Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE STATE PRISON, j ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS IT TO 3E IN F!NE CONDITION. \ It Has a Good Snrplns?The Board Compliments the Superintendent? Col. Seal's Comprehensive Report. Columbia. S. C., Jan. 6.?The annual meeting of the board of directors of the State penitentiary was rteici yesterday. The board prepared its annual report and by afternoon it was in the hands of Governor Evans. As will be seen the institution makes an admirable showing: for the year, reflecting much credit upon Superintendent Neal. It starts off the new year with a handsome surplus after paying for the State farms: To"His Excellency, John Gary ivans, Governor of South Carolina. Dear Sir: The board of directors of the South Carolina State penitentiary have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration this annual report for the fiscal year commencing January 1,1S96, and ending December 31st, 1896, accompanied by reports of the superintendent, cap^in of the guards, physician and chaplain. The board of directors commenced An 1 v mem LUC J O TT VAiX vr? J bers, the vacancy having been made bj death previous to the commencement of the year's work. The board was made complete in March by the election of Messrs. Blackweil and Tatum in the places of Mr. T C. Willoughby, a former member, and Dr. Sprctt, whose vacancy was caused by death. Appended to this report is a statement "embracing the receipts and disbursements for the fiscal fear ending ; December 31st, 1S96. The aggregate receipts and disbursements are as follows: Disbursements $63,570. S3 Receipts. 62,125.17 Account overdrawn $ 1,445.66 Cash value of crops on hand $52,925.46 Amount due for convict hire and ether sources 5,108.46 Total $5?,033.92 Account overdrawn 1,445.66 Leaving $56,57S .26 Liabilities, including Reed farm purchase money.... IS,370.93 Leaving on hand ,$3S.207.33 We be beg to call your special attention to the report of the special committee appointed by your excellency as chairman ex-otficio, to take stocji of the institution's effects, which we have appended as a part of our report. Everything has been put at cash value and shows that the institution has been managed by careful and competent officers. We also beg to call your attention to the condition of the real estate as well as personal property of the institution, which we are sure has been increased in value by improvements and good management at least 25 per cent. When the purchase monep for the Heed farm is paid, which will be in a few days, the institution will have paid for all the property under our directorship and two of the farms, DeSaussure and Keed, containing about 4,7UU acres, wnicn nave t>eeri oougni and stocked in the last six years, are worth, in our opinion, with their stock of mules, horses, cattle, hogs and crop provisions on hand and machinery, together with the improvements in. the way of damning, ditching, ter racing, clearing, building and otber"" "^-^T^^&proving the lands bv a system of rotating ur^~a20rier ciiizmg, 565.40. In addition to the above mentioned farms the State owns a small farm in Lexington containing 404 acres, in good state of cultivation, well stocked and provided with other plantation supplies. These three farms constitute all the real estate owned by the State for farm purposes. We are pleased to! say that each department in the State prison shows efficient ana painstaking, care having been rendered by esch officer in charge. In the last few years a considerable sum of money has been spent on a system of cp-cttathota ?nr5 various nthsr sanitarv improvements, which. 112s been money j well spent, as the report of each of j the subordinates will show. The personal property of the insti-1 tution,~as shown by the report of the special committee, is in good condition and well cared for. This property, including crops on hand, aggregates $S6,873.80. The -,-L_ ??prisoners show that they are well cared for. There are in prison 190 less than 12 months ago. The policy of the board of directors and management is to utilize all of the prisoners on the State property and we are rapidly growing' to that end. All contracts for share crops have expired and will not be renewed. In conclusion, we desire to thank your honor for the assistance and ad- j vice given us during the year. We are pleased to say that our relations with the superintendent and all official ana employes has been very | ^ pleasant and agreeable. _ Respectfully, T. J. uunningha^i, cnairman, J. W. Lyles, S. P. J- Garrts, W. O. Tatum, J. H. Blackwell, Board of Directors. TEE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The following is the annual report of Superintendent W. A. Neal: CoLr^iBiA, S. C., Dec. 31,1896. To the Honorable Board of Directors of tiieJ^ith CarolinaJBeaitentiary : Gentlemen: r herewith submit this my fourth annual report as superintendent of the South Carolina penitentiary for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1S96: CONVICT STATEMENT. We had confined in the penitentiary, as shown by the last report made one year ago, 900 prisoners; received f T-> d *r?"?