The Fairfield news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1881-1900, October 05, 1898, Image 1
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% VOL. 1I1L WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER o, 1898. ' NO. 9. V / V^gf!
A STRONG ADDRESS.
K The Cotton Growers Are Urged
to Combine.
INTERESTING PAPER.
for the Farmers to Protecl
hemselves is Pointed Out
in Detail. The Danget
Imminent,
^^^BRwhe Cotton Growers of South Caroj
^
The special committee appointed by
the Cotton Growers' union of the State
held in Columbia on the 20th inst.,
desire to say that the exceedingly low
prices of cotton at the present, with
j.v.x-. pi ? "
me indication 01 lower prices sun iu
the future, painfully admonish us that
^ we have reached a crisis in the history
of the industry. Prices today are not
only far lower than they have ever previously
been at this season of the year,
but lower than they have been for 50
years, and the months of November,
December, January and February are
selling on the Liverpool market lowei
than during the great depression of the
forties, and even at these figures Engr
lish agents are advising the spinners of
Great Britain to withhold their purchases
upon assurances that prices will
soon be 50 points lower. In view of
AAn/^ifiAnc TTO fn PO11 flip
VVUVllVJ.\/JUO ?? UVIJ4AV VV Vw?* vuv
attention not only of the cotton growers
but of every business association in
the cotton belt to the portentous fact
' that for the want of organization di^
rected by ordinary tact and foresight.
-?we as a people are allowing this great
element of wealth to pass beyond ?ui
borders for a mere song; that our birthright
is going for a mess of pottage,
and our exeat natural advantages sacri
ficed with the careless indifference of a
drunkard, who Sings from, his lap his
treasures. Foreign speculators and
manufacturers, fully ax are that the
staple is passing out of the hands of
the"* growers at figures far below the
cost of production, nevertheless bold
aloof from the market to allow the ma
turing obligations of the tanners to
force the crop out of their hands for a
mere pittance. Defiantly claiming to
command the situation they boldly propose
to avail themselves of conditions,
which could be remedied by a combination
of the cotton growers and business
element of the cotton belt, to rob the
growers not only of the profits of their
year's toil but of nearly one-half the
value of 10,000,000 bales of cotton, and
r thereby impoverish the most favored
section of the globe. Blessed with the
natural advantages of a climate and
I soil which alone can produce this great
V ofot\1o in rtnalifxr or?r? nnot?+1tv cnflfiMAnf
ovayiv IU uui -k %/j uuu uumuv?VJ
for the demands of the world, we should
be the most prosperous people on earth.
Efficient organization, which would
L control the volume of production and
regulate its marketing, would make
-those advantages a mine of wealth; but
p jeit;n every cotton grower separately ana
"independently striving to increase his
Jweage and nullify his bales, first above
flgbthen below the cost of production;
yR a vicious financial system that
cWses the claims of the local merchant
and Ranker to force the entire crop on
1 _ the market in four months, these natural
advantages are distorted into a
F blight and a curse, and the cotton grower
is made to become a prey to the
usurer, the speculator and the manufacturer.
Never was there a situation
. which more peremptorily challenged the
wisdom of economic .statesmanship;
never was there a more inviting way, a
more imperative field for organization;
never was there an exigency which
would more fully justify it. Yet we
are told that the cotton growers are an
ignorant class, devoid of leadership and
TTTifl>Arif 4-li r\ tvatta* fV\of if
vritiivuv cju.^ yvngi w vigaui^g, viiav m
is impossible to organize 500,000 cottor
ah growers. Why even the lower animals
^ will rally for defense and 3elf protection.
Can it be possible that the cotton
growers constitute the only element
of the animal kingdom which cannot
unite? Are they so devoid of manhood,
v, intelligence and foresight that the
strongest incentives?independence,
j-- competency, the welfare of their sec
gk tion and the maintenance or their families
cannot induce them to unite? If it
he true that as a class they are so devoid
of spirit, so ignorant, so helpless
and supine that the most direct and
forceful appeals to sentiments the most
calculated to stir the human hear t canCn/^11
+-K/-VV*-* 4-sn /\x/va riirr/% ^/\t? nil*.
11 Vt luuugv tlicui U\J UX50.1116KZ XVI |/U1
^ poses of mutual protection and self dean,
fence, then truly we should hear nc
more complaints of the oppression oi
trusts and combinations, but as a class
we should meekly accept that law oJ
nature which decrees that the improvident,
the weak and the careless shaL
serve the vigilant, the active and the
strong; then should we join in the re
frain of the other avocations.
'I hold the farmer a simp'e fool
~*orn to labor and not to rule.
Ax?d I "wi 1 do unto him that which I 8?e
Will bring the most monpy to mine and t<
me."
Prompt and concerted action on the
part of the cotton growers would change
present conditions in 90 days. Through
the comolete organization which woulc
enable them toact as a unit would plac<
them in command of the situation it
? three months and change their condi
from one of bankruptcy and dis
Wess to one of competency and profit.
By what means can organization effect
these ends? Adopt the recommen
dations of the National Cotton Growers
nnion, organize promptly, hold all the
eotton on hand and firmly bind ourselves
to reduce the extent of this year's
| acreage 50 per cent, the ensuing year.
I No intelligent man of business experience
will dispute the soundness of this
proposition. As soon as effective
measures to these ends have been taker
and become a certaintv cotton will im
' mediately advance and more money cac
be borrowed on it than it is worth today:
because it would then become a
security constantly anticipating in value.
The visible supply of cotton is not
r above 15,000.000 and the invisible supply,
or stock on hand at the mills, is
estimated at 500,000, making a total ol
2.000.000 bales. To be certain not tc
underestimate will put the amount oi
this stock which has passed beyond th<
control of the growers into the hands oi
speculators and manufacturers, say a'
2,400,000. The consumption range;
between S00.000 and 1.000,000 bales
Der month. If the farmers should with
hold their cotton from the market fo
fe-''
; '., V
: .*. Jfe
" v" -5.
