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t T . r y THE COUNTY RECORD ! KLNGSTHEE, S. C. j _ ________ - | LUL IS J. BRISTOW, Kd. A Prop'r. j i - .?%n 1 I GOOD ROADS. Why Not Give This Important Matter Full Consideration at the Next Session of the Legislature? A recent issue of the National Advo cate, a journal devoted to agricultural interests, contains a paper on "The Relation of Good Roads to Rural Life" that is very timely. Apart from the im?oAnoulflrttfinna nf Mimmflrfiial v. ~ and industrial welfare, a national and State system of good roads is imperatively needed to build up country communities, for the country is the store house from which the nation draws its strength. Good roads also means the drawing nearer of neighbors to one another in , the enjoyment of social pleasures, and at no distant day the establishment of a rural mail delivery which, in itself, trould do much for the country, besides indirectly helping to check the alarming tendency towards emigration to the cities?one of the most disquieting features of the social condition of the day. Speaking of this, the National Advocate says: "First, and as the necessity without which nothing can be done, we must have good roads?roads over which vehicle or bicycle may glide rapidly and smoothly, and even now, with such roads, with good horses, or the swift " - " a a a < *1? _ _ _ | bicycle, are nemnoors ana iamuies m the country, ki closely settled commu- j nities, practically brought as near to- ; gether for all social intercourse and en- 1 joynoent and advantages of education a8 residents of a city. Small holdings, well tilled, bringing thickly populated rural communities will support, in near by towns, good schools, churches, public libraries, gymnasiums, halls for musical and theatrical entertainments, and' social enjoyments of all kinds, and all . . within easy reach of the entire commu- j nity. Under these conditions nothing ! which the city has to offer may not be ' had in the village, and within the reach of the means of every thrifty farmer." The Columbia Register, diverging a little from this phase of the subject, says it may be well to consider the practicability of establishing a road system in South Carolina that shall meet all requirements, and yet relieve the hard-worked farmer of a burden 1 1 ? 1 AihAimMt?A foil rrsncf Kaovtlr U2UL WOU1U UtUOi " wo tan UAV/ot uvauij I on him were legislative action taken in the matter. At the very season when the making of good roads is a task that can best be peiformed, the average farmer is busiest on his farm, and to ask him at t nch times to work out his road tax lu^ans to ask him to neglect his crops. I Besides, to insure good roads?roads that will wear and last?it is necessary to do more than a ilttle scraping and I plowing now and then. Good roads, mean grading, draining ond macadamizing, and this it is impracticable to ask the fanner to perform. It is jnst here that the advantage of convict labor becomes evident The inmates of the penitentiary have no other dutieB but those at which they mav be set and their labor is available ; at all seasons of the year. Why, then, to accomplish a work of such vast lravrot&noA to the State should not the muscle and brawn of the convicts be brought into play? In no other way could these men be employed so usefully, and in no other way could these unfortunates so well receive the benefit of wholesome, invigorating exercise. Boadbuilding is, after all, the best solution of the problem how to make the State convicts pay for their maintenance, and at the same time odntribnte something to the welfare ,oi the community whose privileges they have abused. South Carolina sorely needs good roads, and the effect of them on the value of agricultural lands and upon the moral well-being of the State p, * can bardly be overestimated. Why not give this important scatter full consideration at the next session of the Legislature? It would be better ' for the taxpayers of the State, the oonvicts, and society at large if we should employ the penitentiary population to build and repair public roads instead of keeping them employed at tasks, the product of which competes with free labor, and results in no abiding good to use coiiuuiiiinj. A BIG DISPENSARY SUIT. W. A. Vandercook Brings an Injunction Salt Against the South Carolina Dispensary Officers. A suit has been begun iu Charleston in the United States circuit court which may result seriously for the dispensary law of South Carolina. The suit is brought by W. A Vandercook & Co., of California, against Dispensary Commissioner Vance, a number of State liquor constables and all constab'es or State officials acting under the dispensary law. A perpetual injunction against them is asked by the company, j inhibiting them from interfering* with the business of the company which may be transacted with any ancj all individuals of South Carolina who may be its patrons. The bill of complaint hied is the result of a recent seizure of a carload of wine shipped