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an i II POST ni. taits ?8ii?i?if Informs His ?rsops That Ho Esrape is Mdt aid Thej Host Fight to a M?. Japanese Account of The Situa? tion at Port Arthur-Denial of Reports That Japanese Vessels Have Been Destroyed. Port Arthur, Feb. 29, 1 p. m.-Gen. Strossel, commanding tbe garrison, -sae issued a general order informing -tao troops nuder his command that the -Japanese are preparing for a land and sara! attack upon Port Arthur. He states in his order that there is no escape possible for the L.issiao forces ?nd that they must be prepared to fight to a ?nish. JAPANESE VIEW OF SITUATION. Tokio, Feb. 28.-On account of Ad? miral Togo's successes at Bort Arthur -the reopening of the sea to Japanese merchantmen smd the revival of ship? ping, the Japanese government does s -sot anticipate that it will have fur? ther need for the auxiliary cruisers America Maru and Yawata Maru, and tiley will be disarmed and returned to their owners. Nothing now prevents the America Maru from resuming her place on the San Francisco line and the Yalata 'Main on the Australian run. ls preparing for the war Japan armed a big fleet of fast auxiliary cruisers on account of the equality of naval strength between the Russians and Japanese, but it is believed that the auxi-?iary cri users are no longer seeded. It is expected other auxili? ary vessels will be^disarmed and re? leased. The Nippon Yusen Sa i sh a r company are chartering a fleet of British vessels for reestablishing the Chinese coast lines. Lack of details of formations, firing ranges and evolu? tions prevents a full understanding and appreciation of Admiral Togo's -tactics. He seems to be endeavoring io accomplish the maximum destruc ~taon with the minimum of exposure. He is carefully balancing those con? siderations and relying upon superior ^mobility, maxkmanship and ammuni? tion. At the outset, the equity of naval strength, the probable necessity of fighting the Russians under the -batteries; of Port Arthur, made ex? treme caution essential. The loss of a few ships endangered the ultimate success of the Japanese arms, hence the brevity of the engagement of Feb. 9, and tbe avoidance of the engage? ment of the fortress. The same tac? tics wer? followed in Thursday's en Sagement and bombardment. These dashes, brief battles, speedy with? drawals, are a novelty in naval war fere which warrant the consideration of strategists. Admiral Togo's reli? ance on gunnery is fully warranted by his gunners clearly outshooting the 'Russians;. He constantly fought at long range, punishing the enemy se? verely and escaping without serious damage himself. The personnel of his forces is shown in another way by -tbe superiority of the officers and men, who are anxious to undertake h a zar- - dons duty. ^Togo's ships are apparently in better | condition than the Russian vessels. The heavy scoring of the torpedo craft is one of the surprises of the war so far. Foreign naval experts say, how? ever, that making every allowance for the daring, skill and persistency of the Japanese, the Russians are largely to blame for a lack of watchfulness and poor marksmanship. THE NOVIiv-S IMPETUOUS DASH. London, Feb. 29. -A Russian corres? pondent of the Associated Press at Port Arthur, cabling under yesterday's date, describes the combat between the -Russian cruiser Novik and the Japa? nese squadron following the attempt of the Japanese to bottle up the Russian Seet in Port Arthur Feb. 24, as fol? lows: "The Novik impetuously bearing down on the squadron of the enemy was observed to fire on the Japanese flagship and she then immediately opened fire with all her batteries. The Japansee answered with a running Tire. "The guns of our squadron thunder? ed and the batteries of the forts roar? ed, The battle had begun. "The Novik, going at full speed did sot give tbe enemy a chance to aim, hat flew by, her bow guns belching forth solid shot Then turning at full speed she showered him with shells from her stern batteries. "The Novik was in the very midst sf the enemy's fire and shells hissed past and fell close by raising tremen? dous columns of water. That's what yon call serving guns. ?"The officers remained cool and -calm. The firing proceeded without the least confusion and was seasoned with that humor which never deserts a Rusisan even in moments of terrible danger. "'The Novik continued manoeuvering alternately approaching the enemy as'3 withdrawing until she received an iajury to her stern. One gnnner was killed. Still energetically sustaining ser fire the Novik turned to the shore. At this moment a column of fire and smoke was noticed on the flagship. After that the Novik repaired to her dock.'' Berlin, March, L-Dispatches re? lieved at Emden state that the attack sf the Japanese on Port Arthur this morning was again repulsed with -heavy losses. Particulars of the battle save not yet been received. DESTROYING RUSSIAN FLEET London, March L-A dispatch to The Daily Telegraph from i in Kow, sated February 29, says: "Fifteen Japanese warships furiously bombard? ed Port Arthur from 10 to 12 o'clock this morning. The Russian cruisers -Novik, AskoTd and Bayan, accompanied by four torpedo boats, steamed out to meet the attack. They were? however, forced to retire. The Askold was in s ?inking condition. The Novik was sadly damaged and a torpedo boat was sask. The Russian battleship Retvi saa was again damaged. The Japanese PORT ARTHUR WILL FALL. London, March 1.