The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, December 08, 1882, Image 1
THE WEEKLY SUlfllliei TIMES.
Omiied to -ViniliuiT, horticulture, pomcniiq (fconomg, polite ffiftfaturq, flolitiijs, and tin) .facntJfe|y$Lj|c(
VOL. XIII.?New Series. UNION C. II., SOUTH CAK(J|JNX^ECBMBBR^8^8^?^T^ \
NEW GOODS !
NEW STORE!
NElf PRICES!
*T) ECENT purchases in the Northern Cities
.iAi enable us to display to buyers a very
LARGE AND HANDSOME
SELECTION OF SEASONABLE
Fall and Winter
GOODS,
Adapted to the Wants and Tastes of this
community.
We have full lines of Goods in
NEW STYLES AND FA liRlCS
FOR LADIES' WEAR
WITH TRIMMINGS TO SUIT.
Cassimeres, Jeans and Kerseys,
FOR MEN AND BOYS.
TOGETHER W1TII
BOOTS I SOHES,
MEN AND BOYS' CLOTHING.
HARDWARE,
GROCERIES, &C., &C.
All the above goods we are offering at verj
low prices, and think it would bo to the interest
ot everybody to look at our stock before buying.
RICE & MC'LURE
May 5 18 tf
Were to Bey
Pure Medicines
Drugs, Perfumery, &c-f
JW, l'OSEV & BltO., have on hand and are
. constantly receiving additions to a Full
Line of
Drugs and Medicines,
Paints, Oils and Varnish,
Palenl Medici HON,
Perfumery, Hair Oils
A Variety of Hair Dies <Sc Roatorors
Tooth and Hair Brushes,
FACE POWDERS AND
TOILET ARTICLES.
Fancy Toilet and Laundry Soaps.
Pocket Hooks, Stationery
Lamps of All Kinds,
From the finest Swinging IIall Lamp to the wee
little wincy tincy Hrass Lamp.
:o:
Pure Wines and Liquors,
(For Medical Purposes,)
Port, Claret and Blackberry Wines,
Whiskeys, Brandies and Gin.
Crab Apple Vinegar.
:o:
* TOBACCO AND CIGARS.
A Fresh Nupply of
GARDEN AND FIELD SEEDS,
FROM
FERRY k Co., SIBLEY AND HUIST.
Onion Sets, Ate.
:o:
To Physicians
Wo have a few Hypodermic Syringes and
Self-Registering Fever Thermometers.
we Ask the Public
To call and examine our Stock. Work is our
motto, and we are always ready to wait on cus
loiners
. W. rOSEY & ltUO.
Opposite Union Hotel.
Roberson & Mall,
HAVK just filled their store with a
very large Stock of
FALL AND WINTER
MERCHANDISE.
Their stock comprises almost everything
that can he asked for. All for sale at the
very lowest prices. Call and see, and they
will save your money.
Oct 20 42 tf
UNION HOTEL,
GIBBES & RODGER,
UNION, S. C.
TKIIMH PKIt
W. M. C. HUSKS.
I,. N. KODUKIt.
hJcp 8 uG li 1
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Executive Cmamukr.
Colcmria, S. C., November 29, 1882.
Senators and Representatives. 1 beg leave
to submit my annual Message:
TIIB PUBLIC DEBT.
The debt funded and being funded is $0,571,825.
This is a decrease of 870,190 ou
tbc amount reported last year?the Sinking
Fund Commission having retired by purchase
and coucellution 871,309, and a small
amount of additional stock having been
issued by Joint Resolution of the last Legis
laturc.
Of tllrt nilKlin lliii enrm aP I l*rt A
cultural College*, amounting to $191,800.
is a permanent iuvcstuicnt ; the deficiency
bouds and stocks, amounting to $501,922,
mature in 1888 ; aud consols, amounting to
$5,878,033, mature in 1893. Tlio debt
bears interest at G percent. This is promptly
uict as it accrues, aud is paid in Columbia,
Charleston and New York. If the bolder
of the State stock desires it, and furnishes
the Treasury with bis postofficc address,
the interest due is forwarded to him upon
each January and July. The securities of
the State arc sold upon the market above
par. We have no floating debt. Current
expenses as they occur are met with current
funds, and there is a balance of S98,017 in
the Treasury awaiting your disposition.
