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Jtrapis and ?acts. j ? The St. Louis Republic says: "Every time a housewife buys a pound of sugar she is robbed of three cents by the sugar swindle, and of half as much more by the government tariff swindle. Put sugar on the free list and granulated sugar will sell at retail at 20 pounds for a dollar. ? New York has a pension law for its militia. It is two years old, but the first awards under it have just been approved by the governor. The highest award is $72 per month, given to a militiaman who lost both arms and one eye by an accident while on duty under State orders. ? Invitations are being issued to Republicans of the Southern States to a conference to be held in Alabama to denounce the methods of the present administration, and to demand the recognition of the faithful who labored for the success of the g. o. p. in 1888. How hungry they must be. rPUrt?.n V*n*ta Koon AttA? 1 " flflfl romnvulii tn x iici c nave i/cuii uv^i x y,vi/u ? VtuV * ,v date, and still they cry for more. ? Connecticut's secret ballot law becomes operative August 4, and is to be enforced at the town meetings and the voting on the prohibitory amendment, which takes place on the first Monday in October. Some of the Connecticut officials are considerably exercised at the thought that their State is to bo the first in the east to give a practical exemplificr.tion of the new system. ? The 400th anniversary of the discovery by Columbus of the New World will come in 1892. It is proposed to celebrate the occasion by a world's fair. 1892 is the year, and New York, Chicago and St. Louis each thinks it is the place. The preponderatingsentiment favors New York, however. The idea is a noble one. Let us have an exposition such as the world never saw before. ? In the New York criminal court last Thursday, Lawyer John R. Dunn was sent to Sing Sing prison to serve out a sentence of nine years and six months. Dunn was found guilty of having induced Cashier Scott, of the Manhattan bank, N. Y., to steal $185,000. As soon as Dunn received the greater part of the steal he advised Scott to fly the country. Subsequently the cashier came back and appeared as a witness against Dunn. ? At Nyack, N. Y., the other day, while tearing down an old chimney in that place, the workmen were astonished to find imbedded in the mortar a toad in a somewhat inactive condition, but still alive. It had been confined in that spot, hidden from light and air, for fully forty years. Half an hour after he had been brought out he hopped around in as lively a manner as if he had been born the present y cat. ? In the New York court of oyer and terminer, last Thursday, Charles Giblen and Fred Carol in were sentenced to be hanged on August 23. Judge Van Brunt sentenced Carolin, and Judge Barrett pronounced the doom of Giblen. This will make five men who are to be executed in the Tombs on the same day. The others are James Nolan, John Lewis and Patrick Packerham. All are guilty of murdering women except one, who killed a policeman. ?The dried leaves of the coca plant, which is cultivated on the slopes of the Andes, form an important article of internal trade among the various native tribes. It is estimated that not less than 30,000,000 pounds are consumed annually. After the morning meal men and women alike take a mouthful of the leaves mixed with a little lime; fresh leaves are added throughout the day, and without any additional food the consumer is enabled to do a hard day's work. ? Frank Blount, colored, was hanged at Valdosta, Ga., last Friday, for the murder of Willis Miller on the night of May 20, on a negro excursion train. He claimed his innocence the hour he was arrested and his last minute on earth. He was hanged iDside the jail, and no one except the sheriff, his deputy, a physician and the press, was allowed to witness the execution. He was cut down in 15 minutes, when it was found that strangulation had been the cause of death. Blount was a notorious gambler and desperado. He escaped once while under sentence of death, but was recaptured the same day. ? At Marion, N. C., just after the train from Asheville arrived, at 11 o'clock Monday night, of last week, Col. Roger J. Page, a prominent lawyer and editor of the Times-Register, was shot, about a hundred yards from the depot, and fell dead on the arm of his friend, a Texas judge. The shot was fired from behind, at a distance of only a few feet, penetrating the neck and breaking it, and three more shots were fired by the murderer, who then fled. The coroner's verdict was that the deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound ,lwv ! ?.??./-la nf a nnrf,' r> flip ilirv llfl 1U HIV; 1IUUUO VI U |>|? IJ ?vy ...V J ^ known, but public opinion in Marion it is said surmise the perpetrator. A woman is said to be the cause of the shooting. ? The Rev. Fred. A. Howard, who in 1876 figured as a lawyer and politician at Robbins, Barnwell county, S. C., and subsequently moved to Jackson, Tenn., where he turned preacher, has been plaintifF in a sensational libel suit against the publishers of three religious publications and several members of his former congregation, the action having been brought for defamation of character. Howard is an Englishman, and a mass of testimony in his behalf was, by deposition, taken in England. He also introduced testimony by deposition from South Carolina. The trial continued for several days and was sensational in its character. It was concluded on Friday with a verdict for the plaintiff, the jury assessing his damages at one cent. ? Late details of the recent disastrous floods in Wirt county, W. Va., have been received : A circus was showing on Tucker creek when the cloud burst struck that section. The flood struck the show just after the performance began, and tore the canvas to shreds, utterly wrecking and ruining the whole concern, carrying off horses, wagons and tents. Miss Dalma, who performed on the trapeze, was drowned. It is reported that some employes also lost their lives, but the whole section of country where the misfortune occurred is still in such a state of confusion that it is impossible to get full particulars. Saulsbury, on the Big Tigart river, is virtually wiped out of existence. The number of killed and drowned in the Kanawha valley is known to be 22, of whom 14 have been recovered. ? David W. Palmer, sent to the Jackson, Michigan, State Prison for life for the murder of his wife, had been an exemplary prisoner and was given more than usual liberties. Thursday morning he was filling a large cask with scraps when an idea struck him. He put a false head in the barrel about midway of its length, and then placed citizens' clothes, a hammer and a chisel in the barrel and got in himself. Another head was put to the barrel by Palmer's fellow convicts, and the cask was taken to the freight office. As it was being loaded in a car the freight handlers heard a wild appeal for pity, which they could not at first understand. Finally one of the men opened the cask and drew the prisoner out more dead than alive. Palmer was turned over to the authorities. He declares he would far rather stay in prison for life than undergo again such torture as he experienced during the three hours he spent in the cask. ? Two hundred persons in the twentythird district of Wilson county, Tenn., have banded together for the purpose of driving Mormon elders and converts from that county. This action has been taken on account of the conduct of the Mormons on a recent occasion. While Rev. John Barrett, a Baptist preacher, was holding oorninno in VVotinnrd's Sfhnnl house, he wag interrupted by some of the Mormon converts present who asked him several questions and then became insulting in their language. The members of the congregation made a move to resent this interference, whereupon the Mormons jumped out of the window and dared them to come out and fight. Two justices of the peace subsequently prepared a big dinner and invited the community at large to come and hear Barrett preach and give him protection. Every one expected that a fight would take place, but the Mormons stayed away. The preacher called on the congregation to know how many would help to drive the Mormons out of the county. Jn response to his invitation, all the men in the congregation, about 200, gave him their hands, promising to drive the Mormons out by whatever means should be necessary. The Mormons have been forbidden to travel on the roads, and notified to leave the county or stop holding meetings. ? A dispatch from Columbus, Ua., says: There is a very important movement among Southern cotton manufacturerswhich promises to be successful, to get all j the cotton mills South that are manufac, turing plaids, to run on two-thirds time until the glut which has existed in this market is relieved. Manufacturers of these 1 goods South have for the past twelve l3 months been running on very close margins, and many of them at actual loss, on . account of the fearful cutting of prices that has been caused by heavy over production "tj of plaid goods. Manufacturers realize that a it is necessary to resort to some extraordi- ei nary measure in order to save themselves f< andf bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs. I was informed by an officer of V one the largest cotton manufacturing con- s) cerns South that all the Eastern mills but S( one had already discontinued manufac- <> turing plaids. 