Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-* * C/k ~ /4 L _T EPEOPLE'S. JO VOL 5.--NO. 52. .PICKENS, . C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, THE DEPRESSION IN PHOSPHATES. A GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE. Inspector Jones Makes an Interest ing Report-Competition Mas En dangered this Great Industry. Ever since the cyclone of 1894 the phosphate induetrios in the State have been comparatively in a crippled con dition. Though two years have pass ed and the minors have repaired their plants, the business has not improved and Inspector Jones says the depres sion has about reached the climax. Mining operations have been carried on by eight companies during the pakst year, the total amount mined being 174,400.25 tons, from which the State derived a royalty of $87,657.20. In his report Inspector Jones says : The outlook of the business is gloomy in the extreme. Prices have sunk to a figure never before reached, and tho greatest discouragement prevails both in South Carolina and Fiorida. It is impossible to got in E.urope now even as high as six pence a unit; the prices vary from 5 pence to 51 pence. At these pricos, after paying royalty, and with the most favorablo rates of freight, the mining companies are un able to not more than $2 per ton for their rock. This does not onable them to live. The strictest economy is be. ing practiced, wages are being re duced, saving devices are being adopt ed, and the cost of mining has been reduced to a minimum. But even with this, unless there is an improve ment in the market, the phosphate companies must stop. CAROLINA MINING COMPANY. I regrot to report that this sterling company, representing a large amount of English capital, has suspended oporations indefinitely. All hands have been discharged. Its efficient President, Mr. l3rotherhood, (the largest individual stockholder in the company), has resigned, and his re signation has been accepted. The plant is laid up permanently, and no one \ t a care-taker is at the exten sive't )rks hitherto so busily employ ed. There Is no prospect of an early resumption of work by this company. In fact, whether it shall resume or not is absolutely indefinite and undeter mined. The reason for this stoppago is, because the company, although ex ercising every possibio economy, could not got for its rock what it cost to mine and put it on the market at the present prices. This means to the State the loss of the entire royalty heretoforc,oarned by this large and ac tive company. It is an object lesson showing more per-tinently than any words can express the terrible do pressed condition of the phosphate in lustry. The other companies are mining, but with reduced force. The Coosaw Company, the largest of them all, have laid up two or three dredges, three tug boats, and suspended their hand-picking department. The other companies have reduced their work ing force to a minimum. As to the reasons for the depressed condition of trado, the Inspector says : These aro not hard to lind. In the first place, the depressed condition of agriculture both in this country and in Europe has limited to a very great extent the demand for crude phos p hate rock as a basis for the manu facture of fertilizera. But a -more potent cause, perhaps, Is to be found in the opening of new mines, which have come into lerce competition with Carolina phosphate, . After. speaking of tri'o competition of Algerian phosphates the report con tinues: These deposits continue to be ac tively worked, and tho production is steadily increasing. The rock needs no washing or drying, as is the case with Carolina rock. Its analysis is perfectly satisfactory, and it is used largely by the interior' points, com panies situated in upper Georgia, Toni nessee and1( other points, who obtain from it thoroughly satifactory results. It fills the la0ce of the South Carolina rock perfectly, and is a very formnid able com potitor. The total shipments of phosphate from Florida for the year 189)5 aggro grated 515,878 tons. Florida con tInues to increase hor- production. Whilst a great many of the companies there have ceased operations, still enough have been left to keep up a very large pr1oduction. As is wvell knowvn there are three kipds of rock mined in FlorIda. FIrst, the river rock, which comes largely from Peace Rivcr, and~ which resembles in analysis and general character, very largely, the Carolina rook. Second, t~he land pebble rock, which imined from the land, consisting of a small p~hosphate pebble, and which is also similar to the land rook in South Carolina. Third, the high grade rook, which r'uns up to 70 or 80 per cent, of phe phato of lime. This lies in pocket~s and is quarried 'out and shripped with hardly any other prepariatioE. apt that of being boaste.d or burnt.. , l shipments from iFlorida arc lie Iy on the increase. Many of the - panics there are, like the companies in Carolina, wilth a large plant invest ed whieh they have to utilize in soe way, and they are satislied if they can get in a dollar for every dollar they pu uand so work on, hoping for b lte ines. Within the last few weeks a now discovery of phosphate beds in the Somme district of France has been made. The locality where this rock has been discovered has been boughtb