The coupous of brown consols are received
in payment of taxes. There is no good
reason why the coupons of deficiency bonds
should uot be receivable iu like uiauncr.?
It would put all the creditors of the State
on the same footing; and as the holders of
deficiencies are largely our owu citizens, it
would add to tl.eir convenience while it enhanced
the value of this class of bonds. I
respectfully recommend this measure to your
consideration.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
me revenues ol the State for curreut
expenditures are derived froiu the net earnings
of the Penitentiary, froui the phosphate
royalty aud from the general tax. The Peuitentiary
paid into tho Treasury last year
$1U,00U. The phosphate royalty is steadily
iucrcasiug ; darning the past year it amounted
to $1118,251?being an increase of over
$10,000 upon the preceding year.
]5y the report of the Comptroller General,
you will sec that the usual and ordinary
expenses of the State government, not
defrayed by the phosphate royalty and the
surplus in the Treasury, can, without cou
sidering the income from the Penitentiary,
be met by a levy of live-tenths of a mill
upon the dollar of taxable values. The levy
for interest ou the public debt, (three and
one-tenth uiillsj is to be added,?thus making
a general tax levy of three aud sixtcuths
mills.
Interest upon the public debt is payable
before the annual taxes are fully collected.
To avoid subjecting any of the public creditors
to delay iu receiving their dues, the
Legislature has for the last two years annually
authorized a temporary loan iu anticipation
of the taxes. The liberal action
of the banks of deposit iu permitting overdrafts
aud requiring interest upon eachI
i.-- ?.i .-> .1-- !?_ ?
v,..., ..a* oi.tu.vu ?...? ircasury 10
effect the accommodation at trivial expense.
Authority lor a similar purpose
will be necessary for the next and for each
ensuing year. The expedient answers well
enough while the money market is easy,
but with the occurrence of a financial panic
it might be dillicult to accomplish. The
public credit is of too much conse<jueucc to
the welfare of the 8tate to be thus jeoparded.
The d bt will soon mature, audio rc*
fund it at a more favorable rate of interest is
an end to be kept steadily iu view. A failure
to meet promptly the interest under any
circumstances would iajuriously affect this
purpose. Again, our taxes are paid semiannually,
and the first payment is optional,
the taxpayer being charged interest if he
defers payment of his whole tax till the time
of the second payment. Under these eircumstauces,
to return to a collection of the
taxes for interest before the interest is due,
| it is necessary to make the first semiannual
payment of taxes compulsory, and then for
one year to increase the tax levy sufficiently
to raise the sum for which, in the experience
of the Treasury, it has been found
necessaiy to make over drafts upon the
banks. We are experiencing a period of
exceptional prosperity, and there will be no
better time to accomplish this desirable end.
If the measure commends itself to your
honorable bod), the additional sum to be
raised this vear will be about ?100,000 and
will necessitate the addition of810 mills to
the 3 0 10 mills previously estimated. The
whole tax levy well then bj l 1-10 mills.?
The levy for last year was -1 31 mills. It
will still be necccssary for one year longer
to authorize the temporary loan, because the
first paymeut of interest for 1881 will occur
before any part of the tax you now author*
ize is collected, and will have to be met
out of funds n-.w in the Treasury, which
arc not sufficient for the purpose, and at the
same time to carry on the government until
the taxes of 1883 are collected,
TEN ITKNTIAKV.
On the 1st November, 1881, there were
C'JO convicts in the Penitentiary. At the
same date this year the number was 831.?
Of these 778 were colored and 10 white.?