* QG? | X LUC va/u-l to w?u.v jvai. jl wvvj 27G; recaptured, 2S; total, 1249;; lost by expiration of sentence, 355; by death, 44; escaped, 42; pardoned, 32; transferred to jaii, 1: lost by order of court, 2; total, 476; leaving m confinemement January 1, 1S97, SIS, making 172 prisoners less than we had 12 months ago. For a more complete prison statement you will please ex- J amine the report of Capt. West field. ] HEALTH AND SANITARY STATEMENT. You will find lost by death during the past year 44. being three less than the previous year. This record we think is good, considering the fact that we get all maimed, diseased and refused from all the county chain gangs in the State. Under the law, the county supervisors may take or refuse all prisoners whose snntence dees not * xceed two years; being given the right, they do not of course take unsound prisoners. To the health of the prisoners, care of the sick, we give careful attention, as well as all the money necessary without stintIn this connection I would state, o -1 /-? Tr> ff->A of thft board to the fact, that the chemical | analysis of the drinking water at the prison shows that both well and spring j I SO. MBi I " I If. LV BBBMB 333 Mtf35S33fi53flKSMB are becoming more and more unsafe ! year by year. The last analysis show? j the well to be decidedly unsafe and J the spring barely so. We ought, in my judgment, 10 take some steps toward getting a pure water supply. With our fine sewerage and other sanitary improvements, and pure drinking water furnished, the health of the penitentiary would be greatly improved. For a more minute statement of the health and sanitary condition of the orison, I would refer you - t\ -r\ n t> tD tne report 01 ur. u. o. rvpc. MORAL AND RELIGIOUS. The church and Sunday school room has been overhauled and put in good condition, with a new or^an furnished. We have church services each Sunday morning, conducted by the chaplain, also Sunday school services in the afternoon superintended by Messrs. Stanley ana Adams with their lady friends. I will call your attention to the report of the chaplain, Rev. A. Pope Norris. The prisoners seem to be better satisfied, which I think is attributable to the religious exercises, in which many of them take much interest. I am glad to state that a good supply of religious literature is being furnished at small cost to the State, being donated by friends and religious societies. IMPROVEMENTS AT PENITENTIARY. New bam for cattle, wagon sheds, cribs, stables, silos, lot fence, slaughter pens, in fact everything entirely new in the lot has been built this year, at a cost of about $5,000. ; The prison building has been cei mented inside the cells, new iron bed steads with spnngs, for all the prison- j ers; church overhauled, and some | other minor improvements in the yard, costing about $1,000. REED FARM IMPROVEMENT S. New large prison buildings, guards' quarters, cook shed, cattle barn, etc., at a cost of about $2,500; also 150 acres of land clared and ditched. DESAUSSURE FARM IMPROVEMENTS. Two new bridges, prison building improved and made more secure, new guards' quarters, large and complete, new dining and cook room for the managers and guards, new smoke house, hay sheds, grist mill, engine, boiler, and saw mill sheds, all at a cost of about $1,500. Also guano house on railway track for Reed and DeSaussure farms, 20 feet wide, SO feet long, good brick pillars, strong and substantial, at a cost of $600. This building will be used for storing guano in bulk, direct from the cars, which can be sacked and bauled to I the fields. CROP STATEMENT. The crops have not beer- good at any of our farms and especially short at some of our share farms. DESAUSSURE FAR2I - 30-iIULE CROP. 313 bales of cotton at $30 per bale $ 9,390.00 7,S25 bushels of cotton seed at 15c 974.25 300 tons of hay and fodder, $10 3,000.00 3,196 gallons molasses, at 20c 63? 20 4,944 bushels of cats, at 40c. 1,977.60 S00 bushels of sweet ootatoes at 25c 260.00 400 bushels-of Irish potatoes at 40c 160.00 5,000 pounds of pork, at 5c.. 2~>0.10 5,000 bushels of corn, at 502. 2,500.00 Total value farm products made on DeSaussure farm (1S96) $19,091.05 (which is $035 per mule.) REED FARM?30-MULE CROP. 313 bales of cotton,at $30 per bale $ 9,390.00 7,325 bushels of cotton seed ?..... i>14.?5 4,S00 bushels of corn 2,400.00 2,500 bushels of oats, at 40c. 1,000.00 300 bushels of peas, at 60c.. 180.00 225 tons of hay and fodder at $10 per ton 2,250 00 1,300 bushels of potatoes, at 25c 325 00 2,674 pounds of pork, at 5c.. 133.70 Total value of farm products$16,852.95 LEXINGTON FARM?10 MULE CROP, (or $565 per mule.) 82 bales of cotton, at $30 per bale........... $2,460.00 500 bushels of com, at 50c... 250.00 1,250 bushels of oats, at 40c.. 500.00 z,ouu ousneis 01 cotnon seea, at 15c 375.00 25 bushels of peas, at 60c.... 15 00 250 bushels of potatoes, at 25c 62.50 Fodder...*..., 75.00 Total value of crop $3,737.50 (or $373.75 per mule.) The four share farms were very unsatisfactory this year, and I am glad to say that the contracts have all expired and will not be renewed, hence we will not have any share crops next year; will cnJv have crops on the land owned by ihe State, and under our full control. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. We fully intended to sell the entire cotton and oat crop during the month of December, but the price of cotton has been so much depressed and each day expecting the market to react. We have samples in the commissary building and will sell the same in the next few days. I am glad to report the financial condition of the institution is better than any time for the last four years. We Trill be able to pay every dollar the institution owes, including the $9,000 for the purchase of the Reed fane, bought last year, and pay cash for our next years guano supply, which has been bougKt some time ago at a very low price. Total liabilities .$18,370.9:3 ASSETS. 73i bales of cot1on,at$30 Der bale I.. $22,020.00 I Amount due from contractors and other sources ;>,10S 46 I -nf, i 1.*c\n -I r>f<n nn uusi-icis ui aua <xi stui;*. j.,vvv/ w $23,128 45 which Trill leave us after paying all demands against the institution $9,? 