by Vandercook & Co. to Mr. J. C. Simonds, of the above citv. Mr. Simonds is the cashier of the First National Bank of Charleston, and while all of the liquor was consigned to him, the real persons for whom it is intended were a score or more of private oitizens. These persons were to receive orders from Mr. Simonds for their respective share of the car-load of wine, depositing at the same time in the bank the purchase monev, subject to the order of Vandercook & Co. Shortly after the arrival of the liquor it was seized by the constables and sent to Columbia. The bill filed cites all the facts in the case aau aska for $3,000 damages. Judge Simonton has appointed May l?th as the day for hearing argument on the case. Assistant Attorney General Townsend is now hard at work preparing the answer of the State to the complaint in the Yandecook case in the United States Court, which is a proceeding to secure a perpetual injunction against the State interfering with any liquors shipped into the State from another State in the original packages. It is by long odds the most important case against the dispensary law that the State has ever had to fight. f mini lit Col. Gaston and Mr. Scruggs Give a Bond of $400 Each. THUS ENDS THE SCANDAL, For the Time, at Least?The Affidavits Attached to the Warrants Specify the Instances. j As will be seen, by reference to another column, Messrs. Gaston and Scruggs were arrested Friday, but at i that time the affidavits could not be given in the case, so the following from the Columbia I Register of the 8th exDlains itself in the matter of the Beokroge trunk scandal: The warrants against Colon'el Gaston and Mr. Scruggs were sworn out yesterday morning before Magistrate Smith by Mr. L. J. WUliam3. Both are charged with official misconduct under the common law. The warrants were put in the hands of Constable Hartin to serve, but before he could do so Colonel Gaston appeal ed at Judge Smith's office and was admitted to bail in the sum fof $400. Major B. B. Evans and Gen. John Gary Watts signed the bond. There wa* no preliminary hearing. Colonel Gaston had gone to the office early in the morning expecting the wan ant to be there, but it was not, and he waited. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Scruggs came in and was released on a bond of $400, signed by James E. Pavne and W. G. Scruggs, of Greenville. The warrant in the case of Mr. s*?TTi?rtrR rtharces that "on or about the I firstllay of ifarch, 1897, one Seth W. I Scruggs did commit official misconduct by taking and carrying away from the contraband room in the State Dispensary four boxes of cigars and four canr of peaches and other articles, the property of the State, while engaged in the discharge of his duties as clerk and bookkeeper of the State Board of Control in said State Dispensary, with intent to defraud the State of South Carolina, as fully set forth in the affidavit hereto attached." The affidavit was made before Magistrate Smith by Mr. L. J. Williams, and is as follows: ( Personally appeared before me L. J. Williams, who. after being duly sworn, says: That he is a member of the State Board of Control; that Seth W. Scruggs of the oounty and State aforesaid, was duly eleoted clerk of the State Board of Control on the day of April, 1896, and at that time entered upon the dunf uin office and continued in the discharge of the same until the 7th day of May, 1897, when his successor was duly elected; that during the time he was clerk of the said board, his duties were defined and prescribed bv said board, which were to act as bookkeeper of saia board, to hare the custody and ooutrol of the books and all papers in the control of the said board, to keep the minutes of the board and to discharge all other duties appertaining to clerk of the Board. That he is informed by a number of Krsons who have made affidavits, and lieves that Seth W. Scruggs, while so acting as bookkeeper and clerk of the said Board of Control did, on or about the first of March A. D. 1897, procure a key for a room in the State Dispensary, in which all liquors and other property seized and forfeited to the State are kept, and which was in keeping and control of the State Commissioner, but under the general control of the Board, and with the said key did enter the said room, without the knowledge or consent of the State Commissioner and the State Board of Control. and take therefrom and carrv away four boxes of cigars and four cans of peaches, property of the State of | South Carolina, which had been forfeited to it, of the value of $4, and did appropriate the same to his own use, with intent thereby to defraud the State and damage the public and in grave violation of his said duties as clerk and bookkeeper. That he is informed by the persons who made affidavits as aforesaid that the said Seth W. Scruggs, while acting as such bookkeeper and clerk of the Board of Control as aforesaid, did, on divers occasions, between the day of April, 1896, and the 7th day of May, 1897, enter the