-The panse in the war operations in the far east bas been broken bj another Japanese attack on Port Arthur, of which only the brief account sent today is yet at hand. This report, however, shows a repet? tien of the now famii ar tactics of Japan. lt is presumed that this attack was made in bad weather, previous tele? graphic advices having reported a j severe gale raging at Port Arthur. As usual the Japanese did not remain j long enough oft the harbor to enable the gunners at the forts to get their range. Again also the same three c^is?sr^ke. JSayau,. the.. AF*, ld and the N?vik''came", out. to. meet- t..<i attack and this suggests that either they were the only effective ships there or that the larger battleships were unable to get out. REPORTS FROM VARIOUS PLACES. 2 London, March 1.-The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Express says it has been officially announced that the Japanese mail boat service betweep Shanghai will be resumed Saturday without naval escort. According to a report from St. Petersburg a body of Cossacks from the south Ussuri province, with quick firing guns, is advancing along the east coast of Corea to prevent the land? ing of the main Japanese army, and tlie comment is made that possibly the reported Japanese landing at Possiet bay amy have been made with the intention of attacking this force. A dispatch from Shanghai to. The Daily Chronicle says the Russians are transferring the guns from the disabled ships at Port Arthur to the forts there. A dispatch from Chee Foo to the Standard dated Feb. 29 says a Japanese cruiser and torpedo boat entered that harbor without lights at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and.it is be? lieved they embarked the Japanese who took refuge there after the attempt to bottle up Port Arthur. A correspondent of The Times at Wei-Hai-Wei,* cabling under date of Feb. 29, says: "A Japanese fleet was seen off the Shan Tung coast this morning." A Tokio correspondent of The Times cables that the steamers sunk by the Japanese on either side of the Russian battleship .Retvizan at Port Arthur partially obstruct the entrance to the harbor. POSTAL THIEVES FOUND GUILTY. Machen. Lorenz and the Grofs all Convicted-Result a Surprise. Washington, Fer. 26.-"Guilty as indicted" was the verdict announced by Carl Peterson, the foreman of the jury in the now famous postoffice con? spiracy trial, shortly after dark to? night, stating at the same time that this was the verdict as to all four defendents, August W. Machen, late general superintendent of the rural free delivery division, George E.' Lorenz, of Toledo, O., and Samuel A. and Di Uer B. Groff of this city. The jury had been out nine hours although the verdict was reached in eight hours and twenty-five minutes. In the dimly lighted room sat the four defendents, who after the case was given to the jury had been placed in the custody of the Unhited States marshal and confined to the limits of the city hall. With impressive dignity the juryman arose and as the words "guilty as in? dicted" fell from his lips the defend? ants and their counsel seemed appall? ed. The defendants had given expres? sion to the belief that each hour the jruy spent in discussing thc case brought them nearer t? an acquittal. There was very general astonishment that the jury had included in the con? viction Samuel A. Groff, the Washing? ton policeman and inventor of the Groff fastener, as to whom Holmes Conrad, special counsel for the government, yesterday informed the jury he did not expect a conviction, and that the per? sonally did not believe in his guilt. Five ballots in all were taken. On the first ballot the vote stood 75 to for conviction, on the second 8 to 4, on the third 9 to 3, on the fourth 10 to 2, and on the fifth the vote was unanimous. Immediately after the verdict was rendered, Charles A. Douglass, in be? half of all four defendents, filed motions for a new trial, for an arrest of judgment and also for an appeal for the purpose of having the defendants admitted to bail. Bail was then fixed at $20,000 each, the bond of Lorenz and the1 two Groffs being increased from $10,000 to that sum. Bonds were furnished and the defendants released from custody. If troubled with weak digestion, belch? ing or sour stomach, use Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets and yon will get quick relief. For sale by China's Drug Store. ?imii -min? - Constables Were Convicted. Charleston, Feb. 27.