Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Charloston Raoos. Our reader* will, \vc think, excuse us for publishing so long a description of a horse race, when we tell them that tho winning horse is not only owned but was, horn and raised in this county I Governor Uaupcon sufcrnisKS tub "Knowing Ones." The second race, Hampton stakes, for four year olds, two uiile heats, was regarded as a settled tiling, everybody wanting to bet on Judge Hancock at any odds. He sold slowly in the pools at $100 to $20 against Governor Hampton, the slowness being caused by tho backwardness of tho laltcr'B backers. There were only two eatrics. By W. 1*. c. h. Burch, Governor Hampton, by l'lanct, dam Merry Wave. By R. A. Bray, Judged Hancock, by Bulletin, dam by Brown Dick. When here last year tho Judge distinguished himself, while Hampton almost invariably loafed soincvvlipm hack in the field, swilchini? his tail. tossing his head, and wearing the general air of not caring a cent about the thing anyway. All who had money were anxious to pile it on the favorite at any odds, and most of the takers wcrtf of that large class of persons who cannot for the life of them allow large odds to go by on anything. There was a sort of suppressed sympathy for the Governor, which was due to his name, his good looks, his being a native Carolinian and a general feeling that he was fearfully overmatched. Tho sporting men and "knowing ones" managed to get a good deal of their change out on the favorite on account of these feelings, those who bet against them having little hope of winning, unless l>y an accident. A number of outside bets were made at the rnto of iivc to one on llnncock, even in these there being a marked contrast between the eagerness of his friends and the timidity of his opponents. The two got off well together, Hancock swinging ahead immediately, and both at a gallop.? lie led by two lengths at the first quarter, and the same at the second. Only a languid sort of interest was taken in the two hoiscs by the spectators; remarks ou the Governor's backwardness being answered by tho taunt tin t lie would be still further behind before the other got through with him. This prophecy was verified, for the two maintained their rclntive positions until nearly the conclusion of tho first mile, when the spcod was increased, and the Judge increased his lead, being four lengths ahead as they passed the gratul stand. This relieved the momcntarj' uneasiness of his friends at the persistency with which Hampton had held his position and they laughed derisively and confidently, saluting their favorite with encouraging shouts, lie still led at the fifth quarter by the same distance, the pace having been slackened somewhat. Just before reaching llic sixth, nn enthusiast shouted "Fifty to ten on Hancock !" "Done !" shouted somebody, and almost before the words were uttered, there was a sudden stir, and a shower of suppressed exclamations. Hnmptou was drawing up. The stir and exclamations increased; and ns the horses swung into the last quarter the crowd rose with one accord, and began to get wild. Tho horses were even. So they came up the quarter stretch, and Hampton suddenly showed ahead, the other getting the whip savagely. All tho Governor's carelessness and indifference was gone, and although lie felt 110 whip, the reins were loose, and ho was evidently bent on business. Neck and neck almost, the favorite hanging to his shoulder, they dashed Srrifig'lt^fcrfB^WoSrfS^-^..E^sof tjic ing his best. Amid a storm of yells that was heard away off in the city, Hampton passed the stand, winner by a neck. Time, 3.4:1. As soon ns the cheering ceased, a general visit was made to the pool stand, where a great change had taken place, Hampton was the favorite, although the Judge's backers were still maintaining a stiff upper lip. After a few wild and enthusiastic bids the selling settled down to about even, being : Gov. Hampton $70 Judge Hancock CI Gov. Hamnton SCO Judge Hancock .? G8 The prices fluctuated considerably, remaining, however, generally within those rates.? Old turfmen looked at the horses, and opinions scented to bo largely iu favor of Hampton, who was as frisky as ever. His opponents were determined and defiant, however, and professed to have lost little of their confidence in the ex-favorite, although 110 more five to one talk could be heard in the land. The horses started about as before, both taking it easy, the Judge leading at the first quarter by four lengths, nnd maintaining the same distance at the second. The third showed no change, nnd it became evident as they passed the stand at the end of the first mile that Hampton was trying his old tactics of keeping within reach and rushing in