said contraband room with a key then in his possession, other than the one in the possession of the State Commissioner, claiming that the said key was one provided for the use of the State Board of Control, when, in fact, so far as he knows, the board had no such key, and had not authorized him to provide such a key for the said board, and that with such false key the said Seth W. Suggs did open and enter the contraband room aforesaid and did take therefrom one box of cigars and four cans of peaches of the value of $4, the property of the State of South Carolina, with the intent to defraud the State of South Carolina, by appropriating the said articles to his own UBe, in gross violation of his duties as such clerk and bookkeeper to the damage of the public and to the evil example of all others in like cases offending. That is he informed by the persons aforesaid that Seth W. Scruggs, while acting as such clerk and bookkeeper i v .1 x; -:J U-i ana uoiumg stuu uuiw, ubi? ecu iu? day of April A- D. 1896, and the 8th day of May 1897, on divers occasions procured a key and entered the said contraband room, which was under control of the Commissioner, subject to the general control of the State Board, | and did take and carry away therefrom cigars and other articles of personal property of the value of f200, the property of the State of South COrolina with intent to defraud the State, by appropriating them to his own use, and to the damage and injury of the public and by such acts was guilty of gross official misconduct; that all the acts herein charged were committed in Richland county in the State of South Carolina. That Charles J. Lynch, M. H. Mobley, C. H. Charles, Robert E. Blakeley, S. W. Tance, W. W. Harris, C. A. Koon, H. E. Watts, L. J. Williams, S. H. Douthit and D. M. Miles are material witness to prove said charges. L. J. Williams. the gaston w am ant. The warrant against Colonel Gaston alleges that "on or about the first day of March, 1897, one John T. Gaston did commit official misconduct by taking and carrying away from the contraband room in the State Dispensary one pair of shoes, part box of cigars and other articles, the property of the State, while acting as State Commissioner, and in the charge of said room, and while in | the discharge of the duties of said office, with the intent to defrand the State of South Carolina, as fnlly set forth in the affidavit hereto attached." This affidavit is also made by Mr. Williams before magistrate Smith, and alleges: That John T. Gaston was required by the State Board of Control to act as 6tate Commissioner in the State Dispensary, between the 25th day of ; October, A. D. 1896, and the 15th 'day 1 of April, A. D. 1897, in the place of F. M. Mixon, who had resigned. That on information and belief he says that during the time he was acting as state uomuiiaaiuuer, under the authority and dij rection of the State Board of Control, the said John T. Gaston, who was, as such Commissioner, in charge of the room in the State dispensary in which were placed for safe keeping all the liquors ami other personal property seized by the State Constables and forfeited to the State, or in process of forfeiture, did, on or about the first day of March, A. D. 1897, take and carry away from the said room one pair ot shoes and part of a box of cigars, the property of the Sta te of South Carolina, and entrusted to his care and custody, of the value of 31- 25, with the intent to defraud the State aforesaid, and to appropriate the said property to his own use, which was in gross violation of his duty as acting State Commissioners, to take care of the said articles, which had been entrusted to his keeping by law, | to the great damage of the State of j South Carolina. That on information and belief he farther says that the said John T. Gaston, while discharging the duties of State Commissioner, bydireotionof the State Board of Control, and while in charge of the said contraband room aforesaid, did, on divers occasions, between the 25th day of October, A. D. 1896, and the 15th day of April, A. D. 1897, take from the said room shoes, cigars, coffee and other articles of personal property belonging to the State of South Carolina, of the value of $50, with intent to defraud the State and to appropriate the said articles to his own use, which was in gross violation of his duty as acting State Commissioner, to take care of said articles, which had been entrusted to his keeping by law, to the great damage of the State of South Carolina. That all these acts were done in Richland county, in the State of South Carolina. ThatS.W. Vance, Wilie Jones, H. E. Watts, L. J. Williams and 0. A. Koon are material witnesses to prove said charges. L. J. Williams. tLota Vim Hapti much discussion as to what charge should be brought against the two men. Official misconduct under the common law was finally agreed upon. The punishment in such cases rests with the discretion of the judge. It evidently was the intention to bring them if possible