1941: South Carolina

Area and Population.

One of the original thirteen states, South Carolina occupies a part of the eastern slope of the southern United States. The state is roughly triangular in shape, with an east-west extent of 273 mi. and a north-south extent of 210 mi. The total area of the state is 31,055 sq. mi., of which 461 sq. mi. are inland water surface. The highest elevation in the state is Sassafras Mountain, located on the northwest border, and 3,548 ft. high.

The total population of South Carolina, according to the census of 1940, was 1,899,804, an increase of 161,039 or 9.3 per cent since 1930. In 1940 the population was made up of 1,083,766 white persons and 816,038 non-white, all but a few of whom were Negroes. Between 1930 and 1940 the white population increased by 139,717, or 14.8 per cent, and the nonwhite by 21,322, or 2.7 per cent. The urban population comprised 24.5 per cent of the total population in 1940, as compared with 21.3 per cent in 1930.

The leading cities of the state, with their 1940 populations and the increase since 1930, are: Columbia, the state capital, 62,396, increase 10,815; Charleston, the principal seaport, 71,275, increase 9,010; Greenville, 34,734, increase 5,580; and Spartanburg, 32,249, increase 3,526.

Education.

According to preliminary census data, in 1940 there were 653,455 persons in South Carolina of school age (5-19 years). Of this total 345,538 were white and 307,917 non-white. For the school year 1940-41, there were 191,198 white and 193,598 Negro children enrolled in the elementary schools, and 74,874 whites and 19,392 Negroes enrolled in the high schools. During the 1939-40 school year there were 1,470 white and 2,192 Negro elementary schools, and 315 white and 151 Negro high schools. During the school year 1940-41, there was spent for public-school education a total of $18,432,946, of which $2,810,917 was for Negroes. For the school year 1939-40, the average teacher's salary for white elementary schools was $865, and $371 for Negro elementary schools. For high schools the average teacher's salary was $1,067 for whites and $535 for Negroes.

The General Assembly provided for an increase in teacher's salaries for 1941-42, pay to be based on grade of certificate and teaching experience, which will result in approximately $1,000,000 increase in total teacher-pay over the preceding school year.

Agriculture.

The 1941 cotton crop, according to preliminary data, was 405,000 bales, the smallest crop since 1878 and only 42 per cent of the 1940 production. The yield per harvested acre was approximately 165 lb., the second lowest in 43 years. Excessive summer rainfall brought about this reduction of the cotton crop, as well as nearly a one-fourth decrease in tobacco production.

Industry.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, the total capital invested in all manufacturing industries of the state amounted to $421,439,989, a gain of $15,228,322 over that reported for the previous fiscal year. The total value of all manufactured products for the same period amounted to $573,619,049, an increase over the preceding year of $127,535,483. The average number of employees in all manufacturing industries was 145,889, and the total wages paid (not including salaries) amounted to $118,625,941, an increase of $18,604,227 over the previous year.

The textile industry of South Carolina, which accounts for about one-fourth of the nation's active spindle hours, is the state's outstanding manufacturing industry. The capital invested in the textile industry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, amounted to $209,157,357, as compared with $205,103,617 the previous year. The textile industry reported the value of products produced during the year as $382,753,951, an increase of $92,659,828. Eight mills were dropped from the active list and two were added, making a total of 230 plants active during the year, and comprising 5,655,602 spindles and 146,565 looms. The average number of employees in the textile industry was 102,342, and the wages paid amounted to $87,078,249, an increase of $13,602,430 over the previous year. The mills consumed 1,829,722 bales of cotton, 313,988 more than the preceding year.

Second to textiles in the value of their products are the industries utilizing forestry resources, such as those dealing with lumber and timber, pulp and paper, furniture, and barrels and boxes. With a capital investment of $38,015,733, there were manufactured in 1941 products valued at $68,458,243, an increase of $27,839,371 over 1940. The 20,030 employees in the forestry industries received $14,011,117 in wages.

Third in importance was the production of electricity, valued at $19,061,100. South Carolina, with a total horse-power equaling 838,549, ranks sixth among the states in the installed water-wheel capacity devoted to electric production. The Santee-Cooper power and navigation project, started in 1938, had first actual power tests on Dec. 17, and will begin power delivery early in 1942. The project, one of the largest in the United States, will develop 700,000,000 kilowatt hours of energy a year.

Mineral Products.

The value of mineral products for the year ending June 30, 1941, amounted to $3,946,067, an increase of $1,066,337 over the previous year. Crushed stone to the amount of 1,249,168 tons (nearly twice the amount of the year before), 988,362 tons of sand and gravel, and 140,316 tons of kaolin were produced. Gold production for 1940 amounted to 12,960 oz., which was 71 per cent of the total gold produced in eastern United States. Nearly all the gold came from the Haile mine near Kershaw.

Finance.

The total receipts of the state for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, were $63,360,475.63 while the total disbursements were $58,195,410.38.

There was appropriated for the fiscal year a total sum of $13,171,564.99.

This does not include expenditures from ear-marked income, such as the gasoline tax and automobile license fees used for highways, and beer, wine, and liquor taxes used for education, etc. A deficit of the previous fiscal year was cared for by the issuing of $2,250,000 in notes which fees collected from motor-vehicle carrier licenses were pledged to pay. The 1941 legislative act divesting these fees to the general fund was held constitutional by the State Supreme Court late in 1941.

The total assistance given through the state Department of Public Welfare for the year ending June 30, 1941, amounted to $2,638,498.11. Of this amount $1,672,670.85 was for old-age pensions, $97,048.55 for aid to the blind, $649,142.14 for dependent children, and $216,266.39 for general relief. During June, which was approximately an average month, 17,683 persons received old-age payments, 801 persons received aid for the blind, 10,992 dependent children were aided, and 2,214 persons received general relief.

The collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in South Carolina for the year ending June 30, 1941, were $16,663,942.32, of which income taxes amounted to $9,447,273.12, and unemployment insurance, etc., $3,997,155.32.

Political and Other Events.

The appointment of Senator James F. Byrnes as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, in June 1941, necessitated a primary during the year to nominate a Senator to complete Byrnes's term. Governor Burnet B. Maybank won in the primary, and on Nov. 5 became junior Senator from South Carolina. The Lieutenant Governor, J. Emile Harley, then replaced the Governor.

While South Carolina's textile industry has contributed heavily to defense production, the main developments in defense activities in the state have been in the location of training camps and bases there. Large Army training-centers have been provided at Camp Croft and Fort Jackson. Primary pilot-training bases have been established at Camden, Bennettsville, and Orangeburg, and a large basic training center at Camp Shaw near Sumter. Seven civilian airfields have been enlarged and are being used as needed by the Army. The Charleston Navy Yard has been considerably expanded.

State Officers.

Governor, J. Emile Harley (d. Feb. 1942); Secretary of State, W. P. Blackwell; State Treasurer, Jeff Bates; Comptroller General, A. J. Beattie; Auditor, J. M. Smith; Attorney General, John M. Daniel; State Superintendent of Education, J. H. Hope.

United States Senators:

Ellison D. Smith, Burnet R. Maybank.