Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ESTABLISHED IX 186 THE COTTON HARVESTER. A MACHINE THAT WILL PICK THREE BALES PER DAY. Its Present Defects to he Remedied?>"o Chance of the Picker Being Used on the Next Crop?Mr. Mason Hard at Work to Perfect it. In the Southern Bivouac for April is ? an extended description of the Cotton picker or Harvester, accompanied by numerous illustrations, which concludes as follows: The machine is absolutely harmless to the plant. No matter in what state or condition the plant is in, or what sea son the harvester is run over a row, no damage will follow. The writer saw Mr. Mason break the stems of over a dozen burrs on a thickly-clustered stalk, until they were hanging by the finest filament, and after the picker stems had passed through not one was-torn off. It seems almost miraculous that this could be, as they were attached by such a slight fiber. ? A darky, bungling into that bush with his fingers, couldn't have helped tearing off half of them. Had the burrs contained lint the ligament would have given way, of course, and the burr would have been jerked from its broken stem. But the machine has never becu known of itsell to break a boll or a bloom in the field. Wet or dry it does its work. I have seen cotton picked by it in such a wet and soaked couditiou that, when allowed to dry naturally iu the sacks, it became as hard and caked as plaster of pans. It has yet its defects, of course, and it is far from the object of this article to conceal them. The first is, that as at present constructed it can not work in cottou over five feet high. That can easily be overcome by making different sizes of the machine adapted to ordinary and to rank growths. Nine-tenths of the cotton, however, now grown in the South can be harvested with the present size. Again, the mpchine sometimes drops a little cotton from the picker stems be fore they enter the box. Also "the cotton, as it passes up on the elevators to enter the sack, is some times blown oft* on ? windy days. This can readily be prevented by covers, which have never been put on except for the purpose of experiment, because Mr. Mason did not want any part of the interior workings of the machine hidden from view while he was studying and im proving it. Iu the fourth place, a boll is oc casionally passed over and left ungather ed. This occurs seldom, and practically is of little consequence, two trips gen erally cleaning a row thoroughly. When tvboU I? aoeida?laMjy left -it-will be gather ed at the next picking, for. the planter cau run over his crop so rapidly and so often that a boll left here and there is of slight importance. This frequent harvesting must also necessarily result in a better grade of cotton, as the fields can always be kept clean in advance of a rain. Finally, the harvester sometimes fails to gather the lowest bolls when flat on the ground in the dirt. That is difficult to remedy without introducing complications which would seriously interfere with the working of the other parts of the machine. But Mr. Mason is hard at work remedying, as rapidly as possible, these defects as they present themselves, and is confident of bringing the harvester's present capacity of two thousand pounds of seed cotton per day up to double that amount, or three bales per day, and of reducing the co3t of picking to less than one dollar a bale. .And all this by one man and one mule! It is impossible for the syndicate to place the harvester on the market in time for the next crop, as Mr. Mason will himself be compelled to wait until fall to test the changes he has now in progress. They are in no hurry, and do not hesitate to say that the machine will never be sold until its present de fects are effectually oyercome, be that time when it may. But as these defects are triffiing, and as even with them the harvester does excellent service, it is fair to conclude that Mr. Mason, having already ac complished the most difficult portion of his worK, will not be long iu presenting the public with a machine perfect in all its parts. When that time does come, the present declaration of the syndicate will be the best guarantee of the ma chine's actual efficiency, Its co:st has not yet been fully deter mined, 8.9 it is not known in exactly what shape it will be finally put upon the market. Mr. Mason states, how ever, that the price will at first probably be about equal to that asked for a sub stantial reaper or twine binder?per haps less?say from two hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars. That will put them within easy reach of any one making twenty bales or upward. The province of this article does not , extend to the effect of the introduction