757.53. We hare on hand food supplies, which will not be offered for sale (at low cash value) $24,797. For a further statement of the money transactions connected with the institution I "would respectfully call your attention to the report of our bookkeeper, Mr. R. E. Burriss. Allow me, through you, to thank the managers of our three State farms for the push and energy which they have shown during the past year; Mr. S. A. Miller of the Lexington |farm, Mr. W.T. McGriil of the DeSaussure farm and Mr. J. J. Coolej of the Reed farm. Thanking the board of directors for help received from them and courtesy shown during the year. All of which I bee respectfully to submit. W. A Xeal, Sux>t. . x Two Hunters Murdered. Charleston, Jan. 0? L. F. Brown and Stephen Mazyck were killed at Ctraijgo, about 15 miles from Charleston, today by John Poppenheim. All of the parties are white. Brown and Mazyck had been out hunting with a party and were crossing Goose creek m a boat when Poppeneim came up and fired. Very meagre particulars have been received here of the shooting, but it is said thai it resulted from Mazyck and Brown's attempting to follow a deer into Ponpenheirns pron T- -i i-------Li eriv. roppenaeini luuignauiicuvici- j ed to the sheriff of Berkeley county. I A DEMON INCARNATE. simon cooper brutally butchers four more victims. without cause, this flojid killed lira wiliod, an old white jlar. kls sen ttiul hid soil's wife aad a negro. Sumter, Jan. 7.?The s? que! to the riot and murder at Lycccburg on January 1 was enacted this morning just after daylight, and it proved to oe the most bloody and horrible murder ever perpetrated in this section of the State. Simon Oorper, the negro who killed another negro at an Emancipation celebration on January 1, and after wounding five others terrorized the whole town for several hours, hss added to bis list of victims two white men, a white woman and a negro man, whom he butchered this morning with the most fiendish cruelty. Since the Emancipation Day | murder and riot be lias been running- i around the country arased to the teeth and thieatening to put to death anyone who would attempt to arrest him. He has been seen at Mayesville and in other neighborhoods in this county, but no attempt has been made to arrest him. A BLOODY DAY'S WORK. Yesterday morning Cooper went to Florence, it is said, and purchased a Winchester rifle and one hundred cartridges. Whether he purchased the rifle and cartridges, in Florence or not he certainly had them in his posession when he reappeared in Lynchburg last night. He came back, he said, to get a mulato girl whom he wanted to marry and carry off with him. Going to the house of the girl's parents he ordered her to get her clotl.es and come with him. The girl was terrified, but pretending to cry went into the shed room of the house and then ran for her life. He forced another mulato girl at the point of his pistol to accompany him when he left the town, going in the direction | of aniion. The white people of the place had in the meantime become aroused and feariug that Cooper would attempt to put into execution his threats to kill several of the white ci'izens and to | burn the place they armed themselves j and squads were posted on several roads where it was thought Cooper might pass, '"ooper encountered one squad later in the night, and several snots were exchanged without effect, and he then took to the woods. Just about daylight Cooper went to the house of a respectable negro named Boyle and, drawing his pistol, made him bring cut his hcrse. Cooper mounted the horse and took Boyle's son, a boy 10 years old, behind him for the purpose of bringiag the horse back when he got home. He then rode on in the direction of Mayesvillc. Cooper told Boyle that he proposed to kill every person, white or black, who crossed his road, anl that to-night he intended to return to Lynchburg and kill several men, whom he named, and burn the town. From Boyle's he went to the house of Mr. S. Wesley ~ I >fo > ? /VA A r\ 4-Vv ^ VV liSOIl, H SUUi"t< u.w>Ti?i tuc road, where he killed S. Wesley Wilson, shooting him three times, Mr. B. E. Wilson, the aged and feeble father of S. W. Wilson, whom he shot three times through the chest, either wound having been sufficient to cause death. Mr. Wilsons young wife he forced to go to the lot in her night clothes and barefooted, get her dead husband's buggy from the bam and hitch it to the norse he had forcibly borrowed from Thos. Boyle. He took her back into the house and then murdered her by shooting her in the back of the head, just at the base of the brain. 'Ooinirf out into the yard, which is very near^tk^road, he met Preston Smith, a neg^v""v?iK> happened to be passing along the roat?, and isimedi-, ately attacked him. He inflicted two I horrible wounds on his neck, one on j either side, with a Bowie knife, and then beat him with a heavy stick. Not satisfied with this he went to the wood pile for an axe, which he buried to the nilfc in Smith's head as he lay outstretched on the ground, his head already almost severed from his body by the Bowie knife slashes. He then fired several times with his rifle at a white man named J. W. Baker, who was ia his front yard about four or ? J T-tnv?