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 l£if£R k C() 
 
 Florence County 
 
 Economic and Social 
 
 J. p. McNeill, jr. 
 
 JOHN A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 University of South Carolina 
 
 June 1921 
 
 Bulletin University of South Carolina — Issued Monthly 
 No. 103, October, 1921. Second Class Mail Matter
 
 FLORENCE COUNTY 
 
 Economic and Social 
 
 -By- 
 
 J. P. McNeill, jr., and 
 JOHN A. CHASE JR. 
 
 A Laboratory Study in the DepartmcMit of Rural Social Science 
 of the University of South Carolina 
 
 JUNE 1921
 
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 CONTENTS 
 
 Acknowledgments 3 
 
 Historical Background 5 
 
 _ Natural Resources 7 
 
 Facts About the Folks 14 
 
 Schools 18 
 
 d Wealth and Taxation 26 
 
 o 
 
 ^ Farm Conditions and PRACTidES iS 
 
 Q Balance Sheet in Food and Feed Production 42 
 
 a 
 
 Evidences oe Progress 49 
 
 Our Problems and Their Solution 57 
 
 449627
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 0^HB PUBLICATION of this booklet would never have 
 ill been possible had it not been for the untiring efforts 
 ^■^ and cooperation of Dr. Wilson Gee, Professor of 
 Rural Social Science at the University of South Carolina. Dur- 
 ing every step of its preparation he was on the job with valuable 
 suggestions, and here and there through the booklet, though 
 unrecognisable as the works of his hand, will be seen fruits 
 of his efforts in much more concrete form than suggestions. 
 
 The work of J. W. Brunson in preparing "The Historical 
 Background,'' T. Benton Young on "Co-operative Marketing,'' 
 E. E. Brunson on "Idle Lands," J. M. Lynch on "Good Roads," 
 Allan C. Minims on "Livestock," and R. E. Currin on "The 
 Pee Dee Experiment Station," deserve special m,ention, and 
 we wish to express our sincere appreciation to these gentlemen 
 for their valuable assistance. 
 
 We also zvish to acknoivlcdge our obligation to the other 
 public spirited men and women of the county who furnished 
 us with valuable information not readily obtainable. 
 
 J. P. McNEiLL, JR., 
 JOHN A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 University of South Carolina, 
 June 4, 1921
 
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 I. 
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 
 
 J. W. Brunson 
 
 In 1853 and 1854 the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad was 
 built and the present city of Florence had its beginning. Corps of 
 construction working from both ends of the line met just at the termi- 
 nus of the first curve of the line going west, on land now belonging 
 to the estate of William Revell. Here Samuel Muldrow kept a small 
 eating house for passengers and employees of the railroad company. 
 This point was connected with Cheraw, Society Hill, Darlington, and 
 points north by a stage line, one of the drivers being Mr. Cutts, sub- 
 sequently a passenger conductor on the railroad. Mr. E. E. Brunson 
 and Mr. Wilden were among the first conductors. 
 
 Soon afterwards the station was established at a point north of the 
 track and a little east of Church Street, then merely a settlement road. 
 At that time the road connecting with the Camden Road south of Middle 
 Swamp at Muldrow's Mill, and projected as the Goose Pond Road, 
 north of Florence, had not been established. The station was a rough 
 warehouse with a platform, at one end an apartment having been cut 
 off for a ticket office and United States Postoffice. The agent, Mr. 
 Campbell, lived in a small house on the south side of the railroad 
 track at a point near the present terminus of Ravanel Street. 
 
 The next improvement was an eating house on the south side of 
 the track and east of the settlement road. This building was used 
 also for religious worship. Mr. Jacobi was among the first merchants. 
 In 1854 the Northeastern Railroad Company purchased a part of the 
 Thomas McCall property and S. S. Solomons, surveyor, laid off into 
 streets and lots that portion of the city bounded on the east by the 
 east margin of Dargan Street; south by the south margin of Cheves 
 Street; west by the west margin of McQueen Street, and north by 
 the right-of-way of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad Company. 
 
 Florence then began to grow slowly in importance at a railroad 
 center and trading point. Among those conspicuously active in the in- 
 cipient development of the town were Jerome P. Chase, Wm. Norris, 
 Samuel O. McCown. James McCown, James Pawley, W. A. Brunson, 
 and the railroad companies. But the greatest service rendered was 
 by General W. W. Harllee, whose indefatigable perseverance in the face 
 of obstacles, to many insuperable, secured the location of the Wilming-
 
 6 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 ton and Manchester Railroad Company. He was a gentleman of fine 
 education and of a high order of intellect, integrity and energy, and 
 in his political views, firm as the everlasting hills. To him a monument 
 is due from the people of Florence. It is interesting to note that it was 
 for his daughter that the city and county of Florence were named. 
 
 In 1889-90 the new County of Florence was established, composed 
 of that portion of Darlington County lying east of a line running from 
 Sanders' Bridge on Lynch's Creek to the center of the C. & D. trestle 
 over High Hill Creek ; thence down said creek to Black Creek ; thence 
 up Black Creek to Muses" Bridge; thence a straight line to Back 
 Swamp; thence down said creek to Great Pee Dee River; all of Marion 
 County lying west of Pee Dee River; and a part of the counties of 
 Clarendon and Williamsburg. Among the citizens of antebellum times 
 in the Darlington section of the county, are the names, R. R. Cannon, 
 W. H. Cannon, Moses McCall, Thomas McCall, Captain John Mc- 
 Sween, Bacot, Brockinton, Ervin, McClenaghan, James, Dargan, 
 Brunson, Green, Gee, Muldrow, Burris, Connell, Britt, McCown, and 
 Cole. South of Middle Swamp are Hepburn, Pettigrew, Ward, Brock- 
 inton, Williamson, Woods, Kennedy, Revell, Timmons, Burch, Mc- 
 Laughlin, Lawrence, Langston, Ham, Welch, Munn, Morris, Gamer, 
 Hill, Hewitt, Mims, and Lockhart. 
 
 The Marion section contributed greater wealth and also many of our 
 best citizens, among whom are the names, Evans, Gregg, Howard, Mc- 
 Intyre, Jarrott, Harllee, Pearce, Brown, Gibson, McPherson, Claussen, 
 Johnson. Singletary, Fladger, Ross, Myers, Cusack, Finklea, Poston, 
 McWhite, Gasque and Fryer. Many of our best citizens were also 
 contributed by Williamsburg and Clarendon counties. 
 
 Florence is nearly one hundred per cent American. Our people are, 
 with comparatively few exceptions, the descendents of the early colo- 
 nists of the State, Scotch-Irish, Huguenot and English, with a fair 
 scattering of pure Scotch. There are a good many royal grants, and 
 a fair number of our people are now living on land granted to their 
 ancestors by King George. James Cole, at Cole's Cross Roads, is liv- 
 ing on land granted his ancestor, James Cole, in 1750, and there has 
 been a continuous family ownership ever since then.
 
 4 
 
 NATURAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES 
 
 J. A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 Geography 
 
 Florence County is located in the east-central portion of South Caro- 
 lina, entirely within the coastal plain. Its boundaries are as follows : 
 On the north, Darlington and Marlboro counties, on the south. Claren- 
 don and Williamsburg counties ; on the east, Dillon and Marion counties, 
 from which it is separated by the Pee Dee River; on the west, Sumter, 
 Lee and Darlington counties. 
 
 In size, Florence County ranks twenty-seventh among the counties 
 in South Carolina; with an area of 607 square miles, or 388,480 acres. 
 
 The topography of the county is generally flat, but there are some 
 slight variations in the surface, consisting principally of elevations in the 
 undulating uplands and the gently rolling surfaces along drainage 
 courses. The stream bottoms are all practically level, except for slight 
 interruptions of drainage- way depressions, and abandoned stream chan- 
 nels. Hence, the county is well suited for cultivation antl too nearly 
 level to be subject to serious erosion. 
 
 Climate 
 
 The climate of Florence County is mild and pleasant, and there is no 
 time that the farmer cannot occupy himself profitably. The extremes 
 of temperature seldom occur. The average date of the last killing 
 frost in the spring is March 31 and of the first in the fall, November 7. 
 However, the last record of killing frost in the spring is April 24 and the 
 earliest in the fall, October 12. 
 
 Following is a table of the normal monthly, seasonal, and annual tem- 
 perature and precipitation at Florence.
 
 8 
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 TABLE I. 
 
 Normal Monthly, Seasonal and Annual Temperature and Precipita- 
 tion at Florence 
 
 Temperature Precipitation 
 
 O O u 
 
 Absolute Absolute g t^' g "^ 
 
 Mean Max'm Min'm Mean "^ « "^ "^ 
 
 Fahr. Fahr. Fahr. inches inches inches 
 
 44.0 79 16 3.11 4.59 1.36 
 43.3 89 6 2.67 1.30 3.80 
 
 45.1 86 —1 4.45 5.49 6.52 
 
 44.1 10.23 11.38 11.48 
 
 55.3 98 20 3.25 1.98 3.89 
 61.1 94 26 3.10 2.42 6.12 
 72.6 100 38 3.72 2.89 4.46 
 
 63.0 10.07 7.29 14.47 
 
 78.6 103 43 5.31 2.82 3.43 
 
 81.4 107 59 5.72 2.43 6.79 
 80.3 100 54 5.73 4.22 6.33 
 
 80.1 16.76 9.47 16.55 
 
 74.6 99 30 4.21 1.16 6.77 
 
 63.0 90 30 2.87 3.79 4.44 
 
 54.3 90 17 2.41 4.38 1.26 
 
 64.0 9^9 9J3^ 12.47 
 
 YEAR 62.8 107 —1 46.55 37.47 54.97 
 
 December . . . 
 January .... 
 
 February . . . 
 
 . . . 44.0 
 . . . 43.3 
 . . . 45.1 
 
 79 
 89 
 86 
 
 16 
 6 
 
 —1 
 
 3.11 
 2.67 
 
 4.45 
 
 4.59 
 1.30 
 5.49 
 
 1.36 
 3.80 
 
 6.52 
 
 WINTER . . 
 
 . . 44.1 
 
 
 
 10.23 
 
 11.38 
 
 11.48 
 
 March .... 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 . . . 55.3 
 
 . . 61.1 
 
 . . . 72.6 
 
 98 
 
 94 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 26 
 
 38 
 
 3.25 
 3.10 
 3.72 
 
 1.98 
 2.42 
 2.89 
 
 3.89 
 6.12 
 4.46 
 
 SPRING . . . . 
 
 . . . 63.0 
 
 
 
 10.07 
 
 7.29 
 
 14.47 
 
 June 
 
 July ..... 
 August .... 
 
 . . 78.6 
 . . . 81.4 
 . . . 80.3 
 
 103 
 107 
 100 
 
 43 
 59 
 54 
 
 5.31 
 5.72 
 5.73 
 
 2.82 
 2.43 
 4.22 
 
 3.43 
 6.79 
 6.33 
 
 SUMMER . . . 
 
 . . . 80.1 
 
 
 
 16.76 
 
 9.47 
 
 16.55 
 
 Sept 
 
 Oct 
 
 Nov 
 
 . . . 74.6 
 . . . 63.0 
 . . . 54.3 
 
 99 
 90 
 90 
 
 30 
 30 
 17 
 
 4.21 
 2.87 
 2.41 
 
 1.16 
 3.79 
 4.38 
 
 6.77 
 4.44 
 1.26 
 
 FALL 
 
 . . . 64.0 
 
 
 
 9.49 
 
 9.33 
 
 12.47 
 
 Soils 
 
 The predominant type of soil in Florence County is sand, which in- 
 cludes coarse sand.s, fine sandy loams, and very. fine sandy loams. There 
 are scattered, however, throughout the county, bodies of loam, silt loam, 
 and clay, making an important total area ; but very small as compared 
 with the total extent of the sandy types. This difference in the character 
 of the soils may possibly be attributed to drainage. 
 
 In Florence County there are thirty-one distinct soil types mapped, 
 and these types are separated mainly on the basis of the texture. They
 
 Florence County : Economic and Social 9 
 
 are grouped into ten series on the basis of similarity of origin, color, or 
 range of color, of the soil and sub-soil and general topographic condi- 
 tions. The area and names of the ten series are as follows : Norfolk, 
 33.5 per cent., Coxville, 25 per cent., Portsmouth, 10.3 per cent., Kalmia, 
 5.7 per cent., Okenee, 3.2 per cent., Ruston, 2.2 per cent., Johnston, 1 
 per cent., Myatt, 0.9 per cent., Cahaba, 0.6 per cent., Orangeburg, 0.5 
 per cent. The first two series comprise over one-half the area of the 
 county. Hence, they are worthy of a detailed description. 
 
 The surface soils of the Norfolk series are characterized by the 
 light-gray to grayish-yellow color, and by the yellow color and friable 
 structure of the sand or sandy-clay subsoils. Throughout the Coastal 
 Plain they occupy nearly level to rolling uplands and have been derived 
 from unconsolidated deposits of sands and clays. There are seven types 
 of the Norfolk series in Florence County, as follows : the coarse sandy 
 loam, very fine sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sand, fine 
 sand, and coarse sand. These are excellent agricultural soils, being well 
 suited to cotton, corn, oats, tobacco, peanuts, sweet and Irish Tidtatoes, 
 forage crops, and any variety of vegetables, but generally, applications 
 of commercial fertilizers are made with all the crops. 
 
 The surface soils of the Coxville series are dark-gray to nearly black 
 in color. The subsoils range from a moderately mellow, friable clay 
 in the upper portion to yellowish, rather plastic, compact clay molded 
 with drab and bright red in the lower portion. The topography is pre- 
 vailingly flat, with frequent sparsely settled timbered areas. In these 
 shallow depressions the drainage is exceedingly poor and most farmers 
 find it necessary to dig ditches, apply liberal additions of vegetable mat- 
 ter and lime, in order to prevent the tendency to compact. The princi- 
 pal products of the Coxville series are tomatoes, peas, beans, potatoes, 
 cabbage, strawberries, corn and oats, and a small amount of tobacco and 
 cotton, all of which requires artificial drainage and some fertilizing 
 before they can be cultivated. 
 
 The soils which are prevalent around Florence are the Coxville, Nor- 
 folk and Rustin series and those around Lake City are the Norfolk, 
 Portsmouth, Coxville and Kalmia series. As a further proof of this 
 fact, corn, cotton, oats, tobacco and potatoes are grown around Flor- 
 ence, which the three series are especially adapted to raising. Around 
 Lake City, we find tobacco the chief product, this town being the largest 
 tobacco market in the county, in addition to cotton, corn, oats, velvet 
 beans, cowpeas, watermelons and cucumbers, all of which occupy place 
 in the crop possibility of the four series named around this area. 
 
 Minerals. 
 
 The mineral resources of Florence County are barely worth mention- 
 ing, marl and Fuller's Earth being the only minerals. Neither of these
 
 10 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 are found to any appreciable extent, but if they are developed they may 
 prove a small asset to the agricultural interests of the county. 
 
 Timber 
 
 According to the 1910 census, there are 162,941 acres of woodland in 
 Florence County. This is 42 per cent, of the total area of the county, 
 Florence ranking fifth in this particular. Loblolly pine seems to pre- 
 dominate in the forests, with small amounts of long leaf, short leaf, oak, 
 gum, poplar and cypress. 
 
 Statistics are not available as to the number of feet of merchantable 
 timber specific for the county. The 1920 report of the State Com- 
 missioner of Agriculture gives Florence County $669,164 as the value of 
 the lumber and timber products for that year. The machine shops and 
 foundries are the only industry in Florence County which outranks 
 the lumber business in value of the annual product in 1920. 
 
 It is interesting to note the timber situation in the state as a whole. 
 Last year the United States Forest Service recorded 13,889,000,000 feet 
 as the stand of merchantable pine timber in South Carolina. The figure 
 given for 1908 is approximately 45,000,000,000. The decrease is readily 
 seen to be marked. The annual growth in the state is estimated to be 
 250,000,000 feet. Over the country as a whole, our consumption of 
 timber is four times as great as our annual growth. At this rate, and it 
 represents a conservative estimate, we are sustaining in this state a defi- 
 cit of three-quarters of a billion feet annually. Such forest depletion 
 wall not allow many years until we shall have "killed the goose that laid 
 the golden egg." It is time we are taking intelligent steps toward the 
 proper utilization or conservation of our forest resources. 
 
 Industries. 
 
 In spite of the fact that Florence County is predominantly agricul- 
 tural, of late years manufacturing is rising into large proportions. In 
 a brief synopsis like this it would be impossible to give a detailed account 
 of the organization, growth and present importance of each of our in- 
 dustries, and in fact one short paragraph devoted to each would make 
 a story entirely too long to be included in this bulletin. However, the 
 reader will find at the end of this chapter, in a tabulated and consoli- 
 dated form, the most important facts about our industries. 
 
 For the development of industries there are four things absolutely 
 necessary. They arc sufficient capital, available raw products, efficient 
 workers and ample transportation facilities. Fortunately, Florence is 
 blessed with all of these. 
 
 It is practically impossible to secure from the state reports the exact 
 capital invested in manufacturing in a thriving town like Florence. It 
 takes time for the reports to be sent by the different manufacturing con-
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 11 
 
 cerns to the state department at Columbia, and there to be tabulated 
 and printed. Durins this time other capital is being added to the old 
 plants and new plants are started. Consequently, we can get it only ap- 
 proximately correct. 
 
 According to the state report for 1920 we had a total capital stock of 
 $1,706,839. Of course there was much more than this invested 
 in our industries and carried under such heads as "surplus" and "undi- 
 vided profits " Florence has sufficient capital invested in her industries 
 to insure steady work for several hundred wage earners and large re- 
 turns to capital. 
 
 As shown in a succeeding chapter, Florence County is well located 
 in the midst of a tobacco and cotton growing area, ranking first among 
 the counties of the state in the former particular. Great quantities of 
 these products are brought in annually by the farmers and sold on the 
 local market, which would save our manufacturers the cost of transpor- 
 tation. 
 
 It is needless to say how necessary efficient workers are in the advance- 
 ment of an industry, and this is one of the most important things which 
 help to produce large returns in this work. The other important things 
 are the right kind of machinery and good management. When we have 
 these there is no need to worrj-. 
 
