Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Lives and Property Destroyed by Tornado in Georgia. Atlanta, Ga., March 28.-At least 36 lives are lost, a hundred or more persons were injured and property damage possibly running into the millions was caused by tornadoes that swept through Georgia and Ala bama late today. LaGrange and West Point, Ga., towns near the Alabama-Geogia bor der suffered the heaviest, the esti mate at LaGrange running a thigh as 36. Twenty-one bodies, six whites and fifteen negroes were found, it was known. West Point, which lost heavily last December from the flood ed Chattahoochee, reported ten dead and severe damages in the business section. The tornado was also felt in Macon where property damage ran high and some persons were nijured. Washing ton, Ga., a town near Augusta, also felt the effects of a storm, but ap parently no lives were lost: The tornado in Alabama took ist chief toll, according to reports to night a tAgricola, where five persons were reported killed and a dozen or more were injured. Heavy property damage was caused near Opelika and high winds and rain were general over eastern Alabama. Wire service, both telegraph and telephone, was partially paralyzed and it was almos* impossible to ascer tain exact damage, or to get reports from many sections of the state that have felt the effects of the storm. Heavy rains fell throughout a great portion of Georgia during the day might add to the suffering. The Red Ci'oss here was preparing tonight to rush supplies to LaGrange by army trucks as the Atlanta & West Point Railroad reported it could not dispatch a relief train be cause its wires were down. Its pas senger train, New Orleans to Wash ing, No. 36, was not located tonight. Army engineers were preparing to go to West Point to rebuild a pon toon bridge they threw across the Chattahoochee River last December when floods that inundated the town and caused seven millions of dollars' property damage destoyed the steel bridge. Most of the damage in West Point was said to be in the business section and its effects on merchants and other business men just struggling from the heavy losses of last Decem ber were expected to be almost im possible for them to bear. Half a doz en big structures were said to be damaged. In LaGrange the chief loss of life and property was said to be in the mill section but the town was thrown into darkness as the electric lighting plant was partially wrecked. In ad dition to this the waterwo; ':s plant was said to be out of commission and Swift & Company's packing plants was reported a wreck. Hospitals were filled with injured in LaGrange, according to telephone reports, and the courthouse had been made an emergency hospital. The injured had not been counted tonight but apparently their numbers ran in to the hundreds. Damage in Macon and Washington Ga., was chiefly confined to plate glass windows and roofs of buildings, with property loss rather heavy in Macon. Loss resulting from hail and rain storms was reported from Grantville and Hogansville, towns in the West Point-LaGrange section a small tor nado struck Williamson, Ga., unroof ing some houses. There were no in juries or loss of life there as far as was known tonight. LaGrange, Ga. Atlanta, Ga., March 28-At least 21 persons were killed and possibly more in a tornado that struck La Grange, Ga., late today, according to word received here tonight. The information came from Fuller E. Callaway, a capitalist and mill owner of LaGrange, who stated over the telephone that some reports placed the dead as high as 36. Scores were injured, he said, and the court house and churches were being used as hospitals. The town was left in darkness as the light and power plant was de stroyed or so severely damaged as to be rendered useless. The water works also were put out of commission, while the plant of Swift & Company also was partially wrecked. The chief loss of life and proper ty damage was in vhat is known as the hillside mill section of LaGrange, where the tornado twisted through, tearing down small residences and smashing nearly everythnig else in its path. Estimates were that at least .100 and possibly 300 small resi dences were destroyed or heavily damaged. Mr. Callaway requested aid from Atlanta and the local chapter of the Red Cress arranged to start army trucks with supplies tonight. West Point, Ga. Atlanta, Ga., Mach 28-Ten per sons were killed in the tornado that partially wrccK cd the business sec tion of West Ponit, Ga., late today, according to information received here tonight. From 25 to 30 persons were injured, 12 of them seriously. The business part of the town was said to have been almost destroyed, hardly a building escaped damage and many being badly wrecked. The known dead were given as: L. D. Askew, druggist. Isham Stanley. R. I. Horne. Blake Hendary. Fay Marion, aged 12. Five unidentified negoes. Stanley was killed in the wreck of the Presbyterian church and Horne and Hendary met death when a res taurant roof was blown in. The town was left in darkness to night and cut off from communica tion with that part of it across the Chattahoochee River as the pontoon bridge thrown up by army engineers after the floods of last December was put out of commission. ' Salvation Army to Again Use Famous Slogan. In its second home service fund appeal scheduled for May 10 to 20, the Salvation Army has decided to use that famous slogan which became so popular during the first appeal last year : "A man may be down, but he's never out." The announcement that this slogan is to be used again this year in the campaign to raise funds with which to aid the destitute and fallen at home, has just been made by Briga dier A. W. Crawford, commander of the Salvation Army for the Southern States, and the choice was made be cause it expresses so accurately the attitude of thjs organization toward the man generally accepted by the world-at-large, as "down and out." J. P. Owen, Field Representative, has just completed the Greenville and Anderson Zones, and the following well known gentlemen have been appointed: GREENVILLE ZONE: Colonel Holmes B. Springs, Chairman, Post master Thomas H. Pope, County Chairman, T. 0. Lawton, Treasurer, for Greenville County.: Pickens County-O. T. Hinton, Chairman, J. E. Boggs, Treasurer. Oconee Coun ty-W. C. Hughes, Chairman, S. L. Verner, Treasurer. ANDERSON ZONE: Col. P. K. Mc CuHy, Zone Chairman, Samuel L. Prince, County Chairman, T. S. Ban nister, Treasurer. Abbeville County -P. E. Bell, Chairman, Otto Bris tow, Treasurer. Edgefield County E. J. Mims, Chairman, T. B. Grene ker, Treasurer. McCormick County John R. Cheatham, Chairman, F. C. Robinson, Treasurer. Greenwood County-Rev. J. B. Green, Chairman, Mayor Hartzog, Treasurer. Saluda ^County-B. W. Crouch, Chairman, W. N. Padgett, Treasurer. Mr. Owen states that never in. his experience in organization work, has Tie seen such a willingness on the part of the people, to volunteer their services in this great cause, as the people of South Carolina have done. The Salvation Army has always had many friends in South Carolina, but the indications are, that the appeal for funds this year, with which to carry cn its work among the poor at home .s just as intense as it was last year, when the Salvation Army made its appeal with its War Honors fresh upon it. Franklin B. Lane, former secre tary of the Interior under President Wilson, is National Chairman, and Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, son of the famous Confederate Leader, is the Chairman of the South Atlantic Di vision. What better car do you want than a FORD with Self Statler and Elec tric Lights? YONCE & MOONEY. "All For Edgefield; Edgefield For All." LOMBARD Foundry, Machine, Boiler Works and Mill Supply House AUGUSTA GEORGIA Cotton Oil, Gin, Paw, Grist, Cane, Shingle Mill, Machinery Supplies and Repairs, Shafting, Pulleys, Hangers, Grate Bars, Pumps, Pipe, Valves and Fittings, Injectors, Belting, Packing Hose, etc. Cast every day. GASOLINE AND KEROSENE ENGINES s Pumping, Wood Sawing and Feed Grinding Outfits. Some Facts About Cold Storage and the Charges of Manipula tion and Exorbitant Prices. Once again the subject of cold stor age has come into the limelight of pub lic attention ; and this time in connec tion with the nation-wide search after the cause for the high cost of living. There can be no argument in behalf of hoarding and holding back food sup plies for speculative profits. But this is a matter quite apart from the true and legitimate purpose of cold stor age; and, unfortunately, because of the much agitation and damaging pub licity that have centered about the subject from time to time, the real service performing function of cold 6torage has been largely obscured. Laying In Winter Stocks. City-wise people, and even country wise people, have long since forgotten, amidst the conveniences of modern life, that there was a time in the his j tory of our country when "laying in a winter's stock" devolved upon each household individually. Today, one does not even need to remember that I eggs are not an all-year-around prod uct; that butter is produced in scant amount in the winter, and cheese like wise. Not a few would be completely surprised to know that even meat pro duction has its seasons of scarcity. The buyer for the household in these days simply goes to the store, any day in the year, expecting to find these and similar commodities on the mar ket. Are Storages Overstocked? However, we are told that storage stocks of certain commodities are at the present above the normal as com pared