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Scraps and .facts. f ? The house committee on hanking and currency, on last Wednesday, decided, by a vote of 7 to 5, to report the bill of Representative Brosius, of Pennsylvania, authorizing the issue of bank circulation up to the par value of bonds deposited ; for the establishment of national banks of small capital in towns of 3,000 and upwards; changing . the tax on circulation to a tax of oneeight of 1 per cent, on capital. The measure is on the lines of recommendation made in the president's message. ? It has been feared for sometime, ?Via oonotc w?ii!ri not come to a vote on the peace treaty at this aes sion ; but that the matter would be postponed until after adjournment, when an extra session would be called. The administration believes that the new senate will be willing to ratify the treaty. There has been a change of tactics during the past few days, and it has been decided that the ratification will be voted on next Tuesday. This probably meaus that the treaty will be ratified. ? A Richmond dispatch of Tuesday says that the friends of Geueral Fitzhugh Lee have given the United States senatorial fight a new turn, and one which promises to make the coutest of far more interest than had been anticcipated. Some of the most conspicuous friends of Genearl Lee have come out today iu advocacy of the uominatiou of the senator by a state convention. They intimate very plainly that uuless this mode shall be adopted, the Democrats of Virginia may not be satisfied with the results. The Lee men call the attention of the country to the disgraceful outcome of the legislative investigation of five years ago when it was developed that the railroads bad put up money to carry the state for the Democrats. Reading belweeo lines, it is made pretty clear by the friends of Lee, who are out in favor of the nomination by a convention, that they will not again submit to the election of senators influenced by such interests." The fight is on and may be a lively one. ? The New York Evening World, of last Wednesday, prints an interview with John Sherman, in which the latter forcibly expresses himself against expansion. The ex-secretarv is quoted as sayiug in part: "I am de. . cidedly opposed to the invasion of the Philippines. The idea of our country forcing its way into these isiands and forcing its government upon the 7,000,000, population of those islands is monstions. It is subversive of the basic principle of our government, that the just powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed, and it is in violation of the traditions of our country." "Then if you were in the senate you would not vote to ratify the treaty of Paris as it stands?" ?'Tf T ii'oro in t hA spnfttfi T would DOt vote to ratify the treaty as it stands. I would vote to withdraw from the islands as soon as possible. The papers say that 4,000 soldiers have just been sent to Manilla. Why are they sent? Are we going to war against a struggling republic? They have been fighting for many years against Spain, and have practically driven Spain out. Are we to take the place of Spain in tyrannizing over these struggling people ?" ? The Concord, N. C.; correspondent of the Charlotte Observer has another big cotton story. It is as follows : "Knowing that some, without properly investigating the matter would not believe it, Captain Charles McDonald nevertheless gave me the cost of raising cotton on his experimental tract of land of 6} acres. After makiiig all of bis calculations, to his surprise, bis cotton only cost birn 2.59 cents per pound. With King's, improved seed it yielded 10,293 pounds ol seed cotton, which, after being ginned, made 34i pounds of lint to the 100 pounds of seed cotton. Five buudred and fifteen pounds were taken from the whole amount?10,293 pouuds?for ginning, leaving 9,778 pounds. According to the above calculation this amount would yield him 3,573 pouuds of lint cotton, which he sold at an average of 5.10 cents per pound. Dividing the cost of the labor ($87.50) by 3,573, it will be found that bis cottou cost him but. 2.59 cents per pound, leaving him a profit of 2.oi cents per pound. By multiplying the number of pouuds yielded, then he has made a profit ofT the six and one-half acres of $84.66, or $13 on each acre." ? The sensation of the hour in Asbury Park, N. J., says a dispatch to the Baltimore Sun, is the daring adventure of Miss Josephine S. Ten Broeck, eldest daughter of Major Frauk L. Ten Broeck, and Miss Mabel H. Clowe, her friend, who took a swim in the ocean on Friday. While the young women were on the porch of the West End hotel, Miss Teu Broeck dared her companion to take a swim in the icy water. The