1 am also reliably inform- n ed that all mills South except the Eagle 11 and Pluenix, of this city, are ready to make ? an agreement to run on two-thirds time ^ until the production is brought down to i, a point that will enable the mills to obtain ti fair prices for goods. There is a strong si probability that Southern mills will be put on two-thirds time early in August. This will affect at least fifty thousand ope- ^ ratives and untold millions of capital. (the fJfltferHfc CT?quivcv. ? ll d VOUKVIM K, S. C. : WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1889. ; FARMERS' STATE ALLIANCE. 6 The Farmers' State Alliance opened their regular annual convention last Wed- tl nesday morning in Agricultural Hall, Columbia, being called together by Presi- t! dent Stackhouse. The attendance of dele- n gates was full, and a number of visiting Alliance men were present. r< The State Alliance is in a flourishing con- si dition with a membership of 20,000. There are now 745 sub-alliances .which are now o officially reported. When the State organ- o ization met in 1888 there were lG2sub-al- p liances in the State, so within the last year 11 there has been an increase of 583 sub-alli- rj ances, and the officers report that the Order is gradually growing. The last offi- ^ cial report gives the membership by coun- ri ties as follows: Abbeville 647, Anderson tl 1,305, Barnwell 650, Berkeley 500, Chester i* 731, Chesterfield 1,197, Clarendon 500, Bar- & lington 890, Edgefield 500, Florence 600, Fairfield 675, Greenville 1,567, Horry 804, l)( Kershaw 623, Laurens 653, Lancaster 1,157, tl Lexington 450, Marion 1,319, Marlboro 76S, Newberry 450, Oconee 675, Orange- hi burg 1,240, Pickens 714, Richland 314,Spartanburg 2,319, Sumter 723, Williamsburg '' 1,272, Union 1,204, York 1,003. From the C{ following counties no official reports of iSj membership have been returned : Aiken, cc Colleton. ai Delegates were enrolled from every c< county in the State excepting Beaufort, li Charleston, Georgetown and Hampton, in which counties no alliances have been it formed. York was represented by Major ft A. H. White; Chester by T. J. Cunningham ; Fairfield, T. S. Brice; Lancaster, George W. Jones. jf The first business after the enrollment of "j delegates was the election of State officers q, for the ensuing term. All the old officers ti were re-elected, with theexception of those m who declined re-election. The officers for d< the next year are: President, A. T. Stackhouso, ox" Marion. 5' Vice President, tlio Hon. I). P. Sojourner, of Barnwell. D( Secretary, J. W. Reid, of Roidville, Spartan- p burg county- tn Treasurer, It. T. Taylor, of Chesterfield. Chaplain, tboRev. James Douglass, of Fairfield. Lecturer, W. J. Talbert, Edgefield. c Assistant lecturer, H. McRae, Marion. t Doorkeeper, J. W. Kennedy, Williamsburg. Assistant doorkeeper, A. R. Walter, of Horry. Sergeant-at-arms, J. E. Jarnigan, of Marion. Jj, Member of executive committee for the next (j( three years, S. T. D. Lancaster, of Spartanburg. 7Jj The other members of this committee holding ja over are Lucas Mcintosh, Darlington county, and T. P. Mitchell, Fairfield. ai Different committees were appointed by Cc the chair; one to report to the body upon o\ the president's address, and another to si introduce Mr. Benj. Terrell, of Texas, who was to install the recently elected }[' officers. The convention then adjourned until tu 2.30 p. m. to The afternoon session was called to or- Si derat2.30. The first business was the in- n( stallation of officers. After the installation the floor was given to General Lecturer Terrell, of Texas, who interested the V( alliance with a talk until 5 o'clock. w Chairman Mcintosh read the report of w the executive committee, showing the fo books of the secretary and treasurer to be perfectly satisfactory. jt! The following committees were ap- (lj pointed: at On Constitutional Amendments.?J. R. si Blake, Jr., of Abbeville; John H. Turner, of ti< Chesterfield; John It. Harrison, of Green- b< ville; Z. T. Kershaw, of Florence; W. D. m Evans, of Marlboro. oi On the Jute Bagging Question.?A. C. Lati- di mer, of Anderson ; J. S. Porcher, of Berkeley ; tl: T. S. Brice, of Fairfield ; George B. Deane, of O Spartanburg; 1). W. McLaurin, of Marion; A. d< II. White, of York ; A. P. Butler, of Richland, at On the Consolidation of the Agricultural b< Wheel and the Farmers' Alliance.?J. K. Tin- or dall, of Clarendon; T. J. Cunningham, of ec Chester; Jeremiah Miutn, 01 riorry; weorgu ci W. Jones, of Lancaster; K. K. Walter, of Or- gi angeburg. The convention then adjourned until 9 o'clock on Thursday morning. ti The entire morning session on Thursday ti was devoted to the consideration of the plan vi for an Alliance Exchange. Theexecutive rc committee proposed a plan for such an exchange, but the plan proposed met with U' opposition, while other delegates were op- D posed to the idea of the establishment of S an exchange. The opposition to the ex- ai change was led by Messrs. Dargan and bi Norris. Mr. Dargan thought that produc- h tion and not distribution was the scope of the farmer, and he thought suitable arrangements could otherwise be made. He 0, advised postponing action until another t.( time, as the Alliance at present should not b< undertake too heavy a load. But ho was si perfectly willing to abide by the decision T of the body and do all he could to carry Pj out its purposes. a( The lion. Jeremiah Smith thought that ti the Alliance members had sent them to fi the State Alliance to adopt some such fi measure, and should they not adopt such a measure the "Subs" would be disappointed. SJ Lecturer Talbert, of Texas, thought that ^ South Carolina should take her stand with ft the sister States, and was anxious to see this State adopt a plan for an exchange. . Others spoke on the question, when fi-. j* nally the plan proposed by the executive 11 committee was substantially adopted. It P is identical with that of Texas and Geor- ^ gia, and is as follows: j. PLAN FOR AN ALLIACK KXCHANOK. & Article 1. The name of the corporation shall cl be the "Farmers' Alliance Exchange of South ,, Carolina, limited," and by that name it shall have power and authority to exist and enjoy succession for the full term of ninety-nine 0 years. a Article '1. The domicile of the corporation r< shall be in any city or town in South Carolina a the board of corporators may select, and all ^ citations and other legal processes shall be a served upon the president of said corporation, or in case of his absence or inability to act, upon the vice-president, and in case of tlio absence of both, unon the secretary. ? Article The purposes for which this cor- jt poration is organized are to conduct a general g< mercantile business, and to act as agent for rj the purchase and salo of all kinds of farm ? supplies and products, and to do all that appertains to the receiving, handling, forwarding and marketing of said products, and the pur- s' chase of supplies; to erect, manage and operate warehouses, stock yards, grain elevators and packing establishments; to manufacture Ci guano or other fertilizers, and all other such ^ enterprises as may be found necessary or ad- 0< visable to their profit and betterment. o Article !. The capital stock of this corpora- (j tion is hereby fixed at the sum of $21)0,000, di- 0 vided into 4,000 shares of $50 each, with liberty j, to begin business whenever $5,000 of the capital stock shall have been subscribed. No stock- . holder shall ever bo held liable or responsible * ' for the contracts or faults of this corporation in ?> any further sum than the unpaid balance due tl on" the shares of stock held by him, nor shall any mere informality in organization liayo the e effect of rendering this charter null, or of ex- e posing a stockholder to any liability beyond .. the amount of his stock. 