University of South Carolina Libraries
COLUMBIA, S. C. Wednesday Morning, June 30, 1875. City Finances. The communication of Mr. W. B. Culiek, under the heading "Finances fo the City," was unavoidably crowded out of yesterday's issue, by Mr. Davidson's indictment of Gen. Sher? man for the burning of Columbia. We invite a careful perusal of the article, this inorning, as it contains astounding predictions of financial disaster and heavy taxation. The concluding portion of Mr. Gulick's article will be a subject for serious consideration by tho tax? payers of the city, and prompt and vigorous action is requisite to meet the exigencies of the case. ?-??-? The Food Question. It is maintained in some well-in? formed quarters that owing to the de? rangement of manufacturing and other industries in this country, and reduction of available means from these causes, the consumption of food per capita will bo less during the coming year than it has been in tho past twelve months. If this be so, prices for agricultural pro? ducts must fall in a material degree. The crops of 187? will be fully equal to those of 1874, if not somewhat above in this country. Those of Europe will be fair. When both are joined as to food supply and placed in opposition to a weakened demand, it can readily bo seen that prices niust come down. In relation to this question in the United States, another fact must be taken into consideration. Some years ago the Southern States did not add much to the food crops of tho country. They raised cotton, rice, sugar and other products to the exclusion of the cereals. Since the war, however, corn and other cereals have been cultivated to a greater extent, and i'. the present time it is calculated that some of the Southern States will feed their own people, and even have a surplus. In the light of such facts as these, the people of this country, both raisers and consumers of food, should look at the future. Tho former must not expect too much from tho crop of 1875, and the latter should so economize as to repair some of the rents in their financial robes made by tho high price of food for the past five years. It has been truthfully and pointedly said that glutted markets and modorato demand for agricultural products do not generally portend a sea? son of remarkable individual or national activity. This is true as a separate pro? position, but with it must be associated the fact that the cheaper the laborers of a- country can be fed the cheaper articles can be produced, and that will command foreign markets to the exclusion of rivals. Unite these ideas and then a point can be gained from which to look at this crop question in a broad, intelligent, j practical manner. Tue Dead Desperado. - Several per? sons have been led to suspect that Henry Daniels, the negro win* was killed at the Augusta jail, last Saturday night, was u member of the celebrated Lowery gang of brigands who caused ro much excite? ment about Lnmberton, N. C, several years ago. There is much to confirm such a suspicion. By reference to the history of the outlaws, we lind that one of the gang, George Applewhite, answers i exactly to the description of Daniels, j The report before us says: "George Ap? plewhite is a regular negro, of a surly, i determined look, with thick features, j woolly hair, largo protuberances above the eyebrows, big jaws and chcok bones, and a black eye. He is a picturo of a slave at bay. lie is supposed to be cither dead, bidden away, wounded, or to have abandoned the country, as he has not been seen or heard of forseveral months. When last heard from, he was faint from loss of blood, and had received wounds in the breast from some soldiery. He married into the Oxendine fumify, and was present at the murder of Sheriff King and elsewhere, and is, therefore, included in the list of outlaws, and a re? ward put upon his head." After Daniels' death, a number of old sears wero disco? vered on his body. There was also tho mark of a bullet wound on his forehead, evidently received several years ago. Daniels' wife said that she married Henry in Guilford County, N. C, about four years ago. She had only known him a short time. He told her before they wero married, that he came from the tnr 1)cntine region. The wound on his fore lead, ho said, he received during the war, and the scars on his arms and body in slavery times. She didn't know whe? ther he ever had another name or not. Railroad Accident.?An engine and part of a train went through a bridge on the Carolina Central Railroad, nine miles from Charlotte, on Saturday morning, killing John McGehee and Prince Woods, colored, and severely wounding the conductor and six colored train I hands. William C. Beames' barn in Claren? don County was burned on the 21th, between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock A. M. Incendiary. The Finances of the City. The interest felt in the financial con? dition of the city of Columbia by its property-owners and tax-payers will ex? cuse nie