-In the court of general sessions this afternoon the ver? dict of guilty of aggravated assault with recommendation of mercy was brought in the Wieters' suit against Constables Bateman, Guideon, May and Grady and a verdict of not guilty against Hoy. The case was given to the jury shortly' after 2 o'clock and two hours later the verdict was brought in. Immediately upon the verdict being rendered Attorney Duncan Bellinger gave notice that he would move for a new trial and the time will be fixed later. Sentence was suspended. Proper Treatment of Pneumo? nia Pneumonia is too daDgeous a disease for an} one to attempt to doctor himself, although he may have the proper reme? dies at hand. A physician should always be called, lt should be borne in mind, however, that pneumonia always results from a cold or from an attack o? the grip, and that by giving Ch-iuiberlsin's Cough Remedy the threatened attack of pneumo? nia may be warded off. This remedy is also used by physicians in the treatment of pneumonia with the best results. Dr. W. J. Smith, of Sanders, A a., who is also a druggist, says of it : "1 have been sell? ing Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and prescribing it in my practice for the pant j six years. 1 use it m cases of pneumonia : and have always gotten the best -reen'ts.'' Sold by China's Drug Store. THE P?MtU CANIL TREATY, Secretary Kay and Minister Bu nau-Warilla Exchange Ratifi? cations I - And the President Signs a Proclamation Petting tbe Treaty Into Effect. Washington, Feb. 26.-Secretary Hay and Minister Bnnan-Varilla at 10.30 o'clock this forenoon exchanged ratifi? cations of the Panama Canal treaty at the State department. At .11.50 o'clock the President signed the pro? clamation patting the' treaty into effect. As soon as the procalmation was signed it was returned to the State department. The Cabinet was in session when the proclamation reached the White Honse from the State department Secretary Loeb took the document to the President and he signed it immediately. The proclamation is a purely formal docu? ment. There was no attempted ceremony at the State department. There were present in the diplomatic room only Secretary Hay, M. Bunau-Vari Ila, Sydney Smith, chief of the diplomatic bureau, and Eddie Savoy, the veteran messenger of the Secretary. The protocols of exchange signed yester? day by the President were countersigned today by Secretary Hay. Several legal questions remain to be settled-among them the effect upon canal payments of the pending litiga? tion in. France, begun by the Colum? bian Government to prevent the sale of the canal property to the United States. But the State department has a conviction, based on unofficial assur? ances, that the French Court will re? ject the Colombian suit Another legal question is whether under the terms of the Spooner Act the $10,000,000, which was to be paid to Colombia, cart be paid- to Panama, and it is for the Attorney General to decide whether additional enabling legislation will be required. It will i)e some time before these questions can be settled, and meanwhile no money is likely to pass. AS TO COMMISSIONER HARROD. The President may not send to the Senate his appointments on the isth? mian canal commission before the first of next week. He has been informed by telegram that Benjamin M. Harrod, of .New Orleans, has mailed to him a statement regarding the charges pre? ferred against Mr. Harrod. Until he has received this statement and given consideration the probability is that the official announcement of the personnel of the commission will be withheld. Even in the absence of the statement, however, President Roose? velt is fairly assured that the charges made against Mr. Harrod are not of sufficient weight to warrant him in withdrawing the tender made to him of a position on the commission. It is believed confidently that Mr. Harrod will be the seventh member of the body. M. BUNAU- VA R ? LL A RESIGNED. Washington, Feb. 26.