Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Need of Reclamation by Drain age Emphasized. Seventy-seven Million Acres in Eastern Part of Country May! Be Made Fertile Farming Lands by Drainage -Would Pro? vide Homea lor Nearly Two Million People. i r.v K. J. Watson, first Vicc-Prcsl ent N. I). <* and Commissioner of agriculture of South Carolina.) The movement for the reclamation f the low lands of the couHtul plain ' nd those sections bordering upon he principal rl.cr basins is one of ?preii . ,,(', ii ( on. rrn. This Is artlcuturly true of the mates along he AtUm'c seuhoard. and more va? ulurly the Stato of South Carolliu. Many have wondered perhaps why ome of us here in the South have olng such earnest work, through the i mutlon of the Naitonal Drainage ongress. for tho cause of drainage oclamatlon. Out in the West science .as already bidden the desert to drink Imormal conditions following the de ?lopment of water powers have rought sJbssjM u condition in the 9 K. J. WATSON. j t uiiiiiiUlmirr of AgrUult irv. coastal plain of South Carolina, for Instance, where It Ir absolutely es? sential to the future prosperity of the State that tho ssjsjg of too much water on the lund m; a be cured. Out West It was the cast of no water on the land. Tho government has cured that and arid plains are today j blooming like the rose and covered with productive crop? which are sent to the markets of the world l>y happy healthy and prospeto.is people More Is Involved In reclamation by drainage than there ever was by ir? rigation, or eVer eai ?>??, fur thero are more than 77 million a< res land that will be sffe'ted and the rec lamation ran l*? brought about at less than ohe-fourtb the cost of Irrigation. l>esper end more mcnacl**? than any? thing else, however. Is the fact that th????e 77 million acres of water-soak? ed It nd* are breeding pools for the deadlv m.it.mal mosquito, ami a con? stant nml ever increasing menace to the public health. "South t an.l nu in affected by the laek of drainage in fully one-third of her territory and thr productivity of the land in an area running parallel with the shore line sixty miles back Is temtiorv curtailed, whdl') the pso ple are forced to battle with malaria. Ver| nccrly tin- sun. conditions exist up and down the Atlantic const. If hi d? r tin- State lawn that we )tn\c at last succeeded in getting esjHfcsjftl the Seaboard States, and If under th< National measure which is now pending, and Is almost certain to ho enacted. tniM ?r ? that I have indhutcd ?an ha\. the water drawn from it. I do not think that I exag ?;ei ite *h- n I s iv itial there is no I mmI In the vallcry or the Nile, that can iK'gin to < SM pare with It for ag i cultural SSM^BgSSSa If it Im reclaim? ed |?erfect health ? onditions will bS restored . and the mcuning of the wiu'if Udsjg wets an seoeoink stand? point to the South is more thnn I would dafe picture. The strides for ward that we have made in the hint ten years to my mind would not be a diop in Um esjehei eoinpired s/Ith 11?? development of these States ihat Would almost Immediately follow wt* ?l.imutlon. The trtUh of UMi matter \- thai there Is absolutely nothing that < ould command the attention of our paejsjli riuht now In banking. ? ir cles. In luiKiness clr?des, and in nil other Streets that hold? one-tenth o ?he promise in money results that the eclamntlon of the low lands of the - ci'h does. ??As early If ITH Before 'Mo pioneer white nan bad penetrated .'.<n? miles mi., tho inferior, driving Lie is the red man. Mr. Heresford In Ml icpott to his King In London, speaking of my State said. South Carolina ItHM Ch> i iimstan< ? d should l>o ? apalde of if fordlng greater uuantltv of vnluahh produce thnn any other port of lirit liih-America/ and so on. It fell to my lot In August IHf at the 17th annual session of the Nation? al Irrigation COWgMSS in Spokane, Washington, to bring the drainage reclamation situation to the attention of the country, und from that really began the movement that now prom? ises to bring the final result. It is less than four years ago that the movement gathered such strength that the Drninugc Congress was formed in Chicago during tho session of the National Irrigation Congress, and all of us who have been in the movement here have not been stopping a mo? ment since. "Disregarding the vital question of the public health, I might say that this is not alone a Southern question. The drainage area of the States east of the Rocky Mountains amounts to the enormous total of 119,972 square ntlles. North Dakota and South Car? olina fur apart, have about an equal area, the one 4,840 square miles, (of territory absolutely worthless with? out drainage, s.nd not taking into con? sideration that which would be rend? ered more productive) and the other 4,870 square miles. Georgia has 4, 2lo square miles. North Carolina 4, 130 square miles; Alabama 2,310 square miles and Florida more than anybody else. Minnesota Is concern? ed to the exent of 6,000 square miles; Wisconsin, 3.6S0 square miles, and Michigan 4,600 square