by a strong French firm for the amount stated to be one million frances. Thec quality of this phosphate Is reported to be freom 50 to 70 per cont. phosphate limo, otherwise simiatr to the wellI known Sommie phosp~hato. It is in v powdery form, ar.d has the further ad vantagq that thre hod of phosphate lies nearer to the English Channel, and therefore the freight expenses tc the shipping port will be much lower than from the other beds. It may therefore be expected that Somme phosphate will become a stronger competitor in the phosphate mnarkel than it has been for the last few years Large deposits have been discovered in Venezuela, and shipments have al ready been made from those mines, which, when tested, show that th~ are all hifgh grade. Hlow far this wi be. ortcnded it is now impossiblo tc say, but it adds one more to the list of newly discovered phosphate with which our rock ha@ to compete. Under the circumstances I deem it my duty to urge upon the Boird and the Legislature the question of a re duction in royalty eharged by the State. Ono of the largest and most substantial companies has absolutely suspended work because it Is impes sible to continue. The other orn panies are going on en a very mask reduced scale of operations, and it is simply a question of time when they too will have to suspend unless there is an improvement to the phosphate market. The State then will Ie do prived of all Its royalty and net enl that, but the indistry will receive such a black eye that it wIll bo very hard to rovive it again. Under these circumstances I de not hesitate to express the opinion that the interest of the State will be best subserved by reducing the royalty to 25 cents a ton until such time as the market shall improve and a higher royalty could be paid. At present it Is impossiblo to predict how long the companies now mining will be able to continue their operation. It would be the wise policy on the part of the State to make this reduction and enable them to continue. It is a matter of great regret that no brighter report can be made than that which has been submitted, but the facts must be stated as they are, and these are the facts. The depressed condition of the phosphate trade has been known for several years; it seems now to have reach a climax. Respoctfully submitted, A. W. JONxS, Phosphate Inspector. THE VENEZUBLAX 001MMBION. AN EQUAL DIVIDE AS TO FARTIES. The Commissioners are Men of High Character and Speadid Abilities -Will Command itespeot at smee and Abroad. President Cleveland on the 1st last. announced the appointment of the Venezuelan boundary commission, which.consist of five members, as fol lows: 'David J. Brewer, of Kansas, As sociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States ; liticard El. Aivey of Maryland, chief justice of the court of appeals for the District of Colum bia; Andrew D. White, of New York; lt'rederic R. Coudert, of New York ; Daniel C. Gilman of Maryland, presi dent of the John Hopkins Waiversity. The commission is regarded in Washington among those who had an opportunity to see the list of names after they wore made public as a very satisfactory one, whose opinicus and conclusions will be received by the American public with that confidence which the standing of the members of the commission in the- public eye in spires. Justice Brower is a Republican in politics and about 58 years of age. He is a graduate of Yale and has spent considerable time in the practice of his profession in Kansas, where he tilled a number of judicial offices. In 1884 he was appoini ed Circuit Court Judge of tho United States for the Eighth District and was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in Decomber, 1889, by President Har rison. Richard H. Alvoy is a Democrat In politics and a man of marked legal ability. It was the great reputation he gained as Judge in the Maryland courts which led President Cleveland, in the absence of political influence en Judge Alvey's part, to appoint him to the position of Chief Jtstice of the Court of Appeals of this Dlstrict. He is about 601 years of age. Andrew D. White is a Republican in politics. Hie is one of the best known men of letters in this country and perhaps in the world, is an author and historian and has beeni the pre sident of Cornell University. Mr. White was appointed Minister to Russia by Pros ident Harrise., and this position he held throogh Hlarri son's administration and for a year or more during Mr. Cleveland's ad minis tration. Frederick R. Coudert is a, Demo crat in politics and Is one of the best known members of the bar in New Y'ork. Mr. Coudert was one of the counsel for' the United States on the l3ering Sea commission, and in that capacity 1he m 'de one of the most cl(oqu%3nt and eiTetive speeches do liverod in behalf of the American com tentions. The last named momber of the com mission, D~aniel C. Gilman, president of JTohn Hopkins University, is well known as an utthority on interna tional law. He was at one time p resi dent of the University of California and was later called to take up the work of the organination of the unirer sity of which he if now the head. Ose of his principal acquisitions is the mastering of the science of p hysieal geography, ho having studied in Ger many under a. prominent