before the Court of Sessions, for should larceny have been charged, it would have amounted to only a nominal fine by a Trial Justice. It was a knotty point all round to decide what charge to make, for it sometimes happens that crime may be committed against which there is no statutory prohibition. Mr. Scruggs, for instance couldn't be charged with housebreaking nor with burglary. Neither could he be charged with official misconduct under the statute because that only applies to oounty officials. It is even doubtful whether in the higher court the charge will stand, but then it's no use to cross a bridge till you oome to it, and the court will have to decide the question. Gaston says he will not bother so engage counsel, and Attorney-General I u?k? nana tha ?au will ha nnnhnd to JL/Ckl l/wi wj O UiV vwwv vv r- " I the end. The next term of the court for Richland county meets in J one. CHEERFUL PROSPECTS For Port Royal?expansion of Government Interests Expected. The desire on the part of the government to acquire additional territory adjacent to the naval station in this harbor is a self-evident fact that extensive additions *ill be made to the magnificent plant now owned and operated by the navy department here. The final issue, to our way of thinking, will be the completion of an extensive and perfectly appointed navy yard commensurate with the present and future needs of the government. When it must be remembered that the large vessels of the navy are new or very recently constructed, and mav stand in little need of present overhauling and repair, that in a few years they will all, more or less, stand in need of repairs of some kind, and hence a large and commodious dry dock and its adjuncts of a complete machine and repair 6hop, and also a well appointed navy yard, snch as will be afforded here will be in demand, and the department, knowing this, is setting its house in order in good time. The wisdom of the government in choosing this site in our harbor for a public work of this character is recognized more and more by those in authority in Washington. Possessing, as we ao, a most dei* ..J l la.1./-I UgUUUl ttuu ueaiuuui viuuuie, uccj> water approaches and close communication by rail and steam with every part of the world, we might say, we are positive in the justness of our assertion that no better place could have been found on the South Atlantic coast for the stupendous works that will finally occupy the governmet reservation ou Paris Island in Port Royal harbor, a harbor second to none in the world. In the acquisition to the territory now desired by the government will have nearly, if" not quite, a mile of water frontage in cur harbor, which, with some little dredging inshore at po nts, will be acceptable anchorage for any vessel in the navy.?Port Royal Palmetto Post Lady in pony cart (who has made several unsueccessful attempts to pass persevering beginner occupying the whole road)?Unless you soon fall off, sir, I'm afraid I shall miss my train.? Punch. It's a wise woman that knows enough not to say anything the next morning when her husband has a wet towel around bis head. -jy ? '? "f<"j s . "v -"? .. . ;;j:-?. > 7 IPtMllSIIIlS The Sinking Fund Money Can Be Loaned to the Counties. NO BANK EXAMINER FOR A YEAR A Big Dispensary Suit?A Six-Foot Mule?Stole His Own Cow?Other Palmetto Chips. L. J. Williams, a member of the State Board of Control, has sworn out warrants against 8. W. Scruggs, chief clerk of the dispensary, and Col. John T. Gaston, ex-commissioner of the dispensary. This is the result of investigations by the Attorney General, the testimony showing that Scruggs had taken from a trunk which was seized by constables four boxes of cigars and several cans of peaches. The trunk was the property of Wm. Beckroge, of Savannah, Ga., who went to Charleston about.a month ago to get married, and carried a trunk full of wine and whiskey, cigars, canned peaches, oranges, eto. United States Judge Simonton declared the seizure illegal, and when Beckroge demanded his trunk and contents they were gone. The ti|ink was sold to Legislator Garris, but the board decided that that was a perfectly legitimate transaction, but could not stand the idea of employes appropriating the cigars and things to their own use. Gaston got a few cigars, some oranges and a pair of shoes out of the trunk, but after the whole matter was ventilated he paid for them. The warrants were served last Friday. Scruggs was decapitated as chief clerk and W. H. Lawrence, of Darlington, an expert book-keeper, was appointed in his fjiaco. A negro named Jake Jeter was taken before Magistrate Clarkson in Columbia on the charge of stealing a cow from his mother and step-father, who live in the country near the city. At the hearing it waft developed that Jake left Columbia last January, goipg to Savannah. Ga. He did not go ont to his mother's until several days after his arrival; when he did he took the cow, that was in the stable, '? the city and endeavored to sell her. Before he