 There are few towns in South Carolina with greater transportation 
 facilities than Florence. Located on the main line of the Atlantic Coast 
 Line Railroad and a side line of the Seaboard Railroad, there is no 
 reason why we should complain. With available freight facilities, this 
 enables the industries to import and export easily from all directions. 
 These advantages are indispensable in a growing industrial center. 
 
 But strange to say, with all these opportunities we find that the re- 
 ceipts from industries are two and one-half times less than those of 
 agriculture. 
 
 What do we need? We need for some of our far-seeing and wide- 
 awake citizens to come to a realization of this fact and thereby inocu- 
 late an impetus into industrial activities. During the last few years 
 there has been a tremendous growth in all of our industrial plants. But 
 we have all the requirements for still more industries. Besides hav- 
 ing the things necessary for the development of industries, we have a 
 good climate and assured markets. Obviously, we can see that the only 
 thing lacking is initiative. 
 
 Atlantic Coast Line Shops. 
 
 The estimated value of the shop property at Florence at the present 
 time is as follows, based en the only information possible :
 
 12 
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 Shop Buildings $96,600.00 
 
 Fuel Stations 22,000.00 
 
 Shop Machinery 239,035.74 
 
 Real Estate 175,000.00 
 
 The work of the men consists principally in making repairs to loco- 
 motives and cars used in transportation service. A percentage of the as- 
 signed locomotives are given general classified repairs, while running 
 repairs, such as can be made between the arrival and departure, are made 
 on all engines running into Florence, which includes four districts — Wil- 
 mington, Fayetteville, Columbia and Charleston. All freight equip- 
 ment damaged or becoming bad order in this vicinity is brought into 
 Florence for repairs at this point. 
 
 Prior to reduction of forces, which is probably only temporary, the 
 payrolls for Florence shops proper amounted to approximately $115,- 
 000 per month. This payroll only covers the amount paid to the shop 
 forces and does not take into consideration the payroll from transpor- 
 tation, yard or agency forces, which if added, would probably double 
 the amount mentioned. 
 
 From this we can see what a tremendous asset the Florence shops 
 are, not only to Florence township, but the surrounding country. 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 Classified Industries in Florence County Based on 1920 Report of 
 the State Commission of Agriculture 
 
 
 
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 to 
 
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 IS 
 
 
 
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 03 
 
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 Bakery Products . . . .$ 100,000 
 
 Boxes, Baskets, etc. . . . 18,000 
 
 Confectionary 74,790 
 
 Electricity . 117,449 
 
 Fertilizer 25,000 
 
 Foundries and Mch. Shops 328,000 
 
 Flour and Grist 18,275 
 
 Gas . 102,161 
 
 Ice 35,000 
 
 400,000 
 
 $ 15,600 
 
 17 
 
 310 
 
 145,599 
 
 27,545 
 
 30 
 
 240 
 
 217,981 
 
 18,213 
 
 16 
 
 186 
 
 169,043 
 
 36,296 
 
 31 
 
 365 
 
 109,457 
 
 4,909 
 
 16 
 
 104 
 
 ,533,000 
 
 1,017,057 
 
 802 
 
 322 
 
 24,980 
 
 3,070 
 
 7 
 
 101 
 
 51,201 
 
 13,30a, 
 
 11 
 
 365 
 
 15,000 
 
 4,860 
 
 6 
 
 180
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 13 
 
 
 
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 2 
 
 Lumber and Timber . . . 
 
 669,164 
 
 669,164 
 
 293 
 
 140 
 
 Minerals and Soda . . . . 
 
 186,000 
 
 186,125 
 
 2>7fi67 27 
 
 292 
 
 Monuments and Stones . . 
 
 3,000 
 
 4,200 
 
 1,800 1 
 
 200 
 
 Printing and Publishing . 
 
 . 30,000 
 
 53,000 
 
 21,484 24 
 
 310 
 
 GRAND TOTAL . . .$1,706,839 $4,578,750 $3,197,517 1235 3115
 
 III. 
 FACTS ABOUT THE FOLKS 
 
 J. A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 This chapter is an attempt to weigh the most important facts available 
 concerning the folks themselves, constituting the population of Florence 
 County. The data must still be largely derived from the Thirteenth Cen- 
 sus of 1910; for although a new census was taken last year, the com- 
 plete results of this will not be published for at least a year or more. 
 All of the advanced reports made by the Bureau of the Census are at 
 our disposal and the figures for 1920 indicated in them are used when- 
 ever possible. 
 
 A study of the census reports shows that current tendencies are rarely 
 developed within a period of ten years. Consequently, the data treated 
 reflect conditions as they are in 1921. 
 
 The attention of the reader is directed to the table at the end of this 
 chapter, where the statistics on which this discussion is based are to 
 be found in compact form for ready reference. 
 
 Population 
 
 We will take first into consideration the increase of the total popula- 
 tion for the last two decades. In 1920 Florence County had a population 
 of 50,406 people; in 1910, 35,671; in 1900, 28,474 people. The figures 
 of the Thirteenth Census indicate an increase of 25 per cent, from 1900 
 to 1910; the figures of the Fourteenth Census indicate an increase of 41 
 per cent, from 1910 to 1920. In short, the county shows an increase of 
 17 per cent, in population between 1900 and 1920. 
 
 In 1910 43 per cent, of the total population was white and 57 per cent. 
 was black. A comparison of the relative increase of whites and negroes 
 will be next treated. In 1890, there were 10.471 whites; in 1900, 11,819 
 whites ; and in 1910, 15,329 whites — or a percentage increase of 12.7 per 
 cent, between 1890 and 1900, and 29.7 per cent, between 1900 and 1910. 
 In 1890, there were 14,554 negroes; in 1900, 16,654 negroes; and in 1910, 
 20,340 negroes — or an increase of 14.4 per cent between 1890 and 1900, 
 and 22.1 per cent, between 1900 and 1910. 
 
 Florence County also shows interesting figures on the rural popu- 
 lation. There was an increase of 9.3 per cent, between 1910 and 1920 
 for the rural population. Also, the population per square mile was 
 58.8 in 1910, and 72.1 in 1920, or an increase of 13.3 per cent. How-
 
 Florence; County: Economic and Social 15 
 
 ever, 80.2 per cent, of the total population was rural in 1910, and in 
 1920, 78.2 per cent, of the total population was rural — a decrease of 2 
 per cent. The increase in each of these is 37.8 per cent for the rural 
 between 1910 and 1920, and 55.4 per cent, for the urban population 
 and 22.1 per cent, between 1900 and 1910. 
 
 These latter figures are important for the tendency toward urbani- 
 zation seems to have begun to get a grip on the country. While we 
 would not say anything to disparage the growth of our towns, yet we 
 would not care to see them make their progress at the expense of the ru- 
 ral sections upon which the material and moral welfare of our county, 
 state and nation largely depend. 
 
 Illiteracy 
 
 One of the most serious problems confronting our State is that of il- 
 literacy. According to the United States Bureau of Education publi- 
 cations, which are the most authoritative on this subject, 25.7 per cent, 
 of the population of South Carolina are illiterates, ranking only one 
 state, Louisiana, with 29 per cent. The same reference indicates that in 
 the number of illiterates per thousand of the total white population, 
 ten years of age and over in 1910, South Carolina ranked forty-fifth, 
 with an average of 103. 
 
 Essentially, the same condition exists in Florence County. Eleven of 
 every hundred of our native white voters cannot read their ballots 
 or write their names, Florence ranking eighteenth among the counties 
 in the State in this particular. Our illiterates ten years old and over 
 in 1910, numbered 1,020 whites and 5,007 negroes; or to state it in per- 
 centage, 9.3 per cent white illiterates and 35.9 negro illiterates. Nearly 
 six hundred white children six to fourteen years of age, or 18.4 per 
 cent, of this age group, were not in school. Yet in the negro school at- 
 tendance we have a still worse condition existing. Of every hundred 
 school children there are 39.8 out of school. The county must play her 
 part to wipe out this bad blot, and this end cannot be accomplished unless 
 the compulsory school law is enforced and the parents of the county 
 cooperate cheerfully in having their children attend school regularly. 
 
 Birth Rate Exceeds Death Rate. 
 
 The following figures show that the health conditions in the county 
 are not what they should be. The death rate is not decreasing, but slowly 
 increasing, which situation does not look favorable. In 1919, Florence 
 ranked fortieth in the death rate per 1,000 inhabitants, 19.9 being the 
 number. In 1916, the death rate was 18.2 per 1,000 inhabitants, showing 
 an increase of 1.7 in the three years. 
 
 This situation is due in part to the fact that the negroes in Florence 
 greatly outnumber the whites; and it is an understood fact that the negro 
 is more susceptible to disease. Yet we must realize that this condition
 
 16 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 is not due to this one fact. There is much illness that could be pre- 
 vented by tlie greater care of the individual, and more diligent efforts 
 on the part of the health authorities. This condition is caused by the 
 combined forces of ignorance and lack of cooperation between the in- 
 dividuals and health authorities, city and state. 
 
 Now is the accepted time and opportunity for the public health offi- 
 cer, working in cooperation with the State Board of Health, to render 
 the fullest public service. It is also a fact that a very large percentage 
 of the deaths which occur are those of babies under the age of one 
 year. This is due to ignorance on the part of the mother, and to the 
 unsanitar}' and improper care of the babies. 
 
 What is needed? A corps of public nurses stationed throughout the 
 county to instruct the old as well as the young, in all matters pertaining 
 to good health and the ways of living, and to aid and advise them in 
 every way possible. 
 
 Henceforth we can see that the solution of this high death-rate prob- 
 lem is up to the people of the county; and unless there is cooperation 
 between the health authorities and the individuals it will continue to 
 rise. It is left to the people of the county which course they will pur- 
 sue. 
 
 Yet, on the other hand, it is a very interesting fact to note that Flor- 
 ence County ranked second in the births per 1,000 inhabitants for 1919. 
 In that year there were 1,569 births, with an average of 38.3 births per 
 1,000 inhabitants. Another very interesting fact to note is that our birth 
 rate exceeds our death rate by 14.9 per 1,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Church Membership. 
 
 With 59.94 per cent of our population members of some church, 
 Florence stood seventh in church membership. This is afact we should 
 treat with the greatest concern. In spite of the fact that we do make a 
 good stand, we are not proud of the fact that 40.6 per cent, of our peo- 
 ple belong to no church whatever. When we consider the population 
 ten years of age or over, we had 85 per cent of this classification church 
 members. Only five counties making a better showing in this regard. 
 All told, there were only 21,383 of our people members of the church in 
 1916. Of these there are 9,929 Baptists, 5,678 of whom are negr©es; 
 8,191 Methodists, 1909 of whom are negroes; 1,272 Presbyterians; 536 
 Episcopalians; 200 Roman Catholics; 85 Lutherans; and 1,170 of other 
 bodies 
 
 An Agricultural People. 
 
 We need no figures to prove that the people of Florence County are 
 an agricultural folk, for we can see from statistics that our population 
 is made up mainly of farmers. According to the figures of the Four- 
 teenth Census (1920), of a total population of 50,406, 39,438 were clas-
 
 FujRKXcE County: Economic and Social 17 
 
 sified as rural. In other words, much more than one-half of the pop- 
 ulation are farmers. 
 
 As a further proof, in 1920 there were 1361 inhabitants employed in 
 mdustrial pursuits against 39,438 employed in agriculture. 
 
 In 1920, the total value of the eleven leading crops of Florence Coun- 
 ty was $8,063,000, with an industrial output of only $3,196,896 dollars; 
 approximately two and one-half times greater receipts from crops alone, 
 not including livestock products, than from industries. 
 
 Hence, we are convinced that our people are a farming folk, and that 
 the problems which confront us, ought to be viewed in large measure 
 from tlie farmer's point of view, for this will affect the greatest number 
 of people. 
 
 Facts About the Folks. 
 
 27th in size in South Carolina, acres 388,480 
 
 8th in population. 1920 50,406 
 
 9th in density of rural population per square mile . . 56.4 
 
 10th in population per square mile 72.1 
 
 18th in negro decrease in ratio of the total pop- 
 
 , ulation, 1900-1910, per cent 1.5 
 
 (The decrease was 58.5 per cent. (1900) to 57 per cent. 
 (1910); in seven counties the negroes were an increasing 
 ratio of the total population; the negroes were an increas- 
 ratio in 30 counties of the State.) 
 6th in percentage that church members are of total pop- 
 ulation, 10 years old and over 85 
 
 7th in church membership, per cent, of total population 
 
 1916 59.94 
 
 (Non-church members in the total population, 1916, was 
 14,288.) 
 22nd in native white illiterates 10 years old and over, per 
 
 cent. 1910 9.3 
 
 (Native white illiterates 1,018; State average 10.3 per cent.; 
 U. S. average 3 per cent.) 
 
 26th in native white illiterate voters, per cent 11.2 
 
 (432 in number; State average 10.8 per cent.; U. S. average 
 4.2 per cent.) 
 
 3rd in death rate per 1,000 population, 1919 19.9 
 
 (Average for United States (1915) was 13.5.) 
 
 2nd in birth rate per 1,000 population, 1919 38.3 
 
 27th in paupers in almshouses, rate per 100,000 pop- 
 ulation 1910 35 ' 
 
 (Total number in county 11.) 
 43rd in total number of homicides per total population, 1920 30 
 (Total number in county 15; State average 15.2.)
 
 IV. 
 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 J. p. McNeill, jr. 
 
 Florence County, with her 50,406 inhabitants in 1920 had a total tax-, 
 able wealth of $31,647,912, or a per capita wealth of $627. There are 
 only 14 counties in the State which make a better showing. During 1919 
 we spent $1,472,217.75 in operating our automobiles, or an average ex- 
 penditure of $29.50 for every person in the county, regardless of wheth- 
 er he owned a car or not. During the same period each of us spent 
 only $3.10 for the education of our children. In 1919 we had invested in 
 automobiles $2,667,500; in school property, $461,138. 
 
 Rank of Schools in State and Nation. 
 
 There are few, if any, governmental activities for which so many 
 significant facts have been gathered, by uniform methods, over so long 
 a period of time as has been done in the matter of education. A com- 
 prehensive method of indicating school conditions and tendencies has 
 been worked out by the Department of Education of the Russell Sage 
 Foundation by means of the index number, which is a well established 
 statistical evidence commonly used for measuring changes in wholesale 
 and retail prices and rates of wages over long periods of time, and 
 which number lends itself readily in denoting changes, conditions and 
 cost of education over a period of years. 
 
 The ten sets of educational data that have been considered as set out 
 in the table below are unusually adapted for inclusion in an index num- 
 ber. Increases in them reflect improved educational conditions and de- 
 creases reflect worse conditions. Like the stock prices they can all be 
 measured in terms of a theoretical par value of 100, and because of this 
 they can be combined in an index number that is a direct average in- 
 stead of a relative percentage.
 
 FivORENCE County: Economic and Social 
 
 19 
 
 TABLE III 
 Index Figures for Florence County Schools 1909 and 1919 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Li 
 
 lU 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 -d 
 
 
 "O 
 
 =3 
 
 oa 
 
 
 
 
 -4-» 
 
 u 
 
 <u 
 
 -4-' 
 
 CI 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J5 
 
 O 
 1 
 
 
 
 rC 
 
 J= 
 
 
 1 
 
 ■^ 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 OS 
 
 OS 
 
 1 
 
 0\ 
 
 1 
 
 0\ 
 
 J> 
 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 
 r— t 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 On 
 
 OS 
 
 0\ 
 
 OS 
 
 OS 
 
 • OS 
 
 
 r—t 
 
 T— 1 
 
 1—t 
 
 1— 1 
 
 T— 1 
 
 
 6. Average expenditure per child in 
 
 average attendance 13.42 
 
 2.16 32.05 4.95 7.77 
 
 1. 
 
 Per cent, of school population at- 
 tending school dailv 
 
 66.6 
 
 50.6 
 
 88. 
 
 58.8 
 
 64.3 
 
 70 "? 
 
 
 
 2. 
 
 Average days attendance, each child 
 of school age 
 
 36.64 
 
 19. 
 
 51.75 
 
 20.4 
 
 30.2 
 
 33 2 
 
 
 
 3. 
 
 Average number days schools kept 
 open 
 
 55. 
 
 37.5 
 
 58.5 
 
 36. 
 
 51.5 
 
 50.7 
 
 4. 
 
 Per cent, that high school attend- 
 ance was of total attendance . . . . 
 
 7.2 
 
 9.6 
 
 14.4 
 
 21.9 
 
 8.37 
 
 16.5 
 
 5. 
 
 Per cent, that boys were of girls in 
 high schools 
 
 *73.41 
 
 *73.41 
 
 *58.59 
 
 *58.59 
 
 *73.41 
 
 *S8S9 
 
 
 
 18.68 
 
 7. Average expenditure per child of 
 
 school age 8.95 
 
 1.10 28.38 2.92 4.47 
 
 13.59 
 
 3. Average expenditure per teacher em- 
 ployed 17.18 
 
 4.90 57.08 7.82 12.80 
 
 24.41 
 
 ?. Expenditure per pupil for purposes 
 
 other than teachers' salaries .. .. 5.26 .55 18.70 .66 2.56 12.80 
 
 ). Expenditure per teacher employed 
 
 for salaries 27.64 
 
 8.54 40.85 12.81 20.84 
 
 32.08 
 
 LORENCE COUNTY INDEX .... 31.13 20.73 44.83 22.48 27.62 
 
 33.08 
 
 TATE INDEX 
 
 24.87 
 
 29.39 
 
 ) State Figures. 
 
 South Carolina is at the bottom of the list of states in the matter of 
 education with an index number of 29.39. Montana leads with 75.79. In 
 1910 there were 276,980 illiterates in the State, or 25.7 per cent; 50,245 
 ol these being whites. Negro majority can not be given as the sole cause 
 of South Carolina's position in this regard, though this fact does ma-
 
 20 
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 terially influence it. We are backward in white education as weU. To 
 think that we can people a city almost as large as Charleston, our largest 
 city, with white people over ten years of age and not a single one able 
 to write his name ! 
 
 INI 
 
 70C 
 
 
 
 CHART NUMBER 1 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 A graplTic representation of the condition 
 of Florence County Schools . 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 MONTANA ] 
 
 FLORENCE 
 COUNTY 
 WHITE 
 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 FLORENCE 
 , COUNTY . 
 