at the close. Judge Han cock cased up a little just after passing the fifth quarter. It wns apparently impossible for him to shake oil'the other, who ran with the regularity and seemingly the tirclcssness of a machine, nnd he was probably saving wind for the final rush. Hampton came within two lengths, and kept so past the sixth, nnd to the Beventli quarter. Here both horses got their hoads, nnd they burst into the quarter stretch very close together. Hancock in front. As lie got the whip, and Hampton was evidently getting closer and closer, the crowd rose and cheer e<i again, and tor the next few seconds it was beautiful, tlio racers closing up all the time.? Hancock showed ahead very near the string, getting the whip heavily. His inexorable opponent, however, whoso skin nevor felt tho lash for a second, leapt nhead, and came in winner with apparent ease by a scant length. Time, 3.44. Hampton's time in the first heat is ntnong the best ever made over the Washington Course, only two or three horses who have r?n over it ever doing better. Those?and they were many ?who took Inrgc stakes on this race with small investments were, as may be supposed, as much elated as surprised at their good luck, while the losers ruminated over the uncertain^, of the horse business. .? . Ciiootino Affair.?A difficulty occured Tuesday morning last in Mr. S. P. ltaird's barroom, which resulted In Mr. llaird's being shot in the thigh by a pistol in the hands of Mr. W. I. Harp. It appears that Mr. Haird interposed to prevent a colision between Mr. Harp and a strolling negro who represented himself as I)r. Payne from Atlanta Ga., and was accidentally shot as above stated. The wound though painful is not considered dangerous.?Newberry New?. Tiir Plaquk in Russia.?Loudon, Februury 10.?Reports from Russian, villages continue to give alarming statements of the prevalence of the plague and other epidemic disorders. Berlin, February 10.?It is officially stated that the Greek Government lias received a report from the Greek consul at Kavala on tho .Kgcan Sea, confirming the rumors of the outbreak of the plaguo there. That's tiik Truth.?A gentleman from Chicago last Sunday remarked that pcoplo were fools who would go to the Northwest in prefereace to the Piedmont region, and that there would not be so many going out to tho cold regions if they would only visit this country. ?hc ?ledtin Union Stunts. B. M. STOKES, Editor. I'MON, FR1 DAYTIFEOKUARY U, 1879. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION^ 1 oiiu jrcar, in ajdvanck. 12.00 2 (Spies one rear," ? ^ &$S 3 " " " " * 8.M 10 " " " ? 15.00 ADVERTISING. One <><|unro nr om-inch. tii>l insertion, - f 1 00 Each snlocquciit insertion, 75 Liberal discount niailn to merchants and others advertising for six iiuiiiths or l>y tho year. Obituary Notices of ten lines or loss, Inserted free. " " over ten Hues,churned as Advertisements. C?, Wo arc requested to state that the School Commissioner will be at his office every Saturday, unless providentially prevented. Save Your Life, lly put chasing one of those never-failing safety Valves for your lamp. Irwin & Co., will sell you one for 2t> cents. It may save life and properly. Congressional Favors. Senator Cutler and Congressman Evins will accept our thnnks for tlicir attentions in sending us regularly the Congressional Record. We value the Record very highly and appreciate the fa - To Brick Makers. We understand that the Brick Machine to bo sold by Mr. Eller on Saturday, the 22d, is one of tho best now made and would be a good investment for any one wishing to go into4 tho brickmaking business. An Opening for Literary Talent. The Proprietors of the Charleston Xcica and Courier, are offering $100 in gold for the best Serial Story, written by a resident of South Carolina, illustrative of Southern life, before,during or since the war. A Farmers' Socioty in Chester. The farmers and mechanics of Chester have determined upon having a first class Agricultural and Mechanical Society. In their organization they have wisely placed such men of iutiucnoc in adjoining Counties as General Bratton and Capt. R. C. Clowucy, of Fairfield, John S. Bratton, Esq., and Capt. Iredell Jones, o York, upon their board of Directors. Some years ago we suggested a similar move to our Society, thereby securing a strong membership and influence in other Counties 'to secure its success. Protect Your Fruit. The depredations of birds upon tho Cherries and Strawberries is a great nnuoyance, particularly to those who are trying to produce fine qualities of those fruits, and many expedients have been resorted to to prevent it, but tho most otTcctual scare that we havo ever seen tried is to kill a hawk, stuff him and them fusten him to a limb of a cherry tree or upon a pole in tho centre of the Strawberry bed?moving the hawk ovnrv ilit v nr (ivn In ililTnwnnl nurlu ?