The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, June 04, 1875, Image 2

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?Ex. year ending March 31, 1869,. '' 6.725^48i Ex. year eBdi?g Maroh 31, 1871, 11,125 ~ Ex. year ending Maroh 31, 1879, 14,997 Ex. year ending Maroh 31, 1873, 15,300 13 months to April 30, 1874.- 16,816 STREET DEPARTMENT. For year ending Maroh 31, 1866, * $483 65 For year ending Maroh 31, 1867, " 4,868 22 For year ending March 31, 1868, 4,879 34! For year ending March 31, 1869, 6,809 48 For year ending Maroh 31, 1870, 7,297 69 For year ending March 31, 1871, 9,201 28 For year ending Maroh 31, 1872, 12,922 67 For year ending March 31, 1873, 12,121 20 13 months offding April 30,1874, 17,270'88 ALMS HOUSE. For year ending Maroh 81, 1866, $434 00 For year ending March 31,, 1807, 1,307 For year en'dihg March 31. 1868, 2,567 .. For year ending March 31, 1869, - 2,848 66 For year ending Maroh 31, 1870, 3,343 97 For year ending March 31, 1871, 3,374 For year ending Maroh 31, 1872, 7,159 For year ending March 31, 1873, 8,002 92 13 months to April 30,1874. 10,028 03 I W'ATEB WORKR. For year ending March 81, 1866, $9,997 05 For year endiniz March 31, 1867, 4.835 16 For year ending March 31, 1868, 5,430 52 For year ending Maroh 31, 1869, 3,250 37 For year ending Maroh 31, 1870, 4,955 16 For year ending Maroh 31, 1871, 6,573 91 For year ending March 31, 1872, 15,161 75 For year ending March 31, 1873, 10,579 03 13 rcouth? k? A?ril 30.1874 .21,390 23 The^xponses for Water Works doeB not inolnde tho amounts paid to the Columbia Water .Power.Oompany under. the contract, to supply (jftc cjfty \yith water, that account being leapt separate from these expenses. The contract went into effeot November 21,' ,1872, and tho expense set down,for tho year ending Maroh 31, $873, embraces all 6x Senses for tho Water Works from April l,tp ovembor 21", 1872, btft nothing thereafter. ' It will be observed that there' is a steady increase in tho expenses of these several departments for every1 succeeding year up to April/ 1874.' ? For the year ending March 31, 1873, the1 expenses of these four depart? ments foot up as follows: Police Department.$15,300 26 Street Department.'.'.. 12,12126 AlmsHouse........-.. 8,062 92 Water Works.. 10,579 03 ' 91 .*. 1 Total.$46,063 47 And for the next thirteen months ending April 30,. 1?74,. the. expenses for the same departments are AS follows: Police Department.$16,846 21 Street-Department.. 17,270 88 Alms House. 10,028 03 Water Works... 21,390 23 : Total.$65,635 36 These accounts embrace so large a part of the current expenses of the city, that it was thought proper .to .make a careful ex? amination of them, and. .to arrange the ex {lendituxes under separate heads. The fob owing statements present an analysis of] eaoh department for the periods named: POLICE AND OUABD HOUSE DEPARTMENTS. For the Year ending March 31,1873. 25 small accounts.. .$ 689 32 Special Polico on election day... 80 00 Fitesimmons, Detective.. 460 00 McDougal, " . 60 00 Coates, " ,' . 25 00 Canton, .:: ?? . 50 00 Stoiglitz, bread to Guard House. 132 75 Cooper & Taylor, "supplies"_ 228 09 M. Williams, 7,200 brick. 82 80 Fagan Bros.,; 2 burials_\.. 28 50] 9 tons coal.. i.. 107 001 Jackson, Chief of Police. 780 05 Policemen. 12,651 75 $16,300 26 .Sbr 13 Momths, ending Apr? 31, 1874. 18 small accounts.$ 604 79 Stoiglitz, bread for Guard House 135 10 Forage accounts._ 339 58 B. & W- C, Swaffleld, 69 yards of i. cloth ,.,. 207 00 Kinard & Wiley, 23 coats, pants, and 24 caps .... <.,. 790 p?j Harper, for coal.'.'. 162 .60 Jackson, Chief of Police. 1,500 30 B. F. Jaokson, Detective. 250 00 Fitzsimmons, " . 652 00. H. S. Wallace, . " . 50 00| Policemen. 12,154 38 $16,848 21 8TREET DEPARTMENT. jFbr Year ending March 31, 1873. Paid street hands.$ 6,142 43 Forage for animals. 2,212 40j Trice, Overseer. 550 CK)' 15 small accounts. 498 lo! Blacksmithing bills. 403 45! 81,600 brick, Mnnson Williams.. 944 90 Lumber bills. 1,179 98' 1 mule, bought of C. Minort. 190 00j Total.$12,121 26 For 13 Months, ending .1prii 30, 1874. Paid street hands.$ 7,822 03 Columbia Gas Company. 418 00 Forage. 1,774 61 Overseer and assistants J. 651 77 12 small accounts. 