 
 SOUTH 
 CAROLINA 
 
 
 
 
 
 Florence County's schools have an index number of 33.08 and thereby 
 outstrip the general average of the State. Were the average for the 
 State equal to that of Florence County, South Carolina would rank 47th 
 instead of 52nd in the list of States, while a State average of 44.83 or 
 the average of Florence County's white schools, would bring South Caro- 
 lina to the rank of 35th instead of 52nd in the list of States. 
 
 Consolidated Schools 
 
 Better schools are not only a question of money, but also one of the 
 wise expenditure of that money, and as time goes on close study reveals 
 different methods and policies as to obtaining the greatest efficiency from 
 the given amount of money and effort. In the beginning, with our scat- 
 tered population and poor means of transportation, the idea of bring- 
 ing the school to the pupil prevailed, and the consequence was a great 
 number of one or two teacher schools. In spite of the realiza- 
 tion of the passing out of the necessity of the one teacher school and the 
 appreciation of the innumerable advantages of the consolidated school 
 we have never l)cen able so far to rid ourselves of tliem, for right now in 
 South Carolina f^S per cent, of our schools have only one teacher. Fortu-
 
 Florence County: Economic and Sociai, 21 
 
 natcly for Florence County our capaMe and wide awake Sui)erintendcnt 
 of Education, A. H. Gasque, realized the advantages of consolidation, and 
 has been gradually consolidating our one and two teacher schools until 
 now only .i3.8 per cent, are one ttarhcr a i fairs, a wonderful improve- 
 ment over the average of the v'^tatc. 
 
 The question naturally arises, what arc benefits of consolidation? 
 From a financial standpoint, the saving brought about by discontinuing 
 several one teacher schools and creating a large school with a competent 
 corps of teachers to accommodate the pupils formerly attending, the one 
 teacher schools can be compared with the saving obtained by buying a 
 commodity from the wholesaler rather than from several small retail- 
 ers. But consolidation has this further advantage, it yields increased 
 quality as well. And this result is a logical one, as a consideration of 
 the following well established and well recognized benefits of consoli- 
 dation will show : It increases the attendance ; makes the attendance 
 more regular; increases the enrollment; keeps the older pupils in school 
 longer ; provides high school privileges at one-third the cost ; makes pos- 
 sible the securing of better trained teachers; results in higher salaries 
 for bettor trained teachers ; makes possible more and a better grade 
 work; improves industrial conditions in the country; enriches civic-so- 
 cial life activities; conserves more largely the health and morals of the 
 children ; increases the number of eighth grade completions ; provides 
 adequate supervision ; reduces truancy and tardiness ; develops better 
 school spirit; gives more time for recitations; increases the value of real 
 estate; produces greater pride and interest in country life; prevents the 
 drift to the larger towns and cities; brings more and better equipped 
 buikUngs; eliminates the small, weak school; creates a school of greater 
 worth, dignity and usefulness ; makes possible a more economical school ; 
 provides equal educational opportunities ; gives much greater and better 
 results in every way. 
 
 As has been said above, Florence County has been very forward in 
 consolidating its schools, having consolidated nine schools since 1914. 
 which allowed the discontinuance of seven — the result being two large. 
 well (.'(luipped. cfticicntl}' conducted schools in place of the nine WL-aker 
 ones. The disadvantage of location whereby some pupils have a greater 
 distance to go between home and school than they had under the one 
 teacher regime has been overcome by motor transportation furnished 
 by the county. In this way motor busses collect the children in the morn- 
 ing, take them to school, and bring them back home after the school day 
 is over. For this service Florence County spent $4,400.32 in 1919, this 
 being over twice the amount spent by any other county in the State for 
 this pur]iose during the same period. 
 
 Consolidation is cheaper, it is practical, and brings about better re- 
 sults. Wherever feasible we want to consolidate in Florence County 
 and do away with the inefficient one teacher school.
 
 22 Florenck County: Economic and Social 
 
 Attendance. 
 
 During the school year 1919-1920, there were enrolled in the schools 
 of Florence County, under the operation of the compulsory education 
 law, 15,500 children of school age. Of this numher, an average of 10,- 
 709, or 69 per cent., were in daily attendance. In other words, 31 per cent, 
 of the pupils were absent every day of the school year, or approximately 
 every third desk was vacant every time the roll was called. We need 
 go no further to show that there is clearly some part of the educational 
 machinery that is failing to function properly. 
 
 So long as there are undue numbers of absences in a school that school 
 will never attain the highest degree of efficiency of which it is capable. 
 Absences mean a loss, not alone to the pupil who is absent, but to the 
 pupil who is present, for absentees retard the progress of the class in 
 that it becomes necessary that the teacher slacken up in order that the 
 absentees might not be hopelessly behind at the end of the school term. 
 So it behooves every parent to see that the neighbor's children are reg- 
 ular in attendance as well as his own. And, too, absences mean a finan- 
 cial loss. In Florence County during the scholastic year 1919-1920 we 
 expended a total of $289,803.31 for the further of education in the 
 county. During the same period 31 per cent, of the children on whom 
 this sum was expended were habitually absent. It therefore follows that 
 for the year 31 per cent, or $89,838.02 of this money was a waste so 
 far as educational production is concerned. Is not this a startling state 
 of affairs? We can not afford to allow a continuance of this condition, 
 looking at it from any standpoint. We must see that our children attend 
 school and attend regularly. This showing, coming as it does, after the 
 compulsory education law has taken effect, clearly indicates that the 
 law has not been fully enforced and has not borne the fruit that we should 
 expect. During the school year 1917-1918, before the operation of the 
 compulsory education law, we had enrolled 12,319 children and an av- 
 erage attendance of 8,469, or 69.7 per cent. Consequently it can be seen 
 that the law has increased enrollment by 79.4 per cent., and yet the at- 
 tendance, the thing that really counts, has only increased three-tenths of 
 one per cent. This act provides for regular attendance just as explic- 
 itly as it does enrollment, yet the recent enactment of this measure and 
 the consequent inexperience in its enforcement may be given as the rea- 
 son for the poor showing in attendance for the first year. But the Leg- 
 islature of the State in its last session sounded the death knell, it is to 
 be hoped temporarily, to the enforcement of the act and therefore to 
 the benefits to be derived from its enactment by abolishing truancy of- 
 ficers in the counties. A law which does not carry with it machinery 
 for its enforcement becomes a dead weight upon the statute books of 
 the State, and in the end does more harm than good. Until we enforce 
 this compulsory echication law we can entertain little hope of dra ^'(ing
 
 Florenck County: Kconomic and Social 23 
 
 South Carolina from the hottom step of the educational efficiency ladder 
 up to that position where we will be able to boast of our educated cit- 
 izenship, rather than blush, as we now do, at the mention of our educa- 
 tional standards and conditions. 
 
 Teachers. 
 
 The average salary paid wliito school teachers in Florence County dur- 
 ing 1919 was $497.70, a mere pittance compared with the services ren- 
 dered. The average annual salary paid men teachers was $980.43, but 
 there were only 16 such men teachers as compared with 181 white wo- 
 men wlio received the pitiable amount of $455.02 for a year's work — 
 a little over one dollar a day. A sound price warrants a sound com- 
 modity, but there is no warranty when that sound price is not paid, 
 and the citizens of Florence County have no kick coming if their chil- 
 dren arc poorly trained when they fail to pay their trainers a living 
 wage. If they don't want to pay but $450 for a teacher, let them be 
 satisfied with a $450 variety of teaching. A comparison of the teach- 
 er's salary with the remuneration given employees in other trades in 
 Florence County as derived from estimates furnished by the 1919 re- 
 port of the State Department of Agriculture will give a clear concep- 
 tion of the injustice being done the teacher. Bakers receive $878 an- 
 nually; confectioners $1234; electricians $2105; machinists $1535; 
 plumbers $2,000; and day laborers $720. We expect our teachers to 
 spend years and hundreds of dollars in preparation for their work in the 
 education of children, and then pay them about one-half as much as 
 we do to get our bath tubs installed or a burst water pipe repaired. 
 There's a cruel awakening in store for any people that value brawn more 
 than they do brain. We should insist tliat the teachers in our public 
 schools receive salaries that compare favorably with those paid in sim- 
 ilar occupations, and then wc can expect and demand a more efficient 
 service. 
 
 Negro Schools. 
 
 We have two distinct systems of schools, one for the white and one 
 for the negro. While the State has never yet secured sufficient funds 
 to provide everything in the way of education that it realizes is needed, 
 still each year shows a steady advance in that direction. And the ne- 
 gro schools in Florence County show marked improvement during the 
 decade between 1909 and 1919. For example, in 1909, $6,692.08 was ex- 
 pended for the education of the negro in Florence County; in 1919, 
 $18,761.82, an increase of almost 300 per cent, in ten years; or, $1.10 
 per colored child of school age in 1909, as compared with $2.92 per color- 
 ed child of school age in 1919. This showing is interesting and also 
 gratifying; but a great deal more might be done for the negro race 
 along these lines, with advantage to the whites as well as to the negroes.
 
 24 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 Ten Year Gains in Our Schools. 
 
 Total Revenues $66,410.93 
 
 Total value school property (white) 
 Total value school property (col.) . . 
 No. local tax districts with extra levy 
 
 No. extra levy 
 
 No town schools 
 
 No. country schools 
 
 No. white teachers 
 
 No. white school houses 
 
 Spent for teachers and supervision . . 
 Spent for buildings and supplies . . . . 
 Spent for transportation pupils . . . . 
 
 Total school population 
 
 Total enrollment 
 
 Per cent, of enronment 
 
 Average daily attendance 
 
 Per cent, average daily attendance . . . . 
 Average annual salary (white men) . . 
 Average annual salary (white women) 
 Average annual salary (colored men) 
 Av. annual salary T colored women) 
 
 How We Rank in Schools. 
 
 Rank 1920 
 
 23rd — in percentage in regular attendance (white) .' 69.29 
 
 Georgetown leads with 80.89 per cent. ; Cherokee last 
 with 60.30 per cent. 
 
 29th — in percentage in regular attendance (ncgros) 68.89 
 
 Georgetown first with 87.24 per cent. ; Hampton last 
 with 61.31 per cent. 
 
 25th — in percentage in regular attendance (both races) 69.08 
 
 Georgetown first with 84.89 per cent. ; Dillon last with 
 61.51 per cent. 
 3rd — in percentage of white schools that are one-teacher schools 16.39 
 Darlington leads with 10.34 per cent.; Beaufort last 
 with 76.47 per cent. Average for State 43.22 per cent. 
 8th — in average length of session in town schools (white) in days 177 
 Calhoun, Georgetown, Lancaster and Richland tie for 
 first place, with 180 days; Horry last with 136 days. 
 6th — in average length of session in country schools (white) days 139 
 Charleston leads with 159; Cherokee last with 90. 
 
 
 P 
 
 er Cent 
 
 1909 
 
 1919 
 
 Gain 
 
 66,410.93 
 
 $171,221.34 
 
 157 
 
 29,935.00 
 
 405,698.00 
 
 212 
 
 12,695.00 
 
 55,440.00 
 
 ZZ7 
 
 18 
 
 48 
 
 166 
 
 24 
 
 — 
 
 — » 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 es 
 
 57 
 
 57 
 
 — 
 
 100 
 
 197 
 
 97 
 
 60 
 
 62 
 
 3 
 
 33,169.35 
 
 98,046.92 
 
 195 
 
 8.067.11 
 
 38,965.65 
 
 383 
 
 
 4,400.32 
 
 — 
 
 5612 
 
 6512 
 
 16 
 
 3626 
 
 6295 
 
 74 
 
 64.6 
 
 96.6 
 
 32 
 
 3071 
 
 4275 
 
 39 
 
 54.7 
 
 65.6 
 
 11 
 
 578.90 
 
 980.43 
 
 69 
 
 294.80 
 
 455.02 
 
 54 
 
 129.15 
 
 417.71 
 
 223.4 
 
 85.10 
 
 175.91 
 
 106.7
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 25 
 
 10th — in per capita expenditure according to enrollment (white) $34.04 
 
 Darlington leads with $72.67; Abbeville last with $16.69 
 8th — in per capita expenditure according to enrollment (negro) $3.61 
 
 Charleston leads with $11.57; Bamberg last with $1.45 
 
 4th — in i)tT capita expenditure according to enrollment (both) $18.69 
 
 Charleston leads with $33.11 ; McCormick last with $7.23 
 
 16th — in average salary paid white teachers (men) $ 1,170.66 
 
 Charleston first with $2,317.62; Lexington last with $537.60. 
 
 9th — in average salary paid white teachers (women) . . . . 615.55 
 
 Charleston leads with $890.25 ; Lexington last with $385.38 
 
 1st — in per capita investment in school property $29.07 
 
 2nd — in total value of school property $1,465,310.00 
 
 Greenville first with $2,568,374; Fairfield last with $75,331 
 
 16th — in number of local tax districts 51 
 
 12th — in number local tax districts levying special tax 51 
 
 5th — in receipts from State appropriation (both races) . . $38,325.63 
 
 Spartanburg leads with $49,511.38; Jasper last with $3,180. 
 7th — in av. number white pupils to school according to enrollment 101 
 
 Charleston first with 159; Berkeley last with 31 
 6th — in average number white pupils to school according to av- 
 erage attendance 69^ 
 
 Charleston leads with 114; Jasper last with 21. 
 21st — in average number white pupils to teacher according to 
 
 enrollment 31 
 
 Beaufort, Berkeley and Jasper tie for first place with 23; 
 Greenville last with 53. 
 29th — in average number white pupils to teacher according to av- 
 erage attendance 21 
 
 Jasper and Williamsburg tie for first place with 15; 
 Greenville last with 31.
 
 WEALTH AND TAXATION 
 
 J p. McNeill, jr. 
 
 The total taxable propert}- in Florence County in 1920 amounted to 
 $31,647,900, ranking eighth in this respect among the counties of the 
 State ; Charleston, Spartanburg, Richland, Greenville, Anderson, Orange- 
 burg and Aiken, in the order given, having a larger total proportion on 
 the list. This constitutes a per capita of taxable property in Florence 
 County of $627, and thus ranking fifteenth among the counties. In 1910 
 the total taxable property amounted to $14,040,300, which, compared 
 with the figures of 1920, indicates an increase of approxiamtely 12.4 
 per cent. 
 
 An Agricultural County 
 
 Florence County is and always has been preeminently an agricultural 
 county, and there are only nine other counties in the State which can 
 boast a greater agricultural wealth, these being, in almost every instance, 
 of greater landed area. In 1910 our total farm wealth amounted to $11,- 
 401,794; in 1900 the value of all our farm property was only $2,847,938. 
 These figures indicate a remarkable increase of over 400 per cent, while 
 the average increase for the State for the same period, the decade be- 
 tween 1900 and 1910, was 155.3 per cent. We rank first among the 
 counties in this respect, which is all the more noteworthy in view of the 
 fact that there are nineteen counties with a larger amount of land in 
 farms. 
 
 Tenancy and Mortgage Debts 
 
 In 1910 only 35.1 per cent of our farms were operated by owners, 
 while the State average was 36.5 per cent. One-seventh of our owner 
 operated farms were encumbered by mortgage, with an aggregate mort- 
 gage debt of $250,412. The average value of land and buildings on 
 owner-operated farms in 1910 was $1,102,236; so it can be seen that 22.7 
 per cent of their value was mortgaged. Mortgage debt on farm proper- 
 ties is not an evil when the end is property ownership. Statistics do not 
 indicate for what purpose the money borrowed is applied, but if it is 
 converted into more land, live-stock, farm buildings and farming imple- 
 ments, then the mortgage debt represents expansion and development, but 
 not so when used for bread and meat, hay and other operating expenses. 
 
 Sixty-four and three tenths per cent of our farms arc cultivate i b\
 
 Florenck County: Economic and Social 27 
 
 tenants. During the decade from 1900 to 1910 tenancy in Florence 
 County increased 4 per cent and an increase is noted in South Carolina 
 and the United States generally. The counties in which tenancy is 
 smallest are led by Georgetown with 21.1 per cent and Horry and Beau- 
 fort with 27 per cent and 29.2 per cent respectively. Tenancy, like mort- 
 gage debt, as a means to ultimate ownership, is not to be loked upon as 
 a harmful tendency. But if a tenant uses rented land merely as a means 
 of scant livelihood year after year with no thought of saving his profits 
 for the purpose of purchasing land on which to live, he becomes a 
 liability rather than an asset to the community and country. Farm ow- 
 nership breeds thrift, pride and independence; tenancy encourages lazi- 
 ness, indifference and dependence. There is plenty of room for improve- 
 ment in this direction in our county. 
 
 Roads 
 
 In 1904 we had 676 miles of public road in the county. According to 
 figures furnished by the County Supervisor, in 1919 we had 1557 miles 
 of public road, 50 miles of which was in improved sand clay and top 
 soil. Our 4 mill road tax yielded $50,000 in 1919 which, together with 
 $25,000, the estimated value of the labor tax, constituted our total ex- 
 penditure in road building and road upkeep during the year 1919. These 
 figures indicate an expenditure of $48.17 per mile, as against $27.82 
 in 1904. This does not mean, however, that the roads were given twice 
 as much attention in 1919 as in 1904, for the increase in population was 
 about as great as the increase in the number of miles of public road for 
 the same period, but the increase in per capita expenditure is due to the 
 higher wages demanded and the higher price of material. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to offer argument in favor of good roads; it is 
 universally conceded nowadays that the benefits derived from good 
 roads greatly overbalance their cost. Yet some of us continue to look 
 upon a universal system of smooth, well graded highways as an ideal. 
 the attainment of which will require so many more years than any of 
 us can possibly hope to live, that we lose our personal interest in the 
 matter, fold our hands, heap coals of fire upon the heads of the Coun- 
 ty Supervisor for not building good roads without money, and leave it to 
 the next generation to experience the same mental and physical attitude. 
 Good roads in Florence County are possible, and the time is not far 
 distant when, our shoulders to the wheel, we can prove the allegation that 
 Henry Ford made walking a pleasure in Florence County and not the 
 highway authorities. 
 