could dispose of her, his step-father had notified the polioe and Jake was arrested. The cow was taken to the station. While the trial was in progress, the State says, it was brought out that the prisoner owned the cow himself, whereupon the case came to a sudden termination, the prisoner being discharged. He owned to having mortgaged the cow to another nartv. hut he did not sell her. The attorney general has recently given the State sinking fond commission another opinion as to the length of time for which loans to counties can be made by the board. He had previously held that no loans could be made for a longer or shorter term than one year. According to this later decision, loans are permitted for shorter terms than one year; that a careful consideration of the act made it apparent that the term for one year meant not exceeding one year, since as the loans are made in March and must te repaid out of the first taxes collected in November, a loan cannot really be made for a whole year. This will be gratifying news to many of the counties. The State Bank Board met in the Governor's office last week and adopted the following, which crushes the hopes of many applicants for the place in question: Whereas, there was a defect in the act of 1896 providing for the election of a State bank examiner, in consequence of which no election was held, and Whereas, the General Assemby of 180V did not amend the act or supply tte ae- i feet although cognnant thereof, ihere- f fore be it Resolved by this board, that nc elec-! tion be now had and that the matter be formally called to the attention of the next General Assembly. The Colombia State says a country negTo drove into that city a peculiar mnle attached to a.n ordinary wagon lost w eek. The mnle, which was an ordinary looking animal, had six well developed feet, four of which vore attached to the animal's two front legs. Two of the feet the mnle used as if nothing were wrong, the othar two were merely ornaments. The ignorant negro who owned him said that he was six years old?too old to take off ihe extra feet He did not seem to realize that his mnle in a dime miwia or a side show would quickly put him above the necesssity of hauling and selling wood. While Bntler Turner, colered, was at work in the excavation for the foundation of the ice factory at Pelzer, which was about 20 feet deep, the embankment caved in on him to tb? depth of eight or ten feet, burying him alive. His lifeless body was unearthed and removed as soon as possible, but uo power on earth could have saved hiri, as it is supposed that death resulted i nstantly. Turner was about 23 years old and lived in Williamston. a onwioi frt Th? from Black ville, Barnville county, of Mav 6, says: A very distinct earthquake shock was felt here at 6:45 this evening accompanied by a very loud noise resembling that of heavy thunder. The shock was felt at Elko, Willis ton and Wagner. The executive committee of the State Fair met in Columbia last week and revised the premium list There was a full attendance of the committee with the exception of President Chilis and Secretary Holloway, who was detained by sickness. The list was gone over and in many of the departments the premiums were increased in number and value. None were reduoed. The list was turned over to the printer, and by June will be ready for xistribatiom . m A TALK WITH McLAURIN. How Fie Came to Make HIa Two Fa| moan Speeches on the Tarlfl Question. "B. M. L.," in a special dispatch from Washington to the News and Conner, under date of the 6th, says Representative McLaurin's position on the tariff question has given him a prominence throughout the oountry which even his political enemies at home are bound to reoofrnize. Notwithstanding the attempts made by certain persons to belittle his recent tariff speeches, be has a growing following in South Carolina whioh would astonish his politioal rivals, who are eaten up with jealousy because of his rapid advancement in national as well af. in State politics. I saw a letter from an ex-member of Congress from T9xas, which stated that a Vice Presidential boom for Mr. McLaurin is u:ader way in the Lone Star State. I would not be surprised to see him run for Governor of South Carolina next vear. There is a strong pressure upon ntrn fn matrA +V>A rar>a When I called upon Mr. McLaurin at his residence last evening I found him in a particularly happy frame of mind, looking over a pile of letters that had accumulated during his absence. "My mail," said he, "has nearly quadrupled since my two lost speeches. The first seems to have struck a responsive chord throughout the South, while the last has led to a vast amount of apparently anxious inquiries concerning the conditions and advantages of our section." In answer to an inquiry Mr. MoLaurin said his position on the ways and means committee was the prime cause for making the first speech. "I would sit there," said he, "day after day listening to individuals and delegations demanding recognition through