challenge was accepted. The girls resurrected * their bathing suits, put them on and threw mackintoshes around them. Then, with a compauion, they went to the beacn. Sheddiug their mackintoshes, they plunged iuto the surf. The cold water made their teeth chatter, but 50 persons were watching them and they would not turn back. They were in the water for 20 minutes. After their return to the hotel each drank a hot Jamaica ginger tea. They suffered no ill effects from their icy plunge. "We propose going iu bathing every day after this," said Miss Ten Broeck, "provided no objection is made by our parents. You cannot imagine how re freshed we felt after our bath." ? New York Press: The salary of a congressman is $5,000 a year, in addition to which he is paid a mileage of 20 cents going aud coming. Jim Ham Lewis, of Seattle, draws out of the treasury about $1,200 for the privilege of riding from his district to Washington and return on a free pass. If Jim Ham were to die congress would bury him will) honors befitting his importauce in the halls of legislation. The bigger the man the bigger the committee appoiuied lo attend the funeral aud, consequently, the bigger the procession, the bigger the feed bills, the bigger fuss and fury. The committee must accompany the body to Seattle, and must return to Washington to report. If there be six members so journeying with him Ham's "remains" i and each receives a free pass and mile- , age, the total sum will be about $7,200. , Now, does Jim Ham dead receive mileage on the return home?that is, to 1 the graveyard ? A funeral car for six 1 and the body, with privileges and per- I quisites, can be bad for about $2,000, i *o that it easily costs from $11,000 to $12,000 to bury Jim Ham. t (The *(orhville (Enquirer. . YORKVILLE, 8. C.: SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1899. ? The defeat of Colonel Neal for superintendent of the state penitentiary furnishes no occasion for surprise. Neither would it have been surprising if the colonel had been re-elected. Those who are accustomed to the happenings of these times ought not to be surprised at anything. What was the cause of it ? That is a question that is difficult to answer. From the official reports, it appears that Colonel Neal was the best superintendent the penitentiary has ever had. The reason of his defeat cannot, then, be inefficiency. It must have been politics. The politicians are a strange, quarrelsome, unbrotherly lot. Colonel Neal was one of them. He just could not help it. He had many victories, and few defeats. But in politics victory is a doubtful quantity. Every victory makes enemies ^s well as friends. Political friends remain constant so long as it is to their interest to do so. Political enemies seldom forget. As time goes on the number of enemies increases constantly, while the number of friends does well if it can hold its own. The Gonzales expose of the local option deal may have had something to do with the defeat of Colonel Neal; but it was not this alone that caused his downfall. The preponderance of the influence of enemies over that of friends was a more potent factor. But the fight is over now. Maybe Colonel Neal can win another victory. He says be will go to the people for vindication. Just what he means cannot be definitely stated ; but ihis is a matter for the future. OFFENDED PHILANTHROPY. The paragraph recently published in The Enquirer merely as an article of news, aud setting forth the remarkable growth of the tax rule in Cherokee county, seems to have raised quite a storm. Though it only stated a patent fact, it roused our esteemed contemporary, the Gaffhey Ledger, to a wonderful burst of what it nows calls irony. This we took occasion to answer fitly, and whether our reply should be called "irony" or not, we are pretty sure that we meaut what we said. Except, we are sorry we used the expression "lying." For thai we apologize. It is Dot good taste to apply the epithet after having proved the existence of a lie, and for one to apply the epithet without proving the coudition, is ouly to convict one's self. Therefore, as remarked before, unasked, we apologize. But our castigation, or irony, or fun, lias excited more interest than we had imagined. We had two letters from Cherokee county last week calling our especial attention to The Ledger's remarkable outbreak, before the writers of those letters had reason to know that we had $eeu the article. One of writers nffprpfl material assistance in the way of facts and figures with which to turn our noble contemporary down ; but when he got The Enquirer by return mail he was evidently satisfied, for he had uothing further to say. And our own people have enjoyed a