Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-- - - ^ ^___ -II If I ?11 . i i i I I I ,,.-.1.1 , I The Abbeville Press and Banned V BY W. W. & W. E. BRADLEY. ABBEVILLE, S. C.? WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1906. ESTABLISHED 184M1 Will National Preserve a Navigabili Hermitage Farm, June ^6, 1906. Hon. Chairman aud other members oi the Committee of Congress on Rivers and Harbors, Washington, D. C.: Gentlemen?Assuming that a party to a petition has the right to exprebt his views as to the object of the petition, I mail you this letter as a plea in favor of the people of-the upper ,Sa vannab, Tugaloo aud Seneca rivers, to (supplement the petition introduced, at the present session of CoDgress, June 2, 1906, by Hon Wyatt Aiken, aud referred to the Committee ou Kivers and Harbors. I. The Appendix 0, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1905, of the War department, reads as follows : Page 275. >Tbe original project ot improvement (Savannah river, above Augusta, Ua.,) submitted February, 1879, provided for a 3-foot chaunel, 80 feet wide, from Augusta, Ga., to Troty ter's Shoals, and the removal of snags, " trees, etc., to the Tugaloo river, at a cost of $45,000. Page 1270. Under the original project of improvement of Savannah river above Augusta, adopted in 1879, the following appropriations were made : By act of Congress of June 14. 1880 $16,000 March 3, J881... ' 8i000 August 2, 1882 15,000 $39,000 II. A book issued by the State of South Carolina, having for title "The South Carolina.resources and population, institutions and industries, published by the State Board of Agriculture of South Carolina, and printed in 1883 by Walker, Evans and Cogswell, of Charleston, S. C., contains what follows: | Page 130. The Savannah river is now navigable for pole boats carrying 56 bales of cotton "for 154 miles above Augusta. The report of the Chief Engineer U. S. A.. 1879 States that for an outJuy of $188,000 a permanent channel ihree feet deep and sixty feet wide, of safe and easy navigation for such boats, could be made. For $97,000 in addition to the above, 114 miles could be made into a steamboat channel 190 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Page 623. The Savannah river divides the (State of South Carolina from Georgia. It bas a ship navigation of 18 miles from the ocean to the city of Savannah, and good steamboat navigation 149 miles lurther to Hamburg and Augusta. Above these places, 100 miles to Andersonville the river has 33 miles of rapids with a fall of about 8 feel to the mile ou a regular inclined plane; the other 67 miles is smooth deep wattr. Boats descend from Anueisonville with 70 bales of cotton or 10 tons. The Tugaloo is navigable for similar boats 25 miles to Pulaski. The Seneca river is also navigable for similar boats 26 miles or 6 miles above Pendleton Court House. At the juuction of 12 miles cietk the Seneca changes its name into Ktowee, which Is capable of being maue navigable entirely within the mouniaius by merely sluicing the Tugaloo branch of the Savannah liver in the mountains, a short distance iu m Hiwassee, a navigable branch of the Tennessee river. By means of these btieams it is believed the South Atlantic may be connected with the Y\esiern States by a navigable canal. The general government have oideied surveys to be made to ascertain its practicability. III. A book issued by the State ol Georgia having lor title "The Commonwealth of Georgia, the country, the people, the production. Part 1.? The country?prepared under the direction of J. T. Henderson, commissioner of agriculture, priuted in ISSo uy jaw. r. narrisou auti v,o., .-\uuuia, Ga.," sa^B: Page 174. The Savannah river lorms the eastern boundary of Georgia separating from South Carolina. From the sea to the city of Suvannah (20 miles), there k navigation for the largest class of ships anu seagoing steameis. JBetween Savannah and Augusta (146 miles) river steamboats drawiug 4 to 5 feet ply, except during the stage of extremely low water. Above Augusta for 154 miles to Panther creek, in Habersham, there is navigation for small crafts known as ' pole boats" which ply brtweeu the points named at all seasons, affording a cheap and convenient mode of transportation for the products of the river valley and adjacent country. The United States government it now improving this part of the rivei so as to afl'ord navigation lor small steamboats. IV. Each