-*f flm I rnn - --j ??j " - - - ? " ? r-" "" ",v ,,vv hp.il As aooa as Spring Chickens begin to chirp the nawKs will Be ATTerTncnrHuaimm ;v? can get up a first rntc scare. If you can catch a hawk alive and put him to guarding your fruit it would be better. Fifteen Cents for Weighing. During last Fall wc were told by many Union Fanners who sold their Cotton at Spartanburg that no charge was inade for weighing in that market. We don't know how those good farmers were so awfully deceived, but there is no doubt they were, which caused them to grumble loudly at payiug 10 cents a bale for weighing at Union. A writer in the last .issue of the Spartan now informs us that the charge for weighing in thnt market has been and is now 15 cents?five cents more than in Union. The difference is, the fee for weighing at Spartanburg goes into t.lu> f*t iffnra nf tliA rail??Anilo o n <1 tlinis aimilaunoa while in Union it goei to support the family of a weigher, elected by the Town Council, ami subject to removal for misconduct. .? From the Department of Agriculture. lion. W. G. LoDnc, the energetic Commissioner of Agriculture has sent us packages of Cabbvge, Tomato, Lettuce, Melon and Sugar Corn Seeds. It is the first we have received since the "late unpleasautncss," although we known of large quantities of seed having been sent to individuals in this County annually. During Radical misrule June Mobley was the vehicle through which those seed were dcscminatcd in Union, and, of course, but few if nny white persons ever saw any of them and, as a natural result, the collection and distribution was a waste of time and money. Uinco that time wo are not aware of the department sending seeds to this County. To our noble Representative J. II. Evins, are we indebted for this departure from Radical custom. Sohool Apportionment*. School Commissioner, W. II. Norman, has provided us with the following as the amount apportioned to the several School Districts of this County. According to the law now of force Teachers cannot claim for any year's services, more than the apportionment made for that year, so that there will be no deficiencies to be utado up hereafter. No 1. Jonesville $ 800 00 " 2. Draytonvillo, 776 00 " 8. Goudeysville, 840 00 " 4. Pinokncy, ._ 725 00 " 5. Union '. 1020 00 " G. Santuc, 630 00 " 7. Fishdam G60 00 " 8. Dogansville, 740 00 ' 9. Goshen Hill - 280 00 <*10. Cross Keys, 400 00 $0,720 00 The above is a little less than the full amouut if ail tlio taxes are collected. CoNOHAi.K.n Weapons.?A recent act of the Legislature imposes a fine of not less than $100 and imprisonment for not less than six months on any one convicted of carrying concealed weapons. Young men who arc in the habit of bran dishing fire-arms for the slightest provocation, will do well to make a note of this. \frhat We uMlv ?ery anxious to complain of our County Officials j on the contrary (fc) have "often leaned too^fak the other way, evin when we I thought thly deserved censure, ^rticularly has t^nase with the County Commissione^BHMPfeaTe tried to cheer and assist in th^^^^^ischargt of their Often difficult . duties. The present Hoard is composed of lionest and good men, in whom we have every confidence, burthey, like other folk, nro liable to bo remiss in their duties, often to the inconvcnicnco and expense of a largo number of citizens. Tho uncertainty of their meetings is the greatest source of this inconvenience. For instance, last Tuesday was the day appointed for their monthly meeting, and a number of persons who had business with the Bonrd came long distances in a cold drenching rain to meet lliciu, and when they arrived wero informed that the Board would not meet. They had their journey for nothing. Thoso same persons hold claims ugainsttkc county and came here at the.mccting in January, but wore then informed that the Board could draw no orders on the Treasurer on that day. This news was oniri K..I ii.? ?K;II .... .?i ..a- I... ,I.A ivw?? vvuiivi i>| wuv iiiv vuiu nuo turvv.it uu ujr iiiv; .hupo February they would fare belter. Nnti^rany enough these disappointments cause much complaining, and we speak of it nioro to tell the Commissioners (hat they aro complained of and why than to complain oursolf. We see no reason why the Hoard did not notifiy the people that there would be no meetingon 1 the BecondTuesday in February, in consequence < of urgeut public duty requiring them to be on the Fence line between Union and Sparlauburg. Such a notice would have been satisfactory and could have been made through the Times without costing the Couuty a cent, and saved many