for again participating in this discussion by calling attention to some things Hon. L. Cass Carpenter has to say concerning it. Before taking up any of his figures, I take the liberty of placing in one group several admissions made by Mr. Carpenter, as follows: "It is true that the city debt has been increased by a large amount sinco 1N70." "I am quite well aware that the rate of taxation has been increased nearly dou? ble what it was in 1870." "There has been waste, extravagance, mismanage? ment and other kindred evils accom? panying the administration of city af? fairs. " These admissions embrace much that has been charged by the Citizens' Com? mittee, and ought to close the contro? versy. The set of men wdio have brought so many evils on the city, should make way for others, who might manage mat? ters better. A new set, of whatever po? litical party they might be composed, could do no worse. It is probable that they could at least work a reform of "other kindred evils," by which must be meant bills for "sundries," water pipe contracts, taken by the Mayor at six cents per pound, that could have hern furnished for less than four cents, and other jobs gotten up at the expense of the tax-payers for the benefit of the City Council. Iloncsty, economy and good management arc wanted?nothing else. The amount of the debt at the begin? ning of the administration of Mayor Alexander, seems to trouble Mr. Carpen? ter very much, und every new statement varies'from all the preceding ones, Three statements present the following contrast: Debt obtained from city re? cords.$300,324 10 Gen. Stolbrand's statement.. 4,J'.?,000 00 Mr. Carpenter's statement... 506,453 35 The coupons supposed to be unpaid at the beginning of the administration arc thus variously given: (icn. Stolbrand's statement.. .$70,000 00 Mr. Carpenter, at Parkers Hall. 45,170 00 Mr. Carpenter, in Phcsnix. ... 89,476 00 As neither of these gentlemen take into account the large amount of coupons funded into bonds and paid In that way prior to 1870, it is certain that the figures of both ure gross exaggerations, and that the actual amount of coupons unpaid was very much less than the smaller of these three estimates. Referring to Mr. Carpenter's Parker Hall speech and his statements relating to payments of coupons generally, I in? vite the public to the following state? ment he then made. He calculates the interest unpaid at the beginning of Mayor Alexander's administration to be $45,175. He then estimates that during the next four years there were overpay? ments of interest to the amount of 571,117 over the amounts falling due in those years; that is, during these four years, coupons to the amount of $25,912 were paid beyond the total amount duo, including all arrearages. This could have happened only by paying this amount of coupons twice. 1 make no charges, but simply deduce from Mr. Carpenter's own figures their logical conclusions. If, then, to this over-pa v nient.be added the $60,000 of unpaid coupons admitted to be outstanding at this tini'', the tax-payers have good rea? son to wish u change and reform in the financial management of the city. The account for special interest was kept separately from and after the 1st of January. ls73. Mr. Carpenter asserts "not only was all the money realized from '.he special tax paid for the purposes for which it was levied, but hundreds of dollars in addition, so that not a dollar of special interest was ever used for any other purpose.'' For the two years, ein bracing,the period from January 1,1 S7:l. to December 31, 1871. the account stands as follows, taken from the records of the City Treasurer: Special tax collected.$61,478 l~> Coupons paid. 55,600 75 Ilalance Dec. 31, 1x71. $?,8C.S 10 The balance on April 30, 1874, which may be regarded as the financial close of Mayor Alexander's second term, was $5,014.30, dicer led I > other uses during the period when Mr. Carpenter was Chairman of the iinanco Committee, and had the whole management of the finances of the city under his official charge. The report of the Citizens' Committee makes the balance of city currency out? standing May 31, 1870, at $16,201.10. Mr. Carpenter asserts that the true ba? lance was $31,877.50, and that "during the first year of Mayor Alexander's ad? ministration $11,503.75 more of this cur? rency was redeemed and destroyed" than was outstanding according to that report. I will thank Mr. Curpenter to submit the proof of this statement, giving dates and amounts redeemed and destroyed. But, Ob he has no ledger to rely upon, I will here produce the account: May 31, 1870, currency out? standing.$16,204 10 June 30, 1870. issued by Mr. Etter. 1,000 00 July 30, 1870, issued by Mr. Etter. 027 50 August 31, 1870, issued by Mr. Etter. 150 00 September 30, 1870, issued by Sir. Etter. 3: 0 00 Novembci 30, 1870, issued by Mr. Etter. 150 00 S19.111 00 Redeemed und Destroyed. June 30, 1870.. . $ 111 90 March 31, 1871... 10,059 80 May 10, 1871... . 