of the two books men< tioned give considerable attention and soace to the water nowers of the ui>i>ei Savannah, iheTugaloo and the Senecs rivers. They describe in detail ihe shoals o; these rivers, their distance above An gueia, their fall and their available norse powers. These books having been issutd bj the States of Sou'.h Carolina and Geor gia, turnish your committee the indis putable proof thut the States namec recognize that the upper Savannah the Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers ar< and have always been navigable riv ers, admit that they aie susceptible o improved navigation, mention as i natural condition the interference o >the general government in the im provement of said rivers, and in shor supply your committee with the indis pu table proof that the upper Savau nab, the Tugaloo and the Seneca riv pra rrp in fn/'t hh well as ill law I'nitet States uavigable waters. If your committee cannot obtaii tbe*>e books at the Congressional I-i brary 1 keep them at their disposal. And if they desire additional pioo they can be lurnished with : The testimony of owneis of boat \ and boatmen who used to carry 01 these rivers the navigation, trade an< travel froin the mountains to the sea. Government ; (h ,nd Improve I ity of Rivers ? jj The testimony of men who used to ^ r float rafts on said rivers. ^ And the testimony of the ferrymen : presently engaged in carrying said jjj ' navigation, trade and travel between 0j > the States of South Carolina aud Geor- jn g'a- as i They can obtain from all the mem- ^ bers of Congress representing the disi tricts along these rivers the testimony U1 . that thty have been navigated, are w ( navigable to some extent and suscepti ble of improved navigation. f0 I mention only for order : The Congressional records, Aud the War Department records. ??j The first settlers have established : themselves along the navigable rivers be : because at the time these rivers were ag the sole highways at their disposal for rj, their travel, their transportation and be commerce. The upper Savannah, the 80 Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers have gu been used, as such highways from the ^ mountains to the sea, until the advent rj, of the railroads; at that time the jy sound of the bugle announcing the ar- ou rival of the boats at their landings were as much of an event as the sound aij of the whistle of the engine announc- u, iDg the arrival of the train at the statiou. Because of the rapids existing on gj( said rivers the navigation was somewhat ditlicult, aud when the railroads came the use of the rivers was gradually and almost entirely discontinued, jj; At the time of the navigation the 0f lands along the rivers had a value eu- \u perior to the value of the lands located gr in the interior, which were far from rj, the ways of communication and trans < portatiou. Wl Since the advent of the railroadsj the pr value of the lauds haB been rising le along the railroads and decreasing alo'ng the rivers. jn Thus lor the present the lands near pr the rivers have become the lands re A * U ? 4 ~ - * _ A r i luoic iiuiu iue uausporiauon iacnuies, gland a great quantity of these lauds W1 have bteu deprived fr<?n any mode of transportation, as they are not accessi- (j? ble to railroads. or As a consequence the owners of land ga adjacent to the rivers are anxious to see the revival of the navigation on fe] the upper Savannah, the Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers. st< Owing to the importance of the nav- aE igable rivers as mode of travel and tu transportation, the constitution of the g0 United States and the constitutions of South Carolina and of Georgia have th declared these rivers public domain and they have -specifically established th that all the navigable rivers shall re- jjj main forever public highways, free to pe ' the citizens ot these States and to the citizens of the United States. ri^ By these wise dispositions of these Jjj constitutions, the upper Savannah, tbe jn Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers have jn been secured from local ii fluencee and rp tbey are in tbe guardianship of tbe w! Congress of the United States whose nt duty is to look to the keeping of their tta integrity. And consequently tbe proper juris- Us diction to whom application should be js| made for the cbteution of permits to pc build dbms on these rivers is the Con- T1 gress of the United States. dt