of the cotton-harvester upon the indus-1 tries of the South. Its description and ! history were all that was compassed iu the scope of these pages. I3ut i:", by its assistance, Into the gloom and darkness eushrouding the! Southern fanner of to day, and iu which I; he patiently gropes and toils from < mouth to month and from year to year.: one slender ray of hope, one feeble ylini mer of the broad daylight beyond shall penetrate, briiigiim present cheer and i; solace, and the promise of unbounded I! possibilities for the future, and his load 11 for a time be lightened, and "the cares | that infest the day'" be even temporarily put aside, this paper will have accom plished its mission, and its reward be !, ample indeed. 11 P. W. Cantwkll has a large stock j of Guano Funnels which he will sell at!'. very low prices. '. Col M Glover Jan 1, '66 9. O ANOTHER COTTON PICKER. AVliat the United States Cotton Harvester Company Proposes Doing in the South. The problem of picking cotton in the field has at last been solved, and during the coming season a number ol ma chines which are now being manufactur ed under the patents of Mr. G. T. Bugg and owned by the United States Cotton Harvester Company, whose office is in the Cotton Exchange, will be in active operation. The exhibition which was recently given on the floor of the Ex change under very great disadvantages demonstrated that the machine would do the work it is intended for. Since that time work has been begun on the new and improved machines, and it is safe to say when they are completed they will "pick fully 80 per cent, of the cotton in the field, once going over. There are also in course of manufacture small machines for planters who have only a limited number of acres under cultivation. Under the most favorable circum stances the United States Cotton Har vester Compauy does not expect to sell outright many machines this season, but it is determined that the people of every section of the South shall have a chance to witness the working of the harvester on the plantations. Ocular demonstration is what the plauters want, and they arc to have it. At the office of the United States Cot ton Harvester Company Mr, Bugg, the President, said that the people of the South will not be disappointed this sea son. The machine will be put in active operation in the fall. Mr. Bugg has organized his company under the laws of the Stale of New York and has set aside a small portiou of the stock for sale. The proceeds are intended to in crease the manufacturing facilities of the company and for that only, for knowing that he lias a good thing in the machine, Mr. Bugg intends to hold on to his interest. Said a gcntlemau who has large inter ests in Mississippi and Louisiana aud who has taken a great interests In the development of the machine: "No one knows better than a planter that the perfection of a machine for picking cotton in the South will be the salva tion ot that part of the country. Noth ing is needed 30 much. I have seen many inventions tested for the first time, but I have yet to see one placed before the people for an initial test as far ad vanced as was the cotton-picking ma chine exhibited on the floor of the Ex change. It picked cotton and delivered it, and what more can be asked for on the first test. Of course there are some minor defects which are yet to be over come, but that is always the case. Was there ever a thing made perfect at first."?New York Sun. CAPTURED BY COWBOYS. Pesperate Encounter with Horse-Thieves in the Far West. Bismarck, Dak., March 24.?A party of cowboys came upon a number of horse thieves In the timber on the Missouri River banks, 100 miles north, and, after an exchange of several volleys from revolvers and rifles, the thieves gave up fight and attempted to escape. In this first fight of the outlaws Charles Braddock and Jack O'Brinc were killed. The cowboys followed close upon the heels of the horse thieves, but a narrow strip of heavy timber prevented effective shooting. Alter a chase of a mile the horse thieves, four m number, found themselves in a clearing and turned to the rivers with hope of crossing on the ice. They had gone about forty rods on the ice when two of the animals broke through, and as the co wboys continued shooting no attempt was made by the horse thieves .to save their strug gling companions, who were carried be neath the ice on their horses. Tiie remaining outlaws returned to the shore and throwing up their hands surrendered to tho cowboys, who after tying their hands, fastened them upon the backs of ponies, took them away to parts un known, but it is supposed to their camp for an old fashion cowboy trial. A Soldier Regains His Rifle. Michael