634 6l' Blacksmithing. 724 36' 80,400 brick, of M. Williams .... 918 32j Lumber..i...,. 880 18 Opening Upper Boundary street. 2,000 00 1 horse,' bought of Cooper & 1 Taylor:.......... 250 00 -1 mule, bought of B. F, Griffin.. 225 00; 2 mules; bought of Cooper & Taylor. . ' 450 00 2 mules, bought B. Graham & Co. 325 00 B. W. Smolk, numbering streets. 197 00 $17,270 88 ALMS HOUSE AND INDIGENT POOR. Fbr Year ending March 31, 1873. 28 small accounts.$ 453 29 Steward and nurses. 337 85 Overseer of Poor, J. E. Dent.... 450 00 " % *? C Schult?.. 130 00 Offloe rent for Overseer. i CO 00 Pagan Bros., 115 coffins, at $7... 805 00 1 oow, bought of Cooper & Tay ? ^'lor...... 60 00 Sundry bills for repairs. 520 92 Eiohard Young, bill for supplies. 518 00 8. B. Thompson, examination of ;lunatics, ropairs, ic. 618 35 Transportation. 24 85 S^^S^6'- *u?PUe8.; 1,848 08 B. ? firlfflh, suppifes..:....... 9106 ft W, /L Carr. i . j, .. . . .. . ? 262 40 . Total.$ g 0?2 92 !2 ?Fbr?13 *b*ti*i ending April 30, 1874. 34 small accounts.yj $417 3g Stowardand nurses......... 400 00 C. Schultz, Overseer of Poor... 400 00 Bent of offloe for Overseer....... 100 00 Fagan Bros., 85 coffins.:. 695 00 50(3>e?A?J'*yloT' 8?PPWes ...... 2,653 ?6 B. F. Griffin, supplies... . . 1,113 97 M. E. Oarr, supplies. ;>jij....... 4,025 20 Transportation. . 262 75 ' Total.'.,.......$10,028 03 16 small accounts. . $712 25i 816 oorda of wood. 3-;760 02| Paid to Superintendent. 460 63 Md to two firemen,.'_L. 520 00 Enid to hands laying pipeB. 87:50 [ Paid to John Alexander, as follows: ?August 6-J-Valve work_ .37 85 r August 89?New cover for springs .:...!>'..... 15 00 ? February 17, 1874?45,500 pounds pipe and fixtures?2,921 58 March 17?Sundry fixtures- 520 00 March 29?25,000 pounds pipe . - ?hTfiit?r?s::. : '20 '. I 6,039 63 """"Total. 7..... 7.7..$10,579 03 For 13 Momtha, ending April 30, 1874. 23 small accounts.$1,422 80 188 cords of wood. 843 12 Paid firemen. 180 00 Paid hands laying pipe. 1,603 15 Paid to John Alexander, as follows: April 12?9,400 lbs. pipe and fixtures. 749 50 Anril l??15,800 lbs. ninn and 'fixtures.1,021 96 May 31?10,000 lbs. pipe and fixtures. 903 GO May 16?20,000 lbs. pipo and fixtures.1,567 90 June 24?11,000 lbs. pipe and fixtures. 778 90 July 31?28,000 lbs. pipe and fixtures.1,812 22 August 30?13,365 lbs. pipe and , . fixtures. 909 33 October 30?38,400 lbs. pipo and fixtures....2,733 90 November 29?6,900 lbs. pipo . and fixtures. 446 60 January 16?Fixtures. 183 10 Maroh 27?62,000 lbs. pipe and fixtures.3,840 75 March 31?11,200 lbs. pipo nnd fixtures. .1,133 00 April 25?22,200 lbs. pipo and fixtures.'....1,105 40 17,491 16 Total. .$21,390 23 Upon theso accounts, the committee make the following observations: That the expenses for tho Department of Police and Guard House, for the year ending March 31, 1870, coBt tho city $8,444.29; and it is believed that this sum is sufficient now for all useful purposes?in other words, that the Police Department costs about twice what it should oost; tho wholo amount Bpent on doteotives is not included in this account, some of the payments amounting to $412,25, having been charged to contin? gent account and so posted. At this rate, it requires a tax of between three and four mills per annum to pay the expenses of the Police Department alone. The Street Department seems to have < been conducted on the same scale of ex? travagance as that of police The expenses < for the two years under examination are double the expenses of the year ending < Maroh 30, 1870, and so far as the city has improvements to reprosent it, there is no? thing that the committee can mention. It in believed that this department could be efficiently kept up at an expenBO not above that of the year mentioned?say about 87,000. There are a large number of per? sons liable to street tax, who have not heretofore paid in money, nor discharged the obligation by labor, who should be re? quired to do ono or tho other. It is be? lieved that if these persons were systemati? cally organized into gangs, much of the labor on the streets would cost the city nothing in money. The present Clerk, sir. Bichard Jones, has begun a plan to utilize this labor, which, it is hoped, he will he