 A glance at the following figures will indicate that good roads are en- 
 tirely within our grasp. The average cost of hauling cotton to market 
 has been estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture to be 
 eighty cents per bale. In 1919 Florence Coun+y Hnn^d 42.5 "9 hales of 
 cotton. The cost of marketing this crop was $34,039, if computed on this
 
 28 Florence County : Economic and Social 
 
 basis. To each bale of cotton there is about one half ton of cotton seed 
 which was hauled from the farm to the gin, and then a large percentage 
 of it hauled again to the shipping point. The average cost of hauling 
 cotton seed in the United States is $3.00 per ton. It therefore cost us 
 $67,837 to haul our 1919 crop seed. The total cost of hauling our 1919 
 cotton crop was $97,876. Any system of road improvement which 
 would reduce the annual hauling charge 40 per cent and that is a con- 
 servative estimate of the value of good roads, would effect a saving of 
 $39,150.40 each year. In other words, we would save on the hauling 
 of cotton alone, not to mention the many other commodities to be haul- 
 ed and the numerous other uses to which the roads will be put, an 
 amount sufficient to pay 5 per cent interest annually on a bond issue of 
 $783,008. This sum applied to sand claying roads at an average of 
 $6,000 per mile, for very light grading is necessary in our county, would 
 place 130 miles in tip-top shape, and thereby almost treble our present 
 improved road mileage. 
 
 This is merely a comparison to show the many economic advan- 
 tages of good roads. Space will not permit a discussion of diversified 
 farming, more favorable marketing, and the increase in the value of farm 
 lands incident to good roads. The added advantages of improvement in 
 schools, rural mail delivery, and improved social conditions are factors 
 to be reckoned with, and while the benefits thus derived cannot be stated 
 in the common denominator of the dollar, no one will gainsay the fact 
 that anything which causes better educational facilities, adds to the en- 
 joyment of the home and to the social uplift of himself and family does 
 not pay. 
 
 We need good roads. Let's get them ! 
 
 Automobiles 
 
 In 1919 there was one automobile for every 17 people in Florence 
 County. In this respect she ranked third among the counties of the 
 State; Richland, with the ratio of 1 to 12 and Marlboro with the ratio 
 of 1 to 16, outranking her. The average for the State was one automo- 
 l)ile for every 23 inhabitants. 
 
 Assuming $1,100 as the average price per car, Florence County with 
 her 2425 automobiles has invested, at first cost, $2,667,500. 
 
 Based on the one-eighth of a cent a gallon tax on gasoline we used 
 1,132,475 gallons during 1919. At the average value of 27 cents a gal- 
 lon, this totals $395,768.25. 
 
 Rating the average number of miles per gallon as 13, there were 
 14,722,175 miles traveled on this gasoline. Ten cents a mile would be 
 a conservative estimate for the operating expenses of a car, this to include 
 gasoline cost, tires, repairs and depreciation on car. At this estimate 
 it would indicate that it cost the people of Florence County $1,472,217.75
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 29 
 
 to operate their cars during 1919, or a cost of $607 per car, or $1.66 per 
 day per car. Further, this represents an average expenditure of $29.50 
 per capita per annum, based upon the total population of the county, car 
 owner or no car owner. Since automobiles have come into general use 
 they have been increased approximately 20 per cent per year, and on 
 December 31, 1920, we find 3318 automobiles in Florence County. 
 
 The report of the Superintendent of Education for 1919 estimates 
 the value of all school property in Florence County at $450,403, or about 
 one-sixth of the value of the automobiles. The total expenditure in 1919 
 in our county for schools was $155,774.39. In other words, we spend 
 over nine times as much to ride in automobiles in one year as we do 
 to educate our children. These facts show conclusively that we are 
 abundantly able to spend thousands of dollars more for their education 
 and thereby place our money in an investment which yields ever in- 
 creasing dividends and which knows no yearly depreciation. 
 
 Banks 
 
 In November 1919 we had 18 banks in Florence County, 3 national 
 and 15 state banks, with total resources of $11,956,417.07. In 1914 we 
 had 14 banks, one national and 13 state, with total banking resources of 
 $3,619,127.30. These figures indicate an increase of 326.7 per cent in our 
 banking resources during five years, or a per capita increase from $101.46 
 in 1914 to $238.18 in 1919. 
 
 The years 1914 and 1919 were chosen to indicate the growth and ex- 
 pansion of banking in our county for the reason that the figures for 
 1914 will indicate pre-war conditions, and those of 1919 post-war con- 
 ditions. The report for 1920, the latest figures available, could not be 
 looked upon as indicative of normal conditions. 
 
 Comparing loans and discounts for this period, the 1919 figure is 
 $7,171,602.93; those for 1914, $2,815,281.74. An increase of approxi- 
 mately 250 per cent is indicated here. 
 
 In regard to savings, we find that in the 15 state banks they amounted 
 to $1,063,486.26 in 1919, and only $318,062.48 in 1914, or an increase of 
 300 per cent. The national comptroller of the currency does not require 
 the national banks to report savings as such in their regular reports, 
 and consequently the savings on deposit in our national banks are not 
 included in the totals given above. 
 
 The increase in capital stock has not been so marked. The figures 
 for 1919 are $980,000, and those for 1914 are $726,000, or an increase of 
 only 74.1 per cent. In other words, an increase of 326.7 per cent of total 
 resources has been effected on a 74.1 per cent in capital. 
 
 This increase in all phases of banking cannot be attributed to the in- 
 crease in population, for from 1910 to 1919 we only increased 42 per 
 cent in population, while we increased 74.1 per cent in capital stock, 
 250 per cent in loans and discounts and 326.7 per cent in banking
 
 30 FLORENCii County: Economic and Social 
 
 resources. It just means, that while times are good we gained in wealth 
 and have laid it up for rainy days ahead. 
 
 Taxat 
 
 ion 
 
 Florence County with her total taxable wealth in 1920 of $31,647,912 
 ranked eighth among the counties of the State in that respect; in 1917 
 the figures were $25,072,327. Nineteen counties had a higher tax rate 
 than Florence County. Our rate, state and county, was $3.80 on each 
 hundred dollars worth of property. The City of Florence, however, with 
 its total tax levy of $8.75 per hundred dollars worth of property is out- 
 stripped by only two other cities in the State, Charleston and Ridgeland. 
 Even with such high tax rates, under the present general property ad 
 valorem tax the revenues are insufficient to keep pace with the in- 
 creasing demands made for government, education and improvements. 
 
 The present tax system, and no other, is authorized by the Constitution 
 of 1895, and though only 25 years old, has proven itself inadequate to pro- 
 vide for a fast growing society. The law requires that all property, real, 
 personal and possessory, be listed and returned, assessed and taxed, at 
 its actual or true value in money. That this provision is in practice a 
 dead letter is so well recognized by everybody in the State that the State 
 Tax Commission in 1915 found it necessary to recognize this fact of- 
 ficially and openly to proceed with the equalization of assessments on a 
 42 per cent basis. Thus the general charge of outlawry against our 
 system as it exists in point is proved, for the operation of the tax sys- 
 tem in South Carolina "is as much of an outlaw business as the gentle 
 art of cracking safes or of distilling moonshine whiskey." 
 
 Of course, taxation is a state wide problem and its solution will be 
 state wide and not confined to any one county, but it will be interesting 
 to mention some of the conditions that have arisen in our county by rea- 
 son of the general property tax. For example, in 1910, the United States 
 census value per acre of land in Florence County was $27.08, and we all 
 know that a census value is ultra conservative when compared with 
 considerations actually paid when land is sold. The assessed tax value 
 per acre for 1910 was $4.42. Ten years ago might be considered history 
 by some, but we learn that in 1920, last year, the assessed value of an 
 acre of land in Florence County was couched in the grand sum of $8.85. 
 This is perfectly absurd when land all around us is being sold for from 
 $100 to $400 per acre. From a report made by a Special Committee ap- 
 pointed in 1920 by the General Assembly of South Carolina to make 
 a thorough study of the tax situation in the State and to make recom- 
 mendations of a solution thereof we find that out of a number of 
 tracts of land sold in Florence County between July 1917 and February 
 1918 the assessed value for taxation was less than one-third of the con- 
 siderations actually paid therefor. And yet we wonder why we have
 
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 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 31 
 
 such high tax rates and still not raise sufficient revenue to meet the 
 increasing demands of government ! In addition to this, most of the 
 personal property, both tangible and intangible, which constitutes a large 
 part of our wealth and from which a large part of our taxes should be 
 derived, does not find its place upon our tax books. The land owner and 
 the corporations in Florence County bear the burden of taxation simply 
 because the man whose wealth is composed of personal property can 
 keep it off the tax books and the land owner and corporation cannot. 
 And the present tax law in the State makes such a state of affairs 
 possible. 
 
 Real 
 Estate 
 
 «7001.735 
 
 52.6;: 
 
 or TOTAL 
 ^ASSESSMENT 
 
 Property 
 
 CHART NUMBER 2 
 
 Proportionate Aisessment of Real Estate , Perwoal Property 
 and Railroad Property in Florence County m I9?0, 
 
 Personal 
 Property 
 
 ♦4.357986 
 
 32.8->i 
 
 Railroads I 
 
 * 1.932402 I 
 14.5 % i 
 
 The special committee mentioned above, after studying the tax con- 
 ditions in the State from every angle, came to the conclusion "that there 
 can be no sound, sane, thorough-going reform of the taxing system of 
 South Carolina until the constitutional restrictions upon the power of 
 the General Assembly in relation to the general property tax are re- 
 moved. Any improvement in method of assessment or in administrative 
 machinery is mere tinkering. The institution of other methods of rais- 
 ing revenue might result in some temporary relief from the present 
 strain upon the timbers of a tottering structure. All such devices are 
 but props to keep the house from falling when the foundation has rotted 
 away. The only sensible course is to rebuild the foundation."
 
 32 Florknck County: Economic and Sociai, 
 
 Facts About Wealth and Taxation in Florence County 
 
 Rank 
 
 10th— in total farm wealth, 1910 census $11,401,794.00 
 
 1st — in farm wealth increase 1900-1910, per cent 400 
 
 State increase 155.3 per cent. 
 
 7th — in per capita country wealth, 1910 390.00 
 
 8th— in total taxable property, 1920 31,647,900.00 
 
 1st — in increase in taxable property, 1910-1920, per cent 123.72 
 
 32nd — in tax rate per $100 ass'd valuation for tax year 1920 2.75 
 
 18th — in average property tax rate 1920 (mills) 38 
 
 15th— in per capita wealth 1920 627.00 
 
 Uth — in per capita crop values on the eleven leading crops 
 
 1920 , 159.96 
 
 30th — in farm land improved, per cent 42.2 
 
 28th— in average improved acres per farm, 1910 32.3 
 
 24th — in farms operated by tenants, 1910, per cent 64.3 
 
 26th — in percentage of mortgaged farms are of total number 
 
 of farms, 1910 8.9 
 
 Total number farms 3870 ; number mortgaged 354. 
 13th — in percentage that mortgaged farms are of total 
 
 farms owned by white people, 1910 .. 8.4 
 
 Number farms owned by whites 3(564; number mort- 
 gaged 306. 
 24th — ^in percentage that farms owned by negroes are of 
 
 total farms in county, 1910 1.1 
 
 12th — in per cent of negro farms mortgaged, 1910 15.7 
 
 7th — in number of automobiles, 1920 3318 
 
 One auto for every 16.9 inhabitants. 
 
 6th — in number inhabitants per bank, 1920 2653 
 
 Number banks 19 ■, population 50,406. 
 
 5th — in per capita bank resources, 1919 240. UU 
 
 5th— in per capita bank capital, 1919 18.09 
 
 7th — in per capita bank loans and discounts, 1919 . . . . 134.00 
 
 12th — in per capita bank account savings, 1919 21.00
 
 VI 
 
 FARM CONDITIONS AND PRACTICES 
 
 J. A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 A table compiled from the 1910 census and other authoritative sources 
 of information will he found at the end of this chapter. In some items 
 very recent figures are obtainable and these have been used as far as pos- 
 sible. The table simply shows certain fundamental facts about Florence 
 County set over against similar facts about other counties and the state 
 at large, and also the comparative standing over a term of years, usually 
 five or ten. 
 
 Idle Land Predominates 
 
 Industries see to it that their entire plants are in operation all the time. 
 This is not true of our farmers. In 1910 only 33 per cent, or one-third 
 of our total land area was under cultivation, Florence County ranking 
 21st in this particular among the counties of the state. 
 
 The fact is, there is plenty of room for new farm families. Reserving 
 50,000 acres for wood-lot uses and 75 acres to each family, there is 
 room for 1680 new farm families. If we estimate 5 to the family, this 
 would, mean 8,400 more country people in the county. This would be 
 a distinct social advantage, because it would bring the people closer to- 
 gether and afford an opportunity for greater cooperation. 
 
 In 1910 our farms averaged 32.3 acres per farm. There were 381 
 farms, which contained 175 acres or more, which could be divided to 
 the best advantage. It is these large farms which should be divided. 
 Certainly we do not need farms reduced to the small, one-horse type, 
 which would preclude the profitable use of much labor-saving machin- 
 ery. The need is for more such machinery, with more and heavier 
 work animals. Small mules and horses and the one-horse plow are 
 among our greatest farm disadvantages. 
 
 Farm Tenancy and its Evils 
 
 This is one of the grave problems confronting our county, as well 
 as our state and nation, and one which should receive its due consideration 
 by every one The history of farming clearly shows that no commun- 
 ity ever reaches its highest "stage of agricultural development until the 
 farms are operated mainly by owners. There are three facts which are 
 detrimental to the existence of tenancy — industry, thrift and sagacity.
 
 34 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 If it were not due to the lack of any one of these or a combination of 
 these, tenancy would not exist today. We can see too that living; on this 
 basis, the tenant does not have any personal interest in the advance of 
 the land that he occupies and never looks to the future and the benefits 
 it will bring Existing on the supply-merchant plan, he is forced to grow 
 ready-money crops and neglect food and teed crops and livestock. How 
 can we expect to develop a community spirit where its people are fre- 
 quently moving from place to place? The tenant has no inclination to 
 beautify his home or premises or in helping to maintain good schools, 
 roads, churches, and law and order in his community 
 
 Let us draw a general comparison between the general conditions of 
 the state and Florence County in this particular. Only two states in the 
 nation have a greater percentage of tenancy; namely, Mississippi, with 
 66.1 per cent., and Georgia with 65.6 per cent. South Carolina has 
 63 per cent. In 1910 there were 176,433 farms in South Carolina. Of 
 these 111,221 were operated by tenants, or to state it in percentage, 63 
 per cent, of the farms were operated by farmers who did not own them. 
 One striking fact is that tenancy is on the increase not only in South 
 Carolina, but in the nation as a whole, particularly in the Southern 
 States. The increase in South Carolina has not been so pronounced in 
 any decade, still it has been rather uniform. Of the 43 counties (1910) 
 of the state, 24 had a percentage greater than 63 per cent., the average 
 for the state as whole. According to statistics, the percentage of farms 
 operated by tenants is higher in the Piedmont than in the Coastal sec- 
 tion. 
 
 In 1910 there were 3,970 farms in Florence County. Of these, 2,552 
 were operated by tenants, or to state it in percentage, 64.3 per cent, of the 
 farms were operated by farmers who did not own them. In this par- 
 ticular Florence ranked 24th among the counties of the state. Another 
 striking fact is that 35.1 per cent of all our farm lands were operated 
 by tenants. There are two prevalent types of tenancy in our county — 
 share and cash. Of all the tenants in the county, 29.3 per cent, are share 
 tenants, and 64.6 per cent, cash tenants. 
 
 Of all the farms operated by whites and negroes, we find that where 
 tenancy is prevalent there is a greater negro problem. Of all the ten- 
 ant in South Carolina 68.6 per cent, are negroes, while 31.4 per cent. 
 are white. This further shows that tenancy is more prevalent among 
 negroes than among whites. 
 
 What is the remedy? Encouragement and unselfish cooperation by 
 fortunate land owners is the only hope. The tenants need to buy and 
 maintain their own farms and devote their attention to the betterment of 
 their own farms and their communities, and the road to this seemingly 
 unsurmountable problem will be advanced.
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 35 
 
 Agriculture Predominates 
 
 We know that Florence is predominantly agricultural and consequently 
 in solving her problems, we should take the farmer's point of view, for it 
 affects the majority of the people. Only eight counties of the state pre- 
 ceded Florence in value of farm property in 1910, this amounting to 
 $11,401,794. The grand total for wealth produced in 1910 amounted 
 to $4,596,078. But a damper is thrown on this when we note that 76 
 per cent, of this total wealth, which covers both crop and livestock pro- 
 ducts, was produced by non-food crops, such as cotton and tobacco. 
 
 But how much do the farmers actually retain of this farm wealth? 
 Well, the plain fact is that our farmers create 76 per cent, of their total 
 annual wealth out of cotton and tobacco, and then it is paid out to wes- 
 tern farmers who supply us with the necessities of life. The western 
 farmers produce the bulk of the food and feed that is consumed in our 
 state annually. 
 
 The idea seems to prevail that it is more profitable for our farmers to 
 produce these non-food crops and then buy their food and feed crops 
 from the outside. But such is not the case. According to government 
 experiments, the man who raises food and feed crops along with to- 
 bacco and cotton is in a better condition than his neighbor who raises 
 cotton and tobacco and buys food and feed. 
 
 There are still two stronger arguments for the farmer to correlate 
 his food and feed crops with his non-food crops. First, results compiled 
 from experiments made by the government have proved that hay, forage, 
 corn, pork and beef can be produced in the South much cheaper than in 
 the West. Second, if the farmer raises his own home necessities, he is 
 saved from the high and at times unjust prices of the middleman and 
 adds to his own bank account. 
 
 Yet farmers argue that it is more profitable to raise the money-crops 
 and then buy the food and feed crops, but no doubt most of them will 
 agree that it is cheaper to produce. 
 
 We are not unaware of the fact that there is a great profit in these 
 money crops, but,' when we realize that such a large part of these profits 
 have to be used to buy food that we can ourselves raise more cheaply, it 
 is a very unwise policy to expend all our energy in the production of 
 cotton and tobacco. The point we wish to emphasize is that the atten- 
 tion of the farmer should be directed to food and feed crops and to live- 
 stock, as well as to the two big money crops. 
 