miles. In all thirty-eight States are involved. "Let's look at it another way: In the eastern portion of the United States there are 77 million acres of w i lands. This is an area sufficient to make an empire such as the Brit? ish Isles, an area as large as six of the New England States, New York and the upper half of New Jersey; an areu, as some one has said, that would make g strip of territory 133 miles wide, reaching from New York to Chicago, and which, if divided into farms of 4 0 acres each, would provide homes for one million nine hundred and twenty-five thousand families of people. Dut this empire with Its price? less soil, for when you consider the richness of that soil; it Is an empire, is lying Idle and unproductive, while American citizens are flocking into Canada to seek homes at the rate of G6.000 a year, and while the cry about the high cost of living Is being heard throughout the land, und while thou? sands of our own people are dying euch year us u result of the deadly malarial germ. "Anybody who quietly digests these staggering facts and conservatively estimates tho possibilities of the Ideal soil, rich in the humus of ages, the restoration of perfect health condi? tions, and the possibilities of increas? ed production of money vulue crops, not to mention anything else, need not ask me or anyono else why we are pushing as hard as we know how to get the federal government and the' ptSJpis themselves under State laws to draw the water from tho lund. "I could discuss the bearing of this work upon forestry, and I could deal with its bearing upon public high? ways, with its more Important bearing upon the opening of inland water? ways, and many other phases of the matter, but that would tako too much time. The problems of drainage, highway construction. Improvement of natural water-ways and water power developments are nearly always so ^ closely related that the solution of leach must be worked out with due | consideration of the others. Tin run-off waters of these great basins ought to bo powerful agencies for In? dustrial development, and not the dreadful messengers of ruin and de? vastation chat they are under existing conditions. "In short, tho whole movement means moro from an economic stand? point at this particular moment to every man. woman and child 111 South aioiina and every other SouthernI State, than any other one thing that I know of. politically, sociologically or oeonomic. Ueenusc of this every Southern state should be largely I repreeented at the fourth annual ses-' sions of the National Drainage Con-, greee, meeting la savannah, Oe? tprll 11*11, All railroads have giv? en the eheapiM r.ites possible to the eoagrees in all the territory south of the Ohio and ?.ist of the Mississippi. Our States, counties and cities should all be represented officially. Bverj man interested in Southern develop* men! by works along this line will be heartily welcomed Real Rathle Transfers. D, is. McCalhim i<> H B, Beleer hd on Main Street, f I an and Ottiei < onalderatlone. , mm MOVE NEXT. PRESIDENT WILSON WILL NOT RECEDE FROM POSITION. Plea for Arbitration win be Rejected and if Salute is Not Forthcoming All Ports will In Bloekuded and Foreign Governments Will bo Noti? fied That Wur Exists. Washington, April 1G.?Unanimous endorsement of President Wilson's ac? tion in sending the Atlantic fleet to Tainpleo was given by the house com? mittee on foreign affairs at a special meeting today. Tho Mexican situation today is as follows: The president will stand (Irmly by the demand for a salute to the flag; ships will blockade Vera Cruz, Ta^n pico, Puerto Mexico, Mazatlan, Aca pulco and Salina Cruz, deprlvng Hu erta of the revenues and customs re? ceipts; Huerta is expected to ask that the dispute be submitted to arbitra? tion; the American government will reject any plea for arbitration on the grounds that the government in Mex? ico has not been recognized and that matters of national honor can not be submitted to arbitration. Huerta is believed to have no inten? tion of yielding, as the recent victories of rebels indicate that Huerta will be overthrown soon and he would rath? er have intervention. If Huerta resists the demand of the Cnited States it will be unnecessary to declare war, but foreign govern? ments will bo notified that war ex? ists. Hundreds of volunteers for ser? vice have been received today at the war department. CALL ON MILITIA. National Guard Will Probably Be Culled Out to Supplement Regular Army. Washington, April 10.?Brig. Gen. Mills, chief of tho division of militia Affairs, today notified the adjutant generals of ull the States to forward details of the strength and equipment of the State forces. This information is wanted so the war department may tall on State troops if necessary to supplement the regular army. THINKS SITUATION GRAVE. lonstitutionullsts Leader Keeping an Eye on Developments lu Latest Phase. El Paso, Texas. April 15.?Gen. Villa und his latest victory at San Pedro were virtually lost sight of among Mexicans and refugees here and in Juarez