2,960 20-$19,131 90 | Balance over-issued. $ 20 30 That is the whole account of city cur? rency during the first year's administra tion of Mayor Alexander. Mr. Carpen? ter's figures are pure fictions. While on this subject of city currency, I will ask Mr. Carpenter to give to the public what he knows concerning the issue of city currency while Mr. Barnum was Treasurer. It is understood that the Chairman of tho Finance Committee was the custodian of the unsigned notes, and that he delivered them to Mr. Barnum for signature and use as tho funds were required. The whole amount printed was $37,000. To settle the account of Mr. Barnum correctly, it is necessary to have Mr. Carpenter's account of bills de? livered to the Treasurer. There are other points in Mr. Carpen? ter's speech and communication which I might notice, hut an intelligent public will understand them well i nough with? out further discussion. I could go on rectifying his mistakes and involving him in arithmetical blunders, but be would probably imagine a new I of ac? counts as soon as the old mistakes were cleared up, and I should have a new work before me. The fact is. Mr. Car? penter displays so little accurate know- j ledge of the finances of the city, and so ] much skill in getting the accounts con? fused and himself in a muddle, that the present embarrassments of tin; city an- | really not surprising, considering that its finances were under his manager* ent ! for two years. As he cannot be expected to know anything of the present financial status of the cjty, I take the liberty here of producing about what the expect* d statement of the Mayor and City Clerk ; will show as to the city debt: Bonds of all kinds.. .*..S-wR.tiOO 00 Due to banks. 25,0C,2 o'.? j T. J. Jeter. 1,000 00 Judgments. 12,000 li? Coupons post due. 00,000 00 Unpaid bills, Ac. 10,000 00 Total debt.S0!)G,752 71 Showing an increase of $100,000 over the largest statement yet made by Mr. Car? penter. I make this contrast in order that his admission already quoted, "that the city debt has been increased by a large amount since 1870," may bo fully sustained by direct evidence. Having [ accepted his largest statement, cinbrac I ing all tho supposed liabilities of the city at the beginning of Alexander's ad? ministration, this increase is directly chargeable to the "waste, extravagance, mismanagement und otlnr kindred evils" that have prevailed since that date. As I hope not to be compelled to con? tinue the discussion of city matters any further through the press, I desire to call the attention of the public now to the certain approach of a disaster to our city and its finances, if they are not taken hold of promptly, with a determination to set them in better order. The special tax for interest next year cannot be less ' than ten mills; the tax to support the i city government, pay interest on flouting ' debt and meet deficiency in the water j contract will require ten mills more, and , ten mills more will be required to pay ! $12,000 in judgments already rendered against the city in our Circuit Court. The City Council may not levy the tux j to pay the judgments, but the Court will be compelled to do it, and the eiti- I zens will have it to pay. The work of approving bills that cannot be paid until j the next tax is collected, is already going ] on in the City Council, and nothing will remain to pay even a judgment for the cost of a steam fir.- engine in use to pro? tect th?- city from tire. A three per cent, tax will absorb one-third of the rental value of all tin- property of the city, re i during its selling priec and its taxable j valuation to the extent ei rtninly of i twenty-five per nt. The ownt rs of j property lind it dwindling away in their bands, while the poor man. the laborer, will be driven to other places to find oin I ployment. Tin:.can; some of the con 1 sidcrations which should stir our citizens i to act at one", to take the necessary ? measures to stop the increase of tin debt in all forms, and to sec that the taxes are applied t<> its reduction. Verv rospect ; fully, W. 15. (JCLICK. ;- j Dj-.str.ri Tivi:Fijo: in Lu iu.ni.: We learn by a telegram received in this city, yesterday, that a lire broke out yesterday I morning about 2 o'clock, in a store at Laurinburg, Richmond County. So. rapid was the progress of tin* lire, and so ! ', imperfect the facilities for extinguishing j it, that ere the flames were arrested they ! j had totally destroyed the hotel, five j 1 stores and the warehouse of the Carolina Central Railway Company, together with ! ten old cars, three new ones, and five lints. The telegram states that there is little doubt that the lire was the devilish ; work of an incendiary. We did not learn j the names of the owners of the burnt '? property, nor the probable amount of, I the loss. ?Charlotte Observer. I--??? - It is truly wonderful, tho variety and ] ingenuity of the conveniences for the i j desk and office? pens of varied patterns, j inkstands possessing unmberb ss ad- j ! vantages, letter files, each one the best, ; cnvelopesjof size ami qualities infinite. ! It is almost bewildering to enter the ! largo Broad street store of Walker, I Evans A Cogswell, in Charleston, and j [sec the number of these attractions. I Here you find the largest stationery j stock South of Baltimore, and you only have two troubles?first, sufficient cash; und, second, tho difficulty in deciding among the many things ottered, each equally suitable to your wants. M7f Miss Hester, daughter of Win. M. Pip? pin, and Miss Dora, daughter of John Stuton, both ul>out seventeen years of age, were accidently drowned at Tur boro, N. C, while bathing in a pond on the plantation of the latter gentleman. Henry Oetrichs, of tho firm of Oetriehs A Co., agents of the German Lloyds, is dead; aged 00. Samuel Chubbnek, of Utico, N. V.. pioneer telegraph appriratus manufac? turer, is dead; aged 70. Cm Items.?Don't dato your letters the 31st to-inorrow. The exhibition at the School of Naza? reth takes place this afternoon. The best pocket companion - A full purse. Advertising is the oil which tradesmen put in their lamps. They that are un? wise put no oil in. The Vigilant Fir" l".n_'ine Company of this city will visit Chester on Monday, the .~th instant. The water will he shut oft', at the in? tersection of Main an I Laurel streets at 'J o'clock, this morning. The number of solid drunks has been greatly decreased of late, owing to the warm weather, no doubt. Why is a newspaper like at ?oth-brush? Do you give it up? Because every per son should have one of bis ow n. and not be borrowing his neighbor's. Perry ?V Sluwson's new cigars are at? tracting all smokers. Just think, Ha? vana Tips at 5 cents equal in quality to 15-ccnt cigars. Attention is invite ! to the programme of exercises at Ursuline Institute, Yallc Crucis, which will be carried out to j morrow afternoon, commencing at !> o'clock. Charleston is organizing a society for tii>' prevention of cnu Ity to animals. | There is a splendid Hold in Columbia I for the exercise of the powers that belong I to such a socitty, and the example of I Charleston may be well followed. ! Andrew Bonds had a preliminary c>;-! amination before Trial Justice Sill, Mon day morning, an 1 was ordered to give bond in the sum of SI,5(H), or be com? mitted to jail for appearance at the Oc I tober term of Court. At the anniversary meeting t>f Plnenix Hook and Ladder Conmnny, held Mon * ? ,* i day evening, the following officers were elected to serve lor the ensuing term: Foreman, Captain J. L. Little; Assistant Foreman, J. P. Median; Secretary, M. B. McSweenoy; Treasurer, J. Jeans. I The honorary degrcu which he received from Union College, the other day. ap penrs to have turned th<- head of "Old Probs." Certainly no man in his senses j would get up such weather as this, un , less it be that, as a doctor of philosophy, ! he thinks it proper t.> try the philosophy I of his patients. j We have received the annual catalogue I of Iloanokc College, Salem, Va. We see that at tlie commencement exercises, Mr. P. 1?. Hykr, of Lexington, sustained the reputation of the Palmetto State as a land of orators. He pointed out the "Way to Excellence." Mr. Julius D. Dreher, j A. M.. of Lexington, was elected Profes? sor of English Language and Literature, I and also appointed Financial Secretary of the College. J. T. Cinbtree, A.B.*, was elected assistant Professor Of Lan j ???g' >? , j Tin sc cotnmi :i rement days shoul 1 be I festivals in mo lern li:'?. They c< le bmte the new geneiv.tion going out to do battle in the great -t i iiV that lies before j them, h i-> the new gent ration treading i in the footsh ps of the one who goes be fore even of our own. And as we read ' J these speeches end take par: in these! I ceremonies, und hear the voices of these! light, cheery multitudes, we feel as though they were the echoes of the: I future. May Ood's blessing rot with i them, and may all their years be as sunny us these commencement days, with their endeavors, their achievements I and their high-mounting hopes. I "-? j Death ok an Agui> Citizen.' An old ! and promin? nt citizen has been called to i ; his final resting place. Col. Hart Maxcy j departed this life, yesterday, after a se? vere illness of little less than a week's duration. He was about sixty years of I age. Col. Maxcy served with distinction in the Florida war, and was commander of n regiment of South Carolina troops under the old regime. Ho was the son of Hon. Jonathan Maxcy, one of the first Presidents of the South Carolina College, and was himself a graduate of that vene? rated institution. The funeral ceremo ' nies will be performed at the Presbyte j rian Church, this afternoon, at 5 o'clock. ! Tho following special despatch was received by the Piuksix, last night, from Spartanbnrg, signed by Secretary A. C. Kaufman: A meeting of the Directors of the Spar? tanbnrg ami Ashevillo Itailroad was held thisevcning.l'residentMemmiuger in the chair. A resolution, warmly