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mm auu Soutljron THK SlMTUt WATCHMAN, EstablMied April, 1850. "Re Just ami 1-Var not?Let all the omls Thou Aims't at ho thy Country's, Thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established June, 1 Consolidated Aug. 3,1881. SUMTER, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1913. Vol. XXXVI. No. 17. "CHARMS OF THE COUNTRY OF THE BENIGN HILLS OF THE SANTEE" In the April number of the South? ern Field, the excellent monthly mag? azine published by the land and in? dustrial department of the Southern Hallway, In the Interest of the develop? ment of the South, there is an In? teresting and well illustrated article on The Palmetto State and its Prog? ress in Recent Years." The section of the article that is of especial inter? est to Sumter people in under the cap? tion. Charms of the Country Among the Benign Hills of the Santee," which Is ss follows: Sumter County lies to the east of Riehland, connection by rail over the Southern between Sumter, the county seat, end the state capital, a dis? tance of 2\\ miles, affording a con? venient schedule. Railroad lines cross the county In every direction and the s?at of county government hus thirty-six passenger trains daily, mak? ing it a natural distributing point for manufaeturelng and Jobbing establish? ments. A telephone factory which devot, s extensive space to magneto making is the chief industry, although there are Important lumber, brick, machin? ery, lee. buggy, wagon, cotton oil and cement pipe plants. One of the largest epyress mills in the South is located a few miles from the city. The early settlers in this county were herdsmen, who moved their cattle from place to place as prefer? red range occurred. Then the im? mense areas of pine gave profitable opportunities ,and in addition to the production of beef, pork and hides, ?tore attention was given to tar, tur? pentine, roain, staves, shingles and lumber. Corn and wheat were the chief of the early day crops, and indigo was TSf-w-x fur Mp???e ?a?* - Bssf India ? mpetltlon und the war with England put a stop to this industry. Rice, "^Wheat and oats were the chief crops up to the Civil War. which brought a revolution In agriculture that plac? ed cotton In the lead. Discussing Sumter County, the Unit? ed States Soil Survey report says: "With such a variety of soils as Is found in Sumter County, one should be able to carry on almost any line of farming desired. Very little at? tention hua been given to the raising of live stock, though there are lands that could be utilized more profitably for this purpose than In any other way. Bermuda grass does well on most of the soila The sandy soils are especially adapted to truck, al? though at present they are little used for this purpose, not enough being grown for home consumption. There Is sn excellent opportunity for this Industry and dairying. The Norfolk soils would also grow fine grapes and the <>rangeburg soils fine peaches. The county roads are in very good condition and much interest is being taken in their Improvement. The best road material available Is composed of sand and clay. Good roads are be? ing rupldly extended to all parts of the county. Artesian wells of excel? lent flow ate secured in the eastern part of the county, at a depth of from 7* to 100 f?.et.M Crop SSSStSSJai ig not Indicate the average yields in any community, but thev do sh w the possibilities of th. land Therefore, the achievement of - I Wh,t. wlm^. furm i * m ar Sum? ter. will in In at.' w hat i m he .|..ne. Mr White mad* Hrt> bushels of sweet potatoes on one acre of land, and nobl tb< potatoes foi seed at $1 and $1 || peff bushel. The sill were bought and "et out May 1-'. UM'J To prepare for these slips the ground wss hr.?k?-n with a two? now plon and rows were laid oft Ihre,- feet. bed fled out v. h four f ai r..u s, I ||d I in* fertiliser was applied alter break Ing out the middles. As soon ig the slips took root they were work d with a 24-Inch sweep Altogether, they were plowed four times, and dug November fi. Expen ses In connection with the crop at* placed by \1 r WhltS at )II, itSRltSed hr follows Slips. |1|] fertilizer. 119; labor. . land r??nt. $|a. At $1 a bushel his -?otato crop from MM acre netted 177?. In the contest for average \le|ds on on acre of cotton, an acre ol Born, and an a* N "f peas >!r Whit* made OS * - IS hllMhels of nun, ' I p.oinds ?*T smmI cot mi. I4' I ?' bushels of \. and 4 H'\1 pounds of iireO" ?..?a\ n< J W. ? ?dorn m id" t> : ?