today in the intense interest felt over developments in tho Tam plco incident. Gen. Carranza, at ['hihuahua, was kept fully Informed i>f the orders to tb fleet and the at? titude of Washington, but no state mer of the position he would us ?umc should the Americas take Tam oico and Vera Cruz was forthcoming. Among officials the word went round not to comment on the situa? tion, but it was learned from the lips of one of Carranza'? closest advisers that Carranza views tho whole situa? tion us one of the greatest gravity to Mexico as a whole. Robert V. Pesquiru, confidential agent of the constitutionalists in El Paso, said for publication that all rebel leaders are convinced that Huerta would not hesitate to lunge the whole country into a foreign war when he feels his power crumbling, thinking to save himself by uniting the country ugainst an alien enemy. TO KEEP TORPEDO SECRET. Injunction Issued to Restrain Bliss Company. Washington. April 16,?a tempor? ary injunction granted by Judge Vced er in tho United States District Court of New York restraining the K. W. 81 lag Company om revealing to oth? er nations the construction of the Lliss-Leavitt torpedo used by the United States navy has been render? ed permanent. The Dilta Company was about to demonstrate the operation ami con? struction of this torpedo, which, oth Clall gay, the navy h,*is developed into the finest weapon of the kind in the world, to the Whitehoad Torpedo Company! of Fiume. Austria, when cheeked by temporary Injunction! sought l?.\ the navy department. MKS. A. F. LEVER ILL. Serious Operation on Wife or Con? gressman. Washington, April 15.?Mrs. Prank Lever, wife of Congressman Lever of South Carolina, today underwent :i serious operation at a hospital In this city, \t a late hour tonight it was stale.I thai while Mrs. Lever was still quite Mi? k. Plight hopes were enter? tained for her recovery. Mrs Lever, before her marriage to Hie S.. Ith Carolina congressman nbnut thr?'?? years ago, was Miss Luclle Hut tier of Saluda. MILITIA 8I0P8 RAGING. TULSA JOCKEY CLUB OFFICIALS CLL OFF SPUING MEET. If Further Racing Is Attempted Sol? diers Will Shoot to Kill Horses. Tulsa, Okla., April 15.?Disregard? ing a restraining order issued by Judge M. A. Breekenridge, of the Superior Court, State troops took possession of the Tulsa Fair Grounds, proclaimed under martial law by Governor Lee Cruce, and when an attempt was made to run the races carded for the afternoon, a squad of militiamen iired a volley over the heads of the jockeys. With this show of force and the declaration of Adjt. Gen. Frank M. Canton, who was in personal com? mand of the troops, that if another race was started the militiamen would fire to kill the horses, officials of the Tulsa Jockey Club ordered the spring race meeting, which began Monduy, abandoned temporarily at least. Today's action brought to culmina? tion a contest as to the right of "bookmakers" to operate at the track. Monday open betting was permitted and Monday night District Judge L. M. Poe issued an injunction prohibit? ing the placing of wagers. Tuesday report was made to the governor that violations of the State anti-gambling laws continued, and last night the proclamation declaring the track un? der marshal law was issued. The next move will be the hearing of hubeas corpus proceedings, institut? ed in behalf of several men arrested by the State troops today. Applica? tion for the writs was filed before the court of Criminal Appeals, in Okla? homa City late this afternoon. No date has been set for the hearing. Two companies of militia were em? ployed in stopping the races today. First the stands were cleared of spec tators and orders given formally forj the discontinuance of the races. This order was disregarded and ten horses entered in the first race were sent to the post.- The starter lost no time in dropping the barrier, and as the horses entered the stretch the militia? men fired over the heads of the jockeys. J. M. Stewart, a private detec? tive, who had refused to leave the ground; a stable boy, who attempted to lead a horse from the track, and o. spectator who tried to force his way through the guard lines, were arrest? ed. I. O. It. M. MKETING. Red Men Elect Officers? End Kock Hill Session. Uoek Hill, April 14.?The Great Council of the Improved Order of Red Men, Reservation of South Car? olina, elected chiefs at the annual meeting held in the wigwam of Cal amet tribe, No. M, in this city this morning. The following were elected: Great eaehem. A. E. Hill, Spartanburg; j great senior sagamore. O. D, Gray, j Williamston; great junior sagamore, Max 0. Bryant, Rock HH1; great chief of records, B. C. Wallace. Sum ter; great keeper of wampum, W. M. Allen, Greenville; great prophet, E. H. Aull, Newberry; trustees, R. L. Cro mer, Union; F. C. Garner, Columbia; gnat representatives, Otto Kletner, Newberry; Cole L. Blease, Columbia; J. 1'. Carlisle, Greenville; E. H. Aull, Newberry; S. M. Clarkson, Columbia. Newberry was selected as the place for the next annual meeting. The great council adjourned this evening, the business of the meeting having been largely disposed of al ready| Routine business, in addition to the election of chiefs and selec? tion of next place of meeting, was riven attention this morning. STATE PRESENTS CASE. _, Louisiana's Cuban sugar Growers' Plea Heard. Washington, April 14.?The right of the Stito of Louisiana to enjoin the secretary of the treasury from con? tinuing to allow Cuban sugar to enter the United States with a 20 per cent, preferential duty in addition to the general 2."