 One Crop System 
 
 There are seven fundamental evils to this plan of farming: (1) It 
 impoverishes the soil; (2) It increases the risk of the farming enterprise; 
 (3) It makes the supply of money available at one time and develops 
 the time-credit system; (4) It makes the marketing machinery difficult;
 
 36 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 (5) It makes for idleness of machinery and labor; (6) It lowers the 
 general intelligence of farm labor; (7) It has a depressing effect on the 
 social life of the community. A discussion of these evils is not necessary 
 for it is obvious from the mere statements themselves vi^hat a bad eflfect 
 they have on agricultural advancement. 
 
 In South Carolina 48 per cent, of the total acreage of the crops in 
 1920 was cotton, and 51 per cent, of the value of the eleven leading crops 
 was cotton. Consequently, we join the list of the State's practising the 
 one-crop system. 
 
 There were two possible stimulants to the one-crop system in the ear- 
 lier days — the invention of the cotton gin and slavery. In 1793 when 
 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, immediately this crop began to ad- 
 vance and grew so rapidly that in a few years it became the chief crop 
 of our county, as well as state. In 1796 when our state enacted a law 
 against the slave trade, the cotton production began to decline and finally 
 went to such a point that it was necessary to repeal this law in order 
 that cotton be produced successfully. In other words, the Southern farm- 
 ers found that for cotton culture to prove profitable, the negro, the cheap- 
 est human labor, would have to be employed. 
 
 Consequently as long as we persist in employing the one-crop system, 
 we need not ever expect to be a self-sufficing county. From an eco-, 
 nomic standpoint this should be the aim and goal of every county in 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Cotton 
 
 Florence takes a high rank in total cotton production among the coun- 
 ties of the state, only 12 counties preceding her in this particular. An 
 interesting fact to note is that the production of this crop increases an- 
 nually. As an example, 35,204 bales were ginned in 1917; 40,357 in 
 1918; and 42,549 in 1919; with the record, 43,000 bales in 1920. Taking 
 the value on the basis of December 1, 1920, price, the cotton crop of 
 1920 would sell for $2,992,800. Only 9 counties preceded Florence 
 in the total production of cotton in pounds per acre, the county average 
 being 278 pounds of lint cotton. 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Within the last few years Florence has come to be a great tobacco 
 producing county. In 1920 our county tied with Williamsburg for first 
 place among the tobacco producing counties of the state, our production 
 amounting to 9,900,000 pounds. What does this mean? It means that 
 for the past few years more money has come into the hands of the farm- 
 ers, and that they are better able to support good schools, good roads, 
 better teachers for rural schools and to take part in all forms of com- 
 munity improvement.
 
 Flokknck County: Kconomic and Sociai, ,^7 
 
 This crop has made a remarkable ir.c rase in (he last decade. For 
 example, in 1900 we produced 381,970 bushels of corn, in 1910 an in- 
 crease of 203,491 bushels or 585,461 bushels produced; or to state the 
 same fact in percentage, we made an increase of 53.27 per cent, in ten 
 years. In 1920, there was a production of 1,392,000 bushels, with a 
 value of $1,614,729. Another noteworthy fact is that only two coun- 
 ties preceded us in yield per acre, Florence producing 24 bushels to the 
 acre, on the average. 
 
 There is still another distinction that Florence County can boa.st of — 
 the world's record in corn produced per acre. Under the direction ol 
 the United States Department of Agriculture, 1910, Jerry Moore of 
 Mars Bluff produced 228 3-4 bushels of corn on a one-acre plot. Up 
 to 1920 this is the authentic record yield in the world. 
 
 Non-Food Crops 
 
 The value of the non-food crops in 1910 was $3,206,580, only nine 
 counties preceding Florence in this particular. According to 1920 sta- 
 tistics from the Bureau of Crop Estimates, the value of the two main 
 non-food crops, cotton and tobacco, amounted to $5,348,800. A marked 
 increase of $2,142,220, despite the fact that tlie value of tlicse two 
 crops was on a considerable decline during the past year. Of the total 
 crop of the county the non-food crops produced constituted 76 per cent, 
 Marlboro preceding by only 9 points with 85 per cent. 
 
 We can see the crying need from these facts, of an efficient local 
 market. Effective markets lower the cost of living by bringing produc- 
 ers and consumers into direct relation with each other. A probable so- 
 lution of this problem in cotton, would be to adopt the cooperative 
 plan now advocated by the Extension Service of Clemson College. 
 Its aim is to effect saving in those steps between the growing and 
 consuming of a commodity where loss or unnecessary waste now oc- 
 cur, by efficient grading and pooling of cotton to adjust the supplv 
 to the demand so that this law may operate freely and fairly. The sys- 
 tem has been tested in California and has proven to be an excellent 
 one. Why not adopt it in South Carolina? 
 
 Sweet Potatoes 
 
 In 1910 there were 1,218 acres planted in sweet potatoes with a yield 
 of 145,228 bushels. According to the Bureau of Crop Estimates in 1920 
 there were 2,500 acres planted in this commodity with a yield of 290,000 
 bushels. In other words, in ten years we had more than doubled our 
 acreage and yield, and this crop has never become a valuable asset among 
 the crops produced in the county. 
 
 449627
 
 38 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 But Florence needs more individual and cooperative sweet potato stor- 
 age houses in the county, and if we will only begin on a small scale the 
 advantages of cooperation could be realized. There are four main ad- 
 vantages of a cooperative sweet potato association: First, it furnishes 
 a more regular and ready market ; Second, it supplies a market of wider 
 range than that of the independent grower; Third, it enables packing 
 and marketing of a more uniform product; and Fourth, it secures higher 
 prices resulting from shipment in bulk. 
 
 The movement is becoming widespread throughout the state and in it 
 lies the hope of a solution of the present situation. 
 
 According to the advanced Census Report of 1920, there are 5,291 
 farms in Florence County, only seven counties in the State preceding her 
 in this particular. In 1900, there were 3,173 farms ; in 1910, they num- 
 bered 3,970, so we observe that there has been a steady increase for the 
 past two decades. 
 
 The enumerators of the Census were instructed to include under im- 
 proved land, "all land regularly tilled or mowed, land pastured and 
 cropped in rotation, land lying fallow, land in gardens, orchards, nur- 
 series, and land occupied by buildings." In 1910 the average number 
 of improved acres per farm in Florence County was 32.3 acres, being 
 below the average for the state by 2.3 acres. Also in the per cent, of 
 improved land in farms Florence fell below the state average by 1.1 
 per cent., Florence having 42.2 per cent and the state 43.3 per cent. 
 
 There is one fact we must notice, that there are more negro farmers 
 in the county than white farmers. In 1910 there were 1,926 white farm- 
 ers against 2,044 negro farmers. What does this signify? It shows 
 that the county's agricultural advancement is being handicapped and 
 retarded by the ignorance of the negro in his faming operations and 
 is hindering the county from becoming one of the leading agricultural 
 centers of the state. Either the negro must be educated to the modern 
 and economic plan of farming or he must be restricted in his energies 
 along this line. 
 
 One fact will prove this. According to a computation of Thomas J. 
 Jones in 1909, the product per agricultural worker in 1900 was for the 
 State of Iowa $1,088; and South Carolina $147.46, or the Iowa worker, 
 largely because of greater skill, is able to produce more than seven times 
 as much wealth annually as the worker in South Carolina. 
 
 What we need more than any other element in our Southern industrial 
 life is trained laborers and this necessity can only be remedied by the 
 cooperation of the whites. 
 
 Our Livestock Situation 
 
 The farms in Florence are too lightly stocked. We do not have
 
 \ 
 
 Florenck County: Economic and Social 39 
 
 enough animals and those \vc do have are not all of the best quality. 
 According to the 1910 Census there are 77,696 animal units needed in 
 the county, yet there are only 20,651. A shortage of 57,045 units. The 
 same fact in percentage is that of our farms are stocked, only 27 per 
 cent, on a lightly stocked basis, in other words, we are 72) per cent, below 
 the level. Our livestock ought to be quadrupled in number. 
 
 What is the solution? To create an interest in livestock and make 
 improved farm animals the basis of farm property. They will fertilize 
 our soils and feed our families, leaving the money-crops to furnish cash 
 for our pocket-books and bank accounts. 
 
 There arel76,030 acres absolutely idle in the county which would 
 take years to be brought into proper cultivation by planting them in 
 crops. Why not utilize this land by raising livestock? There is every 
 reason why we should. We have a climate well suited to livestock, and 
 wonderful opportunities to develop livestock farming and livestock in- 
 dustries, creameries and the like. Again, too, our soils are well adapted 
 to grains and grasses, being fertile and well drained. 
 
 Yet there is room for encouragement. Florence has shown an increase 
 of 12 per cent, in the number of poultry from 1900-1910. This was a 
 good gain but not in comparison with the increase in population or the 
 demand for poultry and eggs. Doubtless the present high prices for 
 poultry and eggs have stimulated the energies of some of our thrifty 
 farmers in these profitable side lines. It is one of the most profitable 
 by-prtducts on South Carolina farms today, and we say by-product be- 
 cause with only a little attention a barnyard hen may produce approx- 
 imately 200 eggs a year, which at the present prices are worth $6 or 
 more. 
 
 According to the 19!0 Census and the 1920 figures of the Bureau 
 of Crop Estimates, there has been an increase of 74 per cent, in the 
 number of hogs raised in Florence County from 1910-1920, twenty- 
 three counties preceding Florence in this particular. The value of 
 home-ra.sed meats is known to every one and this subject need not 
 be enlarged upon here. Prevailing prices certainly afford a suffi- 
 cient stimulus, so let us hope that we shall continue to increas in 
 pork production and save the many hard earned dollars derived from 
 thep roduction of cotton that are being spent for imported meat. 
 
 In our standing in number of cattle and their increase from 1910 to 
 1920, the figures are most encouraging. In 1910 there were 5,824 
 cattle and 11,000 in 1920; an increase of 5,176. A percentage increase 
 of 88 per cent., Florence ranking fourth in this respect. 
 
 Horses have increased rather slowly, from 2,012 in 1910 to 2,600 in 
 1920. But this is probably due to the growing popularity of the automo- 
 bile and the advancement of farm machinery. 
 
 Mules, in contrast to horses, have shown a greater increase. In the
 
 40 Florence County; Economic and Social 
 
 past decade there was an increase of 3,169 mules, so this shows that our 
 farmers are a bit reluctant in the newest plans of land cultivation. 
 That is, our farmers have been slow in adopting the farm tractor and 
 other farm motor machinery for the cultivation of the land. 
 
 Our farmers ought to bear in mind the fact that whether we consider 
 the state or the United States, we find that high per capita country 
 wealth goes hand in hand with an abundance of domestic animals, and 
 that low per capita wealth is always found where cattle and other farm 
 animals are lacking. 
 
 Facts About Farm Conditions and Practices 
 
 (Note — Rank indicates counties of state that make a better showing.) 
 
 10th— in total farm wealth, 1910 $11,401,794.00 
 
 7th — in per capita country wealth, 1910 390.00 
 
 18th — in percentage of negro farm owners of the total 
 
 farms of the county, per cent 1 ^ 
 
 Negro farm owners in Florence County 306 ; white 
 farm owners in Florence 3,664. 
 
 41st — in white farm mortgages in 1910, per cent 5.6 
 
 Number of white farms mortgaged 306. 
 
 12th — in negro farm mortages in 1910, per cent 15.7 
 
 Number of negro farms mortgaged 48. 
 
 21st — in per cent of total land under cultivation 33 
 
 Land under cultivation 128,269 acres. Idle and other 
 unimproved land, 176,030 acres. Reserving 50,000 
 acres for woodlots and allowing 75 acres to each 
 family, there is room for 1680 new farm families 
 in Florence County. 
 
 8th— in number of farms, 1920 5,291 
 
 Average cultivated acres per farm 32.3. Size of 
 cultivated farms larger in 25 counties; 3,058 farms 
 are less than 50 acres in size; and 2,419 farms are 
 over 50 acres in size, both cultivated and uncultivated 
 considered. 
 
 18th — in poultry increase, 1900-1910, per cent 12 
 
 4th — in cattle increase, 1900-1910, per cent 88 
 
 24th — in hog increase, 1910-1920, per cent 74 
 
 24th — in farm tenancy, per cent . . . . 64.3 
 
 State average 63 per cent. Share tenants are 29.3 
 per cent of the total farm tenants, and cash tenants 
 are 64.6 per cent. 
 
 1st — in tobacco production, 1920, pounds 9,900,000 
 
 3rd — in tobacco production, per acre, 1920, pounds . . . . 660 
 
 13th— in cotton production, 1920, bales 43,000 
 
 10th — in cotton production, per acre, 1920, pounds . . . . 278
 
 \ 
 
 l''i.()RENCK County: Economic and Social 41 
 
 10th— in value of non-food crops produced, 1910 .. ..$3,206,580.00 
 31st — in food and feed crops, per cent of the total crop 
 
 value 24 
 
 Beaufort 56 per cent; Marlboro 15 per cent. 
 11th — in crop value of eleven leading crops, per capita, 
 
 1920 $159.96 
 
 Calhoun $234.01; Charleston $25.37. 
 
 18th— in room for new settlers, 1910 8400 
 
 Horry 19,270; Calhoun 1,820. 
 
 12th— in value of crops per acre. 1920 $41.00 
 
 Value of crops $8,063,000. Beaufort $72; Lancaster, 
 McCormick and York $27. 
 7th — -in value of farm implements per acre, 1910 . . . . $2.86 
 
 9th in annual farm wealth produced, 1910 $4,584,504 
 
 This total covers both crops and livestock products. 
 The need is for more food crops, better livestock and 
 more livestock industries.
 
 / 
 
 VII 
 
 BALANCE SHEET IN FOOD AND FEED 
 PRODUCTION 
 
 J. A. CHASE, JR. 
 
 $2,170,850 Under-Productlon 
 
 According to a statement at the end of this chapter compiled from 
 the 1910 census, the food and feed supplies for the household and farm 
 consumed in Florence County amounted to $2,170,850 more than the 
 farmers of the county produced. This is to say that the farms of the 
 county failed to produce the food and feed needed for man and beast by 
 this amount. It rnust be borne in mind that this deficit comes from staple 
 bread-stufifs and not dainties and luxuries ; and that these annual con- 
 sumption averages are based on figures as reported by federal authori- 
 ties. 
 
 One very noticeable fact is that Florence County has an over-produc- 
 tion of meat by 1 232,234 pounds; yet this encouraging state of affairs is 
 modified when we notice that the per cent, of animals in a lightly stocked 
 farm area are only 27 per cent, of the normal, in other words, the county 
 is Ti per cent, below the level. Or to state it differently, the farms of 
 the county are supporting only one-fourth of the livestock which they 
 should be carrying under a balanced farming system. 
 
 This under-production in detail covers 1,597,534 pounds of butter, 
 372,112 dozen eggs; 245,627 fowls; 558,034 bushels of corn; 125,194 bush- 
 els of wheat, and 5,845 tons of hay. 
 
 Some Reasons Why 
 
 Our farmers do not supply this two and a quarter million dollar mar- 
 ket demand, because of (1) the inherited one-crop system, or too much 
 attention to cotton and tobacco and too little to food and feed crops; (2) 
 the lack of ready cash markets for home-raised supplies; (3) ex- 
 cessive farm tenancy, coupled with the time-price system. Perhaps the 
 most important reason is that there is no ready cash market for home- 
 raised supplies, which forces the farmer to raise cotton, tobacco and 
 other money-crops to the utter disregard of the food and feed crops. 
 
 Shortage in Home Raised Supplies 
 
 At the very outset it is scarcely necessary to say that our home-raised
 
 s^ 
 
 Florence County : Economic and Social 43 
 
 supplies are not sufficient to meet the demand. This is all due to one 
 fact, the farmers of the county are devoting too much attention to cotton 
 and tobacco and too little attention to grain crops, hay and forage, do- 
 mestic animals and livestock products. Therefore, so long as it is 
 necessary for us to purchase supplies outside of the county, we are not 
 on a safe farming basis. 
 
 In 1910 our population was 14.1 per cent, greater than in 1900, and the 
 corn crops show a 1.3 per cent, increase. In 1900 we produced 17,640 
 bales of cotton and in 1910 we produced 56,590 bales or an increase of 
 220 per cent. These facts are within themselves convincing evidence that 
 such a condition exists. 
 
 According to government statistics, in the census year 1910 we need- 
 ed 1,105,801 bushels of corn for man and beast, but we only produced 
 547,767 bushels, leaving a deficit of 558,034 bushels. Florence ranked 
 16th in per capita production of corn, producing 16.1 bushels per inhab- 
 itant when 31 bushels were consumed, thereby showing a deficit of 14.9 
 bushels per person. 
 
 Our wheat production also showed a striking deficit. The demand 
 was 142,684 bushels, while the production was 17,490 bushels, showing 
 a shortage of 125,194 bushels. Twenty-three counties preceded Florence 
 in per capita production of wheat. Four bushels were needed per person 
 but only 0.5 of a bushel per person was produced. 
 
 Our hay and forage also fell behind. With a consumption of 10,298 
 tons the production was 4,453 tons, showing a shortage of 5,845 tons. 
 It is interesting to note that Florence preceded 26 counties in the total hay 
 and forage production. The county ranked 20th in the increase from 
 1900-1910, with 7Z per cent. 
 
 Likewise we are deficient in our production of butter. With 1,712,208 
 pounds needed, 114,674 pounds were produced, showing that 1,597,534 
 pounds had to be secured from outside sources. We preceded nineteen 
 counties in per capita production of butter, the total being three and 
 two-tenths pounds per person out of forty-eight pounds for the average 
 consumption. 
 
 Seventeen counties produced more eggs than Florence; we needed 
 624,242 dozen and produced 242,130 dozen— a deficit of 372,112 dozen. 
 Florence averaged 10.4 dozen in the production per person. 
 
 Our poultry deficit was 245,627 fowls, which fact is inexcusable, for 
 we must remember that there are no city ordinances against raising 
 poultry in the city limits. We produced 5.1 fowls compared to twelve 
 fowls needed, ranking 25th in the state. 
 
 Florence fell to a low rank in beef production. The state average 
 was 19.5 pounds while ours was only 10. Thus, it is obvious that there is 
 a great need for the raising of more cattle.
 