11 Articled. Subscriptions to shares of capital stock shall be made by Sub-Alliances and not f( by individuals. Applications for shares of s< stock must be accompanied by 25 por cent, in ]\ cash of the amout of stock subscribed, the bal- a ance to bo paid when called for; when cor titi- , cate of stock shall be issuod as soon as the full amount subscribed for shall be paid. Article?. It is hereby understood and agreed, V that each Sub-Alliance adopting tiiis exchange S system and thereby ratifying this plan, is firm- J ly bound to subscribe for and make settlement a on stock, as abovo specified, to the number of _ shares duo from it, under the following schedule of ability, i. e., thoso having less than thirty-five members shall beapportioned onoshare; thirty-five to sixty-fivo members, two sharos: a sixty-five to ninety-five members, thrceshares . f< all over ninety-five members, four shares ! > rovided, this shall not prevent any Alliance om taking as many shares as it chooses. Article 8. Each sub-alliance taking stock in le corporation shall he entitled to one trustee :ockholder, who shall be elected annually at ic time of the regular election of ollicers. "The rst trustee stockholder shall be elected by ich sub-alliance when it decides to subscribe >r stock, and shall servo till tho next annual lection. Ho shall represent his alliance in le meetings of trustee stockholders from and )r all the sub-alliances in that county, and hall be entitled to as many votes as ho reproents shares of stock. The county convention f trustee stockholders shall, at a regular anual meeting, to be held after the county leeting in July and before the State meeting, lect from their number one delegate, who shall 0 known as State trustee stockholder, and 'ho shall be authorized to represent the stock eld in that county in State meetings of the rustee stockholders of the corporation, and hall be entitled to as many votes as he repreents shares of stock. Each trustee stockholder hall be the representative of the exchange in is alliance, and shall giye bond in tho sum of fjOO for the faithful performance of his duty. Article'.). The State trustee stockholdorsshall old an annual meeting at the same time and lace as tho Fanners' State Allianco of South 'arolina : Provided, that the board of directors hall have power to call a meeting whenever 1 their judgment it is necessary. Article 10. Each county alliance shall elect a ounty business agont: Provided that no delgates to the county alliance shall be allowed ) vote on his election unless the sub-allianco rhieh the}'represent has stock in this corpora,on. Tho trustee stockholders in each county hall at tho regular annual meeting elect a 1 ~c I.inrn limn unvdli from uaru ui uiiuuuio, nv?w uiuiv ?*?. ?vr iieir number, to serve for one year, who shall upcrviso the work of tho county agent, lix tho mount of pay he is to receive and of the bond e is to furnish for the proper discharge of his u ty. Article 11. Tho Stato trustee stockholder iia.ll eloct annually nine from their number s a board of directors, live of whom shall onstituto a quorum for the transaction of usinoss. The State board of directors shall lect from their number a president, vicorosident and secretary and treasurer. They lay employ and discharge such assistants as !iey deem necessary, fixing the amounts of loir remuneration and of their bonds; they hall enact such by-laws and regulations as aey deem requisite for the proper managelent of tho business of the corporation, sublet to approval by the next meeting of the tockholdors : Providod, all such by-laws and agulations shall have full force of law till lid meeting. Article 12. All profits earned shall bo aplied, first, to pay all operating expenses; secnd,to paySporcont. per annum on theamount f tho paid up capital stock; the balance of rofits, if any, shall be distributed among le sub-alliances holding stock, through their ustees in this corporation, in proportion to le amount of their purchases and sales. Article 13. This Act of incorporation may e modified, changed or altered, or said corpoition may lie dissolved with the consent of ireo-fourths of the stock represented, and a lajority of the amount thereof issued, at any Biierar meeting of the stockholders of said >rporation, convened for such purpose, after lirty days' notice of such meeting shall have Ben given in two daily papers published in le State and in the State official organ. Article 14. Whenever this corporation may B dissolved, either by limitation of its charter r from any other cause, its affairs shall be quidated by three commissioners, to be eleet1 by the stockholders at a general meeting died for the purpose. Said commissioners rail remain in office until the affairs of said >rporatlon shall have been fully liquidated, id in case of the death of one or more of said immissioners, the said survivors shall connue to act. The annual address or message of Preslent Stackhouse was then read. The illowing is a summary of the paper: During the first year of our existence as a tato organization, our numbers have increased om 3,000 to 20,000. Wo now have 754 sub-Alances and 31 County Alliances. At the date ' our State organization we had 104 Sub and 10 ounty Alliances. The growth of the organizaon in the other cotton States has not been less larked. Its unprecedented growth and the jvotion of its members to its principles, best idicate their belief in the necessity for tho orinization and the success of its mission. The Bsire to avert the ruin which must result from le continued centralization of money and of ilitical power causes thoughtful and patriotic eople to strive by organization and ouueation i arrest its further progress. Co-operative business methods have not at been fully and fairly tested, but the exponent warrants the hope of tho ultimate sucsss. The alliance should devote its attention i placing the business on a strictly cash basis. The State exchange or agency is the most imartant matter that will claim your attention at lis session, for udoii its wise establishment will jpend very larg'ely the success of our organiition in this State. While the special session st December fixed the responsibility of roportig a plan on your most important committee, id I rely upon the fidelity and ability of that nnmittee, I may bo pardoned for saying that ,'ery feature that savors of the credit system lould be excluded. The abuse of the credit :stem is an evil of such magnitude as to doland its abandonment. Our efforts thus far ive been directed to the improvement of this rstem, and these efforts I am satisfied are initially beneficial to both the debtor and crediir classes; but in the establishment of the Date agency, which is designed to be a perma3nt fixture, it should bo done on a correct rstcm?the only correct system?the cash sysiii. The establishment of an agency that gave isurance of absolutely fair dealing anil the 3ry lowest prices that could be procured by holesale cash purchases from the producer, ould be a powerful incentive to make the ofrts to do so. The question of consolidation has not been iscussed in your State organ, or elsewhere, as s importance demands. Possibly it lias been iscussed in your sub and county alliances, id you may be instructed as to vour vote. If ich is the case 1 invoko a careful considoraon of the question. Can the organization to 3 consolidated live in unity and act in liarlOiiv ? This is the great central question for ir consideration. If there areany known conitions which create a reasonable doubt on lis point we should vote against consolidation, n the other hand, if there is no reasonable mbt about our ability to live in unity, and :t in harmony with the great consolidated Ddy to be known as the Farmers' and Labors' Union of America, we should voto for the msolidation, because this great national body mid be so much more influential in securing -eat national reforms. The action of the State Alliance at its meetig in December in reference to the use of cotiii bagging and the adjustment of tare was mely, as it removed all doubt as to our posion and duty on thatsubject. So when wo inited the meeting of the Southern Manufactusrs' association at Augusta, your ropresentaves felt justilied in contracting for ono uiilonyards'of cotton bagging. Under the call of resident Maeum, I delegated the Hon. M. L, onalilson, who with Mr. L. Mcintosh, represnted lis at the Birmingham meeting. Wo e now fully committed to the use of cotton igging to cover cotton, and the full force of the illuence of our organization in the cotton Dates should be brought to bear in favor of an piitable ad j ustment of the tare. Constitutionamendments, which depend on the question f our consolidation, should, I think, not bo msidfirad at this session. It may, however, a well to appoint special committees on this ibject to report at our next annual meeting, he Jute trust, by its inordinate greed and sup?>sod impregnable condition, compels a tost of ur pluck and fidelity. The challenge has been . eepted and is being responded to in a way lat removes all doubt as to the result. In this ght we make a present sacrifice to secure a iture good. The report of your executive committee lows that the financial atl'airs of your State oranization has beon economically managed and lat your State treasury now has ample funds >r immediate use. After the reading-of the President's adress, Mr. Benjamin Terrell, lecturer of le Farmers' ^National Alliance and Co-operative Union of America, and by virtue f his office of national organizer installed ie newly elected officers of the State alance, and on an invitation delivered an ddress on the works and results of the orer. Referring to the covering of this ear's crop, he hoped Carolina farmers muld discard jute bagging. By the use f cotton bagging the farmer would create demand for his own product. Mr. Ter^11 said that he had heard from reliable uthority that the cotton baggiug mills rere now in full operation and would in 11 probability furnish all the cotton coverig needed. At the afternoon session, the committee n consolidation reported that they had ist received a telegram from the Tennes2e Alliance announcing that they had ^titled the plan of consolidation with the igricultural Wheel. Mr. Talbert offered a resolution in subtance as follows: Resolved, That we the members of the State llianco, in convention now assembled, do irnestly appeal to every sub-alliance in the tate to make every effort to secure the use of atton bagging, and thai they uso only cotton ; r if a sufficient quantity cannot bo obtained, len they use any other substitute from straw r oven common homespun, or anything but ite. The resolution for the consolidation of Joint Alliance and Wheel was adopted " a . tn rnu ? 