instructor andl in this country under Guyot. He is the author of a life ef President Monroe. Mr. Gil man has never figured p remmently in politics. At the White House it is stated that he has no polities, but his proclivities are under stood to be Republican. The two great parties, it will be seen are eqlually represented on the seom mission, with the fifth member having no outspoken politica. All of the above named persons will accept the places to which they have been aippolnted~ and are expected to assemble in Washington as soon an practice""* with a view of their swear ingi in and entering upon their work. The appointments are made in oomplh ance with a resoultion of Congress passsed at the request of P'resi dent Cleveland, and the work of the com mission will be to examine and collect evidence with a view to determiniag the true div isional line bet ween Vene zuela and British Guiana. The on elusions reached by the commaission will be reported to the President for further representations and commusi cations that may. be made by this gev crnment to Gre -Brittain is conneotion with'* the bou ary. line dispute be tween the lat r country and 'Vene zuela. The expqcta on is that the commis sion will con me very soon, seloot their secretari , translators, interpre ter anr1 nem ye offcer a dete mine upon their course of procedure. There is $100,000 available for expenses under the Act creating the body. A good part of this will be expended li the salaries of the commissioners which will be commensurate with the station and the Importance of the work involv ed, except In the case of a offloial like Jusetice Brower, already holding a government position. The policy which the comamission will adopt is being awaited with much interest by these concerned. The Act makes the commission independent of the State Department. Some of the international authorities say that even the evidence to be o fored. by the State Department will have the same weight and treatment 'ad no more as the evidbce coming from ether souroes, as it is pointed out that the eommission will not prejudice the ease by assuming the correctness of the attitude of the State Depart ment. On the part of Great Britain there is a growing impression in official quar ters that indirect participation im the work of the cammission will be secur ed. The British attitude of late has been favorable to an investigation by the United States of the basis of the British claims, for it'in felt that the inquiry had been ex parts up to the time of the action of Congress. There was good reason to believe when the commission was first pro posed that Great Britain would not recognize it, and migbt take offense at its ereation. But this feeling has changed until the present indication is that the British will not be averse to gstablishing before such a body the rights which Lord Salisbury stated to be incontestible. This may not be done by direct appearance before the com mission but by the submission of the British case in response t0 the wishes of the commmission conveyed through Secretary Otaoy. By such a procedure the British Foreign Office would be giving no reoognition to the jurisdic tion of the commission and yet would secure a hearing of its case. On the part of Spain it is known that no objeobion will be raised to the fullest examination of the Spanish archives. Mr. Olney has not yet re quested that such an examination be allowed, but he is assured of a favor able answer in case a request is sub mitted. In this connection it is said that the recent reports from Europe of an understanding between Great Bri tain, Spain and other countries for joint action against the Monroe Doc trine Is not warranted at least so far as Spain is coneerned. The Spanish archives are a treasury of information, not only as to Venezuela but as to all the South and Central American coun tries, the most of them having been Spanish dependencies. As a result of this, Spain is frequently asked to ar bitrate boundary disputes between these countries. At the present time Spain has on hand one of these arbi trations involving the boundary of Ecuador. ATTACKS TINE BOND BILL. Congressman MeLawrin Exposes the Real Ojeot of the Measure. Hen. John L. MoLaurin, of South Carolina, was allowed ten minutes li the discussion of the bond bill proposed by the Republicans, and he spoke as follows: Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to the passage of this bill, because its pro visions will not only burdun an al ready debt-ridden people, but will legalize a long series of usurpations by different secretaries of the treas ury. The caption declares this a bill "to protect the coin redemption fund," while at the same time there is not a single line of law upon the statute book anthoriinag or providing any such fund. Judging from past ex perience, without doubt, this lanuguage would be construed by the Seretary for the purpose of sequestering in the Treasury this vast sum of $100.000,000, which should be in the channels of business, giving life and vigor to our commercial transactions. This uin authorized fund has been main tained in absolute idleness for over twenty years, and at simple interest has cost 'the people mnore than $80, 000,000. .This is a covert attempt to legalize an