 44 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 Three Main Causes 
 
 It has already been stated that there are three main causes why 
 our county fails to be a self-feeding one: (1) Excessive farm ten- 
 ancy, (2) lack of attention to food and feed crops, (3) and the neces- 
 sity for a ready cash market for home-raised supplies. We shall elabo- 
 rate upon these three causes. 
 
 In 1910 nearly two-thirds of our farms in South Carolina were op- 
 erated by tenants, or to state the same fact in percentage figures, 63 
 per cent, of the farms were cultivated by farmers who did not own them. 
 And the most striking phase of this situation is that tenancy is on the in- 
 crease not only in South Carolina, but in the nation as a whole, 
 especially in Southern States. In Florence, which ranks 24th in farms 
 operated by tenants, 64.3 per cent, of the farms are operated by ten- 
 ants, and as long as this conditions exists is it reasonable to suppose that 
 more attention will be given to money-crops than to feed crops? For 
 ^we can see, that so long as the supply-merchant and the time-credit sys- 
 tem exist, under which tenants do business, it is imperative for them to 
 grow a ready-money-crop, such as cotton or tobacco. The situation cre- 
 ated by such a year as the present one, points very emphatically to the 
 fact that even the tenant farmer must learn to live at home in as com- 
 plete a sense as is advocated for the owner-operator. 
 
 In Florence the annual consumption of these food and feed crops 
 amounts to nearly three and one-half million dollars; while we pro- 
 duce only one and one-quarter million dollars worth of them. Thus we 
 send out of the county over two million dollars, which we might have 
 produced at home and thereby, have increased our wealth by just that 
 amount. In 1919, the total banking resources of Florence County were 
 $11,956,417.07, so we see by sending $2,000,000 out of the county every 
 year, in 5 years we would have covered the amount of the banking re- 
 sources. It is clear that now is the time for tenants to redouble their 
 efforts to produce more and save more until they are able to buy farms 
 of their own, and give their attention to food and feed crops and not 
 have to cultivate exclusively money-crops desired by the landlord. 
 
 The need for a local ready cash market is unquestionable. There is 
 always an organized world market for cotton and tobacco, and hence 
 the farmer does not need to seek markets for them, the market seeks 
 him. He can sell them for ready money and is able to secure credit on 
 them before they are even planted. But in the food and feed crops the 
 status is very different; it is necessary for the farmer to haul his pro- 
 duce to town, peddle it, and lose this time which could be spent more prof- 
 itably on the farm. Thus we can see that there is absolutely no encour- 
 agement for the farmer to produce goods he cannot sell, and the estab- 
 lishment of a well organized local, ready-cash market is imperative.
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 45 
 
 Doubling the Farm Wealth 
 
 We realize that the farmer cannot well afford to stop raising cotton 
 and tobacco altogether, but the point that we are endeavoring to drive 
 home is for him to do both — with the bread-and-meat farming system 
 as a basis. There is only one way to materially increase our farm wealth 
 and that is to have our pantries, smoke-houses and barns filled with 
 home-raised supplies, no matter what else we can produce on the farm. 
 Let us leave the town consumer out of consideration; is there any ex- 
 cuse why the farmer cannot produce the supplies he needs to feed his 
 own family and farm animals from year to year? If this could be ac- 
 complished the farm wealth of Florence County would be doubled in 
 the next few years. 
 
 The problem which is confronting every town in Florence County, 
 is the failure of nearby farmers to supply the demand for food-stuffs 
 at high prices in local market. 
 
 Need For Local Markets 
 
 Cotton and tobacco, from the very nature of the products, lend them- 
 selves readily to world-wide markets. They can be shipped long dis- 
 tances or kept for long periods of time without deteriorating to any 
 great extent. Neither can be utilized by the producer in its natural state, 
 and the demand for both is universal. It is therefore natural to expect 
 that they are the ideal money crops for this section of the country. 
 
 But why cannot the same thing be said with reference to marketing 
 our excess food and feed stuffs? Of course, as a whole, there are no 
 excess supplies of food stuffs in our county, with the exception of meat, 
 but in individual instances one farmer may raise more sweet potatoes 
 than he can use, another more irish potatoes, another more corn. Under 
 the present marketing conditions in our county for these products what 
 incentive is there for the one to raise an extra supply of sweet potatoes, 
 the other irish potatoes, and the other corn? 
 
 The Boll Weevil Problem 
 
 If only the farmers of the county could foresee the losses that will 
 run into appalling figures by the entrance of the boll weevil, they 
 would not hesitate to minimize on their acreage of cotton production 
 and maximize in their food and feed crops. The per cent of losses, as 
 estimated by the State Entomologist for 1920, run from 10 per cent, in 
 Greenwood to 70 per cent, in Beaufort — the southwestern counties have 
 thus far suffered most from the pest. 
 
 We know that the net profit from cotton is arrived at by substracting 
 the cost of production from the selling price, and also we know that the 
 cost of production would be greater under boll weevil conditions and 
 hence a smaller marginal return will be realized.
 
 46 Florence; County: Economic and Social 
 
 According to statements from the best cotton authorities, "for the past 
 40 years farmers have not been selling their cotton at the price it costs to 
 produce it and not until the last three or four years have any profits 
 been made." 
 
 So under such an outlook why should the farmers persist in raising 
 a ready-money crop when a fifty-fifty plan of raising money-crops and 
 food-crops would yield them a greater income and make the county a 
 self-feeding one. 
 
 Home Raised Food and the Local Market Problem 
 
 The following facts are derived mainly from the 1910 census. Rank 
 indicates the number of counties that make a better showing: 
 
 13th — in corn production, bushels 585,461 
 
 Orangeburg ranked first with 1,112,863 bushels. Ten year 
 increase in corn production 1900-1910, was 203,491 bush- 
 els. The increase was 30.66 per cent. 
 
 16th — in corn production per person, bushels 16.1 
 
 Needed per person 31 bushels; deficit per person, 14.9 
 bushels ; total deficit 558,034 bushels. State average per 
 capita production, 13.7 bushels. 
 
 24th — in wheat production per person, bushels 0.52 
 
 Needed 4 bushels per person; deficit 3.5 bushels; total 
 deficit 125,194 bushels. 
 
 7th — in oats production per acre, bushels 23.9 
 
 The oats produced amounted to 6.3 pints per work ani- 
 mal per day. The ten year increase in oats production, 
 1900-1910, was 184 per cent. 
 
 17th — in hay and forage production, tons 4,453 
 
 Ten year increase 1900-1910, was IZ per cent; rank 
 20th. The hay and forage production amounted to 4.4 
 pounds per work animal per day. 
 
 32nd — in per cent of farm buying feed, per cent 18.3 
 
 716 farms bought feed. 
 
 30th — in beef production per person, 1910, pounds 10 
 
 State average, 19.5 pounds. 
 
 25th — in poultry production per person, fowls 5.1 
 
 Needed 13 per person per year, deficit 245,627 fowls. 
 
 24th — in butter production per person, pounds 3.2 
 
 Needed 48 pounds per person per year; deficit of 44.8 
 povmds per person. 
 
 27th — in livestock production per person 30.90 
 
 State average $29.70. Per capita crop production was 
 $118.62 in Florence. Total farm wealth produced was 
 $149.52 per inhabitant.
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 47 
 
 lOth— in Boy's Corn Club, 1920, members 22 
 
 There is no reason why Florence should not rank first 
 
 by enrolling 75. 
 19th — in Boy's Agricultural Club Work, members 35 
 
 Greenville County ranks first in this particular with an 
 
 enrollment of 290. 
 
 Balance Sheet in Food and Feed Production 
 
 Based on 1910 Ccnsjts. 
 
 1 . Food and Feed : 
 
 Needed— 35,671 people @ $84.00 $2,996,364 
 
 5,644 work animals @ 39.39 $222,317 
 
 2,689 dairy cattle @ 18.55 49,880 
 
 3,135 other cattle @ $8.09 25,362 
 
 699 sheep @ $1.79 1,251 
 
 21,300 .swine @ $6.69 $142,497 
 
 441,307 
 
 Total food and feed needed $3,437,671 
 
 2. Food and Feed : 
 
 Produced— Food and feed crops $1,024,994 
 
 Dairy products $ 11,574 
 
 Poultry products 26,959 
 
 Honey and wax 1,002 
 
 Animals sold and slaughtered . . . . 202,292 
 
 241,827 
 
 Total food and feed produced $1,266,821 
 
 Shortage in home raised food and feed 2,170,850 
 
 Cotton and other non-food crops 3,206,580 
 
 Distribution of Food and Feed Shortage : Pounds 
 
 (1) Meat needed for 35,671 people @ 152 lbs. .. 5,421,992 
 
 Produced 667 calves @ 150 lbs 100,050 
 
 5,824 cattle @ 350 lbs 2,038,400 
 
 73,079 poultry @ 3 1-2 lbs 255,776 
 
 21,300 swine @ 200 lbs 4,260,000 
 
 Total meat produced 6,654,226 
 
 Over production 1,232,234 
 
 Pounds 
 
 (2) Butter needed for 35,671 people @ 48 lbs 1.712,208 
 
 Produced 114,674 
 
 Deficit 1,597,534
 
 48 FivORENCK County: Economic and Social 
 
 (3) Fowls needed for 35,671 people (cV. 12 fowls 428,05^ 
 
 Produced 182.425 
 
 Deficit 245,627 
 
 Dozen 
 
 (4) Eggs needed for 35,671 people (aj 17 1-2 doz 624,242 
 
 Produced 252,130 
 
 Deficit 372,112 
 
 Bushels 
 
 (5) Corn needed for 35,671 people @ 31 bu 1,105,801 
 
 Produced 547,767 
 
 Deficit ■ 558,034 
 
 Bushels 
 
 (6) Wheat needed for 35,671 people (a) 4 bu 142,684 
 
 Produced 17,490 
 
 Deficit 125,194 
 
 Tons 
 
 (7) Hay needed for 5,643 work animals (a) 10 lbs. per day 10,298 
 Produced 4,453 
 
 Deficit 5.845 
 
 Florence County Livestock 1910 Census 
 
 I. Animal Units on Hand : Animal Units 
 
 5592 mature work animals 5,592 
 
 13 spring colts (1-4) 3 
 
 26S9 dairy cows 2,689 
 
 38 yearling colts (1-2) 19 
 
 3135 other cattle (1-2) 1,567 
 
 12560 mature hogs (1-5) 2512 
 
 8740 spring pigs (1-10) 874 
 
 541 mature sheep (1-7) 77 
 
 158 lambs (1-14) 11 
 
 73079 poultry (1-100) 7307 
 
 Total animal units 20,651 
 
 II. Animal Units Needed— 388,480 A divided by 5 77,696 
 
 Per cent of animals in a lightly stocked farm area 27 
 
 Per cent below the level 73 
 
 Note — A lightly stocked farm area means one animal unit for every 
 5 acres — a horse, a cow, 2 colts, 5 hogs, 7 sheep or 100 hens.
 
 Vlll. 
 
 EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS 
 
 J. p. McNeill, jr. 
 
 While wc should hear in mind that there exists always room for im- 
 provement, still, in comparison with other counties of the State, many 
 of greater landed area, older and more populous, this study has revealed 
 many things of which the folks of this county may be justly proud. 
 
 Wealth 
 
 Between the years 1900 and 1910 our total farm wealth jumped from 
 less than three million dollars to over eleven million dollars, or an in- 
 crease of approximately 400 per cent. No other county in the State 
 can boast of such an increase. The increase for the State as a whole 
 for the same period was 155.3 per cent. Our per capita country wealth 
 in 1910 was $390.00, in which respect we ranked 7th among the counties 
 of the State. 
 
 Our rank is eighth in total taxable property amounting to $31,647,000 
 in 1920, a fact to be proud of, but when we learn that between 1910 
 and 1920 we lead the counties of the State in increase in total taxable 
 property with a percentage of 123.72 our pride is boosted considerably. 
 According to these figures every person in the county is worth on the 
 average $627. Only 14 counties make a better showing. 
 
 With her 5291 farms, and ranking in this respect 8th among the 
 other counties, she ranks 11th in per capita crop values based on the 
 eleven leading crops with $159.96. Comparing this figure with the per 
 capita country wealth of $390 it would seem that in less than three 
 years each farmer will produce more than he has saved since Columbus 
 sailed the ocean blue in 1492. We can produce, but we cannot save. 
 Let us learn this difficult lesson and keep our money at home. 
 
 In 1920 we had 3318 automobiles in our county, or, one to every 
 16.9 persons. Greenville, Anderson, Richland, Spartanburg, Charles- 
 ton and Orangeburg are the only counties that have more. 
 
 W^e have a bank in our county for every 2653 people, in which re- 
 spect we rank 6th. We rank 5th in per capita bank resources with 
 $230 and 5th in per capita bank capital with $18.00; 7th in per cap- 
 ita bank loans and discounts with $134.00, and 12th in per capita bank 
 account savings with $21.00. 
 
 To follow up statistics with reference to all phases of wealth in Flor-
 
 50 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 ence County will reveal a steady increase from year to year, some- 
 times gradual, sometimes marked. We should continue, however, to 
 produce, save and accumulate. 
 
 Agriculture 
 
 Upon the health, happiness and prosperity of the farmers of our 
 county, depend in a large measure the health, happiness and prosperity 
 of the county as a whole. 
 
 Florence county, with her acreage of 388,480, composed of 31 distinct 
 types of soil, with 42.2 per cent, of her farm land improved, not only 
 holds her own, but is on intimate terms with the leaders in per acre pro- 
 duction of the eleven basic crops. Among the counties of the State only 
 12 can boast of a greater corn production; 6 in the productioYi of oats; 
 16 in hay and forage ; 12 in cotton production as a whole and 9 in pro- 
 duction per acre. In 1910 we rai-sed crops valued at $8,063,000 or a per 
 acre value of $41.00. In this respect we ranked 12th. 
 
 Only recently have our people realized that the Norfolk, Portsmouth, 
 Coxville and Kalmia series of soils that are found Lake City and else- 
 where in the county are peculiarly adapted to the raising of tobacco. 
 Consequently, in the last few years more attention has been given to the 
 production of this crop and in 1920 we had the distinction of tying Wil- 
 liamsburg County for first place in its production with a grand total of 
 nine million nine hundred thousand pounds raised. Lake City is the 
 largest tobacco market in the State. 
 
 Pee Dee Experiment Station 
 
 The Pee Dee Experiment Station, a branch of the State Experiment 
 Station, with headquarters at Clemson College, was established in the 
 Pee Dee section with a view of ascertaining agricultural information 
 applicable to that part of the State. It is located one and one-half 
 miles northwest of Florence. The station property consists of about 
 two hundred acres and embraces the following soil types : Coxville 
 Sandy Loam, Norfolk Fine Sandy Loam, and Orangeburg Fine Sandy 
 Loam, which are the most prevalent in the Pee Dee section. The 
 first experiments of any note were commenced in 1914 and since that 
 time the work has been enlarged until at the present time practically 
 all the station land is devoted to experimental work of some na'ture. 
 
 Fertilizer Tests: About fifty acres are developed to testing fertilizers 
 under different crops and in different combinations and amounts under 
 these crops. The plots are usually one-tenth acre in size, which gives 
 something over five hundred field plots. 
 
 Rotation Studies : In connection with the fertilizer tests a great 
 field is open for the study of the value of rotations. The following 
 are now being conducted: Three-year rotation; corn the first year, fol-
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 51 
 
 lowed by fall oats and peas sown for hay the second year; followed 
 by cotton the third year. In the two-year rotation corn, in which peas 
 or other legume are sown at the last cultivation, is planted the first 
 year, followed by cotton the second year. Running through all these 
 rotation tests is a comprehensive system of fertilized plots and to check 
 the benefit derived from the rotation there is a corresponding number 
 of plots planted continuously to the above crops. 
 
 Variety Tests of Field Crops : Inasmuch as variety tests are always 
 of such immediate value to farmers, the leading varieties of all impor- 
 tant field crops are tested each year as follows : Cotton, twenty-five 
 varieties ; corn, twenty varieties ; soy beans, forty-five ; sweet potatoes, 
 fifty-six ; several varieties of velvet beans ; and all known varieties 
 of peanuts. 
 
 Tests With Tobacco : Tobacco seems to be peculiarly adapted to the 
 Pee Dee section and considerable work is carried on at this station rel- 
 ative to this crop. From time to time the different varieties are grown, 
 chiefly to show their differences. Complete fertilizer tests as well as 
 studies to determine the best rotation practices are conducted. In 
 addition to this tests are conducted with different poisons to combat 
 the worms. 
 
 Hog Feeding Tests : All the work of this nature done so far has been 
 hogging off various field crops, and much valuable data along this 
 line have been obtained. Practically all the field crops suitable for hog 
 grazing have been tested. 
 
 Cotton Breeding : Inasmuch as a considerable area of land on the 
 station farm is infested with the cotton wilt disease organisms, special 
 attention has been given to the breeding and selection of wilt-resistant 
 cotton seed. These seed are distributed among the farmers of the State 
 in such manner as to place them in newly infested areas each year. 
 
 Horticultural Work : A small area is devoted to horticultural work. 
 Different varieties of peaches, grapes and small fruits are grown as a 
 matter of demonstrating. This work has received a great deal of at- 
 tention and has been the means of inducing numbers of farmers in the 
 section to plant on their own farms the fruits that are grown here. 
 
 The interest in the work of the station is increasing from year to 
 year as the farmers of the section become better acquainted with what 
 is being done. Recently farmers from Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas 
 and Alabama have visited the station in large numbers to study the 
 work done here. 
 
 Boys' Agricultural Club Work. 
 
 The Boys Corn Clubs and the Girls Canning Clubs are organizations 
 designed for a purpose, and right well are they living up to that pur- 
 pose. They arouse the interest of the children in better . farming, which 
 will in turn produce better farming conditions, and should receive the
 
 52 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 support of every man, woman and child in the rural communities, and 
 there are 39,438 of these rural folk in the county out of a total popula- 
 tion of 50,406. 
 
 Schools 
 
 With the exception of our standing in attendance the whole school 
 situation in Florence County may be looked upon as reflecting credit 
 upon the citizens of the county. This is said, of course, in view of the 
 comparison with the other counties of the State. However, in no 
 respect have we attained that ideal toward which we are ever striving 
 and which we hope some day to attain. 
 