little diversion. Several of them have expressed a desire to know what The Ledger would say, aud the matter was talked until we ourselves began to grow interested. Ordinarily we do not have a great deal of time to spare to The Ledger; but upon receipt of the mail Thursday at noon, it was one of the first papers we opened. It did not give a great deal of*space to the subject under discussion. Here is all it said : in re the yorkville enquirer. The scurrilous article that appeared in The Yorkville Enquirer last Saturday, intended as a reply to a little irony which appeared in The Ledger, needs no attention at our hands except as to that part which accuses this paper of hoodwinking the people in our advocacy of the new county for selfish purposes. That is a lie pure and simple. Without competition we have done the county ad vert is- " ing at one-half the rate allowed by law, and the job work for the county has been done at a lower rate than that charged individuals. Does this look like selfishI ness ? Aside from the benefits to be de rived by the people in gensral from the formation of the new county we had no selfish purpose in view. At any rate we have not been so selfish as to charge full , rates for county advertising, and if we ever have a competitor we will not do the work for nothing in order to crush it. As regards the statement which precipitated the controversy, I am not responsible and the author of it will doubtless take the responsibility of it on him- : self. Kd. H. DeCamp. Whether or not any of our interested i readers are disappointed, of course, i we do not know. We hope they are < not disappointed. We confess, however, that we are sorely so. It was our hope that instead of merely contenting himself with calling us a liar, Editor de Camp would have reproduced what we said last Saturday in order that his readers might see how badly we bad slandered hiin. That, it seems, would have been ample vindication, and we are sure that bis readers would have enjoyed our effort as much as they did his. Some* of Lhem, especially those who now realize how badly they have been taken in might have enjoyed it even more. We do not remember to have said anything about county advertising. We do not remember to have even suggested such a thing, and, really, we do not see how there can be any 'lie, pure and simple" along that line. What our esteemed friend has to say on the subject reminds us of a mistake we made last week. "Unfortunately we failed to wound a conscience," was one of our expressions. The raising of this county advertising question, where uo refereoce to it was made, seems to indicate that an arrow has hit the mark. But since the matter is up, let us discuss it. "We do the county advertising for one-half the rate prescribed by law," says our philanthropic contemporary. Is not one-half the rate allowed by law for the county advertising more than you charge individuals for the same class of work ? Do you charge for individual advertising one-fourth as much as the law allows you to charge for county advertising? But "county advertising," brother, except when there are long official reports to print, is a mighty small proportion of the official advertising. You are getting off a splendid bluff on that. But what about other official advertising?clerk's sales and the like? Do you do that for one-half, too? If you want it, we can give you evidence that you do not?at least for people over in this section?and if not, why not? Onefourth the rate prescribed by law would be more than ample for a paper of the character of The Ledger. We are not talking irony, now; but a plain business proposition. And here, in.reply to your suggestion, we will tell you rigbtlnow that if your paper was id xorKVtne, ana me politicians, through fear of your tongue, would try to *put you on an equality with The Enquirer, unless you could compare with this paper in character and circulation, we would refuse to submit. We would rather do the work free of charge than to have the taxes we help to pay used toward giving you a support to which you would not be entitled. And you want to know why this rule does not apply to other official advertisements? Well, the placing of them does not depend upon politics. Except where it is the last hope of collecting a desperate account, lawyers and others, in the interest of their clients, place the advertisements where tbey are calculated to accomplish the best results, and where this is the rule, The Enquirer does not have to cut prices against anybody. See ? But say, friend, really it was not the advertising question that we bad in mind when we classed you with the hoodwinkers. Were you and The Ledger not parties to that promise