unwarrantedi assuimption, which alone should prevent the pass age of the bill. Mr. Speaker, instead of this being a bill to p)rotect the coin redemption fund, it is, more properly speaking, in my judgment, an act to provide for a deficiency in our reve nlues. The President has already is sued ever *160,000,000 of interest bear ing bonds for the alleged purpose of streagthening this reserve fund. In my opinionwe might with profit inquire as to what has has become of the pro ceeds of the sale of these bonds. Mr. Speaker, i. it qot true that the o~, hundred aid sixty million - of gold received from the sale of these bonds was drawn outeof the Treasury through the redetmption af Unmited States notes~ or greenasks? f s it not also true that these one hundred and sixty millions of United States motes or g reenbacks have been paid out by the Secretary of the Treasary in the ordi nary expense of the government? [ re peat, has it not been the customs of the present Secretary to soil bc. nds for gold, to exchange the geld for United States notes and then to nse these notes In payment of our goveramental ex penses? Thenowby come here with a bill claiming to proteet "the coin re denuptlon fund" when In fact and in practise it Is a bili to supply the defi ciency of the revenue? T believe in dealing with the people frankly and squarely and if this bill is really to smalatals a redemption fund, it should be so stated, plnly and distinctly, and then used for no other pur pose whatever. If, ont the other hand, as is now ecretly prac ticed, it is to supply a delc'ency in the revenue, I maintain that such a declaration shea4t be made .in order that all may eK rny understand its im port. IBesides, I am deeldedly in favor of curtailing rather than extending the discretionary powers of the Secretary of the Tr'eneury in our Anancial affairs. The act of 1811, mentioned in this bill, p rovided for the sale of bonds at his discretion, at not less than par ia coin, while the last issue of bonds by the Secretary ot the Treasury was made for so ansy eunces of gold bullIon. merely mention this to show the char. acter of the usurpation of poewer by the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Spes or there is a vast difference betwei selling bonds for coin, which mea both gold and silver, and bartering ti obligations of the United States fI gOd bullion. I assume that all of our present dit culties would be eliminated and furth< legislation upon this subject unnece sary if we had a Secretary of ti Treasury who would obey the law no upon the statute book of the natioe There is to-day not a bond, coupoi obligation, or debt of any charactt against the United States which is ni payabl*, principal and interest, in col and cola to-day means just what it hi since the foundation of the goveri meot- both gold and silver. Nowg Mr. Speaker. with the vaul of the rreasury bursting with silve1 with the great plain people strugglin beneath a load of debt and distress, assert that it is unfair, unjust, wholl unicailed for, that interest-bearin oonds, in time of peace, should be sol< to further impoverish our people, an through this interest levy tribute up0 their hard toil, while there are lyhn idle in the Treasury one hundred an fifty millions of silver. (Applause Let the Secretary of the Treasur obey the law. Let him treat alike a obligations of the government. Le him consider the debt of the hun blest American laborer in the sax light that he does the debt due i alien money lender. All are payaol in coin, and all should alike be p-4i in coin. If if could be announced to-morr., that an American policy of financ would be inaugurated and the furthc domination of alien money lenders r< eisted, the same enthusiasm and ji triotic response would come from ti people to the support of the adnilnii tration tuat was witnessed whon th President so forcibly roaflirmed th Monroe doctrine and notified Eug:an to encroach no further upon America soil. A similar annoucement on th financial situation would infuse ne life into the Democratic party fror which hope has been crushed by tl financial policy of the present admi1 Istration. Let the United States, like Prance begin the payment of silver for th paper money when presented for ri demption, and the necessity for at other bond issue would vanish. Lc us also imitate the exam ple of Franc in refusing to furnish gold for expor In doing this we would simply be pu ting into practice that grand rule human government, "equal rights all, special privileges to none." There is another point, Mr. Speake that seems to have been overlooket It is claimed by the Secretary in h last report that there is in circulatic among the people four hundred at seventy-five millions in gold coi From the report of the Comptroller the Currency it is learned that n over one hundred and lifty millions held by the banks, leaving three hu dred and twenty-five millions amoi the people. If the Secretary of ti Treasury would expend as much eiorl in exchanging with the people gree backs for this gold that he does in o changing gold for greenbacks wi alien financiers, I am of the opinio that the exigencios of the Treasu: might be relieved without a furth< issue of bonds. The gentleman from Maine (M Dingley) advanced the proposition secure