4.: y U VOtG 01 ?'i K) 1-. lilt) illtiucntiuu vji lis caused considerable discussion. The action of the several counties in refrence to the cotton bagging was heartily ndorsed. Their action seconded the Alance's tight against jute. The judicial committee was appointed >r the nextyear as follows: M. L. Donald^n, J. Stoney Porcher and W. 1). Kvans. I. L. Donaldson was elected business manger and will have charge of the Alliance tore. Delegates to the national convention /ere elected to the meeting to be held at t. Louis. The representatives are: W. . Talbert, D. K. Morris, T. P. Mitchell, nd J. K. Jarnigan and A. P. Putler alterates. The following resolutions were adopted: Kosolvod, That we rocommend to our county lliances the passage of a resolution to uso 110 artilizernot put up in cotton sucks. Resolved, That we memorialize the legislu turo to pass an anti-trust law similar to such laws passed by Missouri and other States. The State convention endorsed the action of the national cotton bagging committee and promised to do all they could to carry out its purposes. It voted to make Greenville the place of holding the next annual convention of the State alliance, which will take place on the fourth Wednesday in July, 181)0. After some unimportant discussion the convention adjourned sine die at 10:30 p. m. THE WEATHER AM) THE CROPS. The following is the report of the State agricultural department for the week ending last Saturday: Rainfall for the State above normal. Temperature for the State normal. Sunshine for the State normal. Weather conditions: The rainfall for the week was above the normal, and fairly well distributed. Temperature and sunshine was normal with most favorable effects upon all growing crops. Corn is well assured and promises an abundant crop. Cotton with a due allowance ot suusmue will make an average crop. Farmers are satisfied with the present outlook. The weather crop bulletin issued last Saturday by the signal office at Washington says: The week ending July 27 was warmer than usual throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic States and slightly cooler in the Northern States and Ohio valley. There has been an excess of rain during the week along the Atlantic coast from Maine to South Carolina and over the cotton region from the Atlantic coast west to northern Texas. More rain than usual occurred in [southern Dakota and over the greater portion of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. In the principal corn States of the central valleys and spring wheat region of Minnesota and Dakota, the rainfall for the week was less than usual, but generally it amounted to half an inch. In some sections of Illinois and Missouri the rain| fall exceeded three-fourths of an inch. The heaviest rainfalls occurred in northern ! Georgia, where the total amount for the week exceeded four inches, while from two to three inches of rain occurred over the greater portion of the cotton region except in Texas, whero no rain is reported, and the extreme southeast portion of Alabama and Georgia, where there was considerably less than usual. The weather during the week was decidedly favorable for crops in the spring wheat region of Minnesota and Dakota, where a good harvest is in progress. Throughout the Northern States of the central valleys, extending from Ohio westward to Nebraska and Kansas, tho weather was favorable forcorn, which is reported as excellent and growing finely. The harvesting of winter wheat, grass and oats was interrupted by rains, and the weather in many localities was too wet for the spring. Throughout the cotton region, including the Gulf and South AtlanticStates, reports indicate that the weather was favorable for all growing crops, and that cotton is improving rapidly; also that tobacco, in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, was improved and progressing finely, except that planted ou low ground in Virginia, which is suffering from excessive rains. > ?# "MERE-MENTION. Forty practical lock makers have left New Haven, Connecticut, for Florence, Alabama, where they are guaranteed steady employment at the trade for three years. There are twenty-six capital cases set for trial at the present term of the criminal court at Birmingham, Alaabama, of which twenty-three are for murder. The first case set for last Monday was that of Fannie Briant, the alleged accomplice of Dick Hawes in the murder of his family. i'he Ohio rrotiiDition Convention met at Zanesville, July 24 and 25, 444 delegates, all the counties in the State but two, being represented. The convention adopted a platform and nominated a State ticket, headed by Rev. J. B. Helwig, of Springfield, for governor. A bill prohibiting the selling or giving or providing to minors cigarettes or cigarette tobacco and paper, has been passed by the Georgia Legislature. Other States have passed similar laws with reference to the cigarette, but the small boy will in all probability continue to get them. On Thursday, an umpire named Ben Bates, 1(5 years old, in a game of ball between two clubs of boys near Owensboro, Mo., made a decision to which Frank Morris, who was at the bat, objected, and a quarrel ensued in which Bates stabbed Morris fatally with a pocket knife. Bates was arrested. The proposed salt trust has failed to materialize, the necessary amount of stock not having been subscribed^" Governor Ross, formerly of Kansas, ' and one of the United States Senators who stood by Andrew Johnson in the impeachment proceedings, is now employed as a printer in the office of the Santa Fo New Mexican. The first Texas bale of new cotton was sold in Austin on the 24th instant. The cotton crop of Texas this year will reach two million bales, and the corn crop will be enormous. Seven thousand bales of American cotton were destroyed by fire at Liverpool last Friday. Business iailures occurring throughout the country last week number for the United States 187, Canada 29; total 21G against 208 the week previous/'-^^Apache county, in Arizona, is larger than the State of Massachusetts, yet it has not a single doctor within her borders.",**vf"Thc Cherokee Indians, in the Indian Territory, have put $200,000 into a seminary for girls. Two hundred and fifty ministers have applied'' for an army chaplainship which becomes vacantsoon. Postmaster General Wannamaker has intimated that there must be a large reduction made in favor of the government on telegraphic tolls, whereat President Norvin Green, of the Western Union, replies that the government already has lower rates than any corporations or individuals except the press and the rail IVnocio r\f cnnoin fmm luaus* U1 \Jl UVUJ York last week amouuted to $885,544, and the imports were $000,914. At Chicago on Saturday nigh' over four inches of rain fell in two hours and fifteen minutes. Exports from the United States for the last fiscal year reached $745,127,170 and imports $742,401,799.""v'"There is an Indiana man in Washington^ an old friend of President Harrison and Attorney General Milley, who is said to have made a good living since March 4 introducing office seekers to them at $10 for Harrison' and $5 for Miller. The heat in ltussia and other parts of northern Europe has been intense of late. The Central Observatory at St. Petersburg has not recorded such a high temperature at the same time of the year since 1774. The co-operative bank system of Massachusetts is a success, and is said to be doing a beneficent work. There are ninety-one such banks in the State, twenty-five of which have been established since November last. LETTER FROM UNION COUNTY. , ("nrri'sponUcncr of tlio Vorkvilli; Enqulror. Etta Jane, July 29.?Last week was a wet one, and the crops on the low lands have suffered more or less by the overflow of the streams, while the uplands are materially damaged in places by the washing rains. We have never seen a time when vegetation grew faster. Broad river has kept within its banks, and a better prospect 1 have never seen for a crop than is now in its valley. Should no disaster come upon it, it is safe to say that an abundant supply for two years will be made, notwithstanding our neighbors on the creeks and smaller streams have sulTered badly. The dog-day season is now upon us, aud we expect a long showery spell. A very large crop of peaches is on hand. The trees are literally loaded with fruit, but it is generally of a second rate quality. The members of Abingdon Creek church are making the necessary preparation to accommodate the large