/-Jc oVvo/1 live ilUIiUXCU vuuiaiii, &JJ.VA uau witnessed the killing of Smith, and had seen Mrs. "Wilson while Cooper forced her to hitch the horse to the buggy. Sam Lowry, a negro living near by, also witnessed the murder of Smith and heard the pistol shots in the house while Cooper was butchering the two men and the woman. Cooper took the Boyle boy in the buggy and went in the direction of Mayesville. THE COUNTY ALARMED. Lowry sent his son to Lynchburg, about ihree miles distant, and the community was immediately arounsed. Whites and negroes armed them- j selves and set out in pursuit. The roads were scoured in every direction for miles on horseback, in buggies and on foot. The sheriff of Sumter was notified, and posses dispatched from that place. Every crossroad in this section of the county has been guarded ail day by determined bands of men. A large posse from Timmonsvill has joined in the pursuit, but so far as can now be ascertained Cooper is still at large. PURSUIT OF THE DESPERADO. ^ A f lnff QliYVltoi* {1C IUUI" W V IVitkjuuuwvi. b^*w | morning at 11 o'clock on the special train secured by Sheriff Pierson to transport his posse to Lynchburg. At Mayesville the train -wa^gnet by Mr. Joe Clark, one of the passe from Lynchburg. He had followed Cooper to "within eight miles of Sumter, tvro miles beyond Lynchburg, and had then been forced to turn back by his horse giving out. A part of the posse was put oil,ana ootaming norses set out in pursuit of Cooper. Oiher messengers were sent to St. Charles and Oswego lo call out the people to b". on the lookout for Cooper. Sheriff Pierson and the remainder of his posse returned on the special to Sumter for the purpose of sending out I other posses to surround Cooper if possible. Your correspondent, in company with Coroner A. D. Moses and his [ constable, W. H. Commander, -went tea miles across the country to i I the scene cf the tragedy. THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY. Arrivicg there a more grewsomej and bloody spectacle was never be-1 1 r JI-. J ; I neia. in me rusu iuimcui.?t.cAty front of the house lay Preston Smith, colored,covcred with blood, an axe still sticking in the back of his head, just as if it had been a Dlock of wood. Entering the house, which was a small two-rcom frame cottage, with a hallway between, a more horrible spectacle was disclosed. Lying on the iloor, weltering in blood, was the half clad form of a venerable old man. His face was bloody from a gash across one temple and eye, and his long, grey beard was clotted with gore, as was his entire shirt front. This was Mr. B. E. Wilson, agsd 70 years. On the floor of the left"hand room was tiie Diooay lorm or ALr. o. Wesley Wilson. A pool of blood extended from beaeath his head across the room. The back of his head vras split open, as with an axe, and there were two bullet holes in the side of the head and one through his right, hand. One cheek was burned and ' powder marked. Just in front of the fireplace, in the ether room, in a scant white nightgown lay the body of Mrs. Wesley Wilson, a handsome young woman of 20 or 22 years. Her face I was^pillowed on one arm, which rested in a pool of blood that still oozed | from her mouth and the wound in the back cl her head. Hex luxuriant brown hair was saturated with her blood. Her bare feet were soiled from contact with the frosty ground, where she had gone in the lot to hitch up the horse for her fiendish murderer. The house was turned topsy-turvey, and on the lLoor were seen a number of empty rifle and pistol cartridges, showing that (Jocper had taken the precaution to reload after completing his murderous work. THE IXQUEST. The coroner empanelled a jury and examined J. W. Baker, white, Sam T.ntrrv anrf nrift nthev noom. who was in the vicinity when the four murders were committed. Dr. E. F. Darby made an examination of the bodies and submitted a -written statement, that simply described the nature of the wounds, and decleared that the dead came to their death from said wounds. The verdict in eac'n Cc.se was that the deceased came to their death from wounds inflicted by Simon Cooper with murderous intent. This is the story of the most fiendish murder in the history of Sumter County. The murder is one of the most brutal and bloodthirsty on record, and the people cf the State should use every elfort untried to bring him to justice. * THE MURDERER DESCRIBED. Simon Cooper is a ginger-cake colored negro, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches in height, 25 to 30 years old, broad shoulders, has small mustache, two gold fillings in front teeth, toes of one foot were burned ctl' when a child; | when last seen wore light grey sack [suit; his movements are quick and nervous; has a wound on back of ! neck and head, received in the riot on Emancipation Day; may have other wounds on his person. LAST HEARD OF COOPER. Isaa-2 Savle. the bov who was with j Cooper when the killing was done, ! and drove him toward Sumter, was captured near Mayesville this afternoon. He says that Cooper came within three miles of this place, left the buggy, gave him five dollars and told him to go home. The boy says also that Cooper boasted of ravishing Mrs. Wilson before blowing her brains out. Cooper is said to have been seen in Mayesville after 6 o'clock to night, and went in the direction of Lynchburg.?News and Courier. the fiend lynched. Mayesv^le, S. C., Jan. 8.?Simon Cooper, the notorious negro outlaw, the murderer, has gone to join the devils in hell and there is rejoicing from one end of Sumter County to the other. He has been lynched! This report comes from parties who have just returned from the scene of the lynching. This morning at an early hour, a re^ro by the name of Bob Wilson came to Maj esville and reported that he had been forced at the nf q ro-c-nl epr- apc.nmna.tiv Simon Cooper yesterday after he had committed the terrible murders, and that he had left Cooper in Turkey Creek swamp near Sumter, asleep. After making this statement, "Wilson went on through town to his home near Mayesviile. Soon a posse organized and went after t^e negro Wilson. They captured him and brought him bac? to town where beeiDg closely questioned, he confessed that Cooper was in a house about five miles from Sumter. where be had spent the night with him, and that Cooper had gven him five dollars and ordered him to go to Sumter and purchase a fre.h supply of cartridges, and that he took the irais czzse on to Mayesyiile. This news was immediately telegraphed to the sheriff at Sumter. Soon a posse left