. "* - c. '
: I - v* i
. . . /
| three months the entire surplus beyond
! their control would be consumed and
I the manufacturers would be at their
[ mercy for a supply. The entire situation
would be changed instead of the
speculator and the manufacturer dictating
the price the cotton grower could
; x his price and say pay it or shut down
j your mill. A reduction in next year's
1 ? /.Anf incnrn
I Ui pel tcuii nvuiu xuautv
^ j such a diminution of the supply as to
| make cotton scarce and bring about an
J active competition among the manufacturers
for their stock that would insure
| a steady and rapid rise of price.
This was made demonstrably clear
i during the war between the north and
south in the sixties. McHenry in his
, "History of the Cotton," page 51, says:
, uIn ordinary times there is always two
years' supply of cotton in the crude
. and manufactured state at the consuming
points. At the fall of Fort Sumter
there was a sufficiency for three years'
l requirements. With the supply larger
' in proportion then than now, as soon as
. I the production was curtailed by the
' i war, we note the following extraordinary
rise in prices; in 1S60 the average
l price was 11 cents, in 1861 at 13 cents,
in 1S62 at 32 cents, in 1863 at 67 cents,
, in 1S64 at $1.01. But it is argued that
! any heavy curtailment of production in
the South to raise the price will stimulate
foreign competition. If $1 per
- pound in 1864 could not stimulate ingenious
foreign competition it is difficult
to see how 8 or 10 cents can do it
now."
Touching this point, Ellison -in
his "History of the Cotton Trade,"
pages 149-142. says: "For some years
prior to the outbreak of the civil war it
had been foreseen that, sooner or later
o corinna lafinr ^iet.11 rhanf-P at t.hp Smith
was inevitable, and in view of the ca,
lamity which such au event would
bring upon Lancashire, every effort
was made to discover new - sources of
cotton supply. But, although, the
powerful association formed for the
promotion of this end searched every
nook and corner of the cotton zone, and
sent seed to every one in the four continents,
willing to experiment, they enr
tirely failed to accomplish the laudable
object they had in view."
Mr. Ellison further tells us that
while the exceedingly high prices during
the war did considerably increase
foreign shipments of cotton, that this
increase declined almost to its normal
bed as soon as the price of cotton fell
to 15 cents or 30 cents per pound. If
no action is taken and this crop is sacrificed
at present or probably lower
figures in the next four months it will
fall far short of paying for the cost of
production. The cotton growers will
be impoverished, the country stripped
of means and every business interest
must suffer. Should there be 110 effective
organization to curtail the supply
by a uniform reduction of the acreage,
and any other plan to reduce the crop,
is the merest twaddle. The industry
I A vi An f li A
ytin uc ullu an n;usi/iauuu vi ou.x?ival
of the fittest; those who can raise it
cheapest and those who cannot compete
must accept the cheerless and hopeless
lot of the bankrupt and pauper.
J. C. Wilborn,
Presidents. C. C. G. U.
L. W. Youmans,
Vice-President N. C. G. U.
A. GEilAT SGHEMEi
By Which the Cotton Acreage Can be
Decreased.
There is a cotton man in Columbia
who has a great scheme on foot for the
: reduction of the cotton acreage. He
; says he intends to push it to a grand
and glorious success and no doubt he
i will if he can get the proper co-opera;
tion. There is a degree of -uncertainty
i about his being able to do that, how:
ever. There have been a number of
i conventions of cotton planters, in which
they all positively pledged themselves
; to reduce the amount of cotton they
i would plant. It was a case of resolute
and fall back. Then when the fanners
got home, each one would wink at himself;
assume that everybody else was
going to decrease the acreage, and he
would take advantage of the opportunity
to double his owd acreage in cotton
and get the benefit of higher prices.
They would all play foxy in the same
way and the consequence -would be a
crop of unprecedented size. Now this
Columbia genius has hit upon a scheme
which logically cannot fail. He proposes
to call a convention of all the cotton
growers of this part of the South.
They will each and*all be pledged to increase
their cotton acreage for the next
year. Every safeguard will be thrown
around them so that according to all
> the laws of the game the acreage "be
: doubled. And then one by one they
> win &ev;ici/ij utjccimiuc i/uac as tucic 10
: to be an over production of cotton he
will plant a minimum acreage, and let
[ the other fellows reap the proceeds of 2
i cent cotton. As a consequence we would
- have the smallest crop of cotton planted
in fifteen jrears and the fleecy staple
will go up to 12 cents.?Record.
Cost Him His Arm.
> William Roelker, a German iron
. iwioLcu a. xivii o uiii aii uaot kjv?
j Louis, and ^11 lose his left arm. John
1 F. Hummt^x-ircus and menagerie was
[. to give an'&iiibition. The animal
[ wagons were lined up, preparatory to
? the parade. Among the animals were
I a pair of African lions. The male was
lying at the front of the cage with one
of his paws and his tail hanging outside
the bars. Roelker began stroking the
paw with his left hand. The lion
watched Roelker's procedure. The
? ironworker grabbed the tail with
> his right hand, giving it a sharp twist.
[ There was a roar, and one of the lion's
, paws caught Roelker by the left shoulder
and stripped off the flesh of the arm
!. down to the hand, two fingers of which
. were torn off.
> |
* i Beats Walking.