endorsed by Mr. Ceo. W. Williams, of Charleston, was offered, authorizing the President to let the mountain section to contract at once. Messrs. Kennedy and ltiplcy, of North Carolina, spoke earnestly in favor of the enterprise. Tliey said that their people meant to do their share of the | work and give their trade to Charleston. This was emphatically ft business meet? ing. Charleston and the great West will soon join hands. Tue Foubth in Auousta.?Lieutenante W. C. Swuffield and fcW. R. Cathcart, of the Richland Rifle Club, visited Augusta Saturday, for the purpose of making ar? rangements for accommodating the club on its visit there next Monday. They succeeded in securing quarters at the Central Hotel. They sneak highly of the hospitable reception they met on all sid<-s while engaged in the discharge of their mission, and were highly pleased with the evident generosity with which Augusta will greet her visitors on the Cth. The Club will number sixty active members in full uniform, and w ill be ac? companied by the United States Foot Rand. of the 13th Infantry. Cel. Black and oth'T officers of this post have been invited tu accompany tho Club. Tho Club will ri ach Augusts at 10 o'clock on the night of the 4th, and will be received by a committee und escorted to the hall of t Iglethorpe Infantry, Company A, where a collation will be served. The Charleston clubs will reach the city at ~? o'clock, Sunday afternoon, via the South Carolina Railroad. They will be received by the commanding officers of the battalion in citizens' dress, and escorted to the hall of Oglethorpe In? fantry, Company A, where they will partake of a collation. They will after? ward.- be eseorted to their quarters at the hotels. Tho Charleston clubs will take with them the United States Post Land. They will have fully 200 men in uniform. There \ ill bo in all about fiOO :n (ii in line, fully equipped e.nd arm? d. Colcmuia Female College.?The ex? ercises of the commencement occasion of this prosperous institution of learning v/ert: held yesterday morning. The chapel was tilled with the relatives of the young ladies and friends cf the institu? tion. It is matter of regret that the ehup< 1 of the College is so small, and it is hoped that ere long it will be enlarged. The' chapel was decorated by the young ladi- s of course, it is unnecessary to say it was neatly done. At the hour appointed, 10 A. M., the exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. John T. Wigbtman, D. D.; after which, the young lady graduates, seven? teen in number, read their essays, as fol? lows : I Salutatory address, in Latin?Miss Fannie S. Smith, of Sumter. The Desire to be Remembered?Miss Lizzie Duncan, of Spartanburg. Our Lives arc What wo Make Them: Human Will is Human Destiny?Miss M. X. Duncan, of Spcrtanburg. The Tower of United Effort? Mi-.s Sal lie W. DnPre, of Charleston. I Pleasure id' Anticipation?Miss Saliie i E. Fry. of Richland. I Excelsior, in French?Miss S. Alico ! Hail, of Chesti r. I The Resources find Pleasures of a Cul? tivated Mind?Miss Jennie L. Jeter, of Union. Simplicity Miss Alice Kinard, of Ncw 1 bony. Example Better than Precept -Miss i Mary A. LaMotte, of Richland. I Nature an I her Teachings?Miss Hat tie S. Mason, of Fairficld. I'ruiltv, thy Name is Wernau Miss i lb den (i. McMastor, of Richland. 1 Beauties of Nature?Miss S. Bir.n.\ ! MeGhee, of Abbeville. Hopo?Miss Sue M. Price, of Marion. 1 True and False Ambition ?Miss J. Isabellc Salley, of Orangeburg. The Age in which we Live: Its Promi? nent Characteristics?Miss Lizzie Z. Sullivan, of Laurens. Touches of Time- Miss Mary A. Tar rant, of Abbeville. Valedictory Addresses?Miss Kate : Kinnrd, of Newberry. The essays were rather above the ave? rage on such occasions: but several of I the young ladie.s wero indistinct totho.si? who occupied seats in the front part of ! the hall- added to which was the almost I incessant talking of some w ho were there j by invitation. The readings were inter? spersed with some excellent vocal and I instrumental music, j After the delivery of diplomas to the graduating class, and wdiolesomo words ! of counsel from President Joins, the au? dience was dismissed. The concert, in the evening, under the direction of Prof. Orchard, was quite an enjovalde affair. -??? Hotel Arrivals, June 29.?3fanslon House J. 1*. Ligon, J. C. F. Sims, P. E. Sims, city, W. W. Fairchild, Charleston; M. A. Cason, Hodges; E. B. Gary, Cokes bury; F. E. Smith, Yorkville; Philip L. Alexandre, Newberry; S. E. Canghinan, Lexington; H. D. Hamiter, Richland. Jletulrix House?Mm. W. A. Meroney, E. L. Dibble, Ornngeburg; W. J. Miller, R. H. Muckenfuss, Charleston; G. W. Lee, lady and two children, Fla.; F. E. Smith, J. M. Hucklin, Chester; T. B. Louis, N. Y. List or New Advertisements. Meeting S< huetzen Club. J. II. Sawyer?Notice. Richard Jones?Water Notice. C. J. Laurey?Bacon, Butter, Ac. Meeting Richland Lodge. Henry M. Hyains, ex-Lieutena'nt-Gov crnor of Louisiana, is dead; aged 70 years.