national legislation, and not hear a single solitary mention of the great industries of the South. Finally one man came before us in the interests of long staple cotton, but failed to make much, of an impression, since he found Southern members opposed to sucn a demand. I began to get letters from different sections of the South calling my attention to the rioe schedules. Parties interested in cotton seed oil productions wrote me concerning tallow being on the free list, which would tend to cheapen oil, and thereby cheapen the price of cotton seed to the planter. Men engaged in making cotton began to write asking if it would not be fair to demand a duty on ootton, at the same time reminding me that there was a heavy duty on cotton cloth. The injustice of sitting idly by and permitting the North and East to obtain all the aavantages of such legislation, and at the same time realize that my own section and people were being plundered through its operation. "As I continued the preparation of that speech I became more and more impressed that the interests of the Soutli had been neglected, and more firmly determined to make a demand for lair and equitable division of benefits and responsibilities. I am not a Protectionist, and rejected that statement many tunes in the course of my speech, but if that doctrine was to obtain in this country I simply demanded as a matter of right and justio? that the South should not be the victim. The Eress of the South, with rare exceptions, ave accepted my contention as fair and just, and I look for substantial assistance from Southern members in making a contest, not only for long staple cotton, but for a square recognition of : all Southern interests in the final status of the tariff bill. i "Here are hundreds of clippings," said Mr. McLaurin, showing a file case filled with them, "taken from papers in the South endorsing my position and enco uraging me to further action. These ! letters also," pointing to a large number, "are from prominent men, not < only in the South, but in other sections, j declaring my position correct, and urg- 1 ing me to continue the fight In order i to round out my first speech and show the true situation I made the last one. Some papers have called it an immigration speech and an advertisement for ' the South. I don't care anything about that since mv purpose was accomplished when 1 attracted the attention of the balance of the country to our section. 4 'I assumed that suoh increased in- ' bereft and inquiry regarding our sec- ' tion would assist materially in securing ' fair play, and I find it has. This speech has been printed in full in many lead- J ing pa mere, and liberal extracts have ! found their way into thousands of news- '1 papers throughout the entire nation. 1 The Nevr York Financier, the Boston Journal <>f Commerce, the Chicago Record and numerous journals of this character have printed much of the speech, ami commented editorially uppon it. The Southern Railroad Company has printed a large Dortion of it and sent otit thousands to its correspondents aild inserted it in thousands of papers interested in our section. I make this statement not boasting, knt in order to show what an easy matter it is and, I belive, might have been years ago, to obtain the prompt attention of the business element of the North to oar advantages as a section. I sincerely hope that this line of investigation may be stimulated by others, so that the South may in the end obtain its rights." I asparagus pays. A Barnwell Farmer Realizes $200 &n Acre From It. Asparagus is becoming quite an imSjrtant crop in the Williston section of arnwell county. Last year Mr. W. h. Evans realized from his crop of six acres 31,200, and another plater sold j his crop of five acres for 8800. Other , farmers intend trying the experiment ( this year, and if this season proves as f>rofitable as the last, cotton will be no < onger the only dependence as a money j crop in this section. In fact, all over , South Carolina the progressive farmers \ are fast being ooaverted to believers in , diversified Crops. The whole Pee Dee \ country is fast becoming e greet tobac- , oo oaucing section. Salnaa and Lexington ship peaches by the carload. Fairfield, Chester and York supply a , large proportion of the butter used in , Columbia. The watermelon crop of Barnwell, Aiken and Hampton is suffiefcuxft to make the rival railroads work 1 hard to obtain this (freight William s. burg ships grapes ft) for t ' ' ' n MAYORS' MI ' jK&Ez # The Convention Adjourns After ? Electing Officers. THE RIGHTS OF WHEELMEN. ? t City Ownership of Electric Plants and Water Works-About Good _ . : r-as Roads. v The Mayors' Convention met in the opera house in Spartanburg last Wed* ^ nesdav in a two days' session. About 200 were present, and the discussions ' j were strong, short and pointed. All ? j the mayors seemed to be alive and* in $$ earnest. Prof. Holmes, State Geologist of North Carolina, lectured on "Roads and Street Improvements." His talk was very