sustained by tho City Council in carrying out. In this acoonnt, the committee find a charge of $2,000 paid the Charlotte, Colum? bia and Augusta Bailroad for opening Uppor Boundary street. The Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Bailroad crosses this stroot to the East of tho Insane Asylum, and it seoms to havo had permission, when the road was constructed, to fill it up. Oft course, this permission was subject to re-j call by the City Council at any time when1 it was desirable to have the street opened.! The committee are not able to see any rea? son why tho city should pay $2,000 for' what it had a right to demand without! cost. The payment was not for any ser vioes or advantages rendered, and ought to' be refunded. The Ahm House Department presents! the same uppearanco of extravagance and! waste. The expense for the thirteen months! ending April 30, 1874, aggregates over $10,000. For this period, tho payments to the "indigent poor" receiving assistance out of doors, averages nearly $500 perl month. Only two or three of these accounts protend to be itemized. Somo of them arej 'approved by the Oversoer of the Poor, but thero is generally no evidence to whom the' (assistance was rendered, nor any definite information upon whoso order. For a' month, tho accounts aro condensed into1 |half a dozen entries. Such a loose system! should be ended at onco, as it is not only a wasteful mode of dispensing charity, but a1 great encouragement to idleness and vaga? bondage generally. Section 5 of tho Act of March 2, 1871, vesta the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Columbia with all the power and au? thority over the poor within the city, which may belong to the County Commissioners of Richland County over the poor of said County. It provides, also, that tho Mayor and Aldermen may assess and oolleot a poor tax, to be used for their support, limiting said tax to ten per cent on the amount of taxes paid to the city. At the time of the passage of this Aot the total taxes authorized to be assessed upon the real and personal property of the city was limited to one per cent, and it would seem to have been tho intention of the Legisla? ture to. authorize a special tax of one mill per annum for this purposo nnd no more. The committee recommend that hereafter suoh a tax be levied and collected as - a 'poor fund," and that aU expenditures for the support of the poor shall I be limited thereto." This j tax would produce from $4,000 to $5,000, and oxecods the amount Spent .for the Alms House Department for any year previous to that of 1873. In the Water Works Department, your committee find that during the fifteen months ending with April 30, 1874, about $22,000 of new work was done, all of which largo sum went into the hands of Mr. John Alexander. The committee, ex? press no opinion as to tho necessity for these improvement* or additions, but con? fine themselves to the following remarks: That so large an amount of'work should have boon opened to competition and let' to1 the lowest bidder. This was not done,1 and the committee is informodthat no con tract was made beyond an arrangement bo-; tween Mr. Alexander and cortaln commit- < tees of tho Council. The pjrioe paid for this work is six cents per pound, or $134.40 Eer ton for plain rough castings, i The irgo amount of money required to moot these payments is presumed to havef been taken from tho proceeds of the sales of tho bonds. Snch a use of theso funds would j have been legal after tho completion of the City Hall, or reservation of enough funds to complete it; but the Mayor aha Council have left the City Hall unfinished, and diverted the funds to a purpose whioh could. 