Sumter and went out to the house where Cooper was reported to be. The house was surrounded by the posse and soon a lively skirmish ensued between Cooper in the house and the posse which surrounded it. A cannon was sent for and placed in position to bombard the house. At this juncture, Simon Cooper yelled out that he would surrender if they would protect him. The posse ordered him tn mmft nut of the house, which he did. When he landed on the ground, some one put a bullet through his jaw. Cooper then began cursing and abusing those who composed the posse. Report says that the crowd then ovrpowered the sheriff and took the negro to Green Swamp, not far distant, where he was lynched. It is reported that he was literaliv filled with bullets from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. Thus ended the career of the most notorious and bloodthirsty demon that has ever disgraced the State of South Carolina. It is reported that a guard will be placfd around the Sumter jail to-night to protect Boyle and Wilson, as there are threats of taking them out and sending them on to assist Cooper in shovelling coal down below. Cubans Enthusiastic. Key West, Fia., Jan. 5.?Cubans in this city are enthusiastic over the reported landing of a large expedition consisting of 1,048 Mauser rifles, one 12-pound field price with 200 shells, v 00,000 rounds of ammunition, 200 pounds of dynamite and 40 men on the east coast of Cuba last Sunday night. Early this morning Col. Nunez. J. ?. Cartaya and three others came intoTowln-' it is supposed tney were xancea irom the Dauntless and it soon became known that the Cubans had received gocd news. Several times last week strange Cubans were seen in the city, but they almost immediately disap! peared. About the same time it was j rumored that the Three Friends had failed in her endeavor to land on the Cuban coast and had landed the men and ammunition on No Name Key, where some other vessel would take them and make another attempt to land them in Cuba. The Cubans are very close mouthed as to the locality of the landing, claiming that they expect to try another in the same place 'at an early date and it would only be placing the Spanish on their guard. A Convenient Invention. An Orangeburg farmer comes to the front with a new invention in the shape of a Lubricator for oiling vehicle wheels without taking them off the axle. It is inserted in the hub between two of the spokes. When you want to grease your wheel all you have to do is to withdraw a plunger, 'AiAiCU uycittits a. au.u as much oil as is needed on the axle. I'pon being released the spring closes up the oil hole until it is opened for oiling up again. It is a very ingenious and clever device, and is bound to be used generally. With these lubricators a vehicle can be oiled up anywhere along the road in less than one minute. The patent for this valuable invention is owned by the National Lubricator Company of Orangeburg, S. 0. Mr. Jas. L. Sims, Editor and Proprietor of the Orangeburg Times and'Democrat, is the manager of the company, which is a guarantee that it - ? ? 1 ^ 1-. a aa?v> ysn vtT? ?nrTOr*4c< o v> IS &JU I'lgilL. ?jULv Ksvmyauj vrauw au agent in this county to sell the Lubricators. See advertisement in another column. I IN A VERY BAD WAY. | THE CONDITION OF THE STATE'S i PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY. Th* Auuual Showing Made by the Inspector to the State Board at the Annual Meeting Held Yesterday. The State phosphate commission held its annual meeting yesterday in the governor's otUce at the State capital. There was a full attendance of the members- State phosphate Inspector Jones suornitted his annual report, which will be found below. The report revealed such a deplorable condition oi: the .industry in South Carolina, that it appears to be a necessity to reduce the royalty to 25 ceiiis a ton. This has been caused by the strong competition which has steadily driven the price of therccs down. The board discussed the situation at great length, but finally decided simply to transmit the inspector's report to the general assembly ar:d leave it to that body to take such action as it sees fit. Here is the report of Inspector Jones; i To His Excellency John Gary Evans, Governor and Chairman Board Phosphate Commissioners. Sir: I have the honor to submit this, my annual report as State phosphate inspector, for the year ending Aug. 31,1S96. I also append report "of the operations; from Nov. 1, JSS5, to Dec. 31, i&yt>. COMPANIES MINING. Daring the year the following named companies and individuals have been engaged in mining and shipping phosphate rock, viz: Coosaw company, Farmers' Mining company. Beaufort Phosphate company, W. Y. Fripp, James Reid and the Carolina Mining company, and John C. Nelson, who had ceased mining, shipping the rock or hand at time of cessation. James O'Hear suspended Aug. 27, 1S93, having on hand 623 tons of rock. OPERATIONS FOR THE PAST YEAR. Total tons of rock mined during the year ending Aug. 31, 1896, estimated, 123,708 tons, as against the year ending Aug. 31, 1895, 196,777 tons; a decrease as compared with August, 1S95, of 73,069 tons, and as compared with the year 1S93, a decrease of 90,767 tons. The total number of tons of rock shipped during the year ending Aug. 31,1896, was 121,602 50-100 tons; as against that of the year 1895 of 174-400 25-100 tons; as against the year 1893 j of 249,338 2-100 tons; as against the) year 1890 of 237,149 6-100 tons; being j a decrease from that of the year 1895 of 52,797 50 000 tons; being a decrease j from that of the year 1893 of 127,735 50-100 tons; being a decrease from that of the year of 1S90 of 115,546 | 56-100 tons. Total amount of rock on | hand Aug,*. 