<> p<?un * cured peavine hay on a Mingle acre. Local banks offer cash prizes that make teat acres worth while. One bank gives $100 to the farmer mak? ing the greatest average yield on four acres and $100 to the man making the greatest net profit on that acreage. Another bank gives $200 each year In a three-year eontest intended to stim? ulate proper rotation of crops, con? test judges prescribing the crop sys? tem, which covers three years. Mr. White's farm includes 275 acres and his cotton crop averages a bale to the acre. He averages 40 huNhels of corn to the acre on a 40 aere held, and in 1911 made 75 bush? els per acre on a flve-aere Held. L. D. Jennings has a 400-acre farm a few miles from Surnter, on which nearly a bale of cotton to the acre is made. His corn yields run from 35 to 40 bushels to the acre and COW peas make an average of a ton to the acre. I*ast year, from 100 acres of land, 100 tons of eured huy were made, and 3.000'bushels of oats. At $20 per ton, the hay was worth $2,000 and at C5c a bushel the oats were worth $1,5*50. This mukes a total of $3,950 for the crop from the 100 acres. When the oats were cut, the peas followed im? mediately. The soil Is a light, sandy loam, to which the cowpeas add much hu? mus. Feeding beef cattle Is also pruc tised for the purpose of building up the aoil. In November, 1912, Mr. Jenrdngs bought 8 2 heud from North Carolina and Tennessee. They were fed cottonseed meal and hulls, and in February were shipped to the Northern markets. Forty tons of cot? tonseed meal and 40 tons of hulls were fed. The average weight of the cattle when feeding began In Novem? ber was 8SO pounds, and the average weight when so^d in February "was 975 pounds. No detailed rOOOfd of expense was kept, but Mr. Jenkins thinks feedings is profitable, if man? ure is made without cost or if the profits from the cattle are great en? ough to pay their feed and labor bill. Northwest from Surnter, and ex? tending from the WuUree Klver, live miles into the country, lie the High Hills of the Santee, once the home of General Surnter, "the gamecock of the American Revolution " of Joel K. Poinsette. Secretary of the War I>epartment; of John Hutledge, dicta? tor of the state during the Americ an Revolution and later Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Here was a favorite camp for British and Colonial armies during the revo? lution and General Cornwall If of the Knglish forces chose It as a base of operations and as a camp where their wounded and ill could recuperate. Washington Irving called them the "benign hills of the Suntce." and Itohrt Mills, in his review of South Carolina, declared: "There is not a more desirable place for residence, either for health or society, than this village affords.' It was lu re that more important de? velopimnts occurred before flu? war between the States, and many old mansions have been preserved in good condition. Their owners hat, large plantations in the lowlands of the State, but llVOd in the high bills aiost of the time on account of the mON healthful climate. Along tin Watorec tiny raised large numbers of tattle ami hogs. The hills wort considered Am for cotton, corn ami oatl, and for m arly all kinds of fruits, including pa iches. tigs, grapes and ?moll frulU Four types of soil oc? cur, according to the report of t?<i ami soil surveya: Orangeburg clay, Oransjeburg sandy loom, Orangeburg sami and Orangeburg coarse sandy loam. The < u*angeburg ciav is local? ly known ai the red lands." has ex ? ??II?m drainage, ami constitutes one or the boat cotton ami general farm? ing sods ot tin Qu If and Atlantic Conntnl plains n stand? drought ??i excess of moisture better than most soils, is retentive, ami tin- affecti or fertlltaer are lasting. * Th?- lulls not under cultivation :ir.? covered with heav; forests of pln< ami hardw.is and there are man> hold springe furnishing sweet, potabb \% atari The bonus are generally in oak grovoi on the hill tops, from which on char days tin tallest buildings In Um st?t?? oupuai <-.in ??, seen aero Ihr riv?-v VMllex vn'h h'-HiHItiil view , joi the Intervening Midi und w.t a few mllei from Claremont, <m the Southern Railway, Is Btateburg, \vhi? h on Recount of its niiturHl beau? ty was tin- choice of General Sumter for the location of South Carolina's State capital. When Columbia was chosen by a narrow margin, it is re? lated that General Sumter challenged to a duel the successful advocate of the rival site. ; Col. John J. Dargan is principal of "The General Sumter Memorial Acad? emy," where for a number of years and his assistants taught boys to read Latin and make corn, and instructed gills in music and making homes. "Cultivated farms for cultivated farmers" is the school's motto. The main building burned about a year ago, but plans for rebuilding are un? der way. This school was given ac? tive support by Dr. S. A. Knapp, through Whoee efforts a federal dem? onstration agent waa stationed here, to supervise the agricultural work of the students. Yield! of S5 and 'J~? bushels of corn to the acre have been made, and on lo acres 15 bales of cotton were pro? duced, lucking SO pounds of tint cot? ton. Vegetables of all kinds are grown, and asparagus dooB especially weil. PlgS thrive and yield bountifully, and Colonel Dargan has on his farm 300 poach trees, 150 ligs, apples pears, plums, quinces* cherries, pecans and the following varieties of grapes; Con coid, Niagara, Delaware, Scupper nong, Thomas and