whereby the people were told that if they would vote for the new county the people of Gaffney would, at their owu expense, erect a court house and jail? Was there not drawn up a $15,000 bond, or a bond in similar amount, and was not this bond daunted into the faces of the people until they actually believed that the court house aud jail would be forthcoming? After the new county was erected, was there not a trade with the county commissioners whereby au old opera house that proved a failure was palmed off as a court house ? Did this increase the wealth of the county a cent? Did not the people of the county have a right to believe that the people of Uaffuey would increase their wealth to at least the amount of that bond? That the county board of commissioners were "agents" of the people iu this matter is true, as a legal proposition. But now, let us get right down to actual facts. Did the people who made that bond and induced the voters to vote for the new county, keep faith with those voters? Then why did you not expose the whole business? Why did not The Ledger act as the mouthpiece of the people and iusist that the makers of that bond stand by their contract ? "A LEGISLATIVE RECORD." The article on another page on the subject of the proposed Legislative Record will be appreciated more thoroughly by trained newspaper men than by the general reader. For the benefit of the latter, however, it will not be out of place to say that the funny part is not to be taken as a joke; but in all seriousness. The writer of the article knows what be is talking about and be tells the whole truth. We are not prepared to advocate the proposition suggested. We really do not believe the suggestion is serious. The expense incident to its proper carryiug out would be enormous? large enough to scare ofF most legislators from even considering the probable benefits; but at the same time there are reasons why the publication of verbatim reports of the proceedings of the general assembly would be very desiruble. For the reasons explained by The Record, no newspaper could undertake the publication of the reports referred to. If the vanity of legislators were the only consideration, or the most important consideration, the matter would not be worth thinking about. But there is something very far be-1 yood this in the idea. Under present conditions there is a great deal of loose talk in the legislature. Jn the absence of stenographers, members have no fears of their constituents . learning that they sometimes make fools of themselves, and they are not as careful as they would be otherwise. If it were known that every word uttered on the floor of the house was to be made a matter of official record, there would be considerably more care as to how those words would be utter- ' ed, and the result would be mature deliberation instead of empty prattle. It would cost, maybe, $200 or $300 a day to publish a daily verbatim record of the proceedings of the general assembly. This would include i the expense for stenographers, printers i and publishers, etc.; but it is just possible that this extra outlay might result in elevating the work of the general assembly sufficiently to be worth many times the cost. The ( members who have been thinking i about this matter, will do well to investigate the subject thoroughly in all its bearings. i ? COST OF A POUND OF COTTON. Some of the Element* That Enter to Make It a Difficult Calculation. Editor Yorkville Enquirer: A sbort lime ago, while in conversation with a friend ou the important subject of the cost of raising cottcn, I receive from him some ideas which, to me, at least, were new. The subject was ? - J "M? Ai.mnn/)ln nwStiniom suggesieu uy uxi. v/iiuauu o uiuviouj of Mr. Brawley's claims recently published in The Enquirer. My friend'9 argument was substantially as follows : You cannot ascertain the cost of raising cotton, generally speaking, by making a calculation based upon experiments on one acre, or on a specified number of acres, as Messrs. Ormand and Brawley have done. Why not? Suppose a farmer work9 2, 4, 6, or 8 head of mules. He can, under favorable conditions, prepare the land and plant and cultivate a cotton crop in three or four months. Of course, when we add the time necessary to gather the crop, it will make seven or eight months. Now, those mules must be fed and cared for 365 days, or 12 months. And then in this connection it may be well to bear in mind the fact that a mule dies occasionally, thereby increasing expense: And we have a lot of bad rainy weather, especially during the winter months, when your mules are unable to work anythiug except their jaws in mastication. And the same thing is true of your hands who