persons much inconvenience. Tho Fenoc Law a Blessing. A correspondent of the Columbia Rejister, from Abbeville, thus speaks of the adoption of the Fence Law in that County : Farmers arc going regularly to work in this vicinity and preparing for the new orucr of things, brought about by the recent net of the Legislature, which abolished the old fence law in this county. The pastures of our most energetic furiucrs aro near completion, and tho sound of the plowman is heard in the land. Of course, we have chronic grumblers who croaked extensively about the new order of affairs. Some of them delayed making pasture fences, doubtless indulging a vain hope that the public meeting, called by somo "sore-head," to meet at Abbeville C. H., would adopt some measures to alleviate their imagined grievances; but the meeting?if indeed there was any?failed to bring about the desired end. So far as 1 have been able to ascertain, influential men are delighted with the law. They think it a blessing to the most skeptical. As a result of the law, 1 notice fertile spots being prepared for cultivation. It is not a very difficult job, as no fence is to be mado to keep out the neighbor's vagrant sow. A False Report. In the (Ircenvillo News of lost Saturday we Deputy Collector Jillsou received a telegram yesterday from Collector llruyton, ordering him to report at Snartnnburcr at once, statin? that a Revenue Officer had been shot near l'inkney's Ferry in Union County. The purticulnrs of the affair could not be ascertained. Mr. Jillson left for Spartanburg last night. We have been diligent in making enquiries of persons living in the vicinity of "l'inckncy's Ferry," as to "the particulars of the affair," and cannot find n person who knows anything about it, or ever heard of such an occurrence anywhere near there. No doubt there was plenty of blockade whiskey sold in Greenville whilo the officers were off chasing phantom murderers of Revenue officers in Union. Gov- Hampton's Condition. The report was rifo in this community a few days ago that Governor Hampton had suffered a relapse and was again dungcrously sick, which caused intense anxiety. We are happy iu being able to remove tho fears of our people by the following which we take from the Charles* ton Xcict and Courier : There is no foundation for the report that Governor Hampton has suffered a relapse, or is in any danger. The wound he received at Gettysburg gives him intense pain, his nervous system is sadly shattered, and he makes little progress in regaining the bodily strength lie sorely needs. This we believo to be his exact condition. m A Caustio Truth. The editor of the Columbia Register, in commenting on Judge Mackcy's order to have the prisoner's dock removed, says : Now, it is a mawkish sentiment, a puling objection. which talks about this dock as an offenso. What is there in it. so far as the dock itself is concerned, to bring shame or accusation on any man ? Many an innocent mun has sat in the dock and many a scoundrel on the bench. It is not the poor dock, a thing of wood, that can make a man hold down his head in shame. It is the crime which brands his soul deeper than iron in the quivering flesh. It is the guilt that enters the precincts of conscience which is sharper than the incisive knife that cuts away the rogue's ears. What ActT?A large number of colored people are soon to be made happy by the receipt of their arrears of pensions provided for by the late act just passed by Congress. It is calculated that probably over a hundred thousand dollars will be distributed in Deaufort and the sur rounding country. Wo know of several who will receive ?>1,'JCC ir 31,100, and some even more. The above is from the Bcnufort Crescent, but the act alluded to has entirely escaped our notice. Violation or tin Gamk Law.?The Edgefield Advertiser calls attention to a law of the Stute which imposos a penalty on the destruction of insectivorous and other birds therein named.? xue t&W forbids any one to take, kill, sell exSose for sale, or export beyond the limits of tho late any mocking bird, bee bird, woodpecker, thrush, etc., or to rob their nests ; the penalty to be recotered before any Trial Justice?