Flowers. Large land owners in this vicinity have considered plans for reducing their holdings in order to provide at? tentive farms for progressive ?et tlers, and homeseekers would do well to investigate opportunities here. \ ! It is 19 miles from Claremont to C.linden, in the heart of the pine belt, where the charms of dry, sunny win? ters attract thousands every year and where golf, riding, hunting and polo furnish sport. There are three pre? tentious resort hotels and the polo tournaments are important features each winter. In March of this year teams participating in the annual match came from Chicago and other Northern points to meet Southern players. Soils hereabouts are generally light, sandly loamy, and along theHVateree there are deep, rich alluvial lands, which produce big crops when prop? erly drained, L. I. Gulon has a plantation of ">, 00n n< res near Camden, 1,000 acres of which are bottom lands, wall dik? ed and drained. Corn und peas grow luxuriantly on the alluvial soil, mak? ing 7 5 bushels of grain on the best acres. In 1912 Mr. Guion averaged 4 0 bushels per acre on 400 acres in corn. On this plantation there are 300 acres in Johnson glass and Bermuda. A combination of vetch and Johnson grass hays proven particularly suc? cessful. The yields run from 1 to 3 tons per acre, and vetch has made a ton to the acre. The hay is baled just before Christmas, and 75 per cent of the crop is sold in Columbia and other nearby towns. Last year prices averaged $20 a ton, and this year $18. One buyer feeds peavine hay until the middle of February and then uses Johnson grass. After oats are harvested, eowpeas tire sowed and cut in with a four horse disc harrow, the yield of pea Nine hay averaging a ton to the acre, with two tons to the acre on some of the best fields. Cotton i.s grown extensively and Mr. Qulon has been pleased with bur clover as a cover crop In cotton fields, thus pi (A iding also excellent grazing. He has built a dipping vat ami will feed heel cattle. it i:- ' elleved that the alluvial, black lands will do well when celery la tried, and it is planned to devote experimental plots to celery growing. Through the efforts of the Canuleit Chamber of Commerce a number of big plantations have been surveyed for subdivision and will be placed on tin- markel at an early date. Land prices in this section from Columbia to Camd. n and including the country around Cluremont \a;\ greatly ac? cording to location and soils. There are many places where farms can he bought for less than $la an acte, but prices for lands in better condition and susceptible o| mote profitable de? velopment will est from $-0 to $75 an acre Seasonal temperatures at Stateburg, in tie- centei ol this region, follow! Winter it. spring, ?o{; summer, 78, and fall. i Tb? annual mean is til Mr J, S Sykes, of Sumter. who recently accepted Ihe position ol chief of police for this city, resign? ed his position last Saturday night and returned to his home Sunday mot inn.: ('its council has not elect? ed a man ful tie place -Ramlsprg lb iaid, INCOME TAX IN CAUCUS. DEMOCRATS ADHERE TO WAYS AM) MEANS BILL. Republicans ii?.m Conference to Agree on Pinn i<> Fight Democratic Measure Hut Differences of Opinion Arise at Outset and So Agreement Was Reached. Washington, April is.?The tariff revision bill made rapid progress In the Democratic caucus of the house today, was considered systematically by a conference of Republican re resentatives who agreed to prop* Ji amendments; and Mr. Underw ^ predicted that the bill would ^ brought up in the house next . nesday. -v' In the Democratic caucus t iys and means majority was BUS 1 at every point during a aerlei ights over proposed amendments to ne in come tax, the only important change being a decision to strengthen the provision exempting life Insurance policies. The $4,000 exemption and graduated scheme of income taxa? tion running up to 4 per cent on $100,000 or more were retained in? tact. The house Republicans in an open conference indorsed the proposed amendment to the bill that would provide for a tariff commission, changed so as to require the commis? sion to report annually and deferred until Monday action on a proposition to introduce as a Republican amend? ment the Payne wool bill that wan offered two years ago. Meantime the Democrats of the ways and means committee met and agreed upon a number of minor changes in their .bill which ill be offered probably late tomorrow to correct defects dle closed in the caucus proceedings, in telegrams and letters to the commit? tee and in renewed study of the bill. The Democrats have been bom? barded with inquiries regarding a clause of the income tax provision intended to exempt life insurance policies. To avoid complications the caucus changed the language so as to read "provided the proceeds of life insur? ance policies paid upon ^he death of the person insured shall not be in? cluded as incomes." Representative Sherley of Kentucky proposed to reduce tin- Income exemp? tion