 We lead the State in our per capita investment in school property. 
 The school property in Florence County is estimated to be worth 
 $1,465,310, while Greenville, with her very much greater wealth and pop- 
 ulation has $2,568,374. 
 
 With only 16.39 per cent of our schools one-teacher schools, we rank 
 third among the other counties, Darlington with 10.34 per cent and Dillon 
 with 10.71 per cent, outranking us. This has been brought about by 
 consolidating the many small schools into a few large, well built, well 
 "teachered" schools. Our standing is made more striking when we 
 learn that the average for the State is 43.22 per cent. 
 
 For every child enrolled in our schools in 1920 we spent $18.69. Only 
 three counties are ahead of us in this respect. 
 
 Florence City Schools 
 
 In the words of Professor George Briggs, Principal of the Florence 
 High vSchool : 
 
 "In 1906 the town of Florence had two school buildings, one brick 
 l)uilding for white people, and one wooden building for negro pupils. 
 In the school system at that time there were fifteen teachers who re- 
 received from thirty-five to forty dollars per month. The superintendent 
 received one hundred and thirty-five dollars per month. The course 
 of stud} offered the usual work in English and Mathematics and cov- 
 ered about nine grades. There was no science and no foreign language 
 offered except Latin. There were about five hundred pupils in atten- 
 dance. 
 
 "In the system now there are four brick buildings for white pupils, 
 worth lialf a nnliion dollars, and one brick building for negroes worth 
 fifty thousand dollars. There are now employed seventy teachers whose 
 l)ay ranges from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty 
 dollars per nioiuii. 'i'lic superintendent's salary is four hundred dol- 
 lars per month. The course of study now includes the usual English 
 branches. Mathematics, Latin, French, Spanish, General Science, Phy- 
 sics, Chemistry', Domestic Art and .Science, and covers eleven grades.
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 53 
 
 Next session it is probable that the twelfth grade will be added. There 
 are in attendance now more than three thousand pupils." 
 
 Florence Civic Improvement Society 
 
 Realizing the need of an organization to look after the civic improv- 
 ment of a fast growing citj', the men and women of Florence called a 
 meeting of the citizens to be held on vSeptember 16th, 1902 for the pur- 
 pose of developing such an agency. Accordingly, on that day, a good 
 number of the leading women and business men of the city, together 
 with the Alayor and members of the City Council, met and after a free 
 and enthusiastic discussion of the matter in hand decided to leave its 
 operation in the hands of the women, the men promising to uphold them 
 and assist them in (!very way possible. A second meeting was called 
 for October 8th, at which time an election of officers was held, result- 
 ing in the choice of Mrs. Theodore Kuker, for President. Mrs. D. M. 
 McEachern. Secretary and Mrs. James Evans . Treasurer, after which 
 the following committees were appointed: Street Committee: Railroad 
 Committee; Finance Committee, and one to take in hand the beautifying 
 of the grounds of the County Court House. 
 
 This organization has been unceasing and untiring in its effort to im- 
 prove the city in every way that presented itself. The length of this 
 article will not permit comment upon every phase of the society's ac- 
 tivity, but a cursory review of their achievements will show clearly that 
 they are for Florence, first, last and always, and as public servants 
 should be backed by every citizen of Florence that has the welfare of his 
 city at heart. 
 
 Here are some of the things that it has accomplished : changed the 
 grounds surrounding the County Court House from that of an unkempt 
 public hitching grf)und to that of a well kept lawn with hedges and walks; 
 beautified tiie two small plots in front of the City Hall; establishment of 
 Industrial Fair; Baby Show; curb vetegetable market; public drinking 
 fountains; and public i)lay grounds. 
 
 The Florence Civic Improvement Society is a live thing today and is 
 laying plans for bigger tilings in the future. 
 
 County Y. M. C. A. 
 
 Florence County has the distinction of being the first county in South 
 Carolina to organize a rural Y. M. C. A. work which was begun April 
 15, 1921. The primary aim and purpose of this work is the dvelopment 
 of the character, health and spirituality of the more than two thousand 
 white boys of Association age in our county. 
 
 The work is non-equipment in that it invests in personality rather 
 than in buildings and paraphernalia. To carry on the work a County 
 Secretary is employed who gives his entire time and promotes the work 
 
 \
 
 54 Florence County : Economic and Sociai. 
 
 under the direction of a Committee of leading business and professional 
 men of the county, who, together with the people of the county are 
 giving their moral and financial support to a work that is developing 
 one of our country's greatest assets — BOYS. 
 
 The Florence Chamber of Commerce. 
 
 The Florence Chamber of Commerce is organized to foster the agri- 
 cultural, industrial, commercial and civic interests of Florence and her 
 vicinity, and while naturally Florence has first claim upon her activities, 
 still the Chamber fully recognizes the principle that by helping others 
 we help ourselves. This may be considerd briefly the aim and purpose 
 of the organization. 
 
 In the words of its Secretary : "Our program includes such achieve- 
 ments as the establishment of various subsidary organizations in num- 
 erous lines. Among these are a cash potato market in which the mem- 
 bers practice the most approved methods of planting, handling, grading 
 and packing on a cooperative basis; getting built in Florence more 
 warehouse facilities for handling her tobacco and cotton crops; the 
 establishment of a market reporting service, both direct and compara- 
 tive, for potatoes, tobacco and cotton; creation of a traffic bureau in 
 the Chamber of Commerce which is in a position to gve and procure 
 the very best corrective and protective measures for our transportation 
 resources and advantages; successful advertising of Florence by news- 
 papers and magazines to more than ten million people during the past 
 year by placing in such publications news articles of interest to this 
 section and South Carolina at large; we also aided in creating a coop- 
 erative spirit among the interests of Florence County; by various means 
 interested other parts of the State and of the county in Florence. We 
 have made our resources known and recognized in many parts of the 
 world, including South Africa and India, by motion pictures which 
 attracted the interest of foreign governments to the extent that they pro- 
 cured copies for display in their colonies; we had one party of 150 farm- 
 ers from Arkansas, with other parties from Louisiana, Texas and a 
 number of other states, come to Florence to see how we farm; we also 
 establishal and maintained very cordial relations between the city 
 at large and our transportation companies and public carriers. In many 
 other ways we have given a widespread service to the people of Flor- 
 ence and the surrounding territory." 
 
 Rotary Club of Florence 
 
 The Rotary Club of Florence came into existence during the early 
 part of 1920, due to the efforts of J. Boon Aiken, who became its first 
 president. Its membership is limited to one man from each profession, 
 but in some cases a second active member may come in from the same
 
 Florence County : Economic and Social 55 
 
 firm or business from which the active membership in the club is filled. 
 
 The Florence Club has established a Rotary Educational Fund whose 
 object is to aid worthy young men in completing their education, men 
 who would not otherwise be in position to do this. A deserving young 
 man is now being aided by this fund, and its operations will be extended 
 as the finances of the club will permit. The Rotary Club does not un- 
 dertake many public movements as a club, but seeks to aid those agen- 
 cies already established in the furtherance of their work, for example, 
 the Young Men's Christian Association, Boy Scouts, Red Cross — any 
 force that has for its object the betterment of those conditions under 
 which we live. It takes absolutely no part in politics. 
 
 "He profits most who serves best," is the slogan of Rotary, the 
 idea of the organization being to promote a feeling of fellowship among 
 the members and to give them a new realization of the unselfishness of 
 service. While the Florence Club has only recently celebrated its first 
 anniversary, it is hoped that the community has absorbed through its 
 dealings with Rotarians some new idea of the nobility of service. 
 
 The idea of Rotary had its inception sixteen years ago when four 
 Chicago business men met once each week for luncheon together, and 
 the weekly luncheon of each club is the backbone of the existence of 
 the organization. 
 
 Where We Lead 
 
 There are forty-six counties in South Carolina, and it is considered 
 
 conservative to call Florence County a leader when her rank is 15 or 
 below in comparison with the other counties of the State. 
 Rank. 
 
 1st— in tobacco production, 1920 (pounds) 9,900,000 
 
 7th— in oats production per acre, 1910, (bushels) 23.9 
 
 13th— in corn production, 1910 (bushels) 585.461 
 
 13th— in cotton production, 1920 (bales) 43,000 
 
 10th— in cotton production per acre, 1920 (pounds) 278 
 
 10th — in value of non-food crops produced, 1910 3,206,580 
 
 11th— in per capita crop values of eleven leading crops, 1920 159.96 
 
 12th — in value of corn crops, per acre, 1920 $41.00 
 
 4th— in cattle increase,' 1900-1910 5,291 
 
 10th— in total farm wealth, 1910 $11,401,794 
 
 10th— in Boy's Corn Club, 1920 (members) 35 
 
 8th— in population, 1920 50,406 
 
 10th — in population per square mile, 1920 72.1 
 
 9th — in density rural population per square mile, 1920 . . . . 56.4 
 
 2nd— in birth rate per 1000 population, 1919 38.3 
 
 6th — in church membership per cent of total population ten 
 years old and over 1916, 14,288 of our people were mem- 
 bers of no church °^
 
 56 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 1st — in farm wealth increase 1900-1910 per cent 400 
 
 State increase 155.3 per cent. 
 
 10th— in total farm wealth, 1910 $11,401,794 
 
 7th— in per capita country wealth, 1910 $390.00 
 
 1st— in increase in taxable property. 1910-1920, per cent .. 123.72 
 
 8th— in total taxable property, 1920 $31,647,900 
 
 15th— in per capita wealth, 1920 $627.00 
 
 13th — percentage that mortgaged farms are of total farms 
 
 owned by white people, 1910 8.4 
 
 Number farms owned by whites 3664; number mortgag- 
 ed 354. 
 
 12th — percentage of negro farms mortgaged, 1910 15.7 
 
 7th — in number of automobiles, 1920 3318 
 
 One auto for every 16.9 inhabitants. 
 
 6th — in number inhabitants per bank. 1920 2653 
 
 Number banks 19; population 50,406. 
 
 5th — in per capita bank resources, 1919 $230.00 
 
 5th — ^in per capita bank capital, 1919 18.00 
 
 7th — in per capita hank loans and discounts, 1919 $134.00 
 
 12th — in per capita bank account savings, 1919 $21.00 
 
 1st— in per capita investment in school property, 1920 . . $29.07 
 
 2nd— in total value of school property, 1920 $1,465,310.00 
 
 3rd — in percentage of white schools that are one teacher 
 
 schools, 1920 16.39 
 
 4th — in per capita expenditure according to enrollment (both 
 
 races) 1920 18.69 
 
 10th — in per capita expenditure according to enrollment 
 
 ( white ) 1920 $34.04 
 
 8th — in per capita expenditure according to enrollment 
 
 (negro) 1920 .. $3.61 
 
 9th — in average salary paid white teachers (women) 1920. $615.55 
 5th — in recepits from State appropriation (both races) .. $38,325.63 
 7th — in average number wliite pupils to school according 
 
 to enrollment, 192U 101 
 
 6th — in average number white i)U])ils to school according 
 
 to average attendance, 1920 69
 
 ^ 
 
 IX 
 
 OUR PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTION 
 
 T. P. McNeill. Jr. 
 
 In the preceding chapter we have enumerated the many things of which 
 we can well afford to be proud in Florence County, but unfortunately 
 there are many conditions prevailing in our county of which the oppo- 
 site is true. In every such unfavorable condition we come face to face 
 with a problem, which problem will have to be solved before wc can at- 
 tain that social and economic position to which we aspire. 
 
 No doubt many a citizen will be shocked to learn in what and in 
 how many respects Florence County ranks low in comparison with the 
 other counties of the State. It is the primary purpose of this work 
 to call these defects to the attention of our people, with the hope 
 that with this realization will come determination to eradicate these 
 evils, for evils they are, that are thwarting our development, retarding 
 our progress, and hindering our people from obtaining that efficient, 
 prosperous and wholesome life which all of us want. 
 
 Illiteracy 
 
 Every State in the American Union, with the exception of Louisiana, 
 can boast of a fewer number of illiterates, persons who cannot read 
 or write their own names, than can South Carolina. United States 
 Census figures of 1910 show that 25.7 per cent of the people in South 
 Carolina are illiterates, or, about one in every four. 
 
 We find i)ractically the same condition existing in Floronce County. 
 In 1910 there were 1020 white people over ten years of age in our 
 county who could neither read nor write, or 9.3 per cent., while 5007 
 negroes, or 35.9 per cent, of the population, were in the same condition 
 of utter ignorance. This fact is appalling. We can never hope to 
 grow and flourish while this situation obtains all around us. Just as 
 surely as the veil of ignorance retards progress does the lifting of that 
 veil through education make progress possible. 
 
 The remedy for illiteracy is, of course, education. The majority of 
 our illiterates are of such age that they can be educated in the public 
 schools. The efficiency of school depends upon the attendance of the 
 pupils. We cannot expect illiterate parents to realize the importance 
 of an education, nor can we expect the children of illiterate parents 
 to attend school voluntarilv. Vet thev must be educated if the future
 
 58 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 is to find them an educated folk. It is simply up to the educated people 
 in our country to see that our children attend school through persuasion, 
 legislation or any other way that is feasible. The passage of the com- 
 pulsory education law was the greatest constructive step toward the 
 eradication of illiteracy in South Carolina. Let us insist upon its en- 
 forcement. 
 
 But there is another large group of illiterates in Florence County 
 who are too old to attend school, yet it is our duty to do all in our 
 power to open the doors of learning to them for two reasons: (1) that 
 their remaining years might be years of greater usefulness to them- 
 selves and to society; (2) that in the realization of the value of an 
 education they will appreciate the absolute importance of the education 
 of their children. 
 
 The question arises, how can persons above school age be taught? 
 How approach them on the subject? In many instances they know that 
 they are ignorant but are sensitive about their condition and rather 
 resent any suggestion that they owe it to themselves and to the com- 
 munity to better this condition. It is a very delicate proposition and 
 miist be handled tactfully. Their salvation along this line, it seems 
 to me, lies in holding meetings of an educational nature in our com- 
 munity school houses and in our churches, and in making the appeal to 
 them strong enough to insure their presence at these meetings. 
 
 The work of the Illiteracy Commission in the organization of adult 
 schools, schools organized for the sole purpose of teaching grown 
 illiterates to read and write, has done a wonderful work in the State. 
 When handled tactfully the pupils enter into the spirit of the school with 
 enthusiasm, and it is desired that every county in the State establish 
 these adult schools. So far, Florence County has no organization of 
 this kind. Surely we cannot afford to turn the cold shoulder to any- 
 thing that looks to the eradication of illiteracy in our county. Upon 
 these schools being organized it becomes the duty of the different com- 
 munities to lend their support by encouraging the adult pupils and 
 evidencing a just pride in their accomplishments. 
 
 Better Schools 
 
 In a preceding chapter it was stated that, with the exception 
 of attendance, the whole school situation in Florence County, as com- 
 pared with the other counties of the state, reflected credit upon the 
 county. Suppose we led every county in South Carolina in all matters 
 relating to schools, could we afford to be satisfied with our educational 
 achievements when there are over six thousand people above the 
 age of ten years living within the limits of our county who can 
 neither read nor write ! Does the fact that we happen to lead all 
 other counties in per capita investment in school property with $29.07
 
 FivORENCTj County: Economic and Social 59 
 
 mean that $29.07 is just the right amount of money for each person in 
 the county to have invested in school property, and that a larger amount 
 would be superfluous? Even a cursory review of the educational condi- 
 tion in our county will not permit such an attitude. 
 
 It just takes three things to secure an ideal school system: money, 
 the realization by the people of the vital need of education, and time. 
 We have the money, for people using almost a million and a half dollars 
 yearly for the operation of their automobiles and raising yearly crops 
 valued at eight million dollars can certainly spare more than the $150,- 
 000 usually expended for education in the county each year. Time 
 is an important element, for as the years pass close study of the prob- 
 lem of education reveals new methods of teaching, school administra- 
 tion, organization and equipment which should be substituted for the 
 old methods hindering our progress. Folks, as a rule, are wary of 
 the "high-browed" school teacher who tries to upset things in general 
 with some "new-fangled" notions about the art of teaching. Just be- 
 cause the pupils of today are not taught the "blue back" spelling book 
 and do not write on slates, do not think that schools have gone to 
 rack and ruin. On the contrary, in no field has there been a greater 
 expenditure of time and effort, sober reflection and laborious experi- 
 mentation in the last twenty years than there has been in the field of 
 education. Capable men have devoted their lives to the improvement of 
 the methods of teaching your children and these methods are never 
 adopted until they have proven to be practical. We should welcome a 
 change when we know that in the end ourselves and our children will be 
 benefited. 
 
 The compulsory education law, even if the means for enforcement 
 were provided, requires the attendance of the pupils enrolled for only 
 four months of the year. Our hope, therefore, lies in getting the pa- 
 rents to insist upon their children attending school during the whole 
 school year, regardless of the compulsory education law. The average 
 child does not realize the importance of an education and will not there- 
 fore attend school on his own accord. He must be made to go. We 
 who are older and know what is best, should never lag in our duty to 
 our children. Send them to school and they in after years will insist 
 upon their children attending school. Once we get the educational ball 
 rolling all will be well. It is up to us to start it. 
 
 Idle Lands 
 
 Florence County ranks among the larger counties of the state with 
 a total area of about 390,000 acres. Of this amount about 130,000 
 acres, or one-third of the total area, is under cultivation. About 60,- 
 000 acres are devoted to pasturage, and something like 50,000 acres are in 
 mature timber and good growing timber, leaving a balance of about
 
 60 Florencr County: Economic and Social 
 
 150,000 acres which may be classed as idle land. It is with this latter 
 class of land we wish primarily to deal. 
 
 The above figures afford an interesting economic study. At the out- 
 set we find that not quite half of the land in the county is being 
 put to use for profit, the total area in cultivation, pasturage and timber 
 being less than the acreage in idle or cutover land. Florence County 
 anks 21st among the counties of the state in this respect. The prob- 
 lem before us is how should this idle or cutover land be put to use 
 so that the owners, and the county at large, might derive a fair bene- 
 fit and profit therefrorn. 
 