this gold by an issue of interea bearing certificates of indebtednes In my judgment the object might I attained at far less expense by e: changing greenbacks which come Ini the Treasury for this gold among th people. In order to moet the temporary d4 ficlency in the Treasury. instead interest-bearing obligations to becomr a burden upon the people, I would su gest certificates be issued against es ery idle ounce of silver left in th Treasury. This would give instanti nocous r'*iiof and would put into circi a.tionl amiong the people, without th burden of interest, a kind of currenc thiat nont) would ref use and all be gla to get. Trhese, In brief, are my ol jections to the bill. I believe they at valid. I can see no good reason why tb taxp~ayers, the producers and toiles of this country, should be forced1 pay an interest tribute extendingi generation, yet unborn when the sin pie application of justice and commo sense would obviate the necessity of: all. (Loud applause on the Democrati side.) -The following is recommended I an exchange as a good preoentiv for hog cholera, and as it is very ches and simole all who have stock of an kind should give it a trial : " A ge: tieman from Kentucky told us that compound raade of salt and ashes about equal parts would keop hogi cattle and horses healthy and fr from disease. The mixture Is made with water and will harden like roe salt. Then it is put about the fec troughs and aniaals will becomne fou of it." -The vexed question of conjug: obedience wast settled by Spurgeon In characteristic way. In an addlre~ss the marriage of the daughter of friend he spoke thu, to the bride aboe her future lord: "Lat him be ti head, and do you be the neck, and tni nlm which way you please." -Tomato plants ahve been grafti on potato plants in England, giving crop of tomatoes above groundi ane potatoes beelow. Potatoes grafted< tomatoes have produced flowersi at a few tybers. -Remember the poor ; prayors at kInd wishes are good, but they will n itrve instead of fuel and fod. Tii Bible has somes practical remarks 4 charity that stops shor t of ac sual gi ilag. -In Miexico and also In Siam, judg jury and lawyers all smoke in court, they wish to, while a case is bolr tried. Even the prisoner is not d prived of his cigar or cigarette. -In Sumatra the leaves of the coffi plant are used for making tea whit ha. the essential properties of both ti and coffee, resembling both la tam and smell. -" That lawyer you recommniod is not a man of his word." 'WI uuot'?" "Hie told me I could talk free to him, and look at the bill he's ac k- BILL ARP TALKS PEACE. is HIS EXPOSITION EXPERIENO' r A Squealer Unloaded Somne Exposl )r tion Mandkerobiefk on Him-Dom' Believe There Will be Any Wa With England. ir a- They told me of various things the 1 would like to have for Chriseta presents for friends and postorit.N aThey wanted seventeen I think. Q course I listened in a subdued manner k but an elephant had trod on my pocket book and it was so flat I couldn't se< through this business. My wife sai, tiat s.adkorchiefs were a good thin1 --nicu handkorchiefs wore always it order. She had some in her trunk t4 send to the boys. There are varioul . things in that trunk. It is a sort o subtreasury, a cache, but it won't holt enoughi things for the grandchildren Dolls and baby carriages and jumping I *acks and picture books had to bi >ought and some nico linon haudker d chiefs. Well, as I was turning the n Norerois corner I heard a aquealei g squealing handkerchiefs. There wat d a stack of them on a box and a crowt around and he was passing handkor chiefs along for examination. "Genu ino linen, puro Irish linen, all guaran toed, only 5 conts a piece. Examin< . them, gentlemen. These are exvosi e tion goods that we are obliged to sel e out, for we are going home. Home e sweet home," etc. Never heard a mat d squal more sweetly. I was shy at tirs but took hold of the handketchlef. I was good size and nicely borderod an e lookod like linon and felt like linen ir and I heard a man say " This is linen 5. shore." So I thought I had found th< - very thing my wife wanted and [ toldI 0 him I would take ten. "Thank y'ou I. sir," ho said politely, and he took then 0 off the folded pile and wrapped then 0 up and I put them in my little gril d and handed him a dollar-a silver (101 n lar. He didn't hand bacic the chango e but leaned up close to me and whiis ,v pored, " You are a family man, ] n reckon." Yos," said I. " Well, ] e will give you twenty more for th< .. other half dollar," said ho. So I tool them and put them all in my satchel Good gracious ! Thirty linon hand 0 kerchiefs for one dollar. Enough t( 5. keep all the grandchildren's noso k. clean and leave some for ine. I wal i proud. e When my wife opened the packagoi b. she was horrified. " Why they are al - cotton and the veriest, thinnest, sla >f ziest cotton at that. You have beet ,o cheated again as usual." That rascall3 squealer had handed round a nice linei , handkerchief as a sample and wra ppC 1. up poor thin cotton ones so quick wi is didn't suspect anything wrong. Bu in they will do for the noses, I reckon id In fact, I rather like them for my grip n. and I carry two all the time-one to of each side. And I bought a beautifi ot little doll carriage with a parasol ove is it for 20 cents and a lunch basket and n- mice that runs around on the floor an ig a spool case and some other little trili 1e and came home happy, for Christmi ,y Is a season to make others happy. 