-M. Bunau Varilla, the minister from Panama, to-i day cabled his resignation as such to the President of that Republic. Hampton Statue will be Erected. Although the Contributions Come in Slowly. The fund for the Hampton monu? ment is but slowly increasing and many counties have made a deplorable showing, as is seen by the accompany? ing-list. The 820,000 appropriated by the legislature has now become avail? able for use and according to the testi? mony of sculptors a very handsome design can be obtained for the sum it is proposed to pay. Mr. Charles Frederick Niehaus and Mr. F. Wel? lington Ruckstohl, both sculptors of the widest renown, who have done many statues of southern men, have shown to the commission models of their work now standing. No one has yet been selected to make the Hamp? ton statue. The statua will take three years to complete when once begun. The list of contributions is given as it appeared last Saturday. Since that time but a few dollars additional have been subscribed : Aiken, S 28.00 Anderson, 415.57 Bamberg, 163.00 Barnwell, 50.70 Beaufort, 33.25 Berkeley, 30.50 Charleston, 1,100.90 Clarendon, 41.00 Colieton, , 45.00 Darlington, 1,000 00 Edgefield, 2.00 Fairfield, 21.20 Greenville, 125.00 Greenwood, - 55.00 Hampton, 88.75 Horry, 53.00 Laurens, 159.28 Lexington, 41.50 Lee, 30.25 Marion 20.35 Marlboro, 268.70 Newberry, 25.00 Orangeburg, 100.00 Richland, 1,356.67 Spartanburg, 22.10 Sumter, 304.85 Union, 203.25 York, 20.00 Interest, 43.11 New York, 90.00 U. D. C., 841.25 Total, $6,779.28 It is said that one reason why the collection of funds for tiie Hampton monument has not been carried on more successfully is because there is not somebody to push it in every other county as there was in Darlington and in Sumter, where the required amount was raised in a day. In a great many counties funds are being raised for tne erection of Confederate monuments locally and the people of those counties would con? tribute with the samo liberality to the Hampton monument if there was an organizer in euch county to present the subscription list. It is not a question of indifference, but a matter of a lack of leadership.- The State. Best Remedy for Constipation. 4* t he finest remedy for constipation 1 ever u=ed is Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets," says Mr. Eli Butler, of r rank vii le, N. ?. "They act gently auo without any unpleasant effect, and Jeave the bowels in a perfectly natural cjnd. tk>a." -.Sold by China's Drug Store. USURERS URO HIL Money Lenders May not Place Fic? titious Items in Their Contracts for Purpose of Extorting Un? lawful Interest. It seems that a good deal of atten? tion has been attracted recently to the bill passed during the session of the Legislature just closed in regard to the regulating of the amount of in? terest and expenses to be charged by firms lending money in* sums less than twenty-five dollars, taking as security household furniture or other personal property. There has from time to time been a good deal of complaint in reference to this mat? ter, it having been claimed that these firms were accustomed to lend small amounts in sums ranging from three to ten dollars, and so drawing the papers as to evade the present State law against usury. There have been I many instances told of where ignorant, poor people have borrowed from these firms, say three dollars, and after I having paid interest for several months at the rate of five to six dol? lars per month have in the end found themselves greater in debt than in the beginning, and not only lost the original security, but also all the money paid in by them from time to time as interest on the amount bor? rowed. The need of some legislation to pre? vent this excess interest, if it may be so called, though a stronger name is generally used, has long - been felt. Several bills aside from the general State law have been framed from time to time, but none of these have as yet been able to prevent the evil, and "loan firms" have flourished up to this time as the green iBay tree. Dur? ing the meeting of the Legislature just closed Representative Huger Sinkler, of Charleston county, intro? duced a bill bearing on this matter, and this bill passed the House and Senate, and there seems to be no rea? son to believe that the Governor will refuse to give it his approval when it comes before him for bis signature. The bill itself is beginning to attract a great deal of attention throughout the State, and seems to be so framed as to meet all of the present methods used to evade the usuary law. The bill, which is beginning to at? tract attention and is eliciting favora? ble comment from the press, is in full as follows: A bili to regulate the giving of security for loans under twenty-five dollars, and the charges to be made therefor. Section L That it shall be unalwful for the lender of money on a mort? gage or bill of sale of chattels, as security for a loaD, his agents em? ployees, or any persons in his behalf, whera the sum loaned is under twenty five dollars, to charge the borrower with any sum, or sums of money for the drawing of the mortgage, bill of sale or any papers connected with said loan, unless the said paprers be drawn up and prepared by a duly licensed and practicing attorney at law, magis? trate^ notary public not connected in business with the lender, which said officer so drawing said* papers shall receive the whole amount so paid by tho borrower for the services so rendered ana no part cf said fee shall be given