-onehalf to ge to tho informer ; the violator, in de fault of payment, to he committed to jail. #? - --- Tub Farmers Dktkkminkd.?The action of the guano manufacturers has stirred up the farmers all over the titate, and the sentiment of the meetings held is strong an 1 nnited action on their part will result in a refusal to purchase any fertilizers when the price is over 460 pounds of cotton for first-class ammoniated and -'100 pounds for acid phosphate. For tho Time*. The Stoek Law in Cheater?How it WorkaFuiknu Stokes :?I modo a flying visit to your Town, one day last week, and waa moi by , \ number of your most excellent formers ; air c inquiring: how the "Fence-Law," worked in ' Chester ? >Iy reply wps this: "Jhoae, who weni^ most , jpposcd to it at first, are its strongestAdvocates 1 now. They would bo the very first to riuse their ! roices against its repeal. There are farmers in Chester who make more . ju the land where old, useless fences stood, i :han many of your red-hot auti-fenco law men 1 make on their whole farms. We have better stock, and less litigation than you have. Are , not those advantages worth striving for? i The time we used to spend in making rails and 1 fences, we now employ in making fertilizers xnd improving our lands, Another advnntago j in favor of the fence-law system, or in other words tho no fence system, is : The Frecdmen are well pleased with it, for it is they who build the fences. They now ouly build pasture fences, nnd pasture their Stock without paging a cent for pasturage !" My advice to your anti-fence-law people is this : Qo to work and try the system before you condemn it ; give it a fair trial, and if you are not advocates of the system in less than two years, then you may write to mo and say that 1 have told a falsehood. There is not a man in Chester County, with an ounce of intelligence, that would have the old system back again, for any consideration. Now Mr. Editor, theso facts go much farther to con vince than the most elaborate argument. Respectfully, W. G. AUSTIN. Chester S. C., Feb. Cth 1879. -'A Fool-iiakdy Fkat.?On the 24th ultimo one Andrew Wallnce thrilled nil lookers-on at Niagara Falls by riding his horse across the icebridge. Not satisfied with this, he nsccnJcd to the summit of the ice mountain at the bnso of the American Full. Slowly the horse toiled up the steep, slippery side of the great ice cone, winding round I lie foot-path till the summit was reached. Here, enveloped in a cloud of mist which concealed the white cone itsolf, horse and rider looked like a weird apparition suspended in mid-air. For some time the horse went careering over the crest of the cone, where one false step might have hurled both him and h>s rider into the fathomless foaming gulf full seventy feet below. Presently the daring horseman rode slowly down the path, and crossing the ice-bridge, regained the Canadian side.? l)oth he and his horse were drenched with spray. An act to punish assault or assault and battery with any tire arms committed on streets or places of publio resort. Jie it enacted by the Senate nnd House of Rep rcsentalivcs of the State of South Carolina, now met and silting in General Assembly, aud by the authority of the same ; That any person hceafter convicted of any assault or assault aud battery, committed by shooting with any firearm oil the street of any incorporated city or town, or in any place of public resort, shall be punished by tine of not 1 1?..1 titan una thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for nut more than twelve months, or by both at the discretion of the Court. Approved December 14, 1879. ? . Disastkr to a Rkitisii Column in Africa.? Cape Town, January 27, via St. Vincent, February 10.?On the 21st of January a British column consisting of a portion of the Twentyfourth llccrimeut. a batlerv of nriill??rv ?vn,l hundred native auxiliaries, was utterly annihilated near Tugelar Hiver by 200,000 Zulus, who captured a valuable convoy, 102 wagons, 1,000 oxen, two cannon, -100 shot and shell, 1,000 rifles, 2-30,000 pounds of ammunition, 60,000 pounds weight of provisions, and the colors of tho Twenty-fourth Regiment. it is estimated that 5,000 Zulus were killed and wounded in the battle. Sad Accident from llovs with Firearms.? Gus McLees, son of the Kuv. John McLees, of Greenwood, while out hunting with a party of boys lust Saturday, was most seriously, perhaps fatally, injured by the accidental discharge of a shot-gun in the hands of Robert Tarrant, a son l'rii 1 Justice Tarrant. The entire load entered the young man's face, putting out hoth eyes and wounding hiin so badly that he mny not recover at all. Young McLees is about fourteen years old and quite a promising lad. His misforluue is one of especial hardship. Two Men Riddled to Death.?Now Orleans, February 6.?A Galveston News special from Goliad, Texas, says that, two men, Henderson and Lockhart, quarrelled. Hoth drew revolvers. Lockhart caught Henderson's arm fired six shots into him, killing him instanly. Henderson's brother rushed at Lockhart with a pistol. They closed in the struggle, anJ Henderson emptied six chambers of his revolver into Lockhart's body, causing instant death. . Murder and Lyncuinu.?Cincinnati February 5.?A speoial dispatch says that at Wrightsville, Green County, 111., on Monday, Dr. Charles McAuliffo and James Havener, his un uic, nun it uispuie ituoui raumy mancrs and Havener was shot and killed. On Tuesday night a constable started with the doctor for Carrollton jail, and when half a mile from the town a mob overpowered the constable and hanged McAuliffe. ? 