must be fed, clothed and paid. Again, should not the intelligent farmer's time be taken into consideration ? Any man of brain, energy, and executive ability is, or shouid be, worth a good salary. I can name a number of farmers who can command in other branches of business $50 per moDlh and expenses, or $600 per annum. Aud is not such talent entitled to recognition and remuneration on the farm ? If not, why not? Again. As regards the south, cotton is king. It is our money crop in theory and should be in reality. It is the basis of our credit and of all calcu lations. It is the only commodity tor which we have a sure market. If then cotton is the basis of all our operations, and from the sale of which we expect to pay all debts contracted during the year, is it not common sense to take into account everything that goes to make up the cost of production ? In conclusion, I am of the opinion that we cannot raise cotton at a cost of 2.97 according to Mr. Brawley, nor at 4.24 according to Mr. Ormand, which position, I think, can be clearly demonstrated by making a complete, instead of partial, calculation. w. 8. G. Fodder, January 25, 1899. STATE BOARD IN REPLY. Makes a Significant Answer to the Governor's Criticisms. In its annual report submitted to the general assembly last Monday, the stale board of control answers the criticisms of it which appeared in the governor's message as follows : The governor, in his message to the general assembly, has seen fit to criticise the management of the affairs of the dispensary by the board of control. We make no reply in the spirit of criticism ; but are content to rely on a review of the operation of the dispensary as our vindication. During Mr. Traxler's administration, covering a period of 19 months, the net profits to the state, counties and towns amounted to $125,328.40. During the administration of Mr. Mixson, coverings period of 14 months, the net profits to the state, counties and towns amounted to $313,974.08. Total profits for both of these periods, covering 33 months, $439,302.48. During the incumhency of the state board of control, a period covering 33 months, the same length of lime as both former administrations, the total net profits to the state, counties and townsj have amouuted to $853,219.95. This result has been obtained at a i considerably reduced scale of profits and prices to consumers, with a volume of busiuess increased but little. At the very beginning of our management we instituted the system of competitive sealed bidding, from which we have obtained very satisfactory results. During the calculation on the actual price of the whisky, exclusive of the internal revenue tux, we pay for X-rye 29 per cent, less than Traxler and 16 per ceut. less that Mixson. We pay for XX-rye 27 per cent, less I t han Traxler and 18 per cent, less than ( Mixson. ] In XXX-rye we pay 40 per cent, less ^ than Traxler and 23 per cent, less than AT:..,..... nor unllon than ' iTilAOWII, VI U'# vvh?w ?v.-w j,v. D~ Traxler und 24 cents less per gallon ' than Mixson. i The difference in beer and glass is , equally us great in our favor. j We are willing to risk a comparison . of the character or quality of the liquors we put on sale, with those of our predecessors, to the judgment of 1 the people who consume the same. 1 LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDKX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Latta Brothers?Wish to buy 10,000 bushels of cotton seed. J. H. Riddle?Calls attention to his stock of family groceries and plantation supplies including high grade standard fertilizers. He is prepared to sell you . tobaccos and snuffs at wholesale or retail, and at prices in sympathy with the times. A.t the Operahouse?On next Tuesday night, will be presented the wellknown play of "Rip Van Winkle," by a company which is recognized as being one of the best that is traveling. F. E. Clinton, Executor of the estate of John W. McCully, deceased?Has made a final settlement with the probate jud^e, and on the U8th of February will appij 1UI Ck uiovum^o aa vawmw** ^ ANOTHER HOMICIDE. Jim Moore, colored, was committed to jail last Monday charged with the murder of Richard Jordan-, also colored. The killing occurred in the cabin of Mary Archer, on the plantation of G. . B. Corn well, in Catawba township, on last Sunday. According to the developments at the inquest, Moore was Bhowing Jordan how to manipulate a , loaded revolver, when, it is claimed, the weapon was accidentally discharged. The bullet took effect in Jordan's neck and ranged downward through the heart, producing death within a few minutes. Moore claims that there was no malice whatever aud that the shooting was entirely accidental. He did not attempt to escape. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs. W. H. Quinn has been quite ill for several days. Mrs. J. Mason Ferguson is visiting relatives in Lowrysville. Miss Ella Neely is visiting the family of her bother, Mr. Jno. A. Neely, in Rock Hill. Miss Mamie L. McConnell returned home Thursday from a visit to friends and relatives in Rock Hill. Mr. John M. Boyce, of Blaeksburg, is in Yorkville this week visitiog his UDcle, Mr. W. W. Boyce. Dr. George Walker returned to Baltimore on Monday. It is bis intention to become a practicing physician in tbat city. The late W. T. Barron carried life insurance to the amount of $3,000 He had $2,000 in the Equitable and $1,000 in the Fidelity Mutual Life Association of Philadelphia. Rev. Dr. J. C. Galloway and wife, of Gastonia, were in Yorkville last Wednesday, having come down Tuesday night to attend the funeral of Mrs. W. T. Barron. They returned Thursday morning. RIP VAN WINKLE. Manager Herndou has an unusual attraction for the operahouse next Tuesday night. -It i9 no less than the most beautiful of all beautiful dramas, "Rip?Van Winkle," as interpreted by Samuel W. Glenn, a former manager of Joseph Jefferson. Everybody has heard, read or seen a dramatization of Irving's famous legend of "Sleepy Hollow," and those who are not pleased with it have tastes tbat cannot be easily defined. Almost any kind of a rendition of this wellknown play is calculated to make lasting impressions, and those who have seen Joe Jefferson in it continue to congratulate themselves on tbecircumetance ever afterward. Joe Jefferson has now retired from the stage; but Manager Herndon promises that in Mr. Glenn will be found an actor who is but little the in < * - * ienor Oi me mmuus uuaaici. mi. Glenn first produced "Rip Van Winkle" in 1856, and in 1860, as manager of the old Washington theatre, first brought out Joseph Jefferson in the title roll. Jefferson soon became the king of the play and made a reputation for it and himself. Since his retirement, it is claimed that Mr. Glenn is the next best living "Rip Van Winkle." Mr. Herndon says that there are 12 or 14 people in the company, all actors of the finest ability, selected especially on account of their fitness for the varions parts. He managed to get the company?Dobson & Ring?to come to Yorkville, only by offering unusual inducements, and he believes that the show next Tuesday will be one with which everybody will be well pleased. MAGISTRATES AND CONSTABLES. The position of the county board on the question of paying magistrates for acting as coroner to inquests, seems to be well taken, and the news will fall as a thunderclap in some quarters; but this is not the most important reform that the county board has in mind along the line of magisterial expenses. The board has had complaints from time to time to the effect that certain magistrates are not complying with the law as regards the salaries of constables, and a change of policy is under contemplation. The law allows each magistrate so much salary for himself and so much for bis constable. The amount that each shall have is especially stated in the statutes, and it is pretty well established that when the law says an official shall have a certain salary, 1 that is the amount to which he is entitled. The record shows that every magistrate in the county draws the full i amount of salary that is allowed by i law for himself and bis constable, and i there have been complaints from con- ' 3tables to the effect that, although they ] have done all the work that their mug- i istrates required, they have not re- j jeived the full amount of the pay al- s lowed. One constable states einphut- | ically that he worked for a magistrate 1 for four years, and although the law illowed him a salary of $75 a year, < he was paid by the magistrate only ] ?37.50 a year. The magistrate allowed him to take all the fees to which he was entitled iD civil cases; but pocketsd half the salary allowed him for service in criminal cases. Clerk of the Board Brice has coglizance of the facts mentioned. He says that the magistrates have no ight, to'draw from the county treasury on account of constables salaries i single ceut that is not paid over to ;he constables. Just what will be done ibout the matter has not yet been decided ; but the offense is a very grave * " ? ?? n/vthinn abort nf jue, aujuuutiu^ iu uubuiu^ ouv< v v< official corruption. THE COUNTY BOARD. The county board of commissioners met in the office of the supervisor last Wednesday for the purpose of transacting various items of business that it desired to dispose of before going cut of office. It was understood that this would probably be the last meeting