by the said attorney at law, magistrate or notary public, to the lender, bis agents, employees or any persons in his behalf. Section 12. That it shall be unlaw? ful for any lender, his agents or em? ployees, or any person in his behalf, as set forth in Section 1 hereof, to charge any sum or sums for the exami? nation of any property proposed to be given as security for said loan, or for any services whatsoever rendered iu the negotiating, making or affecting of said loan, under whatsoever name the same may be denominated. Section 3. That it shall be unlaw? ful for the lender cf money as afore? said, his agents, employees or any per? son in his behalf, to have inserted in his mortagage or biH of sale, as repre? senting the indebtedness of the mort? gagor or vendor, an amount in excess of the actual amount of money receiv? ed by the borrower. Section 4. All mortgages or bills of sale hereafter given as security for loans in or on which charges have been made, or which on its face shall show an indebtedness greater than the amount actually received by the borrower, in violation of the preced? ing sections, shall be, and are hereby, declared null, void and of no effect. Section 5. This Act shall go into effect immediately upon its approval by the Governor. A. C. L. Train wrecked. Savannah. Ga., Feb. 29.-West? bound passenger train, No. 90, on the Atlantic Coast Line was wrecked this morning at A lapaha, Ga., by running into an open switch. Enginere Potter saw two men at the switch fooling with it and appiled the brakes but was too close to stop his train. The train col? lided with freight cars on the siding and the engineer, fireman and porter injured. The lock on the switch had been broken by thewreckers. An un? known white man has been arrested at Alapaha in connection with the mat? ter. Atlantic Coast Line detectives are of the opinion that the wreck grew out of the strike now on. Detectives and officers with bloodhounds are on the trail from the broken switch. The farmers of South Carolina are going to plant a lot of land this year and fertilize it heavily. This is indi ctaed by the fact that the receipts from the fertilizer tax exceed the re? ceipts at the same time last year by $22,000-and last year was the record breaker.-The State. Bennettsviile, Feb, 26.-The negro school builidng here was burned this afternoon, soon after the school had been dismissed. Most of the desks and books were saved. It is thought to have caught from the stove. nair? ? IJJ- ? 1 - In flam mato ry Rheumatism Cured. William Shaffer, a blakeman, of Denni? son, Ohio, was confined to his bed for sev a.al weeks with inflammatory rheumatism. "1 ttMid man v remedies,'* he says, "Finally I sent to McCaw's drug stare for a bottle of Chambtrlain'.-i Paiu Balm, at milich nure I was nuable to use haud or foot, and in one week's time I was able to *o to work a* happy as a. clamf For sale by China's Dreg Store. HESTER'S WEEKLY STATEMENT. For the 179 Days of Season Ag? gregate is 126,000 Bales Be? hind Same Days Last Year. New Orleans, Feb. 26.-Secretary Hester's weekly cotton statement, issued today, shows: For the twenty-six days of February a decrease under last year of 128,000, and a decrease under the same period year before last of 28,000. For the 179 days of the season that have elapsed the aggregate is behind the same days of last year 126,000, and behind the same days vear before last 73,000 bales. The amount brought into sight dur? ing the past week has been 133,913 bales, against 165,817 for the same sev? en days last year, and 187,871 year be? fore last. The movement since September 1 shows receipts at all United States ports of 6,401,421 bales, against 6,488, 227 last year. Overland, across the Mississippi, Ohio and Potomac rivers, to Northern mills' and Canada, 722,689 bales, against 845,335 last year. Inte? rior stocks, in excess of those held at the close of the commercial year 310, - 901 bales, against 250,590 last year. Southern mill takings 1,201,000 bales, against 1,178,072 last year. Total movement since September is 8,636,011 bales, against 8,762,224 last year. ? Foreign exports lor the week have been 47,732 bales, against 186,456 last year, making the total thus far for the season 4,893,213 bales, against 5,052, 517 last year. The total takings of American mills, North, South and Canada, thus far for the season, have been 2,903,289 bales against 2,820,373 last year. Stocks at the seaboard and the twenty-nine leading Southern interior cities have decreased during the week 27,786 bales, against a decrease dur? ing the corresponding period last sea? son of 134,402 bales. Including stocks left over at ports and interior towns from the last crop and the number of bales brought into sight thus far from the new crop, the supply to date is 8,803,810 bales, against 8,977,298 for the same period last year. THE WORLD'S VISIBLEf SUPPLY. New Orleans, Feb. 26.