4pnly become a.legal one after a full compliance with the requirement of the Legislature. The Mayor aids in this diver? sion, nnd his machine establishment gets; the profits of ihn work. The committee take this occasion to ex Iiress the opinion that the Mayor and mcm icrs of tho City Council have no right to enter into contract with themselves as in? dividuals, to furnish supplies to tho city, or enter into contracts for work to bo done. They occupy the position of trustees, charged with the care und protection of the interests of the city, and they cannot net for it in a double capacity. It is illegal to do so, being of itself a violation of the trust. The accounts under examination, show that all supplies to tho city uro furnished by members of tho City Council; the evil going so fur that the supplies and contracts are given to the members of the several committees having special charge of the de? partment supplied. Nor should contracts for supplies bo awarded, except to the lowest responsible bidder, after public notice, so that the city might get the bene? fit of competition. Tho present system is full of abuses, and requires radical chnnge. The committee have also compiled from the books nnd accounts the following items, which they have placed together under the head of "MISCELLANEOUS" AST) "StTXDItZES." April 19, 72, Cooper &, Taylor, "sundries"._ $13140 June 20, T. M. Pollock, "sun? dries, old Council". 28 28 September 12, W. M. Fine, ".sun? dries". 107 00 February 6, 73, G. Symmers, "Miscellaneous"....'. 48 00 Maroh 14, A. Stork, "refresh? ments". 23 50 Maroh 17, G. Symmers, "miscel? laneous".?. 74 15 April 22, G. Symmers, "miscel? laneous". 3G 50 June 27, George Symmers, "sun? dries". 15)0 45 July 29, J. Nott, "sundries". 48 00 October 2, J. Nott, "sundries"... 32 00 December 24, J. Nott, "mer? chandise". 32 00 December 30, Cooper A Taylor, "miss, for Council". 233 85 Dcoember 31, Coopor A Taylor, "miscellaneous". 200 00 January 20, 74, F. D. Konenian, j. "sundries". 25 05|! January 2'2, Cooper & Taylor, miscellaneous. 267 00! January 23, J. Nott, sundries. ... 48 00 March 14, J. Nott, sundries and 1,000 cigars. 80 00, March 18, G. Symmers, -'sundries furnished. 355 9G March 18, A. Stork, "refresh? ments furnished. 88 95: April 2, A. Stork, "refreshments and cigars". 48 15' April 3, Cooper & Taylor, "mis? cellaneous furnished". 150 00 Amount. $2,278 11 This memorandum of payments speaksj for itself, and requires no comment, except| to say that these accounts are not itemized,) that the consideration to tho city is here! correctly quoted, and that they generally j have the approval of the Mayor. The following payments were made fori copies of the assessment of the city, taken! from the books of the County Auditor: June 20, 73, M. J. Calnan. $491 65 December 20, 73, A. L. Solomon 500 00. And for legal services during the two' vears: To the City Attorney. $2.000 00! To other counsel. 1,670 65 And the following which we here give in1 full, being all the papers connected with, tho payment that aro filed with the vouch ors: No. 328. Colciebia, S. G, March 19, 1873. Received from C. Barnum, City Trea? surer, $11,108, in full for principal for bill for supplies furnished tho citv in 1805. j $11,108. JOSEPH CREWS. | XThe committee would say that tho ac? counts of these two years, while Mr. Bar |num was Treasurer of tho city, arc very confused; that very many of them are pre? sented in gross without being itemized, and that tho whole arc disgraceful ns j financial records of the city. The committeo were unable to make an examination into tho payment of coupons, for the reason that tho payments have been 'so managed as to render any satisfactory 'examination impossible. At one time, ro Iceipts were taken from the parties receiv? ing payment for coupons, which stands as j vouchers in favor of the Treasurer; but there is no ovidenco of the cancellation of 'theBO coupons, or of their being posted in tho bond books, according to tho usage. No identification of coupons is possible. Tho present plan of payment, through the Carolina National Bank, after having been received by the Treasurer in pavment of taxes, is complicated, gives that officer ad? ditional trouble, and does not protect the public interests. If vouchers are taken for the payment of coupons, they should be specifically described, and, if separated from the vouoher, a certificate of cancella? tion put in their plaoe. The general prac? tice is for the Treasurer to receive coupons as money, whioh are counted at regular periods by a responsible committee and duly canceled?the Treasurer being enti? tled to credit upon this certificate. This is the correct plan. Not having been fur? nished by the Carolina