Of the 831 couvicts. 331 were leased upon
phosphate work ; 131 were leased upon
railroads; 35 on the Seegcis farm, and 151
within the walls of the prison. Of those
within the prison 07 were at work with a
contractor in making shoes, 13(1 at work on
the Columbia canal, and the remainder in
various employments.
The convicts under lease are are subjected
to a rigid surveillance by the authorities
of the Penitentiary, and I am satisfied
that during the year, both within and with
r... t >1 I..... I - I 11 ? I
vuv ?n\i 1'iiiiyii, via j iiiivu UCl'll WUII IUU,
properly eared for, and their sentences uf
penal servitude humanely executed.
^ A lar^c amount of work has beeu done
uy convict labor upou improvements and
extension of the Penitentiary itself. A
number of hands have been worked on the
Columbia canal, and an examination of the
Superintendent'*. Report exhibits 'he following
transactions : A balauce in hand
at the beginning of the fiscal year of $21,11)9;
earnings for the year, 891.220; expenses
proper of the Pouitentiary, 350,989 ; per
diem and mileage of Hoard of Directors,
81,207 ; paid ou canal 88,090 ; paid into
State Treasury, 810,000 ; and remaining
in hands of Superintendent 814,901. This
last amount is in cash and bankable notes
given for convict labor ; its disposition await
your direction.
This exhibit contrasts favorably with the
management of the Penitentiary in the period
from 1808 to 1870. Then, besides the
earnings of the couvicts, it required an anual
average appropriation of 802,800 from
the S:ate Treasury to support the institution.
In the health, general appearance
and judicious discipline of the convicts, a
like i npruvemeut appears.
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
During the year there have been under
treatment in the Asylum 755 patients.?
There arc now present 220 white and 222
colored, making a total of 550. Of these,
525 arc supported by the State as indigent
poor and 25 by themselves or friends. The
laws establishing and regulating this institution
contemplate that those receiving its
beuefits who arc able to pay iu whole or in
part should do so, and that the pauDcr
alone should roemvo fli<> humit# <>?*
State. That supposed abuse in this partic
ular exists has been heretofore brought to
the attention of the General Assembly, aud
at its last session additional legislation was
provided to coircct it. These laws are cither
not executed or are insufficient. Fewer
p..tients pay now than before. It is not in
the power of the Trustees and officers to
supervise this matter. The power and
responsibility rests with the authorities in
the Counties who give the papers of commitment.
It may be that popular sentiment
demands that unfortunates of this class,
without regard to their means, should be
supported by the State. If this is so, the
laws should be changed aud pay received
from none. In 1870 there were 21)8 pa
ticuts in the Asylum ; now the number is
nearly doubled. Your attention is called
to the report of the Sup iriutendent, in which
the increased demand for the coming year
and the still larger prospective demand in
succeeding years which will be made upon
this institution is clearly set forth. 1'here
arc, by the United States census of 1SS0,
in South Carolina 2,000 persons who may,
and iu most instances should receive fh.
benefit of this wise ami noble provision for
suffering huuiauity, With one fourth of
that, number present in the Asylum now,
about one third of the aggregate current
expenses of the State is for their support-.?
It appears to inc to be the part of wisdom
to at once settle and enforce the pecuniary
basis upon which patients are to be received,
and, with comprehensive and economic
measures, meet the increasing dumauds of
this branch of the public expenditure. The
details of the Superintendent's report arc
suggestive of these, and some of them he
forcibly urges. The appropriation asked by
the Trustees for the Asylum for the coming
year is $114.104. 1 am happy to believe
that in scientific treatment and in all that
promotes the comfort and well being of its
inmates this institution will compare favora
bly with others elsewhere.
DEl'AllTMKNT OK AHltlCUI/IUIIE.
A tax of twenty-five cents per ton is collected
on every ton of commercial fertilizers
sold in the State and is made applicable to
the maintenance of the Department of
Agriculture. The tax realized last year
823,704.