 Some few calculations are necessary in order to arrive at a fair esti- 
 mate of the situation. The idle, pasturage and timber lands, together 
 aggregate 260,000 acres. Of this amount we estimate 100,000 acres 
 in swamps, bays and low flat lands not suitable for cultivation without 
 expensive drainage systems, which would be impracticable with so much 
 other land ready for planting upon clearing with the usual amount of 
 ditching. Deducting further the area in timber which should, of course, 
 be allowed to stand and grow, we therefore have 110,000 acres of avail- 
 able idle or cutover land suitable for planting with the ordinary labor 
 of reducing to cultivation. Of this acreage, however, 25,000 acres 
 should be set aside for reforestation, which with the area already in 
 timber, would make a total timber wooded acreage of 75,000 acres, 
 in addition, of course, to the wooded land included in swamps, bays 
 and low flat lands. 
 
 The above figures in wooded and timber lands may seem excessive 
 at first glance, but with the rapid consumption of all available timber 
 all over the country, and the slow and imperfect process of reforesta- 
 tion, it will not be many years when it will be necessary for each par- 
 ticular section to supply its own timber needs. And though that date 
 be fairly remote at this time, it is coming with exacting certainty, 
 and then it will be that the wisdom of providing sufficient local timber 
 will be effectively seen. 
 
 The wooded and timber lands, however, would be serving a twofold 
 purpose, that of growing new timber, and at the same time affording 
 pasturage for three times as many cattle as are now pastured. With 
 the arrival of the boll weevil in force and the consequent necessity of 
 engaging in other pursuits on the farm it is safe to assume that the 
 total available acreage ior ])asturage under this classification will be 
 none too large. Every farm should have a small acreage in woods 
 and pasturage. 
 
 By deduction we therefore arrive at the figure of 85,000 acres of 
 idle cutover upland suitable for cultivation without greater than the 
 ordinary expenses of clearing and ditching. After reserving the necs- 
 sary timber and pasturage for capacity farming population of the
 
 Florencp; County: Economic and Social 61 
 
 county there is room for 1,500 more farm families of five persons 
 each, or 7,500 more people to live in the country, allowing 50 acres for 
 each farm. In 1910 our farms averaged 33 acres cultivated for each 
 farm. There were 381 farms containing 175 acres or more. This 
 would make room for many more farming families by reason of better 
 and more intensive cultivation of the land. 
 
 Genera! improvements in the method of farming are needed. By ex- 
 perience of successful farmers it is known that small horses and 
 mules and poor stock are not money makers on the farm. The one- 
 horse plow should be supplanted by the two in much of the plowing, 
 especially in breaking the soil and preparing the land for seed. Im- 
 proved farm machinery is needed to be more generally used. Besides 
 saving labor and expense, it does the work better than the old hand 
 and plow method. There is a successful improved farm implement for 
 almost every sort of work on the farm and the use of such improved 
 farm machinery should be adopted by every farmer, large and small. 
 We assume that farming is a success with all who follow it, and there- 
 fore every farmer should be able to purchase improved machinery. If 
 he is not he is not farming and ought to get at something else, for no 
 occupation is worth while that does not bring a fair reward for one's 
 labor and time. And by reward we mean a living and a reasonable 
 accumulation of material things from year to year. 
 
 The natural increase in population will, of course, in time take up 
 all the available plantable land in the county. The only other way 
 to increase the farming population would be to bring more people into 
 the county from outside parts. Importation of foreign people has 
 been tried in many sections with more failures than success. We hardly 
 think that increasing the population of the county in that way would 
 be of any marked benefit, and on the contrary it might settle with 
 us an undesirable element. Our solution is to induce Americans from 
 less fertile sections to come to Florence County and locate. Our 
 climate and the fertility of the soil is unsurpassed in any state in the 
 Union, and any man, no matter from what state, who wants to farm 
 for a living can do no better than to locate in Florence County. The 
 foundation for successful farming, good land, is here, and all that is 
 needed is determination to succeed, energy and the ordinary labor of 
 farm work. 
 
 Tenancy 
 
 This subject has been discussed before in several of its aspects. As 
 a stepping stone to farm ownership tenancy cannot be looked upon as 
 an evil tendency, but when a tenant uses rented land simply to earn a 
 living year in and year out, entertaining no hope of better things, 
 tenancy is an evil. The solution is, %i course, farm ownership.
 
 62 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 Livestock 
 
 Florence County has made marked progress towards better live- 
 stock and especially pure bred hogs. The county ranked seventh among 
 the counties in South Carolina in livestock on January 1, 1921. This 
 value was $2,565,400 compared with $1,067,418 in 1910. Dairying 
 has increased to a considerable extent, but as yet there are no pure 
 bred herds in the county. Each dairyman has only a few pure breds 
 in his herd, but the tendency is favorable towards increasing them. In 
 the summer of 1918, the county agent placed about seventy-five grade 
 Guernsey heifers and five registered Guernsey bulls out over the 
 county. These cattle were bought from the best herds in Wisconsin 
 and already one can see the improvement made by the use of these 
 bulls. 
 
 Florence County was one of the first, if not the first, to establish 
 co-operative bull associations, there being one in practically every part 
 of the county. The herds of dairy cattle that predominate are Guern- 
 seys and Jerseys. Beef cattle are not raised to any extent in Florence 
 County. There are only a few herds of beef cattle in the county. 
 More interest has been taken in hogs in the last few years than any 
 other phase of livestock. There have been many herds of pure bred 
 hogs established, and in Lake City the breeders of Poland-Chinas have 
 gone so far as to organize a breeders' association. From 1910 to 1920 
 hogs increased 73 per cent., which shows that practicality all of the 
 farmers are interested in hogs. Through the untiring efforts of the 
 county agent, the hog-cholera fear has been practically overcome. 
 
 Florence County produces more meat than she consumes, but this is a 
 splendid policy as the farmers can find a ready sale for this surplus 
 meat, or they may pool their hogs and form co-operative shipments, 
 under which conditions the highest market prices are secured. 
 
 One of the greatest possibilities of livestock is the raising of sheep. 
 If every farmer would keep a few sheep the production of mutton along 
 with the wool would greatly add to the assets of the county. 
 
 The weakest point in Florence County livestock is the raising of 
 horses and mules. Most of the farmers look upon the raising of a colt 
 as rather expensive, but when the facts are figured, a colt can be raised 
 until about three years old for about one hundred dollars, besides the 
 farm mare doing her share of work. If every farmer would solve this 
 problem there would be less four hundred and fifty dollar mules ship- 
 ped from all parts of the country, thereby keeping our money at home. 
 
 Although Florence County is lightly stocked with livestock, she is 
 going to be one of the foremost in the state if the progress that has 
 characterized the past decades continues for the next ten years. 
 
 Good Roads 
 
 Good roads are desirable. They pay. With these axiomatic state-
 
 Florence County: Economic and Social 63 
 
 ments, the vast majority of the citizens of Florence County will agree. 
 But unless they have devoted some serious thought thereto, they prob- 
 ably do not realize just how desirable good roads are, nor how well, 
 nor in what varied ways they pay. 
 
 The first step, therefore, towards the solution of our roads prob- 
 lem, must be a process of education, whereby our people may be more 
 fully informed and more thoroughly convinced as to the desirability 
 of good roads. Their attention must be directed, of course, to the in- 
 calculable social advantages which such roads bring. The drawing 
 together of neighbors and the development of community life; the 
 elimination of the isolated farm house; greater intercourse between 
 town and country, are some of the results which come with good roads. 
 The influence of such factors in social betterment is appreciated by all 
 thoughtful persons. 
 
 Not only, however, is there a social value in good roads, but there 
 are distinct economic advantages. A few figures suffice to illustrate. 
 The Department of Agriculture estimates the cost ©f hauling a bale 
 of cotton to market to be eighty cents. On this basis, ia 1919, Flor- 
 ence County paid out $3^1,039 to carry a crop of 42,549 bales to market. 
 When we include the cost of hauling the cotton seed, it raises the 
 total cost of the movement of our cotton crop to market in 1919 to 
 $97,876.20. The conservative estimate of forty per cent, has been 
 made, as to reduction in such costs over improved roads. This would 
 mean an annual saving of $39,150. What is said of cotton may be 
 applied to nearly all kinds of rural transportation. The saving which 
 would be effected in one year would probably pay a large part of the 
 cost of a system of good roads. The betterment of roads means the 
 lessening of the time consumed in travelling back and forth — it means 
 greater accessibility to markets and business places, the enhancement 
 of real estate values, the development of back country, all of which 
 would be of distinct econemic value. Space does not permit a more 
 complete exposition of this phase, but it serves to indicate the wealth 
 of material for use in argument and propaganda in favor of good 
 roads. 
 
 When this educational process shall have reached a point where the 
 people are thoroughly aroused to the desirability, value and necessity 
 of improving our roads, then we fieed to have a definite system of roads 
 to propose, and a sound plan for financing their construction. 
 
 As to the first, it would seem that at the outset, provision should 
 be made for a complete and comprehensive survey of our road system 
 by competent engineers. The main arteries of travel should be deter- 
 mined upon, and their course, (with as much regard to directness as the 
 territory to be served might allow) should be chartered. Then, leading 
 from these main lines, lateral roads extending into every community
 
 64 BiiQREj^cB /Cqdni:'y.5 -^coNCDtMic' AND SqoiaL 
 
 should t)^ prDJ«qted,;;vJin;,tlles^) stiTwys, it would seem desirable tOrU^e 
 present l<?cati.O!ns;iwhere_vet; noit.i\vhpHy. undesirable from an engineering 
 
 standpoint.;.:;: .;,|j.: ;:li:;.i ]:yr: A-r- .il- v, .;i' , .. ■ - ;:,. ■]..':■. 
 
 Having fixed the roads, the kind. of constr-ijGtion would next receive 
 attention. And i as; tio -th^t,.' experience has taught that the main roads, 
 at all events, ■i:sbftuld be- permanent, hard surfaced highways. Nont 
 ftther will stand.the /traffic In time.other roads might be adde:d tto 
 the permanent construction: program, but. from the beginning it seems 
 foolish to build other than permanent roads for our main highways. 
 Sand clay will not stand up, and the costs af its maintenance would 
 soon dissipate: ;the:. difference in cost between that variety and the hard 
 SUrfaCCv ._;;: njivv •>;;:.:;) ri:i';:iv- :•;■;;;:•;;! ■■'■'■ ■,-■■■ ■ ;.v. .;i 
 
 lij-These' things, all carefully planned-r— the last and most vexatious prob- 
 lem remains — how to finance. Float bonds? Of course, bijt how-to 
 pay the interest-. and if reate a sinking; fund, fgr retirement, as well a& pro- 
 vide maintenance.;: ;:;ji:!vil ,; ■ A .::.:f;iiiii.i :iv.::: . ;.0 ;' 
 M;-'r\^ ideas- ,hay;;e b;e(^ suggested :u;> -iTriibiruv-^A .: . ?n-v 
 
 .^r4^: -(^itax.OniirOfiJor VehideSaiU;;r> V J;>D lo 
 
 2. An abuttinfe. 'property tax, based on a zone system. ,) ; :. /; 
 
 .;;;Both of ,the$evapp!ear.;to be good and feasible. Certainly the ownelr 
 q-f '.a motor viehicle; can. afford to pay a. substantial tax for improved 
 iToads. The saving; ir^' tires, repair bills, and wear and tear to machine 
 Would offset, many times, the amount to be paid. >;;i;i 
 
 .The owner ofoabutting property, on account of the enhancement in 
 value of such prO'perty,, and the accruing advantages, could afford to pay 
 a reasonable taX- T^he only difficulty here is to provide an equitable 
 system of division into zones, and a fair assessment of a tax thereupon. 
 This is not insuperable. .-., ' i 
 
 The present road tax, being general, should probably be retained ^to 
 provide a maintenance fund, thus permitting all revenues derived from 
 other sources to. 1 be applied directly to improvement. 
 • The ideas here S;Uggested are not original. They merely reflect 
 ■the concensus of opinion among those who have devoted thought to 
 th"e-solution of our roads problem. Along some such line we must wqrk. 
 and the sooner the movement begins, the better for Florence County. 
 
 Co-Operative Marketing 
 
 The great problem with the ; farmer today is to market his product 
 to the best advantage, that is, with the least possible lost motion or ex- 
 cessive overhead expenses. Many millions of dollars have been loSl 
 by the farming class of people as a result of uneconomic and unbus- 
 inesslike marketing methods. Many European countries have recog- 
 nized the evil practices of marketing, and have instituted co-operative 
 marketing for most of their products.
 
 FivORENGE County: Economic and: vSociAr* 65 
 
 'i 'G&Iif6rnia, which is oiie of the most progressive states = in the Union, 
 cklso fceognizes the advantages to be had in to-operative marketing, 
 ahd during last year approximately two hundred and ninety-seven 
 itoillions worth of products were sold biit of California co-operatively. 
 
 The whole country has become permeated with a spirit of co-operative 
 rtlarketing. It h rapidly convincing the business world of its merits and 
 it is believed by many that it is not a- wild prophecy to state that within 
 the next five years the majority of the products of this country, even 
 the large staple crops, will be marketed on a co-operative basis, as ad- 
 vocated by the Agricultural Extension Service of Clemson College, 
 which has given much study to this subject. 
 
 Not only is this proposition of interest to our people for the big crops 
 such as cotton and tobacco, but it is the only hope by which we can 
 successfully grow and market the smaller crops of truck, such as sweet 
 potatoes, Irish potatoes, beans, peaches and such perishable crops. 
 Progress in this direction is rapid and local organizations are being 
 built up all through the lower half of South Carolina, and it is be- 
 lieved that owing to the railroad facilities and material advantages 
 as a center that Florence will be a routing and office headquarters for 
 large quantities of truck which will be grown and sold co-operatively 
 through a central office, as a result of diversification, which will neces- 
 sarily follow the ravages of the boll weevil so evident throughout this 
 section. . ; 
 
 Taxation 
 
 Our present method of taxation is inadequate. There must be some- 
 thing wrong when we are continually voting extra levies on ourselves, 
 continuing to increase the amount we have to pay, and yet find our 
 government "in the hole" at the end of every year. Those who pay 
 taxes pay enough. There is many a man in Florence County whose 
 property is never listed on the tax books. Herein the trouble lies. 
 The present method of taxation makes such an evasion possible. Real 
 estate bears the burden, for it is hard to prevent its being placed upon 
 our tax books. But what of the man whose property consists of stocks 
 and bonds and other intangible forms of wealth who can escape tax- 
 ation by the simple method of forgetting he owns it when the time for 
 property returns rolls around? Surely there is no justice in having 
 a tax system which makes the landowner foot the bills and allows 
 others, and a vast numbei- there are, to enjoy the advantages and protec- 
 tion of our government free of charge ! Under the State Constitution 
 of 1895 we cannot pursue any other method of taxation. The only 
 way to get relief is to amend the Constitution, providing for a revised 
 system of taxation properly adjusted. 
 
 Let the revision provide^ for a state income. tax. Why should a- man
 
 66 Florence County: Economic and Social 
 
 who works for a salary and owns no tangible property be excused? 
 Why should a man whose wealth is in stocks and bonds and which 
 pay him a handsome income in interest be excused? Our government 
 must be financed — taxes must be paid, and it is only right that every 
 citizen, bear his share of the burden. 
 
 Let the new system provide for a state inheritance tax. Were it not 
 for the protection and advantages afforded by society, and society is 
 goverrmient, no man could accumulate property. Why should this 
 wealth so accumulated pass to his heirs upon his death without the 
 government receiving its share for its part in the creation of the 
 wealth? 
 
 Let the revision provide for a method by which the failure to cor- 
 rectly return property will become impossible. 
 
 There are still other means of raising revenue which are proving 
 successful in other states, and which, of course, will receive due con- 
 sideration and study by our general assembly before finally devising our 
 own tax system. 
 
 We are able to pay taxes, for we paid to the Federal Government 
 last year over twenty-five million dollars. We paid to the State about 
 nine million dollars. But every man should pay his proportionate 
 share. Under our present system many pay nothing. These do not 
 kick; they are perfectly satisfied with the present method. But are 
 we, who do pay, willing to sit tight and continue as we are now? 
 
 Our Problems 
 
 Rank 
 
 22nd — in native white illiterates 10 years old and over, 1910 
 
 per cent 9.3 
 
 Native white illiterates 1018; State average 10.3 per cent; 
 
 U. S. average, 3 per cent. 
 26th — in native white illiterate voters; per cent 11.2 
 
 430 in number; State average 10.3; U. S. average 4.2 
 
 per cent. 
 25tli — in percentage in regular attendance in our schools (berth 
 
 races) 69.08 
 
 Georgetown first with 84.89 per cent; Dillon last with 
 
 61.51 per cent. 
 29th — in average number white pupils to teacher according to 
 
 average attendance 21 
 
 Jasper and Williamsburg tie for first place with IS ; Green- 
 ville last with 31. 
 
 30th — in farm land improved, per cent 42.2 
 
 28th — in average improved acres per farm, 1910 32.3
 
 FivORENCK County: Economic and Social 67 
 
 24th — in percentage that farms owned by negroes are of total 
 
 farms in county, 1910 1.1 
 
 21st — in percentage of total land under cultivation 33 
 
 Land under cultivation, 128,269 acres; idle and other un- 
 improved land 176,030 acres. Reserving 50,000 acres for 
 wood lots and allowing 75 acres to each family, there is 
 room for 1060 new farm families in Florence County. 
 
 31st — in food and feed crops, per cent, of the total crop value 24.00 
 Beaufort 56 per cent; Marlboro 15 per cent. 
 
 18th— in room for new settlers, 1910 8400 
 
 Horry 19,270; Calhoun 1820. 
 
 32nd — in per cent of farms buying feed . . 18.3 
 
 716 farms bought feed. 
 
 30th — in beef production per person, 1910, pounds 10 
 
 State average 19.5. 
 
 2Sth — in poultry production per person, fowls 5.1 
 
 Fowls needed 13 per person per year. Deficit 245,627 
 fowls. 
 
 27th — in livestock production per person 30.90 
 
 State average $29.70. Per capita crop production was 
 $118.62 in Florence. Total farm wealth produced was 
 $149.52 per inhabitant. 
 
 24th — in farms operated by tenants, 1910, per cent 64.3 
 
 26th — in percentage mortgaged farms are of total number of 
 
 farms, 1910 8.9
 
 
 TTNIVERSITY of CAUFUKl^i^ 
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 LOS ANGELES M 
 
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 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FAni ITY 
 
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