Daly, a resident of Brooklyn, formerly sergeant of company F, Sixty ninth regiment, Irish brigade, New York State volunteers, two weeks ago addressed a letter to Mayor J. T. Baird, of Portsmouth, Va., asking for the ad dress of the relatives of J. T. Jot son, a Confederate soldier who, he believed, lost his life at Fair Oaks in June 18G2. Mr. Daly desired to send them a rifle which he had kept since that desperate engage ment as a trophy. The name of "Job son" was engraved on the stock of the rifle. The reply said that Mr. Jobson was still living, and was a resident of Richmond, Va. "He was, indeed, Jesperately wounded in. the battle of Seven Pines, as we call it, or Fair Oaks, is you call it," writes Mayor Baird, "but he fortunately recovered." The battlefield trophy, the rifle of the wound id "boy in gray," will be duly forward id to its brave owner. a Young Lady Killed. Jacksonville, Fla., March 25.-Iu-1 brmation has been received of the death! d* Miss Gill, a Boston tourist on ant Jeklawahu steamer \\ cducsday. The steamer struck a tree in a sharp turn of, .he river and the jar broke off some ,'Ottcu limbs which fell on Miss 0ill's j lead, crushing her skull. She was sit-; .niii" on deck between her lather and notlier. The former was struck bv a j Imb and rendered inscusidlc, but was lot seriously injured. Baby Carriages, Wagons and Velos-1 ipedes at Jos. Eros'; the best medicine .ogive to baby's and children is fresh ur, a baby carriage or Velocipede will save you perhaps a doctors bill. For Brooms. Baskets, Brushes,' [Jowls, Bath Bricks, Baisins, &c, go to | L\ W. Cautwell. 1 RANGEBURG, S. C, TE SAM JONES ON SOCIETY. The Evangelist Forgets Himself, and Goes u Step Too Far. Sam Jones lias been preaching to the women of Chicago. In his sermon he attacked the german, and the News re ports him as saying: "Mothers and lathers close their eyes to this debauch ing of their daughters, and it goes on and on, and the world becomes worse and worse. I heard a society man asked how the ladies were dressed at a german not long ago. His reply was that he did not look under the table, and the ladies had no clothes above it." Considerable dispcasure was evident from the appearance of the ladies, and Mr. Jones said: '"Oh, you look innocent now, and feel offended, but you know 1 am telling the truth. And we pulpits have closed our mouths to all this, and almost sanction such things. No wonder the world is going to the devil. Mothers, teach your daughters to say 'hands off.' Teach them to keep themselves unde nted. Teach them to lead a pure life and the world will be pure. But you must first be pure yourself, for you can not leach purity unless your own hearts are holy. I know this is the fashion now. The people and newspapers may throw it in my teeth that I am from the swamps, and ain't half bred, but the people in the swamps arc not half so mean as those in Chicago. If we were educated we could take lessons in wick edness from Chicago for years to come. If! should tell the people in Georgia of the wickedness of Chicago they would say : -Sam, you haven't quit lymg yet.' I don't know the misery of society. I never was in it and my wife was never a society woman. I hope society won't let us in". It is impossible for a society woman to be pure. I never saw a re formed society woman yet." A COLLISION ON THE RAIL. Two Locomotives Telescoped on the South Carolina Railway. A collision between the Charleston bound Augusta passenger train, Con ductor "Webb, and an outward-bound freight train, Capt. Goodwin, occurred about one-quarter of a mile this side of Sineath's Station, a lew minutes after 6 o'clock yesterday moruiDg. The usual place of meeting is at Sineath's, and the accident is probably owing to a faulty time-piece in the hands of one of the conductors. The passenger train people claim to bave been on time, with the right of way. The freight train people evidently thoucrht the same thing, and came on with a full head of steam. All hands on both^engines jumped into the water wheL they saw the accident inevitable, the engineer of the passenger train reversing his engine first, however. Trie tesultrwasirwreck;- The passenger engine being at a reverse, drew itself out of the wreck, its forewbeels off the rails, smokestack gone, and its entire front badly battered, when its engineer quickly boarded and stopped her. The engine of the freight train suffered by far the most injury. Its forewbeels were driven under its firebox, while the body of the engine diagonally across the track. The tender was jerked com pletely from the track and thrown over on its side, the first box car telescoping the engine. There was no injury, ex cepting to a few crossties, doue