8am Lkk's Plight.?Sumter, 8. 0., February C.?At 12 M. to-day the grand jury found a true bill against 8am Lee for official misconduct as Judge of Probate. He immediately fled, and diligent search all over town failed to find him. Lee had recently complimented Judge Mackey on his impartiality, but when his own trial was imminent, he adopted his usunl tactics and has run away. Lee is a model postmaster for the reform President to appoint. 8am Lei Sentenced.?Charleston, February 11.?Sam Leo's counsel at Sumter moved for a new trial and arrest of judgment on technical grounds. Both motions were denied. Lee was ealled to receive sentence, but failed to appear, and the Judge stated that he would place the sentence under seal in the hands of the Clerk of the Court. Indictment or E. W. M.Maokky.?The grand jury of Charleston County to-day found a true bill against E. W. M. Mackey, Republican, for libel in publishibg charges against W. L. Daggett, Democrat, of stuffing tho ballot box at the Palmetto Engine House at the late eleetion. Memphis to Have a Receiver.?Memphis, February 10.?An argument on general creditors' bills representing city t>onds to I ho amount of $2,MX),000 was heard this morning by Judge Baxter, of United States District Court. The jiidgc announced his determination to appoint a receiver to morrow. a For the Times. Building Bridge*. From a school boy to the present, I have been juile fond of the study of nature's laws, and when 1 began mechanics I made it a point te itudy the science as well as practice of lncchancs, and read, more or less, several American works on the subjeot. 1 think it a very material deficienoy in a workman to know but little if the toience involved in his profession ; for the lack of wbloh-lie is more or teas liable to make serious bluhders. With toy general reading in mechanics, long practice, extensive observation, North and South, and conversation with the ablest American workmen, and making bridges a sort of specialty for twenty years, snd seeing so very clear as 1 do that progressive bridge work is no small want of our country, L feel to some extent that I owe the benebt of this experience to this want, and offer my lervices to this county in any way to extend Iho greatest good to the greatest number. 1 have had very considerable amouut of stone work done for myself, at Grindle and Trough Shoals, for various uses, by several of the very best masons iu Iho two Counties, and the more 1 had done of it the more I liked it, as it proved to be less costly than 1 anticipated and made the work so permanent. When one is prepared wmi agoou uerricK anu outer proper implements, with good workmen the stone work goes on fast. On l'acolet, Tiger und Euorce, the granite tan be boated to the bridge places, as it' can bo found in many places near to or on tho Bide or bluffs of the streams. Before the war I went before the Board of Commissioners of roads and bridges of this County, and got them to favor building a cot- j ercd bridgo at Qrindle Shoals. They advertised for bids, and no doubt it would have beeu built but for tho war. Two of the Commissioners examined a very fine quarry six miles up tho river cn its banks, which can bo shipped down without very great oost, by having one Derrick (o lay the stone in the boats, and another to hoist it out of the boats on the abutinqpts. x got an experienced si one mason, Mr. Petree, to examine the situation and surroundings, who ? said a quarry on the river bank a short milo above the bridge, would do. Tbe North sido there is n very deep sand bar, at least 12 feet below water to the rock, the other side a gently rising granite hill. One span 140 feet long will cross the river; nil the rest of tho bridge from that cut should he built of sfono and dirt embankment. Much of the dirt embankment could be used safely on tho sand bar side, tho slow currcut admitting it; that being the concave side of the stream. It was at this deep sand bar sido my attention was called 20 years ago, to make a thorough investigation as to tho practicability of building heavy stone abutments on wooden foundations. 