suggestive and instructive, and well illustrated with stereoptican views. \ $1 The ownership of electrio and water works plants by the oity was discussed, resulting in favor of city ownership. The subject of bored wells was brought up and was highly commended by the representatives from Union, Newberry and Chester. The wells have been tested at these place? and furnish '<& 150,000 to 200,000 gallons of good water daily. Bicycle rights on streets brought out ^ some pretty lively taiK, out as no agrqp- am ment to the best plan conld be arranged the bicycles will roll on in the same old way. The punishment of children and female offenders proved a difficult qnes- . w> tion, which still remains unsolved. Messrs. Simpson & Simpson of w Glenn Springs, took the delegates to Glenn Springs, where they were delightfully entertained. Mayor Calvert sent a communication to the convention expressing his regret " that he had not been able to attend the meeting at all, owing to illness. It seemea bad that the one who had been "ft the main person in getting up the convention should not be able to attend, > $ and many were heard regretting that Mayor Calvert could not be preseni Those present thought it best to make < the convention meet once a year, so offi- M'. cers were elected for the year. The offlcers are as follows: 1 President, A. B. Calvert, Spartan- * burg; vioe-presidents, W. D. Morgan, of Georgetown; G. F. Tolly, of Anderson; F. L. Zemp, of Camden; J. A. Fant, of Union; W. McB. Sloan, of Columbia, and H. H. Evins, of New- % 3 * * i T'V T% JfcD Derry; secretary ana treasurer, ??. a. ?. Bichey, Laurens. Mayor Spratt, who acted as secretary during the convention, was named as > , secretary by the committee, but declined on acoount of not having time to attend to the office properly. After a close vote between Anderson and Georgetown, the latter was sa- | lected as the next place of meeting. 'gl The time will be the second Wednesday % in May. A vote of thanks to the people of Spar- jl tanburg and others for their entertain- -Jk ment was passed. A committee on legislation was ap- &1 pointed. Their purpose is to make on- , nicipal government more effective. The | following is the oommittee: A. B. Calvert, Spartanburg; G. F. Tolley, Anderson; W. D. Morgan, Georgetown, W. McB. Sloan, Columbia; John Black, , Walterboro. V Though Mr. Potter was unable to be present, his paper was read by Mayor Pro Tern Carlisle. The convention has been a great suo- cess, and many things were learned in it. The mavors attended to learn, and 9m this shows t&at the town government of South Caroline is looking npwwd. ABBEVILLE ANXIOUS To Be the Base of An Important Sea- ?;; board Air Line Spur. A special to The State from Abbe- 3, Kile under date of the 8th saya: For ;J some time past there has been a good leal of talk concerning the construe- ,jff ' tion of a new railroad from Piedmont " md Pelzer to some point on the Seax?ard Air Line. The Seaboard Air Line people are the promoters and of course as their shops are located here ' it would be advantageous to bring the new road here, but surveys have been * nade to other towns, small ones all of hem, Calhoun Falls and Watts, but , his town is pretty sure of getting it it least, judging from the meeting held A a ere yesterday afternoon, the busuieas gf nen are thoroughly alive to the sitae- ' ^ :ion and are going to do all they can in i financial way to have the road. The (entiment expressed at this meeting vent to ahow that the citizens mean to < lo the right thing and so bring the - : cad here. The road as surveyed to Abbeville by Belton and Due West from Piedmont md Pelzer will be 41 miles and will :ost 8345f000. As surveyed via Antre- .V rill? it will be 44 1-2 miles and will cost . / 1369,000. As surveyed to Watts vie Vntreville it will be 48 1-3 miles and at ivill cost 8840,000. As surveyed to Cal- ! loun Falls it will be*47 1-2 miles long V| ind will cost #?oi,uw. 1 oe uiner- . t ?ns? in the cost in bringing the ' A oad here and tailing it to Watts is ! $3,000 in favor of Watts, but the ad van- & :ags in bringing it to Abbeville are * worth $20,000 more to the promoters of ? ;he enterprise. The Seaboard Air Line shops are here, and since they are to operate the new road it would certainly 3e a great advantage to have it come to ;beir shops. Then the Southern touches Abbeville and this new road, therefore, by coming here will be in connection with the two greatest roads loing business in South Carolina. ) There was a good deal of favorable '* lisoussion at the meeting yesterday afternoon, and the business men of thia city are going to leave no stone urnturned, but are going to talk railroad mtil they get it, ana are going to baok this talk with cash, and so the road in ibout assured. Briggs Stmmeraon, the Investor, says his wife doesn't even know whs* business he Is in, Grlggs-Why has ha conceAlsd It from ber> Briggs?Ha Is,*afraid she might get the Impression that he could do odd Jobs around the bouse.?Ufa. _ 4 AL -r 'Au. ?;