1 j When a man walks a mile he takes,
' I on an average, 2,268 steps, lifting the
1 { weight of his body with each step.
| When he ride? a bicycle of the average
1 j gear he covers a mile with the equiv"
! alent of only 627 steps, requires little
' I force, bears no burden, and covers the
; same distance in less than one-third of
? i the time."
j
> | Another Hold "Up.
t j A special from Elyria. Ohio, says:
5 ! Another hold-up occurred on the Lake
P | Shore road west of here. One gang of
t : tramps held up the officials on a freight
> | train and took everything in sight.
5 I Many shots were fired. The trainmen
- | were not molested. A movement is on
r I foot to break up the gang.
"CLIMATE AND CROPS.
South Carolina Has Some Crop
Growing the Year Round.
! INSPECTOR BAUER'S REPORT
i Much Valuable Information Bur
nished as to the Conditions
in This State During
Each Month.
The following is the climate and crop
review for the season of 1898 issued
from the South Carolina section of the
United States weather and crop service
Thursday
There is no month of the year but
what, in portions of the State, some
crop is either growing ?r coming to maturity.
During January. February and
?enerallv the creator portion of March
the active growth of crops is confined
to the immediate coast from Charleston
to the mouth of the Savannah river,
j where winter vegetables, planted in
I the previous autumn, receive cultivation
and make more or less growth.
The earliest are marketed in the latter
portion of January, and throughout
February and March. The list of vegI
pfcaMps ?ncrpain varietv as the sea
son advances and the area of production
extends farther into the interior,
although confined to the easternmost
counties until after March.
The winter season of 189S was mild
and dry. The average temperature for
January was 49 degrees, which was an
a"erage of 3 degrees per day in excess
of . he normal. Along the coast the
tern ierature fell below freezing (32) ou
two lays only, while the average minimum
v\is above the active growing
tern >erature. The rainfall, however,
in tiie trucking districts, amounted to
a f raction of an inch only, and the defici
sncy seriously affected the growing
tm ;k crops. Frost did no'injury. The
avf rage rainfall for the State was 1.S0
inch, which was 2.60 below the norrr?o)
February was a cool month throughout
the State, with an average temperature
of 44 degrees which was 6 degrees
per day below the normal. The minimum
fell to, or below, freezing on an
average of 16 days for the State, and 5
days in the truck raising districts,
where also, the average minimum was
below the active growing temperature
with frequent light frosts. The rainfall
titqo Qflroin T'Tio avprncp was
only 0.81 inch, which was 2.80 below
the normal. Less than one-fourth of
an inch fell in the truck region. These
conditions of temperature and rainfall,
while generally favorable for farming
interests, were iMr aging to the trucking
interests and resulted in the latest
and smallest yield in many years, causing
a general loss to the truck growers.
The cool weather throughout the State
retarded the growth of winter wheat
cmoll inc a n r}
CfeUVL VtttCj UUU V/UUW 01XAC414 wuvt
checked the budding of fruit trees and
aided materially in making the grain
crops the finest in many years, and an
unusually large peach crop. The dry
condition of the ground permitted more
than the usual amount-of ploughing
and preparation of fields for the usual
spring planting. In the extreme south
eastern counties some corn was planted
during the latter portion of the month.
March was a warm, dry month. The
mean temperature was 59 degrees,
which was 5 degrees per day above the
normal. The extremes recorded were
a maximum of 92 and a minimum of 22
degrees, the latter on the first of the
month. Heavy killing frosts were reported
from the 1st to the 7th, after
. rrrWk AT
tiu uu naiux
except over the extreme western counties,
where the average night temperatures
were below the active growing
points until the latter portion of the
month.
The rainfall averaged 2.99 inches,
which was 1.47 below the normal, but
was unevenly distributed, having been
heavy in the upper Savannah valley
and at a few other points, and very denAoaf
f Vj A
ut:^uu viiv ?i UVAV VMV
drought conditions were intensified, to
the further injury of the truck crops
which were slowly coming to maturity,
and shipments of strawberries, peas,
beans and Irish potatoes were begun.
The prevailing high temperature
caused a rapid growth of vegetation.
Ttte freedom of the soil from excessive
moisture enabled early and thorough
nronn ration nf lands for thfi usual
f,* w w- ?
spring crops. Fruit trees of all varieties
blossomed during the month.
Wheat, oats and barley grew luxuriantly.
Lands were prepared for corn, and
much was planted. Some cotton and
rice were planted. Farm work made
rapid progress. ,
April was cooler than usual, with
a mean temperature of 58 degrees,
which was 5 degrees per day below the
natural. The extremes of temperature
were a maximum of 92 degrees and a
minimum of 25 degrees. Frequent light
frosts occurred up to the 28th, none of
which, although heavy in appearance,
did any damage except t? retard tue
growth of youDg corn and cotton.*
The rainfall averaged ii.05 inches,
which was 1.91 inches in excess of the
normal, and was evenly distributed,
with an average of eight days without
rain. The rainfall was beneficial it
supplying, to a large extent, ^he previous
deficiency, thus putting the
ground into excellent condition for
planting, although germination and
growth of the staple crops were slow
owing to the prevailing low temperature.
Corn planting made considerable progress
during the month, and the bulk
of the cotton crop was also planted,
there remaining but little of either
crop to plant by the end of the month,
except over the western counties,
where the farm work was delaved. and
| was frequently interrupted by heavy
| rains. Minor crops were largely all
planted and in the main did well.
Many peaches, plums, cherries and
apricots were killed in the western
counties by the frost of the 7th, but
elsewhere throughout the State the
prospects for a large fruit crop were
unimpaired, cxcept for apples and pears.
The weather was favorable on wheat.
o y-? rrAnAr?>1Ixr c?a Aotc fiAA f A.
a.liu. ov ivi vttWj * *vv k\j
bacco.