to the track, and nobody wa3 hurt.?News and Courier March 25._ Evangelist Jones In Demand. Mr. Joues is in constant receipt of requests to visit various cities, and has many engagement already made. Ho has recently been visited by the Kev. E. P. Cowan, of the Third Presbyterian Church, aud the Kev. J. C. White, of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Pitts burg, who represent six denominations and seuentcen churches, and who urge him to pay that city a visit. A delega tion from Cleveland has also been try ing to secure his services for a campaign in that city. On May 1, Mr. Jones will begin work iu Baltimore in response to a request signed by some of the most noted pastors and "layman of that city, including Bishop 0. W. Wilson, of the Methodist Chureh South, and the load ing pastor of the Methodist, the Baptist, the Presbyterian and the Episcopal de nominations.?Chicago Iuter-Ocean. A Lake Suddenly Disappears. San Francisco, March 25.?Ad vices from the Sandwich Islands say that the volcanic phenomena on March 5, G and 7, and which were accompanied by a large number of earthquake shocks, resulted in the total disappearance of the new lake at Halemaumau and in the extinction of the fire in the crater of the volcano of* Kilanea. These phenomena arc believed to be the precursors of a grand outburst in the near future, either in Kilauea or Mauna Loa. Some per sons, basing their views on the observa tions of Professor Agassiz, believe that the disappearance of fire is a prelude to the total extiuction of the Kilauea vol cano. Three Men Killed. Montgomery, Ala., March 25.?A special to the Advertiser from Calera re ports an explosion to-day of the. boiler of the Calcra Land Co's saw null. John Robertson, the engineer, Jessie Silgrcen the superintendent and William Fletch er, a laborer, were killed, and .1. W. Thomas and three others were badly hurt. All tin- killed and injured were while. The L??s> is ?5,000. No insur-j ruicc. Disabled for Life. C11A1J LESTON, March 25.?Ill the game ol base ball to-day between the1 Charleston and Philadelphia club-. Bryan, the Manager aud center fielder of the Charleston club, broke bis knee' cap ami Lanser, the catcher, bis linger, i Hryan will be disabled l'?>r life, l.aiiscr's ' injuries are not serious. The game re- ! suited in favor of Philadelphia." Get a copy of Eros' Albun Writer's friend only 10 cents; worth SI. [TJESDAY, APRIL 1, lSS CAROLINA CONGR ESSMEN. CHANGES LIKELY TO BE MADE IN THE DELEGATION. J. W. Perry to Oppose Dibble In the First, Hondorson Against Tlllman In the Sec ond, Alken to not Ask a Keturn. Columbia, March 27.?Very little has been said in the newspapers of this State in regard to the Congressional nominations. It is true a great deal has been said on the subject of a new deal, but this has been nnderstood to apply chielly to the State House and court house officials. There are some indica tions, however, that changes may be made in the Congressional delegation also. In the first district it is estimated that Mr Jennings W. Perry, ot Walterboro, will oppose Mr. Dibble; in the second, there has been some talk of bringing out a candidate in opposition to Colonel Till man, possibly ex-senator Henderson, of Aiken; in the third, it seems pretty well understood that Colonel Aiken will not be in the field owing to his physical con dition, which has been such as to pre vent his attendance in the present ses sion of Congress. Hon. George John stone, of Ne'vh?.rry, has been mentioned as a possible didate in this district. Congressman Hemphill has been re markably successful in securing ap pointments for his constituents and has thereby* preserved his popularity, and will doubtless have a walk over. Gen eral Kennedy's appointment as Consul to Shanghai possibly removed a formida ble competitor. So far I have heard of no opposition to either Col. Perry, in the Fourth district, or Mr. Dargau, in the Sixth, and as they arc serving their first terms they will doubtless be re elected. But there pre able and am bitious men in both districts who "may consent to allow the use of their names before a Democratic Convention. Col. "Elliott opposed Smalls in the black district in the last election, merely to bring out the votes of the Democrats of that section of the State. He will hardly consent to sacrifice himself again I lor the good of the party, although he is a true patriot, and can a1 ways be counted on to make his personal interests subser vient'to. the public good. But it may be said that Smalls will have uo op position from the Democrats. He may be opposed by politicians in his own par ty. There are no members of it, how ever, distinguished enough to have at tracted much