-Secretary Hester's statement of the world's visible supply of cotton, issued to? day, shows the total visible to be 3,653,570 bales, against|3,777,920 last week, 3,862,530 last year. Of this the total of American cotton is 2,578,579 bales, against 2,749,920 last week, and 2,805,530 last year, and of all other kinds, including Egypt, Brazil, India, etc,, 1,075,000 bales, against 1,028,000 last week, and 1,057,000 last year. Of the world's visible supply of cot? ton there is now afloat and held in Great Britian and Continental Europe 1,972,000 bales, against 1,951,000 last year: in Egypt 253,000 bales, against 177,000 last year : in India 400,000 bales, against 592,000 last year, and in the United States 1,029,000 bales, against 1,143,000 last year. BRADSTREET'S WEFKLY REVIEW. Spring Trade is Asserting Itself Increase in Manufacturing Ac? tivity. New York, Feb. 26.-Bradstreet's Review of Trade this week says: Spring trade is asserting itself de? spite abnormally cold weather, heavy snows or congested transportation facilities in widely separated sections. Where weather conditions have been favorable, as in the South, distribu? tive trade has been good and generally in excess of a year ago. In the South? west milder weather has brought out more country buyers. Manufacturing industry shows some enlargement of activity, especially in glass-making and iron and steel, pro? duction of pig iron being nearly double that of two months ago. Anthracite coal is active and strong, but prodcu tion and shipments of thrs product, of bitumnious coal and coke and of raw materials generally are hampered by the weather. The bituminous coal outlook is additionally unsatisfactory, because it is almost universally be? lieved that a strike against reduction of wages will occur on April 1, in the Western Pennsylvania and West Vir? ginia fields. New Orleans reports collections bet? ter than last year. Savannah reports a good and increased demand forlum ber; Memphis that business exceeds a year ago: Montgomery that jobbing trade is heavy, but that farm work is retarded by incessant rain. Spring? like weather helps fruits and vege? tables at Jacksonville, and business at most Tennessee cities compares well with a year ago. ? War talk is still an influence tending to strengthen food products, but to depress raw cotton. Railway earnings are not as encouraging as in the past, owing partly to the congestion grow? ing out of blockaded shipments, but partly to cutting of grain f reight rates. Safe Blowers at Latta. Latta, Marion county, Feb. 26. Safe blowers visited this town last night. The safe in Mr. J. L. Dew's store was blown open and about $60 taken out. Mr. Dew is also postmaster, and the safe in which the postofnee funds were kept was also blown to pieces, about $500 in cash and stamps being taken. The Bank of Latta, which is also in the same building, had a narrow escape. The door uf the vault was opened and the safe inside had been blown open, but tho robbers failed to get the money. It is supposed that after getting the vault door open, they closed it so the sound from inside could not be heard, and the jar from the safe being blown open caused the bolts of the vault door to fall in place again and they were locked out. They could have blown open the vault door again and gotten ail the money, but did not. A Favorite Remedy for Babies Its pleasant taste and prompt cures cave made Chamberlain's Cough Remedy a fa vorite with the mothers of small children. | lc quickly cures thc-ir coughs and colds j and prevents any danger of pneumonia or ? other serious consequences. It not only ! enies croup, but when given as soon as ?he I croupy cough appears will prevent tr?e at- ! tack. For sale by China's Diug ?store. PROGRESS OF THE SOOTH. Manufacturers' Record Gives Facts Showing Marked De? velopment. Good Prices for Cotton this Year Kaye Added $700,000,000 to the Wealth of the Southern States-Mano factoring Industries are Pros? pering Exceedingly. Baltimore, Feb. 25.-The value of the past season's cotton crop, about $650,000,000, as compared with the value, $325,000,000, of the crop of the season of 1898-99, added to the large grain crop in the South, has placed that section in better financial shape than ever before. It now has agricni tnral prosperity io connection with flourishing industrial interests. This is reflected in a mass of letters from Southern bankers published in this week's issue of the Manufacturers' Re? cord in reply to inquiries made of them for their views: (1) On the general Southern busi? ness situation present and prospective. (2) On the general improvement in agricultural conditions as tending to place the farming interests of the South on a solid basis for general prosperity, lessening their dependence upon crop liens in making the coming crops