31,1S95, 35,557 tons; total amount of reek on hand Aug. 31, J 1896, 37,963 tons. ROY ALT/. Amount of State's royalty for year ending August 31, 1896, $60,853.76; i amount of State's royalty for 1S95, j $87,200.13; decrease from last phos-| phate year, $26,346.37. Of the reck shipped or sent to market there have been shipped: Tc foreign ports, 93,627 tons; coastwise, outside of State, 11,257 tons; taken at Charleston, 5,017 i tons; taken at! : i-> P?L -o_4. T> 1 11 om . ?>sauiun ur jruru xvjyiii, n,oyi tuua, total shipment, 121.602 i tons. The detailed shipments are as follows: Coosaw Company?Foreign 32,040 tons; coastwise 833 tons; Charleston, 4,54S tons; total 37,421 tons. Farmers' Mining Company?Foreign 43,013 tons; coastwise 1,039 tons; total -44 052 toils, Beaufort Phosphate CompanyForeign 11.944 tons; coastwise 6,597 tons; Beaufort 11,500 tons; total 30,042 tons. Carolina Mining Company?Foreign 6,530 tons; Bsaufort 307 tons; total 6,831 tons. W. Y. Fripp?Coastwise 274 tons. James Reid?Coastwise 2,514 tons. John Nelson?Charleston 469 i tons. Total Shipments?Foreign 93,527 tons; coastwise 11,257 tons; Beaufort 11,SOI tons; Charleston 5,017 ?*ons; total 121,602 i tons. Detailed statement of royalty due the State by the several mining companies, as based on the actual shipments: Name of Tons State's Company Shipped. Royalty, j Coosa w Co 37 ,-421 $18,710.50 Farmers' Mining Co. 44,052 22,026.00 Beauforl; Phos. Co.. 30,041 15,020.50 Carolina Mining Co. 6,726 3,363.00 W. Y. Fripp 274 137.00 James Beid 2,514 1,257. CO John C- Nelson..... 469 50 100 234.75 Add Carolina Mining Co. at ?1 per ton.. 105 105.00 Total ,.121,602 50 100 $60,853.76 From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been a very great falling off both as regards the amount of rock mined and the amount of the royalty paid the.State during the year as compared with the previous years. And it appears that the amount of j roi2k shiDDed eauals verv nearlv that i of the amount mined during the past year, the profits, if any, to the companies, have not been equal to the year before for the reason 'that the price has not averaged quite so much, while freights haye to some extent advanced. ? His .excellency, the governor, in his last annual menage, in speaking of the output of the mines for the year commencing the 1st of January, 1S96, makes it appear that there were shippea during" that year 219,240 tons, as against 152,230 and 40-100 tons for the year ending October 31st, 1302. I am at a loss to discover the data upon which the governor based iiis figures as to t':e shipments by the several companies for 1895, as from the following detailed statement of the operations of the different companies it will be seen that for that year the total shipments were only 104,479 75-100 tons, besides it was not a fair i comparison to take the year 1S92, as j this w&r, ths year of the Coosa w iitiga- [ tion and that company did not resume shipping until June of that year. THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES. The detailed statement of shipments by the different companies from January 1st, 1895 to January 1st, 1S90, is: Tons. Coosaw Co............... 5S,^39 | Farmers Mining Co 43,998 Beaufort Phosphate Co.. 26,9S7 Carolina Mining Co 54,607 W. Y. Fripp 3SS 75 100 Total 164,479 75 100 For 2) years immediately preceding the jear 1890 our South Carolina river mines, particularly, supplied the European market with the* bulk of its " XV v\UA^v\kn>fl ly O T1 A? + Vl Ck VI Q f 1 IJUUUU1U) Ui Uiiuopu.axU'OO. ju^u prices to the miners ranged from *6 to $3 f. o. b. in 1S80, to $6 to$7 f. o. b. in 1S90, at which time the Florida phosphates secured recognition, since which the price h2s continued to decline until now the sarce fluctuates betweer. $2 to $3 25 per ton f. o. b., on a basis of 57 per cent, tri basic bone phcsphitte of lime, as showing the extent to which the South Carolina phosphates have been supplanted in the European markets by the products i of other mines, I give below a comparative statement of pUcsphate reek imported into Europe from this State, Florida and Algeria, respectively, for nine months, beginning Januarv 1st, 1S96. and ending October 1st, 1896: S. C. Algeria. Florida. Rock. Total 1896 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. January.. 15,845 6.642 3,670 26.057 Februarv.li 340 27,62S 10 061 52,020 March..".. 9^250 13.789 5,127 2S,166 April 16,347 14,286 11,412 41,045 Mav 13,440 31.303 2,362 77,328 June 11,ISO 37.661 5,777 54,51S July......15,607 30,626 9,197 55.030 August....13,23S 43,204 12,340 6S,7S2 Sept 9,049 30.4S1 4,932 44,462 Total. .US,296 265,023 65,09S 448,417 EUROPEAN IMPORTS. 1893. 1S94 1895. 1S96. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Florida to Dec. 31. .331,418 441,S18 425,510*350.UUU Algeria to Dec. 31... 6,150 53 223 13t\oS$*150,000 South Carolina year ending Aug. 31..*. 182,122 63.494 125,385 * 93,527 Totals. 512,600 578,533 687,483 593,527 ^Estimated. From this it will be seen that instead of furnishing the bulk of the phosphate rock imported to European manufacturers oi fertilizers, as was the case a fe;v years ago, the mines of Algeria and Florida alone supply more than thstfurnishediby the South Carolina mines, to say nothing of that furnished by other mines in the world. If the question be asked why this falling off in the Eurc^r . de mand for the South Carolina river rock, I would say that for a long time Soutn Carolina river rock enjoyed comparatively a monopoly for export, but since the discovery of phosphate deposits in Fiorida, Tennessee, Algeria and other countries, she no longer enjoys such a monopoly, and besides the deposits of most of the above mentioned mines, while of a much higher grade than ours, can be mined and prepared for market at a cost approximating ours. NET PRICES REALIZED BY THE MINING COMPANIES. From the certified