with this time last year. It has been computed that the combined ex cess of a number of important foods in cold and dry storage amount to 19 per cent. While on the face of it this looks like undue hoarding of reserves, yet it must be remembered that com parisons with last year are altogether misleading. Demands for a great number of commodities have increased tremendously. Our exports for June were double what they were a year ago, and 40 per cent of these exports were foodstuffs. Moreover, our reserves last year were inadequate. Those who recall some of the extraordinary prices o? certain foods last winter and spring know precisely what it means to have too small holdings in storage. That we are better prepared for next winter than we were for last should not be used as the basis of a wholesale con demnation of our methods of providing for our future wants. How Prices Are D?termin?e!. Cold storage has been criticised se verely as an instrumentality that lends itself easily to the taking of unfair profits. Without a question its ability to extort has been grossly exaggerat ed. Storage warehouses are scattered throughout all portions of the United States and their contents are owned by thousands of competing firms and individuals. About half the storage space in the country consists of public warehouses that rent space to who ever wants it, either for small lots or big ones. Tabulated figures of the amounts in storage are gathered and disseminated by the government monthly; and the amounts in holding from month to month figured against what should normally be in storage during those months (or the estimated demand) form the basis for prices. Some Figures on Profits. But the best information as tc profits in the cold storage business consists of actual figures, and such are published regularly by the federal Department of Agriculture. These show, for instance, that in the season of 1915-1916 butter stored in June and July at an average of 26.64 cents a pound, sold from November to March at an average of 27.45 cents a pound, giving a gross profit of 0.81 cents a pound, or scarcely enough to pay for storage and nothing for net profit oi interest on investment. In 1916-1917 the gross profit was 7.79 cents a pound, and in 1917-1918 it was 5.86 cents. These gross amounts must cover storage charges and interest on the money tied up for several months before the net profits are arrived at. It is apparent from these figures that storing of foods is an uphill and down hill business with its fat and iean years, and affords an average profit which is not excessive in view of the risks that are run. Figures on storage eggs for 1915-1916 show a net loss of 2.2 cents a dozen; for 1916-1917, an unusually prosperous year, the net profits were 5.54 cents, a dozen ; and for 1917-1918 there was a net loss of 1.42 cents a dozen. Extravagant charges of manipula tion and control of prices are prepos terously absurd in view of these sea sons of losses. The ups and down of profits simply indicate the hazards of the game; for the best laid plans of men can ndt foresee when a warra spell may come which will start the hens to laying, nor, on the other hand, a cold snap that will shut off current production entirely. Year in and year out, as the figures would indicate, the consumer pays but a modest sum for the blessing of cold s/orage, which take? apon itself, with all risks in volved, the task of laying in hi* winter stores for him. DO NOT WANT UCENSING BILLS Farmers, Stockmen and Mer chants Oppose Packer Leg islation at Washington. 7 Representing a diversity ot Inter, ests and including farmers, feeders, re tail butchers and produce dealers, ful ly a thousand individuals have made their way to Washington to enter their protests against the packer licensing plan now in hearing before the senate agriculture committee. Far from solving in any measure the high cost of living, the proposed legis lation if passed would be a dangerous experiment foi* everyone, is the con sensus of opinion held by these wit nesses. "We've had government control of railroads and telephones and tele graphs until we're plumb worn out, and we don't want any more," W. P. . Carpenter, stock feeder of Tarkio, Mo., told the committee. "I'm in favor of the man who can produce the cheapest going ahead as far as he can. That's the way to cut down the cost of liv ing." That the packers dominated the stock markets was an idea scouted by testifying stock feeders, who said they found the stock yards places of keen competition. Taking away the packers' refrigera tor cars was as reasonable as taking away their butcher knives, was tho conviction expressed by J. P. Lynch, another feeder from Tarkio. The concern of stockmen and butch ers who fear that hampering the pack ers will only result in