congregations that is expected to attend the Broad Biver association which meets at that church on the 22nd of August. Mr. P. S. Webber, one of the delegates, yesterday made a .verbal report of the Baptist Sunday-school convention, which met at Cowpens, last Thursday and Friday. The evidence was that the Sundayschools were never in a better condition than at present, both in point of numbers and interest manifested. The Salem Sunday-school, yesterday, elected Thomas J. Estes and John F. Estes its delegates, with James Howe and Sam'l l Lee as alternates, to represent it in the County Sunday-school convention which | meeis at ;\ew nope in. i\. tiiuri-u, near Jonesville, on the 2<)th and 21st of August. Mrs. Rachel Carothers, of Sunnyside, is not so well just now. For four years she has been confined to her bed from the effects of a fall. Her general health has kept up remarkably well until recently. She was a Miss Rurrisand was raised near McConnellsville, in York county. She is now nearly, if not quite 3f>, years of age. ? Harry Darker, charged with the murder of the deputy sheriff of WoodrufT, Arkansas, was arrested last Friday at Lauiens and lodged in jail. LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. A. Y. C'artwright ifc Co.?The Pioneer proposes to unload its Shelves within the next Thirty Days. M. it 11. C. Strauss?Who has ever Heard ? Mrs. T. M. Dobson?Cheaper than any House in York. Withers Adiekes?Haying a Hreat Deal. Frank Happerfield?Remember the Dead. Rev. W. W. Orr, A. M., President?Iluntersville High Sohoril for Hoys and HirIs. TEMPERANCE MEETING. The Loyal Temperance Legion of Yorkville will meet in the hall of the Knights of Honor (Bratton building) on Friday evening at o o'clock. A general invitation 1 is extended to all to attend. INDEFINITELY POSTPONED. A note from J. F. Gregory, school com- j missioner of Lancaster county, informs us | that for causes beyond his cotrol, the coun- j *.. inn/.l.mul inatitiito onnnintorl fn ho holfl ijr ivnuinia -MT ? at Lancaster, beginning August nth, has been indefinitely postponed. LETTERS FROM EUROPE. On the first page of this issue is printed/ an interesting letter from Mr. T. B. McClain, in which he gives the readers of The Knquikkr a brief account of what he J saw in England. Mr. McCIain's next let- j ter will be from Paris, and next week his readers may expect to see in these columns his impressions of France and the great exposition. DEATH OF i>lt. BOYCE. llev. James Boyce, I). I)., died on Monday night last, at the residence of his daughter in Mecklenburg county, N. C., whom he was visiting. Dr. Boyce was one of the oldest ministers in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, and at the time of his death a professor in the theological seminary at Due West. The immediate cause of his death was dysentery. BLACKSBURG'S INDUSTRY. From the Columbia Register we learn that a commission has been issued for the incorportion of "The II. G. Hall Manufacturing Company" of Blacksburg, the corporators being II. G. Hall, of Shelby, N. C., and John F. Jones, N. W. Hardin, J. J. Whisnant, I). L. Brown and M. It. -ii - t *-?i ?i?i r|i|,? iwjcstj, llll oi ijiul'ksuu i ? aiiu |/ul|jiii)cn ui the company are to carry on the manufacture of all articles made of wood, the sawing of and dealing in lumber, selling builders' and general supplies, etc. The capital stock is $0,000 with the privilege of increasing to $15,000, and is divided into shares of the par value of $100 each. church notices. Episcopal?Sunday-school at 5 p. m. Young men's union prayer-meeting will be held in the Prosbyteriau church next Tuesday evening at 8.00 o'clock. Assoeiute Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. J. C. Galloway, Pastor. Services next Sunday at 10.80 a. m. Sunday-school at 4.30 p. ra. Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor. Services next Sunday at 10.30 a. m. Preaching at the Poor House at 5 p. in. Sunday-school at 5 p. rn. Prayer-meeting to-morrow evening at 8.30 o'clock. Methodist Episcopal?Rev. W. W. Daa*" iel, Pastor. Love feast next Friday evening at 8.30 o'clock. Services on Sunday at 10.30a.m. and 8.30. p.m. Communion after morning service. Sunday-school at 5 p. m. Prayer-meeting this evening at 8.30 o'clock. Baptist?Rev. R. G. Patrick, Pastor. Services at Union next Sunday at 11 a. m., which will be the commencment of a protracted meeting to be continued during next week. The ordinance of baptism will be administered on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Services at Yorkvilleat 8.30 p. m. Sunday-school at 4.30 p. m. Prayer-meeting to-morrow evening at 8.30. railroaiTearnings. A tabulated statement of the earnings of the railroads in this State for the month of May has been published. The tonnage shows a handsome increase, while fv.n no.'oonnof no ruin or j orn rrrnvvinf ttlliph HI** |/O.WU6Vl v larger. The largest increase is shown in the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line, with the South Carolina railway and the Charleston and Savannah coming next. The increase, as compared with the month of May last year, of the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line, was ?13,070.50. The Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta shows an increase of ?2,017.0G. The Chester and Lenoir, shows a decrease of ?374.37. The total increase shown by the roads of the Richmond and Danville system is $17,781.30. The total passenger earnings for the month were $105,217.80, against$159,220.57 in the same month, 1888; increase, $5,991,20. The total freight earnings for the month were: May, 1SS9, $323,152.97; May, 1888,$282,730.51 ; increase, $10,710.40. The tonnage hauled was 250,534 tons this May, against 201,112 tons May last year; increase, 49,422 tons. ' LOCAL LACONICS. Mr. Lon Rose has just repainted his store and residence, and J. R. Hell, Esq., is giving his residence a new coat 01 paint. On Wednesday last Mr. Iioumillat paid the fine of fifty dollars imposed by the town council under its conviction for the improper sale of intoxicating liquor. '"The colored baseball clubs of Clover and Yorkville played a match game on the grounds of the latter last Friday afternoon, which resulted in favor of the Yorkville club by a score of 20 to 23. >.The scholarship for York county in the Winthrop Training School at Columbia, has been awarded to Miss Rose F. Patton, of Catawba. No award has been made for tuition scholarships from York. j On last Monday, Mrs. It. II. Glenn was -summoned to Kbenezer to the bedside of her father, Mr. Wm. Simril, who was thrown from a mule, dislocating his collar bone and otherwise sustaining severe bodily injury. A change of schedule of mail and passenger trains on the Chester and Lenoir railroad went into effect last Monday; Going south the train now leaves Yorkville at 12.50 p. in., and going north it .leaves Yorkville at 5 p. m. -A The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has rented as a sub-tenant from the Knights of Honor, the hall of the Knights, in which to hold the regular meetings of the W. C. T. lT., and also of the Loyal Temperance Legion. The Associate Reformed Presbyterian church at this place has undergone some needed repairs which have just been finished. A new roof has been put on, the pulpit remodeled and ceiling substituted for the plastering overhead. The interior has also been repainted. Thomas Simmons, Thomas Wallace and Ray McDow, all colored, were lodged in jail on Sunday under a commitment by Trial Justice Whyte, of Rock Hill, for housebreaking and grand larceny, committed in the Landsford section of the county. Mr. J. O. Walker, trade agent of the Farmers' Alliance, has just received a new sample of cotton bagging which is heavier and wider than that which has been shipped to sub-Alliances in this county. That heretofore received is .17 inches wide, while the sample indicates that hereafter it will be made 10 inches wide. V PERSONAL MENTION. Miss Maggie Moore is at Blowing Bock. Mr. Felix JI. Dover, of (Irover, X. C'., was in town yesterday. Miss Jessie Sanders, of Chester, is visiting relatives in Yorkville. Dr. Miles Walker, of Union, is visiting his relatives in this place. Misses Eliza and Nannie Scott are visit| ing relatives at White Oak, Fairfield, j Mrs. I. L. McDow, of Lancaster, is visiting her son, T. F. McDow, Esq., of this place. Mr. W. A. Mettsand family, of Columbia, are in Yorkville visiting friends and relatives. Dev. Augustine Prentiss, formerly rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd at this place, visited Yorkville on Sunday last, and officiated in the church on Sun- " day afternoon. He was gladly welcomed by his former parishioners, and a large s number of friends by whom he is kindly t' remembered. Mr. Prentiss has been in j,1 the north-western States since he resign- n ened his rectorship here ; but he has re- s cently accepted a charge at Chapel Ilill, N. j C., for which place he left here on Monday. <i Mrs. Lillian Ward law, from near Home, li Oa., Miss Ella Crosby, of Blacksburg, are 3 in Yorkville visiting Mr. John F. Hates's u family. Mr. Frank E. Smith, who has a grading s contract