statement made by the Farmers' Mining company for adjustment of royalty on shipments made from June 1, 1896, to Sept. 1, 1896; also of the Carolina Mining Co. from May 13 to Nov. 13, ISPS, which is made a part of this report, it will be seen that the net price realized by the companies per ton for rock, after paying the royalty, was in the case of the Farmers' Mining company from $1.40 to $2.72 per ton, f. o. b., and in the case of the Carolina Mining company from $1.62 to $2.92 per ton, f. o. b. Out of this is to be paid the cost of keeping plant in repair, cost of mining, washing, towing, drying, etc., and placing alongside of the vessel ready for shipment. In my last report 1" called attention to the fact of the suspension of work I oc tho part cf the Carolina Mining company, one of the most extensive works engaged in the phosphate business in this Scate. This suspension, as then stated, was caused by the fact that with the utmost economy the j company could not mine because of! the low prices. j It was with the hope ot inducing j this company to resume operations, as well as to prevent others from stopping work, that led me to recommend a temporary reduction of the State's j royalty to 25 cents per ton until such j time as the market should improve; and a higher royalty couid be paid. I This recommendation not- being acted upon and prices getting no better this' company has permanently gone out of business, the works have been stripped of all machinery and sold, &s well as the dredge, and the site is ncrw-otiefed for sale. In order that it may be seen what a loss the phosphate industry in this State has sustained by reason of the discontinuance of operations by this company, I submit the following account of the organization and operations of said company: CAROLINA MINING COMPANY. j This company was organized in 1SS5 by F. Brotherhood, a man of fine business qualifications and peculiarly fitted for managing such an enterprise, who indeed a numbsr of English capitalists to invest their money in the business. They had built the largest phosphate dredge in the -world, at a cost of $150,000 and their entire investment in the business amounted to at least $350,000. Their works ranking the famous Coosa w company in completeness. Statement showing royalty paid the State on shipments made by the Carolina Mining" company, from Aug. 1, 1S95, to May 1, 1396: From Aug. 1,1S95. to April 1, 1896, as Kose & Pitcher $ IS,791 50 May 1 to Dec. 31, 1886 28,117 95 Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1887 27.054 20 Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 18S8 33.916 35 Jan. 1 to Aug. 31,1888 35,517 00 Sept. 1, 1889, to Aug. 31 '90 36,615 00 Sept. 1, 1S90, to Aug. 31 '91 31,992 25 Sept. 1, 1891 to Aug. 31, '92 40,54S 50 Sept. 1,1892, to Aug. 31, '93 63,521 60 Sept. 1, 1S93, to Aug. 31, '94 2,502 50 Sept. 1,1894, to Aug. 31, "95 16,713 00 Sept. 1, 1S95, to May 1, '96 3,46S 00 $338,756 85 All of which has been paid into the State treasury. Having in my last annual report recommended a reduction of the State's royalty to 25 cents per ton, temporarily, for the reason that I believe it was for the best interest of the I State to do so and as subsequent j events have fully sustained the correctness of that opinion, I again feel | it my duty to report to jour honora- j ble board the actual condition of this: industry, as viewed from my standpoint, in order that having all the facts before you, you may make such recommendation to the legislature as in your wisdom you m^y think proper. A. W. Jones, State Phosphate Inspector. Caught in tlie Flood. St. Louis, January 6.?Early this morning the steamboat B. H. Pike, landed here 60 wood choppers that hnH rsi^Vpd rn-i fmm treetoos and house roofs in the lowlands north of Louisiana yesterday. Two hundred wood choppers employed by local lumber concerns were at -work on the prarie lands bordering on the Mississippi lying directly north of Louisiana and they had narrow escapes from the floods. Perished in tixe flames. Pickets, via. Easley, Jan. 6.?The most appalling calamity that has ever befallen any one in this county hap pened to the Rev. M. L. Jones last night. His resiuence, five miles north of Pickens, with tbe entire contents was destroyed by fire. His son, Elbert, and daughter, Mary, both about grown, perished in the flames. Mr. Jones was absent. An inquest was held today. Verdict, accident. Near Winston. N. C., a farmer purchased a small tract of land and while digging a well discovered ?300 in wold. He announces that he is in thewell digging business for good, and j has refused a fine price for his property I Pianos by the Mile. See Ludden and Bates' new advertisment of one thousand Mathushek pianos. Suppose them all loaded on to wagons in one grand procession, allow 15 feet for each wagon and team and the line would op nearly three miles long. That is just the wholesale way this great southern house does business. Having acquired an interest in the noted Mathushek Piano factory, they are now supplying purchasers direct and saving all intermediate profits. This means a saving of from $50 tc $100 on each piano, and the securing of one of the oldest and most reliable instruments at a remarkably low figure. Better write them at Savannah, Ga., or at 93 Fifth Ave., New York City. Bloody Work in Clarendon. Manning, Jan. 4.?Ralph Deschamps, sen of late Senator Des champs, shot and killed Tom Rhame at Rhame's house, near Silver, 10 miles from Manning, last night. Deschamps had be^n invited to Rame's house and it is said Rhame fired two shots before Deschamps fired. Frank Rhame, brother of Tom, was also : shot through the body, it is said acci A A _ 7 T ? 