National Bank with its coupon account, the committee are una? ble to nay what receipts it may hold for; coupons delivered; and after delivery, there is no record evidence Of what has become of them. It is asserted that they have been posted in the bond books, but no certifi? cates to that effect aro found with the ac? counts. A resume of the transactions of the city government show the following facts: That etween the 31st day of March, 1872, and tho 30th day of April, 1874, the city debt of record, according to the books, had been inoreased from $425,850 to $619,592.70, tho increase being $103,742.70; that city stocks had been sold of various kinds, bringing to thecRy the sum of $72,654.03; that over' !60,000 of the proceeds of tho new bonds! tad been diverted from the ubo prescribed; >y law; that nearly $6,000 of the special ntcrcst tax collected in the year 1874 has1 been diverted from the payment of coupons! ' purposes, and thai the total debt the limit of $600,000 placed upon it toother exceeds by the Legislature of the State. Further, that the City Hall, for the construction of which the issue of bonds Was authorized by the Legislature, remains unfinished, and the new Alms House is likely to repeat the history of the new market, in conse quenco of the wastefulness, criminal mis? management and Utter ine run potency of the city administration. The committee beg to add a single word as to the future. It will require an annual tax of nearly ten mills to pay the interest on the debt. This must bo provided for. Two judgments for large amounts have already been entered up against tho city in our court, one held by the Carolina Na? tional Bank, and tho other by the Colum? bia Water Power Company, upon which further proceedings may be anticipated; while smaller judgments have already been executed upon tho carts and mules of the city. Next year $20,000 of the present bonded debt of the city falls due, and they must be provided for. To this may be added the arrears of unpaid coupons, interest on the borrowed money, further amounts due under the water contract, and a largo sum due to many creditors for small bills, which arc being constantly created, making a mass of obligations which will continue to increase the embarrassments of the city, unless its financial management is changed to its very foundations and economy and responsibility introduced into every department. If its affairs be left to drift on as during the past five years, we may anticipate a peremptory mandamus to levy taxes to pay its indebtedness, just such as Judgo Wnite imposed upon the city of Charleston, during the last term of the United States Court held there. The creditor of the city will find a way eventu? ally to enforce his-rights. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. I). GULICK, Chairman, ? W. C. SWAFFIELD, J. H. SAWYER, W. II. GUIDES, E. W. WHEELER. ArrEXDix. Debt Statement at Present j)nte.. Citv bonds outstanding.$558,600 00 Carolina National Dank. 3,000 00 Carolina National Dank. 2,000 00 T. J. Jeter. 1,000 00 Union Bank. 700 00 S. C. Bank and Trust Companv. 13,147 46 S. C. Bank and Trust Company. 5,858 48 S. C. Bank and Trust Company. 356 15 Judgment C. N. Bank. 9,150 55 Judgment Silsby Manufac'g Co.. 1,682 12 Judgment Hgneycutt 4t Belling rath. 1,014 28 Judgment Honeycutt i Delling? rath. 1,565 25 Judgment Honeycutt ?; Belling? roth. 1,263 68 Judgment Whiddeu, Reed and Fletcher. 2,437 55 Judgment Col. Wnter Power Co. 12,947 22 3 years' contract with Columbia Water PowerCo., due May 21, 1875. 12,000 00 Amount.$626,752 74 To which should bo added, coupons un? paid, due on contract for lights, city money and certificates outstanding, and sundry claims. COLUMBIA, S. C. Friday Morning, June 4,1875. Gbant's Letter.?There seems to be, amongst editors at least, but little dif? ference of opinion as to the meaning of Grant's lotter to the President of the Re? publican State Convention of Pennsyl? vania. All agree that it clearly indicates a strong desire on his part to be Presi? dent during a third term, if not a fourth, a fifth, and so on. The New York Tri? bune is charitable enough to profess to believe that Grant intended his letter for a declination made in