The States of South Carolina and of St Georgia are constitutionally debarred Uj from the right of disposing of these ra rivers, and a grant or permit ema- 1,3 , nating from their legislatures is simply ee a void title. \D A few }ears ago tho legislatures of , South Carolina and of Georgia have th giauted permit to build a dam at Port- V8 man shoals ou the Seneca river. No objection raised. of Last year (1905) the legislatures of 0f tbe same States have granted permits sb to build dams on the Savannah river, ve one at Gregg and the other at Cherokee sboals. pr rlhe attention of these last legisla- ^1) lures lias been called (through their c< committees) to tbe lact that they had ou to deal with public rights and that the er navigation of the Savannah river ev should not be endangered. tu But tbe h gislatures took no heed of the warning and they boldly author- th ized tbe building of the dams without m regard for the navigation or niher _ M? T IIJ rights of the public. th it is in protest of such acta that our tjj ' petition is uow before Congress, pr It is inconceivable to me that the be members of the committees wbo had jo the bills in consideration, most of them rj| lawyers of great ability, whose motives rp | aud iutegritycanuot be impugued and attacked, should have failed; gj To admit tbat the Savannah, the ; Tugaloo aud the Seneca rivers ar<r ijj ! United States waters. To take Lotice of the importance of to . their uavigability for the future devel- or . opment of this section of the country. ev To provide for the security of said navigability. at To pay due consideration to the m J rights of the public on said rivers. th To admit the fact that these rivers eC beiug United States waters the grant or pemiit to build dams upon them q f falls under the jurisdiction of the Con- Ui gress of the United States, and not un- ^i der the jurisdiction of the legislatures ,)( ' of the States of South Caiolina and of j0 f Georgia. re To see the right of the Federal gov-|e^ ciuuicui uu tttiu rivers, j-g j To grasp at the fact that the upper p. Savannah, the TugaJoc and the Seneca vi i rivers, with their navigation from the 'm mountains to the sea, constituiean irn- n f portant military strategical highway, x and that its maintainance as navigable U1 I waters is of national interest. ri To consider that in granting void tit ties to the promoters, they were expoH- fc iug the latter to lot ot trouble aDd ^ . eventually to the danger of losing their . money invested in the enterprise. ti j And to remember that no sort of prehcription can prevail pgail'St \Jncle y , Sam and against the rights of the pub- s, . lit*. HI J3ut, after ail, gentkmen, I shouid j not be so much surprised, such condi- jj tion of trails was alieady existing, so w 8 far as teouth Caroiina is concerned, at (j j the time of the printing of the South p j Carolina book above mentioned. i< At that time it was customary for ^ the promoters of enterprises to have , heir own way with the Carolina leg- < jlature. i This is what this book says on page I 36: i "Upon overy occasion on which the t tate was asked to grant and to confer s tie 'right of way' along a given route 1 >r a railroad, even in cases where the i fate was asked to aid the enterprise, f ie field of discussion has been left 1 )lely to the volunteers?thus the pub- i c interests involved in the undertakig, were rarely if ever adequately rep- i ssented and as a general thrng only r iat side of the case which was argued r y the advocates of the enterprise ever t ad a hearing either in the legislature f the newspapers. Any voice raised a i dissent was weak and ineffectual o jainst the clamor of the interested, hile arguments in opposition were o often answered only by charges of c j worthy motives on the part of those ho ventured to make them public." A It looks as if this had been written r the present situation, the only s tange necessary being to substitute fi e word "dam" instead of the work t ailroad." A Had the petition in your hands not en piroiilatprJ unrl t.h? nprmlo wnrnpri C to the things going on, and to their b jhts, nodoubt that dams would have ri en tuilt here and there quietly, and U me day the people would have been b rprised, at their awakening, to find a eir navigation, their highway, their li jhts, all confiscated and their lands h ing on a succesion of ponds instead tl i our magnificent navigable rivers. c: By the terms of their constitutions