1 centauy, oy jL'tfsuuaujys, <uu die. All are young men.?State. Zt lis Said That of all the diseases that affect mankind, diseases of the kidneys are the most dangerous and fatal. If this be so, how important it is that the kidneys be kept in a healthy condition. " The use of Hilton's Life for the Liver and Kidneys will do this. It is .the "ounce of prevention" in these roubles, Tiie trustworthy cure for the Whiskey, Opium, Morphine and Tobr.cco Habits. For further Information address The Keeley Institute, or Drawer 27, Columbia, S. G. A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY doesn't always mean a c&ance to get work. Ifs a business opportunity to have a chance to save money on the necessities of life. You can find a chance like that at 01 r store. We are new o2jring WJSliUH & JCASUJN'S rJKittiTJtiUT1UJ>! FLOUR Superfine Quality at -?4.50 barrel Best Patent Floor at 4.25 barrel Choice Family Flour at-..-...... 4.00 barrel best granulated sug1r ' In 100 pound sacks at -5c ^tfund In smaller quantities at...,-....-5;k?c pound good granulated-sugar In 224 pound sacks at 4??c pound In 100 sacks at 4^c pound In smalller quantities at 5c pound BIOS At 40, 50, 64, 70 and 80 coats a peck. GOOD TOMATOES In 2 pound cans at ...5c a can...60c a dozen In 3 pound cans at ...6c a can...72c a dozen pure lard-best quality. 50 pound cans per can ?3.00 20 pound cans per can 1.25 10 pound cans per can 75 5 pound cans per can....- 40 3 pound cans per can...? - 25 compound lard. 50 pound cans per can. 52.75 20 pound cans per can 1.15 10 pound cans per can....- 70 5 pound cans per can...? - 35 3 pound cans per can....- -....- 25 Good Rio Coffee 18c pound Best Rio Coffee 20c pound Higher grade Coffees at very reasonable prices. CANNED ilEATS CHEAP. Corned B^:' 1 i;yund cans 10c Corned Be?? 2 pound cans 20c Roast Beef 1 pound cans 10c Roast Beef 2 pound cans ~l8c Potted Ham, small cans, 5c can, 50c doze3 Potted Ham, lar ;e cans, 10c can, 51.00 doz. Potted Tongue, small, 5c can, 50c dozen Dried Beef, Armour's, 1 pound, 18c can, $2.00 dozen. 'x"r Dried Beef, Armour a, K pound, 10c can, 51.20 dozen. Teas at 25' 50, 75 ac3 51.00 pound. Every style and variety. We make it to your advauUg? to bay your Groceries of us* Try us. Get a copy of our Prices List. It a handy and newsy little boufe. WELCH & EASON, UNIVERSAL PROVIDERS, [ 185 and 187 Reeling and 117 tfirket st> CHARLESTON, S. C. I"MATHUSH?K"?The Piano for a Lifetime. "?aAMifVft In a 3 ^ ^ closed the crreat MATHUSHEK mechanics and rrense stock of . pianos on hand. LUDDEN & BATES, interested Jn this Factory, now offer this great stock at SoO to >10?) loss tli:m former prices. No strictly High trade Piano ever soldsolorr. ONE PROFIT from Factory to Consumer. Greater inducements than ever in slightIs ly used J'i;n:os and Organs?many as i good as ne'.v? sold under guarantee. |j Latest Styles. Elegant Cases. Also I New STEIKWAY Pianos, $ason & Hamlin Organs. 9 Write for Factory Prices anil Bargain Lists. I LUDBEN & BATES, SAVANNAH, GA. I |] All Sheet Music One-Half Price. | WE WANT A PARTNER; ; IN EVERY TOWN. Postmasters, Railroad A^rtts, (. eriera Store Keepers, Clerks, Ministers, or any other person, lady or gentleman, who can devote a little or all of their time to oor busi ess. We do not want any money in advance, and piy large commissions to those who work for as. We have the best Family Medicines on earth, aid can procluce lots of testimonials from oir home people. Send for blank application and circular. Address BRAZILIAN MEDICINE CO., 844 Broadway, Augusta, fcra ENGrLEBERG RICE HULLER. Tie only machine that in one i operation will CLEAN, BULL AND POLISH rough rice, putting it in merchantable con dition, ready for table use. SIMPLE AND EASY to manage. Write for pric9$ and terms. ALSO Corn Mills, Saw Mills, Planing M whines, ' and all kinds of Wood-working Machinery. Talhott and Llddell Engines and Boilers on hand at factory prices. V. 0. Sadhara, i General Agent, COLUMBIA, S. O. . Advice to Mothers. ? m We take pleasure In calling your atten ? tion to a remedy so long needed in carrying children safely through the critical stage of teething. It is an incalculable frfessigg to mother and child. If you are disturbed atNnight with a sick, fretful, m teethinz child^Jise Pitts' Carminative, It g9 will give bowels, and make teething safe and easy. | It will core Dysentery and Diarrhoea. Pitts Carminative is an Instant relief for 1 colic of infants. It will promote digestion, j give tone and energy to the stomach and 1 bowels. The sick, puny, suffering child I will soon become the fat and frolicking joy ] of the household. It is very pleasant to | che taste and only cost 25 cents .per bottle, j sold by druggists and fcy J THE MURRAY DRUG UOM Columbia, S. 0. . jl SEE I HERE. I i c fwnnn r tt t ~n j r r D tr ;T *5! sla Ik?IUUt\ Li V LS\ ALb rvui li It M Axe your Kidneys in a healthy condition ?5 If so, Hilton's Life for tne Liver and . HQ Kidneys will keep them so. if J|| not, Hilton's Life fo. the L ver...__ ?H and Kidneys will mate them so. A 25c bottle Mi will convince ? Wjj, yoc of this Taken regularly after meals it is an aid toJpF digestion, cores habitual constipation, mM and thus refreshes and ^lears |uj| both tody and minci. ^?|| SOLD WHOLESALE 3? His Murray Drug Co^B COLUMBIA, 8. C.?%w W AND Dr. H. BAEK, Charleston, S. C ENGINES," J ^ ^BOILEKSJ SAW MILLb, Jg TffnSTMTLOj FACTORY 1 p^i(7?ar.j E.: W. SCREVE&i COLUMBIA, S. C. 1 $ AG-J^Si TS WANTED ? & la each countv in South Carolina fc9l H to introduce a LUBRICATOR for <??| $ oiling vehicle wheels without re$ moving the wheel from the axle. It $10 v; is a reccnt South Carolina invcn- ?j| 25 tion, and will sell rapidly, as it is S $ a very convenient device. ExcluH sive territory given to the right ??? man. Fcr particulars address," 'SEP ^ NATIONAL LUBRICATOR COMPANY,jjSB X Lock Box No. 43, ;*$?? g ORANGEBURG, S. C.