from $4.000 to *2,n<i0 and to make Incomes of more than $100,000 pay T> per i ent on the ground that the bill made too small a minority of the people subject to the tax. Repre? sentative Hobson of Alabama wanted to make the minimum $3.000, with a rate of one-half of 1 per cent between $3,000 and $4,000 and a 4'per cent surtax on incomes between $100,0000 and $25,000; 5 pei cent surtax above $250,000. Representative Thatcher of Massachusetts figured the minimum at $1,000. All these amendments were voted down. It is thought that the caucus would finish with the bill by tomorrow night or Monday and that the house Would take up the bill the middle of the week, with prospects of passage there before May 1. The Republican caucus opened with a livly light over the party tariff pol 1 icy in prospect. Representative Moore of Pennsylvania and Fordney of Mich? igan, members of the Republican rep? resentation on the ways and means committee, were on hand with a res? olution which would prevent the Re? publicans taking any constructive Bteps in the making of the tariff. Mr. Mann, Republican leader, and his lieutenants prevented a vote on the resolutions, although Representa? tives Moore and Forney endeavored to toree action. "I do not wish to find myself two y?ars from now when the Democrats have made their mistakes," said Mr. Moore, "bound by some fool action taken here today " Representative Payne discussed his proposed substitute wool lull at length, declaring it was the most equitable arrangement of duties on wool that could be devised. He said the bill had the Indorsement of the tariff board. Representative Fordney attacked the rates as too low and objected to the conference Indorsing any bill, "i am opposed." he said, 'to the llepub llcans presenting any substitute for the rates In the Democratic tariff bill. Leaves for Extended Tour. Mi M II, Handle left Saturday af? ternoon for an extended trip along the Paclllc Coast and through the northwestern states ami Canada Mr Handle takes this trip on account 01 his health and Will lie ftone between on and two months His many friends hope (hat he will find his trip .in enjoyable one ami (hat bis health will be Impi o\ ed by it. THE D. i. B. ELECTOR. BITTER CONTEST ENDS WITH VICTORY FOR Mils. STORY. she Won the Presidency Hut Her Opponents Captured a Majority of the other Elective Offices?Mrs. story Has Been Fighting for Po? ll for Five Years and Spent a I of Money. ? Shington, April IS.?Mrs. Wii ?r' Cummings story of New York, if- <i of the conservative party, late iay was elected president general of r n- Society of'the Daughters of the American Revolution, defeating Mrs, John Miller Horton of Buffalo, the administration candidate, on the third ballot The vote stood: Mrs. Story 600, Mrs. Horton 4 I Seven vice presidents general .also were elected to complete the comple? ment of new general officers. Thej Were: Mrs. Thomas Kite of Ohio, Mrs. Khett Goode of Alabama, Mrs. John Swift of California. Mrs. Allen P. Per ley of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Ben F. Gray of Missouri, Mis Harriet I. Lake Of Iowa, and Mrs. John Lee Dinwiddle of Indiana. Three vice presidents general were elected on the lirst ballot. The re? sult of the third ballot was announced before 6.30, and the successful can? didate Was escorted to the. platform. Hhe was greeted by Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, retiring president general, and began her speech. She made a plea for harmony and urged all the new general officers to do their utmost to bring peace 1 ?? tween the wings that have waged an almost continuous warfare for the last live years. Before closing her remarks Mrs. Story introduced Mrs. Chas B. Bryan, who withdrew as a contestant today before the third ballot was begun. Mrs. Bryan had been known as an ad? ministration sympathiser, but she pledged loyalty and support to the in? coming administration, she was fol? lowed by the new general officers, and all pledged th ir support to Mrs. Story. The election resulted in a partial victory for the old administration in that more than half of the general of? ficers and all of the new vic? ,-presi dentS general are known as supporters of Mrs. Scott. Mrs. Story did not place a complete ticket of vice presidents general in the held, and none of the four she put forward was elected. < >f the general officers on her ticket only four were chosen on the first ballot, while five of those cm the Horton, or adminis? tration, tic ket were successful. The elec tion cd' Mrs. Story ends a five-year campaign, she was defeated by Mrs. Scott in the lust two ( lections. The contest has been the most spirit? ed in the history of the society and has been exceedingly expensive for the candidates and the society. While the delegations were casting their ballots the various State regents continued making their reports. Sev? eral valuable gilts were given Mis. Scott and there were a number of presents to the national society. Mrs. Scott was elected