0 it- earth peace, good will to men, an x- es pecially to the children. Yes, that 6h it IOn earth peace ! We are n n going to have any war with En glant ry But I'll be dogond if Johnny Bul sha ir step over here and take land the don't bolong to him-land and wato r. for there is the mouth of the Orinoc to that ought to be open and free to ou it- commerce. War is a horrible, devilis] a. business and it ought not to be con >e sidered seriously. No, sir I We ar< c- not going to have any war, but I'll bi ;o dad blasted if Johnny Bull shall hav to anything over here that don't right fully belong to him-the gqready .olt 3 rascal. The fact is, I don t boliev< )f those English know where Venezuol e is or who Mr. Monroe was, but the) r- have got a bi g map and stake out th< -earth and claim to the stakes. Fift) o years ago they put down their stake L- on an ih~iand in the Caribbean sea ant aIsla, sank in an earthquake anm e went di -n and England Is still guard y Ing the hole and waiting for tihe islan< d ,to rise again. That's what a man tol< -* me. 0 But the idea of war with our 0l< mother country. God bless her an< .0 her noble queen, who for over fift '5 years has been a model woman-i o~ noble-hearted lady of the old on time tO -an illustrious example of good, old 1- fashioned, honest motherhood; n nine children right straight along~ ne it nursed them In the old-fashionori w, .o and gave themn castor oil and satsm an< sung to thomn at night just like wo do I have great respect for any womat iy who has raised nine children, and1 * have 10 per cent. more respect for < p woman who has raised up ten, like m3 y wife has; but I'll be ding-dongod i- Johnny Bull or any other bull, shl a put a chip on our hat. We are going ns to investigate. Our committee wili gt i, over there and report and maybe hj e the fourth of July we will know somno )ptn nbut this business, and then W< kwil lo fret along for a year or tw< d and Ix up an arbitration, and by th< d year 1900 the dispute wIll he0 settled TI'hat's the way we did the Alabami clalr* andl the Heorinig seal fishierios di We nood~n't he in a hurry about fight a lng. In fact, it looks like sacriloge at for Christian nations to talk war dhu a ing Christmas timesa. We ought ti 24 have waited until the Fourth of July e that's the time to crow-but old Johnn n~ Bull had better mind how he ste over our hemisphere. The old reb have had their disabilIties removei id and they haven't forgotten how Elng a land treated us thirty-three years am: I pu' redicted that Congress would tur d or bys ooe jst s sonas war wa threatened. That was nice, wasn't it So generous, so magnani mous. A fte d waiting thirty long years they did i A In a day without debte We didn eo ask it and they shoved it on us. Shoi n man, Tom Reed & Co. got togothe v- the night after Mr. Cleveland's wa message and said if we should hav war with England, where are we goin to get our mercenaries from. W canti get any more from kogland ( a rsland or Germany or Spain, wher we we got them during the last, an we will need those rebels down South IC The fact is, they are the best fig hter )h the natien has got. We had live t sa their one in the field and them it teo to tear yeare to subdue them an they have put 900,000 of our men o ed the penasion rolls, besides what the by killed. Tne fact Is we are just of ily liged to have them and now is a goo nt, time to tender the olive branel That's what a man tnld me they nath Now if they will put our one legged. one-armod and one-eyed and disabled ' veterans on the pension rolls, too, we will havo some faith in their inagnani mity, buto not until then. It wouldn't r be any very big drain on the treasury, for wo haven't but about 100,000 voter ans left, all told, and not more than one-fourth of them would be pension 3 ors. Our boys havo been dying for thirty years, but somehow or other thuirs don't die, but keep on multiply in . 'hore is another thing about it. That resolution was too short nd too stingy of language. It ouglht t: have had a preamble and some wor-s that indleatud regret for the long delay. In fact, they should have apologized and begged our pardon and done the clean thing while they were at. it. My fear now is that if the war blows over the Grand Army will raise a rumpus about that resolution and have it rescinded, just like they did the order for the re storatlon of the rebel flags. They have had nil the oflices and all the pensions ,so long, they don't want m to have anything. But we'll got oven with then in the long run. Seot ( wo don't. Lotsj of their best people are moving down South and In a few years will become as clover gentlemon and Christians and patriots as wo are and can raise their childron in a moral at, mosphere. Our climate and our so ciety has a wondorful offect on North ern men. Well, of course, about half of this is a joke, and I don't want to make anybody mad this Christmas, hut the other nalf is in earnest. Tht best thing General Grant ever said was : "Lot us have peace," and he wouldn't have said it if he hadn't been a gentleman. I have had