disrupting the meat industry without benefit to any one, was not the sole interest displayed at the hearing. Business men through out the country are strongly against the licensing feature which would es tablish a precedent for bringing gov ernment control and politics into the conduct of all manner of business. Many business organizations have expressed themselves formally, through resolutions, as against the principle of bringing business under government interference of the kind proposed in the Kenyon and Kendrick bills. In speaking for the chamher of com merce of Moultrie, Ga., C. T. Caldwell said: "We've got Swift & Co. down there, and they've helped more than anything else to get our farmers to diversify. The live stock business needs their national distribution." THE PACKERS AND REFRIGERATOR CARS Whether refrigerator cars should be owned by the railroads or by the pack ers-a point to be determined by leg islation now pending in Washington may seem to be a question rather re mote from the interests of the average person. But, inasmuch as these "ice boxes on wheels," as one of the pack ers terras them, are the conveyances which bring our beefsteak to town, we may assume that we have a certain concern about them. If they have any thing to do with the price of the beef steak our concern is a deep one. It is maintained by some that these cars give the packers who now own them an unfair advantage over com petitors. This is stoutly denied by the packers, who offer as proof the fact that they pay the same freight rates as any shipper; and they assert that the only advantage they enjoy is in being able to get enough cars for their j needs by furnishing them themselves instead of depending upon the rail roads to do so. In this they are tmcked up by a report of the Interstate Com merce Commission, made after an in vestigation of all privately owned cars, to the effect that there were no unfair practices and that a radical change would adversely affect both shippers and the public. While not opposing, in principle, railroad ownership of refrigerator cars, the packers maintain^that there are not enough of these cars to go around and that tue legislation in question makes no provision for insur ing that the railroads shall furnish them in sufficient number. On the other hand, to pool their cars and take chances of getting what happened to be available, would seriously handi cap the distribution of their perishable meat products. The stream of ship ments from the packing plants would be blocked, which in turn would block the buying of live stock, and the in dustry, which is founded on a basis of rapid distribution, would be badly muddled. In these contentions pro and con, there are three parties whose interests are at stake-the packers, their com petitors and the public. Only one of these parties could gain a possible ad vantage if the packers', cars were taken away from them, viz, the pack ers' competitors. The cars are now admittedly handled on an economic and efficient bnsis. and no change is justified unless unfairness is definitely and absolutely proved-which would be in ah olute contradiction to the re port that the Interstate Commerce Commission has already rendered on the subject. The public would pay th? bill for inefficiency in the packing iu dusti-3-, and it has no desire to pay this bill in order to help a few of the pack- I era' competitors. ._ I The Secret of a Superlative Tire The whole question of a super-tire is a matter of principles. For there is nothing exclusive in the industry. No patents, no secret formulas prevent a conscientious maker from build ing the best. But cost and competition modify ideals. The Brunswick idea is to pay perfection's price and get it. ^That has been the Brunswick policy since 1845. And it ac counts for the growing preference for Brunswick Tires. Motorists expect the utmost from a tire bearing the name of Brunswick-and get it You, too, will be convinced by your first Brunswick, that here is an extraordinary tire, and that more mon^y cannot buy a better. Better tires of their type are impossible-pr better tubes. That we guarantee. Try ONE Brunswick;-.learn how it excels. THE BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER OX Atlanta Headquarters: 38 Luckie St Sold On An Unlimited Mileage Guarantee Basis J. D. HOLSTON, Jr., Edgefield, S. C. RELIABLE MOTOR & SALES COMPANY JOHNSON, S. C. BARRETT & COMPANY (INCORPORATED) COTTON FACTORS Augusta ----- Georgia ARRINGTON BROS. & CO. Wholesale Grocers and Dealers in Corn, Oats, Hay and all Kinds of Seeds Corner Cumming and Fenwick Streets On Georgia R. R. Tracks Augusta, Ga. Distributors of Marathon Tires and Tubes. None better, but our price is less. YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED See our representative, C. E. May.