good faith. The Herald and the World are not so liberal. The Times significantly re? marks that the Republicans at least must accept it as a positive assurance that Grant is not a candidate. The Baltimore American reads tho letter ns meaning that Grant would rather run than not. The Sun seems to be rather more chari? table, but hits the mark when it says that the letter "means nothing'"?that is, it leaves Grant as free to accept the nomination as he was before he wrote it. The Philadelphia papers speak in much the same strain as do those of other places. The President's ? "little organ," as the Wor'd calls the Washington Republican, talks now just as it has been talking for the lust year or two on this subject. It is for President Grant first, last, and all the time. By the way, Grant's letter reads exactly as ;did the editorials with which the Repub? lican favored the public last winter. The letter and the editorials had a common [origin, though Grant likely dictated : rather than wrote the editorials. The ! Bichmond Dispatch thinks it is pretty certain that the hint thrown out by the |New York Times is the one upon which 'the Northern Republicans will act They 'will profess to believe that Grant is in I earnest, and will proceed not only to de? clare for new candidates, but to de? nounce their opponents for ever having [dared to suspect that Grant would like to run for the third time. They must feel an if a burden had been removod from their shoulders. Tho fear of the Civsarism that might bo concealed in a third term had much to do with tho great success of tho Democratic party in the elections of last fall. General Dix is supposed to have lost the Governorship of Now York, in consequence of this fear. Altogether, it is rather difficult to foretell what will be the results of tho publica? tion of this singular letter. If he chooses, Grant can organize a large personal party. The Radicals of the Southern States ho can control absolutely. Per? haps we shall have two Republican na? tional conventions, after tho manner of the Douglas and tho Dree kin ridge con? ventions of I860. Cm Mattebs.?If yon are asked to loud your FhceXEX,Buggcat to the would be borrower that he had bettor subscribe. Reading matter on every page. Young men and maidens fair, use tho Queen's Delight. 8 Cool and breezy, yesterday morning, but rather warm later in tho day. , The best blood purifier isHcinitsh's Queen's Delight. ? 8 General A. C. Garlington, who is now a resident of Atlanta, Go., paid us a short call, yesterday morning. It is understood that the Barnwell people will move for an injunction to restrain the County officers from re? moving to Dlackvillo. An improved fly-disturbing, servant saving, oircular tablo attracted unusual attention and comment at Dr. Miot's drug store, yesterday. Great excitement, not about lost dia? monds, but over the dress goods being sold by C. F. Jackson ut Gj cents, and tho remnants of dress goods at 5 cents per yard. The Rural Carolinian, for June, is be? fore us, and is fully up to the mark nB n first class agricultural monthly. Walker, Evans ?? Cogswell, Charleston, are the publishers, nt $2 per annum. Major McKerrall, of tho Marion Star, is introducing nn improved plow, which ho terms the "farmer's cultivator." He will furnish circulars to applicants. There is to be a trial of the plow in this city, very soon. When a party of Columbians meet in the street, in front of a *'stand,"or at the dining-tablo, the topic of conversa? tion is the diamond steal. Homer's birth place isn't a circumstance. The steal was a blessing, in furnishing a topic for conversation. As there is a discrepancy of several thousand dollars in the amount of regis? tered school claims and the statement of the late Commissioner, tho County Commissioners call on all persona hav? ing claims to present them during the next thirty days. The heated term is rapidly approach? ing, when everybody will, for the sake of comfort, be compelled to get into thin clothing. Anticipating this, Messrs. Rinard ?fc Wiley havo supplied them? selves with a stock which is varied and attractive, and embraces everything from a pair of socks to a gauze night-cap. The through mail bag for