of the board as now constituted. There were present Supervisor Culp, Commissioners Stanton, Gwin, Wilker erson, Ashe, Moss and Miller. It had been arranged tbat the first busiuess of tjie board after assembling in Yorkville, would be to visit the cbaingang and take a look over the work tbat has been done on the Charlotte road. Several members of the hoard, including Messrs. Wilkerson, Gwin, Miller and Moss, put in an hour or so looking over the work. Mr. Stanton had passed over the road frequently and was familiar with it, and Mr. Ashe, who had bad a touch of rheumatism the night before, did not feel inclined to go out in the weather. Supervisor Culp was also feeling badly. He seemed to be threalened with an otfo/it nf urrin " e>""r After the visit to the chaingaog, the members of the board were entertain: ed to a sumptuous dinner at the Parish hotel by Clerk Brice, and at 2 o'clock they assembled for the business of the day. Magist ate Anderson was present with a bill for services as acting coroner in the case of the state against the dead body of Samuel Simril, the Negro who was murdered by highwaymen, near Newport, during the recent Christmas holidays. The claim had at first been refused. At a previous meeting the board determined to test the question as to whether magistrates, acting as coroners, were entitled to fees. Mr. Brice explained to the board that the statute relating to the matter was passed a long time ago, when magistrates were paid eutirely in fees. Since that time the law relating to magistrates had been amended so as to provide salaries in lieu of fees in all criminal cases. The code defines criminal actions as those in which the state is ihe prosecutor. The state is the prosecutor in inquest cases, and, therefore, magistrates are not entitled to fees. He advised the board to cease paying the bills of magistrates for acting as coroner, and the board decided to act upon his advice. The case of Magistrate Anderson, however, was reconsidered. In view of the fact that he bad done a considerable amount of work in this special case, and the case was an important one, it was only fair that he should -be paid. It was also decided to pay the bill of Magistrate Plaxico for holding the inquest in the case of the state against the dead body 01 ueo Vjrore. JDUt uereauer uu muic magistrates are to be paid for boldiog inquests. That is, not unless they have the nerve to press their claims in the courts and the courts decide in their favor. A communication was read from Mr. James W. Russell, of Bullock's Creek township, advising that Uniou county had agreed to pay half the cost of building a flat for Piuckney ferry, and asking that York county pay the other half. Members suggested that most of the crossing down on that side was over the free ferry at Lockhart, and that they did not think that a toll ferry at Pinckney would receive much patronage. They were also in doubt as to whether the proposition meant for the county to buy a flat and give it over to the control of private individuals. The letter was accepted as information. There was a petition from citizens of Rock Hill asking for aid for the widow of S. L. Smith, a Confederate soldier. The amount of monthly aid desired was not stated, and the matter was referred to Commissioner Miller, who was instructed to secure more particular information. There was a proposition from Mr. W. B. Moore to paint the County Home for a certain sum. On motion of Mr. Wilkerson, it was resolved that the County Home should he puinted, aud that Supervisor Culp be delegated with authority to attend to haviug the work done on the best terms obtainable. Mr. Ashe suggested that Mr. Gauldiu had warned the board : "Don't fix the place up too fiue, for if you do, everybody in the county will be after the job of superintendent." [Laughter.] The next business was the opening of bids of candidates for election as county physician. There were only three bids submitted, as follows: Dr. T. R. Carothers, $247.50 per annum ; Drs. White & McDowell, $248.75 per annum ; and Dr. M.J. Walker, $190.00 per anuum. All- the bids were in ?trict accordance with the terms of the proposal advertised in The Enquirer ast Saturday. Dr. J. H. Saye, who has been physician for the poor house and jail for the past two years at a salary of $215 per annuo), was present; but did not put in a bid. He was very well satisfied with bis bargain as it existed heretofore; but on account of the uncertainty of the location of the chain gang during the next two years, was afraid to risk another bid. Mr. Stanton called up the petition of citizens of Bethel township asking for the use of the chain gang for the building of approaches to a bridge over