May was slightly warmer than usual,
with a mean temperature of 74 degrees,
which was 3 degrees per day above the
normal. The extremes of tenaperature
were a maximum of 1% degrees and a
minimum of 39. The weather during
X
.. - . . . . - : .
the first week vras cool, with light
frosts on the 7th and 8th over a large
portion of the State, but the frost did
no injury other than to retard the
growth of young corn and eotton. Cut
worms were unusually numerous and
destructive during the prevalence of
the cool weather. The temperature on
j the 30th was higher at many stations
j than ever before recorded in May.
The average rainfall for the month
was only 1.35 inches, with an average
of 8 days with rain. The rainfall was
84 per cent, of the normal, and droughty
conditions prevailed by the end of
the month, beiDg most severe over the
southeastern counties, where there was
a large seasonal deficiency in rainfall.
The harvesting of wheat and oats
was elegant and nearly finished during
the month. The wheat crop was the
finest raised for many years; the oats
1 V x P ;
crop was aiso neavy, except, ior spring
sown, which was injured by the dry
weather. Truck crops suffered severely.
Cotton developed slowly, being
small but vigorous and healthy. * Corn
remained green, but made slow growth,
and in places suffered severely for the
want of rain. Tobacco did well, and
an almost entire absence of destructive
insects was noted.
avriflc
JL aoiuiuo lanuu x&yixxt \ ^ muiiiw ******
truck yields were reduced by the
drought. Streams reached very low
stages, and wells began to fail by the
end of the month. Rice grew well, but
on account of the low stages of the
rivers, was threatened by salt water.
Gardens dried up, and vegetables became
scarce in places. Farm work was
well advanced, and crops were kept
free from weeds and grass, and were
well cultivated. The dust was distressing
in the cities and along the
highways.
June was a month of transition from
the unfavorable conditions that prevailed
generally during May on account
of drought in that month. The
mean temperature was 80, which was
2 degrees above the normal. The extremes
of temperature were a maximum
of 105 and a minimum of 55. The
temperature rose to or above, 90 degrees
on an average of 20 days.
The average rainfall for the month
was 4.15 inches, which was 0.47 of an
inch below the normal. There was an
average of 8 days with rain. The
drought of the previous month became
intensified, and continued until about
the 15th, after which date copious aud
well distributed showers occurred over
the entire State, and prevented the
threatened serious injury to growing
orAnc nyppnt, t,n truck, cardens. SDrine
"* "X""? w 7 / -*rsown
oats and early corn. The latter
was too nearly matured in the eastern
counties to be much benefitted.' The
absence ef rain during the first half of
the month was favorable for finishing
wheat and oats harvest and securing
the grain in fine condition, but delayed
planting of corn and peas on stubble
lands; and transplanting sweet potato
slips. Cotton plants developed
satisfactorily; they fruited heavily,
and in the more easterly portions of
the State put on bolls freely. Lice
damaged cotton in many places; otherwise
cotton was in a healthy condition,
although small for the season, except
on sandy soils, where it attained nor
moal growth.
Tobacco developed into a very fine
crop, and was unusally free from
worms, fleas and grasshoppers, and.
sustained no damage by hail. Some
early tobacco was cut and cured. Rice
did not do well until near the close of
the month, when it began to improve
rapidly. Large quantities of peaches
and plums came on the market but
other fruits and berries were scarce
or of inferior quality. Melons were
smaller and later than usual. The
month as a whole favored farm work,
with a result that field crops were gen'
? 11
erally well cultivated ana unusually
free from grass and weeds.
July was a cloudy and rainy month
with even high temperature. The
mean temperature was 80, which was
one degree per day above the normal.
The extremes were a maximum of 102
and a minimum of 54 degrees. The
cool spell was of short duration, and
did no harm.
The average rainfall for the State
was 7.81 inches, which was 1.71 above
* * 1 *! j__
the normal, ana was eveniy distributed.
with an average of 14 days with
rain. There was more than the usual
amount of cloudiness. Few severe
windstorms occurred, and th^re was
? 1 ?- ? ?X -rv-P rtcfwi A+.1TTA
clLI ililliUSL tJUWii; ttUSGiitc Ui uvui ? v
hail.
Crop developed satisfactorily, especially
corn, which attained a very
promising condition although the prospects
did not indicate a full crop in all
sections of the State. Cotton grew too
much to stalk, and. owing to the continuous
wet condition of the soil, did
not receive its usual July cultivation,
and fields became grassy. The plant
lacked sunshine. Cotton fruited heavily,
with very little shedding except in
a few localities where excessive shedding
occurred. Tobacco cutting and
curing continued througout the
month, and, the bulk of this crop was
saved without any material injury
from any source. Fresh water for
flooding rice fields became available
early in the month, and the crop improved
rapidly. Forage and food
crops grew fast. Fall root crops were
planted. The month as a whole was
favorab!e.for all agricultural interests
Peaclies and melons were plentiful,
but other fruits were generally scarce.
The damp cloudy weather caused much
r\^ninrr rryo r\??c
August was a month of normal temperature
and excessive rainfall. The
mean temperature for the month was
79 degrees, which is also the normal.
The extremes of temperature recorded
were a maximum of 99, and a minimum
of 57 degrees. There was an unusually
small range in the night temperatures.
-The average rainfall for
the month was 9.81 inches, which was
3.68 inches in excess of the normal.
There were 18 days with rain, and
some rain fell within the State on evfrv
riav nf thfi month. Two stations
had monthly measurements of over 24
inches, and 13 others had over 10 inches.
The rainfall at many stations was
largely in excess of any previous
monthly records. There was a harmful
deficiency in sunshine. Abundant
moisture and even, high temperature
caused ail vegetation to grow rapidly,
nnr? fnrn?i ytpII as rrrnfc ftrons did
exceedingly -well; but maturing crops,
such as cotton, corn and rice, de-.
teriorated. The frequent rains prevented
haying, delayed rice h? vest
and ruined the greater portion of corn
/
fodder that was stripped from the stalk.