1 decided that it was, and all subsequent researcli to the present time confirms that decision. A bridge built on this improved plan, covered over with tin, could be well put up for $4,000 at most and 1 believe, could be built for $3,600. The cost of covered bridges in Georgia were about from 7 to 10 dollars per running foot.? The latter price would make the wood work cost $1,400, and I do think the abutments and dirt embankment, can be doue for $2,000, atfurthest, which would make a bridge last 50 years with tin roof, while Hie cost of the present bridge was $1,800 in '72, calling for several repairs since. Tho Gov. Gist bridgo cost $2,800, about the same time and will soon need a new bridge. i will mention tliat where a river makes a sudden oend against a granite hill, having a wido bottom on the other side, is generally a cheap place for a bridge, and is well adopted to stone abutments and spanning entirely across, as those places arc rather narrow, and with our largest froobot* uiuvli vf Its vr?i?ro poaa over tU? botturns. The wood work, without much cost, can be strongly fastened down to tho stone abutments, to protect them in case of such freshets as '52. This freshet roso somo five feet up on the Maxwell covered bridgo on Tugulo without damage. lleforo closing I will say that I introduced tho Howe truss at Trough Shoals in '76, and am well pleAsed with it, believing it better than the Utly, even after I had improved the Utly by lightening many of its dead weight parts.? Must further say that I never saw, until very recently, the Mintcr bridges across Tygcr and Etioree rivers, that nature has done much for those places an cheap crossings, peculiarly adapted for covered bridges spanning the streams?Tygcr calling for a DO feet span only, Knoree for 75 feet only?both of which cau bo built on stone abutments covered with tin roofs, for less than $3,000 each, that will last fifty years. My plan of introducing permanent bridges, would be to cheaply patch the old ones, to keep them safe, and in the mean time mature the best permanent plans as the circumstances of the different places will suggest. Most of old bridges can be patched up cheaply and made to Inst much longer by frequently examining them carefully by one of experience?patching in the right time and way. I did this at Qrindle and Trough Shoals, and have advocated this policy, to bettor utilize the old bridges. By pursuing this course the County Commissioners can liavo time to school themselves up to a safe progressive step iu the introduction of the above suggested permanent plan, or approximating it, step by step. In several places I think it would be best to first build the abutments, preparatory to the Bpun bridge, keeping up the old one across the water one two, three or more years. In Spartanburg County, there are many places on streams not measuring more than forty feet across the water and less, that are very well adapted to low bridgos on stone abutments, ^ which makes a very great saving in cost rather ^ than have 4 or G times that length from bill to hill standing on wooden trussels. This plan there, gives, as i learn, universal satisfaction, but met with opposition until psopls lea en ad its utility by experience. This County, however, is muoh less adapted to low bridge economy, but yet in some places on Thickety and Fairforest it will work well. If the Commissioners will bring to their aid the best mechanical experience of the country, in stone, wood, and iron, and move cautiously, so as to make as few errors as possible, an improvement can be made in bridge economy that would surprise nearly all. By this course less than half the cost of running the bridges will suffice, or in other words the east for the next thirty years would be less than half of the last thirty years, at the same bridge places. It would be well especially for abut me ins 10 dc lei on guarantee, as u is so easy ana common for the contractor to slight such work. Reserve a certain per cent, of the pay untill the work is tested by a good freshet. In connection with bridge improvement, is a want in road impro vement, which two wants, if properly worked up, benefit the county beyond reasonable calculation ; its advantages would permeate every class. Road improvement has been another one of my long studies, but as it would be very difficult to make much progress in this, I will only nay that ouc^wise men toll us that good roads and bridges are the bent indexes of civilisation. I respectfully propose that the thinking mechanics of the country, or others, may contrib visa liioir i Kntifflii anal (nAitansa tn bring about a successful bridge revolution.? We may differ on many points more or lees, but thorough, honest, logical research, deliberation, debate and thought, will pretty clearly point the way to make snfo steps in this much needed want. So glarirg has It been before me for more than twenty years, and 1, being unengaged, offer my experience to the cause, and respectfully solicit general co-operation. The saving