on a railroad near Durham, N. C. 1 is at home spending a few days with his ;l family. I Ilev. J. C. Galloway is in Chester, at- j tending the Sunday-school conference of j "i the A. R. P. church which convened there yesterday. j Miss Jennie Ilinton Miller, who for sev- a oral months past has been teaching art n classes in this place and Itock Hill, leaves " this week for Wilmington, N. C. t ' Dr. A. Y. Cartwright and family will ? leave this afternoon via Hickory and ? Asheville, on a railroad jaunt to Mammoth a Cave, Ivy. They will be absent about ? a month, and while in Kentucky will visit tj other points of interest. h We received a pleasant call yesterday from Rev. W. M. Hunter, of Iluntersville, v N. C., who is canvassing for the Iluntersville High School, of which he is one of the faculty. An advertisement of the tl school appears in another column. DEATH OP G. R. RATCHPORD. b INEr. G. Robinson Ratchford died at the residence of his brother Mr. J. A. Batch* c ford,about two milessouth of Yorkville, at n 8 o'clock on Saturday morning last, 27th J instant, lacking but two days of being c seventy-three years of age. He was born on the 20th of July, 181(5, at the old home- 0 stead near the present residence of his v brother, Mr. J. A. Ratchford, and in 1837 8 came to Yorkville for the purposeof enter- r ing as a clerk in the store of the late Col. k Wm. Wright and John H. Adams, who ^ wore merchandising under the firm name f, of Wright & Adams. He continued as a i clerk until 1847, when he commenced mer- ? chandising in Yorkville on his own ac- v count, conducting the business until 18(56, 1 in which year he moved to Texas. He j1 remained in Texas about six years when he returned to Yorkville and soon after ? his return here entered the mercantile house of T. M. Dobson & Co., as a member r of the firm and continued with it about ^ two years. He then returned to Texas, n remaining in thatSrate about three years, when, in 1878, he came back to Yorkville, ? making his home with his brother Mr. J. tl A. Ratchford, until the day of his death, i* Mr. Ratchford was never married. For j| several years previous to his death he was p a member of the Presbyterian church. He 8 was buried in Yorkville cemetery on Sun- }, day afternoon, the funeral services being li conducted by Hev. T. It. English, and a 1 large concourse of friends attending %he a obsemiies. \ p SHARON'S PICNIC. V a The "Embryo City" Entertains a Thousami y Visitors. ' c Last Thursday was a great day at Sharon, e The little village had sent out a cordial invi- p tation, "throughout tlio highways and the 'J hedges," to all who would, to conio and par- ^ take of her hospitalities; and though the crowd was large, most nobly did sho acquit herself in the entertainment of the numorous visitors whoaucopted the invitation. Tlio representative of Tkh Enquiiikk arrived " on the ground about nine o'clock in the morn- v ing. The crowd had already begun to collect, V and was pouring into tlio village in a contin- n nous stream from oyory quarter, in carriages, ^ pbictons, buggies, road carts, in wagons, on P horseback, muleback and on foot. There were r old men and old ladies, young men and young ? ladies, little boys and little girls, and tho ba- ^ bios, too?all expecting to have a good time, c and they hail it. They woro from tho vicinities ? of Yorkville, Olivet, Blairsvillo, lloodtown, Mullock's Creek, from over on It road river, ^ and the !>::t0 freight train still further swelled the crowd by deputations from lllacksburg and Hickory Grove. By half-past ten o'clock there ^ must havo been fully one thousand people on 0 tho grounds. j Hut a large crowd had beon expected, and ? abundant preparation had beon made for its ti entertainment. Tho committee of arrange- f] monts consisted of Dr. J. II. Saye, Messrs. K. o T. Kiggins, .1. II. Sherrer and J. 1). Hamilton, p All day theso gentlemen woro indefatigable in o their ellorts to seo that everybody enjoyed ft themselyes, and to thoso of tlio visitors ? ho s were unable to take care of "numbor one," a their solicitous attention was most acceptable. ^ The programmo consistod of speeches in tho f morning by the invited orators of the day, 1 then a big picnic dinner, and in tlio afternoon c a match gamo of basoball between the roeently a organized clubs of Sharon and Hickory Grove. . At half-past ten, tho Blairsville band struck j .... O liirnltr nil. an/1 flin irrnatlv KCllt.tfirod l'1'Owd II [/ <w II* V??jr ?l?| ??..? V..V f-,. ? rt began to collect at the .speakers' stand, situated " in a pleasant grove in the eastern limits of the village. Comfortable seats bad been provided, p and when the crowd had all been settled in the t! shade of the trees, Divine blessings were in- g< voked by Rev. W. M Huntor. i. Then, in behalf of the "embryo city of Sha- , roil," I)r. J. II. Sayeextended ahcartv wfelcomo 2 to the assembled visitors and introduced the \ speakers, lirst presenting W. L. McDonald, li Esq., of Yorkvillo. fi Mr. McDonald hold the attention of his hear- g ers for about twenty minutes in an interesting g| address on the evils arising from the protective tariiT, showing us how, instead of fostoring manufacturing industries as it is presumably intended to do, it fosters all kinds of abuses ti and corruption, making tho rich richer and the t; poor poorer, creating numbers of millionaires whoso only ambition seems to bo to control p the government in the promotion of their own r selfish interests, and who have established tho despicable precedent of placing all positions of c power and inlluence at the mercy of the high- y est bidder. He referred to the alarmingly rapid growth of various monopolies, and p championed tho cause of tho Farmers' Alliance ^ in its present light with tho jute bagging trust. ^ Mr. McDonald also made allusion to tho diiror- j ences between tho town of Sharon and tho J! Three C's railroad, and expressed the hopo that jthey would soon bo sottled to tho advantage of li Sharon, which he represented as having been u shamefully treated by that corporation. y Following Mr. McDonald, the chairman introduced as tho next speaker, <Jen. 10. M. Law. j Tho general's speech was characterized by . his well known happy style, full of hard sense, " humor, llowers and witty anecdotes, aptly ap- 11 plying to tho illustration of his moaning. lie r claimed that being a farmer, and a married b man, and never again expecting to bo a candidate, lie was privileged to say what ho pleased, j, and ho said it, speaking plainly about business, social, educational and domestic affairs. . He also remarked tho benefits that were al- " ready to bo scon emanating from tho Farmers' Alliance: and although he know nothing as to n tlxo secret workings of that order, felt assured, r[ on general principles, that it was calculated to S( greatly improve the financial condition of tho farmer. (Ionoral Law elaborated somewhat on . tho recent recommendation of the grand .jury " relative to tho re-arrangement of school dis- o tricts in north and south lines, with a view to a securing greater convenience and ellicieney. V Ho suggested that school-houses ought to bo so jj placed that tho children living furthest awav jj would not havo to walk more than a mile and- ^ a-half. This, however, was impracticable at ? present; but it must bo admitted that our 11 school system was in a very bad condition and p we could not begin to improve it any earlier, y llospoko for overall hour, provoking frcuuent y laughter and applause, and finally closed his \ remarks with some allusions to the rapid springing up of tho town and tho much vexed .. depot question, venturing the prediction however that " 'tho Iioso of Sharon' would not y wither, oven under tho wrath of tho great 0 Throe C's." n At the close of < ion. Law's remarks, tho band jq played "Old Black Joe," and Dr. Saye announced that tho dinner hour had arrived, reminding tho home people to hunt up all the vis- ' itors and be sure that everybody had an invita- j1 tion to dinner. 1( It was not convenient to spread a common a table, and while tho wives and daughters were ii busily engaged emptying the contents of tho a numerous boxes and baskets under the shade iof tho trees, tho husbands and brothors were f trying to find somebody who h:ul not received ail invitation. If any one went away hungry from the great feast that followed, it was surely S not the fault of Sharon. And such a variety h of substantial and delicacies as woro there ar- a rayed?its equal is never seen at any other place than a York county picnic. Beefsteak, until, eggs, turkey, chicken, duck, salads, P pickles and sauces, light bread, biscuit, cake in K all its variations, nameless cookies without S number, pies, custards, preservos and jellies, and the whole spread was wound up with J peaches, apples and watermelons. n After dinner came the match game of ball, j 11 was commonced about half-past two o'clock, . and although the sun was fearfully hot, the 1 great crowd gathered around to see the fun. Neither club had had very much practico, but S all woro fired with as much town pride as is d said to animate the breasts of those who live in n the rival cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Kacli sido had its partisans, too, and one gentleman particularly was especially solicitous about both. lie sat on the scorer's bench P and persistently assurod the club at tho bat, that li I am belting on you, anil bono you will beat mi." The game was umpiren by Mr. W. I,. IcDonald, and Mr. (leorgo Leech and Wm. horror did the scoring. Hickory (Irovo made .vonty runs in tho first inning and increased 10 advantage as tho game progressed. The amo was called at the elosool'the seventh iuing, on account of rain, and stood as follows : Hickory Bkovk.?Mack White f>, Newman mith (!, John Whitosides Robert Brown <!, ack Brown 1, John Allison f>, Will Ward f>, laities Brown (i, Dr. Ward, captain, ?