? per cent, reduction in sugar rates under the Underwood tariff act was presented today to the supreme court for decision. Attorney General Pleasant of Louis? iana and Former Senator Joseph W. Bailey maintained the right of the .-tale to bring Injunction proceedings and argued that the granting of the preferential should be enjoined. Mr. i 1 'alley contended that despite 100 years of acquiescence In the policy, the grunting of preferentials and re? ciprocity treaties was unconstitutional Attorney General Pleasant argued thai the SO per cent preferential promised under the reciprocity treaty with Cuba was to !??? figured on the Dlngley rates and pointed to a proviso in the tr?nty. Solicitor General Davis said this provision was repealed by the Underwood bill, but Mr. Pleasant argued 'hat a repeal could n?>t be I made without < lube's consent, SING PRAISE OF SOUTH. SONS AND DAUGHTERS AT THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. Daniels and Bryan Deliver Addresses Before Assemblage of Notables? Pruisc for Wilson. Washington, April 15.?Sons and daughters of the South sang praises of her rapid commercial development and expanding influence in national affairs at the third annual banquet toight of the Southern Society of Washigton. Secretaries Bryan and Daniels put aside their responsibilities for the hour to attend. Other notable diners included Maurice Francis Egan, minister to Denmark, many of the Southern congressional delegation and Southerners in Washington offi? cial life. The scene v.as enlivened by the fre? quent singing of Southern melodies, led by an old time negro quartette. As a North Carolinian, Secretary Daniels spoke lor "The Womanhood of the South," referring to the chang? ing scenes that have made women fig? ure in modern economical life. The ?hhalry of the type that was exem plilicd in the surrender of a seat in a street car, he thought, must be ap? plied so as to lighten the burdens of won en who were compelled to con? tribute to the support of their fam? ilies. "Chivalry in its highest sense," he declared, "must not conlino itself to the ball room, but must prove its genuineness by seeing that the wo? man who works is better paid and is not compelled to labor through long hours. "Perhaps we have been too tardy in this ret pect," he continued, "but conditions are growing better. The Southern States arc constantly im? proving conditions by the enactment of laws governing the employment of women, and the time is not far be? fore it will be illegal for women to work at night or any longer than eight hours daily." Secretary Bryan, responding to the toast, "Grandsons of the South," de? clared that when history was written President Wiilson, the latest president the South had given the nation, would stand out as illustrative of a courage not surpassed by any warrior. WEAVERS STRIKE FOR RAISE. Withdrawal of 200 Men From Plant Leave* 800 Operatives With No Work. Spartanburg, April 15.?Because of the strike of 200 weavers yesterday the Union Buffalo mills of Union were forced to discontinue operations this morning. It is said the operatives demund an increase of 10 per cent, on all grades of cloths manufactured at the mills, and O. T. Bennett, gen? eral manager, has refused to accede to the ultimatum of the strikers and ho declares that the mills will be open Monday and all operatives apply? ing for positions at the present scale of wages will be taken. The closing down of the mills throws 800 oper? atives out of work. Mr. Bennett declared over long dis? tance tonight that the strike was en? gineered by 4 0 weavers who were "disgruntled" because the mill changed its grade of cloth from plain sheeting to drills. They struck Mon? day and persuaded the other weavers to go out Tuesday, he says. Because of the lack of weavers the mills were forced to close this morning A delegation of the strikers called on Mr. Bennett today and demanded the increase In pay. The general man? ager said tonight that he informed the committee that the market condi? tions of the country for cotton mill products is very unfavorable at this time; that the mills of the country ?should now be operating only three or four days a week; that it would be suicidal for them to grant an increase in wages, and that the Union Buffalo mills positively refused to grant the demands of the strikers. Mr. Bennett stated that all oper? atives would be paid their wages to? morrow and the mills will be placard? ed, informing any who wanted to work at tho prevalent scale of wages would be given positions Monday