The Department is charged with the inspection
and supervision of the sale of fertile
izers; with the duties of a Fish Commission;
with the 1 ill f lii? nl./o I
est in the phosphate mines; with the devcl.
opmciit of the agricultural ami mechanical
interests of the State, ami with the promotion
of inmigration. It has been in opera
tiou for two years, ami the elaborate report
of the Commissioner to bo submitted to you
will exhibit the well directed energy it has
brought to bear upon the various and important
duties with which it is entrusted.
I am persuaded that under its present
vigorous and judicious management its usefulness,
already manifest, will greatly redound
to the benefit of the State.
The pursuits of our people are so largely
agricultural that the bounteous returns of
husbandry during the last year is a subject
for devout gratitude. 'J'lie cottou crop
was better than an average. The com crop
was b (tor than for many years. The small
grain er >ps were undoubtcly the largest ever
produced in the State. Iticc was fully up
to the average, and the smaller crops?sorghum
sugar cane, peas, potatoes, fruits, &c.,
? were better than usual. The Commissioner
estimates that the excess of this year's
production, exclusive of cotton and rice,
which are our chief market crops, over last
year, is much more than the amount
of farm supplies of which the short crop
of that year necessitated the purchase ;
I have heretofore expressed my sense of i
the paramount importance, socially ami
industrially, to the Stale, of the advent of !
a thrifty and intelligent immigration. The
resources of our fields, forests, mines and i
water powers are comparatively untouched, i
A complete and exhaustive hand book of
the State, under the direction of th Hoard, i
has been prepared and will soon he published.
Its distribution will bring to lite at
I en t ion of capitalists the opportunity for
investment that these resources offer, and
to the immigrant seeking a home in a go- j i
nial climate the means of bettering his fortunes,
wliieh will surround him on every ,
hand in our midst. You will permit me i
earnestly to bring to your attention the sub: |
joct and to express tlu: hope
that youf wisJjm will deviso measures
whic Itwilfcoromotc this desirable end."
STATU AURHJ^LTUKAI. ANl? MECHANICAL SOCIETY.
This socioQf has borne an important part in
the development of the material interests of the
Slate. Organised in 1855, it received an annual
nppropriatiou of $6,0(H) from the public Treasury,
and was handsomely endowed from other
sources. During the civil v\ar its buildings
were destroyed and its endowment dissipated.
Four years after, its revival and reorganization
was the first indication on the part of capital
and intelligence of reviving hope in the future
that awaited our industries. For the btst three
years it hits annually received rfn minrni>rn.iion
of $2,">00 froiu the State.
This society holds a Summer meeting fi r discussiou
of agricultural and kindred subjects,
at which is elicited much valuable information.
Heretofore its tranactions have not been published
in permanent from ; but its increased resources
will now permit, and it is intended in
the ensuing year to collect them in a compendious
fortn. It J annual fairs are held at Columbia
in November. At the last, 10,000 persons
attended ; the premium list amounted to
!?5,000 ; and there were over 2,000 entries for
the premiums offered. Order and good feeling
pervaded the throng, and during theeutirc week
it was necessary to arrest but one person for
disorderly conduct. A continuance of the appropriation
for this society is asked.
KniTCAN IN.
The educational system of the State, as now
established by law and in successful operation,
finds its development in the Public schools, the
University a.id in the Institution for the education
ol the 1 >e if, Duinband the Blind. The University
consists of the Claflin College, the Military
Academy and the South Carolina College. This
distribution of the aid given by the State to education
is comprehensive and judicious. The
full development of these various schools will,
in my judgment, accomplish all that can be done
by public instruction in qualifying the rising
generation for the high duties of citizenship and
I carucsty commend each of them to acoutiuuanec
of your fostering care.
THE PUULIO SCHOOLS.
The Report of the State Su . perintendent of
Education shows a gratifying improvement in
the public school system. During the last j-car
there was in attendance upon the public schools
lib.399 white and 80bTo colored pupils, making
a totil of 14b,974. This is the largesct number
of pupils ever enrolled in the public schools of
this State in any one year. The average
length of the school scs-ion was four months ?
a slight increase over the sessions previously
reported. The number of teachers cmp oyed
was?white 2,120; colored 1,287 ; total 3, 3?
being an increase since the last report c 104.