>. Toil-oO. Sharon?John Barman 3, Kllie Montgomery , J. A. Thomas 2, Will Kennody 2, Will Rigins 3, Jim Hope 1, Jim Ross I, Tom Mediant , J. M. Plexico, captain, 1. Total?17. ity inninos. Huron I 11 () 2 0 0 ?17 Iickory Grove 20 2 "> 3 10 3 7?.10 At tlio close of the game the victors received beautiful boquot, a favor from the ladies of Iickory Grove, which, was presented by Mr, 'rank Seoggins, and the Sharon boys genoruslv joined in tlio enthusiastic cheering which ic acceptable gift occasioned. The ball contest lasted about three hours, and lthough very interesting, most of the crowd, lie ladies particularly, finding themselves unblo to bear the oppressive warmth of the sun, etireil to the shade of the trees, and tlio afteroon was spent in riding, driving, games and arious other pleasant diversions. There are ivo new store houses going up in the village, nd furnishing a suitable place, suggested the pportunity for a dance. The building seleotd belongs to Messrs. I'lexico it White, and s one member of the firm is an elder in the hurch, of course couldn't consent to such rivolity. Hut the other member suggerted liat tlio dancers might use bis half, and taking im at bis word, they organized a quadrille and ore soon "tripping the light fantastic too" to lie lively music of a harmonica band, improised for the occasion. Although threatening looking black clouds egan to gather about four o'clock in the afteroon, the great crowd did not begin to break intil more than hour later. The rain came up t half-past five, and even at seven o'clock hero was a large number of tho visitors still oath to leave. Tho crowd was as well behaved nd as orderly an assemblage as over gathers t a picnic, and drunken rowdyism was yery onspicuous for its absence. In short, tho picic was in every particular a grand success ; and /as so thoroughly enjoyed by all tho visitors, hat when Sharon chooses to give another the rowd is assured. During tho day I inquired as to the business f Sharon since the removal of the depot, and /as informed that it doesn't seem to have been reatly injured. Of course the advantages of he railroad are very desirable for a number of oasons, but as to freights, the merchants were etting them hauled from the C. it L. depot at forkville at an average of 12J conts per hunred pounds. It was stated that during the ew months when the depot was located at that dace, tho railroad was paid between ton and welvo thousands dollars in freights, and since iharon has been hauling her goods from Yorkillo, the freight bills have been at least half hat sum?this during the dull season. The illiculty, however, is now probably approachng a speedy solution. The railroad commissioners will meet at Iharon on the 19th of August for tho purpose of nquiring into tho merits of tho matter, and ave cited the Sharon committee and tho raiload people to be present, the former to show /hat inducements were held out to them to mild, and tho latter to explain why they removed tho depot. I also inquired after tho condition of tho rops in tho different sections represented at he picnic, and all reports are encouraging, hough everybody was needing rain, which it i probable they have since gotten. Mr. J. P. Hair reports corn badly damaged in his seeion, but a heavy wheat crop was made. Cotton soks fine, and tho general average will be a ood one. Mr. J. A. Bycrs thinks that alhough he has lost at least 300 bushels of corn y the late freshet, ho will still harvest the 1 t. - i.- ?.i? e? ? I,,-.- ?/,o,u !irjj?USfb urujj IIU IlilHUinuU lur <l uumuoi \ti a?k. Mr. R. M. Allison's prize acre of corn ois also a general topic for comment. Nearly 11 had seen it, and they thought it couldn't ossibly make less than two hundred bushels, 'lie neighbors seem disposed to joke Mr. Allien about his pet, charging him with devoting 11 his attention to the prize aero to the neglect f the remainder of his big corn field. Rut bey should remember tbat forty bushels of orn to the acre is a first rate yield, and that von seventy-five bushels will make a very oor showing when compared to J00. Conitissioner Rutlcr expects to pay Mr. Allison a isit shortly. n. o. LETTER FROM HICKORY ({ROVE. urrt'spondonci; of the Vorkvillc P.iii|iiirer. Hickohv Grove July 00.?On Thursday last the baseball club of this place pent over to Sharon to play a match game pith the Sharon club, who, as I stated in ay last letter, had sent them a challenge, although our boys had had but little iractice this year, they sustained their ecord for being one of the best clubs in he county, and their captain, Dr. Ward, irought home the ball that the Sharon lub by their defeat forfeited. While we re proud of our club and glory in their vicory, we know that the Sharon club has nany good players in it, and we do not hink they will rest easy until they again ross bats with the victors. The picnic was attended byquitea numer of ladies and gentlemen from Ilickry Grove and the surrounding country, laj. Jones, superintendent of the Three J's railroad, had a passenger coach atached to the freight, to take those going rom Blacksbtirg and this place. Every ne returned home delighted with the icnic and the.hospitalities extended by ur sister town. Among the many greeable features of the day that I hear poken of, are the speeches of General Law nd Mr. McDonald. I have never heard Jr. McDonald speak; but I know that if }en. Law failed to entertain an audience, t would be because they failed to appreiate graceful oratory, good hard sense nd sprightly wit. Our ladies are busy canningand prescrv ng fruit, ana having it urieu. uuu uira he ladies! Their hands are never idle, nd they labor from morning until night o supply us with comforts and tickle our alates with the many dainty luxuries heir ingenuity devises. Some poet has aid: The earth was sail, the garden was a wild, Hid man tho hermit sighed 'til woman smiled." 'here is both truth and poetry in these ines. If it was not for woman's thoughtill care and busy hands, the men would o in rags, and the dainties that are now o common would be unheard of. A achelor is made of the scraps of creation, nd they should every one be heavily fixed to help educato the rising generaion. Our men are chiefly engaged in pitching horse-shoes, a sport that seems to afard them much pleasure. They are exusable, however, at this dull season of tho ear. The merchants of Hickory Grove have luck and energy, backed by a reasonale amount of capital. They bought 3,000 ales of cotton here last fall and hope to ouble that amount this year. Hickory trove paid as much or more for cotton ist season than any other market in the p-country, and she will do the same this ear. Mr. W. M. Kennedy and wife spent the ay with Dr. Allison's family on Tuesday ist. Their many friends were glad to neet them. Mrs. John Smith, of Broad iver, who has been very ill, is much etter. Mrs. T. B. Whitesides, of Blacksburg, 3 visiting relatives in this neighborhood. Miss Sallie Wylie will go to Clover tony to visit her sister, Mrs. Lesslie. Mr. Moorhead, one of our most energetic lerchants, has returned from Union, 'he Union side of the river seems to have Dine special attraction for him. Squire Leech held an inquest on the odyofBell Wylie, a colored girl living n Mr. John Byers's plantation, who was ccidentally killed by her brother Jeff Vylie. Jeff pointed a pistol at her, beieving it to be empty. It went off and er life was sacrificed to his carelessness, uch carelessness should lie punished, if d no other way, by giving those who ersons who act so carelessly with deadly weapons a sound thrashing. The parties ^ere both about grown, children of Joe Vylie, an honest, hardworking man. Mr. Harris Wylie has spent much labor his summer in trying to make a perfect oke. lie has at lastsuccecded in making no that he warrants will keep any young iule from jumping. He speaks of havag it patented. Dr.' Allison and the other gentlemen fho own the Piedmont Mineral spring, an nalysisof which was given in one of my jtters, are making preparations to have grand picnic at the springs sometime a August. Due notice will be given by dvertisement. The people along the ine from Shelby to Camden will be invi3(1. Heavy rains fell here on Friday and aturday night. The creeks were very igh and the corn crops considerably daniged. Rev. W. M. Hunter, of Huntersville, reached two very interesting sermons to ooil