Some corn was blown to the ground and
considerable sprouted in the husk.
The humid, rainy weather caused many
ripe cotton- bolls to rot, and the seed of
open cottoa sprouted before it could be
picked. Much of the open cotton mildewed
and became weather-stained. The
exeessive rains caused rust to develop,
and shedding of squares and young
bolls. Peavines attained good growth
Dut couia not be Harvested. Urass that
was cut for hay was generally mined
before it could be properly cured and
housed. Exceedingly heavy rains caused
inundations over the southeastern counties,
doing extensive damage to cotton,
corn, rice and hay. On the wl nie, the
month was unfavorable for the staple
crops, but was quite favorable for
minor crops, pastures and gardens.
Whatever deterioration crops suffered
was due to an excess of moisture and
deficiency in sunshine. The first bale
of cotton for the season of 1898 was
ginned on the 9th of Augu3t, or 12 days
later than in 1897.
September began with a continuation
of the rainy, clammy and warm weather
that prevailed during August, but
about the 10th of this month there was
a change to cooler, clear weather at
first, and then to clear, very warm
weather. The temperature averaged |
about 3 degrees per day above the jormal.
The rainfall was slightly deficient
in the central and eastern counfine
hnf. r\\7&-r TTTOQ^m AAnnfioa
VAlsOj k/UO VT VI l/UV II UJbVl LI V/VUL1 HVkJ
there was considerable excess, but
neither the deficiency nor the excess
just noted were great enough to be
harmful. :
After the 10th of September, ideal
weather prevailed for harvesting and
maturing crops. Rust, shedding and
rotting ceased on cotton, and pickingmade
rapid progress, which as it advanced
seemed to indicate a shortage
in the crop over the eastern and cen
tral counties, but also indicated a full
average crop in the western counties,
where in many places cotton continued
to grow, bloom and fruit throughout
the month.
Considerable corn was housed, and
much found to be damaged from
sprouting iu the husk. Local overflows
of rivers and creeks also damaged some
corn, but on the whole the early corn
made a good average yield, with many
exceptions, owing to local adverse con?
t -i.,. ?i.?a
uibiuua. jjdic piautuu ui oiuuuifiauu
com varied greatly throughout the
State.
Rice harvest continued throughout
the month, and except where damaged
by floods, yielded heavily. Upland rice
was particularly fine in most localities.
A heavy crop of peavine and other
hay was saved in good condition. The
hay crop was the heaviest ever known
in many localities, and was far above
the average over the entire State.
The season as a whole, for sweet poi.-*-?
.-L-r.- i.? a
uitues, uuuias, peanuts, sugai auu auigum
cane, turnips, and for garden
tiuck, after the middle of June, was
very favorable and the yields larg-j.
A short resume of the season would
show that the winter was dry with
nearly normal temperature: the spring
cool, with frequent light irosts, and a
deficiency in rainfall amounting to a
drought of more or less severity, and
entailing considerable loss in some localities.
The summer was uniformly
warm anJ excessively wet. The au
tumn warm, dry and favorable tor Harvesting
and abundant crops that the
season and the labor of the husbandman
produced.
J. W. Bauer,
Section Director.
DESTRUCTIVE PRAIRIE FIRES.
Five Thousand Head of Cattle Doomed
US jucatii* tjcuuuo
A prairie fire, probably started by a
spark from a locomotive, has burned
over thousands of acres of grassy lands
between Kiowi and Bijou creeks in
Morgan county, Col., and destroyed
thousands *>f tons of hay.
Ranchman W. C. Miller and his wife
and child had a narrow escape from
being burned to death. The woman
and the child were badly burned. Had
it not been for the prompt work of the J
railroad men and others at Corona, the
town would have been entirely destroyed.
Going toward the approaching fire
for a mile back fires were started and
in this manner the danger averted.
Thousands of head of cattle are threatened
with destruction by the forest
fires.
In Eagle county, where the flames
seem to be spreading more rapidly
than in other sections of the State,
ranch property has been burned and
the farmers with their stock have been
trying to get out of the path of the
fires for a week past. One large bunch
of about 5,000 head of cattle is now entirely
surrounded by fire and there is
no chance for them to escape. The report
came from Deputy Game Warden
Slaughter, who directed his letter two
days ago. It is probable that the cat-.1
- i i J-..* J v..
tie nave ueeu uestxujuu \jy tuia ciuic.
Dispatches form various points in
the forest fire district indicate that the
fires are spreading, ahd that unless
something is done to check their further
progress the loss will be almost
beyond estimation. Some mining camps
are threatened with destruction and
many ranches are doomed.
At Redcliff the fires are within 10
miles of the town and citizens are organizing
to fight their advance. A dispatch
states that it is feared that the
little mining settlement at Holy Cross
near Red Cliff has been destroyed.
Communication is cut off the mail carrier
being unable to get through.
Diseases of Cattle.
Veterinary , Surgeon Neeson, of
Clemson college, has written a long
* . . . /t "nil i n
letter to ixovernor J&neroe m reierence
to diseases of cattle in the state. He
aays that it will be necessary to have
an assistant if the business is to be
properly attended to. These letters
have been sent to Washington with the
governor's recommendation that the
additional surgeon be allowed. This
department of Clemson- college has
done much good work heretofore and
the state authorities hope the government
will send the additional surgeon.
Prisoners Released.
The official Gazette at Havana
published a decree Thursday signed by
Capt. Gen. Blanco and bearing date of
September 27, granting pardon to and
ordering the release of all political
prisoners now undergoing confinement
in the island.
%
BATTLE OF MANILA."
A Retired French Naval Officer's
Observation About It.