honorary president general, an honor held only by rive formc-r presiding officers cd' the so? ciety. The congress Will adjourn tomor? row. POPE PUTS IMPROVING. Home, April IS.?The consoling news that emanated from the Vati? can tonight was that Pope Plus had passed three days without fever, that his general condition was progress? ing favorably ami that if these con? ditions continued for two days more his holiness would be considered con? valescent. Mllls-Seabrook Engagement. The engagement of Miss Annabelle Mills of Statesvllle and Mr. Marion Wainwrlght Seebrook, a young law? yer cd' Sumter. S. C, was announced at a social function given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Mills on West Knd avenue Wednesday afternoon. Tin- Bound l tosen Km broidery Circle and the Why Not club were enter? tained jointly by Mrs. Mills and Miss Mills. Hearts was the game of the occasion and Mrs. 15. V. Long made highest score, but no prise was award? ed After the game a salad course was served and it was when the afternoon was draw im; to a ? los?' that the inter? esting feature came. Little Dorothy Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. it. Miller. ent? ted the loom with a large basket tilled with llly-of-the valley favors, which she distributed among the guests, ami attached to each little bouquet was a Card bearing "Annabelle Mills-Marlon Wainwrlght Seabrook, autumn.'' indicating that the wedding wll take place next fall. BULGARIA ORDERS ATTACK OX SERVIANS AT I SKI P. Quarrel Over Division of Territory Taken front Tnrkej trill Probably Precipitate War Between Servia and Greece on One Side and Bul? garia on Other?Montenegro Also at odds With Servia. London, Apjril lb.?A Central News dispatch from Saloniki says the Seventh division of the Bulgarian army has received orders to march against Monastir, now held by the Ser? vian troops. The Servian commander is said to be concentrating three divisions of the Servian troops at Veles, south? east of Cskup. against the threatened attempt to dispossess them of terri? tory captured during the war. The Greeks in th same way are taking measures for the retention of Saloniki. WILL ACCEPT TERMS OF POWER Balkan Allies Expected to Announce That They are Willing to Taktf , What Europe Green. Vienna, April IS.?The Balkan allies will tomorrow notify the Kuro pann powers of their acceptance of th* peace proposals, says the Neue Freie Press, Bulgaria, Servia and Greece at the same time will telegraph t<, King Nicholas of Montenegro urging him to follow their example. BCLGARS START FIGHT. Volunteers Reported to Have Attueked and Captured Servian Transport Train After Sharp Fighting. Vienna. April 18.?A dispatch to a newspaper here reports Bulgarian volunteers attacked a Servian trans? port train between Kumanova and Bgripalanka. It is said sharp 'fight? ing ensued, in which 80 Servian sol? diers were killed or wounded. The Servians fled, leaving the transport wagons, full of arms and ammunition, in the hands of the Bulgarians. The losses of the Bulgarians sr. unknown. s NICHOLAS BLAMES SERVIANS. Preparing Proclamation, Explaining "funsaill of Abandoning the Siege of Sc utari. Cettinje. Montenegro, April 18.? King Nicholas of Montenegro is pre? paring a proclamation explaining to his subjects that the withdrawal of the Servian troops compelled him to abend m the siege of Scutari. HAS ACCEPTED TFRMS. Bulgarian Premier Informs Sobranje of His Course. Sofia, April 18.?Premier Guechoff today informed the sobranje that the Bulgarian government had accepted the terms of the last note of the great powers containing proposals for ending the war. The premier said Bulgaria's acceptance contained reser? vations, but that there would not hin? der the conclusion of pence. FIRES BLANK SHOT. Student Causes Sensation in Rouman? ian Chamber. Bucharest. Uoumania, April 18.? What at first Was supposed to have been an attempt to assassinate the minister of the interior, Jonensen, in partial n ut turned out today to have been a demonstration by a student to draw attention to the grievances of Roumanians in Macedonia. inning the sitting of the chamber a student named Hetieu arose. and drawing a revolver from his pocket, 11 red a blank shot in the direction of M. Jonensen. The shot caused con? siderable excitement in the chamber; Haneu was an est cd. PROF. l>\Vls LECTURED. (Save Interesting Talk Before Wo? man'*. Literary 4 lull. Prof a t\ Davla, ?f the University of South Carolina, son of the late It Means Davis and grand-son of the late Joseph LeConte, made a very in? teresting talk before the members of the Woman's Literary Club List Thursday evening. Prof. Davis is unite a talented lecturer and it was a privilege to have him as a guest of the club. While in the city Prof Dnvia was entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs Hugh C. Uaynsworth. \n Afternoon Tea. Mrs L. B Phillips nave an After? noon Tea on Wednesday afternoon, the honor guest being Miss Katherine Burton, oi Baltimore. 4