The number of schools was 3,183?an in ease |
of 126. | Che school fund has steadily Die ised
since tl idoption of the amendment the
Constitu n relative to the public school tax.
The fun <r fiscal year 1881-82, the last year
for whicu full returns have been made, was
54.V2.90b.44?this amount being the largest ever
available in one year for the support of public
c'tools in this Stato.
The public school fund is now almost free of
debt. The amount of the claims outstanding
against the school fund in October, 1877, was
5209,940.00. In nearly all the Counties this
debt has been liquidated. The claims now arising
against the school funds are paid each year
out of the current funds. The effjet of the proppcr
management of the school fund is seen in
the enhanced value of teachers' pay certificates,
which are now paid in full each year by the
Treasurers of the several Counties.
The Report of the .Superintendent of Education
contains full accounts of the management of
the two large and successful Slate Normal Institutes?
one for white ami one for colored teach......
I.?l.l .1 : .1-- i~~? < -
c."mini- in? nisi gcnoiasuc year. I lie
public school system is now firmly established
in this State, and the friends of popular eduoaeation
may look forward with confidence to its
steady progres and improvement.
CLAFMX CObbKflK
This College is endowed with a portion
of the fund donated hy the I'nitcd States
government for the promotion of agriculture
and the mechanic arts. It is located at
Orangeburg and is sot apart for the benefit
of colored stu louts. It has been in benefit
cial eperation f?r sonic years and the President
reports the past as the most successful
year in its educational work since its organization.
Those have been 111 1 students in
attendance, of whom 21 were in the Colicgiate
Department, llltiin the Normal School
and 181 in the Grammar School. The
Normal School is doing perhaps the most
important work in this College, lloth graduates
and under- graduates readily find employment
in the public schools for colored
children of the State. An Agricultural farm
of one hundred and fifty acres is attached
to the institution and is profitably worked,
chiefly by student labor, under the instrue
tion and direction of a superintendent.
TilK MILITARY Al'AHKMY.
IJolorc the establish nicnt of the Military
Academy 824,000 annually was expended
in thosuppcrt of two couipunu a of enlisted
men, who were entrusted with the care of
the ordnance and ordnance stores of th:
State. In 1842, by Act of the Legislature,
this appropriation, afterwards increased to
81 JO,000, was divcried to the maintenance
of a military school, the cadets of which
should also discharge the duties hitherto
performed by these enlisted men. The
school was modeled upon West Point and
approximated that institution in the thoroughness
of instruction. Its career of
usefulness was continued Ibr twenty-two
years, when at the close of tlu civil war its
scat, the building known as the Citadel in
Charleston , was taken possession of ly the
Federal government and used for military
purposes. In anticipation of the return of
the Citadel to the possession of the State, at
its last session the Legislature directed the
reopening of the Academy and appropriated
515, 000 for the purj os s of i epair and maintenance
for the short period which would
probably cdapso between the recovery of the
building and the close of the fiscal year. The
Academy was also by law made a branch of
the University. The building has been restored
to the State, and on the 2d of October i
lust the Academy was rcopeued with 177 I
cadets.
The report of the Hoaru of Visitors, to I
be .submitted, will inform you fully of the j
present condition of this school. A marked i
feature in its organization is that of its ca*
ilets. sixty-ci^ht-being two from each tluuuty?are
maintained as beneficiaries by the
State an 1 are required for two years after
graduation to teach in free public school,
of the fount) from which limy tivlv 1
receive their appointment. Regulation*
rigidly enforced seek to coufino this bounty
to deserving youths who have not the means
iu their owu right and whose parents are <
unable to educate theui. Selection is made 1
among applicants by competitive examina- 1
tioii. The beneficiaries are furnished, free '
of charge, with tuition, clothing, subsistence ,
and the necessary academic appliances. I
The remaining cadets are pay pupils, and
are charged per annum, which is the ,
estimated cost to the institution of each ca- ,
det, pay and beneficiary alike. '1 ho curri- j
culuui of the Academy, as before the war, i
seeks to approximate that of West Point,
iiiu v;ii i.iiiuu, ? iicii it uccurs, ut'in^ ill view
of,the fact that its graduates will find employment
chiefly in civil life and their tnili- ,
tary training be needed by the State only
in the emergency of such warsiis will call
for other than the regular forces of the coun- 1
try The demand of our people for practi- 1
cal and scientific training accompanied hy ,
the wholesome discipline afforded by this
school is evidence hy the numerous appli- I
cation.-, for pay cadetshipe which had to be 1
declined for want of suthc cut accommoda* !