THE SPANIARDS NO GOOD.
They are Dreamers and Dwell In
the Past. The Marksmanship
of the Americans
Excellent.
The Courier des Etats-Unis is publishing
a series of letters from Manila,
one of which gives an account of the
battle of Cavite by a retired French
naval officer who lived for a long time
1U tlic X UlliptJiliC ijitiuua. auu n uvjt
country house was situated between
Cavite and Manila. The views of the
Frenchman are interesting, especially
because they seem utterly devoid of all
prejudice.
:'Now. monsieur.asked the corres
pendent; "since your house was so
near the scene of the battle, be good
enough to tell us what the affair looked
like."
"Well, I will tell you the thing simply
and just as it occurred. At 5 o'clock
that morning I was in bed. I heard a
long, dull sound. I thought that it ?
was a signal announcing the arrival of
a French or an English vessel. My
wife awoke and asked, :What is that?'
'It is simply a signal,' said I. Two ,
minutes afterward there was another
cannon shot. 'Hello! What's this?"
said I. 'Is it something serious? That ,
certainly can't be a signal.' I jumped
up and looked out of the window. I
could see nothing but a little curtain
of fog and a little smoke. Then, to
frighten my wife with what I believed
was a little practical joke, I shouted.
'The American fleet!' I looked out
again. The fog was gone, and, sure
enough, I counted seven American
ships in line. They were advancing
very slowly. I came back to my wife
and said: 'Well, now, let me tell you
that what I said to you a moment ago
by way of a joke was really a fact.
Here the Americans are!' She almost
lost her head with fear. 'None of that,'
said L 'Cover your head in the bedclothes
and put cotton in your ears if
you want to, but keep quiet.'
"I watched the fleet. It was advancing
upon Cavite, where all the Spanish
boats were heaped together like
. _ . .. mr A __
mice in a irap. j.ne Americans were
soon upon them and opened a terrible
fire. They manoeuvred for a while and
finally placed themselves two by two,
the two largest in the rear, and the
others in front, two at the right, two
at the left, all facing the Spaniards.
At 7:30 there was not a single Spanish
vessel afloat; all were either sunk or
burned. The fire of the Americans
was excellent, indeed, wonderful. Each
shot hit the mark. I could see the
smoke and the cloud of dust when a
Tvmiofit.ilp f<?11 ATI cVinrA Tt. xcoc t> mncr
nificent piece of firing practice."
"But didn't the batteries fire?"
"Ob, yes, the battery at Cavite fired
a few shots, but it was quickly demolished
by the shells of the Americans.
It was absolutely reduced to cinders.
1 admired greatly the accuracy of the
American shooting. As I said, every
shot seemed to hit the mark."
"Now, tell us about the protestations
that were made by the consular corps,
and especially by the German consul,
in regard to some broken promises."
"There were no protestations. The
Spaniards came to the French consul
and protested to him on the day of the
battje. I was there at the time. They
were excited and shouted out: 'Senor
consul! Senor consul! They fired at us
with shells that burst!' It was I who
replied to them: :Ah! shells that
burst!" I exclaimed. "Did you Spaniards
protest in 1870 when Strasburg.
Belfort and Paris were bombarded with
shells that buitt? And even two
mouths ago, when you massacred a lot
of insurgents, it was also with shells
KnrofI" "Rnf. fliof. ic xtott ol
UUttV X/UU liliMV Ik) VUV II UJ UA
ways with these Spaniards. They are
proud, valiant and stubborn, but they
live in 1550 or ?ay 1610. They have
not changed one bit since then. Chas.
V., Cortez and Legazpi are the only
heroes they speak of. They do not
seem to know that a great many Dew
things have been introduced since that
time, among others, shells, new powders,
machines, electricity, etc."
"Now, monsieur, do you believe that
with the wise administration of a farseeing
and cultivated nation the Philippines
would be a valuable colony?"
"Marvelous, perfectly marvelous! In
the Philippines there are untold riches
and their situation is perfectly unique.
Among other things there are sugar,
hemp, rice and an incalculable quantity
of precious woods. And to all these
mustjbe added coffee, tobacco and the
mines. ~Tin fact, the subsoil is wort!,
gold, but it has never been exploited."
"Have the natives really suffered
much from the Spaniards?"
"Oh, yes, very much; that is incontestable.
The Spaniards never did anything
fur them. Just fancy that at
Mariveles, at the entrance to the bay,
there are still canuibals. Yes. sir. can
nibals! Just think of that! They are
very gentle and they do not cause
much trouble, I will admit, but they
have a taste for human flesh all the
same, and that propensity has never
been checked by the Spaniards. They
go to church once in a while, and that
is all that is demanded of them."
"How comes it that the Spaniards
did nothing? Why did not the governor
risk a coup de main to recapture
n.-j. j i.i.
lAftvirc auu me araeuai;
"With what? They could do nothing.
They would have been under the
fire of the American fleet."
"But they had field pieces and it
would not require very heavy projec
tiles to pierce the American ships?"
"Oh, yes. they had field pieces, but .
they were worthless. In {'act, they had ;
nothing to speak of. Disorder was ]
everywhere; the insurgents surrounded ;
the town on all sides and only watched '
their chance to capture it. The Spaniards
found themselves threatened by
everybody, both in the town f.nd outside
of it. Now that the Spaniards are
beaten they are busy with a problem ]
which, with tkeir temperament, it will !
be difficult for them to solve. They :
want to find out the cause of their de- <
feat and they seek for it everywhere i
except in themsekes. And yet that is i
just where it is." 1
FLEEING FOE THEffi LIVES.