congregations, at the school house, on unday. A protracted meeting will commence at lount Vernon on Sunday next. The aeeting is expected to last a week. Rev. . L. Harley, of Shady Grove, will assist Ir. Stafford. Tho Farmers' Alliance met here on iaturday. Mr. W. S. Wilkerson is presilent. The organization numbers about 40 nembers. Their deliberations were prirate. The KNquiREU is a source of much leasure and useful information to many lere and in tho surrounding country. been very much swollen. Farmers are , wearing long faces again, especially those > who worked their corn crops on creek j lands. Much of the corn crop has been destroyed; but while there will be only a light crop of corn made the present year, the cotton crop is better than for several years. The peach crop is all that could be desired, both as to quality and quantity. Miss Jennie K. White resumed her school at this place this morning. She will teach a three months' term, and perhaps longer, as she is very much liked as a teacher as well as an accomplished young lady. The protracted meeting at Shady (irove closed last Friday night, ltev. J. L. Ilarley was assisted by Rev. T. C. O'Dell, of Rock Hill. The attendance was large during the whole of the services, and doubtless much good was accomplished. HAM 11LKR. vi | There is no one tiling that does more to cultivate the minds and elevate tho , thoughts of a people than a live newspaper, that, like Tin-: Enqeiker, is pure in its sentiments and that keeps abreast with the times in all of its departments. The j parent who neglects to take such a paper I is depriving his family of an educator that ; is invaluable. The newspaper not only j gives to his children a vast amount of in! formation that the schoolmaster could never impart, but it educates them to take j an interest in what is going on in the ; world, and to think and talk about those matters and things that are agitating the great mass of the human family. We aro glad to know that Wednesday evening is | looked forward to with more interest than j any other of the week, because on it we : get The Ex<irnter,and that many homes I n this community are made better and happier by its perusal. x. LETTER FROM ROCK HILL. Corrrspomlriico of th.? Yorkvfllo Enquirer. Rock Hill, July jo.?Never in mo ! memory of our oldest inhabitant has there been such a rain as visited this section on Saturday afternoon. It was a regular "cloud burst," the rain falling in torrents for an hour or more. The streets were Hooded, the ditches being unable to carry off the large volume of water, the C., C. & A. It. It. track at the Main street crossing was submerged, the water being from 12 to IS inches over the track. A number of our merchants had their goods damaged. The downpour was very much the same in Ebenezer. A large number of our citizens will accompany the Catawba Rifles to Shelby and Cleveland Springs next Thursday. The contract for the erection of the Globe Cotton mill has been awarded to Mr. W. G. Adams, of this place. The buildings will be five in number, all of brick. The main building will be 80 by .300 feet; the picker house 28 by 64; the engine house, 25 by 50; the boiler house, 32 by 40; the opener house 20 by 40. Work is to be commenced on the building at once, and completed and ready for the machinery by the 1st of November. In addition to these buildings, a number of neat cottages will be erected. Maj. A. II. White, president of the Shiloh alliance, has received the first cotton bagging ordered by the alliance, 1,500 yards. Maj. White is very much pleased with the goods, and is of the opinion it will be as satisfactory as jute. The Sunday-school convention of all the Sunday-schools of the Presbyterian church in York county, will be held at Ebenezer church to-morrow. A large attendance is expected. Quite an interesting religious meeting is in progress in the Baptist church at this place, and will continue through the entire week. The pastor, Rev. J. Q. Adams, is assisted by Rev. G. W. Gardner, of Harmony church, Ches'er county; Rev. J. Hartwell Edwards, of Chesterfield ; and Rev. F. O. S. Curtis, of Chester county. Services are being held morning and night and are largely attended. Rev. Augustine Prentiss, with his wife, arrived at this place on Saturday. He ofI T?r?iO/)Arvrt 1 /?It 11 * /! K V\n Qlinrl(llf iiuiaicu 111 nil: i jpisu/f/aj inm^n \m uuiiu wj morning. Ills former parishioners and friends were pleased to see him again. Mr. J. W. Westerlund, who for a number of years was engaged in the stove and tin business at this place, and removed to Athens, (Ja., to engage in the same business, not two years ago, is here on a visit, lie has decided to return to Rock Hill. In conversation with him he informs me that there is no place like York county. And he was surprised to see what "The Magic City" had done in the way of improvements in every respect. There is any quantity of fruit offered for sale in our town. Watermelons seems to have the advantage of all others, hal. LETTER FROM RLACKSRL'RO. Corri'spnmlcace of the Ynrkville Kiiquircr. Blackshuuo, July 30.?The heaviest fall of rain our place and section have had for many a day, came down upon us last Friday night. For several hours there was a steady and continuous torrent which no doubt looked a little alarming to those of our farmers who have their crops of corn on lowlands; but fortunately the heaviest rain was confined to a rather small area, and our three main watercourses?Broad river, King's and Buffalo creeks?did not overllow their banks in many places, so that little damage was done to the corn. Our town was left next morning in a fine sanitary condition, and there will be little work for the sanitary inspector for some time. A heavy overflow of water came down from Whitaker mountain, and dirt from both railroad tracks was washed away in several places. The Air-Line passenger trains were detained about an hour at the fill against the new culverts across the Three C's railroad bed. The damage to either road is slight and will soon be repaired without interfering at all with the regular schedules. We have had several hard showers of rain for the past two or three days, and the atmosphere is still heavy and threatening. However, your correspondent took comfort in the fact that there was another change of the moon on the 27th, and I felt sure that the new moon would at least hold the rain in abeyance, if it did not give us fair weather. When I mentioned this hopeful view to an intelligent farmer yesterday, he said: "Oh, yes, that might be so; but the change came at the wrong time of the day?in the morning?instead of the evening." This was an entirely new view to me, and more light upon the weather problem. Work is progressing on the new building which is to be used for our town prison and council chamber, and the street on which it is being built is considerably improved. Messrs. A. II. Crosby, W. A. Jackins and J. B. Boss returned home from Virginia a few days ago for a brief visit, and they, with Messrs. Gaston <fc Dover, went to Chester last week to hid on work which was let out by the G.,C. & N. It. It. Co., but none of their bids were accepted. Mr. W. I'. Van Horn, who represents the American Building and Loau association, of Minneapolis, Minn., is in our town with a view to organizing among our citizens, a branch association. Mr. Pearson, an engineer on the Three C's railroad, has rented Mr. Win. Dye's dwelling, on John street, and is moving his family in to-day. Mr. A. G. Smith is around this morning getting up funds for the expenses of the reunion of the 17th S. C. V., to be held here on the loth of August, and our citizens are # responding quite liberally. w. a. - - HAS Eli ALL AT CLOVER. Oorrosjtiiiiilt.'iicc of the Yorkvillc Knquiror. Clover, July 29.?A good game of baseball was played here on last Wednesday between the Queen City club, ofYorkville, and the local club. This being the second game between the two clubs, it was witnessed by a large <yowd of admiring friends from Gastonia, Yorkville, Clay Ilill and the surrounding country. The boys repaired to the baseball park at-1.30 p. m., and the game was called promptly * at o, with Mr. W. L. McDonald, of Yorkville, as umpire. It looked for awhile as if our boys were going to have quite an easy walk over, but the Queen City boys rallied in the :"ifh inninir and held the score down even for the remainder of the game?too late, however, to affect the general result, which was 1!) to 12, in favor of Clover. The special features of the game were the battery work of Messrs. Beamguard and Smith, and the heavy batting of Barron for Clover, and Beard for Yorkville. Mr. Beamguard struck out ten of tho Queen City boys in succession, aud the work of Mr. Smith behind the bat was pretty near perfection. Our boys challenged Shelby not long since to play a match game of baseball at Yorkville on August 1st, but owing to a previous engagement, the Shelby boys couldn't come. * * * NOTES FROM HOUDTOWN. Corri'spotiiknec of tho Yorkville Kiiquircr. IIoodtowx, July 29.?We have had an abundance of rain the past three or four days, and consequentlv. watercourses have