a id of the Federal constitution the >per Savannah, and the Tugaloo and e Seneca rivers do not beloug to the ates of South Carolina and of Geor- h a, they are United States waters and r< loug to the United States. b Their powers are not the powers of r< ose States, they are the powers of the ti uited States, our powers, the powers a the public, the powers of every cit- ai in of the UDited States, and Con- ai e9s alone has jurisdiction upon those vers and their powers. To whom have we to refer, if we smt an appropriation for the imovementof our public navigable wa- i< rs, is it not to Congress ? ^ Are not all projects concerning such p jprovemeuts submitted to the ap- ti oval of Congress, and who make the j npmiitnrPM In if nnt. thp rrpnprnl ornv- V r ??i ~ o?-- ? o~ v ument tbrougli its department of t< ir? v, Has not Congress, instead of South i irolina and Georgia, passed upon tbe t, iginal project of improvement of the Q ivanDah river, from Augusta to the b igaloo, as shown by Appendix O re- n rred to ? c< Is it not tbe department of war, in- a ?ad of tbe States of Soutb Carolina id Georgia, who made the expendires with the funds of the general n ivernment? v Surely if the Savannah river and e Tugaloo river had not been ac- v lowledged United States property, ^ e general government would not ive consented to support tbe excuses. As for tbe Tugaloo and the Seneca pers, though ihe general government is made no expenditures for works of iprovem'ent upon them, it cannot be ferred that they are not navigable vers suscepuoie 01 improvement, an bat can be said is, tbat the time does >t seem yet opportune to undertake id improvements, and as for tbeir ivigability the time is not so far from i when Andersonville, then a flouruing little town, was the distributing tint of the surrounding country, ae boats were then carrying to Anrsouville on the Tugaloo and the neca rivers, the products from the ountains, and were returning to the ountains loaded with goods brought ? boats from Augusta. And only rently a steamboat could be seen plyg on the T'jgaloo river. The petitioners are not oppated to e building of dams on the upper Samnah river. But they think that the development the powers of said river as well as the Tugaloo and the Seneca rivers t( ould go hand in haud with the de- a lopment of their navigation. . They think that a general plan, com- ? ising both navigation and powers, ould be mapped out, submitted to " ingress, then after adoption carried c" it under control of the general govnment, in order that the interests of ery one, and the interests of the fa- Jj re should be safeguarded. There is no doubt that this section of " e country and mostly the parts re- ? ote from the railroads would have K uch to gain by the improvement of . e navigability of our rivers and the C1 ne will certainly come when the im- cl ovement of said navigability will come practicable, and it would be, A my opinion, a great mistake to sac- ^ fice at present the navigability of our irers, I am not a business man nor au en- 1 neer, but .X cannot help to suggest I at the shoals of our rivers which therto have been an obstacle to the ivigation should be so harnessed as make their powers the propulsive n tiactive agents of our boatB or what- n -er craft adopted. After the deduc- ri ju of the powers so used it would a ill remain sufficient powers to run t< jmberitss industries on either side of e Savannah, the Tugaloo and Sen- 1? a livers. It is but a few years ago, Henry / rady, our Southern statesman, had y jdefstood, in his foretight, the possi lines of the navigation and of tbe >wers of the upper {Savaunph river, T r the development of the immense J sources of our section now far or en out of reach of the railroads, he solved to see by himself ami for the iipose made a trip from Andersonlie down the Savannah river. He became enthusiastic at the magiticent sceneries which greeted his ,'es, and at the possibilities of the avigation and of the powers of the ver. The lucky ones who had the good rtune to accompany him remember is enthusiasm. Jie made several speeches on his ip, at different points, making bis tftrers snare ids impres&iuub, iwei outbern press has reproduced said jeechejs, uud the ringing souud of biu a ipeib voice has carried up the Tugu-| >o ant' the Seneca rivers to the people j jaccet'Sible to railroads his warm' ords of hope. These words have not ( ied with Henry Grady, and the peole of