A Mighty Sea of Fire Sweeps Everything
Before it. 1
A dispatch from Idaho Springs, Colorado,
say fearful forest fires are raging
on the west side of the divide. They
are beyond control and the people are
fleeing for their lives. How many, if
any. have perished cannot be known as *
there is no way of getting direct infor
mation. lagm; Dreezes gives tne mignty
sea of fire new impetus and onward
it goes, burning ever}'thing before it,
with no chance for life, stock or property.
Cattle are known to be perishing
and bears, deer and ether wild animals
are rushing to the east side of the. ]
divide. The damage will be tremend- I
ous. The timber losses amount to more
fVian anv mnnAV rvmsidpraHnn. Thpse J
forests cover the head waters of the
mountain streams where the snow re- 1
main for many months. From such <
source streams have' been kept carrying <
volumes of water sufficient to irrigate 1
most of the lands of the State west of t
the divide. With the disappearance of ?
the timber the flow of the streams will t
be materially lessened. There seems t
to be a settled opinion among the
ranchers that these fires were started 1
by the Indians with a malicious intent, i
They say the forcible ejection of the <
Indians and there return to the reser- ^
vation more than a year ago because of i
their slaughter of game has made them
bitter against the whites. *
The forest fires which have been i
burning in various places throughout 5
western Wisconsin for the past few (
days were fanned into furious storms of ]
flame by winds and did great damage in i
Chippewa, Dunn, St. Croix and- .Polk i
counties. A general destruction of t
telegraph wires make the,.reports very i
incomplete, but it seems that the vil- i
lasres of Clavfcon. Alamena and Poskin v
hav^ been wholly or partly destroyed, ]
that Cumberland has suffered heavy j
losses and that Glenwood, Barron,
Prentice, Phillips and Turtle Lake
were saved only by great efforts. Re-"
ports of loss of life are coming in, but
have not been verified except in one
instance. A railroad bridge and trestle
over 700 feet long on the Soo Line,
west of Barron, was burned last night
and trains are running by another route.
Fires have been checked in places by
rains and the subsidence of the" winds.
A rough estimate places the aggregate
Wo to AAA AAA AAA AAA i
AU33 au iiULU ^jU'A/JVW CV ?PUJVW,V/VV. *
Reports from the western portion of 1
Colorado continue to tell of the ravages <
of the forest fires, which bid fair to devastate
the greater part of the forests '
if the State. A special from Glenwood <
Springs, the centre of the binning dis- '
trict, says: "The fires in the moun- 1
tains near here have taken fresh life i
today owing to high winds. . The snn <
has been nearly obscured, all day the (
atmosphere was heavy with smoke. '<
The fire east of Glenwood Springs is
fortunately in an unsettled part .of the 1
country and aside from the immense i
loss by the burning of timber, no loss
has occurred up to the present time.
"The stock on the ranges, .as far as i
heard from, has #>sr>aTv?<l thn firp " ' A
special to the News from Kokomo,
Colo., says: ''Forest fires are raging on
every hand here. Sheep mountain, on
the north side, is a mass of flames,
which are within a quarter of a mile
of this camp. Great apprehension is
felt here for the safety of the town."
EECONCENTRADOS ALL DEAD.
So Spoke the Secretary General of
f!nKa in Uottt VatV
vui/w * * * *ivn AVAAI
Among the passengers who arrived
"Wednesday at New York on the steamer
Washington from Havana was Dr. Jose
Congosto Secretary-General of Cuba
Dr. Congosto said the problem of the
future of the island is a difficult one
and I have studied it without prejudice,
and as a result of this study of years I
believe that it is a social problem and
not a political one. Of course, politics
will enter into the solution, bufr the
question is how to bring the most prosperity
and the greatest happiness to the
people of Cuba."
Dr. Congosto was asked as to the condition
of the reconcentrados.
"There are no reconcentrados now"
he answered with a smile.
"What has become of them?" was
the question.
"They are gone."
"Where?"
"ijroa Knows," was tne reply.
"Do you mean to say they are all
dead?"
"That explains it better than I can.
It is a subject which I prefer not to
discuss."
"When asked as to the establishment
of a new navy for Spain. Dr. CongoatQ
said: "Spain is still a great country,
and she ought to have a great navy?and
Drobablv will."
Discussing the fall of Santiago and
the surrender of Gen. Toral Dr. Congosto
said: ''There were brave soldiers
at Santiago, and if their leader lacked
courage he deserves to be punished.
Santiago should not have fallen as it
did, and if Toral had never entered into
negotiations with the enemy it is likely
that there would have been a different
story to tell today. It is not true
that the Spanish army there lacked sup_i;
j I?._ at T_ _ 3
pnes auu aminuoiuou, xor mey naa
plenty of both which, they turned
o\er to the Americans. If Toral had
pushed forward instead of retreating toward
the city, he certainly would have
caused a repulse. These are things
which he will have to explain."
A Perilous Trip.
The United States transport Massachusetts.
Captain Robinson, which
sailed from Santiago September 23, ar- 1
rived at New York Wednesday and
proceeded to anchorage off Liberty,
island. While at Santiago the coal in
the Massachusetts' bunkers took fire. \
and it was necessary to jettison 100 1
tons. A portion of this coal was taken (
on board again. On going to sea the
fire again broke out in the fire bunkers
and smoldered for three, days. It was ,
finally extinguished by the use of steam,
ind the steamer reached port without *
further incident.
A Georgia Tragedy.
A special from "Wayeross, Ga., says:
CJpritt Lanier, son of S. K.-Lanier, was o
killed here early Friday morning by c
Scott Beaton. Lanier went to Beaton's a
store, and, it is said, threatened and t
jursed him. whereupon Beaton got a a
revolver and shot Lanier. Beaton sur- 1
endered. The coroner's inquest is m
progressing.
A RACE RIOT. ;!
y/".