Jacksonville, Fla., and the interior, which left Charleston Sunday night last, was robbed and many of the letters de? stroyed?tho rifled bag being found floating in the Savannah River the next day. Parties who have written to friends in that section will bear this in mind, and dtiplicato. The report of the Committee of Twenty, published this morning, will be perused with intorest by our citizens. Glaring frauds and expenditures have been unearthed, which will havo a da? maging effect upon the parties impli? cated. The committee are entitled to the thanks of the citizens, for the skill and energy displayed in this ugly mat? ter. The sale of unclaimed articles from the Southern Express office attracted a large crowd to Mr. Levin's auction room, yesterday. Mysterious looking pack? ages, containing patent medicines, alma? nacs, hand-bills, etc., brought fair prices. Some of the purchasers hurried away with their treasures, whilo others opened their packages at once, and pleasantly joined in the fusilade of jokes and laughter bestowed upon them. -? ? ? Bio G.vr.?Pope vs. Pope.?A party of fishermen ?Messrs. Pope, Janney, Dont and Drennan and others?went on a fishing frolic to the "LittleGoose Pond," yesterday, and succeeded in securing 180 fish of various kinds; among them a venerable-looking gar, 52 inches long, and weighing 23 pounds. Where is your 14-inch and 14-pound gar caught by the other Pope party, Mr. Union-Ile raUl? The gar can be seen at the market this morning. Foreign despatches tell us that Eng? land and Rtissia will probably come to a "friendly understanding" on the subject of the Central Asia question. It is known that Russia is coming surely down through Khiva, upon Afghanistan, which is a dividing wall between England's cherished possessions in Asia and the Russian territory. Russia has acquired a forced supremacy over both Khiva and Turkestan, and sho has recently suc? ceeded in gaining a pretext for interfer? ing in tho affairs of Afghanistan, over which the English have been trying to obtain a kind of protectorate. The Emir of Afghanistan has been acoused of countenancing and aiding a plot for the massacre of Russians in Khiva. Russia is, therefore, menacing Afghanistan, and this, of course, has led to a correspond on oo between Russia and England. Both are extending their territory in Asia, and any difficulty will seriously affect the designs of one or the other. Hence we learn t hat D'Israeli will bring the subject before Parliament, and that a "friendly arrangement" is at hand. For the sake of peace, it is to be hoped that it is true; List of New Advxetisemsnts.? O. Z. Bates?Notice. A B. Mathias?To whom it concerns. C. J. Carroll?School Claims. E. H. Heinitsh?Queen's Delight. The Riohland Rryrvs Cr,vn.? Tho first annunl oration before the Eichland Rifle Club will be delivered by Col. Leroy F. Younians, at the OperaHouse, on Thurs? day evening, the 10th inst Col. You jmans is an eloquent speaker, and we congratulate the Club upon their excel? lent choice. The occasion will be one of more thnh ordinary interest, and cannot fail to afford much enjoyment. After the close of tho oration, the active and \ contributing members of the Club, with their lady friends, will repair to the Club Hall and enjoy a soiree, which has been arranged for their benefit Supreme Cooht?Thubbdat, June 3, 1875.?The Court met at 10 A. M. Pre? sent?Chief Justice Moses and Associate Justices "Wright and Willard. In tho case of the State cx rel. the At? torney-General, respondent, vs. the Sa? vannah and Charleston Railroad Com? pany, appellants. The appeal was dis? missed Without prejudice, ami case re? manded to Circuit Court, by consent j The State, respondent, va. Henry Kil } crease, appellant Return filed and read I by Mr. Wm. F. Gary, counsel for appel? lant Case was then continued to No? vember term, when it will be called pe case of the State, respondent, va. John Mitchell, appellant was struck off. The State ex fiel Phineas F. Frazee, va. F. L. Cardozo, State Treasurer. Rule to show cause, Ac. Return filed and read by Mr. Attorney-General Melton for re? spondent Relator allowed until to? morrow, (Friday,) 10J A. M., to reply thereto. Tho following decision was filed: G. W. Sullivan, for the use of another, re? spondent, vs. Williom Hellams, appel? lant Motion granted. Opinion by Wright, A, J. At 1 P. M., the Court adjourned until Friday,. 