and resulting in a decrease of farmers' indebtedness on personal credit and mortgages. (3) On the probability cf increased prosperity resnlting in greater activity in building operations, in general trade, in municipal improvement and. in more local investments m manufac? turing enterprises. The responses were prompt and gratifying. Their general tenor is of a decidedly positive charac? ter. There is agreement of opinion that finances in the South are upon a most healthy and substancial basis. Increased banking capital is recorded, larger deposits than ever before are shown in national, State and savings banks and, at the same time, much local money is going into new indus? trial enterprises or into the enlarge? ment of existing ones. Many muncipa lities have been infused with the spirit of progressiveness able to find expression in the general financial pros? perity, and on many sides are definite plans for the betterment of city pro? perties and the improvement of streets, schools and roadways. Prosperity in the south is no longera matter of prophecy, writes one banker. It is an existing condition which one may see and feel on every .sjde, and it is attributed immediately to the high price for cotton received by the producer and to the immense gains made by the actual holders of spot cotton. Back of it all, though, is the wisdom gained by the farmers in the ? situation five or six years ago, when much cotton was raised at a loss. Then the farmers ;ere compelled to practice economy of the strictest sort in all their methods and to turn their attention to diversified crops. Compul? sion in many instances has become choice, and consequently the opening of the season found many farmers ready to take the best advantage cf the high prices of cotton. Now they are paying cash for their supplies, in? stead of subjecting themselves to lien merchants: they have relieved them? selves from their indebtedness, or have reduced it to a marked degree : they aro swelling the bank deposits and in some communities the depend? ence upon crop liens and mortgages to make the coming crop will be confined almost entirely to the negroes and to the less thrifty class of small white farmers. A note of caution, however, is sound? ed here and there in reference to the tendency to spend the surplus earnings of the year in greater quantities of fertilizers and a larger number of . mules, indicating the planting of a more extensive acreage, in spite of the hard lessons of adversity. But the general situation seems to be well summed up in a letter from a banker of the middle South, who writes: " Municipal improvements in the way of electric lights, water-works and schools are increasing in all direc? tions, and planters and others who were willing a few years ago to live in bouses without any comforts now re? quire ali modern conveniences, such s water, gas, electric lights, musical instruments and in fact everything that money and culture will demand. This applies to people in all walks of * life, of course : however, it is in propor? tion to their means that these com? forts are indulged in. Comparing the price of cotton in 1898-820 to $25 per bale-with the average price received hy the planter this year-not less than S65 per bale on an average-cotton seed bringine $4 to $6 per ton more than it ; did a year ago, I think you can set it ' down that the South will realize for her cotton crop and by-products, not counting the large number of bales manufactured into cloth and yarns, st least $700,000,000. It is not only cot? ton that we realize upon now, but every manufacturing interest that can be thought of is at present in the South, and the number is being in- ? creased almost daily, giving employ-" ment to all kinds of labor. Many of these industries are carried on by fam? ilies. The South has been very free from strikes, and this fact commends it to those seeking new homes. Our schools are on a good basis, our people law-abiding and the right hand of fellowship is extended to everyone who locates among us, with or withont , money, who shows a disposition to work and help build np this part of our great Repbulic. " Letter to Rev. C. C. Brown. Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir: Three churches in Bald winsville, N. V, have had their first lesson in De voe. Messrs. Osterhout & Lockwood painted the Presbyterian parsonage; estimated 30 gallons: took 22. Messrs. Sliugerland & Shutter painted the Episcopal Church : esti? mated 40 gallons: took 28. Same painters painted the Catholic church ; estimated 50 gallons: took 3f; Of course, they estimated from what they had been usiner. The saving in paint and work is $4 or $5 a call?n. Total saving on three jobs $125 to S1?0-the painting cost two or three**" times as much as the paint, you know* Yours tmly 9 FW Devoe & Co P. S.-L. B. Durant sells our paint