when the mills would resume opera ' tlons. TO PRESENT ANTI-TRUST BILL. Newtatlds and Robinson in Confer? ence. Washington. April 16.?Senator Xewlands. chairman and Senator Rob Inson of the interstate commerce committee conferred with President Wilson today relative t,. the anti-trust legislative programme. It w;,s an? nounced after the conference that they, as members of o subeommIttee, would submit to the full committee soon their draft of an anti-trust bill. When the committee would report it 'to the senate was not snnouneed def? initely. Senator New lands said be thought the bill might be reads within a week or ten days, bui Sena? tor Robinson though! it could not be [agreed upon for two or three weeks. THREE COMPANIES FAIL. May Muster Out H. First I infantry: K. Third Infantry, and Second Coast Artillery?Have Forfeited Federal Aid. Washington, April 14.?From in? formation given to The State's corre? spondent today, three companies of South Carolina militia have forfeit? I their right to receive further federal aid from the government and the date of their being mustered out is now up to the governor of South Car? olina. The companies are Company B, First infantry; Company K. Third infantry, and the Second company of coast artillery. This action, as explained today by Gen. Mills, chief of the division of military affairs, Is the result of a re? cent inspection made by Col. Shanks at the request of the governor of South Carolina. "These companies." Gen. Mills said, "failed to meet the requirements of the war department. Hence they will not hreaftcr participate in the dis? tribution of federal funds. The date of their being mustered out is a njat ter that must be left to the governor of South Carolina." - 1 CANCELS POLICIES. Sinking Fund Issues statesment as to Readjustment Under Act of Legis? lature. Columbia, April 15.?The sinking fund commission yesterday passed an order that existing fire insurance poli? cies on State property, Issued by -Md line companies since January 1, 1914, carrying 65 per cent of the insurance concurrently with the sinking fund policies issued since January 1, 1913, be cancelled at noon April 15. This order applies to old line insurance policies heretofore issued upon the property of the State Hospital for the Insane in Columbia and at State Park and upon the property of the institution for the deaf, dumb and blind at Cedar Springs. D. H. Means, chief clerk of the commission yesterday issued the fol? lowing statement: "As to insurance or reinsurance pol? icies, the sinking fund insurance pol? icies and the reinsurance policies ere issued to take effect at noon, Apr!? 15. These policies are issued under tho terms of the apprapriation act of 1914. The matter of detail was closed up with the several companies to whom the insurance contract was awarded at the last meeting." The sinking fund commission was in session for several hours yester? day at the State house. After the meeting it was announced that action had been deferred on the sale of the itichland Distilling company property in Columbia. NATIONAL HEAD AT FLORENCE. Will Add Much Interest to Grand Council Meeting Next Week. Florence, April 16.?It will be a great pleasure to the members of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, especially the deelgates to the Grand Council, which meets in this city on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 21 and 22, to learn that they will have an opportunity of seeing and meeting the head official of the order in the United States, for Mr. A. D. Wilkins. National Councillor, has sent word to ihe members of Gate City Council. No. 150, that he will be in attendance upon the meeting here next week. Mr. Wilkins is a resident of Pittsburgh. Pa., and this will be his first visit 'o the South Carolina State Council, hence his coming will be of great In? terest. The Florence Juniors arc going for? ward with a vim making preparations for the coming of the 300 or more delegates to the State Council, and hope to give the visiting Juniors the very best entertainment and most cor? dial welcome that has ever been ac? corded them. Tho Florence Council. Gate City, No 1?0, is one of the very best in the state and has made a most rapid growth. HANKS SEND MONEY. . . Many Have Already Paid for Their Subscriptions to Federal SyMem. Washington, April 14.?That the work of the organization committee in setting up the new federal reser,a banking system will not be delayed by the banks area indicated today by an announcement that already neahv banks have forwarded checks er cash in payment of the Bret part of their subscription to the stock of reserve banks in their districts. The subscript lone are premature, however, and the money offered will !>?> returned pending notification that the committee Is ready to take this step ?n the organisation of the sys? tem. Under the law subscriptions be ?, serve banks are to be under th-? call of the board. The tenth successive year without :i forest tire has }uet been passed by the Powell national forest in south central Utah,