the upper Savannah, the Tuga)o and the Seneca rivers are stili paently waiting for their fulfilment. Gentlemen, as tbe decision of your * committee is to have a great iufhie jpon Congress, please give to our p tion all the attention and study t :ts importance deserves. Let Cong] jee that the prophecy of Henry Gn ihall not be forbidden to be realize et Congress oppose all encroach me lpon our navigable rivers; let C jress see that their navigability tept available for the future devel uentof our section. I have no pecuniary interest in I natter, I address you the present i noir as a party to the petition, as a 1 ner living on his farmon the banks he Savannah river net ween the t loints where the two dams have b< uthorized to be built, and as a citi: f the United States. Yours respectfuily, Meschine ONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLU article 1.?Declaration of Rights. Section 40. All navigable wat hall remain forever public highwa ree to the citizens of the State and I Jnited States. . . . article 6. Eminent Domain. Section 1. The State shall ha oncurrent jurisdiction on all riy ordering on th-is State so far as su ivers shall form a common bounds 3 this and any other State bound y the same; and tbey, together wi 11 other navigable waters within t mits of the State, shall be comm ighways, and forever free, as well tie inhabitants of this State as to t itizens of the United States. . . ENERAL STATUTES OF SpUTH CAI UNA. Section 1062. All streams whi ave been rendered or can hereafter endered, capable of b&ing navigal y rafts of lumber or timber, by t 1 gujuyai iuucui ui auuucuiai uuou ions, and all navigable water cour nil cuts, are hereby, and forever fr i well to the inhabitants of this SU b to the citizens of the United Stat A Tragic Finitili. A watchman's neglect permittee ;ak in the great North Sea dyl rhich a child's linger could have st< ed, to become a ruinous break, dev iting an entire province of Hollai n like ruauner Kenneth Mclver, ranceboro, Me., permitted a little m iinimti/?iil nnlil n trmrin finl J 5U UUUVV.VVVt ? ? ?0-~ 'as only averted by Dr. King's N< )iscovery. He writes : "Three d )rs gave me up to die of lung infla lation, caused by a neglected col ut Dr. King's Hew Discovery b&\ jy life." Guaranteed best cough a old cure, at Speed's drug store, i nd $1.00. Trial bottle free. Celery Cola will not cure snake bite 1 ; cures Indigestion, lor sale by the Ab Die Bottling Works. Don't forget the laces and embrolderlei /nlte's, be is also offering a very cheap f ribbons. Sweet as sunlight. As the air passes through a refrigei )r ODce it absorbs food odors tb lake it unfit to circulate again. Yet in the ordinary refrigerator oes re-circulate; passing over t )od again and again, contaminati lilk, butter, etc., and making fo ompartments smell musty. In the "Odorless" this odor-charg ir is not permitted to flow throuj ne box twice. The fretih air ent( ae ice chamber, and freezing co rops to the bottom of the box; pass ver the butter and milk while p< sctly pure; then travels up overt Lhe'r dishes?a system insuring t rcuJation of a constantly renew urreut of pure, fresh, ioed air throuj 3RD0RLESS Refrigerators This patented system of ventilati' lakes the "Odorless'' the only refrij itor that may be crowded with a a ety of dishes without one tasting nother?creates a stone-cold, ev jmperature. Let us show you the latest "Qdi iss" styles?solid oak oases. N-1 L ? W* -1-1 _ ^aiven & iNicisies BUILDING MATERIA I am now receiving a stock DOORS, SASHES, BLINDS, FLOORING. CEILING, SIDING ,n<J FINISHING LUMBER, a SHINGLES, LATHS, LIM CEMENT and HAIR. Joiue iu and let me give you prices. A. G. FAULKNE] TH1NITY ST Opposite At MORSE. -II nee etihat :ess I NOW I the near wo to secure special] jen sen i L, V .he . ive era ???????? ch is The Sun he . on . to light, We ii togains ch ? OUR ST sea ??????????? ee- attrac ate es- Waisl We \ l a but V ' and t asWe hav ?h and t Z of go mldj Our sto< 'ed desire >0c rangii but cents oe'.S!' Laces a ? to sei speak L. W. Saved His Comrade's Life. t'lXTKJIo rat nvninr* frnm f ho flponil Army Encampment at Washington ar City, a comrade from Elgin, III., was wl taken with cholera morbus and was in as a critical condition," pays Mr. J. E. of Houghland, of Eldon, Iowa. "1 gave ici him Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and CI Diarrhoea Remedy and believe eaved D: his life. I have been engaged for ten tr? years in immigration work and con- be ra_ ducted many parties to the pouth and H iat west. I always carry this remedy and have used it successfully on many ocit casions." Sold by C. A. Milford and ( be H. M. Young, Due West. mi ng ? yo od y To freshen up your plastered wallo, use ureeoo, sold by Bpeed, it will not rub off. pn t n jf HAVE YOU ] I TO BUY TE ?h J IT VA ?????? > The school of experience "w ?en taught us, that the best go ra of Our store house Our goods are ne 3r* Our reputation if Our motto is "T1 * Delicious Fruits, L'n -?