tiou in the building, as repaired with the ,
sin ill appropriation of the last session. The '
number of cadets admitted iu October ex- <
huustcd all available room. The means '
were not furnished to rebuild the burned '
wing of the Citadel, which would double ,
the capacity of its barracks. Such appro- ?
priatiou as you may deem proper to make '
for the maintenance of beneficiaries (the .'
pay cadets maintain themselvc-) in this |
school must be based upon the csti- t
mate of ?1500 for each. To continue the I
present number will require ?20,400 for
the preseut fiscal year. Arms and accoutrements,
which the Adjutant (jencral's '
department cannot supply, are also ucccssa> '
rv. A small annronriatinn to that di-nart
j - ; i i?i i i
mont for this purpose is needed. (
A claim, on behalf of the Slate, upon 1
the Federal Government, for the use and 1
occupation of the Citadel since the \var, 1 a
been madoand will, 1 have no doubt, be soon ,
equitably adjusted. When this fund is i
realized it will reimburse the Statu for the
sum already expended in repairs, and prob? :
ably be sufficient to restore the wing burned j
while in the possession of the United States ,
troops aud to equip the Academy fully lor
the part which 1 am convinced awaits it in
affording to our people the much needed
facilities for higher education.
SOUTH CAIIUI.INA COU.KdK.
This branch of the I "diversity, situated J
at Columbia, is endowed with the portion
s t apart for the benefit of white students
of the fund donated by the United States
for the promotion of agriculture and the
mechanic arts. It was reorganized last
Spring by the establishment of five additional
professor-ships, making tenia all, and
one of which is of agriculture and horticulture.
The scope <>1 the instrucion offered
was largely extended., and for several distinct
and full courses of study, some libera'
and some technical, provision is made. The
t'nlh'irn ill llv; FiM il'ir i i, i'/,1 < I Mini fMil'i r
opened with 1 IS students in attendance.
Lodging is provided, the only charge being
ten dollars annually for repairs, and j
tuition is free to all students whose parents i
reside in the State. The students are I
boarded at their own charge. !
. i
The development hereafter to be given ,
to this institution should, in order to meet i
the just expectations and demands of the age |
and the requirement of the .Vet of Con- "
gross, to which it owes all its permanent j
endowment, be largely in the direction of ,
applied science. It should be made the (
borne of the practical arts and science as
Well as of the classics, it should he able (
to send forth the youth of the State well '
equipped lor llie practical pursuits and j
avocations of life, and hence technical i
training should be as anxiously provided for ;
as liberal culture. '
The agricultural depart neat should be so de- 1
vcluped as to materially aid in building up the
agricultural interests of the Stale. Not only
should the opportunity be given to the rising
generation of farmers to acquire the scientific j
principles upon which their calling is based, hut
the farmers themselves should have the benefit
of the ex erinients and tests of a well conducted
experimental farm located in their midst. Ne- .
gofiations are now in progres between the Stale
Itureau of Agriculture and the agricultural de- i
part men t ol the College, which will, if perfected,
tend largely to bring about this most desirable
result. In order to secure harmony of purpose ?i
and union and concentration of effort, the two .
departments will In* made to mutually assist and
strengthen each other. To this end the College I
will make the analyses, researches and pnicti- t
cal tests required by the Bureau of Agriculture,
and the results will be given to the public i:t
the occasional bulletins of (be Commissioner of j
Agriculture. The report of the Professor of
Agriculture will also be made a part of the An- '
11 ital Report of the Bureau. s
The Report of the Trustees of the University,
to be submitted, will ask for a continuance of |
the last appropriation of.>12, oDOfor this College,
which, in addition to its permanent endowment, ,
they estimate will be sufficient for its needs.
