The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, June 30, 1875, Image 2
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.