notice, except Williams, of Georgetown, and he is altogether too honorable a man to suit the tastes of the Republicans In the black district. Smalls then is pretty safe. Mr. Pecry, who may oppose Colonel i^ihe^&tUcitor^oOhe district^ ana 15 a youngiawyer" oToonsiderablo ability. Senator Henderson, of Aiken, is one of the most successful lawyers in South Carolina, and his friends have great faith in his future, but it is a mat ter of much doubt whether he will op pose Col. Tillman, who is deservedly popular with the people and strongly entrenched in his district. Col. Aiken beiug practically out of the race, there will be a "go-as-you-please" fight in that section. Hon. George Johnstone, who may be a candidate, is one of the most distinguished lawyers in Carolina, and probably the best equipped politician in the State. Ho is handsome, polished in his manner possessing a certain amount of personal magnetism, a ready debater and a natural orator, qualities which eminently fit him for the high and honorable position of a Congressman. He would make a splendid Representa tive. He stands a fine chance for the nomination, unless some candidate ap pear, which is probable, who will inher it the vote ot the Granger element that has heretofore constituted Col. Aiken's strongest backing. The race in this event, will be interesting. The young men are appearently lead ing on all the great questions before the people. Hemphill in Congress on the money problem. J. J. Dargan on the tariff and Ben. Tillman on agricultural matters. Whether they are right or wrong in their positions on these great questions, there is no doubt about the fact that they are the leaders of thought in South Carolina to-day. I say this not to dispar age the veterans who have rendered the State such splendid service, and who are still, by reason of their vigorous man hood and intellectnal attainments, capa ble of maintaining the fame and glory of the State, but merely to show that the coming generation is imitating their great virtues, and will in proper time worthily wear the honors bequeathed them by such noble predecessors.? Richland in Augusta Chronicle. Ex-Judges Come to Kloww. Two ex-judges, one an ex-supreme court and the other an cx-circult judge, got so heated in the trial of a case in the superior court at Greensboro', N. C, recently, that they came to blows in open court. Judge Clark was presiding, j and he promptly vindicated the honor of the court by lining them one hundred dollars each, which he required to be paid right then and there. The. two) combatants were ex-Judge Rullin and; ex-Judge Schenck. Judge Clark told; them that were it not for their silvery 1 hairs ami he a young man he would have made their punishment thirty days in jail in addition to the fine. Served Mini Kight. After the local option election ill Millcdgevillc, Ga.. last week the colored voters, who were generally "ii Ihc vic torious "Wet" sale paraded Ihcj shouting offensive and incendiary streets cries. A while saloon keeper named Kn ut/, led the procession, and he was wailed on next day by a committee of j citizens and told to leave within twenty four hours. He left ami the next night a largely attended meeting of white and ? colored citizens adopted resolutions i endorsing the action of the committee, I PKTC ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. Effort to Take the Lifo of Houston's Mayor. Galveston, Tex., March 24.?A special from Houston says: An attempt was made to assassinate Mayor Wm. It. Baker last night under peculiar cir cumstances. Mayor Baker is running as an independent citizens' candidate for re-election against D. C. Smith, the Democratic nominee, who is being sup ported by the labor organizations. The canvass has been signalized by numer ous acrimonious discussions. Last cve iumr Baker, with others, attended a colored Baker campaign meeting, near the Howard Oil Mills, in the 4th ward. About 8:30 o'clock, with Judge Brasher, Edward Jenison aud several colored men, he started to walk some distance to the outskirts of the town where another meeting was being held. After crossing the Sabine at the bridge, a high, lonely structure, the party emprged on the south side, when a horseman riding a gray horse rapidly approached ^and asked: "Is Mayor Baker in that crowd?" "Yes, what do you want with me." asked the Mayor as he left the party and walked toward the horseman in the middle of the road. "I have some private business with you," said the rider, and he asked Baker to walk down the road a short distance. As they started away the man said : "Will you withdraw in favor of Smith." "You must be joking," replied Baker, Several rods from the starting point the assassin