Whites and Blacks Have a Fight
Up in Illinois.
a ^
IT TnnK PI ArtP AT PANA
The Blacks Driven from the
Streets to Their Blockades by
the StriMRg Union
Miners; ** '
'
Striking union coal miners and imported
negroes engaged in a pitched - - v
mt-.t.lp in fTm Main nf Pun# Til..
Wednesday night. Several hundred .
shots were exchanged.
No one was wounded^in the ranks of
;he union men. The negroes were
iriven from the-city to their stockades,
dairying with them, it is believed, a
lumber of wounded comrades. One of
-he negroes is reported to have died
;oon after reaching the stockade. Desiltory
firing continues at midnight in
;ne vicinity 01 tne stocjcaaes.
The trouble, which has been narpwy
averted between the striking coal
niners of this city and negroes import-"
id from the South to work the mine's,
yas precipitated at 8:30 o'clock Wedlesday
evening.
As usual, the negroes from the
ides at the Springside and PenWell
nines were making demonstrations on
second and Locnst streets, the principal
streets of the city, by parading
leavily armed. The union miners were
n session at their hall, where a Chica- #
jo labor leader was speaking. One of - * . -'1^
;he negroes appeared at the foot of the /|jjg
niners' hall and engaged in a quarrel
yith a union white miner. Officer
Samuel Smith immediately'arrested the
)lack man and was escorting him to
ail when he was closed in by a posse
>f negroes, who, pointing their revolv- . .. ?
as at Siwth, -threatened to kill' him if ' i
le did not release the prisoner. Smith. .' ^
continued on his way to jail with the
pan. Union miners and others mean- .
while went to Smith's assistance and
;he negroes were driven back. Smith
x>ok his prisoner to Operator George A
V. Penwell's store, and npon Penwell's
.* c ii._ 1 >? T
jumuua^ iur me uegru a uue, uc was
released. - .
Before Smith had released the prisoner,
however, the^ negro posse had
jeen reinforced and*assumed a threat- * ^
jning attitude toward the white men.
David McGavic, leader of the union
miners, clubbed one of the blacks over
)ver the head with a revolver, it is, ^
said. For half a block McGavic forced *. - . - >llj
the negroes to retreat and then a few
shots were fired. The negroes retreat
?d double quick to their stockades, se- - .4 M
sured rifles, returued to Locust street
and challenged the miners to fight. >
Ihe opposing forces lined up the street, ;..M
the negroes with Winchesters and the
miners with shotguns, rifles and re- volvers.
Neighboring business houses
were immediately closed, lights extin- -v.??
giuaiieu aim citizens gcueraiijf ?uu^ut
their homes. At the word of command
firing commenced. The first volley, it
is said, came from the negroes. The
union men responded with a volley and
heavy firing continued for five minutes.
Much of the shooting was wild and en- ? r
tirely harmless to the white men, who V
finally drove their enemies in full retreat
to the stockades. The negroes
are thought to have carried several
men with them, and one is reported
dead.
A second encounter between whites
and blacks occurred 20 minutes after
the first battle, near the Penwell stockade,
but the firing was scattered and
it is not believed to have been a serious
engagement The miners had full
charge of the business streets at midnight.
Desultory rifle reports could be
heard from the Penwell and Springside
stockades, but no person would venture
into the streets near the mines,
and very few are loitering about the
business or residence sections.
The union miners sa^ the battle of
Wednesday night is only a foretaste of :
what may be expected to follow. They
blame Operator Penwell for the trouble
and say they will tomorrow swear out
warrants charring him with inciting
Wednesday night's riot Gov. Tanner
will "be asked to send militia to protect
property, and to remove the negroes. ^
Anjnteresting Case.
An interesting case came before a
Buffalo court the other day. It was
based upon one woman's remark about
another. "She uses pads to fill out her
figure and make the boys think she's a
stunner." the defendant is alleged to
have said of the plaintiff. The law x
presumes a defendant to be innocent
till proven guilty. The onus of the"
burden of proof, therefore, was upon -. 'M
the plaintiff to show that she did not
use pads, and the defendant had slan- ?
J j i nnu _ i 1 -
u.cicu uci. me juxj^ wjw largely wiu- . % ;
posed of unmarried men, whose igno- - ; - \*gr
ranee of -feminine make-ups peculiarly " . ' fitted
them for rendering impartial
judgement. After voluminous testimoay,
vigorous cross examinations and .
many explanations, the jury returned
a sealed verdict
Fatal Powder Ezplo&on.
An explosion of powder Wednesday - ^
in the rear of the fonr story building . ~
at 410 North Front street, St. Louis,
occupied by C. & W. McLean, fishing
tackle and sporting goods, set the 3tore , ^
An ^ina .ioncifo nn/1
vu ui^A^vauo^u AVO ucsuuvviuu ?u? Y' ' *
resilTted in the death of Pauline Bni- der
and the fatal injury of Florence
High bee. A number of other people _/ '5?
were more w less hurt. The loss will
probably amou-atrto $100,000. Partly
covered by insurance. ' - xWanted
toT5<4d On.
A dispatch from Santiago de *Cuba
says Senor Sanchez Garcia, .one of the Spanish
judges, who was continued in
jffice after'the capitulation until order- < - Jijjj
id a month ago to cease performing his - Magistrate
functions," but who, despite
;he order, has continued to fay cases, - - i T""
las again been ordered to cease under .' >enalty
of arrest. A Cuban hasieen - ^
f A OI1/)AAA^ Viiw fe
l^U W AX1.AAA* w- ^
A Neat' Swindle. ,
Michigan pays a bounty for the heads!
>f 'dead English sparrows. It has re-W
ently paid out over $2,000 to an Indi-J
crowd of sharpers who. have
tie birds strewing poisons
bout ti^Btreets id|