion call, fell impelled to lay down their lives for the ir homes and loved ones. Amidst tin- ruins of falling Troj Aeneas was inspired by the thought that it is sweet to die- for one's coun? try, It was this thought that Impelled tin- 300 Spartans at Thermopylae to stand their ground with Leonidas against unnumbered hosts love ami . ibedience, < >no, who asks w hy Un s?- heroes gave up their lives, will find bis an RWer in t In- couplet: "Go, stranger and in Lacedaemon tell That here obedient to her laws we fell." h was thi" motive of obedience to authority and lose' of home (hat in duced the 500 to Stand at Ibis narrow pass, dauntless and unafraid, though they knew they were outnumbered md hud reason to expect by then re? sistance only death. Tines change und men ? hange with Mum. but love, loyalty, and disinterested devotion we immortal, it is altogether Utting that Ihe daughters of the Confederacy should place this tablet In commemoration of the cause they love, ol the heroes who gladly gave here their li\es, and of the virtues that their loyal self sacrifice manifests. Lieut. McQueen, who offered here his life In 1> ve, was a son of th ! Rev. Dr. McQueen and a brother of? fner of Lieut. Pringle'e in Garden's Battery, a Lattery composed of some of Sumters1 choicest young men. Lieut Pringle was killed at Sharpsburg In 1862. A tribute to him was written by Lieut. McQueen and was publish? ed in the Trl-Weekly Watchman. January 5th, 1863. This tribute was courteously given me by Judge Thos. ES, Richardson and, In compliance with the request of some veterans, I shall read it as the best epitaph of these voting heroes and as a mourn? ful prophecy of the death that was 60 soon to overtake the gallant author: Upon Virginia's hallowed sod, Ah, deeply dyed by patriot blood, Behold a soldier's tomb. He fell wlo re rolled like lava stream. The tide of battle 'mid the gleam ?>f cannon as they boom. H6 fell full nobly at his post, Upon his lips no prouder boast, Than "duty calls me. here;" He died?alas! no mother's hand Was there to soothe his ebbing sand, But friendship dropped a tear. An Angel form with softest tt' d, Gently bending o'er his bed Gased sweetly in his eye. This angel then with mother's breast. Did soothe the dying boy to rest, And heaved a whispered sigh, Then looking up, she gated on high, Upon the star bespangled sky. And breathed a fervent prayer; '<?! Cod" she cried, ".Shall one so brave. Be given to the cheerlesa grave? When thou canst pitying spare? Let Autumn's withered leaflets fall, The old may claim the shrouded pall, i And joyous greet the tomb; lint spare, oh! spare the tender Rower, That springs up with the summer shower. And spreads its fragrant bloom. Mysterious are tin- ways most High, The old, the young, the good must die And mingle with the clay, But we can only drop a tear Of sorrow on the mournful bier, And tread our lonely way. There is no place in memory's cell Where friendship more delights to I dwell, ! Than on departed years; Wln n we in Innocence were wont To drink of life's pure crystal font, Undimmed by scalding tears. Bright hopes alas! have swiftly Red, As one by one the enamelled dead, Rise upward to our view, . Like tones of sweetest music gone, As clouds before the noqn day sun, < >r morning's pearly dew. To you, veterans, assembled here. Who carry in your minds and hearts tenderest memories of your com? rades, l would say in Milton's words: "Peace hath her victories no less re? nowned than war." I rejoice with you that Cod in his infinite mercy hath showered upon you the blessings of peflce, as He shie lded you from the dangers of war. By your patriotic devotion to home and country, you won distinction in war and by a living loyalty to life's duties you have mer j ited tlie plaudits of peace. It is the earnest prayer of all present that for your future ea< h day he richer in Hs rewards. At tile t lose of his address music was again rendered by the hand and the exercise's were over. Many crowd? ed around to read the Inscription and see the tablet after which the assem? bly slowly dispersed, bovine in mind tiie brave deeds of their fathers and grandfathers when duty called them to a defense of their homes. An interesting feature of the occa? sion was the presence at the unveiling of a number of those who took part in the battle of Dingle's Mill, men Who an* nOW Old and feeble, whose heads are- covered with gray but who then were in their boyhood, or just entering upon the' vigor of manhood. Anmng these- were Messrs. s. F. Flow? ers, Moultrie Held, J. K. Newman. 11. J. Davis, Howard Jones, M. J. Mieh aux, T. F. Cole, D. K. Me^alium an i>. James Winn. Besides there were a large- number of other vete rans who in Virginia or on other fields were fighting at that time in defense e,f the Seuith. The- signs of the battle are still plainly visible, when one is told that many of the old gum trees which stand all along on each side of the causeway have no tops, or are forked high above- the ground, because of the fact that their tops were cut off with cannon balls in this battle. The ride out to Dingle's Mill bridge was found a pleasant erne by those Who attended the* exercises. The road was found in excellent condition and the weather beautiful for being e>ut of-doors. The trip was made in bug? gies, carriages ami automobilen, the veterans being taken out by the peo? ple of the city in autorrmbiles, sei that there WOUld be no hardship on them ] in making the shoit trip e>f three and a-half miles. The- improvements Which have been recently made on the causeway creat ed fave?rable comment from those who had not passe-el that way recent? ly and the bridge was examined by a number of those present, it being the fust opportunity which thev had had to do this since its completion. The bridge is built over the Turkey Creek stream and has a span of twenty-four feet. It is built upon piles for a [foundation ami has vertical supports instead of the usual arc hed supports. It is supported across by six big steel beams which are strongly reinforced 1 by concrete. The sides are several feet thick and th bridge presents an ap? pearance of solidity and permanency. It is a great improvement over the obi wooden bridge and many of those Who have to use this muc h used road are very thankful that it has been built. The sides of the bridge are also supported by steel uprights and arc lies, it being in the central part of the bridge that the tablet is placed. The bridge was ordered built by the "otinty board of commissioners and is probably the best in the coun? ty, lt was planned and the work su? pervised by Prof. M. G. Homes of the University of South Carolina, the cost being about $1,000. In building the bridge it was found convenient to move it from its original position to a point in the causeway opposite the stream, which formerly ran along the dam for more than s Hundred feet and then turned in under the bridge. In doing this the workmen found it neceasary to open up a canal down be? low the causeway for several hun? dred feel. VOTING COUPON. GOOD FOR 25 VOTES In Tho Daily Item, Watchman and Southron and Merchant! Auto? mobile and Prise Contest. For (Miss or Mrs). Address. District No. These coupons must ho clipped out neatly and brought or sent to Contest Department of The Item, Sumter, s. C. Coupons of this issue not good after April is. Nomination Blank To enter The ITEM'S PRIZE CONTEST, till oul this blank and send it to the otliee of the Contest Bditor? You may nominate yourself or a friend The first of these blltaks received will count for 5.000 votes. 1 NOMINATE Mrs. or Miss. Address. Nominated by. . Cnder no circumstances will name of person making nomination be dl \ ulged