-? ntt X' amjy vjrx v To fit the taste of ai of all kinds. Buggies and Wa< Of the best makes at est you. ; 1.1 HILL' Phones 36 and 126. Ma IS THE LiY GOOD BARGAINS V. Whl ihuau Has begun and one wc ally suppose business but we do not propose to ha ntend to offer from day to day as will keep trade brisk and liv< / 'OHTT is well kept up and v showing the most corr tive line of Goods suitable fo is and Dresses to be found lave had a phenomenal sale of th e bought very heavily early in " he supply is still holding out. e never had such a sale of Whi' he main reason is we have the ods at the right prices. a i :k of White Lawns is all that id, and we have everything < ng in price from five cents to a yard. nd Embroideries are our specialt e them. We cannot describe th for themselves. WH i Bowel Complaint in Children. During the summer months children i e subject to disorders of the bowels ai bich should receive careful attention soon as the first unnatural looseness * the bowels appears. The best med- ql ine in use for bowel complaint i9 jsmberlain's Colic, Cholera and iarrboea Remedy as it promptly conols any unnatural looseness of the wels. For sale by C. A. Milford and . M. Young, Due West. v< m ? . ? j p* j 81 >epe Tlssoe paper so rhenp ibaf it will Pike you sorry for tbe man who sild It lo u ai Speed's Drug Store. St Ve are glad for you to smoke all the /re* ^ :ars you caD get, it will only make you ?jfjclate 8peed's Cln coe the more. D Hi CC LEARNED ci IE BEST ? I TS. { rill teach you, as it has ods are the cheapest. is new, ! w, i well known, IE BEST." se N si ri y< b( )ceries a epicure. Confections ?ons prices that will inter"4 SDK in and Trinity Streets. TIME AT THE STORE ite. I would be '9 the season ITE.1 Locals. 9 "all/or Nflber's GlDger Ale. Made by tbe.-^M obevllle Bottling Works. In & ct. bottle*. 9 W'beD Naber's Ginger Ale acd Olery Oola I on't curt* yotr Indigestion bent a doctor "'1 Jltfe, icr jou are In a bed fix. 1 odefct Claim* Often Carry the Moat ' Jl Conviction. I When Maxim, the famous gun in- I ?utor, placed Iiih gun before a com- ,1 itiee of judges, he stated its carrying via jwer to be much below what he felt *1 ire the cun would accomplish. TlfttrfM suit of the trial was therefore a great . irprise, instead of disappointment.v|ja . is the same witb the manufacturers Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and ?; iarrhoea Remedy. They do ootpab-. ^ 3ly boast of all this remedy will >mplish, but prefer to let the users >5 iake the statements. What they do -vjj aim, is that it will positively cure $ iarrhoea, dysentery, pains in the omach and bowels and has never ?en known to fail. For sale by C. A."* $ [ilford and H. M. Young, Due West. ' ? You may think it a hard matter fo it a good hot water bottle or hot ,'ij ater bag in Abbeville, but if you will $ - ? l: rVi.n,? Sfnro ' i'Q !tJ lilt! nice ij LiC Ul OJJIXUO ug k;?/.v ?J ou will chauge your mind. i THE CITY 'irssimr I lllll. 1 When you have Pressing to be done ? nd it to the City Pressing Club, room o. 1, Wilder's Block, at McKee's tore, Phone 139. We do the work ght. Satisfaction guaradteed. If , au will only give us a trial, ;you will < r; convinced. We want your work. ^ THE CITY PRESSING CLUB, ''$ Jessie & Duftie Mclvee, Prop. A ? --4" ? ' "T; || |kkAAAjj 60 YEARS'. . M JjkMHgl|^ExPERieNcE ?TWfrrrrail 7i 1 I J I Kl ^ H VB k <9 I. -.vt-j 1 uuiy Mark* Designs r vfiii Copyrights Ac. Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communications strictly confidential. HANOBOOK onPatenta sent free. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn A Co. receive j~ I nrlOmnf /thomvA In f Via VJJtUUU nuiu,c, nnuuug vua.Kc, *u Scientific flmericam A handsomely Illustrated weekly, f.nreest drculattou of any scientific journal. Terms, $3 a year: four months, (L Sold by all newsdealers. MUNN &Co.36,B d*a> New York Branch Office, 625 F St* Washington, D. u , Zj ;