pulled up his horse aud Baker placed Iiis left hand on the horse's mane as if to listen, when suddenly the Mayor was greatly startled by the Hash of a pistol in Iiis face, which blinded him for a momeut. Three shots were fired in quick succession. Baker dodged to the grouud, and the would-be assassin, who evidently thought he had killed the Mayor, rode hastily away. He was followed by Judge Brasher and Mr. Jcmison, who opened fire on him. In vestigation developed the fact that the horseman had watched the Mayor's party leave the first place of meeting and had followed them by a circuitous route. The Mayor is uninjured. He is sixty years old and one of the wealthiest men in Hams county. He is not a politician and never drew his salary as Mayor. He is unmarried aud accepts the position as a means of occupying his time. _ A SENSATION IN ROCK HILL Charged with Using the Mails for a Fraud ulent Purpose. Rock Hill, March 24.?About the 1st of November last a young man came to this place and registered at Goiden's Hotel as W. M. Hc.nry, ? stating that be. was from near Lynchburg, Va., and that he wished to engage in Mercantile business. In a few days he left the town and shortly returned with a young girl, whom he claimed as his wife. He then rented a dwelling-house for one year. Since his stay in our town he has had very little social intercourse with the people, which created suspicion, and to-day he was arrested by Deputy Unit ed States Marshal, C. J.Pride, Jr., upon a warrant sworn out by W. C. Boykm, United States postoilice inspector, charging that J. J. Smith, alias W. M. Henry, alias John Andrews, alias E. E. Turner, alias W, H. Martiu, did use the United States mail during the year 1880 by opening correspondence with one or more persons for the purpose of defraud ing them by sclliug or offering to sell them counterfeit money of the United States of America in violation of section 5.480, Revised Statutes of the United States. When arrested he had on his person about $1.200, which was examin ed by Capt. Allen Jones, an expert, who prononccd the bills genuine. He is now undergoing an examination before United States Commissioner C. J. Pride and the evidence is considered very strong against him. He rented two lock boxes at that place, one iu his name and one in the name of some one else. I can learn no further, news, as the commissiononer asked that all the citi zens leave the room, which, I think was uncalled for.?News and Courier. Redmond's Gallantry, While Major Redmond is kuowu as the "Moonshiner's ChicP' he is also noted for his gallantry to the fair sex. While riding iu a wagon going over to Georgia the other day, in company with another man from this county, when near Townville, a crowd of ladies in the road, his companion used disrespectful language. Taking the reins and driving j hastily by, the Major asked the fellow j what he meant by such conduct. Re ceiving an impudent reply. Major Red mond kicked him out of his wagon and left him to retrace his steps homeward on foot, while he drove on, taking his extended trip alone?Easlcy Messenger, March 20/_ A Socialist's Men. While searching for a murderer on Wednesday the Chicago police found a queer looking trunk in a cottage iu West twentieth street. On opening it they j founda pink book entitled "Itevolntioary War Knowledge?The art of Using and Making Dynamite, Gun Cotton, Kxplo-j sivc Mercury, Bombs. Incendiary Im plements and I'oisutis." The contents Were as indicated by the title and the j trunk contained a number of infernal I machines evidently made by the direc tions. The house was occupied by tier mans, and is supposed to have been the! headquarters of a gang of .socialists. a ( urltius l-'renk <>f Xalure, C.VT.SKIJX, X. Y., .March 2:1.?1 Reuben \'an Tasscll is a farmer at Kast] Durham, Greene county. To-day peo ple from all round the country side lluck-j ud to hi* place to sec a freak of nature. The curiosity is a young lamb which has one head, three ears, two bodies, and eight legs, E ?1.50 PER A3STNTT?L SWEPT BY THE FLAMES. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, ALMOST DE STROYED BY FIRE. The City Aroused at 1 O'clock Monday Night?Private Houses, Stores, ? Ware houses, Churches and Government Building? Destroyed at One Fell Swoop. Key West, Fla., March 30.?A lire started in the San Carlos Theatre this morning at 1 o'clock, and is still burning and beyond the control of the firemen. A fresh wind blowing from the south caused the lire to spread, and already five blocks in the centre of the city have been destroyed. The fire will probably go to the harbor. The Epis copal and Baptist churches have been burned, together with thirty other build ings, stores and residences. Over fifty houses have already been burned, including" the Masonic Hall, three or four cigar factories and the bonded warehouse with nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth of tobacco. Officers from United States steamers Brooklyn and Powhatau have been blowing up some of the houses with powder. There is no water supply, the cisterns being mostly dry. It is now settled that the lire will not stop until it reaches the harbor. It is now entering the buisness part of the city, destroying buildings containiug heavy stocks of goods, and the loss will be very great, it looks now as though the Hotel Kussell would succumb shortly. The fire is working north. Its track has been so peculiar that it is difficult to foretell the result. The indications are that it will skirt the beach, taking the wharves and warehouses of Philbrick & Tift, Curry's warehouses having al ready been consumed. This will bring it to the United States naval depot and customhouse. The buildings, with the exception of three warehouses mention ed above, arc constructed of yellow pine, and the heat is so intense as to drive the firemen away. This added to the lack of engines and water supply, will proba bly result in tiic total deseruction of the city. The buidlngs of prominence con sumed so far, are Sawyer's, Babcock's, Gato's, Perry's, Bartt's, Patterson's, United SUitcs Marshal Williams's, Les ter & Brown's private residences, the San Carlos Theatre, the stores of Some illan & Hayman, dry goods; Otto drugs; Sariolc, dry goods and groceries, Bart lum, groceries; Brooks, livery stable; the ci^ar factories of Scidcnberg' Delpi uo, Soria, Canal's and Wolf's and the Russell House. NOW, AND THEN. Are Taxes Higher Now then Under Kr.dlc.il Rule?What Congressman Alken Says. CoiCESBURY, March 22, 1886. Editor Press and Banner: Your issue of the 17th contained an article under the signature of "Back woods," in which I find the following expression: "Taxes are as high now as they were in Radical times." If the newspapers of the State are to be credited, there is considerable unrest amongst the majority class of our citi zens. Conventions, both county and State, arc advertised to be held and the farmers, at least, propose by this means to right their wrongs, if any there be; but, sir, if these wrongs are of a kind suggested by the remark quoted above from "Backwoods," it would be far bet ter that the farmers should not con vene. That writer either did not pay taxes in Radical times, or he has lost his Radical tax-receipts. I suppose I was not taxed differently from other men, and yet my Radical tax-receipts, vary from $254.00 under Scott to $289. 00 uuder Moses; whereas not a tax-re ceipt since 187G has gone beyond $110.00, whilst in all these years my taxable real estate has been the same, aud the personalty has been changed but little. I think it well the farmers should meet in convention to make known their grievances, but let them do so in calmness, and with trutliful facts before them. Let them consider the lien law, and see how an act conceived in charity has been by long abuse executed in ex tortion. Let them inspect the asses* sor's books and sec whether taxes are equlLably levied throughout the State. Let them estimate the amount and value of property which by law, justly or unjustly, is exempt from taxation. Let them investigate all the minor taxes, aud see whether they do uot in the ag gregate amount to a grievous burden. For instance, why should a farmer feed his cattle on cotton seed meal exempt from taxation, whereas if he feeds his crops on the same article he is taxed for tiie privilege. Let the farmers look iuto the agricultural department of the State and learn whether or not it is worth the money paid for It. If it Is not, make such necessary alterations in the admin istration of it as will make it an honor to the State. These and many other topics, pecu liarly agricultural, arc legitimate sub jects for investigation by farmers, at the same time no other interest will be in the least antagonized. For the farmer to array himself against other classes would be such folly that I do uot sup pose that such steps will be tolerated in any of the conventions now so soon to be held. Very respectfully, D. VY'VATT AlKKN. Tom Hamilton Dead. Charleston, March _">. -Thomas Hamilton, ex-ineinber uf the Legislature of Ibis State, died at I h aulbrt yesterday. Hamilton was a member of the Legisla ture in I.^Ti). aud was one of the three colored members, who first gave ni their adhesion to Lhc Hampton govcrumcut and secured a quorum ibrthc Democrat ic House of Representatives. Hirlhdav and Easter Cards at Jos. Eros*. Dolls, Toys ami Chinaware of till kinds.