<
institution r ut rnr. nK.tr ani> t?t >111 ani> thk
11UMI I
This institution for the education of the tin- '
fortunate youth oi ihc Mnlo in locatril at Cedar i
Springs in SpartanburgCouuty And lias fur years
been in successful operation. I'uring the past
year it lias had sixty-two pupils in attendance, i
1 woul l ask your attention to the interesting t
lleport of llie Superintendent, and particularly
his rccouieudatiou that provision be made for *
the education of eolorcd deaf and dumb and i
blind children. The suggestion is tn.ido of the
establishment of a separate department for this '
class of pupils, under the same general manage- ]
ment as t ia( for whites, hut with its own subordinate
otlicers and teachers. This arrangement
has been adopted in most of the Soul hern States I
and is in accord with (lie general educational *s
system of this State in the public schools and in t
the University.
The (Vnmissionors fthc institution will ask |
for an appropriation of Sl'J.d'ilt, which inclu les
the expenses of establishing the proposed col- *'
ored department. "
1! AI LitCA l>S
The llailioa l Coinmi- ioncr reports tluit his '
inspections of th'- lailroads last year have been
highly sati factory to him'. Many and extensive f
Improv.iiK't'.i 'are not-I, an I the facilities for I
the safe and speedy transportation of persons and
properly have been much increased, lie thinks
thai in unothcryenr of prosperity there will be
few better roade iu theSotith. The Commission*
.. ?uv *iii auuo \|uv;9iiu(i3 nris.u^ iruin
I lie mutual relations of tlie corporations owning
the roads ami the people who use them. You
arc re-pectfully referred to liis Kepi rt for tho
views he expresses. They are entitled to weigiit
as coining from one whose position lias given
him opportunities of impartial observation, and
whose opinions have been maturely considered.
Many interesting tables accompany the lleport.
1'hey are, howevei, incomplete on necount of
jome of the roads failing to make their returns
in proper time. 1 am unable, therefore, togive,
as I desired, a summary view ofthe condition and
working with us of these jmportnul factors in
the life of to-day.
Several important new railroads have been
projected and considerable progress has beeu
trade as to the construction of them. The Kdgellelil.
Trenton and Aiken Kailroad Company and
the Atlantic and French Kroad have been con*
solidatcd with certain North Carolina, Tennessee
and Kentucky roads, whose objective point at
present ts Lexington, Kehlufcky,under thcs?yl?" ?
of the Carolina, Cumberland flap and Chicago
Kailroad Company. The organization has been
perfected ami a contract lias been entered into for
r ipidly l ushing the construction. Fifty odd miles
of the road have already been graded in South
Carolina. When completed it will be much tho
shortest line from tho Northwestern tnulc ccnres
to tho South Atlantic and must prove of in:aleulable
value to the Stale. It will realize the
1 reatu of fifty years ago?the direct and indopculent
connection of our commercial metropolis
with the tihio Valley. Some grading has been
lone on the Savannah Valley Kailroad from Aulcrson
towards Dorti's Mine on the Augusta
md Knoxville lload. On the Spartanburg,
Laurens and Greenwood Road the grading is hung
pushed forward; and on the Georgetown anil
Lane's Road, running from Georgetown to Lane's
>i? the North-Kastcrn K.?ilroa<l, worTt has recent*
y been cctiimciicc I.
Mlt.lTI A.