a hard time of it to-day. My wife said that I must put, in that pane of glass upstairs boloro the hil droLn came. J0ssie was coming home to stay awhile and, of courso, v/ould oring her baby, and I reck< n her hus band v-ould be apt to foow along Well, of course, th3 pane niust be put in, for if there is any bad sign about a house it is a broken pano with a bag or some rags stuck in the. hole. Ft is a sign that the man o the house ain't much account. It's a bad as a front gate that won't opn or shut easy or a front door with (a knob off. This pano was out in the upper sash and I never realized what, ita critical I job It was until I got at it. I cam, very near fal'ling out of the two-story window, for the work had to be dont from the outside. I had to hold on with one hand and work witth the other and at last. had to givo it up. So 5 1 got the stop ladder and took out all t the stops and pulled the sash insidt the room hanging by the cords, and my wife she helped me and the ladder r cracked and creaked aiazingly, but I we finally got the glass in and tacked r and puttied all right, and the sash put a back, and the stops replaced, and I d thought 1 was done, but she wantod q the old shades taken down and sono s new ones put up, and I. had to mount a the old stop ladder again. She never d lets me know all that she wants me to s do for fear of alarming me, and that's t why sho kept tho now shades hid out l. until I had put in the window pane. I But I got through safely at last and ,t received several benignant smiles. By ', this time I was so norvous that when I o tried to write I couldn't hardly hold r the pen an I that's what is the matter I with this rcanusoript. I can't read it - myself ano will excuse any mistakes 3 your typo makes. Oh, theso women ) who are always fixing tip something. ) They make ino so tired. But I gave - her a nice work basket for Christmas, I lid, and another one was sent to her from <'lorida, and she is happy, too; the fact is, we are all happy right now. Final Scones of" the Atlanta Exposl tioni. T 'he fiinal day of the Atlanta Exposi tien opened with a clear sky. During Ithe early morning the temperature was very low, but after the sun roso the weather moderated rapidly and the cars to the exposition were all fillled. The grounds were filled with pleople. In I, the buildings many of the exhibitors had a small harvest in tho sale of - souvenir's, while the Chinese village Iauctionedl off t bric-a-brac. The ex hi bits were all in good shapi and were not dI istur bed tl uti after dark. Dutiring the afternoon, the camels and donkeys of Cairo street wor'o driven out, but most, of the places oni the Alidway were wide open and docing a good business. Although the crowd was one of the larigest (luring December, there was no ceremonial. Thore hadl been so much of ceremony heretofore that it was detornined to let the last day be0 a a free and easy affair, so thatt the vil. tors might make the best of their time in socing the exhibits. Aj (lark came on the beautiful iltu mination was given and tile electric fountain for the last time displayed its charms. Although there was a large crowd, the best of order prevail -ed and everybody scemed to 1)e in a -good humor. The directors held a meeting at 41 o'clock and transacted - business of some importance, mainly ) directed toward tire and poli1co protec tion for the grounds and buildings. T At 6:10, a force of exports began pack 5 lng up the pictures in the art gallery 5 and at the same time a similar work Iwas begun on the government exhibits -in the mines andl forestry building. It i- eaxpected that the work of packing m and shipping exhibits in the govern s menitibuilding~will proceed rapidly. In ? the manufacturer's building, the r foreign exhibitors will attempt to (dis t pose of their warea as fat as possible t, before packing up, in tt.o trane'porta -tion building, Capt. E0. L. Tyler, ebi;ef r of transportation, will have an oflil r and look after the removal of exhibits. e 13y resolution of the board of directors g all salarics and wages conmed atnight, e but the president was empowered to r make new contracts for such limited e help as may be necessary to wind uip d the affairs of the cormpany. One turn i. stile in the'inain entrance will be left s open, bu't an admission fee will be o charged to keep out stragglers who c would Interfere with the exhibtors IR d packing their goods. s The Pennsylvania building will ba y formally turned ovet to the Piedmosnt i. Driving club by Mn ,Keena very soon. d The New Xork State building will also i. pass lnto the hands of the club, both ofi L. thnn~ strunturna havwing knen erentel on the grounds of that organization. The Illinois bull.hing has not boen dis posed of, lbut wiiil prohably be sold. The M8sauhsetts building has already been pr- setated by the onmins sioners to the A tItnta ohapter of the Daughters of the American Revola tion. The properby agent of the 1x position company has already begun to gather scattered furniture and nmiseel Jancus movablo property to places of safety, and a salvage company ]as been organized with Mr. T. B. Neal, presi dont of one of the Atlanta banks, at its head. Mr. lanman, chairman of the finance committee, said the Exposition, when all the debts are paid