4th, 10( A. M. Whatever may be the President's re? servation*, the Republicans will gladly relieve themselves, of the dead weight that has been hanging upon them for two years, by nocopting his'letter as a positive withdrawal from the canvass as candidate for re-nomination. This being the case, why wiR not President Grant, oaks the New York Herald, mark the closing portion of his term by a grand and noble policy of justice toward the South; by rallying around him as his advisors men of strong minds and honest hearts; by cleansing the Government of its hideous corruptions, and by a gene? ral patriotic and wise policy? He has yet time to do much for tho natibn, and to hand down his namo to posterity in connection with those of the best of the American Presidents. Will he be equal to the task? J-1? At tho regular meeting of the Palmetto Steam Fire'Engine Company, held at their hall, on the 1st inst, the following resolutions wero unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of the Pal? metto Steam Fire Engine Company are eminently due, and are hereby tendered, to the ladies of this city who so kindly Jpresented the beautiful wreaths, gar ands and flowers with which the 2Etna and Palmetto engines were decorated upon the occasion of the recent tourna? ment Revolted, That tho Secretary be in? structed to publish the same in the daily papers of the oity. T. P. PURSE, Becretary P. S. F. E. Co. ????'? ?? Hotel Arrivals, June 3.?Mansion House?A Hatch, Mrs. Watson, Ga.; J. J. Kamin er, Gad cd en; E. W. Wheeler, A J. Dodamead, Dr., G. F. S. Wright, i city; J. B. Lathon, Dr. J. R. Chapman, S. C.; J. L. Deminick, Peak Station; B. F. Mauldin, G. AC, R. B. I A Dead Delusion.?Tho theory that human beings whose strength has been ! exhausted by pain and sickness can be 'restored by depleting medicines and I water gruel, if not absolutely a dead de? lusion, is in the last agonies of dissolu? tion. At length it is understood that strength cannot be purged into a dobili tated frame, though life may easily be purged out of it, and that it is about as wise to withhold a healthful stimulant from the weak, in the expectation that they will rally without one, as it would be to deprive a lamp of oil and expect it to burn the brighter for it. The immense and uniform success which has attended the use of that wonderful combination of a pure stimulant with the finest me? dicinal herbs, known as Hostetter's Sto? mach Bitters, has largely assisted in dis? pelling the absurd chimera. Frantic at? tempts are made to revive it, but in vain. When the sick feel that their strength is departing, and that unless invigorated they must utterly break down, it is in vain to tender them feculent slops in the place of genuine restoratives. They may be imposed upon in this way once, but the imposition cannot be repeated. They desire to be refreshed, comforted, braced up, and decline to be griped a second tune. -Under the operation of the Bitters, on the other hand, all the processes necessary to physical restora? tion go on simultaneously. The system is stimulated and toned, the bowels re? gulated, the appetite cultivated, the nerves composed and - the condition of the blood improved at one and the same time by a single medicine. Common sense tells us that euch a preparation must be invaluable, June 4 f3Hl Ii is truly wonderful, the variety and ingenuity of tho conveniences for the desk and office?pens of varied patterns, inkstands possessing numberless ad? vantages, letter files, eaeh one the best, envelopes of size and qualities infinite. It is almost bewildering to enter the large Broad street storo of - Walker, Evans & Cogswell, in Charleston, and see the number of these attractions. Here yon find the largest stationery stock South of Baltimore, and yon only have two troubles?first, sufficient cash; and, second, the difficulty in deciding , among the many things offered, eaon equally suitable to your wants. M7f A well known medicine, of recogn ized P merit, is Heinltsh's Queen's Delight 8 ? ? -a