The organized militia consists of eighty-one
:oiiipnnics of State Volunteer Troops (white),
numbering 4,37ft men, and twenty companies of
National Guard (colored), numbering 1, 185 men ;
Aggregate, 5,5(11. The Adjutant and Inspector
Uencral reports the general condition of the
militia, in every respect, better than when he
inspected them in 1881. The ollicers arc more
conversant with their duties, companies better
drilled, and a more general spirit of military
sntl usiarm pes vales all ranks. More than one half
of the companies of the Volunteer Troops
would compare very favorably with like organizations
of any other State of the Union. This
improvement is to he attributed, in agre.it measure,
to the encouragement given by the liberal
appropriation made by the General Assembly at
its last session "to enable companies to maintain
their organizations and to increase their efficiency."
Many of the old companies have been disbanded,
and perhaps it may be advisable to still
further continue the system of weeding out Iho
inefficient corps, ns the number of men given
above can very well be reduced to the extent of
one fifth, leaving, in round numbers, about
4,000 men of all arms?a force amply sufficient
for all purpose.
The appropriation asked for the militia is
$'22,700.
I'AlttlONS AM) CUM MUTATIONS.
1 have deemed it proper within the last year
to exercise Kxecutive clemency in twenty-five
instances, of which ten have been commutations
of sentence nu*l fifteen have been pardons.
In another communication, 1 wll lay before
you, as required by law, a full statement of each
case.
CONCLUSION.
The history of the State for tbo last <jtiaiter
of a century has been varied by strongly contrasting
periods, Just preceding the civil war,
in social and material development we reached
ihc highest point which had marked onr progress
since the Knglish colony landed upon the
[tanks of the Ashley. The war f llowed with
ts heroic efforts ? its disastrous results. Of the
tocti 111 iili*Lion of two centuries of industry,
ivherever it had found invest (rent in personal
roperly, there remained the ashes. The land
done was left, cncumbcrcM with debt, and with
he capital to Work it only to bo obtained at
ismious rates. Then came the first period of
econstruction : the painful struggle for bread ;
lie government of the Slate by its baser elements ;
loeiety slowly adapting itself to its changed
iotiditions ; and the native energies of the whito
nan's blood, under riotous misrule, stubbornly
iVinning its way to competence and power. In
IH7<? Ibis unhappy period ended, and to-day
reconstruction is done. The exhibit laid before
you of the affairs of the Stale is that of a wellordered.
smooth working and economic government,
and of a happy and prosperous people.
JOHNSON HAtiODD, Governor.
A
Vll.K Co N.SIM It AC V.?Jchiel Jaspor
it rolled into the grocery ami post office of one
>f our back country villages recently, and
?ftc-r standing around with his back to tho
ire until he was pjrmeated with caloric,
Willi, I guess I'll road the mows and get
iloug lioni . Squire l'jrkius' paper come
ret'{" and lie stepped behind the post office
mxes, as was his custom, to take it out and
cad it.
"Can't let you see it, Jeliicl," said the
lostuiastcr ; "government has is>ued orders
hat any pos'inaster who allows a non sub*
criber to read subscribers' papers will lose
lis position."
"No, you don't tell me? Well, if that
lin't a good idea. It's a put-up job; a gol.
lamed conspiracy between these ere newsiap"rs
i n 1 the government to keep the tnulitude
in ignorance, so that they can dotniicer
over the community. And they talk
ibout this being a free country. It's driftng
right into despotism just as fast as it
tan. How in thunder's a man to know
vliat's going on if he don't read ? And now
he government's setting down on all ideas
if oddication, and taking away that privilege."
"Oh, not so bad an that, Jeliicl,"said the
(ostuiaster. "The government docs not
ay anything againt your subscribing for
he paper yourself, you know."
Subscribin' for it '{ What d'yo tako me for?
)'yc suppose I'tn to subscribo for
, paper 1 have read fourteen years right
e:re by the stove without eostiu' me a oont?
m'o, sir ; I aio't a going to help 'cm oppress
no by kuepin* me in ignorance. Nor, sir-eo.
Aod having got a supply of cheap toincco,
''put on the slate," he jogged along
loine a th'oougiily oj-pres-ed citiz-.-ti