Beaver Dam creek. This brought up a discussion . of the chain gang question. . Mr. Wilkerson said the people in different parts of the county were growing very restless about the management of this institution. He believed in good roads and realized that they could not be bad without ex pense ; but at the same time be thought ibat the chain gang should be moved about sufficiently to give all the townships a chance to see it. Three months in a township would be about right he thought. Mr. Miller said he believed in permanent work. Temporary work was more expeusive in the long run. He suggested that the board leave the disposition of the chaingang to its successors, and not attempt to bind ibein by any action taken now. He went on to say that if the highest bid is to be accepted, he was sure be could take the institution away over to the Eastern side. Mr. Stanton moved that so soon as the chaingang fiuisbes the work upon which it is now engaged, it be sent to ^ work on the approaches to the Beaver Dam bridge, already referred to, and that it be allowed to remain in Bethel township for a period of three months. Mr. Gwin moved to amend so as to provide that after three mouths in Bethel, the institution be sent to Bui* lock's Creek. The motion, as amended, carried by a vote of 4 to 2. The next matter to receive attention was a number of applications for the . position of superintendent of the chaingang. How the question came up, the reporter has not been able to learn. 4 There was no official notification to anybody through the press, or otherwise, to the effect that there was to be* any change. There had been no resolution of the board calling for bids. The reporter asked Supervisor Culp, on Wednesday moruing, if he knew how the thing came about, and be replied that he did not know. Anyhow, there were several applications, and they were as follows : * J. A. Thomas offered to take the position at $25 a month. W. L. Wallace wanted the position of superintendent, and asked that if he was not elected to the position of superintendent, be would.like to be a guard. There was a letter from J. M. Neely asking as to whether the board wanted a new superintendent, and if so, at what price. Commissioner Miller presented the name of C. F. Gordon as a candidate, and stated that, if elected, Mr. Gordon would expect a salary of $40 a month. The vote was taken by ballot and "without speeches." It resulted as follows : Culp 4, Gordon 2. The supervisor, of course, did not vote. After the election, Commissioner Wilkerson said that there were in cir CUJ&llOD rumors uuuut UJC su[;ciiubcu" r dency of the chain gang which he thought ought to be investigated. He said that there had been reports of gambling, drunkenness and absence from duty. Whether these things were true or not he did not know ; 'but be was sure that the place was too important and too responsible to be filled by a superintendent of the character indicated. The chain gang bills that come into the board for payment are constantly getting larger ; there is a loose screw somewhere, and it seems that the management should be closer. He wanted to kuow whether it would not be well to put the superintendent under a bond that would be sufficient to protect the interests of the county. He also suggested that there should be a system of reports that would keep the board constantly advised as to monthly expenses. He wanted to know whether or not the chaingang could not purchase its supplies by wholesale, rather than by retail; it seemed to him that this would be cheaper. He did not make any charge or insinuation; but be considered the matter generally a a very important one that should be watched up closely. Mr. Stanton said that he had heard certain reports about the management of the chaiugang, especially during the rpeent nrimarv campaign ; but a man could hear most anything under such circumstances as then prevailed. [ 'Except the truth!" put in Supervisor Culp.] He bad toot seen anything wrong, nor heard of any specific charges from reliable sources. Supervisor Culp said that the superintendent of the chaingang had instructions to keep a strict account of all costs and expenditures and that he is doing so. I have spoken to wholesale men about supplies, etc.; but they decline to sell me on the ground that if they do so the retail merchants will boycott them. He went on to say that he did doL know of the superintendent of the chaingang having absented himself except during a few days at Christmas. Supervisor Culp asked if the county pnuiiug was uut tu uc ict vm, ucav, Clerk Brice said that ibere bad been o notice to tbat effect; tbat Mr. Hull bad asked him over the phone tbat morning whether or not the advertia