will have cost Atlanta about $200,000, or less than 10 per cent. of the money expended on the fair. This includes the original stook subscription and th% appropria Gion of the city. This result is regarded is very satisfactory. It is estimated hat the Immediate benfit to Atlanta In money oxpended there by Expouition visitors amoui.s to $5,000,000, and that the ultimate beneiAts to the oity and the cotton States are immeasurably beyond this or any other conservative igure that could be made. THE LAUREINS RAILIMAD. A Columbia Syndiciate Has Pur chased this Valuable Link. Judge Simonton, sitting in the United States Circuit Court, has filed a decree in the Case of Frederick M. Corton trustee, complainant, vs. the Co lumbia and Greenvi'lle Railroad, et al., defendants ex parte Alex. C Haakell, reccoivr. 'he dooree orders the sale of the Laurens Railroad to W. G. Childs for $75,000. It is a lengthy document, tifteen closely typewritten pages of legal cap. In the 10th section it sets forth that the recoiver of the Laurens Lailroad, Alex. C. Flaskell, has re celvod an offer from W. G. Ghilds for the entire railroad property hold by ini'as recoiver and covered by mort snge, and running from Helena to Lau rons for the price of $75,000, $50,000 of ihis purchase money to be paid in cash ind the $25,000 to be paid by credit endorsod pro rata on all the mortgage bonds of the said Laurons Railway Company. The decree goes on to state that the report of Special Master D. B. Lilllland establishes that the price 'ffered is a full and ample price and a larger one than is likely to be realized :t an auction sale of the property, and that the holders of the mortgago bonds f the road earnestly beg that the sale bo to orderod. The sale is to be con summatod " forthwith." The Columbia Register, aftor an in terview with the purchaser, Mr. W. G. Childs, makes the following state mont : The Laurons Railroad, which has ben running under the direction of 1ocoivor A. C. Haskell, was sold in Charleston by order of the United States Court on Monday, the purchaser being Mr. W. G. Childs, of Columbia, who paid $75,000 for it. Mr. Childs was asked about the purchase and what wore the plans for the future. li said that he was not in position to say much just at present further than that he roprosented a syndicate, most of whom wore Columbians. Although ho Is prosident of the Columbia, New berry and Laurens Railroad, the pur chase was not mad- bor that road and they would be sej arato organizations al togotlor. Mr. Childs, hoy svar, said that the road was gc ing to ;)e run in the inter est of Columbia as far as possible, and this certainly will be good news. He siays he intends to make such a sched ule so that the people in Laurons can got to Columbia in the early morning, ransact, business and get back the same afternoon instead of having to spend a whole night here. This is just cue of the advantages the road will be to Columb~a. Other connec tions and other traffic arrangements wvill be made in the near future which will be equally advantageous to Colum bla and the people living along the line. There has bcon talk for a month or more about M r. Child's intention to establish through trains from Charios ton to Greenville, over the Coast ine, Columbia, Now borry and Laurons andi Port Royal and Western Caroline roads, but whether the acquisition of the Laurons road will lead to such a result remains to bo seen. Thel~ L2aurons road is forty miles long ad ruuns from Hlena (Newher ry) to Laurens. At Dover's station it crosses blhe Seaboard Air Line and at Clintom rnakes connection with it. it taps the P'ort R.oyal and Western Carolina at [Laurons. M AR R Y ING IN H AST1*.-The St. Louis Gilobe-Demnocrat says that a mnarriago, romantic in the extremo, was solemiz od recently in the 01lico of the county clerk, Glasgow, Ky. The groom and brIdo had never so much as heard of the other's existence until the other day, and met for the Mrat time when they were brought face to face In the county clerk's oltice and Introduced by a mutual friend proparatory to the ap liication for license. Trho groom is John Underwood, a pirosperous farmer near Temple 1H11l and sixty fIve years old. Thie bride was Mrs. Martha J. Turner, a widlow, twenty-fours years old, who camne from South Carolina two months ago. 'rho mutual friend pictured to the groom the virtues and excellencies of the young widow, and to her ho recited the sterling worth and good qualities of the farmer. Corn missioned by the latter with a proposi tion of marriage, he returned with an acceptance from the widow. Theuy set. eyes upon each other at 1:30 o'clock, and at 1:45 o'clock a local minister had pronounced them husband and -ca the annual report of the instittr f .o for the Djaf, Dumb and the Blind thmere occurs this interesting state mont : "One of the special reports of the Unitcd States census gives $280 as the averago annual expenses per cap ita of all sohools for the blind In the United States.. A receat report of one of the schools for the deaf gives $245.95 as the average per capIta for support In twenty-three schools for the deaf. Our per capita for the past year has been $130.97." -- never knew any man in my life who could not bear another's misfor tune perfectly like a Chritiet. Pope.